Unbound (13 page)

“Yeah,” Sadie snorted. “A real bummer. And for the record,
Your
Highness
, vampires don't dream.”

“Really?” Killian's brow flew up in surprise before his gaze slid over her in one slow, lazy stroke. “Now, that's a damn shame.”

“Yes,” Sadie said sarcastically. “It's a real tragedy. Right up there with world hunger.”

“Nah. It's just that I've had some lovely dreams.” His eyes twinkled at her mischievously. “You give me a drink menu every time I show up just to make me think you don't know what I want. Don't you?”

“I just want to be sure you have plenty of options.” She scooped up the drink menus, and keeping her voice even, she murmured, “And I assure you I'm well aware of what you're after, Mr. Bane.”

Without another word, and with Killian Bane's stare drilling a hole in her back, Sadie strode to the bar. As she cut through the crowd, one voice stood out amid the cavalcade of sounds. “I'm counting on it.”

The club was finally empty and quiet, except for the familiar sounds of cleanup—bottles clanking, chairs scraping across the wooden floor, and the playful banter of her friends while they closed the place. Sitting at the end of the bar and tallying the night's receipts, Sadie tried to keep her cool. Everything was going to be fine.

She swore and slammed the pen onto the bar.

Like hell it was. She'd been fuming all night after what Killian told her.

The son of a bitch was opening a competing club here in Manhattan, and when he said it, he acted like he'd just given her a diamond ring or something. Not only that, but he had the audacity to all but come right out and tell her that he was going to steal her crowd-attracting DJ. She'd even caught him up there talking to Justine right before he and his pack left for the night. Why on earth would he think she'd find that even remotely amusing?

Because
he's an arrogant alpha werewolf, that's why.

Annoyed and lost in her thoughts, it took a minute for Sadie to realize that Justine was calling her from the DJ platform.

“Boss,” she shouted for what was probably the fifth time. “Yo, Sadie.”

“What?” Sadie whipped her head over her shoulder and forced herself to smile. The look on Justine's face instantly made her feel shitty. She'd barked at the poor girl. “Sorry.” Sadie laughed and shook her head. Placing the calculator on the bar with the receipts, she shifted her position on the bar stool. “I guess I was concentrating too hard on these numbers.”

“Yeah, right,” Trixie said with a snort of laughter. Drying glasses behind the bar, she shot a knowing look at Sadie. “You were concentrating, but it sure as hell wasn't on those receipts. I'd bet my money on a six-foot hunky wolf.”

“What's up, Justine?” Sadie cast a narrow-eyed look at Trixie.

“There's somethin' I should tell ya 'bout,” she said with her thick cockney accent. Justine flew down from the DJ platform and landed quietly on the center of the empty dance floor. Smoothing the spikes of her colorful, long hair in a nervous gesture, she strolled over to the bar before pulling up a stool and sitting next to Sadie. “It's 'bout our furry friends.”

“Okay,” Sadie said slowly, a nagging sense of dread creeping up her back. “What about them?”

“Let me guess.” Trixie tossed the dishrag over her shoulder and leaned on the bar. “That big blond one has the hots for you.”

“Trixie,” Sadie said warningly as Justine shifted nervously on the stool. “Why don't you go get Damien? Have him help you replenish the stock behind the bar.”

Sadie had barely finished her sentence when Damien, the club's bouncer and one of the newest coven members, came in through the front doors of the club. He threw the bolts on the inside of the massive wooden doors and cast his big pearly white grin in their direction.

“Did someone mention my name?” he called in his typically playful baritone and strolled into the club. He placed the velvet rope and brass stand by the wall and waved to them. Dressed in a black T-shirt and jeans that covered his tall, sturdy frame, the guy reminded Sadie of a big teddy bear.

“Justine, man, you rocked the freaking house tonight. I tell you, sister, I can't remember the club ever being this packed. Seriously. We've had a waiting list almost every night for the past two weeks. You are a lucky charm, my friend.”

“I second that emotion,” Sadie said. Giving Damien a weary smile, she pointed at Trixie. “And yes, you did hear your name. Would you give Trixie a hand restocking the booze? You can pull whatever we need from the storage room. Trixie has a list of what we're low on. Maya will be back later but I'd just like to get it done.”

“Aw, man,” Trixie whined. She pushed herself away from the bar and tugged the dish towel off her shoulder. “Just when the conversation was getting good.”

