Page 30 of Claiming Her Vampire

“My ex-boyfriend is here. He hasn’t approached me yet. He’s just walking around the room. Every time I go to a different table, he walks behind me. It’s like he’s herding me.” She keeps her eyes on me and talks fast and low.

Her hands grip my shirt, betraying her fear. “Is he still here?” I ask.

“Yes, he’s sitting in a booth now,” she says, her voice shaking, her head jerking in his direction.

“Listen to me.” I tilt her head back up so I am her only view. “When you are with me, you have no fear. He can’t touch you. I won’t allow it. I would kill him in this room full of people before he got close to you.”

“Okay,” she says and lets out a deep breath.

“You continue to work. Tristan will stay close. I will take care of him,” I assure her. I nod to Tristan, calling him over.

“You’ll be careful?” she asks, fears still swirling in her eyes.

“I’m not the one you need to worry about.” Tristan steps to my side. “Watch her. Keep her in your view, no matter what. If something goes wrong, call Bash. He’s at the apartment with Ava,” I sternly instruct, causing him to bow his head. “I’ll be back.” I reluctantly release her and feel her eyes follow me to the booth in the corner.

I slide into the booth, seeing the man that caused my mate so much pain. I was not expecting the man in front of me. He doesn’t seem to be much taller than Serenity. He has blonde hair and brown eyes. He was not worthy of my gorgeous mate. Nothing stands out about him. Ordinary clothes. Ordinary looks. He’s not ugly, I guess. It would be difficult to remember him if he passed you in the street. I picture him raising his fists to Serenity, making her cower, and grit my teeth.

I let the silence stretch out, wanting him to speak first. He looks confident, though, as if he knows something I don’t. Even if he seems like an average idiot, I have learned not to underestimate any opponent in the past. He had to have some misplaced courage to enter my world, my club, and see my mate. I wonder if Serenity’s mother somehow found out where she was and told him, or if he found out on his own. Had he been tracking her all along?

“I know who and what you are,” the douche says, sneering.

“And you still came?” I ask, surprised.

“My girlfriend lost her way. I had to get her back.”

“She is no longer your girlfriend. You’re dreaming if you think you will walk out of here with her.” I place both my hands on top of the table between us, tapping my fingers slowly.

“She will. I just need to speak with her.” His eyes shift to the side as he seeks her out.

I hit the table with my palm, and he jumps and looks back at me, sliding back in the seat. He may want me to believe he is confident, but the fear is soaking the air. Most vampires can smell human emotions.

“You keep your eyes on me, Tom,” I demand.

“She told you about me?” The hope in his voice is hilarious.

“She let me know of the abuse. The pain you caused.” I tilt my head. “Have you ever been in a fight against a man?” I ask.

“You aren’t a man,” he says through grinding teeth.

“What am I then?” The calmer I am, the angrier he becomes.

“You are a creature that shouldn’t exist,” he hedges.

I need him to be precise. I don’t want to assume. “What?” I push.

“A vampire. Are you happy?” He quickly looks at the knives strapped to my chest and then back to my face.

“Not really at the moment. You are here, and I want you gone,” I sigh. More and more humans are finding out about us. This worries me. If thousands of humans band together to eliminate us, it would mean war. I will do what I have to, to protect my mate and coven. “What did you think to gain by coming here?”

“I want her back. She’s in trouble, working in the club of a vampire and god knows what else,” he spits out, leaning over the table.

“Let’s get this straight. She is staying here with me, in my club, with my people. She hates you.” Why am I trying to reason with him? I could just change his memories and be done with it. Or I could reach over and twist his neck. “You think she would be safer with you?” I picture his head hanging at an unnatural angle and have to smother a smile.

“Her mom is worried.” He tries to approach the topic differently.

I laugh. “That is the wrong way to go. She hates her mom, too. Is she the one that sent you?”

“Not exactly. We discussed it, and we decided it would be best if I came.” So the mom did push him into coming.

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