by Raven Steele
“What stuff?”
I raised my shoulders, going back to the tank tops. “Spells, powers, all that crap.”
“Of course I do.”
I raised my eyebrow. “Seriously?”
“It’s who I am. That’d be like me asking you if you like to run in the forest under a full moon. Of course you do.”
Well. I couldn’t argue with that. So I just nodded. “You’re pretty good.” I glanced at her, barely catching her grimace. “I’m serious, Lynx.”
“How do you know?”
I opened my mouth to answer, but it took me a moment to think of something. “There was that one time. You stopped a table from hitting me.”
Her lips came up in a half smile. “Yeah, I’m great at moving furniture.”
I pretended to think. “That reminds me, I want my bed moved over to the window …”
“Not a chance.” She grinned up at me, despite her words.
I laughed. “Oh, I know. Next time we’re with Samira, you could stop time and switch out her blood with tomato juice or move her chair out from under her right before she sits down.”
Lynx burst out laughing. “That would be funny.”
I finished up the tank tops, my mind whirling with all the crazy stunts we could pull. “We could make her think she’s going crazy.”
Lynx suddenly stopped laughing. “Oh no. I don’t want to get her mad at me.” She shivered and I joined in.
“Good point. Gotta keep Goth Girl from breaking our necks.”
She nodded and returned to work, but her lips remained twisted up in a soft smile.
I glanced at her beneath my eyelashes. “So I have a question.”
“Shoot.”
“Are you going to date Ryder?”
She stopped to stare at me. “Why? Are you protective over him, or something?”
“Or something. But mostly I’m worried about you. You’re only playing with fire, dating him. Your mom will hate it.”
Her grin turned ferocious. “That’s only a benefit from where I’m standing.”
I laughed. “Look at you, being all badass. Totally digging it just as long as she doesn’t kill you.”
“Thank you, mom.”
“You’re welcome.” I grinned at her, grabbed the empty box and started out back. I paused, looking back at her. “I really meant what I said. I don’t know what you did for me, but if you hadn’t done it, I’d probably be dead right now. So thank you.”
She smiled at me, giving me a nod but said nothing, so I took the box out back to the trash. The cool night air nipped at my face. I inhaled and stared up at the silver moon, feeling a lump in my throat equally as big.
Time to go into the viper’s nest.
Chapter 8
After I returned home, it didn’t take me long to change into my new dress. I straightened my hair and smoothed it with shiny gel so that it fell well past my breasts. I forgot how long it was when I wore it like this. Speaking of which, those girls were barely covered. I tried shoving them in further, but there was only so much material to work with.
Agreeing to disagree with them, I texted Roma, my favorite Uber driver for a ride. I had a feeling I was going to need a lot of alcohol to get through the night, and I didn’t want to drive all swervy. If the cops pulled me over, my alcohol level would be sky high, even if I was fine to drive. Dominic better cover work expenses.
Roma pinged me back immediately, saying she was fifteen minutes out.
I liked Roma. Not only could she use magic, but she always seemed to arrive just when I needed her. Thank goodness I found her that night at Sinsual. She had to use magic just to follow Silas and Dominic back to Fire Ridge.
Speaking of the club, I wondered if I still had a job. I hoped so. I missed bartending. When I put on shows, unrestrained and carefree, it was almost as therapeutic as shifting into my wolf and running through the woods. I should probably figure that out soon, especially if Dominic didn’t give reimbursements. I’d be eating ramen noodles in no time. Maybe I’d stop by Sinsual to see my old boss Eddie after I played the role of The Lady in Red. I groaned at the thought and grabbed my purse, grumbling to myself. The things I did for revenge.
As soon as headlights flashed in the living room window, I trotted outside. Roma whistled at my approach through her open window. “Damn, girl! You’re looking hot! You’re going to make me want to switch teams.”
