CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

S ofia poured plasma into one of her Waterford glasses and handed it to Brianna with a smile.

“I’m glad you came,” she said, shyly, wishing she’d had time to clean up her apartment. Which was ridiculous, given none of these vampires gave a damn about her decor or housekeeping habits.

She’d meant what she had said. After seeing the team together as a family, she felt like such an outsider. Worse, she was starting to suspect she might be responsible for separating Lance from these vampires he loved.

When Brianna had insisted on joining them, Sofia had felt a twinge of happiness. Craig had looked less impressed, but had agreed.

“Me too. I wanted to see your apartment,” Brianna answered, leaning in conspiratorially before whispering, “Plus, Willow is driving me crazy.”

She laughed. “You two are best friends, no?”

“We are. I’m mostly joking. And can I just say how much I love your accent,” Brianna complimented. “Italian women are so stylish. I bet you have a gorgeous wardrobe.”

Sofia grinned.

“You want to take a look?” she asked, happy to have some female company and be having what felt like a normal conversation for the first time in months, even if it was only for a moment before things got dicey again.

Sofia placed a tray of plasma on her coffee table, which was surrounded by large uniformed males. They all murmured thanks as they lifted the expensive crystal glass to their lips, then returned their attention to the tablets and papers spread out around them.

Lance winked at her.

Brianna took in the men, who were busy ignoring them, and nodded. “Yes, please.” They shared a smile and wandered into her room.

“Why did you comment on my accent? You live in Italy. With Italian vampires,” Sofia asked curiously.

Brianna shrugged. “The Morettis sound different. I guess because they’re all older and have been in the United States for so long.”

“That is true. They all have strange accents. Very blended.” Sofia nodded and held out a Versace dress. “Here, try this.”

Brianna’s mouth dropped open at the black-and-gold short cocktail dress.

“Oh my God, that’s gorgeous.”

“Try it on.”

“Ah, no, my boobs would never fit into it.” Brianna laughed.

Sofia tilted her head and then nodded. “Yes, we would be the same size if not for your...how do you say? Knockers.”

Brianna burst into giggles. “Well, I don’t call them knockers, but sure.”

Giving up on the clothing, Sofia pulled out some of her fabulous shoes and handbags. She’d find something for the lovely female to try on.

Suddenly, her phone rang loudly. The room next door burst into action with male vampires launching to their feet.

“Sofia!”

Lance flew into the room with her iPhone, handing it to her. On the screen was Stefano’s name, clear as day. She swallowed loudly and followed Lance back into the living room, Brianna hot on her heels—in her heels—as she pushed the green button.

“ Ciao , Stefano,” she greeted him as calmly as she could. Inside, she was trembling.

“ Ciao, Sofia, mia bella ,” he drawled, and around her, all the vampires sneered silently.

Lance grabbed her hip and she glanced at him. His jaw was tense, and she could only imagine how difficult this was for him. She placed a hand on his chest to comfort them both.

“ Have you thought more about my proposition? ”

Right to business. Typical Stefano.

“Of course, it has been on my mind every day.” Not a lie, but not for the reasons he wanted. “I do not have an answer for you today. Is that why you are calling? You said I had a week to decide, Stefano,” she reminded him, aiming for some strength in her voice. As one of his senior leaders, she needed to maintain a level of authority in her manner, or he would be suspicious.

“ Of course. It is a big decision. ”

“It is. I need to speak to my family, and I have questions about where we would live, what I would be doing. These are troubling times, Stefano.”

She heard him scoff.

“ Sofia, Sofia. I will take care of that. In fact, it is the reason for my call. I am hosting a meal tomorrow. Your parents will be in attendance .”

Under her hand, Lance’s chest tightened to titanium levels, and his hand on her hip drew her closer. She doubted he knew he’d done it. As her mouth dropped open in surprise, she looked around the room and caught Craig’s expression, which looked nearly as lethal as her mate’s. He tipped his head at her, reminding her to speak.

“My father? Mother?”

“ Yes .” Stefano laughed. “ They’re delighted at the prospect of a mateship between us .”

Now it was her turn to fume. “You told them?! Before I gave you my answer?”

Silence.

She squeezed her eyes shut.

She had messed up. Surrounded by these protective males, it was easy to forget how dangerous Stefano was.

“ I think we both know what your answer will be, mia bella . Don’t push my patience too far, ” he said with such coldness she shivered. Then, as if everything was normal, he brightened. “ Wear something pretty—sexy—and I will have my driver collect you at sundown .”

Sofia cringed.

As tears formed in her eyes, the line went dead.

Sofia didn’t want to cry in front of everyone, so she swallowed deeply and looked up. Craig was removing his hand from across Brianna’s mouth as the female climbed off his lap and flew across the room to her.

“Oh, God. I’m so sorry you have to go through this.” Bri threw her arms around her as Lance wiped a hand over his face.

“It’s...thank you.” Sofia tried to hide her surprise at the female’s affection. She pulled away and looked at her new friend along with the rest of the vampires in the room. “Please. All I ask is that you keep me safe. Don’t pity me.” She looked up at Lance. “This is my fault. I was part of the rebellion and have hurt many of our kind for a cause I believed in falsely. I know that now.”

“Fuck!” Lance cursed, tugging her to him.

“We’ve all believed things our parents taught us,” Brianna said. “It’s not your fault, right, Craig?”

Craig rubbed his head. “Ugh. No. Well...”

“It’s okay. I know it’s my responsibility. If I could turn back time, I would.”

Lance turned her to him. “No, fuck that. Bri is right. A lifetime of programming is hard to fight when you have little exposure to another truth.”

“Lance is right,” Kurt spoke up. “You’ve chosen to help us and spy on the rebellion at a huge risk to your own personal safety. It says a lot.”

Sofia’s mouth gaped at the support she was getting.

“Especially given that the asshole raped you,” Brianna added. “What if I go with you tomorrow? As your friend.”

Craig coughed up a lung.

“Like fuck!” he yelled. “Bri, what are you doing?”

“It’s what girls do. Take their friends to their...I don’t know, engagement parties or whatever.”

“This is not her fucking engagement party,” Lance snarled.

“Language!” Craig snapped at him, and Lance threw his hands up in the air.

Sofia shook her head. “Okay, stop!” she called out. “Everyone, please stop.”

And they did.

They turned to look at her.

“Bri, thank you, but that is not the way of vampires.” She smiled at the beautiful redhead who clearly had the heart of a lion. “Your presence might also tighten Stefano’s lips. I need him talking, and that will mean getting him alone. Unfortunately.”

Lance cursed beside her, and she leaned into him. For his comfort and hers.

“Honestly, Bri, you fucking scare me some times,” Craig complained, throwing his arm around her neck and all but smothering the poor girl against his muscular chest. Her flailing arms told the room he pretty much was.

When he let her go, she slapped his belly. “You better keep her safe or...” Craig touched the female’s cheek, and if she didn’t know better, Sofia would have thought he might have wiped away a tear.

Craig lifted his eyes and sent her a meaningful look before doing the same to Lance. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Lance nod and glance down at her. They’d exchanged some words, but she didn’t know what.

As Lance tightened his arms around her, she heard Marcus say, “We’ll keep her safe, Bri. Don’t you worry.”

“That fucker won’t hurt her again,” Tom added.

Maybe, just maybe, she could belong to this family one day.