CHAPTER XLVIII

Two days into the week and drama unfolds in the club as Rachael and Elena have nothing to agree on.

And when they train, Elena secretly enjoys it every time she knocks Rachael against the floor.

Rachael always gets up with new morale to attack while Elena enjoys her failed attempts.

Rachael grunts after another failed attempt to overpower Elena.

"Not bad, but at the pace you are growing you are going to be dead by the weekend," Elena says.

"I wonder why your mother didn't bring you to the family a long time ago," she says.

Rachael glances at her; "She had her reasons and that is none of your business," Rachael says.

"No need to fight. You look terrible by the way.

I still don't get you.

Why do you fuck with vampires?

No interesting human in your life?" Elena questions.

Rachael drinks from a bottle and exhales.

"We only train, we don't talk" Rachael says, putting up boundaries between them.

But Elena doesn't care.

"Who was the first to tap that ass?" Elena pushes on.

"We know who tapped your ass so don't even go there," Rachael is furious.

Elena laughs, "What? Samuel? Because I wore his sheets doesn't mean we fucked,".

Rachael eyes her cousin, "Yeah, right".

"I don't know why you are mad. You two aren't dating, are you?" Elena asks.

"No, we are not" "Well, then you are missing.

The sex was fantastic.

I'm thinking of going after Gabriel, I hope he is more of a stallion than his brother" Elena vexes Rachael with every word.

"I don't know, are you a hunter or a whore?" Rachael tries to annoy Elena.

Elena laughs at her cousin's question.

"Maybe both, cousin.

Anyway, let me give you a little heads up.

The family is coming in today, be prepared" Elena says as she begins to exit the basement.

The Tremblays are coming here?

Why?

Rachael walks out of the elevator and into the living room.

Music plays in the background and she sees Samuel and Elma dancing the salsa dance.

She sees Gabriel sitting on a couch as he reads a book.

"Come join us, Rachael" Elma invites her as she separates herself from her dance partner.

"No, thank you. I am exhausted.

Besides, I'm not a good dancer".

"I object," Gabriel immediately says.

"From experience, I can say with confidence that you are a bloody good dancer," Gabriel says.

Elma and Samuel share a glance and turn their attention to the other two.

"Seems to me like there is another side of Rachael the rest of us hasn't seen," Elma says as she plays with her blonde hair.

Gabriel and Rachael catch each other's gaze.

"I'm sure there is a whole lot about her we don't know," Gabriel says with a mischievous smile.

"Ah, yes. I bet there is," Samuel says.

He does little to hide the jealousy in his voice.

Rachael's eyes move to Samuel as he walks to the bar.

"I will go and freshen up," she says and leaves them.

Elma's vampire hearing picks up mumbling from Samuel at the bar.

The sassy vampire joins the sphinx at the bar.

"It looks like you are losing, love.

Don't worry, I will always be here for you" she says to him.

"Is that supposed to comfort me?

You are terrible at it.

And what is it that I am losing?".

He tries to stay calm as he pulls out his cell and keeps his fingers busy.

"The girl. I thought you always got the girls, Sammy" Elma says.

Samuel growls at the vampire and glares at her.

"You take your life for granted, Elma" he says.

"Come on, brother. You can't get them all.

You don't have to take it out on Elma," Gabriel says with his eyes focused on the book in his hand.

Samuel stands up from the counter.

"It's not a game, shithead. Stop screwing around,".

"I'm not the one screwing the enemy," Gabriel says.

Samuel is furious about this.

"Wow. You still got it, Sammy" Elma says.

"Be careful brother," Samuel warns Gabriel.

"Is that a threat?" Gabriel's eyes shine for a second.

Samuel scoffs; "Don't be full of yourself, Gabe.

You cannot beat me,".

"I beg to differ," Gabriel says as he raises his head from the book and turns his attention to Samuel.

The elevator door opens and John enters the room, interrupting and breaking the tension in the room.

"Hey, the Tremblays are on their way. We need to get ready" John says.

"You have terrible timing," Elma says.

"What?".

"You just interrupted Ali and Foreman here," she says.

"Shut up, Elma" Gabriel says and returns his attention to the book.

"We are going to meet at the arms dealer's place.

He stays here in Roosevelt" John says.

"Here, in Roosevelt? How come we haven't met this dealer?" Gabriel asks.

"He is experienced, I bet he can hide well.

But he doesn't know you guys," John replies.

"Isn't that sloppy of him?

Everyone who is in on this supernatural gig knows you in Roosevelt, "Elma says.

"What is his name?" Gabriel asks, "Gerard, Steven Gerard" John answers.

"Like the English player?" Samuel asks, "Yeah, in name only" John says.

"Come on, let's get prepared" he says.

"I will get Rachael," Gabriel says and leaves the sitting room.

Samuel scoffs as his brother walks into the corridor.

"I will get Rachael, he says" Samuel mocks him.

"Don't be petty, Sammy" Elma runs her hand through her long hair.

"Why do I have a feeling something weird is going on?" John says.

"Can't you see the love triangle in the building?" Elma says.

John had his suspicions but he remained ignorant.

Recently, the twins' behavior around Rachael has become strange to him.

"Not happening. Rachael isn't one of your trophies," John says.

Samuel can hear the anger in his voice.

He glares at the vampire like an insect.

"She isn't a trophy, John" he pats John on the shoulder as he restrains himself from attacking the vampire.

"Don't none of you dare hurt her,"

Samuel understands why John wants to protect Rachael from them but he hates the vampire's tone.

Gabriel enters his room and grabs a jacket before he walks towards Rachael's room.

He opens the door and enters.

He can hear the shower go on in the bathroom and perceive Rachael's scent.

He waits a few minutes so she can finish.

He walks around the room smiling to himself as he eyes her bed.

He doesn't notice when the shower goes off or when she enters the room.

She pauses as she sees him walking to one side of the bed.

He raises his head and their eyes meet.

He holds her gaze and makes his way to her side of the room.

They stand in front of each other.

Anxiety runs through Rachael like knife through butter.

The longer they stare the shorter the distance between them becomes.

She feels his breath against her face as he places a hand on her jaw.

Her beautiful lips captivates the immortal and he rubs his thumb softly against it.

Racheal wants him to touch her, she wants his arms around her but she can't express the words.

He meticulously traces her ear with a finger.

Her eyelids flicker as the feeling sends a surge of euphoria to her brain.

She catches his hand and bites her lip and she watches Gabriel cover the distance between their lips.