Addict (Hunter #2)(67)

The heavenly scent of enchiladas wafted through the condo. I was looking forward to some dinner and then a nice long nap. My office was closed for the evening.

Of course, if my boyfriend had his way, I was closed permanently. I’d been totally right about how Marcus would react. After I’d woken from his version of anesthesia, he’d started the process of taking us back to Italy.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t sure I could go.

The front door opened and Lisa greeted more of her guests. My aunt had planned a big party to welcome me to the family, and she wasn’t letting a little thing like my complete and utter disaster of a job get in the way. Lisa Hernandez Owens was a beautiful brunette with caramel-colored skin and a ready smile. She looked like nothing fazed her. Given her husband’s dangerous profession, that was a good thing.

The king walked through the living room with my uncle trailing after him. Marcus strode behind, looking cool and collected. He’d spent the afternoon on the phone with Lucia. When I left our apartment, he’d been talking to her about flight schedules and pickups. Donovan must have caught up with him and asked him to join the meeting they were planning. Zack walked straight to me, one finger pointing my way. It was a very judgmental, parental finger.

“Give her a break, Zack,” Donovan warned.

Uncle Zack obviously wasn’t in the mood to listen. “Do you want me to poke out my own eyes? I have to review those tapes every day, Kelsey. I get enough of that crap from Zoey and Dev. I do not need it from you.”

“Sorry.” I was suddenly super interested in my beer bottle. It was kind of funny that he was way more pissed at me for inadvertently making a sex tape than he was for almost losing my arm to a demon.

“And you.” Zack turned on Marcus. I saw Donovan’s eyes light up with mirth. “You should know better.”

Marcus’s brows practically knit together. I bet it had been a long time since he had to deal with an angry relative. “How was I to know there were cameras in the lifts?”

“I think they’re talking about kissing.” Rhys nodded sagely to his brother and Courtney.

Lee made his “ick” face. Lee had zero interest in kissing.

“You’ve known Dev for the better part of a decade,” Zack shot back. “You should know how paranoid he is. You should only do things like that in the privacy of your own home. Better yet, you shouldn’t do things like that at all. She’s a very young, na?ve girl.”

“No, I’m not.” I thought about all the times I’d hauled a piece of tail out of some bar. It never worked out well. I decided not to mention that to my suddenly prudish uncle.

Zack’s expensive shoe tapped an impatient rhythm on the hardwood floor. “I’m her oldest male relative. I’m responsible for making sure she doesn’t get taken advantage of. What are your intentions toward my niece?”

“I think he intends to kiss her again.” Rhys was watching avidly. His head swung back and forth between Marcus and Zack.

“Stay out of it, buddy,” Donovan ordered.

“He already kissed her, Rhys,” Lee argued. “Uncle Zack wants to know when he’s going to marry her.”

Rhys shook his head. “I thought he was going to marry Evangeline.”

Donovan’s hand came over his younger son’s mouth. “Don’t mind him. Carry on.”

“Well, Marcus, I would like an answer.” Zack didn’t look like he was going until he got one.

“You know what,” Liv said suddenly, the alcohol making her so much braver than she would normally be. “I’d kind of like an answer to that question, too. I’m her best friend. I have to look out for her. She’s not smart when it comes to men. At least her last boyfriend offered to marry her.”

“Because it was the only way he could drag me to Hell with him.” I was sure my cheeks were flaming red.

“It was good you said no, then.” Lee patted my back.

Liv gave Marcus her most ferocious schoolteacher look. “Vampires have that persuasion thing, you know. Girls can get in serious trouble when they turn on the charm. How do we know he isn’t using it on Kelsey?”

Why was this happening to me? “Seriously, everyone stay out of my love life. I’m sorry Marcus and I…kissed where a camera could see it. It won’t happen again.”

“My intentions toward your niece are entirely honorable,” Marcus said suddenly. “I would be happy to discuss them with you at your earliest opportunity. I intend to take my time, though. Kelsey is wary and needs a while to adjust to a fully functional relationship.”

“You’re serious then?” Zack pinned Marcus with his stare.

“I am,” Marcus assured him. “But you might find Kelsey a bit harder to sell on the idea than you might think.”

“The idea of what?” I was so not following the conversation. I noticed that the king had gotten grim.

“Can we move this along?” Donovan asked. “We have some important matters we need to decide. We can sort out the Nex Apparatus’s love life at a later date. Marcus, if you don’t mind?”

The king patted his son’s back and turned toward the back of the condo where Zack’s large office was located. Marcus bowed slightly to my uncle. “I apologize for any embarrassment my actions might have cost your family. Know I only acted the way I did out of my extreme affection for your niece.”