Read Online Blue Bloods by Melissa de La Cruz - Free Book Online

survival. Instead, we are vulnerable once more,” Cordelia replied, her raspy voice shaking with anger. “Instead, they are allowed to return, to hunt. If I had the authority, if the Conclave had listened to me, to Teddy—”
    “But they did not, they chose me to lead, as I have always done,” Charles interrupted smoothly.
    “But this is no time to bring up old wounds and grievances.” He frowned. “Have you—no, you haven’t—Mimi, Jack, come here.”
    “Ah, the twins.” Cordeliasmiled a cryptic smile. “Together again.” Mimi didn’t like the way the senile old thing was looking at her, sizing her up as if she knew every thing about her already.
    “This is Cordelia Van Alen ,” Charles Force said gruffly. ” Cordelia, the twins. Benjamin and Madeleine.”
    “Pleased to make your acquaintance,” Jack Force said politely.
    “Ditto,” Mimi snorted.
    Cordelianodded complacently. She turned to Charles Force once more and whispered fiercely.
    “You must raise the alarm! We must be vigilant! There is still time. We may still stop them, if you would only find it in your heart to forgive,” she said. “Gabrielle …”
    “Do not speak to me of Gabrielle,” Charles said, cutting her off. “Never. I would never hear her name spoken to me again. Especially from you.”
    Who was Gabrielle? Mimi wondered. Why did her father seem so agitated? Mimi felt angry and annoyed to see how her father reacted to the old woman’s words.
    Cordelia’seyes softened. “It has been fifteen years,” she said. “Is that not long enough?”
    “It is good to see you well, Cordelia . Good day,” Charles said, a finality to his tone.
    The old hag frowned and walked away without another word. Mimi saw Schuyler Van Alen following her, looking back at them sheepishly, as if embarrassed by her grandmother’s actions.
    As well she should be, Mimi thought.
    “Dad, who was that?”Mimi asked, noticing her father looking spooked.
    ” CordeliaVan Alen ,” he replied heavily, then said no more. As if that explained everything.
    “Who wears white to a funeral?” Mimi sneered, her lip curling.
    “Black is the color of night,” Charles muttered. “White is the true color of death.” For a moment, he looked down at his black suit in dismay.
    “Huh? Dad? What did you say?”
    He shook his head, lost in thought.
    Mimi noticed Jack run up to talk to Schuyler, and the two of them began an intense, whispered conversation. Mimi didn’t like that one bit. She had no idea who this Schuyler person thought she was, and she didn’t give a damn if it turned out she was Committee material after all. She didn’t like the way Jack was looking at Schuyler. The only other person he ever looked at like that was her.
    And Mimi wanted to keep it that way.

TEN
    Bliss hadn’t been able to stand it. While the service was still going on, she had decided she had to get out of there. Funerals freaked her out. The only one she’d ever been to was the one for her great-aunt, and no one had even been that sad. Bliss could have sworn she’d overheard her parents say “It’s about time” and “Took her long enough” at the funeral. Great-Aunt Gertrude had lived to a ripe old age of 110 years—she’d been featured on the Today show—and when Bliss had visited her at the ranch the day before her death, the old thing was as spry as ever. “It’s time for me to go, my dear. I know it is, but we shall meet again,” she’d said to Bliss.
    At least Aggie’s wasn’t an open casket, but it still made her feel queasy to think of a dead body in there, just a few feet away from her. Soon after they’d arrived, Bliss man aged to wriggle out of sitting with her stepmother, who was too busy saying hello to all the other Duchesne moms anyway.
    Bliss stealthily made her way toward the exit. She caught Mimi’s eye on the way. Mimi raised an eyebrow and Bliss mouthed “bathroom,” feeling a little silly for having to do so. Why did Mimi keep such close