Page 50 of Filthy Rich Vampires: For Eternity

I didn’t know if it was the way that Julian was squeezing my hand or Claudio’s offer, but tears blurred my vision. “Thank you.”

“Just remember you have a friend here,” Claudio said, his tone darkening. “It will be important to know where you can find allies.”

“Thank you,” Julian said in a gruff voice that told me this visit was about more than the quality of Claudio’s pasta.

We ate our food with Claudio acting as a barricade from curious stares. By the time we finished, I was uncomfortably full and totally content.

“I couldn’t eat another bite.” I patted my stomach. “Everything was amazing.”

“I hope you will come again soon,” Claudio said as we rose.

Julian pulled his billfold from his pocket, but Claudio waved it off.

“The meal is on me. How often do I get to celebrate my friend’s happiness?” he asked.

“You never let me pay.” A smile twitched on Julian’s lips. “How are you going to keep the doors open if you let people eat free for centuries?”

“I overcharge the assholes,” he promised.

Despite my full stomach, I felt lighter when we stepped out of the café. It was brisk, but thanks to the enchantment surrounding the street, not nearly as cold as the rest of Venice. But we’d only made it a few steps when we came face to face with a group of vampires.

Julian took my hand, starting across the street, but they followed.

“You’re a long way from your Queen’s feet, il flagello,” the tallest of the three called.

“Or is this her,” another yelled. “I heard the new queen is a siren.”

“You mean a slut,” the third added.

“Don’t,” I said under my breath but it was too late.

I blinked and found my hand empty and Julian pinning one of the vampires to the ground.

“There are three of us,” his friend snarled as the other two began to circle.

“Not very good odds,” Julian said through gritted teeth, “for you.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Claudio step out of his restaurant. I knew he would step in and help Julian. But that wasn’t the problem. The tussle was already drawing a crowd.

I had to do something, but before I could think, the tall one swung at Julian, hitting him square in the jaw. Julian’s head snapped to one side, and in an instant, he was on his feet, fangs bared, eyes black, and then, he attacked.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

JULIAN

No bloodshed.

I heard Thea’s voice in my head, but it was overpowered by the rush of blood-rage I felt. They’d threatened my mate and insulted their Queen. It was my job to make them pay.

I barreled toward the tall vampire, catching him around the waist and sending us both flying into a nearby cart.

I was dimly aware of the owner’s shrieks. Rolling my opponent onto his back, I released my rage fully. My fist collided with his cheek, and his head snapped to the side, smacking the cobblestones with a loud crunch.

I raised my hand to punch him again, but one of his friends caught my wrist and wrenched me off of him.

“Oh good, you’re going to join. I was worried this wouldn’t be fair.” I spit a mouthful of blood on the pavement.

We shifted back and forth, each of us trying to find the right moment to lunge.

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