When A Lioness Snarls (A Lion's Pride Book 5) (15 page)

But perhaps the slurping wasn’t any better. He noted how Luna initially went stiff then softened, her eyelashes fluttering, in a sense acquiescing to the assault.

That more than anything snapped him out of his stupor because he knew Luna would never willingly allow this to happen. Jeoff yelled as he darted forward, only to watch in frustration as the bat dude launched himself into the air, a limp Luna clutched to its chest. He took aim and fired, aiming for the wings, wings that flapped, meaning the bullet missed.

Mocking laughter from the creature fueled his rage, but it was seeing the bat dude fly off, a limp Luna in tow, that saw Jeoff let loose a howl that echoed. He yelled a bestial cry of rage at his impotence. Wearing four feet or two, it didn’t matter, he couldn’t chase the winged enemy down. With his enemy taking the air, he didn’t even have a trail to follow.

That beast is getting away with my woman.

The realization galled. How could he keep her safe if he had no way of knowing where the monster took Luna? But he’d wager he knew who had. Someone at the club was involved. He stared over the parapet, noting a line of taxis out front as patrons took their leave, some of them too tipsy to drive. He also noted Charlemagne standing out front, acting nonchalant. He didn’t buy it for a minute. Charlemagne might not have been the one who kidnapped Luna, but he knew something.

Hunt him down. Grab him by the neck and shake him until he talks.

It seemed like such a bold and wonderful plan, but it would also probably assure Luna’s demise. That kind of primal mentality wouldn’t help Luna.

Can it, furball.
He sent a mental poke at his wolf because he could feel his raging beast pushing at the boundaries that kept him caged. Usually well behaved, his wolf was practically frothing, out of its mind and trying to take control of their body.

He understood its frustration. Luna was gone, and he had to find her, but to do so, he needed a location. Jeoff peeked down at the club. The club that seemed to be involved in everything.

My gut says Charlemagne is aware of what is going on, and he is going to damned well spill it.
But he might need some help, especially since the man stepped back inside, surrounding himself with walls and probably a security force.

Despite the snarling prod of his wolf that demanded they go after Charlemagne, he did the right thing and put in a call to Arik first.

“What happened?” was the first thing Arik asked.

Both Jeoff and his wolf hung their heads in shame as they admitted their failure. Tonight, there was no roar from the pride leader, just a cold, quiet promise. “Tonight, we hunt.”

The lions would not sleep tonight, not until Luna and her captor were found.

Showing patience after the phone call didn’t come easy. The usually meticulous Jeoff wanted to rush into that club and start shaking people for answers. His rational self kept reminding he was outnumbered.

Those guarding the corners and the main door of the club saw him. It wasn’t as if he hid himself. Jeoff planted himself right across from the club, leaning against the shuttered warehouse and staring at the door. He kind of hoped Charlemagne would emerge. While lots of humans did, most of them protesting the early curtailing of their evening activities, of the man he sought, not a sign. Some of those evicted chose to linger, the stream of smoke from their cigarettes hazing the air and masking scent. Did Luna’s kidnapper walk amongst them? Was he already too late?

Why do we wait?
A wolf might show the patience to stalk, but in this instance, it pushed at him to do something. Anything.

He couldn’t act rash—even if he longed to cast off the chains of civility. He could only wait for reinforcements—the more, the merrier—to improve Luna’s odds.

Lucky for him, Luna had lots of friends. The cavalcade of cars pulled up, a serious-looking brigade of high-end vehicles that spilled a mostly golden army. Varying in height and size, the tawny legion took over the sidewalk with the occasional dark and red hair adding a spot of color.

As Arik, with a toss of his golden mane, stepped from a pimped-out black SUV, Jeoff pushed off from his spot against the wall. The pride’s vain leader had been growing out his locks since the mishap with the hairdresser—who was now his wife. Rumor had it she was carrying the next heir, but then again, the lionesses were convinced everyone who packed on a few pounds was pregnant.

Joining Arik were Hayder and Leo, the pride’s beta and omega, here to provide support for one of their own. The other vehicles spilled mostly lionesses, the pride’s true hunters and a fierce force when riled. Jeoff recognized more than a few like the cocoa-skinned Reba and the red-haired Stacey. He could almost guarantee they came because they wanted to. No need to order this crew to do their job. Lions were fiercely loyal, especially in this pride, the bonds that held them together under Arik’s rule the strongest, or so Jeoff had heard.

