by Carly Fall
He didn’t see her, so he walked to the back of the line and took his place, noting very few auras, which meant this place wasn’t exactly Vampire Central tonight.
If, by chance, he did run into those who had tried to take those humans, he wouldn’t approach them. Both he and Sami had agreed earlier they’d take them down together, not separately. They would be much stronger working as one than apart.
Thankfully, he didn’t have to wait in line very long.
As he entered, he sighed. All clubs seemed the same to him—a dance floor, music blaring, some tables, a bar, and a VIP section. Depending on the theme, there may be art on the walls, or possibly graffiti. Since this one was named Dragon’s, it had the beasts painted everywhere. Lights flashed in the dark; sometimes, lasers lit up. All in all, he found them boring and tedious. He much preferred a quiet bar with a pool table, somewhere he could go and hold a conversation without losing his voice and hearing. Maybe that was a sign of his age, or he just wasn’t cut out for this nightlife stuff. Either way, he’d rather be just about anywhere but here.
As he made his way to the back of the club looking for the VIP section, he kept his eye out for Sami, wondering if he’d recognize her. He didn’t see anyone with her demeanor or mannerisms, and for a brief moment, he considered if she had stood him up.
The VIP section was empty, except for two tables that didn’t contain even one vampire at them—well, any that he could see. How many walked around and were like Sami, more human that vampire? He looked for an empty stool at the bar, but didn’t see one. He casually walked around and waited for someone to vacate, then he slipped in, sat down, and ordered a beer.
An hour later, he’d turned down three offers to dance, a blowjob from a prostitute, and two drinks. His anger rose as he glanced around trying to find Sami. He had a feeling he’d been played, and she’d changed the plans without telling him.
He pulled the phone from his pocket again to see if there were any messages from her, and found none.
Just as he had decided to head home, a hand landed on his shoulder. He turned and almost told the woman he wasn’t interested, but then he realized it was Sami.
And holy shit, did she look hot.
She wore a flaming red wig that fell to her shoulders in soft waves. Her olive skin had hints of golden makeup, and her full lips glistened with a touch of pink. Muscular, tawny legs peeked out from gold hot pants, and a skin-tight, long-sleeved black shirt hugged her breasts and flat belly.
“Hey,” she said with a grin.
He looked her up and down once more, and also noticed the guys behind her checking her out. A flash of possessiveness railed through him, and he glared at the group until they turned around. Yeah, that shit didn’t fly with him. “Hey.”
She pushed her way in between people so she could stand next to his stool at the bar. “See anything interesting?”
“Just you.”
She arched a perfect eyebrow. “You like what you see?”
He did. He couldn’t lie, because with Sami staring at him with a smoldering gaze and his groin swelling, it would be pointless. He could feel the heat and sexual tension between them as she leaned forward, her breast brushing against his shoulder. Had she’d dressed like this to elicit this exact response from him?
Yes, she looked sexier than any woman had a right to be, but when it came right down to it, he preferred the original version just a bit better. Call him old-fashioned, but he liked the natural look.
“You look great, but I think the real thing is more my speed.”
Her grin widened, and she placed her hand on his cheek. “You’re so sweet.”
Their gazes locked for a moment, and just for a brief second, he thought about kissing her, but then he recalled the fangs. They were the only thing that kept him from lacing his arm around her waist, closing the small space between them, and feeling her body against his.
He squirmed in his chair uncomfortably and motioned for the bartender to come over.
“What can I get you, sweetheart?” the server asked.
She turned to him and smiled. “Vodka and cranberry on the rocks, please,” she yelled.
As she waited for her drink, she looked around for a minute, then leaned into him, placing her mouth by his ear.
The first thing he thought was that he’d seen the vampires do this exact thing, and she was a vampire … he pulled away.
After a second, she rolled her eyes. “Would you relax? What do you think I’m going to do, bite you?”
Immediately, he felt stupid, but didn’t have a comeback for her.
She leaned in again, and this time, he braced himself not to move.
“You haven’t seen anything? Anyone? Are there a lot of vampires here?”
Her breath tickled his neck, and he’d be a liar if he said he didn’t like it. Sexual heat coursed through him as he tried to tamper it down. He glanced around again and only saw a few red hues. “No. Very few.”
It surprised him that she couldn’t identify her own species. He’d just assumed she would be able to, but he’d never given any consideration to how. Maybe by scent? Since they all looked very much like humans, he supposed flashing their fangs at each other would be the only way, but he’d have to ask her about it later.
Then, he realized what he offered, what she needed. He could ascertain if someone was a vampire right away—she couldn’t. They could literally walk into a place, and he could tell her immediately what the population consisted of. With him by her side, the guessing game had been removed.
“I thought for sure they’d be here tonight,” she said, her voice laced with disappointment.
“Should we go somewhere else?” he asked, placing his mouth by her ear.
The wig tickled his nose, and he inhaled her soft scent. It wasn’t flowery, but more earthy, and it made his blood pump a little faster and his cock thicken in his pants. He wanted to place his lips on the column of her neck and breathe in the sexy fragrance over and over.
