I sucked in a long deep breath of freedom, basking in it before I heard the disruptive thunder of motorcycle mufflers rumbling down the street, and I grimaced. Why do they have to be so loud? All of them are obnoxious.
I heard a knock at the door, and Cain went to go answer it. I watched as a large bulky man, partnered with a very attractive dirty blonde, rolled up in front of the hotel. They both looked around, waving the valet off as they parked their crotch carriers in the front on the sidewalk. Fucking vagabonds.
“Heroux,” I heard Killian say a few steps behind me. I turned around and saw him mildly dressed up. He at least had a blue button-down and was wearing the skull cufflinks that I gave to him. It was less out of gift-giving and more that I couldn't stand his grubby lowlife outfit in my presence. He would look better if that leather cut was also off his back, although, apparently, that was what made these men. This vest was made of patchwork that looked like a child did it.
“Killian. What do we know about these two?” He looked over the railing at the two men I motioned to who had just entered the lobby.
“That is Rabid, the president of the Moon Raiders, and Duce, his VP.” I wrinkled my nose at those ridiculous names. What was wrong with the ones they were born with? Was it more for street cred or an alias to hide behind?
“And why do they have those hideous names?” I felt like it was just one of the fowl layers that make up the males they are.
“Duce is short for Seduce because he is a pretty boy who could pick up any woman, and even some men, too.” I let out a big exhale as I sat down, crossed my leg over the other, and flicked my fingers at Cain to bring me something to drink.
I motioned to the seat next to me. “And the other?”
Killian sat down, ensuring his seat was under the shade, before looking up at me. “His name is Rabid because he rarely wolfs out. For, when he does, he cannot control himself, and he tears everything he can sink his teeth into apart.”
Cain set down a glass of piping hot O-negative in front of me. I picked it up and mumbled over the rim, “Fuck me. What I do for money,” then took a sip. I closed my eyes, enjoying the delicious taste of the fresh blood that the hotel staff provided.
Killian looked at the door, expecting them to show up soon. “Let me take care of most of the conversation. I know how to deal with these two.”
I lifted my brow at him over my cup, sipped another delicious gulp before I set it down, and leaned forward. “So, you think I can't handle myself against some street urchins?”
Killian started to backtrack. “No, no. That's not what I meant. What I meant to say was that they shouldn't take up any of your precious time or for you to waste any of yours on these lower beings.” I saw him fumble with the corner of his hideous jacket, and I settled back in my chair. “They just want to see that you are real. A lot of these types can't imagine the kind of money you have and are skeptical.”
I lifted my hands around me. “Well, this should be able to speak for itself.”
We both turned our heads at the knock on the door, and Cain waited for me to nod my head at him to answer the door.
I knew when they stepped over the threshold because I could immediately smell their stench. I looked at Killian, who was unphased, but I guess that's what happens when you deal with these kinds of people every day. You get accustomed to living in shit. I shuttered before I held my breath and started to breath out my nose. I was going to keep this up for as long as possible so I didn't have to smell anything from them.
I heard the large one's big clunky feet stomping his way over to the veranda, the other lighter but just as clumsy. It was like they were cavemen, and I resisted the urge to tell them to turn around and take off their shoes at the door.
The big one with the serious face was the first to speak as he nodded towards my companion. “Killian…and?” He looked at me, expecting me to answer, but I turned to look at Killian expectantly. I thought he wanted to handle this.
“Let's just call him Mr. X right now. As you can see,” he lifted his hands to motion around him, “He is the one you wanted to sit down face to face with. To make sure he was even real and that the money I was offering was real.” Killian turned on his bad man charm with the perpetual sneer on his face, and I almost laughed at all the posturing.
Killian motioned to the seats and introduced us. “Mr. X, this is Rabid, the President and head man in charge of the Moon Raiders, and this guy,” he pointed to Duce, “is his second in command, Duce.”
Both of them slowly sat down, facing Killian, but their eyes kept flicking to me. They realized who the real threat was at the table. Maybe they weren't so dumb after all.
"So, look. The job is simple. We need you to provide protection for our transportation guys from our main hub here and follow them up the coast as they make their drops along the way." Killian rattled off while I kept drinking my blood.
The pretty one looked at my cup, his lips attempting to curl as he lifted his eyes back to me and smiled. What a well-trained little puppy. Maybe I should get one after I collect my prey. They always tell you to get an animal to keep the home a happy and calm place.
"Then you come back and wait until we have more to do it all over again." The leader paid attention to Killian, asking all the questions.
"Do you need us to ride in the vehicles or alongside them? When will we be getting paid, and how much along the way?" Killian opened his mouth, but this big dog kept going. "Also, are we providing the hardware to your men, or are they already coming packed? We don't like working with people who can’t afford their own heat. Those types tend to turn on ya for a buck."
I lifted my cup to take a sip, but I had to admit it was a good assessment. Killian only had so many loyal men; the rest were bought with the money I funded him with. Killian's chest puffed out, his ego taking a shot as he clenched his teeth. "I will have all of that detail for you on the day of the run."
Rabid's frown deepened, and I felt like Killian was already losing our best footmen. "If it bothers you so much, I can make sure that you are well equipped with high-end spelled Kevlar so you don't have to worry so much." Regular Kevlar was good for bullets, but spelled Kevlar was much harder to find and made it so that you were practically impenetrable. I would be burning through my money, but it felt like it was for a good cause in the long run.
Killian glared at me, practically yelling at me with his eyes that he had this conversation and I didn't need to step in. I tsked at him before returning my attention to the workers. My father always said you needed to pay the working man enough to get him to shut the fuck up.
“Does that suffice for you?”
The leader, Rabid, turned my way as he slowly nodded. “Will we have to pay you for it?”
