“I promise it won’t happen again.”
“I know,” I said softly. “Because if it does, I’ll know who’s responsible.”
My next call was to Mila’s burner phone.
She didn’t answer.
I opened my security app, but everything was quiet. I called my security again and was informed that her brother was sleeping, and Mila was in my bedroom.
I couldn’t verify that last because as at the beach house, I’d refused to put cameras in the master suite. I was damned if I was going to be spied on in my own home, and besides, cameras could be used against you.
I tried Mila two more times and then told myself she was sleeping, too. After all, she’d been up most of last night.
I stared out the tinted window, my finger tapping an impatient rhythm on my knee. Something was bothering me about Joey’s rescue. At the time, I’d thought Redbone had found us in the basement way too quickly, but in the heat of the moment, I’d forgotten about it.
But how had Redbone gotten past Tomas? He was the man who’d taken a team to the penthouse. Could he have let Redbone escape? Even warned him somehow?
And how had Tomas known Joey was in the basement in the first place? The door had been locked—his scout couldn’t have gotten through it without leaving the shadow dimension.
“Trust no one.”
And my father himself had suspected someone at headquarters was involved.
But Tomas? No fucking way.
Everything in me recoiled in disbelief.
The Slovak vampire had been at my father’s side every step of the way as they built the Kral Syndicate to the multibillion-dollar empire it was today. Father trusted Tomas with his life—literally. In addition, Tomas had mentored me and my brothers, teaching us how to fight, cluing us in on the nuts and bolts of how the Syndicate ran. He’d spent plenty of one-on-one time with us. Hell, if he’d wanted us gone, he could’ve arranged an “accident” years ago.
And yet, it made a terrible kind of sense. Who else could’ve alerted Redbone? There was no way the vampire had just happened to wake at the very moment we were breaking into the basement. Even if he had, Tomas and his team had supposedly disabled the security, including the cameras, so how had Redbone known exactly where to find us?
And it was Tomas who’d recommended I’d hire O’Brien.
The limo halted on the street in front of my building. I was out the door like a shot, the guards on my heels.
The elevator ride up seemed endless. As I stepped into the foyer, the guard on duty came to attention.
“Good evening, sir.”
“Any problems?” I demanded.
“No, sir. Everything’s quiet.”
“Camila’s still in my bedroom?”
“Yes, sir,” he said to my back as I strode down the hall, the bodyguards still with me. As I passed the living room, I was running. I headed straight for the master bedroom, heart pounding a tattoo against my ribcage, terrified that Tomas had somehow gotten to Mila.
When she wasn’t there, my heart stopped.
Then I saw her phone on the nightstand—and heard her humming a happy little tune in the bathroom.
Footsteps sounded. “Gabriel? Is that you?”
The air whooshed from my chest. “Yes.”
The bathroom door opened, and Mila stood framed in the doorway in nothing but one of my T-shirts. She’d showered, her hair a wild dark mass around her shoulders. The shirt barely reached her thighs, showing off long, tanned legs and the sweet curves of her hips. The soft white cotton clung to her damp body, revealing the shadowed outline of her nipples and the curly black hair of her mound.
Clutched in her hand was the switchblade I’d given her in Montauk.
My mouth dried. She looked both sexy and badass at the same time.
“Get out,” I told the guards without taking my eyes from her. “And shut the door behind you.”
“Yes, sir. We’ll be on the seventh floor if you need us.”
I waited until the door closed behind them before speaking. “I called you,” I told Mila. My voice sounded harsh in my ears.
“You did?” She glanced at the phone. “I was in the shower. Is something wrong?”
“Not now.” I dragged in a breath, forced myself to calm. “Come here.”
25
Mila
I stared at Gabriel. The only illumination in the bedroom came from the metal-star lampshades. In their soft glow, his face appeared mysterious, the sculpted planes in stark relief against the darkness.
Our eyes met, clung. He held out a hand. “Come here,” he repeated.