She nodded. “Let me finish my drink.”
A few minutes later, he had paid their bill, and they were out in the cool night air. She slipped her arm through his as they walked.
“Why can’t you pick out a vampire out of a crowd?” he asked. “Why don’t you know your own kind right away?”
“I just can’t.”
“That’s why you want to work with me.”
She nodded and squeezed his arm. “That’s true, but you’re also cute.”
He didn’t know if she just messed with him, or if she truly flirted with him. “Are you stroking my ego to keep me around?”
As she glanced up at him, her lips turned into a smile. “What do you think?”
“It doesn’t matter what I think. I just want the truth.”
They had reached her car, and she turned to face him. “At first, I wanted to kill you for screwing everything up. Then, I realized you could be an asset to me. Now, after spending some time with you, I like you, and as I said, you’re not bad to look at.”
Her forwardness surprised him once more, and he didn’t know whether to believe her or not.
“What do you think of me?” she asked.
He allowed his gaze to study her face, then trail over her body down to her pretty, pink toenails, and back up again.
What did he think of her?
If she didn’t have the vampire thing going for her, he’d be trying to get into those sweet little golden pants.
“You’re okay,” he answered with a shrug. Her face fell for a moment, then he smiled. “I like you, too, Sami.”
She smacked his shoulder, and he took a step back, rubbing the area she’d hit. Damn, the girl was strong.
As she opened her car door, she didn’t take her gaze off of him. “I’ll text you the next address, asshole. Meet me there.”
“Why don’t we just ride together?”
“Because I don’t think I like you that much,” she retorted, slamming her car door.
/> He chuckled as he jogged over to his bike.
* * *
Two hours later, he parked at the third bar. As the two o’clock hour approached, it was almost time for last call, and for them to end their search for the night.
As he walked over to the bar, he noted no line waiting to get in, so he approached the bouncer, a beefy man standing over six feet and as wide as a tank.
“Sorry, we’re getting ready to close. It’s almost last call.”
He shoved his hands in the front pockets of his jeans. “Yeah, I know. I just need to go in and take a look around. I was here earlier with my friend and I wanted to see if he was still around. I’ll only be a minute.”
The bouncer eyed him warily.
Connor pulled out his last twenty-dollar bill and held it up in front of the guy’s face. Not a subtle move, but he was tired, a bit cranky and in no mood to play any games.
After a very brief stare-down, the bouncer took the bill and opened the door for him.
Connor walked in and quickly glanced around. The dance floor appeared almost empty, but the bar had a crowd five to six people deep in front of it. Everyone wanted to get that last dose of alcohol in them before heading home for the night.
A few vampires mingled in the crowds, their auras bright, and he wondered once again how many others stood among the people like Sami—more human than anything else.
He took a seat in a booth and waited patiently for Sami. He guessed she probably had trouble finding a parking spot. It was always easier to squeeze a bike in somewhere than a car.
About fifteen minutes later, she still hadn’t shown. With a bit of annoyance and worry, he got up and left the club.
Turning to his left, he scanned the parking lot, looking for her car. He counted ten white Acuras, and his frustration grew. However, a bad feeling also settled in his gut, the kind he got when he realized all was not right in his world. He didn’t think Sami would ditch him, and he couldn’t help but wonder if something had happened to her.
He walked through the cars with ease, glad that most had left for the night. If it had been high time at the club, the place would have been jam-packed. At the back of the parking lot, he noticed a car with its door open, the inside light shining brightly. As he approached, he saw the vehicle was white.
He carefully glanced around the area, then jogged over. He found Sami lying on the pavement on her side, her wig about ten feet away. Her black hair covered most of her face, but as he rolled her to her back, he cringed at the blood seeping from a wound along her hairline.
“Sami?” he whispered as panic rolled through him and his breath caught in his throat. He didn’t want to call attention to himself if her attackers were still around.
As he pulled the knife from his coat, he got to his knees and placed a hand on her shoulder, gently shaking her. He glanced under the car, hoping not to find anyone hiding and noticing her cell phone on the pavement. He’d have to shimmy underneath to grab it, but his bulk wouldn’t allow for it.
She moaned, but didn’t open her eyes.
The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end, and he looked around again. The need to vacate ripped through him, so he made a quick decision.
Gathering her in his arms, he opened the door and placed her in the back seat. He found her keys on the pavement, and with one last quick glance around, he slipped into the driver’s seat.
He jammed the keys into the starter and put the car in reverse, hearing the crunch of Sami’s phone as he backed out. As he slammed it into drive and was about to step on the gas, two figures appeared in his headlights about twenty feet away.
The vampires from last night.
His heart thundered in his chest as anger jolted through him. Gripping the steering wheel with such force that his knuckles turned white, he stared at the one with a handkerchief covering half his face. He couldn’t even imagine what lay below it, but had a feeling it wasn’t the pretty, pristine visage it had once been.
He bet these fuckers had been the ones responsible for attacking Sami, and he wanted to tear them apart with his bare hands.
