Either way, I’m screwed.
Alexei muscled his way in front of her and shoved the other paranormal male aside. He gently touched Buck’s shoulder. “Look at me.”
The older man blinked and shook himself, coming out of the daze. “Hey, Alexei.” He seemed confused as to why he was the center of attention. “What happened?”
“I think you’re tired and maybe had too much excitement this evening.” She took charge of the situation and gave Tiny a smile. “Could you take him home?”
As she’d known he would, he immediately tossed his pool stick on the table. “Sure thing.” He draped his arm around Buck to offer support. “Marlene is off with the women tonight. Why don’t you come on over to my place? I’ve got plenty of snacks. We can watch a movie or something.”
Buck nodded and collected his belongings. In under a minute, they were gone. In that time, the rest of the place had cleared out.
It was on the tip of her tongue to ask if they’d be okay on the way home, but she didn’t want to draw more attention to them. Damian wasn’t paying them any attention for the moment. He was too busy staring at Alexei, as though he couldn’t believe his eyes.
“How did you do that?” he demanded.
Alexei didn’t answer. No surprise there. He might be a man of few words, but there was no denying he was powerful. He’d broken the thrall. Something she’d thought only another, more powerful vampire could do.
She was as curious as Damian.
Now that it was only paranormals in the place, she relaxed, but only slightly. She couldn’t let her guard down for one second. She had to somehow get rid of both men without there being any blood spilled, but not before getting the information she needed.
Contrary to what most people might believe, her kind didn’t kill. Their sole purpose was to guide the newly dead to where they belonged. But she had. Which was why Death was probably very concerned about her being AWOL. If she decided to go on a killing spree, only he or a powerful group of senior reapers could stop her.
Yeah, she was just that good.
“Who hired you?” she demanded, going on the offensive.
His frown deepened. “I don’t know and don’t care. The money is good. And it’s a challenge. A kill I can make without repercussions.”
The absurdity of the lie made her smile. Someone was playing with the guy. Not only couldn’t he end her, but if he somehow managed, the fallout would be on scale with a nuclear war.
“That amuses you?” His eyes turned red and his fangs dropped. As did all pretence of civility.
“I find it hilarious. They didn’t hire you to kill me.” She eyed both men, more curious about Alexei’s reaction. “They sent you after me as bait, hoping I’ll take you out so they can find me.”
“Impossible. I’m a three-hundred-year-old vampire. There’s no one more dangerous than me.”
“Don’t get out much, do you?” Alexei’s reply was so unexpected that she laughed.
Damian leaped into the air, his body hurtling toward her at an inhuman speed. She ducked, ready to defend herself, but he never reached her. In a blur of motion, Alexei seized him and tossed him across the room.
She winced as the wall separating the pool area from the main room became little more than kindling. That was going to be a costly repair.
Alexei lumbered toward him, head lowered, fists clenched. “You don’t touch her.”
Wow, that was unexpected and…nice. No one ever protected her. Most people avoided her like the plague. Death followed wherever she went.
Damian jumped back to his feet and wiped a drop of blood from the corner of his mouth before licking it from the tip of his finger. “You’ll pay for that.”
“Walk away,” Alexei told him. Cassie wasn’t sure if she was impressed he was giving the other man an out or if she should be worried. He’d come here this evening to execute her, which meant he’d do the same to Alexei to get to her.
After tossing him through a wall, she figured Damian would find it very necessary to end him for the insult alone.
What if it had been nothing more than sheer luck that Alexei had stopped him? He was quick, but he was a shifter. Vamps were deadly and fast. She had no idea which one of them was actually stronger.
“No plodding polar is going to stop me.” He shot her a glare, looking past Alexei to her. “And whatever you are, I’m going to drink your blood.”
She shook her head and sighed. Why couldn’t life be easy, just for once? After an eternity of service, you’d think she’d deserve retirement, or at least a prolonged vacation.
It wasn’t fair.
But if she’d learned anything over the course of her existence, it was that life wasn’t fair. Not in the least. The fates and gods were capricious, granting and removing favor on a whim. If there was a plan, she couldn’t see it.
She could philosophize later. Now was the time to fight. Something else she’d never done before. Never had to.
She really wasn’t equipped to fend off attackers. Her only recourse was to kill them. And damn Death and the rest of them. They knew that.
“Go away.” Alexei moved in front of her, a giant wall of muscle and bone. He was so broad, so wide, she had to peer around him to see Damian.
“You’ve got more balls than brains, my friend.” He dusted some sawdust from the arm of his jacket. “Move aside and I’ll make your death quick.”
There were no more warnings, no more words at all. One second, Alexei was standing in front of her, the next, his large fist smashed through the other man’s chest. When he pulled his hand back, he had the vampire’s heart in his hand.
Damian’s eyes widened. His mouth fell open. Then he dropped to the floor.
“What have you done?” Horrified, she moved toward the downed man, but it was too late. His body was already starting to disintegrate.
Alexei ignored her and unleashed his powerful claws, as sharp and deadly as titanium daggers. He brought them down, sweeping across Damian’s neck, severing his head from his spine.
“Vamps are tricky. You have to remove the heart and head to be sure they won’t rise again.”
At least she didn’t have to clean up a bloody mess. Already what was left of him was shriveling and becoming ash.
“Older they are, quicker they crumble,” he told her. His claws retracted. “You okay?”
“Am I okay?” Even to her own ears she sounded a tad hysterical. She sucked in a breath. “Calm. Stay calm, Cassie.” She flinched when Alexei reached for her. He frowned, and a profound sadness filled his eyes. “Sorry, but you just destroyed a vampire in the middle of the bar.”