Bite The Hand That Bleeds: A Mission Series Prequel

  Bite The Hand That Bleeds

  A Mission Series Prequel

  Megan Erickson

  Contents

  Copyright

  Foreword

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

  * * *

  Copyright © 2017 by Megan Erickson

  All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce, distribute, or transmit in any form or by any means.

  BITE THE HAND THAT BLEEDS is a short story in the Mission universe, a paranormal romance series by Megan Erickson, published by Loveswept, Penguin/Random House. Interested in more from the Mission world? Check out the rest of the series!

  Chapter 1

  I’d done a lot of stupid things in my life for money, but agreeing to go to a vampire club took the cake as the stupidest.

  Basically this could go one of two ways—I’d regret it tremendously or it’d be the time of my life that I took to my grave. As long as this didn’t put me in my grave. That was up for debate.

  “I wish they’d hurry up already.” Cassie rubbed her bare arms against the chill as we waited at the head of the darkened alley.

  I raised my eyebrows at her. “I’m sorry, do you want to tell the vampires that that they need to adhere to Cassie Time because you forgot a damn coat?”

  She rolled her eyes at me. “I didn’t bother. Javier said it’s hot as hell in the club.”

  Right, I figured free-flowing blood and orgies had a way of heating up a room. When Cassie pursed her lips at me, I realized I’d said that out loud. Ooops.

  I shifted my weight from foot to foot to take pressure off these stupid heels I was wearing. They were bright red with silver spikes and sexy as hell—but they pinched my toes. Drawing attention to myself in Mission City was on my never ever do list, and these shoes—along with my skin-tight jeans, and black corset peeking from beneath my leather jacket—would draw all kinds of attention. I wasn’t sure why I was wearing this, but the dress code for humans to get into Bite was sex. Seriously that was the message—dress like sex. I didn’t think a giant dick was a proper costume, so here I stood with my tits out in a bad part of Mission, hoping like hell some vampire arrived soon to take me underground, where I’d give up my blood for money.

  My life was insane.

  A week ago, I’d been living in blissful ignorance that vampires only existed in books and movies. I had no idea that in old subway tunnels beneath these streets was a community of vampires. They kept their existence a secret, but were more than happy to pay humans if we showed them a vein. The only reason Cassie and I got an invite to Bite was because Javier—a hookup of Cassie’s—was a recruiter for them. He’d been clear—tell anyone about the club and there would be swift consequences. I’d asked what they were, and Javier had just stared hard at me. So naturally I took that to mean the consequences were torture and dismemberment not unlike the end of Braveheart.

  For once, I was going to keep my mouth shut, because I needed that money. My dad had never been around, and my mom passed away years ago, so it was up to me to keep food on the table for myself and my younger brother. I’d spent the last month working four ten-hour waitress shifts in a row at the diner, so I was happy to do literally anything else for cash. The blood trade apparently paid great, so when Javier told us about Bite, I jumped at the chance. Why not? As for Cassie, she bussed tables as a cocktail waitress at a topless bar and was about done getting her ass grabbed without her permission.

  I’d even done my hair, which was a first in…who knew how long. I hadn’t had a haircut in probably a year, and the ends of my dark brown hair brushed the top of my ass. I’d straightened it and let it down. Even Cassie was surprised not to see it in its ever-present knot.

  A loud crack sounded out on the street, and Cassie and I jumped. Fuck, I hated this city sometimes. That could have been anything from a car backfiring, to fireworks, to a gunshot. There weren’t really any good parts of Mission. The city had long ago fallen into poverty after the steel mill went out of business. But where we stood? The worst of the worst.

  “Shit, are you sure this is legit?” I asked. I was half convinced this was just going to be a bunch of weirdos who thought they were vampires. Which, you know, hey whatever floated their boats as long as I still got paid. We were down to crumbs in our fridge.

  Cassie leaned into me and dropped her voice. “I swear. Javier showed me the marks on his neck.”

