Blood Descendants (Vengeance and Venom #1)

Chapter 10

“ I ’m meeting with my father again this afternoon,” Ares says as we walk to the doors of a beautiful, modern building. I take it all in, making sure to pay attention to its location, what the lobby is like, what button he presses. Floor 39. “I’ll be getting access to his files again. I’ll start digging as soon as I get any kind of privacy with them.”

We step into the elevator once it opens, followed by five others. “What do you think happened to Ophelia?” I ask, despite the crowd surrounding us. Everyone is holding their own conversation or has their necks bent down to stare at their phones.

Ares shakes his head. “Those parties are all about food and chasing the numb bliss,” he says, speaking in light code for the sake of any listening ears. “And there’s always a back door. I watched at that party you were at, and there were three people who went with the bouncers through that door and didn’t come back out. I was planning to go check out what was behind that door, but you put a twist on the night. ”

Dammit. Maybe if I’d shown up later that night, Ares would have gotten his chance to go see what happened beyond that door.

“Do you think she’s…” I trail off, unable to vocalize the word. Words matter, and I won’t speak those ones aloud.

Ares’ hand slips into mine. I look over to see him staring at me. “I hope not. Augustus might get away with a lot of shit, but bodies are inconvenient.”

He speaks low, low enough I don’t think anyone else can hear his words.

I swallow once and nod. But I’m not sure if my imagination thinks the alternatives are any better. When pretty, young women go missing, there is almost always a sad, terrible story attached.

The elevator dings and half the crowd gets off, two more people replacing them. We make two more stops before, finally, the doors open on floor 39.

It’s all sleek and modern. There is a sign on the wall displaying business names and numbers. Hunt Enterprises is listed as 3903. Ares steps forward, my hand still clasped in his, and hooks to the right. He pushes a door open, and there, just inside, is a woman with salt and pepper hair. But she doesn’t look old, just prematurely gray. She wears a smart button-up shirt, and she looks up from her paperwork when we walk in.

“Lana, this is Pat,” Ares introduces. “She runs the office, keeps us all on our toes. Pat, this is my fiancée, Lana.”

“Fiancée?” she asks with a doubtful raised eyebrow.

“As of eight days ago,” I say, flashing a proud smile. I hold up my left hand, displaying the massive rock on my finger for show.

Pat looks from me to Ares, not buying it.

“Haven’ t you wondered why you’ve hardly seen me the last few weeks?” Ares says simply, and he turns and walks farther into the office.

“Down that way is our accountant, Tom Dee,” Ares says, waving a hand down the hall. “And our property manager, Lydia. Our attorney Nadia works from home part-time, I don’t think she’s in today.”

Weird. Ares has this whole team of people who work for him. It’s a constantly moving, huge operation. Yet I’ve hardly seen the evidence of any of it outside the office.

Some are good at separating their work and home life. Guess Ares is an expert.

Straight back, Ares aims us toward a door. Sitting in a chair just outside of it is a man. He stands the moment we walk up.

“Mr. Hunt,” he says, extending a hand. “I’m excited to get started today.”

“Just Ares,” my fake fiancé says as he shakes the man’s hand. Ares pushes the door open, revealing an office that couldn’t be more different from his father’s. It’s all modern and crisp. And there’s almost nothing personal in it. Very few books. No stacks of stuff. Except there on his desk. One framed photo of me.

Damn. I blush hard.

I don’t even know when he took it. Or when he had time to frame it and bring it here. I feel like we’ve been together almost nonstop.

Ares rounds his desk and sinks down into the seat. There are three seats directly across from the desk, so I sink into one, the man takes another.

“Lana, this is James St. Claire, my new property executor,” Ares says as he leans back in his seat. “James, my fiancée, Lana.”

“Pleasure to meet you,” he says, angling toward me and shaking my hand. And there’s something a little too… concrete about his grip.

“He’s like you?” I direct my question at Ares without looking away from James.

“Yes,” Ares answers. “So is Tom Dee. Pat knows about us. Lydia and Nadia don’t know, though.”

Well, that sounds complicated.

