Venom

17

For a moment, Owen and I just looked at each other. My phone rang again, and his eyes narrowed. I knew who it was, of course, and that he wouldn’t have interrupted me unless it was important.

I held my finger up, telling Owen that I’d be with him in a minute, then pulled my phone out of my purse and flipped it open. “What?”

“We’ve got a problem, Gin,” Finn’s voice sounded in my ear. “Look who just stepped on board.”

I turned my head to the right. Detective Bria Coolidge stood at the top of the gangplank. Bria wore a long, strapless, flowing gown made out of an ice blue silk. The color brought out her eyes and the rosy flush in her pale cheeks, and a matching wrap covered her bare arms. Bria’s blond hair had been swept up into a complicated bun. Her only adornments were her primrose rune necklace and the three rune-stamped rings on her left index finger. The silverstone medallion glinted as Bria turned her neck from side to side, scanning the crowd before her. She looked stunning, cold, regal, and beautiful all at once.

And she wasn’t alone.

Xavier was right by her side, dressed in a white tuxedo jacket. The giant’s bald head gleamed like polished ebony underneath the soft lights.

Bad to worse. That was definitely the theme of the evening.

“What are they doing here?” I muttered.

Beside me, Owen leaned forward so he could get a look at whom I was talking about. I didn’t bother to block his view. He was too smart for that. He studied Bria and Xavier a moment, then turned his attention back to me.

“Beats me,” Finn replied. “Maybe they’re just crashing the party.”

“You remember what the old man said about coincidences?”

Finn sighed. “That there are none.”

“Exactly,” I replied. “Those two are here for a reason. Keep an eye on them. I’ll be with you in a minute.”

I hung up and turned back to Owen. “I’m sorry. I have to go.”

“Then I’m going too,” he said.

“This doesn’t involve you, Owen. Things have just taken a turn for the worse, and they’re probably going to get even uglier before the night is through. You should walk away while you still can.”

A crooked smile stretched across his chiseled face. “And let you get away without telling me what the fuck is going on? I don’t think so, Gin. You owe me that, at least.”

His violet eyes glittered with a hard, determined light, and I realized that I’d peaked the businessman’s curiosity even more with my mysterious words and furtive actions. Curiosity. Another double-edged sword that had cut me more than once in my life. Even now, the blade whistled toward my head. I just wondered which way it would slice tonight.

Still, Owen was right. He’d stood up to Mab Monroe for me in front of all the city’s movers and shakers. I did owe him something. What that was, I wasn’t sure. But if Owen wanted to come along for the bumpy ride tonight, that was his business. I had no doubt that he’d want to get off afterward. Donovan Caine certainly had.

“Fine,” I said. “But follow my lead, and do what I tell you to when I tell you to do it. Understand?”

His smile deepened. “Yes, ma’am.”

Owen and I left the bar. Finn spotted us moving through the crowd and discreetly waved us over. He’d moved from his perch at the slot machine to a shadowy spot where he could put his back against one of the walls that formed the interior dining room. I looked out over the crowd, but I didn’t see Bria or Xavier anywhere.

“Where’d they go, Finn?”

Instead of answering me, Finn raised his eyebrows in Owen’s direction.

“He’s with us for the remainder of the evening,” I replied. “Just talk, Finn. We can sort out everything else later.”

By everything, he knew that I meant Owen Grayson and whether we could afford to let the businessman keep breathing if things went bad. Something I was going to have to decide before the night was through. Because while Owen might want to sleep with me, he didn’t know what he was getting into tonight. And I didn’t know if he could keep his mouth shut about it. But it was a chance I had to take right now.

Finn nodded. “Bria’s over by the railing, sipping champagne and looking absolutely stunning.”

Sure enough, my sister was doing exactly what Finn said she was. Since Bria seemed to be okay for the moment, I moved on to the other players in the game.

“Where’s Xavier?”

“Xavier said something to Bria a minute ago and left her standing there alone,” Finn answered. “The giant walked into the dining room.”

I frowned. “Why would he go in there? Dinner isn’t until later. All the action is still out here right now.”

Finn cleared his throat. “I wondered that too — until I noticed that Roslyn’s conveniently disappeared as well. She’s gone, Gin.”

My head snapped around to the blackjack table where the vampire had been. I’d been so busy with Mab Monroe and then Owen Grayson that I hadn’t kept track of Roslyn. Her chair was empty. Xavier’s sudden appearance started to make a little more sense to me.

“Roslyn,” I muttered. “She must have told Xavier that she was coming here tonight with Elliot Slater.”

