Dark Seduction (Vampire Royals of New York #2) - Sarah Piper Page 0,92

a sculpture at Ravenswood called Mother of Lost Souls?” the vampire asked. “It’s a fertility goddess statue.”

Charley wanted to cry with relief. At last—a question she didn’t have to lie about. “I’m familiar with the piece, but I’ve never seen it there, and Dorian has never mentioned it.”

“Fuck.” Rudy tensed beside her. “Ask her again, Silas.”

Silas. Charley made a mental note of the name. She wondered if he was from House Duchanes, or some other despicable family Dorian would be burning to the ground later.

Dorian. Where was he? He should’ve been done with those other vamps by now.

A new worry worked its way into her chest, but Charley pushed it aside, forcing herself to stay focused. She couldn’t lose her shit now. She needed these assholes to believe they had the upper hand.

The vampire tightened his grip on her shoulders. “Think very carefully, Charlotte. Mother of Souls. It’s a statue of a pregnant woman with the head of a demon.”

Charley shook her head. “It’s not there. Like I said, I know the piece. I would’ve remembered seeing it.”

Finally, the asshole released her.

Charley wasn’t sure how long compulsion was supposed to last, so as she turned back toward her uncle, she did her best to appear a little dazed.

“Rudy?” she asked, blinking fast. “What’s… why are you here? Little late for a cappuccino, don’t you think?”

Rudy laughed, his whole body shaking with exaggerated effort. Metal glinted in his hands.

That fucking gun.

This time, Charley was pretty sure it was loaded.

She swallowed hard, and her uncle—the demon—grinned.

As if the vampire weren’t enough of a threat, the dickless demon needed a gun too. Charley didn’t know a lot about demonic powers, but she was pretty sure they didn’t need guns to defend themselves.

Which meant Rudy was either torturing her for fun… or he was the demonic equivalent of impotent.

“Do… do you know where my sister is?” she asked, trying to sound properly cowed. “I was supposed to meet her here, but she didn’t show.”

Rudy narrowed his eyes, laughter and malice dancing behind his gaze, but he didn’t respond.

She’d never wished so hard for his death.

Seconds ticked by like hours.

Finally, he frowned and said, “Do you know the most heartbreaking thing about the One Night Stand job?”

The One Night Stand job? Now he was bringing that up?

Charley shuddered. Whatever her cruel fate tonight, she wished Rudy would get to the point, not drag her down memory lane. For months after her father’s death, she’d wanted nothing more than to talk about this, but Rudy forbade it. Now, five years later, she was no longer interested in his thoughts—not unless he was ready to confess to murdering her father.

“No,” she said. “But I really need to find Sasha, so…” She turned to reach for the door handle, but the vampire beside her wouldn’t budge.

“It was supposed to be his last job,” Rudy continued. “None of us wanted that—he was far too talented a thief for an early retirement. But there was his precious little girl to consider, wasn’t there?” Rudy reached for her face, but Charley flinched away. “He wanted you to have a normal life.”

Rudy was probably lying, but even so, the idea filled her with regret.

Had her father really intended to leave the game?

“After the job,” Rudy said, “he was planning to take his share and get you out of the country. Start over somewhere new. Of course, I had no idea he was planning to double-cross us. In the end, I suppose it didn’t turn out well for either of you.”

“Please,” Charley said, keeping her tone meek. Rudy needed to believe he had a lot more power over her than he did—that she’d never do anything to betray him. Every second that passed was another second Sasha—and now possibly Dorian—was in more danger. She needed to get the fuck out of there. “I… I need to leave. I’m supposed to meet my sister.”

“Sorry,” Silas said. “She can’t make it tonight.”

Without thinking, Charley swung at him, but he dodged her easily. In a blur, he dragged her across the small space to the bench seat that faced them and shoved her up against the door, pressing his forearm across her throat.

“I say we end this bitch right here,” Silas said.

“Easy, Silas,” Rudy warned. “She’s not ours to end. Remember?”

Not theirs to end? What the fuck does that mean?

Charley struggled against the vampire’s impossible hold. Silas removed his arm from her throat, but as soon as she sucked in her next breath, he hit her