Page 15 of The Vampire Kingpin (The Vampire Syndicate #7)

Lark

S pider stalked into the lair, his lean, athletic form in a black T-shirt and Army-green tactical pants, and zeroed in on me.

I straightened and ran a hand down my hair, forgetting what I’d been about to say to Zayne, who was lounging on the couch beside me.

Zayne followed my gaze. “He always knows exactly where you are, doesn’t he?”

“You think?”

“You haven’t noticed?”

I shrugged, my gaze glued to his as he headed in my direction, jaw set, oblivious to the people edging out of his way.

Until Bliss stopped him. Then he set down the duffel bag in his hand so he could put an arm around her, giving her his entire focus until she was done.

He squeezed her shoulders and slipped her some cash, and I felt a little piece of my heart break off and fall at his feet.

The hard-ass kingpin had a soft spot for Bliss, the weakest member of his crew other than DeeDee. I respected the hell out of him for that.

But damn, he was making it hard for me to keep my distance.

Bliss gave him a shy hug back, then took off, and Spider continued to me. He had that set look about him again, like he was pissed off about something.

“This is for you.” He dropped the duffel bag at my feet like a big cat showing off its prey.

I blinked up at him, feeling kinda raw. “For me?”

“Yeah. Open it.”

“Ooh,” Zayne murmured. “A surprise.”

Spider’s gaze flicked to her. “Don’t you have somewhere to be?”

“And miss the show?” she returned. “Besides, this is my night off.”

I froze, still half-expecting Spider to backhand a low-ranking soldier like Zayne for mouthing off to him, especially when he was already angry about something.

But he just jerked his chin at me. “Open it, already.”

Everyone in the Cavern had turned to watch. I pulled the bag closer.

Had he ? —?

I unzipped the bag. The first thing I saw was my backpack, the one I’d picked up at a thrift shop on my way out of Vegas, with my leather jacket beneath it.

He had.

My gaze snapped to Spider. “You got my things?”

“Figured you’d want your own clothes and shit. So you don’t have to go back to Grimclaw for anything. And just so you know, I told him he’s not your alpha anymore—I am.” He crossed his arms over his chest, daring me to object.

I drew a breath, aware of everyone listening to our exchange. It was a high-handed, very alpha thing to do, but that was Spider. I should point out that he had no right to do that, but my relief was too strong. I wouldn’t have to see Grim again. Even better, I’d never have to see Troll again.

“Thank you,” I said gratefully.

Spider shrugged a shoulder and seemed to settle, the aggression easing. “No problem.”

I set the backpack aside and pulled out the leather jacket. Zayne ran a hand over the buttery soft leather. “Niiiice. What else d’you have in there?”

I barely heard her, my eyes locked on the Rabanne dress shimmering up at me. Even on Net-a-Porter, the Rabanne had cost more than the rest of my clothes combined. Mom had bought it when we hit Las Vegas. It was the last thing she ever got me.

My vision blurred. I smashed my lips together, fighting back tears.

I put the leather jacket on the couch and carefully lifted out the sleeveless gold dress.

“Damn,” said Zayne. “That’s fire. Bet you look hot in it, too.”

I held it to my chest and mouthed another heartfelt “Thank you,” at Spider, who gave me a crooked smile in return.

I placed the dress on my lap and rifled through the rest of the bag. It was all there. He’d even brought my shoes.

Spider unfolded his arms. “That’s everything, right? Unless you had something inside Grimclaw’s lair?”

“No. This is it.”

Zayne ran a hand over her short red hair. “You weren’t inside Grimclaw’s lair? Aren’t you the dude’s cousin?”

“It’s complicated,” I told her.

His mouth compressed. That’s when it hit me that he’d seen my make-shift den, knew that I’d been sleeping outside Grimclaw’s lair. Was that what had pissed him off? And he wasn’t just angry. That vertical crease between his brows told me he had questions. Questions I didn’t want to answer.

“You should take her clubbing,” Zayne told Spider. “In that dress.”

His eyes warmed. “I should.”

I stiffened in alarm. “No! I mean, that’s okay. Really.”

The last time Jared saw me, I’d been wearing the gold dress.

I didn’t dare appear in it again, even this far from Darkman territory.

And I definitely didn’t want to draw attention by going clubbing with the notorious Spider, the mysterious New York Underworld kingpin.

Show up on his arm, and everyone would wonder who I was.

Before I knew it, we’d be on someone’s Instagram.

Zayne and Spider turned identical frowns on me.

“Why not?” he asked.

I fingered the Rabanne’s silky gold material and muttered, “I’m not much of a dancer.”

That was a lie. I loved dressing up and going out to nightclubs. It was one of the best things about my old life, playing the princess—that is, a high-ranking vampire syndicate member—while my parents and I scoped out the best way to swipe whatever jewels or art we were after.

“Really,” Spider said flatly. “You told me your favorite tunes were anything you can dance to.”

Gods, I hated lying to him even about something this small. But I was committed now.

