More confusion, then suddenly grim realization. “Oooh. Yeah, of course.Theruby.”
I nod. We look at each other. A couple heartbeats pass. No attempt on my life yet. Okay. Maybe he’s more diplomatic and less bloodthirsty than Isidoro said. Our vampy really needs to check his sources and make sure his intel is up to date.
“So, yeah.” I point at the private corridor over my shoulder as my peripheral catches Niko sneaking out of the crowd. “Wanna go over there and discuss next steps?”
Andras, for the first time since I chatted him up, shifts his attention to his guards. They look completely oblivious to what’s happening, their eyes locked on the dance-off currently in progress in the middle of the hall.
“Alone,” I rush out. “You really don’t want to make a fuss, or the guests might figure out what’s happened.”
He nods stiffly and starts walking. I stare after him, my pulse thrumming in my ears. Whelp. That was way too easy.
But I don’t get to question things as he slips into that corridor and I have to jog after him to catch up. Niko is already there, waiting with his back against the wall by a bathroom and his phone in his hands. He lifts his headthe moment he notices us, a wary expression that I can see even in the dim light sliding across his face.
“This part is off-limits to guests,” Andras says when he registers we are not alone, tensing up.
I carefully close the door behind me, making sure it doesn’t make more noise than it needs to. A quick glance before it clicks into place ensures no one has seen us slip away.
Niko pushes off the wall, seemingly unconcerned. “I believe my associate explained the situation to you,” he says, tipping his head at me.
Andras whirls around, suspicion pinching his brow. He says something under his breath, then fixates back on Niko. “Who are you? What is the meaning of this?”
Niko raises his arms in a placating gesture. “We just want to talk. Our boss has your ruby and he’s willing to negotiate.” He indicates the door I’m blocking. “If you cooperate and follow us, we’ll take you to him.”
Andras snarls, the first sign that he has some actual bite. “I am not going anywhere. I don’t know who you are or what you think you know—”
Niko charges at him, toppling him over before he’s taken more than a couple of steps toward me and the door. Claws extend from Andras’s fingers, sharp and glinting menacingly under the sparse illumination.
“Tommy!” Niko grunts, trying to avoid their deadly tips. “See where this hallway leads! We can’t go back inside!”
I rush to the end of the hall, where stairs open onto a massive roof terrace. There is a pool, a bar and even a helicopter pad, but no trace of an emergency exit. Shit. It’s a dead end.
Heart hammering in my chest, I race back down to where Niko is still struggling against Andras. They are locked into each other on the floor, each one trying to get an edge on the other.
“Niko! There’s nothing! Just a terrace with a helipad!”
“Fuck,” Niko growls.
Andras hisses, snapping his teeth. “Get off me!”
“Text Isi. Tell him we’ve got Andras, but he’s resisting. We can’t make it out.”
While I do that, Niko continues to fight Andras, the two of them rolling and punching each other. But it’s a tie, which, while I am glad for because otherwise Niko’s head would be the one rolling on the carpeted floor, I’m a little surprised about. I mean, Niko is actually holding his own against the ex-king of vampires, who’s supposedly a killing machine. How badass is that?
Adrenaline pumping, I look for something I can use to help my man. But compared to the corridor when we got off the elevator, this one is empty and bare, not even sporting paintings on its white walls.
“Tommy! Find something to tie him with!” Niko orders, grunting as Andras’ claws cut through his sleeve and into his flesh. “Fuck, he’s strong.”
Panic rising, I shove open the door of the bathroom near which Niko was waiting. I scurry inside, looking for something he can use, but there is nothing. No hoses, no ropes, not even a zip tie, only a giant white vase with blue symbols.
I look at myself in the mirror. Then at the big vase. “Fuck it.”
Outside, Niko has pinned Andras down on his stomach, using his weight to restrict the vampire’s legs andprevent him from rolling over. There’s blood on Niko’s face, dripping from his eyebrow and mouth, and he’s breathing heavily and fast, like he’s at the end of his strength.
“Niko!” I get his attention, his eyes going wide as saucers as I charge toward him. “Move!”
I can’t stop. I can’t slow down. He sees that, cursing as he jumps away as if his ass is on fire. I sway and almost lose my footing and crash right at him because this shit is so fucking heavy, but I manage to retain my balance as he ducks out of my way at the last moment. Then I drop the expensive-looking vase right on top of Andras’ head and pray for a miracle.
Andras groans, convulses and rolls over, whimpering in pain and gasping for air as his head bleeds like a river. Then his eyes roll back and he goes completely still.
