Page 108 of A Vampire's Pain
“Excuse me?!”
“You need to let it go. I have,” he said.
“And I really don’t get how you can,” I said.
Dominic smiled a little.
“Gabriel is not the reason for what his family did to mine.”
“I am not so sure,” I said. “And you know I don’t only judge him for that.”
Dominic nodded.
“No, I know how Gabriel acted in the past, but have you ever considered why?” he asked.
“Do please tell.”
“You and he look a lot alike,” he said.
“You take that back right now,” I said, but Dominic just smiled.
“He lost a sister.”
I looked at Dominic surprised. I knew of Gabriel’s history, how could I not? He was one of the last hybrids left in the world, but I had never put much thought into how his sister died.
“She was taken too, and he tried saving her, but he was too late.”
“Why are you telling me this? I already know it,” I said.
“Then why aren’t you connecting the dots between you two?” he asked.
“Because I would never act as careless as him.”
“Damon, you have no idea what Valeri’s death might have done to you. Gabriel turned against his family because of his sister, and started to support me, just like you decided to support me when I helped you with Valeri,” he said. “Are your stories really so different?”
I sighed, not really wanting to draw a connection between me and Gabriel. I had honor, and I didn’t think he did. He didn’t really care about anything, and always seemed to get into a lot of trouble, just because he could, making Dominic’s life harder. I just couldn’t respect that sort of behavior.
“What are you really trying to do here?” I asked.
Dominic smiled a little, as he leaned a little forward.
“I’m trying to make sure you don’t make the biggest mistake of your life,” he said.
“What?”
“You don’t want to lose your sister again, do you?”
“Of course not!” I said.
“Then don’t be an idiot and give her permission to be with Gabriel.”
“She is a grown-up, she can make her own decisions, and she decided to come back with me,” I said.
Dominic sighed and shook his head.
“She loves you so much,” he said. “You’re her hero, and if it comes down to it, she can’t help but choose you, even if it means hurting herself.”
“What?!”
