MY SUGAR MUMMY IS A BEAUTIFUL VAMPIRE

But before Rico could even react, Reggie was on his feet, moving with a fluidity and speed that seemed almost unnatural. He positioned himself between Rico and Gunther, his body a solid barrier against the looming threat.

Rico blinked in astonishment, his breath catching in his throat as he watched Reggie effortlessly hold Gunther back. How had Reggie managed to intervene so swiftly, with such grace and ease?

Gunther's grip loosened slightly, his expression a mix of surprise and amusement as he regarded Reggie. "Well, well, well," he chuckled, a hint of admiration in his voice. "Seems, Reggie has taken a liking to you. Although is that really a good thing?"

Reggie's smile widened, though there was a nervous edge to it as he shrugged off the praise. Rico couldn't help but notice the glint of unusually long canines as Reggie flashed him a reassuring grin.

Amongst the three men who had invaded Rico's house, Reggie stood out as the most reasonable, the most...human? While he wasn't a saint by any means, he seemed to possess a semblance of empathy that was sorely lacking in Gunther and the other, more sinister figure, Randal.

Rico couldn't help but wonder what would have become of him if Gunther and Randal had visited alone. He shuddered at the thought, knowing all too well that he would have been nothing more than prey to their predatory instincts.

Meanwhile, Randal remained seated, his laughter ringing out like a discordant melody amidst the tension. He seemed utterly unfazed by the scene unfolding before him, as if it were nothing more than a casual amusement.

Reggie turned to face Rico, his expression serious as he spoke. "Listen, young man," he said, his voice low and urgent. "Things could get ugly real fast if you don't start talking."

As the tension in the room thickened, Randal grew visibly bored, his restless energy palpable as he idly flipped the bottle in his hand. With a careless flick, he sent the bottle crashing to the ground, the liquid spilling out in a dark puddle on the floor.

Reggie tensed at the sudden movement, his gaze flickering to Randal with a wary expression. He knew all too well the unpredictable nature of his brothers, each one a volatile mix of violence and cunning.

Randal rose from his seat and sauntered over to Reggie, his movements smooth and calculated. "You know," he began, his voice a low murmur, "this could all be over much faster if you just let me handle it."

Reggie's jaw tightened at the suggestion, his eyes flashing with a mixture of anger and resignation. He knew Randal all too well – his brother was like a chameleon, capable of shifting his demeanor at a moment's notice.

Gunther may have been unhinged, but at least his motives were transparent, his actions and thoughts laid bare for all to see. Randal, on the other hand, was a master of deception, his true intentions hidden behind a facade of charm and amiability.

Reggie couldn't afford to trust Rico's life in the hands of these two. After all, Rico was their most crucial lead in the search for Blake. And just like Reggie himself, Randal and Gunther were fiercely loyal to their lord, Rose. They would stop at nothing to make her happy, even if it meant resorting to extreme measures.

But Reggie knew that their unwavering dedication could prove detrimental, especially when it came to handling delicate situations like this one.

With a heavy sigh, Reggie stepped between Randal and Rico, his voice firm as he addressed his brothers. "We need to tread carefully," he warned, his eyes darting between them. "We can't afford to make any rash decisions that could jeopardize our mission."

Randal scoffed, a sly smile playing at the corners of his lips. "Always the voice of reason, aren't you, Reggie?" he taunted, his tone laced with mockery.

Reggie bristled at the jibe, but he forced himself to remain composed. He knew that now, more than ever, he needed to be the level-headed one, the voice of sanity in the midst of chaos.

As Reggie stood between Randal and Rico, a tense silence enveloped the room, broken only by the soft murmur of their voices. Rico watched with growing unease as Randal leaned in close to Reggie, his lips moving in a hushed whisper.

Whatever Randal said seemed to have a profound effect on Reggie, causing him to back away with a neutral expression. Reggie simply took his seat sipping his drink in peace. Gunther had long finished his and was rummaging through Rico's fridge once more like he owned the place.

Rico's heart sank as he realized that Reggie was stepping aside, allowing Randal to take control of the interrogation.

Fear gripped Rico's heart as he glanced between the two brothers. Reggie may have been the most reasonable of the three, but Randal was a different story altogether.

Was Reggie really leaving him in the hands of the one brother who belonged in a psych ward? Rico couldn't believe it. Life couldn't be that cruel, could it?

But as Randal approached, a sinister smile playing across his lips, Rico's worst fears began to materialize. Randal's pale complexion seemed almost otherworldly, yet there was a sickly beauty to him that sent chills down Rico's spine.

Randal took hold of Rico's chin, forcing him to meet his gaze with a steely intensity. Rico could feel the weight of Randal's gaze bearing down on him, sending shivers of dread coursing through his veins.

And then, without warning, Randal pulled Rico into a tight embrace, his voice a soft whisper in Rico's ear. "Remember Marcus Stanley?" he murmured, his words sending a jolt of terror coursing through Rico's body. "Your buddy from the casino. Want to know what truly happened to him and not what you were told when you got that call last tuesday?"

Rico's eyes widened in horror as the implications of Randal's words sank in. How did they know about Marcus? And what did they mean by "what truly happened"?

The hairs on the back of Rico's neck stood on end as a chill ran down his spine. These men were no ordinary thugs – they knew things, dark and terrible things that sent shivers of fear coursing through Rico's soul.

And as Randal's smile widened into a cruel grin, Rico knew that he was in for a long and terrifying night. Whatever secrets these men held, Rico was about to uncover them – whether he wanted to or not.