Chapter 7

Ryder had broached the idea of Gunner accompanying him for a few beers at the nightclub where he had last seen Gabriela. It took little convincing to get the Washington biker onboard, but Grigore was another story. It made sense to be seen with Gunner beforehand, instead of showing up at Salazar’s as complete strangers. Shooting someone you know to protect a cartel soldier? That took balls and would go a long way in his mission to gain their trust. In the end, Grigore had acceded to the plan.

Music blared through the opened glass and steel double-doors. People spilled onto the patio, circling the tall tables covered by umbrellas. Lights beneath the canopies illuminated the evening sky since the sun had long since set. Conversation could barely be ascertained over the speakers. No one seemed to mind, huddling closer to be heard. Thankful for his enhanced hearing, Ryder could still pick up most of the conversations. A popular Shakira song had patrons moving to the cadence. Even those standing at the tables tapped their fingers along with the beat.

Gunner crossed the threshold and easily parted the crowd. The man stood head and shoulders above most. Finding a couple of empty stools at the end of the long bar, he took one and motioned for the bartender. Before Ryder claimed his seat, a couple of Modelos and two shots of whiskey sat in front of them.

“Thanks, bro.”

Gunner held out his fist and Ryder complied, bumping his outstretched hand. “Anytime, man. I appreciate you getting me the hell out of there. I’m not cut out for solitary confinement. Apparently, I’d suck at a stakeout. Not being able to party was starting to drive me bat-shit crazy.”

Ryder chuckled. “I can imagine. Been doing a lot of sitting myself. These things take time. As it is, these soldiers don’t have any faith in me. They aren’t your normal type. These guys have some serious trust issues, and rightfully so. If I’m ever going to get in with the kingpin, I need to be patient. Bide my time.”

“Well, thank the good Lord you’re shooting my ass. Much more of this waiting stuff and I might flip my lid.” Gunner held up his shot glass and clicked it with Ryder’s, before they both downed the whiskey. “How long are you going to be down here, man?”

“As long as it takes. It’s simple, I owe the Tepes brothers and Gypsy for saving my ass. Not to mention what happened to my girlfriend.”

“Sorry, man. That’s got to suck.”

“It does. There isn’t a day that goes by I don’t hate myself for putting her in that situation.” Ryder took a sip from his beer. “She shouldn’t have gone out like that, not when it was me they were angry with. But that’s how the cartel does things. They go after your family. The suffering lasts a lifetime. And now that I’m a vampire? I have an eternity to remember I was the cause.”

“You can’t control what others do, man.”

“No, but I shouldn’t have put her in that situation to begin with, which is why no mate for me.”

Ryder took another sip of his beer. There was no way in hell he’d chance putting another person he loved in jeopardy. The lifestyle he lived was not conducive to having a serious relationship. Losing someone he loved sucked. Losing them because of his choices was unforgivable.

“Lonely existence, man. Being a vampire, you could live a good long life.”

“I’m content with the donors we’re provided.” Ryder shrugged. He had used quite a few of them, spent the night with some of them as well. Who was he to complain about variety? “You ready for a mate?”

“We’re talking about you.” Gunner laughed. “But yeah, I think if the right woman came along, I wouldn’t have a problem with it. Until then, I’ll party my ass off. Maybe I’ll think about it after I’ve lived to see a couple hundred years.”

“We could all be so lucky.”

“How old do you think the Tepes twins are?”

“Viper and Hawk? I’ve never asked. But the real question is, how old is their great-great-grandfather?” Ryder thought about the old ruler, Vlad,trying to remember his history. “He has to be near five-hundred-and-eighty or so. As far as I know, he’s the eldest vampire.”

“I thought he had an older brother.”

“He does, but Mircea was turned after Vlad.”

Gunner’s smile grew. “Well, if that old man can still get the ladies at over five hundred years, who are we to settle down before him?”

Ryder chuckled. “You do have a point.”

