Page 6
Story: Seducer (Legacy of Kings #2)
CHAPTER 6
Z achariah
The one.
The thought stuck in my mind. I was never wrong. Never.
Very few women had ever challenged me. The thought was something I processed even as my rage continued to increase. There was an aura about her that exuded danger and resolve, a fascinating combination.
I immediately craved what I shouldn’t have. I said shouldn’t only because I wasn’t a good man for someone who couldn’t understand or embrace my needs. That was difficult to find. Plus, the girl was much younger, enough so I was worried I’d destroy her sense of well-being.
Since when had I grown a conscience?
A laugh still on my lips, I shoved my cell phone into my jacket, doing my best to keep anger from shoving my desire into a dungeon.
The call I’d been required to take had made me furious. I hadn’t wanted any interruptions. That didn’t bode well while I was hunting. People died when they interfered with my needs. While it wasn’t unusual to expect contact from our foreign markets given the timeline difference, what the client from Tokyo had offered left me enraged.
His business had received a direct threat not to continue business engagements with the Blackwell Group.
I stormed back into the club, my anger already reaching an entirely different pinnacle because of the earlier threat I’d received. Enemies in our line of work were to be expected, but both my brothers and I were growing weary of the constant threats.
While I’d calmed the intense man down, assuring him there would be no delay in shipping or in the latest production schedule, he’d been only mildly convinced.
I’d need to deal with this further in the morning.
But not now.
As soon as I was in close proximity to the table, I noticed we’d found ourselves with a new waitress. This one was dressed as an adorable kitty cat, complete with ears and whiskers. With no dancers on the floor, the lights had been boosted a couple of notches, which allowed me to catch sight of her long blonde hair fashioned in a ponytail.
The closer I moved to the table, the more familiar she became. After placing the fresh drinks on our table, she lifted her gaze to mine. The instant flash of electricity hit me right in the gut. There was no mistaking the fact the woman standing in front of me was the Wild One.
“Hey, my man,” Jacob called. “We have fresh blood. Meet Wild Kitty.” He pointed to the girl and even out of the corner of my eye, I could tell he was undressing her with his eyes. Not that doing so would take but so much time.
The tiny leather skirt barely topped her thighs, the leopard print top housing a delicious diamond-shaped hole in the center, one of the points starting between her breasts. All three men were ogling her.
Wild Kitty didn’t seem fazed in the least, still staring at me with large, unblinking eyes. When I was within a few inches, another lightning bolt hit me, this time right between the eyes.
The Wild One was currently our Wild Kitty. She’d gone from dancer to waitress. The shift in names meant for anonymity wasn’t particularly inventive, but her look was completely different. Her hair no longer glowed in the dark in a vibrant pink hue, the rich blonde suiting her. It was apparent my buddies had no clue. Good for them. That meant I didn’t need to kick their asses tonight.
“As requested, gentlemen,” Wild Kitty purred. I was certain the three guys were going to fall on the floor from hearing her husky voice. “Enjoy your time at Wild Seduction night. Let me know if you need anything. I’m here to please.”
“Ooh-la-la,” Brant mused.
Why did a fleeting moment of jealousy almost have me wrapping my fingers around the man’s throat?
I was impressed she’d kept her gaze locked on my face. When a slight, almost knowing smile curled across her voluptuous lips, another hit of my raging libido kicked in.
“Keep them coming,” Jacob called before she left the table.
“Not for me, but thank you. Two drink maximum,” I threw in, waiting to see the girl’s response. “I am a responsible businessman,” I added for the hell of it.
The others coughed and laughed, acting as if they were going to choke on their own saliva. I nodded to Wild Kitty, enjoying the flash in her eyes. As she walked away, I continued to wallow in the possessive nature that had caught me off guard.
“Now, about the Obsidian Society and my question,” Brant interjected, once again dragging my attention away from the lovely young woman. “I honest to God think the club would be a great place.”
Jacob caught my expression first, warning me with his eyes not to create a scene. He knew when I was closest to losing control. He’d commiserated with me after an incident almost eighteen months ago when I’d come close to losing my mind to the nightmares.
Jacob wasn’t just a friend. He’d become a psychiatrist. Although I’d never been to his office nor was I listed in his client files, he’d managed to talk me off the rails more than once.
Even after I’d put a hole in his wall with my fist.
