Page 25 of Obsessed in Blood
Remus finished his glass and set it aside. “While we wait for word on Cressa, what’s next?”
Devon drained his glass then poured another finger, swallowing it down immediately. He bent to retrieve the white shopping bag and set it on the table between him and Remus. “You might have to wait for Cressa’s blood to finalize your analysis, but this might keep your lab busy in the meantime.”
Remus lifted a brow and pulled the bag closer. He tipped it toward him and glanced in. He flashed Devon a glance before pulling the clamshell container partway out of the bag. When he spoke, his voice was filled with awe. “Is this beautiful flower what I think it is?”
“Yes. And you won’t want to be caught with it.”
ChapterEight
The following morning,I strolled through the walk-in closet filled with linen pants of every imaginable color along with matching blouses and blazers, dozens of casual dresses, party dresses, and evening dresses. A three-tiered cabinet held four dozen shoes. I counted. And two dressers held nothing but sweaters.
It was every girl’s dream, and I couldn’t find a damn thing to wear.
No jeans, no leggings, no sweatshirts, workout clothes, or tennis shoes. This wasn’t going to work.
I rubbed my right hip. It was still sore, but even so, I dropped to the floor to run through a martial arts program. What did Lorenzo want with me?
It was strange. I’d begun remembering little things. Like an odd rundown apartment I shared with Ginger. But each time Lorenzo visited me, I became irresistibly drawn to him as I hung onto his every word. Once he was gone, the feeling faded within an hour, and I was left feeling dull and confused.
What I needed was fresh air. I needed to get out for a long walk through the gardens. I scrounged through the wardrobe and found a pair of wide-legged pants that would allow movement. A short-sleeved silver blouse that went with a black pantsuit was sufficient for what appeared to be a gorgeous day.
The one feature that made this experience tolerable was the second-floor balcony that looked out over a well-kept garden filled with flower beds, willow trees, and firs. For some reason, I expected to see a sycamore tree, but if there was one on the property, it must be in the front yard.
I turned when the door opened. That was another irritation. No one ever knocked. Not Lorenzo and not the guards. I wasn’t fooled. They weren’t there for my protection. That was fine, but not having privacy was a whole different matter.
This time it was the guard who liked to see me sleep and walk around in skimpy clothing.
“Master Venizi wants you to join him for breakfast.”
“And what if I don’t feel like joining him?”
“Then I’ll take great pleasure in dragging you down the stairs and across the marble floor in front of his entire staff before dropping you at his feet.”
That was fairly specific. Like he’d been fantasizing about doing just that. I walked past him and out the door.
“I was just checking.”
The walk to the dining room gave me a chance to review the floor plan. I wasn’t sure why I did it. A natural curiosity or something more ingrained—a need to know where the exits were. The dining room, like all the other rooms I’d seen, was something one would expect in a castle. It was tasteful and elegant and made me want to sit on one of the antique chairs, put my feet on the table, and eat popcorn just to see what they’d do with all the mess.
The staff were dressed in uniforms, and two stood sentinel against a wall behind Lorenzo while two vamps stood on opposite sides of the long dining table that sat thirty. He was reading something on a tablet, and his brows were furrowed. When he glanced up, he appeared irritated. Whether it was at me or what he was reading was difficult to tell, and if I didn’t know it before, it was clear to me now.
This was a dangerous man. A man who owned things. Controlled things. And I seemed to be one of his new toys. I don’t know why I thought that, considering how often I wanted to do anything he asked of me. This yo-yo behavior around him was driving me crazy, but the easiest thing to do was to play along until I learned more.
“You’re late. I was expecting you a half hour ago.”
Okay. He was irritated at me.
“I wasn’t aware you expected me at a certain time.”
His gaze flashed to the vamp behind me. “There must have been a miscommunication.” He eyed me from my head to my toes. He didn’t seem impressed. “I’ll have Millie lay out your clothes from now on. She knows what I prefer.”
I dropped into the chair next to him since it was the only place setting available. Coffee was poured, and breakfast was a simple egg-white omelet with spinach and a bowl of fruit. For some reason, I knew vamps ate organically, almost vegan, but something made me crave blueberry scones, and I wasn’t sure why.
“I have an appointment off the island today and won’t return until this evening. Mrs. Newbridge will see to your etiquette training. I have no idea what Trelane has been teaching you, but I’m sure it’s not up to my standards. I’m having a dinner party in four days with my closest allies, and I expect you to be stellar in your comportment.”
Island. Did he say we were on an island? Claustrophobia clenched my stomach. It was a strange feeling because I usually didn’t have an issue with small places. I spent a good portion of my childhood in them. Funny how I could remember that. Yet, the thought of being stuck on an island with this man terrified me.
“Is there something I’ve done to displease you? Other than being late for breakfast.” I kept my head down. Best to play meek at this point. This man had my entire day planned out for me.
