Chapter 10
Chapter
Ten
Lucian
Elliot is naked, bound, and Santiago is staring at her like she’s dessert. And it disturbs me.
I never minded sharing my sexual conquests in the past if the woman was willing. I don’t mind watching or being watched, but seeing the way he’s looking at Monty makes every muscle in me wind tight, ready to spring. My fangs push to drop and make the vision of ripping out his throat a reality.
“Let’s continue this in the living room,” I tell him, needing to get him away from her.
Santiago frowns, but the unease in me remains. “But I was so enjoying the view.”
A growl rumbles low in my throat. A warning.
“And here I thought this was an open invitation.” He clucks his tongue as I grab the door handle and close off Monty from view. We walk over to the living room area and I sit in an armchair, while Santiago takes a spot on the couch.
I give him a smile that’s full of teeth and dark anger. “I’ve asked you this already once, but I’m going to ask you again. And I expect the truth. Why are you here?”
“There’s an opening, with de Santis’s enterprise gone,” Santiago says. “One that’s gaping wide. And I’m looking to expand Sanguine.”
“Two media powerhouses in one city isn’t a wise business move.”
He smiles. “Maybe it’s time for—what’s that human saying? Out with the old and in with the new.”
“I’m not giving up my hold on Tenebris,” I say. “Or any of the east coast for that matter.”
“And here I thought you weren’t afraid of a little competition.”
“I’m not.” But something tells me he’s not just talking about business. “You mentioned the Rogues?”
He picks imaginary threads off the sofa’s armrest. “Ah, yes. Raleigh has asked for my help. An alliance. Against you.”
Raleigh…and Santiago? Their motives might start at the same place, with humans knowing of our existence, but they quickly diverge into opposite directions. Raleigh wants peace. Santiago wants to rule.
I don’t see how what he’s saying is true.
“I’ve never had an issue with Rogues,” I tell him. “Their numbers are still small.”
He smiles. “That’s what you think.”
Annoyance pricks up my spine.
“So, did you take his offer?” I ask. “Should I be ready for a war?”
“I guess,” he says, dropping his voice, “that’s something you’re just going to have to find out yourself.”
I stand. “I suppose it is. I have a meeting with Raleigh later. I’m sure he’ll tell me.”
“You don’t trust me?” His green eyes flash. “Unless…you would rather us band together, merge companies, change the status quo.” He rises to his feet, too. “Things get stale and die when they don’t move, Lucian. You of all people should know that.”
“Right,” I say and gesture to the elevator. I see him off, and as the elevator doors shut, I lean against the wall and call Vittoria.
She doesn’t pick up. So I wait.
I deliberately move Santiago’s eyeing my Monty from my head along with his stupid warning, because it coils and twists and stirs things that muddy inner waters.
What am I missing? Anything? Santiago’s got an agenda, but I think he just wants to build power, and by starting a fight with the Rogues he’ll… Shit. It’ll be war. A different kind of crusade.
The man’s an opportunist, someone who’s known to show up when there might be a swing in power or an upset.
Vittoria calls back. “I’m dealing with an issue. Can this wait?”
“An issue you need me for?”
“An issue about stealing from Vale Hart.” I can almost hear her smile. “Nothing I can’t handle. Problems?”
“Not sure. Just saw Santiago,” I say. “I think he wants to stir up trouble with the Rogues.”
“That’s idiotic. Even I know they’re not a threat. Raleigh is a pussy. Wants us all to hold hands and sing ‘Kumbaya’.” She sounds disgusted, even though she fucks him when she wants to.
“Unless he’s playing a long game,” I say.
“Raleigh? You think?”
“What is that thing,” I mutter. “Oh yes, Occam’s razor. The simplest, truest explanation is that. de Santis wanted more and decided to take me out. He failed. He had no idea who and what I truly am. And he paid the price.”
“Agreed,” Vittoria says.
“Still?”