I look James over, taking note of this man who’s about to become a big part of Ares’ life. I’d guess he’s about thirty, maybe a tad younger. He has a strong jawline, and there’s something a tad mischievous in his eyes. He sports sandy brown hair and green eyes that are almost yellow. I’ve never seen anyone with eyes like his.

“This whole reality of vampires is still kind of blowing my mind,” I admit since the door is closed. “If the immortality thing is real, Ares is just a baby. How long have you been what you are?”

“Direct,” James notes, looking at Ares with a grin. “I like it. I Resurrected at twenty-seven, but I’ve been that age for nineteen years.”

Still not that impressively old. I’m surprised James is only one year older than Ares. He seems older for some reason. Though, I suppose he should be forty-six, so maybe it’s just that.

“Where are you from originally?” I ask, but I’m not sure why I feel such a need to quiz him.

“I was born in Los Angeles, but I never stayed put anywhere long,” he answers. He leans back in his seat, crossing one ankle over the opposite knee. “My mother didn’t like my dad much, so I lived with her until the booze took her down. I lived with my father after that, who traveled constantly. Got sick of that when I became an adult. Lived in Europe for a few years until that got old. Been settling in Manhattan for the last three years. I like it here. Think I’ll stay for a good long while.”

“Your references were all raves,” Ares points out. “Your portfolio wasn’t anything to ignore. I think you’re a good fit for Hunt Enterprises.”

“Thank you, sir,” James says, which sounds weird, considering they look so close in age. “I look forward to getting started.”

Ares nods, and his eyes slide over to me. “I’ll see you at dinner, kitten?”

My duty here is done. I nod and stand. And because we have to sell this show to everyone in our lives, I step forward. I lay my hand on Ares’ chest and lean in. My lips find his, something soft and tempting in the lightest touch.

His fingers lace into my hair, and he draws me closer, the kiss turning slightly more demanding.

“See you at dinner,” I say, my voice coming out slightly raspy.

Ares nods, holding my gaze, and he watches as I turn and head to the door.

“Nice to meet you,” James says again, and I find him fully blushed, looking slightly embarrassed and uncomfortable to be in the same room as me and Ares.

“You too,” I say with a smirk, feeling smug for no credible reason. I let my hips sway as I cross to the door.

“Billings is waiting downstairs for you,” Ares says. I look back at him to see the most adorable smile on his lips, though it looks like he’s trying to fight it. He brushes a thumb over his bottom lip.

“Thanks, darling,” I say, winking as I walk out.

“You know everything?” Pat surprises me by asking as I walk past her desk to the exit. There’s a challenge to her tone, one that tells me she doesn’t think I do, and she’s feeling sassy about it.

“I think so, all the important, fanged parts anyway,” I say, giving her a wink as well before I let myself out of the office.

When I walk back out, Billings is indeed waiting at the curb for me. I climb in and give him the address of the gym.

It takes us a good twenty-five minutes to get there with the current traffic. With nearly two million people on this island, which is only twenty-two square miles, congestion is constant. But I love it. I can’t imagine living anywhere else. I love the chaos. That there’s always something to do, somewhere to be. I love the diversity of people and the endless variety of food options. I love the wonder of the city because that’s what it is. A modern miracle. That humans built all of this. Such tiny little creatures creating such massive structures.

Finally, Billings pulls into the parking garage behind the gym.

“I’m not really sure how long I’ll be,” I say as I pull out my cell. “Should I just call you when I’m nearly done?”

“I work exclusively for Ares,” Billings says, shaking his head. “Mr. Hunt doesn’t have anywhere to be any time soon. I’ll be waiting for you.”

“Thank you,” I say, truly appreciative yet shocked by that revelation. Billings drives us a total of maybe an hour a day. And this is his only gig?

I don’t get people with money. I can’t imagine having that much extra of it.

I climb out of the SUV and head around to the front of the building. That familiar sense of home mixed with hurt fills my chest as I take in the old brick structure. This is the place I came to after the worst day of my life. After I lost the most beautiful woman in the world, the one who always took the time to truly listen. And the sister who could be such a pest but always made me feel important because she looked up to me. And then it was my refuge. Where I could work out all of my anger and grief. Where Dad was always there. Where we cried together. Where we tried to hold each other together.

And then it was taken from me.

