Love is Darkness

Chapter 13 Rome, Italy

She went to her hotel room and opened thedoor. The lights were already on and the window was open, sounds ofthe palazzo below drifting in with the breeze.

Lucas was sitting in a chair next to thewindow, looking as though he belonged there. "I just got here andchecked in? How did you get here first?"

He smiled at her benignly, ignoring thequestion.

The anger came back in a rush, scorching hergrief into ash. No more being good and frightened. She wantedanswers and by god she was going to get them. She'd push andprovoke until he told her or killed her. He wouldn't fuckingmanipulate her anymore.

Val closed the door and set the deadbolt.When she turned back towards Lucas he was watching her, a faintlyquestioning expression on his face.

"Shall I be frightenedthen?" he asked mockingly.

"You promised me! If Ihelped you, you would keep them safe. All that crap about how yourword of honor meant something to you. I even believed you! What afucking idiot, I am. Why should I have believed you?"

She'd been stalking towards him, her angermaking her brave and reckless. She wanted to hit him, punish himfor Nate and Jack, for taking her life away, for making her wanthim, punish him for every shitty thing that had ever happened toher.

He let her approach, uncrossing his legs andleaning forward- waiting. Because he was in control. That's what hewas telling her with his mocking voice and patient tone.

The hell he is.

The chair looked small, the whole room wassmall with him in it.

She took a deep breath, trying to calm herrage.

"What will you have of me?"he murmured.

Val walked up to him and he settled back inthe chair, letting her crowd his space and come between his thighs."Did you know the Hunters would be there?" Her eyes searched hisface, looking for signs of deception.

"I did not. There were toomany vampires in that room last night. It was not safe for Huntersthere." She believed him and she wondered if that wasfoolish.

"Then who told them? Howdid they know?"

"I do not know."

"Guess." she said, voicefilled with rage.

There was a tension in his shoulders, thesense that he was holding himself very still, like she was ananimal in the jungle and he was waiting to see if she'd pounce. Ormaybe he was just trying not to laugh at her. "There is no point. Ido not know."

Her hands fisted at her sides. "I calledyou. My father was hurt and I needed to be here." The unspokenaccusation was there. Where were you that you couldn't get me herebefore he died?

He inclined his head but said nothing.

"Did you know my father wasthere last night?"

"What does this serve? Youseek to hold me accountable for actions I could neither control norforesee."

He knew. She was certain of it. "That's nottrue. I think you could have done something. All this time you haveasked for my trust, pretended that you are omnipotent and that youwould be able to protect me and my family, but that was a lie."

His hand reached up to her and he took herchin in his hand. "Did you expect the truth from me?"

Val felt stupid but nodded, tears in hereyes. "I did." Why? Because he'd saved her? Because he wasbeautiful and she wanted him?

She looked away from his cold blue eyes andtried to watch his mouth, his full lips and even teeth. She'd nevereven seen a hint of fang. He must have them.