Page 19 of The Way You Bite
“I’m not from this country and not subject to its rules of war. My family is not officially at war with wolves right now. Once you are with child, I will remove you to Italy where you will be safe.”
She’d never move to Italy, where restrictions on females were a zillion times worse than in the States. Her freedom plan may have to take effect now. “I don’t sympathize with wolves. They murdered my mother. They keep showing up and taking advantage of me at work.”
“Yet another reason you’re going to quit.” He leaned close. “Go to your apartment. Gather your things and move to my country house tonight or at least by early tomorrow. You will not return to your job. Avoid vamps. I will speak with Dominic about timing.”
She didn’t move. “What are you going to do about the other stuff? About the werewolf king?”
“I shall find out Lexan’s purpose. He hasn’t been in the States for more than a few days. For some reason, he’s targeted you. I know not if this is about me or if it’s vengeance that drives him.”
“Vengeance for what?”
He smiled a chilling upward turn of his lips. “Trace had a little tête-à-tête with his wife before Lexan divorced her.”
“What? I don’t believe you. Trace and a wolf? Impossible.”
Ambrose didn’t lose his smile.
“Okay, oddly possible. Does Dominic know?” She thought she knew her brother well. Perhaps, not so much.
“Your brother slept with that female wolf off and on, and right beneath Dominic’s nose until she had an unfortunate car wreck a few years ago. I’m not entirely certain Dominic knew. It might have been Trace’s roundabout way to hurt his father. Or, maybe, Dominic did know and instigated the crash. Perhaps he let it go on because some twisted part of his mind liked knowing his son hurt Lexan. Although, I’m pretty sure Lexan lost interest in what his ex-wife did long ago.”
“Then how do you know about Trace?” This couldn’t be true. Trace led the Termination Squad. She pulled against the pressure Ambrose applied to keep her still. He didn’t release.
Ambrose’s attention lay on the wedding party milling around the head table. A cunning smile played at his lips. “It’s my business to know all of your family’s dirty secrets.”
“I detected no malice from the king. He got shot and needed help.”
He smoothed a hand against her cheek. “You are so naive. So young. It’s almost adorable, if it wasn’t so stupid.”
“I’m almost seventy. That’s not young.”
“Two superficial bullets for a wolf of his age? Oh, please. He was toying with you. The question is for what purpose. You may think Dominic is dangerous, but he is nothing compared to Aleksander Dimitrov and the wolves who protect him. That wolf doesn’t do anything without a reason.” Ambrose glanced inside. “Leave. I’ll distract Dominic tonight and delay the treatment. He wants to hurt you for defying his demand for allegiance.” His look turned possessive, and he traced a finger along her neckline. “No one mars this skin other than me.”
…
Vee cut a sharp left to walk the outside perimeter of the house toward her car. A huge hand clamped down on her biceps and spun her. That would bruise.
“Going somewhere, Lady Scarpa?” Hsu-Li smirked. The jerk assumed she’d wilt and bend to his command. Had he forgotten her notorious fights with her father?
She excavated her haughtiest tone, learned from years of aristocratic parties. “How dare you? Let me go.”
“Your father requests a word with you. Now.”
“Maybe tomorrow. Ambrose has ordered me home.” A yank to free her arm failed. “You have no right to treat me this way.”
“I have every right when Dominic gives an order.”
She grabbed her wrist with her opposite hand and jerked, freeing her arm from his grasp, a self-defense move Trace taught her. Instead of running, she leaned into him, surprising him. And jabbed him in the throat.
He gurgled and grabbed his neck.
The move probably bought her mere seconds. She sprinted for her car. One moment she was running. The next she was face down with a burning pain in her back. A huge knife jutted from her side. Bad location. Important organs, like kidneys, were in that area.
Hsu-Li moved fast toward her. She yanked out the knife, took aim, and launched it back at him, scoring a direct chest hit that sent him to the ground.Thank you for training me all those years ago, Trace.
She fumbled her key fob to unlock the car, press the start button, and gun it down the drive. The gate opened automatically from the inside. She tapped out an agitated beat on her steering wheel at the gate’s slow grind to open. The gate guards didn’t make a move to stop her. Dominic must’ve assumed her weak enough for Hsu-Li to handle.
This wasn’t over. Not by a long shot. They’d come for her.
