Page 84 of Blood Owed (Blood Mafia 1)
“Anything you need boss, I’m your man.”
My seat groans when I lean back, the price of being a large man. I tap the edge of my desk. “Here’s the plan.” I explain my idea, finding myself smiling along with Grayson as I lay out all the nefarious things I’d like to do.
Sisco’s going to rue the day he met me.
Demi
Alissa is waiting on the treadmill for me. I yank my hair back into a twist bun, snap the pony in place, and start at a slow walk.
“Let me guess, a particular mob boss is being a pain in the ass?”
I cast a sideways glance in her direction. “How’d you know?”
She shrugs. “You have resting bitch face. The little baring of teeth didn’t pass as a smile.”
Ramping the speed up a few notches, I sigh heavily. “I’d rather not talk about him, he’d be all too happy with himself if he learns I’ve been bitching about him to you.”
“Fair point, twenty-minute warmup?”
What Alissa considers a warmup is almost an entire workout for me, though I don’t voice my complaints. She’s far faster than me, so I ignore the way her display screen racks up miles as I slug through two. My body is still sore from our last workout, so I take the miles slower than usual.
While I’m taping up my hands in preparation for another ass kicking, Alissa’s head whips up and her eyes dilate. She steps into my personal space and takes a deep inhalation.
“Whoa, woman. This is not okay, I’m not into chicks.”
She smirks at me then grows serious. “We need to get you back to your apartment.”
I squint at her, pausing mid wrap. “Why?”
“Because you’re about to start your period.”
Ugh, I knew that bitch wouldn’t stay quiet for much longer. “I was told period blood doesn’t appeal to vampires.”
Alissa’s eyebrows hit her hairline. “By who? It’s blood. We may not want to shove our faces between your legs, but the scent of fresh blood is tempting to any vampire. Especially since yours smells so good.”
My face crinkles. “Blech, I don’t want to think about you enjoying the smell of my period, Alissa.”
She snickers. “It’s not me you need to worry about.” Jutting her chin toward the weight machines, she sighs. “It’s everyone else. Come on.”
Alissa grabs my hand. I barely have time to rip the tape and toss the roll into the bin before she’s dragging me to the elevator. She mad dogs the few vampires we pass, hissing at one of the guys who cat calls me.
“I’ll castrate you if you touch her, Johnny.”
Oh I like angry Alissa.
She shoves me into the elevator and presses the button for my floor.
I cross my arms and lean against the corner. “Are you sure you’re not exaggerating?”
Brushing her hands over her bright teal top, she shakes her head. “No, I wish I was, but you’re packing some special juju blood or something.” Lifting her gaze to meet mine, she sucks in one cheek. “Are you sure you’re human?”
“Yes,” I say, then shoot my gaze to the doors. Alissa is nice, but I don’t know her or her motives. She says she wants to help, and she’s been true to her word. That doesn’t mean she needs to know I’m something other.
“Uh-huh. Well, either way, it’s best for you to stay in your room until your cycle is through.”
I bang my head against the wall. “Fuck, this sucks.”
“It’s better than being dead, right?”
