Blood and Sand (29 page)

“One, you’re asking almost as many questions as me now; I’m so proud. And two, sometimes people’s motivations for crime don’t make sense. Sometimes…” Her voice fell. “…they can seem downright crazy. Or there is no purpose. No reason. I’ve seen that, too. You really think these murders are linked to some big conspiracy?”

“They’re either linked, or it’s a hell of a coincidence. Elixir just happens to show up in Mexico, and Ivan just happens to lose a waitress who’s been taking it, who just happens to show up dead near my sire’s casino? I don’t believe in coincidences like that. Hopefully, we’ll find out more tonight.”

She had forced him to take her when she heard he was going out to the casino again. It was time for the regular monthly meeting that Rory would have with the manager, and since Baojia wanted to talk to Tulio again, he thought they could investigate Rory’s involvement and speak to Tulio with one trip. Well, originally he had thought to do all that by
himself
, but she’d shown him the error of his ways and badgered him into taking her, too.

“…and you’re not going to wander off anywhere without me. No matter what you hear. Or see. Or suspect.”

“Yes, Commander George.”

“I like you so much when you’re cooperative, I’m going to ignore the sarcasm.”

She snickered. “You like the sarcasm.”

He didn’t say anything foay Ir a few moments, then he finally muttered, “Fine. I like the sarcasm.”

They arrived at the casino only minutes behind Rory, judging by the still-warm engine of his car. The driver was nowhere in sight. Baojia pulled a beanie onto his head and grabbed her hand. “Let’s go.”

Natalie tried not to laugh. He was wearing clothes he’d borrowed from Ben, of all people. The young man was tall for his age and between his wardrobe and Matt’s they had managed to make Baojia look much younger and more casual. He was wearing jeans and a tight grey T-shirt with skulls on it. A brown leather jacket and beanie completed the look of a young man out with his girlfriend for an evening of gambling and fun.

“You look so much younger without the badass black dress clothes.”

He tugged her hand and grinned. “I know. You’re such a cradle robber.”

Natalie threw her head back and laughed. “Thanks, George. It’s a good thing I’m a confident woman.”

He pulled her back and laid a heart-pounding kiss on her lips as Natalie tried to remain standing. He might have looked different, but his lips didn’t feel any less intense. His desire didn’t feel any different. She let out a soft sigh when he finally pulled away.

“You have every reason to be confident.”

“Good to know.”

His smiled dropped. “Now stay close. I doubt anyone is going to recognize me dressed like this, but I don’t want you out of my sight if we need to run.”

They walked in, and Natalie was immediately assaulted by the casino smell. The smoke wasn’t as bad as it used to be, but there was still the stale air and pervasive smell of cheap liquor and beer that seemed to seep from every surface of the building.

She heard him mutter, “I hate this place.”

“Too loud? You used to run a club.”

“And I hated it. Loud. Smelly. Too many people in one place.”

“Grumpy old man.”

His eyes narrowed on something she couldn’t see. “The grumpiest. I see Rory. And Luis. Poor kid. We’ll have to avoid him—he’ll recognize me.”

Baojia steered her toward the left, deftly avoiding the crowds as he made his way back toward a staff entrance. From his pocket, he pulled out a thick wallet and opened it. “Top card on the left side. Let’s hope they haven’t changed the codes.”

She pulled the card from the thick paper envelope that encased it. No doubt, the wallet and envelope were both necessary to protect the magnetic strip from the vampire’s natural electrical current. She quickly slid it into the lock and pulled the door open when the light lit green. Without a backward look, he slipped inside and she followed him, keeping her head up while glancing from the corner of her eye at the cameras which were sure to be following them.

“You’ve done this before,” he said softly, walking at the same confident pace she was.
 

“Breaking and entering? Half the trick is just looking like you’re not trying to hide what you’re doing. I wish I’d been able to get ahold of a waitress’s outfit.”

He shook his head. “No waitstaff allowed back here. Admin only.” He turned right, gently nudging her to follow him. “Hold on.” He stopped and waited near a water fountain. After a few moments, she saw him push the button and grab a handful of water, snaking it between his fingers in what almost looked like a nervous gesture.
 

“What are we—?”

“We’ll stop here. I can hear them. We’re close enough to the office now.”

“But
I
can’t hear them.” She tried to go farther, but he grabbed her.
 

“No. You’ll just have to trust my ears.”

She glanced between his hard eyes and the length of the hallway. Sighing, she gave up. She’d never get past him, and he was probably right. If he could hear, then it would be far safer to remain closer to the exit if they should happen to get caught.

“Fine, but what are they—”

“Shh.” He was already listening. Natalie crossed her arms and leaned against the wall, watching him. His face was a picture of concentration, his eyes narrowed, his forehead furrowed. The water continued to slip over and under his fingers before circling his wrist and traveling back to his palm as they stood idly in the hallway while Rory and the manager had their meeting. It was mesmerizing. She hardly noticed when a fine thread of it reached out and touched the end of her finger. Then she felt the sting of a small shock, like a burst of static electricity.

“Ow! How did you do that?”

“Pay attention,” he whispered with a grin.

“What are they talking about?”

He shook his head. “Nothing out of the ordinary. They’re almost finished. I doubted the casino manager would be involved in anything shady. He’s human and he really likes his job.”

“What’s the next step?”

He tossed the water back in the fountain, then nudged her back down the hall. “Let’s go play the slots.”

Natalie frowned. “You mean… you really want to gamble?”

“No, but the nickel slots have a good view of where Rory will exit. And I want to know if he meets with anyone else before he leaves.”

They left the staff hallway with no questions asked and wandered over to the slot machines until Baojia spotted two stools in the right location. He nodded toward them, but she pulled him back. “They’re occupied.”

