Dark Promises 5: Tarnished Read online

  An Ellora’s Cave Romantica Publication

  www.ellorascave.com

  Tarnished

  ISBN # 1-4199-0381-0

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

  Tarnished Copyright© 2005 Elisa Adams

  Edited by Martha Punches.

  Cover art by Syneca.

  Electronic book Publication: October 2005

  This book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the publisher, Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Inc.® 1056 Home Avenue, Akron OH 44310-3502.

  This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the authors’ imagination and used fictitiously.

  Warning:

  The following material contains graphic sexual content meant for mature readers. Tarnished has been rated E–rotic by a minimum of three independent reviewers.

  Ellora’s Cave Publishing offers three levels of Romantica™ reading entertainment: S (S-ensuous), E (E-rotic), and X (X-treme).

  S-ensuous love scenes are explicit and leave nothing to the imagination.

  E-rotic love scenes are explicit, leave nothing to the imagination, and are high in volume per the overall word count. In addition, some E-rated titles might contain fantasy material that some readers find objectionable, such as bondage, submission, same sex encounters, forced seductions, and so forth. E-rated titles are the most graphic titles we carry; it is common, for instance, for an author to use words such as “fucking”, “cock”, “pussy”, and such within their work of literature.

  X-treme titles differ from E-rated titles only in plot premise and storyline execution. Unlike E-rated titles, stories designated with the letter X tend to contain controversial subject matter not for the faint of heart.

  TARNISHED

  Elisa Adams

  Chapter One

  “Cash only.” Wil slid the check back across the table into the hands of the short, round man who’d tried to play him for a fool. Hadn’t Rex learned by now that it was a mistake to mess with him? If not, he’d be learning that hard lesson soon. One of these days Wil was going to lose his patience with the man, and then Rex would be in a lot of trouble. “I believe I made it quite clear over the phone. I don’t accept personal checks, especially not for this amount. You’re a businessman. I’m sure you understand it’s a risk that isn’t worth taking. And I also made it quite clear I wanted all of the money. I don’t do payment plans. You agreed to my terms, if I’m not mistaken.”

  “You never told me the terms weren’t negotiable. In the past we’ve never had trouble coming up with a decent compromise.”

  “That was the past. Things are different now.”

  Bass-heavy music pounded through the dark-paneled room, the clink of glasses and endless chatter of the bar customers adding to the din. The stale stench of beer and hard liquor permeated the smoke-filled air. It overloaded his senses, made his stomach churn. It was enough to make him want to rip his hair out. How the others could stand it was beyond him.

  His gaze scanned the room, an old habit that was hard to break after spending quite a few years as a police detective. Another thing he’d decided to leave in the past. The dim track lighting would make it difficult for humans to see very far in front of them. Luckily Wil didn’t have that problem.

  He’d chosen a small booth near the back, a seat that gave him a clear view of most of the room. It served two purposes that night. The first, to make sure no one would be able to sneak up on him. He wouldn’t put it past Rex to send one of his goons after him when the man couldn’t come up with the money. And second, it put the bar in his direct line of sight. He had a few reasons for wanting to keep his eyes on that area.

  His gaze fell on the nearly naked woman dancing on the bar a few dozen feet away. His mouth watered at the sight of her dark thighs and the generous swell of her breasts, completely exposed to him—and every other patron. But she wasn’t looking at anyone else. She was shooting glances in his direction, giving him secretive smiles. He’d love nothing more than to take her up on her unspoken offer. A night of wild, rough sex. Exactly what he needed. No attachments, no emotions, because he didn’t do either one. But first he had a fee to collect, and a job to do that was so much more important than that.

  Now if Rex would just hurry up and produce the cash he’d promised, they could both move on with their lives. Wil had been too long without a woman, and the thought of sinking his teeth into the cocoa skin of the dancer was driving him to distraction. Fresh night air would do his foggy mind wonders, but he didn’t dare leave. Not yet. Not without Ellie’s little sister.