“There is no such thing,” I said casually. Jacob knew of the society’s existence, a subject I’d told him early on was off limits. “Other than chatter on the dark web. You know how stories are morphed into gospel.”
“Bullshit,” Brant pushed. “I read the article like everyone else did in town. You hunt women for fun in the middle of the woods, funhouses, and abandoned warehouses, which mirrors all the kinky shit you do in your top-selling virtual reality games. Why deny it? Sounds hot.”
The article. An overzealous reporter working with an asshole who’d wanted to destroy the Blackwell Group. The rumors had died down, but would likely never disappear completely.
The other two men at the table were suddenly holding their breaths. Fortunately, I wasn’t in the mood for violence that night. “Fine, Brant. The reporter was an idiot. There are certain upper echelons within the Blackwell Group of gamers who’ve been with us for years. They receive perks and freebies. They call themselves the Obsidian Society. You know. Dark Nights? Obsidian is a black substance. Nothing unusual.”
“Uh-huh. No hunting grounds? No capturing people like kidnapping or kinky shit involving mask much like the one you’re wearing?”
“You’re describing Dark Nights perfectly, dude. You haven’t played?” Steve chided, trying to defuse the situation.
That Brant had latched onto this disturbed the hell out of me. The Obsidian Society had existed in secrecy, those chosen to be members of the club doing so after going through several trials involving one of our X-rated virtual reality games, before even more demanding trials in real life. Yes, the tests were often violent or kinky, but the contestants weren’t forced into vying for the single yearly position. They hungered for the darkness just like I did.
Some people would consider our undertaking dangerous and disgusting. Who the hell hunted humans for fun? But those involved were fueled by the games.
The birth of the Obsidian Society had been based on need to quell the demons locked away deep inside three brothers who had known little about each other after growing up separately in foster care.
Plus, without the resource and outlet, our carnal, visceral needs couldn’t be controlled.
“Nope. I think there’s more. I think you grew bored and allowed the virtual to become real.” Brant was intoxicated enough he had no idea how close he was to unleashing my rage.
It took everything I had to keep from doing so.
“A myth, my friend.” I wasn’t insistent, just making the statement in a matter-of-fact manner.
“Then what about that ring you wear, a signature for all members.” He pointed to the gold and obsidian ring on my finger, the huge black gem surrounded by diamonds.
I twirled the ring as I glanced down at the piece required by all Obsidian members, laughing softly as I did so. “A family heirloom.”
Only Jacob knew significant details about my past or my family, although the fact three brothers owned Blackwell Group was known throughout the gaming industry. We were true powerhouses, men who’d gone from nothing to billionaires in a few years with hard work, loss of sleep, and a dark, detailed vision of the direction virtual reality games should be heading in.
With the use of artificial intelligence, we’d kicked the entire field up more than a few notches. There were companies around the world scrambling to match what we’d achieved months before. No one could rival Dark Nights, the award-winning and record-breaking game heads above the competition.
“I don’t get why you’re hiding this great society. Sounds like a blast to me. Hunting. Capturing. Right up my alley.” Brant was still fishing.
“Dude. Why grill the man on business shit? He answered your question.” Steve was more the voice of reason.
“Let it go,” Jacob warned me.
I took a deep breath. Tonight I’d need relief to curtail the beast clawing at the surface. Blood wasn’t on the menu. It was too risky when not in a controlled environment. “Is this really all about the new club?”
Brant leaned across the table. “You should have seen your face, buddy. Good God. Sure, I want you to come as my guest on opening night. That’s it. If you like what you see, maybe we can have a discussion.”
Right now wasn’t the time to grill him on where he’d gleaned the information. It was entirely possible that the recent scathing article written on the Blackwell Group with the mention of our other nocturnal activities was the reason to blame, but I wasn’t certain. Gossip about our supposed debauchery had been all the rage in town for weeks. But like everything else, people had grown bored since no evidence had been found.
Either way, the other two men seemed less interested in the conversation, which I was glad of. “Give me the address, you dickhead. And the opening date.”
“Does that mean you’ll show?” Brant smirked, a content look forming in his eyes.
“That means I’ll consider it. I’m not making any promises.” I pointed my finger at him and he grinned like he’d gotten one over on me.
His questions were far too on topic, especially after the two earlier incidents. While I didn’t know Brant very well, I’d vetted him as I had Steve very closely before deciding to enter into a friendship.
