“Right.”
So they drank. And they danced. But unfortunately, it was all for nothing, since Miguel never showed up.
Or so they thought.
Once they were back at the Belladonna compound, Ana saw very little of Ty. Her days were filled with getting to know her teammates better and teaching them skills she’d learned on the streets or in prison. Every night, however, she dreamed of her dance at the ball with her devilish prince. Even more than she’d thought possible, she missed him.
So much so that when someone knocked on her bedroom door and she opened it to see Ty standing there, she was ready to tell him she’d made a mistake. That she’d take whatever time with him she could get. But as soon as she looked in his eyes, the words died in her throat.
He nodded formally, distantly, as if they’d never held each other. As if he truly planned to never hold her again and was completely fine with that.
“I’ve been contacted by Salvation’s Crossing,” he said. “We did it, Ana. They’re sending a private jet to fly me back out to California in a few days. Carly and Mahone listened in and okayed it.”
“Who’s Mahone again?” she asked, more for something to say than anything else. She was still stunned by the news that their ruse had actually worked. That all it had taken to give Ty what he wanted was wearing a fancy dress and dancing with him. It couldn’t be this easy, could it?
“The FBI’s liaison to Belladonna.”
She should have felt proud. Relieved. Instead she felt only dread that Ty had obviously been right about what it would take to get them inside Salvation’s Crossing. What else was he going to be right about? “Miguel saw us together? Why didn’t we see him?”
“He saw us. We didn’t see him because he didn’t want us to. Bottom line, you were the key to getting us into Salvation’s Crossing, just like we thought you’d be. He trusts you, he trusts me. Even if he doesn’t trust me, he’s decided to play the game. And he’s going all out. He said he wants my help, to provide funds for Hispanic rights—but also to help those of Hispanic descent become vampires.”
“What?” she whispered, shocked yet again despite herself. “He actually said that? He admitted he knows about vampires?”
“He knows. And he knows I’m one.”
“But how?”
“Because as I told you, he’s been watching you. Watching both of us, apparently. And because he’s been turned into a vampire himself.”
The shock should have killed her by now, but perhaps she was getting used to it, because she just stared at him. “For real?” she asked softly.
Ty shrugged. “We circled the subject at first, but when I asked him straight out—”
“He couldn’t lie.”
“He could have evaded my questions if he’d really wanted to, but he didn’t. He was upfront about wanting my money. And about wanting to see you. He’s going to be very disappointed when you don’t show up.”
She wasn’t sure she’d heard him correctly at first. “What are you talking about?”
“I’m going into Salvation’s Crossing but I’m going alone.”
He said it so calmly. As if it was a done deal and she had no say in the matter whatsoever. “Ty, we talked about this. You can’t—”
“I can. Because as I said before, things have changed. And—and there’s more, Ana. I’m sorry, but there’s more.”
“Tell me,” she whispered.
“Your sister is a turned vampire, too.”
CHAPTER
TWENTY-EIGHT
This is it, Ty thought. This is where she breaks. But I’m here. Just like she was there for me in that parking garage after I’d shot Louis. I’m not letting her come with me, but I’ll help her through this.
Only Ana was even stronger than he gave her credit for.
Although she went white and swayed on her feet, she quickly composed herself. “How?” she asked.
He was struck by how similar she sounded to Carly at that moment. Pushing aside all emotion to ask for only the necessary facts. That ability to distance herself emotionally had been learned the hard way, and the habit would only become more ingrained the longer she stayed at Belladonna.
He’d been right to question himself when he was in Seattle. When he’d wondered if he was doing the right thing by dragging her into all this. He should have left her alone.
Yet in his heart, he knew if he had to do it all over again, he would.
Especially if he’d known Miguel and her sister were turned vampires; it was only further confirmation that Hallifax was right. That the Crossing was a cover for a human blood slave distributor.
No matter how much this information hurt Ana right now, it was imperative that Belladonna shut it down.
He didn’t say any of this, of course. He didn’t have to.
She’d remember it on her own after her shock wore off.
“According to Miguel,” he said, “after you went to prison, new gangs began to form in your neighborhood. Devil’s Crew and Primos Sangre agreed to merge in order to combine their collective strengths. Not all of the gang members agreed, and those in opposition were rooted out.”
“You mean hurt,” she said tonelessly. “Or killed.”
“Yes. Well, those that were left learned that Devil’s Crew was comprised largely of vampires. Not turned vampires, but born vampires. Rogues.”
“Rogues. The vampires that were helping the FBI with its Turning Program.”
Ty nodded. “Apparently, once they were deemed trustworthy, Miguel and your sister were told the truth and were offered the chance of a lifetime—to be turned.”
“And they agreed? To be turned into—into—”
“Monsters?” he asked softly, seeing the revulsion on her face.
“No! Not monsters. You’re not a monster. But you’re not what nature intended, either. If what you’re saying is true, neither are they anymore. What made them want that?”
“Because from what Miguel says, the basic premise of Salvation’s Crossing is legitimate. They want to help those of Hispanic descent. To become stronger. To live longer. To gain an ‘in’ with the government they didn’t have before.”
“My sister was so gentle,” Ana murmured. “I guess she got goddamn sick and tired of being used. Can’t blame her.”
“No. Not really.”
Ana sighed. Ty could practically see her thought process. Yes, it made sense. Gloria, a victim of poverty, abuse, and sexual deviation, had lost everything, including the only family she’d had left to count on when Ana was sent to prison. Left alone, she’d been given an opportunity for a new life. To be stronger than any mere human. And to help la raza do the same.
“I know what you’re thinking, Ana, but the intel is solid. This isn’t just a benevolent organization trying to help the disenfranchised. Someone in Salvation’s Crossing, be it a human or a vampire, is kidnapping migrant workers and selling them as blood slaves to other vampires—”
“You don’t know that. Not for sure.”
“No,” he answered bluntly. “But that’s why I have to go in. I need to be sure.”
She narrowed her eyes and raised her chin. “I’m going in, too. Just like we planned.”
He scowled. “You can’t. It’s too dangerous now.”
“It’s always been dangerous.”
“Not like this. Going in covertly, when I thought I was dealing with mere humans”—he almost snorted at the dreaded phrase that had left his lips so naturally—“was one thing. I’d have the edge. But now, with at least two other vampires, maybe even more—”