Chapter 50 Ch. 31.1
Ethan pushed his food around his plate, not really eating, and his father watched him from the other end of the table.
“Where have you been these last few days?” his father asked.
“I just didn’t want to be home,” Ethan said, resting his fork down.
His father leaned back in his chair, folding his hands. “And the girl?”
Ethan frowned. “Which girl?”
“The human girl,” his father said, his eyes fixed on him.
“There are a lot of human girls,” Ethan muttered, reaching for his glass.
“The one you couldn’t compel. Your coach’s daughter.” His father’s voice sharpened slightly. “Is she really human? Or is she one of us?”
Ethan shrugged, staring into his drink.
“Maybe a hybrid then?” his father pressed.
Ethan shrugged again, shifting in his seat.
His father’s jaw tightened. “Do you ever answer a question with more than a shrug? You know how dangerous it is if she isn’t what she seems. You know how much trouble this could bring to us.”
“I don’t know,” Ethan said at last. He lifted his head, meeting his father’s eyes for only a second before looking away again.
The silence stretched for a moment until footsteps sounded in the hall. The door opened and Dylan walked in, still in his coat, his expression unreadable.
“To what do we owe the honor?” his father asked, his voice flat.
Dylan walked to the table and pulled something from his pocket. He let it hang in the air between his fingers, the light catching on it. It was Ethan’s key holder.
Ethan blinked, confused. “Where did you get that? It was on my training bag. I don't like you snooping around my stuff Dylan.”
Dylan set it down on the table. “Are you aware there’s a police investigation going on right now?”
Ethan’s father straightened in his chair. “What are you talking about?”
“This was found at Riverbend Inn,” Dylan said.
Ethan’s chest went tight. “No, that’s not possible. It’s been on my bag.”
Dylan shook his head slowly. “No, it wasn’t. You left it there, and now the police are circling. Do you realize how close you are to revealing everything about us? If not for the fact that I am dating a reporter who stumbled onto this, every single thing would already be out. They would know what you are. What we are.”
Ethan opened his mouth but no words came out.
“You’d be facing prison,” Dylan continued, his voice low. “And worse, the police would uncover proof that vampires exist. All of it, destroyed because of your carelessness.”
"I don't... I don't know what you're talking about," he said, looking confused. "I'm very serious."
"The body of a cleaner was found in a room. She was drained of blood, but no injuries, the details were very confusing. Security footage blurred... Details around everything was very shady... But it was traced back to you Ethan," Dylan said pointedly. "And guess what, she already had her suspicions about you being a vampire because of the race, now she's putting two and two together."
Ethan’s father turned to him, his eyes steady and dark. “Is this true?”
Ethan’s thoughts spun. Fuck. I knew Jace was going to be careless. I should have gone back, I should have cleaned it all up myself.
Dylan leaned across the table, his hand pressing flat against the wood. “How could you leave a body lying there like that? Did you even think about what you were doing? Why didn’t you compel her?”
Ethan clenched his jaw, his hands curling into fists in his lap. He stayed quiet, because if he spoke, everything would only get worse.
Lorenzo leaned back in his chair, swirling the dark red liquid in his glass like it was wine instead of what it actually was. His sharp eyes flicked to Dylan.
"So, what did you do about the lady who found out? I trust you've gotten rid of her."
Dylan smirked, leaning lazily against the table.
"Relax, brother. I compelled her. She's as good as new. Won’t remember jack. It's not the first time I've had to do it to protect our secrets."
Lorenzo’s eyes narrowed.
"You should get rid of her."
Dylan sat up straighter. "I am not killing my girlfriend."