The Enforcers (The Blood Bar Chronicles)

by St. James, Caledonia

  So if it was one of Paul’s friends, how could she explain the zapping thing? One minute she was in the bar laughing and joking. The next she was back in her hotel room with him. Had he drugged her? If so, how had he gotten it into her system? She hadn’t left her drink or accepted a drink from anyone. She’d dealt with too many date-rape cases to become a victim herself. Yet oddly when M’na had touched her, her skin had prickled with heat. Had he used something on her skin? She’d read somewhere about drugs that could be applied via the skin. The idea was so futuristic, it was unbelievable. There was no way she was losing her mind.

  She turned to face M’na. He hadn’t moved, his powerful oh-so-sexy body leaning against the wall by the door, his arms folded across his chest. She imagined reclining on the same wall, his strength abrading her mind and body intimately. Her core pulsed and she bit her lower lip, halting the sensual picture. She really had sex on the brain, didn’t she?

  Brown eyes with a ring of amber watched her like those of a hawk—not missing anything. His expression gave nothing away. Not being able to read him easily irritated her no end. Focusing on the source of her anger, she clenched her fists with frustration. The air around her heated up and crackled with electricity. The wall lamps flashed brightly for a second before dimming again.

  “What the hell?” She glanced around the room. “Did you see that? It has to be a power surge.”

  Chapter Two

  “It’s a power surge but it’s not coming from the main power grid,” M’na said casually, his voice so deep the vibrations travelled through her, pooling in her belly. His voice had a similar effect on her at the bar.

  Tara squinted at him in disbelief, refusing to be distracted by his effect on her body. She didn’t believe in ghosts or the supernatural. The only horrors in life were perpetuated by humans against other humans. “What’s that supposed to mean? Seriously, what’s going on here?”

  “You life was in danger in the bar. I had to get you out of there,” he replied, lifting his shoulders in a dismissive shrug.

  “Nonsense. I wasn’t in more danger than anyone else. And if you were referring to Lami, he looked harmless enough, although I wasn’t planning on going anywhere with him.”

  “Lami is more dangerous than you can imagine. And you would have gone with him if I hadn’t intervened.”

  His eyes darkened as if he was in pain before becoming expressionless again. Was he hurt because she would have ended up with another man? Jealous? Was that what all this was about? He fancied her and couldn’t bear to see her go off with someone else. The arrogant man!

  “You can’t possibly know what’s on my mind. In any case it’s none of your business,” she retorted.

  He pushed off the wall and advanced toward her like a leopard prowling, his eyes gleaming with something she couldn’t decipher. “You are wrong on both counts.”

  “What?” She took a step back, suddenly overwhelmed by his presence when he stopped at arm’s length from her. A warm sensuous shiver travelled down her spine.

  “If you opened your mind and stopped fighting it, you’d know we are connected already and that you’re my business. Have always been. Will always be,” he said ominously before walking over to the sofa and sitting down.

  Tara was glad to have some space between them to think. “Seriously, I need to know what’s going on. If Paul put you up to this I’ll kill him.”

  In a flash, he growled and stood before her, pulling her close till her body was flush against his hard contour. On contact, the temperature of the air around them rose. His lips descended on hers for the second time that night.

  This time the sensations were not a blur. She felt him in every pore of her body, soaking in his aura, her body and mind overwhelmed by exciting sensations. The familiarity and recognition returned, along with the desire to have him inside her, filling her up. Memories of the two of them together flooded her mind.

  Connected, she sensed more than his memories. His emotions wrapped around her mind like a swirling thread, connecting light, desire, and elation. Yet, in the depth of his mind were also darkness, rage, and remorse.

  Her arousal increased. She clung to his muscular arms, her hardened nipples rubbing against his chest. Despite the clothes between them, it felt as if skin was stroking skin. Her core pulsed. His hand cupped her behind, pulling her in to feel his rigidity between her thighs. Sensation coursed through her body, swamping every pore. She writhed in his arms, her body undulating uncontrollably. He broke the kiss, focusing attention on her delicate neck as he sucked her skin. She exploded into an orgasm that blew her mind.

