“Like, facials and massages?” I glanced at her as I drove back to Ginata’s territory.
“Yeah, that’s what it looks like.” She flashed her tablet, but I couldn’t look at the screen. “Take that next exit.”
I did as told, and she continued to direct me until we were parked in front of the building she claimed Scout was in.
“My phone is in there,anyway. It is very possible she dropped it or the bag entirely.”
“What do we do then?” I shot her a look, and she flinched.
“Let’s worry about that when it happens.”
Only a few cars were in the parking lot, but the lights were on in the building.
“Let’s try to find a back door,” I mumbled, and we dipped down the alley between the spa and an unmarked building.
We went around the back to find a vampire standing next to the door. I looked at Elvie, who was frowning. She turned around and put her hands over her eyes. “I don’t want to watch.”
I rolled my eyes and went over to the guy. Bloodshed, I saw, right before I pulled out my switchblade. He turned just as I hurled myself at him. We fell to the concrete, and I heard his head hit the pavement with a loud crack! I opened my mouth and sunk my fangs into his throat. His screams were cut off as I brought the knife up and stabbed him in the trachea. I ripped away at his throat, and finally, when I pulled away, I moved the blade in and out and around to get his head severed from his body.
I stood and wiped my mouth. “Come on!” I shouted at Elvie. She turned and shook her head sadly at my newest victim.
“Oh, Desiderio. You are so violent. I hate it.”
“He would have done the same to us if he had the chance.” I kicked his limp body. “Let’s go.”
Ludovica’s sad eyes shifted away and returned to me with a smile. She rose her head high and moved with a grace that came with confidence. The confidence that came from being one of us. A Seven Sin. Despite her often-seemed innocence, Sloth was not a person to be messed with. While I, Wrath, wore my sin in plain sight, her evil was brewing just under the surface. We walked in together as if we owned the place, and at that moment, I was glad to have her here with me to take on our other Seven Sin sister, Gluttony.
The lights were dim, and light elevator music played throughout the building. I was alert to every footstep or noise that I heard. I was covered in blood, and there was no way I could explain that away.
We both paused outside an open doorway that had said BATHHOUSE outside of it when we heard a familiar voice.
Scout.
“Can’t I just wear a bra and panties?” she asked.
“No, silly. Everyone gets naked. Come on, get in,” a female voice laughed.
“I don’t know if this is my thing.”
“Why? Are you still nervous? I thought the massage would help. You were naked for that, weren’t you?”
“I don’t want to be exposed. The water is clear.”
“We’ll put bubbles in. Get in. And take that tacky necklace off. Even seeing that name gets my blood boiling.” There was a pause, and I realized I had inched my way into the doorway. My hand went to the matching necklace I wore. I had stopped breathing entirely as I listened in. Ludovica moved silently beside me.
The woman spoke again. “If you don’t drop that towel, I’ll get one of my men to do it for you. Or is that what you wanted this whole time? They are handsome, aren’t they? I suppose I can let you borrow them for a night or two until we get you another set.”
I stepped in then and set my eyes around the room. Scout’s back was to me. She was standing at the edge of the large tub. I tilted my head to look at the woman in the water.
Red hair was pulled up in a bun, loose curls dangling on skin so pale it almost hurt to look at. I blinked in confusion as I stared into the face of a rather pretty Bloodborn vampire.
She saw Elvie and me and stood quickly, exposing her naked body to the room unashamedly. Scout turned when she saw her reaction, and her mouth fell open. The relief that washed over her expression was only comforting for a moment. My attention returned to the redhead in the water.
“Desi—” Scout started but was cut off. The strange woman was glaring at us. She put her hand up to stop Scout but didn’t take her eyes off me.
“Scout,” I started. I began inching closer to her, watching the woman closely. “Who is that?”
There was a pause. Scout’s face took on a look of confusion before she responded. “That’s Ginata.”
