"Out of all the stupid things you could have done."
Gabriel turned from the billiard table and smiled at his irate father. "Welcome home, Dad, what stupid thing have I done now to cause a pain in your fang?"
King Ricardo Passiello's expression reflected his lack of amusement over the comeback. He narrowed his amber gaze. "What do you think you've done?"
It was a good question and the possibilities endless. At a hundred years old, Gabe had spent a good portion of the century challenging his father--especially when it came to the M word. "Something tells me you're not happy about me calling off my marriage to Countess Versonia."
"Good guess." His father spun to the other two men standing around the pool table. "Leave us, but don't go far, you will both be leaving shortly."
Theo and Denaldi exchanged a confused look and glanced at Gabe. He shrugged. "No clue, but I'm up for a road trip."
"No!" His father's loud voice boomed. "You, my charming son, will not be going. Instead, I'm sending these two rats."
Hell! Not sure which is more terrifying ... the fact he called me charming or the fact I'm grounded.
"Leave us!"
The two sharp words sent his two friends to put up their sticks and leave the room without hesitation. The heavy oak doors of the palace games room shut.
So much for fun and games.
He turned to his father, resting his own cue on the table. "You wanted to speak with me?"
Shaking his head with more displeasure, his dad stepped closer to him. "Countess Versonia was your last good match."
"I didn't like her. She's boring."
A brow shot up. "Boring? Who cares if she's boring? She is a countess and a vampire." He placed his hands on his hips. "The matchmakers are at a loss with you. More than one has pulled out their hair, and I don't mean that metaphorically."
Scrunching his nose, he couldn't help but picture the elderly ladies who staked their reputation on marriage, walking around bald. They weren't attractive to begin with.
"I want you to buy something nice and tell Countess Versonia you will marry her and you're sorry."
"Like hell I will." Okay should have thought before I spoke.
His father's face turned a really weird red color. Oh yeah, dad was pissed good this time. "Hell is what I will make your life!" With loud boom of the master vampire's temper the large window shattered.
Gabe glanced to the shattered glass and empty frame then again to his father. "You know, mom really hates it when you do that."
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