Yet, it wasn’t just friendship and loyalty drawing them to help. A hint of violence tinged the air, the one sure lure to bring the ladies. They did so love a good bar fight.

As the ladies of the pride commandeered the sidewalk, those straggling outside the building, having a cigarette and waiting for a cab, scattered. Smart people. No one wanted to get in the way of a golden wave.

Jeoff crossed the street to greet Arik and his entourage.

“Have you seen anything?” Arik asked with a glance at the club.

“Nothing.”

“Are we sure Charlemagne is in there?”

“No.” Jeoff could watch only one door at a time.

“But you’re convinced he knows what took Luna?”

“Yes.” Call it gut instinct or desperate hope. Charlemagne was the only thing Jeoff had that might give him a clue as to Luna’s whereabouts.

“Good enough for me.” Arik strode toward the door, only to have the two bouncers manning it close in to form a barrier before it.

The bigger of the two blocked his path. “We are not taking any more guests for the night.”

A golden brow tilted. “Are you denying me passage?”

Arms crossed over chests seemed to be the reply.

Jeoff almost laughed because he knew what would happen next. Arik twitched his fingers, and with a slinky grace only felines could achieve, the lionesses strutted forth.

“Since I don’t lower myself to taking care of minions…” Arik sniffed. “Ladies, would you mind?”

Before the guys blocking the way could react, a lioness contingent swarmed them. Poor bastards.

Jeoff and Arik spent a moment watching the fight.

“They are faster than humans. Shifter fast,” Arik observed as one of the fellows managed to clip Reba—it only served to enrage her.

“And scentless.”

“Strange. I wonder if that is part of their camouflage system,” Arik mused aloud.

“Doesn’t explain the biting.” Jeoff couldn’t get it out of his mind.

“Maybe they’re vampires.” Hayder interjected. “They like to suck necks, don’t they?”

They all winced as Stacey wound up a knee and sank it into the smaller bouncer’s nut sac.

“Vampires don’t exist,” Leo muttered.

“Neither do bat dudes,” Jeoff retorted.

Reba clocked the big guy in the face, and as he staggered back, Joan stuck her foot out and tripped him. Moments later, the doorway into the club was clear.

“Shall we?” As leader of the pride, Arik wasn’t allowed to lead the way in, not because they feared for his safety, because they all knew Arik could take care of his own skin. But by sending his soldiers ahead, he sent a message—
I am important
. As Arik had once explained to Jeoff, sometimes it wasn’t about actual strength, but the impression of it that proved most important.

With the path clear, the lionesses pushed and shoved to get through the door first, determined to tackle any danger waiting. Clear disappointment shone on their faces as they penetrated the first ring and encountered nothing.

The outer vestibule vibrated as the club still rocked the tunes, catchy with a lively bass. The pulsing beat had no effect on him this time. As if he would dance while Luna was in danger.

The pride flowed through the next set of doors and bypassed the coat check area right into the club proper. They spread out across the dance floor, commandeering the space and surrounding the few remaining humans. A few too many witnesses for what might happen. The humans had to go, and in a way that didn’t leave a mark.

To help in that process, Stacey took over the DJ booth. The music came to a sudden stop. In the void left behind, people asked, “What happened? Where’s the music?”

Microphone in hand, Stacey waved from behind the booth’s window as she spoke huskily to the crowd. “Sorry, folks. Department of Health here for a random inspection. We ask that you kindly grab your coats and leave in an orderly fashion.”

It might have worked if some smartass hadn’t yelled, “It’s a raid!”

The horde of lions watched with no little disdain as the humans rampaged for exits. Apparently, more than a few were concerned about getting nabbed in the raid. As for Jeoff, he would never understand the allure of mind-altering drugs.

You drink beer.

Totally different thing. And, yeah, he was okay with being a hypocrite.

The antics of the fleeing humans did not concern him. He did note that a few non-pride shifters already in the club, while keeping to the outskirts, remained behind. Apparently, they thought they should bear witness to what happened next.

