Blood of the Son (Book #1 in the Skye Morrison Vampire Series) (Skye Morrison Series) (9 page)

“
I hope you don’t mind, but I need to make a quick stop by my brother’s place first, if that’s alright with you,” he said, taking my hand.  “It’s just a few blocks from here.”

I turned and looked at him.  “That‘s fine by me,” I said, smiling at his handsome face. “Is your brother anything like you?” I asked, curious.

“Yes and no,” he replied, smiling.  “He’s a bit more dominating than I am.  I like to kind of go with the flow, and he’s more of a take charge kind of guy.  He’s a really great brother, though.  We’ve been through a lot together over the years.”

I smiled up at him.  “I’m looking forward to meeting him.”

Jameson put the car in drive and drove the few blocks over to his brother’s place.  The night air was cool and the wind felt good on my face.  I wasn’t accustomed to riding around in convertibles, especially ones as nice as this one, so I was enjoying the ride. 

He pulled the car into an empty employee parking lot and killed the engine.  He got out, came around to my side, and opened my door to lift me.  I wrapped my arms around his neck and he carried me across the lot.  Jameson carefully juggled me, took out his key and unlocked the heavy looking back door. 

We walked through a long hall that opened up into a big room.  There were boxes everywhere and what looked like bar supplies.  “Where does your brother live, exactly?” I asked, looking around the room, confused.

“We share a house out on the lake, but he also has a small apartment over his club,” he said, nuzzling my ear as he walked. 

“Your brother owns a club?” I asked as we passed through a swinging door. That would explain why we were visiting someone in an old warehouse.

As we stepped through the door, I noticed that we were on the club’s main floor.  I immediately recognized my surroundings.  I was here earlier today.  We were in The Mausoleum, Archer Rhys’ club.

“Your brother owns The Mausoleum?” I asked, confused.  “Archer Rhys is your brother?”

“Aye, love,” he said, raising his eyebrows in surprise.  “How did you know?”

I laughed.  “You won’t believe this.  I met your brother the other day and I had an interview with him this afternoon.  He offered me a job as his Executive Assistant.”

“Well, my brother has always had good taste,” Jameson said as he kissed me on the top of my head.  “Come now, let’s get you a drink.  I’ll page my brother.”

Jameson carried me over to the bar and sat me down on one of the high swivel stools.  He went behind the bar to the phone, hit a few numbers, and spoke quickly into it.  I couldn’t make out who he was talking to, but I figured it was probably his brother.  When he was done, he came over to stand in front of me.

“Archie Boy will be down in a few,” he said with a lazy smile, his hands splayed on the top of the bar. “Until then, my love, what can I get you to drink?”

I looked around at the impressively stocked bar and thought what the hell. 
I’ve had a crazy night.  I could use a stiff drink
.  “How about you surprise me.  I’ve liked what you’ve given me so far tonight,” I said with a flirty wink.

“Keep that up, love, and we’ll have another go,” he smiled.  “I can’t seem to help myself around you.”

I blushed and turned my attention to the club’s décor while he busied himself with the drinks.  I was just about to ask Jameson about the metal cages when I heard a voice from above.

“Well hello, little brother. I see you’ve met our newest employee.”

I turned and saw Archer descending the massive metal staircase.  He was wearing an expensive pair of low rise blue jeans and nothing else.  I tried hard not to stare at his sculpted form.  He was even more beautiful topless, if that were even possible.  I swallowed hard and focused my attention on the others.  Archer was followed by Gunnar and two young, petite brunette females.  He walked over to the bar and sat down beside me.  Gunnar and the females stood off to his right, a few steps back. 

“Miss Morrison, pleasure seeing you again, although I wasn’t expecting your company until later,” he said, smiling.

I was just about to explain my unexpected visit when Jameson broke in.  “Skye is my guest, brother.  She had a mishap at work and I offered to drive her home.  I needed to come by here first, so I brought her with me,” he said, sitting my drink in front of me and pouring one for him and Archer.

