17. Yannis
As we take the elevator down to the garage, Hale rapid-fires everyone’s names at me. I doubt I’ll remember them, but hopefully I’ll be in his life for a long time and can get to know them.
We climb into an SUV with Thorn, Kyson, Syn, and Bowie, driving through town back to the area where Hale found me. The second and third rows of seats face each other like a limousine, which is pretty cool.
Syn is super intense, staring outside with a scowl on his face, but his mate, Bowie, has one of those model faces—perfect features, almost pretty. The only man prettier was the one with the cool name. What was it? Haven, maybe?
“Is anyone else mortal like me?”
Bowie turns to face me. “All of us mates were mortal not that long ago, but we’re not now.”
“I’m the newest,” Kyson says from the front.
The implication hits me like a tidal wave. “You turned because of your relationship?”
Bowie nods, tucking his long hair behind his ears. “Yep. Kind of what happens when you fall for a vampire.”
Hale is staring down at his hands during this conversation, and I’m reminded of how he deflected my question about what happens between a mortal and a vampire in love. I’d become a vampire too. That’s the only thing that makes sense. Otherwise I’d grow old and sick and die, leaving him all alone. Whoa.
Suddenly my head is full of a million questions. Does it hurt? How does it even happen? Would I live with him and his family forever? What about my family? Would I miss eating? Does blood taste good? What are the downsides?
“Yannis.”
Hale’s voice cuts through my chaotic thoughts and I look at him.
“There’s no rush, and it’s something we can talk about. It’s also not required.”
“It’s not? But then…” I shake my head. “I’d leave you someday.”
He nods, but I can see the sadness in his eyes.
“Hey,” Bowie says, patting my thigh. “We’re happy to answer any questions if and when you get to that point. Once a vampire finds his mate?—”
“Bowie,” Hale interrupts him, giving the man a hard look.
Bowie scrunches his nose. “Um, anyway, if you have questions let us know.”
Mate? What does that mean? It sounds like a lot more than just boyfriends.
Hale squeezes my hand. “We can talk more later.”
I nod, pushing the thoughts away for now. We have a mission to focus on, but he better be ready for the pile of questions later.
Thorn exits the freeway, taking the street corners so fast that the tires screech, and at one point, we’re driving on one side as the car rises and tilts.
“There is a mortal here,” Syn says. “Be careful.”
“Have I ever crashed?” Thorn asks.
“Many, many times.” Syn rolls his eyes.
“Not for, like, fifty years or something. Today’s vehicles can handle me.”
Fifty years. The guy looks like he’s barely thirty.
“Turn right on Batton Avenue,” Hale says.
“Ooh shit, we’re going there?”
“Yep.”
“You live on Batton?” Bowie asks.
“No. Graylock and Seventh.”
Bowie makes a ‘yikes’ face. “I know the area. I grew up a few blocks south of there. Glad Hale found you when he did.”
“His street isn’t bad,” Hale says, sounding defensive.
“I didn’t mean anything by it,” Bowie says. “I was homeless when Syn found me. It’s an expensive city. I get it.”
Nodding, I lean into Hale without saying anything else. With each passing minute, I can feel my strength returning and the bruises fading. I’m still sore as fuck, but it’s almost bearable.
“Where are the other guys?” I ask.
“Following,” Kyson answers. “But they drive normally.”
“Here,” Hale says, pointing to the right as Thorn comes to an abrupt stop. “I found him here.”
“Where should we start?” Kyson asks.
“The corner store,” I say. “A bunch of dudes hang out there. They’ll know where they are. If they’ll tell us.”
“Oh, they’ll tell us,” Syn says.
Thorn pulls up to the curb, shutting the engine off. “Let’s go Mafia hunting, boys.”
We pile out of the car onto the cracked sidewalk, the smell of weed and stale beer hanging in the air. A wave of nausea hits me and I grab Hale’s arm for stability.
“Are you okay?”
Nodding, I clear my throat. “Flashback.”
He frowns. “You shouldn’t be out here.”
