"Ahem."
Michael jerks his head up, and Sin looks at him apologetically. "Sorry, I scratched. It's your turn."
"I'm halfway tempted to forfeit."
"I don't blame you," Sin says, and winks at me.
I feel my cheeks warm. I can't deny he's charming, but he doesn't appeal to me in the same manner that Michael does. I watch as Michael strides over to the table, his long legs eating up the distance. There's a beauty to his movements—whether he's handling a cue or a stake—that comes from confidence and constant practice.
A few quick strikes and it's all over. We win. Michael starts racking up the balls for a rematch while Sin goes to the bar and returns with some lemonades. I take a sip, wrinkle my nose. There's something different about it. egan must have thought so, too, and said something to Sin, because I hear him say, "I had him add a special ingredient."
Vivi's eyes widen. "Booze? How did you talk him into that? We're underage."
He just grins and says, "I know how to get what I want."
"You're all about sin, aren't you?" she says with a giggle.
He puts his arm around her, draws her in, and kisses her. Based on the dazed look on her face when he pulls back, I think she found the kiss more intoxicating than the drink.
Time gets away from us as we play one game after another—and Vivi drinks one lemonade after another. When waiting for her turn, she leans against Sin like she can't stand up without his support. I see horrible flashbacks of the party where everything went wrong.
When Sin goes to take his shot, I scoot over to Vivi and whisper in her ear, "Don't forget what happened the other night."
"You worry too much."
"How are you getting home?"
"Sin, of course. Loosen up. Have some fun."
The last time I did that, we nearly lost our lives. If Victor hadn't shown up—
And then, as if I conjured him with my thoughts, I see him in the corner of the caféHe's watching me, and as soon as our eyes meet, he starts to walk toward us.
"Oh, no," I mutter.
"What?" Vivi glances in the direction I'm looking. Her eyes brighten and she smiles as he arrives. "Hi, Victor."
"Hello, Vivi." He looks at me. "Dawn."
I want to ask him if he's crazy. How can he just show up here again like he's … not a vampire? Michael is suddenly at my side, and I can feel the tension radiating off him. If he could, I think he'd mark me as his territory. Maybe he can, because his arm comes around me, clamping me to his side. The message is clear: She's with me. Sin looks up from the shot he was about to take, and I can see speculation in his eyes as he saunters over to join our awkward little group.
"Who are you?" Michael demands.
"Oh, this is Victor," I say, and make introductions.
"Dawn, I need to talk to you for a minute," Victor says.
"So talk," Michael says.
"Privately," Victor replies, clipping the word sharply and reminding me of his father and how he expects to be obeyed.
"I don't think so," Michael says, clearly shifting into protective mode. Maybe even a little jealous. Michael—" I begin, not certain how to reassure him, and hating that Victor has put me in this position. But before I can say more, Vivi speaks up.
"It's okay. It's probably Agency business. He's a Night Watchman." Her eyes go wide and she slaps her hand over her mouth. "Oops! I wasn't supposed to say that. I'm sorry, Victor, one special lemonade too many, I guess."
I can tell that Michael is conflicted. He doesn't like Victor, but if he's a Night Watchman—how can he not admire him?
"Uh, yeah, Vivi's right. Agency business. I'll just be a minute." I grab Victor's arm and herd him toward the hallway that leads to the restrooms. When we get to the dimly lit, empty hallway, I whisper harshly, "What were you thinking? Why are you here?"
"I need your help. I was waiting outside your apartment, got impatient, and came looking for you."
"Victor—"
"I need blood."
Anger explodes through me. I was so stupid, beginning to wonder if he was different: saving Vivi and me, caring about my encounter with Hoodie, giving me a stupid gift. Like all vampires, he was really after only one thing. "And you think I'm going to become your fang diva? I don't think so." There's a black market for blood donors. People who let vamps—for a fee—take blood directly from the source. Vampires claim that nothing compares to blood taken straight from the neck; as it passes through the still-beating heart it has a warmth and taste unparalleled to anything else. Many vampires protested the blood bank terms of VampHu for that very reason and try to find humans desperate for cash.
But those who serve as blood divas are ostracized. Arrested if caught. All blood donations are supposed to go through the Agency, where control is kept tight.
"Not from you. From the blood bank. About a dozen bags. I figure as a delegate you have access."
I do.
"Blood will be delivered to your father on Friday. Get it from him then."
"That'll be too late."
I don't see how it could be. Victor is vibrant, energetic. Hardly the image of a starving vampire. "You're just like him. Greedy, just wanting to drink all you can."
Disgusted, I turn to go and he grabs my arm. "Dawn—"Get your hand off her," Michael barks. I didn't see him arrive, but the fact that his stake is still holstered reassures me that he didn't hear the crux of the conversation.
The testosterone level is so high that I feel like it's battering me.
"Victor, please," I say, my voice low, because I know that if it comes down to a fight, he'll take Michael out.
"You force me to do what I don't want to," he says, his voice equally low. He releases me, spins on his heel, and strides down the hallway to the back exit. The door shudders with the force of him opening and closing it.
I want to rush after him, stop him. Is he going to attack someone, take blood by force? Have I condemned an innocent citizen? I should tell Michael and Sin. They could go after him, but I know by now that he's disappeared. They'd never find him. Besides, I don't want to put them in danger.
Michael wraps his arm around me. "You okay? You're trembling."
"I'm fine," I say, snuggling against him, finding reassurance in his strength.
"What the hell did he want?"
"Agency business. I can't talk about it." And even if I did, what would I say? There's a rogue vampire out there? I could tell the Agency about the theater, but I doubt Victor will be there tonight. All I can do is hope that the Night Watchmen are ever vigilant and Victor keeps to his no-blood-direct-from-a-human policy.
"Anything to do with last night?"
"No."
He furrows his brow. "Lot of secret stuff goes on at the Agency."
"Not really. Just seems that way."
"I'm not judging. I guess I just never realized how much of a burden it is to be a delegate. Maybe we should have run off with that trapeze troupe."
I laugh as Michael leads me back to the pool table, where Vivi and Sin are waiting.
"Let's really kick their butts," he says.
"You got it." And I'm grateful for anything to take my mind off Victor.