"Actually, yes, if you�ll allow me to share it without biting off my head." He settled into his favorite spot in Dorian�s chair, helping himself to a sip of Dorian�s coffee, long gone cold. "I�ve received word from Kate�my contact at House Connelly. Two of her sisters reported seeing demons at Bloodbath this week."

Dorian stopped pacing, his eyes widening. Bloodbath was an underground nightclub on St. Marks Place, owned by Duchanes and his associates. The clientele was mostly vampires, but more and more lately, Dorian had been hearing rumors of human guests�most likely blood slaves. The presence of demons was disconcerting to say the least�the monsters weren�t supposed to set foot in Manhattan at all.

"How certain was she?" Dorian asked.

"Positive. They spotted them on three different occasions."

"Chernikov�s?"

"They didn�t know."

Dorian dropped into the leather chair across from Aiden, his mind turning over the intel. If they were Chernikov demons, he�d have another problem on his hands. He thought he�d made himself clear at his meeting with the Russian about keeping his demons on a leash.

Dorian really hoped Chernikov wasn�t baiting him.

"Any sightings of the elusive Renault Duchanes?" he asked.

"No, and according to Kate, no one�s talking about him either. She tried to get cozy with one of his newer sirelings, but the man was a vault." Aiden shook his head. "This isn�t just about an attack on Charlotte. There are larger forces at play."

Dorian agreed. The attack at Ravenswood, Renault�s convenient appearance during the Central Park demon attack, the bid for Armitage Holdings, and now, unidentified demons hanging out at Bloodbath� something told Dorian it was all connected.

He just couldn�t figure out how.

"I want him eliminated," he said.

"We have to locate him first. Have you thought of asking Marlys to reach out to Jacinda?"

The idea had crossed his mind, but he�d dismissed it. Jacinda was Renault�s witch, so even if she did know something, she wouldn�t be eager to share it. And Marlys was a free agent, working for the highest bidder and doing her best to stay out of vampire politics. Asking her to take sides in the brewing Duchanes-Redthorne war was neither fair nor prudent.

"We�ll find another way," Dorian said. "In the meantime, I�m going to ask Gabriel to keep an eye on Charlotte."

Aiden�s eyebrows lifted. "Gabriel?"

"He�s got a reputation for� tracking people down."

"Yes, and making them disappear."

"I don�t need her to disappear. I need her to be protected. Gabriel can keep a close watch, make sure she�s not still a target."

Aiden lowered his eyes and sighed, swirling the cold coffee in the mug.

"Say it," Dorian said.

"I think I�ll keep it to myself."

"For fuck�s sake, Aiden. If you�ve got something to�"

"What is it about this woman? You hardly know her, and she�s already got your balls in a jar." JrNovels.com