“And Xavier couldn’t stand that and came to rescue her,” Finn finished. “With or without her knowledge?”

“Doesn’t matter,” I muttered. “Because if Slater sees them together, they’re both as good as dead.”

Owen stood still and silent by my side, listening to everything Finn and I said. The businessman didn’t say anything, didn’t interrupt and ask what the hell was going on, or who we were talking about. He just listened and watched the crowd around us. Most people didn’t know enough to keep quiet. My respect for Owen ratcheted up a few more notches.

“What do you want to do, Gin?” Finn asked in a soft voice.

I stood there thinking, my eyes scanning over the crowd again, this time looking for three very specific people. I spotted them almost instantly.

Mab Monroe, Elliot Slater, and Jonah McAllister had moved to the right side of the riverboat and were deep in discussion about something. Slater’s giant guards stood close to them, focused on their boss, ready to jump when he gave the order. My gaze cut back to Roslyn’s empty chair at the blackjack table. It would only be a matter of time before Slater realized that she was missing and started looking for her. Only one thing to do.

I blew out a breath. “Finn, you stay out here and keep an eye on Bria. Call me if it looks like she’s going to get herself into trouble. Owen and I will find Roslyn and Xavier and get them off this boat.”

Finn stayed where he was against the wall. I jerked my head at Owen.

“Come on,” I said. “They’ve got to be inside somewhere.”

He nodded and followed me through the open doors into the dining room. I stalked past the rows of tables. A few people had drifted inside to sit down, but none of them were Roslyn or Xavier, so I walked on. Owen moved quickly and quietly behind me. He didn’t ask questions or offer any input. He just followed me.

I thought about my earlier tour of the riverboat this evening. Where would I go if I wanted to have a quiet meeting away from the crowd? Only one spot I’d seen this evening had been conducive to lovers.

“Come on,” I said. “I know where they are.”

Owen nodded, and we walked on. I went through another door, stepping out into the walkway that lined the back side of the riverboat. My stiletto heels slammed against the wood. The time for being quiet was over. Because if I didn’t reach Roslyn and Xavier before Elliot Slater did, they wouldn’t be getting off this boat alive.

Up ahead, I noticed the door to the glassed-in section of the boat was closed. Some of the blinds had also been drawn, providing a bit of privacy for whoever might be inside the salon. I didn’t bother knocking, instead twisting the knob and throwing the door to one side. Inside, Roslyn sat in a chair, shoulders shaking, tears trickling down her tight face. Xavier perched on his knees before her, holding her hands, as though he’d been pleading with her.

“What do you two think you’re doing?” I snapped.

“Gin—” Xavier started.

“Do you know what you’ve done? How much danger you’ve put yourself and Roslyn in by coming here tonight?”

The giant bit his lip. “I couldn’t help myself, Gin. Knowing that Roslyn was here with that bastard—”

“I know, Xavier. I know. But I need you to be quiet right now and listen to me. Okay?”

The giant pressed his lips together, but he slowly nodded.

I turned my gaze to Roslyn. “I told you to keep Xavier out of it, that I’d take care of Slater. You said you could handle it.”

“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “But I–I just couldn’t lie to Xavier about where I was going tonight. And what might happen if you failed. If I… if I had to go home with Slater.”

I tapped my toe on the wooden floor. A migraine throbbed in my head in time to the sharp, staccato motion. Because I had failed Roslyn. I’d had my chance at Elliot Slater, and I’d let Jonah McAllister get in my way. I should have just killed them and dumped their bodies over the railing, despite the consequences. That way, at least Roslyn and Xavier would have been free of this mess.

Owen Grayson stood in the doorway behind me, still looking and listening. I had no idea what the businessman was thinking at this point, and I had no idea what I was going to do about him after the fact. Right now, though, I had to focus on Roslyn and Xavier. Like it or not, I was responsible for them, and neither one of them was going to get dead tonight if I could help it.

I stabbed my finger at Xavier. “You. You get out of here right now. Go back to your partner, Detective Bria Coolidge, who I assume you dragged to this thing for cover, and tell her that there’s some emergency you have to take care of. Then you get off this boat and go straight to this house.” I rattled off Jo-Jo Deveraux’s address to the giant. “You stay there, and you wait for me to show up. No matter how long it takes. Understand?”

The giant closed his eyes and slowly nodded.

“Good. Get going. Now.”

Xavier looked at Roslyn another moment before getting to his feet. Owen stepped to one side so the giant could leave the salon. I waited until the echo of Xavier’s footsteps had faded away before I turned to Roslyn.

“What about me?” she asked, tears still streaming down her face. “Do you want me to go back out there? Back out to — Slater?” Roslyn’s voice broke on the last word.

