Blood Brothers

Any Way But Right

I shifted my trousers a little lower around my hips, feeling uncomfortable but determined. Matteo glanced back at me when I started fidgeting with the buttons of my shirt next and gave me an encouraging look. I couldn't summon up much of anything in return.

My hometown wasn't the buzzing metropolis like this city, but we had been close enough that a short trip would take us to the finer things in life. I had gotten into the city neighboring my town with Liesel enough to catch glimpses of whores and rent boys. My sense of morality had always made me look away quickly. But I was still aware of what they looked like and how they acted.

My nervous picking at my clothes was abruptly cut off when Matteo grasped my shoulder and tugged me in close. He carefully pointed to my target. "Dominic." The man was starting to grey, but he was still attractive enough to draw the eye of several women. I thought it was the dark power he was exuding more than his face. His broad shoulders were those of a fighter, and there wasn't an ounce of hesitation in his steps. The little night club might as well have been his for all the possession falling off of him.

Matteo searched the little entourage following Dominic and held up two fingers. Two Vampires. The rest were human. I tried to pick up what he had, looking for the way to distinguish Vampire from human from anything else that was most assuredly crawling around in the shadows. I thought I could tell some of the humans. Something on their necks. Some mark that wasn't a visible flaw but there all the same.

Matteo scanned the rest of the club, then took me in. He frowned at me and I looked down at myself, trying to figure out what wasn't passing inspection. Matteo gave me a light tug and angled for the bar. He quickly ordered a couple shots and I couldn't help the grateful look as I downed the liquid courage. I blew out a breath and licked my lips as I shoved my fingers through my hair, ruffling it a little.

I was as ready as I would ever be. I just wished my first mission could have involved more fighting than seducing.

I stepped lightly across the club, dodging dancers and keeping a low profile. I didn't want to draw attention just yet. I wanted to know my prey a little better. I slipped up to the edges of the dance floor in the middle of the club and leaned against a piller, watching him.

Dominic had surrounded himself with the pretty human girls. But he only had eyes for the boys. The blondes, just as Niklas had said. And they were holding his attention with whispered words and shy looks of invitation. Dominic fancied himself a predator, and he liked to coax in the innocent little rabbits before snapping them up.

I knew how to trap him now.

I let him feel my gaze on him. He shot a glance around, looking for me. I let him catch me blatantly staring, then blinked and turned away like I had just realized it myself. The flush of embarrassment didn't need to be faked. I glanced at him again and found him eyeing me. Biting my lip, I retreated out of sight behind the piller.

I wondered if that would do it. Or would I need to play the shy mouse for a little longer? I clenched my teeth as I slowly leaned forward, peeking to find Dominic again. I stiffened and looked around frantically when he was no longer sitting with his entourage. Was he gone? I hadn't lost sight of him for that long, had I?

"Looking for me?"

I jumped and whirled, heart pounding in my chest as I realized Dominic was standing very close to me all of a sudden. I swallowed hard and stuttered, flushing dark with embarrassment. "I-I- I didn't mean any harm. I can just-" The words died in my throat when Dominic lifted a hand towards my face, shivering when he brushed my hair off my forehead.

"Why so afraid?"

I licked my lips and tried to steady my nerves. "You're an intimidating person." It occurred to me that I was very lucky he liked the shy ones or I would have been doomed from the start. I could play confident all I wanted, but he would still know I was afraid.