DARK ANGEL'S SEDUCTION Page 2

Callie had had her nails done exactly once. For her wedding. “Don’t I need an appointment?”

  “Nah. You’re with me. Get ready. I’ll come get you in half an hour. And wear flip-flops if you want your toes done too.”

  “Thanks. You’re awesome.” Not having a car was a drag. She was lucky Miri didn’t mind picking her up.

  Dressed in a pair of old faded jeans, a plain T-shirt, and flip-flops, Callie waited for Miri’s call. She was excited. Since Dawn had left for MIT, Callie hadn’t done anything fun with a friend.

  When the call came, she ran down the stairs taking two at a time, her flip-flops making a ruckus that echoed through the stairwell.

  “Are you going to get acrylics?” Miri asked as Callie got in. “They are durable.” She wiggled her fingers, tapping the steering wheel to demonstrate how tough her nails were. This week it was butterflies—a different one for each nail.

  “I think I’ll start with a manicure and a clear nail polish.”

  Miri smirked. “A nail virgin, eh?”

  “No, but almost. I had them done once. For my wedding.”

  “You’re married?”

  “Not anymore.”

  “High five, sister.”

  They clapped palms.

  “What about you?”

  Miri shrugged. “I dumped my boyfriend’s sorry ass after three years of living together. Got tired of watching him sit around the apartment and do nothing, while I worked and paid the bills and did everything else. Supposedly, he was pursuing his true calling.” She rolled her eyes, making air quotes with her fingers while holding the steering wheel with her thumbs.

  “What was it?” Callie asked.

  “His true calling? He claimed it was music. But the only thing he excelled at was bumming, while I was the idiot enabling him. Took me three fucking years to get smart and realize that the motherfucker was using me.”

  With a screech of tires, Miri turned into a parking spot that had just been vacated.

  The salon occupied a corner of a tattoo shop and had only one beautician. A woman who was covered in even more tattoos than Miri, displaying them proudly by wearing a muscle shirt and shorts.

  “Hey, Lisa, can you squeeze in a manicure for Callie here before your next appointment?”

  “What’s up, Callie?” Lisa smiled before turning back to Miri. “Depends on what you have in mind for today. If it’s something elaborate then no.”

  Miri plopped down on a chair and pointed for Callie to sit next to her. “I’m in a patriotic mood. Stars and stripes. That shouldn’t take too long.”

  “Then yeah.” Lisa put a folded towel over her workstation.

  Sitting sideways and facing Callie, Miri offered Lisa her hand. “So, what’s the story with you and Donnie?”

  What? That came out of nowhere.

  “Donnie the bouncer? Nothing.”

  “You spend all your breaks outside with him. And I know that he walks you home sometimes. I was wondering if you guys had something going on.”

  “I go outside to give my eardrums a break from the hellish sound levels in the club. Not to hang out with Donnie, although he is a nice guy and I enjoy his company. But he is only a friend. Nothing more.”

  Miri narrowed her eyes at Callie. “What about when he walks you home? Do you ever invite him to come in?”

  “No, I don’t.”

  The girl wasn’t buying it. Her eyes were still full of suspicion. “Why not? You’re single, and you think he is cool. Not too shabby to look at either.”

  Aha. So that was the reason Miri had invited her to come have her nails done. Not because she wanted to be friends, but because she wanted to grill Callie about Donnie.

  Barely stifling a laugh, Callie crossed her arms over her chest and returned Miri’s glower. “I think someone has a crush on our hunky bouncer.”

  Miri waved her free hand. “Your lingo is so high school. No one over eighteen calls it a crush.”

  “What do they call it then?”

  “Doesn't matter. I think he’s hot. Don’t you think?” Miri was still fishing.

  “I think he is a great guy, and he is all yours. The only reason he walks me home is that Brun… I mean Brad asked him to. Franco walks me home too. Do you think I have something going on with him as well?”

  Miri shrugged. “Some girls like variety. I don’t judge.”

  Yeah, right. “Well, I don’t. One is more than enough for me.”

  “And who’s that one?”