“I see,” Archer said, looking me over.  “I hope it’s nothing serious.”

I shrugged, slightly embarrassed of my injuries. “It isn’t too serious.  I fell and twisted my ankle and knee.”

“Aye, and you’ve hit your head, I see,” he said, leaning over and gently swiping his thumb over the bump on my eyebrow.  I blushed at his forwardness and remembered that that small contact should have hurt, but it didn’t.  But I couldn’t think about that now.  His beautifully captivating ice blue eyes were staring at the injury.

“Here, brother,” Jameson said as he held out a damp napkin to Archer.  “She was bleeding a bit earlier.  I hadn’t had a chance to clean her up yet.”

Archer raised one questioning eyebrow at Jameson and took the napkin from him.  He then turned and smiled down at me.  There was something so comforting in that smile.  He put one hand under my chin and tilted my head up.  I allowed him to gently wipe off the dried blood from my eyebrow and forehead.  His touch was feather soft, his strokes slow and gentle.  His eyes were kind and reminded me of the color of Arctic icebergs.

“There. All done,” he said as he put the damp napkin down on the bar. 

Archer lifted my glass and handed it to me.  “Drink this.  It’ll help with the pain.”  He picked up his own and downed it in one big gulp. 

I glanced over at Jameson as he held up his glass in a salute and downed his just as his brother had.  I looked at my drink for the first time and noticed that it was a mixed drink, not liquor like the men had been drinking.  I took a tentative sip and was met with a delicious concoction.  I had never had anything like this before.  I took hold of my straw and eagerly drank over half of it before I had noticed.  I was so thirsty all of the sudden.  I finished my drink as Jameson poured him and Archer another.

“Can I get you another one, love?” Jameson asked sweetly.

“Please,” I said, eager to quench my sudden thirst.

He mixed up my drink and sat it down in front of me.  I thanked him and started to down the delicious drink.  I noticed that Archer and Jameson were staring at each other, almost as if they were having a silent conversation.

“Let’s take this to my office, brother, shall we?” Archer asked, standing up and gesturing to the stairs. He turned to his burly doorman and slipped him what looked like money.  “Gunnar, please show the ladies out and thank them for me,” he said as he turned back to me.

I watched Gunnar lead the ladies to the front door and walk them out.  I wondered what that was all about, but shook my head and reminded myself that it was none of my business what Archer did on his own time. 

Jameson caught my eye as he walked around the bar, towards me, and stopped right in front of me.  He leaned over and kissed the hollow of my neck, causing me to shiver, as he gently lifted me in his arms.

“May I take my drink, Jameson?” I eagerly asked, not wanting to leave the yummy goodness behind.

“Aye, love,” he said with a chuckle.

We followed Archer up the wide metal stairs and to the second floor.  He held the door for Jameson and me as we went up the smaller spiral staircase to Archer’s office.  The door was open, so Jameson carried me in and over to the couch.  He tenderly set me down and walked over to the mini-fridge. 

Archer came in, closed the door behind him, and took a seat in the lazy boy in front of me.  He smiled a breath taking smile and looked me over with his piercing blue eyes.  I felt my face flush hot and had to look away from his penetrating gaze. I took a sip of my drink, wondering why he was staring at me so intently. 

Just then Jameson returned with an icepack for my ankle.  He sat down beside me, deftly lifted my legs onto his lap, and put the large icepack on my swollen ankle.  It was immediately cold and the feeling sent a shiver up my body.  He smiled at me and patted my leg reassuringly.

“You wanted to see me, brother?” Jameson asked as he settled back into the couch and got comfortable.

“Aye, Youngblood, I did indeed,” Archer said, crossing his legs and clasping his hands in his lap.  A worried look replaced his smile.  He looked at me and seemed to want to say something to me, but continued.  “There has been another one, I am afraid, and we are still no closer to finding out who did it.”

Jameson sat up straighter and looked worried.  “Are you sure, brother?  It has been confirmed?” he asked, looking worried.

