Page 13 of Benicio

Matteo handed David a small piece of paper and an envelope. “Here is my phone number, as well as Benicio’s. You also forgot your money at the mansion.”

David felt the weight of the envelope in his hand and quickly tucked it into the back waistband of his jeans. Cash like that on the lower east side would get anyone killed. “Why do I need these numbers?”

“Benicio wanted you to have them.” Matteo walked away, leaving David standing there baffled. Surely it hadn’t been Benicio’s idea for David to have them. The guy was as grumpy as an old bear with a thorn in its paw. He’d been nothing but icy toward David.

That was why David had to get away. He genuinely liked the grump, thought Benicio handsome, and falling for someone who had no feelings was insane.

But now that David had made that clean break, he felt a sense of loss. He wasn’t even sure why since he knew nothing about Benicio. Nothing except how much of an asshole the guy was.

But David had bigger concerns. He needed to find Deon, and since he knew Deon’s scent, David followed it. The scent led him deep into the heart of the city to a rundown building in a dark alley. It was the kind of place where everything was falling apart, where no one asked questions, and the rules were set by whoever had the most power. David knew it was dangerous, but he didn’t have a choice. Deon was his friend, the only one, other than James, who had ever cared about him, and he was in trouble. If David abandoned him now, he would never forgive himself.

Even being a vampire, David really, really didn’t want to go inside. His gut was telling him to run. Red flags were waving in his head.

Then he thought of the paper Matteo had given him. It wouldn’t hurt to have backup. Instead of going inside the building, David moved away from it and pulled out his cell phone. He just seemed to be getting himself into a lot of trouble in the past twenty-four hours.

“You should have just kept your ass at home.” But he couldn’t turn his back on Deon. James, although he hadn’t shown it, was counting on David to find their friend.

“Matteo,” he said.

“This is David.” He moved farther away from the building, afraid someone inside might hear him, though he doubted it. “I might need you as backup.”

“For what?” Matteo asked. “Are you in some kind of trouble?”

“I think I’m about to be,” David said as he glanced up at the darkened windows that seemed like wicked sentinels glaring back at him. “I’ll explain when you get here.”

“Who said I was going anywhere?” Matteo asked.

“Benicio.” David bit his lip, hoping he was right. “I know he told you to give me his number. Which means he wants you to keep me safe. I’m about to make a boneheaded move, and I need you here to save my ass.”

“You’re purposely putting yourself in danger?”

“Pretty much.” David gave Matteo his location. “Hope you get here soon. My very life might depend on you showing up.”

David hung up before Matteo could say he wasn’t coming. David might be a hustler, naïve at times, and an all-around screwup, but he wasn’t an idiot. If his gut said don’t go in there alone, he wasn’t going in alone.

He didn’t want to go in at all, but Deon’s scent had led him here. Deon, a nice, elderly man who loved to crack a joke and make people smile. The sweetest guy David knew. Hell if he was leaving Deon to whatever fate lay inside that building.

Because David smelled humans, too. A lot of them. Close to a dozen, at least. Matteo seemed the type who could handle himself. If David was wrong, they were both going to get their asses handed to them.

Matteo arrived faster than David expected. He was dressed in all black, with a serious expression etched on his chiseled face. He stepped out of his sleek car and walked toward David. David couldn’t help but feel a flutter of anxiety at the intensity in Matteo’s eyes. This guy was an ancient vampire, and David was an amateur compared to him.

Then David’s eyes swung to the rear of the car when the back door opened. Out stepped Benicio. David was in awe of his good looks and commanding presence. Even though David knew Benicio was in pain, he walked with a grace rarely seen these days.

“What problem have you created?” Benicio asked.

Fuck. David hadn’t cared about getting Matteo involved, but he did care about Benicio going inside. The man was suffering from crippling pain. David didn’t want to add to that. “I called Matteo, not you.”

“Why did you call him?” Benicio asked, his tone sharp and cold like a blade.

David took a deep breath before answering, his heart pounding in his chest. “It’s my friend Deon. I think he’s in trouble. His scent led me here.”

Benicio’s eyes narrowed as he studied David, making him feel exposed and vulnerable. “And you thought it was a good idea to come here alone?”

“I’m sorry you wouldn’t put your neck on the line for a friend,” David snapped. “Oh, I forgot, you don’t have any friends because you’re an asshole.”

Why on earth did David feel the need to antagonize Benicio whenever he was near the guy? It was like he couldn’t help himself. Which told him he really did have a death wish, especially if the look on Benicio’s face was anything to go by.

It was then that David noticed the shimmer in the air around Benicio. It was like the guy was radiating power. It vibrated through the air, threatening and yet strangely calming at the same time.

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