Blood Debt (Judah Black Novels Book 2) (32 page)

“Fine,” I announced and pointed a scolding finger at him. “But you stay out of the way and keep quiet. Everyone’s already on edge.”

The bikers stepped aside and let Reed enter. The father was wearing all his official church garb and came carrying a small, leather bound Bible. He took a few steps in and stopped just short of me, folding both hands over the book in front of him. “You said someone here requested a priest and I came, unarmed as requested.”

“Good because there are already enough pointy objects involved here,” I said and gestured toward the main dance floor. “Abe’s stepped out, but he should be back before too long. He’s the one that asked for you. You can wait downstairs.”

Reed hesitated and something in his face changed as if he had something he wanted to tell me. Then, his expression hardened. He nodded, gripped his book and followed where I had pointed, going to the dance floor to wait.

Watching him go, Sal asked in a wary voice, “What’s with you and the priest?”

“Nothing,” I lied. “We just don’t see eye to eye as far as eternity goes. You know how it is.”

Sal nodded. The other guy, who was holding the door open and peering out into the dark, turned and smacked him on the shoulder, drawing Sal’s attention away from me. “What is it, Bran?”

“Limousine,” Bran announced and pointed out into the parking lot.

I turned to Tindall. “You’d better get out of here,” I said and he nodded in agreement, making for a side exit.

Once I was sure Tindall was gone, I pressed in closer to Sal and Bran to catch a glimpse of the dark limo as it stopped in the lot. The driver got out and sprinted back to open the door for Crux, who climbed out in a three-piece suit, a sword at his hip. Crux surveyed the parking lot and the club before his eyes landed on the three of us standing in the doorway. Then, he sneered and reached back into the limonene to jerk Mara out by the hair.

Even at that distance, I could tell she’d been beaten. One of Mara’s eyes had been blackened and swelled shut. Her lip was swollen and crusted in blood and there were bruises all over her neck. He’d shoved a ball gag in her mouth and bound her hands and ankles with professional grade silver manacles. That wasn’t how he led her around, though. Crux had a silver collar around her neck and tugged her forward by the chain attached to it. Mara stumbled when he jerked on it but managed to keep herself from falling completely. Out of instinct, I surged forward, but Sal held me back.

“Agent Black,” Crux sneered as he came closer. “I wasn’t aware there’d be an audience.”

“Witnesses,” I explained, matching the acid in his tone. “And guards to make sure no one comes in who isn’t supposed to be here. They’ve all sworn not to intervene.”

“I see.” He gestured to Mara. “Well, here is your prize. Where is Agent Helsinki? I’m eager to get this matter dealt with so we can all be on our way.”

“He’ll be here,” I promised and gestured for him to come inside. “You’re early.”

“Well, I assumed there would be no harm in it. After all, once I win, Kim is sure to default on her debt, allowing this club to revert ownership to me. Though I must say, it’s not much to look at now. I think I can salvage it, though.”

Sal growled at him as he passed by, pulling on Mara’s chain. Crux jumped about two inches in the air toward Bran who snapped his teeth toward the vampire. Both of them chuckled when he hurried his pace and stopped a few feet away to adjust his suit.

“So,” said the vampire, indicating the chain. “As you can see, I’ve held up my end of the bargain. Where is Sven?”

“Downstairs,” I said, pointing.

Crux eyed the door suspiciously.

“It’s not a trap, Crux. As much as I would have liked to paint the floor with your guts, I know better. I don’t want all of the Stryx descending on Concho County, gunning for my head.”

“Then you swear to abide by the terms and outcome of this duel?” He faced me, his thin lip quivering.

“Sure.”

“It’s a pity you’re so firmly in the Kelley’s pocket, Agent Black. You and I could have worked well together to change things for the better here.”

“I’m not in anyone’s pocket.” I gestured again to the door leading to the lower dance floor. “This way, Crux.”

I pushed open the door and led Crux onto the balcony above the dance floor. As soon as Sven saw his master enter, he stood and let out a relieved exclamation before taking a step toward the edge of the circle I’d seated him in. A blue wall sprang up in front of him, bouncing him back a step when he ran full force into it. Sven twisted his features in confusion as he walked back up to it and placed his hands on the barrier.

