Page 26 of Blood Bound (Blood Mafia 3)

This earns me scoffs and a few curses.

Shrugging, I point to Daniel’s body. “Fine, don’t make an alliance, but know that if you come for Blood Mafia, or if you come for me and my friends, this is what you’ll have waiting for you. You don’t have a witch to protect your location, you need this alliance.”

Maria narrows her eyes. “Are you threatening your people, Demi?”

“Thanks to you, they’ve never been my people. Family is who you choose. I choose them.”

She frowns. “Surely you realize we cannot agree to an alliance, what would the wolves think?”

“Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.” I swing my gaze to Mack.

He’s wearing a wry smile.

“If you’re too stubborn to agree to an alliance, the least you can do is stay out of our way. We won’t come into your territory if you don’t come into ours. We won’t hurt your people if you don’t hurt our people. Deal?”

“What about vampires who break the accords?”

“We’ll deal with them, and if we don’t, you can kill them. I don’t want a bunch of out-of-control vampires any more than you do.”

Mateo never gave me direct authority to bargain on behalf of Blood Mafia, but seeing as we’re bonded and I’m making this deal for myself and the hunters as much as I am Blood Mafia, I think he’ll let this slide.

Mack looks at Maria. “We’ve already lost enough today, don’t you think? I think you should agree to her terms.”

Maria shoots him a dirty look. “Don’t tell me what to do.”

He sighs. “Babe.”

Whoa. Insert retching noise.

Mack can do so much better.

She rolls her eyes and turns to face the hunters. “All of those in favor, say aye.”

More than half say aye. A few give me dirty looks as they say it, but the majority rules.

“Good.” I nod at Mack. “Keep her in check.”

He smirks. “Impossible.”

A smile tugs at my lips. “I like you, Mack. Don’t make me your enemy.”

I’m glad Mateo and Grayson decided to stay behind with Blaze and the girl. Had the deal come from a vampire, I doubt they’d be as willing to agree.

The door to the gym opens. I turn to see Mateo standing in the doorway.

“Blaze is awake.”

Thank baby Moses in a clothes basket.

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