CHAPTER FORTY

B rianna sat as still as a statue, her eyes flicking from Kate to Willow and back to the man called Stefano. She knew who he was. She’d heard them talk over meals, and Craig had shared a bit of the history.

Out of all of them, Kate looked the bravest. Furious, in fact. Willow looked scared, and she knew she had terror written all over her face.

A bomb.

Lots of bombs.

Stefano had said the restaurant was filled with them and could activate them with his cell phone. All he wanted was the return of his brothers.

“They’re in the United States,” Kate had replied. “You know the king cannot return them to you quickly.”

He had simply shrugged and smirked.

“Let my friend leave,” Willow suddenly said. “She’s human. She has nothing to do with this.”

Stefano let out a loud laugh.

Brianna shook her head. “No, I’m not leaving you.”

Brave words for someone who wanted to run out the door screaming, but she was not leaving the two women in a room with this crazy man. Vampire or not, she wasn’t leaving them.

“Let us go and I will ensure your brothers are returned,” the queen said.

The vampire waved to a server, who was unaware the restaurant could blow up at any moment and ordered another bottle of wine.

“Let us toast. To the princess’s coronation. I’m sorry I missed the affair, but I hear it was abruptly interrupted by some bad news.”

Willow sneered at him.

“Spain, was it? Such a shame. Pretty castle, that one.”

“Over a hundred people died, you piece of shit,” Willow exclaimed, clamping her mouth shut when the large vampire leaned across the table and hissed at her.

“Already a Moretti, are we?” He sat back and shook his head. “You would do well to remember I have the trigger in my hand. You’re simply a pawn, princess . Keep your fucking mouth shut or I will port out of here and spit on your ashes.”

Kate looked at Bri, then slowly turned to Willow. Fear crept through Brianna’s veins as she watched the two vampire females go quiet.

God, how she wished Craig were here. His strong, handsome face and tall, overpowering body. The man sitting beside her might be large in his own way, but she had a feeling Craig would crush him with his hands if he knew they were in danger.

It was funny how she’d been so consumed with worry about leaving him and losing her memories, it had never occurred to her that she might die in a bomb blast.

A tear formed in her eye.

She’d let him just walk away into the bathroom, barely saying goodbye to him tonight. The good thing about death was that you weren’t alive to live with regrets, but right now, she was flooded with them.

He’d asked her to give herself to him, and she hadn’t been able to. Now? She mentally shook her head. Now wasn’t the time to work out her feelings for him. Yet, she wanted more than anything to be back in his arms, feeling safe and protected.

God, she wished he were here. Why hadn’t she stayed home?

And she didn’t mean Los Angeles.