Chapter 17

Chapter

Seventeen

I wake curled up in Renzo's arms. He held me all night as he promised he would, never trying anything, just keeping me in his warm embrace. It was so heavenly that I don't want to get up. I want to stay here, blissful like this forever. How he went from monster to savior, I have no idea. My own beauty and the beast story, except I'm no beauty, and he's all beast.

I know this bliss won't last. I won't feel safe here forever. It won't always be the tender Renzo I met last night who will chase away my nightmares. It will be the Renzo that haunts my nightmares. The vampire that rules my world. I won't be in control, and I can no longer live with that.

I slip quietly from the bed, careful not to disturb Renzo. The soft, early morning light filters through the heavy curtains, casting a dim glow across the room. My heart is racing, but my footsteps are light as I pad down the hallway to the main bedroom. I quickly grab some clothes, trying to move as silently as possible. The familiar scent of Renzo lingers in the air—a mix of sandalwood and something darker, more dangerous. I rush into the bathroom, shutting the door softly behind me. My hands shake as I dress, pulling on jeans and a light sweater. My mother would yell at me if she could see me. "You always dress so…American." As if that's the biggest insult. I stare at myself in the mirror, applying makeup with practiced precision, though my thoughts are scattered.

A text from Pippa had come in earlier—she'd obtained my fake papers sooner than expected and wants to meet for brunch, and I need this. I need to sneak out without Renzo finding out because if he does, he'll insist on coming along although how he's supposed to do that when he's dead, I don't know. And although I appreciate the comfort he offered me last night, the cold light of day brought reality crashing back. He's still a vampire and he's supposed to be dead. I'm still trapped in a world where I have no control. I put the final touches on my hair, brushing it into soft waves, and take a deep breath, steeling myself.

I step back into the bedroom, hoping to slip out undetected, but I come face-to-face with Renzo. He's standing there in his black boxer briefs, arms folded across his broad naked chest, eyes cool emeralds. Sexy as hell, and twice as deadly.

"Where do you think you're going?" he asks, his voice calm but laced with authority.

I swallow, forcing a smile. "I'm having brunch with Pippa," I say, trying to keep my tone light. "It's been a while since we've hung out, and I just need a break. I need something fun."

Renzo's eyes narrow, and he takes a step closer, his presence looming over me. "You can't go out without protection. I want to be with you."

I let out a frustrated sigh, trying to keep my irritation in check. "I hate to remind you, Renzo, but you're dead." Wait, as a vampire, is he undead? I shake away the idiotic thought. "This isn't exactly the moment you want to come back to life." I cross my arms, matching his defiant stance. "Besides, it's just brunch with Pippa."

Renzo's jaw tightens, and I can see the struggle playing out in his mind. Finally, he relents, but grudgingly and not without conditions. "Nico and Luca will accompany you. They're waiting downstairs."

I curse silently. The last thing I need is Renzo's brothers shadowing me. But I guess it's better than having Renzo there himself. " Fine," I say, my voice clipped. "But they have to sit at a different table. I won't be able to talk to Pippa with your brothers listening in on every word."

Renzo's expression hardens, his teeth clenched. "Fine," he snaps, "but it will be a very close table, and it will be at a restaurant of our choosing."

I huff in annoyance. "I've already chosen the place. We're meeting in twenty minutes, so I'm already running late."

Renzo's eyes flash with irritation, but his voice is dangerously calm. "Mia, if you want to go, you will follow my rules."

"Fine," I say through gritted teeth. "Just let me know what restaurant you want me to meet her at."

Renzo names the location, and I text Pippa the information. I turn to leave, my frustration simmering just below the surface, but Renzo's hand shoots out, grabbing my arm in a firm grip. His touch is possessive and dominating, and I'm instantly reminded of the creature I'm dealing with.

"Not so fast," he says, his voice low and authoritative. "You will do exactly what my brothers tell you to do. You will listen. You will not fight. Am I making myself clear?"

The tenderness he showed me last night is gone, replaced by the true vampire—the forceful, unyielding creature who refuses to be challenged.

