“What are these two doing here?” Slade asked, looking less than thrilled.
“Fans,” replied Liam. “Ethan sent them up.”
Slade stopped next to me and I lowered my trembling hands to my lap. Although he was obviously irritated that we’d joined the table, there was almost like a static connection between us. It gave me goose bumps.
“Is that right?” he asked, his eyes softening. “You two are fans of Venom?”
“Uh, yeah,” I replied, smiling up at him weakly.
His eyes darted down to my chest and then back up. If I would have blinked I’d have missed it.
I frowned and looked away. Although I was secretly thrilled that Slade was checking me out, it was also very irritating. I wasn’t naïve and knew that he’d probably already pegged me as an easy lay.
“I know one thing, you weren’t at the show last night,” he said, folding his arms across his chest.
Stunned, I looked back up at him. “And how do you know that?”
His eyes glittered. “I just do.”
“He just does,” mimicked Liam. “Slade thinks he knows everything, but the truth is, he’s just full of shit.”
“And that’s coming from someone who talks circles around people, just to confuse the hell out of them,” countered Slade.
“It isn’t hard,” said Liam. He smiled. “And I cannot tell a lie, it amuses the hell out of me.”
“You mean the look of being pissed off?” chuckled Sean.
“That too,” replied Liam, raising his beer.
Slade pulled up another chair and sat down next to me. Our knees touched briefly and I flinched.
“Sorry,” he said, sitting back in the chair.
“It’s okay,” I replied in a light breathy voice. Something in his expression made me wonder if he’d done it on purpose. Especially now that I was blushing and he was smiling slowly.
“What’s your name?” he asked. His sultry eyes were hypnotic and beautiful. I almost wanted to take a picture of them with my phone, just so that I wouldn’t forget what they looked like up close. I decided to Google photos of him as soon as I got home.
“Chelsey,” I replied and then quickly moved back so he could see Susan. “And that’s Susan.”
“Hello,” she said, waving with another silly grin.
“Hi.” His eyes moved back to me and I tried not to swoon. “So, what brings you to the club this evening? Obviously, you’re not a regular.”
“How do you know that?” I asked, wondering if we stood out that much. I had to admit, I felt a little over-dressed compared to the slinky outfits most of the girls wore. I looked like I was going out for pizza, not clubbing.
“She’s here because she’s looking for her cousin, who’s missing,” said Liam.
His face darkened. “Really? Missing?
“Yeah. Since last night,” I said. “Nobody has seen or heard from her since.”
Just then, Faye Dunbar walked into the lounge and headed straight for us. All of the guys noticed and sat up straighter, even Slade.
“Great,” whispered Susan, dryly.
Faye Dunbar, who I figured had to be somewhere in her twenties, was the richest as well as the coldest woman in Shore Lake. I’d never met her personally, but Susan had mentioned several bad run-ins she’d had with her at the diner.
“Faye,” said Liam, standing up. “You are a gorgeous woman, you know that?”
Even I had to admit that she was very attractive. Tonight, she wore a cream colored dress that hugged her perfect figure, and diamond earrings that cost more than my parent’s new SUV.
“Oh, Liam,” she said, smiling up at him. She pushed his chest playfully. “You’re such a flirt, but don’t ever, ever change.”
He grinned. “You make a man like me want to change, sexy. Just say the words and I’ll leave my entire harem for you.”
“I’d tire you out, Liam,” she teased back. “Just ask my harem.”
He laughed. “That’s rich, I like that. So, can you stay and have a drink with us?”
“I’m sorry, but I can’t. I do need to speak to Slade, though,” she said, turning her eyes towards him.
Slade cleared his throat. “Yeah… sure.”
Faye glanced at me and I felt a shiver go up my spine. There was no warmth for me in those eyes and I knew instantly that the woman didn’t like me. “
Do I know you?” she asked.
“Uh, no,” I replied. “I don’t think so.”
