Bait

Chapter Ten

“Hold still, Connie. You’re going to make me drop this down the front of your dress.” Brad’s hands trembled as he tried to attach the chip inside the cup of my bra. If he pulled the material any further from my skin it might snap off into his hand.

I stopped tapping my foot and watched his face as he concentrated on his job. A five o’clock shadow that never seemed to thicken or lessen accentuated his strong jaw.

Brad functioned as the team’s gadget man and didn’t like the way the chip’s signal worked the other night. They got intermittent readings and almost didn’t find me. He thought it got damaged when I fell on the dance floor steps at the club where I met Rurik. So he decided to place it somewhere less likely to be crushed.

I would have accused him of coming up with this idea just to cop-a-feel, but the blush and flutter of nerves he radiated changed my mind.

He glanced up and met my stare, his fingers accidentally brushed against my cleavage. His blush deepened to a lovely shade of scarlet. “Sor ... sorry.”

Red came up behind him. He winked at me. “Keep your hands to yourself and attach the damn chip already.”

The chip tumbled down the front of my neckline to rest between my breasts inside my bra. Brad’s shoulders slumped and he hung his head in defeat. Rurik would never see this as a loss but an opportunity. I chuckled to myself before the memory of those terrible pictures returned. It wasn’t fair. He shouldn’t be in my head, I hated that I still caught myself thinking about him.

I sent a glare of hot, smoking daggers at Red. “I’ll fish that out myself. Thank you for your help, Red.” I wore a spaghetti strap, mid-thigh length, black dress. There wasn’t much material to work with, which led to the tracking chip being clipped to the cup of my strapless bra. The chip proved to be elusive at first. Brad needed to assist me with his penlight to find it.

The jerk, Red, leaned against the wall, arms across his chest. His shoulders shook with contained laughter.

This only stoked my anger. I couldn’t stop thinking about Rurik. The raging, hot steam those pictures generated produced a pressure in my chest and I couldn’t wait to release it. My revenge would taste sweet.

Brad finished setting the chip into the lacy material. “All done.” He grinned at me, a thin sheet of sweat beaded on his forehead, under the disheveled mouse brown hair. Why couldn’t I be attracted to a sweet, shy man like Brad? Instead I fantasize about a bloodless cold monster. I needed therapy.

The laptop on the bed blipped and Brad turned his attention to it. He tapped a few keys. “The readings look fine. Why don’t you move around. Maybe jump up and down.”

My mouth dropped open.

Red stepped forward and smacked Brad upside the head. “Behave.”

“I didn’t mean ... I wanted to make sure it’ll stay in place.” He shook his head while the scarlet color returned to his cheeks.

I laughed. “It’s okay, Brad.” For a hardened soldier he sure could blush. I shimmied and jiggled for him. Shy men may not stoke my libido but they did bring the devil out of me.

“How are the readings?” Red maintained his stoic expression but his unheard laughter produced a shimmer of tears.

Brad pulled his eyes from me. “Yeah, great signals.”

Red loomed over me and stopped my antics by steering me from Brad’s view. “Stick to the plan.” He handed me a small black purse. “The ticket for the concert is inside. Colby’s tried to get someone in there with you but the show’s been sold out and the club’s administration is being difficult.”

“How did he get my ticket?”

“From a source. This plan stinks. You should both wait for another opportunity and more back up.”

“There may not be other chances. Don’t worry, Rurik will follow me home. Be ready for us.” I squeezed his beefy bicep. After the bath house, I’d be shocked if Rurik didn’t.

“Watch your back.”

I nodded. The devilish side of me finished teasing Brad by pecking him on the cheek and watched another bloom of scarlet grow on his face. Time to bring in my target, to meet the real Rurik, and get some answers.

The A38 club was the reincarnation of a Ukrainian stone-carrier ship. It started a new life on the Danube River as one of Europe’s coolest clubs.

