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Within a split second, Lexi found herself being thrown into the dark recesses of her mind, locked behind a stone wall made specifically to hold her while Nikki took the wheel. There was nothing for her to do but watch silently as her alter took full possession and carried out the grisly task.

Smiling wickedly, Nikki gripped the handle of the switchblade tightly in her hand. It felt amazing to finally be in charge of her body, but she knew it would feel even better once she released all the pent-up anger she was harboring. It was almost poetic that she would have the chance to kill Leo. It was because of him that she hadn’t been allowed out.He deserved this.

“Goodbye, Leo,” she purred, placing the blade against the skin of his neck.

Not wanting to give him a chance to squirm, she quickly sliced the blade through his throat. In one clean, efficient swipe, she cut him open from ear to ear, ripping through muscle, tendon, and both carotid arteries. A warm shiver of euphoria raced down her spine as she watched his ruby blood spurt from his split flesh. With every helpless jerk of his body, she could feel her confidence growing stronger and stronger.

She was finally right where she belonged.

Releasing his grasp on Leo’s hair, Bloodbayne lifted his melted lips into an evil smile as he listened to the man’s dying gasps. It seemed as if his son was correct in his assessment, the girl did indeed have a gift. She knew exactly where to cut, and howdeep. It was a skill that was bred, not learned. It bode well for the future of his empire. With his lineage, the child she carried would be a force to be reckoned with.

Knowing her test was over, Kade stepped behind Lexi and yanked the switchblade from her hand. Wiping the blood from the knife on the arm of his blazer, he sheathed the blade and stuffed it into the front pocket of his slacks. Although he couldn’t see her face, he could tell something was a little off. Her unbothered body language made him slightly uneasy.

Glaring at the empty shell before her, Nikki pulled back her lips in disgust. Of course the pathetic moron would die quickly. He was premature in most of the things he did. “Well?” she asked coldly, moving her eyes from the corpse to Bloodbayne.

Lifting his chin, the mob boss gave her a long and critical once over. It was odd that her demeanor had changed so drastically. But perhaps this was her afterglow, the dragon felt different for everyone. Who was he to judge? She had proven herself, that’s all he cared about.

“Welcome to the Bloodbayne Organization,” he replied.

“Thanks,” she said nonchalantly, turning on her heels to face Kade.

Searching her face for any sign of distress, Kade was surprised to find the opposite. His love seemed almostgiddywith excitement. Not in a thousand years would he have predicted this reaction. He didn’t know if he should be frightened or turned on.

Tossing her blood splattered hair over her shoulder, Nikki raked her golden hued eyes over Kade’s well-built body. In the back of her mind she could hear her alter yelling, demanding her to fallback into place. Lexi was stupid to think she would relinquish her control once Leo was dead. The dumb bitch would just have to wait. There were things she wanted to do first.

“I think I’ll like it here,” she said with a devilish smirk, relishing in Lexi’s frantic screams.

CHAPTER NINE

Helping Lexi into Bloodbayne’s personal limo, Kade narrowed his dark eyes. Climbing in behind her, he gave her enough room to relax and decompress. It had been a couple of hours since her little test, and she still didn’t seem like herself. He hoped their long car ride would give her a chance to come down from whatever high she was on.

“Comfortable?” he asked, arching a brow.

Letting out a sigh, Nikki looked down at the annoying bump that held the entirety of her midsection. Did he seriously just ask her that? What woman in their right mind would ever be comfortable with a parasite sucking the life out of them?

“I would be much more comfortable if I could evict thisthing,”she replied, her voice laced with disgust.

Fully turning his head, he blinked at her comment. Admittedly, they hadn’t been around each other that long, but it wasn’t like her to talk about their son with such hostility. Just what the hell had happened while he was in his private meeting with his father?

“Did Valentina get you something to eat? I told her to, but I’m not sure she did. You’re acting pretty damn hangry right now,” he said.

Scrunching her face, Nikki tried her best to fold her arms over her chest. What she was offered was hardly what she considered to be actual food.

“She ordered Hawaiian pizza. Can you believe that?Disgusting.Whoever thought that putting pineapple on a damn pizza was a good idea needs to be shot,” she mumbled. “She’s lucky I didn’t vomit all over her new Louboutins.”

Immediately taken aback, a thoroughly confused look fell over his face. “I’ve seen you eat Hawaiian pizza dozens of times. Iknowthat’s your favorite pizza, Lexi!”

Zeroing her amber colored eyes on Kade, Nikki pulled her lips back into a sneer. She didn’t appreciate him bringing up the cowardly bitch currently whimpering in the back of her mind.

“It’s notmyfavorite,” she scoffed.

Completely stunned by her comment, he stared at her with his mouth agape. He didn’t understand how she could deny something he knew was absolutely true. Perhaps this was just her pregnancy hormones talking.Yeah.That had to be it.

“Right. Well, if you’re hungry I can have the driver stop somewhere. Just tell me what you want, and I’ll make sure you get it,” he offered.

Turning her head towards the limo’s wet bar, she lifted her chin towards the row of crystal decanters. It had been far too long since she had a proper drink. Just looking at the various bottles of top shelf liquor made her mouth water.

“Know what I wouldreallylove? Some of that scotch. Be a dear and pour me a glass? Double, neat,” she said.