Page 22 of Wicked Allure
Lethia Riskel.
Was the princess in town? She was sure the entire town would have heard if the warden of their territory was present. Tomesha watched the vampire guards stalk toward her brother and the other two men.
“What is the meaning of this?” the first of the vampires demanded. His dark hair was swept back from his face in intricate braids. His glare was hard and threatening.
Tomesha sensed this situation was about to go farther south.
“Nothing you should worry about. This is human business,” the shorter of the two men said.
Tomesha’s eyes widened at the boldness of the idiot. Did he not realize who he was speaking to?
“It doesn’t look like nothing,” another vampire guard with blond hair replied. He folded his arms. His bicep muscles bulged as he glared at the men.
Four guards stood around, each of them outfitted with enough weapons for a small militia.
“Please. Don’t hurt my brother. He was defending me from them.” Tomesha stepped forward. She’d be damned if the vampires thought her brother was like those thugs. That’s what they were. They were starting stuff for no reason.
“Stay out of this, Tomesha,” Tarek said over his shoulder.
“Is that so?” the first guard said. He moved over to her.
She swallowed hard at the size difference between the two of them. She tilted her head back and nodded.
“Yes. My brother, grandmother, and I were on the way to dinner when these two men started shouting insults about me,” she said.
The blond guard stepped between Tarek and the men and motioned for him to come to her and Delonda.
“Why would they do that?” the guard asked. He softened his facial features.
Tomesha looked away. A crowd stood around, observing. None of them had been willing to help Tarek, but they had no problem being nosey. Tomesha’s gaze landed on the second black truck. A shiver rippled down her spine. There was someone else in the back of it that she couldn’t see, but she sensed their eyes on her.
Who was it?
She tried to see, but the vampire before her moved to cut her view of the truck. She blinked and focused back on him.
“I work for the madam,” she said quietly. From her experience working at the club, she was sure he’d heard of her. She just didn’t want the humans standing around to hear what she’d said.
He nodded. “We’ll take care of these two, ma’am. Would you like an escort to your destination?”
Tomesha blinked and peered over at her brother then her grandmother. This wasn’t what she’d expected. The vampire hadn’t even batted an eye at her announcement.
“No. We should be fine. We’re just going to the diner right over there.” She tilted her head in that direction.
“Very well then. Please go on and enjoy your dinner. We’ll take care of these two. They won’t bother you again,” the vampire guard assured her.
Tomesha glanced over and found the two men pressed against the building with their hands resting on it. Some satisfaction filled her to see the vampire guards searching them. She hoped they’d learn their lesson.
But how did they know she worked at the feeding club? She’d never seen them before. At least, she didn’t think she had. She made a mental note to pay closer attention to her surroundings when she went to work.
“Thank you.” Tomesha offered her arm to her grandmother who entwined hers with Tomesha’s. She gave the vampires a smile and ushered Delonda across the street with a very visibly pissed-off Tarek alongside them.
They walked in silence for a moment before Tomesha reached out and slid her hand into her brother’s. He turned to her with a surprised look in his eyes. He didn’t say a word but squeezed her hand. No words needed to be said between them. Tarek had always been her defender. Even when they were young children. It was who he was.
“I hope you two still have your appetite,” Tomesha said as they arrived at the diner’s entrance. She checked behind them, and her gaze landed on the black SUV. Again, she felt as if whoever sat back there watched her. She didn’t know how, but she was sure they were. If only she could see through the dark tint on the windows. She turned back to her brother and grandmother. She dug deep for a genuine smile. “Let’s not have that spoil our family dinner.”
Tarek opened the door for them. She allowed Delonda to enter first. With one last look at the vehicle, she entered the building after her grandmother. Tarek followed them. This was much needed for her family, and she refused to have two random men spoil it for them.
No matter what they called her, she knew who Tomesha Clay was.
