Charlotte placed her spoon down while Sebastian stepped out of the dining room for a moment. The staff had an unspoken loyalty and submission to Vincent although there seemed to be a disconnect between the relationship between him and the rest of whose upkeep resides in the mansion.
She dropped her hands into her lap to fiddle underneath the table to try and hide her restlessness. "Why do they call you master?"
"Most of the staff here had served my mother before me. It is a way of distinguishing respect and loyalty."
"I see. You didn't explicitly make them do so right?"
Vincent rolled his eyes. "Who do you think I am?"
Charlotte shrugged. He had the overbearing aspect going for him. "The place doesn't really feel lived in."
"You're correct. I don't reside here. I live in an apartment two rings out of the Centennial Center."
That would make sense since he was a big-shot businessman. The mansion didn't feel homey at all, no matter how gorgeous it was. "Why did you bring me here then?"
"This place is completely guarded and has all of the necessities needed. Calling a doctor in the city would leave traces rather than coming here."
"I see. I'm sure that the vigilantes know your residence?"
"Not yet. They will likely find it soon if they dig hard enough. I have many buildings under different names."
Charlotte crossed her arms. "I sometimes forget how rich you are."
Vincent smirked. "Luckily, I am not one to be flashy. As if I have time to spend it anyways. I do tend to dabble in humanitarian projects."
"Such as?"
"Donating and whatnot, especially for reforms."
"You're a shining knight in disguise," Charlotte said softly.
"I hope so."
"Why do you say that?"
Vincent grimaced. "My hands have been dirty since day one."
"Everyone has their reasons..."
She changed the topic to a pressing matter that she couldn't escape for long. Charlotte had completely forgotten to think about what it would be like to be in her parent's shoes, as she had just disappeared into thin air. They would likely be putting in missing reports for her with law enforcement also tracing them.
"My parents..." Charlotte drifted off. "I understand that it would be better to rest here, but I need to update my parents. They must be afraid."
"I'm sorry, but there was nothing I could do in that department but station protection around them."
Charlotte sighed. "I know, but I need to get back quick... my job as well... You do know that I likely going to be fired from my job for not calling in for how many days now?"
"I already took care of that. I sent a letter in your name depicting a six-month sabbatical due to family reasons."
Charlotte frowned. "I appreciate it, but I still need to go back."
"You are a target Charlotte. I can't leave any open endings."
"Can't you station people around me as you did for my parents?"
"It is not that simple if I have to personally tail you every day which I don't have the time to do so despite wanting to keep you safe. Vigilantes already know that you have ties with me. If they get you, they will torture you before killing you. It is either to keep you with me or for me to be with you."
"I'm not playing any games," Charlotte said firmly. "I want to go back. You said I would. I do understand the severity of the situation, but have you ever thought of a plan? Why have we all been going in circles?"
Vincent sat down his utensils on his plate with a harsh click. "I have been working behind the scenes and don't need to report to you, darling. I had a phone call with a vampire council member, Stone to figure out the mess. I am sending him the material I found from scouting a couple of days ago."
"Vampire counsel?"
"It's a hierarchy of leading officials among vampires. The older the vampire is, they are guaranteed more respect and can apply to the process of becoming a council member if one were to step down."
"I thought that you were in the cavalier?"
"Cavalier is a branch stem similar to how humans have police. I am here to stop vampires from breaking our laws."
"I understand... do the counsel know about the worsening situation of the vigilantes?"
"They do, however, I haven't gotten any feedback to take action. I will soon if I don't get a response."
"What happens if you do it now?"
"I will get punished."
Charlotte didn't want to push the cryptic answer, and she wove her fingers together before her before she whispered, "It needs to be soon."
"Don't rush me."
She flinched. "You can't sit and wait around any longer."
His golden eyes flashed, and Charlotte bit down on her lips anxiously when the chill returned to the air. "I am already impatient with how the events are turning out."
She frowned in response to his terse words. "I understand that I am a liability to you. If you don't want me around just send me back, please."
Vincent blinked slowly at her. "I made a promise to you. Do you know what that means?"
Why was he threatening her? Charlotte wanted to throw her hands in the air in frustration. If promises were so important to vampires, she didn't know why he made one with her. They kept on going around in circles with their push-and-pull relationship. "Why don't you just break it?"
She immediately found the error of words when Vincent went over to her at amazing speed, and she flew out of her seat with the chair crashing to the ground when he pushed her to the nearby wall. She slammed into the wooden boards with an oomph, her breath forcefully leaving her lungs, as his pelvis pressed into the seam of her legs.
Charlotte blinked slowly at him while her chest was rising and falling rapidly, her breasts threatening to spill out of her dress. He grabbed her wrists and pressed them above her head painfully tight while she struggled. Charlotte's chest seized when she met the golden rim of his eyes. She knew that she was provoking him, but it was the harsh reality that the man was dangerous to her.
He ran his lips down the side of her neck, and Charlotte whimpered, as his knee pressed sharply into the valley of her thighs. Vincent bit her on the side of her neck, his canines scratching her tender skin making her cry out in pain. The cold douse of his reaction to her made her back down, and she dug her nails into his wrist, leaving bright red moon crescents. "Let go of me."
Vincent squeezed her hands harder, and she bucked off the wall in resistance. "NOW!"
Vincent pulled back which gave Charlotte a tiny opening to duck underneath his arm to escape. He twisted to reach for her hand, but she yanked it out of reach, clutching her bruised wrist that was starting to swell to her chest. Her eyes were wide with shock and a twinge of fear. It wasn't visceral as she once felt around him when they first met, but an utterly dark feeling settled in her gut.
He blew out a breath. "I apologize. I'm on edge from Stone's phone call."
Charlotte bit her lips, trying to push back the unshed tears that were about to fall. She didn't answer his apology, only shaking her head adamantly. She wasn't going to say it was alright. The situation was dire and not fun and games. It was just that it made her realize that she still needed to be on guard around him.
Sebastian took his time to walk back in, immediately picking up on the atmosphere. He lowered the phone and placed it into his pocket.
"Kat will be here in ten."
Vincent spun back around and shoved his hands in his pocket. "Escort Charlotte to her room."
Charlotte didn't need to be asked twice to leave, and she strode out of the hall without another word.