Darius was nowhere in sight.
I was stuck.
“How about joining us for a little fun tonight?” Emo asked.
“You’ll like it,” Scarface said.
“No,” I said, calm but firm. “I’m waiting for someone else.”
“Well, I guess dude’s gonna have to learn to live with disappointment.” Scarface grabbed my arm, forcing me out of the chair. “Remember where you are and don’t make a fuckin’ scene.”
Emo vamp closed in on my other side, digging his fingers into the flesh on my upper arm.
Panic surged, my mouth going dry. Where the hell was Darius? And worse—what if this was totally acceptable behavior at Black Ruby? Letting the customers get a little carryout for the road?
My skin prickled, and low in my belly, something dark and strange sparked to life. Ignited. Burned.
“Let me go.” I tried to jerk free, but even with the magic roiling inside me, I wasn’t strong enough.
“Shut up.” Emo clamped a hand around my neck, squeezing so hard it made my eyes water. They dragged me away from the bar and into the back of the club, shoving me down a dimly lit hall of what looked like offices and storage rooms. But halfway down, Darius stepped out from behind one of the doors, his eyes blazing.
Clearly, carryout was not Black Ruby policy.
I’d never been so happy to see a vampire in my life.
“Out of the way, Beaumont,” Scarface said with a sneer. “This bitch is—”
“Not on the menu, Mr. Hollis.” Darius stepped between us, and Scarface—Hollis—let out a low growl, the air around him crackling with electric tension. The two men were about the same height, but while Darius was lean and lithe, Hollis was a tank.
Still, my money was on the Brit.
“Are you alright, Miss Desario?” Darius asked over his shoulder, not taking his eyes off Hollis and Emo.
“I’m fine,” I said. My arm muscles throbbed from the rough handling, and my neck would definitely be sporting a few finger-shaped bruises tomorrow, but I was still in one piece.
“Your little pet could use a lesson in manners,” Hollis said. “Teasing us like she did.” His threatening glare sent a chill down my spine.
God, I really hoped I’d never meethimalone in a dark alley. Something told me he wouldn’t soon forget the witch who’d refused his invitation.
Darius continued to stare him down, the picture of grace and elegance. Despite his cool demeanor, raw power emanated from his body, sending a different kind of chill down my spine.
“I presume Miss Desario has not given her consent to this arrangement,” he said. “Carrying out your plans would place you in a precarious legal position, would it not?”
“This is bullshit,” Emo said.
“If you’d like another legal opinion, Mr. Weston,” Darius said. “I’d be happy to place a call to the Council and let them sort it out.”
I wasn’t sure what kind of legal trouble they could be in—everyone knew the Council wouldn’t bother with something as trivial as vamps taking a witch blood slave, even if itwasagainst the rules. But Black Ruby was Darius’s club, and the warehouse district was Darius’s territory. Council or not, he had every right to intervene.
“I’m outta here.” Emo shook his head, pushing past us and continuing on to the service elevator exit at the end of the hall. “You’re on your own with this bitch, Hollis.”
“Excellent,” Darius said, clapping his hands together once. “Now that we’ve got that sorted.” He stepped back and took my hand, holding it close.
I sucked in a breath. I wasn’t super clear on vampire hierarchies and politics, but I was pretty sure Darius’s actions—touching me, standing by my side—sent the message that I was under his protection. That no other vamp could touch me without serious consequences.
Judging from the rage in Hollis’s eyes, my assessment was probably correct.
“You sure you want to do this,brother?” Hollis asked.
