Page 55 of Blood Bonds

“Stacey, I presume?” Victor asked, his tone as smooth as dripping molasses.

“That’s me,” I heard her say, which was why I tried one last time.

“Stacey, listen to me, don’t tell them anything, just make some excuse and…” This plea died the second I heard Talon say,

“Do us a favor, honey, give my brother the phone.”

I sucked in a quick breath and pulled the phone down to look at it, my finger hovering over the tiny square image of the red phone. But then came the warning…

“I wouldn’t end the call if I were you. We don’t want your friend here to think you’re being rude to your lovers.”

I gritted my teeth knowing what he was doing, reminding me that they had my friend.

“Leave her alone!” I demanded, putting the phone back to my ear.

“My promise made to you last night still stands, Nessa.”

The sigh I released felt as if my body were deflating just as my ass found the couch.

“What do you want?” I asked, my tone sounding hopeless.

“I think that would be obvious, my little escape artist,” he hummed.

“You tied me to the fucking bed, Victor, what did you expect I would do? Wake up and fucking thank you!?” I snapped, making him growl a little before warning,

“No, I expected you to still be there so we could release you ourselves and then care for you the way we intended.”

I shook my head at this, telling him, “You can’t just keep kidnapping me.”

He laughed and mused, “Can’t I?”

“No, you can’t… I have rights,” I argued, and it even sounded weak to my own ears despite it being the truth.

“The sooner you learn this, the better, so here it is… you belong to us, Vanessa Cadell. Your rights were forfeited the moment you witnessed all you did that night. Your life is now in our hands and no longer your responsibility, for it is ours.”

My mouth dropped.

“But that’s… that’sinsane,”I hissed disbelievingly, making him laugh once more before reminding me,

“We are Vampires, Sweetheart, what did you expect? Upstanding citizens who buy their blood off the internet?”

I realized then that he must have walked away from Stacey, because surely, he would not be saying all this within earshot of anyone. What was Talon doing? Chatting up my friend and keeping her compliant? I didn’t know why that thought irked me so much. What if he liked her? Jesus! What the fuck was wrong with me?

“Have you both been using mind control on me?!”

He made a sound of disbelief himself and said, “No, we haven’t been using fucking mind control on you!”

“I don’t believe you! Because I would not be feeling this way on my own!” I said, regretting it instantly because I had confessed too much. Something of course, Victor picked up on.

“What way?” he was quick to ask, making me wince before biting back,

“I am not telling you that.”

“Then I will make you a deal, if you tell me, my brother and I will give you a chance to make a decision on your own.”

I frowned so hard I could feel a headache forming.

“What do you mean?” I was unable to stop myself from asking.

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