She wrinkled her nose, as if she smelled something sour, and then focused in on Susan. “You work over at Ruth’s, don’t you?”
“Yes,” replied Susan nervously.
I watched as Faye reached up and patted the side of her long blond hair. It was so shiny and sleek that I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of envy. She kind of reminded me of a famous actress from one of my mother’s old black-and-white movies. With her style and perfect features, I just knew that I could never look as glamorous as this woman. I began to wonder if there was something going on between her and Slade, and if that as the reason she was acting so unfriendly.
Faye titled her head to the side and smirked. “Funny, I didn’t think you were of age to be here tonight, Susan.”
Susan’s smile didn’t falter and I had to give her credit. “Of course I am.”
“Good, because I would be pretty ticked if I had minors sneaking into my club,” she replied, smiling icily. “It would be bad for business and even worse for the person doing it.”
Susan’s face went white. “I have an I.D.”
“Good,” replied Faye. “Don’t lose it.”
Slade stood up. “So, you said you needed to talk, Faye?”
Faye’s eyes raked over the white graphic T-shirt, emphasizing his narrow waist and muscular frame. Obviously, he still found time to work out between gigs and she noticed it as well. I normally wasn’t into muscles, but damn… everything about Slade was sexy. “Yeah, do you have a moment?” she asked in a softer voice.
“For you, Birthday Girl, I have as many moments as you need,” he replied, holding out his forearm.
She linked her arm through his and beamed up at him. “My, I guess it’s true what they say about you.”
“What’s that?” he asked with a slight grin.
“That you’re as smooth as that voice of yours,” she replied.
“Smooth as shit,” muttered Liam under his breath with a smirk.
“Boys, I’ll return Slade after I’m finished with him,” said Faye, over her shoulder as they began to walk away. “Oh,” she turned around. “If anyone runs into Ethan, let him know that I’m looking for him.”
“Did you try calling him?” asked Sean.
“He doesn’t carry a cell phone,” she replied. “Refuses to own one, actually.”
“Why?” asked Bradan. “I couldn’t live without mine.”
“If he doesn’t get one soon, he may not live without one either,” she replied with a straight face.
The guys laughed but something about her expression made me uneasy.
“Let’s go,” she said to Slade.
I watched as they walked away and felt another wave of envy. Not only was she everything I wasn’t, but it was obvious that she had the sexiest guy in the club wrapped around her finger. I could never compete with that.
Jimmy cleared his throat. “So, Chelsey, tell us again about your cousin.”
I told him everything I knew. After I finished, they asked if I had a picture of her.
I took out my phone and scrolled through photos I’d taken. When I came to a picture of Melody at her graduation party, I handed Liam the phone.
He bit his lip and nodded. “Yeah, actually, we did see her. Last night.”
My eyes widened. “Seriously? You did?”
“Sure did,” he replied.
“Let me see,” said Bradan, holding out his hand.
Liam handed him my phone and Jimmy also glanced at it.
“Oh yeah,” said
Jimmy. “I remember that chick.” He chuckled. “Who wouldn’t?”
Bradan laughed and handed me back the phone. “I’m sure she’s fine. She was in good hands last night. Nothing to worry about.”
I raised my eyebrows. “Really? With who?”
He picked up his beer and took a swig. “Slade,”
Chapter Eleven
Slade
“Who were your friends?” asked Faye as we stepped out of the V.I.P. lounge.
“Just a couple of fans,” I replied quickly. I was still stunned that Chelsey had been at our table when I’d stepped out of the bathroom. Then, when I’d sat down next to her and inhaled her human scent, it had almost been too much to handle. I was attracted to everything about her, which could be lethal for both of us.
I have to get out of this town before I do something extremely foolish...
Faye raised an eyebrow. “Just a fan… well, she obviously thinks that you’re the cat’s meow.”
I played it off. “Of course she does. All of my female fans do.”
“Yes, I’m sure they do,” she agreed.
