Oliver's Hunger (Scanguards Vampires #7) (30 page)

“There are many reasons why he wouldn’t want to admit that he was a regular client,” Samson cautioned.

“I agree,” Gabriel said. “That doesn’t mean the blood brothel isn’t where Corbin says it is right now. Besides—” He motioned to the monitor where the live video of the warehouse was still showing. “Our human guards have confirmed that they found evidence of activity there. There must be at least a dozen guys holed up inside.”

“But no evidence of the women,” Oliver noted. “That makes it a trap.”

“We should still go in,” Zane said. “We’ll just take more men with us.”

“No! Corbin first.”

Amaury shrugged. “It doesn’t hurt to send a few people to his house and check on him while the rest of us make our way to Oakland. It’ll take us a while to get there anyway.” Then he looked at Eddie. “Anything from that second phone Valentine had?”

“I cracked the password,” Eddie replied. “But he didn’t get any texts or emails about the blood brothel.”

Oliver pointed to Eddie. “See, even more reason not to go to Oakland. Why would one client get an email with the new address, but not the other? And Valentine was definitely a regular, considering how addicted he is.” He stared at his colleagues, whose expressions had darkened.

Samson and Gabriel exchanged a look. Then Samson stood up. “Change of plans.”

35

Paul Corbin put the finishing touches on his impeccable outfit. He loved dressing well, and for tonight’s occasion he’d outdone himself.

As soon as the sun set, he sped away in his black Mercedes. Everything was arranged. It took him less than ten minutes to reach the address on Nob Hill. He parked on the opposite side of the street and killed the engine.

When he got out of his car and shut the door behind him, he smoothed the creases from his black suit, while his legs ate up the distance to the entrance of the large building. Next to the brass sign was an intercom system. He pressed the bell and didn’t have to wait long until a crackling and the voice of a woman came through it.

“Yes?”

He bent toward the speaker. “Paul Corbin. I’m a new client.”

There was a slight hesitation, then the buzzer sounded. He pressed against the door and entered. The foyer was lush. He quickly assessed his surroundings: a lounge to the left, two doors to his right, then a large staircase at the end of the hall. One of the doors to his right opened and an Asian woman dressed in a smart business suit exited and walked toward him.

She stretched her hand out in greeting. “Mr. Corbin?”

Corbin shook her hand, not at all surprised that the woman was a vampire. “Good evening.”

“I’m Vera,” she introduced herself. “May I ask who referred you?”

Prepared for the question, he answered evenly, “Oliver was so kind.”

She smiled instantly and relaxed seemingly. “You know Oliver?”

He nodded politely. “Charming young man.”

“He is, isn’t he?” Then she looked him up and down, sizing him up.

Corbin kept his cool. He knew he would pass muster.

“What may I offer you for your pleasure? We cater to all tastes.”

He smiled nonchalantly. “I’m a man of many tastes. Surprise me.” He tossed a glance to the lounge where several women entertained the men present. “All I require is some privacy, away from all the . . . uh, entertainment, shall we say?”

“A private room, of course. This way,” Vera directed him.

He followed her along the hallway until she knocked at another door then entered. Inside the comfortable living area sat half a dozen women, all beautiful in their own right, and all tastefully dressed, some showing more flesh than others.

Vera motioned to the girls and gave him a sideway’s glance. “The choice is yours.”

He let his eyes wander over the women, then pointed at one of them. “This one.”

Vera waved the woman to come to them. She was voluptuous, her curves full and enticing. Her gaze swept over him, lingering briefly on his crotch. He allowed a half-smile to cross his slips before he took the beauty’s hand and brought it to his mouth.

She appeared surprised at the old-fashioned gesture and giggled.

“This is Ophelia. She will lead you upstairs to a private room. Ophelia, please wait at the bottom of the staircase for Mr. Corbin.”

The woman nodded and left the room. Vera followed her, motioning him to do the same, then stopped in the corridor where she turned to him once Ophelia was out of earshot. “Will this be cash or credit card?”

He looked at her and pulled out his wallet, opening it. He’d had the presence of mind to stuff his wallet with large bills before leaving his house and pulled them out now. “Cash.”

