by Raven Stone
Then he slipped off into the crowd, leaving the three men at the table staring at me.
Chapter 16
Nadia – Chicago
“You’ve got so many secrets, love.” Degarr lifted my chin with a finger, that sexy tone sending ripples of heat down me. “Don’t you?”
I stared into those grey eyes, thinking that all of my secrets were at risk with this man.
“What do you want me to say?”
“The truth,” Dakota interjected.
“No one knows the full truth about me,” I replied, answering the other man while I stared into Degarr’s eyes. Oddly enough, that was the truth.
“Somehow I don’t doubt that,” Degarr said softly, tracing my lips with his thumb.
I wanted to part my lips, suck that thumb into me, but the other men were watching, and even I wasn’t that brazen.
“So, before the two of you fuck on the table, what’s the plan from here?” Jamie asked.
Degarr took his thumb away, and sat back in his chair. I let out a sigh, as Degarr turned his attention to Dakota.
“Was that your only contact?” he asked.
“I have a few more, but somehow I think they’re all going to be like that,” Dakota replied. “I haven’t been back very long.”
Degarr gave him a small nod. “Understood. Thanks for trying.”
“Of course.”
I chewed on my lip. I could help.
I shouldn’t get involved.
I was here to fuck Degarr and move on. That was it.
But Degarr had helped me, when no one else had.
I sighed loudly.
“You need to hire a real information broker, not that puppy,” I said.
All three men stared at me again.
“Interesting choice of words,” Jamie said.
“Do you know any, or know who to contact?” Degarr asked.
I crossed my arms. “I do, but I don’t have that information with me. It’s back at my place.”
“Convenient,” the ginger said.
“I disagree. I had other things in mind for when I finally found your father, and calling people wasn’t one of them.”
The ginger simply raised his eyebrows.
“Do you have time now?” Degarr asked.
For you, baby?
I bit back the words, but a smile curved my lips. “Yes.”
“Good.” Degarr pushed his chair back from the table. “Dakota, I believe you have some personal business to attend to. I’ll be happy to update you as we go along.” He stood up, and the rest of us took the cue and rose from our chairs.
“I’d appreciate that,” Dakota said. “I’d like to know what’s happening, and I’d like to help you out too, if I can. And thanks for helping with the domestic issue.”
“Happy to,” Degarr replied.
He held out his arm and the other man gripped it. The gesture wasn’t a handshake, and it wasn’t like anything I’d seen before, but it was clearly personal to them. Their eyes met, and then they let each other go. Dakota clapped Degarr on the back before disappearing into the crowd. Degarr turned his attention back to Jamie and me.
“Jamie, I’ll meet you back at the hotel,” Degarr said.
“The hell you will. You’re not going off into some strange city with some strange woman who tried to kill you,” he gestured towards me, “and on top of that, you keep leaving me behind. I’m sick of it.” He crossed his arms.
Degarr lowered his voice, so we were the only ones who could hear him. “Jamie, we’re going to fuck after she makes those calls.”
“I got that.” He looked duly unimpressed. “We’ve fucked in the same room, Garr. Lots of times. This time I’ll be in a separate room. I just want to be there if she tries to stake you. I don’t want to search this whole fucking city, wondering what the fuck’s happened to you. Not again.” Hurt bled into his voice.
“I’m so sorry, Jamie,” Degarr said softly.
“You had to know what that did to me,” the ginger lowered his voice; pain shining in his eyes.
“I do, and I’m so sorry. I never meant to hurt you like that. It’ll never happen again.” Degarr looked absolutely devastated.
Both of them looked so hurt, and so sad. It was making uncomfortable things happen in my chest, and I didn’t like it. I crossed my arms.
“It better fucking not,” Jamie said.
Degarr reached out, grabbing the other man by the back of the neck.
“It won’t. I’m sorry. You mean the world to me, cub.” He ruffled the other man’s hair, and Jamie threw his arms around him with a cry, burying his head in Degarr’s shoulder.
They stood there, embracing like that, completely ignoring the attention they were getting.
“Degarr,” I said.
He lifted his head.
“We should go,” I told him.
“Okay.” He pulled the other man back from him. “You good?”
Jamie nodded.
“Good.” Degarr looked at me. “Sorry, we’re a pair. I hope you don’t mind.”
“Well, I’m not fucking you both, but I’m fine with Jamie coming with us, as long as we leave now, and I get to fuck you,” I replied.
Jamie laughed.
Degarr’s eyes simmered. “That’s a given, love.”
Chapter 17
Nadia – Chicago
I led the two men back to the condo.
We’re going to fuck after she makes those calls.
Degarr’s words played over and over in my head, making my heart race and heat travel up and down my body in waves. By the time we got to my place, I could barely think.
I went to unlock the door, and Degarr stopped me with a hand on my wrist. I almost growled at him.
“Do you live with someone?” he asked. “Have a roommate or a maid?”
I frowned. “No. Why?”
“There’s someone in there. Jamie?”
“Human male. Reeks of cheap cologne.” His nose wrinkled.
