Page 36 of Blood Bonds

“Then if that be the case, the blood of her enemies will almost be as sweet as her own.”

I nodded at the view, vowing with dark intent just before I sipped my drink back, and told him,

“Yes…”

“Sweet indeed.”

Chapter 14

Mission Ice Cream

Vanessa

The moment I left the car, I felt a near overwhelming sadness. When he turned up at the Chinese restaurant tomorrow night, he would soon find that I no longer lived here.

I released a heavy sigh as I made my way out the door, saying goodbye to my old landlady, Mrs. Won, after first accepting the carton of some noodles and pork steamed dumplings.

She was good to me after all that had happened with my ex and when I could no longer pay my rent, giving me enough time to deal with it. And well, I did miss the discounted Chinese food. My stomach rumbled at just the thought of getting it home to eat, a thought that soured when I realized I would never see Victor again.

At first, I had given him the wrong address simply because I didn’t yet trust him with knowing where I lived. But I had done so thinking I would get his number. However, the car journey had given me the clarity I had needed, despite hating the realization it had brought me to. Because we lived completelydifferent lives, and his was one I didn’t want to taint with the mess that was my broken life.

So, as I walked down the street, heading to where I actually lived, I couldn’t help but think back to our conversation.

“You are no idiot, Vanessa, for giving someone the chance to change is not a failing for the hopeful, it is only foolish to those who chose not to take it. Especially given the incentive, fucking foolish indeed.”

The playback of this in my mind actually brought tears to my eyes and this time, I let them fall. I hadn’t lied when I told him this was one of the nicest things anyone had ever said to me. Why then had I walked away without even asking for his last name? Without a number or anything? Of course, if I really did want to go on the date, then I could simply be waiting outside the restaurant at seven like he would be expecting.

I spent most of the night tossing and turning, changing my mind a hundred times at least. To the point that I was still doing so the next day, going through the motions at work, while asking myself what I would wear if I did. Even that only ended up adding to the reasons that I shouldn’t go because quite honestly, I wouldn’t have a single thing to wear. I didn’t even own a dress.

No, the bastard had stolen most of my clothes and left me with the dregs he wouldn’t have been able to sell on eBay. I had blamed it on the addiction, when the truth was that it was all about the void of where a heart should be. He had used me from the start, knowing that I was a clean slate with a good credit record. I had a little nest egg because I had saved every penny left over when I could. I’d once had a decent job, working as a manager of a stationary store and had been trusted with the keys. I had been cashing out while he waited for me to finish and lock up, then the next day I got called into work.

Of course, as soon as they told me that money had been stolen, I knew instantly who it was. That had been the start of thedownfall of my life. That day had been the worst, as soon as I had gotten that call to go into work, the bastard had known. Then he had made his move.

Naturally, they had fired me, with the only silver lining being that they agreed not to get the cops involved as long as I could pay them back the money. Thankfully, they also believed me when I told them who it was because, let’s just say, I was no award-winning actress and my sobs of devastation had been very, very real. But there was no getting away from the fact that I had invited the fox into the henhouse and given him the means to steal the money.

So, I had understandably lost my job.

But that was only the beginning. Because as soon as I got home, I discovered everything was gone. My nest egg of cash I’d kept hidden, my bank accounts had all been cleaned out. And anything worth selling had also been taken. Everything that I had worked hard for since I was eighteen years old, it had all been stolen. Not only that, but there were also bills left for me to find that he had told me had been paid. Bills he had left for so long I was drowning even before I knew I had stepped into the water. The same with the rent… poor Mrs. Won hadn’t received anything for months, with my ex telling her not to ask me about it as my mother had just died. It had all been lies.

Just like the credit cards he had taken out in my name, along with numerous loans that I was still trying to pay off. The bastard had left me up to my eyeballs in debt to the point that most days I felt as if I was still drowning. Only Stacey knew the full extent of what he had done. And this above all else, was the reason I decided not to meet Victor outside the fake address I had given him.

I was ashamed.

Ashamed that I had fallen for it. That I hadn’t seen the signs or ignored the obvious lieshetold me. That I took the verbalabuse and, in the end, hadn’t even been the one to leave him over it. I had spent so long being angry at myself for allowing it all to happen.

No, I was no one else’s problem but my own.

So, I went home after work, feeling sorry for myself, and watched the minutes tick by until seven. In fact, it was only when I couldn’t take watching the clock anymore, did I get up, grab my wallet, and decide there was only one cure…

Ice cream.

Stacey hadn’t gotten home yet, so I was thankful that I could at least hide my pitiful state for a little longer. Although as soon as she did get home and see me hunched over a tub of ice cream, watching the Notebook, she would instantly know something had happened. At least it was her day off, so I had saved her my misery at work because she was still spending time with her nephews.

It also meant that given my depressing mood, only the good stuff would do, so I started walking without even thinking. I knew of a place in China Town, literally called, ‘The Original Chinatown Ice Cream Factory’. Which I grant you, wasn’t the most exciting name but it was close enough to walk to and usually had a line out the door.

However, it was when I was on my way back that I realized how close I was to my old apartment, as if I had subconsciously taken a detour just to bring me this way. As if something was compelling me to do so.

Of course, the second I realized, I started walking quicker, only to hear my name being called down the street. I had the crazy impulse to run, but before I had chance, I felt my arm being taken as I was quickly turned around. And there he was, one of the most handsome faces I had ever seen and never thought I would see again.

---