  Wasn't it obvious? Or was Miri playing dumb to have Callie admit it?

  Whatever, she had no reason to hide their involvement. Brundar hadn’t told her to keep whatever was going on between them a secret. He might have implied it by ignoring her at the club, but she could play dumb as well as the next girl. The bottom line was that she needed someone to talk to, and Miri was the only one available. Even if she had her own agenda.

  “Brad.”

  Miri’s eyes widened. “I heard rumors, but I didn’t believe them. You have the hots for the Grim Reaper?”

  Ouch, what a nasty nickname. “You know how it goes. The heart wants what the heart wants. It might not make sense to anyone else, but he is the only one I’m interested in.”

  “Poor girl.” Miri reached with her free hand and patted Callie’s knee. “He is a looker, I’ll give him that. And I hear he is good with the whip. So I guess he appeals to a certain type. I just didn’t think you were into that stuff. You sure don’t look it with your innocent girl-next-door looks.”

  “Kinky,” Lisa butted in, which earned her a hard stare from Miri.

  Callie felt her cheeks heat up. “I’m not.” She shivered just thinking about it. “Not whips and stuff like that.”

  Miri smirked. “I don’t judge, girl.” She lifted her tattoo-covered arm. “It’s not like I don’t get it. I don’t do tats just for the ink.”

  “You don’t?”

  Lisa snorted. “Nope.”

  They were both weird. “I have no idea what you’re trying to say, but whatever. Brad helped me a lot while expecting nothing in return. In my book, it makes him a good guy. He might appear cold and indifferent, but I think it’s only a mask to hide who he really is inside.”

  Miri lifted a pierced brow. “And what if it isn’t? What if what you see is what you get? Would you still want him?”

  Callie didn’t need to think about it. The answer was instantaneous. “Yes.”

  Lisa shook her head, while Miri made a show of mock crossing herself. “May God have mercy on your soul, my child.”

  CHAPTER 3: RONI

  “Goodnight, Roni.” Mildred kissed his forehead. “Are you sure you don’t want us to stay with you?”

  She was such a sweetheart.

  His handler and his wife had spent all day sitting in Roni’s hospital room. Barty was there to keep an eye on him, making sure he didn’t get his hands on a computer, but Mildred was there because she cared.

  What did his bosses think he could do? Hack the Pentagon from his hospital bed?

  Maybe. If he had a reason to.

  Even feverish with pneumonia and weak like a newborn, Roni could still wreak havoc if allowed access to the Internet.

  The paranoia was justified.

  After all, the government had been holding Roni captive for years and he had a score to settle. But even if he had the opportunity, he wouldn’t hack the system with malicious intent. To use the backdoor he’d programmed, he needed the system up and working fine.

  Roni patted her hand. “I’m sure. Besides, you have to go. Visiting hours are over.”

  The bossy bird of a nurse had informed them that everyone needed to leave. Sylvia was allowed to stay only because Roni had told everyone who cared to listen that she was his fiancée.

  Rising to his feet, Barty hiked his pants up. “I’ll be back tomorrow morning, kid. If you need anything, you can call me. Jerome is just outside your door. You can ask him to make the call.” He clapped Roni on the shoulder, so gently th
at it was almost a pat.

  God, he was going to miss the old jerk and his kindly wife.

  “Yeah, okay. See you tomorrow morning,” Roni said, his voice quivering a little.

  The fever was making him mushy. That’s what it was. Because no way in hell would he shed a tear because that old asshole and his wife, who really was a sweetheart, were leaving and he wasn’t going to see them ever again.

  Once they were finally gone, Sylvia’s crew would arrive and spring him free.

  In the long hours he’d been waiting for Barty and Mildred to leave, Roni had made up his mind. It was a no-brainer. To stay meant that he would keep doing what he loved doing but have no life. To go with Sylvia, even with no chance of ever turning immortal, still meant doing what he loved doing, but with perks.

  Either way, he would be a prisoner.

  As long as the immortals kept him pampered and Sylvia warmed his bed, he didn’t mind never leaving their lair, or whatever they called their home. As it was, he spent most of his days in front of monitors, and it didn’t really matter to him where he was doing it.

