Page 38 of A Bond Beyond Blood (The Butcher’s Daughter Trilogy #1)

V inny

“Keep the door locked. Don’t answer it for anyone.”

She rolled her eyes at me and waved me off dismissively. “Yes, Daddy.”

I canted my head to the side, raising one eyebrow, and Jacqueline’s cheeks flushed pink. “Oh my god, no. I’m not calling you that for real.”

I mean... I didn’t hate it.

“Go, Vinny. Really, I’ll be fine.”

I sighed, staring at her for a moment, then inclined my head and left her apartment, closing the door behind me and jiggling the handle to make sure it was locked.

If Elias returned, he could go right ahead inside because of the blood bond, but anyone else would need an invitation to enter.

At least, in that, I could trust that she was safe.

I strode downstairs and through the back door of the butcher shop, searching for the kid. He’d returned some time ago, but upon entering the apartment upstairs, had changed his mind and decided to wait for me down here.

Must have overheard something he didn’t like.

I found him in the walk-in, staring at the supply of animal blood I now understood Jacqueline had been keeping stocked for Elias’ return.

“So he doesn’t drink from humans?” Gannon asked without turning toward me.

“Not that I can tell. Did he feed while you were with him the last two weeks?”

“No. At least, not that I saw.”

Hm.

“Does that mean he’s not as strong as other vamps?”

I snorted. “Sure, kid. You should take a go at him.”

Gannon glared at me.

“Listen, if you want to make a mistake that’ll cost you your second chance at life, underestimate a born vampire’s strength. He could probably starve for one-hundred years and still be the strongest thing earthside.”

Gannon turned around then, eyes widening. “Earthside? Are there, like, stronger things not earthside?”

I chuckled. “It’s just a phrase, kid.”

“Yeah, well, when my parents were kids, vampires were just fictional, so it’s not that crazy to wonder if other things exist too.”

“ Things ?” With a sigh, I nodded toward the door. “Let’s go. You probably need to get to a blood bank, yeah?” I motioned to the blood bags. “Unless you want to try—”

Gannon visibly shivered. “Fuck no.”

“Alright then.” When we left the butcher shop, I caught him glancing up at her place with a look in his eyes I recognized.

“Knock that shit off.”

“I’m not just going to stop being in love with her because you command it.”

I tilted my head. Actually, the kid might be onto something—

“Don’t do it,” he pleaded, clearly following my thoughts.

I barked out a laugh. Smarter than he looked, this one.

“I’m not your maker, kiddo.” Shaking my head, I exhaled.

“Alright.” I motioned toward the upstairs apartment.

Let him try to win her back. I was confident in what Jacqueline and I had started to build.

And she’d told me she loved me—couldn’t get much more serious than that.

Why not let the kid dig his own grave? “You have ten minutes.” I crossed my arms over my chest and leaned back against my ride.

“Go knock on my girl’s door and see if she wants anything to do with you. ”

His eyes widened and then his gaze flicked around like he was looking for some sort of trick or someone to jump out and tell him he could get fucked.

I sighed loudly and checked the time. “I’ve got shit to do, kid. Take the gift I’m giving you or hop in the car.”

Gannon was up the stairs in a flash, and I braced myself for his first test. If he opened her door and strode inside like he had any goddamn right, we’d be doing more than just moving his scrawny ass into the gym today; I’d have to rough him up a bit, remind him of the order of things now that he was back and Jacqueline’s life had changed considerably.

He knocked on the door, then tucked his hands into his jeans’ pockets, hunching in on himself as he waited.

Jacqueline opened the door, then immediately looked past him for me, her wide-eyed gaze finding mine immediately.

“I’ll be right here if anything happens, little Fiorino. Make even the slightest sound of distress and I’m there.”

She nodded, then stepped aside to allow the kid to enter her apartment.

“Your ten-minute timer starts now, kid.”

He looked back at me and waved as he strode into her apartment, and he at least had the decency—or intelligence—not to look smug.