“I doubt it.” I laugh.
Walking through the door sends butterflies through my stomach and I am suddenly nervous. Dominic switches the lights on and my eyes look around in wonderment; his apartment is beautiful. I venture further in and look out the large bay windows that frame the vine-covered walls of the building across the small piazza.
“Wait here.” He disappears down the hall.
I wait patiently for him to return and take a seat on the comfy, overstuffed charcoal grey sofa. It smells of his cologne. I close my eyes and breathe in his scent.
“Here.” Dominic startles me from my dreamy state. He has placed a small wrapped present on the couch between us.
“You didn’t have to get me anything.” I smile.
“Open it.”
I pick it up and shake it gently. It does not give away any clues as to what is hiding inside. I unwrap the paper and lift the lid. Inside is a skeleton key charm, rustic gold and made to look vintage.
“Thank you. It’s beautiful.” I lean toward him and give him a lingering kiss on his perfect lips.
“You’re welcome.” He takes the box from my hand and slides closer to me, his eyes intense and focused on my mouth.
I lick my lips. Heat flushes my neck and I feel his intensity as he leans in slowly, always slowly, and brushes his lips against mine. I take in a quick breath as his mouth presses firmly against mine. His hand rests on my hip, fingers digging into my flesh, and my heart rate continues to climb. My arms wrap around his neck and pull him close. He moves without hesitation and hovers over me settling between my thighs. I feel the warmth of his hand caress its way up under my shirt and his lips are claiming and urgent. I can’t seem to pull him close enough as I run my hands up his muscled back. Suddenly his lips still and it feels as though the room is spinning in circles. He lets out a sharp breath as his eyes search mine; he looks strained and a crease forms between his eyebrows.
“I think I should walk you home,” he whispers against my lips.
“I think so too.” I untangle myself from him and he sits back on the sofa to allow me to sit upright.
The night air has a bitter chill to it once we are outside of Dominic’s warm apartment. The wind picks up as we head across the crowded piazza causing goosebumps to spread up my arms and legs. The coolness helps to ease the heat on my skin that lingers from before. Dominic drapes his arm around me as we pass the lively nightlife and slowly descend toward central Rome. My phone vibrates against my hip. Ignoring it, I continue to stroll carefree with my presents under one arm and the warmth of Dominic against my side.
“Should you check that?” Dominic asks.
“No, it’s probably Maria. She knows I’m going to be late tonight,” I reply puzzled that he heard the phone vibrate. “Thank you for an amazing day.” I stop walking and lean up to kiss him.
“My pleasure,” he whispers against my lips. “I wanted to show you all of my favorite places—the places I like to escape to.”
I lean into him as he wraps his strong arms around my waist and I kiss him. I kiss him like it’s the last time I’m going to see him; I kiss him like this is our forever, and he must feel it too as he responds in the same manner. He pulls away from me, his breathing heavy, his eyes lingering on my mouth.
“How long are you staying for?” His eyes are searching my face for the answer he seeks.
“Not long enough,” I whisper.
He rests his arm around the back of my neck and steers me toward the Tiber.
My phone buzzes again. Taking it out of my bag I look at the screen. There is a text from a number I don’t recognize. “He is not who you think he is.”
My heart jumps into my throat. My hands shake as I fumble to close the text hoping that Dominic didn’t read it. I drop the phone back in my bag—out of sight, out of mind. I know instantly Toby is here somewhere, watching me, watching Dominic. My eyes dart from the street in front of us to the rooftops above us, searching for any signs of him. The anxiety in the pit of my stomach is crippling and I take in a deep breath to ease the pain. The vibration in my bag stops me dead in my tracks. Dominic spins around to face me and his expression is somewhere between concern and confusion.
“What is it?” His eyes search my face.
“It’s nothing. Sorry, I was just…” I shake my head.
“Are you sure?” he breathes.
“Yes, come on, let’s keep walking.” I grab his hand in mine and pull him after me hoping I am heading in the right direction.
