Page 73 of All Your Bloody Lies

I continue outside, and it’s packed, which is perfect. The patio overlooks the yard, which has a massive pool. It’s too cold for swimming, so they have a glass floor covering it. String lights illuminate the space, exposing everyone going about their business.

“Champagne, miss?” A man wearing a black tuxedo stops before me and offers a glass, taking it off the tray and putting it in front of me. Without hesitation, I accept it.

This is the Bastilla Mansion, and while I don’t think the twins necessarily live here, they have to at least be present.

I get my answer quickly when I spot Dominic throwing back a shot and pointing at some other male to do the same. Dante isn’t near him, but I’m sure he’s around here somewhere.

Settle down, I tell my heart, which is pounding against my chest as if trying to escape. Seeing him isn’t calmed by the knowledge that he’s going to be dying soon. My anxiety still envelops me, but I will overcome it. I’m fully capable of what I’m good at: seduction and killing.

A hand snakes around my waist and pulls me close. “Dominic told me about your Vamp.”

I peer up and see Dante looking out at his brother, a glass of what smells like whisky and soda against his lips. He has both sides of his head shaved with a thick layer of what looks like dark green hair, and I can’t tell if it’s because of the lighting or not. It looked black in the club. Equally dark eyebrows against his white skin that make it obvious he goes to the tanners to darken. His eyes, the same shade of green as his brother’s, turn to stare into mine.

The difference between them is that Dante looks pure evil. Downturned lips, a perpetual snarl, and disgust in his eyes.

“I was hoping I wouldn’t see him tonight,” I say, bringing the glass of champagne to my lips. It’s then I realize my hand is slightly shaking.

“He told Dominic he wasn’t coming, but you may still. The offer was extended so we would have representation from Hause Sidence,” he says, dragging me down the rounded stairs that lead to the grass. “Why did you come?”

Fuck, I am definitely nervous, there is no doubt.

“Protection.”

He barks out a laugh, “You came to the wrong place for that, dainty flower.” His fingers move between my dress and brush up toward my breast. “Who did you think would protect you?”

“I… don’t know…”

He tosses back his drink and weaves us through the crowd, setting it down on a table as we pass. Leaning his head down to my ear, he whispers, “The bruise on your eye won’t be the only one you’ll have, sweetheart, but I’ll make sure it’s in places no one will see.”

I’m doing my best to settle my heart, because the moment those words come from his mouth, I’m taken back to the container. I can see his fist colliding with my chest, breaking my bones with no hesitation. At that time, I couldn’t understand what I had done to them to deserve such abuse. Now I can see that it truly is just his nature. He was born and bred to be a monster.

“She’s sweet as wine.”Now the more I hear Dante, the more I can piece together the things he said when I was his prisoner.“Too pale for me. She needs more blacks and purples, brother.”

“I am surprised she isn’t dead yet.”I don’t remember how far into their torture I began to question the same thing.“No matter, it’s such a pleasure for us to keep hearing her scream.”

My silence is broken by his hand grabbing hold of my cheeks and turning me to face him. “Do you want that?”

I suck air between my teeth, trying to remember what he had said before I got lost in my past. “I left him for hitting me,” his eyes search mine, “but nothing could be worse than what he did to me.” I pause for dramatic effect before continuing, “Will you and your brother keep him away from me?”

“I’m not really one for protection detail.” He releases me and turns toward Dominic just as we break through the circle of foolery. “Dom, look who has come for… protection.”

When Dominic turns and sees me, his smile takes hold of nearly his entire face. “Oh, Stephanie! I did hope you would come tonight.” He places his shot glass onto the table and crosses the very few feet to us. Pulling me from his brother’s grasp, he wraps an arm around my shoulders and leans in. The smell of liquor and acid wafts into my nose as he brushes his lips against mine. “You need protection from the big bad Vampire?”

I don’t fight him, just allow him to kiss down my chin to my neck. “I still smell him on you, but at least it’s faint. You haven’t let him touch you in a while, other than…” He leans back and places his hand onto my cheek, brushing his thumb against my eye. “Did he hit you, sweetie?” The sincerity in his tone is phenomenal; he’s nearly as good an actor as I am.

Gently, I nod and drop my head slightly.

“Should have come with us and Clay. Dante—” He shifts me into his arm, as though protecting me, “Is Clay here? We should extend the sharing as he did to us.”

“No one has heard from him in about a week—” Okay, I swear that one wasn’t me. ”—I’m hoping he’ll show up, but nothing so far,” Dante remarks.

Dominic’s lips then descending on mine with unexpected forcefulness. I resist the urge to instinctively push him away. “Probably running from that crazed fiancé of his,” he says before deepening the kiss, his hand tracing down my leg.

His boldness catches me off guard. While it might be acceptable at the club, this is their father’s birthday celebration. I’m torn between fighting him off and letting him have his way.

“Dominic, not in public,” I manage to huff out between his head turning. Dante yanks me back by my hair, eliciting a hiss from me. I feel his growl reverberate against my neck, a primal sound that confirms what I suspected– these two are wolf Shifters.

“Brother, it’s okay, don’t hurt her here,” Dominic murmurs, his smirk implying that he relishes the idea of punishing me later for my defiance.

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