“Who is she?” Aleida demanded. “Is it Yvonne? Or Fiona Romero?”
It was on the tip of my tongue to tell her the truth, but I wasn’t that stupid. “It’s not anyone you know.”
“So, it’s a vampire you met on the road. During your travels, while working for my dad?” She stormed over to me and poked me hard in the chest. “You’ve got balls, Desiderio Amato.”
“Like you haven’t been cheating on me this entire time? How is Bradley Donovan? Last time I checked, his name was still on my list.”
“Is that a threat?” She laughed. “You forget you’re still human.”
“I don’t forget shit. I know exactly who I am.” I glared at her. “Get the fuck out. Go see your boyfriend. Tell him all about what I did. Then, go tell your fucking father the wedding’s off.”
Screaming, Aleida lifted her dress and stormed out of my house. I picked up her abandoned bouquet and went to the front door. As she was backing out of my drive, I tossed it at her car. It hit the side with a loud thunk and she flipped me off. I went back inside, slammed the door, and sunk down onto my couch.
God, that felt fucking good.
Fifteen minutes later, my phone began to ring, but I ignored it. My message recorder was full, so they couldn’t leave a reply, which was fine by me, as I assumed it was either my parents or Aleida’s. I turned on the TV and ended up drifting off to sleep to the news, only to be woken up sometime in the middle of the night, to my door being busted through.
I shot up but was too disoriented to react when a closed fist hit my jaw. I stumbled back in confusion, my eyes still blurry, and then, I saw him. He was a huge beast of a man, twice my size both ways. His muscles tripled mine and his anger radiated through them.
“Who the fuck are you?” I shouted.
“You broke my girlfriend’s heart, and you’re gonna fucking pay.”
It took me a moment to realize what he meant and then I laughed. “Brad?” I stood and shook my head. “You’re mad because I’m not going to marry your girlfriend? What do you plan on doing?”
“Kicking your ass,” he snarled.
I motioned for him to come get me. “Then fucking do it.”
He bowed, and with a scream, ran toward me, catching me straight in the middle.
I lost the air from my lungs as he slammed me into the wall. Managing to shove him back, I reached for his head and shoved it down onto my kneecap. I was no match for a vampire, but I could stun the fucker.
Which, after a few rounds of me ducking and getting punches and hits in where I could, it worked. He fell back against the wall and closed his eyes.
“You’re a fast guy.” He heaved.
“Yeah, and if you don’t get the fuck out of here, you’ll be a dead one. Now go and tell your girlfriend to leave me the fuck alone.”
“You’ll regret this,” he warned as he stumbled out of my house.
“Maybe,” I replied.
He was right. Telling Aleida the truth might have very well been the worst mistake of my life.
