“We’re coming too,” Georgie said, swallowing the rest of her champagne. Another was poured and handed to her before she could ask. She went to pull her credit card out of her purse, but the barmaid moved away. She looked amongst the group as she put it back in. “Who’s paying for this?”
“Rodney,” Kenneth said. “Though I’m not sure it’s actually costing him anything. He’s good friends with the owner.”
Georgie twined her arm around mine and we headed upstairs, flanked by Ethan and Josh. Two more guards stood at the top of the stairs and ran their eyes over us. At first they didn’t move, and I thought we weren’t going to be allowed in. But they noticed Ethan, nodded, and stepped aside.
The upstairs area had another bar, with pink-and-mauve lights dancing across the room. It was a little quieter up here. The sprawling room was filled with white leather couches and marble coffee tables. The patrons reeked of money and enough confidence to fill an entire city. Vampires mostly, by the looks of them, intermingled with humans.
We found seats on two facing couches and sat down, looking around.
“A drink for you all with compliments of Rodney.” A waitress held a tray and slipped two pink cocktails frothing with white smoke in front of Georgie and me, and two whiskeys in front of Ethan.
“It’s probably some kind of Rohypnol.” Georgie scrunched up her face as she sniffed it and sat it back down.
Rodney slipped down next to Josh on the couch opposite us. Josh’s whole body tensed, and he shuffled along the couch, moving away. Rodney took no notice. He was too busy looking at Georgie. “I can assure you it’s not. I’ve no need to drug women to bed them.”
“Oh no,” Georgie shot back. “That’s right, you just mind-fuck them into doing it so your victims are twice fucked.”
I slapped a hand over my mouth and laughed. Ethan sat back and rested his arm on the back of the couch behind me.
Rodney’s eyes shot between Georgie and me, a lazy smile creasing his lips. “I’ve no need to mind-fuck anyone to sleep with me either, Georgie, as you already are well aware.” His voice was husky. “I’ve no trouble at all attracting women.”
“Your money and charm are wasted on us.” She threw him a tight smile and drawled, “Because we already know your personality.”
“No,” he said, sitting forward, resting his elbows on his thighs, his voice dropping to melted chocolate. “You don’t know me at all, but that is something I’d like to change.”
“Thanks for the drink.” She held it up. “But I will pass on the whole getting-to-know-you thing.”
Rodney stared at her as she took another sip. “You’ll change your mind.”
Was he reading her mind?
“No. I won’t.” She jerked to her feet. “And I need to find the ladies.”
“I will walk you.” Josh was up and beside her before I could offer.
I frowned. If Rodney could read her mind, with my ring on and my powers blocked, could he read mine? Why didn’t I think of that? Whatever Monique gave me had disabled common sense along with my legs. I yanked off my ring, tucking it in my purse. The energies over the room rushed against me like a burst of winter wind. I felt my power tingle inside my veins, filling my body with strength, with awareness, a rush that was intoxicating.
Ethan watched me but said nothing.
Rodney didn’t take his eyes off Georgie as she wove through the crowd.
“You better not be doing what I think you are,” I said.
Rodney sat back, crossed his legs, and turned his attention to me. “I was not reading her mind, if that’s what your concern is. It may surprise you, but I don’t actually enjoy knowing everything about someone. It takes the shine off when you can read their every thought.” He drained his glass, and a waitress appeared and replaced it with another almost immediately. “I was more interested in watching and listening to the thoughts of those around her. Though Josh is protective of her, he doesn’t strike me as the kind that would kill if it was needed.”
Was he saying she wasn’t safe here despite the rules? I jerked my head anxiously toward where she’d disappeared. “I should go with her.”
I went to stand, but Ethan placed a hand on my shoulder, stopping me. “She’s fine, Amy. Jacque has guards all over the room, and Josh will wait outside the ladies for her.”
I relaxed. Of course she was fine. How many times had we been in nightclubs with vampires and didn’t know it and had no issues? They weren’t monsters—well, most of them.
I took a sip of the cocktail. Sugar, raspberry, a hint of vodka, and something I couldn’t place pleasured my tongue. I took another large sip and relaxed back beside Ethan.
That’s when I felt him, his energy buzzing against me, inside me. Fluttering like feathered wings. I lifted my head, my heart drumming. The crowd peeled to the side as he stalked through them, fear in some of their eyes, respect in others. His body lithe, his face set, his jaw hard. A coldness leaked from him like inky shadows.
A predator.
A killer.
