122

Isabella

"That sneaky little bastard. I don't think it's a good idea to keep him here. But he's the dawn of Rome," I reminded Damon.

"Even if he is sneaky and a bastard, which I agree with both, I also think he might be useful. At least in his connections and resources," I said.

Damon turned around with an expression I hadn't expected. "I don't like how he looked at you. I'd threatened to gouge his eyes out when we were alone if you went near him or if he looked at you like that.

Maybe I shouldn't get you dresses like this anymore. Maybe you should wear them for me alone," he said, taking steps towards me.

"I'm fine with that," I said, laughing slightly and sticking out my tongue, even if it was just to provoke Paula in my mind. "What was the proposition?" Damon asked, drawing me out of my thoughts.

"He wants part of the city. He wants some of the land; he basically wants to run Rome, or at least an extension of it here," I said, trying to keep my words even.

Damon smiled a bitter sm