by Brenda Trim
The male paled and mumbled, “You’re the Dark Warrior.”
“The very one. Now, tell me who you work for and I might let you live.” Tori knew Santiago was lying. She could see him vibrating with the effort it was taking to hold back.
“Von,” the dealer rushed out.
“Try again. Who is in charge? Who makes this shit? I want his name,” Santi demanded, pressing his arm tighter across the male’s throat and making him turn blue.
“A will make you pay. Her power is greater than your Vampire King’s. I can’t tell you who she is or she will kill me. Let me go and I won’t ever come back here,” the dealer begged.
Santiago released the male’s hand, and light hit the object in his hand. It was a gun, and she gasped. Her mate was going to put a bullet in the male… but Santi paused with the weapon lifted halfway and looked at the dealer. Maybe he wasn’t. Unfortunately, it was the opening the male was looking for.
Tori watched in horror as the dealer lifted the hand holding the syringe he had been tempting the female with. Tori was too far away to do anything and hated that Santi was going to be injected with that drug and become instantly addicted. Her mate would spiral down and end up like Tobias before the drug killed him. She released her stalvajer from her wrist on instinct and screamed.
Santiago was as fast as the lightning he called and had a bullet between the dealer’s eyes before she could blink. The syringe fell to the dirty ground, followed by the dealer’s body.
Santi turned and met her gaze. The tormented look on his face said it all. He wasn’t sorry for killing the male, but he hated that she had seen him take the life. She had seen him as a murderer for the longest time, yet that wasn’t what he was. Everything he did was to protect the innocent female and save her from a life of addiction and death. Santi wouldn’t have taken the male’s life if he hadn’t been forced.
She was never forced to take a life. She made that choice every time she fulfilled a contract. It had never occurred to her that she was exactly like she had seen Santiago. He was right. There was a different way to handle cases and ensure justice was served. She was done with her century of service and didn’t want to do the job anymore.
She prayed she found the evidence necessary to convince Lana that Sam’s contract wasn’t warranted. She was fairly certain there was enough proof about Sam’s contract, but Lana had made it clear she would accept no excuses. Lana would not be happy if Tori refused two contracts and had half-assed information. Lana had made it clear that she was holding Tori responsible if she damaged the Guild’s reputation. Otherwise she was going to lose her head before she got to retire.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Santiago was still shocked that Tori had come to the fight club with him. Not that she was happy about it. She had railed at him the entire drive about how he was using the fight club as a way to compensate for feeling inadequate and prove he was the big man on campus. She couldn’t be more wrong. He was there because he was on shaky ground with Matthew after the fight with Von and needed to prove that he could control his beast.
The crowd roared as the vampire in the ring caught the cambion off guard and sent him flying into the side of the ring. Blood and sweat went flying, but no one seemed to notice. Tori was the only one who stepped aside to avoid the body fluids.
“I don’t see the appeal of this place,” she grumbled. “It smells like old shoes in here, and it looks like they never clean up the bloodstains. This is the last place I’d come if I were all dolled up in an evening gown.” She shook her head as she glanced around the ring.
Santiago tried to look at it from her perspective. He was so used to seeing the mix of individuals in the club. Supernaturals from all walks of life came to watch fighters beat the shit out of one another, even perfectly primped females who looked as if they were headed to a ball. Considering her point of view, he understood how some didn’t fit. What Tori was forgetting was that most had a bad side, and many indulged that side.
“They enjoy the primal nature of the fights. Gets them all worked up. You’d be surprised how many of those rich females seek the winners, wanting to bed them,” he replied, tugging his shirt off.
Tori snorted and rolled her eyes at him. “I take back my earlier comment. You don’t come here to be the big man on campus. You come here to get laid. I’m not sure which is worse. You’d think a big, sexy Dark Warrior wouldn’t have to resort to such measures for sex.”
