“Hello, pleased to meet you.” I reached out warmly to shake Greg’s hand, careful to apply just enough pressure to be firm without squeezing.
Greg responded by pulling my hand to his greasy lips and making a few smacking sounds that turned my stomach. I resisted the urge to yank my hand away and slap him across the face, but it was harder than one might think.
Kale smiled right through the evil stare I shot him. He was so going to pay for this.
“Charmed.” Greg’s voice was thick and gruff. The suit that he wore didn’t fit right. It was too snug over his middle and incredibly obvious. He was running blood victims but couldn’t afford a well-tailored suit?
Kale posed as the perfect gentleman, which he sometimes was, and pulled out my chair. When we were all seated, Greg wasted no time. He cut straight to the chase.
“So, how much can I cut you in for?”
Kale could field that question. I was busy. I rubbed the slime off my offended hand and took a sip of my drink.
“That depends. What kind of deals do you have? Any regular client discounts?” Kale cast a glance around the place before looking pointedly at Greg. “Is there anywhere more private that we could discuss this? Alexa and I are well known professionals in our community. This has to stay quiet.”
“Most certainly. Quiet is our specialty.” Greg followed Kale’s gaze around the room as if in agreement. “I can bring you up to the room, but I must warn you that, if you try anything funny, I won’t hesitate to take you out.”
I frowned in response but quickly shrugged it off. He wanted to play tough guy, which was only expected. In most situations, he likely was the most powerful creature present, but this time he was going to be sadly mistaken.
“Of course.” Kale smiled through the threat, and I had to give him credit for not reacting with an outburst of temper like I tend to do.
The two vampires took a moment to stare into each other like two cowboys about to do a quick draw. I sat there feeling inferior because I wasn’t being recognized as a threat. But, that would end all too soon, just a matter of waiting for the right moment.
Greg scraped his chair against the floor to create a squeal that hurt my sensitive ears. He gestured toward the exit. “If you would just follow me.” We followed him, and I had the sinking feeling that this was going to get messy. The confined elevator proved extremely uncomfortable. An Asian family of four squeezed in after us so that I was virtually crushed between Kale and Greg. I tried my best to lean away from the ingratiating bastard.
We stepped off on the fourteenth floor and made our way to room 1423. I was more than surprised at what lay on the other side of the door. The hotel room was magnificent. Red carpet led from the doorway past a white marble hot tub to a round bed encircled by a white curtain. Mirrors lined every wall but one, creating the illusion that the room was much bigger than it was. It made the perfect honeymoon suite, although I would have enjoyed it more had there not been a pale, young woman tied to a chair near the window.
I hesitated at the doorway. A chill crept up my spine, and I unconsciously began to gather energy in the center of my being. Kale swept past me as if he had been dealing human slaves forever, which was disturbing in itself.
“Do you have a preference between men or women? Race? Anything?” Greg spoke casually, as if he were asking if we preferred red or white wine.
“Healthy and still beating,” Kale chuckled wickedly, and I found myself looking at him with wide eyes. Greg joined in his laughter and swept an arm in the woman’s direction.
“Do you want this one? You can take her with you tonight. She won’t make any trouble. Will you honey?” He asked her. When she didn’t acknowledge him, he gave her a resounding slap across the face.
I willed myself to rein in the anger that threatened to rip free of my control. Not yet. Soon.
“Yeah, we’ll take her. What else can you get for us?” Kale casually strolled around the room and pulled back the bed curtain to admire the fine bedding. “Nice room choice.”
His gaze focused on the white sheets and duvet, and I could almost see the wheels turning in his head. The room was incredibly white. How could we possibly keep this clean?
“Thanks. It’s my favorite here.” Greg pulled his wallet from his back pocket and produced a small sheet of paper that included a price and quantity list. “This is what we’re running right now for this city. It should be more than adequate to feed your…” He risked a glance at me. “…appetites.”
Kale accepted the paper. He read over it carefully and nodded every so often. In a motion faster than I could blink, he moved to pin the other vampire to the wall.
With an arm wedged against Greg’s throat, Kale growled, “Tell me who you’re working for, and I’ll consider allowing you to walk out of here in one piece.”