Page 9 of The Vampire’s Hunter (Rogue Brotherhood #2)

9

“ T he fate of our entire organization depends on this meeting. Do not fuck this up.”

“I believe we heard you the first several times you said it, Kharis. Must it bear repeating once more?” Corbin rolled his eyes again.

“He’s concerned for you, that’s all,” Dani said, glancing down at her nails as if to examine their polish. They were sitting in Corbin’s living room, waiting on Quinn’s arrival.

Kharis scoffed. “You credit me with far too much emotion, human.”

“Do I?” Dani blinked, turning innocent-doe eyes toward Kharis. “Or are you simply not brave enough to admit to it?”

Kharis growled, looking toward Corbin. “Are you certain you want to keep her?” he hissed. “She seems to have a sharp mouth.”

“I rather like her mouth,” Corbin said, waving a hand in dismissal as he beckoned Dani onto his lap. “And if you weren’t too busy sulking over the fact that she sees right through you, I think you would too.”

“Fools.” Kharis scowled. “The both of you. This isn’t going to work.”

Dani batted her eyes at him. “Not with that attitude it won’t.”

A knock sounded at the door then, drawing all their attention.

A moment later, Quinn strode in, his already frowning face pulling into a scowl the moment he spotted Dani in Corbin’s lap. “I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised,” he said, his Stetson barely hiding his derisive sneer. It was the closest he’d ever come to looking as if he were disgusted with her, but Dani couldn’t bring herself to care anymore.

She was done being the plaything of powerful men.

Corbin included.

And when this business was through, she’d claim her own destiny.

Even if she had to walk away and never come back.

She’d decided upon it the moment Corbin had said he wouldn’t turn her.

That he wouldn’t offer her the kind of power that had been gifted to him.

Dani wasn’t perfect. She had little illusion of that. She was often mild and meek and too willing to let others take control, to make decisions for her, because she’d spent the whole of her life like that, trapped between the wills of powerful men. First her brother, countless boyfriends, and then Cillian—and now, Corbin—he may have wanted her, but he too refused to share his power with her, to make her immortal, to finally give her the means to protect herself, though she’d been robbed of the instinct from the start of her early years.

And how exactly was that her fault?

Her life, her choices were a result of a trauma response, plain and simple.

And now, she had the chance to truly stand up for herself for the first time in years.

To start anew. To be reborn.

She wouldn’t let anyone take it away from her.

Not even Corbin. Even if it meant she had to double cross him, as he had her.

Revenge was a cyclical thing, or so she was discovering.

“Thank you for joining us, Quinn,” she said, her voice dripping with venom, “since it was your idea that I return to this world in the first place.”

If her brother was going to look down his nose at her and her choices, she planned to remind him of the role he’d played in getting her here at every opportunity she got.

At that, Quinn seemed to hesitate a little, tipping his Stetson as if he were giving in. “You’ve made your point, Dani,” he drawled. “Now explain to me what I’m doing here.”

“We need your help,” she said, using his own words against him. “The Cosa della notte syndicate that is.”

Beside her, Kharis sputtered on his drink. If Corbin’s underboss had expected he knew how this meeting would go, this clearly wasn’t it.

Corbin, on the other hand, didn’t so much as flinch.

“I’m listening,” Quinn said, urging her to go on.

Dani held her head high, going in for the kill. “We need the Execution Underground’s resources, if you expect us to hand over Lucien, that is.”

“Us?” Quinn echoed.

“Yes, us ,” Dani said, feeling more than seeing the prideful smirk that undoubtedly pulled at Corbin’s lips. “That’s how exchanges work, you see. They go both ways. You get what you want and so do we.”

Quinn scowled. “And what exactly is it you want?”

“Immunity,” she said, trying and failing to ignore the way Corbin’s cock had grown stiff against her bottom, his desire for her seeming to increase with every word. “For the next ten years or more, you leave the syndicate alone.”

Quinn laughed then, placing his hands on his hips as he shook his head. “And why the hell would we make a deal like that?”

“Because we’re not just going to give you Lucien,” she said, preparing to deliver the final blow. “We’ll give you every other boss in the syndicate, so long as you leave Corbin in charge.”

