Mark didn’t budge. His fingers tightened on Hector’s wrist just enough to make the man wince and stop pretending. "Are you that naive? Or are you ready to finally sell your own daughter for money?"
Their mother froze. The air at the table turned razor-sharp.
"What did you just say to ?" she hissed, her voice low but full of venom.
Mark didn’t flinch. "You heard ."
Her face twisted with wounded outrage, but it was all performance. "How dare you accuse of sothing so disgusting? I raised you. I sacrificed everything—"
"You sacrificed nothing," Mark cut her off, his voice icy. "You ran off to Bali while Kate was in the ICU. You didn’t even call."
Her wine glass trembled in her grip. "Don’t you dare guilt —"
"I’m not guilting you," he said flatly. "I’m done with you."
Hector, sensing the rising storm, stood and tried to speak. "Okay, I think we’re all being a bit dramatic here. Maybe we need to all sit down, breathe, and—"
Mark’s fist clenched again, knuckles whitening. "Touch her again, and I swear to God, I won’t stop at your wrist."
Hector smiled and sat down. At the sa ti, five of his n walked over behind him. They all had their concealed weapons that were not too concealed.
Mark gritted his teeth. It looked like his mom had landed herself in bigger shit this ti around and was now trying to drag them down along with her just like she always does. If he just killed them both right here and now...
"Hey there!" A cheerful, almost lazy voice cut through the tension like a blade through butter.
Everyone turned.
Damon was standing by the entrance of the private dining room, hands in his pockets, hoodie slung low, and a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. He strolled forward casually.
"There you both are. I was starting to wonder what was taking you both so long. Why don’t you guys co out already? Our whole college batch is waiting for us outside. Let’s go. Aunty, sorry. But we planned this a long ti ago. Mind if I steal Mark and Kate?"
Hector raised a brow. "And you are...?"
Damon tilted his head. "Does it matter?"
One of the n behind Hector moved slightly. Damon’s eyes flicked in his direction, but Hector stopped the man. The man lowered his head, and Hector whispered in his ears. "Not here. It’s too public. Let them leave. Follow them and get that bitch for . I want her no matter what."
Damon continued smiling at the man without any change in his expression. Kate arrived a mont later, and her dress was still ruined. Damon quietly removed his hoodie and handed it to her.
"Alright, aunty. Take care. We will be leaving now." Damon ended the conversation and walked out of the private booth with Kate in tow. Mark stood up and followed them in silence, no longer bothering with either his mother or Hector.
As the three of them left the room, they could clearly hear the woman profusely apologizing to Hector. She called them rude and mannerless brats and talked about how they needed to be taught manners.
Hector laughed. "Don’t worry, my dear. I will definitely teach both your kids a lesson they will not forget. Especially your daughter." Their mother simply laughed. "Ya. Young girls need to be brought up strictly. I am afraid I have been too lenient with her."
Mark paused, but Damon shook his head. "Let’s go." They took a cab back to their apartnt, and Kate’s face was wilted the entire ti. She silently sobbed as she leaned on Damon’s shoulder.
Damon paid the cab driver and held the door as Kate stepped out first, her head lowered. Mark followed, fists clenched, jaw tight.
As soon as they entered the apartnt, Kate went straight to the bathroom without saying a word. The door clicked shut behind her.
Mark paced for a full minute before slamming a fist into the wall, leaving a small dent in the plaster. Damon didn’t flinch. He just leaned against the kitchen counter, eyes calm but cold.
"She laughed," Mark muttered. "She fucking laughed. Did you hear her?"
"I did," Damon said evenly. "I rember every word."
Mark spun around. "I should’ve killed him and her right there."
"And then what?" Damon let out a sigh. "Are you going to go to jail?"
Mark gnashed his teeth and remained silent.
"Tell sothing." Damon continued. "Now that both of you have turned into vampires in real life... have you thought about using your magic in real life too?"
"What?" Mark looked up in shock. "Wait. Do you an?"
Damon smiled. "Why don’t you sit here and think about that. I have so errands to run."
Mark looked at him, eyes narrowing. "What are you planning?"
Damon’s smile didn’t reach his eyes. "Nothing rash. Just... tying up loose ends."
"You’re not going after him," Mark said flatly. "Damon, don’t do that. I was hasty just now. I was just venting to you. I would have never risked our lives. We are fine now, aren’t we? You don’t have to do anything."
Damon walked to the door and paused with his hand on the knob. "It’s not over yet. That man will never let this go. Things will only beco ssier if this is not dealt with today."
Mark stepped forward, tense. "If you go after him, and sothing happens to you... No. I am coming with you."
Damon turned slightly, eyes gleaming crimson in the dim light. "No, you are not."
"Damon!"
"You are not coming because you cannot do this yet." Then right in front of Mark’s eyes, Damon’s figure disappeared into a puff of shadows.
Mark stood frozen, the last tendrils of Damon’s shadow mist curling near the door like smoke with a will of its own. Then he sat down heavily, muttering to himself, "Once again, you took my burden willingly." He sighed. "You better co back."
***
Golden Ticket Mass Release! ~2
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