Chapter 12

Chapter Twelve

Angelo

There was a discreet tap on the door. I glanced around to see Petar Dragan, Dimitri's father, standing in the doorway. He had had a hand in introducing my sister to her husband. As usual, his hair was slicked back, and his eyes were shifty. Petar had a habit of switching allegiances to suit his changing purposes. He had sworn allegiance to Grayson Allen, who defied Dracula's rules. Grayson had wanted to kill King Nico and had even made a deal with a demon in an attempt to seize the crown. But his plans had backfired, and Petar had been caught in the crossfire. I had found him dying in St. Louis Cathedral. He had been supplying me with blood ever since and proved useful in other ways as well.

He held out a note. "Excuse me sir, you have a message from the king. "

Serenity lifted a skeptical brow. "Just how many kings are there in New Orleans, anyway?"

I took the note from Petar and scanned it. Good. King Nico had accepted my invitation for dinner at St. John's Tavern. The meeting was in less than an hour. "Technically, King Nico is the only real king. He's the king of the vampires. The rest of us are kings over our Mafia families—Trystan Hunter is the Wolf King and Keir Rankin is the dark Fae King." I slipped the note into my jacket pocket.

Jacques approached and coughed discreetly. "Sir, Serenity's television has been installed in her room as you requested."

"Good. I'd like you to stay and guard her while she looks through the library. She has access to anything she wishes."

Serenity looked at me in confusion. "Where are you going?"

"I have a dinner meeting I must attend. If you get hungry, let Jacques know, and he'll have something prepared for you. Perhaps when I return, you and I can discuss what you've learned."

She crossed her arms. "How do I know I can trust you?" I could see that faith in me wouldn't come easy for her. Unfortunately, I needed the Nephilim to have just that.

I lifted her stubborn chin and caressed her soft flesh with my finger. "That is something you'll have to figure out for yourself."

She studied me with blue eyes that reminded me of the deep sea. I released her and, without another word, left her to discover her heritage.

"Petar, come. You'll accompany me to St. John's." I didn't completely trust him, especially around Serenity, since he had such a deep-seated hatred for the angels.

His presence at dinner would also definitely unnerve King Nico and Costin, making it easier for me to obtain information from them. Together with me and my family, he was number one on their list of enemies.

Dimitri pulled the limousine up next to St. John's Tavern, then opened the door for Petar to get out of the car. Their relationship was a strained one. Petar held higher rank in my family because I needed his connections for human blood, despite Dimitri actually being married to my sister.

I glanced at Dimitri. "Keep an eye out for any trouble, especially from the wolves and the Unseelie or the dark Fae."

"Yes, sir."

The tavern was directly across the street from Crimson Stakes. With its rustic brick exterior and welcoming, antique-lamp-lit entryway, it offered an inviting contrast to its neighbor's flashy presence. Also, in contrast to the casino, it was a legitimate business, not a money laundering operation.

The tavern was busy, but Petar and I went straight to the head of the line, bypassing people who were waiting to get inside.

The ma?tre d', Jean-Pierre, bowed slightly. "Ah, monsieur, your usual table is waiting for you, as always."

I scanned the restaurant, looking for King Nico and Costin. "Have my guests arrived?"

He grabbed a couple of menus. "No, not yet. This way, please."

Petar and I followed Jean-Pierre through the crowded tavern to the private dining room I had on the second-floor balcony, with a window from which I could look down and observe the various comings and goings of the tavern. It was always kept ready for me—no one else ever sat there. I inhaled deeply, the rich aroma of Creole cuisine filling my nostrils, and enjoyed the live jazz, the heart and soul of the Quarter drifting through the cozy, wood-paneled dining rooms.

We took our places at the table and didn't have to wait long to see King Nico and Costin Tarus arriving. Like me, they hadn't come alone. The king had his son Dante plus a guard with him, while Costin was accompanied by his manservant, Ethan. Ethan might look like a butler as he followed Costin at a respectful distance, his eyes down, but I knew better. Beneath his submissive appearance, he was a powerful vampire in his own right, and his skills were legendary.

Luckily, the table was always set for at least eight of us.

