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After dressing in a black suit with a burgundy color shirt, he decided to pull up his braids in a ponytail for the night. Too bad Suzanne wasn’t ready to party with him yet. He figured he had some major playing to do to get on her good side. A light tapping on his bedroom door got his attention, but he didn’t answer since he already knew who was about to open his door.
“Franco.” Haido wondered why his sire made him. He wasn’t good-looking, he was rather clumsy and not very smart. Vampirism usually increased the natural abilities of the person. Franco was just a thug. Pure muscle. Didn’t seem like he received any special gifts. The man wasn’t even able to fly straight. “What’s up?”
“I want to thank you for getting that potent blood for me. I know getting a werewolf to give up some blood is rough. Not many vampires are as selfless as you and Darnell.”
“We weren’t about to let you suffer it out. We’re a family now, Franco. Is there something else, man?”
“Oh yeah, we got visitors waiting in the elevator. Darnell wants everybody ready.”
~*~
“Okay.” Haido stood next to Darnell. Darnell didn’t appear overly concerned. “What we got coming?”
“Our old pals Tyra and Devon. And get this- Craig.”
“Craig?”
“This should be fun,” Darnell grinned, pulling a pistol from his waistband and checked the clip. “You strapped, man? I don’t see your sword.”
“I doubt we’ll need the heat. If I’m wrong, then we have no business challenging the likes of Velvet Washington and Associates.”
“I guess you don’t recall what happened just a couple of months ago in the alley. Gail, unlock the lift,” Darnell directed the woman standing ready. Haido saw the impression of a gun holster under her jacket.
“Hold it.”
“Haido, what’s up with you tonight?” Darnell’s voice held a hint of impatience and anger.
“I don’t like the guns, Darnell. Things go bad quick when guns are brought into what’s supposed to be a talk.”
“I’d agree with you except for the fact that Craig is in the mix.”
“I told you then that was a mistake. No one believed Wilder would send people to shoot up Tanaka’s club over a woman that ain’t his anymore. Not his style at all.”
“What difference does it make? I asked you before if you were down for this. Sounds like you’re having second thoughts, Haido.”
“Lose the guns, Darnell.”
“No way. If we’d had guns in the alley, the situation could have turned out differently, meaning in our favor.”
Haido had to admit that much was true because he sure underestimated both Tyra and Devon that night. Tyra just didn’t care and Devon would take her lead no matter what. Even so, he respected the duo for being known to never come at anyone packing heat while the other associates had no problem with it at all. Speaking of the others, where were Rankin and Wilder? Haido wondered if Darnell wondered the same thing. He appeared too eager for confrontation.
“All right, Darnell. Just because we’ve got guns don’t mean we have to use them.”
Darnell gave him a look and ordered Gail to open the lift again.
~*~
Tyra stepped out first, flanked by Devon and Craig on both sides. She wore a battle suit that exposed her amazing abs. On her back, were her swords and from her boots, Darnell recognized the hilt of a couple of sais. Craig and Devon appeared unarmed. Obviously, they thought being werewolves were weapons enough. Arrogant brats. Darnell smiled at them in turn.
“Good evening. It is always a pleas-”
“Vampire, stow that shit,” Tyra barked. “We came for the sprite. Hand her over now and we’ll overlook this incident as a gross mistake in judgment on your part.”
“What makes you think we have-”
“We smell her!” Darnell and Craig snarled at the same time.
“If she’s hurt you better pray to God-”
“Fuck you, Tyra!” Darnell came forward to stand before the slayer. “I’ve had enough of your mouth. If you want something, I suggest you learn how to ask nicely.”
“Nicely is not my style. Now, get your stale breath out of my face.”
“Tyra Kincaid. Always trying so hard to be a super bitch.” He stepped back and swept the room with a quick scan of his eyes. Five on his side, two with guns. Tyra with just two punks as backup was going to play it hard as usual. He wished he’d insisted Haido picked up his sword.
“Get her out here right now, or we will tear this place apart.”
“Really, Tyra? You think we’re going to stand by and let you do such a thing?”
“No, Darnell. I imagine you will be on your knees, bleeding while we do such a thing.”
“A beauty and a comedienne.” Darnell began to laugh and Franco joined in. Haido, Gail and Victor in the corner, remained quiet and still. Tyra stepped up and threw a punch right to Darnell’s mouth. He swung back and clipped her chin. Tyra took it like a pro. Going down, she attacked him with a sweep of her leg. He hit the floor hard on his back. Tyra kicked him in his sides then stuck her boot under his belly and flipped him over to relieve him of his pistol before he could draw it. She pulled the hammer back and said, “I really hope these are silver bullets.” She squeezed the trigger, firing three shots into Darnell’s face.
