by J. R. Ward
Man, this was crucial information. The last thing Wrath needed was another civil war in the race.
“I should point something out,” the Reverend said softly. “You turn me in and you’re going to lose your supplier. Think about it. Where’re you going to get what you need if I’m out of the picture?”
Phury stared into those purple eyes, still running through the implications. He was going to tell the Brothers as soon as he got home, and he was going to watch the Reverend closely. As for turning the guy in…The discrimination symphaths had faced throughout history had always struck him as unfair—provided they didn’t start pulling shit out of their trick bags. And the Reverend had been running the club for at least five years with no problems linked to symphath behavior.
“We’re going to strike a little deal,” Phury said, glaring hard into that violet stare. “I keep quiet and you stay on the down-low. You also don’t try to fuck with me again. I’m not going to roll over for you sucking on my emotions, which was what you were doing right now, wasn’t it? You wanted me irate because you were hungry for the feeling.”
The Reverend’s mouth opened just as the door to the office swung wide. A female vampire barged in, only to stop dead as she saw what was undoubtedly a picture: two male bodies close together, the Reverend’s lip bleeding, blood on Phury’s mouth.
“Get the hell out of here,” the Reverend snapped.
The female backed away so quickly she tripped and slammed her elbow into the doorjamb.
“So do we have a deal?” Phury bit out after she left.
“If you admit you’re a Brother.”
“I’m not.”
The Reverend’s eyes flashed. “Just so you know, I don’t believe you.”
Phury had the sudden notion that it was no accident the Brotherhood thing had come up tonight. He leaned into the male. Hard. “Wonder how you’d fare if your identity got out?”
“We”—the Reverend dragged in a breath—“have a deal.”
Butch looked up as the woman he’d sent to check on Phury came back. Usually the buys were over and done with quickly, but it had been a good twenty minutes.
“My boy in there still?” Butch asked, noting absently that she was rubbing her elbow like it hurt.
“Oh, he’s in there, all right.” As she shot him a tight smile, he abruptly realized she was a vampire. That little grin thing was a move they all pulled when they were out among humans.
And she was kind of attractive, he supposed, what with the long blond hair and the black leather at her breasts and hips. As she slid into the booth next to him, he caught her scent and thought idly of sex for the first time in…well, since he’d met Marissa over the summer.
He took a long drink, finishing the Scotch in his glass. Then he glanced at the female’s breasts. Yeah, sex was on his mind, but more as a physical reflex than anything else. The interest was nothing like it had been with Marissa. Then the need had been…consuming. Reverent. Important.
The female beside him shot him a look as if she knew the direction of his thoughts. “Your friend might be in there for a while.”
“Yeah?”
“They were just starting to get down to it.”
“The buy?”
“The sex.”
Butch’s head whipped up and he locked eyes with her. “Excuse me?”
“Oh, whoops…” She frowned. “Are you two together or something?”
“No, we’re not together,” he snapped. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“Yeah, I didn’t really think you were like that. You dress well, but you don’t give off that kind of vibe.”
“And my buddy’s not into men, either.”
“You sure about that?”
He thought about the celibacy and started to wonder.
Whatever. He needed another drink; he did not need to get into Phury’s biz. Lifting his arm, he waved to a waitress, who rushed over.
“Another double Scotch,” he said. To be polite, he turned to the female next to him. “You want something?”
Her hand landed on his thigh. “As a matter of fact, I do. But she can’t give it to me.”
As the waitress left, Butch leaned back in the booth, stretching both arms out, opening himself. The female took the invite, leaning into him, moving that hand south. His body stirred, its first sign of life in months, and he had some passing thought that maybe he could get Marissa out of his head if he had some sex.
While the female stroked him through his pants, he watched her with clinical interest. He knew where this was headed. He’d end up doing her in one of the private bathrooms over there. Would take maybe ten minutes, if that. He’d get her off, do his business, then beat feet to get away from her.
God, he’d pulled that quickie routine hundreds of times over the course of his life. And it was really just masturbation disguised as sex. No big deal.
He thought of Marissa…and felt his tear ducts sting.
The female next to him moved so that her breasts were on his arm. “Let’s go to the back, daddy.”
He put his hand over hers at his crotch and she made some kind of purring noise in his ear. At least until he removed her palm.
“I’m sorry. I can’t.”
The female pulled away and looked at him as if he had to be playing her. Butch stared right back.
He wasn’t prepared to say he was never going to have sex again. And he sure as shit didn’t understand why Marissa had gotten to him as much as she had. All he knew was that his old pattern of balling random women wasn’t doing it for him. Tonight.
Abruptly Phury’s voice cut through the ambient noise of the club. “Hey, cop, you want to stay or go?”
Butch glanced up. There was a slight pause as he speculated about his friend.
The Brother’s yellow eyes narrowed. “What’s doing, cop?”
“I’m ready to go,” Butch said, smoothing over the awkward moment.
As he got up, Phury gave the blond a hard look. A real keep-your-yap-shut special.