I arrived at the refurbished boat’s mooring beside the Petofi Bridge. It stood two stories above the water, made of solid, thick iron and full of bright lights. Fresh paint and windows made it shiny but the ship’s design enhanced its age. A wonderful medley of new and old. The doorman held the door and allowed me in.

The club subdivided into three floors of revelry: the roof terrace on the deck, the restaurant by the galley, and the lounge with club in the hull. I made my way to where the concert would be held in the lounge. Its interior furnished in brown leather and dark wood in a modern style provided a warm and elegant atmosphere.

I forced my fists to unclench as I stood at the entrance. I’d find him here. Rurik. The images of those photos still haunted me. They clung to me like tar. We would start with him, their leader, and then work our way to find the others who had participated in the massacre. I took a deep breath and pulled myself under control.

Tables surrounded a stage where the band played a smooth tune. I gave my ticket to the vendor and entered the dimly lit room.

Private booths lined the walls. The lack of lighting made it difficult to see, all I could make out were dark silhouettes. But I was confident Rurik’s vision would be able to see me.

A touch to my elbow caught my attention. I smiled to myself. That didn’t take long. As I twisted toward him I pasted my best sultry smile on my face.

A gentleman with long blond hair and a casual gray suit stood next to me. He held up his glass, even though I didn’t have a clue what he said, the gesture made it clear. He wanted to buy me a drink.

Damn, I flirted with the wrong guy. I shook my head. “English?”

His eyes traveled up my body back to my face. A sugar coated smile appeared as he lifted his glass once more and pointed at me.

I shook my head again. “No thanks.” I pivoted to leave but his hand snaked around my elbow.

His hand caressed my skin until it reached my shoulder, his intentions painted on his handsome face.

I ground my teeth and glared. Apparently he wasn’t used to being refused. If shaking my head didn’t translate maybe a right hook would. Taking a deep breath, I counted to ten. I couldn’t afford getting kicked out of the club. Then again, it would get Rurik’s attention and relieve some of my pent up tension. I eyed my amorous new friend and sized him up.

Before I could decide what action to take, a set of long, pale fingers wrapped around my unwanted flirt’s wrist and removed it from my shoulder.

The man’s grin disappeared, replaced by fear.

I stared at the inhuman hand that replaced his. My heart sped up as my eyes trailed from the hand, up the arm, to the face. I hoped to see a set of icy, blue eyes but instead met black, soulless ones. “Tane.” His name was barely audible as I choked on it. I saw him last at the party, one of Dragos ’ kindred. He had stayed with Rurik to fight off Colby’s men.

A fedora covered his bald head and pointed ears. He released the man’s wrist and in a calm voice told him something. My assailant lost interest and left us.

Tane’s attention returned to me. He wore a short sleeved shirt with a buttoned up vest and matching black, pin-striped slacks. His tattoo scrawled in an intricate fashion down his neck to disappear under his collar. In the dim light, he could pass for human.

His stony expression didn’t change as he gripped my shoulder like steel. “You’re the last person I expected, Rabbit.” His voice blended with the soft jazz music. It soothed my raw nerves and allowed him to catch my gaze as I continued to stand in shock. His power snapped against my mental shields and rung them like a gong. It weakened them enough to daze me.

His arms clung around me as if supporting a drunken friend. Tane’s power made Rurik’s wane in comparison. Where Rurik needed to drug me first to control me, Tane just mentally bitch slapped me and took me by force.

We made our way back across the lounge to a secluded booth in the corner. He settled me on the bench and slid me further in. We weren’t alone in the horseshoe shaped booth. A man in his late thirties with short salt and pepper hair waited for us. He sipped a drink as he watched me with his crystal green eyes.

I sat trapped between them.

Tane grinned and flashed his fangs, like a saber toothed tiger that just caught a rabbit. He removed his hat and flipped it onto the table. “Rurik’s little rabbit. I’m so pleased.” He gestured to the other man. “This is my ... companion, Eric.” Then he gestured to me. “And this pretty morsel is Rabbit. Rurik brought her to Dragos ’ welcoming party. As a gift for our Master if I recall.”