She sighs. “Still, I think we should keep eyes out. Santiago likes chaos and he thrives on power.” She pauses. “And he’ll do anything to get it.”
With a sigh, I end the call.
We need to be vigilant, and I’ll be keeping my appointments with Raleigh and one of the Chicago mafia men who are looking for an in. But the meeting with Raleigh is on his turf, and I’ll be taking my pretty date with me to that.
The Amalfi man who’s looking to expand his family’s hold in Tenebris knows how powerful Vale Hart is. But he’s human and less of a threat.
It’ll be easier to unleash Vittoria or maybe Elliot on him to teach his family a lesson if he tries to take down Vale Hart.
Speaking of the devil, I get a text from Vittoria.
Vittoria
Amalfi claims emergency, canceled meeting for foreseeable future. His man says he’s happy to leave any de Santis holdings to us.
Me
Really?
Vittoria
Really. Just wants to talk protection for a bar he’s taking over when he’s back. Amalfi isn’t doing anything.
I hope. But all that sounds like every other mafioso who backs down from a possible turf war. A little saving face, an offer for us to make money from them. We protect the bar and get paid.
I strike them off my short list.
My cock aches, and I go back to my bedroom.
I stop, standing over my bound and gorgeous Elliot.
She looks good enough to eat, and I’m desperate to do just that. Eat her out. Feed her my cock, to finger her more than I have.
But the game of control isn’t just for her, it’s also for me.
Elliot’s a distraction and I’m learning to live with it while I deal with other things. My money’s on Santiago, but the Rogues aren’t to be ignored either. I am done underestimating people.
I almost killed Santiago once.
If he tries to hurt Elliot, I’ll kill him now.
Without hesitation.
I glance at her.
She fucking loves this.
Her moans pierce the air even as no one touches her. The ropes that run over her pussy and the knot that sits at her clit are soaked.
Her tits are red, nipples hard, and through it all I’m betting that she can’t decide, if she could see me, whether she wants to look at me with hate or lust or both or something else completely.
Or maybe she prefers to be in the dark.
But not with all things.
Her friend is dead. I’ll have to tell her eventually.
Fucking Vittoria.
She knows better than to eat people in our employ.
We take blood from the humans, to control, to feed a little, but Vittoria knows how much to the drop she can take before she kills. She knows where the point of no return is, and she knows where to stop before she turns them into her personal feeding vessel.
What I’m wondering is if Vittoria killed Kayla before she knew she was Elliot’s friend or after.
I’ll tell Monty. Later. When she’s calmer, more used to being a vampire.
Look at Elliot. I’m not as afraid anymore that I may lose her to her vampire side. It’s just been a fucking long time since I’ve had to deal with a youngling. I’d forgotten just how vicious they could be, how unpredictable.
She makes a small sound, and I run my knuckles over all her exposed flesh. I test the ropes on her.
I don’t mind causing her pain. She’s a vampire; her body is different now on a molecular level. As a human I’d be careful. Because I know the darker cravings in her, I know what she can take, what she wants.
The pain adds, the discomfort heightens, and I slide my fingers beneath the rope at her cunt, pulling it on her clit, and pushing two fingers into her.
As her inner muscles clamp down, I sink my teeth into her breast, sucking hard. She comes instantly, thrashing against the restraints.
I thrust my fingers into her, hooking them, riding her orgasm and manipulating it higher, into more. She’s wet and soft inside, even through the waves of contractions. And I want to bury myself in there with my cock, lose myself, what’s left of my soul, in her.
I want to stamp my ownership on her, deeper than a tattoo. Darker than the remnants of me that run in her blood.
It’s an intimate connection and one that’ll last until one of us dies for good.
I stroke her inside, calming her, readying her for another onslaught. “No matter where you go or how many years pass, you’ll always belong to me.”
She turns toward me then. Even with the blindfold, her eyes burn into me. “And you belong to me, Lucian. We’re both cursed.”
Maybe she’s right.
We are cursed.
But I’m not sure I want it any other way.