  His gaze left the woman on the bar for a brief second to spare a glance at the woman standing behind it. One of the five bartenders Rex kept on his staff. With the exception of the bouncers, a staff comprised entirely of women.

  Rebecca Louise Holmes—Becca. Age twenty-one. Five feet ten, a hundred and thirty pounds. He knew everything about her, from her shoe size to her blood type—the latter of which he found infinitely more interesting. Ellie had provided him with all the information he’d needed to find her, and after an extensive search, he had. In Pennsylvania, of all places. In the midsized town of Ardon, home to about ten thousand people and at least ten times more trees. Not a place he’d want to stay for any length of time. He preferred the anonymity of a larger city, where people didn’t know their neighbors across the hall, and they didn’t care.

  Seeing Becca had been what caught his attention when he’d first walked into the bar a week ago. She’d been standing in a darkened corner of the room, her body clad in black leather pants and a tight white tank top. She was braless, her dusky areolas clearly visible through the thin material. She looked much the same tonight, though the tank top was red, made of some shiny, stretchy material he’d love to rip from her body. He had yet to see her legs, to see if those fantasy-inspiring pants had made a second appearance. She glanced over at him and his mouth went dry.

  A mass of wild, glossy black curls fell to just past her breasts. Skin so fair and delicate every thin blue vein was visible just below the surface. Big blue eyes bore right into him with a strange, cold interest and full lips tipped up in a knowing smile as her gaze raked his body. He had to remind himself to breathe. He’d met her kind before. Indulged in more than a few women like her.

  A woman who knew what she wanted, and wasn’t afraid to take it. She could take him any day. His cock hardened at the thought, pressed tight against the zipper of his jeans. Becca Holmes was every vampire’s wet dream, and it hit him like a punch in the gut. Ellie should have warned him that her sister was so damned sexy. And dangerous. There was something about her that warned him to stay away. Some intangible instinct that told him she’d only bring him a world of trouble. Good thing he’d never been one to play by the rules.

  He shook his head. He’d have to play it straight this one time. As far as he was concerned, any other single woman in the bar was fair game. But not Becca. Ellie was worried about her little sister being able to take care of herself? She had no reason to be. Everything about this woman screamed independent. To the extreme. But he’d promised Ellie he would check up on her sister, make sure she was okay.

  She wasn’t. She was in over her head, whether she knew it yet or not. Around this place, a woman’s independence only lasted so long. Working for Rex ultimately led to any woman’s downfall. He wasn’t a typical employer. He hired women only, and not just as waitresses and bartenders. A twisted cult, his own personal harem of brainwashed women to dote on him. Wil had suspected something was wrong in the past when he’d done business with Rex, so this time he’d don
e his research. His contacts had explained the situation to Wil in very plain terms. It made him sick.

  And Ellie’s sister was right in the middle of it. It wouldn’t be long before Rex had his hooks in Becca like he had with most of his other employees. He added them to his…collection, and once they were in he rarely let them go. Wil had to get Becca out before it was too late. From the looks of things, she wasn’t going to make it easy.

  Rex cleared his throat, drawing Wil’s attention back to the matter at hand. “I might have been able to get cash for you, if you hadn’t demanded it a night early. You didn’t give me until the deadline we’d agreed to.”

  Wil’s smile widened, but he didn’t allow any friendliness to seep into the expression. Rex didn’t deserve pleasantries, and he didn’t deserve lenience. Once Becca was in a safe place, the whole operation would be shut down. One way or another, Wil would see to it personally.

  “I value the element of surprise. Nice place you’ve got here, Rex. It must bring in a load of money every night.”

  Money that Wil intended to take a chunk of before he left. He only worked free for friends—which was a policy he might have to change soon. Working for a friend was what had brought him to Pennsylvania to begin with. Most of the people who’d met him would swear he didn’t have a conscience at all, but somewhere over the years he’d developed one. It was an annoyance at best, one he couldn’t seem to rid himself of no matter how hard he tried.