I wondered what Faye wanted with me. Not many people made me nervous, especially a woman, but there were rumors about this one that were disturbing even for me. Crazy, dark rumors. If she hadn’t agreed to pay such a high price for our band to perform at the club, I would have never gotten within ten feet of her. The only reason we were still in Shore Lake was to sing her the Birthday song, which she’d also set up and paid for.
“In here,” she said, waving a hand towards her private office.
“Okay,” I replied, a little relieved that she wasn’t taking me into the basement. Liam had been told that there were some freaky things going on down there, including BDSM and orgies. I wasn’t into either and had no interest in seeing it live and in person.
“Close the door,” she replied, walking around her white and black marbled desk.
I did and then sat across from her in a black leather chair.
She took out a pack of cigarettes from the top drawer of her desk. “Your performance last night was incredible,” she said, lighting the end of one.
“Thank you,” I replied, leaning back in the chair as she blew out a stream of smoke. “I thought we played pretty well myself.”
She rested her chin on her hand and smiled. “So, tell me Slade, what do you think of Shore Lake?”
I shrugged. “It’s very… wildernessy.”
She nodded. “Yes. Well, you get used to it. I’m originally from Vegas.”
I’d heard that. “Oh, is that right?” I asked, feigning surprise.
She took another drag of her smoke and blew out a ring. “”Yes that is right. I have a feeling you already knew that, however.”
I grinned sheepishly. “Not a very good poker-face?”
“Not this time, but something tells me that you could lie through your teeth and most wouldn’t be of the wiser.”
“You’ve got me all figured out, huh?” I asked, not liking how this conversation was going. She obviously wanted something more from me. Something more than just a song.
“Slade, dear, I know what you are,” she said in a low, amused voice.
I tapped my fingers against the arms of the chair. “Is that right? You know what I am?”
“Oh, yes… definitely. It’s why I brought you here.”
I grinned. “I’m lost… could you enlighten me as to what exactly you’re talking about?”
“You’re a Roamer.”
I burst out laughing. “A Roamer? What in the hell is that?”
She leaned forward. “In Romania, I believe you go by ‘Vampire’. Some of the vampires here, however, prefer the term ‘Roamer’.”
I forced a grin. “You’re kidding, right?”
She blew out another stream of smoke. “I’m dead serious, Slade.”
I leaned back in my chair. “What am I supposed to say to all of this? I mean, a vampire? Really?”
She looked amused. “Come on now. Just admit it.”
“There’s nothing to admit.”
“Fine,” she said, standing up. “If you’re not going to do it freely, then I’m going to have to force it out of you.”
I rubbed my forehead and sighed. “Faye…”
She walked over to a door on the other side of the office and opened it. “Bring in the girl.”
A man with long brown hair stepped out of the other room with a disheveled looking young woman. One that I recognized from the night before. Today, she looked like she’d just rolled out of bed and hadn’t showered or changed her clothing.
“Hi Slade,” said the girl, staring up at me with adoration.
I stood up. “What’s happening here?”
“Don’t you remember her?” asked Faye, now standing next to the blonde. She put her arm around the girl’s shoulder and smiled darkly. “She certainly remembers you.”
For the life of me, I had no idea what Faye was trying to pull. The girl didn’t mean anything to me other than she was a fan.
“Slade?” said the girl in a breathless voice. Her eyes softened and she smiled shyly. “I waited for you all morning and afternoon, but you never returned. I was so worried.”
I stared at her in shock. “Excuse me?”
Her face fell. “You seriously don’t remember last night? The after-party… and then the hotel?”
What I remembered was seeing her in the club, dancing in front of the stage, but that was it. I had gone to the after-party for only a little while, but then I’d left and went to my hotel room. Alone.
“Oh for Pete’s sake,” snapped Faye. She grabbed the girl’s hair, baring her neck.
“Ouch!” she hollered, trying to get out of Faye’s grasp.
