course, when you were eternal, you had the luxury of dressing however the hell you wanted. Trends and fads had no meaning. “Since when do you care about manners?”
Viper pretended to be shocked. “You wound me, old friend. I am infamous for my exquisite charm.”
“Only when it earns you money.”
“Shay has been trying to civilize me.”
Shay was Viper’s mate. Javad had met her on several occasions and genuinely liked the Shallot demon. But while she might have many fine qualities, he doubted anyone’s ability to civilize Viper.
“Have you told her that it’s a wasted effort?”
Viper smiled, his long fangs shimmering in the light of the flashing neon sign above the building.
“She lives in eternal hope.”
“Why are you here?” Javad repeated his question. As much as he enjoyed the company of his master, he was anxious to start his hunt.
Viper shrugged. “I wanted to check on the club.”
Javad believed that Viper had traveled to Vegas to visit the Viper’s Nest. The male liked to keep his finger on the pulse of all his businesses, even those that were wildly successful. But that didn’t explain why he was standing outside the Diablo.
“Your GPS must be malfunctioning. The Viper’s Nest is across town.”
“My GPS is just fine. Candace told me you were here. And why.”
Damn. Javad was going to have strong words with his second in command. The female vampire was usually loyal to the point of fanaticism. Although, to be fair, Viper was her ultimate master.
“I don’t need a babysitter.”
“Do I look like a babysitter?”
Javad grimaced. His master might possess a glossy sophistication that fooled the humans, but just below the surface was a ruthless demon that had survived endless challenges to his position as clan chief. Only a fool would assume he was anything but a lethal predator.
A soon-to-be dead fool.
“Viper—”
“How about a friend?” Viper interrupted. “Could you use a friend?”
Javad hesitated. His brutal past made it difficult to lower his barriers. Viper was one of the few who’d managed to earn his trust. And that had taken several centuries.
He gave a slow nod. “Yeah. I could use a friend.”
“I could only hear a portion of your conversation with the rompo demon. There’s a fighting pit in town?”
A familiar fury blasted through Javad. When he’d finally walked away from the pits, he’d sworn that he would do everything in his power to make sure no other demon suffered as he had.
“In the desert.”
“And you’re going to close it down?” Viper demanded.
“I made the law that fighting pits are forbidden in my territory. If I don’t take action, it will make me look weak.”
Viper eyed him with a grim expression. “And it has nothing to do with the fact that Vynom is the one running it?”
Javad’s fangs lengthened. Just the thought of his sire was enough to stir his most savage impulses. With effort, he forced himself to shrug with fake indifference. If Viper realized the depths of Javad’s hatred for the male who’d abused his loyalty for centuries, he would do everything in his power to halt Javad’s fierce thirst for revenge.
“His presence is a direct challenge to my authority,” Javad said in icy tones.
Viper wasn’t satisfied. “You’re the boss in Vegas. Send one of your employees to deal with the bastard. You pay them to take out the trash, don’t you?”
“Vynom’s not particularly powerful, but he’s cunning and utterly immoral. I’m not going to risk my staff.”
Viper arched a brow. “And that’s the only reason you insist on being the one to go after him?”
Javad met Viper’s smoldering dark gaze. There was no way to lie. The older vampire knew him too well.
“No, that’s not the only reason.”
“Javad, you’re one of the most frightening warriors I’ve ever known,” Viper said in somber tones. “And that’s saying something.”
It was. This male was best buds with Styx, the King of Vampires. The towering six-foot-five Anasso was rumored to have enough power to collapse entire cities. Something Javad had done once or twice in the past.
“But?” Javad prompted.
Viper reached out to touch the small medallion that was hung around Javad’s neck. The older male understood that it was Javad’s most prized possession even if he didn’t know the reason.
“But emotions are the enemy of any fighter. This is too personal.” Viper murmured. “If you don’t want to send one of your people, then I’ll deal with Vynom.”
Javad knew his master was right. The grinding hatred he felt toward his sire was bound to cloud his judgement. But there was no way in hell