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Chapter Ten

Tristan

Earlier that day

By the third day of the talks, the Persimmon Club and the business side of the deal weren’t enough to satisfy the greedy mafioso. We weren’t talking only about money anymore. Jonas wanted power, influence, resources.

Secrets.

“I know what you are,” he told me after we were done discussing boring details of a possible joint business venture and he sent his son away.

I stared at him coldly. Of course, I suspected he already knew. Otherwise, he would have assumed our interest in Victoria was just a passing fancy and not anything deeper. But by knowing we were vampires and witnessing our reactions Jonas came to the correct conclusion there was more to our interest. Some kind of supernatural connection between us and Victoria, that he could use to gain the upper hand in the negotiations.

“And while what you are offering is... interesting... it’s going to take a while to iron out the terms under which I’m willing to part with the lovely Miss Victoria,” Jonas leaned back in his chair, his posture and words signaling he had all the time in the world.

I grit my teeth, trying to keep my composure. I wanted Victoria safe and mine NOW.

“Surely, you would like to be done with this as soon as possible?” Theo said seriously. “After all, time is money and I had heard your last venture in the west of the city could use some... investment.”

Jonas’ brow twitched almost imperceptibly at the mention of his failed power grab from the yakuza. My informants told me the Cornellos were trying to insert themselves into already existing power structures and thus were making quite a lot of enemies.

When I moved to the States in the late 50’s I knew better than to get into the middle of turf wars. Instead, I created legitimate businesses and only years later I ventured into more shady deals when I saw an opportunity that didn’t disturb the existing power structure but added to it. Plainly speaking, no one had a good handle on the supernatural part of the business and that’s where I came in. I made a name for myself as a broker between humans and werewolves, vampires, kitsune, and other creatures, and later expanded my services until I was considered one of the valuable players in the organized crime world.

So far our discussion with Jonas dealt with the human part of my businesses. I had hoped to avoid discussing the supernatural with the man. There were rules to being in the know. If he asked me to be his sponsor into our secret society it would be a much bigger ask than just sharing business.

“Yes, I think I’m going to focus my efforts elsewhere,” Jonas said dryly. “My son didn’t quite handle his mission as well as I hoped... Which only highlighted that my family needs a stronghand to lead it. And who better than me?” He leaned forward and I saw hunger in his eyes as he looked at my gray hair paired with a perfectly healthy, strong, hundreds of years old body. “Here’s the deal: make me a vampire and you can take your precious Victoria home today.”

Theo stiffened at my side. He was aware how much siring a new vampire meant to me. Jonas knew enough about vampires to recognize I was one but he didn’t know how exactly the bond between a Lesser Vampire and his Sire worked. How much power I would have over him.

“No,” I said harshly, my throat dry. “No. Never. I’m not going to turn you.”

Jonas’ eyes flashed with anger and displeasure.

“That’s your choice. But if you keep what I want from me... I will keep what you want from you. Consider your options carefully.”

He stood up and left the room with a sneer.

I couldn’t do it. Not even for Victoria.

I promised myself I would never turn anyone if I couldn’t keep them safe and happy in their new life. Keep them close. Take responsibility for their actions. With Jonas I knew turning him could end only in one of the two ways: me killing him or him killing me to become a True Vampire.

No, I was going to find another way to convince Jonas to willingly part with Victoria.

And if that didn’t work...

My eyes strayed to Theo. He was frowning. I didn’t like to see him frown. Taking Victoria by force would be unpleasant not only for Jonas but everyone else involved, including the woman in question and my charges, but I didn’t want to be too late like I was with Theo. Not again. I couldn’t fail like that.

Never again.

Chapter Eleven

Matthias

Fifty years ago

I couldn’t stand another minute of this party. All that brown-nosing and acting like a herd of peacocks was giving me an ick. It didn’t help that I was too large, too strong, toobrutishfor their dainty sensibilities. All the upper-class socialities were the same no matter which country we were in, though over the last years, I had grown used to the peculiar brand of snobbery the proud-and-loud Americans displayed.

Tristan dragged us here to have a one-on-one conversation with some posh woman on behalf of the kitsune and he didn’t need me at his side, just in the general vicinity, in case there was trouble and he needed to call me, so I didn’t feel any guilt over secluding myself on the other side of the mansion the party was in. This wing was blessedly empty of high society people and only the working gals and guys sometimes scurried past. They saw my large form and even with the monkey suit draped overmy frame they knew I was closer to them than to the aristocrats and oil tycoons so they left me alone.