Song - Don't Speak - No Doubt

Roman was on the phone when I walked back into the warehouse. Jas watched him, biting his nails like he always did when he was nervous. Hearing me dump the helmet, Jas rushed over and engulfed me in a hug.

"Are you crazy?" he whispered.

"Probably."

"We've been worried sick. Where were you?"

I shrugged, avoiding his question.

"She was at Mon Crief," Roman growled. "Have you lost your mind?"

"Come on," Jas interrupted. "They would have been too busy screwing each other to realise she was there."

"She burned the damned place down," he snapped.

Jasper turned, stunned as he stared at me. I shrugged and began to wander off, only to have Roman grab my arm.

"Dani,"

"I don't recall saying that I was at Mon Crief. You assumed that."

"You stink of petrol."

Reaching into my pocket, he pulled the balaclava that was hanging out. Obviously, I didn't push it deep enough into the pocket.

"A balaclava, how interesting."

The mood had sunk, and Roman was angry. I looked at him with nothing showing. No hints of my mood, no emotions. Nothing but the two of us glaring at each other.

"You said this was about Noah and the group. That is what the underground movement approved. You can't just wander off into the night and take down vampires by yourself."

"But she did."

Roman frowned at Jasper. He stalked over to us, ready to plead my case.

"Come on, think about what Dani's done. Forget about the movement for just a moment and actually think about what happened tonight. How many were taken out?"

"Numbers can't be confirmed unless we get an inside source."

"But a lot, right?"

Roman nodded.

"Hunters were taken down. We know what goes on there. It's not just the single hunters that attend. The married ones still go. Dani has, quite literally, decimated their ranks in one night. No one has ever done that. Yeah, fine, this wasn't what she demanded of us and the movement, but she's done more for our way of life than anyone else has. For that alone, she deserves a little gratitude and maybe a whole lot of support from those who are closest to her."

Roman glanced at me, and for a brief moment, I saw the façade crack.

"You know why the movement is angry?" Jasper continued. "It's because they never thought to do this. After all these years of putting up with being hunted, they've accepted it is a normal part of life. You know that, right? Instead of hunting the hunters, we're told to avoid them and not engage in anything that could lead to a fight. They created the plan to sneak into the building to put a back door into their computer system. Which yes, I understand it was necessary, but have we ever actually said that walking around like a bunch of targets is not good enough? If we actually stood up for ourselves, we wouldn't need the information. You know I'm right, and you also know that what Dani did was incredible which is why you're angry. You want to celebrate her defiance, her tenacity and her ingenuity but you can't because those assholes are too busy yelling at you."

Roman sighed and pulled me into his arms, hugging me hard. Jasper smiled and winked at me. I tried not to smile, but it was difficult not to. He was such a sweetheart.

"You would have to be the craziest woman I have ever met."

"Are they really yelling at you?"

"Yeah."

"Why?"

"Because Otis and Barney will retaliate."

"How do they know it was a vampire that did it?"

Roman pulled out of the hug, looking at me like I'd lost the plot.

"No, seriously. Angry neighbours seem reasonable. The music was really loud. If it's been going on for years, then it's plausible that one of them finally snapped."

He rolled his eyes, shaking his head.

"Yeah, they're not going to believe that for a second. As for the underground movement, they're angry because they know that this will lead to war. We are officially grounded, and your plans to kill Noah are now gone."

Yeah, we'll see. I merely smiled at Roman, and his eyes narrowed.

"What are you up to? And while we're asking questions, how did you get the fuel to burn the place down?"

Faking a yawn, I stretched my arms and pretended to be tired.

"Sorry, little buddy, I'm far too tired to tell war stories tonight. Maybe another day."

Jasper sniggered, which distracted Roman. I made it to the stairs before he caught up with me.

"Dani, you can't avoid this. The underground is angry."

"I don't care," I snapped. "Jas said it was obvious Noah wanted to pin my death on the vampires. He figured out something was going to happen on my birthday, and I'd wager that one of you told the underground about it, hoping they'd intervene."

I saw the flicker on his face and knew I'd hit the mark.

"They wouldn't, which makes me think that the underground wanted me to die if only to give a reason for something bigger to happen. Like maybe something about the vampires arcing up about a civilian wife unnecessarily dying. Jasper didn't like that and resolved to do something, forcing your hand to ensure he didn't get caught. When you pulled me from the river, you were standoffish towards me. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that you were not completely agreeable to Jasper's plan. I'm not an idiot, and I can see through you and your precious underground."

Stalking closer, I narrowed my eyes at Roman. He held his ground, which was admirable, even if it was somewhat foolish.

"I don't make threats. I make promises. If you stand in my way, I'll take you down with the rest of them."

Turning, I stomped up the stairs. It was done to the sound of two angry vampires whispering their argument. I stripped out of the clothes and showered away the scent of the night. By the time I was done, Jasper was at the door. He passed my clothes to Roman, giving him a mighty frown.

"I'm not interested in talking about it."

"Dani,"

"I made it clear that I don't want any secrets, yet you two seem to live and breathe them. Noah has done nothing but lie to me, walk all over me, and treat me as if I am nothing but a way to annoy his father. You two are no different."

Wrapping the towel around me, I ignored the look of hurt on Jasper's face and stalked into the dressing room.

"You're angry. Please don't take this beyond what can be repaired."

"Then stop keeping secrets and lying to me."

"I've done nothing but try to give you everything I can."

"But you still obey the underground movement like they control you, like they are some authoritarian."

Closing the drawer, I dumped my clothes on the dresser and turned to Jasper.

"Are there things that they said you can't tell me?"

Warily, he nodded.

"And what would happen if you told me?"

Jasper shrugged. "I don't know."

"Then what's stopping you?"

Stepping forward, I grasped his shirt and looked up at Jasper.

"Doesn't it kill you to know you're keeping these things from me?"

"Yeah,"

Glancing at the door, Jasper sighed.

"Every time you said something that raised a flag, I told Roman and made him tell the movement. In the end, they said they weren't interested in hearing about your marital problems, and I was delusional, borderline obsessed with you. When Tatum tried to organise dinner for your birthday, I knew Noah was planning something. The movement wasn't interested, stating that if it happened, it would be an acceptable catalyst to push forward with their plans to enter the building. They wanted the place occupied, distracted, whatever they could get so that entry would be easy. For the record, Roman was standoffish because he knew what the underground would say, which he doesn't really care about but kind of does."

I raised an eyebrow, and he huffed, rolling his eyes.

"His father runs the movement, and he's the ruler of the coven for the UK."