Eternal (Shadow Falls: After Dark #2)(92)

“They’re only hiding from the humans. Supernaturals know who they are.”

“But if the Vampire Council hung up a shingle, the FRU would be there to take it down and put them all in prison.”

“Only if they committed crimes,” Della said.

“Right. And being unregistered is a crime.”

Della had debated this in her mind. It wasn’t unlike the debate between socialists and libertarians. One believed in organized government and the other didn’t want government anywhere near their door.

“I’ll admit, I don’t see being unregistered as a crime, but the problem is the majority of criminals and evildoers come from that side. They don’t want to be registered because they know they’re up to no good. And because there aren’t any records, their chances of getting away with it are great.”

“Or they just don’t want someone else poking their noses into their lives. Not everyone who is unregistered is a criminal.”

“I know,” Della said, “but wasn’t it less than thirty years ago that the Vampire Council farmed humans and used them for food?”

“Wasn’t it just a little more than thirty years ago that the FRU allowed the hunting of werewolves?”

“So both organizations have mud on their faces,” Della said, admitting it. “You can’t deny that most all the crimes out there against humans are from those who refuse to be registered. And if any justice is going to be done, we need a way to hold people accountable.”

“Which is why the Vampire Council has their own unit to attempt to deal with rogues.”

“The FRU is trying to get the different species to work together.”

“We aren’t promoting prejudice. We just think that each species should be held accountable for their own.”

“The Vampire Council was actively trying to shut down Shadow Falls,” she accused.

“Yes, at the time, they saw it as a brainwashing camp to get teen vampires registered.”

“That ‘brainwashing camp’ saved my life and it’s saved the lives of many others.”

“I don’t disagree. The council was wrong. And in the last few years, they’ve stopped their attempts to shut it down.”

“You’re registered?” she asked, knowing the answer because Burnett had mentioned it before.

“The council felt it would allow me more cover.”

“Have you felt it has been an invasion of your privacy?”

He hesitated.

“Be honest,” she said.

“I guess not. But that could change.”

She frowned. “We aren’t going to agree on this, are we?”

“Probably not,” he said. “And I’m not taking you in there if all you plan to do is argue politics.”

“I can’t ask questions?”

“Questions about the case? Yes.”

“How about questions about mine and Chan’s case?”

“I’ve answered all those,” he said, his jaw set firmly.

“Maybe they know something you don’t.” Or maybe you’re still keeping secrets.

He ran a hand down his face as if frustrated. “If you came to work for them, you could ask all kinds of questions.”

“What does that mean?”

His expression hardened and his hesitation said he was trying to find an answer—so probably something a little off from the truth. “I just meant that as long as you work for the FRU, they aren’t going to completely open up to you.”

“So what will they hide from me?”

“I didn’t say they would hide anything,” he said.

“You implied it,” she countered.

“I didn’t imply shit,” he said. “Look, go talk to them, but don’t start interrogating them. They won’t like that. And the last thing I want to have to do is…”

“Is what?” she said.

He looked at her. Honesty filled his eyes. “Take on the council to defend you. They aren’t Reborns, but they’re bad asses.”

“You would do that?” she asked before she could stop herself.

“If I had to. But I don’t want to. So behave.”

“I’m gonna ask questions,” she said.

His frown tightened. “Fine, ask. But don’t get your back up if you don’t get answers.”

They got out of the car and walked into Benny’s. The smell of burnt bacon and eggs filled the air. The hostess was a vampire, and after checking their patterns and offering Chase a flirty smile, she motioned for them to go ahead to the back room.

Della followed him, her stomach a knot of nerves. She almost wished she hadn’t drank the blood at Chase’s place. The door to the back was shut. While he’d been motioned to go on back, he still knocked.

“Come in,” she heard a low and deep voice say on the other side.

Chase looked over his shoulder at her and mouthed the word, “Behave.”

Chapter Thirty-eight

Unlike the front of the diner, the back room held heavy curtains. And they were closed. The only light came from a chandelier that held a couple of sixty-watt bulbs.

Six men sat behind a long table. Della’s gaze shifted fast, taking in each of their faces, searching for one face. The face of her father. Or rather, her father’s identical twin.