Page 2 of Blood Moon

Uncle Vinny’s words were quiet and deliberate. The blank stare was gone, but was replaced with smoldering anger. I knew that look because I’d received it every time that I had done something wrong as a child. I knew from the look on his face that I wouldn’t be getting out of here tonight.

After he left, I pounded on the bars, pulling, pushing, hitting—anything to break free. I couldn’t give up. I needed to get out of here.

I wondered how long it would be before I could convince my uncle to let me out. What if I was forced into whatever had happened to these other women?

My mind raced through all the possible scenarios. Were they being sold into slavery? Were they victims of a sex trafficking ring? What if they had been kidnapped from their homes? Or could they be mail order brides? There were so many crazy options that could be possible.

Once my hands were battered and bloodied, I had to admit defeat. I hated myself for it, but I couldn’t stop the tears from falling as I sat there in that cage, feeling completely alone.

I spent the next three days in that cage, locked up like a dog who had bitten its owner. I should have been happy that I was being fed, but the whole thing made me angry. Tear stained and bloody, I begged and pleaded with Uncle Vinny every time he came in, but it did no good.

“Please, Uncle Vinny, just let me out of here.” I knew it was useless, but I had to try. He shook his head and left again after dropping a small tray of food through the bars. A few minutes later, he dropped off a first aid kit so I could clean and bandage my wounds.

Over the time I spent in the cage, I watched as each of the women who were locked in the cells around me were taken. One by one, my uncle came in and opened a door. Each time, the woman inside nodded at him and walked meekly to the door. He led them out without a word, and I never saw them again.

I couldn’t figure out what Mr. Maxwell wanted with the women in the cages, and the more I thought, the worse my ideas became. I didn’t want to become someone’s slave, whether sexual or manual labor.

As I ate on the third day, alone since the last woman had been taken out, I let my imagination wander. I’d heard of a cult that hunted people for sport. Maybe that’s what Mr. Maxwell was after.

Finally, when I’d almost accepted that this was my life now, he came in.

“Have you decided to cooperate, then?” He walked over to my cage and stared down at me. I had no choice but to look up at him.

“Cooperate with what, exactly?” I hoped that I sounded braver than I felt. There was something dangerous about this man.

“With the hostile takeover of the bar, of course. What did you think I meant?” His accent washed over me like a warm cup of cocoa on a cold night. I shivered. “Are you cold, Myshka?”

I looked around the room, trying to figure out if he was still talking to me. “My name’s Delilah. I don’t know who this Myshka is. Will you just let me out of here?” I knew from what little Uncle Vinny would tell me that I was walking a fine line with this man. If he thought I was being disrespectful, he could leave me here, or worse. One by one, I’d seen all the women taken from their cages and not returned. I was sure she didn’t get released.

“You are Myshka. It means little mouse. You didn’t answer my question. Have you decided to cooperate?” He unlocked the cage and motioned for me to crawl out. Part of me wanted to stay where I knew he couldn’t reach me, but the rest of me craved to be close to him.

I scampered out of the cage before he could change his mind. Mr. Maxwell grabbed my arm and helped me up. “There now, isn’t that better?” I was pressed up against the bars of the cage with him trapping me, just like when we’d met a few days ago.

I couldn’t respond, so I nodded. There was something captivating about his scent. He smelled citrusy but with a touch of something metallic that I couldn’t quite place. I shook my head to clear my thoughts, then realized that I was still picturing his lips on mine. My heart would not stop racing. What was it about him that drew me in?

“Provided you are not planning to do anything stupid, I am willing to let you resume your bartending job for now.” He reached a hand up and tucked a lock of my dark hair behind my ear. I had expected to recoil from his touch, but I found myself leaning closer.

“What do you mean, for now?” I was skeptical that he was going to pretend that nothing had happened here.

“I have other plans for you, Myshka. You’ll see in time.” He smiled at me and gestured toward the door. I started to walk out in front of him. “You will be measured for your new uniform tomorrow. Today you will go upstairs, take a shower, and relax.”

“I don’t live upstairs, though,” I mused, trying not to be disrespectful.

“You do now.” He handed me a keyring with a single key on it. The keychain held the logo for his company.

I followed him to the stairs. How long had this takeover been planned? Did Uncle Vinny know and not tell me? What exactly did Mr. Maxwell have planned for me? And why was I suddenly so anxious to find out?

Chapter 2

Viktor

I knew that Vinny’s family was off-limits according to our agreement. It was the only thing he’d requested when I’d forced the deal on him. I generally had no interest in humans since I was turned, except for blood donations. Vinny was lucky I hadn’t sent them both away when I took over.

For me, it wasn’t about the money. I had everything I needed. I wanted to cut off the supply to Strain and the other vampire factions. If they were forced to depend on me for their survival, I would be able to control their unsavory actions.

I hadn’t planned on walking into the backroom to find Vinny’s niece trying to release my blood slaves. It was blatantly apparent that she had no idea what was going on. I was shocked that her uncle hadn’t told her about the dangers of messing with vampires and their food supply, but I guessed that wasn’t the kind of thing most humans had to worry about.

Even if she’d managed to open the cages, none of the women inside would have tried to escape. They had already traded their lives for the protection of their children. It was a small price to pay for the protection of Maxwell Incorporated.

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