VAN’S P.O.V.
“It’s just Jesper and Nichole.”
As soon as the words left my mouth, I felt like a f*****g i***t.
All of these fuckers heard it when the back door opened. The door didn’t close all the way. It was always left cracked open, shoved against the frame to close it as much as Jesper could force it closed. Anytime anyone opened it, it sounded like nails on a damn chalkboard.
But f**k, I just lied for her.
I was sitting downstairs in the basement with, as far as I knew, about thirty bloodsuckers—I didn’t think any of them were upstairs when I watched Hazel and her bait creep into the break room. I knew Hazel could handle it if anyone was upstairs, and I hated how badly I wanted to go upstairs and check. She didn’t need protection. Did she even deserve it anyway?
I was having a
