by Crissy Smith
He drove out of the hotel lot and raced toward the same part of town he’d been in the previous night. If there was trouble to be found, no doubt that was the area he needed to be in. It had worked for him before.
After ten minutes, Kieran pulled into a space at a closed medical clinic. He took a rag from his back pocket and started to wipe down the bike. Even though he’d worn gloves, it was important to be careful. One of the first lessons Caspar had taught him was to never leave a trace of himself behind.
Once he was sure that he’d left no evidence, Kieran simply walked away.
The cops would find the bike and get it to its rightful owner. He had actually helped the guy out since the punk who’d stolen it in the first place would have probably destroyed it.
As Kieran strolled along the streets, he kept all of his senses open. Normally he would never feed off a human but he couldn’t take the chance of losing control around Dakota. It was a risk he was taking tonight but he had no other choice.
At first when he’d needed to feed, Kieran would pay someone off the street a ridiculous amount so they would keep their mouths shut. It had helped someone in need while keeping himself safe. But considering every time he bit someone they got sick, he always felt bad about causing that for someone who just needed money. If he was desperate he’d take that avenue but Kieran had found other ways to hunt. He just had to wait until someone approached him without good intentions and let that decide for him.
The night was cool so he was glad of his leather jacket. Still, it would be easier to look like a victim if he didn’t have it. As he considered stashing it somewhere, the sound of footsteps reached him.
Kieran stumbled a little while waving his arms around. The drunken ploy usually worked like a charm.
He heard laughing and knew he’d scored. There was a group of four men headed toward him on the opposite side of the street. As soon as they spotted him, Kieran ran himself into the building to his right. He stopped, cursed, before he kicked at it.
“Look at that guy.”
“Outta my way,” Kieran slurred at the wall.
“Let’s roll him,” someone said. “And I want that jacket.”
Kieran whirled around, making sure he tipped to the side. He hit the ground hard and groaned.
“Hurry.” The harsh whisper was close.
“Hey, buddy, let us help you.”
Kieran glanced up into the dark eyes of a man who couldn’t have been more than twenty.
“Hi.” Kieran waved.
“How about a hand?” The young guy reached down from him.
“Thanks!” Kieran said then laughed. “How’d I get down here?” Kieran grabbed at the offered hand but the guy moved quickly and punched him.
That did it. This was the one who he would feed from. No one deserved to be sucker-punched. No longer needing the ruse, Kieran leaped to his feet and grabbed his opponent by the neck. Kieran slammed the guy face first into the building.
One of the others shouted then struck out at him. Kieran kicked him in the knee, taking him down before he slammed his fist into the thug’s face, knocking him out cold. The remaining two came at Kieran at the same time. Smart, but he easily took care of them.
“Now,” he said out loud to no one since all four men were unconscious. “My turn.”
He walked over to the first guy and hefted him up to his feet so he could shove him against the brick. Kieran grabbed the guy’s wrist and bit down.
If the thug were awake, he’d feel the sting of his teeth. Kieran took a deep drink and let the blood flow through him. The consuming of blood warmed his cool body. For a few minutes he didn’t feel the normal chill that was always with him.
One of the reasons that Kieran fed so rarely was so he didn’t get used to the feeling. A Day Walker could start to crave the warmth and would take too much blood and start killing. There was no need for death. A few sips was all it took to reenergize him and temporarily ease the hunger.
Kieran ripped his mouth away from the wrist in his hold and took a deep breath. Once the guy woke up, he would become sick. The worst symptoms would be stomach cramps and vomiting.
There was a poison in his body that destroyed the good blood cells and tainted them. When he drank he replenished the good blood and slowed down the poison. When his fangs pierced someone’s flesh, the poison entered into his source in a trace amount. Humans normally were sick for a couple of hours. Shifters, like Remy, got a headache and less severe symptoms.