  He pulled away, leaving her panting as the energy arc surrounding them subsided.

  “You’ve got to stop doing that,” she said as soon as she could catch her breath, wondering how she could respond so instantly and explosively to this man she didn’t know.

  “It’s the only way I can get you to see the truth about us. What we’ve always been. What we can become again.” The look of his dark eyes was intense, keeping her captive for a moment. Mesmerized, she longed to be back in his arms, tasting him again.

  “Wait a minute. You mean you and I were lovers.” She shook her head thinking how crazy it sounded to say it out loud. She’d only just met him. How could they have been lovers?

  “More than lovers. We were eternally bonded,” he replied, his expression serious.

  “You mean we are married?” She stared at him, her mouth agape.

  “More than that. Death does not split us. We are linked for all eternity.”

  “What kind of lunatic are you? I’m going to have to call hotel security because you’re nuts. You have to leave now.” She walked to the table with the phone on it.

  “Your life is in danger and your soul even more so. I am here to protect you. However, if you want me to leave then I have to. It’s your choice.”

  “Oh, don’t tell me. Free will, right?” She couldn’t keep the disdain from her voice.

  “Yes, it’s the most powerful tool given to all beings; the right to make their own choices regardless of where it leads them.”

  Tara couldn’t miss the sadness in his eyes as he spoke. Not wanting to be distracted by the longing that was also there, she turned away. There was no way she was dealing with a madman. It was better to get help before things got nasty. She picked up the phone and pressed the button for reception.

  “Well, right now I’m asking you to leave,” she said before glancing back to look at M’na. Except, he wasn’t there.

  What the...Her hotel room was empty bar her. She hadn’t heard the door open or close. “M’na?” she called out and got no response.

  “Hello,” a voice crackled on the telephone receiver.

  She pulled it to her ear. “Is this reception?”

  “Yes, madam. How can I help you?” the girl asked in a chirpy voice.

  “I’m sorry, I thought I needed security but I don’t anymore.”

  “Is everything alright, madam? I can send someone up to you.”

  “No, it’s not necessary. I’m tired from a long day. I’ll just get to bed.”

  “Okay. Just call if you need anything else.”

  “Thank you, good night.” She put the phone down. Still puzzled, she walked to the bathroom and opened the door. M’na wasn’t in there.

  How did he do that? Disappear and reappear. Surely it wasn’t a figment of her imagination. The man who’d been in her room had been real enough. Solid, muscular, rugged, dark and brooding. She hadn’t made him up.

  With a flick at the tap, the bath started filling up. A good soak in the large tub would do her good after the events of tonight. Moreover, in London she rarely had time to relax, always preferring a quick shower. Maybe she’d get a good night’s sleep and wake up realizing her encounter with M’na had all been a dream.

  ***

  M’na walked back into the Blood Bar and straight to the person he wanted to see. Lami hadn’t moved from the spot at the bar. In his
hand was an amber liquid drink in a crystal glass. M’na recognized it as whisky.

  “I’ve been expecting you,” Lami drawled without looking up as M’na pulled up next to him in the crowd.

  M’na hadn’t cloaked himself. Lami and every other super around would’ve sensed him. Brewing for a fight, he didn’t care.

  Tara had dismissed him. Damn! Even after he’d revealed their relationship to her and bared his mind for her to read. She hadn’t believed him, the look of her eyes full of disdain and horror. She’d actually thought he was some kind of madman—a stalker who would cause her harm. Though he’d wanted to stay there and make her see sense, he’d had to leave as soon as she said she didn’t want him there. It was one thing he couldn’t change. Her right to reject him. It didn’t stop it from hurting though, and part of him felt like he deserved it, too.

  Right now his whole body vibrated with aggravation simmering in his veins. Someone or something else had to bear the brunt and he was staring at the victim.