With a steadying breath, I push open the doors and walk inside.

But where it should be busy and loud, it’s quiet and damn near empty.

My brows furrowed, I wander in. There’s one of the old regulars on a bag at the far end of the gym. But both rings are empty. The classroom doesn’t reveal anyone inside. I turn down the hall and filled with nervous dread, I knock on Tate’s door.

When no one answers, I push the door open.

And find it completely empty.

Nothing on the desk. The shelves are totally cleared out. No computer. No scheduling calendar on the wall.

Every trace of Tate is gone.

“Thought I heard someone walk in.”

I jump about three feet, and my heart relocates to my throat as I turn around and find Garrett standing in the hall.

“Just me,” he chuckles, holding his hands up.

“What’s going on?” I question, my brows furrowing. “Where is everyone? Where’s Tate?”

“You don’t know?” he says, arching an eyebrow at me .

I shake my head, feeling more confused by the second.

“That tatted guy you walked in here with last week,” Garrett begins. “Came in here early one morning. Made Tate an offer he couldn’t refuse. The bastard wasn’t happy about it. He really doesn’t like whoever the hell that guy is. But when you make that kind of offer…”

“Ares bought the gym?” I gape.

Garrett nods. “Told Tate to be the fuck out of here by the end of the day, the apartment included. Been a little chaotic in here ever since, still trying to figure out how to get things rolling forward again.”

“Who…” I stutter, at a loss for words. “Who’s running the place then?”

Garrett sighs, running a hand through his messy gray hair. “You said his name is Ares?” he asks. I nod. “Well, Ares asked me if I thought I could run it like your dad used to. When I told him I didn’t want to, he asked if I knew anyone who might want the job until you’re ready to step in.”

Until I’m ready. Fuck.

We talked about it one day, what I had wanted for my future. I’d told him I wanted to run the gym, just like my dad.

And Ares went and bought it back from the bastard that snaked it out from under me.

“You give him anyone?” I ask, my words coming out a little rough. My head is spinning.

“Larry,” he answers, smiling, because he knows exactly how I’ll react.

“Larry is coming back?” I say loudly, excitement sparking into my tone.

Garrett nods.

Larry ran the gym with my father for eight years. He left a year before my dad died, moving upstate to take care of his aging mother. He’s got to be in his sixties now. But he and my father were two sides of the same coin.

I couldn’t imagine a better situation.

“It’s temporary, and Larry knows it,” Garrett continues with a satisfied smile on his lips. “He’s moving into his new place today, and he’ll be diving in tomorrow. But Ares insisted the apartment stay open for you, for whenever you want it.”

My throat tightens, and something at the back of my eyes stings.

I live with Ares now, in a gorgeous apartment on Central Park.

But I told Ares what this place means to me. My home.

And he’s bought it and is holding it for me.

“Looks like you picked a winner,” Garrett says with a wink. “I got to get back to it. But it’s good to see you, Lana. You coming back to work soon?”

“Hopefully next week,” I say, though I don’t know if that’s realistic or not.

“Good,” Garrett says as he wanders down the hall. “Your students are getting anxious. The ladies might like looking at Josh, but he scares most of them.”

I chuckle. Josh is the other instructor here, just part-time. He is indeed something to look at, even if he is in his mid-forties, but he is intimidating. I know exactly what Garrett is talking about.

“Thanks for always being here, Garrett,” I say as I stop in front of the doors.

“It’s home,” he says with a shrug. “I think we’re all just pretty damn happy that jackhole Tate is gone. Tell Ares thank you for me for that one. ”

“I will,” I chuckle. I wrap my arms around him in a quick hug. “See you soon.”

“Bye, Lana,” he calls as he wanders back over to his client, the only other person in the building currently.

I shake my head as I step outside. I glance up at the building as I walk out. This isn’t a nice part of town. This isn’t a big building. It needs some work, and it’s run down.

But it means everything to me.

And Ares went and bought it for me.

That’s not the kind of thoughtful thing a fake fiancé is supposed to do.

And it’s not going to help me in keeping my heart guarded. Because this is supposed to be transactional between me and him. A way for both of us to get what we want.

But the line is starting to look really, really blurry to me.