  “Thank the merciful Fates.” Sylvia let out a breath. “I thought they would never leave.”

  “Yeah. I’m ready to get going.”

  “I’m glad you decided to take the chance.” Sylvia sounded relieved.

  Good, it meant she wanted him even as a human, but he needed to make sure. “What happens if I don’t turn?”

  She looked away. “I’m not sure. Normally, someone who is really good at thralling would get into your head and make you forget everything you’ve learned about us. But I’m hoping our regent would allow you to stay. First of all, because we need you, and second of all because I doubt anyone would dare mess with that brilliant brain of yours—it’s too valuable. And if that’s not enough to convince him to let you stay, I’m going to plead and beg and do whatever I can until he does.”

  Roni took her hand. “You really care about me.”

  “Of course, I do, dummy.”

  He smirked. “Hey, a minute ago you called me brilliant.”

  “You’re both. But seriously, you know that if you stay with us as a human, it’s like a life sentence. You can never leave.”

  “As long as I have you, I don’t mind. It’s not like I want to go anywhere without you.”

  A tear slid down Sylvia’s cheek. “Don’t give up yet. I’m not. I’m going to implore the Fates every day all day long until they get sick of hearing my prayers and turn you. I don’t want to watch you get old and die. I can’t.”

  He squeezed her hand. “I’m not giving up. I don’t care if I have to let all the males of your clan take turns beating me up and biting me until it happens.”

  It wasn’t an idle promise. For Sylvia, Roni would even face that Brundar dude Andrew thought was so mean and scary. One of the males must have the right venom composition to turn him. Because there was no way Roni wasn’t a Dormant. Not with his grandma surfacing decades after her supposed death by drowning, looking not a day older than she did at twenty-five.

  Sylvia nodded and squeezed his hand back. “That’s the spirit. Never give up, never surrender.”

  “I’m with you, baby. Call your posse.”

  Pulling out her phone, Sylvia sent the text.

  “What about Jerome?” Roni asked.

  The guy knew him well, which meant it wouldn’t be easy to thrall him to forget why he was there, and who he was guarding.

  “We will take care of him.”

  “You’re not going to do anything to him? Right? I like the guy.”

  With a smile, Sylvia leaned and kissed his cheek. “I wish everyone got to see this side of you. Underneath that prickly exterior, you’re a nice guy.”

  Roni shifted up, making himself more comfortable. “Don’t read too much into it. I don’t want to see Jerome hurt, but that doesn’t make me a good guy. I’m not violent, that’s all.”

  Sylvia patted his arm. “Yeah, yeah, keep telling yourself that. Anyway, one of the guys is going to thrall him to believe that his shift is over and someone is coming to replace him.”

  “He is not going to leave his post until his replacement arrives.”

  “Don’t worry about it. He’ll be convinced it’s okay to leave. Let me just send them a text with instructions.” Her fingers flew over the screen.

  “Why does it have to be one of the guys? Can’t you do it?”

  Sylvia shrugged. “I can, but I don’t have as much practice. The guys do it all the time. Once they bite a woman, which they do almost every time they have sex, they have to make her forget the fangs. Immortal females don’t have such problems. We don’t bite. Much.” She winked.

  “Good. Because I don’t think I would’ve liked being a pincushion, even for your cute little fangs. Those fuckers hurt.”

  “I don’t know about that. Supposedly, the ladies enjoy it very much.” Her eyes lit up the way they did when she was turned on.

  Good. Because for some reason, being the one doing the biting sounded way more sexy than being the one bitten. If Sylvia didn’t share his opinion, Roni would’ve felt guilty about having such seemingly misogynistic thoughts. “I hope you’ll find out soon.”

  “I do too. But even if you turn tonight, it will take up to six months for your fangs to become fully operational.”

  “Bummer.”

  She waved a hand. “I can wait.”

  Hopefully, she wouldn’t end up waiting for nothing.

  “Tell me more about where I’m going. If I’m to spend the rest of my life locked up, at least I hope to spend it in luxury.”

