Page 45 of Viktor's Temptation
“Gotta work,” he announced abruptly, standing and brushing past her with mock nonchalance. “Lots of cars to sell.”
Behind him, he heard the low grumbles of his colleagues, their jealousy practically oozing from their pores. Dave reveled in it. At this dealership, sales were king, and he wore his crown proudly. Sure, his numbers weren’tentirelyearned. He used his mind control on customers, steering them toward more expensive cars they couldn’t afford. He delighted in making them sign contracts they’d regret later. If a deal fell through because of bad credit or insufficient funds, he simply manipulated the manager into erasing the failed attempt from his record.
It wasn’t about the job, though—it never had been. The sales gig was a cover, a convenient excuse to interact with humans and identify potential victims. Saturdays and Sundays were the busiest days, bustling with opportunities for manipulation. But mornings like this one, when business was slow, bored him to no end. Dave considered wandering over to the big box store across the street, where he might use his powers to lure an unsuspecting customer into his trap.
Then again, the thought of his new hobby—the writhing bodies, the screams, the exquisite agony—was infinitely more tempting. He’d ordered Johnny and Charlie to bring back nine fresh victims by tomorrow night. The anticipation alone made his pulse quicken. Neither of his minions knew the extent of their powers yet. Dave preferred it that way. Let them think they were just stronger, faster versions of their former selves. He’d keep the knowledge of flying, running at inhuman speeds, and advanced mind control to himself. The less they knew, the less they could challenge him.
A sharp voice interrupted his musings. “Dave!”
He turned, spinning his chair lazily toward the source. His manager stood at the edge of the showroom, gesturing toward the glass doors. “Customer! Can you take him?”
Dave followed the man’s gaze, and his lips curled into a slow, predatory grin. The newcomer was tall, muscular, and exuded the kind of confidence that would make breaking him all the more satisfying. Dave’s pulse quickened at the thought of this man in the chamber Dave had come to think of as his personal theater.
As he stood and made his way toward the door, Dave thought absently about his future. He’d have to quit the dealership soon. His new hobby was far more thrilling than selling cars. But then again, it also provided him with a steady stream of unsuspecting prey.
“Something to consider,” he muttered under his breath as he extended a hand to the man with a wide, friendly smile. “Good morning! What can I help you with today?”
The man had no idea he was already ensnared in Dave’s web. And Dave relished every second of it.
Chapter 24
The meeting room was warm and inviting, designed not with formality in mind but with comfort. Deep, plush chairs were arranged in a semicircle around a central hearth, where a low fire crackled softly. The golden glow from the flames danced across the room’s rich wooden paneling and thick rugs. Overhead, a rustic chandelier cast a warm light that softened the features of everyone present. A faint scent of aged leather and cedar lingered in the air, creating an atmosphere that was simultaneously homey and serious.
Viktor stood at the head of the room, his imposing figure a stark contrast to the cozy surroundings. His gaze swept over the faces of his division leaders, their postures varying from tense to contemplative. Each one of them felt the weight of the situation, and silence hung heavy after Viktor’s announcement.
“The person the police have been after isn’t human,” he’d told them. “The person responsible for these murders is a vampire.”
He waited for the mummerings of shock and horror to subside, his silver eyes scanning the room for any sign of insight or ideas. “Any ideas of who might be perpetrating these killings?” His voice broke the quiet, steady but laced with urgency.
In the back of the room, a woman tentatively raised her hand. Viktor nodded toward her. “What do you know, Evelyn?”
Evelyn stood nervously, her hands smoothing down the fabric of her plain cotton skirt. She glanced around, her eyes darting to her fellow leaders before settling on Viktor. “I don’t know if this helps, but one of my group leaders mentioned seeing a stranger walking through his territory yesterday.”
Viktor straightened slightly. “Vampire?”
“Yes,” Evelyn said quickly, nodding for emphasis. “He’s not a member of my group, so I tried to track him down. But no one has seen him since.”
Viktor’s jaw tightened, but he inclined his head, gesturing for her to sit. “Thank you.”
Another hand rose, this time from the middle of the semicircle. Viktor’s sharp gaze landed on the older man. “Go ahead, Don.”
Don rose, his movements slower but deliberate. He glanced briefly at Evelyn, as if weighing the risk of speaking up. “This stranger might not be part of our clan, my lord,” he began cautiously. “There are rumors—” he hesitated briefly before continuing, “—that vampires from the West Kentucky clan have been seen in our territory. Not many,” he added quickly, noting the way Viktor’s jaw clenched at the implication. “But it could be relevant.”
“Rumors?” Viktor asked, his voice clipped.
“My group leaders have mentioned it a few times,” Don admitted. “I didn’t give it much weight at first, but if someone’s been slipping through the cracks, it might be worth looking into.”
Don sat down quickly, his gaze dropping to his lap, as if unwilling to meet Viktor’s sharp eyes any longer. Evelyn shifted uncomfortably beside him, as if relieved the focus was off her.
Viktor let out a slow breath, his shoulders relaxing fractionally. “Thank you. It’s a lead we can follow.” He turned his gaze back to the rest of the room. “Now, I want suggestions. How do we catch someone infiltrating our territory? I’ll speak with Ted, the Kentucky clan leader, but we need solutions for identifying the one transitioning humans—and for stopping them before anyone else is hurt.”
The room fell into silence again, heavy with tension. Each leader wrestled with the enormity of the challenge. Unauthorized transitions were not only a violation of Viktor’s rules but also a direct affront to the clan. Killing humans outright? That was punishable by death.
One voice broke the quiet. “We’ve already heard from Trent about air patrols,” a younger leader pointed out. “Maybe this should be an all-clan effort. If everyone’s in the air, and the witches and pack are searching the streets and bars, we’re bound to find this bastard.”
A few murmurs of agreement rippled through the room, but Viktor held up a hand. “That’s assuming the killer is an outsider,” he said. “If they’re not a member of our clan, but they’ve managed to enter our territory unnoticed, we have a bigger problem.” His tone was calm but carried an undeniable edge.
This sparked a quiet hum of conversation. Leaders muttered suggestions to their neighbors, throwing out ideas about coordination and logistics. Some suggested doublingpatrols in their districts. Others debated the value of focusing on unaligned vampires passing through. The room buzzed with low voices, a brainstorming session born of urgency.
