Page 48 of Blood Descendants
“What is this?” Harry asks, dark annoyance starting to creep into his tone. “A bragging session? If you want to swing your dicks, you’ve got the wrong crowd. If you want approval for your son to be made a Baron, Augustus, you’ve got it. I’ve already looked up Ares’ portfolio. He’s accomplished more in ten years than any of the rest of us, and he was totally inactive for three of those years. I don’t buy into the breeding program like the rest of you, but he’s obviously going in the directionyou want him.” Harry indicates me, and those future grandbabies. “I have other shit to attend to. Are we voting tonight?”
“He’s got my vote,” Sysco says. And there’s something a little feral about his smile, a little manic. He’s a wild card, one to keep an eye on. But there’s something honest about him. And I think I like him. “I see no reason to make this complicated.”
Augustus smiles, a wicked thing. Everything in his plan is lining out. He looks expectantly at Giovanni and Cliff.
“I need more time to look into him,” Giovanni says, and his tone makes me think he just wants to make us squirm. He just wants to be difficult. “We shall see how he performs at the ball. And how his human woman handles the pressure. A Baron must be tested.”
Augustus makes a low, growl sound in the back of his throat, and red embers ignite in his eyes. I see his grip on the chair tighten.
But it’s obvious he is not the sole dictator of the Barons because he doesn’t say anything. His gaze shifts over to Cliff.
“I agree,” Cliff speaks up, though he looks nervous, and he doesn’t look at Ares. “It’s too soon. If he handles the ball, if he shows he can keep his cool, if Lana can do what is needed of her, then I think we can move forward.”
Fuck that.
But I can’t say anything. We both have a part to play right now. This is simply a means to an end.
“Then we can all look forward to the ball with great anticipation,” Augustus says through clenched teeth. “I know my son won’t disappoint.”
Those words sound like a threat.
“We will see you all again on Saturday, then,” Harry says.And, without waiting for any further discussion, he stands, nods to the group in general, and makes his way to the doors. There, where I didn’t notice before, waits an obvious bodyguard, a massive man with deadly looking hands. The concept of a vampire needing a bodyguard is wild to me. And it makes me wonder, is Augustus the most powerful in this group? Or is it the one with the calm demeanor and zero patience for bullshit?
“Pleasure meeting you, Lana,” Sysco says as he stands, shaking my hand. He presses a quick kiss to the back of it, and Ares bristles. “Ares, I think we should go out sometime. You and I? We’re not like these other guys.”
The way he says it, it’s a compliment.
“I’ll call you,” Ares says, but from his tone, I can’t tell if he means it or not.
Sysco gives us a nod and makes his exit.
“I hope you don’t take it personally,” Giovanni says as he stands, as does Cliff. “The inner circle is tight. With matters as important as these, one cannot be too careful.”
“Of course,” Ares says as he gets to his feet. And it shouldn’t be satisfying that he’s at least four inches taller than Giovanni and a good six inches taller than Cliff. “We protect what we care about.”
Ares shakes Giovanni’s hand, and despite both of them being vampires, Giovanni winces, attempting to control it.
“Cliff,” Ares says, looking over at the squirrely man with a wicked smile that could rival Augustus’. “Pleasure.”
Cliff doesn’t say a word, simply swallows hard. He gives a nod and immediately turns and leaves. Giovanni follows right after him.
“Did I play your part well enough, father?” Ares asks once the others have exited. My nerves kick into high gear again.
“You barely spoke ten words,” Augustus says, fixing his son with a withering, cold stare. “Had you asserted yourself, spoken for your damn self instead of letting Harry Kim do it for you in the most simplistic way possible, you’d be a Baron already.”
“Patience, father,” Ares says, not rising to his father’s baiting. “Good things come to those that keep their fucking cool.”
Ares takes my hand, and like he hasn’t just poked the bear with a thousand toothpicks, he guides me back to those doors, and we make our dramatic exit.
Chapter 13
“I’m going back to work on Monday,” I say as we exit the SUV and walk to the doors of Augustus’ house. “I’m getting stir crazy, and since Larry is taking over the gym, he’s got way too much to juggle. By the way, were you ever going to tell me you bought the gym and kicked Tate to the curb?”
A smile curls on Ares’ lip as he opens the door for me. “I figured you’d find out on your own.”
“Your money is mostly annoying,” I say as we walk inside. I drop my voice, even though Augustus can probably hear me. “But thank you. It means a lot to me.”
“You’re welcome, Vengeance,” he says. And it never fails. Every time he uses the nickname, goosebumps wash over my skin. And I really, really like the look in his eyes when he uses it.
