Free Redemption by Amy Miles

profile.   “Have you heard anything from your end?”
    Nicolae’s stomach clenches at the thought of his estranged brothers.   “We aren’t exactly on speaking terms at the moment.”
    “I thought not,” Fane says, sinking down onto a chair behind him.   He perches on the edge, too anxious to sit back.   “We can’t let this continue.   Whoever is behind this targeted Victoria.   She was no fool, Nicolae.   It would take a skilled hunter to track her down.”
    “I don’t think it was one of us,” Nicolae says, staring at the blurred out images taken from the crime scene.   Although the outline of the bodies can be seen, the more gruesome details of the priest’s death have been left to front page coverage of newspapers around the world.  
    “Nor do I and that’s what worries me.”   Fane’s fingers dig into the leather arms of the chair.   “Someone is trying to expose us.   But who?   Vladimir is gone.   It doesn’t make any sense.”
    “What about someone under his command?   Lavinia?”
    Fane snorts.   “That woman couldn’t pull anything like this off.   She may be demented, but she’s far from methodical.   No, whoever is planning these murders is patient, disciplined.   I fear this is only the beginning.”
    Nicolae blows out a deep breath.   “What about Roseline?   Do you think Sadie could be right?   That Lucien really is alive?   This sounds like his MO.”
    Fane dips his head in consideration.   He slowly nods, his expression darkening.   “It could be.   Or maybe Malachi is on a rampage.   Who knows?   But we can’t let it continue.   This latest attack is getting major attention.   People are starting to get scared.   Whispers of fanged monsters in the dark have already begun to surface.   A few more of these and there will be people with shotguns and pitchforks breaking down our door.”
    The thought chills Nicolae.   It will be nearly impossible to keep Sadie from being killed by his own hunters, let alone protect her against an entire town or country.   Romania is deeply veined with tales of vampires, so if word gets out that the myths could be true, people will flock to Bran Castle to hunt them down.
    “We have to leave,” Nicolae says, staring blankly at the muted news report.  
    “I agree.   The sooner the better.”   He looks back over his shoulder at Sadie and William.   “We will let them sleep tonight, but tomorrow we head for Canada.”
    “Canada?”
    Fane nods.   “You will all be safe there.”
    “You?”   Nicolae’s brow furrows.   “You aren’t planning on sticking around?”
    “No,” Fane shakes his head.   “I have to go after Roseline.”
    “But that’s suicide,” Nicolae protests.   “If Lucien really is the one behind these attacks, that means he is alive and deadly as ever.   What do you think he will do to you when you show up on his front doorstep looking for Roseline?”
    Fane rises from the seat, a sad smile spread along his lips.   “It doesn’t really matter, does it?   I have to find her and I know you understand that.”
    He pauses to place his hand on Nicolae’s shoulder before he leaves, closing the door behind him.   Nicolae hangs his head, weary of fighting, and death.   Will it ever end?
    When he looks up, he finds Sadie staring at him in the dark.   “How much did you hear?”
    “All of it.”
    Nicolae smirks.   “I should have known you were faking it.”
    She nods, biting her lip.   “We can’t let him go on his own.   He won’t survive.”
    “I know.”   He sighs and sinks back into a chair, covering his face with his hands.   “But what else can we do?   I won’t risk your safety for his.”
    “As touching as that is, he is your friend now, Nicolae.   Your family.   Maybe not by blood, but that doesn’t matter.   He would risk his life for you.”
    “So what are you suggesting?”
    Sadie slowly unwinds herself from William.   He snorts, twisting to his side