I nod, swallowing my pride. "Understood."

He leans down and kisses me, a possessive and fierce kiss meant to remind me that I am his. It's not something I am likely to forget. And damn if the kiss doesn't make my nipples harden.

I make my way downstairs, each step feeling heavier than the last. Nico and Luca are waiting at the bottom, dressed in dark suits, their expressions unreadable but ever watchful. How the hell did they get here so fast? Shit! Are they vampires, too ? In this situation, it was a solid assumption that they were.

They flank me as we head out to the car, their presence a constant reminder of the chains I'm trying so desperately to break free from. If I had any doubts about running, this certainly kills them. I climb into the car, Nico and Luca on either side of me, and my mind races with thoughts of escape.

I need to find a way to have a private conversation with Pippa, but how? Do vampires have enhanced hearing? Probably. I scan my surroundings, trying to think of a way to keep my words from reaching their ears. I'll have to improvise when we get to the restaurant. I can't let fear paralyze me. If I'm really going to run from Renzo, I need to, as they say, grow a pair. He's not the kind of creature to just let me go.

The car pulls up to the restaurant, and Ralf opens the door. Luca steps out first and pauses in front of the door, blocking my exit. After a moment, he turns and extends his hand to help me. I slide out, with Nico's presence looming behind me as he follows. Renzo wasn't joking about his brothers keeping a close eye on me.

When we enter the restaurant, heads turn. It's a beautiful spot on the waterfront, with a terrace that overlooks the shimmering bay and a light breeze carrying the salty sea air. Sadly, the clouds overhead are thick, and I think the terrace is closed because of the impending rain, but I glance around, hopeful that maybe I can snag a table, one where I might have a moment of privacy, anyway. But before I can say anything, Luca steps in, his hand resting on the back of a corner table, his decision made. The table is tucked away, not bad, but directly next to it is another where Luca and Nico will sit—six inches away, within earshot. I grit my teeth.

"Seriously?" I say, my voice laced with irritation. "Gentlemen, I would like some privacy with Pippa."

Nico smirks, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "Well, that's just too bad. Live with this setup, or we go home."

Left with no choice, I walk over and sit in the corner, feeling the walls close in on me. Luca and Nico settle at the adjacent table, their gazes sweeping the room, never too far from me. A few minutes later, Pippa arrives, her pace quick. When she spots Luca and Nico her steps falter, her eyes wide with a mix of confusion and annoyance. She raises an eyebrow in silent question: What the hell is this?

"Hey, Mia," Pippa greets, leaning down to kiss my cheek before taking her seat. Her presence is a welcome relief, the first real bit of light I've felt all day.

"Hey, Pippa. It's good to see you." I aim a genuine smile at my friend. Seeing her feels like I've been handed a lifeline.

"I know. It feels like it's been forever," she says, squeezing my hand. She tilts her head slightly towards Luca and Nico, lowering her voice. "With everything that's happened, I'm glad you agreed to come out today."

Pippa turns towards Luca and Nico, offering them a sweet but pointed smile. "Gentlemen, lovely to see you, but I'm about to discuss your brother's sex life with my friend before he died and then I'm going to discuss his death and everything in between in great detail. I assume you don't want to hear that, so perhaps you'd like to sit a little further away? There are plenty of empty tables."

I bite back a laugh, grateful for Pippa's boldness. She's never been one to mince words, and today is no exception. Luca and Nico exchange a look, but they know she's right. The entire section has been cleared for us, so there's no immediate threat. Nico finally shrugs, and they move two tables away. It's still close, but it's better than before.

A waitress approaches cautiously, waiting for a nod from Luca before she takes our orders. She moves quickly, her eyes darting nervously between us, and then a second waitress flirts with Nico and Luca, drawing their attention. Perfect.

"Did you get it?" I ask Pippa, keeping my voice low.

"Yes," she replies, her expression serious. "I have it with me."

"How much do I owe you?" I ask, my nerves on edge.

