Page 13 of Chains of Blood and Darkness

My words actually came out stronger than I felt.

He casually lifted a shoulder. “Never said you would.” His nonchalant attitude only made me angrier.

He brushed past me and shut the French doors, forcing me to back up and preventing any means of escape. As he went by, I inhaled his spicy scent, one that reminded me of cloves and ancient forests, a captivating blend that evoked thoughts of autumn woods veiled in mist and the warmth of a secluded cabin. His forceful presence was both intriguing and intimidating, and his aroma enveloped me in an unexpected sense of security amid my turmoil.

“Who are you?” I asked, instinctively inching away fromhim, my back pressing against the cold wall. My only protection was the thick comforter still wrapped around me.

His rugged features were shadowed by the dim lighting in the room. “Angelo Santi,” he said with a hint of smugness in his voice. He leaned against the door frame, casually crossing his arms over his chest as if he had all the time in the world.

The name sounded familiar, but my still-sluggish mind couldn’t place it. I rubbed my sleek forehead as I tried to think of where I had heard it before. Something I saw on television, perhaps? My brain was too foggy to remember.

“You are free to roam around my home. But know that all my servants and guards are fiercely loyal to me. No one will help you escape.”

That didn’t mean I wouldn’t try. I knew Joy would have reported me missing by now. I glanced at the French doors. Maybe if I screamed my head off, I could draw some policeman’s attention and get the hell out of this place that way.

As if my reading my thoughts, his lips pulled into a sinister grin, and my heart skipped a beat. “If you even think about trying to escape, your dear friend Joy DuPont will pay the price.” My blood ran cold at the mention of her name.

I narrowed my eyes. “How do you know about Joy?” Hatred laced every word.

“In my business,” he put his hands behind his back and strolled around me, “I make a point of learning everything there is to know about a person. Their strengths, wants, weaknesses…In your case, she’s a weakness.”

“No, she’s not. She’s like—” I stopped short.

“Like a sister?” He gave me a knowing smile.

Anger nearly choked me. Joy was even more than that. She was the one that had helped me get away from Freddie—yes, she asked her brother to teach me how to use a knife, but she was the one who taught me how to fight. She was a black belt in karate. I wasn’t nearly as good as she was, but I was no slouch either. “Stay away from Joy. She’s not part of this.”

He gave me a cool stare. “If you don’t want her to become part of this, don’t try to run away. You were lucky to escape Simon’s auction. Your friend might not be so fortunate.”

“I didn’t escape the auction at all! According to you, I’m your property!” I couldn’t keep the bitterness out of my tone.

“True, but you’re lucky you’re with me. There are others, such as Maximo Barone…”

That name I knew. My face paled and I could barely form the words, “The gangster?”

He looked amused. “If that’s what you want to call him. If he had bought you…or if he were to buy your friend…I’m afraid?—”

I held up my palm. Tears flickered in my eyes as my chest tightened and defeat crawled down my dry throat to settle in my gut. “All right. All right. Fine.”

The fear of anything happening to her gripped my heart with icy terror.

He gave me a curious stare. “Fine? Fine, what?”

My shoulders slumped. “Fine, I won’t try and escape.”

He took a step closer, his breath reeking of copper and sulfur. “I’m sure you understand what will happen if youbreak your promise. Your friend will either end up sold or dead. The choice is yours.” He lifted my chin with a sharp fingernail, causing me to tremble under his touch. His eyes burned into mine as he spoke.

“So, we have an accord?” His soft words stabbed my heart.

“You’re a monster.”

He cocked his eyebrow. “That’s no answer.”

“Yes, damn it. Wehave an accord,” I spat. I couldn’t stand the way his touch made me feel, but at the same time, there was something undeniably alluring about him. What was wrong with me? He was my captor, my enemy.

“Not a monster, by the way,” he smirked, his green eyes flashing with red. “A vampire.” He bared his razor-sharp fangs in a wicked smile.

“That’s impossible,” I protested, shaking my head in disbelief. “Vampires aren’t real.”

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