Page 52 of Ours

“If you’re gonna puke again, do it now,” he ordered. “Bloodbayne’s gonna be pissed if you ruin another one of his rugs.”

Trying to look unbothered, she narrowed her green eyes. As if she cared about Bloodbayne’s feelings or his precious carpet. She wished her morning sickness would kick in. It would please her immensely to see his disgusting face recoil as she vomited what was left of her lunch all over his Serapi wool rug.

“I’m fine,” she replied.

Reaching for the silver doorknob, he offered a warning. “Yeah? Well, you’d better be. I’m not cleaning up that shit, again.”

Taken aback by the asshole’s words, a thoroughly amused look flashed over her face. This was brand new information for her. Now shereallywished the baby would make her violently sick.

“Wait...he madeyouclean it up?” she asked, trying her best not to laugh.

Pausing a moment before opening the door, Cyris nodded his head. He was really starting to hate the little slut. Bloodbayne promised him that once Kade was dead, he would be second in command after Valentina. But once he found out she was carrying yet another spawn, he delegated him to be her bitch instead of leading the Skulls. He should have killed her when he had the chance.

“I know, it’s so fucking hilarious, huh? But I swear to God, Lexi. If you do that again, I’m going to punch that fucking baby out of you, got it?” he said bitterly.

Hardening her fine features, she bristled with instant rage. He threatened her with that at least twice a day and it was growing old. She ought to tear his windpipe from his throat and be done with it.

“I’d love to see you try,” she hissed through gritted teeth.

Laughing at the angry spitfire, he brushed off her weak dare. Times like these he could understand what Kade saw in her. He had to admit, she was kind of hot when she was pissed. Giving her a condescending smile, he pushed open the door.

“After you,darlin,”he said, holding the slab of metal so she could pass through.

Squeezing past him, she crossed the threshold of Bloodbayne’s newly acquired Manhattan office. Quickly ignoring her meathead shadow, she focused her attention on the scarred shell of a man sitting behind his gilded desk. Waiting for him to acknowledge her, she put on a faux air of confidence.

Good girl. Don’t you dare show him any weakness,Nikki said.

Signing his name on the document before him, Bloodbayne cleared his throat. Dropping his pen onto the desktop, he lifted his clear blue eyes towards Lexi. Dragging his gaze up and down her form, he straightened his bony back in the leather chair.Finally,he thought to himself. She had kept him waiting long enough.

“Alexandria,”he purred, urging her forward with a flick of his hand. “Lovely as ever. Come closer, my girl. I expect you to have a present for me?”

Raising her rounded chin, she stepped towards the crime boss. Paying no mind to the handful of Skulls that lined the perimeter of the room, she nodded a reply.

“I do,” she said.

Clapping his hands together, he flashed her a devilish grin. Even in her delicate condition, she was proving to be a useful tool in the expansion of his territory. He knew he had done the right thing by not killing her, just yet.

“Splendid! Let me see.”

Wanting to rid herself of the disgusting parcel in her hand, she tossed the bloodied bundle onto his desk. Knowing her stomach would turn the moment he opened the soiled newspaper, she dropped her eyes to the floor. She didn’t need to see what Nikki had been forced to do.

Eager to have his confirmation, Bloodbayne unceremoniously ripped into the wet paper. Peeling away the sticky newsprint bit by bit, he let out a dark chuckle as his macabre gift came into view. Once again picking up his pen, he poked at the human tongue and uncircumcised penis with the writing instrument.

“Good girl,” he praised.“Verygood girl. Did you make a good example out of poor Miguel, here?”

Breathing in the rancid smell of death and decay, she instinctively snapped her mouth shut. Swallowing down the bile rising in her throat, she could only nod. Nikki had bowed out as soon as the grisly deed was done, leaving her to deal with the politics that came with the aftermath. Lucky for her, the cocaine kingpin’s men were terrified to the core and didn’t need much persuasion. Her alter must have done one hell of a job on handsome Miguel.

You have no idea,Nikki said with a laugh.You’re welcome, by the way. Now get your daughter.

Breathing through her nausea, Lexi lifted her watery eyes. Taking another step closer towards the desk, she tried to look as hard and as intimidating as she could muster.

“I did what you asked of me...Tijuana belongs to the Bloodbayne Organization. Now give me my daughter you son-of-a-bitch!” she demanded, her voice low and hard.

Slightly humored by her little display, Bloodbayne leaned back in his chair. Slouching his curved spine to one side, he gave the bitter girl a tiny grin. She was too fiery for her own good. Perhaps she needed yet another lesson so she might finally learn her place.

“Toku,” he began, keeping his intense stare on her flushing face. “Fetch Valentina for me.”

“Yes, Sir,” Toku replied. Moving away from the corner of the square room, Toku quickly spanned the manicured space. Giving Lexi a heated glare, he quietly slipped through the side door leading to an adjacent room.

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