  “What were you playing at with Tara earlier?” he snapped at Lami, not caring that behind the black leather-clad being with long black dreadlocks was actually a lethal assassin of the gods.

  Lami lifted his head and smiled cockily at M’na. “You of all people know that her being in here means she’s free game. It was your own fault for allowing her to come here in the first place. I was simply playing like a native.” Lami lifted his shoulders in a carefree shrug.

  M’na inhaled a deep breath. With the energy levels in the bar and the sense of impending disaster, it did little to calm his fraying nerves. He had to keep it under control. Noah was still around and humans were in the night club. The last thing he wanted was to be incarcerated, or worse still, stripped of his powers when there was a threat of danger to Tara.

  M’na let out a frustrated sigh. “You know I can’t restrict her movements. She’s allowed to go wherever she wants to go. To do whatever she wants to do. I shouldn’t interfere.”

  “And yet you stopped her from going with me.”

  M’na glared at him. “Yes, because even I have my limits. I can’t stand by and watch her put her life in danger.”

  “Hanging out with me for a few hours hardly constitutes as danger,” Lami said with a laugh.

  “I know what hanging out with you involves and I can tell you Tara is not your girl.”

  “I was happy to teach her some new things,” Lami said carelessly.

  M’na growled a loud warning. He was sure his eyes were now the color of his beast, a golden color. The loud music masked most of the noise, still, the people around him stiffened as they sensed the danger. Even Lami lost his arrogant smile.

  “Hey, calm down. I was only joking. Look, I was surprised to find her here. As soon as I saw her I realized who she was. With all the energy in here, it was difficult not to notice. I was simply keeping an eye on her and hoping you’d turn up soon.”

  M’na looked at Lami suspiciously. Lami was a gatekeeper. It didn’t stop M’na from being wary of him due to his earlier actions. And assassins were known for their ruthlessness. Trusting one was folly.

  “So why did you ask her to go somewhere private with you?” he asked a little more calmly.

  “Because I wanted to get a response out of you. Your history with her is legendary.” Lami shrugged. “I wanted to see what you’d do.”

  “So you haven’t been sent for her?” M’na held his breath, hoping he still had time with Tara. Not knowing what he would do if time was up already.

  “No. Not yet. With the current energy levels, I’ll bet Okoni is looking for her. It won’t be long before the council wants her returned, or worse. I’ll give you twenty-four hours—forty-eight hours max—to sort yourselves out. Afterward all bets are off. And it won’t be just me coming for her.”

  M’na nodded, grateful for the time and warning. It wasn’t much, but he had to make the most of it. “Thank you,” he replied.

  “No worries,” Lami replied and lifted the glass to his lips.

  “See you around.”

  “Not if I see you first.”

  M’na cloaked and projected himself out of the bar.

  Chapter Three

  Tara followed the group on the guided tour down the underground vaults of Edinburgh. She felt so much better this morning. Dizzy, one of her friends from last night, had called her to check how she was. She’d had to explain that she had to leave abruptly because of a work emergency. Dizzy understood how much of a workaholic she was, because she was one too. Since she was spending the weekend in Scotland and returning to London on Sunday night, she’d decided to do some sight-seeing.

  Being stuck in an underground vault wasn’t the kind of thing she would’ve loved to be doing. Hit Princes Street and shop-till-you-drop was more her style. But after last night, she’d been prompted to book herself on the paranormal tour. Her curiosity had been spiked. Give her cold, hard facts supported with evidence and she was at home. So she was doing her own investigation to find out if there was a hint of truth in what M’na had suggested.

  That there were supernatural beings roaming the earth just like humans.

  She was incredulous. Yet something in the depths of M’na’s eyes made her rethink her stance. It wasn’t as if she was converted yet; she wanted to find out for herself whether what he’d said was actually true without the interference of her raging hormones in the presence of a great looking man.

  The skeptic in her still had doubts. The paranormal tour was as good a way of discovering the truth as any.

