“How well do you know De’ Luca? Are you two together?” the senator asked.
Isabella spluttered at the senator’s candid question. “We have a business relationship, that’s all.” When the man’s pupils dilated, his fantasies grew wilder at the thought of her dressed in leather, bringing him to his knees with a leather whip. He believed she was a whore. Someone to be bought and paid for.
“That’s good. Very good. Would you like to go to a show later?” the senator asked innocently.
Isabella swallowed the bubbly liquid, searching the crowd for Roman. This was what they had been waiting for. Right at that moment, the senator wrapped his hand around her waist, squeezing her into his side. Isabella knew she was here to garner as much information as she could, which opened the doors to flirtation, and this man would be putty in her hands. She could deliver his need to be spanked if it came to that, no problem, and she smiled. But damn it, that creeping burning sensation returned, scorching her back, which meant it wasn’t simply Jake’s touch that flicked that switch, but oddly not Roman’s.
Sliding away from the human’s clasp, she smiled at him as sweetly as she could and leaned in close. “Sorry, what do you mean?”
The senator caught her elbow and guided her away from the main crowd, finding a quiet spot in the oversized ballroom. “Mr. Stein, a prominent businessman and billionaire, has invited a few selective guests to a private room for an after party. He said he has a surprise that will provide proof of his wild claims that humans are not the only species on Earth.”
Isabella laughed. Mr. Stein was the real name for the Padre. The man’s expression clouded over. He was starting to have doubts about taking her. She licked her lips and smiled. “Of course I’ve heard of Mr. Stein. He’s a man with an admirable portfolio, and what he says sounds fascinating, to say the least. Tell me more.”
The senator smiled and slipped his arm once again around her waist. She flinched at the contact. The searing pain in her back throbbed, but she needed to keep him talking as he happily reeled off more details. Holding herself still, she pushed against the onslaught of fiery spasms making her squirm.
“Are you all right, my dear? You look uncomfortable.”
At that moment, Roman appeared at her side and grabbed her hand. As the coolness of his touch flowed through her, the burning sensation vanished, and she glared at him. The senator withdrew his arm and stepped back.
“My apologies, Senator, but I must steal this lovely lady for one moment,” Roman said.
For once, she was glad at his divine intervention, if not somewhat suspicious.
“I don’t have a good feeling about this. I think we should leave,” Roman said.
“What have you done to me, Roman?” Isabella asked as several guests stared at them.
The vampire caught her wrist, and, in a flash, they stood outside on a dimly lit patio with the midnight-blue sky and blanket of stars a backdrop.
“What the hell are you doing? Anyone could have seen you pulling that shit,” she shouted at him, annoyed at his reckless action.
“Humans are far too slow to notice, and they are caught up in who has the most money or power right now. Something about the senator isn’t right. I think we should leave.”
Isabella pulled free, a fury rising. “Answer me, Roman. What have you done to me? Every time someone—no, not just someone…when a man touches me, I am stabbed in the back. Your touch stopped it.”
The vampire frowned. His eyes darted around, searching the inky darkness. He gripped her wrist, drawing her against him. “Not now. We don’t have time for this. You’re being ridiculous.”
She flew right into him, letting out a whisper of a hiss. “I’m not ridiculous. You’re playing with me, and I don’t like it.”
Roman cupped her cheek, rubbing his thumb along her cheekbone. “I did what I did for the best. Now we need to leave.”
Fed up with his antics, she vanished back inside, leaving him alone. If the senator had information about Mr. Stein—the Padre—she would go to the damn after party, and find out.
Stay away from me, Roman. I’m doing my job.
Damn it, Isabella! You need to listen!
Roman, if you pull any more shit like you just did, it won’t be the Padre who exposes our kind—it will be you.
Strolling back inside the ballroom, she milled around, smiling at the sea of guests dressed in Vera Wang and Valentino outfits, loaded down with jewelry from Tiffany and Co. Even the men dazzled in their sharp tailored suits. When a waiter offered her a glass of champagne, she happily accepted. It was almost time for dinner, and she made her way around the tables until she found hers. Roman stood there already, talking to the senator, whose hazel eyes raked over her. The conversation paused as she joined the group.
“Ah, Isabella, I’m glad you found your way back to us. I was just telling Roman how concerned I was about you,” the senator said.
“Thank you, but I’m fine. I just needed a little air.”
The vampire pulled her chair out, and she smiled at him before sitting down. The men sat on either side of her. Conversation swirled around the table of twelve, a mix of politicians, influential businessmen, and bankers with their partners. They were the only non-humans seated there, a fact that increased her anxiety as she listened to the conversations being held. Unlike Ella, she couldn’t smell other supernatural creatures, but she could detect other vampires. And right now there were a few here she didn’t know. She glanced at Roman, but he appeared happily
