Page 54 of A Bond with the Dark

“Cora,” she says, offering me her hand.

Shaking it, I reply, “Dom.”

“Well.” She lets my palm go and leans her machete against the brick wall. “You gonna finish her, or?” she asks of the still veilweaved human, lighting another cigarette and staring into space.

“Uh, no, I don’t do that. You’re welcome to if you’d like; I just don’t want to witness it.”

A sinister grin splits her face, her irises contracting and flaring white. “Oh, one of those vamps, huh?” she teases, the ivory of her fangs glinting off the amber light of the streetlamp above.

“Yeah, something like that. Want me to toss this thing in the dumpster?” I ask, kicking the grim’s side.

She kneels before the human and slips the girl’s hair all to one side, gripping her neck. “Nah, I got em. I’ll toss them both out in the dumpster.”

“You sure?”

“Yeah. Go. Get out of here. And be safe out there.”

“Hey, thanks again,” I say, turning to leave the way I came.

The resonant sound of skin being punctured and slurping follows me as I track back down the alleyway.

Almost getting my face chewed off has a purpose, I think as I rush towards the direction of my car.

It led me to someone who may know how to find the entrance to Never in Vegas.

18

AN EPIC LOVE IS STIRRING

SAYAH

The soothing air of Vegas envelops me as we walk from the Uber that picked us up at the airport to our hotel.

The last time I saw Dom, he surprised me with three plane tickets—for Claire, Anna, and me—for an all-expenses-paid trip to Vegas.

He has a convention to attend while we’re out here, so he’ll be in business meetings all day.

As the bellhop opens the double doors to the immaculate suite, we follow the cart in and our jaws drop.

“Wow,” breathes Anna, meandering about the gigantic suite that’s basically an apartment in the sky.

The room is lavishly furnished, with a living room, a kitchen, and a private balcony pool. Two bedrooms are attached to the main room, with private balconies, double walk-in showers and jacuzzi tubs.

Meandering over to the bedroom on the right, I see Dominic has already set his belongings down on the king-sized bed. His brown leather suitcase is neatly packed, the top open to show many white shirts, boxers, socks, and other things.

His suits are hanging in the closet.

We’ve barely seen each other these last few weeks because of my custody schedule, and since he works nights, my time with Dom has been limited.

“I guess this is our room,” I say as I deposit my purse on the dresser.

Smells of fresh linen and coconut explore my senses as I whisk my eyes around the extravagant rooms. I have never stayed in anything so beautiful. Growing up poor, being in a lower-class bracket with my ex-husband and now a struggling single mom, my idea of getaways always involves lower-priced Air B&Bs, motels, and double twin beds at the Marriott.

This is next level.

Dominic is already in Vegas, having arrived late last night, as he has all-day meetings for the rest of the weekend. He will be joining me later this evening. From the looks of things, he didn’t sleep, or the maid had already been in here to freshen up, as our bed is made with the white towel twisted into a swan on our bed. All the towels, soaps, and lotions are in the bathroom. His black shaving kit is open but still packed with his things on the counter. The smell of him hangs in the air; his scents of summer fire and earthy musk cling to the bathroom walls.

Entering the living room, I watch Anna and Claire do the same, eyeing the décor, the fully stocked mini fridge, and the cute little towel designs on both beds.

---