Chapter 22 Tommy
Tommy
Niko looks like cattle that’s being taken for slaughter, glancing over his shoulder at me while Ria leads him toward the center of the impromptu dance floor.
I smile and shoo him with my hand. I got this, I really do. While he’s distracting her and keeping up appearances, I’ll set the stage and get Andras down that private corridor. Then all that Niko needs to do is the actual kidnaping. Easy.
Squaring my shoulders once I lose sight of my man, I set my eyes on Andras.
He looks a little awkward just standing there and watching, but I suppose that being the host is a sufficient excuse for it.
Although… Despite the pretty mask he’s wearing and the impressive clothes, there’s just something off about his posture.
His shoulders are a little too sagged, and his free hand keeps fiddling with the ribbon hanging from his ruffled sleeve.
Is he nervous? The king of the vampires? Or is it that he’s worried someone might figure out he’s lost his special stone?
I snort. Isidoro said the vampire world isn’t even aware of the theft yet.
The Crimson Crew, or those that know about that little hiccup, must be keeping their mouths shut.
I mean, it’s been just a few days, so maybe they are counting on retrieving it before the need to make an announcement ever arises.
Smart. I’d do that too, especially if the fight for the throne of the vampires is as vicious as Isidoro made it sound.
Squinting, I survey the people closest to Andras. They all seem focused on the dance, even the guards in the corner near the stage. Good. Now is my chance, then.
Two deep breaths and I’m marching toward my target. He doesn’t notice me immediately, not until I’ve kind of broken out of the crowd. His dark red eyes follow me as I approach, a notch slanted and very apprehensive.
“Hey,” I say, leaning against the second column, so the bonsai is positioned between us. “Not a big dancer?”
He looks at me, his nose crinkling. Shivers crawl down my spine from the intensity of his scrutiny. I don’t know why, but the way he seems to be examining every inch of me gives me the creeps.
A couple of minutes of this loaded silence pass. When I think he might not respond or that he might tell me to fuck off, he says, “Not… really.”
His voice is smooth, a bit boyish. It’s a far cry from the deep, authoritative bass that I expected. Okay then.
“Me neither. I’m so bad at it, I tend to trip over my own feet and get laughed at.”
Andras makes some kind of a sound between a scoff and a snort. “It takes practice.”
I inch a tiny bit closer. He notices but doesn’t seem to mind.
“I love the music, though. And the food. The Caesar bites were amazing.” I grin and offer him my hand. “I’m Charlie, by the way.”
He reaches out tentatively, but doesn’t shake my hand immediately. When he eventually does though, his grip is firm but not as strong as Isidoro’s was. “Nice to meet you.”
I furrow my brow. Does he assume I know who he is? I guess it makes sense.
I let the pause drag as I scan the room. I spot Niko still dancing with Ria, but when he catches my gaze, he nods. Okay, time for phase two.
Cranking up my charm to the max, I move closer and curl my lips into a flirtatious smile.
But I don’t go too close, in case he’s trigger-happy or something.
Isidoro warned us about Andras’ violent nature, but somehow I’m not feeling it.
He seems… mild? Calm? From the intel we got, I expected him to be vocal and loud, to be the biggest presence in the room.
But so far, I’ve seen none of that. It’s like he’s a completely different person.
Still, that doesn’t change our mission. If Andras is in some mood tonight and that ends up making our kidnapping easier, then all the better.
“So… since we both aren’t dancing, could I perhaps interest you in a private matter?” I slowly and carefully run my fingers up his arm.
His eyes darken and he swallows hard. Now that I am closer, the cut of his jaw seems a little bit less severe than in the grainy photos we studied of him.
His eyes are also darker, but I guess that could be because of the light.
When I asked for better pictures, Isidoro mentioned Andras is an elusive man to catch on camera.
“What private matter?” he says, confusion and curiosity dripping from his voice.
I close my eyes for a second, then look him straight in his. Here goes nothing. “The ruby.”
There is no reaction. He doesn’t attempt to kill me by ripping my neck open with his long, black claws. “What ruby?”
My jaw hits the floor. What the hell? Is he for real? I scrutinize his face, or at least what I can see of it. Is this part of his plan to pretend nothing is wrong? Okay, sure. He can’t freak out at the bare mention of the ruby, or someone might clue in on the fact that it’s missing.
“You know…” I lean in closer, and he leans in, too. “The ruby.”
