Reapers -- The First Familiar (Reapers Chronicles Book II)

21 - Anger Issues

His eyes were steely, his jaws clenching one after the other. “We’ll just forget all about Vlad and Rosario and the others? And then, what? We’d live happily ever after with these—these Hellions? Just like that?”

I couldn’t answer right away. Actually, that possibility had touched my mind once or twice. It was selfish of me. And there was this matter about Rosario. Until now, I couldn’t wrap my head around how Vincent was going to accept her death.

“And then… we’ll convince Mr. S to let them crossover here.” My voice was small, sounding indecisive.

“Damn, Aramis! He may not look it, but he’s still Satan. If you still haven’t realized it yet, he’s a bad guy. Just like my father. They’re both traitors. We can’t trust people like them.” His tone raised a little, though he was trying not to draw attention to ourselves. “What made you think he’ll help us?”

“Because he likes you that much,” I answered, stepping closer to him. I had this feeling that I had a strong point and was near to closing this conversation.

With an incredulous sigh, he furrowed his brows. He grabbed my arm and pulled me closer just as a group of middle-age women passed by. I didn’t try to fight back. It would just make him angrier.

He lowered his head so that we were about face to face. “What the hell are you talking about?” he hissed.

“Well, for starters, he didn’t smolder you to ashes while you were being so rude talking back to him,” I pointed out, trying not to smile. “If that was me, I’m sure I would get barbecued in a flash.”

“That’s total bull.” He scoffed at me, shaking his head.

I gave him my most threatening glare, my brow raising as I looked at him from head to toe. “Yeah, well, he even let you wear his own clothes. And it doesn’t look like someone just forgot it in a toga party.”

“Shut up. I don’t want to hear it, okay?” he mumbled, losing his patience.

“And he especially got Luci—his only daughter—to supervise you,” I carried on, ignoring him.

Vincent’s eyes were like molten steel, his fingers strangling my arm. “I said, give it a rest!”

“Isn’t that rad? Maybe he’ll love it if you become his son-in-law. Then you can be like, the prince of hell.” Sarcasm accidentally leaked out of my voice.

“Shut. Up!” he growled ominously, his face just an inch shy of mine. His glare slowly moved down to my chin. “Or I’ll make you.”

Some time ago, he didn’t scare me much. But now, I thought maybe he did because my heart was pounding so loud, I thought it would jump out of my chest. Plus, I had this feeling that he was about to do something utterly stupid. And I didn’t want to go there.

Wordlessly, I pressed my lips together into a thin line and dropped my stare.

“Bel’s having one of her moods again,” Luci panted as she hurried toward us. “Let’s go. I’ll give you a tour—“

She slowed down after seeing us, suddenly turning speechless.

Still with his eyes fixed on me, Vincent dropped my arm. His shoulders were shaking as if he was trying to restrain himself from destroying something… Or someone. And I knew well who that lucky person would be if ever he lost control. But for now, all he could do was shove his hands in his pockets.

All I ever did was infuriate him. I couldn’t help myself. I couldn’t do my promise after all.

“Am I… interrupting something?” Luci asked, unable to look at us.