When not on a case, Remy always volunteered to feed him and Angel but Kieran didn’t want his friend to think they were using him so he tried to get his blood the way he’d done tonight.
He allowed the thug to slide down the wall and took a step back. The others were still out also so he left them where they’d fallen. If anything else happened to them it wasn’t really his fault. They’d attacked him after all.
Kieran turned and sauntered back down the block. He’d wait until he got to a crowded part of the city then would hail a cab to the hotel. As he strolled he kept his ear tuned to hear for any trouble. It was still early so he had plenty of time before he had to get back to the hotel. Hopefully Dakota would already be there waiting for him.
It was a quiet night, though, and he got all the way to downtown without coming across anyone. At a well-lit corner he spotted a hotel with a taxi line. Kieran jogged across the street and jumped into the first one available.
He gave the name of his hotel and sat back. The lights had turned on all over the city and it was bright and loud. The closer they got to Strip, the lower Kieran sank down. He really hated being surrounded by all these strangers.
The large billboard in front of his hotel came into view and he relaxed. Almost home, well his temporary home, where he could shower and put on some comfortable clothes. The warmth had already left him and he just wanted a night in. Maybe he could even convince Dakota to use the Jacuzzi tub with him.
Kieran pulled out his wallet and paid the taxi driver with a good tip before he pushed the door open. One of the hotel attendants ran over and hovered at the side of the cab.
“Checking in, sir?” he asked. “Can I get your luggage?”
“I’m already in twelve-oh-three,” he told the young man as he walked away. “But thank you.”
“If you need anything, just let me know,” the kid called out.
Kieran nodded. He really was enjoying his stay here, although he would have to keep an eye out for more of the Organization’s spies. If Caspar had asked Dean to keep watch over him, it might not be through the official channels. That would work better for Kieran. He could continue to mess with Dean. Kieran could no doubt think of some really fun tricks to play on him. He did hope that he could keep Dakota out of things even if he had challenged her the night before.
He didn’t want to go up against Dakota no matter what he’d told her. For the first time since he’d been rescued, he wanted to get to know a shifter better on an intimate level. It was more than that, though—he didn’t think of her as a shifter first. If she were human, he wouldn’t even be thinking twice about being with her. He’d have probably hit on her in the alley where they met. So he was going to enjoy what time he had left.
Two weeks with her, then he would have to leave and return to the shadows. He worked in the dark where he was most comfortable. As much as he looked forward to the next couple of weeks they would have to end.
He swiped his key card in the elevator to take him to his floor. The dark elegance in the lift was classy and comfortable. It had been the right decision to move into here. He was sort of glad that Dean had forced his hand.
Kieran stepped out onto his floor and strolled to his door. It had been much more fun the night before when he’d been carrying Dakota in his arms. Just thinking about that had him speeding up and rushing to get inside. He ran his card through the reader before he pushed the door open.
The quietness of the suite was a disappointment. He had no doubt that if Dakot
a wanted in his room, she’d have found a way. The fact that she hadn’t crushed Kieran and he had to push away the rare feeling of loneliness. He liked being on his own and he didn’t need anyone around to make him feel important. He snorted, knowing he was lying to himself.
He closed the door behind him and tossed the card onto the table. Kieran pulled off his jacket and threw it on the back of the couch before he strolled into the bedroom. He undressed and laid his clothes on the chair then walked toward the bathroom.
The sweater he’d worn the night before was lying on the made-up bed. Kieran brought it to his nose and breathed in the sweet scent of Dakota. She had actually worn his clothing. Oh hell, that was sexy.
“Dakota,” he whispered as he dragged the sweater down his neck, then over his chest and stomach, before he rubbed his cock. He’d grown hard the minute he’d picked up her scent.
Her spicy, stimulating smell was all around him and now on his body. He wrapped the fabric around his erection and stroked himself. Fuck, that’s good. Kieran dropped down on the bed and laid himself out. He picked up the sleeve with his free hand and placed it over his nose before he reached down and cupped his balls.