Vera stretched out her open palm, and one after the other he placed hundred dollar bills on it until she was satisfied and closed her hand around the money.

“Enjoy your evening. And should you require anything, there’s a house phone in the room. Dial zero, and let us know how we can make your stay more enjoyable.”

“I’m already certain that this will turn into a very satisfying evening.” He would make sure of that.

When he reached the stairs, Ophelia was waiting for him. He snaked his arm around her luscious curves and allowed her to lead him upstairs. On the third floor, she made a turn and led him down a corridor with several rooms. She stopped in front of one of them and opened the door.

Giving him a seductive look, she entered and motioned him to follow her. “This is it.”

Corbin gave the room a cursory look. It was tastefully furnished with a large bed, bedside tables and a dresser. There was a chair, presumably so clients could put their clothes there while they indulged in the offerings the women provided.

“Perfect,” he answered.

She brushed against him, her hand reaching for his tie. “What would you like?” She licked her lips.

“What do you do?”

“Everything,” she replied and pressed her hips against his groin.

“Good,” he murmured. “Then how about this?”

He brought his hands up to her head, cupping it. Expectantly she gazed at him. Then, with one swift, but powerful move, he turned her head, snapping her neck.

She collapsed instantly, and he caught her, depositing her on the bed. It was a shame that he was in a hurry, otherwise he would have fucked her first, but business was more important.

Readjusting his tie, he turned back to the door. “Now the evening can start.”

***

Ursula flicked through the channels on the TV but found nothing interesting to watch. She was too hyped up to concentrate on anything. Tonight, Scanguards would free her sisters, the women who’d been locked up like her. Their ordeal would be over soon, and everybody would be back with their families. She prayed that Oliver and his colleagues would be able to defeat the other vampires and not get hurt.

Sighing, she closed her eyes and recalled the memories of the previous night, but a sound at the door interrupted her. Was her dinner ready so soon? Ursula heard a noise as if somebody forced the key into the lock, but had trouble turning it. Then the door was jerked open.

What she saw then was a blurry movement, then a man appearing inside her room, shutting the door behind him.

Stunned, she scrambled to jump up from the bed, trying to put some distance between her and the intruder, but he was faster and snatched her arm, squeezing it painfully.

“Not so fast, my little blood whore,” he said with an evil smile on his face.

Oh God, she knew who he was! She recognized him. He was the leech whose wallet she’d stolen: Paul Corbin.

Air rushed from her lungs. “What do you want?”

He issued a non-committal smile. “Well, isn’t that obvious? I didn’t buy you whores to have you escape me. I’ve come to bring you back to the flock.”

“Bring me back?” She didn’t understand what he was talking about. Why would he want to bring her back? He was a client of the brothel, not a guard.

Corbin chuckled. “I own you and all the others. You work for me! You make money for me, and I won’t have some young vampire upstart steal you from me so he can get the goods for free. Whoever wants your blood, will have to pay me for it!”

Her eyes widened with understanding. “You’re their leader! You own the brothel.”

“Smart girl. Maybe even smarter than some of my guards. They never caught on to the fact that I was checking up on them by pretending to be a client. They never suspected a thing.”

Ursula felt shivers race through her. So it was true then that the owner had a spy who would report whether the guards were doing their jobs, only that the spy was the owner himself. Clever. And now he was here to take her back. Frantically, she searched her brain for what to do. She had to stall him. If she was lucky, her dinner would arrive soon, and with any luck, Vera would be the one to bring it and be able to help her.

“How did you find me?”

Corbin laughed softly. “Your boyfriend brought me the wallet you stole from me. I knew that somebody in the brothel had stolen it and had the place searched, but nobody could find it. When Oliver brought it to me, I knew it had to have come from you. You were the only one who got out. I knew then that I would find you.”

She swallowed.

“And then your little friend claimed he’s a client. How stupid do you people think I am? I know every client by name. There was no Oliver Parker among them, if that’s even his real name.” He glared at her. “So I followed him, and guess where he leads me to?” He looked around the room. “This beautiful establishment. So, what did you give him to help you? Just your pussy? Or did he drink your blood too? Did you promise him a lifelong supply if he helped you?”