  Her smile wilted, but then she put a brave face on. “You will. And the lockup is only temporary. We are building a new place that has large open areas. It’s going to be ready in a couple of months. You won’t have to spend all of your time indoors.”

  He chuckled. “You forget who you’re talking to. Hackers are like vampires. We shun the sun and lurk in our lairs.”

  “I’m not going to let you do that.”

  “Oh, yeah?”

  “Yeah. You’re going to eat right, move your ass every couple of hours, and spend at least an hour a day outdoors. Even if you don’t turn, I’m going to make sure you live long and prosper.”

  He loved when Sylvia made Star Trek references, and more than that he loved that she cared. Still, he had an image to protect.

  Roni glowered at her, pretending to be mad. “I’m not even there yet, and you’re already bossing me around?”

  “Trouble in paradise?” Anandur sauntered into the room accompanied by a freaky looking dude who was more handsome than humanly possible.

  “Yamanu at your service.” He offered Roni his hand.

  “Roni.” He shook it, hypnotized by the guy’s pale blue eyes and singsong voice. “You’re the thrall master, right?”

  “Very astute observation,” Anandur replied. “Get dressed. We are moving out.” He handed Roni a plastic bag.

  Glancing at the various tubes and monitoring wires sticking to him, Roni wondered how he was supposed to manage that.

  “I’ll unhook you,” Yamanu offered.

  With fingers that were much gentler than their size implied, Yamanu had Roni unplugged from everything, while Sylvia took care of the equipment with her special magic, so none of it sounded the alert.

  His girlfriend had some impressive skills.

  A few minutes later, they left the hospital room. Yamanu and Sylvia stepped out first, with Yamanu making sure no one spared them a second glance, while Roni and Anandur trailed behind with him leaning heavily on the big guy.

  Roni would’ve felt better about starting this new phase of his life walking unaided, but in a way, it was symbolic of the future awaiting him. As a hacker, he’d always worked alone, and as a prisoner, he’d lived alone.

  But from this day onward, he’d have to learn to work with others while living with an entire clan.

  CHAPTER 4: CALLIE

  While waiting for Mi
ri to fill her drink order, Callie leaned on the bar and observed the crowd. Another couple had just disappeared into the side corridor, on their way to the basement. Something was going on down there tonight.

  Were they having a party?

  “There is a lot of traffic today.” She pointed her chin in their direction.

  Miri put two drinks on Callie’s tray. “It’s Wednesday.”

  “So?”

  “Demonstration day. Must be something super interesting to attract so many.”

  “I wonder what it’s about.” Callie lifted the tray.

  “Who knows?” Miri leaned closer, her chest almost touching the bar. “Maybe your boyfriend is demonstrating whipping techniques?”

  “Ha, ha,” Callie chuckled while nervously glancing around. “He is not my boyfriend,” she whispered.

  “Right.”

  After delivering the drinks, Callie stopped by a couple of tables and collected new orders.

  “I’m dying of curiosity.” She handed Miri the tickets. “Do you think they will let me watch during my break?”

  Miri shrugged. “You can ask your boyfriend. He is the boss and what he says goes.”

  Good idea. If she could find him. When she’d gotten to work, Brundar was already down in the basement, and he hadn’t surfaced yet.

  Was he busy?

  Or was he avoiding her?

  She had a strong suspicion it was the second one.

  Coward.

  If he didn’t want to hook up with her anymore, all he had to do was say so. This hide and seek game was ridiculous.

  Callie felt her cheeks heating up, but this time it was anger and not awkwardness that was causing the blush. She’d give him another hour, and if he didn’t come up by then, she would call him, using the emergency number he’d given her.

  The hour was almost up when Callie spotted Franco emerging from the side corridor. Pushing people out of her way, she rushed over to him.

  “Franco! Wait up!” she called as he opened the door to the supply room.

  On the other side of it was the employee entrance, and if she didn’t stop him, he would leave before she had a chance to talk to him.

  Holding the door opened, Franco turned and scanned the crowd for his caller.