Page 83 of A Bond Beyond Blood

Chapter Twenty-Six

Elias

By the time we’d pulled into the parking lot behind the shop, the store below had long been closed, and the darkness of night had already begun to lick at the sky and deepen the shadows around the buildings.

Standing at the front of the vehicle, we looked up at the apartment.

Gannon made a disgruntled sound in his throat.“He’s still here.”

“Of course he is.”I hadn’t expected otherwise—for two reasons: One, Vincenzo Ricci had taken quite a liking to the Fiorino girl, which was apparent in everything he said and did in her presence, the protective way he looked at her, the obvious devotion in his eyes...

And two, I’d instructed him to take care of her and expected nothing less.Whether he realized it at the time—or at all—I’d sheathed my words with a hint of power; he would do as I’d asked.

Whereas a sired vampire could only inflict their will upon humans and any vampires they sired, a royal could compelanyone.Perks of the job.

Additionally, bending a human’s or vampire’s will was far easier when the outcome was something they were already inclined toward, so suggesting Vinny care for Jacqueline wasn’t a stretch.

I tipped my head back and breathed deeply, pulling in the unmistakable scents of a home-cooked meal.“She cooks,” I murmured, slightly amused by this new information.

“Jackie?”Gannon snorted.“Nothing edible.”

Oh?I side-eyed him, then motioned for the stairs and began the trek up to the second level, scowling as I drew closer and picked up on other, more intimate scents.

The door flew open before I could reach the landing, as I’d expected it would, and Jack’s junkyard dog stood just inside the entryway, arms crossed over his chest as he glared at me.

“Stand down, boy,” I said mockingly, just to be a thorn in his side.

A muscle in his jaw jumped.

I stepped aside and motioned toward the young vampire standing a few steps down from the landing.“We have a situation.It seems this one has found himself without a home and without a master.”Itsked.“Pity, that.”

Vinny scoffed.“Not my problem.”

I smiled slowly and tipped my head to the side as I looked at Gannon.“No, I suppose it’s not.”Turning back to Vinny, I motioned toward the home beyond.“May I?”

“Nope.”He dropped his hands to his sides, ready to go to battle with me if push came to shove.He’d need to be brought to heel, but I’d anticipated as much, and I did respect chivalry, even when misdirected.He and I were on the same side; he just didn’t know it yet.

With a sigh and a look that I hoped conveyed my building annoyance with him, I stepped forward, then walked right past Vinny into Jack’s apartment.

He tensed, ready to retaliate.“How the—”

“Hello, love.”I offered the girl a small smile as I settled into her father’s old chair, draping myself over the worn brown leather with the languidness of a feline.“Miss me?”

“The fucking blood bond,” Vinny growled.

Ah, so she’d told him.Good, one less thing I had to explain.

I tapped my temple then pointed at him and returned my attention to the stunning creature on the couch.Dressed in nothing but a threadbare top and even thinner pajama pants, with a loose cardigan draped around her, she was effortless in her beauty, even with her mussed hair and that shocked expression.

The evidence of their intimacy hung strongly in the air, heady and rich, and her lounge clothes did nothing to dull the scent coming directly fromher, so deliciously alluring my mouth watered.

“My, haven’t the two of you been busy today.”

Jack’s mouth dropped open on a gasp and her cheeks darkened with embarrassment.A mixture of shame and pride tickled me from our connection, but her head was filled with a children’s Christmas song of old.

With a bite to her tone, she said, “You can’t just waltz in here—”

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