  I scoffed. “He could have made them himself.”

  One second, we were staring at a brick wall, and in the next second, the bricks were blurred—actually blurred out like a dream sequence—and a giant form stood in front of us.

  By giant, I mean giant. He stood probably seven feet tall, a bulky mass of muscle beneath a pair of jeans and long trench coat. His boots were larger than my head, and when he smiled, fangs punched down against his lower lip.

  “Passes, ladies.” He held out his hand, and we both stared at the giant fleshy thing.

  I’d told myself earlier today this was true, that vampires existed, but now that one was standing in front of us, I realized I wasn’t prepared. No fucking way.

  My gaze lifted back up to his face, and I pointed at my own teeth. “Those are… those are real?

  Cassie hissed something at me.

  The vampire’s smile didn’t waver. “Yeah, want to touch one?”

  “Nope.” I held up my hands. “I’m good. You’re good. We’re all good. Great, good, great—oomph.” Cassie saved me from my runaway tongue with a swift elbow to the ribs.

  She smiled her flirtatious Cassie smile at the vampire while I caught my breath. From her top, she pulled our passes that she’d received from Javier and handed them over to the big man. He glanced at them, and then stepped to the side, pointing at the blurry wall of brick. “Go on and walk through, and I’ll take you to Bite.”

  Cassie took a step forward but I didn’t budge. Wait a minute. This was moving a little fast. “Uh, hey, can I ask a question first?”

  Cassie turned around and bugged her eyes out at me. “Roxy!”

  “Second question.” The vampire said.

  “What?”

  “This is your second question, but go ahead.”

  Oh, so we had a wise guy vampire guide. Figured. “This is a paid gig, right? So when does the money exchange hands?”

  The vampire looked half amused, half irritated with me. “Blood first, money second.”

  I frowned. “That doesn’t seem fair. You all have the upper hand down there. How do I know you’re not going to keep me down there as a blood slave or something—”

  Amusement fled the vampire’s face like a receding tide. “That is against the laws of our clan. For centuries we have vowed never to harm humans, or drink their blood without their consent and as long as I breathe, it’ll be that way for centuries more.”

  When he finished talking, his shoulders were heaving, fists clenched, eyes swirling. And I was trembling so hard my teeth clacked. I liked to think I was a badass, but in no way did I have bravado in front of a pissed-off vampire. I’d made a joke that had offended him, and he wasn’t going to let it slide. I swallowed, trying to calm my racing nerves, while Cassie stood nearby, her face pale as a sheet.

  “I-I’m sorry,” I said to the vampire.

  His shoulders relaxed a bit. “It’s okay. That is… not a joke to us. We do not harm humans. You have my word.”

>   The way he said his last sentence, I realized that was a big deal to him, to give me his word. Words didn’t mean shit to humans anymore, but I wasn’t going to get into that with him. I nodded. “Okay, thank you.”

  He gestured behind him at the shimmering door. “Are you going to attend Bite tonight then?”

  “We just…walk through that wall?” I asked,

  Cassie looked like she was going to murder me.

  “It’s a portal,” the vampire said. “We’ve installed them several places around the city. Only the members of our clan—the Gregorie clan—can activate the portals to access the tunnels. They’ve long been sealed over to humans.”

  I glanced at Cassie, and then down at my pinched toes in my heels. I lifted my head and looked the vampire square in the eye. “Okay. Yeah. I’m ready.”

  With one last look back at Mission, I followed Cassie through the door.

  * * *

  We walked down a set of damp concrete steps. Our guide—his name was Zeb, we learned—explained how the club would work. He was adamant we’d never be forced to do anything we didn’t want to do, which was a nice thing to hear, but I’d believe it when I saw it. He also explained that before we were bitten, we’d inhale somnus, which was a gaseous drug the vampires secreted from their wrists. It was also what they used to activate the portals. Zeb said the somnus would make us feel like we had a good alcohol buzz, and was necessary because without it, their saliva would turn us into vampires. So yeah, somnus and I were gonna be friends.

