by Nickie Asher
Holy shit. Slade was dangerous.
“But, hell, Ashton is just as bad with that fencing shit. He goes at it with his leader. He’s been cut up more times than I can count.”
“I take it his leader is better with a blade?”
“Understatement. But the dude is a lot older than Ashton and he’s been fencing for years.”
Julian snorted. They were an interesting bunch.
Vali fished a little plastic bag from his jacket pocket. “You ever do Ritalin?”
“Ritalin?”
“Makes ya feel good. Euphoric. I don’t think it does that to humans. But vampires love the shit.” He offered Julian four little pills. “Try it. You’ll love it.”
Julian hesitated. He’d never had any interest in drugs.
“Come on, don’t be a weenie. Try it. You don’t have to do it again if you don’t like it.”
Not wanting to look like a wuss, Julian accepted the pills and choked them down dry.
“Atta kid. You’ll feel real good when those kick in. When you drink a little, it’ll kick the pills in the ass.”
“Terrific.”
Vali laughed. “Trust me. They’re harmless as long as you only take ‘em on occasion. Sometimes…” His voice became thick. “Sometimes, I really need them.”
“Are these things addictive?”
“Yeah, but you’d have to use every day for a good while to get hooked.”
Two young males came toward them, pushing through the pedestrians.
“Watch out for those two fuckers,” Vali said. “The older one is Damon. The other is his brother, Jax. They’re collaborators. The whole family is.”
“Bastards.”
“One of these days, someone’s going to toast that pack of trash,” Vali said.
“Won’t be any loss.” Any vampire willing to sell out others for money deserved to be killed as far as Julian was concerned.
They passed the brothers without incident and continued on their way.
They walked past familiar clubs and Julian’s stomach clenched. Ahead of them, the name Magpies flashed in bright neon. They were heading right for it. “I can’t go in there.”
“Sure you can.”
“I used to hang out there. I might run into people who know me.” The idea of his former friends being afraid of him, or worse, ridiculing him, was something he wanted to avoid if at all possible.
“So what? You are what you are. Fuck ‘em if they have a problem. You can’t limit yourself because you might run into someone you knew.”
The hell he couldn’t.
But now that Vali had called him on it, he couldn’t back out and keep any semblance of pride.
“If they don’t like you now, they never would’ve if they’d known you had a vampire daddy. You give a fuck what someone like that thinks? You’re with your own kind now. You’re where you belong.”
The truth of the words burned home. Julian knew his ex-crowd well enough. None of them would have accepted him, nor would he have accepted one of them had he learned they were part-vampire.
He swallowed past what felt like a balled up sock and followed Vali inside the club.
Vali headed straight for the stained bar where a burly man approached on the other side.
“Jack and Coke for both of us.” Vali motioned at Julian.
“I’ve seen you here before,” the bartender said to Julian. “But there’s no way this little snot is old enough to drink.” He looked at Vali with the same disgust a man would have for a dog turd on the sidewalk. “I’m sure you have ID?”
Vali produced a driver’s license and handed it to the bartender.
After a quick glance, he shoved it back with an unconvinced scowl.
Vali slipped his ID back in his pocket and rolled his eyes.
A moment later, the bartender banged the glasses down on the bar and took Vali’s money.
“Come on.” Vali grabbed one of the glasses. “Let’s get a table close to the dance floor.”
Vali maneuvered the crowd, leading Julian through clouds of manufactured fog that reflected an array of dizzying, flashing, multi-colored lights.
Julian’s stomach rolled at the stench of mingled sweat, perfume, men’s cologne, and raw lust. He wanted to go outside where he could breathe. Or throw up. Instead, he followed Vali to a table and settled on an uncomfortable chair.
Vali thunked his glass down hard enough to slosh some of the contents onto the table. “Goin’ to the john. Be right back … unless I find a pretty little gal to dance with.”
Julian downed half the Jack and Coke and nearly choked when he looked up. Rachael strutted toward him, her clothes molded to her lithe form as usual, the black and red silk clinging to barely-concealed curves.
Her approach killed the Ritalin buzz that had kicked in.
Her blue eyes met his in a bold stare. He knew that look and what it meant. He knew what she wanted.
“Julian,” she purred in a silky voice and eased into the chair across from him. Her gaze crawled over him, slow and hot. “I’ve heard things about you. From Tommy. It’s true, isn’t it?”
That big-mouthed fucker had probably told everyone.
“Isn’t it?” she coaxed.
No point in lying. “It’s true.”
She reached over to touch his face, but he caught her wrist.
She frowned, scarlet-painted lips bowing into a pout, as she pulled against his hold.
He released her.
“I’ve always wondered what screwing a vampire would be like. How about it?”
“Don’t think so.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Why not? You should be glad I want you. And you sure didn’t mind sleeping with me before.”
“I’m interested in someone.”
Her brows lifted. “One of your kind?” She made it sound ugly, like something you’d slip into the garbage and hope no one saw.
He ground his teeth. “Yes.”