This time I did growl. I was pretty sure who they were talking about. I held my hand out to Degarr. “Give me your stake.”
His lips curved upwards. “I think not.”
“Fine. I’ll figure out something else.” I unlocked the door and threw it open. “Oleg!”
“Nadia.” The piece of shit smiled at me as he rose from my couch. He was balding, about five-ten, and was the proud owner of a beer belly that was about eight months along.
“What are you doing in my condo, you piece of shit?” I headed for the kitchen. Surely I had a butcher’s knife in there.
“Is that any way to talk to an old friend?”
“Friend my ass.” I opened drawers.
“I told you, that was a joke.” Oleg followed me. “What are you doing?”
“Not to me, it wasn’t. And I told you that if you came near me again, I’d shoot your ass. I don’t have a gun, but this’ll do.” I grabbed the butcher knife from the drawer. I knew I had one.
Oleg paled. “What are you going to do with that?”
“I’m going to cut one of your balls off.” I held up the knife and walked towards him.
“Nadia, don’t be hasty.” He held up his hands and backed away. “It was just a little joke.”
“You trapped me there.”
“We both knew you would get out, darling,” he backed up again, “and look, you did. You’re fine.” His eyes met mine. “You don’t want to do this.”
“Don’t I?” I turned the knife, letting my eyes run over its sharp edge before turning back to him.
He took another step backwards. “Fifty thousand.”
“To not cut off one of your balls?”
“No. That’s how much one of my contacts is offering on a new contract,” Oleg said.
I ran my finger along the knife’s edge. “Twenty-five and one of your balls.”
He swallowed. “Sixty-five, and I keep both of my balls.”
“I’ll consider it.” I put the knife on the k
itchen counter, and turned back to him. “Tell me about this new contract.”
He lowered his hands. “It’s perfect for you. The instant I heard about it, I said this one’s for Nadia.”
He was trying to butter me up. If I let him go on long enough, ridiculous compliments would start spewing from his mouth like water from a sprinkler.
“Contract, Oleg.” I reminded him.
For the first time, he gave a good, solid look at Degarr and Jamie. Both of them had been watching me argue with my former associate without saying a word.
“New boyfriends, darling?”
“You know I don’t do boyfriends,” I replied.
Degarr raised an eyebrow, but stayed silent.
“Fucktoys then?” Oleg asked, missing the whole exchange. “I have to say, the ginger’s certainly pretty enough, but the other one seems a little rough, don’t you think?”
“I think it’s none of your business, and I think you’d better tell me about this contract before I get bored.” I shot a pointed look towards the kitchen, then put my hands on my waist. “You can talk freely in front of them. They won’t sell the information. Will you, boys?”
“No, we won’t.” Degarr replied, with an amused look on his face.
“Good,” Oleg replied, eyeing Degarr before returning his attention to me. “Like I said, this contract’s perfect for you. All you have to do is find someone. Don’t engage. Don’t let the mark know you’re there. Just find him and give his location to the client.”
“Sixty-five thousand for that?” Jamie asked.
A tingle travelled up my spine. The ginger was right. That was a hell of a lot of money to find one person.
“Fifty for the mark,” Oleg said. “And fifteen as a peace offering, out of my own pocket.”
I smiled. That meant the fifteen would hurt him, which was exactly what I wanted.
“Fifty is still a lot for just one person and his location. What did he do?” I asked.
“Crossed the wrong people.”
I rolled my eyes. “Obviously. I meant the details.”
“Are you sure you want them?” Oleg asked.
He’d broken into my apartment, waited for me, and risked my wrath to offer me this contract. If I accepted the contract, then he would get a commission. It’s why he was here. But now, he was unsure about sharing the details with me?
Suddenly, I was a lot more interested. I didn’t tell him that, though. Instead, I sighed, and acted like I was getting bored.
“I need details to find him. You know how this works.”
Oleg pressed his lips together for a moment, then continued. “This man commissioned a custom drug. He paid half up front and accepted delivery of a partial shipment. Now he’s refusing to pay the rest.”
“Does the drug not work? Or is the rest of the shipment not ready?” Jamie asked.
“The shipment’s ready, and it doesn’t matter if the drug works or not. You pay these people regardless,” Oleg replied.
Degarr caught my eye. “This might be the man we’re looking for.”
“You already took a contract for this mark?” Oleg asked, his voice full of surprise.
“Perhaps,” I said, answering them both. “And if I did, obviously I can’t take contracts for the same mark, and the first contract takes precedence.”
“Of course.” Oleg’s shoulders slumped, then he eyed Degarr. “Any chance you’d turn this man over when you’re done with him? I’m sure my client would make it worth your while.”
“There might not be anything left after I’m done with him,” Degarr replied.
And a shiver ran down my spine.
After Oleg left, Degarr stood by the door with his hand up for a few, long moments before finally dropping it to his side. “Okay, he’s gone.”
“I need to hear everything you know about this mark,” I said. “Right now. The second-best locator is out of town this week, so Oleg will have to settle for the third or fourth, or try for Alton in New York.”
