Eternal by C. C. Hunter Read Free Book Online Page B

said he’s been obsessing over you lately.”
    Obsessing? She shook her head. “He hasn’t called or texted me since we saw each other at the falls. If he had, I’d tell you.”
    â€œThat’s what I assured them,” he said.
    Della pulled out her phone again and typed Chase another message. Worried. Vamp Council looking 4 u. U ok?
    She stared at her phone, her lungs tight, praying he would text her back.
    When it didn’t ding back in seconds, she looked up at Burnett. “Maybe I should go look for him.”
    â€œWhere?”
    â€œI don’t know, but—”
    â€œNo. If you knew where he was, it would be one thing, but—”
    Her phone dinged. She looked at the number. Chase’s number.
    â€œIt’s him.” She read his message—to herself.
    Worrying means u care.
    She clenched her teeth.
    â€œAnd?” Burnett asked.
    She ignored Burnett and typed: R u ok?
    His reply came back quickly. Fine. Working our case. Later.
    Della looked up, drawing in air. “All he says is he’s okay and is working the case.”
    She half expected Burnett to ask to see the texts. He didn’t, and that showed a lot of trust on his part. She appreciated that more than he knew.
    â€œText him back and tell him I said for him to contact the council. We need him to stay in their good graces right now.”
    She did as Burnett said. They sat in the silent office for several minutes, waiting for his reply. Her phone didn’t ding.
    Finally, Della set her phone down. “What could Chase know, or the Vampire Council know, that we don’t? How can he be working on the case?”
    Burnett’s expression hardened. “I don’t know. My people are still going through the files that we got. I know that one of Craig Anthony’s homes was torn apart before we got there. Maybe someone with the council found something. But I don’t think so. We found most of our evidence in the files at the funeral home and on his phone and computer.”
    â€œI hate this,” Della said, and this time it wasn’t about her feelings for the crazy vamp, but for Natasha and Liam.
    â€œI know, but right now there’s nothing we can do.”
    All of a sudden, Burnett’s cell rang. He looked at the phone. “I need to take this.”
    Della figured he meant he wanted her to leave, and she stood up.
    As she took one step to the door, she heard the voice on the line. “It’s Leo. I got the approval, but we’re going in dark. We never got ahold of the owner. That said, we’re good to move tonight. Three a.m.”
    What was going down? Did it involve Chase? The case? Okay, she didn’t want to be rude, but curiosity bit. Bit hard. She took another step toward the door, but she didn’t open it.
    â€œOkay, I’ll be there,” Burnett’s voice came.
    Just as she reached for the knob, Burnett said, “Della?”
    Crap. Was he upset that she’d been eavesdropping? She turned around, feeling guilty. It had been rude.
    â€œI’m sorry, I should have left, but I thought maybe it was—”
    â€œSit down.” He shut off the phone. His gaze met her eyes, and she saw it. That phone call involved her.
    She didn’t do as ordered.
    â€œWhat is it?” She sensed his hesitancy and that could mean only one thing. It was bad.
    â€œSit back down,” he repeated. “We need to talk.”
    *   *   *
    The clock on Della’s bedside table listed the time as 2:55 a.m. She had five minutes. She looked down at her clothes. She was ready.
    Black.
    Black boots.
    Black jeans and a black fitted T-shirt.
    All black, so she’d blend into the night.
    It had been the first rule of thumb that her cousin, Chan, had taught her about being a vampire. How appropriate that the color was right for this event. Black for grief. Black for pain. Black for putting Chan’s body into the ground and