Eleven

LAYTON WAS HAVING a difficult time reconciling that Gia’s mother was also the woman who gave him and Astrid the choice of eternity or death. He loathed Ingrid. He was dumb to the fact that vampires even existed when he boarded the Titanic and she ripped the blinders off, changing his life forever. The responsibility lay in his hands that fateful night, but it didn’t change the fact he hated himself for deciding to become what he was. Now he found himself connected to her in another way, through Gia. The situation was dangerous in the fact that she was part of an elite race that hunted vampires and destroyed them.

“I don’t believe you.” Gia’s eyes held unshed tears. “There’s no way my mother was a vampire.” She contested.

“I understand your doubt.”

“No, you don’t. You understand nothing.” She ran from the room. He didn’t know how to get her to see the truth, but it was necessary that she see it. Gia was caught in a feud between her kind and his. Layton wanted to send her away, breaking all contact between them but deep down, he knew that would never be possible. Their spirits connected, not only physically, but emotionally. If what he felt for her could be love, then he would give it that title. There wasn’t any other explanation for it.

When he went to find her, Layton tamped down his disgust in her kind. It wasn’t her fault that she was a Dahmpir, she didn’t ask to be one. It was thrust upon her with zero consideration. The world tried its best to keep vampires and humans from mating but sometimes the relationships slipped through the cracks. Things were kept hidden, and no one was the wiser.

 “I would never hurt you,” he heard a weak voice as he stood in the living room. When he glanced to the sofa, he spotted Gia curled up with her face toward the back of the couch.

 “I never thought you would.” Walking over, he took a seat down by her feet.

“I’m so confused,” she said as she sniffed and wiped her hand across her nose.

“I’m sorry to be the one to reveal this to you, Gia. I didn’t do it to hurt you. My priority is to keep you safe.”

 “From what?” She rolled to her back, placing her feet in his lap.

“There are those who will want to harm you for being around me. They see it as a carnal sin.”

 “Do you see it like that?”

 “No.” he sighed. “Perhaps we should part ways before we get into this too deep.” Gia stood from her spot and walked in front of him.

Layton sucked in a deep break when she took a seat on his lap, straddling him. “I don’t want to leave you.” Her hands ran through his hair. Layton leaned his head forward to rest on her breasts. Her scent was tempting him more than ever.

“Gia, I don’t know that…”

“No, I’m not leaving.” She lifted his head, peering into his eyes with her soulful ones.

“You would risk your life to be with me?” she nodded.

 “Why?”

 “I can’t explain it.” Her hips moved over his lap. “I’m myself when I’m with you. Even though you’re an asshole, I can’t seem to stay away from you.” Her eyes closed as she rode his lap, turning him on. Layton couldn’t let lust distract him so he grabbed her hips and gave her a soft push. When she got the hint, she stood and pinned him with a disgusted expression. “Isn’t this what your contract is about? That until we find Zach, I’m supposed to be your human fuck doll?” Venom spewed from her words.

“Don’t say shit you cannot take back. This situation is more serious than you know.”

“Fuck this,” Gia stomped through the house, grabbing her purse on the way to the front door. “I don’t need your help anymore.”

Layton followed behind, “You’re not safe out there.”

 “I’m not safe in here either.” She took a step across the threshold. “Don’t come around me and don’t contact me.” He could see tears streaking down her face. Even when he was human, Layton didn’t have a clue how to handle a woman when she was emotional. Mostly, he backed away and hoped they would handle it on their own. Gia needed space and even though he didn’t want to give it to her, he had no other choice. The discovery about her lineage was a blow, and he understood why she would be upset.

***

As she walked away from Layton’s house, Gia wiped the tears off her face. He’d rejected her and it stung to her core. It was all fine and dandy before when he didn’t know she was a vamp hunter. But when he figured it out, he pushed her away like it was the easiest thing in the world for him. He assumed that because she was Dahmpir, she would stab him in the heart one day. Gia wasn’t like that though. She couldn’t see herself betraying Layton. He’d dug his way into her so deep already that she couldn’t see where she ended and he began.

