“Ji-Su you didn’t fall for your patron, did you?” Iesha asked in concern.
“No? I mean... I don’t think so.”
Silence greeted his uncertain answer.
“That worries me, Ji-Su,” Iesha finally said.
“It should be okay, Iesha,” Lawerence said. “Raul seems decent. Nothing like that first dick of a vampire Ji-Su was with.”
Ji-Su didn’t want to discuss his relationship with Raul in the few minutes they had before the next round started. Especially since he hadn’t thought about it on his own first. “Let’s focus on the game.”
“Okay.”
Iesha and Lawrence let the subject drop. But it stayed on Ji-Su’s mind while they played. When they finished for the night, he sat there alone in his gaming room, thinking.
He didn’t want to leave Raul. But did his lover feel the same? Whatwerethey going to do when his contract ended in just under five months? Would he leave Raul behind and move on with his life and Raul with his? Would they renew their contract to be blood patron and blood pet again? Or... could they become something more?
RAUL PULLED UP TO THESyndicate’s underground casino. He hadn’t planned to stop in here for his weekly inspection until tomorrow, but when the manager called to inform him of a situation with a VIP, he’d changed his plans and come here immediately.
This location didn’t have a flashy exterior with a big sign identifying it as a casino. It was a simple two-story white building with a small parking lot. Guards watched over the property, and a small metal plaque near the door marked it as a private club.
The steel door opened as he approached the entrance. The doorman, a former sumo wrestler, greeted him with a polite bow.
“Good evening, Mr. Raul.”
“Hello, Hisako.”
Once Raul was inside, Hisako pushed the heavy steel door closed and locked it. Raul went down a short hallway that opened into a circular room. The bright white space was monitored by multiple cameras. To his right were three cash cages, each staffed by a vampire behind bullet proof glass. A steely-eyed guard watched the guests who came and went. Raul greeted them all, then went into the casino proper.
Everyone here was a high roller. Membership was restricted to those who could afford the high buy-ins and would keep their mouths shut regarding anyone or anything they saw on the casino floor. Nobody called the police if someone was caught cheating or attempted to rob the place. Raul or someone from his team handled it personally. Always with violence. Sometimes with death.
The place was full tonight, but Raul didn’t stop to observe. He made his way over to the bar where Deklan, his second in command, waited for him. Deklan was dressed appropriately for his position in a charcoal gray suit worn with the jacket open and a hunter green button-down shirt beneath. His dark blonde hair was neatly styled and green eyes that were too bright to be human watched Raul approach.
“You got here fast,” Deklan said.
Raul grinned. “I wouldn’t want to keep our celebrity guest waiting. Where is he?”
“In your office.”
Deklan signaled to the manager that they were leaving the floor, then led the way to Raul’s office. He opened the door then stepped aside so that Raul could enter first.
Marshall H. Jackson, one of the few vampire actors and currently the most famous, indolently lounged in one of the two chairs in front of Raul’s desk. His legs were stretched out in front of him, hands loosely linked over his stomach, head lolling back as if he were about to fall asleep. His girlfriend Braelyn, a humansocial media influencer, had the sense to look nervous. She sat in the chair next to him with her back straight, hands gripping the armrests. A pair of guards stood behind them.
When Marshall arrived in town, he’d applied for membership to the casino. Apparently, he was on what he called a ‘find his fun’ hiatus and wanted to relax and play in a city like Dear Lake that heavily catered to vampires. When vetting him, Raul had learned that Marshall had a history of counting cards at the Black Jack table. Raul had granted him membership, but warned him card counting wouldn’t be tolerated.
“Raul, you’re finally here. Can you call off these damn guard dogs?”
Raul stopped and hit Marshall with a hard glare. “That’s how you greet me?” he icily asked. He wasn’t going to take any disrespect from the vampire and it was best to let him know that upfront.
Marshall straightened slightly in his seat, but the bored expression stayed on his face. “Mr. Raul. It’s good to see you.”
Raul resumed walking to go sit behind his desk. Deklan went to the large arm chair in the corner of the room. “I can’t say it’s good to see you,” Raul said, leaning back in his chair. “My second tells me you were caught counting cards tonight.”
“Yeah, but—.”
Raul raised a finger, silently cutting him off.
“When you first came into town for your hiatus or whatever you want to call it, I told you that I knew about your little habit and that it would not be tolerated here, did I not?”