“You are Enzo Costa. Your father ran the organization until his unfortunate death at your hands six years ago. Your mother, Lucia, and your three sisters, Serafina, Alessia, and Mirabella, are still alive. You have twelve nieces and nephews. No wife. No children. I’d guess your swimmers aren’t so good.”
Ignoring the last part even though it made him bristle, Costa asked, “Are you threatening my family?”
“If I need to. You seem to have a problem with our existence. Either get over it now and ignore our presence, or I will eliminate you, your family, and anyone who dares to rally to your aid.”
“I control this area. You moved into my turf,” Costa said. His quick temper had gotten him into trouble before.
A sudden, slight cool breeze made his cock shrink inside his fine wool trousers. The hands at his head prevented Costa from checking out what had caused it. He barely kept his gaze from landing again on the displayed trophies.
“You’re lucky. I left your dick attached. Do you want to tell me you’re in control one more time? I can place it in the pile in front of you.”
Costa glared at him angrily as he clenched his teeth together to silence himself as the man before him continued to speak.
“Do not attempt to meddle in our affairs. We know who works for you and what your organization is. We will let you conduct your business in peace if you don’t interfere in ours. But understand this: Cross our path again or attempt to retaliate against us, and you will be the last person I visit after slaughtering your entire family. And, as I have proven, you cannot stop me. Do you understand?” The man’s hand swept toward the body parts decorating Costa’s desk.
The fierce glare in the man’s eyes turned Costa’s blood to ice. Unable to do anything else, he nodded his understanding. Costa’s gaze automatically followed the man’s gesture to focus on the bloody pile on his desk. When he looked up, both men were gone.
As he stood, Costa’s hand dropped to the front of his trousers. In shocked horror, he traced the jagged edges and dangling threads. Frantically, he dove his fingers inside the opening and felt stubble. Without him even seeing them do it, one of the men had sliced away his zipper, the fly of his boxer briefs, and shaved his neatly trimmed pubic hair off. They’d acted in the space of a blink of an eye. He raised his hands to his head to ensure they hadn’t knocked him out.
The intruders hadn’t harmed him physically at all. His gaze landed on Emilio’s corpse crumpled in front of his desk. Who used a fucking sword? Instinctively, he stroked over the rift in his pants in horror as he dropped back into his office chair. What the hell was he going to do?
Vowing vengeance, Costa slammed his hand down on his desk and launched his chair backward in revulsion when bloodsplattered onto his face. He forced himself to breathe slowly. He’d leave them alone for several weeks as he rebuilt his manpower and came up with a strategy.
Chapter
Seventeen
Returning to Nightfall, Marcus showered and put on clean clothes before dropping by Darius’s office to collect his Little girl. Darius sat at his desk with a lamp focused on the ledger in front of him. Darkness shrouded the rest of the secluded space. Marcus nodded his thanks to Darius before walking over to the comfortable couch where Carina breathed deeply.
He knelt beside her and spoke softly. “Daddy’s here, Little girl. Ready to go home?” He smoothed his hand over her shoulder.
“Daddy? I must have fallen asleep,” she mumbled.
“I’m glad. It’s late.” He stood and picked her up, loving that she wrapped her arms around his neck and snuggled close to him.
The contrast between his actions in the last couple of hours loomed in his mind. His brutal vampire nature couldn’t be more different from the tender side of him his Little girl brought out. Marcus had believed becoming a vampire had eliminated gentleness from his nature. He hugged her closer, treasuring her sweet scent and beautiful curves.
Will you turn her?
Marcus met Darius’s gaze.I will accept her decision if she chooses not to become what we are.
Darius nodded.That’s what a true Daddy would say and do. Focus more on his Little than his own wants and desires. I hope I am as brave as you if I ever find my mate.
You will be. Good night, Darius.
Take care of her. Carina is special.
Marcus bristled slightly at Darius’s compliment and pushed his jealousy aside. His clansman would never step over that line.That she is.
Carrying his precious armful carefully, Marcus descended the stairs to settle her safely into the passenger seat. He paused for a second to scout the area for any threats before sliding behind the wheel and driving out of the parking garage. He didn’t believe Costa would have rallied to mount an attack so quickly, but Marcus hadn’t gotten this old without checking out all possibilities.
He chose the long way home to monitor if anyone had trailed him. The abandoned roads at that early morning hour would make that obvious. He pulled into his estate only when he was sure they were alone.
Scooping Carina out of the car, he walked directly to their bedroom. He stripped off her clothing and tucked her into bed. As he undressed, she snaked a hand from under the covers to search blindly for Mischief. Marcus plucked the stuffie from its hiding spot and tucked the raccoon into her arms. Carina murmured her thanks and snuggled with the plush animal.
He finished undressing as he treasured the view of his adorable Little. Marcus gathered the discarded clothing in his arms and carried it into the bathroom. After tossing the clothes into the hamper, he returned to the enormous bed and climbed in beside Carina. To his delight, she scooted over without delayto cuddle against him. With a sweet sigh of contentment, she crashed into sleep in his arms.
Marcus remained awake for several hours. He hadn’t needed much sleep as a mere human. As a vampire, he required even less. As he held his sweet Little close, Marcus explored different options on how to convince Carina to allow him to change her. In the end, he decided she deserved the unglamorized truth and vowed to talk to her soon.
