Rogue (Sons of Sangue Book 4) (13 page)

He stopped and turned, his gaze sweeping over the men sitting around the table. “We aren’t growing, boys. We need growth if we’re to go up against clubs like the Devils.”

Grigore chuckled. “We could take every one of those son of a bitches out if we wanted. The Devils aren’t a match to our vampire strength.”

“No,” Kane agreed. “But someone found our weakness. By accident? Or did someone instruct them? We may be stronger, but we can’t stop a kill shot. We ashed Kinky last night as proof to that.”

Low murmurs started circling the table as the men slowly began to come to Kane’s way of thinking. It was the exact reason Kaleb wanted Kane to bring it up to the MC. Kane had always been the more levelheaded one.

“I say we bring Red and the Knights back as our puppet club. They will answer to us and provide us income. In turn, they will have our backs, keep their ears open for who would profit by killing one of our men.” Kane slapped his palms back on the table. “Christ, we don’t even have a motive. Who the fuck would even want Kinky dead? I propose we vote on bringing back the Knights. Red will answer to me. I have Hawk’s blessing. Should we take a vote?”

Gypsy scratched his beard, then shook his head with a chuckle. “Fuck, Viper … when you’re right, you’re right. I’ll second the motion.”

Kaleb placed a hand on Kane’s shoulder. “Let’s vote. I say aye.”

The vote traveled the room easily earning approval, followed by a single disgruntled “Aye” from Grigore. In the end, the Knights were voted to be brought back in. Kaleb wasn’t exactly thrilled with having to be cordial to the Knights, but he knew Kane had a point. They could certainly use the backing.

“This meeting is adjourned. Let’s bring the prospects in and deliver the good news.”

Kane walked to the door, opened it, and said, “Get your asses in here and you best have the Gentleman Jack with you.”

Moments later, the prospects were welcomed as new Sons of Sangue members. Kaleb knocked back two fingers of Jack, feeling the burn and watching the celebration. He was certainly happy with the new editions, and truth be told, would be glad to have the Knights allegiance. So why the hell did the hair at his nape raise? Something still felt off and he couldn’t put his fucking finger on it. Whoever took Kinky’s life, Kaleb feared wasn’t done by a long shot.

Vlad’s confession that Mircea was missing came to mind. Could the primordial vampire be behind Kinky’s murder? The fuck better pray not, because if Kaleb found out he was the one who carried it out, Kaleb would personally remove his fucking head.

* * *

Vlad lounged in a king-sized bed, his back resting against the fabric headboard in a hotel just off the coast in Florence. He stared at the three naked women lying crosswise atop the white cotton sheets, making the bed feel three sizes too small. He preferred sleeping alone and rarely allowed women to dally for long following their sexual escapades. He hated sharing his space, and this was definitely too much sharing.

While on his island in Belize, any woman living there knew damn well when it was time to exit his room. Spending any time in his bed beyond sex was by invite only, which was on a very limited basis just to keep any one woman from getting too close. Not that he didn’t like women. On the contrary, he enjoyed them, all shapes and sizes. So much so, he’d never again consider going down the same path as his grandsons. He had mated once. A fiery redhead who had been the love of his life and irreplaceable. She had given him three sons, one of which fathered the lineage to Kane and Kaleb.

Two of his sons never made it beyond their teens. While he and his eldest were seeing to his troops one day, his castle had suffered a great fire, destroying an entire wing. His mate and sons had not survived. To this day, Vlad continued to suspect someone had deliberately set the fire that claimed his family, though he had never been able to prove his theory.

His oldest son had mated and continued his genealogy. Unfortunately, the witch had not embraced the lifestyle and chose to drive a pike through his heart as he slept. Vlad took great pleasure in impaling her, then seen to the needs his of grandsons. Life had not been an easy road, with Kane and Kaleb being the last of his surviving family.

