Page 38 of Blood Claims (Garnet Dagger Mafia #2)

“Because I need to see if you have any other injuries, that’s why, and all of this blood is distracting and pissing me off. Now hold still, girl!” he snapped, which was when I found my anger as I reached for the cloth and told him,

“I can do it… oh.”

The sigh that cut off this argument was because I had gripped his hand and felt a strange buzz connect to me in a way I couldn’t ignore. And neither could he, because he froze instead of yanking himself free.

But when his eyes slowly lifted from our hands to my own surprised gaze, I realized it wasn’t an expression he mirrored. Because he didn’t look shocked, despite knowing that he had felt it too. I didn’t know how I knew this, I just did.

It was like a calm acceptance. One that continued as he reached across to where our hands remained connected. Then in a gentle way, he gripped the top of my hand and slowly pulled it from his. A hand he lowered to my lap so he could continue what he had been about to do before I stopped him.

He palmed the back of my neck to hold me still, before he brought the wet cloth to my cheeks.

His actions were surprisingly gentle for such a giant of a man, but I couldn’t help hissing at the sting.

I must have cut my cheek when I was hit.

I also had one close to my hair line on my forehead, that was most likely from falling after being knocked out in the van.

Even the cut on my lip stung as he cleaned this as well.

He didn’t speak, but his jaw tensed when I showed discomfort. As for the bite on my neck, this had healed, thanks to his actions back at the warehouse. Although, it was still soaked in blood, so that was where he concentrated his efforts next.

First, he cleaned the cloth before ringing it out in just one fist. I was strangely fascinated by his hands as water flowed through his fingers.

But then he gripped the back of my neck in that large palm once more, applying pressure to get me to tilt my head to the side so he could clean away the blood.

When he rinsed the cloth, the water turned pink and again, I watched silently as the droplets dripped down his hand and wrist when he brought it back to my neck.

However, the second that cloth started to work its way further down my bare shoulder and chest, my breath left me.

I swear I also saw his chest rise and fall quicker as his breathing grew heavier.

It was as if he was trying to hold himself back or something. To remain detached as he worked. Yet I could imagine, if he was a Vampire, then being so close to blood must affect him. Making me wonder if this was the reason he was so tense.

Something I would never know, because as soon he was finished, he simply dropped the cloth in what was now crimson-stained water and told me,

“That’s the best I can do for now.” Then he pushed the bowl aside, making me force down the lump that had formed there before replying.

“Thank you.”

He seemed surprised and his gaze shot to mine as if questioning if I had really just thanked him. As if this was a foreign experience for him and he was now questioning when the last time someone had thanked him for anything.

I didn’t know where all that had just come from, but I felt it, all the same, and just from a single look. In the end, his response in return was a slight dip of his head, as if silently saying you’re welcome.

He then reached for the black metal box and pulled it closer.

He unlatched it and flipped the lid, showing me an array of medical supplies.

I then watched in silence as he picked two adhesive bandages, one on the smaller side for my cheek and the other for the cut at my forehead.

He also got out two rolls of bandages, a pot of something, and some tape.

“Hold out your hands,” he ordered, nodding down to where they were in my lap. So, I did as I was told because it didn’t take a genius to know why he asked this. Especially when he opened the pot of what smelt like antiseptic cream and started to rub it on my abused wrists.

I was fascinated watching him as he worked silently and methodically to bandage me up. Not exactly what I had expected when he first brought me here, but then again, I wasn’t sure what I had expected.

He then wrapped the tape around the bandage, securing it before lifting my hand up to tear the end with his teeth. He then did the same on the other side until I was left with two white cuffs, my wrists already feeling better. But then the second he reached for the band aids, I started to say,

“I can do…”

This offer died the second he gave me a pointed look, effectively shutting me up. So, I let him fix the band aids in place, one on my cheek and the other on my forehead. His large thumbs pressed the sides down in a gentle way that stole my breath once more. Something that had me asking,

“What are you planning on doing with me?”

Again, his jaw hardened as he screwed up the backing from the band aids in his hand.

“You don’t need to know.”

I frowned and instead of arguing, I asked what I thought was a more important question.

“Are you going to kill me?”

“You would be dead already if I was,” he stated firmly, making me ask again,

“Then why am I here?”

He released a frustrated sigh and after tossing the paper in the box, he shut it with a slam. Then he caged me to the island with his hands either side of my hips as he leaned in.

“Do you always ask this many questions?”

“Only when kidnapped,” I replied, making him scoff.

“Know many kidnappers that would answer them?” he countered, and I would have smiled at his quick wit had it been under different circumstances. But instead, I shrugged my shoulders and remained silent. He released a sigh and pushed off the island before telling me,

“No, I am not going to hurt you, not if you follow the rules.”