  Most especially about M’na. He was an enigma. Unlike any other man she’d ever encountered. And she’d met and dealt with powerful men in her work as a lawyer. Seen the rich, the arrogant, the handsome, and the bad. Yet none of them had captured her mind like he had in the space of a few minutes.

  It was as if she knew so much about him. She didn’t know him at all. He looked at her as if he actually believed they were meant to be together. He’d used the phrase eternally bonded.

  If she didn’t even know who he was, how was it possible? She had never seen him before. Yet there was a familiarity about him when he’d kissed her. And of course there had been those images flashing through her mind of the two of them together. They’d seemed real. Like actual memories.

  Shaking her head, she tuned into the words of the tour guide describing the different legends of ghosts that had haunted Edinburgh. Combined with the dark caverns lit only with lamplight, the place had an eerie atmosphere. The desired effect for the tourists who’d swamped the place seeking to get spooked, she guessed.

  Tara never got spooked. She’d sensed nothing extraordinary since she arrived. Deep into the vaults, they walked past ghoulish figures made from wax. Most of them drew little of her attention until she saw the wax figure of a man dressed in a black hooded cape. She paused in front of it, admiring how life-like it appeared.

  A sudden brisk breeze chilled the air. She rubbed her arms and pulled her jacket closer around her body. Realizing she’d been left behind by the group as the voice of the tour guide sounded distant, she picked up her pace in that direction, not wanting to lose her way in the dark narrow caverns.

  From the corner of her eye she saw a dark shadow move across the jagged cave wall. When she turned around she saw nothing. Suddenly feeling spooked as she could no longer hear the group she was with, she decided to quicken her steps. As she turned the corner she bumped into someone who grabbed her arms.

  She gasped as fear spiked through her body and her heart rate increased. She looked up and stared into the face of the man in the dark cape she’d seen in the cavern earlier. Except this wasn’t a wax model, but a real man who looked like Jack the Ripper.

  “Gosh, you scared me.” She breathed out in relief, assuming the man was one of the tour guides in costume.

  “Are you lost?” he asked her in a deep Scottish accent she could barely understand.

  “Yes, I seem to have lost my tour group. Can you show
me the way out?”

  “No problem. If you’d like to follow me,” he replied moving ahead of her.

  “Of course,” she said and followed the man.

  They strode in silence for a while and she couldn’t shake the niggling feeling something was wrong. She still couldn’t hear any other voices and she wasn’t sure they were going out as the caves seemed to get deeper and darker.

  Tara, you’re going the wrong way.

  She froze, heart pounding loudly in her ears when she heard a voice clear and loud. The caped man didn’t seem to have heard it because he kept walking. She must be hallucinating. The voice sounded so much like M’na. Was he following her again?

  She glanced behind her. There was no one there.

  “Is this the way out?” she called out tentatively to the man who was now way ahead of her. She was sure something was wrong, though she couldn’t put her finger on the exact thing. Maybe it was the closed atmosphere of the cave or the fact the place seemed to be getting hotter as if they were headed into a furnace. She felt like taking her jacket off. The man in front of her didn’t seem bothered about it.

  “You want to get out, don’t you?” he turned and asked her. For an instant, she could have sworn even the whites of his eyes were black. She couldn’t be sure because they appeared normal when she looked again. It must have been the dark shadows getting to her. She couldn’t believe how spooked she was becoming just being in these dark caves.

  She gulped down air and nodded. “Yes.”

  “Then follow me.” He marched ahead.

  She followed closer, her steps more brisk to keep up with him. She really had to get out of this cave. The sooner the better. She didn’t care if she didn’t finish the tour.

  Listen to your instincts.

  That voice again. This time she was most certain it was M’na. It had finally happened. She was losing her mind. To be thinking he was talking to her when he wasn’t actually here.

  You’re not losing your mind. I’m simply communicating with you directly. You can hear my thoughts as much as I can hear yours.