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I WATCHED AS SIEGFRIED helped Ryane into the back of his truck, not really listening to the Officer who was still asking me what had happened. I had already gone over it twice. I mean, what didn’t they understand? Assholes attacked me and I kicked their asses. Simple. Over. Take them away already! I felt a twinge of something in my gut as he kissed her forehead and she settled into the cab. He closed the door before heading toward me, passing by a concerned looking Keegan.
Sig came to stand beside me and put up his hand to the officer, silencing him. “Look, Officer... Stephens. “Miss Rowan has already given you her statement. If you need more from her, you have her contact info. Now, unless you plan to treat the victim as the suspect in this case, I suggest we let her get checked out by EMS and go home.”
“And you are?” Officer Stephens asked, annoyed by being interrupted no doubt, watching as Siegfried pulled out his wallet, taking out a card.
“Siegfried Rembrandt. Her council.”
I looked at him curiously. I had no idea he was a lawyer. I mean, who would? Look at him... He gave a sardonic smile and winked at me as he put his arm around me, leading me toward the emergency services truck.
“You’re a lawyer?”
“When I have to be. You never know when it will come in handy.” He squeezed me into him and I took an odd comfort in his strong arm around me, falling into the space of his ribs perfectly, my head at his shoulder. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah. Though I think I’m out of a job. At least till they can afford to fix the place.”
“I think I can help with that. It’s just a window and a few dishes.”
“Am I going to be in a lot of trouble?”
“No. It’s like you said. A hate crime. You were singled out and attacked. You were protecting yourself.”
I nodded. “I’m just confused on how they found me.”
“Probably dumb luck.”
“Maybe. I dunno. Or they followed me from school. I hate to think of Grigori as unsafe, but twice in a week? We need to do something; the Deviant Class isn’t safe.”
“I know.”
He walked me past the medics and straight for his truck. “Where are we going? I thought I was getting checked out?”
“Do you think they know more about your anatomy than I do?” He laughed, opening the front door to his truck for me. Keegan was in the back with Ryane, who had her head resting in his lap. She gave me a little wave as I climbed inside, which I returned in kind.
“Uh, not sure how to answer that one.” I chuckled nervously, looking at Keegan, my face crimson.
“So do we have a plan, Boss?” Siegfried asked, starting the truck.
“Let’s head back to Sam’s and then we can figure this out. Aella, are you good with that or did you want to swing by your dorm for a change of clothes?”
“Shit, my bag is still in the shop.” I went to hop out of the truck, but no sooner than I said it, I spotted George running with my stuff in his hands, flailing for our attention.
“Aella!”
I rolled down the window and he shoved my bag at me.
“Damn, pretty mama, you certainly can sober a man up!” He snickered.
“I’m so sorry about the window, are you alright?”
“Ah, couple scratches, nothing a few puffs won’t fix. As for the window, we will have to close up for a week or two. Sorry honey.”
“Actually, I can come by tomorrow and see what I can do,” Siegfried interrupted. “I’m pretty good with that stuff.”
“Really? I mean we won’t be able to pay you...”
“Don’t worry about it. Just let my girl have a few days with pay.”
“You can have it. Thanks man. Aella. We love you so much!”
***
APPARENTLY I HAD MANAGED to get myself involved with the most interesting of people. Ryane is what they once referred to as a Legacy. The child of two Hunter families, now newly turned into a Vampire, which apparently came with its own set of complications. Not only was she bonded to Prince Keegan, but she had an insatiable bloodlust and was going through the synthetic like candy. She nearly killed the third guy that tried to get away. While that wouldn’t have bothered me, eye for an eye and all, it was sort of looked down on. They lectured the poor girl, cuz that’s what she needed right then. I was being quiet. They decided that they were gonna cancel the trip for the four of us, and just Prince Keegan and Ryane were going to go. The hope was that his father could shed some light on what was going on with her and that while they were gone, Siegfried and I may be able to discover just what was going on here at Grigori. I hoped they were right. I had this awful feeling in the pit of my stomach.