Page 6 of Marcello
Lewis smiled. “You will.”
I left the restaurant and had made it all the way to my borrowed SUV before I realized that Cole was still lurking.
“Abel, you and I are going to talk,” he said just before he grabbed my arm. I was going to scream, but I didn’t need to.
“No, you’re not,” a heavily accented voice said. When I looked over, I saw it was the man who had smiled at me. The guy who had been with him had familiar-looking red eyes, and I quickly realized he was a vampire. I didn’t fear either of them. I didn’t recognize them, but nothing about them screamed that they were a threat to me. Cole’s hand left my arm, and he made a funny sound just before my stomach did that tickle that I was familiar with.
My sense of security quickly vanished when I didn’t recognize where I was. Although the house was gorgeous, I could tell from the style it wasn’t anywhere near Timber Valley. I turned to run, but the same man who had smiled at me earlier placed his hands on my arms and held me in place.
“We will not hurt you, Abel. And trust me when I say this is for your own good,” he said just before he pushed me intoa room, and the door was pulled shut. I took a deep breath to scream but instead choked. I turned around, looking for the source of that wonderful scent, but I was alone in the room. A room that obviously belonged to my mate. But where was he, and when would he be back, because he had a lot of explaining to do.
Chapter 3
Marcello
Iwiped the blood off my hand, and after the body fell to the ground, I stepped over it as if I hadn’t just killed Aldo Pisano. I’d been looking for him for a week after taking care of Benito, and now that I’d finally caught up with him, that was done.
Nicolo sighed before shaking his head. We were in a Pisano family warehouse, and Aldo’s body would be left for his father to find—a message from the Vittone family. I opened the office door, stepped over the body of one of his bodyguards that was utterly worthless, and then walked across the warehouse. Just outside were two more bodies, both in their current state because of me. It was what I did, and I couldn’t change who I was. A body count of four for the day wasn’t my highest, but it was higher than I’d had in a while.
I slid into the passenger seat of the car, and after Nicolo got in behind the steering wheel, we left the area. Nicolo drove for several minutes before he said something. “Have you thought about why it is you feel as if you need to take over every enforcer’s job in the coven lately?”
I looked at Nic, confused. “What are you talking about?”
“Nothing,” Nic said in response.
I stared at him, but it was obvious he wasn’t going to say anything else. I stared out the window at the scenery as it whizzed by while Nic drove us back to the villa. Like always, my thoughts turned to Abel, and I shook my head. I’d just killed four men without a thought with my bare hands. I certainly wasn’t for him and didn’t understand why the fates had decided they were going to pair me with him. It wasn’t as if I was going to suddenly change. I was part of the Vittone family. Vincent had saved me, and in return, I’d pledged myself and my life to him.
The car slowed, and when it did, I focused on where we were. We were back at the villa, and I suddenly felt a sense of unease. I couldn’t explain it, but it felt as if something significant was about to happen. I glanced at Nicolo, who was barking at whoever was on the other end of the intercom.
I was on edge, but if he picked up on it, he didn’t let on. It wasn’t as if Nicolo was going to drive me to some remote place and off me. That would be quite the match, but we were back at the villa. His chance to do that was gone.
“What?”
“I don’t know,” I told him. “I feel a sense of dread. I’m not sure why since I’ve only ever felt it once or twice before in my lifetime.”
Nicolo sighed. “Probably because you know Vincent is going to want to talk to you once you get into the villa.” Nicolo parked the car, and I wondered if that was it. The last time I’d been out and had dealt with Benito, Vincent had certainly talked to me after. He’d told me then that I needed to fix myself. He wasn’t wrong; I probably did. I couldn’t begin to figure out how to do that though. Where did one start to fix themselves when the main root of the issue was completely out of their control?
The car came to a stop just behind Vincent’s, and I sat there for a moment before I reached for the door. Nicolo was already out and at the base of the stairs when I opened my door. Hewalked in as I reached the stairs. I trudged up them, wondering just what was causing such a heavy feeling in my chest.
I closed the door and made it exactly two steps before Vincent’s familiar voice stopped me dead. “My office.”
I didn’t flinch or hesitate. I simply walked toward Vincent’s office. I heard the door close behind me and found Vincent standing against it when I turned around.
“How many today?”
“Four.” I knew exactly what he was asking.
“And how long is this going to go on? What are you going to do when you cross the line?”
I tilted my head. “Didn’t we cross that a long time ago?”
Vincent sighed. “You’re going down a path that even I cannot protect you from, Marcello. I understand you are hurting, and you are fighting with yourself. But this isn’t sustainable. What if you slip up and you lose?”
I smiled slowly. “Then I will no longer be miserable without him. He will be gifted someone else. Someone who is deserving of him. It isn’t that I do not want my own beloved. I would love to have a warm, loving person to spend my life with. But it should never have been someone as innocent as Abel.”
Vincent looked as if he was going to say something else but instead pushed away from the door and opened it. “You need to get cleaned up before dinner. We have a guest tonight, and you looking as you do isn’t exactly welcoming for company.”
I nodded. I knew what I looked like. I was covered in blood once again. That was a hazard of my job. Well, what used to be my job. I still did some of the family’s dirty work, but for the most part, that job belonged to others now.
