Page 80 of The Sins That Bleed
I force my voice to sound genuine, even though I want to rip this motherfucker’s head off. One whiff of that though and this whole thing will come crashing down. It’ll be bloody, but that’s why I wore red.
He doesn’t know what happened to the last man that forced me to marry him.
His eyes rake over me, pausing on my cleavage that’s barely contained and making me feel more exposed than I am. I don’t squirm under his attention like I want to, that would give him too much power over me. Instead, I relax and let him take his fill while I pretend to sip more of my wine; the glass will look as though it’s emptying to everyone else.
I’m used to men staring at and objectifying me, the fools are never prepared for me to use it as a weapon against them.
“I would like it even more on my bedroom floor.” I mentally eye roll at the line, this man has no game so it’s no wonder he has to force people to marry him.
I giggle. I need to pull him into my web and weaken him until it’s too late for him to realise his mistake. Under the table, Irun my heeled foot up the inside of his leg until I’m between his knees.
He smirks at me, one hand disappearing under the table and holding onto my ankle, his thumb caressing the delicate skin covering the bone and I allow my eyes to show my appreciation. He runs his hand further up my leg but is unable to go past my calf with the table in the way.
Thank fuck for that.
“What do you say to skipping dinner? We go straight to dessert—which will be me devouring you. Let’s sign the paperwork and consummate our marriage before the night is through.” He snaps his fingers and one of his men brings a manila folder out of their jacket and places it on the table between us.
This motherfucker came prepared, but so did I.
I start small at first, a light brush of cold fingers on the back of the neck, a faint whisper in the ear for his henchmen. I want them unsettled, on edge before we get to the big finale. Stopping myself from getting the other diners caught up in the bloodbath is going to be a challenge though.
I unleash some of the discomfort on the other patrons in the restaurant. I don’t want them to get caught in the crossfire so if I can get them to leave a little quicker, then I can end this before I need to sign my life away.
I make them feel like they’re being watched, ghostly figures at the window, a haunted humming barely audible over the chatter of the room that will have the hairs on the back of their necks standing on end. I hear a few gasps as I make some of them think they have maggots in their dinner.
A few tables start to wrap up, ending their meals, as I make patrons yet to be seated turn on their heels and leave. I’ll have to compensate the restaurant for the damage to their income tonight, but at least the people will be safe.
I can see and hear some of his guys shuffling their feet, their uneasiness palpable, but they hold firm. I catalogue who have heartbeats who doesn’t, and find that four of them do not have a beating heart, five if I include Alaric.
Not the best odds, but when you’re as old as I am, I should have no problem sending them back to hell. The cold kiss of the silver dagger is a reassuring comfort on the inside of my thigh, hidden beneath the silky material and waiting for me to wield it.
Sunny never was good at hiding things from me; I found it within a few minutes in Nico’s apartment.
“So, you’re a traditional man through and through, Mr. Vonbarro? So few men are these days, it’s refreshing to know my future husband has such great morals,” I say with a smile.
“Is that why you had no trouble leaving the agent in the dust?” He chuckles. “You really are cutthroat, I like it. I bet he still doesn’t even know that his little sister is alive, does he?”
My mouth opens to reply but I don’t get to utter the words.
My worst nightmare comes true as Rai bursts from one of the tables where he’d been sitting with Sunny and Nico this whole time, my mental mirage breaking the moment he stood up and revealed himself. It’s all I can do to force the other patrons to leaver quicker as my world threatens to implode.
He storms over to our table but is blocked by Alaric’s henchmen, guns drawn. He looks murderous and, worse still, desperate. I can do nothing but watch him and I pray to a god I don’t believe in that I can save him before it’s too late.
“What thefuckdo you know about my sister?! Where is she? You tell me right now, you bastard, or I’ll fucking kill you!” he spits.
I’ve never seen him this angry.
Alaric leans back in his chair looking between me and Rai. I want to carve the smug grin right off his face before he can destroy my life with his next words, but they come anyway.
“I’m sure Valeska here can re-introduce you. After all, she’s right here in this restaurant, isn’t she dear?”
And then Rai turns that wrath on me.
CHAPTER 37
Tortured Souls
RAI
