OBTP (16 page)

plopped the money down before she could respond. "Leave with me

right now. Let's get out of here."

Paige frowned, her mouth hung open for a second not knowing

what to say. Shaking her head she stared at him. "You know I can't

do that."

Releasing a frustrated sigh, he closed his eyes a moment then

turned. With his hand on her elbow, he led her towards the table

where Rosa and Lamar nodded at him silently. Towards Dalton and

whoever he was talking to.

She pulled back on her arm. "What are you doing?" She hissed at

him.

"I told you Paige, I love you and I want you for my own. He

doesn't deserve you and I will take you away." Casey had turned and

was staring down at her, his mouth set in a grim line.

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"You can't do this. Please Casey, not here, not now." She begged,

panicking, her eyes pleaded with him, she quickly looked over to her

husband then back to Casey.

"I'm not going to make a scene." He lifted his hand to caress her

cheek but she pulled away. "I promise, I won't say anything, tonight."

At that moment, Dalton turned and looked at her, his eyebrows

raised and he looked Casey up and down. She couldn't help but

wonder what was going through his mind. Was he in the least bit

jealous that she was with a younger, hotter guy? Or would it not

make any difference to him? In a way, she wished he would show a

bit of jealousy, but just she expected, he turned back to the other

woman like her world wasn't falling apart.

Frowning, she reached over for her drink and Casey released it to

her. She drank it quickly, and then set the drink on a table behind

them. "Dance with me." Not giving him time to respond, she grabbed

his hand and led him to the dance floor.,

He followed her willingly. He danced so smoothly, she could

follow his every move, but she remained tense, even with his arms

around her. Her body glided with his, but didn't melt into him as she

had before. What was she trying to prove by pulling him out there?

Not thinking straight, she was torn, happy that he was there, but

worried about what it could mean.

"Casey." She looked up to find him already looking down at her,

the dimples in his cheeks showing. She closed her eyes briefly and

smiled back.

"Paige." His voice was deep and sounded happy.

She laughed even though she didn't feel any happiness. "I don't

want to pull you into my marriage problems. I know how you feel,

but you have to let me work this out." When he started to speak she

shook her head. "I have to work this out on my own. I don't want him

having any ammo to use against me and I refuse to allow him to mess

up your military career."

"Honey, I appreciate you looking out for me, but that's not going to

happen. I know you are strong and can handle this. But, I refuse to

stand by and allow him to hurt you anymore."

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A slight sheen filmed her eyes and she gave him an upside down

smile. She hated that her marriage was ending. She knew it was

coming, but she didn't want it to be this way. Sighing, she relaxed

somewhat and allowed Casey to hold her close.

"By the way, I love the dress and if I could get away with it, I

would love to run my tongue along the top and lick your boobs, from

this angle, wow." Casey stared at the swell of her breasts lifting out

and over the top of the dress where she pressed her to him.

Paige laughed and hugged him tighter. She wished she could stay

like that, but just then she noticed Dalton dancing with the other

woman. She didn't want him to see her that way, so she moved back

slightly. Casey understood and loosened his hold, allowing only a

tiny bit of space, but not too much. They stayed out on the floor

through a couple songs.

He somehow always guided them away from Dalton so she never

got to see who his dance partner was. Maybe Dalton was also

avoiding them too, she didn't care. She relaxed as much as she could

and enjoyed being with Casey while she could.

By the time they headed back to the table, the lights had dimmed

and the place had become more crowded. For a Sunday night, she

was surprised at how many people were actually there. The Japanese

DJ played an array of songs to satisfy the different taste in music.

Like the night before, she noticed the different languages being

spoken were from all around the world. When one person stepped in

front of them on their way to the table she felt Casey tense.

"May I have this dance?" The deep thick accent was unlike any she

had ever heard before. She didn't want to, but she wasn't going to be

rude. She glanced at Casey.

He stared straight ahead, but she could see the tick of his jaw

clenching. He nodded his head and held her hand out to the

gentleman without a word.

"Thank you." He bowed his head slightly in Casey's direction, his

hand cold when he took hers and led them out to the floor. He was

very formal, almost stiff in his movements, but fluid. He glided them

easily across the floor.

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She was almost afraid to look up at his face. Her heart fluttered and

her stomach dropped at the flash of memory from the parade and the

vampire lunging for her. Through her lashes she peaked up at him.

His face was handsome, high cheekbones and a square jawline. He

was well over six foot, and she guessed he was probably muscular by

his build. It was hard to judge how old he was though, not a wrinkle

on his face, but he just felt like he was older to her. During the entire

dance he didn't say one word to her or look down at her. When the

song ended, he tucked her hand into the crook of his arm and walked

her back to the table where Casey stood. His eyes bore into hers,

looking for something in her facial expressions.

The man bowed slightly in her direction and she lowered her head

in response. She was thinking maybe he didn't speak English other

than to say may I have this dance and thank you. She was startled

when he spoke to Casey, it was hard to understand in his thick accent,

but she made out the words. "You have made a wise choice…"

except for the last one, she couldn't have heard that right.

