I bumped into what had to be a Long Neck with the reek of garbage emanating from his skin. I pushed him aside, ignoring his hiss and the quick sweep of his long, filthy fingernails across my arm. Club rules, neutral territory, but when he stepped outside, I’d deal with him.
“Piss off,” I shot over my shoulder and kept walking toward Liam. He was shaking hands with some woman who had her back to me, and then the woman slipped into the crowd. I attempted to track the stranger’s scent, but with so many people in the club, it was impossible to tell who or what Liam had been meeting with.
I could tell he was anxious, wondering where his little witch had disappeared to by the way his eyes scanned the club and his unusually tense stance.
“Damn it, Arrow. What am I supposed to do?”
“Damien needs ten minutes to get her out of town. Keep him busy.”
“Christ, he will know this is our doing.”
Liam’s eyes found me and he gave a nod in acknowledgement. Oh, that was so not good. A smile would be better. I slowed my pace and put a subtle swing in my hips. He appreciated a sexy woman, and since I didn’t have time to change into something sexier, I’d have to take it up a notch.
“At the bar. Far right,” Jedrik said.
I shifted my gaze and saw Jedrik with his back to me, leaning casually against the bar, beer in hand as if he didn’t have a care in the world. He was actually flirting with the petite blonde beside him.
“Blood,” I said, smiling while reaching out both hands. He amiably took them and kissed the back of each.
He didn’t return my smile, nor did he look at me as his eyes continued to scan the club. Oh shit, this was going to be more difficult than I thought.
No use fighting it. “You look agitated. Something wrong, Blood?” “He’s going to send his vampires hunting. Can’t delay him.”
“I never suspected you’d take her from my own club.” Oh great, he knew. Goddamn Jedrik. “However, she was rather thirsty tonight. Guess you had no choice. It was probably for the best. I assume you will attempt detox?” Before I had a chance to deny anything, Liam’s cell rang and he slid his finger across the screen then put it to his ear.
“He knows. Why the hell did you risk taking her right from his damn club?” I asked.
“It wasn’t the plan. Liam expected her here tonight. If she didn’t show up, he’d know something was going down. We were planning to take her after she left the club, but she tried to bite some guy’s neck and my plan went to shit.”
Liam didn’t say a word to the caller, merely listened, but his jaw tightened and his hand curled into a fist. Pissed. But when I looked at his face there was no anger. Strange. His body was ready to erupt into a furious volcano and yet his expression was calm and controlled. Even as I breathed in his scent, I couldn’t sense anger. Did he not care we’d taken Abby?
He lowered his cell and placed it in his pocket as he raised his brows at me, as if waiting for me to respond to his previous question.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about?” Pathetic, but I had no recourse.
“Of course you do.” He leaned forward, his eyes drilling into me. Then his arm snaked around my waist and jerked me close.
As his mouth drew closer, I anticipated his kiss. Instead, he tilted his head at the last second before our lips touched and whispered in my ear. “Abigail was pregnant. Did you know that?” His arm tightened around me and I had trouble breathing. “No matter. The Transition would’ve killed her in such a state, and we certainly couldn’t have that. I need her alive and you will make sure that happens.” He lowered his voice even further, scarcely audible. “You were once pregnant yourself, weren’t you Delara?”
I couldn’t control my gasp. My stomach twisted at the mere mention of my secret. How the hell did he know that? No one knew I’d been pregnant. No one. Not even Jedrik.
“A miscarriage at eight months, I understand.” He tsked. “A shame. Waleron’s?”
“None of your goddamn business,” I sneered.
“Sass, you okay?”
“Did they tell you if it was a boy or girl?”
I shoved back with all I had and slapped him across the cheek. His smile faded and he rubbed his cheek, a murderous glare in his eyes. “Guess I deserved that.” He nodded toward the bar. “Tell your watch dog to keep his distance.”
Jedrik weaved his way toward us. Shit, starting a fight in Liam’s club would be suicide. “Back off, Arrow. I’ll handle this.”
“Sass, what the hell?”
“I said leave it. He won’t hurt me. Get out of here.”
“Sass, I don’t think—”
“Please.” I heard him sigh and knew he’d listen.
“Wouldn’t Waleron like to know he’d sired a child? Well, a dead one, but still.”
“You goddamn bastard,” I shot back, fury enveloping my entire body and the wine glass on the table trembled. Before long, my rage would erupt a domino effect of shattered glass.
“Calm down, beautiful. Your secret is safe, but it comes with a price. Until Abigail has gone through detox, I want you.”