Chapter 14
Fourteen
Rafe marched into Blush, his hands balled into fists at his sides.
The empty building wasn’t surprising, but it only added more fuel to his temper.
It was after midnight, and the place should have been crowded wall to wall with barely clad, writhing bodies and a thumping bassline.
Drinks should have been flowing and money should have been accumulating in the till.
But the nightclub was empty.
The only positive was the lack of Rafe’s brother Marcus. Lola had managed to hold off whoever was causing problems in his club until Rafe could arrive. He didn’t want Marcus involved.
Pausing as he stepped into the wide-open space, Rafe tugged at the cuffs of his shirt, making sure his appearance was still perfect as his eyes swept over the scene.
Gideon was perched on a seat in front of the long bar, his arms tightly crossed over his chest as if they were the only things holding him together.
Beside him stood Ryder. His larger frame nearly blocked Gideon from view.
The perpetually silent vampire’s face looked as if it were carved from granite, and the artist hadn’t been particularly concerned with making him attractive.
His features were too harsh, too cold. Steely gray eyes were narrowed, and his mouth was a brutal slash.
Only Lola appeared to be relaxed and unconcerned with the three vampires lined up opposite them, all appearing to be various degrees of pissed.
Seated at a high-top table, she stared at the intruders.
A bottle of whiskey and a tumbler rested in front of her as if she’d been steadily working her way through the expensive liquor while waiting for Rafe’s arrival.
The three vampires threatening Gideon didn’t look familiar, not that it deterred Rafe from protecting what he considered his. And Gideon was most definitely his to protect.
“Well, now,” Rafe said loudly as he stepped into the open area. “Isn’t this just cozy? The seven of us in a big, empty nightclub.”
“It didn’t have to go down like this,” one of the vampires snarled.
Rafe lifted an eyebrow at him, carefully keeping his expression bland when he was already looking to slash the fucker’s throat.
From across the room, Rafe could see Gideon trembling and sinking into himself.
The kid had been through enough trauma in his existence.
He didn’t need this conflict, not when he was finally starting to find some self-confidence and joy.
“I don’t think we’ve been introduced. Rafe Varik, owner of Blush. You know, the stunning club that has been emptied at prime time for your little business.”
“I know you, Varik.”
Rafe smirked. “Most people do. But I’d wager that most don’t know you.”
“Gregori,” snarled the leader.
Rafe smirk widened into a teasing grin. “Gregori. How adorably antiquated. One might think you were trying to make yourself seem older than your century or so. I have to wonder if your mother named you something terribly mundane…like John. Or maybe Bert. Yes, I bet you were a Bert in your past life.”
“Shut it!”
“Come now, Bert. I thought we were talking civilly about why you’ve come into my club and disrupted my business, disrupted the pleasure of hundreds of humans and more than a few of your own brethren.” His tone grew sharper as he spoke until it was practically slicing through flesh when he finished.
Rafe took a few steps into the room, gracefully weaving past tables and chairs until he was between Gideon and Gregori.
“There was no need to stop anything. That was the doing of your employees,” Gregori snapped, though Rafe had already started to think of him as Bert.
It really was a more appropriate name. His head was rounded and kind of pointed on top with tufts of black hair.
The large nose protruding from his ugly face gave his voice a very nasal quality.
“Yes, they do that when someone doesn’t feel safe. Lola, darling, did someone not feel safe?”
“Gideon was threatened,” Lola answered without tearing her gaze from the trio of intruders.
“I’ve claimed him!” Gregori shouted. “He has no clan, and I’m claiming him.”
“Oh, I didn’t realize you were a clan leader, Bert.
Are these your other clan members?” Rafe gave a limp wave of his hand toward the other two vampires at Bert’s back.
Yes, it was too late. Gregori was going to be Bert now and forever.
Luckily, there was a very good chance Gregori/Bert wasn’t going to live much longer.
“Yes, this is my clan, and we’ve claimed him.” Bert pointed at Gideon. Rafe glanced over to see Gideon shrink further into himself.
“Ah, then, there’s just a bit of confusion. Gideon must not have clearly told you that he doesn’t wish to be a part of your clan.”
