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Before he could answer, she took the cup out of her hand and took a swig of it. She couldn’t contain her shiver as plain Vodka burned her throat. She had to squeeze her free thumb to resist the urge to throw it back up into the cup.
“I would have poured you some, if you asked,” he said wryly.
She turned her head to look at Blaine, suddenly remembering the other truth bomb she had learned recently.
"You're a Vulture? Why haven't you said something?" She shook her head after another shiver wracked her body. "You're no better than I am. Do they know?"
"Whoa! Quiet down, Viper,” Blaine hissed. "No, they don’t know. It's going to stay that way, if I can help it."
"Why won't you tell them? You were all ready to out me, but you won't tell them yourself?" she snapped. She was infuriated with him and with herself. She let the fear of being outed scare her, but the whole time she didn't have anything to worry about. By outing her, he'd be outing himself.
She had a revelation and took a step back in shock. "Is the reason you won't tell Renly because he'll think you're responsible for his father?"
Blaine didn't answer her.
“You rather I take the blame instead of possibly losing your friend?”
Madeleine took that moment to come into the kitchen. Mykie had almost thought it was Ryker coming after her, but she was gravely disappointed to see his mother.
She was dressed head to toe in black, but those were the only two things that were fully covered. Her dress inappropriately clung to her body like a second skin and it exposed places that shouldn’t be seen on a grieving woman's body. She wore black tights that didn't give the intended modesty that they were marketed for and black heels. Her face was hidden by a black veil attached to her hat.
As soon as she realized who was in the kitchen and her gaze landed on Mykie, her concerned expression morphed into a bitter smile.
"Miss Vesper,” Madeleine said, her eyes raking up and down her body with distain. “I would have thought you would have understood to stay away from my family, Miss Vesper. Neither you nor I want to see another person get hurt.”
Mykie was stunned as Madeleine walked away.
The mother of five, standing in the middle of her late husband’s wake, just threatened her to stay away from her family. She didn’t know whether to laugh or get angry due to the people in the immediate vicinity of her now whispering to their companions.
Mykie looked at Blaine, who had settled with leaning on the counter once again. “I don’t know how anyone puts up with that woman.”
She picked up his cup again, taking another swig of his drink. This time it went down easier.
She’d have to come up with a new plan to get the Harper account. This time, going for the grieving brother of Renly and Ryker. She couldn’t rely on either one of them to help her, now.
No. She needed to take a deep breath and reign herself back in. Ryker always had an explanation. Maybe he was faking disinterest in front of the Vultures to try to fit in?
It sounded lame, even in her head.
She had to decide whether she would allow him another chance to explain himself. He said he wouldn’t leave her, so she needed to give him the same commitment. It was hard, however, to reason him keeping such a big secret from her.
Blaine was watching her with a contemplative look in his eye until she set his drink down again.
“What did you do to make her hate you so much?” Blaine asked.
She scowled. “I didn’tdoanything! The woman’s never liked me since the day I met her. Knowing my luck, she believes Renly about my involvement.”
Blaine frowned. “I’m sorry about that. Just to let you know.”
She quirked her eyebrow. “What?”
“That Renly attacking you like that. If it means anything, I know you’ve wouldn’t have done something like that.”
“Why does everyone keep telling me that?” She huffed. “I mean, it’s great that you believe me, but you don’t think I’m capable of murder?”
He shrugged and turned his head to look at her. His gaze was intense, and it made Mykie want to look away, but something kept her eyes on him. “Even if it was the case of having orders, you’re not mindless. You make your own decision, even if that doesn’t line up with someone else’s agenda.”
Mykie felt her irritation and anger lessen to longer she watched him. “That was sort of…nice.”