“No!” Gail screamed pulling her nine. “God damn slayer bitch!” She blasted off on Tyra and missed while Franco and Haido locked up with Devon and Craig. “The next one goes right between your eyes,” Gail said. “Get away from him, and drop it.”
Tyra dropped the pistol to the floor, kicked it across the room. “Now, if you were able to shoot worth a damn-” Gail fired three shots at Tyra’s head. “Maybe I’d be a tad worried about not being able to dodge a bullet.” She dived and rolled, came up with her sais crossed in front of her.
“Gail, don’t!” Darnell warned, rising up. Gail kept shooting and hitting Tyra’s blades. She didn’t notice Tyra was also advancing on her. “Gail, back off!” Too late.
“Ugg!” Gail grabbed the sais sticking in her chest by the hilt and stared Tyra in the eye, then at Darnell as though she couldn’t believe what just happened and so damn fast. Finally, her knees gave way, collapsing her to the hard floor.
“Damn you, Tyra.”
“Silly rabbit, it’s what you get for bringing guns to a sword fight. Now, before somebody gets killed for real-”
“Franco! Victor!” Victor didn’t move from his position near the staircase. Franco leaped over Darnell then speared Tyra back into the open elevator. She landed hard on the back wall with Franco’s beefy hands around her throat. “Kill that bitch,” Darnell shouted as his own blood ran down his burning face. Thank goodness, she missed his eyes or he’d be in a bad position right about now. While he pushed the bullets out, he watched what he hoped was Tyra about to get her ass kicked by a genuine ass kicker.
“Tyra!” Devon was forced into a wall by Haido. “Hang on!”
Franco was strong, but she was still on her feet. She got a knee up to his side then busted him in the groin. He buckled enough for her to get out of his choke hold. As they grappled in the confined space, the elevator doors closed, then carried them down the building.
“Shit!” Darnell turned to assess the situation. He was down two warriors, leaving only himself and Haido to face the werewolves. Victor was out cold on the floor. “Shit.” Haido rushed to his side, holding one of Tyra’s twins. Darnell searched the floor for the other one.
“It’s next to the giant urn behind you,” Devon clued him in. “I’ll wait right here while you go get it.”
Darnell hated the arrogance of the young wolfmen. Neither bothered to transform. The most they’d done was held Haido back and knock out Victor. Tyra had done the real damage. And they were nearly as fresh as a couple of daisies. After taking a deep breath then exhaling, he pulled a handkerchief from his hip pocket and wiped his face, trying to think of his next move.
“Man, people ain’t got all damn night!” Devon growled. “Get the weapon or don’t. Either way, I’m tearing up some vampire ass tonight!”
“What’s the point? You won.”
“The point is, you pulled guns. All we came for was Suzanne. Didn’t mind having to fight to get her- but the guns, man. You had to go and rile me.”
Haido moved in front of Darnell. “Come on, then. Let’s go!”
“Devon!” Wilder walked in through the terrace doors. Trailing him were Deborah and Cathy Mae. The women’s brows were furrowed, neither carried a weapon, but the show of authority and power prevailed in the penthouse living room. “Devon, what is the meaning of this?”
“You know what this is, Wilder.”
“Stop it at once and leave.”
“I ain’t stopping nothing and I ain’t leaving without Suzanne.”
“Devon, go collect Tyra before she destroys the entire lobby of this building. I’ll be along with Suzanne shortly.”
“What? I smell her blood. Whatever this is between you vampires, I don’t care, but Suzanne is leaving with me and Craig.”
“Very well.” Wilder stepped up to Darnell and Haido. “Drop your weapons and produce Suzanne.”
“Wilder!”
“I did not ask you to speak, Darnell. There are a few things you don’t seem to realize. Suzanne is under my protection. You harmed her to bring her here. This property is mine. Now, think before you compound matters beyond my power to fix.” Wilder included everyone in the room with a stern glare. “Tonight and the events leading up to it will be overlooked as a misunderstanding. Haido, please show Cathy Mae to Suzanne’s room.”
“Her room?” Craig bellowed. “Acting like she’s a guest rather than a captive?”
“Chill out, man,” Devon suggested. “Let them play their games.” He had his eyes on Deborah. She crossed her arms across her halter gown, regarding him back. “Never seen a handsome werewolf before?”
“I’ve seen many as a matter of fact. If that’s your way of asking why I am staring at you, the answer is because you remind me of someone. You don’t resemble him at all, but your style and attitude is similar to Delano Milton.”
