Page 51 of A Love So Deadly
I don’t want to, but I push to my feet as Elliot walks over to take my place. I go out into the hall of the big sweeping mansion on Tenebris Hill, and Vittoria flashes her angry gaze at me from where she’s been lurking outside the room.
“This is a waste of time.” She pushes off the wall.
I look carefully at her. So cold, beautiful. Right. “Nell?”
“Human. Weak.”
“You were human once,” I remind her.
“I was never weak.”
She’s right, Vittoria was never weak, no matter what. But that’s neither here nor there. This isn’t about her.
“She’s dying,” I say the obvious.
Her eyes snap, and she answers with something just as obvious. “She’s human.”
“I know.”
“You ignore her wants. You’re as selfish as me, Lucian, and don’t think for a moment your softer approach to certain human females wins you any points or makes you better because it doesn’t.”
“You dare lecture me?” Anger rises.
“You and human females.” Disgust flashes in her eyes. “This new one. Her scent is all over you. You fucked her.”
I look her up and down, my control razor thin and rusting. “Do you care?”
“I care,” she says, “if you get sloppy.”
I move so fast, I have her pinned between my body and the balcony’s railing, my hand on her throat. She hisses at me, baring fangs. I show her mine right back.
“I don’t get fucking sloppy,” I growl, but change the subject to what I’m really furious at. “De Santis did this. I want his head on a fucking platter.”
Vittoria’s eyes gleam. I’m aware the earlier conversation isn’t over; it’s just tucked away, but I’m her maker and while she gets certain leeway, there are limits.
I release her, and she shoves me away and crosses the floor again. When I turn to her, she’s looking at me intently. I’ve piqued her interest.
“We’d have to take out his entire operation.” She smirks. “It isn’t going to be easy.”
Blood. Chaos. Power. Pain.
Her perfect storm.
“But doesn’t that make it more fun?” I ask.
“Absolutely.” The smirk turns into a full wolfish grin. “Destroy them all. Devour them and drink them dry. Crack their bones to feast on their marrow. Like the old days.”
“The world is different now,” I warn.
Vittoria’s laughs. “We rule this world.”
“Because I’m careful and have rules. We need to do it right.” I look at her. “’But make it brutal.”
She rolls her eyes. “Fine. But you should know that Vinnie called. He wants to meet. A money-making deal’s come up, and he’s eager to make it up to us.”
I couldn’t care less about Vinnie. Especially right now. But I’ll feel better than his debts are paid and I can kick him out of our lives completely. “When and where?”
“Two days. At the warehouse on the edge of town,” she says.
