Shiver by Yolanda Sfetsos Page A

straw.
    “They had nothing to do with it. I made them help me. It was all me.”
    “Save it, Lian.” Her mother’s dark eyes narrowed. “I had extra surveillance installed. I know what you’ve been doing, actually watched where you really went during dinner after Sergei left. Did you honestly think you were smart enough to steal my profits without me knowing?”
    “What are you saying?” Lian felt numb at the implication of her words.
    Meiling leaned forward, close enough to whisper, “All those slaves you saved, it was only because I let you. With the amount of slaves I acquire, it didn’t hurt to let a few slip away.” She paused to drum her fingers on her chin. “Although, did you actually free them, or did they somehow wind up back in my custody?”
    “No.” How could she talk about humans in such a callous way? The possibility had never occurred to her. Could Meiling have known exactly what they were doing and just recaptured those they’d freed? And if so, where did she keep them? “What have you done?” She glanced at Hogan and Vera, who looked just as horrified as she felt.
    “As soon as I found out what you three were doing, I had to improvise. These aren’t the only cells I have at my disposal.” A chuckle escaped her. “Besides, I’ve been working on a much bigger project and had to keep you busy with something .”
    “There’s no way you found the safe house,” Lian said. Only Hogan and the pilot of the transport knew.
    Meiling glared at Hogan. “I didn’t need to. They never made it to a safe house.”  
    “How could you be so cruel?” Lian couldn’t believe this.
    “I’m done with the pretense.”
    Lian didn’t know what else to say, so she glowered at her mother. She couldn’t help but think about the captives she thought she’d saved, and the ones she’d let slip away because she didn’t want to rouse her mother’s suspicion. Were they really all back where they started? And what bigger project was Meiling talking about? It took all her will to stand on her shaky legs.
    “You three are liars and saboteurs.” Disappointment filled her eyes. “As encouraging as it was to see you stand up for something, I expected better from my daughter, and two of my most trusted staff. After everything I’ve done to protect and keep you out of harm’s way, you show your gratitude by trying to ruin my name and reputation?”
    Lian stood straight, ready to confront the woman who had made her a prisoner in her own home. Now that the charade was finished, she no longer cared about the consequences—she just had to fight her mother every step of the way.
    “I’ll find where you keep the others. I don’t care what you do to me. I’ll keep saving the prisoners from the captivity you’re forcing them into,” she said.
    The slap caught her by surprise, and the sharp pain extended to her neck as her head whipped back. Meiling pulled her hand back to reveal a studded glove. A line of warm blood trickled down Lian’s cheek.
    A growl reverberated from inside the cell behind her and a shiver rippled down Lian’s spine. Not from fear, but because Knox was responding to her. After so many months of dreams, they’d found each other and were now bound together by her blood.
    “What was that?” The guard at Meiling’s back made a move.
    She put a hand on his chest. “Don’t. I still have a few bits of information to extract from the prisoner. Besides, I’m not going to dispose of him. I can always use a strong man around the house.”
    “No.” The whisper escaped from Lian’s lips before she could stop it.
    Her mother noticed and her eyes shimmered. “Would you like to watch?”
    Lian shook her head.
    “That’s too bad.” Meiling waved her hand in the air. “Take Hogan to the Ledge.”
    “Mother, no!” Putting Hogan out on there would ensure he froze to death. He wasn’t a vampire who could withstand the elements. She hadn’t called her mother for so long, and hoped it would