Page 89 of Dark Souls

TELL THEM I’LL BE THERE WHEN THE SUN SETS.

Oh fuck.

“How many have they had now?” I groaned, fidgeting with the sleeve of my black dress as I watched my dad and Grandpapi sitting in armchairs by the open fire in Grandpapi’s office drinking whiskey and smoking cigars. They were far too relaxed, laughing and joking as if they were planning all the ways they could embarrass me to no end tonight. I, on the other hand, was wound so tightly I felt like a spring.

Grandma pulled my arm down from where I had ripped a hole in the sleeve with my nails and squeezed my hand instead. “I am sure tonight will go smoothly. They just want to see who they are trusting with your life.”

“Why don’t you sound convinced?”

She peered back at the two men and I didn’t need to read her mind to know what she was thinking. They were unpredictable. And so was Luka. Which made this whole situation a disaster waiting to happen.

“It will be fine,” she repeated with a nervous smile.

A knock on the oak door had us all pause and one of my grandpapi’s guards walked in. “There is a rogue vampire demanding entry at the gate. He said he is here to see you, Mr Romano, but won’t give his name.”

“Send him in,” Grandpapi answered and the man nodded and left. My heart flipped. Oh crap, was this really happening? I felt sick. My hands started shaking as two of the most intimidating men in my family stood up and walked over to my grandpapi’s sofas, taking a seat with their whiskey in hand. Both their demeanours had instantly changed. The laughter and the easy atmosphere between them had dissipated and they were both projecting hostile and lethal auras. They sat in silence, staring at the door and waiting.

“Urgh, no.” I stormed towards them, pointing my finger in their direction. “Be nice!”

“Of course we’ll be nice,” my dad said in a deep drawl that showed his wolf was at the surface.

“Unless he gives us reason not to be,” Grandpapi added.

I lifted my hand to my forehead. What had I done? This was going to be a car crash. Another knock came on the door and I nearly jumped out of my skin. I spun around just as it opened and the same guard stepped inside, followed by my mate, who was surrounded by at least four other Romano guards all glaring at him suspiciously.

My mouth dropped open. The man looked fucking delicious. Wearing smart trousers and a tight-fitted black shirt with the sleeves rolled up his tattooed, veiny forearms, the material fit his athletic form perfectly, giving his muscles definition and oozing strength and power. Every time I’d seen Luka, he’d always been wearing a grunge-style outfit. Ripped jeans, baggy tees, leather jackets or hoodies, and it suited him. But I couldn’t deny that this whole supermodel model vibe was giving me life. He was the picture of authority and sex appeal. And damn, did he wear it well. He’d even styled his hair back. Just knowing he’d put this much effort into his appearance to meet my family had my icy heart thawing a little.

His red eyes slammed into mine, but he kept his expression blank, soulless and stern.

“Close your mouth, you’re drooling,” Grandma whispered with amusement in my ear. I shut it and stepped back immediately, remembering there were more than just the two of us in the room. His eyes swerved from me and landed on the two men poised on the sofa like gods.

My gaze darted between them as they both sized him up while he stood there, completely unperturbed. He radiated confidence and I couldn’t help but feel proud that their attempt to intimidate him was falling short.

Grandpapi nodded for the guards to leave.

“Forgive us for our lack of a warm welcome. But without your name, it’s rather hard to do.”

“My name isn’t important,” Luka replied. “And I wasn’t expecting a warm welcome by any means. But you invited me here, so here I am. Though I would prefer this meeting to remain confidential.”

“And it will,” my dad answered. He stood up, walking towards him and I held my breath. He held out his hand and introduced himself. “Alpha King Ezra Black.”

Luka shook it firmly, while my grandpapi continued to stare daggers at him from the sofa. Ah, so that’s what this was. They were playing good cop, bad cop. The oldest move in the interrogation book.

“Which would make you Arius Romano, I presume?” Luka directed his attention towards the bad cop and my grandpapi narrowed his heterochromia eyes.

“The one and only.”

“I knew your father,” Luka stated. I gasped in shock. Everyone seemed to pale at the information and even my grandpapi looked taken aback. How? Or the better question was, how old was my soulmate exactly? Because my great-grandfather was killed forty-four years ago.

“Can’t say I liked him much.”

“Well, that makes two of us,” Grandpapi said, still eyeing him with distrust. “Take a seat.”

Luka and my dad took their places on the sofa and Grandma and I joined them. I chose the chair the furthest away from Luka as possible and tried to avoid staring at him. He was too hot to handle, and I couldn’t give away that I had any kind of desire for this man at all.

“So,” my dad started, looking from me to him. “You want my daughter’s help?”

Luka didn’t look at me but kept his gaze locked with my father’s. He didn’t answer and I gritted my teeth. My gods, he was infuriating. Couldn’t he just be vulnerable for one minute? Show them the side of him he showed me yesterday. I needed him to get them on his side.

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