Page 119 of A Bond Beyond Blood

He tilted his head, but thankfully didn’t respond to those wayward thoughts.

I dragged in a stuttering breath and buried my head in my hands.What the fuck iswrongwith me?

“You’ve failed at taking care of the girl,” Eli said with a cocksure lilt to his voice.“Such a simple directive.I had hoped for a better outcome when leaving her in your care, Vincenzo.”

My eyes widened as I peeked through my fingers to watch Vinny’s shoulders rise and his chest puff out.His hands clenched into fists at his side, and I tensed.He was an incredible fighter, a champion once upon a time, but I had my doubts that he’d be able to survive a true fight with the vampire king.

“I take care of my girl,” Vinny said, an unmistakable warning in his voice.

“See, now that’s whereyou’remistaken.”Eli flashed a smile over his shoulder and I squeezed my eyes shut.

“Please don’t.

“She’sintact, yes,” he said, and I groaned, “but herneedshave not been met.You have not cared for the girl.”

Vinny’s eyes shot past Eli and locked with mine, confusion knitting his brows together.

And then it happened.

And I died a little.

His nostrils flared, picking up on what we’d been doing, what we’d been about to do—

No.No, we hadn’t been about to do anything, thank you very much.

Eli snorted.“Be a good lad and finish what I started.”He clapped Vinny on the back and my eyes bulged out of my head.I took a step forward, but Vinny gave me the slightest shake of his head, and I froze.

When Eli was gone, we remained locked in place, just a girl and her vampire.Staring.

I swallowed hard, and the sound must have broken the spell because Vinny canted his head to the side and began to stalk toward me.

Uh oh.

“Is that true, sweet girl?”

Oh god.There was amusement in those deep brown eyes.And a hint of menace.Challenge.

Red-rimmed irises.

Hunger or lust.Anger, or violent need.

He was either going to feast or fuck—and I was on the menu either way.

I squeaked and stepped backward, and Vinny’s eyes narrowed into dangerous slits.

Don’t run,he’d told me countless times.

“Vinny, I...”I swallowed hard and took another step back, this time hitting that goddamn wall again.

“Let’s play a game, Jacqueline.”

Gulp.

“Run from me.”

My eyes widened and I shook my head.Okay, so he was mad and this was how I’d die.

“I won’t hurt you,” he stated firmly, eyes imploring.

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