Chapter 26 #3
Luca steers us toward an elevator, and once we’re out of it, we clear two hallways and pass into what would have been a separate house.
As soon as we’re inside with the door closed, he spins to face the rest of us.
“These are my rooms. They’re soundproofed, but for fuck’s sake, you need to be more careful.
This plan already has more holes than Swiss cheese, and if the wrong vamp overhears the wrong thing, it’s game over.
Do not underestimate them, even the young ones. Do you understand me?”
He’s working hard to keep his rage under control, and it’s kind of hot.
His hair is rumpled into furrows from running his fingers through it, his eyes are intense, and his black T-shirt is stretched so tight over his shoulders I can make out the lines and ridges of every muscle.
As he stands and glares, he catches his full lower lip between his teeth, obviously needing to bite something.
He is magnificent, and part of me wonders why I would ever want to break a spell that binds me to this man.
“I see you watching me, Rosa,” he says, a smile starting to play on those lips.
His eyes meet mine, and suddenly we are the only people in the room.
“I see you watching me, and I know what you’re thinking.
And you need to stop it, because then I’ll start thinking it as well, and nothing says ‘double cross’ like me standing in front of the Don with a massive hard-on. ”
Laughing, I fly into his arms, unable to resist the draw of him for a moment longer.
I kiss him so thoroughly I end up backing him against the door with a thud.
His hands bury themselves in my hair and his tongue meets mine, possessive and thrilling.
I groan, and he spreads his thighs so I can nestle closer.
Yeah. He does indeed have a massive hard-on.
I allow myself one little grind on him, and that tiny bit of friction sends shockwaves of pleasure right through my body.
I pull away and meet his gaze, keeping my hands on his shoulders. He looks surprised and waits for me to speak.
“I don’t know why I did that,” I tell him, going up on my tiptoes to drop one more kiss on his lips. “Don’t know if that was me, the blood spell, or that weird tension thing that happens in dangerous situations.”
“I don’t care why you did it, cara mia. I’m just glad you did.” He lifts my fingers to his mouth and kisses them one at a time. Fuck. Even that makes me squirm, and I find myself leaning into the outline of his cock again.
“Ahem!” Donatella cuts in. “Sorry to interrupt, and any other time I’d be more than happy to watch, but maybe we should be talking, not fucking? And I think Pietro might be about to vomit out his cyanide capsule.”
I turn around, not at all embarrassed. At least I have a blood spell to blame.
“It’s a Tic Tac,” Pietro says, grinning. “Never hurts to have fresh breath.”
Huh. That was resourceful of him. I shake my head and look around Luca’s living area.
It’s as spartan as his secret house in Brooklyn.
The only luxuries are books and, I see when I pop my head into the next room, an absolutely enormous bed.
I remember him telling me this is where he brought his lovers and have a strong urge to shred his sheets and possibly stake him, just a tiny bit.
Possibly go find an axe and chop that bed into tiny pieces.
Reminding myself it’s not real, I go back into the living space. Everyone is sitting down, and Luca is on his phone.
“I can’t get ahold of Minnie,” he says after a few moments, a frown marring his handsome features.
“Is that unusual?” I ask.
“It is today. She said she’d stay available.”
I shrug. “Maybe she’s just … I don’t know, taking a shower or whatever?”
“Maybe she is. Anyway, you guys want anything? Food, drink, blood?”
The last one is aimed at Matteo, who nods gratefully, and Donna sticks her hand in the air as well. He gets back on the phone and places an order.
“Did he just call Cosca HQ room service?” Pietro asks, glancing up from his laptop. He wasted no time pulling it out and getting back to work.
“Think so,” replies Donatella. “Funny the places life takes you. Any news?”
Pietro shakes his head. “Nah. Tomasso is still there. No movement from the troops—not here, anyway. The place in Mexico is looking busier though. In the last hour, two big trucks arrived, and forty military-style men in black climbed out.”
“So he might make a move on both the Firenzes and the Romas at the same time?” I frown. “That seems reckless. It’s not like him to overextend himself.”
Pietro looks up at me and nods. “You’re right. I don’t get it either. Maybe he’s mad because Luca’s taken all his toys—you, Kurt, me. I’m hoping his anger is making him sloppy. And it gives us more to offer up to Vincenzo. This is proof that Tomasso is definitely looking to take on the Coscas.”
It is, he’s right—and although I’m no expert on how the power structures of the Coscas work, it could be that Vincenzo reaches out to the Romas, warns them, brings them into the alliance. I like the sound of that, and of us being in a position to crush Tomasso forever.
There’s a knock on the door, and Luca goes to open it.
A young female vamp hovers outside with a trolley full of food and drinks and a couple bags of blood.
All-inclusive catering. She stares in at us, obviously curious, but Luca thanks her and goes to shut the door.
As he does, Freya slides her gaunt body between the few inches of space.
“Hey babe,” Matteo says, helping himself to a blood bag. “How’s Moonface?”
“Moonface is good,” Freya croons. “She’s the best, not a pest. She’s a queen, she’s not mean. She’s yummy, not crummy.”
“Yeah, I get that, Freya—but, like, where is she now, doll?”
“Oh. She’s in Minnie’s room. She’s cool, she has water and food and one of those big Kong toys that she’s not supposed to be able to destroy.
I came to see you because I thought you might be going away.
And if you do go away, I wanted to ask if you can take me with you.
I can fit in your luggage or under your coat, or I can use my magic cap if you like.
But if you two are leaving, I will be too sad to stay. ”
Luca and Matteo exchange looks, and Luca says gently, “Freya, angel—what makes you think we might be leaving? What have you heard?”
“I hear all the things, you know that!” She pats him on the chest and giggles.
“I know you do, sweetie, I know you do. So what have you heard about us leaving?”
“Nothing. I heard Carlos saying something about getting ready for a big fight, and whenever there’s one of those, you guys go away, don’t you? And when you go away, I hate it here. It’s even worse than usual. He never goes away.”
Her confirmation that the Don is getting ready for war releases the tension Luca has been holding onto.
Matteo pulls her in for a hug. “I know, Freya. It sucks. I’m not sure what’s gonna happen, okay, but we won’t forget about you, I promise. Now go check on Moonface and Minnie for me, all right? Tell her to stay in touch.”
She grins like a little girl, nods, and skips out of the door Luca holds open for her. He meets Matteo’s gaze and shakes his head. “I know that look, Matteo. This isn’t the time.”
“It’s never the goddamn time! He’s been at her since she was a kid. Whatever happens here next, promise me you’ll help her get away.”
“Who’s been at her since she was a kid?” Donna pipes up.
“Vincenzo,” Matteo spits out. “Twisted fuck.”
She pulls a face and sets down the apple she was about to snack on. “Jesus. No wonder she’s weird. I’ll get her out if I can, I promise. Like, if I’m still alive.”
I note the look of surprise and then gratitude on Matteo’s face, and Pietro registers it too. I can almost hear his thoughts: Vampires and Seers becoming allies and lovers, what the actual fuck.
He has a point.
“So,” I say, “sounds like Vincenzo is getting ready to take Tomasso on. Maybe he’s waiting for the info from Pietro and then we get to go on a Grand Ball Sack hunt. What do we do until then?”
“You learn how to show respect, Rosa,” Luca says solemnly. “Even if you don’t mean it, it might save your life.”
I nod, appearing to agree, but I know differently. Faking respect for a monster like Vincenzo might keep me breathing, but I don’t think I’d be able to live with myself.