The Severed Thread by Dione C. Suto Read Free Book Online Page A

of Philadelphia and the surrounding region including Wilmington in Delaware, and Camden and Trenton in New Jersey.  His progeny and blood-claimed protected his interests in those satellite cities, reporting directly up to him. 
    Despite his high profile position, McCallister was in reality a modern day crime boss who had his fingers into everything, from illegal gambling to drugs.  Paradoxically, since he was also the local clan master, he was received in social circles where no other crime boss could hope to be admitted.  He had even been allowed to adopt a young child, who was rumored to be an orphaned member of his still-human family.  I was not sure I was buying the fatherly bit he portrayed in public but I had to admit he made an intriguing character for the media.
    We had attended a few of the same social events on a handful of occasions, and had even met this past Spring at the annual charity gala for the local children’s hospital, if you could believe it.  I assumed that he attended for the same reasons most politicians did – it was good public relations.  ‘Look at the nice vampire, supporting such a wonderful cause!’  His money and position made everyone look the other way when whispers of his connection to drugs and prostitution floated through the media.
    “I assume that this isn’t an optional discussion?” I said dryly.
    “No,” Lok responded while shaking his head in mock sadness.  “I’m afraid it isn’t.”
    “You don’t suppose McCallister would consider doing this tomorrow evening?”  I could not bring myself to call him Mr. McCallister.  That implied I was beneath him somehow.  Or owed him respect like a child to an elder.  When we met he had told me to call him Liam, although I doubted he would remember.  I opted for just using his surname, since the situation did not seem to warrant the level of casual familiarity that calling him Liam implied.
    Lok just raised his eyebrows at the question, allowing me to draw my own conclusions.
    I let out the deep breath I had been holding.  “Well, it doesn’t look like I have much of a choice, then.”
    “No,” Lok replied, shaking his head.
    I got my purse off the hall table and started to slip my cell phone inside.  I was happy to see it was still in one piece, since I had been gripping it so tightly.
    “You need to leave the phone,” Seamus told me.
    “Why?”  I hated the thought of not having it with me; it made the trip that much more unsettling.  This, when I thought about it, was surely part of the plan.
    “Orders,” Seamus shrugged.
    I reluctantly placed the phone on the hall table.  There was an imprint from the edge of the case embedded into the palm of my right hand.  I rubbed at it absently while grabbing my coat, all the while acutely aware that my two visitors were carefully watching me to ensure I did not bolt.
    “I’m not going to make a break for it,” I assured them.
    Seamus seemed about to make a comment when a female voice said, “There’s a car watching the front of the house.”
    I turned to see a woman of about my height, with a fiery mane of red hair looking out the window next to my front door.  I knew there was another one around here somewhere.  She must have been upstairs or in one of the other first floor rooms when I came in.  She could easily have circled back into the foyer to cover that exit.
    Seamus took a peek out the living room window.  “Looks like the Interspecies Bureau has decided to keep an eye on you Ms. Lassiter.  Wonder why that is?” he asked speculatively.
    “Maybe they think I need protection,” I suggested with no small amount of sarcasm.  “Although, if that’s the case, they aren’t doing a very good job of it.  I might need to make a complaint tomorrow.”  That was assuming I was still alive tomorrow.
    Seamus snorted and pointed to the kitchen, indicating I should head that way.  I was all for cooperation.  Everyone was minding their manners at