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“I can hardly contain my excitement.” Xavier’s tone was thick with sarcasm.
The newly-turned crouching around us shifted from side to side, the scrabbling sounds of their claws against cement sending tingles up my spine.
Sun above, I hated vampires.
“We agree to your terms,” I said. “Full immunity in exchange for information that leads to our win. Failure means life in prison.”
Xavier’s gaze flicked to Thane. “I have your word as well?”
Thane’s eyes narrowed. “You have my word.”
“Now, tell us what you know,” I said.
Xavier grinned and took a few steps backward. “I’ll do better than tell you. Meet me tonight at N-V, ten o’clock sharp, and you’ll see for yourselves. Oh, and be sure to change your clothes to fit in. Can’t have you standing out in the crowd any more than you already do.”
A flush rose along my neck. In a flash, two stakes were in my hands, and the newbies swarmed around their master. “You backstabbing bloodsucker.”
Xavier’s malicious chuckle echoed off the cement walls. “Is that any way to speak to a new ally? As a show of good faith, I’ll leave your friends and the murderer with you.”
With speed only a Master Vampire possessed, he was gone. Chasing him down would be a lost cause. His minions crept back into the shadows and disappeared, leaving the birdcage and Jackson Reed, who remained unconscious and chained up on the ground.
As promised.
I whirled toward Thane. “Did we just get played?”
A deep crease formed between his eyebrows as he stared in the direction Xavier had gone. “Surprisingly, I don’t think so.”
Xavier wasn’t the type of undead guy to string us along. He was way too fucking cocky. So while I was still angry as fuck, I felt the same as Thane.
What was the world coming to?
22
TUESDAY EVENING
After we released Ivan and Lena, they shifted back to human form. Immediately, they squabbled over who was to blame for their capture, then with us about why there was no bloodshed, much to their mutual disappointment.
Once they calmed down and progressed to sulking, Thane jumped to the DEA with Jackson Reed, and Lena, Ivan, and I headed back to my penthouse.
Kit was too busy opening portals to help me, but I needed to do some digging. I wanted whatever dirt Xavier had, and I couldn’t wait until the evening.
Unfortunately, hours of research proved fruitless without Kit’s expertise. I had no idea what Xavier knew that might turn the tide of war, so we would have to go in blind and hope it wasn’t a colossal mistake.
Night had fallen by the time Thane returned to our place to jump us to the club. Although, the lights illuminating downtown Miami outside the two-story penthouse windows never made it feel that way. The city was awake no matter the time.
While I hadn’t gone for my standard club gear, I would still fit in wearing tight black leather pants, a sparkly silver top, and my new boots from the armory. I pinned my hair up with a small wooden stake that wouldn’t draw attention and tucked a few extra stakes attached to an elastic waistband beneath my loose top.
Ivan returned to the DEA in case anyone there needed his realm walking ability, and Thane changed into a casual linen suit. Lena had refused to change. She wanted comfort over fashion, and I finally gave up arguing.
Her combat boots and oversized vest might earn a few curious looks, but there was always one odd bird in every group. We wouldn’t stick out more than anyone else.
The club’s music boomed through the open front doors as our group approached. It had been a while since I’d last visited N-V, but the bouncers still recognized me as I headed straight for the doors, skipping the line despite the angry protests from those waiting. Special perks came along with the obnoxious amount of time and money I used to spend at places like this.
As soon as we entered the club, perfumes, cologne, and body odor assaulted my senses, while the deep bass vibrated down to my soul. I used to thrive on all of it, dancing and drinking the night away, and I kind of missed it.
Not necessarily the grabby hands and drunken blackouts, but I missed feeling unburdened by anything other than my guilt. Glancing around the packed club for Xavier, I promised myself a night out soon.
One more thing for my ever-expanding future Veronica list. Although, I might be putting off too much until after this was all over.
