AllFreeNovel
Share Us
HAYLEY
Showstoppers
“STAY CLOSE. KILL anyone who tries to get in our way. Do not break formation.” Monroe adjusts my arm across his chest. He nudges me with his head. “Hold on as fucking tight as you can. Act like you’re trying to choke me or squeeze the life out of me. Show me how strong those sexy legs are.”
I rest my chin to the crook of his neck and do as he says, using my thigh muscles as I would use them to keep myself in place on one of the performance bars that stretch from the floor to the ceiling on stage. I grip both arms around him, riding on his back so he keeps his arms free and his view clear. He clutches a dagger in one hand and a gun in the other. Guns are illegal, especially within the hotels, but the Bella Crew use them because while they don’t kill vampires, they can injure them and give them an advantage by keeping some space between them.
“We got the lobby covered. Apparently Opal managed to distract Alexander. I see the two of them fighting behind the lobby counter.” Sawyer towers behind me, sandwiching me to Monroe, and Knox hangs by my side, tense and ready to fight. He studies his com device, viewing the feeds to direct us.
“You sure about the elevator?” Monroe asks, keeping a donor pace. “What if she’s setting us up.”
“Doesn’t matter. All of the stairwells are blocked.” Sawyer hangs his com device over Monroe’s shoulder to show him a view of the security personnel. And damn. They’re armed with guns too.
“Damn,” Knox says from beside us. “I know those fuckers. They’re part of the Wy Crew. He must’ve offered them something good to take on a job.” The Wy Crew? I’ve never heard of them before. From what I can see on the video feed, they look as wild as some of those vampires that are a part of the Bella Crew. UV tats, piercings, and all scowls and fangs. Leather and weapons.
“Shit.” Sawyer hides the view of his com device again, studying it closer. “We can handle them. They’ll realize that whatever Aris offered isn’t worth it. We’ll fucking go to their hotel and fuck shit up if we have to.”
“Let’s just get the fuck out of here first.” Knox rushes ahead and races the distance to the elevators to slam his hand to the button.
The guys stay close together and out of the way of all the elevators in this tower of the hotel. Any of them can open and have asshole vampires charge out. I take long, deep breaths, trying to settle my nerves. I hate not being able to see behind the doors. I know Sawyer can see the elevators on the com devices, but they can stop and pick people up at any moment and on any floor.
I startle at the ding of the elevator behind us and tense as the door slides open. We’re greeted with only our reflections in the shiny walls. The guys don’t waste time and rush on hitting the button for the lobby. Fuck, there are a lot of floors. At least we get to skip at least thirty since this particular elevator only goes to the top floors.
“All right. Get ready. There is one security guard outside, but he’s paying attention to the casino floor, making sure only staying guests have access to the elevators. Don’t run. Let’s try to blend in. I don’t want to draw attention too early.” Sawyer hugs me for a moment from behind, resting his muscular chest to my back. “Five. Four. Three. Two.”
The elevator door slides open with a ding, and I bury my face into Monroe’s neck, hiding the best I can. Instead of the bright colored wigs I’d usually wear, I chose a black one that hopefully looks more natural to fit in. Sawyer stole the personal blood donor’s uniform from the guy in the hotel room to help disguise me better, making me blend in as a staff member instead of one of Alexander’s dolls.
The loud chimes of slot machines whistle and ring through the air. For being this early in the evening with the sun still out, there are a surprisingly large amount of guests roaming the floor. I don’t know if it’s because they never left for the day or what, but something about it makes me nervous.
“All right, Walcott and Govan have the crew in place. They’re watching our backs.” Sawyer keeps his voice low.
My heart raps against my ribcage, spotting one of the usual security guards watching over the floor. He only pays attention to those who enter the elevator lobby and not those who exit, but all it would take is one look for him to see us. Hopefully he’ll know better than to try and intervene.
Without pausing, Monroe strides forward, keeping his head up. Knox falls in closer, keeping an eye on the surroundings. I hold my breath and tense as we pass the security guard and enter the casino. It takes everything not to peer behind me to look at him. I refuse to look at all and squeeze my eyes shut, listening to the sounds of the vampire’s around us and of the music and murmurs.
“Alexander! Get back here! I’m not done.” Opal’s voice screeches through the casino.
“Fuck,” Sawyer mutters under his breath. “Go right. Keep to the slots. We’ll go through instead of around. It seems they’re taking their fight elsewhere.”
A growl hums over the ringing of the slot machine music, and I risk giving myself an anxiety attack by peeking around. The commotion between Opal and Alexander draws everyone’s attention from the casino as they watch their drama unfold. I should thank my good luck for the distraction. I thought that the universe might have been against me, but maybe it is finally realizing that it doesn’t have to be a bitch all the time. Maybe it’s okay to give me something I want after denying me basically everything I’ve wanted all my life.
“Alex! If you don’t stop and talk to me, I will cancel the show indefinitely!” Opal shouts, her voice humming with a growl.
The hairs on my arms rise, and I stiffen, expecting for Alexander to snarl and attack her. It wouldn’t be the first time. He’s hit her at least a handful of times over the years. Sometimes she fights back. Sometimes she doesn’t. She has always been one to pick her battles instead of constantly going for all-out war with her coven brother.
“If the show doesn’t go on, then you don’t need your precious gems anymore.” Alexander’s voice booms through the casino.
Monroe doesn’t stop, and I crane my neck, unable to control my curiosity. I want to see what happens. He’s threatening the performers. Fuck. I can’t stand the thought of him trying to hurt them all because of me. I nearly ask Monroe to put me down and to let me go. I almost lose my nerve to even go with them.
But then a scream rips through the air, and I catch sight of Alexander snatching one of the blood servers off his feet and bending his neck. Stretching the man’s neck, Alexander sinks his teeth into the man’s throat so hard that blood squirts everywhere. The guy’s scream cuts off as Alexander breaks his neck and drops him to the floor.
“Do you see this? This is what will happen to your gems.” Alexander swipes his hand over his mouth. “But they won’t be killed. I’ll just put them on a fucking tap and have the guests pay for a drink. That will be the new attraction.”
Opal hisses and shakes her head. “You’ll have to kill me first, brother. We had a fucking deal. They’re mine. I will do with them as I please and until you fucking get your shit in control and stop making everything about you, then I’m stopping the show.”
“You are not!” Alexander yells. He snarls and roars, yanking his com device from his jacket. “I will put you in your damn place, Opal. You will regret ever confronting me over something so petty.”
Opal rushes him, shoving him back. He hits a slot machine and dodges out of the way, spinning her around. Grabbing a fistful of her hair, he yanks her head to the side and bites her on the throat as he would a donor.