Pippa waves me off. "Don't worry about it. I've got it covered. What's your plan?"

I raise my voice slightly, just in case Nico and Luca are still listening. "It's been rough. Not just with Renzo's death but with all the other family politics."

Pippa nods, catching on. "I can just imagine." She leans closer, grinning. "Did you really have Big Tony and Giuseppe's pinkies cut off? "

The absurdity of it hits me, and despite everything, I start to laugh. The unexpected humor is foreign but liberating. "Yes, I know it was dramatic and crazy, but I had to make a point," I admit, my laughter bubbling up uncontrollably.

Pippa chuckles, shaking her head. "Girl, I didn't know you had it in you, but I'm not surprised. You've always been about business. You're going to be an amazing head of the family."

Our food arrives, and we fall into easy conversation about the usual gossip—who's dating who, who's pregnant… trivialities that offer a fleeting sense of normalcy. We eat slowly, prolonging the brunch, and I savor every second of it. Being with Pippa feels like waking up from a nightmare, like maybe, just maybe, I can reclaim some of my life.

Suddenly, a loud, raucous noise fills the restaurant—a large family enters, easily twenty people, laughing and celebrating an elderly man's birthday. Luca and Nico stand, tense at first, but quickly relax when they realize it's just a joyful gathering. I grin at Pippa, hopeful. This could be our chance.

"I don't understand why you want to run. Renzo is gone. You're free to do what you want," Pippa whispers.

"It's not what it looks like," I murmur, barely moving my lips. "If it were, I'd stay, but I'm living in a nightmare."

Pippa studies my face, searching for something, but I have nothing left to give. No words, no reassurances. If Renzo finds out what I'm planning, it'll be over for both of us.

The waitress approaches, asking if we'd like dessert, and though I have no appetite, I order a chocolate soufflé just to buy more time. Pippa follows suit, and we continue chatting, dragging out every minute. The desserts arrive, and I can feel Luca and Nico growing restless. Good. Let them wait.

As the birthday celebration reaches its peak, Nico and Luca stand guard at the entrance to our section of the restaurant, keeping watch as the family sings and moves around. Pippa takes the opportunity to slide the fake documents across the table discreetly. My heart races as I slip them into my purse without a glance .

"When are you leaving?" Pippa asks, her voice soft, but laced with urgency. She coughs into her hand.

"I don't know," I admit. "I might not have time to warn you. I'll just try to disappear. But I'll contact you eventually. I'll send you a postcard." I take a sip of water. I'm feeling a bit woozy. Has to be the stress.

Pippa squeezes my hand, her grip fierce. "I'll wait for your postcard, and then Luna and I will come find you." She coughs again.

I nod, holding back the tears. "I'd love that. I'll let you know when it's safe."

The singing dies down, the candles are blown out, and Nico and Luca are suddenly at my side. "Time to leave," Nico says firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument. He coughs and then glances at Luca, who also starts to cough.

I stand, hugging Pippa tightly. "Thank you so much. I needed this more than you know."

Pippa smiles, though there's sadness in her eyes. "Let's try to do this once a week, huh?"

"I'd love that," I say, my voice struggling to hold steady. The words are barely out when a sudden tightness grips my chest, and I start to cough. My throat feels like it's closing, and I can't seem to get any oxygen. Panic floods me as I try to suck in a breath, but it's like the air has turned to smoke. My eyes dart to Pippa; she's coughing too, her face twisted in alarm. Around us, everyone in the restaurant is coughing, gasping for air—Luca and Nico included.

Before I can make sense of what's happening, Nico lunges forward, his grip like iron as he grabs my hand and yanks me up. I barely register the chaos around us before he sweeps me into his arms, moving with a speed that blurs the world around me. In seconds, we're outside, the cool air slamming into my lungs, but I'm still struggling to breathe. Luca has Pippa in his grasp, and they rush us both into the limo, dumping us unceremoniously onto the seats. Nico and Luca climb in beside us, slamming the doors shut as Ralf floors the gas, the limo lurching violently as we speed away.