“I did.” Gideon’s voice was soft and wobbled a bit, but he was clear. “I don’t wish to be a part of his clan.”
“So, there you go. Every vampire has a right to reject a claim. Gideon doesn’t want to be a part of the Bert Clan. You can just run along now.”
“If he wants his freedom, he’s going to have to fight me for it.”
Gideon whimpered, and Rafe had to clench his teeth to hold back his snarl.
There was a shift behind, and he could easily guess that it was Ryder taking a step closer to Bert and his buddies.
Even Lola seemed to tense from where she was sprawled in her seat, one foot propped on an empty chair beside her.
“We all know that’s not going to happen,” Rafe said as evenly as he could manage. “Gideon is not leaving here with you.”
“You have no say in this. He’s not a Varik. None of them are!”
Rafe’s frustration boiled, and he wanted to take the fucker’s head off just for that statement. Varik or not, they were his people. His to protect. But it did matter that they weren’t Variks. It didn’t limit his claims and their protection.
This wasn’t the time for those matters.
“And yet he’s mine all the same. They all are.” Rafe stopped and cocked his head to the side a little as he smiled at Bert. “This is your one and only warning from me. Leave now while you still can.”
“Not without him,” Bert said, pointing at Gideon. “Release him, or I’ll take this to the Ministry.”
“This will never go before the Ministry. I promise you that,” Rafe said in a voice barely above a whisper.
Rafe looked over his shoulder at Lola as she placed both feet on the floor.
She was more than ready to launch herself at Bert, but Rafe wanted to teach him and his little minions that he was not someone to be fucked with.
He gave a little shake of his head and turned his attention to the other two vampires with Bert.
They were both younger than Bert, not surprisingly. But where the brunette with the earring looked eager for a fight, the blond looked as if he’d rather be anywhere else but at Blush. His wide blue eyes darted from one person to the next as if he couldn’t decide who was most likely to attack first.
“Have you asked the rest of your clan if they want Gideon to join them?” Rafe pasted a sweet smile on his face as he tapped into his power hidden just behind his heart.
He turned his full attention to the blond, his smile widening as he tightly wrapped his gift around his words.
“Has he even asked you what you wanted, my pretty boy?”
The blond swallowed hard and took a step back, but his eyes remained locked on Rafe. “I-I—”
“Shut the fuck up, Mason!” Bert snarled.
Rafe made a tsking noise and made his look tender. “He hasn’t, has he? But then you know he means to replace you. He wants Gideon to replace you. Poor, weak Mason. They’re going to laugh at you when they are together.”
“No,” the blond whispered. The sound came out broken and choked.
His blue eyes were glazed over, and Rafe knew he was fully wrapped in his powers.
He could feel it sinking deeper into his brain, playing on all his fear and insecurities.
The sound of a speeding heart started to echo through the room, and Rafe wanted to laugh.
“And when they’re done laughing, they’re going to kill you.”
“Don’t listen to him! It’s bullshit!” Bert shouted, his words growing more desperate.
“You have to kill Gregori before he can convince another to kill you.”
“Motherfucker!” Bert snarled. He started to move on Rafe, but Mason tackled Bert with a cry.
The two vampires crashed into a table and fell hard to the floor as they struggled.
The third vampire stumbled backward, looking so damn torn.
As if he couldn’t decide between pulling Mason off Bert or attacking Rafe.
Rafe smiled. “They’re both plotting against you.” He whipped his powers up, invading the remaining vampire’s mind.
He blinked and launched himself into the tangled pile of limbs and snarling.
Blood squirted out from the trio and splashed across Rafe’s pants.
Bert tossed off Mason, his throat torn open.
The vampire gasped and sputtered, rolling onto his stomach as if he was attempting to crawl away from the fray.
Blood poured down his chest and started to pool on the dark floor.
Bert tried to turn his attention to Rafe, but he was shoved by his other clan member.
Rafe tore his eyes away from the scene to find that Lola had risen and was standing with Ryder in front of Gideon. They protected him from the possibility of attack, but also blocked his view of the violence. A small short sword was clutched in her right hand, her knuckles white.
“Lola,” Rafe barked and extended his open hand toward her.