“I don’t like this. I don’t like this one bit.”

“No one ever asked for your approval, Kharis, only for your cooperation.”

Corbin stepped inside the empty church, his steps falling heavy on the cathedral’s marble flooring. The darkened rafters of the vaulted ceiling loomed over them, the backlit lights of the city illuminating the colors of the several stained-glass windows within view.

It wasn’t as if vampires couldn’t stand upon consecrated ground, but somehow, since his own death, Corbin had always found the atmosphere of churches and religion to be quite eerie.

“Cooperation?” To his left, Kharis scoffed. “ You of all vampires truly feel as if you’re in a place to demand that?”

“He has a point,” Dani answered, squeezing where she held his hand a little.

Corbin rolled his eyes at Kharis in dismissal. “What’s that phrase you Americans say?” Corbin asked, glancing toward her. “Go big or go home?”

“In this case, ‘going big’ means risking our bloody necks,” Kharis hissed, his voice echoing through the candlelit dark.

Corbin sighed for what felt like the thousandth time this evening. “You’ve already lived several hundred years, Kharis. If tonight is truly the end, you hardly have place to complain.”

Kharis muttered something fowl under his breath, striding further into the church as he shook his head, murmuring something or other about the pitfalls of loyalty, until Corbin and Dani were left standing there alone, holding hands in the church’s main aisle.

Corbin stared up at the stained-glass window just below the altar ceiling overhead.

“Were you Catholic?” Dani asked softly, breaking the silence between them. “Before you were turned, that is?”

Corbin took a moment to consider, before he answered, “Yes. Or something like it.” He looked toward her.

In the flickering glow of the church candles, she was so beautiful it almost pained him.

Perfect and flawed. A match for him in every way.

“And you?” he asked.

Dani lifted a brow.

“Were you Catholic before, before you learned about our world I mean?” he elaborated.

Dani smiled then, glancing up at the altar’s wooden crucifix, before glancing down to where she nervously shuffled her feet. A poor attempt to hide the blush in her cheeks. “Considering my reputation, do you even have to ask, Corbin?”

Corbin blinked, surprised and more than a little taken aback, before an unexpected bark of laughter tore from his throat. “Is that a schoolgirl joke?”

Dani didn’t respond, simply smiled coyly, shrugging her slender shoulders a little, before leaving him to take her seat in the front row pew.

That was what he loved about her most, that she was constantly surprising him.

Making him feel. Making him remember the man he was.

Or had once been long ago.

Every time he thought he’d learned Dani’s truth, there was one layer, one other part of her that he had not seen. One part of him that she had not touched, hadn’t awoken what had been missing. What endless gifts might he unlock? What pleasures if they had an eternity?

But there was no eternity for her, and there never would be.

No, he may have been too selfish to have let her go, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t encourage her to live her life, and live it well, before she grew old and passed peacefully in her sleep. How could what he offered her be better?

Even if this was what she chose. Or wanted to choose for herself. This undead existence he was living. He’d love her for eternity, that much was true, but eternity to a human….

She didn’t know understand the true meaning.

How could he ask that of her and more?

Corbin lingered where he stood for a long time, torn between joining her and Kharis, or allowing himself this space, this moment to grieve. He hadn’t been inside a church in several centuries, since not long after Rosalind had died.

He’d need to tell Dani about her soon, considering the promises he’d made.

“You know what I still don’t understand,” Kharis finally said, twisting from where he sat in one of the front pews, “how did Lucien know to glamour that poor woman?”

“Someone tipped him off in advance, clearly.” Dani shook her head in disappointment.

Corbin had known it, too

He had suspected the botched attempt on Lucien’s life was entirely his fault.

“But who?” Dani asked, just as the old wooden door to the church opened and closed, a sharp click of high heels following in its wake.

“Cassandra,” Corbin answered, uttering her name by way of greeting as the siren entered the room.

Cassandra was breathtaking, of course. All sirens were great beauties. With flowing hair and bright eyes and curves that could stretch for days. But all Corbin saw now when he looked at her was disloyalty, hatred, greed. Greed that he would not gift her his heart, although he’d tried thoroughly.

Unfortunately, it’d already been claimed by another.