I set the switchblade on a nightstand. Even having heard his voice and knowing in advance he was on his way back to the penthouse, I’d instinctively snatched up the knife before opening the door. My heart was still pounding from the flood of adrenaline. I had a feeling it would be a long time—if ever—before my hyper-sensitivity to possible danger calmed.
The dozen steps I took to him seemed more like floating. He waited, lean and dark and mine. Only when I had set my hand in his was I anchored again.
He turned me so my back was against the door. A tap on the control pad, and the lock clicked shut.
He set his hands on the door, caging me. A thrill went straight to my clit. God, that dominant stuff always did it for me, and the man knew it. Or maybe it was just natural for him, but either way, it worked.
Coming on top of the shot of adrenaline, it made me instantly wet.
“Joey’s okay?” he murmured.
I nodded, my gaze on his mouth. The lower lip was a little fuller than the upper lip, which somehow made it so sexy.
“Thank you.” I lifted my eyes to his. “I mean that—I don’t know how I can ever repay you.”
His gaze seemed to eat me up. “I’d do anything to make you happy, Mila. You must know that.”
“Yeah?”
“Anything.” His thumb traced my lower lip.
Pleasure shivered down my spine. My eyelids drifted down.
“Even release you from our blood bond.”
“Mm.” I barely heard him. His heady masculine scent filled my senses. I could practically taste it on my tongue.
“Right now, I could still break it. But I’ll be honest. If you stay much longer, I don’t think I could let you go.” His fingers traced over my collarbone.
More pleasure slid over me. My breasts grew heavy, the tips prickling with need. But I forced my eyes to open as I replayed his words in my head.
“Let me go?” What the fuck? “But you said I was yours, now. That you love me.”
His eyes closed as if he was in pain. “I do. I’ll always love you.”
“Then what is this about?” My stomach lurched. “Are you saying you want to break the bond?”
His hand closed around my nape. He brought his mouth to the side of my neck. Warm lips traced over the pulse point.
“I can feel your heart beat,” he said thickly. “You know what that does to me?”
My breath sped up.
His mouth opened on my skin. “Holy Dark Mother, I want you,” he said in voice raw with need. “I wake up wanting you. I fall asleep wanting you. I have you and I only want you more.”
Sharp fangs pressed against the point he’d been kissing. I pressed my inner thighs together as heat seared down my spine. For a few seconds, I forgot everything except how good it had felt the first time he’d drunk from me: his mouth hot against my throat. His hard body inside mine. The incredible orgasm that, like an ocean wave, had seemed to lift me up and toss me down, leaving me limp with pleasure.
But I refused to be distracted—because damn it, I’d asked a question and he hadn’t answered. I pushed against his shoulders.
“Gabriel. Do you want to break the blood bond?”
He stepped back, leaving a full yard between us. “It doesn’t matter what I want. Say the word, and I’ll release you from it.”
I stayed where I was, my back against the
door. The lust-induced haze had completely cleared, leaving me puzzled and a little afraid. “What do you mean?”
His nostrils flared. His hands fisted. But his voice was cool, controlled. Very much the crown prince.
“You would never have accepted the bond if not for Joey.”
A vise clamped my lungs. “No! That’s not how it was.” I paused, struggling to think. “I mean, yes, it was, but I would’ve come back in a heartbeat if I could’ve. I stayed away for you, damn it. And for my family. None of it was for me. None of it.”
His beautiful face looked sad. “We both know Redbone forced you to come to me. He needed a spy in my house, and you were perfect. You would never have accepted the blood bond if you hadn’t been desperate.”
My lips felt numb. My stomach was a cold knot of fear. Everything was slipping away, and I didn’t even know why.
“All right.” I forced myself to mimic Gabriel’s calm tones. “I guess that’s true—but it’s not the whole story. I told you what happened. I tried to say no. I told Andre I wouldn’t do anything to hurt you. I mean, Jesus, he offered me a million bucks and I turned him down flat. But then I found out they had Joey, too.”