  Vampires couldn’t get human venereal diseases, and didn’t really understand condoms, so we the burden of birth control was on the humans. No problem, I had an IUD, but I wasn’t intending to get quite that intimate with a vampire anyway.

  Zeb also told us he was part of the Gregorie clan—named after the ruling family. I asked if there were more of these “clans” and all he said there was another in Mission, but they were not friendly to humans. When I tried to ask more questions about them, he clammed up.

  We walked down a long hallway lit only by sparse wall lights until we reached a nondescript door that only said BITE along the top.

  He turned around at the door and faced us. “Either of you change your minds?”

  “What if—?” Zeb’s gaze shifted to me, and Cassie rolled her eyes. I glared at her. “I’m just wondering if I can change my mind once I’m in there.”

  “Sure.” He grinned, all fangs and white teeth. “But I doubt you will.”

  I decided not to ask what that meant. Maybe ignorance was bliss here.

  “We’re ready,” Cassie said.

  “Feel free to dance and loosen up first.” Zeb said. “You can always turn down a vampire who approaches you. Once you meet, they will likely take you to the Feeding Room. At midnight, all humans go there to be picked by a vampire. They feed; you get the money. Any questions?”

  He looked at me pointedly. I shook my head.

  With a nod, he opened up the door and waved us inside. The base of the music hit me like a punch to the gut and a resounding boom rattled my spine. The heat was like a wall, and I could already feel sweat dripping down my neck. I took off my leather jacket and tossed it on a rack along the wall with a dozen other jackets. I was loath to part with it, because I loved that jacket, but I also didn’t want to die of heatstroke.

  Cassie and I made our way toward the dance floor, where a spotlight roamed over a mass of bodies. Everywhere I looked, I saw skin. Vampire males apparently hated shirts? Because glistening pecs were everywhere. Was that sweat or blood clinging to that man’s nipple? Actually, never mind. “Ignorance is bliss. Ignorance is bliss.” I chanted to myself.

  “What are you saying?” Cassie yelled over the music.

  “I need a drink!” I answered. Wait, did alcohol in my blood affect its…value? See, there I went with more questions.

  Cassie was already grooving to the music and about three vampire studs were checking her out. With every sway of her hips, her skirt brushed the bottom of her ass. Was she wearing underwear? Fuck, I needed a Xanax.

  I glanced off to the side of the dance floor, where there was a large area full of couches. I wasn’t sure what I pictured when Javier had told us this was a club with no inhibitions. But whatever I imagined didn’t prepare me for what I saw. The lights were dim, but I could still make out the activities going on.

  Now I understood why we were supposed to dress like sex. The walls, the couches, heck even some of the floor was covered with partially dressed bodies. I was starting to be able to pick out the vampires right away. They were generally larger than humans, with large jaws to accommodate their fangs. And there was something about the way they carried themselves that was altogether not human.

  Cassie and I stared as a male vampire stuck his tongue in a human man’s mouth, and then his hand down the man’s pants. The man’s knees buckled, then his body convulsed as his head fell back and his lips parted on a moan I couldn’t hear, but could feel.

  On the couch behind them, a male vampire lay on top of a human woman, his hips churning between her legs. Even with the pounding base, I could hear her loud cries of ecstasy.

  Cassie exhaled loudly. “See? We can get vampire dick and cash. Sign me the fuck up.”

  “Pretty sure you already signed up, tiger.” I nodded to the dance floor. “Get out there.”

  She ran her tongue over her teeth, moving her body in a way I wished I could. She tossed her hair over her shoulder and shot me a sexy grin. “I love it here. It feels so free!”

  I guessed that was one way to describe it.

  I tapped her on the arm as one vampire who’d been checking her out strode toward us. “Hey, uh, I’m going to grab a drink. Go do your thing.”

