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Marisol’s eyes widened as they approached the sprawling modern mansion the size of her high school. How much money could one person possibly have?

“I’m definitely not staying?—”

Elena didn’t let Zuri finish. “The building has one unit per floor. You can have one to yourself if you’re going to be a brat about it.” She glanced at Marisol. “Do you want your own floor, too? Or do you want to share with me?” She flashed a wicked grin.

Marisol didn’t have a response. How could she? She barely understood what she was even offering.

“Like I’m leaving her alone with you,” Zuri responded before Marisol could. “She isn’t going to fall victim to your corruption.”

“Gods, I love it when you’re jealous.” Elena’s grin didn’t waver. “I’m nothing if not generous. We can see both. Then you decide what you like.”

Marisol opened her mouth and closed it again.

“Don’t worry.” Elena slipped her hand between Marisol’s thighs. “All your earthly belongings are being collected as we speak. They’ll be delivered wherever you want to go.”

Turning to Zuri for some kind of guidance, all Marisol got was an eye roll.

“She does this,” Zuri said, like all of this extravagance was boring. “She so very much wants to impress you.” She smirked, dark eyes dazzling. “Don’t let her.”

Wide-eyed, Marisol wasn’t sure how the hell she was supposed to do that.

Chapter Forty-Four

“Back here?”Zuri asked after they’d toured the downtown condo. She’d refused to give Elena an answer about where she wanted to stay. As if that was going to make Elena let her go. There was no way she was letting either of them out of her sight. No way she’d entrust their safety to anyone else. No way she’d leave them to fend for themselves after inadvertently putting them in danger. It was bad enough that she’d even let them go home without her. Elena wouldn’t make the mistake again.

“After what happened?” Zuri added, as if Elena hadn’t understood her meaning.

They stood in front of the port-side building, the seat of Elena’s power. After tonight, there was no way anyone would question that she still commanded authority. Not when she was going to disabuse anyone of the notion that she’d hid after an unprecedented attack. There wasn’t a soul alive she was afraid of, and she was happy to remind anyone who’d turned forgetful.

The building was closed to the public for the time being and she hoped every vampire in her territory would show up when they heard she was back. She imagined the traitors among her guests, hoping they would be stupid enough to step foot in herplace. She was ready for their next clumsy move. Surprise would only be on the cowards’ side once.

“What is this place?” Marisol asked, gorgeous hazel eyes green and gold against her dark makeup.

Elena stepped out of the backseat first and then offered her hand. “Home.”

“If I die,” Zuri said when she joined them to walk toward the converted warehouse, “you know I’m going to haunt you for all eternity. Not a second of fucking peace, you hear me?”

“Die?” Marisol repeated, fear suddenly oozing from her big eyes.

“This is where she was attacked.” Zuri glanced toward the alley next to the high-rise still under construction.

Elena gritted her teeth, anger rushing up from her belly and curling her fingers into fists. She refused to let the memories form. “And I will tear limb from limb whoever is crazy enough to even look at you wrong,” she vowed.

The horror in Marisol’s eyes only grew. Did she not know how far Elena would go for her? That she would absolutely kill for her?

“Maybe, um—” Marisol’s voice trembled.

Moving so she was standing between them, Elena took both of their hands in hers. “Trust me.”

“Famous last words,” Zuri muttered, but despite her protest, she intertwined their fingers. Energy giving her away, Zuri wasn’t afraid like Marisol was. She was angry. The rage bubbling beneath her skin matched the tightness in Elena’s chest. If the cowards came knocking, they were going to regret having been born. Hell hadn’t met fury like a pissed-off Zuri.

Aclosed for private eventsign informed uninvited humans that they were no longer welcome. If they were still unclear, the two suited men on either side of the door would make the message unmistakable.

Doors opening for them as they approached, Elena jutted her chin in the air and made a show of strolling in with Zuri and Marisol on either side of her. The moment they stepped inside, the air thrummed with a familiar energy.

A symphony of hushed whispers, the clinking of glasses, the pulsing rhythm of music weaving through the dimly lit space. She was home.

Across the room, she spotted Diego. Her head of blood trading was speaking with a group of vampires. His posture relaxed but his gaze sharp and watchful. She would have been suspicious if he wasn’t in attendance.