“I know, cher. And it’s okay. But that’s why I’m releasing you from the bond.”
I took a step forward. “What about that promise you made me make? To give you a chance to work this out—to give us a chance. That was just this morning. What the fuck changed since then?”
“That was wrong. I shouldn’t have asked that of you.”
We stared at each other. His face was an expressionless mask, but a muscle worked in his jaw.
Suddenly, I understood. He didn’t want me to leave. He was only doing it because he thought it was what I wanted. The icy feeling receded.
“So let me get this straight,” I said. “You’re doing this for me, because I only accepted the blood bond to save Joey.”
A curt nod. “You can go home with him tomorrow. For tonight, you’d better sleep in another room.” He reached around me to the pad that controlled the door.
I blocked his hand. “No.”
His peaked black brows lifted. “What do you mean, no?”
“I mean no, I won’t go home tomorrow.” I reached for the hem of the T-shirt. “I said I loved you, and I meant it.”
His throat worked. “What are you doing?”
“I’m not under pressure now, am I?” I pulled the shirt over my head, dropped it on the floor.
“No.” His voice was hoarse.
“Then you know this is my choice.” I set my hand on his chest. “And I’m staying right here with you.”
His entire body tensed. He gripped my wrist. “Don’t,” he growled.
I swallowed, hurt, and then noticed his eyes. The irises were rimmed with electric blue—and that muscle still jumped in his jaw.
I tugged on my wrist, and he released it. His gaze raked down my naked body, a slow, hungry sweep that made my womb clench.
He’d forgotten to bring down his hand. It hung in mid-air, and as I watched, his fingers opened and closed as if he had to force himself not to reach for me.
“Gabriel.” I slid a hand around his nape and drew him down until his mouth touched my throat. “That you offered to release me? That means more than you can know. But I want this. I want you. Now. Forever. Whatever it takes.”
26
Gabriel
Mila’s fingers were warm on the back of my neck. The faint taste of buttered popcorn clung to her breath. It mixed with her own clean, sunshiny scent. The aroma of summer: boardwalks, carnivals, baseball games.
I nuzzled her throat, tempted. So tempted.
In that instant when I’d heard Mila humming in the bathroom, I’d known I had to release her from her oath. Yeah, she said she loved me, but what would happen when the reality of being with the Kral crown prince sank in?
Remain with me and her whole life would change. And even if she decided to stay, she couldn’t stay with me as a human. It simply wasn’t safe.
Mom was right. Either I convinced Mila to transition to dhampir, or I set her free. The only other option was to cage her, and for Mila, that would be the worst choice of all.
As for asking her to transition to dhampir, I just couldn’t bring myself to do it. I don’t care how strong she was, 50/50 odds were too damn dicey.
I wouldn’t give her up for my father.
I wouldn’t give her up for the Syndicate.
But I would do it for her. My beautiful, barefoot, wild-child Mila.
I’d steeled myself to set her free. Releasing her from the blood bond and sending her away would be like cutting out my heart, but I’d survive. Somehow.
Instead, she’d come closer, offered me her throat.
My whole being came alert, my skin prickling like a big cat readying itself to take down prey. I buried my face in the sweet underside of her jaw, my fangs alive with sensation. It didn’t help that I was starving, the filet mignon and blood-wine I’d had for dinner a distant memory.
Mine, whispered the vampire that lived in my soul.
Without lifting my head, I walked her backward to the door, pinning her to the wood with my body. Spearing my fingers into her hair, I drew her head back even further and lapped at her soft, exposed skin. Preparing her for my bite.
At her aroused moan, a dark thrill vibrated down my spine. My fangs lengthened along with my dick.
“Mine,” I heard someone say in guttural tones, and realized this time, I’d said it aloud.
“Yes.” A tremor went over Mila. Her mound pressed against my aching erection. Even through my pants, I felt her wet heat. My painfully hard dick swelled even more.
