2. Natalia

I takea sip of my drink, bored out of my mind with talk of mergers, acquisitions, new positions in the family and all the money these five can make if they join together. I'm almost grateful when Roman gets up to go to the bar and talk to one of the vampire lords in the region. My attention is quickly diverted to the dark-haired vampire who walks in the door and strolls across the place like he owns it. I'm not the only red-blooded female who turns to stare as the gorgeous, dark wavy-haired male walks over to the bar.

It takes effort not to gawk at that tall, strong bodied man decked out in big black boots, jeans that hug those powerful thighs and a leather jacket that lays carefree over a white t-shirt. Marcus says something to me, and I turn back slowly, not having caught a word he said. "What did you say?" I ask, my cheeks heating because I don't even have the sound of the music to blame as an excuse for not catching a word.

Marcus looks over at the bar and scowls at me. "Stay away from Roman and the vampires. Especially that one. Master Oradea has more power and influence than any of the fuckers around here. The territory they have should be ours, will be ours someday. Off limits to you, Tally."

I glare at my brother. Like he's ever had an issue with me chasing after guys, especially Roman. No, this interest is new. It's hardly my fault if raging hormones and a sexy, dark vampire are messing with all my senses at the very same time.

"I'm hardly interested in the likes of either of them. Besides, I'm here, listening to the big talks about our impending merger. What else do you want from me?"

Michael looks up from his phone. "You need to understand the business, Tally. What if the same thing that happened to Dad happened to the four of us. You'd need to know how to handle yourself in the family." I start to say something, but he doesn't give me a chance. "Like it or not."

I glare at my brothers who are most infuriating when they're trying to smother me with protection that I don't even need. I'd far rather be checking out the master vampire Roman is talking to on the other side of the room. The one who walked in with a swagger across the floor, as though he owns the entire club and whose dark wavy hair drops over the left side of his forehead in a sexy little tilt.

Marcus leans in and lowers his voice. "Do not give us that look, Tally. The vampires are taking over properties all over the globe, little by little, ensuring century to century that they have a larger impact, more purchasing power, and respectability among the underworld and the humans. We can't stand idly by while vampires like that smug son of a bitch over there take what our father and his father worked to build all of their lives."

I shrug. "Seems like Roman has feet in both camps. Trying to get us to merge with him and still remain friendly with the Descallia crew. How's that going to work? I thought Dad was flat- out against working with any of them." My brothers glare at me, and I smile. "What, you thought I wasn't listening, right? That the female you bring along for window dressing doesn't have a mind or would be too timid to speak up? That girl took flight three days ago. I'm twenty-one; I get to make my own rules now."

My brother's jaw sets with his annoyance while Antonio and Frankie continue adding up dollars the merger will bring them. They don't even have the money yet but are probably itching to spend it on some high-priced car, or yacht, or sky rise penthouse to take out more girls. Michael tries to hide a smile and pounds out a message on his phone. "The vampires are trying to gobble up as much land as they possibly can in an effort to take over our businesses. That's not going to sit well with any of the factions, human or other. It's a complicated mess. Twenty-one or not, the same rules apply, Tally. It's for your own safety."

I swivel my glass again, chancing a glance back at the powerful looking vampire who must stand at least six-foot-five. His dark knowing eyes lock on mine and hold them captive, as the edges of his eyes begin to glow red. I inhale sharply, shocked at the magnetism of his stare, but still, I can't look away, don't want to look away, completely entranced by the power he exudes.

A loud noise at the entrance causes me to look toward the door. A tall dark-haired vampire with blood red eyes and fangs hanging heavily below his lips glares into the room. "I hear you're looking for me, Oradea!" he yells into the room full of people.

The entire club comes to a standstill, all eyes shift to him and the vampire he's glaring at by the bar. My heart beats faster and faster. It's not as though I haven't heard of vampire fights and battles. Just like humans, they have their differences as well, but seeing the heat of those eyes and the wrath that fuels his intent is another thing altogether.

Master Oradea points toward the door. "This is between me and you, Lucas. Outside!"

Lucas laughs, a high-pitched maniacal sound that sends a shiver of apprehension right down the length of my spine. "I don't think so, Oradea. Tell me what it is that you want? Why you chase me, knowing I have the backing of men so much more powerful than you; it baffles us all."

The vampire master narrows his eyes at him. "What puzzles us is why you turned traitor? Right-hand man to Overmaster Descallia for centuries, and this is how you repay him? You will learn a painful and powerful lesson, my friend. Our boss does not suffer traitors well. I know you must remember that."

The one called Lucas raises his cape in anger, or maybe just preparing to take flight, but patrons duck their heads, preparing for the unexpected. Michael leans toward me as he draws his gun from the back of his pants. "If he moves this way, I want you under this table, Tally. Capische?"

I swallow past the lump in my throat. "Yes." All my life I've been prepared for a day that I might be put in a situation such as this, but the perpetrator was always going to be a rival crime family; not because we're in the middle of a vampire war.

Lucas takes a step forward, with at least ten snarling gray yellow-eyed wolves behind him. "I came to give you a warning, and I'll only give you one. Back the fuck off and stop buying land that gives us no choice but to take it from you in the end. The purebloods, the real purebloods, are taking this world back."

Master Oradea's eyes flash an intense deep color of red. "It will be a cold day in hell before you take what doesn't belong to you, traitor. I will find you when you're not protected by your pets and send you to hell right along with the rest of the bastard rogues. You've said what you came to say. Now leave, and take your mangy friends with you." The gray wolves snarl but follow Lucas out the door as he takes his leave.

My brothers' faces all look grim. This was not in anyone's plan. Michael looks to me. "Stay here; we'll be back. My brothers stand to their six-foot heights, intimidating on a good day but even more so when they've just been put into the middle of a vampire war they don't belong in. "It's time we have a heart to heart with Roman and his friend. He's about to learn what the power of our families can do."