Total pages in book: 54
Estimated words: 50148 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 251(@200wpm)___ 201(@250wpm)___ 167(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 50148 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 251(@200wpm)___ 201(@250wpm)___ 167(@300wpm)
Titus threw the lifeless corpse onto the cart with the others. He’d always had the vampiric ability to influence or invade anyone’s thoughts. Disgusted by the contents of Vinnie’s mind, he glanced at Marcus and shook his head. “I trust the message will make an impact this time?”
Marcus shrugged. “Doubtful. Perhaps. If word gets out that Alessia is here, that complication will escalate things.’
Titus laughed. “My opinion of Enzo can’t worsen. He hasn’t bothered to search for her until now. I don’t think that will change.”
Marcus nodded in agreement, “True, but Enzo is a prideful jackass. Even if he doesn’t care, he will act to save face.”
Titus cocked his head, considering Marcus’s suggestion. “Agreed. We’ll have to make certain he doesn’t find out.” Titus walked toward the hidden passage. “I need to change my shirt.”
“A shower might be in order as well. I’ll take care of delivering this message tonight.” Marcus said, turning back to the cart and his team, as Titus lingered in the room to hear the instructions. “Stack the bodies into the van and make sure the driver gets to the mansion this time. I don’t want there to be any doubts about where they came from.”
Chapter
Ten
Alessia studied her Daddy’s face as she sat cuddled on his lap on Sunday morning. Titus still hadn’t explained what had happened on Friday night. She’d gotten scared when he’d slammed down the drinks he was making and ran from the bar area after barking, “Stay!” at Alessia and Carina. Another bartender had stepped into his place immediately, seamlessly picking up the drink-making process. Concerned he was ill, Alessia had stood up to follow him when Carina grabbed her arm.
“He’s okay,” Carina assured her. “Just something behind the scenes that he needs to take care of.”
“Tell me what’s going on,” Alessia had demanded.
“I’m not getting my butt spanked,” Carina had blurted, shaking her head vigorously.
Trusting that her friend wouldn’t reassure her if something was truly wrong, Alessia turned her attention to Carina’s intriguing statement. “Your Daddy spanks you?” Having a friend with a Daddy had helped Alessia compare her relationship with Titus to someone else’s. Alessia appreciated that insight tremendously.
“Too often,” Carina had confessed, not looking upset at all. “Sometimes I deserve it.”
The two had been immersed in that titillating conversation when Titus reappeared. She’d smiled at him when he’d dropped a kiss on the top of her head before vaulting over the bar and diving into his entertaining drink concoctions. Titus patted his chest three times as their secret signal.
Distracted by Titus’s reminder that he loved her, she didn’t notice his change of clothing until her Daddy alerted Gio that he had some dirty laundry in the trunk. Titus didn’t answer her questions other than to share that it was handled.
“Are you ever going to tell me what happened on Friday at Nightfall?” she asked as they chatted during breakfast the next morning.
“Nope.”
“Daddy!”
“Everything is fine,” he assured her.
Alessia wrinkled her nose at him, hating that answer but accepting it. Titus never changed his mind. She’d learned that during her time with him. Making up her mind not to fret about minor details, Alessia devoted herself to exploring their relationship.
Since she’d arrived, Titus had cared for her with a degree of kindness and genuine connection that Alessia hadn’t ever experienced. She had no doubt she was number one on his list of priorities and treasured every moment with him.
“Little mate, this bite is perfect. See what you think,” Titus said, lifting the crispy edge of one of his pancakes to her lips. She opened her lips to accept the treat and leaned against his shoulder, savoring it.
“No more, Daddy,” she refused when he offered her another piece. “I’m full.”
“Then this one’s all for me,” he teased and popped the bite into his mouth. “Yum!”
She studied his handsome face, marveling at how lucky she was to live with him. “What should we do today? Maybe go to the zoo or shopping?”
“Is there something you need, Alessia?” he asked as wrinkles appeared on his forehead.
“No. Not really. I thought heading out somewhere would be fun. We always hang out here.” A idea popped into her mind. “Are you ashamed of me? Because I’m related to Enzo?”
“Absolutely not, Little mate. Your relationship to Enzo doesn’t affect who you are. Are you getting stir-crazy? We could take a trip away.”
“Like out of town?”
“Sure. I’d need to be back in town Friday night, but we have several days to explore another city. What sounds fun to you? We could jet off to Chicago? Have some deep-dish pizza?”
“I’m supposed to get together with Carina on Wednesday. She’s going to show me her nursery.”
“Fun. You’ll enjoy that. How about if we drive to the lake? It’s about two hours away. We could rent a hotel room for a couple of nights and have some fun.”