Page 13 of Blood Claims (Garnet Dagger Mafia #2)

INTERVIEWING DRACULA ABOUT HIS DIARY

I had to say, there were many things I needed in that moment, food and about a week’s worth of sleep being only two of them.

But seeing as we were waiting for the first, it meant the second would have to wait.

So, I jumped at the chance of a shower like Tal suggested.

Because I might have changed clothes, but that didn’t mean I’d been given the time to wash away the blood that still stained my skin.

Tal led me into the same room I had first woken up in, and I found my duffle bag sitting on the bed waiting for me. Which instantly had me asking,

“Is this going to be my room?”

His confusing reply came first with him tagging me at the back of the neck so he could pull me in and kiss my forehead with a chuckle.

“Funny girl,” he commented before he walked out of the room, still laughing to himself. Which left me looking at the door for a good few minutes after and asking myself what the hell that meant exactly.

Realizing the closed door wasn’t going to offer me any answers, I turned to my duffle and grabbed my washbag out of it.

Then I grabbed a pair of blue and white check pajama pants in a soft flannel material.

Admittedly, I lived in them on my days off.

I bought them on sale because it was only one half of the set.

The top part had either been lost or damaged, so I just wore the pants with a plain navy tank I had also bought on sale.

My underwear was plain black, and the best it was going to get was matching in color, because I didn’t own anything fancy. In fact, the most expensive part about my outfit was the bodywash I used, which had been a gift from Stacey at Christmas. One that I was making last as long as possible.

And of course, it smelled of…

Peaches.

Something that brought me a little thrill, wondering if he would mention it, despite how foolish it was to think of.

As for the bathroom, I had only ever used such luxury once before, and that had been in the bathroom next to their office at their nightclub.

The memory most definitely invoked a sexual shiver trailing through my body.

But as for this bathroom, it was the same one I had raided in hopes of trying to find something to pick the lock with when first waking in this room. However, that was before I had known about my gift of luck, and good job too at the time, because

I had found nothing helpful. I had also been in too much of a rush to fully appreciate the luxury.

If I was to describe it in only three words, I would say it was an elegant marble oasis.

Pale marble with veins of earthy tones running throughout covered the floor, the walls, and even the countertops.

Added to this were gold fixtures enhancing the opulent feel.

But one thing I did find strange was all the beauty products already there that were obviously bought for a woman. Which had me questioning, was this the room they used for all the women they slept with?

I had to admit, it left a bitter and jealous taste in my mouth, even though I knew how crazy I was being. However, I had already admitted to being in love with them, despite how dangerous it was to do so. Even if, in the end, it was only ever to be a one-sided love.

I tried to shake off the irrational jealously I felt and instead rushed through my routine. A routine that meant using all my own things because I didn’t want to smell like any other gorgeous, long legged, supermodel billionaire bunny they’d had stay here for a night of hot sex.

I tried to ignore the ribbons of red streams that ran down my body, as I showered, dying the water the second it touched my skin.

My flesh at my side still looked fresh and was a pinkish color, although it had definitely faded since they had first healed me.

In fact, I wondered if it would even scar at all?

However, this wasn’t the case with my bruises, because the thin line around my neck was still red raw and I knew from experience that, tomorrow, it would be an angry purple. I could even see the shape of the beads, making me shiver after staring at them in the mirror, once I was out of the shower.

I brushed my shoulder-length, strawberry-blonde hair and ignored how tired my blue-green eyes looked.

I also decided that I didn’t have time to dry my hair fully.

So, I just towel scrunched it, prompting my natural waves to take hold, knowing it would dry this way.

Afterwards I dressed, knowing it shouldn’t be too much longer before food arrived.

I also knew that I couldn’t just get away with hiding in here, despite the idea of pushing the dresser in front of the door and curling up on the bed certainly being tempting.

Not that I thought this was enough to prevent them from getting inside, but they might have at least gotten the hint.

“Ha, yeah right,” I muttered to myself as I sat on the bed, pulling on a pair of fresh socks because I wasn’t a fan of walking around barefooted.

