by Lisa Sanchez
Dead-beat bastard! Her ex had left her in debt and out-of-style to boot.
Clearly frazzled, Mason squeezed her shoulder and gestured toward the opposite end of the bar with his other hand. “Honey Girl, your ex is here and is stirring up all kinds of trouble. What did you ever see in him anyway?” He craned his head toward the male in question and shook his head, clearly unimpressed with James’ faded blue button down and worn jeans. “I don’t know. I suppose he’s handsome in a rugged, lumberjack sort of way. But the boy definitely needs some work done. There’s nothing wrong with a bit of manscaping. Dude is hairier than Sasquatch.”
Danika couldn’t hold back and laughed. Mason was sweet, funny and always knew how to make her smile.
Her smile was short-lived, though, her lips pulling down into a tight, thin line as she eyed James sitting at the end of the bar. He was very obviously drunk and making a huge scene.
“Oh, God!” She held her hand to her forehead and heaved a large sigh. “What the hell is he doing here? And here I thought my night couldn’t get any worse. He’s going to get me fired!”
Mason treated her to a grim-faced nod. “Girlfriend, you better find a way to get him gone before Tony sees him.” After giving her shoulder a gentle squeeze, he hurried back behind the bar to fill the never-ending barrage of drink orders.
The mental armor she’d donned before starting her shift had cracked and fallen away, leaving the thin, plastic serving tray she carried her only line of defense. Maybe she could smack James upside the head with it and knock some sense into the inebriated man.
“Yeah, who am I kidding?” she mumbled. Prolonging the inevitable would only serve to make things worse, so she wove her way through the thick crowd toward James. Mason’s words echoed inside her head as if they were on a loud speaker. What did you ever see in him anyway?
A wave of nausea coursed through Danika as she spied her unruly ex. Mason was right to question her. What had she seen in him? Despite James’ rugged good looks and sturdy build, there was nothing about him that she found remotely attractive. Well, at least, not anymore. When she’d met him just over a year ago he’d been sweet, endearing and had charmed the pants right off of her—literally, with his muscular physique and smooth talking personality. And the sex…good Lord, the sex had been on fire. Well, at least in the beginning, anyway.
Young, infatuated and stupid, she’d flown to Vegas and married him after a whirlwind month of dating. It had been the biggest mistake of her life. The beatings began shortly after the honeymoon, a sinister, more possessive side emerging and magnifying shortly after he lost his job.
Danika shook her head, desperately trying to clear the horrifying memories that threatened to pull her under. She was out. She’d fought her way out from beneath James’ thumb and was on her own now—safe and in control of her own life. In a few short months, once she rid herself of the man’s residual debt, she’d be free of him forever. Taking a deep breath, she willed herself to stay strong as she approached.
“What are you doing here, James? You know you’re not allowed within fifty feet of me. You’re violating the restraining order.”
James sneered and slammed his beer bottle onto the bar. “Fuck the restraining order! This right here,” his words slurred as he circled a finger in the air, “is the hottest club in town. The hell if I’m staying away just because your sorry ass works here.” His gaze traveled south, and he craned his head in an effort to scope out her backside. He shook his head and groaned. “Hot damn! And what a nice ass it is,” he stammered before bringing up a particularly juicy belch.
Danika cringed. The man was an absolute pig. She eyed the score of empty beer bottles and shot glasses on the bar in front of him and frowned. Mason had witnessed James’ douchebaggery firsthand two weeks prior when he’d picked a fight with another patron, and she knew with utmost certainty he would have cut James off before he made a drunken spectacle of himself. Which meant, Topher, the club’s new bartender was to blame for her ex’s intoxicated state. She planned on having a few not so nice words with him before the night was over.
How James had made it past the doorman, she didn’t know. After his fight a few weeks back, Tony had banned him from the club. He had to have bribed his way in with money. Money he supposedly didn’t have. Jerk!
