I bared my teeth at them. The young vampire would experience enough pain in his long existence, but it didn’t need to start while I was around.
A glass appeared in front of my face. “What are you doing?”
“Sneering. Warning off the bitches.”
He laughed, and I saw his shoulders relax. “Thanks. I can’t wait to hear the rumors tomorrow. They’ll range from my needing to hire protection to my owning a harem of beautiful shifters.” He took a long swig of beer. Vampires couldn’t eat food but they could enjoy liquids. Most turned to alcohol.
I tossed my hair over my shoulder. “At least they’ll get the beautiful part right. So, do you see Cesio?”
Mutt shook his head as he finished his beer and signaled for another. “He won’t be out here in public. He’ll be upstairs in the VIP section. Just wait. Word will spread of my being here, and he’ll show up. He’s dependable like that.”
“In my pack, we call it predictable. Not a good trait in a predator.” I sipped and watched the balcony above us, where I assumed the VIP area was housed. “How do you know he’ll come?”
Mutt leaned on his elbows and stared at his reflection in the mirror on the other side of the bar. He nursed his beer this time instead of chugging it. “Because we’ve played this game ever since I became Nosferatu. I enter with a date. He steals her.” His chuckle held a dark edge. “I started bringing women who weren’t his taste, but he still came.”
“They all went with him?” Mutt needed more than lessons in combat—he needed a dating intervention, and I was so not the person to give him this.
“You’ve never seen Cesio?”
Colby had said the same thing. Now, I was anxious to see the overlord. “No, I haven’t, and the point of this exercise is so he does lure me away.”
“I know.”
“Maybe you should stop scowling at the mirror and make googly eyes at me. How about placing your arm around my shoulders or something?”
Mutt glanced at me. “If Colby is watching, I’m sure I might lose said arm. Are you mated now?”
“I don’t know. He’s been running for so long I’m not sure he knows how to stop.”
Mutt’s expression became darker. “You deserve better than that, Gwen. What a jerk.”
I sighed. “Can we discuss my love life another time?” I eyed his empty beer mug as the bartender replaced it with a full one. Again. “Don’t make me carry you out of here.”
“The stuff doesn’t touch me.”
How many times had I heard my brother say the same thing? Rolling my eyes, I wandered away from Mutt to make it easier for Cesio to lure me away. This whole day was proving to be very long, and I was anxious to return to Colby and let him help me out of this dress.
With furtive glances, I watched the empty balcony to the VIP section while I meandered past dancers and couples, all the while keeping my back to the wall. So I startled a little when a hand landed on my lower back. Whipping around, I came face to face with a dark-haired vampire. His milk chocolate eyes promised to make all my fantasies come true, and his smile oozed a confidence that my satisfaction was only moments away. A strand of hair fell across his forehead, as if begging me to settle it back on his head with my fingers. “Hello.” He pulled me closer. “You must be Gwen Fatima Brizido.”
Only years of training kept the surprise from showing on my face. “Yes, I am.”
“You’re more stunning than I’d imagined after our phone call.” A concerned look appeared on his face, but it was lie. “I’m so sorry I couldn’t have helped you more. All is well with your shifter friend?”
It took all my control not to fist my hands at the memory of Colby unconscious and me helpless. “Yes, he’s well.” One day this vampire would ask my aid, and payback would be sweet.
“I was informed you were looking for me.” He trailed his fingertips over the hem of my dress, brushing my upper thigh. “I’m flattered.”
“I’d like to speak with you in private.” I glanced at the crowded club.
“What of your charge?”
“Who?”
“Mutt. I know you’ve been sent to watch over him. You understand I have no power to intervene on his behalf. If he’s giving you trouble, you’ll have to go to the local Nosferatu authority. I’m powerless against the whelp.”
I hadn’t been aware that my role in Mutt’s life had been made public. I guess my master thought it prudent to inform Cesio? Somehow I doubted it. “It’s not about Mutt.”
The overlord blinked very slowly, as if considering my words. “I have a private room. We’ll retire there and talk.” He wrapped his arm around my waist, which gave me the impression he wanted to exchange body fluids, not words. He guided me toward the back of the club, where I saw an elevator. I kept from breaking his fingers by recalling Red’s predicament.
“I thought we could go to my hotel room,” I said. “Less chance of us being disturbed.” And where Colby would be waiting like usual. Shit.
Cesio paused at the elevator. “I don’t go anywhere without my guard, Ms. Brizido. One doesn’t get to my age by being stupid. If you wish to speak with me, either follow or make an appointment.” The door slid open, and he stepped inside without glancing back at me.
I took a deep breath and followed. Colby was going to have my hide.
Chapter Twelve
I stood with my back against the elevator wall, facing Cesio, who leaned by the buttons.
His gaze wandered over my body from head to toe. I bet he was wondering where the zipper to undo my dress was. “I like women with long legs.”
I fisted my hand so I wouldn’t bitch-slap him.
“Maybe I should send word to Mutt that you’re entertaining me for the rest of the evening and he can go home,” he continued.
Flipping through all the possible comebacks, I tried to find something more professional to say than, I’ll entertain you by poking my silver daggers in your conceited heart. Cesio’s dark smile made me reconsider. He’d probably enjoy it too much. What would Rose do? I smiled, even though my cheeks ached. “It seems very rash of you to treat a Nosferatu with such disrespect.”
“No disrespect intended.”
The elevator opened, and he paused over the threshold. Shadows hovered at the edges of the small room. My gaze went to the closed door on the other side and I resisted the urge to check if it was locked. Deep red wallpaper covered the walls, with matching leather chairs.
“I’m not forcing you to leave his company, am I?”
Gritting my teeth behind my fake smile, I shook my head. Women actually flocked to this jerk. Yes, he was pretty, until he opened his mouth.
Cesio sauntered into the room and pulled a chair out for me then sat across the table. “Is there something I can do for you to make your stay in my city more comfortable?”
Besides finding me a shifter physician when I asked? The resentment boiling in my heart surprised me. I hadn’t realized how much it irked that he’d refused to help in my time of need.
I joined him, leaning forward, and sensed an alarming tug on the front of my dress. The girls were trying to escape. Short of tucking them back in, I was in trouble. “Yes.” I cleared my throat and tugged a shoulder strap. “A human associate of mine is missing.”