“I still don’t understand why after all these years of me bitching about that little prick, they finally listened to me.”

“As I said, that doesn’t matter,” Max said, running his finger down the stem of his glass. “Whilst we’re on the subject of the council, though, during our call today, they made mention of exactly how many of your kind there are now. I’m aware how you feel about divulging any numbers, but—”

“You’re wasting your breath, Max. Three-hundred-plus years ago, when I accepted the council’s offer to have a seat at the table, I told them I’d never reveal any information about the daywalkers, and I never will.”

“Christ, I know you so well. That’s exactly what I told the others you’d say, so consider the subject dropped—again,” Max said, smiling. “Now, what would you like for dessert? I can offer you strawberries and cream or something with a clotting factor.”

Bennett’s face split into a grin. “Strawberries and cream sounds delicious, Max. Thanks.”

Chapter Thirteen

After her dinner with Max on Friday, Bennett continued to patrol the streets of Back Bay for a few more days before deciding Napoleon had heeded the council’s warning. She had seen none of his people lurking about, and there hadn’t been another murder fitting the description of a vampire attack since the one in the alley. Pleased she could go back to business as usual, when Bennett walked into the gallery on Wednesday night, there was pep in her step until the sound of an argument reached her ears. The conversation was one-sided, so she knew Lisa was on the phone, and by the tone of her voice, Lisa wasn’t happy.

Bennett sighed. The only thing she wanted was for Lisa to find a love so powerful that she’d change her mind about the choice she’d made. To the best of Bennett’s knowledge, Lisa hadn’t dated anyone until Jimmy came along, so when Lisa had mentioned the man, Bennett said a prayer. She prayed Jimmy would be that someone special who could change the course of Lisa’s life. Unfortunately, it took Bennett only twenty-eight minutes to realize Jimmy would provide no such detour.

Three months earlier, Bennett had met Jimmy Perkins when she joined the Jensen siblings at O’Toole’s to celebrate Finn’s birthday. At a table littered with mugs and pitchers of beer, Bennett had sat alongside the handsome man, observing him by way of covert glimpses whenever she got a chance. He was polite and handsome, and his fashionable hairstyle, clothing, and cologne added to the man’s charm, and Jimmy was charming. He was also complacent.