“I’m flattered. He’s one awesome dude.”
“Devon!” Suzanne ran down the stairs and into his arms. “I knew you’d come get me away from these low life creeps!”
“You okay?” Devon looked her up and down, holding her at arm’s length.
“She wasn’t harmed.” Haido took the last step down into the living room. “I personally sat with her.”
“She was in her underwear,” Cathy Mae interrupted. “Haido just now gave her a pair of his jeans on the way down. She was bled from the neck previously and her tongue was nipped this evening.”
“Who bit you, Suzanne?” Craig put a protective arm around her shoulders. “Tell me and I’ll rip his heart out!”
“Haido!” Devon snarled and started for him. Wilder swung an arm and knocked Devon backward in the air, he came down lightly on his feet.
“I told you to stand down,” Wilder bellowed. “If you aren’t a vampire, I want you out of this penthouse, right now!”
“All right,” Devon said. “I see how it is.” He ushered Suzanne into the elevator. Craig got in, standing in front of them and pushed the button to take them down.
“Good riddance,” Darnell stated once the doors closed. He went to pick Gail up off the floor and placed her in a chair.
“Leave the blade in her chest,” Wilder commanded.
“Excuse me?”
“Would you prefer I put the sais in your chest instead?”
“Yes,” Darnell answered bravely and hoped like hell Wilder was bluffing. “Yes, because she was only following my instructions.”
“You call yourself the leader of this band of misfits?”
“I am their leader and I’m proud of each and every one of them.”
“How many of you are there?”
“Eleven.”
“That many?” Wilder raised a brow. “I’m impressed so many would rather follow you than remain on their own.”
“You mean follow me rather than simulate into your brood.”
“Remove the sais and see to her.”
“I’ll do it.” Haido rushed to aid Gail.
“Not you. I suggest you go down and bring what’s left of Franco back up here. Deborah, would you and Cathy Mae see to this one?”
“Her name is Gail.” Darnell pulled the sais from her chest. She took a deep breath, let it out and fainted. He scooped her up, ignoring Wilder’s instructions. “I’ll see to her myself.”
“Don’t take too long, Darnell. There is a lot you and your crew have to answer for.”
“And what about you? Will you answer to us?”
“Of course, I won’t.”
“About what I expected.”
“You are right saying I am not your master, but I am a master vampire. Don’t forget that, Darnell.”
“I won’t forget, Wilder.”
~*~
“What the hell, Wilder?” Tyra marched across the street to grit into his face. Close enough to smell the blood on his breath. “A team member is attacked and abducted and you protect the perps?”
“Step back, Tyra,” Deborah spoke low as her brow furrowed.
“Mind your own business.” Tyra kept her eyes on Wilder. “Why did you order Devon to stop?”
“Because I saw no reason for further bloodshed.”
“You had no business being here tonight.”
“As always you seem to forget, Velvet Washington and Associates is literally my business.”
“I guarantee you, Wilder if I wasn’t busy kicking that Italian’s ass I’d have cut Haido and Darnell in half!”
“And that is exactly the kind of reckless bullshit I came to avoid! What do you want, Tyra? A war with the coven?”
“Frankly, I’d love it!”
“Do you really think you would prevail with Velvet down? And Milton on the hunt in Europe? Think, you fool! For once, use your head! Now, step back.” He glared at her calmly waiting for her to obey. “Tyra, do you really want to be so foolish tonight? Collect Suzanne and Devon.” He turned to Deborah and Cathy Mae. They each handed him a sword. “Take your weapons and go home.”
Tyra snatched them from his hands and sneered, “I’m on to you, you duplicitous weasel.” Devon appeared at her side. She allowed him to lead her away to the Benz.
Wilder turned to the ladies after the car squealed from the scene. “Let’s go home.”
“What about Darnell?” Deborah asked. “You know he’s plotting against you. He blames you for Jerome’s disappearance. He wants the brood.”
“Darnell is not a master. No one but other misfits will follow him.”
“Why are you indulging him?”
“He was loyal to Jerome. He misses his friend. Soon he will have acted out enough and will settle down.”
“What if he doesn’t?”
“Then regrettably, I will put him down. I’m sorry, ladies. I realize he is your friend, as was Carlos.” He watched Deborah hide her eyes behind her gold and black locks. “If I could have avoided killing him...”
“Well, you couldn’t,” she said raising her head, shaking her hair from her face. “Carlos knew what he was doing. Besides, I know you don’t regret killing him.”
“I regret hurting you, my dear.”
“I know.”
“I have not forgotten my promise to you.”
“You returned to us. For me, that is enough.
“Which is why you deserve so much more.”