“They shouldn’t have done what they did. I can handle this.”
He cups my chin. “You’re very strong.”
“Thanks.”
People scatter as we pass, clearly avoiding us, and I don’t blame them. Syn, Thorn, and Hale are intimidating as fuck, and even Bowie and Kyson have an edge to them.
“I was looking forward to my shift tonight.”
Hale grabs my hand, squeezing it. “There’ll be plenty more.”
“I know, but…I wanted more of you. I wanted to show off.”
“Show off to who?”
“Everyone. The first guy I ever like and I bag someone like you? I can’t believe my luck.”
“It wasn’t luck.” He kisses my cheek quickly. “That I’m sure of.”
Maybe he’s right and all of this was destined to happen. I’ve never been one to believe in that kind of stuff when it comes to romance, but I might be coming around.
“And you can show me off all you like if I can do the same. It’s me who’s full of pride to have you on my arm.”
“Charmer.”
He smiles, but it fades quickly as we arrive at the corner store. Three guys take one look at us and take off running, but Thorn and Syn are right on them, dragging them back and shoving them against the wall.
“What the fuck?” one of them says. “We didn’t do nothing, man. What are cops doing here anyway?”
“Who the fuck are you calling cops?” Thorn snarls. “Seriously?”
“Detectives?” one of the others says. “We didn’t see nothing.”
“Yes, you did,” I say, standing next to Hale. “You saw what they did to me earlier.”
The one Thorn is holding against the wall by the neck peers at me for a second with a creased brow before recognition seems to hit him. “Oh man. You’re not dead?”
“Not dead.”
“How?” the other asks. “That was brutal.”
“Don’t worry about the details,” Hale says. “Tell us where we can find the Bianchi crew.”
All three men go silent. Syn slams one of them against the wall, making him cough.
“Speak up,” he demands.
“No way, man,” the guy says, rubbing his chest. “They’ll kill us if they find out we ratted.”
“We’ll kill you first,” Hale says, his voice low and growly.
That shouldn’t turn me on, but can someone clue my dick in on that? I stare at Hale like he’s a superhero, and in some ways, I guess he kind of is.
“The Bianchis are the least of your problems right now,” Thorn says, baring his still human looking teeth. “You don’t want to piss me off.”
“You really wouldn’t like him when he’s angry,” Kyson says, making Bowie snort a laugh.
“Fuck off,” the third guy says, even as Syn glares at him. “We ain’t saying shit.”
“Last chance,” Thorn warns.
The three men stay silent, but even I can tell they’re nervous as fuck. Thorn twists his neck back and forth, but pauses, glancing at Syn.
“Would you like to do the honors?”
“Can I?” Bowie asks.
Syn’s eyes heat as he looks at his man. “By all means.”
Without any build up, Bowie’s eyes flash and he opens his mouth in a wild smile, showing sharp fangs. He lunges at the guy Syn is holding, digging into his neck while the man screams.
“Fuck!” One of the men Thorn is holding screams. “What the fuck?”
Bowie pulls off the guy, his mouth covered in blood. “I suggest spilling what you know or you’re next. I’m very hungry.”
He bites the guy again, who is so scared the front of his pants darken as he pisses himself. The other two men exchange panicked looks, one of them nodding to the other.
“Okay, okay,” the man in Thorn’s clutches says while Syn holds the other one by the neck. “We’ll tell you where to find them.”
“Now,” Hale says, crossing his arms over his chest.
“Warehouse on Country Road. It’s the only one still standing out there.”
“How many are there?” Hale asks.
The man shakes his head. “Not sure. Maybe twenty. They have a meth thing going. We sell for them sometimes.”
Thorn growls. “They heavily armed?”
Both men nod. “Yeah. There’s some guy up north they work for I think, but we don’t know his name. Swear.”
Bowie lets go of the third guy, dropping him to the ground. He’s alive, clutching his wounded neck and staring at us in shock. Bowie wipes his mouth with the back of his hand. Kyson is practically vibrating behind Thorn, and I’m curious why he seems so excited by what’s happening, but then Hale lets out a quiet moan.
