Sweet Revenge With My Billionaire Vampire

She nodded and then stood up, moving closer toward Elijah. Extending her hand in his direction, she held it out for a shake. "That’s all. Thank you for your cooperation, Mr. Elijah."

A smirk graced Elijah’s features as he rose from his seat. Instead of a simple shake, he gracefully took her hand in his, encircling it delicately with his fingers. "Of course, beautiful."

Then, lowering his head, he pressed a soft kiss against the back of her hand.

Adeline blinked in surprise before letting out a light chuckle. She hadn’t expected that, but she found his dramatics amusing. As she pulled her hand back, Elijah straightened—only for his smirk to vanish instantly.

"What the fuck!?" he thought as his eyes widened in alarm. His body recoiled, the blood draining from his face as if he had just seen a ghost.

Enzo, who had just been sitting, was now standing directly behind Adeline, towering over her like a shadow. His piercing blue eyes locked onto Elijah with a stare so cold it could freeze hell itself.

Enzo lifted his hand, raising a single finger to his neck. With slow, deliberate movements, he traced an invisible line across his throat—a silent, deadly warning.

Elijah swallowed hard.

Adeline, unaware of what had caused Elijah’s reaction, followed his gaze and turned, only to find Enzo standing right behind her. But when she looked up at him, he was smiling down at her.

She grabbed his arm and gently pivoted him around to face the exit, subtly nudging him along in that direction. "Come on, let’s go."

Enzo went with her, but as they reached the doorway, he glanced over his shoulder. The smirk on his face darkened, transforming into a stern glare as his gaze met Elijah’s. "A word about this to anyone, and you’ll regret it, you white-haired rat."

Elijah, regaining some of his usual smugness, let out a short laugh. He raised a hand, giving them a lazy wave. "I would never."

As they proceeded down the corridor, heading toward the exit, Enzo playfully bumped Adeline’s shoulder to get her attention. "So, what do you need the address for? Don’t tell me you’re planning on going to Vegas."

"Indeed I am," Adeline exclaimed, snapping her fingers excitedly.

Abruptly, he halted, his hand seizing her wrist and spinning her around to face him. His hands then slid up to her shoulders, firmly securing her in place as he locked his eyes onto hers. "You don’t even know if this bastard’s telling the truth. For all we know, he could be sending us on a wild goose chase."

Adeline simply chuckled, patting his chest lightly. "Come on, Enzo," she said, amusement in her tone. "Have a little trust for once. Elijah wouldn’t lie to us—not after all the threats and beatings you gave him."

She took his hands and gently pulled them away from her shoulders before continuing forward. Over her shoulder, she added, "I’m not just bringing my uncles to justice for trying to murder me. I’m also now doing this for my grandmother. And for Miranda."

"What I’m doing now is piling evidence for when the big day finally comes. And when it does, they’ll have no way out."

Enzo stood there, watching her and just then, he felt his heart beat again, just like it had the very first time he laid his eyes on her. Unconsciously, he raised his hand and rested it over his chest, rubbing the area he had felt it.

After a brief moment, he picked up his pace, quickening his steps until he reached her side. He looped his arm through hers, pulling her close as they walked side by side.

Her gaze shifted downward, settling on his arm, and a small frown flickered across her features. Normally, she would’ve shoved him off or knocked his arm away. But this time... she let it slide.

"So," he said, glancing down at her, "why exactly do you want to meet this herbalist? What kind of evidence do you think you’re going to get from him?"

Adeline kept her eyes ahead as she answered. "We didn’t come all the way here just to ask Elijah a few questions about the herbs for no reason."

"Earlier, I asked him if he was the one who paid the herbalist, or if it was my uncle, and he said it wasn’t him. So, it was probably one of my uncles."

Enzo nodded, signaling that he was following.

"But here’s the thing," she continued. "None of my uncles have ever left the city before. Not even once. And I know they’ve never been to Vegas. So there’s no way they could’ve paid in cash."

"That means the money was probably transferred digitally. And if it was, the name of one of my uncles would be on the transaction receipt."

"If we were to maybe end up in court tomorrow, they could just lie and say they never met the herbalist or paid him for anything. But if I can get my hands on those receipts, it’ll be proof. They won’t be able to talk their way out of it."

Enzo exhaled, giving her a skeptical nod as he thought about what she said. "True... but what if they had someone else transfer the money instead? Or what if they sent someone to meet the herbalist and pay him in cash? Then what?"

Adeline pinched her chin, deep in thought. She hated to admit it, but Enzo had a point.

Judging by how her uncle, Alfonso, knew to pay the mechanic who sabotaged her car in cash to leave no trace, who’s to say they didn’t do the same thing here? Maybe they sent someone else to pay the herbalist in cash so there wouldn’t be any ties leading back to them in the future.

Her shoulders slumped, and a frustrated sigh fled her lips. "You’re right," she admitted, nodding slowly. "But still, it wouldn’t hurt to check. And if you don’t want to go, that’s fine. I can go alone."

Enzo stopped in his tracks, which prompted her to come to a stop as well. For a moment, he fixated his gaze on her, and then, suddenly, he burst into laughter.

The sound of his deep, unrestrained laughter echoed down the hallway. He slapped a hand over his face, his shoulder shaking as if what she said had been the funniest thing he’d ever heard.