Blood Judgment (Judgment Series) (9 page)

Power and pleasure rushed through him. He lifted his head and licked his lips clean of her honey-sweet blood. He wanted more of her. But not until after… He dragged her deeper into the shadows. Renewing her efforts, she fought hard, yanking against him, scratching, and kicking. But her strength was nothing compared to his and he shoved her against the brick wall, pinning her.

Green eyes wide, she shook her head and whimpered.

Snarling, he hiked her short skirt up around her waist. His hand strayed to her crotch and stroked over her cloth covered center before grabbing her skimpy panties and tearing them away.

“Please don’t. Please.” She shuddered, but met his eyes.

He unzipped his pants and yanked one of her legs up to his waist, pinning her to him.

“Please, mister. I have a mate.”

“You were willing to whore for money.” He freed himself from his pants and leaned in against her.

“Please don’t.” She sobbed. “Please, I couldn’t get a job and no one will hire him. I didn’t have a choice.”

“Lying bitch.” He rammed inside her.

She cried out.

“Keep your fucking mouth shut and I might let you live.” He pumped hard and fast while she wept. He grabbed her breast and squeezed until she shrieked despite his threats to be quiet. “Shut up, bitch.”

She moaned and her knee buckled, throwing her against him.

On the verge of orgasm, he ripped her blouse aside and bit the creamy flesh above her bra, marking her with his signature. She screamed and pushed against him.

He moved to her throat, sinking his fangs in her again. He drank fast, stealing her life-force. She struggled briefly before her movements stilled. He rammed deep into her and, as she teetered on the edge of death, he exploded inside her.

When his shudders of pleasure ceased, he pulled out and dropped her limp body. His euphoria dissipated as he tucked himself back in his pants. No matter how good the kill, the thrill never lasted long enough.

Chapter Seven

BEHIND THE Bardwell Apothecary, hidden from public view, Sid Andrews and five of his men formed a fluid knot around a large, starved-looking male vampire.

The male hissed, though it was all show. The drugs in his system had him down and he wasn’t getting up any time soon.

As Robert Bird, Sid’s second-in-command, prodded the vampire with his boot, a man rounded the corner of the drug store and stopped. He gaped at the unfolding drama.

Unruffled, Sid dug his phone from his coat pocket and called his driver. “Pick up behind Bardwell’s.”

Mere seconds later, the van pulled into the rear parking lot, careened past the onlooker, and stopped behind Sid’s men.

Paul Cooper threw the rear doors open. Two others grabbed the helpless male and tossed him into an open cage. He landed hard and groaned.

“Damn it, be careful with him. Break one of his legs and you may as well put a bullet in his head for all he’ll be worth.” Sid admonished his men before focusing on the cautiously approaching stranger.

“What’s going on?” the youngish man asked.

Sid appraised him coolly. A kid. No threat to them.

The young man eyed the van. “What are you guys doing?”

Sid wiped his hands on his pants. “Performing a public safety service. We catch and remove them.”

“Seriously?”

“Yeah. Got a problem with it?”

“No. I hate the fucking things.”

“That so?” Why was the little snot poking his nose in where it didn’t belong?

“Yeah.”

“One of them do your sister or something?”

The young man sobered. “One of them murdered my sister.”

Sid was taken aback. He hadn’t expected something like that. “I’m truly sorry.”

“It was a long time ago. The year they were outted.”

“Doesn’t make it any easier.”

“No.” Sid inspected the young man, mentally measuring his physical capabilities. He sported upscale designer duds and carried himself like he thought he was hot shit, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t suitable. Sid had never recruited anyone so young, but what the hell. “What’s your name?”

“Tommy Sanders. You?”

“Name’s Sid Andrews.” He hesitated, then said, “Would you be interested in hunting those fuckers?”

“Are you serious?”

Sid threw it on the table. “We lost a man. Been looking for someone to take his place.”

“Lost a man? As in…”

“They have to be handled carefully. He didn’t and he ended up dead.”

“Why bother? It can’t make any difference in their numbers.” Sanders quirked up an eyebrow.

“Profit. We sell them.”

“To hunt clubs?”