Turning in his stool, Ryder observed several patrons taking to the dance floor, bodies moving seductively to the samba. His gaze toured the room, looking for one woman in particular. Gabriela would no doubt be easy to spot, drawing his gaze like a heat-seeking missile. Fuck, but she knew how to turn up the heat just by entering a room.

Gunner and Ryder fell into a comfortable silence, watching the array as they sipped from their bottles of Modelo. Ryder would much rather partake from an artery, which he needed to do soon. Find a cute little señorita to dine on and maybe a little horizontal performance as well. He was getting damn itchy for some action. Ryder normally didn’t abstain, nor did he have to back home. He had his choice of donors to have sex with since many of the Sons in Oregon were mating up. Finding a bed partner had never been a chore.

A long black-haired señorita approached Gunner, her dark eyes looking up at him, even from his seated position. Once he stood, she’d be lucky to be chest high on him. She smiled, her white teeth showing bright in the lights from behind the bar.

“¿Te gustaría bailar?”

“I don’t dance.” Gunner responded, surprising Ryder, having no idea Gunner knew the language.

“It won’t kill you.” Ryder nodded toward the dance floor. “Just follow what they do.”

The woman gripped Gunner’s hand, urging him out of his seat. Gunner complied, following the cute, much-shorter woman to the dance floor. Ryder couldn’t help but chuckle. Gunner couldn’t move to the rhythm to save his life. Not like he could hide on the dance floor either. The crowd parted like the Red Sea, giving him plenty of room to one-step the samba.

“What has you chuckling?”

Ryder turned to find the one woman he had been looking for. For the second time, she had snuck up on him. He really needed to up his game. His flesh heated and his gums ached with the need to emerge. Ryder bit back the vampire in him and shifted in his chair.

“To what do I owe the pleasure again?”

“I was hoping to run into you.” Her admission left her blushing. “I only got your name. I had no idea how I might find you again, except go back to the scene of the crime.”

His hand indicated the barstool Gunner had vacated. “Have a seat.”

“Are you sure? There’s a half-empty beer—”

“My friend is busy doing what he hopes looks like dancing.” Ryder chuckled.

He called over the bartender and ordered her a paloma. Throwing a few dinero onto the bar, he turned back to Gabby.

“I’m impressed. You remembered.”

“I’m pretty sure there isn’t much I’d forget about you.”

She laughed, the sound making Ryder smile. “Do women usually fall for your lines?”

“Are you kidding? With a face like this?” He grimaced. “I’m lucky if a woman pays me any mind at all. They are more than likely to go for my friend.”

“Which one is your friend?”

Ryder nodded toward the dance floor. “The tall one.”

Her gaze went in the direction of Gunner before returning. “I don’t know what the other women are thinking, but I’m pretty sure I prefer you.”

One of his brows rose. “Do you?”

The admittance shouldn’t have pleased him, but it did. Gabriela was his mission, not his fuck-buddy. He’d do well to remember that. But sitting this close and scenting her desire had the vampire in him wanting to devour. If her blood tasted half as good as it smelled, he was in deep shit should he make the mistake of tasting it. He’d likely be an instant addict.

“Most definitely.”

“Now who’s feeding who lines?”

“It’s not a line if it’s true.” She took a sip of her drink that the bartender had left, hiding her grin. “Besides, I came looking for you, didn’t I?”

“You did.”

“And…”

Her pause left him wondering what she wanted. What the hell had her searching him out? A quick look around the club and he spotted Gabby’s friend, now dancing with Gunner. Ryder wasn’t sure what happened to his other partner, but Gunner seemed more into Gabby’s friend, if the hand on the small of her back was any indication.

“And I found you.”

