Page 86 of A Bond Beyond Blood

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Jack

My pulse sped for multiple reasons, not the least of which was a growing lust for a vampire I wanted nothing to do with.As I watched Eli drink my wine and lean back comfortably in my father’s chair like hebelongedthere, a million questions filled my head, racing by at alarming speed as I tried to make sense of what he’d just said.WhatVinnyhad just said.

Eli couldn’t influence me, whatever that meant, but he and Vinny had both expected a different outcome.Which implied that they’d both assumed hewouldbe able to influence me.Which meant that when Eli’s voice took on that tone—the one that sent steel down Vinny’s spine and a delicious shiver down mine—he was influencing the person or vampire he was speaking to at the time.

Interesting.

“Come sit on my lap,”Eli said in that voice.

The sound of the voice he used to compel created a throbbing pulse between my legs, but I ignored him.

“What are you doing?”Vinny asked.“You already proved you can’t—”

Eli chuckled.“Seems she likes the way I sound, even if I cannot bend her to my will.”

“Oh my god,” I groaned, throwing my hands up into the air.“Get out!”

Eli just winked and continued to watch me struggle through my thoughts.

But this revelation felt heavy and not just because Eli couldn’t control me.

I swallowed hard as I considered what my brain was missing.Something was definitely missing.I glanced at Eli and he raised one eyebrow.

If Eli and Vinny both assumed that Eli could influence me, as he’d clearly tried to do when he very firmly instructed me to invite my ex-boyfriend into my home, then was that something all vampires could do?

My eyes narrowed as my thoughts began to head in a disturbing direction.

Eli smirked, inclining his head as if to sayyes, you’re onto something.

I scowled at him, then rounded on Vinny.“Canyouinfluence me?”

“Oh fuck,” Gannon muttered, reminding me that he was still outside the apartment.My gaze flicked to him just outside the open door, then back to Vinny, who shook his head.

“Jacqueline, I—”

I raised my hand and closed my eyes as I took a deep, steadying breath.I didn’t know if I wanted to hear Vinny’s answer either way.

The balcony out front squeaked as Gannon shifted his weight and my heart sank.I wasn’t a person who could leave someone out in the cold.Gannon broke my heart, yes, but I wasn’t like him.I wasn’t a bad person.With a sigh, I said, “Gannon, please come inside.”

The door closed softly behind him and I exhaled deeply.How had my life turned into...this?A vampire I swore to put down sitting in Daddy’s chair.A vampire I’d fallen for standing before me with an answer on the tip of his tongue I was too afraid to hear.

And my ex-boyfriend, the boy who’d broken me when I needed him most, standing somewhere nearby, the subtle scent of his cologne as familiar as that crease between his brow when he was deep in thought or that freckle on the top of his thumb.

He’d been my whole world, and now...he might as well be a stranger.

“If it helps, love, the boy is absolutely sick over what he’s—”

“No,” I said firmly, glaring at Eli.“Don’t do that.Don’t act like you know us.”I tilted my head back and stared at the ceiling instead of meeting any of their waiting gazes.

I needed a minute.Or an hour.Maybe a few days?

I had too much to think about, an entire year to reflect on, to go back through every interaction with Vinny to try to unveil whether or not he’d swayed the outcome of our relationship in one way or another.My stomach dropped out as the implications of that thought tore at my emotions.The feelings I’d developed for Vinny...were they evenmine?

Had he somehow influenced me to fall for him?

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