He closed the distance between them and grabbed her by the waist. “I don’t come here for either reason. I’ve never actually slept with any of the females here. Although, this time there is this certain Valkyrie I’m hoping will want to take me home after she sees my prowess.”
Shaking her head, she ran her hand up his chest. “I’ve seen your prowess. I prefer your ability to call lightning. You promise to use it on me later, and I can guarantee you will have me,” she said, a sensual shiver traveling down her spine. Santi had never seen his ability to control weather as anything but a meaningless gift. There had been few incidents where it had come in handy to save a vampire’s life when they’d been stuck in the sun, but that was it. The way she saw the world was a refreshing change.
Maybe he would never be able to sift like Kyran or time-trace like Gerrick, but he had the ability to energize and pleasure his mate. That was what the Goddess had intended all along. It wasn’t about enhancing his performance as a warrior, but about enhancing his performance as a mate. His chest puffed with pride that he was able to provide for his mate’s unique needs.
“That can be arranged. In fact, I think our roof needs to be retractable. I want you to have the comforts of a bed while I torment and tease your body,” he purred in her ear.
“I know a great contractor. We can discuss the details at a time you don’t need to focus on a ginormous fire demon,” she murmured, reminding him where they were. It was easy to become sidetracked by his mate. He had a one-track mind where she was concerned, and it didn’t take much.
“I’ve fought Alan before. He’s a hothead, but not a problem for me,” he boasted, puffing out his chest.
“Whatever you say, wolf. But you may want to watch it. Alan has been glaring daggers at you since we walked over. I think he has a score to settle.”
Santi looked over his shoulder and noted she was right. Alan was pissed and ready for blood. “He can’t still be mad about that nymph propositioning me after our last fight. I turned her down.” They may not have been mates, but Santi never had and never would make a move on someone else’s female.
“I don’t think he cares. Be careful. Burns will not be accepted as an excuse later. You promised me lightning,” she said, then stood on tiptoe and kissed him.
Santi deepened their kiss before breaking their connection. The bell dinged behind him, signaling the beginning of his fight. He toed off his shoes and shucked his pants, leaving them neatly folded on his bag.
Tori swatted his ass as he was climbing into the ring, startling him. When he looked back, she glared at all the females around the ring who had no doubt been watching him undress. Her jealousy was far too appealing.
“You won’t win this time, warrior,” Alan growled and called fire to his palms.
“No fire in the ring. You know that,” the referee warned the fire demon.
The male would listen if he knew what was good for him. Santi was on a mission to regain his reputation after the shit storm he’d gotten for shifting in the ring. Fighting while having to restrain your instincts was a huge challenge that most failed. Santi was lucky that he hadn’t been banned from the club for his lack of control. He doubted most of his fellow Dark Warriors could fight with such tightly held control.
Why was it so wrong to want to fight and prove how strong he was? His actions didn’t make Dark Warriors look bad. It made them feared and respected.
Alan doused his hands and balled them into fists. “What’s wrong? You afraid you can’t beat me without fire?” Santi taunted the irat
e male.
“I can beat you with my eyes closed,” Alan replied, and ran at him.
Santi ducked, but the fire demon was quicker than that and managed to throw an arm out and knock Santiago on his ass. Before Alan could pounce on him, Santi was flipping to his feet and punching him in the face. Blood spurted from his nose and the crowd erupted. Cheers and taunts echoed all around them.
Santi knew from experience that bets were changing hands fast and furiously as the fight unfolded. The bookies would stop bets in another minute. They made most of their money the first couple minutes of a fight. He didn’t know if it was because Tori was standing there watching, but the knowledge that others were making money off his aggression didn’t sit right with him.
Shaking off the uncertainty, he refocused on the fight. “You can’t beat me. They call me the Punisher for a reason,” Santi countered as he danced around the ring.
Alan landed a roundhouse to his abdomen, stealing his breath. Santi countered by kicking and punching furiously. They were wrapped around each other, hitting anywhere they could. Sweat dripped into Santi’s eyes as he grappled for position.