  She lashed out a hand and gripped my wrist. “You okay?”

  I smiled and lied. “Yep, fine! We’ll meet up in the Feeding Room, okay?”

  She blew me a kiss, and then turned right into the bare muscled chest of a vampire who looked like he was going to devour her. Literally.

  I skittered away, the dance floor making me feel claustrophobic. I wasn’t sure where to go. I was here, so I wanted the cash. Maybe it would be better to stay out of the way, then head to the Feeding Room at midnight, get bitten, and get the fuck out. Did I really have to make a friend? As amazing as orgasms were, I was kinda cool keeping my pants on too.

  Why did this have to be a social thing? Where did I sign up for the quick feeding with zero house music and orgies? Vampires needed to know about drive-throughs.

  Near the bar was a small hallway and I ducked into the entrance, hoping to blend into the shadows. Too bad I hadn’t brought a book. I slid my back down the wall until I sat on the floor. Bending my neck forward until my hair formed a curtain to hide my face, I prepared to wait until I was shuttled into the Feeding Room at midnight. I’d make up a story to tell Cassie of course. Something that involved a sexy vampire with a big dick and talented hands. I would let my fantasy steer toward his tongue between my thighs, but I had questions about fangs and delicate skin.

  The music changed, and I closed my eyes, wondering if I could get a quick nap in. Then the light shifted, just a slight flicker that I noticed from behind the thin skin of my eyelids. I opened my eyes, not lifting my head yet or making any sort of movement, to see two giant black boots planted in front of me.

  I wasn’t stupid. Of course whoever was attached to those boots saw me, but I told myself if I didn’t move, maybe they’d go away. Move on. Go meet someone interesting who wasn’t cowering in a dark hallway.

  But then the vampire crouched, his massive legs folding so I got a glance of thick thighs and massive hands that could palm my skull.

  One of those hands extended toward me. It took everything in me not to flinch or run away. My heart was pounding out of my chest, the beat of it rivaling the music out on the dance floor. One finger touched the bottom of my chin and lifted.

  My gaze went up taking in a muscled torso and broad shoulders c
overed in a dark T-shirt. I squeezed my eyes shut before I got to his mouth. He had to be a vampire; he was huge. Bigger than Zeb. Bigger than the ones I saw on the dance floor.

  Wait, maybe this was a good thing he was big. Surely he’d want someone with more…blood, right? A larger person?

  “Look at me,” his deep voice rumbled.

  The command was like a hand plunging itself into my throat and tightening around my heart. I had to obey. There was no ignoring this voice.

  I opened one eye to look into the dark gaze of a vampire. His black hair was brushed back, although a few strands fell down his forehead, nearly covering one eyes. His full lips were parted slightly, just enough that I could see the tips of white fangs touching his lower lip. His chin was pronounced, cheekbones high and sharp. And those eyes were pools so dark that I nearly tipped over and fell inside.

  He didn’t say anything, and so I opened my mouth and said the first thing that entered my brain. “Okay, I’m looking at you.”

  He didn’t grin. He didn’t react at all, and that finger of his hadn’t left my chin, like he knew if he let go, I’d break his gaze. I wouldn’t. I was pretty sure I couldn’t. Did he cast a spell on me? I had thought vampires didn’t have magic, but that was before I saw them make a door out of a solid wall.

  I probably shouldn’t be back here. Would he kick me out? Shit. I needed this money, and I hoped I didn’t blow it. “Am I in trouble? I just came back here to get a breather.” Shit I was rambling, the words tumbling out of my mouth like blood from burst vein. “I’m totally prepared for the, uh, feeding and stuff. All about giving up the blood. Totally cool with it.” I held up my wrists and rotated them. “See? Clean. Good to go.” I beamed a bright smile.

  The vampire stared at me for a long time, and just when I began to tremble a bit under his heavy glare, his gaze shifted to my neck.