Wow, Butch thought as they headed for the door. So Phury really was gay.
Chapter Twenty
Bella woke up hours later to a soft scraping sound. She glanced over to a window and watched as its steel shutter came down. Dawn must be close.
Anxiety tingled in her chest, and she looked at the door. She wanted Zsadist to come through it, wanted to clap her eyes on him and reassure herself he was in one piece. Even though he’d seemed back to normal when he’d left, she’d put him through a lot.
She rolled over onto her back and thought about Mary showing up. How had Zsadist known she’d needed a friend? And God, the fact that he’d gone to Mary and—
The bedroom door opened wide without any warning.
Bella sat up in a rush, pulling the covers to her throat. But then Zsadist’s shadow was a stunning relief.
“It’s just me,” he said gruffly. As he came inside, he was carrying a tray, and there was something on his shoulder. A duffel bag. “You mind if I hit the lights?”
“Hi…” I’m so glad you’re home safe. “Not at all.”
He called to life several candles, and she blinked in the sudden glow.
“I brought you some things from your house.” He put the tray of food on the bedside table and opened up the bag. “I got you clothes and a parka. The bottle of shampoo that was in your shower. A brush. Shoes. Socks to keep your feet warm. Your diary, too—don’t worry, I haven’t read it or anything.”
“I’d be surprised if you had. You’re more trustworthy than that.”
“No, I’m illiterate.”
Her eyes flared.
“Anyway”—his voice was hard as his jawline—“I figured you’d want some of your own stuff.”
As he put the duffel next to her on the bed, she just stared up at him until, overwhelmed, she reached out to take his hand. When he flinched back, she flushed and looked at what he’d brought her.
God…she was nervous about s
eeing her things. Especially the diary.
Except it turned out to be comforting to pull out her favorite red sweater, put the thing to her nose, and catch a whiff of the perfume she’d always worn. And…yes, the brush, her brush, the one she liked with the broad, square head and metal bristles. She grabbed her shampoo, popped the top, and inhaled. Ahhhh…Biolage. Nothing like the scent of what the lesser had made her use.
“Thank you.” Her voice trembled as she took out her journal. “Thank you so much.”
She stroked her diary’s leather cover. She would not open it. Not now. But soon…
She glanced up at Zsadist. “Will you…will you take me back to my house?”
“Yeah. I can do that.”
“I’m frightened to go there, but I probably should.”
“You just tell me when.”
Gathering her courage, suddenly interested in getting one of the big “firsts” out of the way, she said, “When light falls this evening. I want to go then.”
“Okay, we will.” He pointed at the tray. “Now eat.”
Ignoring the food, she watched him go into the closet and disarm. He was careful with his weapons, checking them thoroughly, and she wondered where he had been…what he had done. Though his hands were clean, there was black blood on his forearms.
He had killed tonight.
She supposed she should feel some kind of triumph that a lesser had been taken down. But as Zsadist walked over to the bathroom with a pair of sweats draped over his arm, she was more interested in his well-being.
And also…his body. He moved like an animal in the best sense of the word, all latent power and sleek strides. The sex that had stirred in her the very first time she’d seen him rocked her again. She wanted him.
As the bathroom door shut and the shower started to run, she rubbed her eyes and decided she was out of her mind. The male pulled away at the threat of her hand on his arm. Did she actually think he’d want to lay with her?
Disgusted with herself, she looked over at the food. It was some kind of herbed chicken with roasted potatoes and squash. There was a glass of water and a glass of white wine, as well as two bright green Granny Smith apples and a piece of carrot cake. She picked up a fork and pushed the chicken around. She wanted to eat what was on the plate only because he’d been thoughtful enough to bring it to her.
When Zsadist came out of the bathroom with only the nylon sweats on, she froze and couldn’t stop staring. His nipple rings caught the candlelight, and so did the hard muscles of his stomach and arms. Along with the star-shaped mark of the Brotherhood, his bare chest had a fresh, livid scratch across it and a bruise.
“Are you injured?”
He came over and measured the plate. “You haven’t eaten much.”
She didn’t reply as her eyes got caught on the curving hip bones that rose above the low waistband of the sweats. God…just a little lower and she would be able to see everything.
Abruptly she remembered him scrubbing himself raw because he thought he was filthy. She swallowed, wondering what had been done to him, to his sex. Wanting him as she did seemed…inappropriate. Invasive. Not that it changed the way she felt.
“I’m not terribly hungry,” she murmured.
He pushed the tray closer to her. “Eat anyway.”
When she started in on the chicken again, he took the two apples and walked across the room. He bit into one and sank down to the floor, sitting cross-legged with his eyes lowered. One arm settled across his stomach as he chewed.
“Did you have dinner downstairs?” she asked.
He shook his head and took another hunk out of the apple, the crack ricocheting around the room.
“Is that all you’ll have?” When he shrugged, she muttered, “And you’re telling me to eat?”
“Yeah, I am. So why don’t you get back to work there, female.”
“You don’t like chicken?”
