The door pushed open.
Damek shoved the door inward, needing to see Sonia for himself, even though he knew she was still inside the bathroom and hadn’t fled the premises. Although from the look on her face she would have gone out the window if there’d been one in the room.
Her skin was as pale as newly fallen snow and he would wager it was just as cool to the touch. Fear had her heartbeat skittering at a fast pace and a bead of sweat rolled down her temple. She nibbled on her bottom lip and her eyes widened with fear.
Good, she should be afraid. It was not wise to accuse a man of being a vampire, especially if he was one. His earlier assessment had been right on target—the woman needed a keeper.
But first he had to find out exactly why she’d sought him out and how much she knew. He slowly removed his dark glasses and tucked them into the inside pocket of his Armani jacket. He smiled fully for the first time, offering her a glimpse of his lethal fangs.
She swallowed hard and took a step back.
“I’m curious.” He advanced a step and the door closed quietly behind him. “What did you expect to happen if you discovered I was a vampire?” Did she have orders to contact someone about him?
He hissed as a thought occurred to him. “Were you working with that vampire hunter who was following you? Did you already call them?” If she had, he would have quite a mess to clear up.
Her hand jerked toward her blazer pocket before she could stop herself. He stalked forward, his usually fluid movements replaced by tight, jerky motions as he struggled to contain his rage. If he released it, he could potentially destroy Haven and all the people inside it.
“Who have you called?” He reached into her pocket and grabbed her phone. She captured his hand and fought him for the phone. She lost.
“Give me that. It’s not yours.”
Her audacity astounded him. “You’re in no position to object.”
“Yes, I am.” She glared at him and made a grab for the phone. He read the move before she made it and jerked the phone out of her reach. “If you’ve survived for any length of time, and I think you have, then you know you don’t want to draw attention to yourself.”
“And who have you told, sweet Sonia?”
Sonia’s blood froze in her veins. This was not happening. The entertaining flirt from earlier tonight, the man she had shared such a warm moment with in the limo, had disappeared and in his place was the most frightening creature she’d ever encountered. The power she sensed swirling around him made her realize how ill prepared she was for the reality of discovering a true ancient vampire.
She was almost lightheaded at the realization that she was in the presence of a vampire. A very pissed-off one, but a vampire nonetheless. All her life she’d been searching and hoping for this moment. Now that it had happened, a part of her wished she could go back in time and undo every action that had led her to Chicago.
She’d drawn his attention to her family.
“No one. I haven’t told anyone.” She could talk her way out of this. She had no choice. Her family had to be protected at any cost.
“Such a pretty liar you are.” Damek started scrolling through her calls. “Celia Agostino. Hmm, I assume she’s related to you. Maybe I should pay her a visit.”
Anger broke through the ice surrounding her and in its place was a fiery fury unlike anything she’d ever known. She flew at Damek, knocking the phone from his grasp. It fell to the floor with a crash and Sonia prayed it was broken so he couldn’t discover her friends’ names. It was bad enough she’d endangered her family.
He caught her about the waist as she pummeled him with her fists. “You leave my family alone. Do you hear me? I’ll stake you through the heart if you touch them.” Considering he held her captive as easily as she could a butterfly, she didn’t think he took her threats seriously. But he didn’t know her, didn’t know the lengths she would go to in order to protect her family.
Sonia reached deep inside herself and drew on the blood of her heritage. She was no purebred anything, but had a mixture of paranormal blood and human running through her. She focused on the paranormal and pulled hard on the energy like her mother had taught her. Strength filled her and she pushed Damek hard. Caught off-guard, he flew backward and hit the tiled wall with a heavy thud.
Both of them froze and the bathroom door banged open. “What the hell is going on in here?” Isaiah Striker strode through the door like he owned the place, which Sonia realized he did.
He glanced from one to the other and shook his head. “Let’s take this into the office. Half the patrons in the club have already left. Those are powerful vibes you’re giving off, my friend.” Isaiah turned from Damek and studied her. “And I don’t know who you truly are, but I would advise you not to anger our mutual friend any more than you already have.”
Sonia scooted closer to Isaiah and Damek bared his fangs. Isaiah held up his hands in mock surrender. “I don’t know what’s going on between you two, but you’ve brought your problems here and we need to settle this.”
“We will go elsewhere.” Damek was back under control, all urban sophistication once again. Sonia was panting hard and her sweater was stuck to her body with sweat. She felt as though she’d run a marathon and had come dead last. Dead. Definitely not a good word to use given the situation.
“No, you won’t.” Isaiah put his hands on his hips and glared at Damek. “You’ve worried Meredith, and I don’t think it’s safe for your guest to be alone with you right now.” Isaiah dragged his hand through his hair, making his biceps ripple. “Come on, man, you need to calm down. Let’s go into the office and talk.”
“She knows I’m a vampire.” Damek threw that little tidbit out and it landed between them like a live hand grenade that hadn’t exploded. Yet. “Don’t you, my sweet?”
The endearment he tacked on at the end sounded more like a curse, and Sonia swallowed hard. Why hadn’t she kept her questions to herself or played dumb? Because this was the quest of a lifetime for her, that’s why. Her curiosity might get her killed yet, but she was still alive and ready to fight if necessary. Although her chance of success was little to none unless Isaiah and his employees helped her.
Isaiah’s eyes narrowed on her and she realized whatever good will he’d had toward her had just vanished. She truly was in enemy territory. There was only one thing she could do.
“I’m a member of The Keepers,” she blurted.
When they both looked at her as though she was speaking in tongues, Sonia knew if she couldn’t talk her way out of this situation, she was as good as dead.
“I don’t know who in the hell The Keepers are but this discussion needs to move to a more private location.” Isaiah opened the door and pointed. “Now.”
Damek was beside her before she could so much as blink and wrapped his fingers around her wrist like a manacle. “Don’t make a scene or you’ll regret it.” He bent down, picked up her phone and tucked it into his jacket pocket.
Regret sliced through her like a knife. She’d been stupid to think there could ever be anything more than business between her and Damek. But how she’d secretly hoped for more. Damek had tapped into the sensual side of her nature without even really trying. Her erotic dream was evidence of that. She was drawn to him in a way she’d never been to any man. Of course, he wasn’t exactly human.
She’d liked the mysterious club owner, the charming companion and the man she sensed lurked beneath the persona he’d carefully built. He’d seemed…lonely. That was the word that came to mind over and over and she’d longed to be the woman who eased his loneliness.