“More like entertainment than a gift. He wasn’t supposed to keep me.” I giggled like a nut too terrified to think straight. “I mean who keeps people. Nice hat by the way.” The babble came out in an uncontrolled torrent. It left me breathless.

Tane ran a finger along the hat’s rim. “Thank you, I do make an effort to keep up with the changing styles, and Dragos always keeps what he likes.”

Eric raised his eyebrows. “Quite an end to the evening though. Parties are always more fun when they end with a brawl.”

I faintly remembered Eric as part of the group of men playing daggers. I swallowed with a dry throat. “Are you going to take me back to him?” Over my dead body, with no back up and only a tracker as help, it may come to that.

He shrugged. “No, I don’t think so. As long as you don’t attract attention. I need you to be calm and to behave now, right?”

A flash of metal slipped from Eric’s sleeve to reveal a fine, sharp blade.

My heart skipped a beat.

Tane waved his hand at the blade. “There’s no need for threats. Rabbit is going to be our new friend. I do love it when a plan changes unexpectedly for the better.” He reached over and petted Eric’s hand. “It was such a good idea of yours to use that ticket as a lure. The results are not what I expected but this truly pleases me.”

Eric beamed like a good pet.

“Leave us and enjoy the concert. Rabbit and I have business to attend.” Eric stood to depart. He came close to Tane and hesitated to glance my way before planting a quick kiss on his lips.

We both watched his departure for different reasons, Tane with his heart in his eyes, me for a possible escape route.

Before I could move, he laid his hand on my arm and turned to me with a small smile. “Don’t make this difficult. I won’t hurt you unless you make me.”

I looked from his large hand that gripped me tight to his face. “You kind of are now.” My heart would soon burst from my chest if it didn’t decelerate. If Dragos was a Nosferatu then so was Tane. They had similar traits. That meant an uber-vamp held my arm.

His clasp lessened. “I had hoped Colby would be the one to use the ticket and come to this concert. I wanted to meet him in person. Very resourceful of him to use you as bait, something tasty and sweet, instead of deadly and hard. No wonder his kills have increased.” He released my arm to lean his chin on his hand, smile still present. “I’m such a fan of his.” He spoke like he followed Colby’s career as a slayer.

I tried to control my breathing but I may as well have tried to control the weather. A trickle of sweat made its way down my back. He associated me with Colby. How? Did we have an informant on the team? The fact he knew Colby existed and what he did for a living terrified me. Where was Rurik? I could use my hero again. The irony of my needing rescue by the vampire I wanted to kill was not lost on me.

“Who?” I did my best to lie.

“Let’s not play games, Rabbit.”

“I’m not.” My palms got clammy. He implied he’d used the concert ticket as a lure to trap Colby. Who gave Colby the ticket and what did Tane want with him?

I glanced at the band and feigned interest in the show but checked out my exit options instead. The main entrance was across from us, but a crowd of people in the lounge blocked my way. There were two exits by the stage, one on each side.

Tane slid a little closer and spoke in a quiet voice. “The attack at Dragos ’ private party surprised us. I know Colby hunts Rurik, I saw him in the fight, but I couldn’t figure out how he found us. Until now.”

I turned to glance at his pale, sculpted face. His eyes were the color of a dark, bottomless ocean. He must have been beautiful as a man.

As if committing the way I looked to memory he stared at me. “Is it a coincidence you arrived at the party shortly before the attack? Then arrive here, to a concert bearing a ticket I gave Colby? I must admit, I am a little disappointed in not meeting the legendary vampire killer.”

I couldn’t trust myself to speak, fear paralyzed my thoughts. Tane figured out everything. I didn’t think I could charm my way out of this considering he chose a male companion.

