>that I will have plenty of time to attack. If I’m lucky, he’ll go down quickly.”

> finally putting an end to this sick game, he needed to let Ada play her part.

“Fine…you can lure him out, but I don’t want you to engage him. Play the part of the helpless, scared woman. He loves that shit. He’ll want to toy with you to build up the fear, which should keep him distracted so >

He hated this plan. More than anything. But he hated it especially because he knew it was the only thing that would work to draw his sire out of hiding. Sighing, Tony took everything she said into consideration. It was clear he wouldn’t be able to change her mind, and if they wanted any shot at >

>nightmare is finally over.”

He hung his head. “I know I lied to you. I did it because I was afraid of being rejected.” He looked back up, a rueful smile pulling at one corner of his lips. “Which is saying a lot coming from me because usually, I’m fairly self-important, cocky, and caustic.”

>in, but to hell with him. I’m tired of letting him control me. Of consuming my every waking thought. I care for you, Ada, and you deserve to have a life that isn’t one in the shadow of fear. I want you to live for you, and no one else. Even if that means you never want to see me again after this >

> noticeable, but it’s there.” He took a deep breath, continuing. “I also know that you’ve felt like you’re barely living if only for your brother. You shared something private with me that I know you don’t talk about candidly. And maybe it’s because of your link to my sire that initially drew me >

She may have had a point. He barely knew her, but that didn’t stop him from feeling the way he did. Then again…

“I know you like to dance when you think no one is looking while you’re tending the bar, or even just cleaning up. You have this cute little dimple in your left cheek. It’s barely >

> aside from trying to hunt down his sire. Meeting Ada had given him something worth fighting for—some𝘰𝘯𝘦 worth fighting for.

Biting the bullet, he confessed, “I don’t want to lose you, Ada.”

Why did she insist that her life was worthless? “I understand losing someone so close to you is hard, Ada…but that’s doesn’t mean you just have to exist. There’s more to life than that.” He sat forward, resting his elbows on his knees. Truthfully, he hadn’t done much with his own life, as it was, >

//WTF…BLUESKY GIMME MY FRIEND RIGHT NOW

>him to come out of hiding.”

Tony mulled that over. “If—and that’s a big if—we went with your idea, it’s not just to hand you over. I don’t like saying bait, but that would be the plan.”

𝑌𝑜𝑢 𝘩𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑚𝑒, 𝑛𝑜𝑤... He wanted to say. It was right on the tip of his tongue. But, he was certain she didn’t feel that way. Why would she? He had broken her trust.

“Throwing your life away isn’t the answer,” he continued to argue. “But,”he hated to admit, “we are limited on viable options to get >

> to glow red. “It’s not going to stop him. He will find some new game to play. A new person to hurt.”

Tony’s eyes widened and a possessive feeling he didn’t want to unpack washed over him. “Are you crazy?!” He exclaimed. “We are not just going to hand you over to him. I’m not just going to stand by and watch you sacrifice yourself for no reason.” He didn’t even realize it, but his eyes had started >

>I just need to find a way to draw him out. Then I can send him back to hell.”

Tony sighed heavily, but he tried not to look defeated. “I hate to say it, but you may be right. He’s a callous monster and will kill just for fun, but when he is playing his twisted games, he can become more unpredictable.”

More determined, “But I’m not going to let anything happen to you. >

> want from him. “It’s been strangely quiet. I haven’t seen or heard anything from my sire since the night you saw me with the deceased woman.”

Tony followed her further into her home. “No need to apologize. It’s not like you’ve ever had a vampire for a guest.” He tried to keep his tone light.

When she sat herself, he followed suit and found a seat on the opposite side of the room from her, unsure just how much space she would >

“Ah, no, thank you. I, uh, can’t actually drink anything other than blood.” Why did he feel so awkward and self conscious? She was just trying to be a good host to a visitor, and it’s unlikely that he had ever had a vampire in her home.

>Tony let go the breath he had been holding. More out of age-old habit than necessity.

“Thank you. For trusting me enough to invite me in. My earlier statement still stands, though. If at any time you don’t want me here, just revoke the invitation and I’ll leave.”

Tony followed silently, his footsteps barely making a sound on the concrete stairs. When they reached the top, he stopped just before the threshold to her flat and waited patiently for her to invite him.

When she finally did, he cautiously stepped into her home. Nothing barred him from entry. >

Stepping through the door, Tony waited to follow Ada up the stairs. “Actually, it does matter. You have to invite me from inside your home,” he clarified. “Weird rules but it’s just how it works.” He shrugged.

>know that if at any moment you feel uncomfortable, or even after I leave tonight, you can revoke that invitation. If you do it while I’m inside, I’ll be forced to leave, but…I really hope you don’t because it hurts like hell.”

He could tell she was on edge, disheveled and skittish as she was. When she opened the door, Tony stepped up to the entrance, but stopped short of following her inside.

“If this goes straight to your flat, you’ll need to invite me in,” he replied gently. “But, before you do, I want to let you >