Page 24 of Absolution

Until someone slammed into me from the side and sent me careening across the dance floor on my ass. I blinked up at the room for a minute trying to refocus my brain and understand what had just happened. The low lights and thick crush of bodies separated Luca and me. Was he okay?

Someone helped me up, which was good because I still felt disjointed, almost lost. The crowd moved finally, showing him to me. He stood ten feet away arguing with a guy, posture tense. The other man was larger, mocha-skinned, and very angry. I didn’t have to be close to feel that he nearly seethed with rage. Little veins popped and jumped at his forehead and neck, and his tone was harsh.

I shoved my way across the room to Luca’s side and touched his back in a show of support. If this bruiser thought he had a chance of hurting Luca while I was there, he was mistaken. No one would look at me and think I could have taken a guy that size, but they’d have been wrong.

“You okay?” I half shouted as I leaned into Luca. His body was taut with tension. “Let’s just go. We can go to your place or something.” I’d have even promised to have sex with him if he left before whatever was starting could escalate. I gripped Luca’s arm and tried to nudge him toward our table. The other man was having none of that.

“Fucking fag, bringing your queer ass self here. This ain’t a club for blood suckers. Take your nasty little corpse friend out of here.” He lifted Luca up by the front of his shirt, tearing the fabric and holding him off the ground a half a foot. Oh hell no. The SOB smacked a meaty paw in my direction, which I caught and twisted, making him drop Luca as I forced the meathead to his knees.

“You just wish I was fucking you, Kenrick. Let him go, Sam. He wants to fuck with me then fine, I’ll play.” They were both shouting now. The bouncers were on their way over so I let go of the angry giant. Luca took that moment to lunge, a quick fist to the man’s nose—which burst like a melon—and another to his stomach which doubled him up. Blood spattered over me in a hot wash that reminded me of Matthew when I’d shot him point blank. Only this blood stank like dog.

Luca didn’t let the lycan up, instead he pounded him to the floor in a flurry of fists. I stepped back as others waded in to join the fight. Shit. What the hell was I doing here? This was so reminiscent of the time I spent with Matthew that I just had to leave. I returned to the table we’d saved, used a napkin to wipe the blood from my face and grabbed my coat—I was pretty sure Sei would want it back.

The air outside was no less cold than when I went in, but the eerie empty streets made my heart sink. I’d had such great hopes for the night. Was it something I did? Or was it just that I attracted men who were on the verge of a mental breakdown?

“Sam,” Luca called as he was shoved out the door, his coat thrown at him by the very same bouncer who let him in.

I waved at him instead of stopping.

“What the fuck? You see something you don’t like and you bail? What are you, a fucking kid?”

I paused but didn’t look back. Whatever angry face he was making I didn’t need in my memory. “Gabe said you would have researched my past. I guess you skipped the part where I dated a psychopath who loved me with his fists. Thanks for the dance, Luca. Have a nice life. Don’t call me.” I walked off, heading for only God knew where. Maybe back to the church, maybe back to Sei’s. It didn’t matter.

Chapter 9

The heat of tears burned my eyes. Fuck, twice in one night was a record for me. I’d never been a crier. The dark empty streets taunted me. If I’d been able to find a cab I would have gone home. So Luca wasn’t the one. Didn’t Sei tell me that was okay? To just enjoy him for a while? And I had until he’d gone all Rocky on me. At least I wasn’t hungry. I was so gonna call the witch to bitch him out later. Apparently we were both really bad judges of character.

I sent him a text instead:U suck.

The buzz back was immediate.

What happened?

He started a fight—well insisted on finishing it at least. Reminded me of Matthew.

That sucks. Did you see anyone else worth dancing with?

No, but I hadn’t been looking. I sighed and glared at a 24-hour Walgreens—the only thing open in sight. How long had we been in the club? Must have been a few hours since the city had gone deadsville.

Maybe I’m not ready.I sent him.

Are any of us? How will you know if you don’t try?

Why did he have to be so damn smart? I glared at the phone.

“I’m surprised to see you wandering around again. Didn’t your mentor put out a curfew for his nest? There has been some vampire trouble of late and you shouldn’t be out alone.” Max stepped out of the Walgreens, bag in hand.

Not many could mess with a vampire. “You mean with no alibi?”

He nodded and smiled at me. “I expected Luca to be wooing you. He has a way with people and seems to like you.”

“I don’t think he’s my type.” Problem was he was exactly my type.

Max shrugged. “Luca is very young. I’m afraid I haven’t been very good about letting him stretch his wings.”

“He’s got anger issues.”

“Indeed. That’s a vampire trait. Yet you seem to be handling it well.”