Lucky Break by Chloe Neill Page B

incidents,” I said. I read through the list, then passed the phone to Ethan and Gabriel so they could get a sense of the feud’s scope and the creativity of the groups’ reactions.
    Humans weren’t the only beings who could come up with inventive ways to torture each other. The blood-across-the-door threat was common, as were thefts of objects deemed important to each group. Not to mention the flat-out murder and assault. So many deaths, so much waste, and all because of a woman who might not have done anything wrong in the first place.
    And that’s the part I kept tripping over. “Are they making this too complicated?”
    â€œWhat’s that?” Gabriel asked.
    â€œI guess the feud—all of it. They started fighting because someone decided Fiona’s disappearance was part of a scheme, murder by the vampires or theft by the shifters.” I glanced at Ethan. “We’re always talking about Occam’s razor, right? About how the simplest explanation is usually the right one. A scheme doesn’t exactly fit that.”
    â€œSo what does?” Damien asked, hands braced on the countertop.
    I frowned. “I don’t know. Christophe reportedly woke at dusk, and Fiona was gone. But she was a shifter. She could leave during the day. So what’s the simplest explanation? She went out, meant to come back, but didn’t for some reason. Got lost, got injured, got killed.”
    â€œThey’ve had a century to think that through,” Ethan said. “Surely they’d have looked everywhere—overturned every stone—to find her.”
    â€œOr would they?” Damien asked. “If they already hated each other, why bother proving the entire situation was an accident? Why not let it lie and use the lie against them?”
    â€œThere’s also the possibility the present murder isn’t feud related,” Gabriel said, and I nodded.
    â€œTaran studied cartography, exploration,” I said. “Maybe he found something no one wanted publicized.”
    Gabriel glanced at Ethan over my head. “She’s coming along nicely.”
    â€œAll according to plan,” Ethan said, wincing good-naturedly when I slugged him in the arm, since slugging Gabriel didn’t seem the best option.
    Gabriel took a final drink of his beer, sat it on the countertop. “In that case, we should probably get to our respective trips. I’d like Damien to go with you.”
    â€œNow who wants a look at the Clan?” Ethan asked.
    â€œOh, I don’t deny it,” Gabe said, spinning the empty bottle on the countertop. “But my primary concern is the McKenzie family. They’ve shown very little respect for your House or mine. I’m going to assume, until proven otherwise, that they’re stubborn idiots, and take care of you as necessary.”
    â€œIn that case, we appreciate the offer.”
    â€œDo we have to ride in that orange disaster?” Damien asked.
    â€œI call it the Orangesplosion,” I told him.
    His lip curled with distaste.
    â€œIt’s a good vehicle,” Gabriel said. “And now it’s got four inflated tires.”
    I gave him a wide grin. “You’re really handy in vampire cult and ancient feud tire emergencies.”
    â€œIt’s a narrow field,” Gabriel said, rising from his stool and towering over me. “But an important one. And watch the flirting. Ethan’s right there.”
    â€œNo worries,” Ethan said, without a hint of irony. “I’ve ruined her for other men.”
    Given the fire in his eyes, I had no plans to test that theory.
    ***
    Ethan took the wheel of Orangesplosion, and I took the passenger seat. Damien folded his long frame into the backseat.
    â€œHow’s Boo?” I asked, when we climbed into the car.
    Boo Garza was Damien’s pet, a kitten he’d saved during a previous magical misadventure.
    â€œHe’s good,” Damien