“You’re straight? I wouldn’t have guessed.” I opened the door and slid into the backseat. Roma wore a colorful shirt and long, clanging beads around her neck and wrist. Her skirt flared across the seat, and she wore leather sandals.
She chuckled. “Course I’m straight, although if you asked my college roommate, she might say something different.”
“I don’t want to know.”
“Where to tonight? By that dress of yours, it must be something special.” She pulled away from the curb.
“I wouldn’t say that. Honestly, I’m just going on some gig for Dominic. He wants me to impress one of his associates, you know, show him a good time. A PG-13 good time.”
She slammed on the breaks, making my face slam into the seat in front of me.
She whirled around. “Are you still working for that asshole? I thought you would’ve left him after what he did to you.”
I rubbed at my jaw. “That hurt.”
“Don’t pretend you didn’t hear me. I know Silas was killed. After a little asking around, I learned it was your doing and that Dominic had you locked up. I tried to find out more, but the word on the street was that Dominic had threatened anyone who talked about it. I was so happy to hear you were okay.”
“Why didn’t you just call me? Or stop by.”
“Like I’d bring up what happened to you. My father died of prostate cancer last year. Do you want to talk about it?”
“Point taken.” I sighed. “Look, what went down was bad, but I’m okay now. I just have to finish some unfinished business with Dominic. That’s all. Once it’s over, I’m out.”
“I hope so.” She searched my eyes. “Until then, I’m going to keep a closer eye on you. I don’t want to lose my best customer.” With a wink, she pulled back onto the road.
“Thank you. I could use a tough chick who knows magic on my side.”
“Shhh …” She gave me a scowl in the mirror. “Only a few know about me. Best to keep a low profile in this city.” She winked at me and reached her hand back, patting my knee. “But in all seriousness, if you ever need anything, I’m your gal. Call me.”
Her touch warmed my hand, and I clasped it back briefly until she pulled it away. The rest of the way, we kept the conversation light as she talked about her stubborn son who was going to college to be an environmentalist. She thought that was hilarious, since her son still used aerosol hairspray and smoked two packs a day.
“Here we are.” She parked along the curb of the Balario Hotel and looked up at the tall skyscraper. “You want me to wait here? I don’t mind waiting even if it’s a few hours. I worry about you.”
“Nah. I don’t want you to lose out on more customers.”
I said goodbye and made my way into the building. A man behind the front desk greeted me. He was all smiles until I told him who I was there to see. His face paled and he literally stepped away from me as if I had the plague. Reassuring.
After he pointed in the direction of the elevator, I reluctantly pushed the button. There were thirty floors in the hotel; there’s no way I was climbing to the top in these heels. I closed my eyes before the doors closed and counted, breathing slowly in and out to keep from freaking out. I still hated small spaces. It didn’t help that I was alone.
When the doors opened, I jumped out, barely looking to make sure I was on the right floor. White, plush carpets covered the floor and decorative, porcelain vases filled with dozens of flowers sat on glass tables. My reflection stared back at me in duck large, antique framed mirror. I looked too pale. I pinched at my cheeks and inhaled several d
eep breaths before forcing myself down the short hallway to the only door on the floor. Before I could knock, the door swung open.
Angel stood before me in a black suit that fit him like a second skin. Ink black hair, scruffy on top, with stray tendrils that fell just over his brows. His emerald green eyes slid over me, pausing briefly at my breasts before continuing upward. His mouth slithered into the vampire’s version of a grin—a slight upturn of his lips. “I’m so glad Dominic came around.”
“What do you mean?”
His eyes rolled over my face, as if taking in every detail. “Mateo and I requested you specifically, but Dominic denied us three times.” He breathed a bored sigh. “He can be so difficult.”
I swallowed through the fullness in my throat. “And why would either of you want me?”
“Because you are exceptional. Only someone with great talents could get close enough to Mateo to put a blade to his neck.” Before I could react, he hooked his arm around my waist and crushed me to his chest. He ran his nose up my neck, inhaling deeply. “Let’s find out what makes you so special, shall we?”