“I did, but—” I screwed up my nose. “No rhythm.”

Zayne’s brows climbed. “But the other night, when Jacko put on ‘In Da Club,’ you were shaking it with the rest of us.”

I blew out a breath. “Can we just drop it? I don’t wanna go, okay?”

“Sure,” she said, although I could tell she didn’t understand.

I rolled up the dress, avoiding both her and Spider’s eyes.

Maybe it was because I’d already been feeling raw and a little vulnerable, but this bomb of warmth had detonated in my belly and I had no clue how to handle it.

Spider really did want me in his lair. This—getting my clothes—was proof.

He wanted to demonstrate that I didn’t have to go back to Grimclaw for anything.

And here I was lying to him again. Even if it wasn’t a big deal—I mean who cared whether I could dance?—it made me feel dirty.

“I’ll just go put these things away.” I reached for the duffel bag but Spider got to it first.

“I’ll bring it.”

“Thanks.” I scooped up the rest, still avoiding his eyes, and hurried toward our bedroom.

No, Lark. Not our bedroom. His bedroom.

As soon as the door shut behind us, Spider said, “Is everything cool? You wanted your things, right?”

“Of course, I did. Just let me…” Even with this emotion-bomb tearing up my insides, I couldn’t thank Spider properly until the Rabanne was safely on a hanger in his closet.

I slid the dress onto a hanger and hung it next to one of Spider’s silk shirts, my mind flashing back to the last time I’d worn it, and how much I missed Mom and Dad.

Because I did. Every single day.

Even after what they’d done to me, I missed them.

But laid on top of that was this…wanting.

I wanted to go out clubbing—on Spider’s arm. Wanted the whole world to know we were a couple. Just…wanted.

Grimclaw had only begrudgingly given me sanctuary. If he’d known how dangerous it was to hide me, he would’ve tossed me out on my ass.

Spider wouldn’t do that.

Spider was the kind of guy who’d protect his own, and for some reason, he’d decided I was his. If I told him the truth, he’d try to help me. Starting with going after that prick Jared.

And I couldn’t let that happen. Jared and his primus father were too powerful. They’d stomp Spider and Zayne and Monster and the rest into the concrete with their fancy Italian-leather boots—and laugh while doing it.

As alpha, Spider couldn’t choose me—and I couldn’t let him. He had his lair to protect.

I hung the leather jacket on a peg, but before I could return to the bedroom, Spider spoke from behind me, his voice deep and a little rough. “Lark?”

A hot shiver went over my skin. “What?” I asked without turning around.

His hands closed on my shoulders. “Would you wear that dress for me?” he asked against the side of my neck.

“Tonight?”

“No. I mean out. To the Midnight Masquerade.”

Oh, gods. He was gutting me here.

The Kral’s Midnight Masquerade was a big freaking deal in the vampire world. The Kral Syndicate—the syndicate who ruled most of the East Coast from New York on south—didn’t let just anyone come, either.

“You have an invite?” I stalled.

“Mm-hm.” He nuzzled my ear. “You know the Kral brothers?”

“Yeah. I mean, I haven’t met them, but I know of them.” The Dark Angels, as the three brothers were known, were famous in both the human and vampire worlds. The fact that all three were serious eye-candy didn’t hurt.

“The middle brother is a friend of mine—Zaq.”

“What?” I craned my neck to look at him. “You serious?”

“I did him a favor a couple of years back, and now he has his dad paying me to police the Underworld.” Spider smirked. “Easiest money I ever made.”

“That must’ve been some favor.”

“It was. Saved the dude’s ass—he would’ve been pushing up daisies without my help, and he made sure Karoly knew it. Plus, Zaq hires us as backup security when he needs a couple of extra men.”

I blinked. Spider and Zaq must be really, really good friends because I’d never heard of a syndicate prince hiring Underworld people as security.

“Zaq’s okay for a rich mofo,” Spider added. “You’d like him and his mate. She’s some long-lost syndicate princess, but she didn’t grow up rich like he did. Woman’s a certified badass.”

His affection for Zaq and his mate came through in his voice. I found myself wanting to go to the Midnight Masquerade just to see Spider in that world. I’d wager he was pretty badass himself, as in I’m the coolest dude here and I don’t even have to try .

“So?” He skated his lips down the side of my neck. “Wanna come to the Masquerade with me? And don’t give me that you-don’t-dance crap.” He slapped my ass. “I told you what happens if you lie to me.”

“Sorry.” I pouted, but underneath, I didn’t mind that he’d called me on the untruth.

“So you’ll come?”

“I—”

Red flags were waving like a parade of danger signs. For one thing, I needed to pull back from Spider, pull back from this wanting. And two, there was my Jared Darkman problem.

Spider turned me around. Now I had to meet his eyes, the deep, chocolatey brown sucking me in.

“What?” he asked. “Tell me.”

“I’m sorry, but—” My gaze slid from his. “I just can’t, okay?”