“I took the job because much like the rest of my life, I don’t get any choice. I don’t want to be with you. Have I not made that clear enough?”
Aleida stormed over and slapped the bottle from my hand. She was so strong it hit the wall and smashed into pieces. She crouched and then sat hard on my lap.I tried to push her away but her vampire strength overpowered my human muscles.She grabbed my jaw between her hand and squeezed.
“You’ve always been sarcastic and full of your little jokes, but I’m sick of them. Ever since I turned before you, you’ve been bitter and shitty and seem hellbent on making me suffer. But it’s you, Desiderio, who will suffer in the end. Not me.”She forced me to look her in the eyes.
“You think I’d let you off so easily? I’d be stupid to break off our engagement. Despite you being a giant piece of shit, you’re the most eligible Bloodborn around. I’m not letting some other vampire take you.” She bared her fangs and hissed at me, before letting me go.
It was on the tip of my tongue to tell her it wasn’t another vampire she needed to be worried about, but a mere human that had stolen my heart. But I wouldn’t put Scout’s life on the line like that.She’d be as good as dead.
“I’m going to the party.” She lifted her head high in the air. “But next year, when you are a vampire, you will be attending the event on my arm, as my husband.”
I stood, my anger rising once again. She may be stronger than I was at the moment, but I had a lot more power than she realized.
“You know, actually, there is one job I still have left to do. It’s been sitting on my docket since the night I agreed to work for your dad. Maybe I will go. Is Bradley Donovan going to be there tonight?”
She froze at the door and turned slowly. “Desiderio, you wouldn’t.”
“I would.” I stepped over my coffee table and started toward her, grabbing my coat off the hook. “And I will. You want to threaten me again?”I stared into her eyes, glaring down at her. For a long moment, we held each other’s gazes, before she blinked and looked down.
“No.” Her shoulders slouched.
“Good. You wanted a Christmas present? Consider this yours. I won’t kill your fucking lover until I have a good enough reason. Don’t give me one.”