Chapter 9
I pushed against Angel’s chest, but he didn’t budge. He was all steel and hard lines. I was tempted to grab the knife strapped to my thigh, but it might make things worse. Instead, I reminded myself that I was here to get him to work with Dominic again. That would require charm.
So I opened my big mouth and said the first thing that came to mind. “Why forcibly take when I freely give?”
Awesome. It took me exactly two seconds to jump from hesitant shifter to willing whore.
Digging in to the role, I bit my finger and held it up to him. A fat drop of blood rose to the surface of my skin. He frowned, but I kept up the pretend smile I felt oozing with sensuality. He moaned as I drew it near his lips. Then he eagerly took my finger into his mouth and sucked hard, wrapping his tongue around it.
He opened his eyes staring too deeply into mine. “Your blood is delicious, just like I thought it would be. So much better than other shifters I’ve tried. There’s something sweet in it.”
I tried not to vomit all over his face. This had to be the grossest thing I’d ever done, but I’d rather do it than have this sucker’s teeth in my skin.
I jerked my finger free, not wanting to let him taste any more, lest he sense something different about me. “It's probably grease from my Grand Slam this morning."
"Grand Slam?"
"From Denny's. It was pretty good, but my sausages were drowning in grease."
He raised his eyebrow, and his lips turned up even more. “You’re not like the other she-wolves who have come before.”
“Am I more bitchy or less?”
“You are you, and that is refreshing. And your blood is absolutely delectable!”
“Huh. I didn’t know.” I stared at my red finger, wondering if he was just saying that to flatter me.
He glanced behind him into his apartment then back to me. “It’s been awhile since I’ve had a beauty such as you on my arm. We’re going out tonight.”
Out was good. The more we were in public, the less chance he had of harming me. “I like out. I know this perfect place—”
“We’re going to Heartbeat.” He let me go and closed the door behind him.
“Heartbeat? I haven’t heard of it.” I accepted his cool palm. He continued to hold my hand into the elevator with a strong grip. I didn’t mean to, but I gripped it tight when the doors closed.
“Your pulse is suddenly racing.” He turned towards me. “Are you claustrophobic?”
“A little maybe.” I closed my eyes and gave a nervous laugh.
He scooted closer to me, breathing into my ear as the elevator jerked downward. “I can fix that, if you’d let me.”
Now I was curious. “Oh yeah? How so?”
His fingers trailed up my neck. “A little shot of Scorpion's Breath would do the trick.”
My eyes flew open. “What? No. That won’t do any good.”
“I swear to you it will.”
Temptation swirled in my mind, pretty butterflies blooming all at once. “So what, you just keep it on you?” I asked casually.
“Always. It chases away your fears and gives strength where you thought there was none.”
I reached up and linked my hand through his. I didn’t like how it had curled around my neck. “And what fears could someone like you possibly have?”
Raw and dark emotions cracked his calm demeanor. “It is impolite to ask such questions. A person’s fears are their own.”
“Except you know mine. I think it’s only fair that I know yours.” I should’ve been thinking about the walls closing in on me, but all I could think about was which pocket of his held the Scorpion's Breath.
“Very well.” He brought his mouth toward mine until he was inhaling the very air I was exhaling. “Since your blood intrigues me, and you gave it so freely, I will tell you.” He paused, closing his eyes, his lips inches from mine. When his eyelids opened, he whispered, “I fear dying alone. Death comes swiftly and announced for someone like me. My enemies are worse than vultures at a pig slaughter.”
I searched his eyes, finding pain rooted deeply within them. I clasped his hand to my chest. “Tonight, we will pretend we have no fears. We will live in the moment.”
His tongue snaked out and briefly caught me on the lips. I resisted the urge to yank my head away. In any other scenario, I would’ve had this guy hog tied and gagged for trying something like that.
But I had a job to do.
