Page 38 of Sergi (Of Blood & Dreams #7)

Of Blood and Dreams - Book 8

(This may or may not be the first chapter. Either way—Enjoy!)

I stood on the pier and watched the boat steer toward the south dock of Aetos Island. The calm waters of the Aegean Sea sparkled blue in the late afternoon sun. Did the Family not use the north side dock anymore? The satellite pictures hadn’t shown any indication of there being more than one pier on the island, which was suspicious in itself. It was easy enough to dismantle a dock and pretend it never existed. Depending on when Gaius had it removed, centuries would have erased the remaining evidence hidden deep in the bay waters.

But it wasn’t as easy to erase tunnels. Perhaps block the entrance with rubble from an explosion or cover it with the native bushes. But tunnels, once dug, wouldn’t completely disappear. No ancient vampire would remove an escape route unless they’d completely lost their mind. And based on my recent visit with Gaius, he was far from senile.

“Miss. Will you be much longer?”

I ignored the cab driver as I considered my next move. The request for a meeting with the House leader had been denied. It wasn’t completely unexpected. I hadn’t presented myself as cadre to House Trelane. Still, while Gaius might not be getting his emails, he wouldn’t turn me away from his home if he was in residence.

The cab driver didn’t say anything more, but the constant shuffling of his feet over the gritty pier grated on my last nerve. With Cressa’s constant admonishments floating around in my head, I turned and gave the man my most gracious smile, remembering to keep my fangs in check.

“Sorry. I’m ready to go.” The fact that Cressa was in my head at all was annoying, and I did my best to cast her aside as I marched after the driver. I silently cursed as I squeezed into the back seat, my long legs forced to bend so tightly that the persistent pain in my right hip flared to life. Now, the reason why the dreamwalker had been in my head all morning made sense. I hadn’t run through my Tai Chi program. If I had, there wouldn’t have been a pain in my hip, regardless of being twisted up like a pretzel.

“Back to the hotel?” the driver asked.

“Yes.” But he’d only driven a couple blocks when I asked, “Is the Emperor’s Lair still open? It’s been some time since I’ve been here.”

The driver glanced at me through the rearview mirror with a concerned expression before making a quick sign of the cross. Well, at least he’d heard of the place.

He nodded his head. “I know it, but you don’t want to go there.”

“Do I need to call another cab?”

“No. No. It’s just not safe. Bad neighborhood.”

He was likely more concerned for his own safety than mine, but perhaps I should have more faith in humanity. I managed to hold back my snicker.

“I can take care of myself. If you don’t want to take me all the way, get me as close as you can. I’ll walk from there.”

He didn’t say another word, and I was surprised when the cab pulled down the dark alley that ended in a large circular driveway at the club’s entrance. I glanced up at the building as the cab circled toward the front. It was still early, another couple hours until sunset, but the place was as foreboding in the daylight as it was at night.

The old castle, completed in the 15th century, just before the Ottoman Empire stormed Constantinople, appeared just as cold and dank as anything built during the Dark Ages. It wasn’t easy to make a fortress look pleasing, and the vampire who owned this building, or perhaps his legacy now, wouldn’t want it any other way. No human in their right mind would feel encouraged to knock on the front door.

When the cab stopped, I reached over the seat and handed the driver double the fare. “If you simply drive away once I’m out, you’ll be fine. No harm will come to you.”

I exited the cab but stopped to get a feel for the surroundings and gave a quick look over my shoulder to see if anyone had followed them. The cab hadn’t sped away but maintained a respectable speed. He was braver than I’d given him credit. Sometimes, humanity surprised me.

I strode toward the doorway where two immense, frowning vampires stood as sentinels—and muscle. My sea blue caftan floated behind me, and my boots made a staccato, clicking sound on the flagstone walkway. When I reached the door, I flashed a full set of fangs and sneered.

The vampire on the right immediately opened the door. I didn’t bother thanking him as I marched past. Vampire propriety reigned king in a vampire club. No one thanked the help.

The darkly imposing castle on the outside transformed into a brightly lit chateau on the inside. If I blinked and woke here, I might believe I was in a casino in Monte Carlo or Macau. I was greeted by white marble floors, alabaster walls, and high ceilings with sparkling crystal chandeliers finished off with just the right touch of burgundy and gold trimming. And I was only in the foyer. The rest of the rooms in the castle would be similar. At least on the first two floors. The other three floors belonged exclusively to the Family residents and were well-guarded.

The first two floors were open to club customers, with specific areas available only to VIP members. The rooms were divided to accommodate various preferences: gambling, private meetings, a social club with music and dancing, intimate settings to satisfy anyone’s kink, and one darkly decorated to mirror an old English pub.

