Page 5 of The Blood Deliverance

“The boss wants to speak with you.” The one closest with the scarred face barked at him. “He’s calling in his note.” He smiled sickly.

“I work the bar.” James pressed his back to the wall and managed to stand up. “We have a contract.”

"Well, now you're going to work his bedroom." The scarred man cackled, and it sent a cold chill up James’ back. "Don't be shy. I'm sure he won’t hurt you . . . much.” He laughed.

“I won’t do it.”

“I don’t recall giving you a choice.”

“I’ll die first.”

“Not first." He snarled. "He will have his fun with you first, and then you can die, and I will help you, but not until I've had my turn at that ass of yours.” The scarred man grabbedhim again by the hair and began hauling him to the door. The other one had already stepped out into the hall. This couldn't be happening was exploding through James' mind, and panic filled every molecule of his body.

The one holding him suddenly stopped when there came a loud commotion from the hallway. He held fast to James' hair and dragged him along as he looked out into the hall. He was abruptly clocked hard in the face by a large, booted foot which knocked the man to the floor and loosened his hold on James.

Everything was happening so fast that James just acted on instinct and crawled away to a corner in the hall. Before him, to his surprise, was Fane, his dream man from the back hall, who was totally destroying the two bouncers. He took them both out with veritable ease. They were evil men who did evil things, and James was not sorry to see them finally pay.

Fane took hold of the scarred one with an arm around his neck and plunged a dagger into his throat, dragging it from side to side until the brute fell to his knees. It was a horrible sight, but James could not drag his eyes away.

James maintained eye contact with the monster, wanting to make sure he saw James and understood that he was alive. “You lost.” He mouthed the words to him. He hated these bastards and felt no sympathy for them. The scarred one fell to his face on the hardwood floor and bled out. The other one looked like he had a broken neck, considering the angle of his head and the fact he wasn’t moving.

Fane came toward him and stuck out his hand, which James took without thinking about it. This was his savior, and he was not going to question it. Fane pulled him to his feet, and then they took off back down the hall and to the stairway. Fane was on his phone calling in a cleanup crew as they raced downthe stairs and out the front door to a waiting SUV. James didn't quite understand, but he didn’t care that he didn’t understand. He was safe and the monsters were dead.

He was hustled into the passenger seat and Fane got behind the wheel. They pulled away from the curb and took off through town. It was several minutes before any words were spoken. “Why were they after you?” Fane asked. “Were you aware that they’re jackals that Hanover employs jackals as his security.” James wasn’t sure what he was saying and then Fane reached over and took James’ hand and squeezed. Visions and people flashed before his eyes. Fantastic sights filled his mind.

“What is this?” James croaked out nervously.

"This is the world you've stumbled into. It's ruthless, wild, and inhuman."

“I don’t understand.” James said softly and Fane continued to drive and held his hand in a firm grip. The visions began again he saw things at the bar the bus boy turned from a young man to a running fox and back again. The bouncers prowled around on all fours growling and snapping at one another and Fane was there with teeth and eyes as red and hot as the fires in hell.

They pulled into an underground garage and parked. It appeared to be a rundown warehouse from the outside but was a fully functional living space inside. It looked like an office building. Confusion was scrambling his mind but his hold on Fane seemed to keep him centered even as the visions came on him one after another.

“This is my home, and you're going to stay with me," Fane stated flatly, leaving no room for discussion.

“This is a coven.” James exclaimed, not knowing how he knew that, but he did. He also knew that Fane was a vampire andso was the man currently walking past in front of their vehicle. Fane was channeling a world to him that was crazy, and James didn’t know how to react.

“Yes it is and you will be safe here.” James did not doubt that for a second for all the bizarre things that were happening he still held a sold belief that Fane could be trusted.

“Come, I’ll take you to my apartment, and we can discuss all of this. I know you have questions and that I sprung this on you at the worst possible time, but you need to be aware of what you’re dealing with. You need to know that there is a world operating here outside of your normal understanding. I want you to be prepared and . . .” He turned James’ face toward him and cupped his cheek in the palm of his hand. His eyes burned into James’. "I want you to know why I am here, why I am fighting for you.”

They exited the SUV, and Fane took his hand once again and led him to the elevator. "Thank you for saving me, Fane. They were taking me to Jerry Hanover. He said he was calling in my note, and he was going to make me work off the debt the old-fashioned way.” He told Fane about his father’s illness and the debt that was incurred. “The guy turns my stomach, but his bouncers said that refusal was not an option.” James dropped his head and stared at the floor for a moment.

"I'm glad you finished them. I'm not a bad person, but those guys have done horrible things to people, and they were going to do horrible things to me. I'm sorry, but I'm glad they're dead." James continued to hang his head. "I'm so tired of that place, so tired of Hanover and his men, so tired of being afraid."

CHAPTER FOUR

Fane listened to James sharing his feelings and the guilt that was consuming him for being glad the bad guys were dead, and Fane was not having it.

“You have no idea the level of disgusting that those men have perpetrated. They are jackals, the dregs of paranormal society. They have no soul and will do anything for money. There is nothing beneath them, for they are the bottom. Jackals are beyond reason. If a jackal has you in their sights, your only option for survival is to kill them. If you do not, they will never stop coming for you.” He pulled James into his arms to help channel the truth and to ease his mind.

"You have a right to defend yourself, and I have a right to protect you." Fane finished with a quick kiss as the elevator doors opened, and they stepped out. Fane brought him to his apartment. It was comfortable and met Fane's needs, so he hoped James would be comfortable as well and could see himself moving in very soon. He brought him into the living room and sat him on the couch before pouring him a brandy.

"Here, sweetheart, drink this. It will help you relax." James did not question and took the brandy, sipping at it for a while before placing it on the side table.

“How did you know I was in trouble?" James asked, and it was a reasonable question.

“You and I have a connection I think you already know that.” Fane sat down next to him and once again took his hand the contact was helping his understanding and Fane wanted this relationship to be moving forward as soon as possible. That’s why he used the glamour in the car. Things were moving fast and James needed to be brought up to speed.

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