Page 9 of Kiss of Blood and Sin

I shrugged. “She’s definitely Team Dracula, not Team Angelo.”

Valentin shot me an uneasy look. “And what team are you?”

I flashed him a devious smile. “Isn’t it obvious? Team Dimitri. Always.”

He shook his head as he took the steaks off the grill. “Just don’t stir up any trouble tonight, okay?”

“Anything for you, baby bro,” I said with a smirk, raising my beer in a mock toast.

I followed Valentin back into the dining room. “I thought I heard voices in here,” he said. He put the platter of steaks on the counter. “Hope you’re all hungry.”

“Angelo called me this morning.” Augustus held my gaze. “We need to tell them who is coming besides Gianna.”

I cocked my eyebrow, a smirk playing on my lips despite the warning bells going off in my head. “Let me guess, the Easter Bunny. Or perhaps Santa Claus.”

Rose looped her arm through Valentin’s, her face growing pale as she sought comfort in his presence. “Angelo himself?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

“No.” Augustus focused on me, his expression grave, as if he expected me to explode at any moment.

I leaned back, crossing my arms over my chest. “Enough with the guessing game, Augustus. Who’s the mystery guest?”

He lifted his chin, his words hitting me like a punch to the gut. “Your father, Petar Dragan. He’s Gianna’s new personal bodyguard.”

Valentin’s face drained of color, and Rose tightened her grip on his arm. I just stared. Petar—really? The man who had tormented us for years, the monster from whom we had barely escaped with our lives?

I let out a harsh laugh, my eyes narrowing as I met Augustus’s gaze. “We’re not going anywhere near that sadistic bastard.”

Valentin locked his gaze with mine, newfound determination blazing in his eyes. “I’m done living in fear of Petar Dragan, Dimitri. Rose and I are going to that party, with or without you.” His voice was steady, a far cry from the timid kid I once knew.

I raised an eyebrow and smirked. “Well, look at you, all grown up and ready to take on the big bad wolf.” I sauntered over to the bourbon, pouring myself a generous splash. Beer clearly wasn’t going to cut it tonight.

As the amber liquid burned down my throat, memories of dear old dad’s parenting methods flooded my mind. The beatings. The verbal abuse. The constant terror he’d inflicted on Valentin. It had taken every ounceof my charm and cunning to keep that monster’s attention on me instead of on my little brother.

I poured myself another shot and tossed it back, savoring the burn in my throat. I could feel their eyes on me, waiting for the explosion. So I gave it to them.

“You know what? Why not? Let’s go to this little shindig. I could use some entertainment.”

I turned back to Valentin, my smirk morphing into a wicked grin. “Just remember, if Petar even looks at your sideways, I’ll be there to remind him why he should’ve never messed with the Dragan brothers in the first place.”

I raised my glass in a mock toast. “To the Dragan brothers, the bane of Petar Dragan’s existence. May he choke on his own bile when he sees us strutting into that party like we own the place.”

I poured yet another shot and held it up, my eyes glinting with mischief. “But let’s get one thing straight. If Petar even tries any of his usual bullshit, I’ll make sure it’s a night to remember. And, Louise darling?” I downed the shot, my gaze locked on hers. “Anyone who aligns with that bastard is my sworn enemy, including the vampire mafia princess he’s paid to protect. If he even tries any of his dirty tricks with my brother, I’ll paint that party red. Literally.”

I set the glass down with a thud, my grin turning predatory. “You know what? I wouldn’t miss this party for the world. It’s about time dear old dad learned that he can’t control us anymore.”

Turning to Valentin, I clapped him on the shoulder, my grip firm. “We’re gonna walk into that party like we ownthe place, bro. And if Petar even thinks about starting trouble with you, he’ll have to go through me first. I’ve been itching for a chance to put him in his place, and this might just be the perfect opportunity.”

My mind raced with the possibilities. “We could even make a game out of it. Every time Petar glares at us, we take a shot. Every time he tries to intimidate us, we laugh in his face. We’ll show him that we’re done being his punching bags.”

I winked at Valentin, my smirk firmly in place. “And who knows? Maybe I’ll even manage to steal a dance with the lovely Gianna Santi, just to really twist the knife. After all…what’s a party without a little drama?”

Chapter Seven

Gianna

Despite riding in the safety of a bulletproof limousine, my nerves were on edge the entire journey to the airport. I sat rigidly in my seat, my fingers digging into the buttery soft leather upholstery as I tried to calm my racing heart. Every passing car and every flicker of movement outside the tinted windows set my pulse skittering and my imagination running wild with visions of unseen enemies. I just wanted to get out of New Orleans and to Salem already.

Angelo sat next to me, his warmth a reassuring presence at my side, while Enzo and Petar sat across from us, their expressions grim and watchful. I stared out the window, my eyes unseeing as the familiar streets of New Orleans flashed by. I shouldn’t have eaten anything at breakfast. My stomach churned and threatened to revolt any second.

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