Chapter 1

The metallic tang of fresh blood spiked with adrenaline stopped Ari in the middle of the conversation. For the past hour, he’d been chatting up a lovely brunette in a burgundy dress and stiletto heels who’d been drowning her sorrows in a bottle of Merlot. She didn’t notice his silence, or the slight shift in his stance and continued to rant about her broken engagement and her bad luck with men.

“If you’ll excuse me, my presence is needed elsewhere, but I’ll be back right away to find out more about Brian and his shenanigans,” Ari excused himself with a seductive smile, lightly touching the woman’s shoulder. She took another sip from her glass, and threw him an appreciative look as he walked away. 

Ari eased his way through the bar, his eyes searching for any disturbance. Nothing drew his attention. The place was swarming with people, their voices a loud chatter competing with the music. The smell of gin and cologne did little to cover the odor of a busy day at work for most of his patrons. But unlike the chatty crowd, Ari was a vampire, and his sensitive nose told him he was getting closer to whoever was bleeding. He took to the narrow corridor leading to the back of the establishment, where the kitchen was. Maybe someone accidentally cut their finger while cooking. Although not a big deal, he wanted to make sure everything was fine.

Ari stopped with his hand on the doorknob. The blood smell didn’t come from here. His head snapped back at the sound of muted footsteps beyond the back door. Perhaps someone went to take out the trash. There was nothing else they could be doing behind the bar.

Someone fumbled with the doorknob. Concerned one of his staff could be injured, Ari made it to the door in three rapid strides and swung it open. In front of him, wide-eyed and mouth hanging open in shock, like a deer caught in the headlights, stood a young woman. A stranger. She backed away instinctively, looking for an escape. Did she somehow sense the predator in him?

“I…” she fumbled for words, ready to flee. Her foot hit the dumpster. She lost her balance, but Ari caught her by the shoulders so she wouldn’t fall. She hissed in pain, and he let her go.

“You’re hurt,” Ari said without checking. The intensity of the aroma indicated this wasn’t a superficial wound. Too frightened to speak, the woman didn’t respond.

“I’ll take you to the hospital. Just let me grab my keys,” he said grimly. Someone had hurt her, and he would deal with that later. Right now, the woman needed medical care.

“No hospital,” she pleaded with fear in her eyes.

“If I could just go to the bathroom and clean myself and maybe rest for a while…” she trailed off, panting. A thin layer of sweat beaded on her forehead despite the cold.

“Of course. Come in,” Ari invited her, holding out his hand. He feigned a smile to subdue the apprehension shadowing her eyes. Someone had hurt her badly and was now hunting for her.

“How much trouble should I expect?” Ari asked, considering the possibilities. He would never turn down a good fight, and he didn’t worry about being defeated. But knowing the enemy was always a good idea.

“None,” she whispered, following him, but wouldn’t elaborate.

“So no one is hunting for you? Then why refuse a hospital trip when you so obviously need it?” Ari halted in the middle of the narrow corridor, and she almost bumped into his back.

“He is, but he’s not going to find me so quickly. I’ll just stay here for a few minutes, half an hour tops, then I’ll be out of your hair. I promise,” she whispered breathlessly, and the vampire worried for her wellbeing. Although Ari didn’t make a habit of interfering in other people’s business, he never backed down from a challenge. 

How long had she been on the run? How badly was she truly wounded? And why was she in danger in the first place?

“I’m not afraid of trouble, miss…” he paused, waiting for the woman to introduce herself.

“Ella,” she provided curtly.

Ari slowed his roll, allowing Ella to catch up.

“I’m Ari. Ella, you can use the employee bathroom to clean your wounds. Take a shower. I’ll send one of the waitresses with a first aid kit and a change of clothes. Take as much time as you need. If the man who hurt you comes here, I’ll make sure he regrets that decision,” Ari said with an edge to his voice that made Ella check him out carefully for the first time. Of average size and with an average build, Ari didn’t stand out in any way. Although she appreciated the sentiment, he wasn’t the champion she needed.

“No way. Ethan’s bad news. I’ll be out of here before he figures out where I am. He’s my trouble, not yours,” Ella insisted, and he simply nodded as he closed the bathroom door. He’d recognized the resolute gaze Ella gave him and heard the determination in her voice. She was a fighter, not a damsel in distress, so he wouldn’t treat her as such.

He looked for Claire in the busy bar; one of his favorite waitresses. She was petite, with bouncy blonde curls and a can-do attitude. Her bubbly personality always lifted his spirit when he was feeling blue. But the real reason he was looking for her, in particular, was because she looked around the same size as Ella and always had a few changes of clothes in her locker.

“Claire, can I talk to you in private for a minute?” Ari said, touching the blonde’s shoulder.

“Sure thing, boss,” she said, leaving the empty tray on the counter and following Ari into his office.

They entered his office together, and Claire closed the door behind her. Ari opened a cabinet and retrieved a red bag that she immediately recognized as the first aid kit.

“Are you hurt?” she asked with genuine worry.

“It’s not for me, but I need your help,” he said, and she nodded. 

Ari told her about Ella and how she might need some help in the bathroom to clean her wounds.

“Say no more, boss! I can’t imagine what that poor soul is going through right now. But what if she needs stitches? I don’t think I could do that,” she winced hesitantly.

“If her wounds are that bad, I’ll take her to a hospital regardless of whether she wants it or not, but wait,” he said, looking for something in his drawer. He picked a silvery flask, opened the cap, and pricked his finger with a tack, allowing a few drops to drip inside. The desk concealed his actions, so he wouldn’t have to explain to Claire what he was doing. He got up, closed the lid and circled the desk to give the flask to Claire.

