Page 10 of Tamed By Her Vampire Protector

Leo sighed and nudged him away with a slight kick like he was an annoying rat.“Get up and go back to the loading area.Until further notice, you are assigned to the docks.If I see your face in here again, I won’t be so understanding next time.”

The vampire lackey scrambled to his feet and scurried away after some more groveling and sniveling.As much as I hated him and his partner, I couldn’t help but feel pity for him as he ran away.

“Are you okay?”He reached out, as if he wanted to run his hands over my arms to check for damage, but held back with hesitation before he made contact.His words echoed in my mind again.He wasn’t really worried about me, the only thing he was worried about was the status of his master’s property.

I stared at my hands, which were tightly clenched around each other.I squeezed my right hand around the left, though it did nothing to control my shaking.“I’m just peachy.”

Leo frowned.Obviously, he didn’t believe me.If my hoarse voice cracking didn’t give away my fear, my entire body trembling like a leaf probably told him all he needed to know.

“Come on, let’s get you somewhere you can sit down before you collapse.”This time he reached for me, his hands rested on the small of my back as he supported me and ushered me away from the site of my attack.His touch was soothing, as if he had the power to draw away the panic and adrenaline rushing through my body.

For the first time in a long time, I was safe.I could relax.Too tired to analyze why Leo of all the vampires was the one who made me feel this way, I decided to just go with it.In such a cruel world, I had to learn to take whatever good and comfort came my way.

“I thought you would know better by now than to try to run off by yourself.”

I stiffened.My reputation for running away was going to follow me around forever.There was no way I could say anything about the cloaking potion without getting Rose and Lizzy in trouble.I had to think of something quickly.

“I wasn’t running away,” I said defensively.“We ran out of dish soap and there was nobody posted by the kitchen who I could ask for help.”I gave him a look, as he was the one who was usually posted nearby keeping an eye on us." I wanted to find the supply room to get some, but ran into those two jerks before I could find it."

He looked at me from the corner of his eyes, but did not say anything.I had no doubt that he saw right through my lie, though he didn’t call me out on it.

“Next time, wait until I get back.It’s not worth losing your life over some dirty dishes.Everyone knows the Master has ordered that humans remain off limits, but as you can see, vampires are not very good at following directions.Even under threat of death.”

We arrived back at the kitchens too soon.Stopping just outside the doorway, we could hear the other girls were still inside.Judging by their conversation, my absence was noticed.

“Where do you think she’s gone this time?”

“I think the bloodsuckers have eaten her by now.There’s no way she could have gotten far.”

One of them scoffed.“I doubt even a starving vamp would want her.She’d probably give them heartburn.”

“Who cares.It would be better around here without the stuck-up bitch always glowering at us.Imagine all the extra room we’ll have now that we can take over her corner of the room.”

They giggled and started to talk about how they were going to split up the meager belongings I had hidden under my mattress.

Even though I wasn’t close to any of the girls, their words still stung.I had no idea they hated me so much.I could disappear and they really wouldn’t care.

“Let’s get you out of here.”Leo whispered.He reached for my hand and tugged, urging me to follow him.

“Where are we going?”I asked as I let him lead me away.We were walking toward an area of the building I had never been before.

“A place where no one can find us.”

We took a series of turns down dark twisted corridors and descended two sets of stairs until we finally arrived in a large underground garage.It was filled with expensive looking cars that would not have looked out of place zooming down the streets of Monte Carlo.

I was confused but intrigued.

I followed him as we made our way down the rows of cars until he stopped in front of a teal Lamborghini that hugged the ground.The car looked like some kind of advanced alien’s idea of what a car should look like.Leo touched his key fob, and the doors on both sides of the car lifted like a pair of wings.

Even the cynical voice in my head had to admit that was pretty awesome.

“Get in.”

I climbed into the car as gracefully as possible, which was difficult with how low the seats were.I hoped Leo didn’t notice as I flopped into my seat with the grace of a drunken sea lion.

“Are you going to take me into the woods where nobody will find my body and axe murder me?”I joked as I buckled my seat belt.

Leo started the ignition and scoffed.“If I wanted to off you, I could do it right here, right now, no need for the woods.”

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