Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
Devon called a morning meeting with his cadre, minus Simone, who’d returned to Oasis the previous morning, to review general House business that had been ignored since his return from Spain.
His planned meeting from the day before had been interrupted when Colantha requested Lucas’s assistance to review the De f?rste dage a second time. Dinner had been boisterous, with Remus and Sergi competing with who had the best battle story. Cressa had joined in by sharing some of her heists gone bad that had everyone laughing. Rather than adjourning for brandy, the group decided to make it an early evening, but Devon knew Remus would be reviewing the updates Colantha had made to the translations.
Ginger was given time off from her duties with Colantha to spend the rest of the evening with Cressa and Lyra while Devon prepared for the morning’s meeting. He wanted to spend the evening with Cressa but was relieved for the reprieve. They hadn’t had time to discuss his poor timing in releasing her from her debt, and it was best they stayed focused on their guests.
Devon stared at his dwindling list of agenda items, pleased that most of them had already been cared for by the cadre.
“Lucas, is there any update on the latest business projections with our interests back east?”
Lucas was just bringing up the information when the phone rang.
Sergi answered it. He glanced at Devon as he thanked the caller and told them to wait further instructions.
“That was Levi at the city safe house. They’re experiencing higher than normal traffic, and they believe most of the vehicles belong to vampires.”
Devon turned to look out the window in a vain attempt to curb his anger. Venizi continued to test him and their defenses. How long before he tired of losing vampires? Or was he busy making more halflings? What they lacked in skill, they made up for in volume.
He swiveled back, his anger still stewing. “Give me a plan to deal with this.”
“You don’t want to wait for an attack?” Sergi asked.
“If the Council was concerned about our growing battles with Venizi, they should know by now that he drew first blood by attacking Oasis.”
“But everyone has a right to the road.” Sergi countered.
“So, we make it look like something else,” Bella interjected. “The neighborhood is mostly humans, so we’ll need to stay low-key.”
“What do you suggest?” Devon asked.
“Provide enough distractions and irritations to make them angry enough to either make them do something stupid or grow tired of the game and leave. If these vampires are anything like what Venizi has thrown at us before, they’re either young vampires or halflings.
“Like shooting fish in a barrel,” Sergi replied. “Without the shooting, of course.”
Devon grinned. “Of course not.” He turned to Bella. “How many do you need?”
“I’ll need to contact the safe house and get their estimate of the opposing force. Six cars at a minimum, maybe more.”
“Contact Levi and set it up. Lucas, advise Colantha and Remus we’ll be leaving. Sergi, see how many you can pull from security. Decker, can you stay here and lead the security team?”
He didn’t look happy about it, but he nodded.
“I’ll grab Cressa and Ginger.” Devon stood. “I think they’re in the training room. Let’s meet in the foyer in fifteen minutes.”
Devon arrived in the foyer five minutes early with Cressa and Ginger in tow, who’d made fast work of changing clothes.
Remus stood in the foyer with Decker and Mateo, who’d healed from the Oasis attack but appeared to need another blood donation.
“I take it Lucas briefed you.” Devon had also taken time to change, and he patted his armored vest to ensure his dagger was in place.
“I’d like to come with,” Remus said.
Devon shook his head. “I’d love to have you. We’ve yet to go to battle side by side, but this isn’t the time, my friend. It’s conceivable Lorenzo knows you’re here, and the safe house might be his way of getting us both out in the open.”
Remus glanced up at the ceiling, a slow grin on his face. “I’ve always loved this ceiling. The artwork is truly amazing. And, of course, you’re right, but it didn’t hurt to ask. However, I will insist you take Decker.”
Devon shook his head again. “We don’t need Lorenzo’s vampires seeing a shifter with us.”
Remus chuckled. “Lorenzo knows how far you and Decker go back and that he’s on your payroll. It’s also possible someone escaped the attack on Oasis and reported the shifters. But after the raid on Shadow Island, Lorenzo is no fool. He knows I provided resources to assist you. He just doesn’t know the extent of my involvement.”
Devon glanced at Decker. “I assume you’re satisfied with that call?”