More confusion, then suddenly grim realization. “Oooh. Yeah, of course. The ruby.”
I nod. We look at each other. A couple heartbeats pass. No attempt on my life yet. Okay. Maybe he’s more diplomatic and less bloodthirsty than Isidoro said. Our vampy really needs to check his sources and make sure his intel is up to date.
“So, yeah.” I point at the private corridor over my shoulder as my peripheral catches Niko sneaking out of the crowd. “Wanna go over there and discuss next steps?”
Andras, for the first time since I chatted him up, shifts his attention to his guards. They look completely oblivious to what’s happening, their eyes locked on the dance-off currently in progress in the middle of the hall.
“Alone,” I rush out. “You really don’t want to make a fuss, or the guests might figure out what’s happened.”
He nods stiffly and starts walking. I stare after him, my pulse thrumming in my ears. Whelp. That was way too easy.
But I don’t get to question things as he slips into that corridor and I have to jog after him to catch up.
Niko is already there, waiting with his back against the wall by a bathroom and his phone in his hands.
He lifts his head the moment he notices us, a wary expression that I can see even in the dim light sliding across his face.
“This part is off-limits to guests,” Andras says when he registers we are not alone, tensing up.
I carefully close the door behind me, making sure it doesn’t make more noise than it needs to. A quick glance before it clicks into place ensures no one has seen us slip away.
Niko pushes off the wall, seemingly unconcerned. “I believe my associate explained the situation to you,” he says, tipping his head at me.
Andras whirls around, suspicion pinching his brow. He says something under his breath, then fixates back on Niko. “Who are you? What is the meaning of this?”
Niko raises his arms in a placating gesture. “We just want to talk. Our boss has your ruby and he’s willing to negotiate.” He indicates the door I’m blocking. “If you cooperate and follow us, we’ll take you to him.”
Andras snarls, the first sign that he has some actual bite. “I am not going anywhere. I don’t know who you are or what you think you know—”
Niko charges at him, toppling him over before he’s taken more than a couple of steps toward me and the door. Claws extend from Andras’s fingers, sharp and glinting menacingly under the sparse illumination.
“Tommy!” Niko grunts, trying to avoid their deadly tips. “See where this hallway leads! We can’t go back inside!”
I rush to the end of the hall, where stairs open onto a massive roof terrace. There is a pool, a bar and even a helicopter pad, but no trace of an emergency exit. Shit. It’s a dead end.
Heart hammering in my chest, I race back down to where Niko is still struggling against Andras. They are locked into each other on the floor, each one trying to get an edge on the other.
“Niko! There’s nothing! Just a terrace with a helipad!”
“Fuck,” Niko growls.
Andras hisses, snapping his teeth. “Get off me!”
“Text Isi. Tell him we’ve got Andras, but he’s resisting. We can’t make it out.”
While I do that, Niko continues to fight Andras, the two of them rolling and punching each other.
But it’s a tie, which, while I am glad for because otherwise Niko’s head would be the one rolling on the carpeted floor, I’m a little surprised about.
I mean, Niko is actually holding his own against the ex-king of vampires, who’s supposedly a killing machine. How badass is that?
Adrenaline pumping, I look for something I can use to help my man. But compared to the corridor when we got off the elevator, this one is empty and bare, not even sporting paintings on its white walls.
“Tommy! Find something to tie him with!” Niko orders, grunting as Andras’ claws cut through his sleeve and into his flesh. “Fuck, he’s strong.”
Panic rising, I shove open the door of the bathroom near which Niko was waiting. I scurry inside, looking for something he can use, but there is nothing. No hoses, no ropes, not even a zip tie, only a giant white vase with blue symbols.
I look at myself in the mirror. Then at the big vase. “Fuck it.”
Outside, Niko has pinned Andras down on his stomach, using his weight to restrict the vampire’s legs and prevent him from rolling over. There’s blood on Niko’s face, dripping from his eyebrow and mouth, and he’s breathing heavily and fast, like he’s at the end of his strength.
“Niko!” I get his attention, his eyes going wide as saucers as I charge toward him. “Move!”
I can’t stop. I can’t slow down. He sees that, cursing as he jumps away as if his ass is on fire.
I sway and almost lose my footing and crash right at him because this shit is so fucking heavy, but I manage to retain my balance as he ducks out of my way at the last moment.
Then I drop the expensive-looking vase right on top of Andras’ head and pray for a miracle.