Jacking himself off and pulling on his balls, Kieran closed his eyes and thought about Dakota. He imagined it was Dakota’s smaller hand instead of his stroking up and down his cock. Kieran braced his feet on the mattress and lifted his knees to thrust his erection through his fingers.
Yes, yes, just like that. He pumped his hips wildly until he was coming all over his sweater. Out of breath, he flopped back on the bed and sprawled out. He was sated and would have really liked to burrow into the blankets and take a nap but he wanted a shower and food first.
With a groan, he pulled himself off the mattress. He picked up the room-service menu and browsed it. He could go down to one of the nine restaurants, or even some of the clubs that served food, but Kieran had had his fill of people for the day.
Instead he would relax in his suite. A lighter meal than he’d had the night before sounded good. He lifted the hotel phone receiver and pressed the button that looked like a fork and knife for room service. His call was answered right away.
“Good evening, Mr. Nichols.”
“I’d like to order some room service?” he said.
“Yes, sir, can we get dinner prepared for you, Mr. Nichols?” the hotel staffer asked.
He wondered if it was the same man as the night before. The one that had been talking to Dean and Dakota earlier. Oh well, that didn’t really matter. “Yes, I’d like to order the wood-grilled chicken, a loaded baked potato, whatever fresh vegetables you have today and some rolls.”
“Very good, sir, how about dessert or drinks?”
“A pot of coffee and water would be great,” Kieran confirmed.
“We’ll have your order up to you shortly, sir. Please let us know if you need anything else and have a good night.”
“Thank you, you too,” Kieran replied. He hung up, shaking his head. He really needed to not get used to this treatment. Since he was still holding his sweater—which needed to be cleaned—he strolled to the bathroom and grabbed the laundry service bag off the back door. He stuffed his sweater inside before he stepped over to the shower. He turned on the faucets then glanced around the space.
It appeared Dakota had made herself at home in there too. A small, hotel-provided toothbrush sat in a cup next to his own. Her hairbrush was also mixed in with his belongings. Surely she’d be coming back.
Disgusted with himself for wondering and for pining over her again, he hopped into the shower and let the hot water cascade over his head. Two weeks, that was how long he had left in the city. He couldn’t get any more attached to her than he could to the hotel services. In just a short couple of weeks he’d be back on the road with Remy and Angel. Even if he managed to come back to Vegas, it could be months or a year before that might happen.
No, he couldn’t make Dakota or himself any promises.
Kieran picked up his body wash and poured some into his hand. It might not be easy but he had to stick with his decision. Yes, he would spend time with Dakota but he would have to back off slightly too. He never fell for a woman, knew he wouldn’t be around anywhere long. Dakota was no different from any other women he’d slept with.
And still he knew he was lying.
He scrubbed his body roughly, hoping that the pain might take his mind away from his thoughts. He showered quickly, looking forward to relaxing with dinner.
A new towel hung next to the shower on the warmer. No matter what, he was getting a towel warmer for his place. That was a luxury he could afford and wanted. Remy would probably give him a hard time but no more so than how Kieran teased Remy about the pile of blankets that he kept on the floor for when he wanted to have puppy piles. And those were his words not Kieran’s.
After drying off his body, Kieran dropped the towel onto the tub and walked naked back into the bedroom. In the dresser he found a soft pair of gray sweats and a faded white T-shirt. He pulled them on before going barefoot into the main room. He was about to sit when a knock came at the door. His food was a little earlier than he’d expected but that was good since he was hungry.
Out of habit he glanced through the peephole but didn’t find the hotel attendant. Suspicious, he angled his body to the right of the door. He unlocked and opened it slowly.
The man was at least six-two with neatly styled black hair and he wore an expensive looking black suit.
“Yes?” Kieran asked.
“Blake Nichols, or should I say Kieran Smith?” The voice was smooth and polite.
