Page 73 of The Darkest Night

Vlad observed Gomez with a bored expression. “And you would be?”

Something ugly flashed in the Colombian’s eyes. He evidently didn’t like being baited. “I’m Vasco Gomez, of theBacatá Cartel.”

Vlad cocked his head to the side, pensive.

“Bacatá. Bacatá,” he murmured. “Hmm, I’m afraid I don’t know a cartel by that name.”

The tension in the room ratcheted up a couple of notches.

Nikolai clenched his teeth, his gaze moving carefully from Gomez to Vlad.

This guy has a death wish.

The lazy smile playing on Vlad’s lips suggested he knew exactly what he was doing. Nikolai recalled his words from earlier.

“A shipment of slaves came into New York yesterday from South America. The final deal is being closed here, tonight. There’s a place somewhere nearby where the goods are being kept. I want to stopOniksand capture the parties involved.”

Mae had observed Vlad with an incredulous expression. “You want to stop the deal? How?”

“By creating a diversion.” He’d shrugged at Mae’s confused look. “It’s the perfect opportunity to put a wrench inOniks'sand the Dark Council’s plans. It will also give me a chance to interrogate them and find out what they’re intending to do in the city.”

“Interrogate?” Mae had asked sharply. “You mean, you’re going to kidnap members ofOniksand torture them?”

Vlad had shrugged. “Something like that.”

“You realize that if there are any Dark Council members among them, they might recognize Mae and me?” Nikolai had growled.

“That’s kind of what I’m counting on. But I doubt all Dark Council members are aware of Mae’s exact physical description. The same applies to you. Oscar has been the face of the Dark Council for the last ten years, while you were relegated to the shadows. It seems to me the only ones likely to recognize the two of you are the core group of sorcerers and witches working with Oscar and Barquiel to capture Mae.”

That Vlad knew so much about the inner workings of the Dark Council would have irritated Nikolai in the past. Now, he was just relieved for the other man’s insight.

Say what you want about the bastard, heisclever.

Nikolai had cause to doubt his own judgment as he watched Gomez’s face turn red.

“I see the heir to theBlack Devilsis as proud as the rumors say,” the Columbian growled.

Vlad’s smile filled his face. “Why, thank you.”

“Hey, how about you give us a lap dance?” someone said to Nikolai’s right.

His head swiveled round. He bit back a curse.

One of the frat guys had come up to their table and was leering at Mae, his beer breath fogging the air. Gomez examined him as if he were an insect.

“I think it would be best if you left,” Violet warned Frat Boy.

Frat Boy sneered at her. “I ain’t talking to you, Pancake Chest.”

Violet narrowed her eyes and made to rise.

Miles grabbed her arm, his expression flinty. “He’s not worth it, Vi.”

“He seriously isn’t,” Nikolai muttered.

Mae stood and leaned her hands on the table, her jaw set in a hard line.

“Leave,” she told the guy in a deadly voice. “Your breath stinks and you’re being rude to my friends.”

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