I pulled my attention back to where it needed to be. The three men weaved closer to the bar. They weren’t jacked or huge, but something about them made my hackles rise. For one, the guy at the front kept his attention focused on Sor, the second one bounced his attention between me and her, and the one bringing up the rear glanced around as if he was looking for someone. I internally rolled my eyes. Did they seriously think there weren’t any guards other than me near Sor? In Bal’s nightclub? Not so bright, then, these would be attackers.
The pretty red-headed Made that Sor had just served caught the first man's eye. Her gaze narrowed before she quickly barged her way past and moved in the opposite direction. The man glared after her, but she was soon swallowed by the crowd. In the corner of my vision, I saw Vito straighten and felt the telltale tingle of Bal’s gaze on the side of my face.
My face remained cold as one of the men looked right at me. My wolf rumbled aggressively. Surely he was more than human? All three had to be more if they were going to take me on with no weapons. No one outside Bal’s castle knew that even silver bullets couldn’t kill me, and we’d all keep it that way. It was always better to have an edge that your enemies didn’t know about.
Come on, you fucker. You’ve come for me, and I’m not letting you get to Sor, so let’s get on with it.
My fingers clenched into fists, and I stretched my neck side to side, easing the tightness in my muscles. I was more than ready to relieve some of the tension and anger simmering in my veins. Perhaps I’d petition Bal, or maybe Roco, to let me in the fight ring once in a while to burn off some aggression, especially if Bal was going to piss me off regularly. Which, apparently, he was.
Behind the bar, Sor served the thrum of punters who vied for her attention. There was a slight sheen of sweat on her forehead, and she swiped at it with her forearm. From my position, I could easily reach her if anyone got handsy or too verbal, but I shuffled closer anyway. My hackles rose as the men made their way closer to us both.
Maybe she needed to take a break. Keeping the suspects in my peripheral vision, I watched her closely. In contrast to Bal’s alluring and dangerous darkness, Sor practically glowed like the light of a star had infused her. She was utterly mesmerising to watch. It took every bit of my self-control not to storm over and kiss her hard in front of all the fuckers at the bar who eyed her hungrily. Thankfully, she didn’t engage with the customers other than a shy smile of greeting or thanks. I wasn’t sure I’d have been able to stop myself from hauling her away if she flirted as hard with them as they tried to with her. I was surprised Bal allowed her in this club at all when it was full of predators,and the scent of pheromones and sex permeated the air, riling everyone up.
Her well-fitting t-shirt was cut just low enough to reveal the swell of her perfect tits, and the curve of her creamy neck made my mouth water as she flicked her hair out of the way. I licked my lips, my stomach growling as I focused on the vein that tempted me. I was hungry for food, but hungrier for blood. I’d not fed since the early hours of last night, after we’d fallen into bed together. She’d cried out her pleasure with my fangs in her neck and my fingers sheathed in her delectable pussy.
As if feeling the weight of my gaze, her attention flicked to me. Her face lit with a gorgeous smile, the dimness not hiding her flush as I smiled back and let my gaze travel over her. Rolling her eyes, she returned to serve one of the three stooges who’d reached the bar.
I stepped closer.
The skin on my face still pricked with awareness, as if my every cell was attuned to the vampire lord who watched me from across the room. A strange and delicious tension coiled in my gut, but I ignored him, giving him a taste of his own medicine.
The three stooges were next for Sor’s attention. I took a step closer and stared coldly at the one giving her a charming smile. Sor took a deep breath, then stumbled, her hand slapping on the bar to steady herself.
I moved close and slid my hand under her elbow. “Hey, you okay?”
She peered up at me and laughed it off. “Of course, I must be a bit tired, stumbling over my own feet like that.”
The guy near the bar watched her carefully, a frown drawing down his brows. My wolf rose as Sor straightened and gave him an embarrassed smile. “Sorry about that. What would you like?”
The two behind him fixed their eyes on me as he leaned in to shout his order. Something was really off. These three guys weretoo tense, too alert for just ordering drinks at a bar, but they didn’t seem as interested in me as they were in Sor.
The guy’s right hand remained low, which was strange when he'd used that hand to lift his glass earlier. I’d been watching them watch me and Sor. Why was his right hand out of sight while his left hand held his phone up near the card reader? I took a step closer, alarm bells ringing. The other two leaned their hands on the bar, their bodies tight and coiled like they were going to jump.
Sor put the drinks on the bar with trembling hands and nudged the card reader around. Before the guy could pay, her knees buckled and she collapsed. I caught her, lowering her gently to the floor as all hell exploded.
The guy vaulted across the bar, something flashing in his fist. I had no time to see what it was before the other two landed on either side of me, shoulder-slamming me, their speed and momentum driving me onto my back and away from Sor.
Giving a furious roar, I flung them both sideways. They flew through the air, one of them hitting a fridge, the impact smashing the glass front, and the other landing against thin air. Except it wasn’t. Bal had materialised with his hands on either side of the man’s head. He twisted. The crack was audible even above all the screaming and yelling as people ran for the exits. I turned to Sor just as the guy yanked a syringe from her neck.
With a roar I leapt up and launched forward, but he was suddenly gone. I blinked. If he were human, how the fuck did he move so quickly? On my knees next to Sor, I checked her pulse. It was weak and rapid, but there. A wavering breath left my lungs. She was still alive. “What the fuck did they do to you?” I raked my eyes over her, looking for clues.
Her eyelashes fluttered, but didn’t open.
Bal sank to his haunches opposite me. “What the hell just happened?!”
Maybe it was just my own guilty conscience, but his barked question sounded like an accusation. Rather than release all my anger and guilt on him, I glanced to where the third man had recovered consciousness and staggered to his feet. Bal had his back to him and was leaning forward to scoop Sor into his arms. She’d be safer with him than with me, that was for sure.
The guy met my narrowed gaze. I shook my head. Don’t do it. He did it, launching over the bar and into the fleeing crowd.
“Fucking idiot!”
My muttered curse gained me Bal’s attention. He frowned and looked over his shoulder to where the guy had disappeared. “Don’t you dare go after him.”
I snarled and, ignoring the warning in his voice, ran. No damned way was I letting that bag of shite get away. I had questions, like what was in the syringe. Security had no idea who they were looking for, and Vito and the other guards were there to watch Bal’s back. Instinct told me Bal wouldn’t leave Sor, nor should he. That left me. I’d let Sor down. Bal would take care of her. The least I could do was stop the vicious wanker from getting away.
I barged through the remaining people, knocking them out of my path like a bowling ball with skittles. Their grunts and cries didn’t register. I inhaled as I headed to one of the open fire exits, tracking his scent. Yep, he’d come this way.
I pushed harder, and the club blurred. Cold night air hit me, and my senses went on high alert, my wolf riding me high. I shifted, letting the monster out, and inhaled deeply, sifting through the noxious city smells to find the one I wanted.
