Page 44 of Pursued
I thought of Joey and moved Gabriel’s hand away. “I’m not lying.” The words tasted sour in my mouth.
He eyed me without speaking before rising to his feet and holding out his hand. “Time to go back. I have work to do.”
“Yeah.” I took his hand, even though the cool, impersonal way he offered it—like I was just another throw-away thrall—slashed at my heart.
I turned my back on him and dragged on my dry clothes. The damp underwear, I balled up and shoved into my front pocket.
With his dhampir speed, Gabriel was still dressed before me and waiting by the stairs, the towels and beach blanket tucked under his arm. I snatched up my flipflops and dashed barefoot up the stairs. Maybe I couldn’t outrun him, but I had the satisfaction of hearing him blow out a hard breath as he jogged up after me.
He left me on the lower level with Lougenia, saying, “Feed her up,” like I was a stray kitten who’d followed him home. To me, he said, “I have to go to Manhattan. I’ll be back in a day or two.”
Dismay rolled through me. If he left, would Andre pounce? I grabbed his arm.
“Take me with you.”
Cool green eyes scrutinized me. “I have to work, Mila. You’d just be in the way.”
That made me scowl. “I can entertain myself.”
He gave Lougenia a look, and she excused herself to go back to the kitchen.
Gabriel took my chin. “You willingly bound yourself to me, Mila. That means what I say goes. If I say you stay behind, then you do. No arguments.”
“That’s not what—” I clamped my mouth shut.
Shut up, Mila. Or Joey’s dead.
I released his arm, dropped my gaze. I felt so fucking helpless. Warn Gabriel about Andre, and Joey would be forced into blood slavery. But keep silent, and Gabriel might be staked as soon as he left the grounds.
“You’re right,” I said tonelessly. “I’m sorry.”
He studied me for another few seconds that felt like hours, until I raised up on my toes and brushed my mouth over his. “I’ll miss you, okay?”
“Mm.” A long arm snaked around my waist, pulling me up against him. Warm lips traced the shell of my ear, sending rivulets of heat down my spine. “When I get back,” he murmured, “you can show me just how much you missed me. I want to see you in that red thingy.”
I nodded as he released me. But as he turned to go, I couldn’t stop myself from mouthing, “Be careful.”
His brows drew together. He gave a slow nod, as if something had just become clear.
But all he said was, “Get Lougenia to show you the pool. But don’t go back to the beach without me—it’s too isolated down there.” He released me. “That’s an order, by the way. And you’re not to leave the grounds. A security guard will be with you at all times.”
“Yes, sir,” I muttered.
He chuckled and headed upstairs. A few minutes later, I heard the thrum of a helicopter.
* * *
According to Lougenia, Gabriel owned the largest private property in Montauk. In addition to the beach house, the compound included a five-car garage, a large pavilion for entertaining outside, and a bunker-like lair with no windows that I assumed was home to Airi and the other vampires.
After lunch I took a path along the cliffs, trailed by the curly-haired guard from that morning. Sturdy daisies, sandwort and beach grasses dotted the cliff edges, and the scent of Pygmy pines and junipers filled the air. Flocks of twittering birds feasted greedily on the shadbush’s blueberry-like fruit.
Far up the beach were couples and family groups with colorful umbrellas blooming like tropical flowers on the sand. But on this private path, the only person other than me was a man whose name I didn’t even know. My step hitched. I’d been alone for so long. Family outings seemed a lifetime ago.
I squeezed my eyes shut, missing my family with my whole heart: my mom, my dad, Nonna, and especially Joey. We’d been close, despite the four year difference in our ages. I’d never thought of him as an annoying little brother because he’d been so much fun.
Hatred for Andre stabbed through me. I dug my fingernails into my palms.
What kind of low-down snake drags a twenty-one-year-old kid into something like this?