Instead of answering her, I pulled my cell phone out of my purse and dialed Finn.

“Yes?” his voice sounded in my ear.

“I found them. Xavier’s coming your way. Make sure he talks to Bria, then gets off the boat. Go get your car without drawing too much attention to yourself. Roslyn will meet you in the parking lot. Take her to Jo-Jo’s. Owen, what’s your address?”

The businessman told me the information, which I passed on to Finn.

“Once you get Roslyn settled at Jo-Jo’s, come over to Owen’s house and pick me up,” I told him.

“Got it,” Finn said and hung up.

I stuck my phone back in my purse and pulled out some tissues. I drew in a breath and turned to Roslyn, reminding myself to be gentle with the vampire. Yes, she’d put herself and Xavier in danger by telling the giant she was coming here tonight, by not trusting me to do what I’d promised. But I couldn’t fault her for it. Not after everything that she’d already been through.

“No, you’re not going back to Slater,” I said in a quiet voice, handing her the tissues. “We’re getting you out of here and away from the giant for good. Now, let’s get you cleaned up before we go.”

Once Roslyn wiped away her tears and runny mascara, the three of us left the salon. I curled my arm through Owen’s, and we strolled back toward the hustle and bustle of the main deck. Owen still hadn’t said anything, and I was grateful for his silence. Roslyn walked behind us, moving at a slow, steady pace just the way I’d told her to.

I glanced over my shoulder at the vampire. “Five more minutes, and you’ll be safe in Finn’s car. Five more minutes. Just remember that, Roslyn.”

The vamp nodded, but her toffee eyes were dull and flat in her face. Exhaustion and fear tightened her features.

Owen and I rounded the corner and stepped onto the main deck once more. Roslyn joined us. Owen and I moved toward the gangplank, drawing as little attention to ourselves as possible. We walked several feet away from the wall, creating a sort of human screen for Roslyn, trying to shield her enough so no one would realize that she was leaving.

At this point, we were five hundred feet away from the gangplank. Four hundred. Three.

We walked on, Roslyn picking up speed with every single step. She pulled ahead of us, moving out into the open for everyone to see, but there was nothing I could do to call her back without drawing even more attention to the vamp.

Two hundred feet. One hundred—

“Roslyn!” Elliot Slater’s voice boomed through the crowd.

She hadn’t been quick enough. Roslyn froze at the sound of the giant’s voice, fifty feet away from the edge of the gangplank that led down into the dark night and to her freedom.

The giant used his speed to maneuver through the crowd. Five seconds later, he reached Roslyn’s side. I pulled Owen back against the wall that fronted the dining hall. We stood ten feet away from the other couple.

“Where are you going, baby?” Slater asked. “I told you to wait for me at the blackjack table.”

Somehow, Roslyn managed a trembling smile. “I got cold. I was just going down to get my coat out of the limo. I’ll be back in a minute.”

She started to walk past the giant, but he put his hand on her arm, stopping her. Roslyn flinched at the touch. The giant’s hazel eyes narrowed. He wasn’t buying her excuse.

“I’ll have one of my men get it,” Slater said. “Until then, you can stay right here next to me where it’s warm.”

Roslyn stared past Slater at me. Emotions whirled in her dark eyes. Panic. Fear. Hate. Disgust. Rage. So much rage. The vampire dropped her gaze from mine and shuddered out a breath. For a moment, I thought she might give in, might go with Slater and erode a little more of her soul in the process.

Roslyn huffed out another breath. Her whole body stilled, as though she’d been frozen alive by an Ice elemental. Another breath, this one so shallow that her shoulders barely lifted. Then, her spine slowly straightened, and her whole body lifted up, as though she was gathering her strength for what was to come. Roslyn raised her head last. For a moment, she swayed side to side, like a delicate flower tracking the movement of the sun. Then her eyes snapped open. Hate made Roslyn’s dark gaze burn as bright as any Fire elemental’s.

“Don’t put your hands on me.”

Slater frowned. “What did you say, baby?”

“I said don’t put your fucking hands on me!” Roslyn screamed.

She shoved the giant as hard as she could. Like all vampires, Roslyn had above-average strength. But Slater was a giant, and a big one at that. He took only two steps back. But Roslyn didn’t care. Everything that she’d been suppressing these past few days — all the anger and rage and fear and helplessness — all of it just erupted. Spewed out of her like foul venom from a copperhead’s pointed fangs. And Roslyn finally let out the heavy, terrible secret she’d been carrying.

