Free Blood Judgment (Judgment Series) by Nickie Asher Page B

his waist, pinning her to him.
    “Please, mister. I have a mate.”
    “You were willing to whore for money.” He freed himself from his pants and leaned in against her.
    “Please don’t.” She sobbed. “Please, I couldn’t get a job and no one will hire him. I didn’t have a choice.”
    “Lying bitch.” He rammed inside her.
    She cried out.
    “Keep your fucking mouth shut and I might let you live.” He pumped hard and fast while she wept. He grabbed her breast and squeezed until she shrieked despite his threats to be quiet. “Shut up, bitch.”
    She moaned and her knee buckled, throwing her against him.
    On the verge of orgasm, he ripped her blouse aside and bit the creamy flesh above her bra, marking her with his signature. She screamed and pushed against him.
    He moved to her throat, sinking his fangs in her again. He drank fast, stealing her life-force. She struggled briefly before her movements stilled. He rammed deep into her and, as she teetered on the edge of death, he exploded inside her.
    When his shudders of pleasure ceased, he pulled out and dropped her limp body. His euphoria dissipated as he tucked himself back in his pants. No matter how good the kill, the thrill never lasted long enough.

 
     
    Chapter Seven
     
     
    BEHIND THE Bardwell Apothecary, hidden from public view, Sid Andrews and five of his men formed a fluid knot around a large, starved-looking male vampire.
    The male hissed, though it was all show. The drugs in his system had him down and he wasn’t getting up any time soon.
    As Robert Bird, Sid’s second-in-command, prodded the vampire with his boot, a man rounded the corner of the drug store and stopped. He gaped at the unfolding drama.
    Unruffled, Sid dug his phone from his coat pocket and called his driver. “Pick up behind Bardwell’s.”
    Mere seconds later, the van pulled into the rear parking lot, careened past the onlooker, and stopped behind Sid’s men.
    Paul Cooper threw the rear doors open. Two others grabbed the helpless male and tossed him into an open cage. He landed hard and groaned.
    “Damn it, be careful with him. Break one of his legs and you may as well put a bullet in his head for all he’ll be worth.” Sid admonished his men before focusing on the cautiously approaching stranger.
    “What’s going on?” the youngish man asked.
    Sid appraised him coolly. A kid. No threat to them.
    The young man eyed the van. “What are you guys doing?”
    Sid wiped his hands on his pants. “Performing a public safety service. We catch and remove them.”
    “Seriously?”
    “Yeah. Got a problem with it?”
    “No. I hate the fucking things.”
    “That so?” Why was the little snot poking his nose in where it didn’t belong?
    “Yeah.”
    “One of them do your sister or something?”
    The young man sobered. “One of them murdered my sister.”
    Sid was taken aback. He hadn’t expected something like that. “I’m truly sorry.”
    “It was a long time ago. The year they were outted.”
    “Doesn’t make it any easier.”
    “No.” Sid inspected the young man, mentally measuring his physical capabilities. He sported upscale designer duds and carried himself like he thought he was hot shit, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t suitable. Sid had never recruited anyone so young, but what the hell. “What’s your name?”
    “Tommy Sanders. You?”
    “Name’s Sid Andrews.” He hesitated, then said, “Would you be interested in hunting those fuckers?”
    “Are you serious?”
    Sid threw it on the table. “We lost a man. Been looking for someone to take his place.”
    “Lost a man? As in…”
    “They have to be handled carefully. He didn’t and he ended up dead.”
    “Why bother? It can’t make any difference in their numbers.” Sanders quirked up an eyebrow.
    “Profit. We sell them.”
    “To hunt clubs?”
    “That or dog matches. Sometimes, one will get hurt. Those go to a lab or big brother’s dog trainers. Fuckers don’t pay shit, but it’s