Ryder laughed at the way she dodged his question. He still had no clue as to why she’d seek him out. It wasn’t like he was model-handsome like Alexander “Xander” Dumitru of the Sons of Sangue, who had earned the moniker GQ. Someone as gorgeous as Gabriela deserved a pretty boy. Not someone more on the rugged side, who had their share of scars. But damn if his body didn’t care, reacting to her nearness, kicking up his own desire. His jeans became constricting. Much more and he’d be spouting a full-blown erection in pants that had no hope of hiding it.

Vampires were sexual beings, damn it. He wasn’t used to curbing his appetite. He needed a change of subject.

“What do you do for a living?”

“Why?” She took another drink from her glass as she watched him over the rim.

“Look at you. You’re dressed in clothes I couldn’t possibly afford. You wear Louboutins.”

Gabby set down her drink and chuckled. She laid a hand on his knee, shooting heat straight up his thigh to his groin. Much more and the entire club would know he sported a hard-on. Everything about this woman heated his blood, from the soft waves of her hair, to her brown eyes, and full lips. She had killer hips and a nice set of tits, too. It was all he could do not to ogle her.

“I’m surprised you’ve heard of the brand of shoes.”

“It’s not like I live under a rock,” he grumbled.

Maybe he had said too much already. His mouth could sometimes get him in trouble. And this might be one of those times.

“I meant no disrespect. It’s just, most guys don’t know fashion.”

“Would you believe me if I told you I have a foot fetish?”

Placing the perfectly manicured hand that had been on his knee over her lips, she laughed again. “Oh, please … no. You aren’t getting nowhere near my toes.”

Ryder shared in her humor. “I can think of better things to… Maybe I should shut up while I’m ahead.”

Gabby drew her lower lip between her teeth and looked down, her cheeks reddening. By the scent of her rising desire, he could tell her mind had gone to the same place as his. He wouldn’t mind suggesting they take it back to his place, but it was better he kept that under wraps for the time being. He didn’t need anyone knowing where he stayed. As for Gabby, he’d bet she wouldn’t be offering to head for her place any time soon. Her uncle wouldn’t be too happy knowing she’d divulge where he hung his coat either. Although, thanks to Brea Gotti, they already knew the location. What they didn’t know was if Raúl happened to be there at the moment.

And it wasn’t like he could ask.

“You never answered my question. What is it you do?”

“I manage my uncle’s restaurant, Salazar’s.”

“Where I first saw you?”

She nodded. “It’s a great little place.”

“I agree. They have the best seafood I’ve found down here.”

“Thank you. I’ll be sure to let Francisco know.” She tucked one side of her hair behind her ear. Ryder’s fingers itched to touch the silken strands. “What do you do?”

Ryder rubbed his jaw to keep his hands to himself. “I’m between jobs, at the moment. Looking for work.”

“Maybe I can help, see if Francisco needs more hands in the kitchen.”

Oh, man. He really needed to get a handle on his runaway mouth around her. Although, setting it up that he was looking for work played right into his mission. Getting a job washing dishes did not. And right about that time, Gunner reappeared and put in his two cents.

“Not sure you’re cut out for dishpan hands, bro.” Gunner winked at Gabby. “Although, he can cook a mean omelet.”

Ryder shook his head and smiled. “As much as I appreciate the offer, Gabby, I had another type of work in mind. I’m working on some connections. I’m sure it’s only a matter of time before I find something.”

“Does that mean you’re sticking around?”

“Absolutely.”

Her eyes held his, the interest evident. “Awesome. That means I’ll get to see you again. Are you going to give me your phone number? Or do I have to keep stalking you?”

Ryder held out his hand. Gabriela unlocked her cell, opened her contact app, and handed him the phone. Ryder quickly typed in his name and number before handing it back.

“Send me a text so I know your number as well.”

She took her phone from his hand, their skin making contact. Christ, there was so much heat in that brief touch he felt it clear to his gut. He’d need to get laid, and soon, for fear of sporting an ever-present hard-on around this woman. His phone dinged. Ryder took it from his back pocket and slid his thumb across the screen.

Next time some place more private. Your place?