He grinned. “Who do you think suggested it?”
Devon shouldn’t have been surprised. Decker had been aching for a chance to strike at Venizi. He wouldn’t disappoint his old friend. “Alright. Remus, can I ask you to lead the defense of the manor?” In all rights, it should be Mateo or Lyra. Remus wasn’t a House leader or a vampire—he was more than that. He ruled all shifter wolves. It would be unseemly not to ask.
“I’d be honored.” He gave Devon a slight nod.
“Mateo will bring you up to speed on our defenses.” Devon glanced around and noted that the cadre, plus Jacques, were ready.
“Absolutely, sir.” Mateo didn’t seem to take offense at Remus taking charge. In fact, he seemed pleased to be working with him.
“Let’s roll.” Devon led the group out the door and down the steps to where eight various types of vehicles waited for them including SUVs, sedans, and two older model compact cars used for surveillance.
It was a twenty-minute drive to the city safe house that was located in one of the poorer neighborhoods. The motorcade split into four groups of two cars each and parked two blocks away on the streets that surrounded the safe house.
Devon got out of the SUV and met Bella on the sidewalk. “What’s the plan?”
“The situation has changed from our last contact. The vampires are still here, but apparently, the local street gang has gotten involved.”
Devon scratched his jaw. “Is this the same gang Levi has been developing a relationship with?” Much like the coastal safe house where Devon had made special accommodations, primarily with money, to keep the neighbors happy while ensuring them extra security.
Bella nodded. “And it seems to be growing into a decent one. The gang has a street party every Friday, and anyone not working security is invited. We usually supply the beer, burgers, and dogs. My understanding is that they’re clear that we don’t support their drug activity, but our presence tends to deter police activity.”
“What are our new friends doing to assist?”
She shrugged. “Basically, what we were going to do. They’re harassing the drivers, blocking the streets, preventing them from leaving, or letting one car go but holding the others. I’m not sure it’s having much effect, other than irritating the drivers and one vampire in particular who’s parked his car directly in front of the safe house. Seems he just sits on the hood and stares at the security detail.”
“So, we know the leader.” Devon glanced at the SUV, but he wasn’t able to see Cressa beyond the glass. “Block two streets with two vehicles each. No one passes. Make it close to the safe house.”
He waved at the second SUV, and Sergi joined them. Devon replayed the situation with him and his order for Bella.
“Let’s have a few vampires walk the streets and reach out to the gang. I’d like our detail to join them and be the spokesperson with Venizi’s vampires. I want the heat off the gang, but let’s use their forces.”
Devon nodded at them both. “You have a go.”
He returned to the SUV while Sergi and Bella returned to their vehicles and drove off. Cressa gave him a questioning look, and he just grinned as he took out his phone and texted Decker.
“Ready to go wolf?”
“I thought you’d never ask.”
“Nips and bites only. Unless it’s survival.”
Decker responded with a happy face and a dog emoji.
Devon could only shake his head. “Let’s go to the safe house. I’d like a front-row seat to this.”
Lucas drove slowly and stopped every few feet to wait in a line of vehicles the gang had stopped. When one of the gang members discovered who they were, they immediately opened a lane, keeping the other vehicles from moving as they let the SUV pass until they drove into the gated safe house facility.
Levi met them at the gate and directed Lucas to park a couple spots over facing the fence.
“All we’re missing is the popcorn.” Ginger leaned forward to look through the front windshield. “Is the guy sitting on the hood of that muscle car the leader of the vamp squad?”
Devon chuckled. “I assume so.”
“I know him.” Cressa scooted next to Ginger to get a closer look. “He’s on Venizi’s security detail, but I don’t remember his name.”
“Not a halfling?” Devon asked.
“I doubt it.”
“I agree,” Lucas added. “If he’s part of Venizi’s security on the island, he won’t be a halfling.”
“Interesting.” Devon considered this. “So, he wants to gather information to take back to Lorenzo.”
Lucas’s phone buzzed. “Yes.” He listened and grinned. “Excellent. Nothing here yet.” He was still grinning when he looked at Devon. “Bella’s in place. The gang’s motorcycle members just arrived. They’re driving in and around the vampire cars, their guns prominently displayed.”
