Chapter Twenty-Three
At first glance, The Wicked Kiss didn’t appear to be any different than it was the first night I saw the inside of it. The dance floor was packed, as always. The bar had a line up, and the rooms in the back occupied by vampires and their willing, or not so willing victims, were full. Yet, I could already feel the difference in the atmosphere.
Kale had wasted no time in taking charge. As a regular and an old and powerful vampire, few would be ballsy enough to challenge him. The few staff members that hadn’t wanted to stick around after Harley’s death were gone though almost all of the staff had remained. They hadn’t seemed to care who was in charge, as long as they had a purpose in the club and a paycheck. That worked for me.
I stood near the dance floor, sipping an iced tea and watching the combination of humans and vampires grinding and groping to the music. A few of the human patrons looked like they may be underage. That was something that was going to change and fast.
Arys was in the back. I assumed he was in Harley’s room, though I wasn’t sure what he was doing in there. Shaz was getting a feel for the place as he was about to take over security duty. In addition, Kale was by my side, observing those that were willing to bleed.
“It’s been far too easy. I keep waiting for something to happen.” Kale leaned close so that I could hear him over the loud music. “But, I’ll be ready when it does.”
“And, what exactly are you expecting?”
“I don’t know. It just seems too calm and normal here. Makes me suspicious.”
His words made me look that much harder at everyone around me. Arys hadn’t been happy with my decision to give legal ownership to Kale or my choice to share the responsibility of running the place. It wasn’t up for discussion though. Arys didn’t like that Kale had sunk fangs into me or that I’d wanted it. However, after some of the things we had done recently, we had no choice but to live with it and let it go. Kale was someone I shared a connection with, a connection unlike the one I shared with my lovers.
I’d stopped trying to define it.
“I’m always suspicious in this place,” I replied. “But, now that Harley’s out of the picture, I’m ready to rumble anyone that wants to make trouble.”
“I have to admit, I was worried about you. I hated seeing you so wrecked when Arys was gone. It’s hard to watch you suffer.”
I reached for Kale’s hand and gave it a friendly squeeze. “Thanks, Kale. I appreciate that. It’s a touchy situation for sure, but we’re making do. He’s still beating himself up over the things he found out during his trip to Vegas.”
Kale shrugged and turned his serious multi-colored gaze on me. “Well, good. He should be. He was an idiot to doubt you.”
I hid a smile. “In Arys’ defense though, Harley was his sire. I can understand the attachment.”
Kale scoffed, glancing away from me back to the crowded dance floor. “Even more reason to off the guy. But, I guess some of us regret the things that others thrive on.”
I had nothing to say to that. I wasn’t a vampire. Not yet anyway. I couldn’t relate to what most of them had gone through. Kale’s experience had been horrific. I knew only some of what he’d endured, but it had been bad enough for him to alter his lifestyle, finding his victims at the Kiss and only taking the kill in rare circumstances.
I watched as Shaz walked a slow path around the perimeter of the club. He wasn’t going to be taking care of typical security like the front door. I wanted his eyes and ears everywhere. A few of the human female clientele had approached him several times already in the hopes that he was seeking a play pal. He didn’t let on what he was though I suspected if they saw him sprout claws and fangs bigger than any vampire’s, they’d run shrieking into the night.
I was laughing softly to myself at the visual my mind conjured when something suddenly grasped my attention. The atmosphere shifted ever so slightly, just enough to trigger my senses and set off my internal alarm. Something wasn’t right.
I scanned the vicinity, trying to appear as if I wasn’t. A negative energy felt too harsh and focused on me. I looked at Kale to see if he felt it, too. The way he surveyed those around us told me he did. Everything in me warned of danger. My body reacted defensively. Claws and fangs lengthened, ready for battle. I was confused, unsure of what it was I was preparing to take on. I didn’t like this.
Shaz was on the opposite side of the room talking to a guy sitting alone at a corner table. Arys still hadn’t returned from the back hall. He must have sensed it too because I felt him in my mind, the lightest touch of concern.