“That or dog matches. Sometimes, one will get hurt. Those go to a lab or big brother’s dog trainers. Fuckers don’t pay shit, but it’s better than nothing. Barely.”

Sanders gave Sid a shrewd look. “This is illegal.”

“Yeah. So what? They’re a good source of income and we take them off the streets here in the Restricted Zone where they aren’t supposed to be in the first place. They creep in here and hide among humans.”

“I know. One of the fuckers tricked me. Bastard was my roommate.”

“No shit?”

“No. No shit.”

“A cross-breed?”

“Yes. But you couldn’t tell.”

“There are signs. If you know what to look for.” Sid walked to the van and leaned against it.

Sanders followed.

“So, are you interested in working with us?”

“I play with the symphony. I can’t give that up.”

“Don’t have to. Meet us after you’re done there and work the rest of the night. It’ll be well worth your time. The symphony can’t pay that good.”

Sanders snorted. “I can’t even afford my apartment now that fucking Julian’s gone.”

“Work with us and you’ll have plenty of money. Tax free. And maybe one day you’ll run across your roommate. Wouldn’t that be a hoot?”

A dark gleam lit Sander’s eyes. “It certainly would. I’m in.”

Chapter Eight

JULIAN WALKED between Saranna and Vali, accompanying them and her brother on a get-acquainted-tour of Pioneer Square and the surrounding areas.

Forty-eight hours after moving into Saranna’s apartment, his wounds were starting to heal and the antibiotics were fighting the infection that had raged through his body. No longer feverish or racked with chills, he felt like getting to know his new home.

They passed few people and fewer vampires. Maybe because the air was heavy with impending rain.

Outside of the historic section, many of the buildings were shoddy and run down, vastly different from what he was accustomed to. Yet, this wasn’t one of the bad neighborhoods. Those were in the Open Zones, set aside for vampires—at least the ones the government was able to bribe or threaten into living there. Everything else was restricted territory.

The inhabitants of Saranna’s neighborhood were mostly lower class humans and vampires like her and her family—ones who dared live in the Restricted Zone. He wasn’t complaining though. He had potential friends and a place to stay, at least for a while.

Slade shot Julian a hostile glance.

Her brother had arrived on the pretext of coming to see if they needed anything instead of being honest and saying he’d come to check on Julian.

He didn’t blame the guy. After all, he’d moved into her place and none of them knew anything about him.

He wanted to put Slade at ease, but elected to keep his mouth shut. Making an issue of it might worsen the situation. Slade had already made it obvious he wanted to intimidate Julian.

The bigger male had shown up dressed in leather pants and a tight black tee that accentuated a heavily muscled form.

Julian didn’t doubt for one minute that Slade worked hard to keep himself in such good shape and was probably capable of doing serious damage to anyone he tangled with. In addition to the fleur-de-lis, he sported a large dragon inked in blues, greens, and gold that appeared to move its wings when he flexed his bulging right bicep.

Want to be or not, Julian was duly impressed.

As if reading his mind, Slade asked, “How much do you know about vampires?”

Julian kept his voice and manner easy. “Other than what I’ve learned the hard way, very little.”

“Figures.” Slade’s tone was sarcastic.

Julian knew enough to understand ignorance was death in the vampire world. “I know older vampires are stronger and can do things young ones can’t.”

Slade laughed mirthlessly. “Very good, Sherlock. By the time you’re two hundred, assuming you live that long, you’ll be one bad-ass motherfucker. Right now, not so much.”

“Two hundred? Shit.”

“Yeah, shit sums it up. We’re strong as a horse and we can run twice as fast as any stinking human, but that’s about it. That’s enough to condemn us, but, compared to old vampires, we aren’t much of a threat.”

He should have guessed most of what he’d heard was bullshit when it became public knowledge that holy water and crosses had zero effect on the bloodsucking community.

“And, in case you don’t know,” Slade said almost gleefully, "you’re still young enough to be a menu item.”

“What?”

“Rogues prey on young, weaker males. You wouldn’t have made it out of that alley if fate hadn’t been in your corner.”

Julian knew he’d had a close brush with death. “What about Saranna?”

“What about her?” Hostility edged the question.

“Are females in as much danger? I mean…”

“No normal male would hunt and kill a female. We aren’t wired that way. Young males are killed for food and because they’re competition for females.”

