‘You know how I did it. I had the power to do so, and I did it. It had to be done. I’m sorry, Arys.’
He was gone. I half expected some kind of slamming door inside my mind, but he slipped away without a painful exit. My eyes filled with tears, but I wouldn’t let them fall. Blinking them back, I held my head high and continued down the hall.
I figured that he was now on his way. I had to gather myself, get my head together before he showed. It wouldn’t be long.
Shaz met me at the end of the hall, near the doorway that led back into the main bar.
He was just tugging his t-shirt over his head. Blood stained his face, Harley’s blood. The first thought that flashed through my mind was that I wanted to lick the crimson smears, to taste Harley as Shaz had. I wouldn’t do it though.
Our eyes met, and Shaz’ victorious smile fell. “He already knows, doesn’t he?”
I nodded, forcing myself to breathe deeply. “Yeah. He must have felt it. He gave me a hell of a headache by smashing his way into my mind. I can only assume he’s on his way. Better be ready.”
“I’m not going to let him hurt you, Lex.” Shaz’ jaw clenched, and there was a fire burning behind his green eyes. After killing Harley, he was ready for anything.
Absolutely fearless.
“You’re going to back off and keep your cool.” I meant business, and I wanted Shaz to know it. “I’ll deal with Arys. He’s going to be livid. You getting in his face will make things go from bad to totally ape shit. Please … trust me on this.”
Shaz stared at me, a hard, stubborn glint in his eyes. He didn’t want to let me call the shots here, but he had no choice. Arys was my area of expertise, not his.
“I won’t be far. And, I won’t hesitate to intervene.”
That was as good as I was going to get from him. It would have to be enough. I didn’t have much time. I needed to warn Jez and Kale. Arys would most likely only have a beef with me. As long as he left my friends alone, I could handle him.
“Stay near Harley’s room,” I told Shaz. “I don’t want anyone finding what’s left of him. I need to find out how many employees knew who they were working for.”
I left Shaz in the back hall with his arms crossed and his gaze narrowed. I wasn’t enjoying this any more than he was. The bartender glanced up at me when I came back through the velvet curtain, but he quickly turned his attention back to the drink he was mixing.
Kale and Jez had their eyes on me the moment I came into view. Kale looked anxious while Jez simply looked expectant as she sipped from a bright blue cocktail.
“Done deal?” She asked when I slipped into the booth seat beside her.
“Yes. And no. He’s dead alright, a pile of ashes. I expect Arys to show any time now.” A waitress paused near our table, asking if we’d like anything else. Jez ordered another fruity drink, and I ordered a triple shot of Jack Daniels on the rocks. I needed it.
When the waitress had moved on to the next table, I continued. “I’ll handle Arys.
But Kale, I need to know who all knows Harley here. And, how many knew that he was the big boss man behind this circus?”
Kale’s contrasting eyes strayed from the main entry to the black curtain and back again. His nervous energy teased my senses, as it often did.
“Anyone human wouldn’t know, and if they did it would only be because he’d fed from them. I’d guess that only a few people know. He wasn’t here much until the last few months.”
Harley was primarily a Vegas vamp. He’d only abandoned sin city to come here and get a taste of me. His mistake.
“Alright, good. Try to get your hands on the books, find out how people get paid here and where it comes from. You’re in charge now, and if anyone has a problem with that, there are legal documents to back that up. And, if that’s not good enough for them, we take them out.” I wasn’t going to take any shit from anyone who got the dumb idea into his or her thick skull to defend Harley’s death, not even Arys.
Kale nodded once, his expression deadly serious. I felt reassured, knowing I was leaving The Wicked Kiss in the right hands. This place had been spawning vampires, murdering donors and Lord only knew what else. I wasn’t entirely sure how the club would give me leverage in the future, but I knew it would. If nothing else, maintaining control of it would give Kale and even me a little added security.
The waitress returned with our drinks, and I took a long swallow. The strong whiskey burned a path down my throat, and I savored the sensation. The tingle of the alcohol in my bloodstream was welcome, but it wasn’t as calming as I’d hoped.
“Are you afraid?” Jez asked, startling me with her question. “I mean, aren’t you concerned about Arys? The guy is always ready to tear off heads. Do you think your bond is strong enough? Stronger than his bond with Harley?”