Free Love Your Entity by Cat Devon Page B

Ronan seemed to have on her.
    “It was me,” Sierra repeated.
    “Like hell it was.” With that, Ronan stormed out of the house.
    *   *   *
    “She’s asking questions,” Ronan said as he joined Damon at the All Nighter Bar and Grill.
    “I hate when that happens,” Damon replied.
    “Yeah, me too.”
    “So what kind of questions was Sierra asking?”
    “Stupid ones,” Ronan said, drinking half a bottle of blood before wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. He’d had enough of being polite.
    “Well, she is human. Naturally her questions will be stupid.”
    “ She’s not stupid.”
    Damon sighed. “Why don’t you just tell me what she said.”
    “She wanted to know where I lived before I came here.”
    “And you told her what?”
    “That I was in Europe.”
    “Doing what?”
    “Yes, that’s what she asked next.”
    “And you said?”
    “Not much.” Ronan’s voice reflected his impatience.
    “Wise move,” Damon congratulated him. “Then what’s the problem?”
    “She wants to know more.”
    “They always do.”
    “You speak like someone who has experienced this yourself.”
    “Zoe knew I was a vampire the first time I met her,” Damon said. “And I knew she was a witch. I knew and wasn’t happy about it.”
    “Just as I’m not happy about Sierra’s presence. Have you figured out yet why Sierra can’t be compelled like other humans?” Ronan asked.
    “We’re still working on it.”
    “How long is it going to take?”
    “She’s hasn’t even been here two full days yet.”
    “I’m on a deadline.” The words slipped out and Ronan instantly regretted saying them.
    “What kind of deadline?” Damon’s voice turned hard.
    “She gave me two weeks to stay in the house until her lawyer comes back. I have to get rid of her before then.”
    “That’s it?” Damon asked suspiciously. “There’s no other deadline?”
    Ronan shook his head. He was lying but it had to be done. He couldn’t reveal the bargain he’d made with Voz. Instead he focused on his cover story. “The longer Sierra stays, the bigger the risk that she’ll discover what I really am.”
    “And what you are really?”
    “A vampire.”
    “And?” Damon demanded.
    “And what?” Ronan said.
    “You tell me. There’s something else going on here.”
    “I’ve already assured Nick that no one in Vamptown has anything to fear from me.”
    “What about those outside of Vamptown?”
    “Is it so hard for you to consider the fact that I just want to return to my home?” Ronan said.
    “Yeah, it is hard for me.”
    Ronan tried turning the conversation to Damon. “Where was your home when you were human? Was it here in Chicago?”
    “No.”
    “See, you don’t like talking about your past either.”
    “Good point.”
    “Are the surveillance cameras in the house working yet?” Ronan asked.
    “No.” Damon’s voice hardened again. “And I’m not happy about that. Neville says it’s a software problem and he’s working on it. What makes you ask?”
    “I just thought it might provide some answers as to why Sierra can’t be compelled.”
    “We will find out soon, I can promise you that,” Damon said.
    Ronan managed to sidestep any further questioning but he didn’t relax until he’d left the bar. He was always on guard. Not that other vampires were the type to spill their guts. But being indentured made you different from your own kind. He knew it and Damon knew it.
    Thanks to the still malfunctioning surveillance cameras, Damon didn’t know that Voz had paid Ronan a little visit and Ronan planned on keeping it that way.
    *   *   *
    “Have you come up with a plan yet?” Ruby asked Sierra.
    “No.”
    “What are you doing?”
    “Research,” Sierra said.
    “About what?”
    “Hal.” Sierra shivered after saying his name. “Is he here?”
    “He’s everywhere.”
    “He can leave the house?”
    “No. At least I don’t think so. He never has in the past.”
    “Has he ever come