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“Don’t argue with me. Please, just let me feed you. It won’t be for nothing. You can heal me after you eat. I’m hurting so bad.” My voice cracks with my admission, and a tear splashes on my cheek.
Cooper groans again and rubs the heel of his hand into his eye. The cut across the other side of his face travels from his hairline, skipping his other eye, and then slices across his cheek all the way to his jaw. It no longer bleeds, but it’s not healing as quickly as it should.
“I can try to just let you have my blood.” Cooper growls again. I don’t think he can control his deep-seated vampiric nature.
I shake my head, whipping my hair back and forth. “No. Just drink.”
I hold out my arm to him, putting it an inch from his mouth. He can’t deny me because he’s starving. I don’t have a chance to brace myself before he snatches me and pulls me onto his lap, bringing my wrist to his lips. I have no choice but to straddle him in my torn and dirty dress. He locks his eyes with mine, his whole body rigid as he sucks my blood, letting it fill him up in a way that helps him regain control.
I pant the longer he drinks and pray silently that he doesn’t drain me completely. The look in his eyes...it’s so tormented. I can’t help but wonder if that’s how I look to him.
It’s so strange being lost in his gaze. The green depths of his eyes shine even in the dim lighting. His messy blond hair flops to the side, lying limp on his head. The cleanliness from taking a shower hadn’t lasted long, and I wonder if that’s how it’s going to be from now on. If our lives are just going to be a filthy, agonizing, terrifying existence for us. For me. I hope not.
A deep, guttural sound reverberates through my bones. Two big hands lock onto my sides and rip me away from Cooper. My mind whirls with fear, and I thrash and scream out. Cooper was right. This was a setup by Lawrence.
“You fucking monster. I’ll cut your damn head off for touching my girl.” Sawyer sets me on my feet behind him and lunges at Cooper. Grabbing the front of his shirt, Sawyer lifts Cooper off the ground and shoves his back to the wall. He snarls, sounding like a vicious animal as he threatens Cooper with his sheer size. “Your fangs are mine.”
I don’t even get a chance to respond as Cooper swings his fist out and punches Sawyer in the face. He drops him, and the two of them blur around the small room, hitting the walls and sending concrete dust through the air. I freeze in my place, watching in horror as the two vampires fight over me. Sawyer is trying to protect me, and I think Cooper might be as well, as neither of them really knows each other.
“Please,” I say, getting my voice to work. “Sawyer, I gave him permission. I’m really hurt, and he was going to give me his blood to help me.”
All it takes is my one line to get Sawyer to stop fighting Cooper and return by my side. He braves turning his back on Cooper, and he looks me up and down for the first time since entering the muddy cell.
Without even thinking, Sawyer sinks his fangs into his arm and holds it up to my lips. His familiar blood drips over my tongue, setting me off. It’s as if my body and mind disconnect, and I can’t control my actions. Sawyer’s eyes widen as I bite my teeth deeper into his skin, opening up his puncture wounds enough for the blood to flow quickly into my mouth.
I expect him to shove me away. I expect him to demand that I stop. He doesn’t do either. A husky moan escapes his lips, and he laces his arm around my back and pulls me to him until I find myself wrapped around his hulking, delectable body.
“Fuck, Hayley. Where did you learn to bite like that?” Sawyer adjusts his hand lower, holding me up against him by my ass. “Take whatever you need to feel better. I’m so sorry that I didn’t get into the building fast enough.”
“I see you still have it in your head that this donor belongs to you, Mr. Bella.” Lawrence’s sharp voice tears through me as he stands in the doorway of the cell.
Sawyer spins around, but he doesn’t set me on my feet. He grips me tighter, ensuring Lawrence can’t snatch me away. “She does. I have a contract for her. And it’s Mr. Noble, to you. The Bella is merely my home. I never acquired the name. Perhaps if I’m ever granted approval to ally as a coven with my crew.”
Lawrence cracks his mouth into a terrifying smile made for nightmares. I suck in a deep breath and try to get my heart to calm down. “Which will never happen under the authority of the La Vega Leadership.”
“Maybe. I’ve been working my way up in power. Soon enough, they won’t have a choice. They never expected so many Strip dwellers to unite and act together with purpose. But you wouldn’t know anything about that, considering Aris said you were cast out for...interesting reasons.” Sawyer adjusts me to his hip, treating me as if I weigh only a pound.
A shadow moves in the corner of my vision, and I can’t help glancing at Cooper as he silently moves to the corner of the cell. He’s obviously uncomfortable and nervous about Lawrence and Sawyer talking with civility instead of breaking out into a fight.
Actually, it makes me a bit freaked out too.
“I’m sure he embellished the details of the situation.” Lawrence crosses his arms over his chest, his annoyance over Alexander clearly scrunched on his face. “No matter, the donor is still mine. She is my heir because of my sister, who that fucker so unfairly sentenced to death. He’s lucky this is all I take from him.”
“That was unfortunate. I know Hayley was attached to Opal. But I don’t care about your coven drama or whatever inheritance you think is owed to you. I’m willing to negotiate to take Hayley home. She is mine. If you disagree, you’re going to have a war on your hands. I have a deal with Aris, and I have the resources to take this place down. I was hoping we could go about this in a more peaceful and civil manner.” Sawyer keeps his voice even, and I can’t read his expression. He has a deal with Alexander? Fuck. What kind of deal? I’m not even sure I want to know.
“You say that as if you think you’re ever going to make it out of this room, Mr. Noble. I can take your heart before you can even call for backup.” Lawrence smirks with his words, his confidence disheartening.
“I will. Because like I said, I’m willing to make a deal. Name your price.” Sawyer’s muscles ripple as he shifts on his feet, turning me slightly just in case Lawrence does try to attack.
“Nothing is worth more than my precious heir. She’ll bring great wealth and power to my future.” Lawrence takes a step closer, and he reaches into his jacket.
“One donor shouldn’t mean that much to you. I can get you a lot more. I can help you take back what belonged to you in La Vega before the leadership cast you out. I have far more resources than you realize, and I have trust.” Sawyer keeps his eyes locked on Lawrence.
His words ignite something unsettling and dark inside me. He can’t be offering to work with Lawrence to give him part of La Vega. I’m going to have to agree with whatever reasons the leadership had that separated Lawrence from them, because Lawrence is a fucking psycho.
“I need to think about it.” Lawrence holds his hands out. “Now give me Hayley.”
“No. She’s mine,” he repeats. “There shouldn’t be anything for you to think about. I’m not letting you have her.”