“What’s the meaning of this?” Crux spat, turning on me. Mara let out a muffled cry as he jerked her closer to him and placed a sharpened fingernail against her neck just below the ear.

“The barrier is harmless to Sven,” I answered. “It’s as much for his protection as it is ours. Once the duel is over, the barriers will lower but, until then…” I pointed to another table opposite Sven’s in a similar circle. “Mara and Sven are going to be cut off from all of us. You’ll place her there, at that table, and the barrier will activate, effectively keeping her in place and out of reach until the duel is over.”

Crux removed his claw from Mara’s throat. “You’re well prepared. I’ll give you that.”

“Mara?” Ed’s voice choked from below. Mara turned her one open eye on her boyfriend, whose chest heaved and eyes glowed gold with rage. “You monster,” he said to Crux.

I held my hand out toward the vampire. “I think you’d better hand her over to me so I can remove some of these chains. She’ll be safe inside the barrier.”

Crux looked from Mara to Ed to me and weighed his decision. Then, he handed Mara’s chain to me. “Remember you gave me your word, agent.”

“How could I forget?” I said and led Mara down to the other table.

Once we were there and I helped Mara into the chair, I reached around and unbuckled the leather strap holding the gag in place. Mara coughed, spat blood and then offered a weak smile. “Heya, teach,” she said as I undid all the other restraints.

“Oh, Mara…This is all my fault. Why didn’t you come to me? I could have spotted you whatever cash you needed. You didn’t have to get involved with a place like this.”

She blinked her one good eye. “Really? All this and that’s what you’re blaming yourself for? Me becoming a stripper?” She let out a bitter laugh and then winced. “Teach, that’s the one thing that had absolutely nothing to do with you.”

“Why, then, Mara?”

“Because I wanted to be my own person,” she said slowly. “With my own shit. Make or break on my own, you know? All I ever wanted was to live my life and be in control of it, win or lose. I did it because I liked it. It made me feel good, powerful. People looked at me and saw me. When I was up on stage, I wasn’t a stupid little girl who got manipulated and used. No one felt sorry for me.”

“You should have come to me when Harry was stalking you. I would have helped you, Mara. It didn’t have to come to this.”

Mara leaned forward, lowering her voice an octave. “I didn’t want to be a victim again.” She turned her head to look at Sven halfway across the room. “He understood that. Why can’t you?”

I swallowed the lump in my throat. I hadn’t seen it because I’d been too busy feeling sorry for Mara. All she ever wanted was her independence. I had pushed her so hard to overcome obstacles, I’d never realized she’d already done it. She didn’t want saving then and she didn’t want it now. More than anything, Mara was angry anyone at all had come to her rescue, but her anger was directed inward. She saw herself as weak because she needed help.

“Mara,” I said, squeezing her fingers. “Accepting help doesn’t make you weak. Asking for it doesn’t make you a victim.”

She said nothing, instead letting tears fall.

Ed came closer, straining to see around me.

“Make him go away,” Mara said quietly. “I don’t want him to see me like this.”

“Ed,” I said, turning my head to address him. “Please. Mara needs space.”

Ed looked like I’d just stabbed him. “Mara,” he pleaded. “Please. Let me stay.”

“Get the hell away from me,” Mara growled without looking at him. “And stop looking at me with those…those pity eyes! All of you!” Her voice echoed through the hall. “I don’t need your fucking pity!” She glared at me through her one eye and spat. “I would have rather you left me with the fucking vampire than come to my rescue in front of everybody. You ruined my life. You don’t get to save me. Not again.”

I choked on the words I was trying to get out. Nothing I could say would change things, not now.

“Enough of this,” said Crux from behind me. “Where is Agent Helsinki? I’m tired of waiting. It’s time he held up his end of the bargain.”

“He’s coming,” I assured Crux again and backed out of Mara’s circle. The blue wall sprang up around her and only then did I turn away.

“Where
is
he?”

“Sorry to keep you waiting.”

All eyes went to the balcony where Abe stood. He removed his hat and tossed it into the air, running his fingers through wet hair. Then, with one hand, he vaulted over the balcony, landing in a crouch, feet wide apart, supporting his weight on one extended hand. A superhero landing. Abe did a damn superhero landing. If I were Crux, I’d be just a little intimidated, especially after Abe raised his head and flashed a fanged smile as the hat somehow landed back on his head.

