Page 27 of The Vampire Kingpin
“It wasn’t official.” Zayne interjected from the head of the table. “He never claimed her. And I think that’s enough about Spider,” she added with a frown at DeeDee.
The human sent me a sulky look from beneath her black fringe.
“Thanks for the intel,” I told her. “But I’m not doing this for free, you know.” I took a big bite of my hamburger, another Croc special with onions, mushrooms and melted gorgonzola cheese.
She blinked and Zayne let out a laugh. “That’s your answer,” she told DeeDee, who pursed her lips.
As for me, I was savoring my hamburger. “Damn, Croc,” I said around a juicy mouthful, “this is good. That gorgonzola is genius.”
A flush crept up his thick neck. “Thanks.”
I chewed slowly, grateful for the human half of me that allowed me to feed on something other than blood, alcohol and chocolate. Yeah, vampires were hella powerful with longer lives than a dhampir, but I preferred having a foot in both worlds.
DeeDee renewed her attack. The woman had a raging hard-on where I was concerned.
“Cut the act, already. We all know you’re a plant. Grimclaw’s been eyeing this lair for a decade. You’ll run back to him and spill all our secrets. Next thing we know, we’ll all be dead.”
Grim had been eyeing Spider’s lair?
But it made sense. My cousin would never have the resources—or the balls—to build something like this.
“DeeDee.” Jacko crooked an arm around her neck in a firm hold. “Shut it, okay?”
She stiffened. “Sure, take her side.”
“It’s cool,” I said peaceably. “I get that I might look like a plant. But don’t you think Spider’s smart enough to figure that out?”
On cue, the man himself appeared in the Cavern doorway, his twists pulled into a casual ponytail, a soft green T-shirt stretched across his broad shoulders. “Smart enough to figure what out?”
DeeDee shot me a nervous glance.
Jacko released her. “Told you to put a lid on it,” he muttered.
Much as I would’ve liked to stick it to DeeDee, I wasn’t a snitch, and I didn’t know Spider that well. If I told the truth, he might punish her. Hell, Grimclaw would’ve backhanded us both for bitching.
But I took my time answering. Let the chick sweat.
Spider sauntered across the room. “Lark?” His hands landed on my shoulders. He gave me a warning squeeze. “What’s going on here?”
I licked my lips. “I was just telling DeeDee and everyone that I’m only sticking around for a month. After that, I’m outta here. No way I’m going back to Grimclaw’s lair. I’m leaving New York.”
“And why am I smart enough to figure that out?”
“Because you know I’m not a local—and why would I stay after what Grim pulled?”
Man, I used to be slicker than this. Growing up with a pair of smooth-talking sharks as parents had been a master class in evasion. But somehow I couldn’t lie to Spider, not when he’d made it clear that lying to him was a deal-breaker. So, every word was the truth.
“Hm.” Above me, I felt Spider studying DeeDee. “Is that right?”
Her mouth puckered like she’d swallowed a lemon. “Yeah.”
“I see.” His grip on me eased, and I went still, fearing this was the calm before the storm.
But he just told her sternly, “Well, listen up. Lark is here because I want her to be. You respect her, or you’ll answer to me.”
DeeDee’s gaze dropped to the table. “Yes, my lord.”
Spider added, “That goes for all of you.”
