Page 2 of Benicio

Matteo shook his head. “A vampire. He’s not what you might think.” Matteo smirked. “He’s a street rat, but I hear he’s good at finding out information.”

Exactly what Benicio needed. People lied. Eleazar was no exception. He would try to hide what was really going on, and Benicio needed the truth to pass judgment. Normally, Benicio would read someone’s mind to find out what they were trying to hide, but Eleazar was over two thousand years old. By now he would have learned how to place traps in his mind, how to keep someone out.

“I’ll meet him in the vivarium.”

Benicio had been surprised that the home had one. It was a room filled with flora of all kinds and a small waterfall. It was a place of peace for him, a place where he could think or clear his mind. His assistant had found the perfect home for him to stay while in town.

Matteo nodded and walked out. Benicio slipped on his suit jacket, curled and uncurled his left fist, then walked to the vivarium.

When he stepped inside the room, a small man was seated by a basin at the bottom of the waterfall. He was facing away from Benicio, his hand in the water. Benicio took a step closer, his gaze focused on the man’s sharp profile. He could tell that the vampire was young, but there was something about him that suggested he had been through a lot.

“Are you the one Matteo found for me?” Benicio asked, his voice as cold as ice.

The man didn’t turn around. “Yep.”

“What’s your name?”

“David.” He finally turned, looking over his shoulder, then his gaze slid over Benicio. “I hear you want information.” He stood, wiping his wet hand on his tattered jeans. “It’s gonna cost you.”

Benicio hissed. “Do you know who I am?”

“Do I care?” David countered. “Information isn’t free. I bust my ass to keep my ear to the ground, risk my life most of the time, so yeah, it’s gonna cost you.”

“I could destroy you with a single thought.” That was true, but Benicio wasn’t so sure with his body becoming so weak and the constant pain. It hurt to even get dressed, so he wasn’t as confident as he sounded.

“Rip out my throat or my guts, yeah, I know.” David actually rolled his eyes. “I’ve heard that song and dance before. I’m still not giving away information for free, bub.”

Bub? No one, not in an extremely long time, had spoken to Benicio that way. All feared him. Men trembled in his presence. He wielded power no other person possessed. Yet this street rat was talking to him as if he were some commoner.

“I have a counter offer,” Benicio said as he moved closer, ensuring his features were dark and deadly. “Give me the information I need and I won’t kill you.”

David laughed. “Kill me then.”

Was this vampire suicidal? Did he have a death wish? David perplexed him. “How about I starve you?”

The man shrugged. “With the life I lead, I’m used to not feeding. It’ll be a well-deserved vacation.”

Benicio narrowed his eyes. David was unlike any vampire he had ever encountered before. He was fearless, courageous, and didn’t seem to care about his own life. It was almost as if he were daring Benicio to end it.

“You will tell me everything you know about Eleazar and his coven,” Benicio growled, his voice low and threatening. “And in return, I’ll give you enough blood to last for a week.”

David raised an eyebrow. “Are you trying to bribe me now?”

“I’m not a barbarian,” Benicio snapped, though many would beg to differ. “I understand the value of a good deal. You give me what I need, and I’ll give you what you need.”

“What I need is cold, hard cash,” David said. “If you want me to rat on Eleazar, the most powerful vampire in this city, you’re going to pay me at least five grand.”

Five thousand dollars? That was all? Benicio thought the vampire would ask for a lot more than that. Then again, someone who had nothing would think a hundred dollars was a lot of money.

David needed to work on his negotiations skills. Benicio was beyond a billionaire. He could spend five grand on a whim. Though these days his whims were far and few.

“Deal,” Benicio said. “Now tell me what I want to know.”

David shook his head. “That’s not how this works. Cough up the dough first.”

Benicio frowned. “I don’t carry cash on me.”

“Then I don’t carry information on me.”

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