Page 35 of That Mafioso Magic
He arched an eyebrow as he looked at me. “Well, to what do I owe the pleasure?” Salino asked with a very distinctive and graceful French accent. His tone was masculine, yet soft at the same time. Hypnotic in a way. I couldn’t help but admire his full lips, because they were so beautiful, the bottom lip a little bit plumper than the top. I bet they looked amazing sucking on a nipple… or neck.
“A little bit of privacy would be nice,” Shi stated.
“Then leave us,” Salino said, nodding his head at me.
“I’m not leaving him in the room with the two of you,” Shi said, her hand going to one of her hidden blades.
“I insist. Don’t worry, Nakago will also leave. That way, you can feel comfortable knowing it will just be Mr. Elias and I,” Salino said. And my mouth parted slightly because I couldn’t conceal my surprise that he knew my name. I closed it once I realized it was open.
“You assume that we don’t have something to discuss with you,” Shi said.
“You bring a mage into my domain and you think you’re the one I want to speak with? Either leave us alone or leave altogether,” Salino said, dropping his final ultimatum.
I turned to Shi, who looked like she was about to jump over the desk to rip Salino a new one. I wondered if she was strong enough, but somehow, I doubted it. Not that it would stop her from trying. I also looked past her to the one Salino called ‘Nakago’ for the first time. I hadn’t even noticed him when I first walked in, but I did feel him. The fucker was cloaked in shadows, just one of many tricks vampires knew. He was also another looker. His lips were shaped like a kissable bow; his cheekbones and jawline were angular giving him a look that was both feminine and manly at the same time. His brown eyes sparkled with golden highlights, making him look even more alluring. I was starting to see why humans were attracted to them. His gaze was piercing, though, and I knew there was a merciless killer behind that stare. His hair was cut short on the sides and spikey at the top, and both ears were pierced with dangling silver earrings. He was about six feet tall from what I could tell and his black leather pants hugged his muscular legs like they were melted on. He was wearing a white tank top, and he grabbed his leather jacket off the back of the chair as he walked over toward the door.
I returned my gaze to Shi. “It’s okay… you can leave us,” I said, standing my ground. This was probably some sort of test Salino was putting me through. To see how much mettle I had.
“Are you sure?” Shi asked.
I nodded. “Just wait right outside,” I requested.
With another scornful look directed at Salino, she relented. Both Shi and Nakago left, closing the door behind them, leaving me all alone with a powerful and I might add, extremely sexy vampire.
I took a deep breath, then spoke. “I’m here because I need your help.”
Salino smirked. “I figured as much.”
“How do you know my name? Did you read my mind?”
“No. We may not have met personally, but I know of you. The mage private eye with the shitty clientele roaster. Business isn’t doing so well for you, am I correct?”
“I don’t see why that matters.”
“Well, if you’re here for a loan, then it matters,” Salino said.
“Well, it depends on what you consider a loan,” I said, and I saw the interest pique in Salino’s golden green eyes. There was a glimmer there that told me that he was intrigued.
“Do tell,” he said, and gestured for me to elaborate.
“I need your blood,” I said. “Not a lot,” I added when his mouth opened to give me what I suspected was his refusal.
“Even a drop is too much to ask for. Why would you think I’d give you my blood, Mr. Elias?”
I didn’t have a lot of time to beat around the bush. No telling how long this was going to take and I didn’t have time to make it all pretty and rose colored. “I’m sure you are aware of who Sage Tamir is.”
He gave a slow nod. “He is well known.”
“Well, I need your blood to save him. A very particular spell calls for the blood of the living that straddles life and death,” I said.
Salino stared at me for a few seconds and then burst into a fit of laughter. I didn’t like that he found the situation humorous when I was so deadly serious. “Oh, my…” he began, then clapped his hands together before rising from his chair and coming around from behind his desk. Doing so gave me the full view of his suit. His pants were tapered to his legs and stuffed inside a pair of black leather riding boots that came up to his knees. Okay, so he was an eccentric dresser with impeccable fashion sense. Gotta give him points for how bold he was.
He took a seat in one of the large leather chairs that adorned the room. He then gestured for me to sit in the chair opposite his. I did, so now we were sitting face-to-face. The expression on his face was one of intrigue still, but I could tell he was enjoying the fact that Sage was in need of his help.
“So, you need my blood for a spell. Is Sage in a dire situation?” Salino asked.
I nodded. “He’s dying. I’m sure you find that to be opportunistic.”
He nodded. “Oh, I do. With Sage dead, there isn’t anyone stopping me from taking over his territory. Killing his pride if they refused to get in line.”
