Depths of Hunger: A Vampire Mafia Romantasy Novel (The Emerald Dagger Mafia Series Book 1) by A.X. Ballantyne

Author:A.X. Ballantyne [Ballantyne, A.X.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Wild Coyote Press
Published: 2024-10-23T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter

Fifteen

Are you sure she’s okay, Renzo? Nico’s voice breaks the tense silence among my brothers and I, his eyes locked on me with a mix of concern and skepticism. I follow his gaze to Mia, who sits curled up on the dark leather sofa in my office. Her slender frame is wrapped in a tight, defensive ball, knees pulled to her chest, staring blankly at the floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the sea below. Her oversized sweater and sweatpants make her seem smaller still. The room is dim, lit only by the warm glow of the fireplace, casting long, flickering shadows across the rich mahogany bookshelves and antique furniture. My office feels like a fortress—dark, imposing, with heavy drapes that shut out the world, likely adding to how small Mia looks, so vulnerable, swallowed by it all. But I know she is tougher than she appears. She just needs time.

“She’s fine,” I say, though I’m not sure I believe it myself. I am worried. I have dreamt of Mia since that first night in her dorm. I’ve fantasized about having her, both carnally and tasting her blood, but not once in any of that time did I imagine I might care about her. She is so much more than I bargained for. Tough, smart, ambitious. The perfect mate, except she’s human. A human mate is always a bad idea, but I can’t bring myself to see Mia that way, not now. She is my gattina, my kitten, and woe to anyone who dares to lay a hand on her.

I stare out the window and tried to hide the bemusement I feel. The truth is, I lost control with Angelo. I shouldn’t have killed him in front of her, or at the very least, I shouldn’t have fed on him so openly. I thought she understood when I told her I was a vampire, but clearly, the reality is much harder for her to swallow. I should be angry, but instead, I find myself troubled. Two weeks ago, I would’ve seen this as a perfect excuse to rid myself of my wife, but now the thought of Mia dead constricts my chest. My gattina has gotten under my skin—her fire, her intelligence, and God knows her presence in my bed. I can’t afford to lose her now. It takes everything I have not to go over and wrap my arms around her. I want to comfort her, make her feel safe from the monsters, except I am the monster, and she doesn’t want me near her.

Luca leans casually against my desk, his tailored navy suit hugging his athletic frame, his gaze sharp and calculating. “So, do you think Angelo tried to have you killed?” His tone is nonchalant, but there’s a hard edge beneath it.

“It would make sense,” I say, forcing a laugh that comes out bitter. “He was practically salivating to take my place in more ways than one. My body wasn’t even cold.”

“No.” Mia’s voice is sharp and firm, slicing through the room like a knife.

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