Page 53 of Blood Bound (Blood Mafia 3)

Mateo’s compassion for Alissa when we returned surprised me, and his kind words play over and over in my mind. The way he discreetly glanced at Evelyn when he said it tells me there’s more to this story than I know.

I’m curious, but I’m not about to pry into their trauma. I’m more than content in knowing they’re both okay now.

Mateo wraps up his conversation with Anthia. The redhead trails a finger over the dark wood grain of the desk and sits in the chair, crossing her legs and placing her hands on the arms of the chair.

“The look fits,” Mateo tells her with a grin, blowing my mind once again.

Who knew there was more to him than his Tarzan like ways and trying to tell everyone what to do?

“Demi,” Anthia says, focusing on me. “I hope you understand my people were acting under Sisco’s orders. I have no desire to make an enemy of you or Blood Mafia.”

I’m tempted to laugh, but I don’t.

“I will not hold Sisco’s actions against you or your people.” I walk to the desk and lay my hands on top. “If you come for anyone I care about again, Iwillkill you.”

She flashes her fangs at me in a vicious grin. “Sounds like a deal.”

* * *

The flight home is uneventful.Alissa sleeps most of the way, so I lose myself in Evelyn’s book. That is, until Mateo plops down next to me.

He doesn’t say anything, but I feel his need to speak through the bond. I also feel his hesitancy, and could it be… nerves?

The Blood Mafia boss is nervous to talk to me? Well, I’ll be damned. This mother fucking fang banger is intimidated by me. I never thought I’d see the day when the almighty—okay, an exaggeration, but you get the point—Mateo would cower before little, old me.

I’m not scary. Am I?

You do like to stab things.

Telling the rational side of my brain to shut up, I mark my place in the book with a bookmark because I’m not a monster, and face Mateo.

“To what do I owe the pleasure, good sir?”

He scowls at my sarcasm and I have to resist the urge to pat his lower lip. He’s so cute sometimes.

Ugh. Did I seriously call him cute? He’s not cute, he’s an asshole.

Only what he said to Alissa wasn’t like his normal asshole self.

“I’m sorry we haven’t found your parents yet.”

Those words strike me in the gut and shake me off my confident anger ridden foundation.

With a shrug, I set the book on the seat next to me and clasp my hands. “You don’t need to apologize. I’m the one with super hunter radar, Mateo.”

“Do you know what it means for a vampire to bond?”

I’m not exactly picking up what he’s putting down; it’s obviously something other than what I think a bond between a vampire and their chosen means.

I shake my head.

“I am responsible for taking care of you and seeing no one harms you. In not finding your parents, I’ve failed in that respect. In not saving Tyra, I failed you. You’re hurting deeply and I can’t fix it.”

His face gives no indication of the irritation flaring through the bond. The feeling isn’t directed at me though, it’s directed at himself.

Time for some real talk.

“Mateo, you aren’t responsible for me. I can take care of myself. While I appreciate you wanting to spare me pain, what happened to Tyra wasn’t your fault.”

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