“No, they’re not.” He walked over and laid a hand on the retired couple that looked like slot machines were their second career. Both leaned toward him a second, then abruptly stood to leave, taking their giant cups of coins with them. Natalie just shook her head and went to a change machine nearby.

“What are you doing?” he asked from the now free machines.

“Getting nickels. Nickel slots are the luckiest.”

She waited for the machine to spit out a ticket, then walked over to the machine and sat down.

“You know the odds on these, right? None of them are actually lucky.”

“Oh, be quiet and let me dream, George. I’m gonna hit it big on the nickel slots while we surveil the bad guys. I feel lucky tonight.”

He laughed but let her start to play without any other comment, his eyes already sweeping the room.

“So, the thing you did with the people sitting here? Kinda creepy.”

“I avoid using amnis to manipulate humans, but sometimes it is necessary. And most humans aren’t like you; they would rather be oblivious.”

She pulled the lever on the machine, hoping to make her twenty dollars last longer. “You did that to me?”

“Sort of.” He shook his head at the approaching cocktail waitress, and the woman walked away. “You had a much stronger reaction than they did.”

“You mean I tried to kiss trans you? Bet you’re glad that didn’t happen with those two.”

She heard him laugh as she played. She looked around, too. But other than Luis, who she spotted near the door Rory had gone in earlier, she didn’t recognize anyone. She couldn’t even spot any vampires. If they were enjoying the games, they blended in well. But then again, even with their slightly paler skin, they definitely could in this lighting.

Baojia sat next to her, ignoring the slot machine in front of him but running an absent hand up and down the small of her back. She tried not to melt into a puddle. He probably didn’t realize the ef
fect he had on her. Slow, steady, she wanted to take that hand and put it someplace far less appropriate, but she also didn’t want to get kicked out and arrested for public indecency, so her back was probably safer. She did, however, feel him tense when he recognized someone. She bit her lip and forced herself to remain looking at the slot machine.

“Who is it?” she asked under her breath. “Who did you see?”

“Well, isn’t that interesting?”

“Dammit, Baojia, what are you—”

“Told you I don’t believe in coincidences.”

Natalie looked up to see Rory shaking hands with a man she recognized from Bar El Ruso, and the smiling manager was ushering them over to a dark-paneled door.
 

“That’s not Ivan. Is that—?”

“Carlos. Now why on earth would my dear brother-in-law be having a meeting with Ivan’s right-hand monster?”

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Rory, Rory. What are you doing?

Baojia reached for Natalie’s hand and slid around the slot machines, trailing his brother-in-law and Ivan’s most trusted employee. Carlos was the one Ivan sent when he couldn’t meet personally but needed someone smart and loyal. Baojia had no idea why Carlos was so devoted to his boss, but they may have been related some way he wasn’t aware of. The two vampires headed for one of the private rooms in the back of the casino, closing the door just as Baojia turned the last corner.

Shit.

“There’s no way I’m getting in there.”

Natalie looked around. “Want me to find a waitress’s uniform?”

He felt his fangs fall at the idea. The insane way this woman was willing to run toward danger unnerved him. “Natalie, the only humans in that room aren’t going to be serving drinks. They’ll
be
the drinks. No. You’re staying with me.”

“Don’t get your panties in a bunch.” She pulled her hand away and leaned against the wall. “It was just a suggestion.”

“You have no sense of self-preservation.” He took her hand again and started toward the exit.

“That’s what I have you for. Preservation. Where are we going?”

“Back to the parking lot. I want to see what Carlos is driving and if anyone is with him.”

The casino was like a maze. A buzzing, flashing, clanging maze. How humans could stay in one for hours on end, he had never understood. They were walking down one long aisle of slot machines when Baojia saw Luis heading straight for them. In one smooth movement, he turned, pushed Natalie against the side of a machine, and kissed her.
 

Baojia let himself get lost for a moment. The taste of her, that faint taste of vanilla and mint from the gum she chewed,idt i he couldn hit him. His fangs lengthened, throbbing with the need to bite, take, possess. She didn’t push him away but pulled him closer, tugging on the lapels of his jacket as she met his desire with her own. One of his hands reached for the tangle of hair that drove him crazy. He grasped the red waves in his fingers and tugged, pleased to hear her breath catch as he felt her body react.

She met him, kiss for kiss. Touch for touch. She was perfect under his hands. A flash of her body rising to meet his was all he allowed before he pulled away, glancing over his right shoulder to make sure Luis had passed by the anonymous couple kissing in the casino.

“Did he see us?” Her voice was just a little breathy. Baojia turned back to her and smiled.

“How do you know I wasn’t just overcome with desire and had to kiss you right this minute?”

Natalie snorted and pushed on his chest, smiling as she started walking toward the exit again. “You? I don’t think you’re overcome by anything, Mr. Cool and Confident.”

“You might be surprised.” He reached over and took her hand again, acknowledging the indulgence to himself. He liked holding it, plus he knew she wasn’t wandering away from him when he did, so he could allow himself to enjoy it.

As they passed through the dark glass doors, he reached out with his senses to detect any stray trails of energy. Just like humans left a scent trail as they shed minute particles of skin and hair, vampires left a trail of their own. Each vampire had his or her own unique fingerprint that their amnis left. He didn’t know why or how, but he often thought if those trails were visible, they would each glow or reflect light at slightly different wavelengths. For now, he could focus on one signature. Carlos.

Knowing his target made it easier. Baojia had met so many immortals in his 129 years that it would be impossible to remember them all, even with the faster cognitive function vampires enjoyed. But knowing it was Carlos, whose trail he’d just caught in the casino, made following him much easier. Now to determine which vehicle in the sea of cars was his.