Page 31 of Protected by the Vampire

Coms stood and gaped as he looked around at everyone before he pointed at Deacon and Nox. “Why do they look calm? We’re being attacked, and our brothers aren’t fuckin’ here to help.”

“Coms, relax,” Razor demanded.

Deacon snarled, “What’s the goddamn meaning of this?”

Rio pressed a hand to his back and whispered something.

I grabbed the bag and yanked it up to put it in the bar. Unzipping it, I saw a mountain of weapons.

Riker gasped and stole Razor’s phone. His wide gaze locked onto me. “Patrick,” he called.

I jolted in shock. “Soren’s ex?”

“Is there somewhere safe for our mates?” Nox asked.

Razor nodded and explained where, while Deacon said to me, “Get the weapons ready if you’re staying.”

Nox turned back after kissing Kieran. “He should go with?—”

“No,” I clipped. “I ain’t fuckin’ leavin’. This prick is here because of me or Soren. So, I’ll be the one to deal with it.”

“Monkey, Coms, take Rio and Kieran. Guard them,” Razor ordered.

Monkey reached into the bag and pulled two guns free. “No offense, but I have a feelin’ we’ll need every man on board.” He met his pop’s wide stare. “Go with Rio and Kieran. Take them to the bomb shelter. The code is 4578. Don’t come out until one of us gets you.”

“But—”

“Pops, we got this. It’ll be okay.”

Landon’s jaw clenched, but then he bolted across the room. Kieran said something to him, which Landon nodded at. After Deacon had kissed Rio, Landon grabbed their hands and led them out the door through the kitchen.

Coms rushed over and took his own weapons while I slid two guns into the back of my waistband and picked out a third.

The others approached our huddle, but it was Deacon who said, “They’re loaded with silver bullets. They’ll kill a vampire if you shoot heart or head. If you can wound them to keep them away from you, then my brothers and I will deal with them.”

“Where’re your weapons?” Monkey asked.

Deacon grinned, all teeth and bad intentions. “Nox has his guns, but Riker and I have ourselves.”

Coms snorted. “Bare hands against vampires? That’s if they’re actually fuckin’ vampires. Like… what the goddamn hell? Is everyone on a trip or somethin’?”

“It’s real,” Razor stated. “Do as Deacon said and try not to panic.”

“Panic?” Monkey asked in a tone laced with humor. “Why would we panic?”

Riker let out a maniacal cackle as he started stripping.

CHAPTER NINE

Spade

Monkey and Coms made strangled noises as they watched Riker strip, their eyes wide as if they couldn’t quite believe what they were seeing. The air in the room seemed to tighten, charged with something electric and uneasy.

“Jesus,” Prez clipped, clearly unimpressed by his man standing mostly naked in front of everyone.

I looked away, and Coms and Monkey quickly followed suit—more out of instinct than modesty. If Razor’s clenched jaw was any indication, he was seconds from losing his shit.

Until I heard it.