Page 35 of Taste of Blood

And hopefully get out of here.

After we collect our winnings, Miro asks if I want to stay for the next fight.

“I think I’ve seen enough,” I tell him. If he doesn’t want to leave, I’m sure I can get a cab home. When I mention this, he grins and slaps me on the back.

“Cabs don’t come down here this time of night. Come on, I won’t make you stay if you don’t want to. What’s say we hit the den?”

Grateful to be getting out of here, I’ll agree to almost anything, though once I’m in the car I reconsider what I just signed up for. Hopefully he means the White Guild den, because I’m not up to any more walks on the wild side tonight.

Turns out, Miro is as much of a blood snob as me. He pulls up in front of Lupercalia and hops out, handing his keys to the valet. There was a time when I used to come here several times a week, before I started ordering my donors in.

The White Guild owns the whole building, which is home to an exclusive nightclub on the ground floor. Humans are allowed in the club only, and the mix is mostly half and half on any given night.

The blood den occupies the second and third floors, while the upper floors are living quarters for the staff and donors. A member key card is needed to access the elevator to the upper floors.

The room we emerge into is dark and moody, with several well-placed palms and curtains positioned to obscure booths where feeding is taking place. There are more private alcoves in the back, as well as rooms for those who want to indulge in sex with their feeding on the next floor.

I’m not interested in that tonight, but Miro is, which I learn when the director, Esmerelda, approaches us with her iPad.

“Good evening, gentlemen. What will it be tonight?”

“A girl and a room,” Miro replies, quirking a brow at me. When I shake my head, he tsks. “Come on, Asher, live a little. Surely the fight got your blood going.”

I flash him an indulgent smile. “You go ahead.”

Esmerelda scrolls through her tablet then turns to Miro. “Room ten. Angelique will meet you there.”

He looks at me again. “Sure you won’t indulge?”

“I’ll be fine. I’ll meet you downstairs at the bar.”

He heads for the spiral staircase at the back of the room while Esmeralda turns her attention to me. “I have just the man for you, Asher. He’s fairly new, but quickly becoming a favorite. You want a booth or an alcove?”

“A booth is fine. I’m not interested in lingering.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. We rarely see you around here anymore, though Lazlo tells me you keep him busy.”

“He’s very good at anticipating my needs.”

“He is our best broker.” She motions for one of the skimpily-clad runners. “Bring Apollo to booth five.”

I make short work of feeding and within twenty minutes I’m sitting at the bar in the club downstairs with a McCallan in front of me, sated and a little less confused. It’s obvious violence isn’t my thing unless it involves Cord. Apparently everything in my life comes back to him, which means I have to find a way to get him back.

15: Cord

DANTE’S MEN CHAIN the two rogues up on the wall of the basement, then leave and lock the door. A few hours alone in the dark should hopefully loosen their tongues.

I find my way up to Dante’s office and take a seat on the couch. I know he’s going to want details, and right now I’m still processing how to go about presenting my theory to him.

He watches me for a minute, puffing on his cigar, before asking, “Are these the guys?”

“No, but I found them in the same place. They were making a move toward a kitchen worker.”

“What brought them to your attention?”

Ah yes, there’s the question I’ve been dreading. “Like I said, one of the workers brought it up.”

“And why would he share this information with you?”