Vengeance (Night Roamers) Book Three (10 page)

“Waste of money, these things are. But that’s why we come here, right? To throw our money away and enjoy all that Sin City has to offer.”

“Right,” I replied, wishing he’d just go away.

He
took a sip of his drink. “Vegas, with all of its debauchery and wicked secrets. It lurks in every nook and cranny of this town.”

“I’m sure.”

He put a hand on my shoulder and I stiffened up. “I know what you are,” he slurred. “Make me one of you. Please?”

Shocked,
I pulled away from his grasp, and stood up quickly. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Please, get away from me.”

“Is this man bothering you?” asked a deep voice
standing behind me.

I turned to find one of the security guards, a tall man with a shaved head and tattoos on his arms.

“Yes, kind of,” I answered, grateful that help had arrived. Obviously
my
own help was nowhere in sight.

“
Sir, you’ll need to leave the casino,” said the security guard. 

The old man scowled. “I pay money at this hotel to use the casino. You can’t kick me out of here.”

The security guard’s lips thinned. “I’m only going to ask you one more time before I assist you myself. Leave the casino, sir.”

The old man waved
his finger and raised his voice. “I’m going to issue a complaint. I haven’t done anything wrong, and you’re threatening me?”

Crap, it seemed like everyone in the casino had stopped what they were doing to watch the show. I wanted attention, but not this kind. I kicked myself for not getting rid of
the old man myself, using charm.

The security guard grabbed the other man’s arm. “Let’s go.”

“Get your hands off me!” sputtered the man as he was ushered away.

Sighing, I sat back down at the machine
and glanced at the clock on the wall.

Eight o’clock.

Still early in the evening for Vegas.

I wondered if there was a full moon tonight and if it made the
Lycans stronger. As I thought about this, I felt a presence behind me. I turned around and sighed.

The guy who wanted to buy a drink for me earlier.

He sat down at the empty machine next to mine. “Pardon me,” he said, his brown eyes sweeping over me with appraisal. “You’re not using this machine, too, are you?”

He smelled of cologne and garlic, as if he’d just eaten. Oddly enough, it was the spicy cologne that nauseated me.

“No,” I replied, looking around again for Ethan or Duncan.

“Good. I’ve pissed off a lot of old ladies by sitting at their machines. One woman was playing three at once and I thought she was going to beat me over the head with her purse when I sat at one of them.”

“Well, I’m new at this, so one is quite enough for me.”

He smiled. “And,
you’re definitely not an old lady.”

I nodded
, and then returned my attention to the machine.

It amazed me that he still hadn’t taken the hint.

“I’m Jordan, by the way.”

“Hi,” I replied
, staring at the fruit. No wins yet. “I’m Nikki.”

“Short for Nicole?”

“Yep,” I answered, pushing in my next wager.

“So, are you here by yourself?”

Trying not to roll my eyes, I turned to him. “No, actually I’m here with my… fiancé.”

His eyes sparkled. “Your
fiancé? I’m surprised he hasn’t put a ring on your finger. I’m even more surprised that he’s left your side.”

I glanced down at my
hand, which was obviously ringless. “My ring is being repaired and my fiancé should be here soon,” I replied.

“A
fter that incident with the old man, I’ll keep you company until he shows. You’re too young and beautiful to be on your own.”

As annoying as he was, t
he compliment brought a smile to my face. “Well, thank you. I’ll be fine, however. I can take care of myself.”

“I’m sure you can,”
he said, reaching into his pocket. He pulled out his wallet and withdrew a photo. “Take a look at this.”

I turned towards the picture and my heart stopped. It was a picture of my brother, sleeping
in a bed I didn’t recognize.

He lowered his voice. “If you want to see him alive, I suggest you get out of that chair and follow me. If you signal your friends or make any kind of rash move
ment, not only will your brother be killed, but so will mom. Understand?”

“
Yes,” I replied, my voice shaky.

“Good,” he said. “Now,
this is what’s going to happen, I’m going to get up, and you’re going to follow me outside. There are others of us watching you, so don’t try and escape or call attention to yourself. I mean it when I say that your family’s life is hanging on by a thread, and it’s quite a thin one.”

“I understand,” I said, clenching my teeth. The arrogant smile was bad enough, but the threats on my family were
really pissing me off.

“Good,” he replied, standing up. “Now, don’t be long.”

I stared up at Jordan, wondering if I could take the jerk down and make him tell me where my family was. He was tall, but lanky, and didn’t seem
too
threatening.

“I’m not alone,”
he said quietly, as if reading my mind. “And looks can be very deceiving, can’t they?”

I clenched my jaw
.

He turned and began walking away.

Looking around the casino, I wondered again where the guys were, and decided that from now on,
I’d
be the one making the plans.

Not seeing them, I did the only thing I could do, and followed Jordan.
   

Max

After the three vampires
left, Maximus grabbed the bottle of whiskey out of his desk and took five quick shots. Closing his eyes, he reveled in the short-lived burning heat it brought to the back of his throat and down to the pit of his stomach. Less than two minutes later, however, his body had processed everything, and he was back to facing the shit-storm he knew was coming.  

Releasing a sigh, he
stood up.

No
time to rest.

