mystery. Black Armani suit, black shirt with the mandarin collar open and flipped to one side. He looked good enough to turn heads, and he did. Ari noticed the way women glanced in his direction, as if they couldn’t help themselves.
While drinks were served, Andreas continued his light, one-sided chatter about the club, the singer, the crowd tonight. Victor worked on a dark drink with aromatic spices called Sweet Death.
Preparing to resume the interview as soon as the waiter left, Ari tapped an impatient toe.
Andreas beat her to it. “I understand why you’re here, Ms. Calin. We heard about Angela’s unfortunate death. I am sorry for it. I believe you have questions. How can we help?”
Ari wasn’t about to let him control the questioning. He’d been playing lord of the manor for several minutes, and it was time to put his lordship on the sidelines. She set her coffee down. “That’s a good question, Mr. De Luca. Since you chose to join us, I’ve been wondering why I’ve run into you twice in the last week. And both times the circumstances were…less than ideal.”
“Fate, I believe.” He tipped his glass in a slight toast. “Fate sometimes takes a hand in our lives, whether we welcome it or not.”
“Smooth answer, but not very informative. What’s your interest in this interview?”
“My interest? But, of course.” His manners were unruffled. “Perhaps I should have clarified that earlier. I am the managing partner of Club Dintero. Victor is my employee, and Angela was a regular guest. My immediate concern, however, is preventing a repeat of the earlier disturbance. Does that qualify as sufficient interest?” He spread his hands as if offering his statements for inspection.
“Fine.” She gave him a hard look. “You can stay if you like, but Victor needs to answer my questions. Without your help.”
“Of course.” Andreas gave her a single nod as his magic curled around her for an instant. “I will confine myself to the role of a referee, as you might say.” He leaned back and crossed his arms.
Ari ignored him. Or tried. It was almost impossible when his energy kept seeping over her, like a feather brushed across her skin.
She turned her attention to Victor. “I still need to know about your relationship with Angela. Where and how did you meet?”
Victor dropped his gaze to his drink, as if the answers might be there. “She came to the club with a group of young human females about a year ago. Just more of the thrill-seekers we get. They sit down front, drink a lot of the fruity martinis, and talk with the performers. I keep them from interrupting the show or getting too noisy.”
Ari got the picture. All the Otherworld clubs had their human groupies, teen girls like Angela, some as young as thirteen, dressed like they were thirty and carrying fake IDs. Underneath the veneer, they were unsophisticated, emotionally vulnerable, and all too available for sex. She couldn’t quite see their appeal to an experienced vampire like Victor.
“I hardly talked to her before the night she came in with a black eye. Her face was all made up, but you could see it.”
“When was that?” Ari interrupted.
“Six months ago. No longer.” He glanced at Andreas for confirmation.
His employer nodded.
With an inward sigh, Ari turned to Andreas. “You saw it too?” She hated including him in the conversation, especially so soon.
“I did. Victor drew my attention to it.” His answer was to the point, no more.
“Did she say who hit her?” Ari looked back at Victor.
“She denied she’d been hit. But when the club closed that night, she asked me to walk her home.” Victor sipped his drink, set it down. “Her request wasn’t unusual. These girls aren’t shy,” he trailed off. “Almost said I was busy. Young girls aren’t my type.”
Well, maybe. Ari decided she’d reserve judgment until she heard the rest of his story. They’d ended up together somehow.
“I thought she was afraid to go home alone,” Victor continued. “So, I went with her. She spent most of the night talking about some loser named Wes. After that night, we kind of fell into a relationship.” He stopped then added, “And before you ask, yes, it became sexual.”
Didn’t it always? So much for helping a young, vulnerable girl. She may not have been his type, but she was available. What predator can resist a willing victim?
Victor went on to describe the intervening months of his friendship with Angela. It boiled down to two to three date