She shook her head. Disbelief coiled through her. He knew she’d stabbed their foster father? He was aware of the ghosts of her past?
“Yet you let me believe you were dead.”
“I was, for a while. But I would have come for you. I’m here now.”
She looked behind her at the sleeping Delilah. “I don’t call that coming for me. Luther kidnapped us.”
“He had his reasons. He wasn’t after you. Believe me, he was as surprised as the rest of us to find you there. All he wanted was that bastard Samson’s wife.” He tossed a look into Delilah’s direction.
“He can’t just go around kidnapping people. I can’t believe you’re on his side. This is wrong.”
Eddie looked at her as if she was crazy. “You have no idea what that man did to Luther. Samson destroyed his life. He killed his wife and child. No matter how you look at it, this has to be punished.”
“Is that what he’s told you? That Samson killed Luther’s wife?” Nina couldn’t believe her ears. That’s how Luther had convinced Eddie to help him, by telling him lies? By making him think that Samson was the bad guy?
“Because that’s the truth.”
“Luther is lying. It’s not how it was.”
“How would you know? You weren’t there.”
Eddie’s stubbornness reared its head again and reminded her of the time when he’d insisted as a thirteen year old that he was better at driving than she just because he was a boy.
“Neither were you,” she retorted. “Your Luther is not the hero you make him out to be.”
“You don’t know anything about Luther.”
“And neither do you.” Nina braced her hands on her hips and challenged him with a stern glare.
“I know enough to know he’s not as corrupted and evil as Samson and his men are.”
“Well, then maybe you should ask him why he sent those goons after me.”
“What goons? He sent nobody after you. We were out to get Samson’s wife. You just got in the way.”
Nina waved her hand impatiently. “Not tonight. He tried to have me killed several nights ago. By Johan and some other vampire. Why don’t you go and ask him?”
“That’s not true.”
“Who’re you gonna believe? Your sister or your new friend? I have no reason to make this up.”
“I don’t believe it. Luther told me you’ve hooked up with this bad-ass Amaury. Has he brainwashed you?” Eddie grabbed her shoulders and shook her. “Has he?”
“It’s not like that. He hasn’t done anything.” Well, Amaury had done quite a bit, but none of that she was willing to discuss with her brother. Their issues were private and she’d sort Amaury out later. If she ever made it out of this place.
“Don’t lie to me. Luther said you’re his woman. Is it true? Are you his? Is that why you’re on their side?”
“No! I’m on their side because they are the good guys.”
“Don’t kid yourself. There are no good guys.”
“You’re wrong,” she insisted. “There are no bad guys, just people living with misunderstandings.”
“Nina. Wake up. I can help you. I can guarantee that nobody harms you, but you’ll have to trust me. I know what I’m doing. Don’t you see what Luther has granted me? A new lease on life, a new start for something bigger and better. We’ll never be poor again. You’ll always be safe with me.”
Funnily enough, it was the same thing Amaury had promised her, to keep her safe.
“But you can’t interfere anymore.”
He pointed at Delilah who still appeared to be asleep, even though Nina suspected she was only pretending by now. Their argument was getting heated, and no normal human would be able to sleep through it.
“I can’t let injustice happen. How can you expect that from me? Don’t you know me at all? Do you think that after what happened to me when we were young, I would allow another innocent to be harmed and just stand aside? No, if that’s what you want me to do, then I don’t have a brother. Because my brother would not force me to act like this. My Eddie would never do that.”
She glared at him furiously. Yes, he was a big bad vampire now, but he was still her little brother, and if somehow she could get through to him, maybe she had a chance of turning this situation around.
“You don’t know what you’re saying.”
Eddie turned on his heels, and before she could come back with anything else, he stormed out. She heard the door lock behind him.