Tangled Redemption (3 page)

Until something else happened and another replacement came along.

“I don’t make good entertainment.” Sydney’s challenge echoed
through the room.

Nasir laughed. “Quite to the contrary, I haven’t been this
happy in a very long time. You are the only person I know in this galaxy that
comes close to matching my skill with numbers. Now I have you, no one else will
be able to trace my enterprise.” He sat back in his chair.
“We
really should sit down and talk about our investment strategies. We might learn
from each other.”

Her look made it clear what she thought of that suggestion.
“I left easy-to-follow details behind. My friends will be able to continue my
work.”

His smile disappeared. “Don’t lie to me. You traveled to
Parvati to investigate my connection to the human who supplied us with food. I
am impressed. No one has ever come close to putting us together.” He shrugged.
“But you left nothing behind because you didn’t trust your own judgment after
your husband played you like a beginner’s tutorial for StarNet.”

Jayden only saw the flinch because he
watched her so closely. Going by Zwelenki’s satisfied smirk he’d also seen it.
His good mood restored, he walked up to the Naema and circled her like she was
a curiosity. Jayden prepared himself to respond at any moment.

“Now, I admire your ability and skill, so I don’t really
want to add you to the pen. My people can be just a tad ruthless with their
food. On top of that Naema blood has that extra zing of deliciousness. What to
do with you, what to do with you?”

Jayden had a few ideas but kept his mouth shut. Zwelenki was
in a funny mood, making him more unpredictable than usual.

He stopped. “I know.” He whirled around smiling at his lieutenants.
“I am surrounded by my best and brightest. We’ve made a lot of progress and are
only a few days away from our biggest coup to date. You all deserve a reward.”

Every muscle in Jayden’s body tensed. If Zwelenki didn’t
give her to him he would fight any of the other lieutenants for her.

“Well, who wants this delicious Naema as their personal
slave?” He raised his hand to stop responses. “She is too valuable to just tear
apart. Whoever takes her has to keep her alive.” His smile clenched Jayden’s
insides. “That doesn’t mean she has to be happy about it.”

Zwelenki wrapped his hand around Sydney’s nape. “So, who
wants her?”

“I do.”

“I will take her.”

“Me.”

“She’s mine.”

Miguel cursed viciously inside his mind. Every single man in
the room had jumped up in response to Nasir’s question.

Why the fuck was he responding to Nasir’s sick games? He
knew the bastard well enough not to get involved. He should have just stood
where he was and watched the disaster play out before him. Instead he moved and
opened his stupid mouth.

And now fucking Jayden Maywater had spoken at the same time
as him. Unless Nasir had some other sadistic plan, it would be between the two
of them.

He did not trust the other Vampire. Jayden was very good at
making people disappear and had moved through the ranks quickly, but there was
something about him that gave Miguel caution. Jayden’s background check had
brought up nothing and Miguel had dug deep, very deep, going back close to five
hundred years. Even the kindergarten pictures matched the background story and
Jayden’s frat brothers, the ones Miguel had been able to track down, all
vouched for him.

Nasir waved everyone off except for Miguel and Jayden. “Next
time you need to be faster.” They sat back down, no one daring to speak up.

He stroked his thumb up and down Sydney’s neck as he studied
the two of them. Miguel remained impassive, knowing he’d set things in motion
when he spoke up. The tension between Nasir and him would come to a head.

“Wonderful, a competition.” Nasir lifted her hand to his
lips. Sydney’s arm twitched. “Honorable Radnall, two of my finest want to be
your suitor. You’ve already met the Spaniard, Miguel Calatrave. Please allow me
to introduce Jayden Maywater. What shall we do with them?” He turned to Miguel,
still holding Sydney’s hand, something that made Miguel want to rip off his. “I
have to say I’m surprised at your interest. You don’t generally snack with us.”

“Because what you usually present as food could be sold and
made a profit from. And I don’t like sloppy seconds.” He nodded to the Naema.
He could not risk appearing emotionally interested in Sydney. Giving Nasir a
weapon to use against him was a very, very bad idea. “With her I don’t have to
worry about that.”

