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“We paid for Hayley. We want Hayley.” Knox steps in front of Monroe, ensuring his safety. He’s always been better at smoothing out disagreements. “And if you don’t have enough power or backing to get her, we will offer our services to you, Aris. If you provide us with the resources, we will bring her back ourselves. Under a few conditions.”
Aris flares his nostrils. He opens and closes his mouth, but whatever he plans to say he ends up keeping to himself.
“That sounds acceptable,” the leader of the Palace says. I think his name might be Biddeford, but I can’t be certain. Only the coven names are ever shared among the populace unless you meet one of the leaders directly.
“Acceptable? Far from it. I’m sure their conditions mean that they keep my donor permanently.” Aris points his dagger in my direction. “Which will never happen. She is mine. She was born an Aris and will remain one.”
“According to your contract, she also belongs to Monroe and five others. It would be in your best interest to comply and prevent any disagreements among those who show interest in power on the Strip. We will not go to war because of your ego. You have done enough damage already.” Starks presses his palms together, eyeing Aris and daring him to argue.
“What will it be, Alex? Accept the Bella Crew’s offer for help or arrange something with Lawrence yourself. It is quite obvious that if one of the crews stands up and wants your headlining dancer, then surely the others will as well. This is all on you.” Augusta gets to his feet and nods at the others of the leadership. “Give us your answer by the end of the day. Meeting adjourned.”
Without another word, the five vampires of the leadership vanish, leaving Aris standing in front of us with a glower plastered on his face.
It takes everything in me not to go after him this second. Without the leaders here, it would be so easy. We could destroy him and move on from this mess.
But if we do...I’m not sure we will manage to get Hayley back or possibly get out of here alive. Our power and influence only goes so far and killing him is a death sentence. One of the leadership members mentioned that Lawrence controls The Whiskey, which is in a small town outside of La Vega. It’s even wilder than within the walls here. I’ve never been, and I’m not sure I could ever afford to without giving away most of my donors to do so. It takes a lot to pay for a pass out of the city.
“Last chance to agree with us. Our condition for doing your dirty work is that you will ensure Hayley is not treated as a prostitute or sex slave. You’ll ensure that her only duty at the other hotels is to perform her aerial acrobatics show. You will also allow her to pick a couple of her friends to join her for support. And after her contract is up, we want you to approve a coven union for the Bella Crew as Nobles and allow one of us a Blood Vow to Hayley.” I cross my arms over my chest and straighten my back to tower over him. There is no one as tall as me in La Vega, and I always use my height as an influencer and way to intimidate. It’s kind of hard to terrorize somebody who always looks down at you.
“A Blood Vow? Impossible. Though, I might be able to arrange a coven contract with some of those on the Bella Crew. That is my offer. I will not be pushed around. You started this mess. Hayley is precious to me despite what you think. She is not like other donors. You must understand who she is and what she is to fully grasp how to handle her.” Alexander shifts on his feet and scratches his hands into his hair, his voice lowering. “Lawrence understands this and will use it against all of La Vega. I know him. There is a reason he is not part of the leadership here.”
My brows furrow at his words. What the fuck is he talking about? I already know Hayley isn’t like other donors, which is why I want forever with her. It’s why I will do what it takes to transform her into a vampire.
“We need the Blood Vow. That is our number one condition. Hayley will not be a donor after her time is up as a performer. She will be one of us.” Knox cracks his knuckles, his body rigid. We don’t care who acquires the legal contract with the leadership as long as she gets recognized as a Bella resident. “We will get her regardless, so make this easy on yourself, asshole.”
Aris surprises us by tipping his head back with a laugh. “Stupid, stupid man. You all think you know so much. You have no idea. The leadership has no idea. Hayley will always be a donor. She cannot transform. She was born to serve me. I’m the one who created her.”
Monroe breaks away from Knox and jumps over the table, colliding into Aris. He smashes his back into the wall and sucker punches the asshole in the face. Blood squirts from his nose, but Aris doesn’t fight back. All he does is laugh harder. If I thought Monroe could get away with it, I’d allow him to take the fucker’s fangs. But something about what he says doesn’t sit right with me. He said he created Hayley, and I don’t think he meant in the way of teaching her the art of aerial acrobatics and performing. It’s something different. Something darker.
But what?
“I should fucking cut off your dick and shove it down your throat. How you could be so cruel to the most magnificent woman I have ever met is beyond me. What the fuck is wrong with you?” Monroe snarls and spits in Aris’s face. Punching him once more in the gut, he sends Aris bowing forward and steps away to stand beside me.
“You’d be dead before you could even try. There’s nothing wrong with me, and you will figure it out soon enough. I will take you up on your offer to bring her back. You will have access to my resources. If you can manage to bring her back alive, then perhaps I will share a secret with you. I will agree to pay for your coven union myself. I will also let you think that you can have a Blood Vow. But be prepared. It is impossible and none of this comes without a price. Hayley is mine and always will be. If you want her, you can serve me beside her.” Aris heaves a couple deep breaths, his eyes flashing with his fury.
“Fuck no. We will not fucking serve you.” I bare my fangs with my words. “We can continue our agreement.”
“If you allow me to acquire part of the Bella.” Aris knows we’ll agree. The one thing that matters is Hayley. Everything else we’ll figure out later.
“Five percent. No donors. Only property,” Knox stabs his knife into the table. “Don’t try to negotiate anymore. We have the upper hand. If you weren’t concerned about whoever the fuck Lawrence is, then you would’ve denied us already and gone after him. We know you Aris. You don’t let people get away with shit without reason.”
Aris glances between us. “Do you know how I got into the position of power I’m in? Intelligence. Strategy. I pick my battles carefully, and one with Lawrence is unnecessary. If you want to retrieve Hayley, that’s fine. I’ll humor you...but I doubt you’ll succeed.”
This fucker. I will prove him wrong. He underestimates us the same. It’s why he’s still alive. We pick our battles. Hayley is worth fighting for.
“Say that when I return and shove Lawrence’s balls in your damn mouth.” Monroe cracks his neck. “Now tell us. Do we have a deal?”
Aris tightens his jaw. “We do as long as you get the others with Hayley’s contract to comply and not come after me through the leadership. That is my other condition.”
I scowl at him. “Fucking fine. You have a deal.”
***
“You guys can’t be fucking serious. You’re going to abandon us? For how long? And outside of the city? You need to fucking name who is in charge while you’re gone.” Walcott stabs his knife into the middle of an old poker table. He keeps his voice low to prevent the others from overhearing our conversation. Apart from him, we only allow Govan and Tatum to really know what’s going on. All the others don’t need to know our business. They’re a part of the Bella Crew because they help with things around here. They’re not one of us because of trust.
“You know it’s going to be fucking you, Walcott.” Monroe shoves him in the side and then punches him in the stomach, sending him flying back a few feet.
Walcott growls and unsheathes a throwing knife. He flicks his wrist, aiming it at Monroe. Knox jerks out his hand and catches the blade by the hilt and throws it toward one of the broken slot machines, sinking it into the side.
