Gaslight (Crossbreed #4)(56)
Even worse was how I was beginning to believe he might have a point. What kind of companion would I have been for a Vampire who kidnaps humans to sell for money? I might have wound up believing in the cause and behaving like a brainwashed cult member. My cruel beginnings had shaped me into a renegade who killed worthless criminals—men who did despicable things—just like my maker. Instead of becoming someone’s pet to keep them company and do their bidding, I found a purpose.
As I sat there staring at the plastic cabinets, the idea of fate rooted in my thoughts. Had he not turned me at all, where would I be now? Would I have made amends with my father and found a job that made me happy? Maybe not. At least with Keystone, I had the potential to do so much more.
Except now as I faced enslavement, I might never know.
Chapter 15
Christian sat on the edge of Raven’s bed. The soft scarlet bedspread beneath his hands still carried her scent, and everything on her desk was perfectly arranged as if awaiting her return. It was nearly noon. Wyatt and Viktor took over upping the bids to make sure the auction didn’t close for lack of counteroffers. They’d already been at it for twelve hours. Christian had to get away and collect his thoughts. The moment the auction began, this guy had them by the balls. Based on the description, they knew for certain he had Raven. Then came the peculiar request in a private message that the seller would only accept money from Christian’s account. Without knowing who he was, they couldn’t chance circumventing the rules. This shitebag was going to milk Christian for every penny.
And he’d give it.
Christian received a warning that the seller would know if he pooled money from other sources, and that struck him as odd. Why wouldn’t he want more?
Because somehow this was personal.
Christian recalled as much detail as he could about the man with bleached hair. He didn’t have any distinct scars or markings, and Christian didn’t recall seeing him before. Yet the familiar way his hazel eyes had connected with Raven made him wonder if those two were in cahoots. After all, Raven was the one who’d insisted on investigating this particular case and volunteering as bait. How much did any of them know about her past, other than what she had told them? What if they were a team, like Bonnie and Clyde? Maybe this whole thing was an elaborate scam.
But if that were the case, it didn’t explain why he was limiting funds to only Christian’s account. Surely they’d want every penny, so that remote possibility was immediately crossed out. He didn’t want to think the worst of Raven, but it wouldn’t be the first time someone he trusted had deceived him.
Now with a second bidder in the picture, Christian didn’t know what he was up against.
The longer he sat in her empty bedroom, the more incensed he became. The idea of someone touching her—hurting her—was more than he could stomach. He should have kept their relationship professional. In a job like this, there was always the chance that something could go wrong. Now the fates were mocking him for his selfish need to feel loved.
Christian laced his fingers together. His first mistake was underestimating their target. They hadn’t anticipated their Vampire would bother with wearing contacts. In a Breed club? Sure. But around humans he’d want to stand out and look the part. In any case, this guy didn’t have the telltale complexion.
Christian and Raven had been careful not to blow their cover. The few times they were near each other, they acted like strangers. Both used aliases. So how did this guy know Christian’s name? Either he’d charmed Raven for information, or he’d tortured it out of her—neither option was acceptable. He clenched his fists at the thought of someone tinkering around in her head. Though he’d done it himself, she’d expressed how important it was for her to keep her memories intact.
“Where are you?” he whispered. Fear gripped him tight. If he didn’t have enough money to win the auction, she could be sold as a bloodslave.
Christian leaned forward and rubbed his face. His feelings for Raven were testing him in ways he’d never thought possible. Would he continue working for Keystone without her, or would he search the ends of the earth for a woman he barely knew?
Years ago, a fire had threatened to swallow up that little girl. But Christian had saved her, and now he felt a duty to protect her. Christian stood up and flipped open the lid to her jewelry box. The dancer inside twirled in a circle to the tune of Für Elise. Because he hadn’t scrubbed Crush’s memory, he had an obligation to tell him that something had happened to his daughter.
Eventually.
He closed the jewelry box and stalked out of the room. Christian was going to do whatever it took to avoid that conversation with Crush. Not telling Raven that he hadn’t erased her father’s memory was a necessary evil. Letting go of her father was hard, but Raven knew why it mattered. Part of it allowed her to move forward with her new life, but it also shielded her from the pain of losing him to her enemies. Aside from all that, he’d given Crush his word to keep it a secret.
As soon as Christian entered Wyatt’s office, all eyes fell on him.
“Here,” Wyatt said, rolling his chair to the side. “You take over. I can’t focus when my stomach is running on cheese and crackers. Whoever stole my key needs to give it back. Sugar is the sustenance of life, and if I don’t get my sustenance—”