My phone buzzes again, but I choose to ignore it. My eyes search the streets and buildings around us as I get my anxiety under control. Dominic leads me into a small coffee bar, dimly lit and filled with the mouthwatering scent of sweet pastry and coffee.
“Coffee?”
“Always.”
Dominic orders himself a short black and downs it in one shot. He patiently waits for me to slowly sip mine. I purposefully take my time hoping that wherever Toby is, he is not near anymore. Dominic seems to enjoy watching me, and every now and again his eyes dart to the door, obviously wanting to leave.
We wander the cobblestone streets and cross the Tiber over the ancient stone bridge and continue toward the Pantheon. Dominic seems to take the back streets that are not teeming with tourists and Vespas. As we step around the corner of an old building, Dominic’s stance becomes tense; his hand clenches around mine and his pace slows. He angles himself so that I am slightly behind him when we approach the end of the street, and without warning, he stops midstride causing me to bump into his side.
“Sshh,” he whispers as he extends his arm in front of me and nudges me to stand behind him.
“What is it?” I whisper.
“Don’t move.” His face angles toward the rooftops and I follow his gaze.
The vein on his neck pulses; his nostrils flare and his face is menacing. He turns to face me, eyes burning with anger. I stare at him confused as to what is about to occur. I open my mouth ready to question him just as he spins on the spot to face the road in front of us. I hear a guttural sound vibrate in his chest. The night surrounding us has grown eerily quiet and I step to the side to see what exactly has brought this strange behavior out of him. I freeze as soon as my eyes lock with Toby’s. Toby is casually leaning against the building about twenty feet away; a playful grin dances on his boy-next-door features.
“Keep your distance,” Dominic growls.
“I’m not here for you.” Toby pushes off the wall but doesn’t come any closer.
Dominic looks at me in confusion. “Please not now, Toby.” My voice is an octave too high. “Please just leave,” I beg.
“Well, you see I don’t think I want to do that right away.” Toby crosses his arms across his broad chest.
“You know him?” Dominic accuses.
My eyes flit to Toby. I stare at him unsure of what to say, of what to do.
“Katalina,” Dominic seethes.
“Yes. He was at the festival,” I manage to choke out.
Dominic’s eyes turn to slits. He breathes in deeply and positions himself in front of me. “Leave. Now,” he grits through his teeth staring at Toby. The intensity of his voice makes me shudder.
Toby stands stock-still and shakes his head. “Nope, not happening. Not until I know she gets home safe.”
Dominic’s nostrils flare. “You are breaching the rules,” he hisses.
“I will deal with the consequences,” Toby fires back.
I step forward to stand next to Dominic. He wraps his arm protectively around my waist and draws me into his side. “What rules? What consequences?” I ask confused.
“Are you going to tell her, or should I?” Toby eyes me.
“Tell me what?” I look up at Dominic; his eyes have not left Toby.
“The eleven-at-night thing.” Toby frowns as he looks from me to Dominic.
I watch Dominic’s reaction carefully. The expression on his face goes from hostility to confusion to anguish as he bre
aks his intense gaze from Toby and settles his eyes on me.
“You know?” It is more of a statement than a question. He closes his eyes briefly before his hand grips my waist tighter as though he is holding me in place.
Before I can answer him and before I can let my mind work over the fact that he too knows about the curfew, I hear footsteps approaching. I slowly turn my head. Dominic’s uncle Vincent strides toward us, his fists clenched. His mere presence is frightening; I had forgotten how tall and athletic he is. I continue to watch as he stands next to Dominic speaking in Italian. I catch a few swear words here and there and my name, which lands Vincent’s eyes directly on me, scrutinizing me.
“There’s always more than one of you around,” Toby interrupts them.
“I will give you two minutes to leave the city before I come after you,” Vincent threatens.
“I want Kat home safe. I’m not leaving until she is back in the apartment.” Toby stands with his arms still crossed.
“Leave my city or I will make you leave,” Vincent growls.
I can hear my heart pounding in my ears and my anxious gaze settles on Dominic. “What does he mean by his city?” I barely whisper.
