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"He has the emotional intelligence of a toddler."

"Hey," Vlad protests from the side, trying very hard to hide a growing smile.

"He didn't even know how to talk with a woman before I came along," I continue, and Vlad groans, the back of his hand to his forehead in a typically dramatic scene.

"Really, hell girl? You have to revealallmy secrets?" he asks, an amused grin on his face.

"It's true." I shrug. "You didn't even know how to kiss," I add, winking at him.

"I knew more than you. I, at least, had the theoretical basis down," he retorts.

"Right," I snort, "that's why you were ready to cut your arm open to get me to kiss you again," I raise an eyebrow at him, a little lost in the back and forth.

"You have a thing for blood, admit it," he counters, his eyes darker than black as his pupils overtake his irises.

I feel a need to fan myself, especially as my eyes roam his torso, blood crusted on his shirt and some still flowing freely from his wound. But I move lower and I note that I'm not the only one overly heated by this conversation, a part of him growing right under my gaze.

"Maybe." My voice comes in a breathless tone as I snap my eyes back to his.

"Can you two cut it out?" Marcello's words interrupt us, but the energy is still heavy as I settle back in my seat, taking his hand in mine and reveling in his touch.

He makes me forget myself. Even in situations like this, when I know I must keep my head in the game, he makes everything fade away.

"He didn't coerce me in any way, Marcello. We just…" I turn to Vlad, "Fell in love."

"And when exactly did youfall in love? I don't recall you meeting him more than a handful of times. Hell, I don't even know when you two had time to…" he trails off, almost reluctant to say the wordsexagain.

I hide a smile as I realize my own brother might be a bigger prude than me.

"I snuck out," I admit, proceeding to give him a rundown of how we met. "And before you comment again,Iwanted to see him."

"I'm disappointed in you, Assisi," Marcello states point blank after I tell him about our nightly meetings and how Vlad and I ended up spending time together. "I specifically told you to stay away from him and you disregarded my warning." He shakes his head.

I feel Vlad tense next to me, and I give his hand a gentle squeeze, letting him know he shouldn't intervene.

There's a pause as Lina and Marcello look at each other, something passing between the two of them.

"Fine," Marcello says. "Let's say I understand your history." He waves his hand at us. "What's done is done. I cannot change the past. But that doesn't mean you have to stay married to him," he says dismissively.

"I think you forgot the part where I said I love him," I mutter drily. "I'm not going to leave him."

"Love?" He laughs. "He wouldn't know what love is if it hit him in the face. I'm sorry to burst your bubble, Assisi, but you've been duped," he mentions casually. Lina purses her lips, looking worriedly at her husband.

"Marcello." She lays a gentle hand on his arm, trying to get him to stop talking.

But he doesn't.

"You're right that I know him. That's why I know that there will be a cold day in hell before Vlad displaysanytype of feeling."

"Then it must be freezing," I add ironically under my breath.

Vlad hears me, his eyes twinkling with mischief, and I'm impressed at how calm he is. Maybe heistaking my advice to heart.

"Well." He shrugs, taking his feet off the desk and standing up. "We tried," he says flippantly, taking my hand and tugging me to his feet.

"You're not taking her anywhere." My brother rises to his feet, coming around to stop Vlad. "I don't know what lies you told her, or how you managed to seduce her, but it ends here, Vlad."

Vlad's features change in the blink of an eye. The previous amused expression is gone, replaced with a cold, unfeeling one.