Overlooking the club, the private lair was dark, with only low hanging pendant lights that neither she, nor the VIPs, needed to find their way. From an overstuffed black leather couch, arms, and legs sprawled wide, either in a blatant offer of tasteless sex, or declaring that this was his territory, the boss spoke, “To what do I owe the pleasure?”
Adair masked her disgust, drawing her lips tight. How had she once thought him irresistible? As striking as the day she’d met him, timeless in his immortal body, he was still long and lean, but more toned now, and he sported a ponytail and freshly shaven face. She didn’t want to imagine what he’d been up to while he’d been off the map, but judging by his smug smirk, it wasn’t anything good. “I had to see for myself if the rumors were true. The great Calloway, returning from the darkest corners of the earth to bring blood to my territory.”
“I missed you.” He grinned wide, his teeth gleaming whiter than his pasty skin. A foursome of half-dressed vampires with flushed cheeks emerged from behind the curtain, the scent of their shared meal ripe on their skin. One woman draped herself over Calloway, the others making themselves at home in the cozy sitting area.
“Missed me?” Adair snorted, holding her ground. “Oh, I’m sorry. Last time we saw each other I had a knife embedded in your jugular. Was that what you were lamenting? I’ll be happy to do it again.”
Those pale eyes glimmered with what might actually be tears. “I never got over you, but at least I had Sonra.”
Adair’s gut wrenched, her poker face threatened failure.
“Yeah, you know what I’m talking about.”
“I had little choice, with all the noise she was making around here. Really, I couldn’t let her go on and risk our secrecy.”
Running a hand over his powdery brow, Calloway forced an exhale. “You’re not wrong. She was… foolish. But she was mine, and it is my duty to punish those that ended her without my consent.”
“So you rose from whatever ashes you were hiding under for vengeance? Beneath you.”
“Ah. I believe you and I are not on the same page. It has been too long since we caught up. I’m so glad you came.”
“I know you’ve been off the grid for a while, but there’s this fancy device called a cell phone. You could have called, texted, emailed, posted.” She gritted her teeth, resisting the fist-clench that throbbed in her knuckles.
He laughed as if she were the greatest comedian, his winning smile turning her stomach. “Would you have responded? Would you have come if you knew it was me? This is so much more fun in person.” Abruptly, his lips turned into a full sneer. “Sonra was a fool. But she was on to something. And I’m not just talking about this prime location. I mean, look at this place? Rare sun, damp streets, and I’ve always wanted to live on a boat.”
“Get to the point.” Adair began to regret coming, as her presence seemed to be more of an ego-stroke for him than the threat she’d intended.
“You’ve been naughty. Really, grinding with a demon hunter? I figured at least you wouldn’t be so foolish as to trust one.”
“This may be news to you, but the universe does not revolve around you. I don’t give a damn where you’ve been, burrowed in a hole in Antarctica or baking in the Saharan sun. I live my life how I want, regardless of your location on this planet.” Smug son-of-a-bitch.
“I don’t think you quite realize the implications of your little affair.”
“So I got to deflower a demon hunter while kicking your cronies out of my territory. Fun times. But I can’t imagine how that’s relevant now.” She risked snapping the heel of her stiletto if she couldn’t calm down. Forcing her pulse to slow, she teased her fingers in her hair and pasted on a blasé expression. “I didn’t come to chat. Sonra was a lovely, but stupid woman. I can make one quick call, and you’ll have a serious demon hunter problem. Or, you and your little followers can flutter away and leave my territory.”
“You still don’t get it, do you? I’m not here to infringe on your territory. Sonra was passionate. She was adventurous in a way you never will be.”
“And now she’s dead. And I’m not.”
“As the light faded from her eyes, she used the last of her strength to send me one final message. That my life’s work was coming to fruition.”
She folded her arms over her chest and bit her cheek.
“I’m here because this is where fate has determined the story will begin. I have spent the last two centuries reading and learning, planning a better future for all of us. A life where we won’t have to hide in the shadows.”
Fuck. He relished in a good plan. She’d been part of his plan once. It hadn’t turned out well for either, but she’d known he wasn’t finished. “Always restless. That’s the trouble with such a long life, you need to appreciate the little things.” She shrugged.
“Oh, I do. Seemingly such a little thing, you swapping sweat with the sweet little demon hunter–”
The half-asleep woman at his side shifted against him, sliding her bare leg along his, her mouth turning into a wicked grin and pale eyes sparking with life. “Sweet? Little? Oh honey, he’s a vicious warrior. Yum. I’d be willing to give up humans for a ride on that one.”
Adair swallowed the nauseathatimage invoked. Initially, she’d watched Bennett from afar, telling herself she was ensuring that he was safe. But after he’d taken up an active dating life, she hadn’t been able to handle the details and didn’t even know if he still lived around here, if he’d changed his number, or if he’d started a little demon hunting brood of his own by now.
Calloway shifted his position and slid his hand up the slut’s thigh possessively. “Milan, please. The hunter may act fierce, but he is still young and foolish.”
The slut tipped her head back and laughed. “Fresh and brave and full of naughty ideas. If those shoulders are any hint at the rest of him, I would love a taste of his–”
Clearing her throat before she had to endure the end of the sentence, Adair interrupted. “Okay. Lovely chat. I’d like to get home before sunrise. You’ve been warned.”
