Blood Money by Lisa Edmonds

Author:Lisa Edmonds [Edmonds, Lisa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lisa Edmonds, Author
Published: 2018-02-12T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINE

MOST PATRONS WISHING to gain entry to Nyx waited behind a velvet rope guarded by not one but two enforcers. Upon entering, they submitted to hand searches, presented two forms of identification, and signed waivers based on which activities they were interested in pursuing while on the premises. The waivers were duly notarized and filed, and then the patrons were ushered to the main floor, where they could enjoy the staged performances before exploring the many pleasurable activities taking place on one of the other five levels—three above ground and two below.

As a member of the Court, Charles and his entourage did not enter by the front door. Instead, they were ushered quickly through the VIP entrance and into a private lounge on the first floor. Though its décor matched the rest of the ultramodern building, Charles was at least spared from having to listen to the music being played in the main stage area thanks to excellent soundproofing. Seconds after they entered, the speakers in the private lounge began playing Sinatra. Someone somewhere knew his listening preferences and that they did not include whatever was currently passing as “music” in the main room.

The lounge included a fully stocked bar. A female vampire bartender offered them drinks. Ever the well-mannered guest, Charles accepted a glass of champagne flavored with a few drops of fresh blood. Dunlap, who had been visibly relieved to see Alice alive and unharmed upon their arrival, took a bottle of German beer. The enforcers—with whom Alice stood, maintaining her cover—were offered nothing, not out of rudeness, but because as Charles’s security detail, they would have declined it.

Charles could tell Dunlap wanted very much to speak to Alice, but he stood with Charles instead and did nothing that would call attention to her.

Well aware the bartender was listening, Charles engaged Dunlap in conversation about beer and asked for recommendations of brands he might add to the menu at Hawthorne’s. If the bartender was relaying their conversation to her master, he would learn nothing except that Dunlap found the selection of IPAs at Hawthorne’s to be inexcusably limited.

The group waited less than three minutes before a young vampire in a tuxedo hurried in. “Mr. Vaughan,” he said politely with a bow. “My name is Henry. Please forgive the delay. Had we been informed of your desire to visit this evening, we would have prepared better accommodations for you and your guest.”

“Your hospitality has thus far been quite adequate,” Charles said.

A slight tightening of the eyes was Henry’s only visible reaction to Charles’s deliberate use of the adjective adequate, which in vampire parlance was far from complimentary.

Henry handed Charles and Dunlap embossed black leather menus. “What may we offer you this evening? May I suggest one of our exclusive packages for you, and something less exotic for Mr. Dunlap? Your enforcers may, of course, accompany you, or they are welcome to wait in an adjacent suite.”

Charles gave his menu only a perfunctory glance, but Dunlap scanned his, perhaps out of curiosity.

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