Page 58 of Bite of Sin

“Not tonight,” I said, brushing her hand away. “I’m sure Viggo would love some company, though.”

“I would,” Viggo agreed, sweeping up Jess and sitting down with her on his lap. “Zan is no fun anyway.”

Jess giggled, but I was already heading toward the bar. Gia’s glance at me alerted Kali that I was coming up behind her. She spun around, already on the defensive before I even stopped in front of her.

“Come with me.” I realized those words sounded like every other command I’d given her. Clenching my jaw, I forced out the last word. “Please.”

I could very clearly hear Viggo’s snicker from across the room while Kali openly gaped at me. Gia had a similar reaction as she stayed behind the bar. Kali quickly schooled her expression, her eyes narrowing into slits.

“Why?” she snapped. “So you can try to interrogate me again? That didn’t end well for you last time, did it?”

My patience was already wearing thin, and she was ridiculously close to sending me over the edge, but I didn’t move as I took a long breath. Gia was still watching, her eyes dancing with amusement as she listened.

“I want to show you something,” I grated out.

“Show me what?”

Gia gave me an encouraging smile, and I nearly scowled. I didn’t fucking need to do this. But I could feel Viggo’s eyes on me, and he was just waiting for me to do exactly what I wanted—which was to just grab her and haul her out the door.

“It’s outside the city.”

My words had Kali going still, and I could tell she was already plotting. She wanted out, and finding a way out of the city could be beneficial for her. This wouldn’t help, but she didn’t know that.

“You’re asking me to go?” she asked slowly.

A muscle ticked in my jaw. “I think it’s something you’d like to see.”

Her eyes flicked behind me before she met my gaze again. “I’ll go. If you add another seven days.”

This fucking girl.

Even though annoyance was flaring through me, there was a slice of amusement. The one time I asked her to do something, she wanted to set her own conditions. She’d go willingly if I left Warner alone for longer. Smart. Although her connection to him angered me more than her defiance. I leaned toward her, and she glared, standing her ground.

“No,” I answered simply. “Come or don’t. I just thought you’d want a night out after being stuck here for over a week. But I guess you must love it here if you’d rather work another night.”

She stared at me for a few long moments, a small flash of uncertainty crossing her features. My actions were putting her on edge because they were in stark contrast to what I’d been doing.

“Fine. I’ll go.”

Chapter24

Zan

Imotioned for her to go first, and she glanced at Warner one last time before spinning around and heading toward the door. I followed behind her, nodding at the line of vampires waiting for the doors to open. I fell into step beside her, noticing how tense she was.

“Why didn’t you just drag me out like you did the night you took me to the park?” was her first question as we turned down another street.

“I was curious to see if you’d choose to come.”

“I’m surprised.” There was a smug edge to her tone. “The last time we were alone, I almost made you bleed.”

“Feel free to try it again,” I murmured, catching her eye as we kept walking. “The only reason you were able to do that was because you kissed me. And I told you I wanted another taste.”

The flush creeping up her cheeks had me swallowing a grin. She wanted to act like it didn’t affect her when it clearly did.

“And why don’t you just take what you want?” she snapped. “You obviously have no issue trying to control me.”

She brushed her fingers along the necklace, shooting me an irritable glare. I stepped ahead of her, getting in her way, making her stop in her tracks. She scowled when I caught her chin, tipping her face up.

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