The elevator dinged and the doors slid open. Angel guided me out the lobby and into the backseat of a waiting limo. His eyes never left me as we drove nearly forty miles outside of town. The further we drove, the more my nerves began to spike. I swore, if he killed me in the back woods of Nowhere, Louisiana, I was going to be one pissed-off ghost. For sure, he wouldn’t die alone, because I would haunt him for the rest of his miserable life.
He mistook my nervousness for claustrophobia and rolled down the windows, which made me feel a little bit better.
We turned off the road and pulled into a gravel parking lot. “We’re here.”
“This is where you wanted to take me?” The building looked like it once belonged to an old auto shop company. There was even a stack of worn tires near the door. I would be even more worried, except for the fact that a deep bass pounded from the building, thumping to match the beat of my heart.
“This is Heartbeat. It’s a club for vampires and sometimes other supernatural creatures. I think you will find it quite entertaining, not like the usual dives your kind frequents.”
“Agree to disagree.”
The driver opened our door, and I stepped into the darkness. There were no streetlights, only the low lights filtering through the club’s windows. If the inside was anything like the outside, this would be the kind of place where one could find a meaningful overnight relationship, if they were lucky. Might be fun to watch. Or maybe I’d find vampires wallowing on old gas barrels, slapping back some blood on an old tool bench, greasing it up with an old Chrysler. This was the first time I’d ever hung out with a vampire when I wasn’t trying to kill one.
Before we reached the front door, it opened as if on its own. I frowned.
“It’s automatic,” Angel said as if reading my mind. “We spare no expense.”
“But the door is like, sixty years old. And dirty as hell, though not quite as dirty as the rest of this dump.”
“All part of the illusion. You should know that to vampires, appearances are everything.”
He pushed me gently forward, even as my eyebrows knit together. If appearances were so important, then what—
As soon as I stepped inside, I sucked in a surprised breath. It looked like a palace inside, and it was immaculately clean. When he said they spared no expense, he wasn’t kidding.
Shiny mahogany filled the space and gilded chandeliers swept the ceiling. Rich red carpet lined the floor; it w
as so plushy, I could probably sleep on it. It would be softer than some of the places I’ve slept. There was a large hole in the middle of the room, with a grand staircase spiraling downward.
I leaned over the rail and peered at the dance floor below. Dozens of vampires danced on a large marble floor. They really danced, not the familiar bumping and grinding I was used to seeing at clubs. They were twisting and twirling to unfamiliar music, moving as fluid as water from a tap.
It was one of the most beautiful things I’d ever seen.
Angel gently touched me on the elbow. “This way.”
I followed alongside him continuing to peer over the edge, being careful not to teeter on my heels. “It’s amazing.”
He smiled, showing his sharp teeth. “I told you.”
“Cockiness doesn’t look good on you.”
“Everything looks good on me.” He guided me down the staircase made of marble and etched in gold. I was suddenly relieved I’d chosen to wear the long dress and not the short one. This place demanded classy sexy, not slutty sexy.
When we reached the bottom of the stairs and turned toward the bar beneath the walkway above us, I sucked in another breath. Not because the beauty was so astounding, but because of the disturbing image before me. Behind the bar on raised platforms, sitting on what looked like throned chairs, sat three humans. All were female and wearing ball gowns, like princesses in a castle. They each had tubes into the crooks of their arms. Crimson liquid flowed out into a fancy-looking container at their feet. Every minute or so, the bartender would go to the basin and add their blood to a drink he was making, then serve it to customers.
“This is terrible,” I hissed low, knowing vampires have supersensitive hearing, maybe even better than wolves.
Angel followed my line of site to the girls. “They have been given a sedative to help with the discomfort, and they are paid handsomely.”
“But you’re killing them!”
“Nonsense. They are employees and will recover. In one week’s time, they will return, completely recovered. Believe me, their lives are not hard. We treat humans with the utmost respect. It’s the other vampire clubs you have to worry about.”