What kind of world had he been dragged into? Though the scent of someone’s burned dinner and the laughter of a child gave an impression of normalcy, nothing in Julian’s life was normal. His entire existence had been scrambled.

Vali cut in. “Who turned you?”

“Some guys jumped me in an alley.” God, how he wished he’d gone home instead of heading out alone.

Bitter disgust washed over him for wanting to deny the truth. He wasn’t human, had never been one. Wanting his old life back was wrong. He was where he belonged.

“I went home afterward. My roommate went ape-shit on me. I almost… I had to get out.”

Saranna moved closer. “You can stay with me and Vali for as long as you want.”

Relief shot through him. “Thanks. I appreciate everything you’ve done for me.” At least he wouldn’t have to worry about shelter while he got his new life in order. Whatever that might entail.

“If you want, we can be permanent feeding partners.”

“Saranna!” Slade grabbed her arm.

Julian bristled. He wanted on Slade’s good side, but not enough to allow him to harm Saranna.

She stopped and yanked her arm away in one motion. “What?”

Julian silently applauded the little spitfire. His admiration went up another notch.

“You can’t partner with him if he’s going to stay with you,” Slade said.

“Why not?”

“Because … you’ll bond with him.”

“Having a live-in feeding partner doesn’t mean I’m going to mate with him.”

Julian winced. He could have done without another blow to his already mutilated ego.

“Doesn’t it?” Slade scowled at Julian. “If you connect emotionally with him, you know damn good and well it’ll get physical.”

Julian heated. He wasn’t so sure he wanted to be Slade’s buddy after all. Her brother had no tact.

Saranna’s eyes shifted away from Slade. “I’m not sleeping with Mick and we’ve been partnered a long time.”

That was a lie, Julian was positive of it. Her evasiveness gave her away. A spark of jealousy at the unknown Mick flared to life.

Slade’s eyes had gone flint cold. “You’re already sniffing around Julian like a bitch in heat. How long will it be before a feeding ends with him on top of you?”

Julian’s hand clenched into a fist, but the crack of her palm on Slade’s cheek stopped everything cold.

“Don’t you talk to me like that! Who I mate or anything else with is none of your damn business. Take care of your own affairs and don’t worry about me.”

“You’re my little sister; I have to worry about you. You’re asking for trouble with this arrangement.” Slade rubbed his cheek. “And it
is
my business. I’m head of our family whether you like it or not.”

“It’ll be fine. I’m an adult and I can make my own decisions.”

“But—”

“How about it, Julian? Want to be my regular partner?”

“Yes.” Oh, yes indeed, he wanted to be her blood partner. Thinking about sinking his fangs in her made his cock stiffen. “Don’t worry,” he said. He didn’t want hostility between him and Slade. “I don’t want to cause problems for anyone.”

“You don’t understand what you are yet,” Slade said. “We aren’t like humans. Biology trumps logic in some things and mating is one of them. Which by the way, can turn out badly for the female.”

“Don’t sweat it. I’m not some out of control animal,” Julian said.

“Sure you aren’t. Just keep telling yourself that. And stay the fuck off Saranna.”

Before Julian had a chance to respond, Slade’s phone screeched to life with an
Iron Man
ring tone.

“Ashton.” Slade answered the call. When he hung up, he said, “He’s only a couple of blocks from here. Wants us to meet up. Come on. Boss calls, I have to go.”

“Who’s that?”

“Ashton is our cousin,” Saranna said.

Slade gave him a measured smirk. “Ashton is a Resistance group leader.”

Holy shit
. He was
that
cousin. “Jason was referring to you as a Resistance member, wasn’t he?”

“That’s right, Sherlock.”

Hopefully, Ashton wouldn’t be up his ass like Slade. “How’d you guys get involved with the Resistance?”

“The leader at the next level up asked Ashton to join.” Slade said with real enthusiasm. “That’s how it works. Ashton answers to him even though we work independently most of the time.”

“Most of the time?”

“Yeah. Ashton called because we have some orders. But usually, we work on our own. That’s why those bastards have such a hard time hunting down and catching anyone.” Slade warmed up to the topic.