Page 4 of Benicio

“You didn’t tell me which room to take,” David bit out. The vampire might be old and powerful, but hell if David was going to be spoken to that way. Benicio sounded just like David’s father, which made David instantly dislike the guy.

Even if Benicio was handsome for an old guy.

The vampire’s eyes narrowed, and David could feel his anger radiating off of him. “This is my private quarters. You have no business being in here.”

David stood up, not backing down. “Look, man, I don’t care about your personal space. I just need a bed to crash on. I’m not trying to steal your stuff or anything.”

Everyone always assumed David was a thief since he hustled for a living.

Benicio stepped into the room and strode toward David, his eyes flickering with an ancient fire. David realized too late that he’d pushed the vampire too far.

“Okay, peace.” David ran across the large room. “I’ll go.”

He frowned when he noticed that Benicio had stopped, pain flickering across his face. What the hell? “You okay?”

Benicio snarled.

David moved closer, feeling like he was approaching a deadly lion. “Do you need me to get your servant?”

“Who?” Benicio frowned, but his frown was filled with pain.

“The guy who brought me here.” David didn’t like Benicio, but he wasn’t going to leave anyone who was hurting. He felt compelled to help, even if the person was downright evil.

“Matteo is my assistant, not my servant.” Benicio sat on the edge of the bed, holding his left arm. He hissed again, and this time, he didn’t try to mask the fact that he really was in pain.

“Okay, do you want me to get Matteo?” David asked. “Or maybe an ice pack. What did you do to your arm?” He didn’t understand what the difference between an assistant and a servant was, but he wasn’t going to ask.

“Just give me a moment.” Benicio’s features might have been tight, but he was still deadly, and David was terrified of getting too close. If the guy needed an ice pack, David would toss it to him then run.

Sweat beaded Benicio’s brow. He really was a handsome man, with dark hair that was peppered with gray. He even had facial hair—something David loved on a guy—that looked well taken care of.

Then again, Benicio was filthy rich, so of course he looked polished.

He squeaked when Benicio passed out.

Chapter Two

“Benicio is in town,” Eleazar said as soon as Shayde entered the office. He knew this day might come, but to know the council member was in Ridgeway didn’t sit well with him.

“Have you seen him yet?” Shayde took a seat in the chair across from Eleazar’s desk. It was a well-worn chair that creaked when he moved. Real leather. Nothing but the best. Even as old as the chair was, it still held that leathery scent that wafted toward Shayde.

“No, but I know he’s here to pass judgment on me.” Eleazar sat back, looking deep in thought. He also had his daughter on his chest, and she was fast asleep, sucking her tiny fist.

Shayde was still getting used to seeing him with a baby. Big, bad Eleazar who was built like a linebacker and looked like the mob.

“Why would he pass judgment on you?” Shayde crossed his leg, sliding his hand down the crease to hide his worry. He didn’t like Benicio in Ridgeway. Shayde had never met the man personally, but from what he’d heard, Benicio was a real ball-buster. An ancient vampire who was as cold as a January snowstorm.

“Take your pick,” Eleazar said. “What hasn’t happened in this city, Shayde? Things have been out of control since Fayez and have only spiraled downward. We have vampires conspiring against coven leaders. Humans hunting us. Wolf shifters running a city we’re supposed to possess. We even lost Alaric, which was a tragedy. I had to kill my own brother, and Andrew gave birth.” He sighed. “Take your pick.”

At least Lazarus was running a tight ship. He’d gotten his vampires under control, and now it was Eleazar who looked as if he couldn’t handle the responsibility of running a city. Things were bad, really bad, and if Benicio thought he was going to kill Eleazar because of the chaos, he had another think coming.

Shayde wasn’t going to let that happen. Eleazar was like a big brother to him, and he loved the vampire deeply. It was mutual respect and admiration. He would lay down his life for his coven leader.

“I’m considering sending Andrew and Elissa away,” Eleazar said. “I have a few properties spread across a few states. He’ll be safer at any one of those locations. It’s better than him being here and possibly having to answer to Benicio.”

That couldn’t have been an easy decision. Eleazar rarely let his mate or daughter out of his sight, but Shayde understood where he was coming from. If Benicio passed judgment that Eleazar should die, it would be brutal, and Andrew didn’t need to be there to see that.

This truly was messed up in the worst way. Andrew would lose his mate, and Elissa would lose her father. Without a coven leader, without a powerful vampire to run the city, things would get far worse.

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