CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

L ance perched on the edge of the roof opposite the house Sofia had been driven into. The gates had closed as soon as the white SUV with blacked-out windows had driven through. The property was quite the fortress, and so far, they had been unable to ascertain who the owner was.

It was unlikely to be Stefano, but it really didn’t matter. All he gave a fuck about was Sofia’s safety and getting their vampires home. Yeah, and fucking up that whole operation so they couldn’t hurt anyone else.

Shit was far more complicated because they were being kept on a human goddamn army base.

“We’re going to have to get closer,” Craig said.

Tom was in the vehicle parked down the road. Beside him were the best males he could ask for: Kurt, Marcus, Craig, and Brayden. Aside from the fact they didn’t have eyes on his mate right now, he felt confident Sofia was as protected as she could be under the circumstances.

Plus, they could hear what was being said. Everyone except him. It had been the compromise he’d made with the commander.

“ We’ll be able to hear what’s going on and you’ll be on the ground with us. But I can’t have you going all fucking mate-crazy over every damn word that’s said, ” Craig had ordered. “ That’s the deal, or you stay here. ”

One look at Sofia’s face, and Lance had known he had to agree.

No way was he sitting this one out.

Plus, the guy was right. As a mated vampire, he now knew the desire to kill any male who got near your girl, not to mention the psychopath who had raped her and wanted to fake-mate her.

Fucking lunatic.

Or as he liked to call him, dead vamp walking.

“You three go. Marcus and I will stay here and watch who else shows up,” Brayden said.

Lance glanced at Brayden in question. “Russo just announced there are more guests attending,” he answered the silent question.

“Let’s go,” Craig ordered.

Lance followed Kurt and Craig as they crept through the shadows to a new viewing spot. The size of the property stopped them from getting too close, but eventually, they found a tree with good visibility.

And when they got eyes on the set up, Lance cursed.

“That looks like more than just a simple meal,” Kurt murmured, voicing his thoughts.

“No. It. Does. Not,” Lance gritted out.

He closed his eyes and focused his senses. He could just make out the voices and the soft lilt of Sofia’s beautiful laugh. His heart tightened as he heard the subtle pain in it, and wondered if her family knew her well enough to pick it up as he just had.

Doubtful.

“Marco and Luca have just joined the party,” Lance said into his comms to update the others.

“ Well, the IQ of that party just halved ,” Tom replied dryly.

They all nodded knowingly. They’d all spent enough time in the prison with the two Russo brothers to know just how dumb they were. Either that or it was a brilliant act.

“ Two black SUVs pulling in ,” Brayden announced, and before long, the large outdoor table was filled with over two dozen wealthy-looking individuals.

“Few humans in there,” Craig muttered.

“ Anyone you recognize? ” Brayden asked.

“I don’t fucking know. I’m not on Twit Tok,” Craig replied. “Bono’s not here; does that help?”

Kurt snorted.

“ Anyone looking for a promotion? ” Brayden asked dryly.

Kurt and Lance shared a grin. They all knew the big guy had that job for life. Which in vampire years was a fucking long time.

“I didn’t get a good look, but I think one of them is...” Kurt started, leaning an inch closer, “the president?”

“ Of Italy? ” Tom asked, surprised.

“Tom, send us a photo right now,” Craig ordered into his comms piece.

Ping.

“Fuck,” Craig, Kurt, and Lance all cursed. The man sitting two people away from Stefano was, in fact, the Italian president Diego Lombardo.

“You’ve got to be fucking joking,” Brayden growled. “Vincent is going to be pissed.”

Soon, the music interfered with their ability to hear all the conversations clearly, but Lance was just grateful he could see his female.

Sofia sat to Stefano’s right, and so far, he had not tried to touch her. Or at least as far as Lance could tell; he couldn’t see under the table, but thinking like that would just make him crazy. They got comfortable and watched as the evening unfolded.

About an hour later, Stefano stood and reached out for Sofia’s hand.

Lance’s fangs began to slip out, along with a growl.

The music stopped and everyone turned to the vampire as he held out his arm. Lance spotted the panic in Sofia’s eyes and felt his whole body stiffen.

Sofia stared at the hand being offered to her and didn’t move.

“Oh shit,” Lance said.

Then, as if Stefano knew he was being watched, he raised his voice and said, “Come, Sofia, join me in sharing our good news to all our friends.”

SOFIA’S EYES DARTED around the table looking for someone to save her, even as she knew there was no one. Her mother was grinning like a Cheshire cat while her father glared at her. She looked back at Stefano’s outstretched hand knowing she had no choice, and the longer she waited, the more she was putting herself at risk.

Sofia lifted the napkin from her lap and placed it on her plate. Then she stood up and ran her hands down her dress. No way was she taking his hand.

Stefano took her shoulders and guided her to stand beside him. With an arm around her lower back, he tugged her closer. She looked up at him in question, even though she knew what he was doing. He gazed down at her as if she was the love of his life.

She wanted to vomit.

Sofia turned her head to look out into the night and wondered if Lance could see them. She blinked back a tear and knew their audience would just think she was an emotional female. She sent out a prayer, hoping he wouldn’t burst in and do anything stupid—like get himself killed.

She knew he was a badass vampire, but she’d seen all the weapons around them as they’d walked through the house. Had the Moretti team seen them too?

There were men with machine guns and swords hiding in the shadows inside that she doubted they could see from outside. And it wasn’t like she could say anything so they could pick it up on the mic. Hey, that’s a really nice machine gun. Does it come in navy?

“Ladies and gentlemen. And vampires,” Stefano said with what could only be described as a tyrant’s smile. “God, it’s great to be able to say that openly.”

“Hear, hear!” someone cheered, lifting a glass of scotch.

“All of you have met Sofia, either this evening or when she headed up our last project. She was fundamental in handicapping the royal family while we grew in power.”

Sofia cringed. She hadn’t seen it like that. Her father had told her it was an important step in balancing out the dominant power which the Morettis held over the vampire race. That they were nothing better than dictators.

“They may have kidnapped her, tortured her, and held her prisoner, but Sofia is now back where she belongs.”

Without thinking, she turned to him and protested, “They didn’t—”

His lips suddenly clamped down on hers, and her hand flew to his chest to push him away. Stefano grabbed her hand and gripped it, holding it to his pec.

“And where she’ll stay,” he stated as he glared down at her before he turned back to the table. “Sofia and I are formally announcing we are mates to you all tonight.”

Her father leaped to his feet. “Fabulous news.” He lifted his glass into the air.

“Congratulations,” Luca said, raising his own glass, as did Marco, but she noticed neither of them looked terribly impressed.

Around her, everyone erupted in congratulations, glasses clinked, and her mother cried.

“Your stuff will be moved in tomorrow. You will stay here tonight and make this place your home,” Stefano whispered into her ear.

She glared up at him. “You do not get to—”

“I know you were working with them,” Stefano growled. “You either choose me and return to the rebellion, or I will send sympathy flowers to your parents. You decide.”

Her mouth dropped open. How did he find out?

“And prepare that wet little pussy of yours. I will feast tonight.”

He stepped away as her mother rushed in and threw her arms around her. They both burst into tears for different reasons. “Oh, my darling,” her mother cried.

“ Madre! ” she cried, hoping the males she had pledged her allegiance to would get her out of here.

And fast.