“You’re never touching me again!” the vampire screamed. “Never! Do you hear me, you sick bastard? You’re never putting your filthy hands on me again! I’d rather die first!”

All conversation on the deck stopped. All the drinking, all the gambling, everything. Everyone in attendance focused on Roslyn Phillips. With her clenched fists, trembling body, and hard mouth, the vampire resembled some beautiful Valkyrie or goddess, angered beyond the point of all reason.

Roslyn realized that everyone was watching her. But instead of being cowed into silence by the attention, the hate in her eyes blazed even brighter, a bonfire burning out of control.

“Do your rich friends know what a bastard you are?” Roslyn screamed. “How you’ve been stalking me? How you’ve been coming to my club every single night and making me fix your stupid drinks and kiss you like a lover? Does your boss know what kind of sick fuck you are? How you made me come here tonight and pretend to be your fucking girlfriend even though I hate you, even though I loathe you?”

A lot of bad things happened in Ashland on a daily basis. Robberies, beatings, murders. Still, shocked gasps rippled through the crowd at the vampire’s words. Every eye landed on Elliot Slater. The giant turned his head this way and that, feeling the heavy judgment of all in attendance, before his gaze snapped back to Roslyn.

“Calm down, baby.”

Slater’s voice was soft, but his eyes were cold, flat, hard. His right hand clenched and unclenched into a massive fist, and his knuckles cracked with the movement. The pale, chalky skin of his cheeks turned a mottled red with rage, and his thin mop of blond hair bristled with anger. Roslyn had just called Slater on his predilections in the most public and humiliating of ways. The bastard was seconds away from hitting her — or worse, snapping the vamp’s neck outright.

I palmed one of my silverstone knives and got ready to move. He wasn’t going to touch her. Not as long as I still had a breath left in my body.

The giant stretched out a hand to do something to Roslyn. Hit her, draw her closer. But Roslyn didn’t give him a chance. Even as he reached for her, the vampire picked up her long skirt, turned, and ran away as fast as she could. Her heels clattered against the deck and then the gangplank, the echo growing fainter with every step.

Slater stood on the deck, momentarily stunned. Then, he shook his head and started after the vamp. I shifted my weight forward, ready to follow him—

“Elliot.”

That single, breathy word was enough to stop Slater and make him jerk back like a dog on a leash. The crowd parted, and Mab Monroe stepped forward. The swish-swish of her black silk dress sounded as loud as a vacuum cleaner in the absolute silence. The Fire elemental stopped at the giant’s shoulder and patted his arm. Mab’s black eyes seemed to suck in all the available light as she studied her number-one enforcer.

“Let her go, Elliot,” Mab said in a voice loud enough for everyone to hear. “You know how troubled poor Roslyn is. All those pills she’s on for her mood swings and depression. I’m sure she’ll come to her senses. When she does, she’ll be quite embarrassed about those horrible things she just said. I’m sure she’ll offer you a very sincere, very public apology.”

At this point, Mab was speaking to the crowd as a whole, rather than to the giant. The Fire elemental was letting everyone know that Roslyn Phillips was persona non grata, as Finn would say. As for all the talk about Roslyn being troubled, I imagined Mab would trot out those same tired lines when the vampire’s body was pulled out of whatever dark hole Slater was planning to plant her in.

Because that’s what the giant had in mind. Whatever twisted obsession or feeling he’d had for Roslyn was gone, burned away by her bitter truths. Now, only hate filled Slater’s face. Pure, simple, murderous hate.

Mab looked at Phillip Kincaid first, since the riverboat was his gin joint, giving him the courtesy of at least pretending to defer to him on his home turf. After a moment, the handsome casino owner nodded at her, accepting her statement, even though he knew it was all so much bullshit, just like everyone else did. But there was nothing he or anyone else could do about it.

The Fire elemental stared at one person after another, daring anyone to challenge her phony words. After a few seconds, all but the bravest souls dropped their eyes from Mab’s and went back to whatever they’d been doing before. Talking, drinking, gambling. Slowly, the noise level returned to normal. Mab pulled Slater toward the back of the deck, where Jonah McAllister stood. The three of them put their heads together and started talking to each other once more.

I waited, but Slater made no move toward the gangplank, and he didn’t summon over any of his men to go chasing after Roslyn. Well, that was something at least.

I tucked my silverstone knife back up my sleeve and turned to Owen Grayson. The businessman’s eyes were dark and hooded, and I didn’t feel like reading the emotions swimming in the depths of his gaze. Time enough for that later. Right now, there was only one thing to do.

“C’mon. Let’s get out of here,” I whispered to Owen.

He stared at me a moment before replying with a single word. “Gladly.”