Three

LAYTON WAITED OUTSIDE The Venetian until Gia’s shift was over. Several passersby’s shot him looks of disgust but he didn’t give a shit. It was unfortunate that there was discrimination against vampires in the current day and age. When a human spotted the pale skin and bright irises, they shied away or turned up their noses. Throughout the years, he’d seen the human population accept that his kind was among them but, as of late, he realized that not all humans wanted a vamp best friend. The snarky comments and whispers should have gotten on his nerves but he knew human nature was full of judgment. It wasn’t something that could change with the flick of a pen either.

“Hey man, if you need blood, I’m available,” a scrawny man with thinning hair and a mole beside his lip stood beside Layton. There was one thing a vampire had to watch out for and that was drug users. If one of Layton’s kind drank blood from a user, it could weaken them to the point of incapacity and sometimes, death.

“Thank you for the offer but I’m not hungry,” Layton didn’t bother making eye contact with the obvious junkie.

“You fuckers are too picky. Blood is blood,” The guy stated. With swift movements, Layton snatched the man up and pinned him against the brick façade of the building, his feet dangling as he struggled to free himself.

“It would seem that you think you can make a quick buck selling your tainted blood to unsuspecting vampires. I should rip your throat out right here for what you’re doing to us.”

“Put me down and I won’t do it anymore, I swear, man.”

“Put him down,” Layton dropped the man to the pavement at the sound of Gia’s voice somewhere behind him. It didn’t take long for the man to flee the scene after his release. “Do you have to act like an animal all the time?” she moved closer, her scent brushing across his senses.

“Where are you going?” he asked upon seeing her in something besides the work clothing she had on earlier.

“It’s none of your business,” she shook her head.

“Tell me where you’re going.” He demanded.

“What is it with you ordering me around every time you see me? Trust me, I don’t have daddy issues. You can stop the macho peacocking routine any time now.”

“Do you have a ride?” he straightened his spine and asked.

Gia rolled her eyes and stood toe to toe with him. “Stop trying to take care of me, okay?”

Layton surprised himself when the phrase, “I need to,” slipped from his lips.

“No, you don’t. I’m sure you have a busy life and have plenty to keep your time occupied.”

“I need to talk to you,” he locked gazes with her and felt as if he’d was transported to a time in his life when he was happy.

“Then talk,” she laughed.

“My sister spoke with your brother a few nights before he disappeared.” He revealed.

“What? Well, does she know where he is?” Excitement crossed her features.

“No. She doesn’t know where he is. But I can help you find him.”

“Really?” a glimmer of what he assumed was hope lit inside her.

“Yes. However, I will need something in return for my help.”

“Great. What now, you want me to be your blood bag?” She propped her hands on her hips and raised an eyebrow.

 “I have plenty of donors to quench my thirst. What I want from you is on a more, intimate level.”

“You’re scaring me.” She stepped back and put a few feet of distance between them.

“In exchange for my help, you will be mine at Club Desire,” He stated with confidence.

Gia’s expression went from stoic to humor laced. Her sweet voice broke out into a fit of laughter and soon she doubled over, holding her stomach. “You had me. I didn’t think you were a comedian but I know differently now,” she chuckled.

 “My offer is serious.”

“Are you kidding me? Why would I agree to such a thing?”

“Because without me, it will be difficult to locate your brother.”

“Wow, you are full of yourself, aren’t you? I will find Zach.”

“Then tell me what you plan to do when you encounter a vampire that isn’t as pleasant as myself?”

“You? Pleasant? That’s hysterical. You’ve been nothing but a dick since the moment I walked into your office. I asked for help and you refused to acknowledge that I was even standing there.”

“I’ve changed my mind.”

“It doesn’t matter. Go crawl into your coffin and leave me alone,” she turned away from him and walked toward the street. Layton wasn’t letting her walk away. It had been years since he had an interest in anything other than despair. Gia was a force of nature, one that could prove fun. “Stop,” he ordered while standing in front of her.

“What?”

“I would like to apologize for the way I behaved last night.”

“You can’t say you’re sorry and expect me to give into you. Life doesn’t work like that.” She glanced around him, “I have to go.”

“Hey, is everything okay?” A younger man opened the door on a silver car for Gia. Layton lifted his nose to the air and caught a familiar scent. Did Gia know she was getting into the car with a wolf?

“Yeah, I’m great.” She leaned in and returned the hug the man had given her.

“Who’s that dude?”

Gia looked back at Layton, “That’s nobody. Let’s get out of here.” She took her seat in the car and soon it was pulling away. Layton didn’t have bouts of jealousy but at that moment, he wanted to tear the wolf limb from limb. Vampire and wolves would never be best friends and seeing her leave with one had him livid. He had already decided that for a short period, Gia belonged to him. It was a matter of convincing her of that fact.

***

“Here,” Gia stood in the living room of the house Micah had taken her to. He handed her a red plastic cup full to the brim with beer.

“No thanks,” she smiled while pushing the drink away.

“You’re not the bubbly Gia I’m used to,” Micah sat the cup down on a nearby table and said.

“I know. Maybe I should go home.”

“Let’s go outside so we can talk. I can’t hear myself think over this loud music,” he grabbed her hand and pulled her behind him. They exited through a set of French doors and into an empty backyard. “This is much better. I must be getting old if the noise bothers me,” he laughed.

“You’re only twenty-four, Micah.”

 “And you’re only twenty-six, Gia.”

He took a gulp from his own cup. “Why haven’t we dated?” he asked.

“Because you’re like a brother,” she hated to say something like that to him but it was true. Micah was Zach’s best friend. She had never looked at him in a romantic capacity and that wouldn’t change.

 “Awe, come on. I’m sure you can get past seeing me like that. I like you.” He threw an arm over her shoulder, making her uncomfortable.

“You’re drunk,” she grabbed his arm and flung it off her.

“So? I wish you would get drunk. Maybe then you’d fuck me,” he said in an intimidating tone.

“I’m going to call a cab,” she said while pulling her phone from her pocket. She scrolled down the list of numbers and found the one for a cab service.

“Give me that,” Micah plucked the device from her fingers and slammed it on the concrete patio.

 “You asshole,” Gia bent over and picked up the pieces of her phone. “I can’t believe you did that.” Her frustration with her brother’s friend was mounting to a dangerous level. Before she could stand up straight, she found herself pushed down to the ground with Micah hovering over her. When she suddenly got a whiff of something that smelled of wet dog she yelled, “Get off of me!” while thrashing around. 

“Come on Gia, just once?” he ran his tongue up and down her neck.

“Ugh, Micah.” she tried to shove him off of her but he was stronger. As she lay there expecting the worst, his body seemed to float off of hers then landed about ten feet away.

“She told you to get off of her,” Layton growled and charged at Micah. He picked the younger man up by the throat, Micah gasping for air.

Gia couldn’t let Layton hurt him so she jumped to her feet and ran across the yard. “Don’t do this,” she tugged at Layton’s arm. “Just let him go,” her eyes filled with tears. “I’ll do whatever you want me to if you’ll let him go,” the salty liquid streaked down her face. Just as fast as it began, Layton ended things by tossing Micah to the grass below. The other man jumped to his feet and took off running from the yard.

“Be at my office tomorrow at sundown,” Layton pinned her with a serious expression. “Punctuality means something so don’t be late," he then vanished like a puff of smoke around the side of the house.

Gia’s mind was awhirl with the repercussions of what she’d agreed to. It wasn’t uncommon for a vampire to lay claim to a human, but in their day and age, humans suffered ridicule for being with the undead. “What did I do?” she asked herself as she made her way around the house and to the street.