First Drop of Crimson (Night Huntress World #1)(69)
Author: Jeaniene Frost

However, once proper hellos were exchanged and all of them were seated in the dining room, except for Fabian, who floated, Mencheres stunned him.

"I received a call from Web earlier," his sire stated. "He wondered if I knew the vampire I sired and my co-ruler had raided his home to steal his property. When I suggested that Web complain to the Law Guardians if he had an issue, he bade me to give you a message, Spade."

Denise’s face paled, but Spade didn’t let any of his emotions show. "And that message is?"

"Web said, ‘I know what she is and what you want, so I propose a trade.’" Mencheres replied, his charcoal gaze flicking to Denise in interest.

Spade ground out a curse even as Crispin muttered, "How the hell did he find out? We sank the boat so none of her blood could be retrieved."

Spade replayed that awful moment in his mind when Web attacked the boat. He’d held Denise in front of him, but her gloves were on, so Web couldn’t have seen the demon’s brands. Then he’d stabbed her in the stomach, but Web hadn’t put his bloody hand to his mouth – unless he did that later?

"He must have seen my hands," Denise said quietly. "They were changed when I grabbed his arm."

"That’s right," Spade breathed, remembering the claws ripping through her gloves and the gouges she’d dug into Web’s arms. "After holding Nathanial so long, he’d know what had caused that change in you."

Mencheres raised an inquiring black brow. "Am I to be let in on the secret?"

"Not here," Spade said, with a meaningful jerk of his head indicating the rest of the house. Everyone at this table knew what was in Denise’s blood and all its effects, but that was as far as Spade wanted the information spread.

Though now Web knew, too. Spade stifled another curse. Whom had he told? Were there others, even now, gunning for the chance to snatch Denise away for their own sordid Red Dragon trade?

He could only hope Web’s greed would keep him silent on the subject. After all, Web hadn’t wanted to share news of what Nathanial was with others. Perhaps he still sought to corner the Red Dragon market by not revealing the other source of the drug.

Either way, there was no possibility Spade could let him live. Even after Denise got the brands off, Web might still pursue her in the hope that her blood was still somehow a drug. And if Web was successful in taking Denise and then realized her blood was normal…he’d have no reason to let her live.

A wooden hunk snapped off the table in front of him. Spade glanced down, realizing he’d unconsciously gripped the edge until it broke.

"Apologies," he said, though he couldn’t care less about the table. "Did Web leave a number for me to ring him at?"

"He did," Mencheres replied. "You’re going to call him?"

"Yes I am. Right now."

Mencheres raised his shoulder in an elegant half shrug, then punched a series of numbers into his mobile, holding it out to Spade when he was finished. At the second ring, Web’s voice flowed over the line.

"Have you relayed my message to Spade?"

"He has," Spade said tightly. "What sort of trade do you propose?"

Web let out a false, pleasant laugh. "Spade, I must say, you surprise me. Killing my associate in Vegas. Murdering my guards. Stealing my property, all to take the source of my business from me – when you already had a source. If I’d realized you were so unscrupulous, greedy, and enterprising, I might have gotten to know you before this."

"I’m also impatient," Spade stated in a cold voice, "so get to your offer for a trade."

"Give me the girl, and you can have the knife. You’ll still own half of the Red Dragon trade through Nathanial, which should be more than enough for you."

Spade swallowed back the murderous rage that made him want to list all the terrible ways he was going to kill Web into the other line. Instead, he forced his voice to remain cold and steady.

"I rather like the girl. What about trading Nathanial for the knife instead?"

Web laughed. "Because without the knife, Nathanial is a liability, as you must know by now. I don’t know how the girl came by her marks, but Nathanial’s demon, should he ever return, will seek him out with all the vengeance of hell. And we both know the girl’s worth more than Nathanial. I’m being generous allowing you to keep what you stole from me, but if you don’t give me something in return…well, I’ll have nothing to lose by pursuing you all over the earth, will I?"

Spade was silent for a long moment, staring at Denise, who knew enough from hearing his side of the conversation for her to look sick.

"Fine," he said, holding out a hand when Denise gasped. "Where do you want to meet?"

"Right here in Monaco, of course," Web replied at once. "The Fontvieille pier. I’m sure you’ll remember where it is."

The pier Web had under surveillance. Spade’s jaw clenched. He would be walking into a trap where Web had home court advantage. His gaze flicked to Mencheres. But I have a trap of my own.

"Fine, then. Tomorrow at midnight."

"Looking forward to it," Web said lightly. "Oh, but you must understand that if I hear Mencheres is anywhere near Monaco, I’m going to assume you intend to double-cross me and our trade is off. And the hunt is on."

"You can’t expect me to show up without protection," Spade snapped. "Come now. I’m a businessman, not a stupid one."

Web made a noise of exaggerated patience. "Fine. Bring your little firestarter friend, if it makes you feel better – though she had some trouble with that the other day, didn’t she? Maybe the tales I’ve heard about her powers were exaggerated."

"Crispin would never allow his wife to go without him. You must know that, so your offer to have Cat come isn’t real," Spade said, his tone hardening. "In that case, I assume your offer to trade the girl for the knife isn’t real, either, so we have nothing else to say. Hunt me as much as you like."

"Wait!" Web shouted, just as Spade was about to snap his mobile shut. "Fine, bring the bounty hunter, too," Web said, sounding put out. "But only the two of them and the girl, or I’ll think the worst."

Web must have a large amount of force at the ready, to agree so readily to both Cat and Crispin coming with him.

"A driver and Nathanial, too," Spade stated. "Else how will I know you’ve brought the right knife and not something you picked up at a hunting outfitter?"

Web let out another low laugh. "Smart and ruthless. We might have a very beneficial partnership ahead of us. Oh, and your driver has to be human. Can’t let you sneak in another strong vampire, can I?"