Page 76 of The Vampire's Vow

“Why?”

I watch, my body paralyzed from the neck down as my father walks back over to my desk and pours himself a drink.

“Because I saw what you gave Evelyn. I’d know Anna’s diary anywhere.”

“If that’s the case, then why’d you leave her alone with it?”

My father’s brow furrows, the glass half-tipped against his lips as his eyes shift back to me.

“What of it? It’s not like it’ll matter that she knows. You won’t be the one alive to claim her.”

I let out a soft snort as the corner of my mouth lifts. Valentine lowers the glass, his eyes narrowing as he searches my face.

“Why do you look like that? What aren’t you telling me?”

“Only that you must not have looked inside.”

“Why would I? I know what’s written in it.”

My grin only widens at this.

“Do you? Can you honestly say you knoweverythingthat was in that diary?”

He cocks his head to the side before a grin of his own slowly spreads across his face and he raises the glass again to sip from it.

“Oh, you mean the contract. Yes, I know about that. I’m not a fool, Dante … that’s why I added something of my own to it.”

My grin falters at this.

“What?”

“I wrote her a note,” he says. “I always knew teaching you calligraphy would come in handy.”

“What did you tell her?”

“Only to go find Luci and show him what you gave her.”

I strain against the constraints of my own body, willing myself to lunge at my father.

“You’ll kill her.”

“No, no, no,” he says with a click of his tongue. “Luci’s spent a week getting clean, and he refused the latest round of blood. Too bad though, he could have used theuntaintedblood.”

“And you don’t think he talked her into bonding with him?” I scoff.

“No,” Valentine says, shaking his head, “that was always the problem with you three. You’re too loyal for your own good. You’d be far less disappointing if you just gave in to your monsters.”

“Then what are you doing here?”

“I’m glad you’re finally asking the right questions. I was worried you might actually spoil all my plans earlier by getting to the point too quickly.”

Of course, now it makes sense why he seemed offput by my earlier questions. I was spoiling his fun by guessing his game too easily.

So, he really is planning to kill me, but why now? Why here?

“Bloody hell,” I breathe, looking up into my father’s eyes. “No!”

“Oh, yes,” he says with a cruel smile just as the elevator chimes and out steps Luci, Evi’s limp figure in his arms and a bag crossed over his body.

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