Steal the Day (Thieves #2)(74)

I opened my clutch and pulled out one of the ten hundred dollar bills Dev had made sure I had. I flashed it at Zack. “Hey, can you break that into fives for me?”

“Normally no, but I will certainly do it for you,” Zack replied and was handing over a bundle of fresh cash.

I looked at Kim with a gleam in my eye. “Want to go stuff fives in a stripper’s G-string?”

“Do you think we could get a lap dance?” She started looking around the room.

“I bet Marcus here could arrange that for us,” I said in my most flirtatious voice.

Marcus took a deep breath and held a hand out to let us lead the way. “Ladies, I assure you, if I was capable of having a heart attack, I would.”

As almost all female patrons are in a strip club, Kim and I were a big hit with the strippers. I also think it helped that we were the only non-vampires offering up cash. Kim and I were halfway through our first round of fives when the music was turned off suddenly, and all eyes turned toward the stage. Roman walked out, a microphone in his hand.

“Gentlemen, welcome to Descent,” Roman said, his voice a flat monotone. “I have been instructed that there will be an offering this evening, followed by a formal presentation.”

I heard Kim’s sharp intake of breath. Her skin drained of color as a fine tremble began.

“Ladies, let’s find your husbands.” Marcus drew me from my seat, his hand cupping my elbow, pulling me away from the stage.

All around me there was a sudden buzz in the air.

“What does that mean?” I’d never heard the terms before. Niko had mentioned he wanted to talk about Daniel’s presentation. Was something happening with Danny?

Marcus didn’t have to lead me far. Daniel was at my side very quickly, grabbing my hand.

“It means that a new companion has been discovered, and she’ll be offered for auction tonight,” Daniel explained, his face scanning the crowd as if looking for something to go wrong. “It’s time for you to head back up to the suite. I’ll have Neil meet you at the elevator. I have to stay in case there’s trouble.”

Marcus laid a hand on Daniel’s arm. “She should see, Daniel. This is her world now. The position you wish her to have is not one for the weak or faint of heart. She is neither.” Marcus turned to me. “Zoey, the girl will be brought in and auctioned to the highest bidder. There will be a formal presentation. It is a public showing. There is nothing you can do to help this woman. The only thing you can do is cause a great deal of trouble for your husband. Can you watch and not act?”

I nodded, my heart in my throat. I did need to see it. I needed to understand why we were going to fight. I looked at Kim. Her fun was done for the night. “Did you go through this?”

“Yes.” Her eyes trailed toward the stage.

Suddenly there was a blond-haired vampire pulling at Kim’s hand. He was only as tall as Kim and while attractive, it was in a bland sort of way. There was no mistaking his anxiety for his wife.

“Let’s go, Kim,” he said as he tugged her out of her chair. His accent was German or Dutch, perhaps.

He looked around and realized who he was standing next to. He took a huge step back from Daniel but placed himself squarely in front of his wife. “Mr. Donovan, if she has done something to displease you, I would appreciate it if you dealt with me.”

Daniel looked down at the smaller man with an annoyed expression. “What the hell are you talking about, Henri?”

“He isn’t upset with Kim,” Marcus said. “I told you he isn’t someone to be afraid of.”

“I was making friends with his wife, Henri.” Kim’s eyes kept straying to the stage.

Henri stared at me for a moment, but then he shook his head at his wife. “Jesus, Kim, when you look for trouble you find it. No offense, sir.”

Daniel flashed the vampire a genuine smile, and it seemed to startle Henri. “None taken, Henri. She is trouble. But I would appreciate it if you would allow your wife to visit mine. Zoey doesn’t know anyone here. She could use a friend.”

Henri looked to Marcus, who nodded, and the blond vampire seemed to relax a bit. “Of course. Perhaps they could have lunch, but I’ll take her to our room now. She doesn’t need to see this.”

Henri and Kim were gone in a second, disappearing into the crowd. All around us other guests moved in to get close to the stage.

Daniel leaned toward his patron. “Are you going to bid? You could use a companion. You need to be as strong as possible.”

Marcus didn’t take his eyes off the stage. “No. We need to reserve our cash for later. This will get very expensive. It’s been a while since a new companion was discovered.”

“It won’t touch your wealth. You’re not the strongest vampire in the first place. Companion blood would make you strong for the fight.”

“I said no, Daniel,” Marcus returned sharply. “Trust me, this is the right course.”

“Fine.” Daniel glared at his patron. “We’ll do as you wish, but make sure that is your reason, Marcus, and not because you’re pining over something you can’t have.”

I would have asked Daniel what that meant, but a vampire in formal wear took the stage. The auction was about to begin.





Chapter Nineteen