One could never be too careful. There was far too much money on the table and too many secrets to keep locked away.
If released, the damning information would undoubtedly ruin four lives, soon to be five when another board member was appointed to the Blackwell Group.
That was something I couldn’t allow to occur.
If the man needed to disappear, that’s what would happen.
Friend or not.
I didn’t explain myself as I rose to my feet, heading away. Maybe I wasn’t in the mood to spend more time with friends tonight. There was a hefty amount of business on the table including selecting someone for the empty seat on the board. My brother had vetted several men and a few women, but no one seemed perfect for the job.
Yes, I was a picky son of a bitch since the woman holding the position before had been duped into a passionate love affair, allowing herself to betray us with far too much ease. We needed to be careful. There were too many trade secrets at stake.
My eyes drifted toward the beautiful kitten, slowing my gait as I studied her form. She had a dancer’s body, long and lean with sculpted muscles in her arms and legs. Yes, I could easily see both wrapped around my body as I fucked her like a wild animal.
She turned as if sensing me, now only a few feet away. I had no business approaching her, nor should I attempt to get involved under any circumstances, but the draw was too strong. As I approached, her lower lip quivered. That neither surprised nor dissuaded me, instead offering a small sense of her vulnerability.
I was much taller than the precious dancer, standing above her by a solid five inches, but she held her head high, her eyes filled with the same intense ferocity I’d seen on stage.
“Is there something I can do for you, sir?” she dared to ask.
I was about to answer her when a presence caught my attention. My normal reaction would be to reach for my weapon but that wouldn’t bode well in a club full of people.
Before reacting, I lifted my gaze to the vivacious kitty who’d awakened my senses. “ Una gemma preziosa che scintilla alla luce. Una bella donna da amare. Un gattino selvatico che desidera essere addomesticato. Presto …”
The girl opened her eyes as if understanding what I’d said. She remained silent, her eyes continuing to search mine before backing away toward the bar.
Frustration crowded my spirit even as I began to recognize a voice near me.
“The world as we know it has stopped turning. Zach Blackwell, as I live and breathe.”
It took me a few seconds to complete the recognition. When I did, I was surprised at the blast from the past, a voice I hadn’t anticipated hearing perhaps for the rest of my life. I turned toward the sound and grinned, approaching with my arm outstretched for a handshake. “Mack Dannon. What in the hell are you doing here?”
I’d been friends with the guy years before, attending college and even rooming together for a year. When I’d reconnected with my brothers, deciding to move to Chicago, we’d lost touch within a few months. I’d had few friends in my younger days, both from living in such a hellish environment and preferring to hide in the shadows.
We shook hands, his smile the same as I remembered even though he had gray at his temples. Then again, so did I.
“Hey, a man’s gotta enjoy some time off. You know? I heard good things about the club and thought I’d check it out.” He laughed.
“What do you think?”
“A little wild for my tastes.”
I choked purposely. “Since when? You always enjoyed your kink with a little romance.”
He laughed again. “That was then. I’m older now. So are you, bud. But Jesus. You look good. Damn good. What’s your secret? Oh, yes, money.”
“Very funny. It’s called hard work. What brings you to town?” I sidled up to the bar, nodding toward the bartender. My tastes were well known. Within seconds, I had a fresh drink in front of me.
So much for the two-drink limit.
His features changed and he briefly looked away, grabbing his beer bottle and guzzling several gulps. “I should have called you when I arrived.”
“Okay. You’re right. So why didn’t you?”
“Just busy. But I moved to Chicago a few months ago.”
“Really?” We’d been close enough I’d considered him a brother long before I’d known any biological ones existed.
He nodded several times. “Hey, you gotta go where the business takes you.”
“And what business is that?”
Mack scratched his head as if embarrassed about what he did. “I’m with the Chicago PD now. Made detective.”
I almost choked on my drink for real this time. The man had been a basic delinquent when I’d known him. We’d been lucky not to land ourselves in jail or get kicked out of college. “You’re shitting me.”
“Nope. I found myself in law enforcement. No laughing.”
Yet I did laugh and so did he.
“Hold on here. The last run-in you had with law enforcement was the night you stole a police cruiser.”
