Page 24 of Blood Gift

Geez. Who was I turning into? Some lovesick poet?

“The world can be a terrible place sometimes,” I muttered, looking down at my menu.

“Oh? You know that, too?”

“Do I ever. Life in LA isn’t always as glamorous as it’s made out to be. There’s a big, dark underbelly.”

And you used to live in the heart of that underbelly. You used to thrive on it, didn’t you? Maybe you should tell her about that. Tell her about the pain you caused, the lives you destroyed on a whim.

She might like to hear about the homeless man you set on fire, all because he stepped in front of your car when you were in a hurry. She’ll definitely want to spend time with you after you tell her that story. She’ll offer to have your children when you recall how you laughed at the poor, miserable wretch while he burned.

I didn’t really like who I used to be.

What was I even doing with her? I didn’t deserve anything as good as her, not after what I had done. It was like remembering somebody else’s life. Like I had been under a spell for all those years, sleeping in a quiet corner of my mind while another being—a dark, vicious, soulless being with endless hate, endless need to cause pain—took over my thoughts and actions. The moment Dominic stripped me of my powers, all of that had fallen away. I was ashamed of that person. That monster.

She would never understand.

“I’ve heard some stories,” she offered with a rueful smile. “I think everybody has. All the young hopefuls whose dreams were crushed out there. All the scandals covered up back in the old days. Especially when the people involved were powerful enough to sweep things under the rug.”

“You’re a student of Hollywood history?” I asked.

“Something like that. I enjoy reading about the past.” She looked down at the menu.

I couldn’t shake the impression that she was holding something back, but dismissed it as my imagination getting the better of me.

A movement outside caught my eye.

Her brother, pacing back and forth in front of the window. Reminding me of his presence.

“He’s intense,” I observed.

She didn’t need to ask who I was referring to. “Yes. By nature. It’s easier to let him think he’s the biggest dog in the room, if you get what I mean.”

“I don’t know how easy that’ll be for me. I’m used to being the big dog in the pack.”

“Are you?” She raised a playful eyebrow to go with a playful smile. “I should warn you. I’m a pretty big dog, too.”

“You don’t look so big from where I’m sitting.”

“Yes, well, appearances can deceive.” She held my gaze as she sipped from a glass of water, and I was sure she could see into my core.

An illusion, of course, and one which I was glad of. She wouldn’t like what she saw there. Even so, a part of me stirred to life. I shifted in my chair, grateful to the table for providing cover.

The air crackled around us and I knew only one thing for certain:

I had to be alone with her. Without her brother or anybody else. Just us.

Even then, I felt Holden staring at me through the window. Silently shutting me down.

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