After his mate had died in the fire, Vlad had lost the desire to love again. He had sequestered himself away in a self-imposed exile since it seemed those around him too often died. Thankfully, Kane and Kaleb had survived over the years, and did a damn good job at making him proud. They had turned out to be true leaders without any help or direction from him.

Now, Vlad lived a cushy life on Belize. He had left behind his life as a feared ruler long ago. Too damn much work. Not to mention it left idiots gunning for him. Nope, after he did his disappearing act, leaving his tomb empty, he opted for a life of comfort and peace. That wasn’t to say he had gotten soft. Hell, no. He was nothing like his lazy brother. On the contrary, he kept staff and the equipment on his island to keep him fit. He prided himself on working hard.

Some might call him arrogant, and they’d be right, but it wasn’t without merit. No man or vampire alive could take him in battle. Even without the added fitness and grueling schedule he kept to say fit, his vampire genes were the original, which meant no one could match his strength or stamina.

One of the women at his feet, a cute little ginger haired woman, stretched. She rolled to her backside, then righted herself, a saucy smile pasted on her face. She teased one of his toes. Her gaze traveled up his thighs to his flaccid cock. Her tongue darted out, wetting her lower lip, as she caught his gaze.

Vlad frowned, making her full lips dip.

Her forefinger indicated his penis. “Somebody needs a little loving.”

Raising a brow, Vlad shook his head. “What I need is you to be on your way and to take them with you.”

Her hand smoothed up his shin, over his knee, and to his inner thigh. Her movement stirred the other two women. Unfortunately, his hunger had been filled … both hungers. The twin puncture wounds healing on her neck, soon to be invisible. He was no longer in the mood to entertain.

“Surely, you don’t mean—”

“Oh, but I do. Time to take your friends and be on your way.”

The blonde crawled up his legs, apparently not very good at listening, and fisted his penis, stroking it. It didn’t take much for his cock to stand up and take notice of the three women now crawling all over him.

Rather than achieving their desired effect, Vlad was more annoyed at the disregard to his command to get their clothes, and get the fuck out. He had never allowed his penis to rule his desires, and he wasn’t about to start now.

Before he had time to remove the women from his bed, his cell phone rang. Taking a quick peek at the lit face, he saw one name that sent his blood boiling.

Mircea.

Son of a bitch.

He disentangled himself from the bevy of beauties. Why the hell would his brother be calling him? The thought alone raised his irritation.

“Sorry, ladies, but I need to take this.” He grabbed his phone and headed for the bathroom, hitting
SEND
. “I trust you know your way out.”

Vlad shut the door behind him, before acknowledging his brother. “Mircea, to what do I owe the pleasure?”

“Surprised to hear from me?”

“Cut the bullshit, Mircea. Where the fuck are you?”

“Worried much?”

“What I am is damn annoyed.” The sound of the outside closing door told him the women had finally abided by his wishes. Still nude, he returned to his now empty bed and climbed aboard, reclining against the headboard once again. “I suggest you tell me where you are. If I have to come find you, I promise you I won’t be polite or accommodating.”

“Why worry about what I am up to? Maybe I got tired of the scenery.”

“And maybe you disobeyed my orders.”

“You’re not my boss, Vlad.”

“No, but I gave you immortality. Try my patience and I’ll take it away.”

“You already took Rosalee. I’d say you’ve taken quite enough with your petty vengeance.”

“Vengeance?” Vlad’s ire rose. “It was Rosalee who was hell-bent on vengeance, dear brother. She needed to be stopped.”

“And so you made yourself executioner.”

“Don’t make me take you out as well.”

He heard Mircea’s tsk. Vlad wished he could reach through the phone and cut the son of a bitch’s breath off.

“Why did you call, Mircea?”

“To tell you the next time, I’ll go after the kid.”

Heat rose up his neck. “You threaten a child?”

“You think you can protect your grandsons and their family. And yet I was close enough to take out one of their own.”

“You killed Joseph Sala?”

“Was that his name? Poor sap. But no.”

“No one detected you?”