“Sure, boss.” Damien put the clipboard on the bar's smooth mahogany surface and slid it down to Sadie. “Everyone on the list showed up tonight except for Darius and his crew. It's been a while since they've been in.” Damien's brow knit together and made his olive-toned complexion seem even darker. “I know it's because the wolves have been hanging out here a lot, but I thought Darius was cooler than that, you know? Killian and his crew aren't so bad.”

“Darius? Cool?” Trixie scoffed and hoisted herself onto the bar before swinging her feet over and hopping off on the other side. She landed silently next to Damien and punched him in his massive arm. “I think all that time standing outside with the line full of whiny humans is giving you mental problems. Darius is kinda letchy. Vampire or not, I don't like him. Shit, man. I'd rather hang out with the wolves than have him and those two old stooges of his here. Shane told me those guys are almost as old as he is, which would be fine if they were cool.” She made a face of disapproval and glanced at Sadie. “I can't believe you slept with Darius. I mean, of all the vamps to choose from, you banged old man Darius?”

“Yeah, well.” Sadie rolled her eyes and pushed her long hair off her forehead. “It was a long time ago and he's not that old. Well, he doesn't
look
old. Anyway, that's ancient history.”

“You never told me that,” Damien said.

“Would you brag about it?” Trixie asked with a snort of laughter.

“Very funny.” Sadie smirked.

“You and stuffy old Darius?” A laugh bubbled up and shook Damien's broad shoulders. “I'm sorry to laugh, but talk about an odd couple.”

“Whatever,” Sadie said through a giggle of her own. “We weren't a couple. It was just sex. And like I said, it was a long time ago. At any rate, I don't think Killian and his friends will be hanging out here much longer, and that means Darius will probably be back. So, letch or not, he's a customer. Play nice when he's here, Trixie. No one is saying you have to bang the old vamp, just placate him. Like Olivia always says—his money is as green as anyone else's.” She flicked her gaze to Justine. Based on the DJ's expression, she already knew about Killian's club. “You know about Killian's plans, don't you?”

“What plans?” Trixie asked.

“Yeah.” Justine nodded and rested her tattooed arms on the bar. “That's what I wanted to talk to you 'bout.”

“What's going on?” Damien asked with his typical big-brother concern.

“It seems our werewolf friend is opening a club right here in the city. He and his pack have been spending all their time at The Coven to learn more about the business.” Sadie gave Trixie a pointed look. “See? Killian's hanging out here had nothing to do with me.”

“Right.” Trixie elbowed Damien. “She won't admit that the hot wolf man has the hots for her.”

“Don't start.” Sadie sighed. “And Killian's not that hot.” Trixie and Justine gave her doubtful looks. Even Damien arched an eyebrow at her denial. “Fine.” Sadie lifted one shoulder and gathered the receipts in a semi-neat stack while avoiding their inspecting stares. “He's kind of hot, if you're into the arrogant alpha-male type. Anyway, he and his pack are opening a club next month here in Manhattan.” She made a scoffing noise. “Whatever. It'll be out of business before the next full moon. I'm not worried.”

“Does Olivia know about it?” Damien asked.

“Apparently, yes, she does.” Sadie tried not to show her irritation but it was no use. “I guess she didn't think it was important to mention.”

“Let me get this straight.” Trixie put up both hands and looked at Sadie like she had a screw loose. “You'd diddle with Darius and his old balls, but you turn your nose up at a hot, sexy badass like Killian?”

“We aren't talking about my sex history. We are talking about business.”

“Yeah, but the sex stuff is more interesting.”

“You're too much.” Sadie shook her head and answered Trixie's question. “Darius may be old, but he's a vampire. And in case you've forgotten, Killian is a werewolf.”

“So?” Trixie shrugged. “There's no rule against having sex with their kind. Not really.”

“No, but it's certainly not encouraged,” Sadie said slowly with a glance at Justine who seemed increasingly uncomfortable with the topic. “We all know that lust and bloodlust go hand in hand. Sleeping with a wolf isn't illegal, but feeding on one is.” Sadie shook her head quickly and rested her arms on the bar. “Wait a minute. We aren't here to talk about the ill-advised idea of vampires and werewolves hooking up. I've got a business to run. Speaking of which, aren't you two going to get that stuff from the storage room?”

“Whatever you say, boss.” Damien started toward the back hallway. “Come on, Trixie.”

“No way.” She sat on the stool next to Justine. “I want to hear more about the wolves.”

