Page 32 of Blood on Ice

I sighed. “So you’re going to use this as a way to follow me around even more?”

“I can’t be with you twenty-four seven, but I have men who can be.”

“I can hire my own security.”

“If you could hire men as good as mine, you would be able to pay off your debt without coming to me for money.”

I wanted to scream. “I didn’t know it was you.”

“That doesn’t matter.”

“It does.”

“No. I’m the one you came to, and I’m the one who’s going to help you.”

“I—”

“No more protests.” I sank back into the seat. When we reached my building, he pulled up to the garage entrance. “Code?”

“Vito, I’m not?—”

“Don’t play with me.”

“Isn’t that what you’re doing. This is a game to you, right?”

He snarled. “Not anymore.”

“What does that mean?”

“Tell me the fucking code.”

“Five. Eight. Nine. Two.” He punched in the numbers and the bar rose, letting us in. “You would just have rammed through the gate if I hadn’t told you, wouldn’t you?”

He just smiled. The bastard.

He pulled into a spot clearly marked reserved. “You can’t park there.”

“I can do whatever I want.”

“Including stalking me and forcing me to let you into my apartment.”

“Do I really have to force you? Are you telling me you won’t let me in of your own free will?”

“Are you telling me you won’t force your way in if I don’t?”

He scowled at me. “I want your permission.”

“You’re not a fucking vampire, are you?”

He smiled. “No, but I have every intention of draining the blood out of Benito once I know you’re somewhere safe.”

The world spun around me. He was fucking serious. “You won’t.”

“I will. He threatened you, and I’m not going to let him live.”

“You’re psychotic.”

“Maybe, but I’m on your side.”

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