“I was careful enough to stand downwind. Once the poor boy’s scent of his blood filled the air, it only aided in masking my presence. That’s why I am calling. Pay attention. If I wanted to take out one of the Sons, I wouldn’t bother with one of the lackeys. I would take out either Kane or Kaleb. Or the child if I so choose. The fact is, I have no desire to kill someone like the little fuck with curly hair. Where would the fun be in that?”

“What are you saying?”

“I’m doing you a favor. I’m letting you know there is another threat. I wasn’t the one with the rifle outside of the Rave. I was close enough to do so, but it wasn’t me. I was hoping maybe one of your grandsons would’ve made an appearance. No such luck. Let your grandsons know that I have no desire to take any of their band of brothers. And while you’re at it, tell Kane it’s his choice. Either him, Kaleb, or the baby who dies.”

“You go near them and I’ll personally rip off your balls.”

“You have to find me first.”

“Oh, I intend to.”

“Good.” Mircea chuckled. “I love a good chase. Have a great night, brother.”

The phone went silent in his palm. The son of a bitch had issued him a challenge. He’d need to keep a close eye on Kane and Kaleb, make sure Mircea never got close enough to cause harm to them or baby Stefan.

Vlad let out his breath. It appeared he’d be spending more time in Pleasant. He wasn’t about to leave with the threat of his grandsons’ lives hanging over his head. If Mircea so much as touched his kin, he would impale his sorry ass and watch him die slowly. He’d beg Vlad for mercy before his life bled from him. No one threatened him or his family without repercussions. Not even his own brother.

Anton removed his skull cap and hung it on the rubber hand grip of his Road King. The cloudless day and hot afternoon sun sent a trail of perspiration slipping down his spine. Running both hands through his sweat-dampened hair, he pushed the stray strands from his face and sighed. The morning weighed heavy on his conscience. He had crawled out of Kimber’s bed at the ass crack of dawn and had planned on heading down the coast. Plain and simple. He was anxious to get back to the Devils. If any of those fucks were responsible for what happened to his MC brother, there would be hell to pay.

He supposed it was the same reason for the impromptu meeting called by Cara Brahnam and her partner Detective Hernandez. Cara no doubt feared he’d be pissed enough to blow the whole case. On the contrary, he was now more determined than ever to see it through. Someone had singled out Joseph Sala and he wouldn’t put it past one of the Devils to have put out the hit. The fucker better pray Anton didn’t find out who, because he’d drain the asswipe of every last drop of his blood.

Kimber played about his thoughts as he waited at the predetermined meeting place. His dick semihardened just at the thought of how incredibly hot she had been, meeting his sexual hunger and then some. He had fucked her to the point of exhaustion and she had fallen asleep in his arms. Once the sun crested, he had slipped from the bed, trying his best not to disturb her. Last thing he needed was a whiney female begging him to stay when he’d had a job to do. To his surprise, she had barely stirred, mumbling something about hoping he didn’t mind if she got a few more hours of sleep. Kimber promptly rolled over and gave him her slender, bare back.

How the hell could a spine be so damn sexy?

The sheet had rested along the curve of her waist, stopping just above the cleft of her delectable ass. For the first time in his life, he found himself wanting to beg her to allow him to stay. Instead, he had pulled on his jeans, slipped into his boots, grabbed his vest and T-shirt, and exited the house. He had broken in far too easily the previous evening, which meant he needed to do something about her security before leaving town. Anton couldn’t chance someone with an axe to grind finding out about her, and using her in any way to get to him.

Like it or not, he cared for the little librarian more than he wanted to admit. Anyone wanting to hurt Kimber James would have to go through him first. She may not want his protection, let alone the intrusion, but she’d damn well get it.

The sound of an approaching vehicle brought his focus back to business. Cara’s black Charger kicked up a cloud of dust as she followed the curves of the dirt road, followed closely by a second vehicle. First he thought maybe her partner had driven separately, but he doubted the black Range Rover came with the job. So who the hell was invited in on the meet and greet and why wasn’t he told?