“This isn’t a date,” a male from the audience shouted. “Get on with the fight or get out of the ring.”
“You’re making me lose money, warrior,” shouted another male.
It struck him at that moment that they didn’t give a shit about him. They weren’t impressed by his ability to fight. They were using him as a way to make a quick buck. He was nothing more than entertainment, and when he failed to give them what they wanted, they wanted him replaced. The thought enraged him. He was the best in the ring.
The split second Santi was caught up in his head, Alan threw what felt like an iron fist into his side. A loud crack reverberated through Santi’s mind at the same moment he doubled over in pain. The fucker had broken a rib.
Unable to catch his breath, Santi sought that place of focus and resolve so he could finish the fight. Alan didn’t give an inch but kneed him in the injured area repeatedly.
“Get the fuck out of there. Kick his ass, wolf,” Tori yelled from close by.
Turning his head, he saw her leaning on the platform. Concern and confusion were etched on her face. He wasn’t going down in front of his mate like this.
Snarling, he grabbed hold of Alan’s head and brought it down into his knee at the same time he lifted his leg. The crack jolted them both and they stumbled apart. Clutching his side, Santi willed his cells to go to his rib and heal it.
They circled each other as the crowd yelled at them to get on with it. One female even screamed that she’d have gone dancing if that were what she wanted to see. Most of the crowd was still cheering for him.
A female took off her shirt and yelled, “Maybe this will motivate you, Punisher. Win this and I’ll go home and fuck you.”
Tori screeched and her wings snapped out as she flew at the female. Claws and fists pummeled the female as Tori yelled something Santi couldn’t hear. The crowd was torn between watching their fight and the one in the ring.
Expecting it this time, Santi pretended he didn’t see Alan approaching and jumped at the last second, flying over the fire demon’s head while he traveled into the corner. Santi watched Tori fight off bouncers as he kept track of Alan.
When Matthew locked an arm around Tori’s waist, pinning her wings against her back, Santi jumped onto the top rope, intending to tackle the guy.
“Leave her the fuck alone,” he snarled.
Just as he was about to make the leap, the referee grabbed his leg and hauled him down. “You leave and you forfeit the fight. Finish this and then you can deal with your female,” the ref advised.
The crowd had gone silent, watching events unfold. Half of them were clearly pissed; the other half looked as if they understood. His mate mark was on display, and there would be little doubt about who Tori was to him. No one went to Tori’s defense, and there was no sign of the respect he’d believed he’d been earning for months in the ring. He really was just another form of entertainment to them.
He’d show them, he thought. He went into a rage and attacked Alan, showing no mercy. He hit and kicked and punched the male. Alan dished it right back to him, and blood and sweat flew like it did with every fight. The floor became slick and they had to dance around puddles.
The fire demon’s skin had lost its luminescent glow and was now dull. It was a sign that he didn’t have much more in him. The crowd urged him to finish it. Normally Santi would have believed they saw his strength, but he knew better now. They didn’t see him or Alan. And if Santi were being honest, Tori had been right. He fought to prove he was the big man on campus. His reaction just now was proof of that.
He hadn’t fought because he needed to get his aggression out. He fought to get their attention, and it disgusted him. Still, he put all he had left into his right hook and knocked Alan on his ass. He may have realized why he fought, but that didn’t mean he wanted to lose.
Hands on his knees, he panted as he scanned the crowd for Tori. She was next to his bag with Matthew right behind her. She looked unscathed, but still pissed. The buxom blonde was being carried out by a bouncer and looked worse for the wear. She had bloody furrows lining her face and neck and was holding her stomach as blood seeped through her fingers.
“You’re going to have to teach me some of your tricks,” he told her as he climbed out of the ring.
Narrowing her eyes, she glared at him. “She’s lucky she still has her head. These mating compulsions have me in knots and not thinking clearly. That’s the only reason I didn’t use my stalvajer. And don’t ever ask me to come to one of these things again.”