Dominic ignores my question and continues to glare at Toby who has inched further away from our party of three. He now stands in a slightly crouched position with one leg out further in front, his arms by his sides ready for fight or flight.
“Shall I let her in on your little secret?” Toby taunts Dominic.
“Please just go,” I whisper to Toby knowing fully well that he can hear me perfectly clearly. I keep my eyes on him until his eyes lock with mine, pleading for him to listen to me.
“Listen to her and we will let you live,” Dominic warns.
“Please, Toby, don’t do this,” I plead with him. The thought of him coming anywhere near Dominic makes me queasy. I know what Toby is capable of and it frightens me to my core.
“You won’t survive if you stay. There’s two of us. Hell, you wouldn’t survive if it were just one of us.” Vincent chuckles. There’s a hostile and evil undertone to his laugh. His face is anything but amused.
My eyes widen as I take in all that Vincent has said. I open my mouth to speak, but Dominic gently squeezes my waist with his warm fingers warning me that this is not the best time to speak. This does not go unnoticed by Toby, whose eyes come to rest on Dominic’s hand.
“Fuck this,” Dominic growls letting go of me and charging forward.
Grabbing his shirt between the tips of my fingers, I step after him in a haze of movement and silence. Unable to move any further, I realize Vincent has his arm wrapped around my waist anchoring me. I struggle against his grip, but it is useless. I cannot move.
“Stop,” I whimper as my eyes lock with Toby’s.
Toby watches as Dominic closes the gap, glances at me one last time, and gives me an apologetic look. Next thing I know he has vanished so swiftly it causes me to blink as my brain comes to terms that Dominic is safe. Struggling out of Vincent’s vicelike grip, I run toward Dominic and launch myself into his arms.
“It’s okay. It’s okay.” He holds me while whispering into my ear.
“I thought he was going to hurt you,” I breathe into his neck.
“He can’t hurt me. He is gone for now,” he soothes me, rubbing his hand up and down my back.
Vincent clears his throat. “Will you be okay to get her home?”
“Si. Impostare pattuglie attraverso il citta,” Dominic answers.
Vincent nods, takes one last scan of the building rooftops, and sets off down the dark street.
“Come on, let’s get you home.” Dominic takes my hand and leads me back the way we came.
We walk the crowded streets to avoid a confrontation again. Dominic is tense, and his eyes constantly search the area around us for any signs of Toby. He is silent and I am desperate for answers. I stop walking and pull on his arm to follow me into a small entryway out of direct view of the street. His eyes intensify as he looks down at me.
“I need answers.”
Dominic runs his hand through his thick dark hair, his eyes boring into mine. “I can’t,” he breathes.
“That’s not fair,” I mutter.
“It’s for your safety, Kat. I cannot bear the thought of you getting tangled up in all my…” His voice trails off. He leans in, his face close to mine, eyes intense—pained even. “Tell me how you know about the curfew.”
I stare at his beautiful face for a moment. My eyes linger on his mouth before I speak. “Toby stayed with us while we were in Craco, despite my aunt’s disapproval. I know what Toby is.” My eyes look anywhere but at him. I hear him exhale sharply.
“You need to stay away from him. He is dangerous,” he breathes.
“I know.” My voice is small. I feel guilty not telling him everything. “What did Vincent mean when he said his city? Why was Toby afraid to come closer to the two of you? I mean he could wipe out the whole city if he wanted.” I stare at him waiting for him to speak.
“I…” He hesitates.
“Don’t say you can’t tell me.” I shake my head.
He exhales sharply. “You cannot repeat this. Do you understand?”
“Yes.”
“My family protects the city; we keep the locals and tourists safe. There is more than just me and my uncle, obviously, but my family is in charge.” His voice is barely a whisper and he eyes me gauging my reaction.
I open my mouth to speak and quickly shut it. I remember Maria’s and my conversation just a few nights ago about this very topic. It dawns on me that Dominic is a hunter.
“Say something,” he exhales.