It was the pub that drew my attention. The highly intellectual, the philosophers who debated over their chess boards, and ancients who gathered to share old battle stories were the typical guests who found their way to this room. It was also the best place to make contacts for the more dangerous games. At least it used to be.

I stopped just past the entrance to survey the area but found very little had changed. The clientele appeared to be what I’d expected to see. The darker corners hid the individuals occupying them, but that was by design. With luck, I’d be in one of those booths before the night was over.

I turned toward the bar that ran along the far wall, ending at a hallway that led to the back offices. It was still early for most vampires, especially here in the old country, and several stools were open. I settled onto one a third of the way down and between two empty seats.

I tapped my fingers on the bar and perused the customers more slowly through the long mirror that hung behind the bar. Two vampires looked familiar though I couldn’t recall their names. Perhaps I never knew them. But they sat at the same table, hunched over their chessboard, as they debated vampire politics.

They might be worth a quick chat if I didn’t find what I was looking for. If they kept up with local politics, they might provide a clue as to why Gaius was ignoring me.

“What’s your poison?”

The deep, sultry female voice instantly stopped my musings. I slowly turned toward the speaker, not ready for who I expected to find standing behind the bar. In a flash, memories from centuries ago hit me like a silver bullet had a couple of months ago.

“Are you still using that old line? It’s nothing more than a cliché.”

The blonde leaned over, the tip of her fangs showing, and in a low tone said, “Not if I’m the one who started it.”

We stared at each other for several seconds before the blonde fell back and chuckled. “God damn, , but it’s good to see you.” She grabbed a Boston shaker and poured alcohol into it, followed by ice.

“I could say the same of you, Edie. I would never believe you’d still be working behind a bar.” When Edie only stared with a wicked grin, I shook my head. “Not Gianni.” When the blonde nodded, I added, “After all this time?”

“You know the saying. The heart wants what the heart wants. And before you say anything, he’s not the playboy he used to be. We both have our faults—and kinks.” She winked and shook the container. “But we’re as solid as the day he asked me to be his consort. Of course, we made it more official two decades ago.” She poured the clear liquid into a martini glass, added a spear of olives, and placed it in front of me.

“I had no idea. Remaining in contact with friends isn’t my specialty.” I stared down at the drink before picking it up, anticipation swirling as I took a sip. I closed my eyes. My expectations had been perfectly met. I opened them to catch hers. “No one makes a dirty vodka martini like you.”

“It’s not your fault. You know vampires don’t worry about personal relationships. Not unless there’s a business transaction to be had. We live such long lives that sooner or later, we eventually end up in each other’s path.” She wiped down the bar and poured a dark beer from a tap, pushing it in front of a customer three seats to my left. “I hear you’re in line for your own House.”

Her words shocked me. “I didn’t think it was common knowledge.”

Edie laughed, but when she leaned over the bar again, her tone became serious. “You know Gaius has kept track of you through the centuries. Not stalking, or worried you might fall and stub your toe, but because he knew you’d be someone great. You’re one of us. The lower born. The vampires who had no protection until a House needed servants or an army.” She grabbed an empty glass from another vampire who was standing to leave. “Have a good evening, Simon.” The male waved a hand as he turned away, but then he stopped and gave her a wink before putting his hat on and shuffling to the door. “I just adore that old male. Now, what was I saying?” She considered it for a second then continued, “I don’t miss those old days. And here you are, soon to be a leader with your own House. That makes us all proud.” When she noticed my discomfort, she added with a wink, “But not everyone is lucky enough to have their own Gianni.”

I chuckled but was still uncomfortable until I remembered why I was there. Devon’s words of strength and honor before I left Baywood came tumbling back, and I straightened in my chair, pushing Edie’s words of praise away and taking the opening she’d given me.

“You said Gaius has been watching me?”

Her grin wouldn’t go away, and I couldn’t blame her. She’d always been a vivacious vampire. We weren’t all morose and stubborn. “He was aware of your presence the last time you were here. How long has it been?”

“The Siege of Kastania in the late eighteenth century, if memory serves.” That had been such a long time ago, yet, at the same time, only a blip for the long-lived. The haunting memories had hit hard after that trip, and Greece had been the last place I’d wanted to think about. I ignored the need to apologize for not reaching out. Communication hadn’t been the most reliable back then. When Cressa’s voice reached out to admonish me for the lame excuse, I pushed it aside. “If Gaius had known I was here, why didn’t he reach out to me?”

“Why didn’t you reach out to him?” She tilted her head. “Perhaps he wasn’t sure you’d be receptive.”

“He hadn’t deserved it.” Why had I made that past tense? Because he’d been a different vampire when I’d met him in San Francisco. And we’d parted on good terms. Hadn’t we? If so, then why the ghosting?