“Give Ella whiskey to numb the pain before cleaning her wounds. It should help,” Ari said. The stainless steel masked the color of the liquid inside, and the alcohol would conceal the metallic taste of the blood. His blood would accelerate the healing process, so Ella wouldn’t need stitches. Vampire blood had fantastic healing properties.

“Well thought, boss,” Claire said, taking the flask from Ari’s hand. She hurried out of the office with the first aid kit and the booze, strode through the narrow corridor and halted at the employees’ bathroom door. She knocked, but didn’t wait for an answer. Pushing the door open, she gasped at the sight, but recovered quickly, closed the door, and hurried to help.

In front of the bathroom counter, a dark-haired woman in her late twenties struggled to remove the blood-soaked shirt. Torn clothing, dirt, leaves, and bloodstains made Claire consider the possibility that Ella survived a bear attack.

“You poor thing… there’s no saving your clothes, so why don’t I just cut them off? Here, drink this while I look for the scissors.” Claire handed Ella the flask and dropped the red bag on the counter.

Ella took a tentative sip to see what was in the flask, then gulped down on it. She winced as the alcohol burned down her throat, but didn’t stop. As the burning sensation ebbed, something unexpected happened. The sharp pain in her side subsided to a dull throb. It was a welcome reprieve from the constant pain, but it didn’t make sense. Alcohol helped manage pain, but not this fast. Her pulse quickened as she scanned the blonde woman, who was now struggling with the zipper of the red bag. About the same size as her, the woman looked as dangerous as a fluffy bunny. Her curls bounced as she shook the bag in frustration.

“The damn thing is stuck. It’s never been opened,” Claire muttered, pulling on the zipper key.

“Allow me,” Ella said, extending her injured arm towards the counter. The arm was sore, but no sharp pain followed, confirming her suspicions. No amount of alcohol could cure a broken bone, and she was certain it had been broken. There had to be something else in the booze. The fact that it helped instead of hurting didn’t go unnoticed, but until she knew who and why they wanted to help her, she would be on high alert.

Ella pulled the zipper forcefully, and it gave way. Unfortunately, it also sent broken pieces flying into the bathroom.

“Sorry. I guess I don’t know my own strength,” she laughed it off awkwardly. But Ella did know her own strength, and now a new suspicion plagued her mind.

Claire took out the scissors and diligently removed each piece of clothing, wincing each time it revealed a new wound.

“I’m Claire, by the way. Sorry I didn’t introduce myself earlier. I was taken aback by the situation. Boss told me you were hurt but refused to go to the hospital. Why’s that, if you don’t mind my asking?”

“I’m Ella. It really looks worse than it is. I don’t have time to waste at the hospital. All I need is a shower and clean clothes,” Ella said.

“I hear you. When my mother got sick and I took her to the hospital, they had her wait for two hours….” Claire ranted about her mom and how the healthcare system was broken. Ella tuned out the blonde’s rant and focused on her own wounds. The gashes were no longer bleeding as the clothes came off and were reduced to merely angry red marks.

“You were right. I was expecting much worse. Your shirt was soaked with blood, but you have no open wounds,” Claire said, inspecting Ella’s skin.

“Yeah, the blood wasn’t mine. I told you I’m fine,” Ella lied. Obviously, the blonde had no idea that something in that flask sped her healing. The help must have come from the man who seemed to be pulling the strings in this establishment—Ari. Since nothing good in her life ever came for free, she expected a price tag attached to his assistance, but that would be a problem for later. 

“While you shower, I’ll go get you some clothes. You should lock the door, and I’ll knock,” Claire said, leaving the bathroom.

“I’ll be quick,” Ella promised, eager to lock the door behind the waitress.

A sigh of relief escaped her lips as soon as the hot spray hit her skin, washing away the sweat, dirt, and caked blood. She pumped the generic shower gel and shampoo dispenser mounted on the wall, lathered her palms, and then worked the suds into her hair. The cheap scent made her scrunch her nose, but beggars can’t be choosers. She repeated the action and scrubbed her skin, focusing on her wounds as streams of pink swirled down the drain. She rinsed until the suds were gone and the water ran clear. Grabbing a neatly folded towel off the rack, she quickly dried her skin, then wrapped her hair with another towel when someone knocked on the door.

“It’s me, Claire,” the waitress announced impatiently.

Ella opened the bathroom door, and a gush of frigid air made her shiver. Claire came in holding a stack of pink and black clothes in her arms and a pair of running shoes. Seeing the goosebumps on Ella’s exposed skin, she hurried in, closing the door behind her with her foot.

“I always keep a change of clothes here in case I want to go for a run or do some yoga during my lunch break. I think we’re the same size, and they should fit,” Claire said, handing a towel-clad Ella the clothes and the shoes.

“I’ll wait outside and let you change. When you’re done, the boss wants to talk to you. I’ll take you to his office,” Claire said in the same cheery voice as before, and Ella envied the bubbly personality that seemed to define the waitress.

“Thank you, Claire. I really appreciate the help,” she said, meaning every word. When she’d sought shelter, she hadn’t expected any kindness from humans.

“Don’t worry about it,” the blonde waved her hand and left her alone to change.

Ella didn’t waste any time. The clothes fit, and to her relief, so did the shoes. Pink wasn’t her favorite color, but she hoped Claire’s happy-go-lucky attitude would rub off on her.

“Time to pay the piper,” Ella mumbled as she pushed open the bathroom door.