door of the cab. I shuddered on contact and pushed aside the feeling of depression that lingered within her touch. Humans accidentally brushed through me sometimes, but that was usually when I was less human . Usually I only caught glimpses of the strongest of their emotions, not this breath-knocking, mind-reeling force of feeling.
Brushing the sensation aside, I followed her entrance t hrough the secret door at the front of the building and down the luxurious staircase. The club looked bright and polished in the light of day, or rather the false electric lamps. Lissa paused at the foot of the dance floor, shifting on her heels and gripping her clutch until her knuckles turned white.
Meanwhile I watched the service man cleaning the floor between the many booths and tables lining the edge. At its peak, this place must have been dressed like a palace. Much of the original gold plating and filigree had survived, aged like perfected wine. Obvious care had been taken to preserve the old grandeur that Cain’s uncle maintained. The floor space was vast, bordered by the long strip that made up the stage and the kitchens on the opposite side. At either end of the bar a stairwell led up to the exit behind and a balcony on the other. It was almost impossible to tell how far this second floor went, but it seemed the ideal place to find privacy.
A deep boo ming voice startled both of us. “Analissa Sanchez! Where in God’s name have you been? Chloe said something about that rich suit you were cozying up to the other night. I thought I told you to stay away from him.” The well-dressed figure that approached us had the same russet-toned skin as Cain, only his was a shade darker, and his black hair was shaved close to his head. He was beautiful in a dark and powerful way. I knew instinctively this was the cousin.
Lissa walked up to him with an easy swagger and purred while pressing a hand to his arm, “Don’t be like that, boss. I didn’t want to bother you. And Derek was… there. ”
He chuckled low and with false tenderness removed her hand. “Don’t feed me more of your usual crap, baby. I’m not Cain. S o I don’t think you hung the moon with your cheap—ah—assets.” He wagged his eyebrows suggestively at her. Before she could protest he continued, “Then again, now that you dumped him, I doubt he’d believe a word coming out of that easy mouth of yours.”
Lissa hugged her chest and lifted her chi n in defiance. “You used to believe me.”
His laugh was sudden and pained. For the first time I noticed the small glass in his hand when he tossed back the amber liquid. After setting it to rest on the nearby bar he turned to face her and smirked. “You took care of that real quick, didn’t you, baby? Taught me a lesson I’ll never forget. But hey, let’s not forget the rules of the game. All’s fair in hate and war after all.”
“Shut up , Jude! I’m hungover and not in the mood.”
H e reached up and barred her path with his arm before she could walk away. Curiously, I noticed for the first time a twisted, multiple-knotted, scarlet cord connecting the two of them. I had seen many connections in the past, the color of the cord typically revealing the nature of the relationship. Never had I seen one the color of the bleeding sunset.
“You and I have always had a good relationship, haven’t we Lissa? ” Jude said. “I’m letting you live with me, because otherwise we both know you’d just be another rat in the gutter. Lucky for you, you happen to be the best vocalist we’ve had in years. So how about you do us a favor and take care of yourself? Try to not act like a hooker with all my clients, baby.” With these parting words he winked and blew her a kiss before disappearing through the dark doorway he’d come.
Lissa stood rigidly after ward and, if I wasn’t mistaken, seemed on the verge of tears. Instantly I understood that while she attempted to be tough on the outside, she was just as
Brushing the sensation aside, I followed her entrance t hrough the secret door at the front of the building and down the luxurious staircase. The club looked bright and polished in the light of day, or rather the false electric lamps. Lissa paused at the foot of the dance floor, shifting on her heels and gripping her clutch until her knuckles turned white.
Meanwhile I watched the service man cleaning the floor between the many booths and tables lining the edge. At its peak, this place must have been dressed like a palace. Much of the original gold plating and filigree had survived, aged like perfected wine. Obvious care had been taken to preserve the old grandeur that Cain’s uncle maintained. The floor space was vast, bordered by the long strip that made up the stage and the kitchens on the opposite side. At either end of the bar a stairwell led up to the exit behind and a balcony on the other. It was almost impossible to tell how far this second floor went, but it seemed the ideal place to find privacy.
A deep boo ming voice startled both of us. “Analissa Sanchez! Where in God’s name have you been? Chloe said something about that rich suit you were cozying up to the other night. I thought I told you to stay away from him.” The well-dressed figure that approached us had the same russet-toned skin as Cain, only his was a shade darker, and his black hair was shaved close to his head. He was beautiful in a dark and powerful way. I knew instinctively this was the cousin.
Lissa walked up to him with an easy swagger and purred while pressing a hand to his arm, “Don’t be like that, boss. I didn’t want to bother you. And Derek was… there. ”
He chuckled low and with false tenderness removed her hand. “Don’t feed me more of your usual crap, baby. I’m not Cain. S o I don’t think you hung the moon with your cheap—ah—assets.” He wagged his eyebrows suggestively at her. Before she could protest he continued, “Then again, now that you dumped him, I doubt he’d believe a word coming out of that easy mouth of yours.”
Lissa hugged her chest and lifted her chi n in defiance. “You used to believe me.”
His laugh was sudden and pained. For the first time I noticed the small glass in his hand when he tossed back the amber liquid. After setting it to rest on the nearby bar he turned to face her and smirked. “You took care of that real quick, didn’t you, baby? Taught me a lesson I’ll never forget. But hey, let’s not forget the rules of the game. All’s fair in hate and war after all.”
“Shut up , Jude! I’m hungover and not in the mood.”
H e reached up and barred her path with his arm before she could walk away. Curiously, I noticed for the first time a twisted, multiple-knotted, scarlet cord connecting the two of them. I had seen many connections in the past, the color of the cord typically revealing the nature of the relationship. Never had I seen one the color of the bleeding sunset.
“You and I have always had a good relationship, haven’t we Lissa? ” Jude said. “I’m letting you live with me, because otherwise we both know you’d just be another rat in the gutter. Lucky for you, you happen to be the best vocalist we’ve had in years. So how about you do us a favor and take care of yourself? Try to not act like a hooker with all my clients, baby.” With these parting words he winked and blew her a kiss before disappearing through the dark doorway he’d come.
Lissa stood rigidly after ward and, if I wasn’t mistaken, seemed on the verge of tears. Instantly I understood that while she attempted to be tough on the outside, she was just as
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