  “Celia has been treating you well as usual, I hope.” Rex gestured to the small, redheaded waitress who had brought Wil the drink he had yet to touch.

  “Of course. As usual,” he murmured.

  “I have to say, I’m surprised at your choice of drinks tonight. Wouldn’t you prefer something a little more…to your tastes?”

  “This is fine.” He tipped the glass to his lips and took a small sip for effect. Whiskey would have to do for now, though Rex’s offer sounded more palatable. Becca was tending bar, and he’d been warned she had a strong aversion to his kind. No sense alerting her so soon. He’d have plenty of time for that later.

  “I told Celia to let you have whatever you wanted, on the house.”

  He raised his eyebrows. That idea held some interesting possibilities. “Is she included?”

  Rex followed Wil’s gaze to the dancer on the bar. “Monique? No. Sorry. She’s one of the few not included. Her husband wouldn’t appreciate it.”

  Damn. It figured. He might not have the highest moral standards, but he drew the line at fucking another man’s wife. He’d have to find another way to amuse himself. Once the job was finished. The first thing on his list was to get Becca safely away from Rex, and then collect the money owed to him and disband Rex’s little group. After that, he’d have plenty of time to find a willing woman and play. “Well, then. I suppose we should get down to business.”

  Rex nodded. “It’s ten thousand, right?”

  Was ten thousand. Not this time. What a fool the man was. He didn’t understand the power that Wil held over him. Did he want to end up dead? “Twenty. And I told you already, no checks. It’s cash only.”

  “I was hoping—”

  “Save yourself the trouble. It’s cash or nothing. If I don’t get what I want, you’re going to be out of luck. You hired me on specific terms. If you can’t fulfill your part of the bargain, things will get ugly.”

  Rex snatched up the check, his gaze on the table as he folded the blue watermarked paper and stuffed it into the front pocket of his starched shirt. He leaned forward and met Wil’s gaze. A muscle in his jaw ticked. “Maybe we can work out a deal.”

  Wil let out a frustrated breath. How he hated dealing with moronic humans who couldn’t understand the simple terms of an agreement. He’d gotten the vampires off Rex’s back. The least the man could do was pay him what they’d agreed upon. He lifted his crystal glass and took another small sip of the whiskey, savoring the pungent flavor as he waited for an answer. By the time he set the glass down, Rex’s face was a deathly shade of pale and his lips were pinched.

  Wil leaned forward in his chair, one elbow propped on the table, and smiled at Rex. The man seemed to relax. Big mistake. He really had no idea what he was dealing with. He might have thought he knew, but Wil could pretty much guarantee the guy was wrong. A vampire, yes, but a vampire with connections. Connections to beings whose names weren’t often spoken out loud. And Wil, in the interest of doing his job to the best of his ability, had a little collection of his own. Not women, though, like Rex. Weapons of the most unusual and deadly kind. He always carried a few when he traveled, if possible, just in case he needed them. This time he most likely would.

  “No deals. No checks. No more fooling around. I want my money, Rex, and I want it now. If you don’t have it, I’m going to have to hurt you.”

  Rex scooted back against the booth, abject terror flashing in his eyes. “I don’t have it. Yet. But I can get it.”

  A lie. The man had never planned on paying for services rendered. Wil didn’t take kindly to being screwed. Not unless it involved a beautiful woman naked in his bed. Then he was up for anything. But in business, he had a zero tolerance policy.

  “You’d better think of a solution fast, Rex.” He pulled a small knife out of the pocket of his jacket and flipped the blade out of the ornate sterling silver case, keeping it close to his chest so as not to attract any unwanted attention. “Because you’re about two seconds away from losing a body part.”

  “I mean it, Wil. I’ll get the money. It will just take me a day or two, a week at most.”

  Right. Rex was a sniveling coward and a pathological liar. He’d run away before he made good on his promise.