“And what are those?” I asked.

“They are simple enough. You don’t leave the house and you don’t go snooping around it… now come on, I will show you to your room,” he said, taking my arm and helping me from the island.

The hard stone sent a chill up my legs the second my feet touched the floor.

But he let me go and turned to walk out the room, leaving me with no choice but to rush after him.

His long legs ate up the space with ease, meaning I practically had to jog next to him.

He glanced down at me over his shoulder, watching with no reaction, so I asked,

“Could you possibly slow down?”

“No,” was his hard reply as we made our way back to the main entrance hall to where the main staircase was. And my cold feet were thankful, because the plush carpet felt like heaven as my toes sank into it.

The details of the house were incredible, with its intricate carved pillars, its stone archways and fancy banisters that held iron artwork in between stone balustrades. The metal look like vines creeping their way in between the stone railing, with delicate leaves and flowers amongst the thorns.

“This side of the house is off limits, do you understand?” he said once we were at the top, now pointing to a door on the opposite end of the landing. One that looked like it led further into another wing of the house.

“Why, what’s in there?” But this was the wrong thing to say because he bent his head lower in front of my own and snapped,

“I asked if you understood?!”

I jumped at the anger in his voice, flinching back and telling him quickly,

“Yes, I understand.”

He released a heavy sigh.

“Good, now come,” he replied, his voice back to being its usual hard and unyielding grumble that was enough to keep me from arguing.

Which meant I was back to following him through the many dark hallways that he refused to light, ignoring all the switches we passed.

On more than one occasion, I ended up bumping into him.

To the point that I was about to walk into a sideboard when he wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me over so I would miss it.

“Thanks,” I said quietly, making him mutter something I didn’t quite catch.

But shortly after this, we stopped at a door toward the end of the house.

I knew this as I could see the large arch window at the end of the hallway.

He reached out and turned the fancy brass nob, opening the door for me to enter.

“This will be your room, I suggest staying in it,” he said abruptly.

“And for how long will I be in it for?” I braved asking. To which I felt him lean in close behind me so his lips were near my ear.

“For however long I wish it.”

Then I received a little push at my lower back, propelling me forward. And well, this time he did turn on the light, and if I didn’t think I was in a dark fairy tale before, now I most certainly did!

It was a bedroom fit for a queen!

A huge four-poster bed, overflowing with lush red-velvet fringed with gold tassels, conquered the space, it was the first thing my eyes went to.

The thick, Persian style rugs offered a softness to the stone floor, with large, carved, dark wood furniture in various places against the walls.

And every single item looked antique and very old.

“There is a bathroom through there… you will find everything you need. There are clothes in the wardrobe. Food will be brought to you. I won’t lock this door but don’t make me regret it. You try to leave this house and your next room will be a cell in the basement.”

I gulped but clearly, he wasn’t done with his threats because he warned,

“As trust me, I will know the second you walk out of this place and will easily hunt you down through the forest that surrounds this estate. You wouldn’t make it past the outer gates before I’m on you. Now do we have an understanding?”

“I understand you have kidnapped me, yes,” I snapped, making him reply,

“Then consider me your new master. You do as you’re fucking told and we shouldn’t have any problems.”

I huffed and muttered,

“I think you will find I have a lot of fucking problems… ah!” This ended in a shriek of fright as he was suddenly at me, traveling from the doorway over to the bed where I was standing in a heartbeat.

He gripped my wrists, pulled them over my head, and held both in one meaty hand, adding to the ache that was already there.

But it was the ease in which he did this that was frightening.

“Problems that, right now, don’t include me hurting you. Now do you want that to change, Little Rabbit?” he asked, making me suck in a quick breath.

“No,” I said quickly.

“Good…” He paused, running the back of his fingers down my cheek in a caress, which became the polar opposite to the threat that followed.

“…Then I won’t have to chain you to my fucking wall!

” he snapped, making me shudder. Then the second he let me go, my arms dropped to my sides before I hugged myself.

“Now get some sleep, you will crash from the adrenaline soon enough,” he said in a softer tone, as if he was back to being concerned about my wellbeing once again. Jesus, talk about hot and cold, this guy was a volcano erupting on ice!

“Wait!” I shouted as he walked to the door, pausing with his hand gripping the frame in what looked like annoyance.

“What?” he snapped back, cold.

“Are you at least going to tell me your name?”

I saw his tensed shoulders lower, his wide frame nearly filling the doorway. He paused for so long I didn’t think he would say anything. But then he must have made his decision as he looked back at me over his shoulder.

Then he dropped the biggest bombshell of all as he told me,

“Vasileios. My name is Vasileios…”

“Vasileios Erebus.”