Chapter 10

Austin glanced at Paycen as they stood on either side of the door. It was one of his favorite things to do with the Healer, and he never got tired of it. He knew the other man didn't either.

With a nod, Paycen kicked in the wood.

The room on the other side was fashioned with couches and chairs made of burgundy that matched the drapes on the fake windows. It was silver and gold that shown more than anything. The lights were turned down low to give it a romantic feeling.

Men and women sat around the room. Some were sitting on top of each other and others were leaning over others. It was something out of an erotic novel that was going on. Some people were bare from the waist up, and others were bare from their waist down. The only sound was the soft breathing and an occasional hiccup.

"Boss, visitors are here," someone said from the left. It was a slow drawl, but with so many people, Austin couldn't figure out who it had come from.

One man from the center of the room lifted his head and glanced their way before going back to what he was doing. More like who. "Have them return when I'm not busy."

"I don't wait, Jacq," Austin said. "So unless you want a blood bath on your hands, lift your head.

Every head looked in his direction as he moved forward. It wasn't so much a stalk, but it wasn't casual either. He was a man on a mission, and he had so much riding on this he couldn't fail.

Jacq stood, pretty much shoving his hooker off his lap, and straightened his coat. He was dressed immaculately in his navy trousers and blazer with a crimson shirt peeking from the underneath. Everyone stood, becoming erect as their leader moved forward. He stopped in front of Austin, looked him over, and then circled him, taking in the formfitting white t-shirt and jeans he was wearing.

"It has been too long, Mr. Somme. To what do I owe the pleasure of your presence and those of the wolves?" he asked. He stepped back and surveyed the men standing by the entrance. They had wisely stayed in the back.

"But, Master! Bringing wolves into our sanctuary is against the rules!" someone yelled from the middle of the room.

"Like I care if I disturb your sanctuary," Austin stated.

Jacq waved his hand and silence took over. "Why are you here?"

"I'm here for information, which I know you have," he said moving forward and taking a seat in the vacant chair before him. He waved off a goblet of liquid. "Now, I'm going to make this easy for you. You tell me where why you're hunting Bryony Parker's brother and I'll let your people live."

"What makes you think I know where he is? I mean he is simply a human who has a gambling problem." He smiled suddenly. "His sister is a pretty one. I have seen her picture in his wallet. I wonder what she will taste like. Will she be as sweet as the A and B types? As wild as the AB? Gentle like the O types? There are even the RH negatives. Those are my favorite."

He goaded the young man. He knew how much being indebted to a vampire made him itch. But Jacq hadn't been in his position for as long as he had without testing the waters of those who could potentially be a threat.

Austin's skin crackled with energy. It was visible as arced along his skin, making Lysander and Alex shrink against the door as best as they could. Electricity and werewolves was not a good combination especially around vampires.

"You're inching very close to getting that handsome head of yours chopped off and burned. Now, I'm on a very tight schedule and I don't have time to mess with a sadistic vampire lord. Tell me what I want to know and me and my boys will be gone from your hair." His tone was hard and annoyed. He didn't want to argue, but this crazy immortal creature would push as many buttons as he had.

Jacq raised an eyebrow. It looked weird on his chiseled face, almost like he was forcing himself to react in a human manner. "You're playing the easy way or the hard way card? I don't think you have it in you." He watched as he tossed a stake with deadly accuracy at him. He sidestepped seconds before it hit. "I hate to tell you but your aim is off. You missed me."

Austin suddenly smiled, a quirk of the lips Jacq knew the young human rarely did when on a job. "Really? Look behind you."

Turning his head slowly, he looked at his companions and the shocked look on their faces before turning to look behind him. The woman he was trading saliva and other fluids with had the stake sticking out of her chest. Her blood dripped from the point of entry and began pooling on the sofa.

"You killed her," he rasped out.

"You decided to go the hard way. I know for a fact she's not your real lover, just your food source. Your lover is beside you to your left. Now, tell me what I want to know or I'll kill him as well."

Jacq stared at him as he looked up at him. He knew he would do it. If he could kill his main food source, then he would kill Micah. Austin wasn't sadistic, but he didn't leave any prisoners either. Or witnesses.

He pulled Micah to him and pressed a kiss to the younger man's temple as he curled to his side. He was shaking. "We allowed the mob to issue a hit on him because he owes us ten thousand dollars. His sister makes enough to start paying us back. She refused Brad so they decided to kidnap her. I just want the money I put into the casino back. I don't allow people to steal from me."

"He didn't steal from you. He just doesn't have the means to pay you back yet. Talk to him and figure out a payment plan."

The vampire shook his head. "It doesn't work that way. The Crestfords won't have it. They're my best men so I have to concede to their wishes or they'll attack me. Either with someone like you who know what you're doing, or with amateurs who will lead the police right back here. There are too many people living here who don't have American paperwork."

Paycen snorted. "They're normal humans. There's not much they can do to you."

"My dear boy, you've seen what normal humans can do to those of our kind, especially if there are enough of them."

"Where are Brad and his uncle?" Austin's voice had gone soft, a clear sign he was getting ready to lash out and didn't care who was in his way. Lysander and Alex tried to step back again but there was nowhere to go. This time Paycen was following them. That wasn't a good sign.

"I think they're at the Waldorf. I'm not sure though. After I issue a hit, I don't really care until the price is paid."

Austin nodded as he stood. "Answer me one last question. Why bring idiots into your fold? Have they become bloodmongers?"

"Many of them simply wanted the money to do whatever they wanted. The others wanted status. Many of the people in the mob are high-ranking officials. We just use their rank to get what we want. The price they pay is a simple donation."

"A donation of their life source." Making a noise in the back of his throat, Austin stood and turned towards the door.

"Yes." Jacq lifted his head from Micah's hair as he walked by with Paycen at his side. He yanked the stake from the woman's chest and Paycen pressed his hand to the open wound. "What are you doing?"

They sat still for a few moments after the light faded from Paycen's hand. They watched as the woman took a ragged breath. She looked at them then nearly freaked out until Paycen mumbled a few words. He smiled but it didn't reach his eyes.

"She'll be fine. I needed a way to make you talk. This was the only way I could think of." Together they turned and walked back to their group.

"Austin." He stopped at his voice. "Thank you."

"You would have done the same."

Jacq looked between Paycen, Lysander and Alex then shook his head. "No. I wouldn't have healed the one I killed."

"That's the difference between us. I'm only sadistic when I have to be. You're sadistic all the time." He looked around the room. "How do we get out of here?"

"The tunnel through the second door leads you right to the Waldorf." Jacq moved from the center of the room to his side, laying a cold hand on Paycen. The other man shook his hand off violently. "You'll never make it. Healing always drains your companions."

"I'm not as weak as the Healers you've seen before," Paycen said as Lysander and Alex held the door. "If you had just done what he asked, we wouldn't be in this situation. You wouldn't have nearly lost your woman."

"Payce, let's go." Austin said. His voice told him not to make a scene when he so desperately wanted to. He turned away and stepped to his other side. "Thanks, Jacq."

"This is a one time deal, Austin. Come back into my domain without invitation and I'll kill you. I don't care if the Consulate wants to figure things out. This is my territory."

"Newsflash, Jacq. I patrol this Sector under Aiden's order. I kill whom she or the Association tells me to kill and I don't apologize. If you come after me, I will kill you."

Austin didn't wait for a reply. He simply walked out the door, letting it slam behind him.