  And that was exactly what Wil had been counting on.

  He’d known Rex for years, had been doing jobs for the man whenever he passed through town, so he knew enough about the man to know he wouldn’t have the money on time. Wil had doubled his usual fee in hopes Rex would offer him something else. Getting rid of a couple vampires who’d been threatening Rex had been a side job, something to bide his time until he made certain his real quarry was in sight. Now he just had to find a way to get her out without making a scene. Rex was going to help him out with that, but he didn’t know it yet.

  “What do you want to lose first?”

  “Wait. I might have the perfect solution.”

  Wil raised an eyebrow, but didn’t put down the knife. He already knew what Rex would offer. He’d given Wil the same offer after their first business dealing. Wil had turned him down then, but he had a good reason to accept now. “Start talking.”

  “I’ll offer you some collateral until I can get the cash.”

  “No, thanks. I’m not interested in the deed to your house or your club. They’re probably over-mortgaged and not worth anything.”

  “Not property, Brogan.” Rex finally smiled, and it was a scary sight. His teeth were yellowed and crooked, half of them cracked or chipped. “I’m offering you a chance at part of my private collection. Your choice, to do with as you wish until I deliver you the cash.”

  “Collection? Can you be a little more specific? I’m not interested in antiques.”

  “Women, Brogan. Women. I’m sure you remember. It hasn’t been that long since I showed you around my house. I’ve seen you in here eyeing the women here every night for the past week. Most of them are available to you. You can have your pick. Whichever one you want.”

  Wil snorted, feigning indifference when Rex’s offer couldn’t have been more perfect. Rex had just handed him the way to get Becca out without making a scene, and the idiot hadn’t even noticed. “I don’t need your help finding a woman, Rex.”

  Rex’s smile grew placating. “I didn’t insinuate that you did. But trust me on this. I only keep the finest women. You’ve sampled one or two. You know what I mean. You’re welcome to any one of them.”

  Too bad the one he wanted wasn’t part of that collection. She worked for Rex, tended bar, but was free to g
o when her shift was over. It was going to take some convincing.

  “I want her. The bartender,” he told Rex, his gaze drifting back to the bar.

  “She’s not mine to give.”

  “I don’t care. She’s the one I want.”

  “What about Celia? You’ve always had fun with her in the past. Why not a week alone with her? She asks about you often. She’d be more than willing.”

  She’d bore him after a few nights of the same old thing. And she wasn’t the one he’d promised to take care of. Tonight, his decision was about more than sex. “No. Not Celia. Not anyone else. She’s the one I want. Make it happen, Rex.”

  He flashed Rex another humorless grin and tipped the knife in the other man’s direction.

  “Okay. Okay. Give me ten minutes and I’ll see what I can do.”

  “Don’t disappoint me, Rex.”

  If he did, Wil would have to think of another plan.

  * * * * *

  “Can I talk to you for a minute, Becca?”

  Becca grabbed a small white towel and wiped down the surface of the bar. “What can I do for you, Rex? Your guest need another drink?” She gestured with her chin to the man sitting in the booth Rex had just left.

  Her stomach quivered just looking at him. She’d bring that guy any drink he wanted, all night long. She’d noticed him a week ago, the first night he’d walked into the bar like he owned the place. Cocky and arrogant, and the waitresses all seemed to bow down to everything the guy wanted. She didn’t blame them. He was hot, with a capital everything.

  Probably just a hair over six feet, his shoulders were broad enough to fill out his black leather jacket very nicely. His hair was short but a little shaggy. Shiny, a little wavy, and nearly raven in color. His eyes were a cool cornflower blue—she’d noticed them one time when their gazes locked as he’d passed the bar. Blue and stunning in a way that made butterflies come to life in her stomach. And then there was that magnetism about him. She was drawn to him, no doubt about it. For a couple different reasons. He’d be a great lay, no doubt about it.