I inhaled, opened my mouth, and then froze at how close I was to losing control and mindlessly sinking my teeth into her. I lifted my head and removed her hand from my nape, turning it so I could see the wrist. I stared, mesmerized, at the network of blue veins visible beneath the warm olive of her skin.
My nostrils flared. The craving was a hard, clawing drumbeat in my bloodstream.
“I want you. Now. Forever. Whatever it takes.”
I pressed my lips to her wrist. The skin was petal-soft, the delicate veins pulsing gently beneath. Her breath sped up.
I traced the fragile blue lines with my tongue. Slow, exploring licks.
Her low, aroused moan hummed over my skin. I scraped my fangs down her wrist. Teasing both her and myself.
Against the door, her head moved from side to side. “Please, Gabriel.”
I captured both her wrists and drew her arms behind her. The position arched her back so that her round, full breasts pressed against my chest. The beaded nipples pricked me through my shirt.
Another sexy moan. She lifted onto her toes, straining to bring her neck to me.
The blood-craving was nearly unbearable. I’d never wanted anything so bad as to drink from her right then. But I couldn’t.
I forced my fangs to retract and closed my mouth.
“Go on.” Her hips pressed against mine. “Do it. Drink from me. Fuck me.”
My grip tightened on her wrists. The daisy blood-bond bracelet brushed against my thumb, a reminder of all I was about to give up. But it was for her own good.
“I can’t.” I released her and stepped back. “You. Me. It just won’t work.”
She scraped her heavy hair back from her face. “Why not?” she asked in an agonized voice.
“Cher. You know why.” I put another foot of space between us. “I’ll protect you and your family—I want you to know that. I’ll make sure the vampire world knows they’re under Karoly Kral’s protection.”
“That’s good. But—” She took a breath, visibly calming herself. “But I don’t see the problem. The only reason I’d leave now would be if my staying made them a target. But if you can keep them safe, what’s the problem?”
My fists clenched. “The problem is,” I said, slowly and precisely, “is that you’re not safe. I can’t risk losing
you again. I won’t.”
Understanding dawned. Her shoulders caved in. “Because I’m a human,” she said flatly.
“Yes.” The hurt on her face made my heart constrict. “I’m sorry. I—”
“So it’s like Tomas said. I’m a liability to you.”
“Mila. Don’t do this. Just leave, all right?” I headed back to the door to open it, but suddenly, she was in front of me, blocking my way.
“No. Fucking. Way.” Her eyes blazed. She slapped a hand on my chest. “You don’t just get to send me away.”
I blinked. I’d never seen her so angry. “You—”
“Shut up,” she snarled. “It’s my turn to talk now.”
“Fine. Talk.”
“All right.” Her lungs heaved. Her eyes squeezed shut. Then she pulled back her shoulders and raised her chin. “If being human is the problem, then turn me. That’s the only solution, and we both know it.”
I studied her. Her expression was cool as marble. Yeah, I couldn’t read her emotions, but everything about her tense body told me how difficult this was for her. And her fingers were knotted in front of her.
She looked about as eager to be turned as a dental patient preparing for a root canal.
“You’re asking me to turn you into a vampire?” I said slowly.
She gave a visible shudder. “Hell, no. But you’re a dhampir. That’s almost as strong, right?”
Gods, I was tempted. After all, she had a fifty percent chance of making it. But I heard again my mom’s screams, saw her limp body as my father emerged to carry her to a grave.
“Mila…” I spread my hands. “You don’t know what it’s like. My mom—it hurt so bad. Your body basically melts down and reforms itself. And after all that, you still might die.”
Her throat worked.
“Yeah,” I said. Reaching for her interlaced fingers, I gently pried them apart and took her left wrist so that I could press the secret catch to open the daisy blood-bond bracelet. “I, Gabriel Fortier Kral, release—”
Pursued: A Vampire Syndicate Paranormal Romance (The Vampire Syndicate Book 1) Page 21
