Part 25 (1/2)
Marcus whimpered, panic widening his eyes.
”That's what I thought.” Blaron stepped back. ”The staff hates cleaning up p.i.s.s, too. Drop him before he wets his pants.”
Chase grudgingly released Marcus. The frightened vamp would have returned to his table, but Blaron halted him with a chilling glare. ”Anyone who threatens or goes after someone under my protection won't see the following night. Am I clear?”
”Yes.” His voice came out raspy, but at least Marcus could talk.
”That includes mates. His, specifically, and any of her kin. Are you hearing me?”
Marcus gave a sharp nod.
”And don't be thinking you can have someone else do your bidding. Anyone so much as breathes on them, and I'm blaming you.”
Marcus nodded again.
”Now go sit your a.r.s.e down and be nice to that bonny redhead waiting for you. She's a looker, and I want her to return here often. It's good for business.” Blaron stepped to the side. He glanced at Chase and jerked his head in the direction of the offices.
Part of Chase was relieved. His friend had just announced to the entire club that his protection extended to Jasmine. Every vamp in the place would have noted the exchange.
He followed Blaron to the side doors, down a set of stairs, and beyond the noise of the club once he sealed them inside the office.
Lethal sat behind a desk, and he peered up at him with lively blue eyes. ”Interesting.” His nostrils flared. ”The real estate agent?”
Alarm shot though Chase and a snarl burst from his mouth. ”Were you having me followed? We are supposed to have trust.”
The tall vampire rose to his feet, his leather pants rubbing against his chair. ”Easy.”
”How do you know about my Jasmine?”
”I can smell her.”
”How do you know what she does for a living?” Suspicion grew.
A smirk twisted the male's lips. ”I recommended her to you, remember? I've used her a few times.”
Chase reacted on instinct, leaping over the desk and shoving the big b.a.s.t.a.r.d into a wall to pin him there with the claws that shot out from his fingertips. ”You touched my mate?!” The urge to kill his friend was so strong, he barely resisted. ”Fed from her?”
Lethal's blue eyes widened. ”h.e.l.l no! The la.s.s helped me buy a few homes. I never tossed her skirts up and bedded her. Nor did I bleed her.”
”She didn't mention you to me.”
”She wouldn't.” Lethal cleared his throat and frowned. ”I blurred her memory of my name and what she helped me acquire. I still paid the la.s.s. You know I don't like anyone knowing where I buy property. They were my safe houses.”
Blaron cleared his throat. ”Gentlemen? Are we going to fight? Allow me to move the computers at least. It's payroll day, and nothing is worse than snarling employees bent out of shape.”
Chase withdrew his claws and stepped back. ”We're good.”
Lethal grinned. ”She's a bonny la.s.s who will make you a wonderful mate. You hid her scent well. I had no idea you were even dating anyone.”
He hesitated, glancing at them both. ”It was spur of the moment. You know that rogue you asked me to hunt? She was one of his victims.”
A growl sprang from Lethal. ”Is she well?”
”I healed her. She will be fine.” Chase rounded the desk. ”She was the only one who survived. We need to keep a closer eye on missing persons' reports.”
”Agreed.” Blaron fingered the sword attached to his belt. ”We'll dispatch those d.a.m.n rogues from our city. We don't need any more problems.”
”You're going to hate to hear this then.” Chase sat in a chair. ”My pack isn't going to take it well that I mated.”
His friends took seats too. ”What makes you believe that?”
He held Lethal's curious gaze. ”My lead enforcer backed down when I gave him the opportunity to challenge me outside, but he didn't want to. He's not happy my mate isn't a member of the pack, and that means I can't trust him as far as I can throw him. It will lead to strife in the ranks and they'll eventually come after me once some of their anger overtakes their fear.”
”Aye,” Blaron mused. ”They will. It would have bonded you to them if your mate happened to be a werewolf from the pack. They've been looking for a reason to spill your blood since you arrived. So have most of our regular customers. Your bloodlines are an issue. You're of both worlds, but they only see you as different.”
”I'm giving my notice.”
Lethal reached up to shove his long black hair over his shoulder. ”No. We refuse to accept it. You're our head of security and you'll stay in that position.”
”We're friends.” Blaron smiled. ”You can't leave us in the lurch. We trust you.”
”It's going to make your club a target if they can't find my den.”
”Is that where you're hiding the bonny la.s.s?” The dark-haired vamp grinned. ”With your sister-the one you refuse to allow us to meet?”
”They are both safer far from here.” Chase sighed. ”I don't want my trouble coming to your door.”
”We love trouble.” Blaron winked. ”It gets too boring around here otherwise. We're friends 'til the end, but I'm not preparing to die.” He glanced at the other vampire. ”Tell him we have his back.”
”You just did.” Lethal chuckled. ”It goes double with me.”
Chase studied them. ”You don't owe me for saving your a.s.ses when you decided to visit the pack I lived with. You didn't know about the war between wolves and vampires. It started before you came to America. You're used to the city packs that depend on you for steady work. That pack has a long memory, and they hated you both on sight. They shouldn't have blamed you for a history you had no part in.”
”They decided to behead us but you got us out of there.” Blaron leaned back in his chair. ”You were the first mixed breed we'd ever met. We're friends, and we stand together when trouble comes.” He patted his trusted sword again. ”I say we set a trap and wait to see who comes.”
Chase didn't like the idea. ”It would be easier if I just didn't work for you anymore.”
”We trust you, Chase.” Lethal grinned. ”Friends don't abandon friends in bad times. They stick together. You're the best one for the job, so forget quitting.”
”s.h.i.+t.” Chase eyed both men with dread. He knew them well and they'd already made up their minds. They wanted to help him whether he wanted it or not. ”And if it means losing an entire pack? Who is going to guard you when you sleep? I can't do it every single day. I have a mate who might not enjoy being alone all the time.”
”We have our safe houses. I don't plan on sleeping below the club anytime soon.” Blaron stood. ”Let's plot our enemies' demise. I'm sure they are doing the same.”
Chase stared at Lethal, hoping he'd be the voice of reason.
He rose to his feet with a deadly look on his features and gripped his sword, strapped it on before grabbing a leather trench coat. ”To battle, men.” He chuckled. ”May the blood of our adversaries flow so we may be victorious.”
”You both are nuts...but I'm glad you're on my side.” Chase pushed out of his seat and glanced at them. ”I think I have an idea how we can lure them out tomorrow night. Let's go upstairs and handle the customers. Afterward, we'll talk strategies.”