Page 145 of A Bond Beyond Blood
Chapter Forty-Seven
Vinny
An overwhelming fragrance bouquet of blood preceded the vampire king’s arrival, but aside from his own blood, a scent I was now familiar with because it was so similar to Jacqueline’s, I couldn’t decipher whose blood—
Jesus.
Multiplevampires had been wounded tonight; the king included.
But when I listened for footsteps, I only picked up on his.And they weren’t the sure, solid steps of an arrogant asshole.He shuffled himself up the stairs in damn near a labored drag.
I yanked the front door open just as Elias reached the final step and dragged himself up onto the balcony.
“Vinny, my boy,” he said with a grimace—
And then he collapsed in a heap on Jacqueline’s doorstep.
“Shit, what the fuck?”Scanning the street for possible threats, I listened closely for any signs that he’d been followed here, then reached underneath both armpits and dragged him inside.The rug would be fucked, but I didn’t have time to worry about that now.“What the fuck are you doing here?”I growled as I propped him up against the wall just inside, then closed the door.
“I’ve done it,” he said, then his head lolled to the side and his eyes fluttered closed.
“Done what?”
But he was out cold, beaten to a pulp and bloody, the thrum of his pulse steady but much too slow.
I stood above Elias, gaze flicking between him and the clock on the stove.Jacqueline texted me when she and Gannon had begun the walk back after visiting Gannon’s family home, but that was a good thirty minutes ago.She’d be home any minute.
Pulling out my phone, I dialed Gannon’s number.He picked up quickly, but I spoke without giving him a chance to spit out a greeting.
“Don’t bring her back here.Take her to the gym.”
“Why?What’s going—”
“Are you serious?”This fucking kid.“Just do as you’re told.”I ended the call and slipped the phone back into my pocket, then strode to the fridge.My girl had begun bringing animal blood up from the shop below, anticipating the vampire king’s return, and, as much as I hated to admit, she wasn’t justanticipatinghis return, buthopingfor it.
I, however, had not been.
She was my girl.She was also Gannon’s, much as I would have liked to prevent that.
If she chose to allow the vampire king into her life, I’d advise her—vehemently—against it, but I would not attempt to control Jacqueline Fiorino.She’d been clear about her feelings toward thegood intentionsof the men who loved her and had coddled her for her whole damn life.
I wouldn’t be that guy.