"What the fuck?" Pippa's voice is raspy, and she continues to cough, tears streaming down her cheeks from whatever filled the air back in the restaurant.

My chest feels tight, each breath a struggle as I wheeze, trying to force the panic down.

"Did someone just try to kill us?" I manage to squeak out, my voice thin and trembling. The reality of what just happened is sinking in. I clutch at my throat, desperate for air, my mind racing with fear and confusion.

Nico's eyes are wild, darting around as if scanning for threats even within the limo. His suit is disheveled, his usual calm shattered by the sudden attack. "I don't know, but it looks like it," he spits out, his voice edged with fury and something darker—fear. The fact that Nico and Luca are both affected by this, and worse, they're afraid, terrifies me. What on earth can make a vampire fearful?

Luca is on his phone, barking orders in Italian, his voice sharp and compelling, a stark contrast to the panic simmering in the car. Pippa leans against me, still coughing, her fingers gripping my arm tightly as if I'm the only thing anchoring her in this madness.

I try to piece together what just happened, but my scattered, incoherent thoughts slip through my fingers. One minute, we were laughing over chocolate souffle, and the next, the air had turned toxic, thick with something that choked the life out of the room. I shudder, images of people gasping and struggling to breathe flashing through my mind. "The family. You have to find out about that family, Luca. Did they make it out?"

Luca ignores me and stares out of the window, but I can't help thinking that he's busy somehow. Like maybe he's communicating with someone. OMG, can they speak telepathically ? Jesus, is there no end to what vampires can do? Thinking of the times I've thought I'd heard Renzo's voice in my head I am certain they can, but I resolve to ask Renzo as soon as I can. I need to know what I'm up against.

The car races through the streets, a blur of motion as we put distance between us and the restaurant. I stare out the window, watching the city flash by, but I can't shake the feeling that we're not safe—not from whoever orchestrated this, not from the world Renzo has plunged me into. My heart pounds, every beat a reminder of how close we came to losing everything.

I look at Nico and Luca, their faces set in hard, determined lines. They saved us, but the weight of the unexpected attack hangs heavy in the air. This was no random event. Someone knew where we were. Someone wanted us dead.

I clutch Pippa's hand, my own still trembling. I don't know who's targeting us, but one thing is clear—this isn't over. Not by a long shot.

We pull up to the house, the heavy iron gates swinging open as the limo glides down the driveway. My nerves are still frayed, my heart pounding from the chaos at the restaurant. As we come to a stop, I see Luigi's car pulling in behind us. He parks quickly, the gravel crunching under his tires, and he strides over with urgency, his usual calm demeanor replaced by a tightly controlled mask. But his eyes—those dark, watchful eyes—betray his concern. Pippa has always been his favorite and seeing her in danger has him rattled.

"I came straight here as soon as I heard," Luigi says, his voice gruff as he looks at Nico. "What do you know about it?"

Nico shrugs, his expression tense and guarded. "Nothing yet, but we will find out. You can count on that." There's a dangerous edge to his voice, a promise of retribution that sends a chill through the air. Nico turns and starts up the stairs without another word. Luca lingers just behind, his unreadable gaze flickering over me.

I step out of the limo and pull Pippa into a tight hug. I hold on for a second longer than necessary, soaking in the comfort of her familiar warmth. "Thanks," I whisper, my voice cracking. "I'll call you later, okay? I'm so glad you're safe."

Pippa nods, but her smile is strained, her eyes glassy with unshed tears. The reality of how close we came to death hangs between us, heavy and unspoken. She bites her lip, fighting to keep her emotions in check, and I wish I could do something, anything, to take away her fear.

Luigi moves closer, his expression softening as he gently pulls Pippa into his arms, holding her as if she's something precious that he nearly lost. "It's okay, dolcezza ," he murmurs, rubbing her back in slow, soothing circles. His voice is low and reassuring but there's an undercurrent of fury simmering beneath his calm fa?ade. He releases her only to guide her over to his car, opening the passenger door with a protective tenderness that tugs at my heart. She slips inside, looking back at me with a tearful wave, and I force a smile, giving her one last wave.