“You fight them?”
He clears his throat. “We only attack if we need to.”
I look at his hands, at the scars. “Are they…” I take his large hands in mine and run my thumbs over the raised scars.
“Yes.” His eyes darken.
I gasp in response.
“It’s okay, it doesn’t hurt that much. I heal quickly.” He cups my face in his palm and runs his thumb across my lower lip. “It’s my turn to ask you questions.”
He pauses for a moment before he speaks. “Are you okay with all of this?”
“I have to be. What else can I do but be okay?”
“Are you not afraid of them? Of me?”
“No, I’m not afraid of you,” I exclaim. How could he think I could be afraid of him? “I’m not afraid of Toby, but…” I don’t finish my sentence.
“But what?”
“I am afraid of the others, the rogue vampires. They are ruthless, and I worry they will hurt you.” My voice is barely audible.
Dominic takes in a sharp breath. “How much do you know about these vampires?”
“More than I should.”
He chews over my answer before he continues. “Do you know what I am?”
“Yes.” I look down at my feet.
“And you’re not afraid?” Concern ebbs its way into his statement.
I shake my head as I look up into his dark eyes.
“I wish you didn’t know all of this. Please promise me you won’t repeat what I have told you tonight,” he pleads.
“You can trust me.”
“Does your aunt know about Toby and his kind?”
“I think so.” A shiver ripples through me. It’s all I can say without revealing the truth.
“Let’s get you home safe.” Dominic wraps his arm around my waist as we head toward the apartment.
The subject of vampires and hunters is closed for now and I don’t want to push him for more answers. He has revealed more than he should have tonight, and I have revealed next to nothing in comparison. Our walk is brisk; Dominic seems to be in a hurry to get me home and off the streets. He intertwines his fingers through mine as we stand in the doorway of Maria’s building. He stares past me at something in the distance. I hear him sigh quietly, and he seems to want to say something but can’t.
&n
bsp; “Please be careful on your way home,” I whisper.
A hint of a smile plays on his inviting lips. “You don’t have to worry about me. Just make sure you’re always safe.” He cups my cheek in his warm hand and kisses me.
“I’ll be careful.” I lean into his palm.
Dominic’s eyes linger on mine before he whispers goodbye. He waits for me to swipe my card and enter through the oversized door before he rushes across the piazza.
I lean against the door. The coolness seeps through my clothes tingling my skin. My thoughts are a whirlwind of confusion and anxiety as I try to wrap my head around the events that unfolded tonight. I grip my presents from Dominic and hold on to the thought that he will be safe on his way back home. I struggle to peel myself away from the door, knowing only too well that I will be keeping more secrets once I take that first step into the apartment. Closing my eyes to clarify my mind, I hear someone clear their throat. I jerk myself forward off the door ready to scream and run. The person steps out from the shadows to my left.
“It’s just me.” Toby shows himself.
“How did you get in here?” I manage to squeak through my anxiety.
He cocks an eyebrow. “That’s what you want to ask me?”
“No. Yes. God, you’re annoying,” I exhale exasperated.
“Does Maria know you’re dating a hunter?”
“No! I didn’t know I was until an hour ago,” I snap.
He looks at me without moving. “Are you going to tell him who you are?”
“I’m not answering any more of your questions until you tell me why you gave me your blood. What is the purpose of having me bound to you?”
“Is it not obvious?” He tilts his head to the side.
“Not to me,” I seethe.
He takes a step toward me. “You don’t feel that?”
“No.” My voice quivers.
“Don’t lie.” He takes another tentative step and stands an arm’s-length away. “You don’t feel the pull you have over me?”
“Stop. I can’t.” I stare up at him, anguish and uncertainty clouding my judgement.
“Why?”
“Because…” I don’t finish my sentence.
“Stop fighting it, Kat. You know you felt it before I gave you my blood; my blood has nothing to do with this.” He takes my hand in his and examines my wrist. “My blood was purely to heal you. It’s simply a bonus I can now find you whenever I want.”
Bequeathed Page 14
