Page 1 of Laid Bare

Someone is goingto die today. I know this fact as well as I know what my preferred blood type is—Bailey’s.

One minute, I was floating across the dance floor with my beautiful mate in the finest dress money can buy as opulence and romance swirled around us. She was pressed close to me, a bright smile on her face and her curves melding with my hard planes and hardening extremity.

Her body against mine always felt better than the last time, but there was something different about tonight. Like our relationship was going to be solidified by love, even though we’ve already mated. But then she fell from my arms as the blur of a vampire took her out, knocking her to the floor.

It all happened in the blink of an eye, and before I could think better of it, I snatched up the offending vampire and sped the cunt out of the gala, to where she’s now pressed into the wall, much like she was back in my office when she tried to start shit with Bailey the first time.

I tried to put a stop to her bullshit then, but it’s obvious she didn’t take me seriously.

Now, though, this bitch has gone too far.

There are certain rules surrounding a vampire’s mate that all vampires live by, and she has broken almost every single one of them.

Rule one, you don’t come between a vampire and his mate. Marked or not; with the intention of mating in the forefront, you stay the hell away.

Rule two, you don’t seduce an already mated vampire or a vampire who has already met their mate but hasn’t solidified the bond yet. It’s uncouth, immoral, and just plain shitty.

Rule three, you don’t injure or intend to harm mates. They are sacred in our world, and the only way for our kind to procreate.

Rule four. And this is my own personal rule. You don’t fuck with what’smine.

While there are exceptions to the rules like in the case of my fated mate, there are none where Bailey is concerned. Andrea’s actions were intentional. Plain and simple. There’s no way to talk herself out of what she did. It was her form of retaliation for being removed from her position as my secretary and thus being denied my presence. Which solidifies my every right to handle this bitch as I see fit. Unlike her, there will be no consequences for any further actions I take. And let it be known; I plan to end her.

Knowing who her father is, I don’t doubt that she’s never been told no. Carter has spoiled his precious princess, always giving her whatever she’s wanted, consequences be damned. But that ends here and now.

She’s put Bailey in danger. Danger that Luka and I have been doing our damnedest to protect her from. But this is one that she shouldn’t have had to suffer from.

Even if her father tries to intervene, just like he has every time she’s thrown herself at me, it won’t change the fact that she will pay for actions tonight.

Period.

“What have I told you numerous times, Angelica?” I hiss, my fangs cutting into my lip. The smell of my own blood permeates the hallways, only fueling my ever-increasing bloodlust. It’s easy to tell when my eyes shift from their natural ruby red to the unnerving onyx when I’m infuriated, and the fear wafting off Annie curls around my body, like it too is afraid of being in my presence.

“Amy,” she squeaks, her claws cutting into my suit jacket as terror overtakes her red eyes.

“What?” What is this infuriating woman going on about?

“My name is Amy,” she grits out, her own tiny fangs on full display as she bares her teeth at me.

How pathetic she is trying to intimidate me with such small incisors.

When what she said finally clicks, my humorless laugh echoes around the empty hallway.

“What’s so funny?” Her perfectly shaped, fake red brows pull together in confusion as she stares at me like I’ve lost my marbles. And hell, at this rate, maybe I have.

“You. Obviously, you are so damn insignificant to my life that I don’t even remember your name. Even after working for me for years.” A gasp slips through her painted red lips. “Truth hurts, doesn’t it?”

The doors leading from the main gala space bang as they close, making my prey flinch, followed by the sound of rushing footsteps in our direction. It’s not hard to tell who it is, though. Only one person would be racing after this stupid bitch.

“Mr. Pennington,” Benjamin Carter, this cunt’s father, blunders, “please, let her go. She’s young. She doesn’t know any better.”

Another humorless laugh falls from my mouth, the maniacal sound bouncing off the walls.

“She knows exactly what she’s doing, Carter,” I hiss, slamming whatever the fuck her name is against the wallpaper even as my eyes are on Ben’s. Glee infuses my veins with every wince I feel under my fingertips and moans of pain as her head bounces against the hard surface. “And she knows damn well the consequences of messing around with a vampire’s mate.”

“M-mate? No, no, no.” She attempts to shake her head, but the flex of my claws in her neck hinders the movement. “I love you, Axel. I’m supposed to be your mate. Not some fucking nobody little bitch.”

“Shut the fuck up, Amy,” Benjamin hisses but makes no move to extract her from my grip. Does she listen? Of course, fucking not.

---