Page 321 of Dirty Discipline, Vol. 1

“What have you found out about the vampires who have given up their property to Roxanna?” Dom asked, turning back to him.

“It seems they are changed. They're not the same vampires—it's like they're brainwashed by her to do her bidding. They all are acting like her minions.”

Dom steepled his fingers and looked thoughtful. “Maybe not brainwashed. Maybe it's bloodwashed. The question is, what does she need with the blood of old vampires?” he mused. “We know that older blood controls younger blood, particularly if the older vampire is the maker of the younger. Could she believe that by somehow drinking the blood of the older vampires, she will get a line on controlling all younger vamps? I've never made anyone, but she may not know that…”

“But still, the way an older vampire compels a younger doesn't affect their mind or personality,” Stella said doubtfully.

“No,” Dom said heavily.

“So how is she doing it?” Stella asked.

They both looked to Dom. He had always been the brains of their operation. They'd stuck by his side all these years mainly out of love and devotion, but also because they were attracted to his power. Despite the fact that he rarely demonstrated it, Dom was an extremely brilliant man who had gifts that went beyond ordinary vampire power.

Dom stood up now and paced around. “I don't know. Keep trying to get any details you can on the people who have been changed. I'll keep thinking on it, too.”

Dom stopped in front of Fox and looked down. Fox looked up. “Come here,” Dom said.

Fox furrowed his brow but stood up obediently. He felt like a child again when Dom would call to him to impart some piece of wisdom or remonstrance or praise.

Dom reached out and cupped the base of his skull with his two hands in the old Italian custom. He was all mafia don now. He looked him square in the eye. “You were right, Fox. I should have given you heed when you first spoke of it and I'm sorry.” Dom leaned forward and touched his forehead to his, pausing there for a moment. Then he pulled back and looked him in the eye again. “I am blessed to call you my friend. Thank you for looking out for me, even when I don't listen.”

Fox felt himself flush deeply and he couldn't speak. He wanted to shrug and say “it's cool,” except that it meant so much more to him than that, and he didn't want to belittle Dom's rather grand gesture of apology. Dom saved him by releasing him and turning to Stella. “So…how should we prepare?”

Stella gave a wicked grin. “Start sharpening stakes.”

Friday night, he could see Kate messing with equipment on the stage. Something was off. There was a tension radiating out from her. He hadn't seen or talked to her since he dropped her off the previous Sunday, although he'd left a few texts and messages for her, and had set up another body work appointment for her as a treat for finishing her paper.

He walked down the stairs and up onto the stage. She didn't look up from where she was crouched, fiddling with cords, although the tension increased so he knew she felt his presence. He put his hand on her back and she stiffened.

“What's going on, Kate?” he asked quietly, trying to catch her eye.

“Nothing,” she said breezily. “Just trying to set up here.” He looked around. It appeared already set up to him. From what he could tell, she was just fiddling with cords that were already plugged in.

“Kate.”

She stood up from her crouched position and looked at him. “Yeah?”

“What's wrong?”

“Nothing!” she exclaimed defensively.

He took her arm. “Come here,” he said, leading her across the floor and up the stairs to his office. He picked her up and sat her on his desk, caging her between his two arms as he leaned his hands on either side of her. “You're mad at me.”

She shook her head stonily.

He slammed his hand down on the desk, causing her to jump. “Dammit, Kate! Talk to me!”

“Who's Roxanna?” she demanded with narrowed eyes.

A wave of pure exasperation ran over him and he shoved himself away from the desk. “Oh Jesus Christ! You have got to me kidding me!” His voice was raised and he was waving his hands in the distinctly Italian way that he thought he had left behind him long ago. “You've been stewing all week over Fox's text to me?” he demanded.

She looked at him with wide eyes, obviously surprised at seeing him so animated.

“You couldn't just pick up your phone and ask me?”

He heard Fox clearing his throat from the door way. “Everything okay, Dom?” he said in a careful voice. It was fairly unusual for Dom to raise his voice unless he was really pissed off, so Fox was clearly there to run interference.

“Go away, Fox.” He threw out a hand and sent a wave of energy that slammed the door in Fox's face and locked it.

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