Smolder (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, #29)(49)

“Buddha sitting under a tree, it’s never been this bad,” Graham said, almost yelling over the sounds of women screaming Jean-Claude’s name.

I could only nod in agreement. There was a surge behind us almost like the ocean drawing back before it slams the shore, I couldn’t describe it any better than that. I turned to look, but Ethan already

had my arm and was pulling me to my feet, as I realized the crowd on this side was about to rush the stage en masse. Graham was on the other side of me, not grabbing my arm but facing the other way like he was going to block for me.

Ethan had a death grip on my left arm as he half led and half dragged me to the door beside the stage that led to the employees-only area. Graham came at our backs. I saw Truth and Wicked onstage with Jean-Claude. They were moving him toward the second exit that was literally at the back of the stage. Ethan got our door open. I must have hesitated, because he said, “Wicked Truth have him. We have you.” He spilled us through the door, with Graham having to push the crowd away to get us through and close the door. Luckily they weren’t trying for our door but just to rush past toward the stage.

We had a moment of silence behind the closed door, hearts pounding. I had a moment to acknowledge that it had been maybe frightening to see them go for the stage, but we hadn’t been the target, just an obstacle to be trampled. Ethan and I looked toward the few steps that led up to the stage door.

“I’m counting to five,” I said.

“You can’t go out there, Anita,” Ethan said.

“I can,” I said, narrowing my eyes at him.

“You can’t hurt customers, and they sure as hell will hurt us,” Graham said.

He had a point because my training was mostly how to hurt or kill people. I wasn’t a cop; I was an executioner.

The door opened and Truth came through with Jean-Claude and Wicked following. Someone else still onstage closed the door behind them. I got a glimpse of other black-shirted security massed in front of the door as it closed. It shook as if someone had fallen against the door.

I was trying to decide if I was really afraid of the crowd outside and did we need to rescue the rest of security when I realized that Jean-Claude was laughing. His eyes were bright, and it wasn’t vampire powers. He was giddy on the energy of the performance and the crowd’s reaction. He leaned against the wall in his fabulous boots and the thong, looking drunk, drunk on power.

“You enjoyed that,” I said almost accusingly.

“Why did you take the pants off after they were so wild?” Truth asked.

“I did,” Jean-Claude said, “it was part of the act.”

“I’ve never seen the crowd like this,” Graham said.

“What did you do to the audience?” Truth asked.

“Nothing I have not done before,” Jean-Claude said, standing there so full of the energy of the crowd that I could feel it coming off him in waves.

“That can’t be true, they’re crazed out there,” he said.

“We need to help the other security,” Graham said.

“Our duty is Jean-Claude’s safety,” Wicked said.

The door shook again, shuddering this time under the weight and energy of the crowd still trying to get to Jean-Claude. “We need to call more security from the other clubs,” Truth said.

“Or calm the crowd,” I said.

All the security looked at me, and then Wicked Truth and Ethan all shook their heads. “You can’t go out there,” Ethan said.

“We calm the crowd, or we call the police to do it for us,” I said.

Truth looked at Wicked. Wicked said, “Our duty lies here.”

“If Jean-Claude caused this while we guarded him, then it is our duty to fix it if we can,” Truth said.

“I did not do this,” Jean-Claude said, laughing wildly, slumping a little down the wall.

“You’re power drunk,” I said, and I couldn’t keep it from sounding accusatory.

Truth went toward the side door that we had come through, because the stage door was still shuddering as the crowd tried to push through. Wicked turned to Graham and Ethan. “Get Jean-Claude and Anita out of here.”

“And Nathaniel,” Truth added.

“All the principals,” Wicked said, and the brothers went for the door.

Jean-Claude pushed away from the wall, trying to go after them I think, but he was too drunk and started to collapse. Graham caught him, and the moment he touched him the energy changed. I felt it like a switch turned on inside me. I felt better, clearer-headed, and I realized that it was overfeed from Jean-Claude. He straightened, keeping his arm across Graham’s shoulders. “Stay by my side, Graham, there is something in the club tonight. It has tampered with us, and it does not like wolves.”

“If you did not do this, then it was done to you,” Wicked said.

“I fear so,” Jean-Claude said.

“No vampire should be able to roll you, you’re our king,” Truth said.

“So I thought, and if they could attack me, it would not be here, not while I was surrounded by lust. It is the element where I command.”

“You are steadier now, more in command of yourself,” Wicked said.

“I felt better when Graham touched me, too, but not this much better,” I said.

“Wolf is my animal to call, ma petite.”