Though he hadn’t yet realized.

His gaze fell to Dani, the way her eyes went wide and how the point of her chin quivered briefly as she took in Cassandra’s beauty. But there was no comparison between them. Cassandra was perfect, unflawed, as angelic as she was deadly, and Dani, well, her flaws only enhanced her beauty, only made her truer, more real, and lovely.

Crafted by the hand of God in every way.

He looked toward Cassandra once more. He’d known she’d be sour that he’d chosen to end things between them, but he hadn’t exactly expected for her to sell him out either.

Clearly, Corbin had a blind spot when it came to the women in his life.

Kharis had been telling him as much for centuries.

“Kharis,” Cassandra said, pointedly greeting his friend first, before finally turning her glowing violet eyes toward him. “Corbin,” she said, almost affectionately, her gaze raking over him, “You look like shit.” She strode past him then, no longer bothering with false pretense.

And that was Cassandra essentially.

A fierce beauty, and an even fiercer bitch.

Hands still in his pockets, Corbin twisted, his gaze following her as she went. He released an exasperated sigh. “Hello to you, too, Cassandra.”

Cassandra strode right down the aisle, hips swaying as if she were practically cat-walking, before she stopped a few rows a way from Dani, tilting her head curiously. “So, you’re the new mistress?”

“New?” Dani blinked, quickly glancing between them. “I…wasn’t aware anyone else had filled the position.”

Cassandra shrugged. “Don’t be too precious about it.” She waved a manicured hand in dismissal, plopping down in the nearest pew seat, before adjusting the strap on one of her Jimmy Choos. “He’ll get rid of you too. Just give it time. He does it with all of us.”

“Cassandra,” Corbin growled in warning.

“What?” Cassandra asked, glaring at him expectantly. “It’s true. He’s still hung up on some hum—” The siren paused for a moment, inhaling as if she were a bloodhound who’d just caught a sudden, unexplained scent on the wind. Slowly, she twisted back toward Dani then, eyes filled with hatred anew. “Oh, it’s you.” She shot a harsh glare toward Corbin. “Finally got around to fucking her, did you? Tell me, did she let you feed from her thigh while she blew you in sixty-nine?” Her eyes shot to Dani. “He likes that a lot.”

“ Enough , Cassandra,” Corbin snarled.

“Or what?” she challenged. “You’ll put out a hit on me, too?” She arched one sculpted brow, before making a show of checking her manicure. “Lucien wasn’t too pleased about that.”

This time, it was Kharis’ turn to speak. “You’re lucky I don’t gut you from your cunt to your ears, you traitorous sow.”

“Language, Kharis,” Cassandra tsked, chastising him as if he were a child. “After all, there’s a human here.” Her gaze fell pointedly toward Dani, before flicking back to Corbin. “They’re such weak creatures, as you know.”

Corbin had to force himself to swallow the growl that rumbled in his throat. He had known he’d regret the day he told Cassandra about Rosalind, about the children, especially now that he hadn’t yet confided the same to Dani, but he hadn’t expected that regret to bite him for another several years, at least.

Apparently, sirens made their vengeance quick.

“No matter,” Cassandra said, waving her hand dismissively.

Had she always put on this much of a show? Corbin’s scowl deepened slightly.

“We’re here as friends now,” Cassandra continued, smiling devilishly, “after all, Angelo brought me here.”

“Of course he did,” Corbin snapped. “Angelo was always pleased to dine on someone else’s leftovers.”

“Leftovers, hmm?” Cassandra said, eyes narrowing. “And what about you, human?” Cassandra said, turning her attention toward Dani once more. “How does it feel to enjoy the leftovers of a dead woman?”

Dani blinked. “Excuse me?”

“I said, enough , Cassandra!” Corbin roared, his voice echoing throughout the cathedral.

“What? Did I say something wrong?” Cassandra placed a hand to her chest, batting her long eyelashes innocently. “You mean to tell me she didn’t know you had a wife and children?”

“With you?” Dani asked suddenly, her eyes nearly popping from her head.