He leered at me. “The bath house attempt was brilliant, by the way, but I don’t understand why you didn’t complete the assassination. Why did you leave so suddenly? Rurik wouldn’t tell me.”

“He wouldn’t?” It touched me that Rurik didn’t speak about our misunderstanding on the tub room floor.

“I enjoy the Rudas when I visit here. You truly frustrated Rurik. Maybe that was your purpose? So he’d be more determined to pursue you.”

My mouth became drier than a popcorn fart.

“I hoped to ... ensnare Colby but this may turn out to be a better situation.” He leaned back against the bench with his arms over the top. “I can’t allow him to run about Budapest unmonitored. He may break into the wrong gathering and kill innocent, law abiding vampires. I expected an attack on Rurik but not that soon, foolish of me to have under estimated Colby.” Tane eyed me.

My charade ended, I couldn’t figure out how to deny it. Colby did the team’s thinking, including mine. Tane knew too much. I didn’t like his game but I had no choice but to play it. “Colby wouldn’t help you.”

Tane’s grin grew into a smile. “Maybe not of his own free will but I too can be ingenious. Who do you think hired him?”

His revelation felt like a punch to my gut. My breath caught in my throat and I pounded my fist on the table once. “Bull crap. He wouldn’t work for a vamp.”

Tane’s eyebrows shot up at my explosive response but his body remained relaxed. “He doesn’t know since Eric did the actual hiring and he’s not a vamp.” He sneered the last word.

I stared at the table top as this information seeped in. Colby worked for a Nosferatu vampire and didn’t even know it. The irony almost killed me, literally.

“Your mental shields are stronger than most humans. Better than when I first met you.”

I blinked. “You broke through them easily enough a few moments ago.”

He laughed softly and shook his head in disbelief. “At my age, Rabbit, there are few who keep me out. I think Dragos is the only one left stronger than I.”

I jumped when what I could only describe as a caress brushed against my mental shields. A shiver ran down my spine. “Rurik drugged me before he brought me to the party. He said he needed it to bring down my shields.”

Tane gave me a sly smiled and rubbed at his chin. He glanced around the room before returning his attention to me. “How well did it work?”

“Totally demolished them.”

He sat so still, he looked made of stone. “Rurik is more resourceful than I’d estimated. I begin to understand how he obtained this territory at such a young age.”

The band began to play a more up-beat song and someone in the crowd whistled their approval. This drew Tane’s attention to the stage. His long fingers tapped the table to the beat of the music.

I began to inch my way around the horse shoe shaped bench away from him.

He continued to watch the show. “Rurik won’t be here tonight.”

Thanks, Sherlock. I guessed that by now. “You’re Colby’s informant. The one who tells him Rurik’s whereabouts.” That would tie Colby’s underpants in a knot. I crept to the edge.

“Do you have a point?”

The pictures Colby sent me came to mind. Something didn’t fit. You’d think vampires would be more hands-on with their version of justice. Rurik himself told me of the vampire law against killing, so they had some kind of system. “I know about the evidence you gave Colby and your people’s laws to not kill. Why hire someone else to punish Rurik?”

He smirked. “Why, indeed? You don’t really expect me to answer, do you? It’s not your business. You just need to follow orders, Colby’s and mine.”

I ground my teeth and turned to look at the band. Orders my ass, I cooperated if things made sense and until recently they had been. My legs swung free from the bench when I twisted to watch the show, they now rested free of the table. The tension to get up and run made them ache. Tane didn’t protest my movement, he watched the stage as well. I understood the concert being sold out. The band was good. On any other night I’d be up there dancing with the others.

A waiter approached with a tray full of drinks. An idea popped into my head and I allowed my instincts to direct me. I sprang up to collide into him. With a tug at his jacket, I maneuvered him to spill the tray onto Tane.

