She pauses, seeming to be thinking it over, but then whispers, “No. I don’t think I do anymore.”
Good. Because I’ll never regret it.
With that, I lead her out of the park.
Monty sits on the sofa in my bedroom.
She’s the first lover I’ve had here.
Nell would have freaked out at this place. She liked the normal side of things, and even if my empire existed at the height of our love affair, I don’t think she would have approved. Too modern for her tastes.
I like it all, even though there’s that old-fashioned part of me hidden deep, the gentleman who likes intelligent conversations with exquisite beauties most men only wanted for their bodies.The man who likes the opera and theater and has dined with the greats, human and vampire alike.
This place is both a low-key shrine to my long un-life and to nothing at all. I have beautiful antiques dotted around, both here and in my office. I like beauty, I like value, I like interesting pieces.
I like Monty.
Fuck that. I love her. The ugly and the beautiful. The easy and the difficult. They are only facets of her, the most complex of creatures ever.
I doubt I’d be bored of her in a thousand years.
I stare at her sitting there, then go into the living room and start writing her a note. On Monday we need to get back to work properly. Maybe that’s what we need. Structure. Some kind of normalcy.
I’m aware some of the older vampires have gone silent, retracting down behind thick walls wherever they are, carefully selecting those to feed from, and some take blood from our stores as they wait for a revolution. Then there are the young ones like the Rogues who are itching for a different kind of revolution, one based on coexisting and harmony instead of blood.
But I’m trying to stopanyso-called revolutions from happening. The status quo is important, which is why even when I’ve had cravings and urges to take it all down, I don’t.
Without structure, we’re animals. Pure and simple.
I grab my jacket, straighten my tie, and head to the elevator.
Elliot and I need to discuss what happened last night, I know, but first I need to talk to Vittoria about it. Even though I’m sure it’s either the Rogues or Santiago who want to move into de Santis’s spot, both parties with their own agendas.
There’s a chance, of course, that it’s the humans and their messy greed.
As of now I don’t care who. I just want to know, in case I need to deal with it in swift, deadly strokes. Especially if it’s Santiago and he wants to bring his brand of chaos to my city.
That I won’t allow.
“Where are you going?” Elliot asks from behind me.
I turn, taking in the black pants and top she’s changed into. Things that came from Vittoria. Things Vittoria would never wear.
But Monty…fuck, does she look good. I never thought much of human trends, like yoga pants, but?—
I stop myself before I get erect and take her hard against the wall.
“Work,” I say. “I do still do that.”
“You don’t need to.”
She has no idea. “There’s a lot to do in running this place, along with my other ventures.”
“Like finding my friend?”
I bite back the sigh. “Like finding your friend.”
“And what am I supposed to do?”
