Page 61 of Kiss of Blood and Sin

I flashed her my most charming grin, even as my insides twisted with anxiety. “Since I decided that watching you two trade barbs is less fun than being the one to ruffle his feathers. Besides,” I added, my tone dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, “I have a bet going with myself on how many times I can make him scowl before he tries to stake me.”

Gianna rolled her eyes, but I caught the hint of a smile. Good. Keep her amused, keep her distracted.

As we rounded the corner, I tensed, half-expecting Angelo to materialize out of thin air. Each priceless vase, each antique painting we passed could be the one concealing the mirror I needed. And each step brought us closer to potential discovery.

One wrong move, one slipped word, and it would all come crashing down. Gianna would hate me, Angelo would probably torture me (and enjoy it), and two innocent lives would be forfeit. No pressure, right?

But I pushed down the fear, the guilt, the burning desire to confess everything to Gianna. Instead, I plastered on my best “interested house guest” face. “So, darling, where to first? The library full of dusty old tomes? Thegallery of stern-looking ancestors? Or straight to the family torture chamber? Every respectable vampire mansion has one, you know.”

Chapter Thirty-Three

Gianna

I reluctantly led Dimitri out of my bedroom, my heart thumping like a trapped bird in my chest. Every shadow seemed to hide a potential threat. But as we stepped into the empty hallway, I exhaled a shaky sigh of relief, my tense muscles slowly unwinding. My body still hummed with the afterglow of our lovemaking, a delicious soreness lingering between trembling thighs.

Dimitri slipped around me with feline grace, his eyes glinting with mischief. “You’re not trying to be my shield, are you?” His voice dripped with sarcasm.

“No, of course not.” The lie tumbled out of my mouth, tasting bitter on my tongue. Dimitri’s knowing smirk told me that he wasn’t buying it for a second.

“I just…I just don’t want you to get hurt. Angelo and Enzo are?—”

“Big bad villains? Cutthroats?” He brushed his lips over mine, the ghost of a kiss. “Me?” His breath tickled my skin, making my knees weak.

“Be serious,” I muttered, trying to ignore the flutter in my stomach.

He ran his finger down my cheek, leaving a trail of fire in its wake. “I am. Now, show me your beautiful home.” His voice was light, but there was an undercurrent of something I couldn’t place. He was putting on a good show, but I suspected he was just as nervous as I was running into Angelo.

I clasped his hand, relishing the coolness of his skin, and led him down the hallway. “Well, all the bedrooms are on the second floor, as is Angelo’s office.”

“How many bedrooms are there?” Dimitri’s eyes scanned every detail of our surroundings.

“Including mine, there’s six.”

“Who all has bedrooms?” His casual tone didn’t quite match the intensity of his gaze.

I rattled off the list, watching his face for reactions. When I mentioned the security team’s accommodations, a sly grin spread across his face.

“Is that where I’ll stay since I’m the chauffeur?” He waggled his eyebrows suggestively.

Before I could respond, his attention snapped to the closed doors lining the hallway. “Which one is Angelo’s office?”

An uneasiness quivered in my gut as I pointed to it. “That one. You can only go in there if you’re invited.”

He flashed me a teasing smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Otherwise, you become sushi.”

“I’m serious, Dimitri,” I gritted my teeth. The mere thought of him snooping around in there froze my blood.

“Angelo doesn’t let anyone in there without his permission, including me. Please don’t go in there. That would set him off like a raging volcano. He’ll come after you and I’ll be powerless to stop him.”

I gently tugged on Dimitri’s arm, leading him away from Angelo’s office before he got too curious. He’d get more than a beating for invading Angelo’s privacy and the thought made my stomach churn.

Dimitri’s smirk played on his lips. “Don’t worry, princess. Being burned by lava isn’t on my agenda.” His brown eyes twinkled with mischief. “Though I have to say, all this secrecy does make a guy wonder. What’s big bad Angelo hiding in there? His teddy bear collection? His diary? A shrine to his own reflection?”

I rolled my eyes, but couldn't help the small smile tugging at my lips. Trust Dimitri to make light of even the most serious situations. “I’m serious, Dimitri. Angelo would do more than just beat you if you went in there.”

“Relax,” he said, draping an arm over my shoulders. “I value my devastatingly handsome face too much to risk it. Besides,” he added, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, “I'm much more interested in exploring other... areas of the house.” He waggled his eyebrows suggestively.

I swatted his arm playfully, grateful for the levity even as worry gnawed at me. As we moved on, I couldn't shake the feeling that Dimitri's eyes had lingered on that door a moment too long. But that was ridiculous, right? He wouldn't risk Angelo's wrath... would he?

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