“What’s going on?” I ask in a whisper.
Hale parts his lips, revealing his fangs. “Bloodlust. Bowie triggered us.”
I blink rapidly. “The sight of blood makes you…?”
“Hungry,” Hale supplies. “But I can wait until we find our true target.”
“Thanks for your help, boys,” Thorn says, smacking one on the cheek.
We head back to the vehicle, drawing even more attention now. Everyone witnessed the interaction, but it’s dark enough now that most probably didn’t see the details. And what would those guys even say? Some guy bit my neck and drank my blood? People around here would assume meth head before they even considered vampire.
Once we’re all in the car again, Thorn tears off.
“Does he always drive like this?”
“Yes,” everyone answers at the same time while Thorn just cackles.
Syn’s phone rings and he answers. “Hey, Yves. Where are you guys?” He pauses, nodding. “Understood. See you soon.” After he ends the call, tucking his phone in his pocket, he gazes at Bowie, using his thumb to wipe a drop of blood from his chin before licking it off. “They went on a side mission. Saw some suspicious activity downtown and followed. He’ll let us know what he finds.”
It doesn’t take us long to exit the freeway and turn down a dark road that’s more gravel than asphalt. The only sound is the tires moving over the uneven ground, and except for a very dim light ahead, it’s pitch black. Then the outline of a building comes into view and I see that’s where the light is coming from. There are about six cars out front, but no one seems to be outside.
“Bullseye,” Thorn says, turning the headlights off as we approach.
“I can’t see shit,” I whisper.
“We can,” Hale replies. “Are you sure you want to come with us? You can stay in the car.”
“No way. I’ll be careful and stay out of the way, but I want them to see my face and know that it was me who brought you here. I want them to know exactly how they fucked up.”
Hale smiles, brushing his thumb over my chin. “I love how you think.”
“Ready, boys?” Thorn asks.
“Ready,” Hale answers.
For the second time tonight, we exit the vehicle—silently this time. I hang close to Hale, who leads the group towards the building, but I’m blown away by how stealthily they move. We get to the front and are met with a dented metal door.
Hale glances at me before kicking the door straight off its hinges. I gasp, but I’m pulled into the space by his hand on my arm, clinging tightly to me. Immediately, men rush us with guns drawn. Hale shoves me behind him, but the five vampires don’t even slow down as they toss the armed men across the room, heading for the table in the center of the room stacked with money, firearms, and bags of drugs.
“What the fuck?!” A man jumps to his feet, and I recognize him.
“That’s Pippo.”
Thorn grabs him around the neck, slamming him onto a table on his back. Kyson grabs a smaller guy, pushing him to the ground and sitting on him while Bowie uses his suddenly long, sharp nails to slash through the chests of two men running at him. When I find Syn, he’s already got his teeth in someone’s neck.
“Where’s Vito?” Hale asks me. “Do you see him?”
I scan the room, noticing something moving in the corner. “Over there?”
Hale stomps in that direction, lifting the man by his throat into the air. It is Vito. He kicks and tugs on Hale’s arm, but Hale doesn’t budge.
“Hi, Vito,” I shout to get his attention.
He turns his head at me, narrowing his eyes. “You? How the fuck…?”
When Hale turns to face me, his eyes are glowing and his face is a mask of rage. My breath catches in my throat and my cock swells in my jeans. Holy fuck. He looks so damn sexy right now.
“This is the asshole who hurt you?” Hale asks, his voice so deep it rumbles through me.
“Yep.”
“Shame on you, Vito,” Hale starts. “You fucked with the wrong guy today. Now, here’s how this is gonna go. You’re gonna tell me where to find your leader.”
“I ain’t telling you shit.”
Hale digs his nails into Vito’s neck, drawing blood and a painful groan from him. “You should reconsider your cooperation.”
“Nah, man.” He squirms. “You’ll just have to kill me. I’m a dead man anyway if I tell you.”
