Sweet Revenge With My Billionaire Vampire

Uncle Evans slammed his hands down on the coffee table in front of him, the sound of his palms connecting with the tabletop causing Uncle Richard and Uncle Alfonso, who were seated on a nearby sofa, to jump slightly.

Standing before them, shifting uneasily, was the man they had hired to get rid of Adeline. His face was pale, his hands trembling violently as he scrambled to come up with an explanation.

"What the hell do you mean you don't have her body?" Evans yelled, pointing a trembling finger at the man. "Didn't we make it clear that we needed to see her body when you were done?"

Richard and Alfonso exchanged uneasy glances. Richard rubbed his hands together nervously, while Alfonso shook his head in quiet disappointment.

The man shifted uncomfortably, his throat bobbing as he swallowed nervously. "I... I pushed her into the river," he stammered. "It was late, and night patrol cops were nearby. There was no way I could've carried her body without being noticed. I had to do it."

Evans slammed his fist down on the small table again, cutting him off. "What kind of bullshit excuse is that?" Do you honestly expect me to believe what you've just said?!"

The man nodded quickly, his hands raised in a defensive gesture. "I swear, it's the truth! It happened at the river down the street, near the old bank. I didn't have a choice. If the cops had caught me, it would be traced back to you."

Richard, who had been silent until now, finally spoke up, placing a hand on his brother's shoulder in an attempt to calm him down. "If he's telling the truth, Evans, then he has a point. If she's really dead, her body will wash up somewhere eventually."

"And what if she isn't?" Evans asked, turning his furious gaze on his brother. "What the hell would Adeline even be doing near a river in the first place?"

The man opened his mouth to respond but quickly shut it, knowing better than to dig himself into a deeper hole.

Evans shook his head, got up, and took a step towards the man. "I'm not paying you even half your money until I see that brat's lifeless body with my own two eyes. Is that understood?"

"Yes, sir," the man muttered, his head bowed in submission.

--------

Adeline paced back and forth in her room. Her brow was furrowed, and her uninjured hand rested on her lower back, the other hanging stiffly at her side in its bandaged state. She stopped suddenly, casting a glance at her left arm and hissing in annoyance.

"This is infuriating. It had to be my favorite thinking arm, didn't it?" She scoffed, shaking her head.

Adeline has always rubbed her left arm absentmindedly whenever she was deep in thought. It had always been her little habit, one she found oddly comforting. But now? The gunshot wound had taken even that from her.

She let out a dramatic sigh. "All the precious things I care about just keep going poof," she grumbled to herself. "What's next? They're gonna aim for my boobs?"

The ridiculous thought made her huff out a humorless laugh, but her irritation suddenly returned. She groaned and, without thinking, slapped her injured arm in a fit of frustration. Pain immediately shot through her, causing her to scream and clutch her arm. "Ahh! Damn it, Adeline!"

Unable to sit still any longer, Adeline stormed to the door. She grabbed the handle, yanking it open with so much force. Before she could even take a step into the hallway, she slammed straight into something solid. The impact knocked her back a step, and she stumbled, ready to snap at whoever was blocking her path.

Her breath caught when she looked up to see Enzo standing there with a sly, mischievous smile tugging at the corners of his lips. Before she knew it, his hands shot out, gripping her by her waist firmly to steady her and then pulling her closer than necessary.

"Careful, princess. You haven't recovered yet, you know."

Adeline's face scrunched up in a mix of annoyance and disgust. "What the hell is that stupid smile for?" she thought irritably. Without hesitation, she smacked his arm with her clenched fist, causing him to release her.

"Get out of my way!" she snapped, glaring up at him. "First your bodyguard, and now you? Do you people have a hobby of blocking my path?"

Enzo chuckled, rubbing his arm as if he was in pain, even though her punch didn't hurt at all. "Feisty," he teased. "Relax, I was just coming to see you."

Adeline huffed, shifting her gaze away from him. "Well, I was coming to see you," she admitted reluctantly. She gestured for him to speak first. "So, what do you want?"

Enzo leaned in, bending slightly so his face was mere inches from hers. "I want to take you shopping. Get you some clothes. And whatever it is girls like you like, since you'll be staying here for a while."

Adeline blinked in surprise, her eyelids closing briefly before widening again as she instinctively backed her head away, creating more gap between their faces. She reached up and poked two fingers against his forehead, gently pushing his face further away from hers. "Fine. I guess I do need clothes."

Enzo straightened up and smiled, pleased that she agreed so fast, and gestured down the hallway. "Very well, then. Shall we?"

Adeline shook her head. "You expect me to go out like this?" she asked, gesturing to her clothes. "I'm going to need to change first."

"Do you think I have women's clothes just lying around?" He asked with a raised eyebrow, staring at her as if she'd just said something stupid. "What you're wearing right now is mine."

Adeline furrowed her brow, her lips turning down in a disapproving frown as she looked up at Enzo. "Why the hell am I wearing your clothes?"

Enzo simply shrugged. "It was the only thing available at the time. Would you have preferred to wake up naked?"