Free Hot Decadent Rising (Breath of Darkness) by Candice Stauffer Page B

With a slight wave of
his hand, Nikolas sent Eli hurling through the air. Eli got to his feet. “What
the fuck is your problem?”
    “Leave us. Zack isn’t your concern.”
    “He was my concern a few moments ago.
What has changed? Besides the fact that he’s been turned into a blood crazed
murderer and you don’t have the balls to put him out of his misery.”
    “You need to worry about getting your
pack under control.”
    Following Samuel’s lead, his former
second in command, Eli’s pack had been hunting him down. They were determined
to kill him. He wasn’t having it. As a matter of fact, he had another plan
altogether. He intended to make an example out of Samuel. While leading the
traitor to his death, he was preparing to restore his reign over the pack.
    “I will handle my pack as I see fit.”
    “Ditto.” Nikolas said.
    “You don’t have a pack,” Eli stated.
    Nikolas shrugged. “I have family.”
    “Nikolas is right. You need to get your
pack under control. Things are bound to get worse for everyone.”  Zack
said.
    “Define worse.” Regardless of how he
felt about Zack’s condition, Eli figured it would be best to learn as much as
possible.
     “We’ve all assumed Demetri was
simply amusing himself by catering to Mary’s wishes by lending his power to
corrupted vampires and allowing her to use my blood to make them stronger.”
    “You think there’s something more going
on?” Nikolas asked.
    “I know it. Whatever Demetri is doing,
he is doing it for himself as much as he’s doing it for her. Maybe even more.
They are united and yet not. It’s as if they’re engaged in a competition or
power struggle of sorts. If either succeeds, they will alter or destroy
everything as we know it. No being is safe. We need to be united. We need to be
at our strongest. We need to fight.”
    “Does that mean you wish to go on?”
Nikolas asked.
    “From the sounds of it I have no other
choice. Do you truly believe she would defy me in a dangerous time such as
this?”
    “Absolutely.” Nikolas smiled.
    “I’ll go to her now. I cannot leave her
fate up to Demetri. He has her convinced that he is her friend. I will return
with her shortly.”
    ***
    Leland
Terrick motioned for Tom to get into the car. “I wasn’t expecting to meet with
you this soon.”
    “Is it done?”
    Tom pointed at the nurse sitting in the
front passenger seat. “Hospital scrubs. Who’s she? A nurse?”
    “It doesn’t matter to you. She’s on my
payroll. Is it done?”
    “Yes.” Tom answered.
    Leaning back he crossed his arms over
his chest. “You followed my instructions?”
    Smiling, he nodded. “I put a bullet
right in the back of her head.”
    “You removed the cuffs?”
    “Yes.”
    “You got rid of them?”
    Tom nodded. “I did.”
     “And you disposed of the gun?”
Leland asked.
    “Of course,” Tom answered a little too
quickly, his voice cracking. “That’s what you wanted me to do. That’s what I
did.”
    “Are you lying to me?”
    Tom shook his head. “No, sir. I swear. I
followed every one of your instructions, right down to the gun I was to use. I
dumped them in the old mine shaft on the map you gave me.”
    “It’s good to know it’s done and over
with.” When Kara threatened to go to the authorities, Leland knew she would do
it. She knew too much. She would betray him as quickly as her dirty whore of a
mother had betrayed him. “It’s a good day for you. I had my doubts. I wasn’t
sure you had it in you. Now that I know you’re depth of loyalty to me. I’m
certain I will allow you to engage in many more business endeavors with me in
the future. If you continue to prove your faithfulness, you will enjoy the life
of a very rich man.”
    “It’s an honor to work with you.”
    “Not with me. For me.”
    “Of course.”
    I never give second chances. Cross me
once and I will have you killed.” He lifted a duffel bag containing the half a
million dollars he’d offered to pay Tom for