“Oh, you’re definitely dying tonight, but if you’re helpful, I’ll make it slightly less painful.” He lowers Vito down to his eye level. “But if you insist on resisting my request, I’ll make you bleed until you beg me for death.”
Yep. Definitely turned on right now.
“Fuck you, man.”
Hale sighs and shakes his head, then, surprisingly, he drops Vito, turning his back on him.
“What are you…?”
Hale winks at me, turning around just as Vito scrambles to his feet and takes off running. Hale, without even breathing hard, catches up in a flash, slamming Vito into the ground. I hurry over, still feeling the soreness in my body, but I’m not missing a second of this.
Vito crawls forward, gasping for air, and Hale lets him get a little way ahead before he follows, grabs him by the ankle, and lifts him effortlessly upside down. Vito looks terrified now, as it finally seems to hit him that he’s not dealing with an average man.
Bang!
A gunshot rings through the air and I duck, covering my head.
“Fucker!” Hale growls, rubbing his shoulder where blood is slowly staining his shirt.
“Oh god, Hale.”
He glances at me, but he barely looks recognizable now as blue veins spread across his cheeks and forehead. He’s very pale now, except for the glowing brown eyes tinged with red. He launches himself into the air, reaching the second floor of the warehouse easily, and I’m left totally fucking speechless.
Vito resumes crawling for the door, so I go after him, catching up easily. I kick him in the ribs with all my force, like he did to me hours earlier, only he had Pippo hold me down. Coward.
Vito rolls over, and when he sees it’s me, he grabs my calf, trying to pull me down, but I’m able to fight back this time. I straddle his waist, punching him in the face repeatedly as rage flows through me.
A bloodied body lands with a loud thud beside me, the man’s neck torn out and a gun shoved halfway down his throat. Hale is next to me seconds later, carefully pulling me off Vito. I’m shaking with adrenaline, but as Hale wraps his arms around me, my breathing slows and I come back down from the high I was on.
Hale steps back, searching my face. He looks normal again, sort of. His fangs are still out, but his eyes aren’t glowing anymore.
“Are you okay?” he asks.
“Me? You were shot.”
He chuckles. “Oh, this?” He shrugs. “Child’s play. Look what you did.”
I turn and look down at Vito, who’s moaning. Blood pours from his face, and I become aware of my throbbing fists.
“I was mad.”
Hale smiles. “Rightfully. Let me finish up.”
I nod, turning to see what else has been happening. The others are standing defensively around a pile of bodies while Thorn douses them in some kind of liquid. The smell of gasoline reaches me seconds later. Is this how vampires hide their victims?
Hale roughly grabs Vito around the neck, hauling him to his feet. “You gonna tell us or join the bonfire while you’re still alive?”
Vito glares at Hale through swollen eyes, but he lets out a long sigh. “Ricco Bianchi. He runs a drug cartel out of New York.” Vito coughs, spitting blood. “I don’t know where he is right now, but he’s supposed to come here at midnight to collect.”
“That wasn’t so hard, was it?”
“What the fuck are you guys?”
“Vampires, obviously,” Hale says before snapping Vito’s neck like a chicken bone.
He digs Vito’s phone out of his jacket pocket then drags his body to the fire Thorn started and tosses him on it. I watch the bodies burn for a second. Shouldn’t I feel something right now? Disgust? Danger? Something besides relief and an intense desire to climb all over my boyfriend?
Hale chuckles, scrolling through Vito’s phone. “It’s not even password protected. Some criminal he was.” He taps out a text message, hits Send, then tosses the phone into the fire.
“Ricco Bianchi just received an urgent text from our friend Vito telling him that some guys who hang out at Lair robbed them,” Hale says.
“Can they get into Lair?” Syn asks.
“If they can’t, they’ll at least get close, and that’s all I need.”
Thorn rubs his hands together. “This is gonna be good.”
“I imagine he won’t come alone, so we should get back and warn everyone.”
As we walk to the car, Hale rubs my back. “How are you processing all of this?”
“Surprisingly fine. By the way, you’re hot in vampire mode.”
Hale grins, bumping my arm with his. “I’m just getting started.”