T
hings were about to go down and that meant there’d be a mess for him to clean up when it was all said and done. Obviously, the girl and her friends were staying in Vegas, even with everything he’d told her. He only hoped she’d have a fighting chance. But, he knew better. No matter how strong these vampires were, they’d never survive an attack from Victor’s clan. They were crazed maniacs who killed without remorse, planning their attacks with brutal precision. When things finally went down, it was going to be ugly.

He thought
again about the haunted look in Nikki’s eyes, and wished he could help her, but it was too risky, and certainly not worth dying for. Not when he was planning his own vengeance against Victor. That would take patience, and exact timing.  Now was definitely not the right time.

His cell phone rang.

Rena.

“Yo,” he said into the phone
.

“Yo?” she chuckled
softly. “What are we, sixteen?”

He
pictured her sexy mouth pulled up into a smile and grinned. She made him feel sixteen. “Sorry, what’s up?”

“Where
are you?”

“I’m at the hotel.”

She sighed. “I’m surprised you haven’t sold yet and bought some island in the Bahamas.”

“
I’d never do that. I mean, I could. I’d just never be able to live with myself,” he replied. The truth was, most of the income he earned from the hotel was donated towards zoos, reserves, and animal shelters.

What could he say? He had a soft spot for animals.

“Your love of animals is amazing,” she replied. “You’re a better man than most, Maximus Johnson.”

In need of a better woman
, he wanted to say,
like her
.

U
nfortunately, even if she was into him, it would never happen. Although he’d been with a human in the past, the pain of watching someone age and eventually die was heartbreaking and intolerable. He’d tried it once, and it had left him feeling hollow for many years after. Deep down, he knew it was better to be alone than to drag a woman like her into his world. Not only was it dangerous, but it wasn’t fair for Rena or even her daughter, for that matter.

“Listen, meet me
at the Mandarin. We’ve got another homicide.”

“Shit.”

“Well, I’m almost positive that it’s our perp from the description of what was called in. I’m already on my way.”

“I’ll meet you there.”

“Okay.”

He
hung up, grabbed a nine millimeter Luger, and a handful of nickel-plated silver bullets. Something told him that they’d soon be coming in useful.  

***

Rena

Rena hung up the phone and tossed it on the seat next to her. Something bothered her about the way Max had reacted to the news, as if it hadn’t surprised him in the least. Hell, it shouldn’t even surprise her, now that they had a serial killer on their hands. But she knew Max had connections around the city and wondered if he was holding back information, and if so,
why
?

Don’t be a fool
, she told herself.
It’s Max.
He’s as law-abiding and unscrupulous as they came. Not only was he her partner, but the guy gave almost everything he made to charity. He was a saint.

She smiled at that.

Animal charity
.

She’d even checked it out herself.
So he was a little quirky? It didn’t matter to her one way or another. It was Max and she knew she could trust him indubitably. She could see it in his eyes. Not only was he a decent man, but it was obvious he had feelings for her that he kept restrained. Why he hadn’t acted on them was an even bigger indicator that the guy had a lot of integrity, and didn’t want to chance ruining what they already had. Not that
she’d
mind if he ever tried making a move. Not only was he kind and generous, but he was an amazing looking man with his dimples, corded muscles, and honey-colored eyes. She’d be lying if she said she hadn’t fantasized about him on one or two occasions. But, they were partners and she didn’t want to wreck their relationship any more than he did. The real mystery was – why a gorgeous man like that was still single and alone? He’d never mentioned a girlfriend, lover, or even a one-night stand, and she’d told him everything about her pitiful love-life. Of course, he was a guy and they weren’t as loose-lipped with their relationships. Still, it was a shame that a guy like him was single and alone.

Maybe she should try setting him up?

The thought of him with one of her friends didn’t settle well either. She obviously couldn’t date him, but she wouldn’t help him get laid, either.

What did that say about
her
?

“That you’re a selfish bitch,” she said out loud.

Regardless, she trusted him. He had her back and if he was holding out on something, he was more than likely waiting for the right moment to say something. Or, maybe he was just trying to protect her. Either way, they were partners and good friends. She trusted him with her life.

***

Max

When Max arrived at the scene, Rena was waiting, a deeply disturbed look in her eyes.

“You
holding up okay?” he asked, resisting the urge to pull her into his arms. The grisly crime scenes
had
to be getting to her. 

She cleared her throat.
“Yeah, why?”

He reached over and pulled a strand of hair from her lips.
“You look pale.”

She
exhaled heavily. “This one is pretty fresh, and for some reason, personally more disturbing than the others. I guess the vic kind of reminds me of Carl.”

“Who
is it?” he asked, staring past her towards the two CSI technicians, who were also working the scene.

She glanced down at her notes. “Sixty-four
-year-old man from Florida. Retired golf pro, Haden Larsen. Vacationing with his wife, Marilyn. Apparently she was downstairs in the casino when the crime occurred. Playing Blackjack and sipping vodka sevens.”

“She sober?” he asked.

“She is now.”

Max walked to the bed where the older man was lying, naked and very much mutilated
, just like all the others. It looked like someone had not only clawed the man to death, but had also removed his manhood, placing the mangled piece of flesh next to the body.