“Aye, Jameson, it has,” Archer said, looking suddenly worn out.  “Greyson Mead called me personally this evening and broke the news. That brings the total to four in their area.  I have notified the others to be on the lookout, just in case.”

“What’s going on?” I asked, glancing back and forth between the two men, having noticed the severity of the conversation.

Jameson and Archer looked at each other for quite a while before someone answered me.  Archer stood up, took out a crystal decanter of what looked like red wine from the fridge, walked over to the mini bar under the TV, and selected two highball glasses from underneath it.  He filled the two glasses with the red liquid and placed the decanter back inside the mini-fridge.  He handed Jameson a glass and then looked at me.  He seemed to be contemplating what he was going to say.  Jameson looked at his brother intently for a few moments and then nodded his head.  Archer sighed and sat back down in the lazy boy, taking a long sip from his glass.

“Things have not been well in Houston, Skye.  I have…an associate that owns numerous clubs and hotels there.  Lately, some of his employees have come up…deceased.”

I swallowed the knot in my throat.  Dead employees were definitely bad news, no matter where you are.  “My god, Archer,” I said, putting my hand to my chest “That’s horrible.  Do they know how the employees died?  What have the police done so far to catch the person who did it?”

Archer studied my face intently and Jameson put his arm protectively around me.  “That is unnecessary, Youngblood,” Archer said to Jameson as he waved his hand in a bored and dismissive manner.  “You said it yourself and I trust your judgment. Besides, I hired her myself earlier.”

I looked back and forth between the two men, feeling very confused. “Um…am I…missing something here?” I asked, starting to get a freaky vibe. 
Did I say something wrong?  Why are they acting so weird?

Archer chose to ignore my last question, but answered my former one.  “They were found murdered Miss. Morrison, and violently so.  All attempts to find the culprit have, thus far, been in vain.  The…proper authorities have been notified, but this is not something we freely discuss, and you will do good to remember that.  Everything we say here tonight stays here…between us,” he said, looking at me intently, his eyes narrowed. 

I nodded my head in agreement and looked down at my hands. “Of course, Mr. Rhys,” I said, feeling suddenly uncomfortable.  The warm, friendly person I had met on the street and earlier today during my interview was nowhere to be found.  In his place was a kind of cold, stern person.  I couldn’t imagine what had changed so suddenly to put him in this mood, other than the murders. 
That must be it
, I thought to myself. 
The murders have upset him and he’s worried.  And for good reason
.

Jameson reached over and took my hand.  He rubbed his thumb back and forth over the back of my hand, almost like he was reassuring me.  I smiled a timid smile up at him and watched as he downed the last of his red wine.  I, too, drank the last of my mixed drink.  I was still thirsty, but decided that this wasn’t the best time to ask for another. 

Archer took a deep breath and gave Jameson a tired smile.  He seemed to be trying to lighten the mood a bit.  “Brother, I would like you to update our associates on the subject of Greyson Mead’s call.  Tell them that if they have any questions or information, that they are to come to me directly.  You may do so after you take our newest employee home.”  Archer turned to me and smiled wider.  “Skye, if you are feeling up to it, I’d like to have you sign some paperwork and give you a quick tour of the club.  That way, when you come in tomorrow night, if your leg is feeling better of course, you’ll be familiar with our surroundings and be ready to work.  I’m going to need you on top of things tomorrow.”

I looked up at Jameson to see if he was okay with that. He chuckled a bit and rubbed my thigh.  “Whatever the boss wants, the boss gets, love.  Come now, don’t worry.  I’ll be happy to carry you around so you don’t have to walk.”

I was already embarrassed by my injuries and didn’t want Jameson to have to carry me around all night.  Plus, I didn’t like appearing weak in front of such gorgeous company.  “I think I might be able to manage, Jameson.” I lowered my legs from his lap and stood up, rather unsteadily, using one foot. “Would you mind holding on to me, just in case?” I leaned in, asking Jameson in a low whisper. 

He gave me an understanding smile.  “Aye, love.  I’d be happy to.”  He took my arm as Archer stood up and motioned to his desk.