As I watch them drive off, I feel a pang of guilt. Pippa got dragged into this situation because of me. She's strong, but this life, this danger, is not something I ever wanted for her. I can't let this happen again. I can't let anyone else suffer because of me.

We enter the office as Renzo barks, "What the hell happened? I thought I said to stay close to Mia. I thought I was very clear. How could you possibly let her get hurt?" He walks over and grabs my upper arms, waves of rage rolling off him, his eyes dark and seething. His voice is sharp and cuts through the tense air. The fury radiating from him chokes the space between us as his gaze darts all over me as if to reassure himself that I am okay.

"I'm fine, Renzo, but your brothers—they don't look so good," I say, my voice trembling as I point to Nico and Luca. I thought vampires were supposed to be incredibly strong; Renzo survived being shot without flinching. But Nico and Luca are now slumped on the sofa, sweating and pale, looking worse than I've ever seen them. They're both gripping their stomachs, their faces twisted in pain. It's unsettling, seeing them like this—so vulnerable, so…human. Renzo never looks like this.

Renzo's gaze shifts to his brothers, and I can tell they're communicating silently, locked in some kind of unspoken conversation that I can't hear. His jaw tightens, and he turns to me briefly before glancing away. "Esme is on her way. She says she has news. She just left Father." He walks back to his desk and sits down, tapping his fingers restlessly on the dark wood.

Luca nods. "Father needs to be brought up to date."

"I agree," Renzo says. "As soon as I know what to tell him, I will make sure he's kept in the loop."

"Who's Esme?" I ask, my nerves fraying more with each passing second. "And what's going on? Can you guys communicate telepathically?"

Renzo's brow furrows as he shoots me a warning look. "This isn't the time, Mia."

"When is the fucking time, Renzo?" I snap, frustration boiling over. "What the hell is going on?"

Nico struggles to sit up, his movements slow and heavy. He shrugs off his suit jacket and then flops back onto the couch like the weight of the world is pressing down on him. Albert, the butler, bustles into the room with urgency, carrying a tray with two pints of dark, thick liquid. My stomach churns because it looks like blood. I fight the urge to gag as I watch them down the blood like it's water. I push up from my seat, needing to get away, but Renzo's voice stops me cold.

"Mia, sit back down." His tone leaves no room for argument, but I hesitate, feeling trapped.

"Renzo, I don't think I can?—"

"Sit. Down," he commands through clenched teeth, and I know I'm pushing him. I see something in his eyes I've never seen before: worry. Real, unguarded concern for his brothers.

"Sir, the news is saying it was a carbon monoxide leak at the restaurant. Due to the rain, the doors to the terrace were closed which only made the situation worse. And Signor Lombardi is here. As well as Signors Baldini and Marchesi. Signor Colucci is on the phone. They all wish to see Mia."

I blink. Shit. "They're here already?" I should've known since Luigi has been here and gone. I stand. "Albert, I will see them in the living room."

Renzo starts to say something but I hold up my hand. As much as I don't want to do this, it's a necessity. "It's important they see me as strong. I'll make it brief." With that I walk out of the room with Albert in tow. "Is everyone from the restaurant okay?" I ask, thinking of the proud grandfather and family who had so innocently wanted a birthday celebration.

Albert nods. "Several patrons were taken to hospital but no deaths so far." He walks ahead to announce that I am coming. I stop in the hallway and take a deep breath while trying to calm my insides. This is such a disaster. I want to be anywhere but here. Instead, I square my shoulders and walk into the room. Albert puts Colucci on speaker and then leaves the room.

"Gentlemen," I say. "It's good of you to come."

They all stand and Big Tony growls, "Do you know what happened?" I pretend not to notice the bandage on his hand where his pinky used to be.

"Carbon monoxide leak is what they're calling it." I don't get into any details. Quite frankly I can't wrap my head around any of it, so it's better to pretend none of it exists. No sick vampires here.

