Free Vengeance (Night Roamers) Book Three by Kristen Middleton Page B

drink for me earlier.
    He sat down at the empty machine next to mine. “Pardon me,” he said, his brown eyes sweeping over me with appraisal. “You’re not using this machine, too, are you?”
    He smelled of cologne and garlic, as if he’d just eaten. Oddly enough, it was the spicy cologne that nauseated me.
    “No,” I replied, looking around again for Ethan or Duncan.
    “Good. I’ve pissed off a lot of old ladies by sitting at their machines. One woman was playing three at once and I thought she was going to beat me over the head with her purse when I sat at one of them.”
    “Well, I’m new at this, so one is quite enough for me.”
    He smiled. “And, you’re definitely not an old lady.”
    I nodded , and then returned my attention to the machine.
    It amazed me that he still hadn’t taken the hint.
    “I’m Jordan, by the way.”
    “Hi,” I replied , staring at the fruit. No wins yet. “I’m Nikki.”
    “Short for Nicole?”
    “Yep,” I answered, pushing in my next wager.
    “So, are you here by yourself?”
    Trying not to roll my eyes, I turned to him. “No, actually I’m here with my… fiancé.”
    His eyes sparkled. “Your fiancé? I’m surprised he hasn’t put a ring on your finger. I’m even more surprised that he’s left your side.”
    I glanced down at my hand, which was obviously ringless. “My ring is being repaired and my fiancé should be here soon,” I replied.
    “A fter that incident with the old man, I’ll keep you company until he shows. You’re too young and beautiful to be on your own.”
    As annoying as he was, t he compliment brought a smile to my face. “Well, thank you. I’ll be fine, however. I can take care of myself.”
    “I’m sure you can,” he said, reaching into his pocket. He pulled out his wallet and withdrew a photo. “Take a look at this.”
    I turned towards the picture and my heart stopped. It was a picture of my brother, sleeping in a bed I didn’t recognize.
    He lowered his voice. “If you want to see him alive, I suggest you get out of that chair and follow me. If you signal your friends or make any kind of rash move ment, not only will your brother be killed, but so will mom. Understand?”
    “ Yes,” I replied, my voice shaky.
    “Good,” he said. “Now, this is what’s going to happen, I’m going to get up, and you’re going to follow me outside. There are others of us watching you, so don’t try and escape or call attention to yourself. I mean it when I say that your family’s life is hanging on by a thread, and it’s quite a thin one.”
    “I understand,” I said, clenching my teeth. The arrogant smile was bad enough, but the threats on my family were really pissing me off.
    “Good,” he replied, standing up. “Now, don’t be long.”
    I stared up at Jordan, wondering if I could take the jerk down and make him tell me where my family was. He was tall, but lanky, and didn’t seem too threatening.
    “I’m not alone,” he said quietly, as if reading my mind. “And looks can be very deceiving, can’t they?”
    I clenched my jaw .
    He turned and began walking away.
    Looking around the casino, I wondered again where the guys were, and decided that from now on, I’d be the one making the plans.
    Not seeing them, I did the only thing I could do, and followed Jordan.    
     
     

Chapter Ten
     
    Max
     
     
    After the three vampires left, Maximus grabbed the bottle of whiskey out of his desk and took five quick shots. Closing his eyes, he reveled in the short-lived burning heat it brought to the back of his throat and down to the pit of his stomach. Less than two minutes later, however, his body had processed everything, and he was back to facing the shit-storm he knew was coming.  
    Releasing a sigh, he stood up.
    No time to rest.
    T hings were about to go down and that meant there’d be a mess for him to clean up when it was all said and done. Obviously, the girl and her friends were staying in Vegas, even with