Page 71 of Map of Pain
“And you’re...”Nick gestured vaguely between Adam and Vincent, trying to process this information.
“Completely in love with him? Yeah.”Adam’s grin was crooked and utterly unashamed. “I have questionable judgment.Vincent’s definitely dangerous, definitely unstable when he’s angry, and absolutely capable of extreme violence when people threaten what’s his. But he’s also loyal, protective, funny when he’s not trying to be intimidating, and he makes me feel safer than I’ve ever felt in my life.”
Nick stared at him.“He kidnapped you.”
“Best thing that ever happened to me, honestly.”Adam shrugged.“I mean, the processwasterrifying and I thought Iwasgoing to die, but the outcome worked out pretty well.”He leaned forward, lowering his voice.“Look, I’m not going to sit here and tell you Vincent’s some misunderstood sweetheart. Your Society files are probably accurate about his capacity for violence. But what they won’t tell you is why he’s like that, or who he protects, or that he’s capable of incredible gentleness with people he cares about.”
Heavy footsteps approached their corner, and Nick looked up to see Vincent heading their way, carrying two steaming cups of coffee. Despite his earlier frustration with the machine, he moved with that predatory grace Nick remembered from Society footage—every step controlled, purposeful.
Nick tensed, his hand slipping into his pocket to touch the knife Luka gave him. The bladewassolid, reassuring under his fingertips—not because he planned to use it, but because having choices felt like being able to breathe.
Vincent’s ice blue eyes tracked the movement, missing nothing, but his expression remained neutral. When he reached their table, he set one cup in front of Adam and leaned down to press a gentle kiss to his forehead.
“Everything okay?” Vincent asked.
“Everything’s fine,”Adam assured him.“Just talking. Getting reacquainted.”He gestured toward Nick.“Vincent, this is Nick Walsh. Caleb’s brother.”
Vincent’s gaze shifted to Nick, assessing but not hostile. “Nick,”he said with a slight nod.“Heard a lot about you.”
Nick found his voice.“Likewise.”
“Where are the twins?”Adam asked, glancing around the room.“I thought Luka would be glued to Matteo’s side.”
Vincent’s expression grew complicated, and he lifted one hand to sign something quick and sharp. Nick caught the gesture, buthadno idea what it meant.
“They’re arguing,”Adam translated, his eyebrows rising with surprise.
Nick felt a spike of worry.“Arguing about what?”The concern in his voicewasimmediate, unfiltered, and he saw Vincent’s head tilt at the intensity of it.
“It’s okay,”Vincent said, his tone shifting to something unexpectedly soft.“Just... family stuff. Old disagreements. Nothing dangerous.”
The sound of rapid footsteps on the stairs cut him off. Caleb appeared at the bottom of the staircase, laptop bag slung over his shoulder, scanning the room. When his eyes landed on their corner—on Vincent standing close to Nick—they went wide with alarm.
“Nick?”Caleb called out, his voice tight with concern as he started toward them.
Caleb rushed over and dropped into the chair next to Nick, his eyes fixed on Vincent with obvious suspicion.“You better be behaving yourself,”he said, though his tonewasmore protective than truly threatening.
Adam leaned back against Vincent’s side, and the vampire draped his arm over Adam’s shoulders with casual possessiveness.“He’s fine,”Adam said with a slight grin.“He’s just being an asshole.”
Vincent snorted, but didn’t deny it.
Caleb turned his full attention to Nick, studying his face with obvious concern.“How are you doing? Did you sleep okay? Are you hungry? Do you need anything?”
“Caleb, I’m—”
“Would you like me to go get him the sun and the moon and the stars as well?”Vincent interrupted, earning a sharp look from Caleb.
“I’m just making sure he’s comfortable,”Caleb said defensively.
“He’s fine,”Vincent replied.“Stop hovering like a helicopter parent.”
Adam shifted against Vincent’s side, then looked at Nick with obvious curiosity.“So how many vampires did you actually kill while youwerewith the Society?”
The question hung in the air like a live wire. Therewasa sharpthunkfrom something under the table, followed immediately by Caleb wincing and Adam bursting into laughter.
“Ow, fuck—sorry, wrong leg,”Caleb muttered, looking embarrassed.
“That’s what you get for trying to kick me,”Adam said, still laughing.“Metal doesn’t have nerve endings, genius.”