“Hey, human,” Gia heard a female voice say as she walked down the sidewalk, away from Layton’s club. When she turned to see who it was, Astrid stood there in a red leather corset, thigh high stockings and a pair of matching panties.

“I hope you realize you look like a hooker,” Gia spat.

“That was the exact look I was going for. Thank you for noticing.”

“What do you want?”

“I want to know why you are so damn special. My brother hasn’t given a second look to any human in over a hundred years, why you?”

“I can’t answer that. Maybe you should ask him.”

 “Maybe you’re just a good lay,” Astrid laughed.

“You know what, fuck you,” Gia approached the female vamp.

“Oooh, kitty has claws.”

Gia reached her boiling point. As she moved closer to Astrid, she used all of her body weight to shove the bitch to the ground. Normally her human strength wouldn’t do much beyond pissing a vampire off but she caught the other woman off guard. It was unfortunate for her that vamps moved with lightning speed, however. In a blink, she was to her feet.

“I’ll fucking kill you!” Astrid slammed into Gia’s body full force, knocking the breath from her lungs and causing extreme pain in her ribcage. As Gia lay on her back atop the warm concrete, her eyes fluttered as consciousness faded. She was used to getting hurt and healing quick but this time, something was wrong. The pain never subsided, it only intensified as tears dripped from the corners of her eyes, and into her hair.

“Gia,” she heard Layton’s voice. “Astrid, what the fuck did you do?”

“Nothing that she didn’t deserve.”

 “Gia, look at me,” Layton tilted her head toward him.

“Can’t breathe,” Gia whispered.

“Why aren’t you healing?” he looked her over.

“Why would she heal? She’s not one of us,” Astrid stood to the side with her arms crossed over her chest.

“She’s a Dahmpir.”

 “Are you kidding me? We need to get rid of her.” Astrid grabbed one of Gia’s arms and pulled her from the ground. The blackness pulled Gia under as her body was lifted by Layton. She could feel his cool temperature against her cheek as she rested it on his hard chest. Shutting her eyes, Gia let it take her under.

 Just before she succumbed completely, she could have sworn she heard Layton say “I love you.”

***

“Why isn’t she healing?” Layton asked Dr. Gorman. The other man was a vampire as well and knew about the history of the Dahmpir. Taking Gia to the hospital wasn’t an option. Had they found out that she got injured by Layton’s kind, they would have faced punishment.

“They aren’t like you and I. Yes, she can heal when small injuries occur. But this isn’t something trivial,” Dr. Gorman said.

“What can I do for her?” Layton stood by Gia’s bedside, looking down at the woman who taught him how to love again.

“It will take a few days to get her up and going again. Just let her rest.”

 “I guess I need to figure out what to do with my sister.” Layton still couldn’t believe what he’d walked up on with Gia and Astrid. It was the first time since being turned that he felt unequivocal fear riddle him.

“Well, I’ll leave you to it. Call me if you need anything else.”

“Thanks, doc.” Layton showed the other man out, then went back to Gia’s side. Dawn was coming soon, but he didn’t want to leave her alone. What if she needed something?

“I’ll be fine,” Gia croaked.

“You’re awake,” Layton took a seat on the edge of the bed and reached up to brush a few strands of hair from her face.

“Yeah, and you need to get to the basement.”

 “I don’t think you’re in any shape to be ordering me around,” he chuckled.

“Probably not. But I’d rather not witness you turning into a piece of toast when the sun comes through that window.

” Layton nodded. “I’m sorry that my sister got out of line.”

 “It was my fault. I antagonized her and I shouldn’t have.” Gia admitted.

“I hate to ask this, but are you planning on turning her in?”

 “Of course not. I don’t want any trouble.” She gave him a half smile and wrapped her hand around his.

“Thank you,” he said, then leaned down to place a light kiss on her lips. “If you need anything, anything at all, please come to the basement and wake me.”

 “Okay.”

 With each footfall toward his resting place, Layton became racked with guilt. If he had just let her go on her merry way, in the beginning, Gia would’ve been safe. He placed the blame on his own shoulders and it was becoming heavy. How was he supposed to keep her safe when his sister was a loose cannon and with the revelation of Gia being a Dahmpir?