“Who’s asking?” Kieran questioned. He gripped the door tightly but prepared himself in case he needed to use his hands.
“My name is Alex Hamilton and I’m the head of security here.”
“I have no need for security and I haven’t done anything, so what do you want?” Kieran asked. He stood straight and crossed his arms over his chest, showing off his muscles.
The guy looked up and that was when Kieran noticed his unusual blue eyes and the fact that he didn’t have a scent. In surprise, Kieran took a step back.
Another Day Walker? It was rare for Kieran to ever come across one like himself. “What do you want?”
“Just a word,” Alex said with a nod. “In private if you don’t mind.”
Kieran did mind but he was also curious. He pushed the door wider and motioned Alex inside. Kieran knew he was opening himself up for serious trouble.
Chapter Four
Kieran let Alex walk past him into the living room as he watched his every move. A Day Walker that worked security for the hotel? How had Kieran not known about him? Did Caspar or the Organization know of his existence? Questions flooded him but he was too stubborn to ask.
“Can we sit for a minute?” Alex asked.
“Sure.” Kieran nodded. He waited until Alex sat on the couch before he dropped onto the leather chair across from him. Once he was seated, Kieran looked Alex over.
It was obvious that Alex had money but the power that radiated off him was unexpected. Most Walkers he’d met through his job were weak and dirty from their fight with craving blood. Kieran didn’t expect any conversation with Alex to go well. He’d been caught using his fake identification and there was no good reason for security to be in his suite. Still, he didn’t kick Alex out as he really was curious about the Walker. In his experience other Day Walkers struggled to live in the modern world. If Kieran and his partners came across one, it was because they were killing or bringing attention to themselves.
“I meant to make it by last night but I got caught up in work,” Alex said. “I wanted to welcome you.”
“Welcome me?” he repeated. “Why?”
“There’s not very many of us. The few I’ve met over the years didn’t deserve the gift we have. It wasn’t until I began working here that I found out how well my life could truly be,” Alex said.
“And how did you come to this rea
lization?” Kieran asked, honestly curious.
“This hotel and the entire line of casinos is owned by one of us,” Alex told him.
“Who?” Could that be right? What else didn’t Kieran know about his people and where and how they lived? He’d always felt so alone. Well, until Caspar had taken him in and introduced him to Angel. If what Alex was saying was indeed true, he could learn so much.
But it could also be a trap. There had to be a reason he didn’t know about the Day Walkers in town. If they were criminals, it would be Kieran’s job to take them down.
“I’m sure with your resources you can find out whatever you want about the owner,” Alex said. “However, Jackson would like to meet you later this week if you agree. He’s out of the country at the moment but should return by late Wednesday evening.”
Kieran found himself nodding even though he hadn’t actually made up his mind.
“In the meantime your room and any charges you have or may rack up are on us. We’d like to make sure you enjoy your stay,” Alex said.
Now Kieran was really suspicious. “I can’t accept that.”
“We’ll call it evens in case we have any trouble here and need your assistance. We have a good working relationship with your Organization and hope you’ll help if it’s needed.”
So his company did know about them. That relieved him a little. Still… “Why haven’t I ever heard about you or this owner?” he asked, remaining blunt. Knowledge was his business and he really didn’t like that this man had caught him off guard.
“Our agreement with your Organization is that we remain hidden and cause no trouble. They leave us to our business and don’t out us to anyone else. We are in the profession of secrets. Yours to protect and ours to remain unknown. We knew the minute you got to town.”
Kieran sat forward in his chair. “Someone called you?” If Caspar had given Kieran more babysitters, then he was really going to lose his mind, so to speak.
“No,” Alex said quickly. “We have people all over the city. They know how to recognize our kind. Before you arrived here yesterday, we didn’t know anything about you other than that you were here on vacation. But when you changed hotels, I grew concerned. We’ve had problems in the past with Walkers coming in and thinking they could do whatever they wanted.”