“But you do. You have a competitor.” Nasir smiled.

Miguel grimaced. “We can decide in the ring.”

Jayden smiled and nodded. “Let’s do it.”

The two of them were equally matched. It would come down to
endurance and Miguel had not spent enough time with the other man to judge his
stamina. It would be a tough match.

“No,” Nasir stopped them. All levity had disappeared from
his face. “I don’t want my lieutenants fighting over food.” The hairs on the
back of Miguel’s neck rose. “You will share.”

Miguel bit his tongue until he tasted blood. He knew he had
been too blunt, too forceful with Nasir over the last few months, but he had
reached a point where he no longer cared. This had now come back to bite him.

He preferred to initiate any sharing. His leader knew that
and he still would make him go through with this. Miguel could step away, leave
Sydney to Jayden, but he wasn’t prepared to do so. He’d been sexually active
for more than a millennium. There was nothing he hadn’t tried at least once,
including loving men. He enjoyed it but had never found a man who could fulfill
him to same extent a woman did.

He met Jayden’s gaze. The other Vampire had risen and stood
tall, his hazel eyes filled with heat and the perpetual laughter he used as a
shield. He joined them in the center of the room.

“What if I don’t want to be owned by either of them?”

Miguel gritted his teeth and suppressed his growl. Why the
Jade did the woman have to open her mouth?

Nasir turned to her, his face impassive. “Why do you believe
you have a choice?”

She pressed her lips together but remained silent.

“But, after this little,” he twirled his finger, “this
little ménage is over, you will tell me who you want to stay with for good and
I may let you.”

Miguel stiffened and Jayden frowned.

Nasir looked at them. “I did say that this was a
competition, did I not?”

“So just to clarify,” Jayden said. “Miguel and I take the
Honorable Radnall as our pet and then she decides who she prefers?”

“Exactly. You have three days to impress her and persuade
her to choose you.” The cruel tilt to his lips as he smiled warned Miguel. “And
we of course will ensure that everyone knows who was the preferred lover. You
better be impressive.”

Fucking Jade. He would have to seduce a woman scared out of
her mind even if she didn’t show it. A woman who would see him take her human
friend away and who knew there was no way out. He didn’t usually lack
confidence in his sexuality, but this seemed like a very long shot.

And he had to outperform another man.

His gaze met Jayden’s. The other Vampire appeared to have
come to the same conclusions.

His lips twisted, drawing Miguel’s eyes to their fullness.
To Jayden’s fair skin decorated with freckles. It should have made him look
effeminate, but Miguel’s response to the other man told him that was the last
thing on his mind.

“Does it matter how we reach our goals?” Jayden asked.

Miguel rose to his full height. What the hell was the other
man planning?

Jayden’s smile gave nothing away. He winked at Miguel.

Nasir chuckled. “Not the slightest bit. You can do whatever
you want as long as she stays alive.”

Jayden nodded and joined the two women. Marissa flinched
away when he reached her. Going by the fury burning in Sydney’s eyes she had a
few things to say, but for once she had the sense to keep silent.

Miguel took Sydney’s hand and had to grit his teeth against
the shock that raced through him at the feel of her skin against his. She
tugged once as if wanting to pull away, but he tightened his grip. “We have a
number of things to work out. We’ll see you in three days unless anything comes
up that requires us before then.”

Nasir laughed. “I’ll ensure you have your privacy. I don’t
want it to be said that you were interrupted or your opportunities were
unfairly influenced.” He nodded to Marissa. “I can take care of the food if you’d
like me to.”

Miguel gestured Marissa before him and shook his head. “No,
thank you. Tank just informed me he has arrived in the landing area. He will meet
me at my rooms.”

“As you wish.” Nasir addressed Sydney. “Honorable Radnall,
let me reiterate, just in case you have difficulties understanding—you have no
choice in this matter. If you don’t fall in line I will find out. I’ll hand you
over to the masses and when the bloodlust rides them they are not a lot of fun
for the victim. Do I make myself clear?”

