Immortals After Dark 03 - No Rest for the Wicked

taken her neck in a phone booth in a sordid bar. She was disgusted with the situation and with her wanton response to him. She was sick of the entire night and eager to end it.
    When she reached Gamboa’s table, she found Cindey had taken her place beside him.
    And that wouldn’t do.
    “You.” She pointed at Gamboa. She knew that because of Sebastian’s touch, her voice was husky, her hair tousled, and her nipples hard beneath the thin material of her blouse.
    Gamboa stared, seeming dazed, then shrugged from Cindey’s arm as he stood. Cindey shot her a bitter look, recognized defeat, and drained her drink.
    When Gamboa crossed to Kaderin as though spellbound, she murmured to him, “Take me somewhere private.”
    His jaw slackened. “Of... course.” He hastily drew away to order his car brought round, and Kaderin took the chance to murmur to Cindey as she passed, “Why didn’t you just sing?”
    “Five hundred men in here would hear my song,” she impatiently answered. “Besides, I’d prefer not to have the head of the most powerful drug cartel in the world violently captivated with me for the rest of his life. But I really hope it works out for you two kids.”
    Right after she whirled away, Gamboa joined Kaderin again. As they walked out, she saw Sebastian leaning over one of the nymphs, his eyes black. He cast the Colombian a killing look, then stared Kaderin down. The nymph gave Kaderin a triumphant smile and clutched Sebastian’s arm.
    If Sebastian was trying to make her jealous... he’d succeeded. Was he still hard after their encounter? What would he do to the nymph when he was heated with Kaderin’s blood and aroused from her body? Trace the tramp somewhere and begin forsaking Kaderin?
    When Gamboa put his hand on her lower back, she turned from Sebastian, forcing herself to look straight ahead. She didn’t glance back even when she slid into Gamboa’s plush limo and they started away.
    Inside, her emotions simmered. Gamboa was talking to her in a low-toned, accented voice, but she wasn’t hearing a word.
    Sebastian’s bite still throbs...
    She faced Gamboa, interrupting him to say, “Give me your opal ring, or I’ll kill you.”
    He only smiled, even white teeth standing out against his tanned face. “Only the opal, mi cariña? ” He glanced at a huge diamond ring he also wore, but she didn’t follow his gaze. “You won’t even look at the diamond?” he asked.
    She raised an eyebrow. He already knows. “And why do you want me to?”
    “Just to see if the rumors are true.”
    Kaderin exhaled. “You know what I am?”
    He nodded. “My mother was a demon. I know all about the Lore.”
    “If you knew, then why did you let me go on?” she asked in an exasperated tone.
    “Because I was curious why the opening of my club was filled with Lore beings.”
    “It’s the Hie. The ring’s a prize—a high-value prize. There were competitors and probably a score of local spectators.”
    He twisted the opal ring on his finger. “I’ve dreamed of seeing a Valkyrie all my life. This stone was predicted to bring one of your kind to it.”
    She didn’t doubt that. Yet another example of the hand of fate at work. “Here. Behold the Valkyrie.” She held out her palm. “The opal.”
    “It won’t be that simple.”
    “Didn’t figure you’d be the one drug dealer with a heart of gold.”
    “Why should I give it to you,” he asked in a reasonable tone, “for nothing in return?”
    A sudden thought arose. “It’s not me you want. You just want a night with a Valkyrie, right?”
    His eyes seemed to darken. “That’s always been my fantasy.”
    “Then I will send another Valkyrie down here. One who’s single.” I’m not? “Her name is Regin the Radiant. She’s a wild child. She glows. More important, she’s a-sure-thing.”
    “How can I trust that you’ll actually do this? Send her, and I’ll give her the ring.”
    “I have to have that ring—now. And I’ll vow to the Lore that she’ll be here,” she said, then amended that by saying, “Actually, I can’t really vow that she’ll sleep with you. And I would not recommend kissing her. But other than that, she’s a party girl.”
    When he actually seemed to be considering the trade, she hid her surprise and said, “Just take the deal, Gamboa. I don’t want to break your heart, or maul it, or pummel it tonight.”
    After a hesitation, he said, “How can I contact this Regin?”
    Remembering that Regin had locked