“Is that supposed to be impressive?” said Crux, shaking his head.

Abe shrugged and stood, dusting himself off. “I have always wanted to do that. Did you get the priest?”

That last part was directed at me and I nodded, gesturing to Reed, who was standing off to my left. “This is Father Reed.”

Abe gave him a heavy look up and down. “Are you willing to take a confession from a half-blood vampire, priest?”

Reed gripped his book and nodded once, gesturing to the far end of the room where he’d set up two chairs. “That’s my job.”

“Yes, talk to your God,” Crux said, rolling his eyes. “If you haven’t improved since our last bout, you’ll need his help. This time, I won’t let you walk away, half-blood.”

“You two have history, I see,” I said, crossing my arms.

Crux shrugged off his jacket, slid on a pair of thick, leather gloves, drew his sword and began to pace back and forth, eyes glued on Abe while he talked to Reed at the far end of the room. “Where I come from, we don’t allow his kind to live. Any one of the blood who propagates with humans is put down. Humans are for food, not for fucking.” He spat on the ground and then pointed his sword at Abe. “He is a disgrace to all of us. The fact that his fool sister has raised him up to a position as a near equal is an insult. When I kill him, I’ll be righting a wrong.”

“Then why’d you let him live the first time?”

“That was a mistake I’ll soon right.” His angry gaze drifted to me. “And then I will kill your friend. I hope you have said your peace with her.”

“You’re awful sure of yourself, Crux.”

He sliced his sword through the air and practiced a
lunge. “I am one of the best swordsman in my family, second only to my younger brother. That abomination lacks the speed and strength to match me, no matter how good he is. He’s prepared to die. Why else would he be giving his confession to the priest?” Crux turned back to watch Abe, a smile playing across his face. “The day is mine. Now, we are just going through the motions.”

Abe stayed with Reed on the far end of the room for a long time, bowing his head several times in prayer and crossing himself while the father spoke. Crux never stopped pacing back and forth. I scanned the place, looking for Creven and coming up empty. He was there, though. Of that, I was certain. It was his magick powering the barriers and he wouldn’t leave Kim at Crux’s mercy, not after giving her his word that he would protect and serve her.

Kim and Robbie both found seats on one of the upper balconies, overlooking the dance floor. She chewed her lip nervously while Robbie cast an unapproving glance downward over crossed arms. I’d already arranged a signal with him should I need him to step in with his fire. Creven was standing by, ready to throw up more barriers if needed. Our hostages were safe and the exits were securely guarded. There was nothing more I could do, I told myself. The rest would have to be up to Abe for now.

After what felt like an eternity, Abe stood and shook hands with Father Reed. Then, he walked over, his face made of stone, and shrugged off his coat and hat, handing both off to me. I placed both on the bottom stair.

“Finally,” Crux mused. “Are you ready?”

“First, the rules of the duel,” said Abe in a sure tone. “This fight is to death or incapacitation. The last one left standing wins the agreed upon purse. Any outside interference from either your people or mine constitutes a forfeit of the duel on the part of the party whose allies have interfered. No magick, wards or other ethereal abilities are allowed. Do you agree to the terms?”

“I agree,” sneered Crux. He swung his sword, extending it out toward Abe. “Let’s get on with it.”

Abe drew his saber and cast the scabbard aside, widening his stance slightly. “Then stand your ground. May the best blood win.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

It began as all great sword fights do, with a stare down between Abe and Crux. Crux stood across from Abe, his sword extended out. Abe hung back, keeping the sword closer to his body, unmoving except for the slight shift in his shoulders with his breathing. Behind the blade, a confident, one-fanged smile spread across Crux’s face. The vampire’s sword twitched one way first and then the other, his smile only growing wider when Abe reacted to the false advance with a parry. Abe advanced with a lunge that Crux expertly evaded and then redirected, moving his own sword in a semi-circle. The smile never left Crux’s face. Abe narrowed his eyes.

“The fight is decided,” said a voice quietly beside me.

I turned my head and followed the tall body up to Bran’s face. He stood next to me, his arms crossed, a displeased look on his face. Like the rest of the spectators, he and I had come to stand behind a barrier of overturned cocktail tables, but I hadn’t realized he’d come to stand with me.