Page 12 of Stealing Jia

“Your grandfather must have been a great guy,”CeeCee said politely.

I smothered a grin. Pepe had been Matteo’s head enforcer and nasty didn’t even begin to describe him.“No. My grandfather was a malicious old bastard.”

“Oh, good choice then.”

Storm clouds rolled down the passageway and explosions rocked the catacombs.

“Samuel has gotten stronger,” Jesse said.

“Not a big surprise. Zarek’s blood changed Father on the cellular level and gave him one hell of a power boost. He’ll soon be a Coletti warlord. Like we need more of them,” CeeCee groused.

“Even if I had been there, Samuel’s injuries were beyond my ability to heal. Without that transfusion, Samuel would have died,” Jesse admonished.

“And I’m grateful for Zarek’s help, but Father’s not the same.”

“Aren’t you being a bit of a hypocrite?”

CeeCee winced.“I am. I knew the consequences of drinking Jake’s blood, but it was the only way to stop that murdering Chupacabra. Even now I can feel it changing me. I’m becoming something not quite human.”

And I thought my life was complicated.I butted in,“I’m not drinking anyone’s blood and who’s Samuel?”

“My father.”

“And Jake is?”

“My mate,” CeeCee replied.

“He’s a warlord?”

“He is.”

I grimaced. “Let me guess. He works for Zarek too?”

“And Central Command. General Saul Jones is Jake’s uncle.”

“Merde!” I backed away from them in horror.“Central Command hunts Dragos women.”

CeeCee arched a brow. “Are you Dragos? Is Stanka an alias?”

“I will never be a Coletti breeder,” I snapped.

“Okay.”

“Okay?”I eyed CeeCee suspiciously.“You’re not going to give me to a Coletti warrior?”

“Nope.” She placed a hand on her heart. “On my word of honor. You’ll never be a Coletti breeder.”

Jesse huffed in amusement.

“The Coletti never keep their word,” Loki announced.

I shoved him out of my head. “You’re not telling me the truth.”

“I’ll make a deal with you. If you’re honest with me, I’ll be honest with you,” CeeCee countered.

I narrowed my eyes. “I don’t trust you.”

“Right back at ya.”

---