CHAPTER SEVEN

L ance leaned against the bar and lifted his beer to his lips. His fourth.

He was watching two human females with long blonde hair down to the middle of their backs walk away. Or was it dance? Yeah, no, they were skipping.

One of them flicked some hair over her shoulder and looked back at him, giggling.

He smiled at her half-heartedly and turned back around to the wooden bar. Beside him, Marcus was lining up a row of tequila shots. God, he hated the stuff. His fellow SLC picked one up, threw it back, and then downed the other two.

“Yeehaw. I tell you what, Lancelot, if you let me have both of the twins tonight, I’ll let you have my Ducati for a week.”

Lance snorted. “So a ride for a ride?”

“You make it sound so crass.”

“Hey!” he exclaimed, holding up his hands. “You’re the one trading your bike for a female.”

“In my defense, I’m thinking with my cock, so sue me.”

Lance shook his head and laughed. The truth was his heart wasn’t in it tonight. He’d enjoyed the light banter and flirting—hell, he always did—but he couldn’t stop thinking of Sofia.

Even though he really shouldn’t be.

But that moment by the lake? He couldn’t shake it. Neither of them had said anything to each other, but the vibes or some shit as he crouched next to her had been something he couldn’t put into words.

Yes, it had been sexual. Lance had wanted to throw her down on the dirt and rip her overalls off her. But there had been something more. Was this about Janie? Okay, that was a cringe fest, so totally not about his sister then. It was just sexual.

Even as he thought it, he knew there was more to it.

Maybe she was just one of those females who brought out your protective side and was more than just a wham bam. Given what she’d been through, it made sense. He might have a reputation for liking a regular romp in the sack, but it didn’t mean he was heartless.

Plus, the fact she might be executed by the king for what she’d done made him feel sick as shit. Well, not by the king. By one of their males. He’d have to kill the guy afterward, of course, which was a weird thing to even think.

Truthfully, back beside the lake, Lance had wanted to pull Sofia into his arms and kiss her like she meant something. Something real.

And it had been haunting him.

“Sup, dudes?” Kurt greeted, slipping into the seat next to them.

“Twins,” Marcus said, grinning.

“Damn, you couldn’t have made it triplets knowing I was going to be running late?” He laughed.

“What’s going on, anyway?” Lance asked.

“Red team was investigating some missing vampires, so the commander asked me to teleport over there and take the lead,” Kurt said, throwing back his first whisky. “Something weird is going on. Over a dozen vampires, all disappearing from a string of nightclubs just around the corner.”

They all frowned.

“So what now?”

“Bray and Craig are going to the king. I guess they’ll update us on our next steps.” He took another drink. “I guess they’ll question the girl.”

Lance’s eyes darted directly to his. “They are or they will ?”

Kurt shrugged a shoulder and narrowed his eyes at him. “Don’t know, man. You still hot on her?”

Before he could reply or smack the male’s face into the wooden bar, the twins returned, and Marcus was introducing them to Kurt. They shared a dark glance, then gave the females their attention.

“Jesus, do you all go to the same gym or something?” Sierra asked, shooting her hip out.

Kurt smirked. “Something like that, principessa .”

Lance rolled his eyes. Did the guy realize pulling out the Italian on actual Italian women wasn’t quite the same as in the States? Eh, he’d let him figure it out. It wasn’t like his friends didn’t have game. They just didn’t have the same game he did.

“I’m no princess, but you’ll figure that out,” Sierra said and flagged down the barman, giving Kurt her back.

Lance glanced down at Mia, her twin, and grinned. She was quieter than her sister, but just as gorgeous. Curves in all the right places and flowing blonde hair that was absolutely not natural. Full breasts and chocolate brown eyes. She was giving him a look that said yes, whatever the question was. And he really wanted to have a question for her, but it just wasn’t happening.

All he could imagine was Craig or Brayden with Sofia as they questioned her while she panicked. His jaw tightened and his chest constricted as the need to protect their prisoner grew stronger by the minute.

He gave Mia a small smile which she immediately translated, and she twirled around, laying her small hand on Marcus’s arm.

Tossing back his beer, he slammed it on the bench. “I’m out.” He reached for his jacket and grinned at the twins. “ Buonanotte, ragazze . It was lovely to meet you both.”

Well, when in Rome.