A Chase of Prey (A Shade of Vampire #11)(24)

“Are you taking me to the circus boat?”

“No. I take you to Sir.”

“Who’s Sir?”

“Aurelio. He decide what you do.”

My knees felt weak, my hands trembling even more as she ushered me forward. I barely took in my surroundings as we ascended several more flights of stairs. My mind was too alight with panic.

Phillipe already intended me for the circus. Maybe Aurelio decided against it. More than anything, the one thought plaguing my mind was: I need to find Caleb.

I now paid more attention to where the woman was leading me. Although I had no idea where I’d go, I knew I had to make a run for it before we reached our destination. Because something told me once I entered Aurelio’s room, I might not get the chance again.

I waited until the woman was four steps away from the top, and then, mustering all the strength I could, jolted downward in one sudden motion. She yelped and struggled to hold on, but it was too late. With gravity on my side, I broke free from her and raced back down the stairs. I looked around wildly as I reached the bottom. I caught sight of three guns splayed out on the wall. I reached for one and tugged on it until it came loose. I had no idea if it was loaded, and even if it was, I wasn’t practiced at shooting. But it was all I had.

I whirled around to find myself face to face with the woman again. I stumbled back as she eyed the gun, her mouth agape. I pointed it at her and pulled my meanest face.

“Where’s the exit?”

“I-I…”

I gripped her collar and pushed her up against the wall, digging the barrel of the gun against her throat.

“You know,” I growled. “Tell me.”

“I can’t…” Her voice trailed away as her eyes found a spot over my shoulder. Horror filled her face. “Sir!” she gasped.

A muscled hand closed around my throat and squeezed, crushing my larynx. I choked, dropping the gun. The hand twisted me round slowly and I found myself looking up at Sir. He must have been at least six foot four. He had tan skin, thick jet-black hair and an impeccably sculpted goatee. He appeared to be in his late forties.

His dark brown eyes drilled into mine. “Marisa,” he said, his voice deep and rasping, his breath smelling of mint. “You can go. I’ll deal with the American flower.”

As Marisa scurried away, Aurelio kicked the gun and sent it skidding down the hallway. His eyes still on me, he loosened his grip around my neck. Reaching behind his pants, he unhooked a pair of handcuffs and fastened one bracelet over my wrist. He began walking forward, tugging me behind him. As we reached the end of the corridor, he pulled me into a room. Other than a small table and two chairs in the center of the room, it was empty. He sat me down in one of the chairs and fastened me to it. He picked up a corded phone from the table and, still eyeing me, began to dial a number.

“Keep him out,” he said in Spanish, then put the phone down. Then he walked through a door at the back of the room and disappeared.

I stood up and, picking up the chair so it wouldn’t make a noise, walked over to the door. I clutched the handle. It was locked. Even if it hadn’t been, I wouldn’t have gotten far chained to this furniture.

I looked around the room. There were no guns in sight. The walls were painted a deep red, and there was a bearskin rug in one corner—the bear’s head still attached.

I jumped as a banging sounded outside the door. I hurried to sit back down where Aurelio had left me. He re-entered the room, a gun in his hand. He ran its barrel along my neck on his way to the door. He looked through the peephole, then walked back over to the phone and redialed a number. His voice was tense this time as he spoke. “I thought I told you to keep him out while I decide.”

He cast a glance at me. “Yes,” he said, rubbing his jaw impatiently. “But it’s not every day that we come across her type. Young. Innocent-looking.”

I guessed he thought that I didn’t speak Spanish. Or, more likely, he didn’t care whether I understood him or not.

The door shuddered again as another bout of knocking broke out, more forceful this time. A man shouted in Spanish. “It’s Camilo. Open up.”

“I don’t care what he was promised,” Aurelio said, his voice quieting. “Just take him away.”

He slammed the phone down. I avoided his gaze as he took a seat opposite me. I heard footsteps outside. Then low mutterings in Spanish. It sounded like there was a scuffle, but then footsteps drew further away and the banging stopped. I wished that it had continued. Now that I was alone here with this man, my hairs stood on end.

“Stand up.” Aurelio spoke in English now, his harsh voice slicing through the silence.

I stood up as best I could, being chained to the chair. He stood up himself and walked over to me, his arms folded over his chest as his eyes roamed me.

Brody’s words echoed in my ears. “Do all you can to get on that boat.” He’d advised me for my personal safety. But I knew that if there was any chance I would see Caleb again, it would be on that boat and that was what spurred me forward more than anything.

“I want to join Camilo’s circus,” I said, fighting to keep my voice steady.

He scoffed.

There was a loud banging outside the door.

“Aurelio, enough of this. Open up or I’ll break in,” a voice shouted in Spanish. Camilo again. He must have managed to break free from the other men.