He destroyed everything I built for myself.
Because of him, I had to start over from scratch. Again.
And he’s so ready to believe that I’ll forgive him. Leaving him on the side of the road isnothingcompared to what he did.
I slow down as I pull up to the Sanctus gates and flash my ID at the security guard.
“Welcome home, Ms Lestrange. Um… isn’t that Mr Blake’s car?” The guard looks puzzled.
I smirk. “He lent it to me.”
“Oh, um, yes. That isn’t in my instructions.” The guard glances down at some notes. “Mr Blake would have you go up to Sanctus House. I guess he’s meeting you there in another vehicle?”
I’d like to see him try.
I park the car diagonally across three parking spaces. I can’t resist having a little snoop around before I step out of the car. The glove compartment is filled with paperback dark romance novels – some of my favourites – with their edges dog-eared and notes scribbled in the margins. Most of the notes are simply, “WTF???”
Curious.
Sinead studies me as she meets me at the entrance, no doubt trying to puzzle out why Gideon isn’t here. I cantasteher loathing in the cool air. It’s tiresome – I’m not going to stop Gideon nibbling on her neck. But she plasters a smile on her face as she ushers me inside.
Why does she look so familiar to me?
“Your car is parked in front of your property, Ms Lestrange.”
“Thank you, Sinead. I appreciate your attentive and personal service.” I lean in close, hissing in her ear. “If I find you have adjusted my seat, I will use your rib cage as a xylophone.”
She swallows. “F-f-follow me. You and Gideon were supposed to arrive together, but I guess he’ll be along shortly.”
I wouldn’t count on it.
She leads me away from the lively crowd gathering at Brimstone and down a wide hallway to a locked door with aRESERVEDsign. Sinead pushes it open and ushers me inside. Gideon has set up two chairs in front of a large projector. A bottle of blood sits on the table with two glasses, and a series of candles are lined up beside them. The title screen for the film reads “Moulin Rouge”.
Interesting – a film about the Paris cabaret that was one of my biggest competitors. I’ll enjoy picking apart everything inferior to La Petite Mort, starting with the lack of blood.
I inspect the candles. They all bear a Spell The Tea label. Are my friends in on this? I sniff a red cherry candle, enjoying the notes of one of my favourite scents, although I prefer it when it’s mixed with honey and poppy—
This is actually… sweet.
No, it’s not.
It’s… it’s presumptuous. Why does Gideon think I’d like to spend an evening drinking blood and watching a movie withhim?After he stole my car? It’s the kind of thing that would be hot in a dark romance novel but in real life…
I can’t stand Gideon.
Although… drinking blood and watching a moviewouldbe the perfect chance to grill him about the Thralls on the estate.
Except that Gideon’s not here because I left him on the side of the road.
Oh well, I’m not wasting a perfectly decent bottle of Duke. I settle into the nearest seat, slide the cork from the neck, and call out to Sinead, “Roll film!”
“I see you’re enjoying your surprise.”
I stretch languidly in my reclined seat and glance over my shoulder. Gideon leans against the doorframe, the warmth in his eyes edged with danger, just the way I like it. There are leaves in his hair and a smudge of dirt across his cheek. His once-immaculate trousers are torn.
He looks hot like this, like a forest nymph after a drunken revel.
“Took you long enough,” I murmur, raising my nearly empty glass to my lips. Truthfully, it hasn’t taken him long at all – most vampires can move much faster than humans when we want to. Sinead looks up from where she kneels at my feet, giving me the best massage I’ve ever had in my life. “What happened to your watch?”