My mouth went dry as I stared at the vein in her soft, fragile neck. I imagined my tongue, licking the salty flesh right before I buried my teeth into her supple skin. “Faye,” I growled in a raspy voice. “Enough.”
With her long red nail, she traced along the girl’s neck, enticing me further. “Lovely, isn’t it? I bet you’d love to sink your teeth into this little morsel.”
“Screw this shit,” I snarled, turning away. “I’m outta here.”
“Are you sure about that?” asked Faye.
The girl screeched in protest and the scent of human blood filled the air, awakening the beast inside, the one I’d fought so hard to control. Unable to resist any longer, I grabbed the girl from Faye’s arms, and found myself straddling her on the carpet as she stared up at me with terror,
“Slade?” she whispered, her lip trembling as I held her down.
The blood trickled out of the small cut made my Faye, and my mouth watered.
“Go on,” urged Faye.
Panting, I tried to contain the raging hunger burning inside of me, but with every breath, I felt my resistance weakening. It had been decades since I’d tasted anything this sweet and fresh. Normally, my meals were collected from plasma centers, which quelled my hunger to a point, but it still wasn’t nearly as satisfying as warm blood.
“Feed. Do it,” demanded Faye, kneeling down next to us. “Rip her throat out and take what’s yours.” She gently ran a hand over the girl’s hair, smoothing it away from her face. “You do want to please Slade, don’t you Princess?”
The girl swallowed hard and nodded.
I looked at Faye, who I sensed wasn’t a vampire, and was only doing this for some kind of twisted pleasure. Her malice gave me the strength that I needed to resist. I released the girl and stood up.
“What in the hell are you doing?” snapped Faye, standing back up.
I pulled the girl to her feet and scowled at Faye. “The real question is what are you doing and why?”
Ignoring the question, she turned to her henchman. “Lucas, take the girl out of here. Bring her downstairs and give her to the Roamers.”
I pulled the girl back, away from Faye and Lucas. “I don’t think so.”
“Oh, what a gallant gesture,”
sneered Faye. “You do realize that she knows too much now, don’t you?”
“She doesn’t have to remember anything,” I replied. “I can make her forget all of this.”
Faye stared at me and I could see the wheels turning in her head. I wasn’t sure why she’d wanted me to confess something she’d already known. “What exactly do you want?” I asked, positioning the terrified girl behind me.
Her face softened. “You know, I believe that we started this conversation on the wrong foot.”
I waited for her to go on.
She licked her lips and smiled. “I want you to fire your manager, move to Shore Lake, and let me take care of your career from this day forward.”
I stared at her in disbelief. “You’re joking.”
“Not at all. As you already know, I’m a very wealthy and successful woman. I have connections all over the world with people who can take your career to an entirely new level of success. Slade, I can make you rich beyond your wildest dreams.”
“I’m already rich.” I’d accumulated a lot over the last three hundred years and our band did pretty well. Money wasn’t even a motivator for me. Never had been. I performed and sang, because it made me feel almost human.
“Maybe, but you haven’t reached superstardom yet, Slade.” Her eyes glittered. “I can help you get there.”
“Thanks, but no thanks. We don’t need you.”
She smirked. “Is that right? Well, the rest of your band has already agreed to this. They want me to be your new financial advisor and manager.”
I stared at her in disbelief. “What? Bullshit.”
She went back around to her desk and turned on the laptop computer. “They even picked out a cabin already. Slade, moving here is the best decision for everyone. Vampires do need to stick together.”
“Are you saying that you’re a vampire?” I asked.
She snorted. “Hell no. I’m a Shifter.”
Fuck, now that was bad news. If I went against her, she’d go after me with a vengeance. Shapeshifters were dangerous and most of them were known to have violent, crazy tempers. I sensed that she was among that particular lot.
“It would never work. We don’t like to stay in one spot too long,” I replied. “I’d suffocate here.”
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