Tanked and completely oblivious to the fact she’d been ignoring his boozed up speech, James continued on with his praise of her backside. “I don’t care if you’re a bitch. I just want to grab a handful of that ass and squeeze.” He lurched forward and grabbed her by the waist, one hand palming her ass as he pulled her against him with the other. “Shit, baby…I don’t care what’s happened between us. I miss this,” he said, squeezing her rump.
“Enough!” Danika said, as she tore herself from his grasp.
A drunken James was like a bomb ready to go off, and anyone standing in his wake was sure to suffer—namely her. She needed to get him out of there before he made a bigger scene, before he got her canned.
With desperation fueling her actions, she went against her better judgment, grasped James by the wrist and tugged him toward the dim hallway behind the opposite end of the bar. Calling the cops would be an exercise in futility. Over half the force was corrupt and more than happy to look the other way when Tony padded their pockets. Signaling the bouncers was sure to cause a scene. No. She needed to get him out of sight and out of the club before Tony laid eyes on him, or she was sure to get in trouble.
“C’mon, Jimmy. Let’s go.”
The back exit lay at the end of the long hallway at the rear end of the club. James generally sported two levels of drunkenness. He’d start out loud and horny, and end up mean and aggressive. He hadn’t made it to the angry stage yet, so she was banking on his randy, impaired state to play in her favor. The plan was to lure him into the darkened hallway and out the back exit under the pretense of a little hanky-panky. Once outside the exit, he wouldn’t be able to get back in. Problem solved.
Of course, she had no intention, let alone desire, to get up close and personal with her douchebag ex, but he didn’t know that. And what he didn’t know would certainly play in her favor.
Her plan would have worked had it not been for the open door leading into Salon #1. The soft, muted light and heady incense wafting from the empty room proved too much of a temptation for her horny ex. Before she knew what was happening, he’d wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her into the dimly lit room, shutting the door behind him.
“James! Let go of me. Now!” she shouted, struggling to free herself from his steely grip. With considerable effort, she was able to peel his fingers from her waist and scrambled toward the center of the room, the velvet chair directly behind her.
Thick, red fabric draped across all four walls of the small room, soft incandescent light from an aging chandelier casting a muted glow over the space.
James stalked forward, eyes heavy-lidded. “Don’t be like that, baby.” A hungry smile inched across his face, desire darkening his eyes as he inclined his chin toward her. “You, uh…and me…we had some good times together.”
He leaned forward, his warm, beer-scented breath wafting across her face as he bore down on her. With his large frame blocking any and all attempts to escape, she fell backward into the plush-covered chair. A ripple of unease coursed through her as James gripped the arms of the chair and moved in close, his face mere centimeters from her own.
“What say you and I forget about all the bullshit for one night, huh?”
Before she could move, he grasped the back of her head. He leaned forward and grazed the length of her neck with his tongue, then buried his face in her hair, inhaling deeply. “Fuck, you smell good. Like lemons…and sunshine.” He dragged his calloused hand down her shoulder, his knuckles brushing against the side of her breast.
Her stomach rolled.
“Let me in, baby. For old times sake. Yeah?”
Disgusted with herself for allowing James the opportunity
to not only corner her, but paw her as well, she pushed against his chest with all her strength and launched herself up from the chair.
“Stop it, Jimmy. No! You and I are through. You know that.” A combination of anger, fear and disappointment tore at her chest. Her plan to lure her ex out the back of the club had failed miserably. It was time to cut her losses, even at the risk of fueling his anger.
Eager to be away from him, she darted across the darkened space with him hot on her heels. She gripped the doorknob, his warm breath burning across the back of her neck as she began to open the door. “You need to go home, James. Please. Please don’t make me get the bouncer.”
The door slammed shut, James’ large hand braced against the painted wood, holding it closed. His other hand wound around her waist, pulling her against his chest. “Sorry, baby. You’re not going anywhere. You and I have some unfinished business.” He whirled them around, the large velvet-covered chair looming before them. “I think we need to take advantage of this room. Seein’ as we’ve got it all to ourselves.” He pressed his lips to her ear and palmed her left breast. “You’re gonna dance for me, baby.”
