Page 50 of Kiss of Blood and Sin

I felt like I’d stepped on a rattlesnake with no antidote in sight, the venom of consequences already coursing through my veins.

Petar came down the stairs, his knuckles white as he gripped our bags. The limousine he’d rented waited for us, sleek and black as a panther. I couldn’t help but smirk as Iwatched him, the hired help. The fury in his eyes was as satisfying as a perfectly aged whiskey.

I absently fingered the talisman through my jacket, wishing it could grant me the power to read minds. Why didn’t Petar want to give this magical kryptonite to Angelo? My jaw clenched. Why hadn’t it hit me before? Petar never liked to do his little crimes on his own. There was usually some big guy like Angelo Santi behind him. He had to be working with someone else. It was the only thing that made sense. Someone else wanted this, and whatever the reason, it wouldn’t be good.

Gianna’s gaze drifted up to Augustus and Louise’s apartment, her eyes holding centuries of experience. “Are you sure we don’t have time to say goodbye to them? I feel like a thief disappearing into the night.”

Damn it. I stole that talisman, and now she’s paying the price. The guilt gnaws at me, but there’s no time for a pity party. We need to move, fast. I owe her this much—hell, I owe her everything.

I opened the limousine door for her with a flourish, my voice tinged with dark humor. “No, we don’t.” I slid in next to her, the leather seat cool against my equally cool skin. “They’ll get over it. We’ve all had practice with disappearing acts over the centuries, haven’t we?”

She shrugged, her shoulder brushing mine. “Perhaps.” Her voice held the weariness of almost four hundred years.

As the driver loaded our bags into the trunk with muted thuds, Petar got in on the other side. Gianna was locked between us, three ancient predators in a deluxe cage.

The driver pulled away from the faculty apartments, the tires crunching softly on the gravel. My stomach swished uneasily, a feeling I wasn’t used to anymore. My eyes weren’t focused on Augustus and Louise’s apartment, but on my brother and Rose’s. They were my family, and I had just stabbed Valentin in the back again.

I swallowed hard, tasting bitterness. This was the only way to keep him safe. He could hate me all he wanted, but his contempt was worth it. The danger would be far from him, and the only one who would get burned would be me. I clenched my fists, embracing the familiar gesture of frustration I’d perfected over my long existence.

As the familiar buildings faded into the distance, I felt a piece of myself being left behind. The talisman seemed to pulse against my chest, a constant reminder of my dangerous choices. Beside me, Gianna sat still as only a centuries-old vampire could, her eyes reflecting the shadows of too many goodbyes.

We pulled into a small airport I’d never seen before, the kind that screamed private and obscenely wealthy. The Dragan family didn’t have a private jet—we were more the first-class commercial type—but the Santi family? They probably had a fleet. This place was just a few miles from Goody Magic, close enough to be convenient, far enough to be discreet.

The driver dropped us off in front, the gravel crunching under the limo’s tires like bones. I got out, the crisp air hitting me like a slap, and helped Gianna out of the limousine, her hand cool in mine.

“Petar,” she said over her shoulder, her voice dripping with centuries of aristocratic command, “Grab the bags.”

His hiss was music to my ears. I smirked, savoring the moment like a fine whiskey.

I followed Gianna as she led me to her family’s private jet, a sleek beast that looked like it could outfly most military aircraft. Her back was stiff, her walk brisk, heels clicking on the tarmac like a countdown.

“Gianna,” I said, clasping her arm, feeling the tension in her muscles. “You seem upset. What’s wrong, did they forget to stock the caviar?”

She blinked back what looked suspiciously like tears, and my smirk faltered. “I’m afraid of what Angelo will do.”

Her words hit me like a splash of vervain to the face. Her words hit me like a splash of vervain to the face. I winced, recalling the burning sensation of that cursed herb that weakens our kind and protects humans from our influence. Angelo coming after us both? That’s a nightmare I hadn’t let myself consider. For a split second, raw fear clawed at my insides—not just for her, but for us. Damn it. We were in deeper than I thought.

Fear or no fear, one thing was crystal clear: I’d stand between her and Angelo, Vampire Mafia King or not. Hell, I’d take on the whole damn supernatural underworld if I had to. No one touches what’s mine.

I lifted her chin, staring into her wet eyes. They held the tales of centuries, and for a moment, I felt young. “About me? Come on, I’m charming. Who doesn’t love me?”

She gulped, placing her trembling hand on my chest. “You need to know that Angelo has made my lovers either leave or disappear.” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “Maybe you should stay here. As long as I go home, he’ll probably leave you alone.”

I cocked an eyebrow, my trademark move. “Probably? I don’t like those odds. Besides, I look terrible in milk carton photos.”

She shrugged and lowered her gaze, a gesture that seemed too vulnerable for a vampire her age.

I put my hand over hers, feeling the phantom warmth of a connection that defied our predatory nature. “Gianna, we’re mates. Could you really be separated from me? I mean, I know I’m irresistible, but this is next level.”

“No, I couldn’t,” she admitted, a smile tugging at her lips despite the worry in her eyes.

I wrapped my arms around her, holding her close, breathing in her scent. “We’ll figure this out together, Gianna. We’re meant to be together. And if Angelo doesn’t like it, well...I’ve always enjoyed a good family drama. Keeps eternity interesting.”

As we stood there, the private jet looming over us like a promise—or a threat—I couldn’t shake the feeling that we were stepping into something bigger than both of us. But with Gianna in my arms and the talisman a constant weight against my chest, I was ready to face whatever came our way. After all, what’s the worst that could happen when you’re dealing with vampire mafia, ancient artifacts, and centuries-old family drama?

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Gianna

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