Forsaken By Shadow (22 page)

“How about a trade, call it even?”

Cole looked as if he might be considering it. “A trade? What do you have of any value to me?”

Paul gestured to Jane with a wide sweeping motion that made him look like a game show host. She can be yours if the price is right. “Jane. She’s a little banged up, but she fucks like a dream.”

Cole turned toward her and she looked away, unable to take his calculated glare. “Well, if you’re just ‘giving’ her away, she must not be worth much to you. Looks to me like you’re trying to get off easy.”

“I could keep her and make the money if you want to wait a few weeks. I’ve got vamps here who want a piece of her. Right, boys?”

The other vampires all nodded their agreement, a couple rustling through pockets to produce cash, as if to prove how serious they were about their purchase.

Cole’s eyes narrowed. “Is that right? If that’s the case, how do I know you won’t just gamble away the profits instead of paying me?”

Jane shrank back as the wolf moved toward her. She expected him to jerk her up by the arm or yell at her or say something horrible, but he scooped her up carefully and headed for the door.

“If I can’t get money, at least I can close off your earning potential. Have a nice unlife, Paul. And if I see you again, I might kill you whether or not it means a war.” Then he nodded to the other vamps in the room. “Gentlemen.”