Silent tears brushed Danika’s cheeks as she fought to breathe. During their short time together, James had stolen her money, her happiness and her self-respect. She wasn’t about to let him steal her right to say no as well. I won’t let this happen. I won’t!
Drawing her knee up toward her chest, she slammed the spiked heel of her boot down onto the top of James’ foot, then wriggled free as he doubled over, howling in pain.
“Ah! Fuck!” He bent forward and clutched his foot, the heavy amount of alcohol in his system causing him to lose his balance. Off-kilter, he fell sideways, crashing through a glass-topped end table as he fell on his ass. “You’re gonna pay for that, bitch!”
“I’m already paying off all of your debt. I’m not paying for anything else!” Afraid he might get up before she got away, she gripped the doorknob and raced into the narrow hallway with a frightened whimper.
Flustered and out of breath, she swiped the tears from her face and smoothed her hair as she hurried toward the bustling crowd. If she could just make it behind the bar, she’d be safe. Mason would inform the bouncers, and they’d boot James’ sorry ass from the club.
She’d made it to the end of the bar when a large hand grasped her shoulder and spun her around.
Clothing covered in glass shards and spattered with blood, James glared at her and snarled. In a flash of movement, he gripped her by the neck and forced her back against the bar, knocking a blond co-ed out of her seat in the process. “I’m done with you, bitch!”
A deep rumble reminiscent of a lion’s growl carried over the noise of the club, and a large hand shot through the air at lightning speed. Enormous fingers clasped onto James’ wrist, a loud snap echoing through the crowded space.
James released her from the chokehold he held her in and shrieked as he clutched his injured forearm to his chest. “My wrist is broken! My fucking wrist is—ahh!”
The large hand that had stopped James from crushing her windpipe wound its way around James’ neck, treating him to the same heinous punishment.
Danika’s gaze traveled up the length of the muscular forearm holding James immobile. Who in the… Danika gasped. Holy…Whoa! Her breath caught, her heart thundering against her ribs. It was Mr. No Name. And good Lord Almighty, he looked pissed!
CHAPTER 6
Ty slammed his fist onto the table and swore beneath his breath. “Athena be damned!” Why? Why couldn’t he concentrate on anything but Danika? He didn’t have time for distraction. His job was too important. The Hirudo had been running amuck for the past two weeks, feeding and killing off anything and anyone that got in his way.
No more! Ty stood from the table and cut through the massive throng of bodies toward the opposite end of the club. He planned on finding the leech and placing it on the Red Eye bound for hell—tonight.
Despite his urgent call of duty, he’d been keeping tabs on Danika for the past hour, reading her emotions. Up until a few moments ago, she’d exuded a mix of frustration, anger, and resolve. He was quite sure all were a direct result of his earlier brush off. Her anguish tore at his gut, but he convinced himself it was for the best. She was light, pure and innocent, and he…well…he was dark. Damn dark. If she got messed up with him, she’d only get hurt, and he wasn’t about to let that happen. Especially if she were his life mate.
Cursing himself for straying from his mission, he focused on the large crowd, scanning, searching for any sign of the parasite as he slowly made his way toward the exit. Frustration tore at his gut. Club Masquerade, with its wealthy and perpetually stoned clientele was akin to an all-you-can-eat smorgasbord. He’d been sure the “human buffet” would lure the Hirudo in.
No such luck. The body-hopping freak was eluding him. But not for long. Ty had no doubt he’d find Mr. Suck ‘Em Dry, and when he did, he’d send his soulless hide packing all the way to Tartarus.
He was about twenty feet from the exit when a wave of panic and the pungent scent of fear and anxiety broadsided him. Danika. He skidded to a halt and scanned the crowd, his enhanced vision making it easy to see through the dimly lit room. Fuck! Where is she?