“She doesn’t have to know. Hell, she probably wouldn’t care. So get off your high horse.” She leaned over the table and her abundant breasts almost spilled out of the wisps of silk containing them. “I want you, Julian. I want you to fuck me. Maybe I’ll let you bite.”
The scent of her excitement touched off a flare of anger in him. She didn’t give a damn about him, never had. She wanted the thrill of screwing a vampire and having something to tell her slutty girlfriends. Just as she’d undoubtedly bragged about screwing the star violinist after she’d slept with him the first time.
“Isn’t happening.” He picked up his glass and drained it.
Her eyes darkened to midnight-blue and color stained her cheeks. “I didn’t want you anyway, you sorry piece of shit.” She stood, spun on her spiked heels, and strode away with her head held high.
She stopped at a table where four men were seated. To Julian’s horror, two of them wore the olive uniforms of Security Center officers.
His skin prickled, first with heat, followed by cold. One officer swiveled in his chair. Julian met the man’s eyes head on, though his insides crawled like snakes.
Where the hell was Vali? They had to get out of there before things got butthole ugly.
Rachael stood with one hand on her hip, her too-short skirt showing a lot of leg. She glanced over at him. Her expression hostile, she raised her chin. Ratting him out and probably embellishing the story. The bitch.
Vali materialized through the mob and took the seat she’d vacated.
“There’s going to be trouble. We have to get the fuck out of here.” Julian got to his feet.
“Why? What did I miss?”
“A girl I know hit on me. She’s over there talking shit to those Security Center goons. We have to go. Now.”
One of the officers pushed his chair back and stood. He stalked toward them, heavy boots clomping on the floor.
“Come on.” Julian headed for the exit.
He wove through the crowd, his body tightening with tension. He looked back.
The officers were shoving their way through the milling throng, homing in on them. The spot between Julian’s shoulders itched until they exited the building. “I’ve never seen government goons in there before.”
“Come on, before those jerks get out here.”
They slipped around the side of the club, clinging to deep shadows until they reached the street behind Magpies.
Six blocks away, Vali looked back for the hundredth time. “Bogies flying up our backsides.”
Julian spotted two officers. “You think they’re looking for us?”
“Dude, I can’t believe you asked that. You think they might be searchin’ for Mr. Goodbar or somethin’?”
“Smartass.”
“Know it. Now let’s get out of here.”
They cut down an alley and broke into a jog, putting quick distance between them and the government officers. Once the men were out of sight, they slowed back to a walk.
A large vampire strode toward them, a younger male by his side. Striking black hair with startling blond streaks and almost identical features marked them as father and son.
Longing swept over Julian. Friends weren’t family. Bottom line, he was alone. The others had each other. Family. He had no one. It was an empty, soul-grinding feeling.
“You ever wonder about your dad?” Vali asked as though he were privy to Julian’s thoughts.
“Sometimes.” More like a lot since his induction into the vampire club. Not that it mattered. His father had felt nothing for him. Had he cared the least bit, he would have been there for Julian. Period.
“What about your family?” Julian asked.
“Dead.”
“I’m sorry.” Shit, he wished he hadn’t gone there.
Vali shoved his hair from his face. “My father was murdered. The thought of living without him was too much for my mother. She took her own life.”
Good Lord.
“Being orphaned isn’t uncommon in our world.”
“Holy fuck.”
“Ashton’s parents raised Saranna and Slade. He’s more like their brother than their cousin.”
“Their parents are dead?”
“Don’t know. After Saranna was born, their father split. Their mother dumped them on Ashton’s family and took off to look for him. They never came back.”
“Shit.”
“Yeah. Ashton got fucked on that deal. Saranna was an infant and his parents doted on her. Slade was traumatized and they spent a lot of time trying to help him get over losing his parents.”
“And Ashton was ignored.”
“He handled it well, though.”
Julian wondered if that were true. Just because someone didn’t show pain didn’t mean it wasn’t there.
“This way,” Vali said, dodging into the mouth of an alley. He stopped so suddenly that Julian almost ran into him.
Halfway down the length of the passageway, a man crouched over a woman’s body. He lifted his head. In a blink, he sprang to his feet and tore from the alley.
“What the hell?” Julian said.
“Rogue. I think he killed her. Come on, let’s go see.”
They approached the body. “Son of a bitch,” Vali said. “I know her.”
“Who is she?”
“Street girl. Name’s Glitter.”
Waist-length, black hair lay tangled around her lovely Latino features. Her fuchsia mini-skirt had ridden up and a black lace thong peeked out.
“She’s a hooker?”
“Duh, dude. What did ya think I meant? That she was a hot dog vendor?” Vali squatted beside her.
“Asshole.” Julian hovered over Vali and the dead girl.
“Poor Glitter. She didn’t deserve this.”
“Come on. We can’t do her any good and we don’t want to be seen with a dead body.”
Vali stood. “No shit.”
Chapter Ten
STUNNED, CHRISTOPHER maneuvered for a better view of the two young males.
He hadn’t seen his son in close to a year, but the long-haired youngster hurrying away from the kill scene was Julian. A no-longer-half-human Julian.
