Page 35 of Blood Bound (Blood Mafia 3)

“Fuck.” I sigh and shut the water off, tossing the broken half into the trash and picking up the remains from the sink.

It’s not until I finish tossing the last tiny shard into the trash that I realize the speaker cut off. Two seconds later I hear his footsteps pounding down the hall.

Where Colt and Grayson walk with purpose, Mateo walks with destruction. Like every powerful step could shake the foundation of the building and bring it crashing down.

I rush from the kitchen and into the living room, putting as much distance between me and the front door as possible without running to hide in my closet.

“Do you want me to get rid of him?” Colt asks, lifting his scarred eyebrow.

He’s serious. He’d toss Mateo on his ass if I wanted him to. The thought makes me smile, before I scowl at the door handle.

It twists and swings wide with the force of Mateo’s palms slamming into it. The metal cracks against the wall, probably leaving a hole.

Grayson flashes to Mateo and bumps his chest into his. “Calm the fuck down.”

Mateo hisses at him. “Something broke.”

Colt scoffs. “It was a glass, Mateo. You saw on the cameras she wasn’t hurt. You just wanted an excuse to barge down here and force yourself on her.”

“I would never force myself on her.” The words are spoken so softly you wouldn’t expect them to be menacing. They are.

Narrowing his eyes, Colt stands and shoves his hands into his suit pants. “I didn’t mean like that, boss. There are other ways to force yourself on a person who isn’t ready.”

Mateo shoves Grayson’s chest when he doesn’t let him pass. “I’m not in the mood, Gray. If you want your head ripped off, stay where you are.”

His eyes bleed to full black and Colt shifts to the balls of his feet, ready to intervene the second Mateo strikes.

This is getting out of hand. I appreciate Colt and Grayson trying to protect me from him, but I’m a big girl. Mateo has horrible timing, but if he wants to fight with me, who am I to stop him?

“Let him through.”

Grayson’s head snaps in my direction. I stare into his black gaze and shrug.

“I’ll kill him if I have to.”

Mateo pins me with a dark look, but I ignore it and walk to Grayson.

“I’ll be okay.” I run my hand down his arm and squeeze his hand. “Let the bad vampire through.”

“If you’re sure.”

I nod.

Grayson steps aside and I press against the wall, letting Mateo brush past us and enter the apartment.

Colt immediately squares off with him, but their exchange is in the form of deadly stares and ticking jaws. Their vamp power rolls through the air in a heady wave of copper.

“Can you give us a minute?” I ask, distracting Colt long enough for them to break eye contact.

Mateo’s lips curl back into a satisfied smile.

I point at him. “You’re not forgiven, asshole.”

His smile drops and he scowls at me, crossing his arms over his chest. The light gray, cotton shirt he’s wearing pulls tight over his pecs.

Not that I’m paying attention.

“Leave.” He spits the word out, glancing at Colt and Grayson.

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