In 2014, Paine’s club, The Razor, was on the down low. While vampires were in the know—as were those who enjoyed being Scooby Snacks—the general human populace remained oblivious. The place was exclusive and impossible to get inside unless you had the proper invite, which said a lot for a New York club. Aside from that, it appeared to be like any other private establishment that catered to dance and clubbing enthusiasts of the city.
That secrecy was now a thing of the past.
It was difficult to comprehend vampires feeding in the open, their servants offering wrists and throats like dainty, living and breathing appetizers. The atmosphere appeared dangerous somehow—the lights dim yet more oppressing than before, the blue sconces replaced with red—and the patrons were dressed differently, which, I supposed, was to be expected.
Paine’s grip was firm as he held my hand and led us through the masses, and for a moment I wondered about his unwillingness to let me go. At first I assumed it was due to shock. A lot of time had passed since he’d last seen me, and it would make sense if he wanted to reassure himself that I was really there. The looks I got from Goose and Bells, however, told an entirely different story. Their pointed glances made me wonder what else I didn’t know.
We made it to the back but, unlike before, the double doors to Paine’s hideaway weren’t locked. No one was waiting for us on the other side either. The area was better lit, but aside from that, there were no other apparent changes. Up the stairs we went, until we made it to his personal office above the club.
Paine went in first, but stopped after he crossed the threshold.
He released my hand and forced me to remain behind him as his right arm came around and his hand pressed into the arch of my spine. He urged me to brush against him and took a small step back.
“Victoria.” He spoke with an air of indifference, and I might have been fooled at his dismissal if his fingers hadn’t raked into my lower back as he did so, giving away his anxiety.
“Don’t bother trying to keep her from me,” an eloquent, notably feminine voice replied. “I’ve already gotten word that you helped yourself to some of my people to go after your long lost paramour. Lest you’ve forgotten, I have eyes and ears everywhere, Paine.” She said his name as if he were nothing more than a cashier at the convenience store she was forced face in order to buy a box of tampons when PMS arrived a tad too early and ruined her favorite pair of undies.
Slowly, Paine lowered his arm and released me.
Wise to the situation, I stepped around him and came face to face with one of the most beautiful creatures I’d ever seen. A massive entourage of vampires stood at her back, alert and on guard. Although I’d been absent from most of the gatherings involving vampires and their houses, I was able to perceive the importance of her presence—as well as the danger. Her hair was so dark and lustrous it reminded me of a starless midnight sky. The raven, blue-black strands contrasted beautifully with her fair skin, full cherry-red lips, and lithe frame. When our gazes met, I got a full-on view of her vibrant, grass-green eyes.
Sometimes you’ll meet someone and that instinct we are all born with kicks in—a gift from the Holy Creator—warning you to stay the fuck away lest you be eaten or worse. This woman’s vibe was stronger than most, as was her odd, yet not totally foreign, power. Although she looked like a twenty-something female in her prime, my necromancy told me the bitch was older than dirt.
“You are not as I expected.”
I didn’t move, speak, or give any indication I cared either way about what she expected me to be. Sometimes it was best to bide your time and wait for things to unfold. She sized me up, starting with my blood-stained Nikes, gazing past my camouflage pants, and worked her way to my face. Considering she was swathed in a skin-tight, black velvet outfit straight out of Saturday Night Fever, I was sure my apparel didn’t meet her standards. It was all good. As shitty as the ripped, bloody and ass-ugly camouflage looked, I wouldn’t be caught dead in a cat suit.