Page 101 of That Mafioso Magic
“The Archduke is expecting you,” Nakago said. “Follow me.”
Sage rolled his eyes, but followed the two vampires as they led us through Salino’s very fancy ass home. Everything in it looked expensive and handmade and some of it looked like it was antique. I actually thought it was very beautiful. The decorating was the opposite of my own home I shared with Sage, but still a nice place to live, I thought. We were led to a set of double doors that opened to a gigantic indoor pool where Salino was swimming.
The two vampires who accompanied us there stayed by our side and we all waited for Salino to finish his lap and climb out of the pool. He was naked and even I had to admit, he had the body of a Greek God. Muscles carved to perfection as if from Michelangelo’s chisel. His cock swung thick and heavy between his legs as he walked closer to us, no shame in his game, that was for sure. This vampire was breathtaking and I didn’t feel bad admitting that. I looked at Sage and noticed his chest heaved a bit more and wondered what seeing Salino in this state was doing to him. His vampire sire.
The smirk that played on Salino’s lips let me know he knew he was being admired and enjoyed the attention. “I take it your cases have been solved, no?” he asked, his French accent making each syllable sound elegant. He walked past us to a patio table and picked up his robe. He slipped it over his body, tying it closed before sitting down in the chair. He gestured to the other chairs around the table, wanting us to sit down.
“We’re not staying long,” Sage said.
“I insist. We do have matters to discuss,” Salino said.
Sage and I both sat down and Salino chuckled, then reached over, plucking a cherry from a platter of fruit, meat, and cheese. He popped it into his mouth, stem and all. And both Sage and I watched as he removed the stem with a knot in it and tossed it on the floor.
“Impressive. Is that the compliment you were fishing for?” Sage stated.
Salino smiled. “You look good, Sage. I see you’ve taken to your vampiric nature with ease. I appreciate when a vampire is grateful for the gift they’ve been given.”
“I’m here for Yolanda,” Sage said.
Salino sighed. “I try to be hospitable and yet, my guests are so rude.” He made an offhanded gesture and the female vampire left the room. “So, tell me, have you fed today, Sage?”
“Why do you ask?” Sage shifted beside me.
“Have you fed on him, yet?” Salino asked, looking at me with a smirk.
I heard Sage growl. It was low, but it was also a warning. I reached over, taking his hand into mind. “Can we just get down to what you want from us?” I asked.
“I don’t like not having my questions answered,” Salino said with a snarl, his green-golden gaze settling with purpose on Sage again. All pretenses of a gracious host gone.
Sage licked his lips. “I have, but only my teeth will break his flesh, so don’t get any ideas.”
Salino’s snarl returned to that familiar smirk. “Well, see, that wasn’t so hard. And don’t worry, I won’t try to feed on your mate. If I want to taste the blood of a mage, which is something quite magical, I can just feed from you.”
“Don’t get so comfortable thinking like that,” Sage said.
Salino arched an eyebrow. “Oh, do I need to remind you of our last conversation and the lessons taught?”
Sage smiled, but there was no humor in it. “Let’s get one thing straight, Salino. You are my sire. I get it and I have accepted that. But I am not your toy to play with however the fuck you want.”
Salino interjected. “You have people you care about—"
“I will kill every last vampire in this building if you fuck with me or anyone I care about. A lot has changed since the last time we had our little conversation. I’m a lot more powerful and so is Adrian. We may not be able to do harm to you, because of our word given. But I can do harm to everything and everyone around you,” Sage said.
Salino laughed. “Seems like some details of our deal was omitted or forgotten. Do you think I didn’t take that into consideration? I had your mate there promise that no harm would come to me or my loyal vampires from him or you. So, no, Sage, you don’t have that leverage.”
I could have sworn I had told Sage that. If I had known that was going to be his ace card, I would have reminded him. In any case, I didn’t like the smug look on Salino’s face or the snarl on Sage’s.
“Fine, but if you try to threaten the people I love or care about, you and your loyal vampires will find that it won’t be so easy. Also, Salino… you have humans in your employ, familiars… you may have protected yourself and your bloodline, but not your mortal assets. I’d rather not let this get ugly, so let us both cease the threats,” Sage said, bouncing back in a way I didn’t see coming.
Salino was silent for the first time and I decided to keep my mouth shut because this seemed like something Sage needed to handle.
“Now…” he leaned forward toward Salino, who stiffened ever so slightly, which let me know that Sage intimidated him. “We can have a very amicable relationship. But I will never be the dog at your feet. Do you understand me?”
Salino swallowed and his chest seemed to swell as if he were regaining the confidence he’d had when we first sat down. “You can’t remove the power I have over you.” So, this was another angle the vampire Archduke was taking.
“Can’t I?” Sage asked. “Removing it wouldn’t hurt you physically.”
“Says who? Breaking the sire bond would hurt us both. A sire being able to have that link to their child is important. Don’t be so quick to think you have all the answers,” Salino said.