“Wait. Wait. Wait. You broke into the cop’s car and technically stole the vehicle. I just drove.” The corners of Mack’s eyes crinkled, the action showing his age. We’d grown older and wiser.
To a point.
“Semantics,” I argued.
“At least my father had pull with the police chief.”
Only after the powerful man had required the two of us to spend a night in a small jail cell, our two companions named Bruno and Tiny. And Tiny had been a six foot six gargantuan of a man. It was the single night I’d allowed my buddy to understand I had two sides, the darker of the two appearing after Tiny made the mistake of touching me.
Given the look Mack was giving me, I sensed he remembered the fact he’d been required to remain quiet about the fact I’d broken the asshole’s arm in four places. My guess was that Tiny found it difficult to use his appendage for months after his misguided attack.
“Yeah, you’re right.” I scanned the club again. Any member of law enforcement presented a possible difficulty in my life.
“The good ole days,” he mused and lifted his glass. “Thankfully, the arrest was expunged from our records. The only reason I was accepted into the police academy.”
His father had more pull than God. At least that’s what I’d believed in my youth.
“I’m surprised you turned out all right. Good for you.” Not that I needed any member of law enforcement breathing down my neck, but I’d always managed to manipulate the man when needed. He’d been an unwilling and unaware accomplice to several disturbing acts during our time together in college. My disregard for members of law enforcement was because of very personal reasons that he wouldn’t be privy to in his lifetime.
Even if he’d learned early on that I favored the dark aspects of life.
“I know. I had a mind-altering experience right after college. A little positive reinforcement by the local police. I liked what I saw.”
“Positive reinforcement?”
“Yeah. A cop saved my then girlfriend from burning to death in our overturned vehicle. It was as if a light went off.” He was smiling, but I sensed a story behind the fake smile.
“You with the girl today?”
Mack threw back most of his drink. “Hell, no. I heard she married the cop. Go figure. Anyway, I did my time walking the streets, working up the ranks. Grueling shit, but I love it,” he admitted. “I know you’re doing well. I’ve kept up with your work. You were always the dreamer, designing shit on napkins, my notebook. Whatever you could get your hands on. I always knew you’d make something of yourself.”
“Yeah, well, it took a few years. But I can’t complain. Have you played any of the virtual reality games yet? You might enjoy Dark Nights,” I asked, more curious than I normally was.
His eyes twinkled as he looked at me. “The truth is I get enough blood and gore in my line of work that I don’t need a game to fill in the blanks.”
“What about hot sex?”
“Now, that’s why I’m here.” The darkness I’d seen in his eyes had disappeared.
“See?” I said as I raised my glass for a toast. “Same guy I remember from college.”
“I wish I could say that, but my muscles ache. But you have brothers. Almost like a found family. That’s crazy shit, man, but I know how much you wished you had some decent family members in your life.”
He’d heard enough of my whining over the years, my wishful thinking to live the Hallmark life. As if that could ever happen. I’d given myself over to the dark side at age ten. There was no coming back.
“Yes, crazy shit,” I admitted because that was the truth. Three foster brothers reconnecting, each one of us sharing violent pasts. What were the odds?
And what were the odds we’d been born killers?
That was the last bit of information I’d share with my buddy.
“Remember what I told you? Everything has a reason.” He’d always been way too philosophical.
“You were right. About that only!” I pointed my finger at him, my attention once again grabbed away from the moment. My beautiful kitten was being harassed. The man doing so was either a stupid son of bitch or believed himself to have balls the size of watermelons.
What pissed me off even more was that no one was coming to her defense. What the fuck was the bartender doing just standing there?
Mack obviously followed my line of sight, chuckling as soon as he noticed what I was paying attention to. “You were always a hero.”
“Bullshit. I was the villain.” Which was true. I found my grip around my glass had enough pressure I was certain I’d break the damn thing.
“You know her?”
“No, but I know the type of guy who’s hitting on her. He won’t stop unless he’s forced to do so. I’ll be right back.”
“Like I said. Always the hero.” Mack’s voice trailed behind me. I wasn’t certain if I had remorse or anger he continued to think of me that way.
He of all people should know what I was capable of.
The patron’s voice was louder, his words slurred by his inebriated condition. There was nothing worse than a drunk acting out on his sexual intentions. I knew the type well enough to realize he was just priming himself to take further action.
“Hey, just let me go,” Wild Kitty said the moment the jerk wrapped his hand around her wrist.
