Page 53 of Bite of Sin

“My usual.” Amaros must have been walking too because there were suddenly more steps. Panic had my chest tight, and I pressed myself against the wall to hide in the shadows more. Though I didn’t think that would help when vampires could see perfectly in the dark. “How many humans do you have here?”

“Enough to keep us entertained,” Pax answered. Unlike his two brothers, he was curt with Amaros.

“The ones in cages can be replaced?”

Amaros’s question had terror flooding through me, my nails digging into my palms to keep myself still. I slowly flexed my fingers, not wanting to draw blood. Now was not the time to reveal that I was human.

“They’re all replaceable,” Zan said coldly. “That’s why they’re here.”

“Good. That conversation wasn’t for their ears. We’ll catch up after I eat.”

The next sound was screaming. Pain-filled yells that turned into groans. Until other humans began shrieking and begging for their life. The sounds made my ears bleed, guilt smothering me that I couldn’t do a damn thing. Warner’s face flashed in my head, and I took a single step closer before realizing what I was doing. Movement caught my eye.

I went absolutely still, not even breathing when Zan’s gaze fell on me, not looking the least bit surprised that I was here. He had a bottle of whiskey in one hand and a glass in the other. Hot fury brightened his eyes when he pierced me with a glare, his anger nearly palpable. I pushed off the wall, straightening up and returning his rage. Warner was out there, and Zan knew how much he meant to me. But here he was, fetching drinks while his father slaughtered the people out there.

He barely moved his head, but it was a clear order for me to leave. Anguish squeezed my heart, hearing the screams continuing. I couldn’t leave Warner. I physically couldn’t. Not after watching Helena die. And Lisa. If Warner was gone, I’d have nothing. A second later, Zan tore his eyes off me, stalking out of sight. I stared at the spot where he’d been standing, unsure that he was really gone.

More painful shrieks rang out and I moved closer, wanting to reach for the stake in my boot. I knew I couldn’t kill them all. But Amaros was right there. He was the brain behind all of this, and if I could kill him, then maybe all the vampires’ plans would crumble. Even if I didn’t make it out alive.

“I had a meeting planned with the watchers,” Zan said, making me freeze. “We’ve had issues with security lately. I need to go deal with it; I’ll be back later.”

“I’ll be here, son,” Amaros said, sounding distracted. “Don’t be long.”

Oh shit.I scrambled back, but it was already too late. Zan appeared, striding into the hall and catching me before I made it two steps. His hand went over my mouth, and he spun me around, wrapping his arm across my waist and lifting my feet off the floor before he quickly moved down the hall. My muffled arguments were swallowed by the screams of the humans getting killed, and Zan didn’t stop, pushing the door open, letting it slam shut behind him.

My struggles did nothing as he carried me down the street. He kept his hand covering my mouth for another block before finally releasing me. My feet hit the cement, and I swung my fist at him. He saw it coming, catching my wrist and then pulling me farther from Impulse.

“He could be dying,” I shrieked, fighting against him.

Zan stayed in front of me, not turning to look, keeping a tight hold on my wrist. “Even if he was, there was nothing you could do. My father would have killed you for interfering.”

“We had a deal,” I hissed, tears clouding my vision. “That—”

“That I wouldn’t hurt him,” Zan cut me off, his voice nearly vibrating with anger. “I didn’t touch him.”

“I hate you,” I breathed out, fury settling into my bones. “You’re a fucking monster, just like your father.”

I cried out when he suddenly spun me around, my back hitting the front of the building we’d been passing. His hand wrapped around my throat just like he did the first time I met him, but this time he didn’t squeeze, only applying enough pressure to keep me in place.

“The human you would get yourself killed for is perfectly fine.” There wasn’t a speck of emotion other than anger on his face, but his voice was eerily soft. “Pax got him out of the cage and into the back room before my father even saw him.”

“He’s alive?” I choked out. The weight lifted from my chest, and I sucked in a full breath.

“Yes.” He studied me for a moment before continuing. “You should not have heard that conversation.”

A new wave of panic hit me. “I didn’t hear anything.”

“I don’t even need to listen to your heart to know that’s a lie.”

“Then why did you get me out instead of serving me to Amaros?” I snapped. I wasn’t tiptoeing around him anymore. If he wanted me dead, he’d do it. I had a feeling nothing I said would change his mind once it was made up about something.

“Because that necklace around your neck makes you mine. And I’m not ready for that to end yet.” He leaned closer, brushing his lips against my cheek. “But always remember—I am my father’s son. He trained me to be an even better monster than he is. Do not think you can cross me and get away with it.”

His threat of making sure I stayed quiet about what I heard wasn’t lost on me. Not that I had anyone to tell. Not while I was trapped in this city. I’d caught a vampire following me back and forth to Impulse a couple of times. Zan had eyes on me even when I wasn’t working at his club. Which was why he felt perfectly confident that I wouldn’t breathe a word of this to anyone. If I did, he’d hear about it.

He withdrew his hand from my neck but didn’t make a move to step away. “If I catch you eavesdropping again, I’ll move you in with me so I can watch you at all times.”

My eyes snapped to his, defiance burning through me. “Even the worst monsters can be killed. They all have weaknesses.”

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