Page 68 of Blood Bound (Blood Mafia 3)

With a sigh, the tension eases out of his muscles and he pats my back. “I love you too, Demi girl.”

“Can we let the vampire in?”

Dad mumbles something about junk punching all of them, which makes Grayson’s smile widen even further.

“Sir, I’d like to apologize for what I’ve done to your daughter. To be fair, she’s taken her share of retribution from all of us. Well, maybe one of us still needs a bit more, but she’s taught Colt and me a good lesson in humility.”

“Of course she did, I taught her well.” Dad pats my head and I cringe.

This has to be some twisted dream, all of this. How in the world did it come to my dad telling me I’m a good girl for making vampires pay for taking me and trying to kill me?

“Oh. My. God. Who is this cutie-patootie vampire knocking at my daughter’s door?” Mom saunters out with freshly washed hair, a pair of baggy sweats, and a sweater.

Grayson dips his head. “Ma’am.”

My mom opens her arms, pushing Dad and me aside so Grayson can awkwardly step into her hold. Her eyes are gleaming with something I’ve only seen once before. When Noreen, a cool-mom asshole, told her she should drop out of the bake sale during junior high because her pie crust was too crumbly, Mom stood up with that smile plastered on and slapped the woman straight across the face.

She blamed it on PMS.

I think she’s not as calm and collected as she pretends to be, especially when someone insults her pie.

“Grayson, watch—”

Mom punches him straight in the gut. “That’s for planning to kill her.”

“Oomph.”

“—out,” I finish saying.

“Kind of deserved that, I guess,” Grayson says, rubbing the spot she hit like it hurts. I know it didn’t, but he puts on a good show for her sake.

Mom pats his arm. “We’re even now. Come on in, Grayson, we ordered some food up.” Sucking in a breath, she shoots me a worried glance. “Can he eat food?”

“Yes, he can eat food and don’t talk about him like he isn’t there, Mom.”

She gives him a sheepish look. “Forgive me, I’m still learning so much about this world.”

Oh here she’s decided to use her manners. The woman hit him not sixty seconds ago.

Well, you know what they say, like mother, like daughter.

* * *

Grayson

After hanging out with Demi’s parents during their late-night dinner, I excuse myself and ask to speak with Demi.

“What’s up?”

For the first time in a while, her eyes are clear of anger.

“Mateo wanted to meet to talk about going after Nix.”

She blows out a breath and tucks her hair behind her ears. “Okay, let me get them settled.”

“I can send someone to watch the door.”

With a little smile, she wraps her arms around me and kisses me. “Thank you.”

---