First Drop of Crimson (Night Huntress World 1)

As soon as he swallowed, his eyes widened, and then he bolted out of his chair.

"Ho-lee shit!" he shouted. He was around the desk in a blink, but Spade was standing, too, blocking his path to Denise.

"No more. Too much will make you lose control, and I can't risk her safety for obvious reasons."

Part of Denise was still battling against the horrible memories from New Year's Eve. The other part was telling her to run like hell. But still she waited, trusting that Spade had a plan that didn't involve selling her blood to this ass**le.

"She's a source," Black said almost reverently, staring at Denise in a way that made her want to hide. "And she's a woman! A beautiful woman. Good Christ, boy, do you know how much f**kin' money we're going to make off her?"

Spade smiled coldly. "I haven't decided if I want to partner with you yet. So far, you've only shown me that you're a peddler of inferior goods. How do I know you'll be able to provide the sort of protection that would be necessary to keep her away from the Law Guardians, or any other meddling vampire trying to stop the trade?"

Anger made its way through Denise's other emotions, covering her panic. She knew Spade was faking, but Black Jack meant it when he was talking about her like she wasn't even a person.

Black Jack threw up his hands. "Do you know how rare sources are? There's only one, to my knowledge, so we have to dilute his blood seven ways from Sunday to stretch it and still keep him alive. That's why the Red Dragon you tasted is like puke compared to her blood. But another source...and a woman..." The vampire shuddered in what looked like ecstasy.

"What's the bonus of my being a woman?" Denise couldn't help but ask. "I mean, blood is blood."

Black Jack opened his mouth and then shut it. "We'll talk more about details later, but you have nothin' to worry about."

"We won't talk at all if you don't start impressing me with your connections," Spade replied inexorably. "So far I haven't heard any. Perhaps I should go to the other peddler Ian told me about."

It clicked then what Spade was doing. Denise saw the logic of his strategy even as she wanted to run away from the looks Black Jack kept giving her.

"There might be other sellers, but none like me." Black Jack leaned against his desk, smiling cockily. "My Master is Web. You'll have heard of him, and he has direct access to the people who started the Red Dragon trade. Connections don't get higher than that."

Spade snorted. "Nice story, but where's the proof? Anyone could say they're one of Web's. I could claim it myself to someone who wouldn't know better."

Now Black Jack looked frustrated. "What proof do you want? You'll meet him once I tell him about this. Believe me, he'll want to collect her personally."

"Ring him. Right now. Let me hear his voice. Otherwise, I walk out with her and find someone else to partner with."

Black Jack didn't like being threatened; it was clear from the fury that crossed over his expression. But just as quickly, his face smoothed into another smile.

"No problem."

He picked up the phone on his desk and dialed, whistling. "Give me Web," Black Jack said to whoever answered. After a few minutes of waiting, his smile widened.

"Master. I have the best news for you - "

Spade's hand shot out, grabbing the phone. Black Jack went to snatch it back, but stopped at the glare Spade gave him.

"What is it?" Denise heard an annoyed voice bark from the phone. Then, "Black Jack? Can you hear me?"

"I hear you just fine," Black Jack said, almost whooping. "And so does my new pardner, Henry - "

Spade clicked the phone off and then, to Denise's surprise, ripped the base from the wall. Black Jack's whoop turned into a curse.

"What the f**k you'd do that for?"

Spade handed Denise his own cell from his jacket. "Go up to the main hotel entrance and call for our ride. I'll meet you there."

Glad to get out of this drug-infested vampire under ground, Denise snatched Spade's phone and headed for the door.

Black Jack immediately tried to block her, but Spade was faster, grabbing him by the collar. "No, mate, we have some further business to discuss whilst she gets the car."

The other vampire relaxed, letting out a snicker that made Denise's skin crawl. "Right. See you soon, sweetie."

"Yeah, sure," Denise muttered.

She made her way up the metal staircase to Drai's main room, then up the nicer staircase that led to the ground floor of the Barbary Coast hotel. The hotel driver answered on the first ring - a perk of staying in a penthouse, she assumed. She'd just given their pick-up instructions and clicked the phone shut when a cold premonition slid up her spine.

Spade had never before sent her off by herself to get the car. He was militant in his chivalry, not to mention his protectiveness. Yet he'd just sent her unaccompanied through two floors of vampires with a shallow cut on her arm. Something wasn't right.

Denise swung around and practically ran back into the hotel. She darted past the people and raced down the stairs. A few heads turned in Drai's when she continued with her frantic pace, but she ignored them, focusing on getting down that last staircase to Spade. Right as she reached the narrow hallway, Black Jack's door burst open and Spade appeared. His jacket was ripped, he had blood on his shirt, and there was a redsmeared silver knife in his hand.

Denise didn't need to see the inside of the room to figure it out. "You killed him," she whispered.

Spade put the knife in his jacket, giving her a frustrated look. "You weren't supposed to be here."

Denise stared at Spade, taking in the lethal aura coiling around him. Her growing emotions had blinded her, but nothing had changed. Spade was a vampire, so he lived in a world dominated by violence. Blood will follow. Death will follow. It always does.

She opened her mouth to voice her repugnance at what he'd done, but Spade grabbed her, moving so fast everything blurred. Shouts sounded behind them, doors banged, there were popping noises, and Spade shoved her head against his chest, cutting off her vision. Then, a few frenzied moments later, that nauseating lift of her stomach followed by a whooshing everywhere told her they were flying.

Chapter Nineteen

Spade set them down in the desert several miles from the shining lights of the Strip. Denise pushed him away as soon as her feet touched the ground. He let her stomp off without trying to stop her.

"Do you understand I had no choice?" he said, following behind her.

She tossed a snort over her shoulder. "Right. Because with your world, death is the only choice. No other option exists."