Hands on her hips, she was the sexiest thing he’d ever seen. She may not be certain about their mating, but she was as much a slave to the impulses as he was. That was something he could work with. She shook her head at him and walked away before he could respond.
He grabbed a towel from his bag and dried the sweat and blood from his face and chest before pulling his shirt on. He grabbed his bag without bothering with the rest, because he wanted to catch up with his mate. Not that she could go anywhere without him. He had the keys.
Von, the smelly grease-pit, stepped into Santi’s path with a sneer on his face. It was all Santi could do to tamp down his desire to kill the vampire and rid the realm of his filth. Not that Tori had any regard for the male, but Santi was trying to prove to her that he was capable of playing by the rules.
The thought had him pausing to consider Zander’s assertion that Santi believed he was above the law. Yes, in many respects Santi did believe all of the Dark Warriors were above the law. They should be able to do what was necessary to protect the innocent. But having already come to an unpleasant conclusion about his fighting, he wondered if he was justified in his thinking. Fuck, wasn’t this the night for soul searching, he thought.
“You’re losing your edge, Punisher. Might have to change your name to Coddler. I was certain you were going to rip his shorts off and have sex with him right then and there,” Von taunted. The male was a piece of shit, and Santi knew he was taunting him, but couldn’t stop from getting mad.
Santi dropped his bag and fisted the front of the silk shirt Von wore. The male tried too hard to appeal to females and fell short of anything desirable. He wore an obnoxious orange polyester suit with wide lapels and a black silk shirt that was open to his navel. His chest hair was matted, and Santi saw food stuck in it, making him wonder how often Von showered.
“I kicked your ass last time I faced you. Want to take this outside and I can show you the real meaning behind my name?” Santi wasn’t sure if he wanted him to say yes or not. He had so many thoughts and doubts racing through his head at the moment, he wasn’t sure he could stop from taking the male’s head.
If he did that and lost his mate because he’d lost sight of the bigger picture and acted against Von, he would never forgive himself.
Von paled and trembled in his grip. “
You can’t touch me. You have no idea the power behind me.”
“You mean Lady Angelica? Or should I say evil Angelica?” Santi murmured, testing his theory.
Von’s eyes went saucer wide and his mouth dropped open before he caught his reaction and donned a neutral mask. “I have no idea what you are talking about,” Von hedged. “You better watch what you say and do.”
“Is there a problem?” Matthew asked as he approached them.
“Not at all,” Santiago responded, keeping his eyes pinned to Von.
“Good, because if you guys think you’re taking this outside, think again. Take your shit somewhere else before I ban you both,” Matthew warned before walking away.
“You haven’t seen the last of me,” Santi informed Von as he let go of his shirt and headed for his mate.
The night had not gone like Santiago had planned, and now he had some decisions to make.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Tori wanted to scream as she headed toward Santi’s Hummer. Ever since the first time she’d had sex with Santiago, she had been battling instinct. Why she’d let her guard down even infinitesimally, she had no idea. The past weeks had taught her how dangerous that was, but her epiphany left her vulnerable. It was difficult to realize she was no better than what she had initially thought of Santi. It fucked with her mind and made her question everything, and that left her unfocused and unguarded.
Normally a skank removing her top wouldn’t elicit any type of reaction from Tori, but the female had done it to proposition Tori’s mate, and that had the primal mating instinct going haywire. Tori wasn’t a shifter so she wasn’t familiar with the need to claim territory, yet hearing the female say she wanted to fuck Santiago had set something off.
Tori shook her hands out as she walked in an attempt to remove the desire to stalk back into the club, find her mate, and drag him out by the hair. She almost hadn’t come here with him. She completely disagreed with his approach to criminals and his need to set things right. Ever since he’d shared his past with her, the image of him standing by helpless while his father beat and killed his mother refused to leave her mind. He had personal demons like everyone else, and his heart was in the right place. It was the way he went about it that was off-kilter.
