Page 35 of Vampire so Virtuous (Boston Vampires #1)

“This is the place,” she whispered, mostly to herself. No one else would hear.

The bouncer this side of the door was watching her.

She let Eve tug her past him, then wrapped her arm around her friend, her lips brushing her ear. “This is the place.”

Eve turned her head, leaning in. “You sure?”

“Certain.” The lights in the ceiling, the red exit glow in the far corner, the location of the bar. All exactly where she’d known they’d be. Several lighting arrays hung overhead, and one of them would have ‘Rig 3’ marked on it in faded yellow pen, just as she’d seen.

How could this be? How had she seen this place so clearly, a place she’d never visited?

There was only one answer to that question.

In a few weeks, Cally’s life had gone from normal—save for Eve—to one entwined with vampires and magic.

What was even scarier was how calm she felt. Accepting vampires had been the precursor. Discovering her vision was real? It barely registered as a surprise.

She stayed close behind Mike and Priya, careful not to lose them in the press of bodies.

An arm brushed against her, a hand skimmed her hip, a shoulder knocked into her hard enough to turn her.

Eve clung to her hand, nearly stepping on her heels.

Cally saw more of what she’d seen in her vision: the same layout, the bathrooms off to the sides, even the color of the floor.

The air was thick and hazy, laced with the synthetic sharpness of a fog machine.

It was more than eerily familiar; it was exactly the same.

Eve pressed against her shoulder, her lips brushing her skin. “So what do you want to do?”

Shit . They should’ve planned this better.

“Whatever we do, I’m not leaving Priya in here,” Cally said into Eve’s ear. “This place gives me the creeps, and Mike knows the bouncers here. He’s part of it. ”

“Priya’s going to be devastated. And pissed. Will she come with us?”

Cally made a face. That would take some persuasion. “Maybe we can get Mike to reveal his true colors?”

“We’ll need to be able to talk for that.” Eve pulled back enough to show Cally her eye roll.

Mike and Priya had stopped in the middle of the floor to dance. Priya had her arms loosely around her head as she swayed to the thumping music, and his hands were on her waist. Cally and Eve pressed as close as they could, staying near Mike and Priya to avoid being separated by the crowd.

Eve leaned in again, her breath warm on Cally’s cheek. “Dance for a bit, then try the bathroom? Maybe we can talk there?”

Cally saved her voice and just nodded.

The club pulsed with energy, the air damp with exhaled breath and body heat, humid and stifling. An empty bottle glanced off her boot and spun away. A sharp whiff of cheap deodorant came and went.

As they danced, the music built in tension, pitch rising toward a signature drop, the beat slamming in with an explosive bassline.

It would’ve been easy to lose herself in the driving rhythm—if she weren’t so on edge about what waited beneath.

How did Mike fit into this? What was really going on here?

Eve danced with her, their bodies pressed close as the crowd encroached. Eve had wanted to enjoy their time together, but instead her eyes were full of concern. She kept glancing at Priya, carefree and happy as she moved with the rhythm.

Cally felt vulnerable. Eve had called her the ‘big bad bodyguard,’ but hemmed in so tight, there were limits to what she could do.

Taekwondo wasn’t ideal for tight spaces, and Mike was a big guy.

So were the bouncers they’d seen. If it came to fighting their way out, they were in trouble.

Best to separate Priya from Mike, convince her to leave, and slip away.

Maybe she should tell Priya the truth?

Cally slipped her hands around Eve’s waist, pulling her close. Eve looked up at her in surprise. Leaning in, Cally spoke against her ear. “What if I told Priya what I’d really seen? How much does she believe in the magic we do?”

Eve shook her head slightly. Her voice rose enough to be heard over the pounding music. “No one believes it, babe. Not really. Just us. Priya’s more likely to think we’re crazy and stay with Mike.”

A tap on the shoulder made Cally turn. Priya made the hand gesture for a drink and pointed toward the bar. Mike was watching them, grinning at what he clearly thought was two hot girls dancing together .

Cally gave Priya a nod; this was their chance to get her alone.

They followed as Mike parted the crowd with ease, his large frame pushing people aside. Reaching the bar, Mike shoved his way through the revelers, leaning his elbow on the counter. The press of bodies was less here, the floor stickier, the smell of stale beer more pungent.

“What do you want?” he called, his words barely audible over the music.

Nothing you can lace.

Cally mimed cracking a can of beer, and Eve pointed at her and mouthed, ‘Me too.’ Priya leaned in to Mike, whatever she said to him lost in the music.

