Page 33 of Kiss of Blood and Sin

A soft knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts. “Gianna, may I come in?” Louise called, her voice muffled by the wood.

I turned around, a smile already spreading across my face. “Sure.”

Louise stepped into the room, her white cap-sleeve sundress standing out against her long, dark hair. She wasbreathtaking, her beauty ethereal. Her dark eyes widened as she cast her approving gaze over me, her lips parting in surprise. “You look like a sinful delight,” she breathed, her voice tinged with admiration, a hint of envy flickering in her eyes.

I laughed, tossing my head back. As my earrings brushed against my neck, a spark of pleasure bloomed, spreading warmth through my veins. “Thank you. Since Augustus gave me that elixir, I’ve been feeling much more like my old self, and tonight, I want to party and leave all the guys drooling, their eyes following my every move, their jaws dropping in awe.”

She gave me a teasing smile, her eyes sparkling with mischief as she gripped my hands, her fingers warm against my skin. “You mean guys like Dimitri Dragan?”

Heat rose to my cheeks, my heart skipping a beat at the mention of his name. “No,” I lied a little too quickly, my voice a little too high-pitched.

“You can’t fool me, Gianna.” Her eyes turned serious, and her brow furrowed with concern. “Be careful with that one. I can’t tell you how many hearts he’s broken.”

“You don’t like him, do you?” I asked, tilting my head, studying her expression.

“I don’t hate him, if that’s what you mean. Sometimes I really like him, but—Dimitri’s the ultimate bad boy. He’s done terrible things. I don’t know. Augustus says there’s always a good reason. I just don’t want you to get hurt, to see your heart shattered into a million pieces.”

I squeezed her hands gently, a small smile playing on mylips. “I’ve known boys like Dimitri before. I know how to play with fire without getting scorched.”

Louise cocked her head. “And what about Angelo? I’m sure he won’t think that Dimitri is good enough for you.”

I stiffened, my muscles coiling like springs ready to snap. “I’ll deal with Angelo,” I said, my voice coming out sharper than I intended. My hands trembled slightly as I folded my arms across my chest, trying to steady myself.

“I’m so tired of him checking out my suitors.” The words tumbled out, bitter and raw. I could feel the frustration bubbling up inside me, threatening to spill over. My nails dug into my arms, leaving crescent-shaped marks on my skin. “No one has ever measured up to his standards.”

A lump formed in my throat, making it hard to swallow. “They either leave or...” I trailed off, unable to finish the thought. My gaze dropped to my feet, the world blurring as tears welled up in my eyes. I blinked rapidly, but a single tear escaped, trailing hot down my cheek. “Or they disappear,” I whispered, my voice barely audible.

Probably in his damn secret room. The unspoken thought sent a chill down my spine. I hugged myself tighter, as if I could physically hold back the flood of emotions threatening to overwhelm me. The taste of fear, metallic and sharp, filled my mouth as I imagined what might have happened to those who had dared to care for me.

Louise wrapped her arms around me, her embrace warm and comforting. “I’m sorry,” she murmured, her voice soft with sympathy. She pulled back, planting a quick kiss on my cheek before a mischievous glint sparked in her eyes.

“But you know what?” A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. “Angelo hasn’t met anyone quite like Dimitri yet. That man is like a tornado in designer jeans—unpredictable, unstoppable, and guaranteed to leave chaos in his wake.”

She squeezed my shoulders, her grin widening. “I’d bet my favorite spellbook that Dimitri would give Angelo a run for his money. Heck, he’d probably charm the secret room right out of Crimson Stakes and turn it into a speakeasy.”

I nodded, hoping she was right, but a knot of unease tightened in my stomach. I knew Angelo all too well. His stubbornness was as legendary as his temper.

An image flashed through my mind: Angelo and Dimitri, circling each other like wolves, neither willing to back down. The tension between them would crackle like electricity before a storm.

They’d be coming from opposite sides, I realized with a sinking feeling. Like the Hatfields and the McCoys, entrenched in their positions, both too proud and too set in their ways to give an inch. I could almost hear the clash of their wills, see the sparks fly as their strong personalities collided.

Every vampire instinct within me roared awake. My vision sharpened to predatory focus, my hearing became so acute I could hear blood rushing through veins, and my fangs ached, pressing against my gums in anticipation. Whatever was coming, I had a feeling it wouldn’t be pretty.

Augustus poked his head into my bedroom, his eyes widening appreciatively as he took in our appearance. He had his hair pulled back into a man bun and was wearing blackpants and a tight red shirt that showed off his muscles, the fabric stretched taut over his sculpted chest. “You girls ready?” He glanced at his watch, his brow furrowing slightly. “The party starts at seven at the Mermaid’s Melody and I’d like to get there early to make sure everything looks good.” He glanced at his watch. “Should we wait for Petar since he’s your appointed bodyguard?”

The defiance that always got me into trouble popped up again. He was Angelo’s pick—not mine. I gave Augustus a devious smile. “No. He knew what time we were leaving and he’ll have to find his own way.”

Louise sashayed over to him, her hips swaying seductively, and put her arms around his neck, her fingers playing with a few stray hairs at the nape of his neck. “Don’t you think we look gorgeous, darling?”

He grinned as he kissed her, his lips lingering on hers for a moment. “You both do, but you know I only have eyes for you, my love.”

She tapped his nose playfully, her eyes twinkling with affection. “Good answer, hot stuff.”

He stuck out his elbow gallantly, his eyes meeting mine, a smile on his face. “Gianna? Shall we?”

I grabbed my red evening purse that matched my dress, the smooth satin cool against my fingertips. “Yes, let’s,” I replied, slipping my arm through his, feeling the warmth of his body and the strength of his muscles as I headed out into the night ready to take on the world, one dance at a time.

The Mermaid’s Melody was on the shoreline, looking out over the ocean crashing against the rocks. I inhaled theocean air, feeling the moisture against my cheeks as we made our way to the back patio Augustus had rented for the evening. The patio had been decorated with white and pink streamers, and the tables had white tablecloths with vases filled with pink roses. A band was getting ready to set up by the dance floor.

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