Page 105 of Love Bleeds
Chapter Thirty-Six
Crimson hated being back home. What was worse, though, was that Luke was here with him. Luke had no business being here, being anywherearoundNicolai.
But from the moment Luke had thrown down that flash grenade and run, Crimson had known there wasn't anything he could do to stir Luke away from his plan. The only thing he could do was go with him and make sure he got out safe.
Nicolai had them searched. He took their phones and any eventual weaponry, and then he led them to the elevator downstairs into the basement, a self-sufficient smile on his face. One of the other vampires kept a firm grip on Luke, but nobody bothered to restrain Crimson.
Everyone still thought Nicolai had a hold on him.
Crimson hoped that wasn't true, but so far, he hadn't been given a chance to test the waters. What if Nicolai gave an order and he found himself unable to resist after all? Worse yet, what if Nicolai ordered him to hurt Luke, and he'd feel his body move of its own accord?
Dread settled like so many stones in his stomach.
If that happened, he'd never be able to forgive himself. He wouldn'tdeserveforgiveness.
He glanced at Luke, and at the vampire who was holding him. Something inside of him prodded at him to rip that asshole's hand away from Luke's arm, but he knew he had to keep himself in check, as much as he hated seeing another vampire manhandle the boy he loved.
The boy who claimed to love him too.
Crimson averted his gaze from Luke to look ahead again.
Luke had said he loved him, but Crimson remembered now. Everything. Luke had never shown any signs of being the least bit queer, so how could he change his mind so quickly?
Was it because Damian had died?
Would the effects of the shock fade over time once he'd fully processed his grief?
Crimson couldn't be sure, but he knew what he remembered, and the Luke in his memories wasn't gay.
He tried to shake the thought. There was no time to be having that conversation now, in any case. The elevator had arrived in the basement. Nicolai was leading them deeper into the building. They were nearing Crimson's old bedroom. Crimson shuddered at the thought of being locked up in there again. He hadn't missed this place one bit.
"Aren't you glad to be home?" Nicolai asked as if he could read Crimson's thoughts--which would have been even worse than telepathy, and that was plenty intrusive already.
"Not really," Crimson made himself say, just to show Nicolai that he wasn't going to cower before him.
"You should show some more remorse," Nicolai said. "Or are you forgetting that I still hold something that is dear to you?"
Something. As if Luke and Savannah were things. Commodities to be used or thrown away.
Of course Nicolai would see them that way.
"Where's my friend?" Crimson asked. After all, they didn't have time for small-talk, did they? Even if Nicolai was unaware, Crimson practically heard the bomb's timer ticking away in the back of his head. He didn't want to be here when that thing went off.
He wanted Luke and Savannah to be here even less.
Savannah had always been so sweet. She didn't deserve any of this.
"I placed her in your room," Nicolai said, opening the door as if it was a grand gesture of some sort. "So she would be here waiting for you when you came back."
Crimson dared a glimpse into the room. Savannah had been gagged and tied to the bed, but at least she hadn't been undressed and she looked unharmed. The ties holding her were simple ropes.
"I have an important meeting tonight," Nicolai said. "So you will have to wait here until I'm done. Go on, go into your room." He paused and when he spoke again, his voice sounded a little sharper, imbued with that bit of magic he used to turn his words into absolute commands for Crimson. "Stay in your room and don't untie the girl. If your friends try to escape, bite them."
The vampire who'd been holding Luke pushed him into the room. Crimson followed almost automatically. His sire's words still rang through his head as Nicolai closed the door, turned the key in the lock, and left.
He stared at the door. Nicolai didn't usually lock it.
Did that mean he didn't have total confidence that Crimson would obey his command?
