Out of the Dark (Forbidden Love) by DANIELLE JAMES Read Free Book Online Page A

Brea would like it as well.
         He was deliberately late for dinner.  He had guests earlier, but he could have made it on time.  No, he wanted to make an entrance.  For Brea.  He had to do anything and everything to get and keep her attention.  After deciding that he had piddled enough, Angel stepped into the dining hall.
     
         Everyone stood behind their chairs, as was customary, waiting for Angel to take his seat at the head of the long table.  He walked with confidence and pride, ignoring the odd looks from his family.  He knew they were wondering about the cologne.  He usually didn’t wear any.  He knew they were wondering about his dress, but Angel couldn’t care.  No one said anything about it. 
         He stopped in front of Brea.  God, she was beautiful.  Her red locks were trailing down her back once more, set off nicely by the white blouse she chose to wear.  She was wearing a tan skirt and tan heels.  She looked very business - like.  “Good evening, Ma Cher ,” he said, kissing her hand.  “I trust your day has been well?”
         “Yes, very nice, thank you.  Did you sleep well today?”
         She was even speaking like a business partner!  Angel knew he had to put a stop to this business stuff before it got out of hand.  “My dreams were full of visions of your beauty.”  That did it.  Her cheeks warmed to the color of roses.  Perfect.  “Everyone, please, sit.  Let’s eat.”
         Freida and Ricco sat plates in front of everyone, rare steak for the vampires, and medium well steak and steamed vegetables for the three humans present.  “How did you know how I like my steak?” Brea asked Freida. 
         “Angel does his homework,” she smiled.  Brea took a bite.  It was delicious.  Wine was served with the meal, it was good, but strong.  Each of the vampires had an additional glass full of deep red liquid.  Blood, Brea presumed, but did not ask.  Just the thought made her shudder.
         “Are you cold?” Angel asked.
         “No, I’m fine.  So, you guys all play together, live together, and work together.  Do you ever get tired of each other’s company?”
         “Are you kidding?  I love these guys!” Antonio laughed.
         “Love to irritate us,” Rebel shot back.  “Antonio likes to play practical jokes, so watch out.  If it seems fishy, he is probably behind it.”
         “Yeah,” Gage added, “and Jacque probably helped him.”
         “You have no room to talk!  Remember what you did to Angel in San Hose?”
         “That was nothing!  Just reminding him where he came from.”
         “Gage!  You buried him!” Antonio laughed.  He had a good laugh.  Rich and contagious.
         “You buried him?” Brea asked, now genuinely interested.
         “He was being a jerk.  So while he was sleeping in one evening, I dug a hole in the back.  Just before eight, I tossed him out the window and into the hole.  Then I filled it in.  Took him half the night to work himself free.”
         “Everyone needs to be humbled every now and again,” Rebel agreed.
     
         “I did not think it was very funny,” Angel said with narrow eyes.  “But by the time I was free, Gage was gone.  He took off for the rest of the night, and I didn’t see him until the next night.  By then, I had gotten over it.”
         “Just be happy Antonio didn’t plant one of his bombs,” Sebastian said.
         “Bombs?” Brea gasped.
         “Antonio is also an explosives expert.  I think he must have been a firebug in his former life.  Everyone here has a specialty.  Gage is communications, Rebel is our weapons specialist.  You’ll get the idea,” Angel explained.
         “Tell us about you,” Antonio suggested.  He blew a stray lock of hair out of his eyes, showing the intense brown iris underneath.  It was a shame he kept his hair in his face.  He was quite