One of the barmen recognized Mike and came straight over. Mike held up three fingers and pointed to the beers, then one for a white wine. The barman looked past him at Cally and Eve, and winked at Priya. He said something to Mike before turning away to get the drinks.

Beside Cally, Eve stiffened. She leaned in to see what was amiss, but Eve was already reaching for her shoulder, going up on her toes. “He said ‘fresh meat.’”

A chill ran down Cally’s spine. Pre-Antoine days, that term would’ve been bad enough, but now… it explained everything.

She cupped Eve’s neck in her hand, holding her still as she spoke into her ear. “We’re leaving. Right now. Let’s get Priya away from Mike, and then drag her to the exit if we have to.”

Eve nodded, her expression grave.

Cally pushed past Mike to reach Priya. Doing the whole mouth-to-ear thing that was so tiresome. “We’re going to the ladies’. Coming?”

Priya shook her head. “I’m fine.”

Cally leaned in again. “Come with us.”

She flicked her eyes to Mike and shook her head again.

Muffling her frustration, Cally leaned in one last time. “I didn’t want to say anything, but you’ve got something green in your teeth. Let’s get that sorted out, yeah?”

Priya was slipping off her stool before Cally had finished talking.

It was irritating to have to push through the crowd to reach the bathrooms when they could’ve gone straight for the exit, but they needed to talk to Priya first, and it was the only place they could have a conversation. Why did clubs have to be so loud?

Maybe she wouldn’t have minded if she were here to dance, but with her mood so off-kilter, the heavy bass beat was a torturous pounding in her head.

The bathrooms were against the side wall, fortunately nearer the exit than the bar, but still a struggle to reach with the crowds so thick.

Didn’t they have capacity limits in this place?

She shoved through the throng, Priya following, Eve bringing up the rear—almost like a sheepdog, ensuring their objective was carefully herded.

Cally kept turning to check they were behind her, and Eve would nod her encouragement each time.

Eventually, they broke through and reached the bathrooms. A queue outside didn’t stop Cally; she walked straight past. One woman put out a hand, her expression irate.

“Sorry,” Cally grimaced apologetically, glancing back at Eve. “My friend has a tampon emergency.”

No objections followed, just sympathetic looks, and those who witnessed the exchange moved out of her way, guessing the urgency even if they hadn’t heard the conversation.

The bathrooms were crowded inside, but at least quiet enough to talk without yelling. Barely.

Priya went straight to the washbasins and mirrors, but Cally took her elbow and steered her into a corner. Eve helped, fencing her in.

“We’re getting out of here, Priya,” Cally gave it to her bluntly. “This place is shady, and I’m sorry to tell you, but so is Mike.”

Priya looked between them, eyes widening, expression falling. “What? No, I—”

“He said something to the barman, who put something in your glass. Did you see that?” Cally mentally crossed her fingers; Priya wouldn’t have seen, not only because it didn’t happen, but because the barman had hardly begun to pour her wine before they’d walked off.

But fear was a great motivator. Priya’s eyes widened again. “Are you sure?”

“Hundred percent,” Eve said grimly. “This is why Cally and I wanted to come with you tonight. There’s some not very nice rumors about the Discord group Mike came from. Lots of stuff happening to girls.”

Priya’s eyes welled with tears. “But Mike is—”

“Mike is known here,” Cally said firmly. “And it’s no coincidence the barman is in on it. They’ve got something going on.” She took Priya’s unresisting hand gently. “Let’s get you home safely .”

Priya looked between them again, but her resolve seemed to crumble when Eve nodded too. She dashed her tears away. “All right.” Her chin lifted. “That bastard .”

“Hold on to that thought,” Cally said. “Let’s get out of here.”

She didn’t let go of Priya’s hand as they left the bathrooms, staying close to the wall where there were fewer people.

It was a faster option than trying to force their way through the dancers again.

They arrived back at the entrance door, and there was no sign of Mike.

They’d been quick; with any luck, he was waiting at the bar, expecting them to still be queueing.

The bouncer didn’t say anything, just opened the door when Cally pointed. He didn’t care who left, only how many were coming in.

But the bouncer on the other side wasn’t so indifferent. “Didn’t you three just arrive?” he asked, as soon as the door was closed and the volume had mercifully dropped.

Cally pushed Priya’s hand into Eve’s and shooed them on. “My friend’s had a bad personal situation, and we need to go,” she told him. “We were really looking forward to tonight, too.” She gave him a smile that was all charm. “I hope we can come back soon.”