I glanced sternly at Petar as I unfolded my napkin and placed it in my lap. "You will contain yourself this evening. I need to know that I can trust you at all times." The implication was clear. If I couldn't, he was dead.

Besides Petar, I had guards stationed throughout the establishment just in case I needed them, but I knew my guests wouldn't try anything here, not with innocent patrons around. Like me, they didn't like to draw too much attention to themselves.

The ma?tre d' appeared at the entrance to the private dining room and gestured for my guests to enter before retiring and shutting the door. They took their seats, and while most of them maintained a calm demeanor, Dante's expression darkened when he locked eyes with Petar. A tense silence fell over the group, but no one flinched or showed any reaction.

I bowed my head slightly as they all got settled. "Good evening, Your Majesty. Gentlemen."

"Santi." Costin nodded curtly. I had no doubt he would be the spokesperson for the group. He always was.

I waved my hand and a waiter materialized with a bottle of Chosen Blood and filled everyone's glass.

I cut to the chase. "I assume by agreeing to meet me so promptly, you think I have something to do with the two recently murdered girls?"

Costin sniffed his glass, then took a sip. "Their bodies were completely drained, so…" His cold tone had already convicted me.

Drained? This was news to me, but I hid my surprise well. "I assure you, my family didn't have anything to do with it."

King Nico finally spoke. "How can you be so sure?" His gaze wasn't on me—it was on Petar.

"Because no one does anything in this family without my blessing. If you're worried about Petar, I can assure you, he's being watched."

Petar blinked and stiffened, as if offended. "I am?"

I didn't answer him and focused on the others.

Costin put down his empty glass. "The other problem is ownership of the Nephilim. King Trystan claims she's his. We can't afford another war."

I swirled my glass, the blood sloshing against the sides. "Trystan only wanted the girl after I saved her. That fool Simon had nearly overdosed her on diazepam. Simon agreed to my price, then tried to double-cross me." That still rankled. It was something he would regret. I wasn't done with him yet.

King Nico held my gaze. "My sources say that your men were ambushed, and your enforcer was badly wounded, nearly fatally. Is this true?" His voice was filled with apprehension.

I would have to discover who had such a loose tongue. I clenched my jaw, determined not to show any weakness in front of the king and Costin. "Your sources are mistaken. Enzo is perfectly fine."

Costin pointed at the empty seat. "Then why isn't he here?"

Showing that we were vulnerable was out of the question. I forced a smirk to my face. "Because I have another task for him tonight that doesn't pertain to this discussion."

"It's not just the two drained girls. Another girl has just been found murdered. My sources say that you had a liaison with her—Camila Alto. Witnesses report that you were seen with her as recently as last night." Costin's voice was tight as he leaned in, his eyes searching mine for any sign of guilt.

"The witnesses are mistaken. I wasn't with Camila last night. Our relationship ended months ago."

My breath had stilled at her name. Obviously, Costin and the king didn't know I'd had a dalliance with Nancee. It had only been brief. But Camila was another matter. She had been a waitress at Crimson Stakes and my favorite lover for quite some time until she went to work for the Barone family. If Costin and the king found out I had a relationship with both girls, they would fabricate some "evidence" and declare me guilty, I was sure of it.

Costin pressed a crumpled photo of Camila's dead body into my hand. Blood soaked her long black dress and terror reflected in her lifeless, staring eyes. As I gazed at her, I realized she looked like Serenity.

"I wasn't with her last night. I was with the Nephilim. Where was she found?"

He tilted his head. "In the alley behind the tavern."

King Nico raised an eyebrow, his expression bored. "You say you were with the Nephilim? Bring her to us, Santi, so we may question her ourselves."

I shook my head, my fists clenching angrily at the thought. No way in hell was I going to let them take her away from me. She was mine, and I would protect her with everything I had.

Costin locked eyes with me. "If you choose to not bring the Nephilim to us and another girl dies, you'll pay the price, Angelo. Not your family. You personally. Do I make myself clear?"

Crystal clear. I would not only be at war with the wolves and the dark Fae, but with the born vampires, the king of the vampires, and Costin himself. My enemies kept mounting, leaving me with little chance of escape.