What happened next was the club emptied, leaving only those who could swap into fur behind. Not even a single employee could be seen or smelled. Jeoff didn’t like it. Where had everyone gone? Surely they hadn’t fled like yellow-bellied cowards?

Arik planted his hands on his hips and bellowed, “Gaston Charlemagne, you are summoned by the king of this city. Show yourself.” As pompous announcements went, Arik got just the right note of arrogance.

But no reply was forthcoming.

“Are you sure he’s still here?” Arik asked, frowning.

“Yes.” Jeoff’s gut insisted. “But apparently, he’s got this thing about dealing with what he terms animals.”

“Who’s an animal?” Leo asked.

“Apparently, you in bed. Your woman isn’t shy about sharing details.” Hayder made a clicking sound and added a wink-wink, nudge-nudge motion.

Despite Meena’s open ways, Leo still managed a heightened color of embarrassment. “Don’t believe a word she says.”

“Who cares if Leo’s the man in the bedroom? We should spread out and find Charlemagne,” Reba snapped.

“How are we supposed to find him if he doesn’t stink?” Hayder queried.

“Tear the place apart. If he’s in here, we’ll find him.”

Apparently, the threat of destruction was enough to draw attention. “Do you mind not sending your feline goons to destroy my place of business? As it is, your antics have cost me revenue for my coffers this evening.” At the words spoken amidst them, more than one lion fanged, their inner beast pushing for dominance and baring teeth. Arik and his inner circle were the only ones to remain unaffected—or faking it super well. Cats were known masters at the art of nonchalance.

Jeoff didn’t react much, given he had half expected a dramatic entrance. Still, though, how the fuck did the guy just waltz into the middle of them with no one noticing? And where did he get the balls to do that? Only the suicidal would put themselves amidst some riled lions.

“You are Charlemagne, I take it.” Arik perused him head to toe. “Nice suit.”

Indeed, gone was the casual wear of the morning. Charlemagne now wore a fitted suit, which gave him a certain elegance that put them all to shame.

“I don’t think you came to discuss the perfect form of my garments. State your business and leave.” The slightly accented words were spoken with utmost confidence.

Perhaps that worked with other people, but now he was dealing with lions. Arrogance was Arik’s middle name. The lion king prowled around Charlemagne, who, to his credit, didn’t stiffen or turn, even when the predator paced behind him.

Returning to a spot in the front, Arik stopped. “Jeoff tells me you know of our kind.”

“Yes, I know all about your animal kingdom and don’t particularly care. The affairs of animals do not concern me.”

“And perhaps that was an acceptable attitude wherever you emigrated from, but here”—Arik smiled, the cold grin of a predator—“we have rules. My rules.”

“What do I care of your rules?”

“You should care because this city is mine. I own it, and that means you have to obey. And one of the rules says if you’re not human, then you report to me.”

“What makes you think I’m not human?”

More than one snort of disbelief echoed, Arik’s loudest of all. “Let’s not play this game. I know you’re not human.”

“Perhaps not, and yet I can assure you that I don’t share my mind with some primal creature.”

“Are you trying to claim you’re not related to that bat dude?” Jeoff pressed.

“Bat dude?” Rich laughter flowed from Charlemagne, velvety smooth and tickling the senses. More than one person shifted at the sound. “I rather like that and might use it. And, to answer your question, I am not a whampyr.”

“A wham what?” Hayder asked.

“Whampyr. That is what you call servants with certain abilities.”

“Servants for who?”

The smug grin on Charlemagne’s face could have rivaled Arik’s.

All it did was annoy Jeoff. “They serve him, obviously. But the more important thing is if he knows what they are then that means he knows who took Luna.”

“A whampyr took the female I met this morning?” Charlemagne’s expression switched from mocking to serious. “When? Where?”

“Almost right across the street from the rooftop we were staked out on.”

“Abducted in plain sight? Unacceptable.” Charlemagne whirled and snapped his fingers. A big brute drifted down from the ceiling, large stone gray wings slowing his descent. It seemed Jeoff wasn’t the only one who’d missed him perched overhead. A bunch of the lionesses crouched and rumbled with discontent.

“Milord has orders?” the big dude asked.

“Head count. Now. I want to know who is missing.”