"Do you believe that?" Lombardi asks.

"Hell no," snorts Giuseppe and then he shoots me a worried glance. "I mean?—"

But I wave him off. "I do not believe it was an accident if that's what you're asking. Nico and Luca are drilling down on it now," I add, figuring I might as well give them an alibi for the moment. I can't very well say they're in the office sucking down blood. I feel a bubble of laughter crawling up my windpipe and I bite down on my tongue to stop it from erupting. "I would ask that all of you drill down as well. The sooner we find out who is behind all of this, the better it is for business. Now I've got calls to make… If you will excuse me. I do appreciate your checking up on me." I say it all with a smile and then turn to go.

"What about the meeting with the ‘Ndrangheta? Are you still going to meet with Valente?" Colucci asks.

"Yes," I say firmly even though I had forgotten all about the damn meeting. "I don't think this was the ‘Ndrangheta. Doesn't make sense. All of my meetings will go ahead as planned." I need to appear strong.

"Where's Angelo?" Lombardi asks.

Shit. Damn. Fuck. I completely forgot about Angelo. I have no idea how to explain his absence. I turn back with a cold smile on my face. No point in lying. "Angelo and I have had a parting of the ways. He was overly ambitious, and I decided not to tolerate it. "

Lombardi gave me a slow smile and nodded. "Well, you'll be looking for a new consigliere then."

"Yes, I will but not at this exact moment. Sorry, gentlemen, I have much to do. Albert," I call, "can you please see these men out?"

"Very good, Signora Valdici," he says.

I go to hang up the call, but Colucci starts talking.

"I'm close on the cartel deal. As long as you make it work with the ‘Ndrangheta so we can bring everything in from the south then we're in business."

"I'll take that under advisement," I say and then hang up. I hurry back toward the office, but I take a moment to lean on the wall to try to process everything I've witnessed. I am totally overwhelmed. I snort as I admit to myself that there's just too much to process and a moment in a hallway isn't going to cut it.

Left with no choice, I go back into the office and reluctantly take my seat again in a chair in the corner of the room, far from the chaos, and watch the scene unfold.

Nico and Luca continue to drink the blood, the color slowly returning to their cheeks, but the pain is still evident in every strained movement. I realize, with a sinking feeling, how little I truly know about this world—about the house I'm living in, about the rules Renzo has bound me to. I don't want to know more. I don't want to be a part of any of this.

The door bursts open, and a woman strides in. She's slightly older than me, with long, fiery red hair cascading down her back over a black leather jacket. Her eyes are sharp, her movements brisk, and she exudes an aura of command that demands attention. She drops a worn backpack on the floor and rushes over to Nico, squatting down in front of him.

"How are you feeling?" she asks, her voice cool but edged with concern.

Nico shrugs, his expression strained. "Not great."

The redhead nods knowingly. "Let me guess—lightheaded, weak, nauseated, each breath feels like a thousand knives cutting through your lungs? "

Both Nico and Luca nod, their faces drawn and pale. The woman frowns deeply, glancing up at Renzo. "Just what I thought. It's the same poison that was on the bullets I removed from Renzo."

I blink, struggling to process what she just said. "I'm sorry, can someone please fill me in on what's happening?" The words tumble out before I can stop them. The room feels heavy, everyone's eyes on me.

Renzo sighs, frustration flickering in his eyes. "Mia, this is Esme, she's …a healer. Esme, Mia."

I'm stunned. Renzo said Esme was on her way, and I was sure he said she was coming from Venezia, but it took her less than five minutes to get here. My mind reels, wondering if she's a vampire too. Esme, the redhead, gives me a curt nod, then pauses, a question crossing her features, followed by an assessing glance in my direction. The scrutiny elicits an uncomfortable jangle in my nerves.

She blinks, and with what feels like a snap, the tingle racing over my skin is gone. She nods at me. "Nice to meet you, Mia. I'm sorry it's under these circumstances." She turns back to Renzo, her expression serious. "I've been analyzing those bullets, and I can't figure out exactly what it is. But it's definitely some kind of poison, and it's definitely from the magickal realm."

