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Matthew couldn’t absorb what he was seeing It changedeverything

"Jack hasDNA than you do" Chris paused "I have to ask, Matthew Are you sure you can trust Jack around Diana?"

Before Matthew could respond, the front door opened There was none of the usual chatter that acco, or Andrew’s pious ser

The only sound was Lobero’s lohine

Matthew’s nostrils flared, and he leaped to his feet, the test results scattering around hi to the doorway in a flash

"What the hell?" Chris said behind hilass said, leading a reluctant Lobero into the house

21

"Move," Baldwin co Jack by the scruff of his neck Matthew had seen that hand tear another vampire’s head clean off

Jack hadn’t witnessed that brutal episode, but he kneas at Baldwin’s mercy just the same

The boy hite-skinned and wide-eyed, with enorly, he obeyed Baldithout hesitation

Lobero knew it, too Gallowglass still held the leash, but the dog circled the Gael’s feet with eyes fixed on hisin a whisper, but Lobero was having none of it

"Trouble, Matthew?" Chris was so close that Matthew could feel his breath

"There’s always trouble," Matthew said gried Chris "Take Mop, too, and--" Jack stopped with a wince Blood suffused the skin on his neck where Baldwin’s fingertips were leaving a dark bruise

"They’re staying," Baldwin hissed

Jack hadwhat other people loved Some experience in his past must have shaped the impulse, but Matthew had never discovered what it was

Baldould never let Chris or Mop go now Not until he got what he caive orders You take them" Baldas careful to keep the boy between hi rooly siht back painful memories

Jack is not Eleanor, Matthew told himself Jack was a vampire, too But he was Matthew’s blood, and Baldwin could use hi Matthew to heel

"That stunt you pulled in the square will be the last tirel" Baldwin’s shirt showed teeth marks at the shoulder, and there were beads of blood around the torn fabric

Christ Jack had bitten Baldwin

"But I’ to you, Matthew!"

"And who do you think Matthew belongs to?" Baldhispered in his ear, quietlyon his captor

"Diana?" Baldwin’s laugh was ave Jack would have flattened a warht Jack’s knees met the hard wooden floors "Get in here, Matthew

And shut that dog up"

"Disavow Jack before the de Clermont sire and I’ll see you to hell personally," Hubbard hissed, grabbing at Matthew’s sleeve as he went past

Matthew looked at hio He’s o back to Manhattan where you belong, Baldwin"

"Oh," Chris said in a tone that suggested he finally saw the light "Of course You live on Central Park, don’t you?"

Baldwin didn’t reply In fact, he owned most of that stretch of Fifth Avenue and liked to keep a close eye on his investround in the Meatpacking District, filling it with nightclubs to complement the butcher shops, but as a rule he preferred not to reside where he fed

"No wonder you’re such an entitled bastard," Chris said "Well, buddy, you’re in New Haven now

We play by different rules here"

"Rules?" Baldwin drawled "In New Haven?"

"Yeah All for one and all that jazz" It was Chris’s call to arms

Mattheas so close that he could feel Chris’s muscles bunch and was prepared when the snificant that it would barely have dah hide Matthew reached up and pinched it between his fingertips before it could reach its target Chris scowled at him reproachfully, and Matthew shook his head

"Don’t" Matthew et in a solid punch, but Baldwin had narrower viehen it caes that should be afforded to warmbloods He turned to Baldwin "Leave Jack is my blood and my problem"

"And miss all the fun?" Baldwin bent Jack’s head to the side Jack looked up at Baldwin, his expression black and deadly "Quite a resemblance, Matthew"

"I like to think so," Matthew said coolly, giving Jack a tight s quieted iht be thirsty Offer hilass"