I glimpsed his wide-eyed, open mouth expression before running for my life. If I survived the night I’d be able to cherish that moment later, there would be no mercy if he caught me. I shoved my way through the crowd toward the stage. The exit sign over the door shone like a beacon, the glow cried out to me as if telling me to hurry. As I reached for the push bar on the door I slammed into a solid, wet mass. It felt like I just ran into a wall. My brain rattled in my skull and little lights flashed in front of my eyes.

A voice spoke to me over the ringing in my ears. “I don’t remember giving you permission to leave.”

My vision cleared enough to see Tane reach out to steady me by my elbows. A slice of lemon clung to his vest. “Stop being such a bitch, Rabbit. That was unnecessary.” He smelled like alcohol and fruit juice. The lemon slice slid off his vest to flop on his polished black shoe. He looked down and shook it off then gazed back up at me with a small growl. With a yank, he pulled me through the exit door, grasped my upper arm and climbed the flight of stairs. “I told you I wouldn’t hurt you.”

“Why should I believe you?” I tried to keep up, his long legs took the steps two at a time.

He stopped and looked down at me. “I have a use for you.” We climbed to the terrace where only a few lovers strolled along the deck. Tane dragged me to the rail and wrapped his arm around my waist to pull me closer. “Now, my little bait, I have an assignment for you.”

“I won’t work for you.”

“Battle lines are being drawn across Budapest and you, my dear, are caught in the center. You’ll have to choose a side soon, and you have a better chance to survive if it’s mine.”

Trapped in the arms of this demon I had an epiphany. If Tane hired Colby then it must have been him who sent the pictures. I didn’t like that. It made me suspicious of them and of Tane’s motives.

I couldn’t do anything to warn Colby or help Rurik if I coerced him to kill me. He stated he needed me so that meant I’d get off this boat alive if I agreed to do as he asked. I sighed and hung my head.

“What do you want?”

He placed a finger under my chin to tilt my face up to his. “First, I need you to keep me informed on Colby’s plans. I won’t tolerate being surprised by him again. Second, I want the vial of the drug Rurik used on you.”

His touch made my skin crawl. I twisted in his arms to pull away but they were made of steel. “How am I supposed to do that? Colby never tells me anything except where to go and when. I don’t even know how to find Rurik.”

“You’re a clever girl. You’ll figure out a way.”

“If I refuse?”

An evil smile spread across his pale, inhuman face. “I wonder how either Rurik or Dragos would react to find out it was you who lured the attack?”

“They’d kill me.” My voice was a bare whisper. I glared at him and wished my thoughts could burn him alive. “I could inform Dragos you’re trying to kill Rurik.”

He chuckled and ran a hand down my hip. “That would be foolish, child. Dragos is the one who ordered me to dispose of Rurik in an indirect manner. He also regrets losing you. I think he’d be happy for your return.”

Nothing on this planet scared me more than Dragos. I’d rather spend a night in a cave of rabid werewolves than spend it with him. Colby would freak when I told him about our boss.

He slid his hand under my bottom and pulled me closer to whisper in my ear. “Don’t tell Colby about me and Eric.” It was as if he could read my mind. “If you do, I’ll expose Colby to the vampire community. Neither he or his team would escape Europe alive.”

I couldn’t stop the shudder that shook me. That would be real bad. “How do I contact you?”

He slipped a business card into my hand. Only a phone number was printed across it. “Do you see that pier over there?”

I looked up from the card. A short dock jutted from the main pier that moored the A38. Small boats were tied to it and a ladder led into the water. “Yes.” Maybe he owned one of the boats.

“Can you swim?”

I faced him and quirked an eyebrow. “Yes. Oh no! Wait...”

He picked me up and threw me overboard.

I plugged my nose before the water engulfed me. Reflexively, I kicked to the surface. The water spilled over my face as I gulped air and sputtered. I treaded water and looked up to see Tane, whose eyes crinkled with amusement. “Bastard.” My voice echoed across the water.

He leaned forward on the rail with a huge grin on his face. “That’s for dumping a tray of drinks on me.”