Renzo's face darkens. "Who else knows about this?"

Esme shrugs, her demeanor calm but tense. "I've only told a couple of my lab assistants. They haven't had any luck identifying it. If you want me to dig deeper, I'll need to consult my coven, but word will get around."

Holy shit! Did she just say coven? My head spins. Is she a witch? And if witches exist, then what else is out there?

I must have made some kind of a sound because everyone present in the room turns to look at me, and I feel like the ground is shifting beneath my feet. "It's time you told me what's really going on, Renzo."

Luca nods, wiping sweat from his brow. "She's right, Renzo. She's going to find out sooner or later since she is now part of the family."

My stomach twists into knots and beads of sweat break out along my hairline. I'm not sure I want to know the answers, but the silence is suffocating.

Renzo meets my gaze, his eyes stormy and conflicted. Finally, he speaks, his voice heavy. "Esme is a witch."

"A witch? Like…with a pointy black hat and a broom?" I blurt out, the absurdity of my own words catching me off guard.

Esme chuckles, shaking her head. "Not exactly. Though I do own a few pointy hats. But no, we don't fly on brooms. I am a witch, yes. Just not the kind you're used to hearing about."

"Not like Wiccan?" I ask, my voice shaky. "I mean, I know some ‘witches' who study the Wiccan religion, pray to the moon or whatever, but they're just normal people with a religious belief."

Esme smirks. "Yeah, well, word of our existence slipped into the human world a while back, so some people practice Wicca. The witches you know are real, and I'm sure they cast spells just like I do, but because they're not in the magickal realm, their spells aren't as powerful. It's harder to harness magick here on this side of the veil, but not impossible. I'm sure some witches here are more powerful than you think. My magick is powerful and I do cast some amazing spells. I even have a black cat." She grins. "Witches are very real."

I lean back, feeling the weight of her words. My nerves are frayed, held together only by a thin filament of sanity. What am I going to meet next? A fucking gargoyle?

"What else exists?" The question slips out before I even realize I've spoken, and Nico's laughter fills the room.

"If you could see your face right now, Mia," Nico says, grinning despite his pain. "All those creatures you're imagining… Yeah, they're real."

I turn to Renzo, my eyes searching his, needing confirmation. He gives me a slow nod. "And more, Mia. There are all kinds of creatures on this earth. Humans are just one small part of a much bigger picture." He looks at his brothers, his expression hardening. "But right now, we need to figure out who wants us dead."

"So, it's not me they were after?" I ask, shelving the crazy thought that I might need a tinfoil hat in the future .

"No," Esme replies, her tone thoughtful. "I think all of this was a distraction—a smokescreen if you will—to make it look like you were the target. But they're really after Renzo, Nico, and Luca."

I swallow hard, the new revelation reeling in my head. I glance at Renzo, then at Nico and Luca, wondering who could possibly want them dead. "Any ideas on who might want you all gone?"

Nico lets out a bitter laugh. "The list would be too long and painful to go through. Renzo's been alive for over four hundred years. Luca and I, we're the babies of the family—we've only been around for about three hundred and fifty. And Esme's been around a while too."

My head is spinning, trying to grasp the sheer length of their lives. Four hundred years? My mind reels, and a sudden, irrational wave of jealousy floods me. "Were you married before?" I demand, my voice sharp.

Renzo's smile is cold, distant. "Yes."

His answer makes my stomach twist, and I feel like I might be sick. I stand up, needing to escape, but Renzo points to the chair. "Sit down, Mia. We'll discuss that later." There's a glint of amusement in his eyes like he's relishing my jealousy.

And I hate how I feel, and I hate that it even matters. He's a vampire—a centuries-old vampire with a past I can't even begin to fathom. This is exactly why I need to leave. If nothing else, this confirms my need to escape. Maybe they'll be so focused on finding out who's trying to kill them that they won't notice me slipping away. I feel the weight of Renzo's gaze. Or maybe not.