Page 44 of Blood Bound (Blood Mafia 3)

“We’re good, boss,” Colt says, sweeping his eyes over me before glancing behind us and pasting on adon’t mess with meface.

He leans against the rail and Mateo and I start up the stairs, heading to the second floor. Grayson and Evelyn fall in behind us before Colt joins us.

My heart pounds harder with every step we take.

If all goes well, we’ll make it out of here without much death.

We all know that’s not going to happen.

* * *

Mateo

I not only hear but feel Demi’s heart pounding through the bond. She’s anxious about the confrontation. She’s too young to realize Sisco is too stupid to do much damage.

I sent a small team ahead and they swept the block and outside of the building. He has no back up. The cocky bastard thinks he’s safe.

How wrong he is.

No one is safe when they hurt my family.

I stop halfway up the stairs and lean close to Demi, brushing my lips against her ear. She shivers at the contact.

“He will not live past this night,” I say quietly.

The thumping bass is loud enough to drown out my words for any eavesdroppers, but Demi hears me. She squeezes my bicep twice and catches my chin in her hand as I start to pull away.

“Thank you.” Her breath tickles my lips and she presses hers to mine in the barest of touches before straightening and lifting an eyebrow. “Lead the way, boss.”

When we reach the top of the stairs, I eye the bouncer waiting at the door for the second-floor bar. This part of the level is walled off, only the inner part is wall-less with rails to keep people from tipping over and plummeting to the dance floor.

“He’s in his office.” The bouncer opens the door and tips his head at me in acknowledgement.

I don’t like the set-up of this entrance. I can’t see into the room. I sense nearly fifty vampires. More than were downstairs. The last time I came to Vitality, the second floor was full of humans.

Demi squeezes my arm. “Mateo?” There’s a hard edge to her question and unease flickers through the bond.

She feels them as well.

I meet her red gaze for a few seconds, then glance back at Colt, Grayson, and Evelyn. They’re all ready to fight. Evelyn’s eyes have blown black at the mere suggestion of a threat. Colt and Grayson have a little more control but the rigid set of Colt’s jaw and Grayson’s bunching shoulders lets me know it’s time.

Demi growls and I turn around, searching for what caused it. The bouncer is gone. The door is propped open by the kickstand at the bottom. The strobe lights from the lower-level flash against the metal in time with the beat of an edgy techno song.

“On three?” Demi asks when I hesitate.

She must mistake my pause for being unsure, when I was trying to figure out how hard it would be to toss her out of the club. She’s strong but if I surprise her, I might be able to launch her to the front door then lock this door before she can come into harm’s way.

Then she’d be safe.

“Three.” Demi tugs out of my arm and walks through the door.

Cursing, I race after her with the rest of the group. She’s stopped a few feet inside the room, fingers clenching and unclenching at her side. In front of us are fifty vampires, standing in front of a short stairway which leads to Sisco’s office.

The music isn’t as loud on this level, but the hole in the middle lets the bass filter up.

“We’re here to see Sisco,” I announce, stepping around Demi and walking toward the vampires.

They’re all relatively new. Does Sisco truly think they’ll stop us?

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