“Don’t worry, Maxine, we’ve been acquainted,” he drawled, smile widening until it showed off his sharp fangs.
A curious flush rolled through her simply because he’d spoken to her in that silky timbre. Appalled by her reaction, she stiffened her shoulders and gave the vampire a suspicious, narrow-eyed look.
Sticking her chin out, she demanded, “I told you to get lost.”
“And I said I wasn’t leaving without you,” he answered, lips quirking.
“Then you need to put up or shut up.”
The message that she’d fucked up came through immediately and with force. Gasps and titters went around the room, alongside a fair few chuckles that sent a shiver down her spine. But nothing sent warnings flashing in her mind as clearly as when the tip of Mr. Amauri’s tongue touched the pad of his lower lip.
Thebustedlip she’d bitten out of blind instinct and could still feel between her teeth.
“Oh, kitten,” he chuckled, “don’t tempt me.”
It was a curious thing to know intellectually that every eye in the room was fixed on her and yet not feel their attention. It was completely eclipsed by the way Mr. Amauri looked at her.
Her breathing quickened. A bright, hungry sort of feeling electrified her insides and sent a jolt of pure recklessness through her. Speaking in the voice of practiced calm she’d perfected over years of service work, she replied, “Easton, I believe Mr. Amauri would like to pay the entry fee.”
The vampire’s eyes crinkled at the corners. “That’s my girl.”
With absolutely zero warning, Mr. Amauri’s heavily muscled arm snapped out to snatch Easton by the scruff of his collar. He didn’t even break eye contact with her when he dragged the other vampire close and declared, “I’m in.”
Easton, a handsome but undeniably off-putting man distantly related to Maxine, exhaled a shaky sigh of relief. “Great! Let’s just?—”
Mr. Amauri cut him off without sparing a look in his direction. “Frankie?”
She swallowed with some difficulty. “Yes?”
His tongue dabbed the cut on his lip once more — practically savoring it. “Whatever happens, I want you to remember what I said before.”
The blood drained from her cheeks.I’m so fucked.
SEVEN
He hadto give Easton some credit. He’d done a pretty good job putting together the greediest, wealthiest, shittiest group of vampires the syndicate had to offer. And dangling a golden anchor in front of them?
No wonder he hadn’t run off. He thought he could make everything he owed back and more in a single night.
In fact, half the people gathered in the parlor, cigars and expensive synth in hand, were rumored to be owed money from Easton. It was a bold move, inviting everyone to one event. Luis doubted he would’ve been brave or stupid enough to do that if he didn’t have a once in a lifetime opportunity at his fingertips.
Frankie.
Luis sat in the leather armchair by the fireplace, her sales package clutched in his hands. A sick feeling rolled through him as he stared down at her glossy image. She’d been reduced down to a handful of pages, a photograph, and a few vials of blood.
None of these people cared about her degree in pre-Great War arrant history. No one would ask her if she liked living in United Washington, or what she wanted to do with her life. They didn’t care about her hopes, insecurities, or the nightmares she needed guarding from. To the people milling about the richlydecorated room, she was nothing more than an exquisitely rare meal.
Luis worked hard to keep his face blank as he glanced around the room. His competition lingered by the bar, lounged on couches, and clustered together in a fairly decent representation of the loyalties within the syndicate.
Those from rival families avoided each other. Allies shared drinks, despite the fact that they’d soon be in competition, and the lone wolves huddled with their body guards. All of them steered clear of him.
Every single one of the contestants brought an entourage, big or small. He was the only vampire in the room entirely on his own. Still, vanishingly few dared to meet his eye as he scanned the room. Some possible contestants had scurried out as soon as the lights came up in the ballroom, either because the price was too steep or because they took one look at him and decided it just wasn’t worth it.
Everyone else, however…
What would these fuckers do for a taste of a golden anchor?
He should’ve known. He shouldn’t have let her run away from him. And he damn well should’ve thrown her over his shoulder and carried her out when found her in the bedroom.