Corbin jerked at her arm, pulling her closer to him. His eyes were red now, and she saw how his facial muscles hardened, and his fingers started turning into claws.

“No!”

“No matter. Because he’s not getting anything at all from you. Because you’re coming back with me.”

“You have nowhere to run! He’s freeing the other women tonight!” she cried out.

Corbin let out an evil laugh. “Oh, you mean at the warehouse in Oakland that I gave him the address to?”

Oh shit! Oliver had told her over the phone that Corbin had been the one to provide him with the address. He would be running into a trap. They would kill him and his colleagues. “Oh God no!” She had to help him, get a message to him. But her cell phone was tucked underneath her pillow and out of her reach, not that Corbin would give her any opportunity to even press the call button.

“Yes, when your friend and his colleagues arrive at the warehouse in Oakland, they will be annihilated. There’ll be a dozen heavily armed vampires waiting for them. They’ll be walking into a bloodbath. And in the meantime, the girls are being packed up and loaded up. We’re leaving town tonight, and you’re coming with us.”

She shook her head, but he grinned.

“Let’s go!”

He tried to pull her up, but she kicked her leg against him. He cursed, but his grip loosened by a minute fraction and she twisted, stretching her arm out to reach under the pillow. Her fingers gripped the cell phone. But he jerked her back, and the phone slipped from her fingers, sliding to the edge of the bed, before she could press the call button.

Corbin’s eyes fell on it. “Disobeying again? I’ve heard that about you! You were a trouble maker from the start! Never knew what was good for her! Now take this and see how you like it!”

He slapped the back of his hand across her cheek, whipping her head to the side. Pain radiated through her, making her feel so dizzy she thought she’d lose consciousness.

She groaned.

“I’ll teach you to disobey me!”

He raised his hand once more.

“Do it and I’ll make you suffer!” a male voice warned from the window.

Was she hallucinating already, or had he really come to save her?

36

Oliver watched in horror as Corbin pulled Ursula in front of his body like a shield. Oliver had reached for his gun the moment he’d entered the room from the balcony, but he hesitated now. He wasn’t a crack shot, and if Corbin moved in vampire speed, dragging Ursula with him, the bullet could hit her instead. He couldn’t take that risk.

“Look who’s joined us!” Corbin said to Ursula. “Your boyfriend. Shame he’s too late.”

Corbin reached into his pocket producing a handgun which he now held to Ursula’s temple.

Shock coursed through Oliver, but he forced himself to remain calm and sound unconcerned, when he answered, “That’s not how I see it. I came just in time. Granted, I found your house empty when I got there. Are you moving?” Oliver asked casually. “What a shame. That was a nice house.”

Corbin forced a smile. “In my profession moving comes with the territory.”

“Where to this time?”

“That’s my business, if you don’t mind. Now drop your gun.”

“You won’t shoot her. She’s too valuable to you.”

An evil grin spread over Corbin’s face. “The bullet won’t kill her, but it’ll hurt nevertheless.” He lowered his gun to her shoulder.

Realizing that Corbin wasn’t bluffing, Oliver dropped his weapon to the floor.

Then he watched in panic as Corbin took a couple of steps backwards toward the door, keeping Ursula pressed closely to his front.

“One last question before I leave: how did you know it was me?” Corbin asked.

“You shouldn’t have said you only went to the blood brothel once. When I realized you were lying about that, I figured you could be lying about other things too. Like the new address of the blood brothel. Particularly since nobody else got an email with the address. Funny that you would be the only client who did.”

Corbin lifted an eyebrow then shrugged. “Ah, well, next time I’ll know.”

“There won’t be a next time,” Oliver prophesized.

But Corbin reached behind him and opened the door. Ursula stared at Oliver, her eyes wide with fear, her hands trying to pry off Corbin’s arm, to no avail.

Oliver perceived a movement behind Corbin in the hallway when the door swung open wider. “Corbin, you made one other fatal mistake.”