Alessia's breath caught in her throat as her eyes widened. She held her bag tighter with hands that were shaking more visibly and seemed to want to melt into her seat. "H–how… how did you…?"
"I told you… I just do." Dervan cut in flatly. "Though, I was able to stop the worst that night thanks to the tattling of a little bird..."
Alessia let her eyes drift close for a moment, then they flickered open again and faced the man in front of her with determination. "What… exactly do you want from me?"
Information... it had to be information.
She tried to look confident, but Dervan could smell fear.
There was something like a mischievous glint in his eyes before he relaxed back into his seat. "I already told you what I wanted." He stated smoothly, without a change in his smug expression. "And the only way you can do that is by being my wife."
Alessia froze.
Wife…? He wanted her to be his Wife?!
Alessia scoffed. "You're saying this even when you know I'm the one who tried to kill your friend?"
"Of course."
She shot him an icy glare. "You want a murderer to act as your wife? What kind of person do you think I am? I'm not a fool who would fall for such an obvious trap!"
What exactly did this man take her for?!
"Do you really think my deal is a trap?" Dervan asked after a long moment of silence.
Alessia watched him carefully as he reached his hand toward the car monitor and swiped at it with two fingers, revealing a video footage that had apparently been taken just seconds ago.
Alessia's mouth instantly went dry when she saw the recording. She reeled forward, a hand over her mouth as sweat covered her whole body.
It was her! The information she had just spilled, he had gotten it on video, all of it!
Now there was evidence with him that she was behind Evie's assassination attempt.
Now she was more than convinced that he had definitely planned all of this from the very beginning! And she had stupidly exposed herself.
"Now," Dervan voiced, holding up a business card. "Shall we negotiate?"
Alessia bit the inside of her bottom lip hard enough to draw blood. Her head remained lowered for a few more seconds before she lifted it to meet Dervan's unwavering eyes.
Dervan met her gaze squarely, his eyes then glancing at the bruise on her cheek again briefly.
He narrowed his eyes slightly. 'Shall I give her a little scare?'
Just as Alessia was about to open her mouth to speak, Dervan's hand reached out and took a firm hold of her chin, tilting it slightly upward.
Alessia jerked in surprise but she couldn't pull away. His grip was too strong.
"How did you get this?" He asked calmly, tracing a thumb against her lower lip, slightly revealing the bruise inside for a brief moment.
An unfamiliar shiver ran down her spine at the gesture and she spasmed. Without thinking, she smacked his hand aside and rubbed her chin gently as she glared at him.
"Have you lost your mind?!"
Dervan glimpsed at his slightly bloodied thumb, then took out a handkerchief from his back pocket and wiped it clean, revealing a small wound.
'That should do…' He thought before facing her. "You didn't answer my question."
Alessia's brows furrowed unpleasantly. "It's not your business. Just tell me exactly what it is that you want from me so I can leave."
...
A few minutes after their 'negotiation', Dervan watched as Alessia bolted up the stairs to her studio apartment, slamming the door loudly behind her when she entered.
He leaned back on his chair and sighed. 'Looks like I've gotten myself into something interesting…'
He took out his phone and stared at a message that was sent to him a little more than an hour ago.
A life for a life
You owe me.
The girl working at the café, she was part of the assassination team.
Take her in… Please… by any means necessary.
She'll be useful to you…
Dervan scoffed. "Useful…? I'm not sure but hopefully she likes my present."
...
The moment Alessia shut the door behind her, her knees buckled and she slid down to the floor
Kiera rushed over when she saw her. "Alessia! What's wrong? Did something happen?"
Alessia forced a trembling smile. "I… I don't think I'll be going back to that café again…"
Kiera sucked in a breath. "Vince came after you with his goons again, didn't he?"
Alessia wanted to shake her head, but she changed her mind and nodded. She wanted to tell someone what she saw so badly. But not even her closest friend would believe her if she said she saw a vampire…
It sounded too ridiculous.
Kiera pulled her into a gentle hug. "Did you… did you manage to escape alright?"
"Yes, I–" Alessia paused, wondering if it was okay to tell her or not. "Someone helped me."
"Someone helped you?" Kiera asked, curious as she held her at arms length. "Who?"
Alessia pursed her lips for a moment. "Dervan Salviati."
Kiera blinked once, then her eyes circled. "The Dervan Salviati?"
Alessia nodded again.
"But… but that doesn't make any sense!" She spat. "What in the hell was he doing in a regular neighbourhood like that?!"
"I don't know either, but Kiera," Alessia started, grabbing onto her friend's arm tightly. Her eyes were wide, unblinking. "He knows…"
"He knows?" He knows what?" Kiera asked, confused.
"He knows that I tried to kill Evie!" Alessia yelled, tears streaming down her face. "He probably tried to feel me out at first since he wasn't sure, but I panicked and I… and I spilled everything!"
Kiera froze, dumbfounded. It took a while before she opened her mouth to speak again. Her tongue felt like lead in her mouth. "C–calm down, Alessia. Calm down." She spoke softly. "Did something else happen?"
Alessia answered, her voice trembling. "He got everything on video… my whole confession…"
Kiera swallowed the urge to curse. At a point, even she began to tremble slightly as she patted Alessia's hair gently.
"Did he tell you anything after that?" She whispered.
Alessia sniffled. "He said I should... I should… come work for him…" She laughed humorlessly. "Gosh… it sounds even more ridiculous saying it out loud."
"What?!" Kiera screeched as she pushed her back by the shoulder. "That's way too suspicious! You can't possibly believe him!"
"I know but do I have a choice?" Alessia asked her. "He has evidence of my crime and if worse comes to worse, he'll involve the whole group, including you!"
"Alessia…" Kiera called softly.
"I don't want that." Alessia whispered. "You're the only family I have."