“Yes.” I nod. “I accept your gift.”
A smile spreads across Yves’s face as he cups my cheek. “It will only sting a bit.”
As he sinks his teeth into my neck, I fall back, supported by Alessio. The strength in my body slips away, but a quiet whisper reaches me, telling me everything is going to be okay. Everything will always be okay.
This is my family now. What a gift.
ChapterOne
MIDNIGHT (LEANDER)
Current Day
Lurking in the shadows, stalking my prey is by far my favorite way to spend a Saturday night. Eros is on the roof above us, watching the street for our intended target. I don’t know shit about the guy except for what details Yves gave us. Apparently, our target is considered very dangerous.
I don’t know what he’s done or who wants him dead, and I don’t give a fuck. That’s not my concern. My job is to make sure he doesn’t live to see the sun rise. I’m braced for a fight though, warned by Yves that this one isn’t going down easily. Even better.
Eros clicks his teeth to get my attention, the sound easily reaching me despite the noise of a busy downtown street. I step forward slightly, still hidden in the darkness as the intended target appears, walking briskly to his apartment building. He’s obviously nervous, glancing over his shoulder and jumping at every unexpected noise. His hand sits at his hip, displaying the holstered gun there.
Foolish mortal. Bringing a gun to a vampire fight.
Chuckling at my own thoughts, I step into the man’s path as Eros leaps from his position to block him in. The man snarls at me, the thick scar across his face from forehead to chin stretching menacingly.
“Get the fuck out of my way,” he growls.
“No can do,” I answer. “Henry Stanton.”
The man scowls, obviously confused by the use of his legal name. Someone with a name like that should be heading some kind of corporation in one of the high-rises in the city center, not hanging out in skeezy areas causing drama.
Henry pulls the gun from its holster, aiming at me, then panicking silently when he notices my stealthy partner behind him.
“Wouldn’t do that if I were you,” Eros says softly, reaching forward to take the gun away from a shocked Henry.
Not surprisingly, our target makes a break for it, shoving past me and running as fast as his legs can take him. Which isn’t very fast at all. Henry isn’t exactly built like an athlete, with his short legs and paunchy stomach.
He makes it to the end of the block, glancing over his shoulder. He stops, bending over to pull another weapon from his ankle strap.
Eros chuckles. “I love it when they put up a little resistance.”
“Same.”
I walk with purpose in his direction, my trench coat shielding me from the cold wind blowing between buildings. It should be warming up by now, but we’ve had an unusually cold spring. Not that the cold bothers me.
Henry pulls the trigger, the bullet hitting me in the shoulder, which only irritates me.
“Now, Henry, this would’ve been a lot easier if you hadn’t done that.” I pluck the bullet from my shoulder, flicking it in his direction while Henry stares at me wild-eyed. “You’ve just pissed me off.”
“What the fuck do you want? Money?”
“Nah, I’m good.” When I’m almost to him, I speed up so quickly he can’t detect it, gripping his neck and slamming him up against the wall.
A couple turn the corner onto the block, pausing and spinning around quickly when the man sees what’s happening. Henry screams for help, but he won’t get it. Not in this neighborhood.
Eros leans against a wall, a bored expression on his face. “What did you do wrong, Henry? Who’d you piss off?”
“Fuck you,” the man says, clawing at my hand around his throat.
“Not if you were the last dick on earth,” Eros replies, and I chuckle.