Chapter 8 #2
“What’s going on?” she asked, and just like last night, the girl was standing by my side against her man.
“Peter, the deal was that I wouldn’t tell the Hunter you killed her boyfriend.” He barely hid his smirk with his cup.
“You just love to remind me of that one,” I complained. “Can we make another deal, brother to brother? Stop trying to kill my girl!”
Selena’s little gasp was sweet. I just managed to control my smirk. Pissing Laz off wasn’t going to help the situation.
“Fine. If you stop calling me your brother.”
“Fine,” I said. Sensitive little bitch. I leaned my elbows onto the counter. “You promise?”
There was some silent communication happening between the happy couple. For all I knew, they could have been speaking telepathically using Selena’s magic.
“Leave Peter’s cute little crush alone,” Selena said, her words all covered in teasing reprimand.
“I promise,” Lazaro said with a tight, straight smile.
With that out of the way, my body relaxed and slumped against the kitchen counter, and I laughed.
“Honestly, it worked out great. I got to be the fucking hero, right in front of the stupid vamp she was dating. Think that was the end of them. His ego would never allow it to go on.” I relived the moment, stretching it out, savoring the look on Mr. Cop’s face when he tucked tail and went into his house with his girl in my arms. My girl in my arms. “Sorry about your hitman, though. Serves you both right.”
Before Laz could bitch at me, Selena spoke, “She’s yours, Peter? The Hunter?”
Laz rinsed his mug, then flipped it upside down into the top rack of his dishwasher. How domestic.
“Did you meet her?” I twisted my body to Selena while still leaning. “What did you think? Besides the dead weight she was carrying.”
Selena’s hand came to my cheek. “You’re a glutton for punishment, Petey. It’s sweet, though. I wish I’d known at the time.” She jerked her head to the side with a sudden thought. “It makes sense.”
“That’s what I’ve been telling her.”
Selena sent a confused look back at me before she moved away on quick little feet that had a mission in mind.
I shared a look with my brother — with Laz.
His girl was precious. When she came back, it was with a glossy paper held out to me in both hands.
I admired her pretty joy more than whatever she was showing me.
“June 30th. It’s the most important day of my life, and I want you to be there.”
“Holy shit, Selena. Did you guys finally set a date for the wedding?” I stood straight and brushed nervous strokes over the black sleeve at her shoulder.
“That comes after, Petey,” she chided in her humming violin voice. “This is a celebration for the night Lazaro makes me into who I’m meant to be.”
“A vampire.” My excited fingers stopped and grasped onto her instead. “Selena…”
“What is it, Petey?” Her palm came to my cheek, and damn, she was warm. So beautiful and full of life.
“It’s just… it’s a big decision.”
Lazaro snorted, reminding me of his presence, where he was now leaning on the opposite side of the counter.
“Don’t tell me you’re going to give her a lecture on the subject.
You, of all vampires. What was your life like as a human, compared to where you are now, Peter?
” He was right. I was nothing as a human.
I was already practically dead, more than I was now, even with my unbeating heart and skin that didn’t warm itself.
“Are they going to lock you away like they did to me?” I didn’t mean for the panicked edge to my voice, but it didn’t even startle her.
“Awww, Petey. Will you miss me? You can come visit whenever you want.”
My laugh was weak compared to theirs.
“Peter, you’re going to frighten her,” Lazaro warned, coming around to our side outside the kitchen to be with her.
“No, yeah, sorry. I’m just emotional about it. I’ll miss you. Miss your warmth.”
She pressed both her palms to my cheeks and giggled. “I’ll let you enjoy it while you still can.”
Laz pulled her back away from me. “Don’t let him enjoy it too much or you’ll never get rid of him.”
“Selena…”
“It’s fine, Peter. We’ll get to spend forever together. All three of us.”
Lazaro barely contained his distaste for that concept. I couldn’t say I was keen on being a third wheel to them forever, either, though. No matter how enchanting the woman was.
Selena pressed herself up against Lazaro’s side. “Can Petey turn his Hunter into a vampire?”
I locked eyes with Lazaro. “No,” I answered. I’d never take away Fallon’s life or her warmth. Laz laughed at me.
“Like you said.” He tucked two fingers under Selena’s jaw to look up at him, and her whole body turned with it.
“Peter’s a glutton for punishment.” He kissed Selena with open-mouthed hunger, just a foot or two in front of me, rubbing it in my face.
Forever with these two. Well, I had limited time with someone more important, and I wasn’t going to waste it.
I took my invitation for Selena’s upcoming death date and spat out a quick goodbye before I got more of a show from the two lovers than I ever cared to witness.