“Let’s hope he goes for New York,” he replied. “And you already know what we know. This man can afford to pay for half of a custom drug, and can pay to start distribution. Now he either doesn’t have the rest of the money he needs, or –”
“Or he thinks he can get away with not paying them,” Jamie supplied.
“Let’s be clear,” I said, resting my hands on my hips. “The people he screwed over have power, money and connections. Who would be stupid enough, or suicidal enough, to think they could get away with that?”
Degarr and Jamie shared a look.
“Someone who could wipe them all off the map. Make the streets run with their blood,” Degarr replied.
“Who?” But I already knew.
A vampire.
“You’ve got to call him,” Jamie said.
“I know,” Degarr replied. “Nadia, can I make a private phone call here, or would you prefer me to leave?”
Like hell he was going to leave.
“Take my bedroom. It’s past the kitchen.” I pointed over my shoulder.
“Thank you.” Degarr went in the direction I’d pointed, and closed the door behind him.
Chapter 18
Degarr – Chicago
“So you think this could be a master vampire?” King Gabriel asked.
I’d filled him in with the few details I had. “It might be.”
“It might be, or it might be a completely reckless human.” He sighed. “Do we know if the effect of the drug was deliberate?”
“No. Dr. Miller’s examining the patient and running some tests. We might know more once she’s done, and she might have some ideas on how to counteract it.”
“That would be good,” he replied. “Any idea of how many vampires were affected?”
“Not yet. My first contact’s looking into it.” I held back a sigh.
I hated that I had so little information to give him, but Jamie had been right. King Gabriel needed to know about this situation, and our suspicions, since this problem was happening in his territory. If our suspicions were wrong, then telling him now would cost us nothing. If we were right, then it was best he knew what was happening as early as possible.
“Alright, I think it’s too early to bring in Nightfall yet. We need more information. Do you think your other contact, Nadia, will be able to help?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“Good. Keep me posted, and if you need funds or people, let me know,” he said.
“I will,” I replied.
“And John?”
Warmth spread through my body as his tone shifted from professional to personal. “Yes?”
“Be more careful this time. Don’t use yourself as bait, understood? I want you to come home in one piece,” he said. “I have plans for us.”
My grip tightened on the phone as the warmth in my body ramped up, just at the thought of his plans.
“Understood,” I replied. “I want that too.”
“Good,” he said, and then he hung up.
I stayed where I was, giving my body some time to calm down. It had only taken a change in his tone, and a few words, to turn me into a heated mess.
God.
The effect he had on me was intense, to say the least.
I probably should feel guilty about sitting on one lover’s bed while talking to another, but I’d been a vampire for too long. Monogamy with humans wasn’t realistic thanks to the way we fed. A kind of monogamy with other vampires was a possibility, but after what I’d seen Gabriel go through with Elodie, his ex, I wasn’t interested in it. I was firmly non-monogamous.
I stood up, thinking I should let Nadia know that.
You know I don’t do boyfriends.
Fucktoys, then?
Her words, and Oleg’s, came back to me. She’d told me that she wanted me to have sex with her, and to feed from her. What did she want from me past that? Or was I just a fucktoy to her?
It made me curious.
Nadia was intriguin
g. She could be incredibly blunt, or crude, or sophisticated, or even fierce, as the situation demanded.
But she’d deflected Oleg’s question.
Which left me wondering.
What did she want with me?
Chapter 19
Nadia – Chicago
“And?” Jamie asked as soon as Degarr came out of my bedroom.
“We need more information.” He sighed.
“I agree,” I said. “Can I talk with this acquaintance of yours? The one who was poisoned?”
Degarr eyed me. “He isn’t the most helpful person in the world.”
I smiled. “I’m used to dealing with difficult personalities, and I do this for a living. I’ll probably ask him things that you didn’t.”
“Alright.”
“Garr, that’s a secure location,” Jamie said.
“Right. Hold on.” Degarr went back to my bedroom and returned with a black cashmere scarf. “You can talk with our witness, as long as you agree not to sell the information,” a smile touched his lips, “and as long as you wear this when we take you to and from his location.”
I stared down at the scarf in Degarr’s hands, and licked my lips. My mind flooded with kinky thoughts.
“Alright,” I said. And that one word was breathless, even to my ears.
Degarr smiled.
The cloth was wonderfully soft against my eyes.
Degarr had waited to put it on me until we were in the backseat of their SUV. It was just the two of us in the back, since Jamie was driving.
Degarr finished tying the scarf around me, then tucked my head into his chest.
Holy fuck.
The hard muscle under my cheek sent a five-alarm fire racing across my body. Before I knew it, I’d thrown a leg over him.
Degarr’s cool fingertips went under my chin, and he raised my face. I couldn’t see anything, just feel his lips touch mine, and then his tongue dove into my mouth.
I may have let out a small moan.
“Oh my God, you two are not fucking in the backseat. This isn’t Kinky Chauffeur Nine. We’re actually working,” Jamie said.