“I was denied entrance to the island.”

She frowned. “That doesn’t make sense.” She clicked her long, midnight-blue polished nails on the bar. “Though…Gianni mentioned something seemed off on the island.”

“Like what?”

“He wasn’t sure. It was little things he’d overheard. Some of the rumors were about business problems, but others claimed someone in the Family had the blood disease.”

My chest clenched, and my stomach flip-flopped at the thought Gaius had contracted the blood disease.

“Nothing substantiated, of course. But something’s going on that no one wants to talk about.”

I glanced around and, assured no one was paying any attention to us, leaned in. “I’m only in town for a couple of days. I need someone good at infiltration. Know anyone like that?”

Her eyes glowed the soft blue of her beast for an instant before she grinned. “I know several. In fact, there’s one in the back room as we speak.”

The back room was for high-stake gamblers. Everything was legal within the club, but the gambling rooms were mostly for amateurs who didn’t mind losing a few hundred dollars in an evening. The antes in the various back rooms started at ten grand. This would be a serious contact.

“Are they any good?”

“He thinks so. And I mean, he thinks he’s good at everything. If you catch my drift.”

“Great.” The last thing I needed was a male who thought too highly of himself.

“But he truly is the best at his job. Take a seat at one of the open booths, and I’ll have him come out as soon as he finishes his game.”

“Send a martini over when you have a minute.”

Thirty minutes and two martinis later, a tall male with curly dark hair, skin a couple shades lighter than mine, and filling out a dark-gray suit in all the right places plopped into the half-circle booth. He scooted close to me. “, is it?”

I nodded.

“I’m Marco. Edie said I might be of assistance.” He gave me a long, cool stare, and though I caught a flash of lust in his gaze, it disappeared quickly. He was a handsome vampire, but it was easy to tell he was cocky as hell. More than I wanted to deal with, even for one night.

“I need a thief. Preferably one who has expertise getting into difficult places.”

He waved for a server, and the human brought him two shot glasses and a bottle of top-shelf tequila. The server filled both glasses and bowed before leaving them to their privacy.

I sighed. I would have to show fortitude in keeping up with him. It wasn’t like the alcohol would impair either of us. It was more a show of respect. Though he’d have to prove his worthiness with more than a high-priced bottle of liquor.

I downed the shot and set the glass on the table. “Before we get much farther, I need to know you have what it takes to fulfill a one-time drop-off to a specific location protected by deadly security.”

Marco swallowed his shot and refilled both glasses. “There’s nothing we can’t do for the right price.” When I held my stare, he tossed back the second shot and continued. “We use the most current technology—computers, transportation, surveillance systems, drones, explosives, weapons, and spyware. If you’re more interested in espionage, our hackers are the best in their field. We also have two professionally trained spies on our payroll.”

He talked a good game, but anyone could run down a list and claim they had the best. Though his list had covered a broad range of all the right tools. I drained the second shot and gave him a tight smile that included the tips of my fangs.

“Give me the details on two of your most difficult infiltrations. Without names, locations, or time periods, of course.”

His brows shot up. When I didn’t blink, his gaze narrowed. I almost laughed. Did he think I was with the Eliminators, or perhaps the Sentinels, attempting to lure him into confessing deep, dark secrets?

I leaned close and placed a hand near his. “I’m not playing games. I have one mission I need to complete within the next couple of days, and I don’t have time to screw around finding the services I require. Edie says there are several players who could help me with my problem. If you’re not serious, I’ll move on.”

I held his stare, begging him to make some move that would tell me if I should stay or ask Edie for other contacts. He glanced at the room of clients and then back to me, scooting closer until our legs almost touched.

He told me of two jobs his team had recently run, and I listened intently, stopping him when I had a question about a certain detail. I didn’t catch any fabrications. It was clear, whether he was boasting or not, his words weren’t one of an amateur. In fact, if he proved to have the skilled resources and tech he promised, Devon might be interested in his services, depending on how far their war with Venizi went.

“If you like what you hear but are unforgiving on the time frame, I’ll require double our normal fee.”

I continued my stare. “If you can deliver what you promise, then not a problem. Fifty percent once I’ve met your team and reviewed your plan. The final fifty at time of drop-off. Each payment will be transferred to the bank of your choosing.”

“The fee is two hundred, not including any special equipment necessary to complete the job.”

Two hundred thousand was a reasonable sum, considering how quickly I needed to complete the mission.

“I need the job completed no later than the morning of the day after tomorrow.”

If he expected her to squabble about the amount, he didn’t show it. “What’s the mission?”

“I need you to drop me off, sight unseen, on Aetos Island.”

His brows shot up, and then he grinned with sharp fangs. “Now, I remember where I heard the name .”