Someone had turned him.
Across the street, the vampire faded deeper into the shadows. He appraised his son. The boy was well-built and good-looking, but the arrogant swagger had vanished from his stride. Now he moved with caution, alert for danger, and he’d traded his tailored clothes for jeans and a simple white shirt.
Christopher kept pace with them, but stayed out of sight. Julian would want a relationship if they met. Nature insured that until offspring reached their mid to late twenties, they clung to their parents. And he had no intention of playing Daddy.
He stopped and waited until they were half a block ahead of him before continuing. Curiosity got the better of him and, remaining well behind, he trailed them to Pioneer Square, drifting through the shadows with stealth the youngsters lacked. Julian wasn’t living in the type of housing he was accustomed to if he’d moved here. But perhaps they were merely passing through.
They slipped inside a decrepit apartment building.
Satisfaction coursed through Christopher. It was a government rent-assisted building if he’d ever seen one. Must be a painful come down for someone used to living it up.
He waited five minutes before entering the building. A bank of mailboxes lined the wall right inside the doorway. He scanned the names, but Julian’s wasn’t there.
He drew in a deep breath, picking up an assortment of foul odors dominated by stale cooking grease. The stench of humans overpowered everything else, but the scent of vampires also lingered in the building. Three distinct signatures. Julian and the other young male. And a female.
He homed in on the female’s scent, tracking it to an apartment halfway down the hall. The scents of the two males came from the same apartment.
Did the female belong to Julian?
Head cocked, he listened. The female wasn’t there.
He spun around and stalked to the entryway. He had what he’d come for.
Besides, he had to get home and change clothes. He was supposed to be on duty, but those fucktards at the Security Center would never know. Not that he would care if they found out. He didn’t need the paycheck for being a Wolf Guard. He just liked the job. That was the nice thing about being an equal opportunity killer.
Chapter Eleven
JULIAN RAN through a half dozen measures of eighth notes as Saranna swept into the little apartment. Dressed for work in a leather jacket and a way-short skirt that showed a lot of leg, she was a feast he wanted to sample.
“You’ve been playing,” she said with approval.
“Practicing.”
She set her purse and a small bag on the coffee table. “I wish you’d play for me sometime.”
“Really?” He hadn’t thought to ask if she wanted him to play anything for her.
“Yes. I’d love that.”
Warmth crept through him. “Sure. Any time you want.” He wiped the violin off and strapped it into the velvet-lined case.
“Where’s Vali?”
“Went to Ashton’s.” Probably to tell him about their adventures the night before. “Said he’d be out all night.”
And wasn’t that fine with him. He had her all to himself for a change. He put the violin case against the wall, out of the way of traffic.
He planted himself on the sofa and stretched out his legs. “I want to help you out. It’s not right for me to stay here and not pitch in.”
“I hate to tell you this, but no one will hire you. There’s no work for our males unless you know someone to pull strings.” She sat beside him and the skirt inched up a bit higher. “But I appreciate you wanting to. I knew you were a sweetheart.”
“They might not hire me, but they will give me money.”
“What are you talking about?” she asked with suspicion in her voice.
He stifled the grin that wanted to curl his lips. “Don’t worry. I’m not going to get myself in trou
ble.”
“Better not. Humans don’t appreciate vampires trying to get one over on them.”
“Trust me. I know what I’m doing. I need to borrow some of your makeup though.”
“Okay, what are you up to?”
“You’ll see. Trust me, it’ll be fine.”
She leaned against him and closed her eyes. “I hope so. I don’t want you to get hurt.”
Her concern touched him. He drew in her fragrance, trying to ferret out the evidence of her interest. But he only detected her normal sweet scent.
“Did you ever think about finding your father?” she asked.
“Not seriously. I don’t even know if he’s alive or anywhere around here.” Besides, he didn’t know if he was ready to introduce himself to a stranger as his long lost son.
She fiddled with the TV remote, turning it over in her hands. “Don’t you want to know your father and your bloodline?”
“If he’s alive, he never bothered to find me. Why should I think he’d want me showing up now?”
“He’d probably be happy to see you. You’re his son.” She flipped through the local channels and stopped on a news program.
“I’m not so sure it’s a good idea.”
“You don’t know why he wasn’t part of your life. Maybe your mother stopped him. She obviously didn’t want you to know you were cross-bred.”
“Maybe.” He wanted to believe it. “I wouldn’t know where or how to look for him though.” What if his father was alive? What if he found him?
“How about with your birth certificate? What’s your father’s listed name?”
“Christopher Wilkes. A regular kind of guy name.”
“I’ve never heard of his family name, but that doesn’t mean anything. Most of us don’t use family names anyway. It’s only done when there’s a business need or a human’s involved. Like your mother. We have bloodline names, but they don’t sound like human surnames.”
“What if I find him and he doesn’t want anything to do with me?” Being rejected would hurt worse than never knowing him.
“It’s a chance you’d have to be willing to take.”
Maybe she was right. She knew more about vampire behavior than he did.