“I don’t like food.” His eyes never wavered from the floor, but his voice got pushier. “Now eat.”
“Why don’t you like food?”
“Can’t trust it,” he said tightly. “Unless you make it yourself, or can see it whole, you don’t know what’s in it.”
“Why do you think someone would tamper—”
“Have I mentioned how much I don’t like talking?”
“Will you sleep beside me tonight?” She blurted out the request, figuring she’d better get her answer before he shut up completely.
His brows flickered. “You really want that?”
“Yes, I do.”
“Then, yeah. I will.”
As he polished off the two apples and she cleaned the plate, the silence wasn’t exactly easy, but it didn’t crackle, either. After she was finished with the carrot cake, she went into the bathroom and brushed her teeth. By the time she came back, he was working the last apple core with his fangs, picking off the little bits of flesh that were left.
She couldn’t imagine how he fought on such a diet. Surely he must eat more.
And she felt like she should say something, but instead slid into bed and curled up, waiting for him. As minutes ticked by, and all he did was surgically trim that apple, she couldn’t stand the tension.
Enough, she thought. She really should go somewhere else in the house. She was using him as a crutch, and that wasn’t fair.
She reached out to throw the covers back just as he uncoiled from the floor. As he walked to the bed, she froze. He dropped the apple cores next to her plate, then picked up the napkin she had used to wipe her own mouth. After rubbing his hands with the thing, he took the tray and carried it out of the room, setting it right outside the door.
When he came back he went to the other side of the bed, and the mattress dipped down as he stretched out on top of the duvet. Crossing his arms over his chest and his feet at the ankles, he shut his eyes.
One by one the candles went out around the room. When there was just a single wick that burned, he said, “I’ll leave that going so you can see.”
She looked at him. “Zsadist?”
“Yeah?”
“When I was…” She cleared her throat. “When I was in that hole in the ground, I thought of you. I wanted you to come for me. I knew you could get me out.”
His brows went down even though his lids were lowered. “I thought of you, too.”
“You did?” His chin moved up and down, and still she said, “Really?”
“Yeah. Some days…you were all I could think of.”
Bella felt her eyes stretch wide. She rolled toward him and propped her head up on one arm.
“Seriously?” When he didn’t reply, she had to press. “Why?”
His big chest expanded and he blew out his breath. “Wanted to get you back. That’s all.”
Oh…so he’d just been doing his job.
Bella dropped her arm and turned away from him. “Well…thank you for coming for me.”
In the silence she watched the candle burn on the nightstand. The tear-shaped flame undulated, so lovely, so graceful….
Zsadist’s voice was quiet. “I hated the idea that you were frightened and alone. That someone had hurt you. I couldn’t…let it go.”
Bella stopped breathing and glanced over her shoulder.
“I didn’t sleep for those six weeks,” he murmured. “All I could see when I shut my eyes was you, calling out for help.”
God, even though his face was harsh, his voice was so soft and beautiful, like the candle flame.
His head swiveled toward her and his eyes opened. His black stare was full of emotion. “I didn’t know how you could have survived that long. I was so sure you were dead. But then we found the place and I lifted you out of that hole. When I saw what he’d done to you…”
Bella slowly turned over, not wanting to startle him into a retreat. “I don’t remember any of it.”
“Good, that’s good.”
“Someday…I’m going to need to know. Will you tell me?”
&n
bsp; He closed his eyes. “If you really have to have the details.”
They were silent for a time, and then he shifted toward her, rolling onto his side. “I hate to ask you this, but what did he look like? Can you remember anything specific about him?”
Plenty, she thought. Too much.
“He, ah, he colored his hair brown.”
“What?”
“I mean, I’m pretty sure he did. Every week or so he’d go into the bathroom and I could smell the chemicals. And he’d get rooty in between. A little line of white right at his scalp.”
“But I thought paling out was good because it meant they’d been in the Society longer.”
“I don’t know. I think he had…or has…a position of power. From what I could hear from the hole, the other lessers were careful around him. And they called him ‘O.’”
“Anything else?”
She shivered, going back into the nightmare. “He loved me.”
A growl vibrated out of Zsadist, low and nasty. She liked the sound of it. It made her feel protected. Gave her the strength to keep talking.
“The lesser, he said he…loved me, and he did. He was obsessed with me.” She released a breath slowly, trying to calm her fluttering heart. “In the beginning I was terrified of him, but after a while I used his feelings against him. I wanted to hurt him.”
“Did you?”
“Sometimes, yes. I made him…cry.”
Zsadist’s expression took on the oddest cast. As if he were…envious. “What did that feel like?”
“I don’t want to say.”
“Because it was good?”
“I don’t want you to think I’m cruel.”
“Cruelty is different from retaliation.”
In a warrior’s world, she imagined that was true. “I’m not sure I agree.”
His black eyes narrowed. “There are those who would ahvenge you. You know that, right?”
She thought about him going out into the night to hunt the lesser and couldn’t bear the idea that he would get hurt. Then she pictured her brother, all angry and prideful, ready to tear into the slayer, too.