Page 89 of Blood Bound (Blood Mafia 3)

“What’s the plan?” Alissa asks, ready for action.

She’s smart and capable.

Mateo steeples his fingers and looks between her, Demi, and Lacey. “For now, we’ll have our men on the ground do recon. I have a plan once we get X back, but right now all of our energy needs to be focused on retrieving her. She’s family.”

Mateo goes over a few details, which I’m already privy to as well. Demi watches him with keen interest. I can’t tell if she’s excited about the job or if she’s surprised by his determination to get X back.

Either way, she’s getting closer to forgiving him.

* * *

Demi

When the meeting ends, I invite Lacey to come with me and Alissa, but she declines, deciding she’d rather hole up in her room.

Funny how I’ve almost forgotten how overwhelming it is to be surrounded by vampires. Being stronger than them definitely helps. Lacey isn’t, so she’s probably hating her life right now.

Grayson kisses me on the cheek, promising to catch up with me once he drops Lacey off, and they leave together. Mateo and Colt say their goodbyes and start discussing another matter while they walk toward the elevator.

No rest for the wicked, I guess.

Alissa and I head to my apartment with no real plan. She hasn’t had time to meet my parents yet so I figure we can break the ice over lunch.

“What if they don’t like me?” she asks for the fourth time, running her hand over her smooth hair.

“Please, if they can tolerate Mateo, they’ll adore you. Besides, all they care about is if I like you.”

Her lips pull down, telling me she isn’t so sure it’ll be so easy.

Mom knocks on the door so there’s no more time to give Alissa a pep talk.

“Chin up, buttercup. It won’t be bad, I promise.”

Heading to the door, I unlock it and let my parents inside. Mom gives me a bear hug and Dad joins in.

“Okay, guys. I’m not going anywhere.”

Dad grunts. “We’ll hug you as long as we like and you’ll deal with it.”

And you wonder why I like Mateo? Does dear old dad sound like anyone you know?

They do say you grow up to marry your parents.

Though, Mateo and I aren’t getting married. No way, no how. A little, tiny part of him reminds me of my dad though. Like he knows what’s best and you’re not going to convince him otherwise, no matter how much you protest.

I pat their backs and forcefully extract myself from their hold. “I have someone I’d like you to meet.”

“Dear lord, not another boyfriend,” Dad mutters under his breath.

Mom snorts and smacks his arm.

I pinch the bridge of my nose. “There are only three, Dad. This is a friend.”

“Only three, she says. In my day a woman with more than one man was called a certain name—”

“Robbie,” Mom interrupts, scolding him.

“Smart,” he finishes with an innocent smile.

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