floor. Some of it was on Monroe’s shiny black slacks, though he didn’t seem to care.
He saw me take in the scene and smiled.
“Just a slave. She got out of line,” he said, his eyes glimmering with amusement. “There are plenty more where she came from. You’re a slave, you know how it is.”
I swallowed, breath rushing from my nose while I tried to compose myself. Monroe and Vincent were obviously two different vampires, and there was a very real chance that I had underestimated the man I had come here to deal with. I instinctively went to talk and remembered the gag. Monroe lit his cigar, filling the air around him with plumes of light purple smoke.
“She had an attitude. That was her problem. Human women tend to think they’re immortal when they think they’ve earned my love. The only thing she earned was a paperweight to the side of her skull.” He laughed and I then also noticed the murder weapon dropped on the floor behind him. A broken white marble ornament covered in bright red blood.
“How many slaves is that this week, Casper?” Monroe said to his head of security, who was standing off to the side from me.
“Four I think sir.”
“Four,” Monroe laughed. “You should see what I’m like when I’m in a bad mood Rachel. Fortunately, there are thousands of dumb leggy whores out there. They are a dime a dozen. Anyway, I digress.” He held his cigar in his mouth and blew out smoke. “My point is that I’ve already got enough cunts. What do I need with another?”
He stepped forward, still leaving about teen feet between us. “You come here offering yourself for the release of Vincent Cartello. Is that it? Wow. He must really have his slaves brainwashed. And they claim you’re a breeder too.” He stopped and inhaled the air. “While I admit you seem to have the scent, that kind of thing can be easily faked. Have you bore him any children yet? Have you proved that cunt is good for anything other than fucking?”
I didn’t say anything, I couldn’t, but the expression in my eyes was answer enough. Obviously not.
“That’s what I thought. You see, you don’t get to my position without being a little ruthless. Everyone likes to think they’re more than they are. You are just another dumb slave. Maybe you’re a breeder. Maybe you’re not. Who cares? I will fuck you a couple of times and if you bring me an heir? Great. Children are thankless maggots anyway.”
I had no idea where this was going, but I didn’t like it so far.
Monroe paced back towards the couch, leaving a trail of bloody footprints on the floor. He turned again and faced me. “What I don’t understand is what you expected from this visit? I’m not going to release Cartello. I caught him trying to steal from me. He will die a slow death here. Did you want to see him before I throw you in a cell too? No problem.”
The Don clicked his fingers and a door opened on the wall behind him. Two guards came in, carrying another figure between them. They dragged him across the floor and threw him down in front of Monroe. It was Vincent, bound in silver chains. His eyes opened wide upon seeing me.
“Rachel? What the fuck are you…” I saw him pretend to figure the rest out in his head. Then I heard something, his voice, clear as crystal, in my mind.
You got my message. Good.
My heartbeat spiked upon hearing him. I tried talking back. Again, I had no idea how this worked. I just focused on him and used my inner voice.
What do I do? He has me gagged.
Have Caspar cause a scene. Get someone to ungag you when the distraction happens. We only need your voice. With that we can do this, his voice said.
“Here’s what’s going to happen,” Monroe said. “You’re going to watch me rape your stupid whore, Cartello, and then she’s going to watch me slit your throat. I have to thank you guys for giving me something to do this afternoon. I was starting to get bored of torturing slave girls.”
“Just give me the necklace and let us get the fuck out of here,” Vincent growled from the floor. “Killing me is only going to start a war.”
Monroe shrugged. “War is inevitable. I might as well make the first move.” He turned his cold red eyes on me and silently nodded at the