Sadie was about to protest when Damien grabbed the defiant pink-haired bartender and tossed her over his hulking shoulders. He turned around and winked at Sadie before disappearing into the dark hallway, Trixie protesting through a loud laugh.

“You were saying?” Sadie turned all of her attention to Justine who was fiddling with the skull-and-crossbones ring on her forefinger. “You know about Killian's club?”

“Yeah.” Justine cracked her knuckles and tapped the bar with her fingers. “Ya see, gov, the thing is that the bloke wants me to DJ for him on their opening night. I wanted to—”

“Fine.” Sadie shrugged and smiled as though the request wasn't totally annoying.

“What?” Justine's jaw dropped. “I wasn't gonna ask ya to do that, Sadie. Honest. I just wanted to tell ya about it. Y'know, open lines of communication and all that.” A wide grin bloomed slowly across her face, showing off the gap between her two front teeth. “But I gotta be honest. It would be a freakin' thrill to open a big, new club like that. I ain't never been a headliner b'fore.”

“You're always a headliner
here
, but I get it and I think it's a cool opportunity for you.” Sadie nodded and patted Justine's arm reassuringly. Personally, she hated the idea of her star attraction working at a competing club, especially Killian's, but she figured she'd get more flies with honey. Protesting might push Justine away, but giving her leeway would keep her loyal. At least that's what Sadie was hoping. “You and I have been talking about hiring a DJ to fill in for you once in a while anyway. Why don't you test out a couple of the new guys over the next few weeks and then we can hire a part-timer.”

“That's bloomin' brilliant.” Justine grabbed both of Sadie's hands and lavished them with kisses. “And it'll just be one night. I promise.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Sadie winked at her before gathering up the receipts. “I'd prefer a vamp DJ, for obvious reasons, but if you want to audition a human, just give me a heads-up.”

“Done.” Justine was about to say more, but the phone in her back pocket interrupted their conversation. She grabbed it, and a sheepish grin cracked her face when she read the text. “Thanks, again, gov.”

Justine hopped off the stool and flew up to the DJ platform. Sadie was about to go to her office when a knock on the door of the club brought her to a halt. She let out a whimper of frustration. The last thing she wanted to deal with right now was some half-drunk human girl looking for her phone or something. With Damien and Trixie still downstairs, the responsibility clearly fell at her feet.

Ready to give whoever was outside a hundred different reasons why they couldn't come in the club after closing, Sadie slid the bolts aside. Pushing open the enormous wooden door, with the “We're closed” mantra lingering on her lips, she found herself face-to-face with the last person she would have expected to see.

Darius Lockwood.

“Do you have a few minutes for an old friend?” Darius asked with a regal bow. Dressed in his usual all-black ensemble, he reminded her of Johnny Cash. Tall and slim with slicked-back salt-and-pepper hair, he stood patiently on the cracked sidewalk. The grin faded and his pale blue eyes glinted in the lights of the streetlamps. “It's important.”

“Sure.” Sadie stepped back and held the door open for him before checking to see if his sidekicks were around. To her surprise, neither of his usual companions was in tow. Closing the door, she gestured toward the bar. “Have a seat. Where are Thomas and Lawrence? I can't remember the last time I saw you out alone.”

“They had other
engagements
,” he said in his typically evasive way. Darius perched himself on a bar stool and rested one elbow on the bar. Looking elegant and stiff, he did resemble the stodgy old vampire Trixie pegged him for. The guy had been turned in his early thirties but acted like the old world soul he was. “My apologies for bothering you after hours, but something has been nagging at me.”

“Let me guess. This something wouldn't have anything to do with our newest supernatural residents, would it?” Sadie nodded and sat on the stool next to him. “You're upset that Killian and his pack have been coming to The Coven, which is why I haven't seen you guys here in a while.”

“Perceptive, as always.” Darius tilted his head and delivered a tight smile. Gathering his hands in his lap, he paused as though carefully choosing his words. “We are not the only ones who are…concerned. I was asked to speak with you about this issue. Some of our friends are quite uncomfortable with the wolves settling into this city.”

“Okay.” Sadie's defenses immediately went on high alert. “Who are ‘our friends' exactly?”

“Others like myself, Lawrence, and Thomas.” Darius waved his hand dismissively. “It was bad enough when the prince and his little pack lingered here in the city, but my sources tell me he's moved out of his hotel. From what I hear, Bane signed a lease agreement on a penthouse apartment. Can you believe it? I realize the new czars want to modernize our community, but just how much change do they expect our kind to handle? You're close with Olivia. You're her oldest progeny.”