Sydney paled. Her hand grew clammy in his, but she managed a
nod.

Nasir smiled. “Excellent. Miguel, the next time you grab
food make sure it’s not going off.” He addressed the group. “And that goes for
everyone.”

Miguel frowned. “What are you talking about?”

The other Vampire smirked. “My food had been poisoned last
night. It was slow-acting and had barely enough taste for me to sense it, but
it was there.” He shrugged. “I am guessing a neurotoxin, made in the lab.”

Miguel growled. “Why didn’t you call me? I need to know
about attempts on your life if I am supposed to protect you. Even if they’re
too stupid to make even a dent.”

Nasir laughed. “Oh, this attempt wasn’t stupid. The food
contained just enough poison in his body to kill me.” He grinned. “If I were an
ordinary Vampire.” He shrugged and stretched out his arms. “We both know I’m
invincible, so a little bit of poison isn’t going to be an issue. I’m only
sharing this with you and everyone else so you can be on the lookout. You are
my second-in-command. It’s not out of the question that my would-be killer
comes after you.”

Miguel nodded. “I will be careful. But don’t be so sure one
day he won’t get it right.”

Nasir picked up a cup of coffee. “Yes, Mother, I’ll be
careful and look both ways when I cross the street.”

Miguel snarled and turned away. He walked out the door, Jayden
in the lead, the human before him and Sydney at his side. Just holding her hand
was as if sticking his finger into an engine core.

He reminded himself he could not get attached or involved.
Nothing could be allowed to split his focus. Not if he wanted to succeed.

But he already found himself laying out strategies to
overcome Sydney’s hesitation, her resistance, putting together ideas for how to
deal with Jayden and the fact he had to send off the human before he could
touch Sydney.

He would have to see how good a strategist he really was.

Sydney vacillated between raging anger, worry and arousal.
Of all the things she had anticipated, being handed over as a toy to two of the
most attractive men she had seen in a very long time had not been part of her
imagination.

And that was the problem.

How could she even consider this? They worked for the
monster, probably had done plenty of monstrous things themselves. But she had
taken the time to notice the sleek lines of Calatrave’s body, the delicious
package that was hidden behind just one thin layer of clothes. And then there
was Jayden. There wasn’t the instant need to touch she had with Calatrave, but
his body was a piece of art and she wanted to stroke and explore.

She used to enjoy sex. At least until her beloved husband
started to chew on her confidence with his little darts of criticism. How she
was always so fast to come, how she didn’t know how to suck cock, how her touch
was either too light or too hard. Their sex had never rocked her world, but
she’d thought with time they’d get better at it. In the end it had gotten
worse. She’d planned to address her concerns on her wedding night, believing
both of them were looking forward to their future as husband and wife. Instead
the bastard drugged her and dumped her into the cellar to use her as his own
personal blood bank.

And now she walked here, her hand in her kidnapper’s,
considering having sex with him and another Feral. After watching him hand over
an innocent young woman to two monsters.

She was totally insane and needed a swift kick to the head
to rearrange her priorities.

After what felt like an age but probably was no longer than
fifteen minutes they arrived outside a door. Calatrave entered a code and then
leaned forward for an iris scan. He then put his hand into another scanner. It
took her a moment to identify it as an aura scanner. “Jade, talk about
paranoia,” she muttered, angry with herself that she’d been so busy with
berating herself she hadn’t paid any attention to where they had been going or
what they’d walked past.

She was completely useless at this operative business.

But that was about to change.

Sydney was at the center of ring, at the very core of where
things were decided and planned. She would do everything in her power to gather
intel and send it to Duncan and Tanasha. The Vampires underestimated her. She
could use that.

And if it killed her at least she’d tried.

They stepped through the door into a wide-open, sparsely
decorated room. “Wow, you are a follower of minimalists-are-us.” Along one wall
was a medium-sized wardrobe. A comfortable seating area made up from a sofa and
two large chairs took up another corner. No knickknacks, no decorative touches,
no personal effects. Nothing that said anything about him as a man.