Cassandra wrinkled her nose. “Oh, no. I’d never destroy my body that way. He—”

Corbin’s voice grew low and cold. “So, help me, God. Cassandra, if you utter one more word—”

“You’ll what?” Angelo asked, finally joining them. “You wouldn’t want this little meeting of yours to start off on the wrong foot now would you, Corbin?”

“Angelo,” Corbin muttered his greeting through clenched teeth.

Angelo preened. “I see Cassandra’s told you she’s found herself a new family as of late.”

Corbin sneered. “My deepest felicitations, I assure you.”

For several minutes, they were then forced to wait in silence as Cassandra and Angelo put on their little show, the traitorous siren sitting in Angelo’s lap, covering his face in overly sugary kisses and whispering sweet nothings that, had she been watching, would have made even the statue of the Virgin Mary which overlooked them blush like a whore.

Corbin rubbed his temples, already far too close to losing his patience, before the meeting had even begun, until finally their other guests arrived. Roman, Salvatore, and Mickey, Lucien’s closest ranked representative, filed in, taking their respective seats spread out among the pews. Corbin’s hit had taken out several of Lucien’s men ranked over him.

“Well, best get on with it,” Angelo grumbled from where Cassandra still peppered kisses across his face, nuzzling into Angelo’s neck.

It wasn’t as if Corbin felt any hint of jealousy toward them. In fact, if Cassandra hadn’t turned out to be such a traitorous snake all because he’d chosen to end them, he would have gladly wished her the best, perhaps even been happy for her and Angelo, as disgusting as he found their blatant display of tomfoolery to be. He may have been a willing participant in public sex, but that had been inside his own club, not on a goddamn church pulpit, though the idea did hold a certain appeal, if he was honest.

No, instead what concerned him was how silent Dani had been.

How quiet and mild and meek. As she’d always expected her to be before.

Except he’d seen a change in her over these past few days, hadn’t he?

Something that hinted at the true woman beneath.

But there wasn’t time to ask about that now, to tend whatever wounds Cassandra’s presence had opened. Instead, there was business. The plan which they’d built together.

Corbin cleared his throat, stepping forward. “I’m sure you’re all eager to know why I’ve summoned you here, and so shortly after Lucien’s near death.” He nodded to Mickey, who did little more than curl a lip at him menacingly. The Irishman would be lucky to breathe another breath when this was through, but Corbin continued, ignoring him.

“Best get on with it now, Corbin. We haven’t got all night.” This from Angelo, of course. Ever hurried.

“We’re vampires. We have an eternity,” Corbin answered. “But apparently, that isn’t long enough to teach you the concept of patience, is it, Angelo?”

Kharis and a few of the others chuckled, causing Angelo to seethe, whilst Cassandra practically licked his nonexistent wounds. It was disgusting really.

Corbin turned his attention back toward the room. “It recently occurred to me that we haven’t all come together like this in years,” he said, pointedly looking toward them. “And thus, I have a proposal to make.” He placed his hands in his pockets, glancing down at his feet, before he began circling, working the room as he had countless times before. “Any man, vampire, or woman in this room, who has an interest in what I’m about to say is welcome to stay.”

He paused, dramatically. “Anyone else is free to take their leave.”

A wooden scrape of more than one pew bench followed, Roman and Mickey, moving to leave. As he’d suspected.

“But be apprised that if and when you walk through those doors,” he said, speaking after them, causing them to pause, “there will be a legion of human hunters waiting to greet you as you do.”

Immediately, shouts went up as the other vampires rounded on him, their bloody curses and furious hissing echoing off the cathedral ceiling.

Kharis fired a round into the rafters, a chunk of granite raining down. “Quiet,” he barked.

Corbin lifted a hand in agreement, silencing every person in the room, before he continued. “However, should you like to leave here today without the true death greeting you at the exit door, there is a choice to be made.” Slowly, he looked to each one of them. “Join me, and my crew, without stepping down from your respective positions and the ten years of unfettered immunity and lack of bloodshed between us, which I have been so graciously offered by our human companions this evening,” he gestured to Dani, “can be yours.”

He paused, now standing directly in front of the pulpit.

“Now, I believe you have a choice to make gentleman. I’ll leave you for a moment to discuss.” He nodded, eyes flashing crimson, before he swiftly took his leave. “Choose wisely.”