Blind rage took over, his hands balling into fists, his beast mere seconds from emerging. The source of his female’s unease was going to pay, and pay dearly. But first he needed to find her, make sure she was safe, unharmed.
He made it halfway across the dance floor when he spotted her at the end of the bar, struggling beneath the grip of some mangy looking asshole.
His lion roared from within, eager to break free and destroy the fool who dared threaten his mate. Who was this man? Was he someone she knew? A stranger? Ty growled. It didn’t matter who he was. He was about to suffer the beating of a lifetime.
The small crowd that had gathered around Danika and her abuser cleared out as Ty stormed closer. Blind to anything but doling out a swift punishment, he reached out and grasped the low-life by the throat. Lifting him off the floor with one arm, he slammed him against the bar with as much force as he could muster. “Looks like someone forgot their manners this evening. Time to apologize to the lady, shithead!”
Squirming like a snake beneath his grip, the idiot managed a muffled, “Fuck you, asshole,” and swung his leg back in an effort to kick Ty.
Ty blocked the loser’s attempt with ease, a satisfied grin emerging as he shook his head and tightened his grip around the loser’s neck. “That, my good friend, was the wrong thing to say.” Lifting the dirtbag with one hand, he launched him forward over the bar as if he weighed nothing more than a sack of potatoes. Glass bottles and shelves shattered upon impact, leaving the inebriated jerk a bloody, unconscious heap on the floor.
“Oh, my God!”
Ty’s gaze traveled from his prey to Danika, who stared up at him, eyes wide and full of fear. Shit. Not really the reaction he’d been hoping for. In truth, he hadn’t given any thought to how she would react. His only thought had been to punish the idiot who’d been hurting her.
“You!”
Ty closed his eyes for a moment and sighed as Tony’s nasally voice echoed across the bar. Here comes trouble.
“You are fired!” he said, pointing toward Danika.
Ty glanced over his shoulder and swore. Fuck! This was so not what he wanted. His little show of manhood had just cost Danika her job, and dammit, he was deeply sorry.
He was not sorry, however, for the ass-whooping he’d given that intoxicated fool. The guy was a loose cannon, a problem that needed to be dealt with. Although…shit…maybe he’d gone a bit overboard, tossing him over the bar like that. Truth of the matter was, the moment he’d seen the douchebag’s fingers latch onto Danika’s neck, everything went red. There wasn’t much he remembered after that. His beast had taken over, primal protective instincts shrouding all other thoughts. She was his, and nothing, no one would hurt her.
“And you!” Ty wa
s torn from his thoughts to see Tony pointing at him. “Your ass is gone too! Claude! Dean! Escort this piece of shit outside, right now!”
A set of overgrown monkeys, complete with bald heads and no necks, rushed Ty. They grabbed him by the shoulders, clearly intent on manhandling him out of the club. Little did they know, the Goddess Athena had blessed him with the strength of a thousand men, and it would take a lot more than Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum to move him.
Ty’s inner beast roared from deep within, starved for a choice helping of overgrown idiot. A low, feral growl reverberated through him, echoing off the nearby walls. The few bystanders brave enough to have remained nearby cleared the space. Dumb and Dumber immediately relinquished their hold of his shoulders and backed away, hands up, eyes full of fear.
That’s right, fools. Be afraid. You have no idea who you’re dealing with.
Done wasting his energy on Tony and his goons, Ty turned and scanned the room in search of Danika. The crowd of twenty-something’s that had littered the bar now stood several paces back, staring at him in silent awe as he sought out his blond beauty. Danika was nowhere to be seen. Dammit! Not only had he botched his mission by getting involved with the pretty human, he’d managed to get her fired as well.
With a growl, he strode out of the club, ignoring the sea of whispers that followed, while inwardly cursing himself the entire way. Ty never messed up, never lost focus, never strayed from his mission. Why tonight? It was imperative that he both find and destroy the leech. Body snatching demons created mayhem that was difficult to cover up. More dead bodies would result in widespread media panic.