Page 82 of Petals and Fangs

“Tough process you got there to get vampires to become your regular, trusted clients. I am afraid I just wanted a talk with you,” he says, but his eyes are still fixed on Lily inside the car.

“I will not share Lily. She is not an option.”

“What? No! Of course, not. That is not even close to what I want, Ethan.”

“Then why are you looking at her like that?” I point at her in the car.

“She looks so delicate. I can smell her fear, and as intoxicating as it is, I am not here for that,” he replies, still not taking his eyes off her.

“I am going to say it one last time, Demetrius. Name your price and get the hell out of here. I don't want to see you ever again or hear from you.”

“Or what, Ethan?”

“I am not finished. I want you gone. I don't want you purchasing from Rothschild Pharmaceuticals ever again.”

“So, you'd prefer I feed on humans instead of your fake, processed blood. Is that right, Ethan?”

“You wouldn't dare,” I say, gritting my teeth.

“Wouldn't I? I could go hunting right now and have my fair share.”

“I can't let you do that. We've worked hard to avoid any human casualties, and you can't jeopardize the process.”

“Well, it is either me or them.”

“That is a tough choice to make, Demetrius. Another choice would be having you among my trusted clients, providing you with everything you need, as long as you don't hurt anybody.”

“Your human is scared to death, and you are talking business with me?”

“I don't want her to see any of this. So, please. Tell me what it is that you want, and I'll try to make things work. Just keep the FDA out of this.”

“I seriously have no idea what you have in mind that links me to your FDA scandals.”

“Excuse me?”

“I don't have anything to do with the FDA.”

My mind goes numb for a minute. If I hadn't read Demetrius' mind, I would have said that he was lying to me once again and trying to manipulate me into thinking that he is innocent.

“Are you saying somebody else is framing me? There is no one other than you to doubt for all the crap that the FDA has been accusing me of.”

“I don't know what to tell you, Ethan. All I want is an arrangement, a mutual agreement between the two of us.”

“And what would that be?” I say as I fold my arms together, patiently waiting for him to utter something.

“I don’t intend to stay in New York for life. My kind doesn’t belong here. We belong in our ancestors’ land: Romania.”

“You’re telling me your life aspirations, because?”

“My family is huge. You wouldn’t believe me if I told you the number. We are all vampires, weak in the sunlight, and in need of protection. Isn’t that what your company does? Providing protection for vampires all around the world?”

“What makes you think I believe you?”

“Well, you should,” Demetrius says and takes out a pack of cigarettes. He offers me one, but I object.

“Excuse me?”

“I have found great use in your products. All except Sanguiderm. Awful. Awful taste for blood.”

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