As they walked slowly toward the car, he revved the engine, hoping to let them know he would be taking off shortly and he wouldn’t hesitate to run them over. Hell, he wanted to run them over.
As they continued coming at him, Sami stirred in the backseat with a curse. Part of him wanted to jump out of the vehicle and battle his enemy, but he had to get her to safety.
He gunned the accelerator, and the vampires backed out of the way just before he hit them. As he drove by, he couldn’t help but notice the long, white fangs flashed at him.
As he maneuvered the almost empty streets, he kept track of the cars behind him to make sure he wasn’t being followed.
He had no idea where to go. She probably should have that cut looked at, and might need stitches, but he didn’t feel comfortable taking her to a hospital for many reasons. First, how would he explain the gash without casting suspicion on himself? A man showing up with a hurt woman in the early morning hours would be a red flag for domestic violence. He didn’t need the scrutiny.
And what about Sami? What if they took blood work, and somehow, her vampire heritage made her blood different than a human? He supposed he could find a vampire doctor or nurse and explain the situation, but even that was taking a chance. What if he rolled into a hospital that didn’t have a large vampire employee base?
He sighed and rubbed his face. They’d have to make do with the medical training he’d received in the military. Once Sami came around, he’d ask her where he should take her if she still needed a doctor. For all he knew, they had special clinics that operated just for vampires. They had police departments, so it didn’t seem like such a stretch.
When he pulled into his apartment complex, he killed the engine and waited a few moments to make sure no one lurked in the shadows.
He didn’t see anyone, so he opened the door. A small, leather-bound book that looked like it had seen many years and been held by many hands sat on the front passenger seat. Vampire Mythology, the title read. He grabbed it, got out of the car, and shoved it in the back of his jeans, then hauled her out. As he hurried to his apartment, he listened for footsteps behind him and scanned the area for people.
Once he reached his front door, he flipped her so that she was more over his shoulder, dug out his keys, and slipped into the apartment.
Everything seemed to be as he had left it, and he sighed in relief.
He locked them in, then took Sami down the hall to his bedroom and laid her down, tossing the book on the nightstand.
Hair stuck to the blood on her face, so he got a wet cloth from the bathroom. He gently rubbed the crimson stains from her skin, and after a few moments, concluded that it had all come from the gash in her head. She didn’t have any other cuts on her face.
After cleaning that, he gently dabbed some antiseptic on it. It definitely needed some stiches, and he debated doing it himself. He’d likely cause a scar with his sewing skills, but it was in her hairline, so would it matter? At least, the bleeding had slowed.
Her pulse was strong, her coloring good, her breathing stable. He hoped she didn’t have a concussion. He wished he had at least tried to get her phone because then, he could have gone through her contacts and see who to call for help, but it lay in the parking lot in thousands of pieces.
He glanced over her torso, and didn’t see any other wounds. Gently, he lifted her shirt to her breasts and noticed the beginnings of a brutal bruise on her rib cage. Pressing down on her stomach, he didn’t feel any swelling, which he considered a good thing as distension could mean internal injuries.
He held her slim hands in his and studied them. They showed no signs of defense wounds, so she’d obviously been caught by surprise, which only fueled his anger again.
Slipping off her shoes, he set them on the carpet, then pulled the comforter over her, thankful he hadn’t bothered to make the bed when he woke.
&n
bsp; He stared at her a few moments, then stood and stretched and decided to leave her forehead alone. He didn’t want to scar her, and if need be, she could visit whatever doctor she needed tomorrow.
Grabbing his sweatpants from the floor, he went into the bathroom and quickly changed, leaving his clothes where they lay.
Returning to the bedroom, he gingerly sat down on the other side of the bed and pushed a pillow behind his lower back. He knew worry for Sami wouldn’t allow him to sleep anytime soon, not to mention the fury he felt that she’d been hurt. Visions of going back to the bar and gutting the two vampires played in his mind. He wanted to put his fist through a wall, but instead, took some deep breaths to try to calm down.
When that proved to be completely ineffective, he grabbed the remote from the bedside table and turned on the television, immediately muting it. He’d bore himself into calm.
An infomercial about a ridiculous-looking shaking weight played, claiming that it worked more muscles than regular lifting did. He didn’t believe it for a second, but it didn’t matter. After about twenty minutes of concentrating on the television, he felt somewhat stable again, and his attention quickly turned inward.
Vampires were gathering humans for some reason. Sami had said possible slavery, but that didn’t seem right to him. He couldn’t explain it—it was something he just felt in his gut. But what could the reason be?
Although he’d been studying and watching vampires for a year, he still knew very little about them. Never in a million years would he imagine that humans and vampires had been mating since the beginning of time, and that Sami was one, or at least had vampire blood.
He glanced over at her again, the book from her car catching his eye. She still slept soundly. Reaching across her, he grabbed the book and then turned off the television. Although he didn’t put much stock in myths, he figured it couldn’t hurt to spend his time learning something about Sami’s species instead of watching stupid shows containing empty promises on television.