So, with nothing else to do, I took a deep breath and walked back toward the living room.

Of course, the penthouse apartment was huge, and I had only seen the main living space and my room.

But I also knew that with the amount of doors I had seen, and the fact that there was another floor above, then it was mansion sized.

With its large spiral staircase that was off to the side and next to the long dining table that was around the corner from the kitchen…

well, it had me questioning what was above.

The urge to go exploring would have won had the place not belonged to my two terrifying Vampire kidnappers.

So, before they could come looking for me, I joined them where they remained by the kitchen island.

Both of which stopped talking the second they saw me, and I nearly gave into the urge to call them both Captain Obvious, as it was clear they had been talking about me.

But before I could speak, Tal, the most playful brother, stepped up to me and took my hands in his before he started to dance me around in a circle.

“What are you…”

“There she is… mmm, what is this, are we having a slumber party?” he asked as he held my hands out to the sides so he could look down at my PJs with a smirk.

This made me blush and before I could answer, he spun me with one hand.

This caused me to go stumbling one way before he reeled me back, putting him behind me with his arm banded across my torso.

“Mmm, Peaches,” he hummed after burying his head in my neck and breathing deep, which seemed to be his habit around me.

Whereas his brother, Victor, usually preferred the inside of my wrist. And as for me, I just had to remember how to act unaffected whenever they did this.

Something I knew I failed at most of the time.

Victor remained on the other side of the island, watching this little show play out with a barely hidden grin.

“So, this slumber party, when do we get to the part where you hit us with pillows in your underwear?”

I couldn’t help but burst out laughing, something Tal seemed pleased to have achieved.

“Yeah, I am pretty sure that is just something guys made up in their heads,” I answered, making him pout.

“Damn, are you sure? I mean, I think it’s something you should try first before making that assumption… you know, in the name of science and all.”

Again, I couldn’t stop myself from laughing, doing so hard enough to snort, which was when I covered my mouth and nose. I was mortified because this only happened when I laughed hard and couldn’t stop.

“Fuck me, but could you get any cuter?” Tal asked after laughing at the sound himself.

To which Victor had hit his limit, now walking over to us.

And when he was close enough, Tal made his way to my back, to give his brother room at my front where he was able to tip my head back with a gentle hold on my chin.

“Cute indeed,” he said, causing a blush to rise as my cheeks heated.

“How you feeling, pretty girl?” he asked, his deep voice doing things to my body I didn’t have the power to ignore.

“I’m… I’m okay,” I answered, hoping this was enough for him to let me go because his gaze grew evermore intense, making me close to squirming. It was if he was trying to spot the lies I told, and when he seemed satisfied, he let go of my face after first telling me,

“Alright, sweetheart, good enough for now.” Then he took my hand and led me to the huge sofa that faced the wall of windows.

“Food should be here soon, you wanna eat at the table or in front of the TV whilst we watch a movie?”

My eyes widened in surprise. My look of shock first directed at the windows we faced that didn’t have a TV in sight.

And because neither of them seemed to miss a thing, Tal read this look as if I had spoken it aloud.

Chuckling, he swiped a remote off the coffee table before pressing a button.

This made me gasp as the biggest TV I had ever seen rose from the floor.

It must have been nearly a hundred inches and, honestly, I didn’t even know they made them that big!

“Wow, now that’s impressive,” I said, after first whistling.

Tal wagged his brows at me, making me chuckle.

“Does that mean your choice is the couch?” Victor asked with a grin.

“Oh yeah.” An answer he laughed at before both brothers kept me standing between them as Tal took control of the remote.

“I’m surprised you’re giving me the choice,” I admitted, making Victor look at me with a quizzical rise of his brow.

“Why wouldn’t we?” he asked.

“Yeah, why not? You’re our guest, after all,” Tal added, turning to face me, the TV screen no longer an interest.

“Permanent guest,” Victor amended quickly.

“Forced guest, don’t you mean,” I corrected, but given their joint smirks, they didn’t seem too bothered by it.