Page 64 of Roman

Gabe let out a deep breath. “I haven’t been a very good older brother.”

“Well, you’re the only one I’ve got, so I guess I’ll just have to love you anyway.”

Gabe closed his eyes, leaning back against his pillows. He must be beyond exhausted. Danny should let him rest. “Which orthopedic surgeon is on call today?”

His brother answered without opening his eyes. “I didn’t think to ask.”

“I’ll find out for you.”

“Thanks.”

Danny was on his way out the door when Gabe called out to him, “You know I love you too, right?”

Danny smiled. “I always have, silly. Get some rest.”

Danny was on his way back down to the ER to find out who would be operating on Gabe when a strong hand grabbed his wrist and yanked him into a supply room he hadn’t even noticed he was walking past.

He was pulled into a hard chest, his head pressed down at an angle that prevented him from seeing the man’s face. He heard the door snick shut behind him.

“Hello again, Mr. Kingman.”

Well, fuck, fuckity fuck, fuck. That was not the voice Danny wanted to be hearing right now.

Danny stepped back as far as the vampire’s grip would let him—not nearly far enough, but at least he could see now—and looked up into familiar black eyes.

For a man that had just mauled Danny’s brother, Luc was looking awfully refreshed, every strand of his salt-and-pepper hair perfectly in place, not a wrinkle to be seen on his… Was that an Armani sweater?

A mix of rage and fear bubbled up in Danny’s chest, and he was speaking before he knew it. “Youasshole. You hurt my brother.”

Luc shrugged a broad shoulder carelessly. “Oops.”

Oops?Oops?

Danny knew he was about to say something stupid, but he still couldn’t stop the words from spilling out of his mouth. “Is that really all you have to say about it, youfucking psychopath?”

There it was. Stupid.

But Luc only smirked at him, black eyes glinting under the fluorescents. “My, aren’t we feisty for someone I could kill faster than he could even blink.”

“If you’re gonna kill me either way, then it really doesn’t matter what I say to you, does it?”

“True enough.” Luc’s face took on a mock-serious expression. “Iamsorry about your brother. I really didn’t intend to do any lasting damage. I just got so annoyed with little Soren sticking his nose in that I may have gotten a tad overzealous. Did you know he’s been stalking your brother?”

Uh, what?

Luc raised a dark eyebrow at whatever he saw in Danny’s expression, which must have reflected his surprise. “Ohh, youdidn’tknow. Interesting. And here I thought maybe the four of you were planning to go on some sickeningly adorable double dates.”

Danny would have to process the inappropriate stalking of his older brother at a later time. A time when he wasn’t stuck in a tiny room with a killer.

A horrible thought occurred to him. “Where are Soren and Roman? Did you hurt them?” His gut clenched at the thought of Roman wounded.

Luc just smirked again, like the asshole he was. “Don’t get yourself worked up, Daniel. I haven’t touched them. Though, I admit it’s cute how they’re posted outside like little guard dogs. I arrived before they did. Surprised Soren didn’t smell me out, actually, expert tracker that he is. Maybe he’s not quite as sharp as he used to be. Dulled by the decades.”

“Or maybe it’s just hard to predict the movements of the truly unhinged.” Why did Danny’s mouth keep saying stupid things without his brain’s permission?

Luc smiled at him then, all sharp teeth and dead black eyes. Danny was suddenly very aware of the strong grip on his arm, from a hand that had very recently snapped his brother’s bones like a twig. “Too true. A bit hard to predict the movements of the lovestruck as well, it seems.” Luc leaned in close, until they were nose to nose. “Tell me, Daniel, why hasn’t Roman done the one thing that couldactuallyprotect you from me? Are you scared to turn? Afraid you’ll become a monster like me?”

Danny tried to keep his expression blank, but clearly Luc read something in it anyway, because he started laughing, that terrifying sound again. “Ohh. Don’t tell me. He hasn’t even asked you yet. How interesting.”

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