Page 45 of Trapped By the Blood Ruby

I licked my lips. A thousand insults lined up on my tongue, ready to burst forth. None of them would get me out of this. Besides, what did it matter? He already knew what he was. “You can’t do this.”

“You haven’t yet learned? You have no power here, Miss Shaw. Your actions have consequences. Now, come.”

Acid clawed its way up my throat.

“No, please, Laurent. I…” My jaw clenched. I wasn’t going to apologize. I’d beg—on my knees if I had to. But I wasn’t going to apologize for fighting to get my life back. No one should ever have to apologize for that.

“Do not make me repeat myself. You may walk out of this cell on your own with your head held high, or I will drag you upstairs myself.” I flinched as if he’d slapped me. “The level of dignity with which you depart my manor is your choice.”

A sharp pain exploded in my chest. I held myself tight to keep from staggering. He was giving me away. He was handing me over people I didn’t even know, like I was…like I was property. “I hate you,” I hissed, resisting the urge to launch myself at him, to claw his eyes out. He didn’t so much as flinch. He simply stepped into the hall and motioned me forward.

My throat closed up. This had to be a joke. A sick joke to prove a point. He was trying to show me what would happen if I disobeyed him again.

Fine. Let him prove his point.

Clenching my fists, I marched out of the cell and into the hallway. He set off at a brisk pace. Marco fell into step beside him. “Everyone is in position?” Laurent asked.

“Yes, sire.” Marco sounded hesitant. “Are you sure you want to⁠—?”

“Zola and the others?”

Marco sighed. “All set at the rendezvous point.”

“Good. You know what comes next. Do not fail.”

“Yes, sire.” Marco disappeared.

Biting back my tears of anger, of betrayal, I followed Laurent down an unfamiliar hallway, up a set of stairs, and onto the main floor. Each step felt like a battle of wills, one I was losing. We reached the entry hall. Only Vittorio was there, hands laced behind his back. I wanted to blame him, to scream at him that this was his fault, that he’d known I was in that truck and chose to tell Laurent about it. But I knew the bulk of the blame was Laurent’s.

Vittorio’s expression was hard, empty. I couldn’t bear to look at him. Instead, my attention went to the other people in the hall. There were three of them. They weren’t vampires. They looked completely human. Were it not for their hard, eager expressions, I might have thought them harmless.

We stopped before them, every set of eyes on me.

“I am almost surprised by the absence of your lackeys today, Laurent,” a male said, stepping forward. His eyes darted around the grand entry, hesitating on Vittorio before settling on me.

“My people have better things to do, Dominic.” Laurent sounded bored. “As do I. Let’s get on with it.”

“And how do we know this isn’t a trick?” Dominic asked.

A dismissive huff. “You may test her blood if you don’t believe me.” He snatched my wrist and hauled me forward. I stumbled. Dominic produced a dagger, slicing it across my palm. I hissed as pain erupted over my flesh. He lifted the dagger to his lips, then gathered a bead of my blood upon his tongue.

His eyes closed, only briefly.

Beside me, I felt Laurent go rigid.

Dominic made a humming sound. “Yes, astonishing.”

“As I said.” Laurent dropped my wrist, then stepped away, leaving me between them. As much as I hated him, I had the urge to step back toward him. Better the devil you know…

Instead, I stayed put. A week ago, I would have run. I knew better now.

“Impressive, Laurent. I almost expected you to whip out your fangs at the sight of her blood,” Dominic said.

“I am not some snarling beast.”

I snorted—couldn’t help myself.

“Ah, it seems your pet finds that funny. He is rather monstrous, isn’t he, girl? But I suppose you already know that. One look at him and his nature is obvious. Unfortunately, real monsters are the ones you’d never suspect, hiding out in plain sight.”