Page 29 of Inevitably Yves

A surge of heat draws my attention to Midnight and Tru, the two of them chatting with their heads close together. Raphael stands behind Haven, who’s decked out as if we’re going to Studio 54 back in the day. He leans into Raphael’s touch, his glittery gold eyelids fluttering.

Damiano must feel it too as he turns his hungry gaze on me. “And you? Where do you fall on the voyeur-slash-exhibitionist scale?”

“I’d rather show you than tell you.”

Damiano grins. “I’d love that. Show me your world, love.”

Clearing my throat so I don’t literally attack the man, I turn to my brothers, straighten the front of my sport jacket, and nod. “We’ll ride with Thorn.”

The door to the unit beside mine opens and Paolo steps out. He’s dressed in a midnight-blue suit, his hair slicked back, and eyes dangerous. Oh, he’s going to be popular at Lair.

“You can ride with us, Paolo,” Syn says.

“Wonderful,” Paolo replies.

We break into two groups—Viv and Viper choosing to come with us while the others follow Syn. Damiano walks so close our arms brush together, and my soul grows less weary with every slight touch.

Once in the car, Thorn tears off into the night, drawing a joyous giggle from his mate while Viv and Viper gasp.

“Remember, Thorn, we do have two mortals with us,” I say.

“Pshh. I would never hurt our girls. Besides, when have I ever wrecked?”

“I seem to recall several totaled vehicles and startled news reports of the man who walked away without a scratch,” I answer dryly.

“Oh my gosh, really?” Kyson gushes. “When did this happen?”

“Decades ago,” Thorn answers. “When they first made cars. Not my fault they were so fragile.”

“What about the Lambo?”

Thorn scrunches his nose. “A slight overcorrection on my part.”

“You wrecked a Lamborghini?” Viper asks.

“Wrecked is putting it mildly,” I reply. “He mangled it.”

“Take a corner going one ten and you might lose control of it too,” Thorn says, casually. “I tried to steer out of it, but I slammed into a warehouse instead.”

Kyson gasps, still giggling behind the hand over his mouth. “Oh, Thorn.”

“Then he steps out of the wreckage completely unscathed,” I continue. “The news reports had a field day.”

“They said I was on coke so my lack of reflexes saved my life,” Thorn says. “Funny because no one did a single medical test on me. Sounds like they were influenced.”

Kyson giggles again.

“What would they have found if they had done tests?” Viv asks.

“A medical anomaly. I’d still be in a lab somewhere convincing them I’m not actually dead.”

“Happened to me,” Damiano says. “There was a fire at an orphanage. The nuns couldn’t get all the children out in time so I ran in and saved them. By the time anyone came to help, they were shocked that I’d survived and shielded the remaining children from harm.” A melancholy smile pulls at his lips. “But I was overcome when a beam fell and broke my neck.”

Viper gasps. “Dear Persephone. You broke your neck?”

Damiano nods. “Yes, and obviously, a vampire can survive it, but you can’t just walk it off.”

I rub his thigh. “Darling…”

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