“I do not like this.” He took a step closer. My shoulders sagged, and I nodded. I didn’t like this, either. He moved quickly, and I heard the sink turn on. Seconds later he lifted a cloth to my lips and wiped my smeared makeup.
“I want to go home,” I whispered, as he sweetly cleaned me up.
“No. This is what your father wants, and it works for my plan. If you don’t go with this man, everything is ruined.” I pulled back like the vampire had smacked me with his words. They were cold and callous.
“He wants me to have sex with him tonight. You think I’m just going to do that, then go home and let you kiss me all night? You can think again, buddy. I am not some plaything to be tossed between whoever wants me.” I pointed my finger at his hard chest. I knew he didn’t like that I would pull back from our deal.
“You will not deny me your spark.”
Before I could react, his lips were crushed against mine. The feeling of him versus Daichi’s were like night and day. One I wanted, and the other I detested. Still, I pushed him away.
“No. Don’t ruin what we had by kissing me now. Not when you are so willing to let another man taste me and fuck me. Don’t you dare.” I walked past him and was so angry my stomach squeezed. Daichi waited for me with my jacket and purse.
“I’m sorry, I think dinner is not sitting well with me. I need to go home and nurse my sour stomach.” While it wasn’t the dinner that made me ill, the thought of spending the night with him did. He nodded with a curled lip. He made us ride in the SUV in case I needed to puke. He didn’t want to have the fancy car smelling like vomited squid. The closer we got to home, the better I felt, and he seemed to notice. His hand would drift over to my leg, rubbing little circles with his thumb.
“I’ve enjoyed my time with you, Katsumi.”
“It was a nice night,” I lied, and his hand crept up my thigh.
“Sir, I am still not well.” I pushed his hand away hoping that would be the end of his sexual approach. I forcefully turned my gaze out the window, but harsh fingers grabbed my chin and yanked me to face him. The car slowed, and my stomach sank.
“I want a taste of my bride-to-be. Got to make sure her cunt is worth it.”
I fought him. My gut instincts had been right about him—handsome, young, and powerful on the outside but beneath the façade was a cruel monster.
Chapter Twenty- Four
Tatsou
I listened to everyone’s chatter along the ride back to Katsumi’s studio from the tiny car I’d been forced into with Sone’s guard. I’d been counting the seconds until I could see Katsumi again to finish our talk from earlier. I wanted to snap the man’s head off his body when he kissed her like that. I held back only with the knowledge of how fucked my plan would be if I killed him. I’d find a way to mend what would break between us. I’d erase his touch with my own. When the SUV in front of us slowed and pulled over to the side of the road, I listened harder to the couple inside.
“Sir, I am still not well.” Katsumi’s soft voice sounded off.
“Looks like he’s gonna take a test run of that sweet ass,” the man in the driver’s side commented. “Don’t worry, she’s safe. Only her throat and pussy will be a little sore later. No harm done.” He laughed at my face then slowly held a gun to me. I was to sit here while that criminal touched Katsumi. His cruel words echoed in my ears from the car ahead, and I nodded at the man sitting beside me. He lowered his weapon after noticing I wasn’t going to intervene, like a good little guard dog.
“No, please,” Katsumi cried, and I tried to tune it out. I’d fix her afterward. I had to keep with the plan. The car rocked, and I heard a slap of flesh, then Sone cursed and Katsumi screamed. The man beside me didn’t have seconds before I twisted his neck and was out of the car.
I ripped the door straight off the hinges, and my fangs descended as I looked upon a teary-eyed Katsumi with her dress ripped open and Daichi holding her down on the seat. Without hesitation, I gripped the man by the neck and dragged him out of the car. He punched and kicked to get free but was no match for my strength. His attacks felt like little flutters against my skin, and I relished in the scent of his fear.
“You touched my Katsumi, now you die.” I manically laughed and sank my fangs into his thumping neck. Teeth tore flesh, and his screams echoed around the forest. The other men from the front of the SUV pulled out their weapons and shot me, but their bullets couldn’t kill me. I dropped Sone and made quick work of draining their bodies. I’d had enough of them, and I couldn’t leave witnesses behind. Sone tried to crawl away but the amount of blood loss would make the action difficult. I lifted his body into the air until we were face to face.
“I’ll pay you whatever you want. Take the girl. Spare me,” he croaked and the scent of blood and piss coated the air around us. Vile creature. I truly hated men like him most in this world. No hint of honor within his garbage blood. Instead of draining the rest of him, I carried him kicking and screaming into the woods, away from Katsumi’s eyes and impaled his body on an old, pointed tree branch. His guttural groan made the monster within me roar with victory. A whimper captured my attention, and I ran my fastest back to Katsumi. She stood outside the car, her hands tightening her jacket across her chest to cover up her exposed breasts.
“You’re safe, Little Flower.” I slowly approached her and watched as her body shook and her wide eyes darted to all the dead bodies.
“I thought . . .” She tried to speak, and her lip violently quivered before more tears erupted onto her cheeks.
“I thought you were going to let it happen.” She sobbed and I was there to catch her as her trembling collapsed her. Blood from my clothes soaked into hers as she cried against me. Her fingers dug into my neck to keep herself clinging to my body.
“He wanted to snuff out your spark.” I didn’t know what else to say. I was going to let it happen until I heard her fight and scream. I was there to rescue her before I recognized the action. I just couldn’t let her be taken like that; it would destroy everything I admired within her. He’d break her in ways I couldn’t allow. I cleaned myself off as best as I could and carried her home. We were immediately rushed by the estate guards upon reaching the gate. Her father ran outside, frantic over the sight of blood and me carrying his daughter. Romi was there with loud sobs as she took Katsumi from me and rushed her to the studio.
“What happened?” her father demanded and I lied.
“We were attacked on the route home. About five miles up the road. I didn’t see who or what it was. I grabbed Katsumi and ran with her over my shoulder. I heard screams, gunshots, and ripping of flesh. I assumed they were dead and kept running.” I’d fucked up, and if this didn’t work then I would have to compel him into believing it.
“You did the right thing. Protecting Katsumi was your duty. Rei, Takeo. Guard them.” He pointed at the two men and then gestured to me.
“We go to the scene. Show me, Tatsou.” SUVs pulled up shortly after he demanded we leave, and we followed the road to where the bloodbath still sat on the road. No one had passed it or called the authorities, which was in my favor. It would have been tiring to weave my magic through all those memories. We jumped out of the car. Five men had guns up, ready to fire if someone should attack. A little theatrical for the setting, but I guess they believed my lies.