“Come on, sweetie. You’re not foolin’ nobody,” he snapped and yanked her close. “It’s best you come with me.”
“I don’t think so.” She reared back, fisting her small hand. The kitten had a darker side, but she had no understanding of the kind of man she was toying with.
I did.
I’d removed the testosterone of more than one man handling himself exactly the same way. After taking long strides, I wrapped one hand around the back of his neck, yanking him away. He was shorter and softer than I was, but came out swinging, fighting to break free from my grasp.
“Hey, fucker. You better let me go.”
I had him off his feet in a flash, driving him against the hard edge of the bar. The force I used knocked the wind from his lungs, but he wasn’t finished yet, able to throw a punch. I snapped my hand around his fist before it connected, dragging him around the end of the bar and into the shadows. When I slammed his back against the wall, his body sagged.
I shifted my hold, my fingers now wrapped tightly around his throat with my thumb digging into the skin under his chin. I knew every pressure point. “You don’t want to do that. In fact, I suggest you don’t. You’ll only hurt yourself.” My hiss was low and slow, the warning only provided once.
Even if he didn’t know that.
Yet.
He smiled, grinning like some stupid asshole who believed he was stronger than I was. The moment he got off a hard punch to my gut, I took a deep breath, slowly dropping my head to survey the activity. I didn’t feel pain. That had been beaten out of me years before.
However, I did feel rage, the kind of blinding white light settling over me that brought out the worst in mankind. At least within me. The fact I was in a public place meant I needed to curtail my actions.
That didn’t mean I couldn’t teach him a tough lesson. I fisted his balls with my other hand, squeezing and twisting as he cried out in pain. Then I leaned in close, allowing my words to filter into his ears only.
“You fucked with the wrong person. Now, you’re going to walk out those doors of your own accord and never return or you’ll never walk again. The choice is up to you.”
“Okay, guys. Break it up. Jerry, get the fuck out of here. You aren’t coming into my bar and accosting my waitstaff or anyone else for that matter.”
I knew Tom, the manager. He was a decent enough man, realizing he didn’t want me as an enemy under any circumstances.
Jerry was whining, tears in his eyes as he writhed from pain. “Fine. Fine. I’ll go. Just get this fucker off me.”
He was spitting and wheezing from my chokehold. I held onto both areas of his body for a few seconds longer.
Tom shook his head. “Are you okay?” he asked my wild kitty.
“Yes, but I was perfectly capable of handling the problem,” she insisted.
I turned my attention to her, inhaling her sweet scent.
Her perfume was magnificent, but the fragrance of her desire was even better.
“You can let him go,” she told me, her tone demanding. “We’re finished here.”
She flashed me a look that could turn a man into stone. The expression only increased my desire.
After counting to five, I did, shoving the asshole aside. Jerry stumbled and almost fell to the floor, crouching over and rubbing his aching balls. When he shot me a look, I knew the guy would eventually come back for more.
I’d be waiting. Then he’d receive the punishment he deserved.
“Get out, Jerry,” Tom told him.
Jerry was shaking and slobbering, but at least he didn’t attempt to go for round two.
He wouldn’t have survived. He stumbled toward the exit, but not before turning and giving Wild Kitty another hard, cold stare.
Tom laughed. “What a jerk. Didn’t know the dude had it in him. Thanks, Zach. I owe you one.”
The wild kitty folded her arms, her eyes flashing with fury, but there was more intensity than just her frustration. She was hungry, almost as much as I was.
“Have you experienced issues with him before?” I asked.
“No. He’s been a regular guy coming in about once every two weeks. I don’t know what got into him. Anyway, thanks again.”
“Sure.” When someone’s personality suddenly changed, there was usually a direct reason. Perhaps he’d had some bad liquor. Perhaps.
Tom told the bartender my drinks were on the house before walking away.
My kitten stared at me for a full ten seconds and I could almost read her mind. Her question? Who the fuck was I and why had I bothered to intervene?
Even though she stood a good two feet away, the tether I’d felt remained. The fact I was fully aroused was pleasantly surprising.
I stood where I was, aware Mack had joined me. “Same Zachariah, only this time, you have the power to rule the world.”
Mack was right. I could.
Perhaps I would.
But first, I’d conquer the beautiful, voluptuous kitten and make her mine.