Page 18 of Vipers and Vendettas
ChapterFour
Daemon
Isip my drink and glance at my watch, trying not to make it look obvious that I’m bored out of my mind. I used to enjoy the fights. I liked the atmosphere, the excitement. The money involved was just a bonus, but this is only the second one I’ve been to since I came back to the clan. I thought it was a blip, but now I’m not so sure. I have other things on my mind these days, and the fights just aren’t important to me except as a money source.
I glance down at the vamps at the front. Even those fuckers look more excited than I am. I try not to notice the other supes they have with them. They pretend they’re ‘dates’. They dress them up and make them look good, and then they snack on them. I clench my teeth, not wanting to go down that road right now. I don’t know how, but I’m free and clear of McCathrie, and I’m not getting back in bed with the vamps ever again. Lesson learned. I’d rather die.
I frown as I can’t help but think it through for the millionth time. I’ve had this going around in my head for three months, but I still have no idea why they never came for me. At first, I thought it was just to torture me a little before they made their move. I kept my head down while I worked out how I was going to get them first, but they ignored me completely.
I was no longer on their radar, and I had no idea why. Then I was afraid they’d somehow captured Jules. But I’d have heard if they had. And I don’t know how they would have got to her anyway. I never contacted Tamadrielle. I couldn’t, even after how she left. I know they never took her. No one has.
I snort softly. When that girl runs, she goes all out. No one’s been able to find her. There’s no trail to follow at all. Maddox has had the authorities looking for her. Even I have a secret PI I’m paying a retainer to in case he gets wind of her, but there’s been nothing since she grabbed the diamonds. The only information we have is that she pawned the jewels in the fae market. They turned up two days later. And it was surprisingly easy to get them back, though expensive.
Still, our money troubles are waning, with the clubs doing better now that Maddox is trusting me with their management again and the fights. We have some decent fighters on our books now. I was surprised at how many wanted to sign up with us. Guess our time in the Mountain has ingratiated us with their kinds.
My phone vibrates, and I dig it out of my breast pocket, glancing at the screen. It’s from my private eye. Speak of the devil.
‘Might have a lead. Checking it out. Will be in contact in a couple days.’
I don’t let my surprise show on my face. I really didn’t think he’d find anything. He’s good.
I eye the others who are standing around the VIP area. All of them look as bored as I am. Even Maddox, and he usually loves these things. None of them have been themselves the past few weeks, and I know I haven’t been either. And I know it’s because of Jules. I can’t stand the human bitch, but there’s something about her that draws me in. The truth is, I thought I wanted her gone, but now I hope we do find her. She’s contracted to us, and that means she’s ours in the eyes of the law.
She was very stupid to sign at all. And that bothers me. She’s never been stupid, so why did she sign if she knew she was leaving? She could easily have delayed it, and we wouldn’t have been able to use the cops to help us find her.
I push the thoughts away and attempt to take in what’s going on in the pit. I see that one of the fighters is down. It’s not ours. My lips curve upwards just a little. Everyone will think it’s because we’ve won, but actually, I’m just glad we can get the hell out of here now.
I stand up and go to the others, who are being congratulated by some of the other spectators. I engage in a little small talk because I have to, but I’m antsy after a few minutes, and I can tell the others are, too.
‘Ready to go?’ I mutter to Iron.
He ignores me as he has been since the day I messed with Jules’ conjure, and we saw what the fae had done to her.
‘You can’t pretend I don’t exist forever,’ I whisper.
He says nothing, and I roll my eyes.
‘When I see her next, I’ll tell her I’m sorry,’ I murmur flippantly, pretending that seeing Jules’ beautiful body scarred and marred in the barn like that didn’t affect me.
The truth is, after she ran off and he went after her, I staggered out the back and vomited into the grass.
Maybe that’s why I never sent a message to the number. Thinking of her back in their clutches makes me sick … as I would if it was anyone who’d endured something like that.
Maddox approaches us with an air of nonchalance. He pretends so well, but even I can see the hollowness in his eyes. He’s said a few times that we should contract a few more on-call girls, but he hasn’t so much as instructed the agency to put out an ad to start the process. He wants Jules back as much as the rest of us, and no other human will do until she’s out of our systems.
We follow Maddox through to the back stairs, and we portal out. I take up the rear, making sure no one piggybacks, and we’re standing in the club we brought Jules to a few seconds later. I let out a small sigh as I immediately begin soaking up the sexual energy in the room on autopilot. There’s a show happening on the stage, but I don’t even bother to look. I’m not interested in the slightest. None of us are. We’re just going through the motions.
I give it a few minutes before I go through to the back office. Out of all the venues we own, I use this one as my main place of work. Krase asked me why once because we have some exclusive, top-tier members’ clubs I could have chosen instead.
I told him it was because this one’s my favorite, but that’s not exactly true. This is just the one we brought Jules to. When I go out into the main room, I remember the night she came here with us. When I look up at the stage, I recall the fantasy of having her bound and at my mercy up there.
I’m instantly hard. I told Maddox I wouldn’t feed from her, but I realize now that that was a lie. I can’t wait to feed from her. I think I might be the only one besides Maddox who hasn’t. It’s my right. His too. She signed, and she’s ours. It’s only a matter of time.
* * *
Jules
The next day, I wake on my couch with a stiff neck and a prevailing sense of uneasiness. I make myself some tea as I count my tips from last night. Just over three hundred.