“We’re not parked on the best part of the parade route.” Ginger sat back, arms folded across her chest, a pout on her face.
Lucas gave her some hope. “They’re working their way toward the safe house.”
“Why aren’t the vamps just leaving?” Cressa asked.
Lucas chuckled. “It seems while we’ve blocked two streets, the gangs have blocked the other two. They’re not being allowed to leave.”
“The intimidation is increasing.” While Devon liked it, he was concerned the vampires would retaliate. Venizi’s security man was on the phone, most likely reporting the situation and getting new instructions. “We need to make a bigger presence. I don’t want this to be Venizi against the gangs. They might have guns, but this could get messy. We need to show we’re working together, not hiding behind our fences.”
Devon got out and waved for Levi. He knew Lucas would be on the phone to release their security teams from the cars, except for those blocking the streets. From the safe house, a dozen security ran to the front gate, meeting Devon, Lucas, Cressa, and Ginger. “Mingle with the gang. Keep them safe.”
When the gate opened, as if choreographed for the situation, the motorcycles arrived. House Trelane vampires walked into the crowd of gang members, nodding and shaking hands. Cressa and Ginger remained but held a hand on their sheathed daggers.
Devon stood in front of the gates, which had closed behind him. He stared at Venizi’s guard, who slowly shook his head and slid off the hood of his vehicle to stand in front of it. He was muscle-bound with close-cropped hair and a nose that had been broken several times
“Do you need the help of a filthy street gang to come to your aid, Trelane?”
“I think it’s more they don’t like your type wandering their streets. It’s not that they don’t like vampires, they just prefer those from a more powerful House.”
Devon knew that would hit a soft spot, and he wasn’t disappointed when the vampire’s face darkened, and his hands formed fists. Before he could say or do more, barking, followed by a scream, interrupted the moment.
The gang members and Venizi’s vampires looked toward the sound but didn’t move from their positions.
Out of nowhere, a huge, if not a bit ragged-looking, red wolf jumped to the top of the flashy muscle car. He snarled as blood dripped from his muzzle. He’d bit someone hard enough to draw blood. That would have been the screaming.
Devon glanced at a nearby gang member, who appeared to be the leader based on the number of men receiving orders from him. Instead of being nervous about the changing events, he threw his head back and laughed. Then he glanced around and yelled out two words that riled the gang into a frenzy.
Soon, they were all chanting, “El Lobo! El Lobo!”
That was when Devon noticed the name of the gang emblazoned across the back vest of one of the members. The gang’s name was El Lobo. The Wolf. Devon laughed as Venizi’s henchman stared up at the wolf, who appeared ready to spring.
“Call it off. Call it off now. You don’t want to escalate this.” The vampire was clearly scared of Decker.
Devon couldn’t blame him, and when the gang members began the mantra of El Lobo that could be heard blocks away, the vampire glared at Devon, his gaze glowing with the beast.
Devon waved Decker off. The wolf barked three times and then lifted its head and howled. Devon knew the wolf, yet the eerie sound still raised hairs on the back of his neck. The wolf jumped down to the hood, and Devon cringed at the sound of nails scratching paint as Decker came to a stop. When he was eye-to-eye with the vampire, he stood his ground.
Devon took out his dagger, prepared for a fight. When the vampire backed up two steps and turned to glare at Devon, he noticed the dagger. Since he couldn’t get in his car without getting close to the wolf, he walked to the nearest car with his own vampires and got in.
With another cringe worthy scrape of nails on the hood, the wolf jumped to the ground. Devon had to smile. The wolf stood proud as the El Lobos cheered. Decker gave them one long, powerful howl.
Devon nodded to the gang leader, who whistled into the crowd as they began to break up, giving Venizi’s vampires a single access lane out of the neighborhood.
Decker trotted up to Devon, and they strode back to the security gate. Devon didn’t look down, but he wanted to. He had no doubt Decker was trotting with his head tall and his tail waving back and forth. His one strike at Venizi. May he have many more.