Page 51 of Blood Bound (Blood Mafia 3)

Anthia is leaning against a worktable full of things I’d rather not think about.

“What did you do with him?” Alissa asks no one in particular.

“I took his heart,” the red head answers. “I thought you might like to help me finish the job?”

Alissa’s squints. “Why would you do that?”

Picking up a knife and stabbing it into the table, Anthia lets out a harsh breath. “Because sometimes the ones we love aren’t capable of giving us the love we need.”

“This is all very touching, but if you don’t mind, I’d like to leave this cesspool.” Evelyn tosses her long, black hair over her shoulder and starts up the stairs.

Alissa chuckles and shakes her head. “I need to get cleaned up.”

“There’s a shower in Sisco’s office.”

A tiny bit of weight lifts off my shoulders as we reenter the club and head to the office. Three people found, three to go.

* * *

Mateo

The women and Colt return with Alissa. There are marks covering nearly every inch of her body. Evelyn’s lips are pressed into a thin line and she shakes her head at me when I give her thetell me what happenedlook.

Alissa hands an empty glass to Colt and comes straight to me, dropping her arms by her side and meeting my scrutinizing gaze. Demi hovers, eyes flashing from me to her friend.

“Are you okay?”

The question takes them both by surprise. Alissa’s eyes widen and Demi’s mouth pops open.

What had she expected me to say? Something awful probably.

“I’m—” Alissa trails off before continuing, “—okay.”

“Okay is better than dead, wouldn’t you agree?”

She nods. “Yes, sir.”

I drop my hand on her shoulder. “I’m sorry I could not protect you.”

Swallowing, she glances away. “It wasn’t your fault.”

“Nor was it yours,” I say, gripping her chin and forcing her to look at me.

I’ve seen this broken, pitiful look before. I cast my eyes to my sister, studying her reaction to Alissa. It’s taken less than this to break her before, but Evelyn’s face gives nothing away other than her disapproval of Alissa’s treatment. You wouldn’t know the marrow deep trauma she faced when she was turned.

Her sire was not gentle.

Focusing on Alissa again, I let her chin go and sigh. “I want you to know you did nothing wrong. Do you understand that? You didn’t deserve this, no matter what he told you.” I point to Sisco’s body.

Her eyes mist with tears and her lips tremble when she sees him. Demi wraps her arms around her shoulders and hugs her tight. Alissa’s eyelids flutter closed and she holds on to Demi’s arm.

When she recovers and pulls out of the hunter’s hold, she turns to Anthia. “I’d like to finish him now.”

Anthia nods, hands her a knife, and joins her at Sisco’s side. Together they separate his head from his body. Anthia grips the short strands of his hair, oblivious to the blood dripping all over the floor.

“I will take care of the head, can you handle the body?”

Alissa bites her lip and nods. When Anthia flashes from the room, leaving a trail of blood behind her, Alissa begins to lift Sisco’s body. Evelyn opens the door to the balcony and peeks her head out.

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