Chaos and Moonlight (Order of the Nines Book 1) by A.D. Marrow Page B

shrugged his shoulders, adjusting his leather duster before making his way past the stripper.
    “I like kink. I could be nice to both of you, you
and
your boyfriend.”
    Bane laughed as he stood at the threshold of a ratty-looking metal door. She was still staring at him, but with that come-hither look that was supposed to rake in all the bucks, as far as these girls were concerned. If he was smart, he would just take her somewhere, bend her over a table, and make her regret the offer. If he was smart, he would leave, forget about the “cause,” forget about everything, and move somewhere to start over.
    But Bane thrived on blood. He lived for carnage, and he couldn’t exist without sex, and the only person who offered all three at the same time, in copious amounts, was Morrigan. She was his chemical high, his drug of choice.
    “It’s not my boyfriend, lamb. It’s my wife. And, trust me, you don’t want in on a three-way.”
    * * *
    The office was a piece of wax paper-covered, incense-smelling, gritty-floored shit. The lights popped every few minutes, the desk was no better than a ratty old pop-up table, the computer was overloaded with porn instead of business files, and there were empty tissue boxes everywhere. Morrigan had a good idea of where the tissues had gone and what they had been used for.
    “At least he didn’t leave them on the floor.”
    She stood in the center of the room, her trademark stiletto pumps sticking to the floor, arms crossed at her chest. How did the business get that—well, for lack of a better word—shitty? She funneled dollar after dollar into its upkeep. Something told her to buy the place when she’d seen it for sale online. She hired someone she thought would be competent enough to run the operation, but apparently she had missed the mark when she hired Leo.
    She walked over to the corner of the room, crouched down, and touched the body that was propped up against the wall.
    “How did you let this place get so trashy?” She grabbed the man’s chin and shook his head, his wide eyes not blinking. As always, her voice was even, pleasant, almost comforting. “We are supposed to be having company, you know. How can I present myself as a successful businesswoman when you have spunk and chewing gum all over the floor?” She made a clicking noise with her tongue. “Very disappointed, Leo. Very disappointed.”
    From behind her, the door burst open, and along with a flood of light from the hallway, Bane stepped in. Morrigan instantly rose to her feet, whirling around to face him, a smile spreading across her creamy face.
    “Hello, darling.”
    Bane pointed to the body in the corner. “Leo, eh? Figured he would have been a little more professional with the place, myself. We’ve got to do something about those girls downstairs, all coke and cock.”
    “That’s what they do, my dear. That’s what brings in the money.” She walked over to him, placing her hands on his chest and sliding them up around his neck. She pulled him down closer, her lips brushing his face. As she dipped her head down again, the tip of her nose touched the crook of his neck, and she slowly inhaled.
    “Two in one night. Must have been hungry.” Her voice was a whisper against his skin. From his scent, she could tell he had fed. “A man and a woman? You kinky beast.” She flicked her tongue over the skin of his neck and let out a small groan as his arms wrapped around her. “It wasn’t the doctor, was it?”
    Beneath her arms, his body went rigid, and she instantly pulled away from him. Her cobalt blue eyes flashed to black as she stared at him.
    “The girl, Bane. Where is she?”
    “I didn’t get her.” His voice was low, soft, almost a whisper. Inside, he was steeling himself for what he would tell her next. Whatever reaction she had to his failure, it would be tenfold when he told her who had managed to get to the doctor first.
    Morrigan removed her arms from around his neck and pushed herself