"Thank you, sir." Casey's eyes never met the man's.

When he walked away Casey relaxed, but only slightly.

Paige turned to him with a frown, concern showing on her face.

"What the freak was that? Did I hear him say minion?" He didn't look

at her, just tossed his drink back and stared at the back of the

retreating man. "Casey?" She prodded, moving to stand in front of

him.

Releasing a deep breath, his blue eyes met hers. "There is a lot to

explain."

"What did he mean by minion?"

It wasn't him who answered, but Dalton from behind her. "It means

babe,
that he is a minion, and underling, a bootlicker." He sneered in

Casey's direction.

Paige whirled around, her mouth hung open when she saw the

woman who was now hanging onto to Daltons arm, Darcy! "You

brought that bitch here?" Paige was instantly pissed and wished she

had a drink or something in her hand so she could throw it at the two

of them.

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Darcy's eyes flashed a moment before she lunged with a hiss.

Dalton grabbed hold of her shoulders and held her back. Casey

jumped in between them, but not before Paige saw the fangs that

snarled at her.

Sucking in her breath she backed away and bumped into the table.

Rosa was there to steady her, whirling around, she stared up at Rosa.

"Did you know about this? Rosa? What's going on?"

Everyone around them had stopped talking and was now watching.

Looking around she saw that several actually had fangs protruding

and they looked her up and down like she was going to be their meal.

She whirled back to Casey. "Are you?" She shook her head in denial.

"You were chosen Paige. You will be turned just like we were."

Dalton sneered at her, his fangs popped out and her hand went to her

mouth to keep from screaming. Staring in terror at the people around

her, she heard a few of them laughing. In the background she heard

someone saying "I love when humans find out what we are, their

blood pumping so hard in their chest just sings to me."

She turned to run but Dalton grabbed her arm in a bruising grip.

Casey grabbed his wrist and they glared, their fangs bared at one

another in a growl.

Dalton laughed. "You are useless Casey. You think you could

fight me and win? You are a minion remember? Your bites are

nothing to me. Now with Paige here, you persuaded her just fine."

Tears sprang to her eyes when she realized that Casey had used her.

Dalton went on cruelly. "He didn't tell you did he
babe
?" He

released her arm and Casey pulled her closer to him, but she didn't

want to be near anybody. She shook her head in horror at what she

was seeing.

"You are his fifth, the last human he has to persuade to give her

blood so he can become full vampire." Dalton threw his head back,

his laughter sounding manic.

Casey shook his head, his hand on her jaw, trying to get her to look

at him. "Baby, I promise, that was not my intention. Ask Rosa, Tadd

was supposed be the one to persuade you, not me."

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Looking to Rosa she nodded her head, but Paige didn't believe

anyone now. This was a mess there was no way out of, she looked

around the room wildly. The dreams had warned her, but she had

ignored them, now she was going to die.

"Paige, I am not going to let you die." Casey pleaded with her, but

she knocked his hand away.

"Don't touch me!" She yelled and backed away while Dalton and

now Darcy laughed at her. In a rage she turned and ran towards

Darcy aiming to rip her eyes out of her head but Casey grabbed her

around the waist.

"She will kill you Paige.".

Paige glared at him, not allowing the sad concerned look on Casey's

face to sway her.

Kicking and thrashing, she fought to make him let her go. She

didn't care that her breasts were coming close to popping out of the

top of the corset. Casey squeezed her hard enough to cause her to

gasp for breath. He quickly set her feet on the floor and spun her

around, his hands on her shoulders holding her in place. He leaned

close to her face.

"I did not use compulsion on you. I told Tadd to back off. I have

never lied to you, I told you the truth when I said I love you and

wanted to take you away from here." Casey's eyes pleaded with hers.

The man who had danced with her stood close and when she heard

him speak, she turned automatically to listen. She didn't want to, but

the command in his voice forced her compliance.

"Miss, you must listen closely. Dalton speaks the truth when he

says you have been chosen. You will be turned, in that there is no

choice in that matter. However, you must choose. You may have

your husband turn you or you can choose to give your life to Casey."

Straightening, she shrugged Casey's hands off her shoulders and

moved away. "And if I chose neither?" She knew her words hurt

Casey because she saw his shoulders slump and the grin of triumph

that crossed Dalton's face.

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"That is not an option. You have one hour to make your decision."

Turning away, he lifted a hand and two women moved forward, their

fangs extended, their eyes solid black. "Take her downstairs."

"Yes Sire." The women said in unison. In a flash, they were on

either side of her, their strong hands wrapped around her upper arms.

They lifted her from the floor and carried her towards the door at the

back of the bar.

Kicking at them, Paige squirmed, trying to break free of their grip

and when she couldn't, she turned her head and stared at Casey.

For some reason it hurt more that he had betrayed her than Dalton's

treachery.

His eyes met hers.

She saw his tears and sucked in her breath.

Rosa moved away from Lamar and followed the women carrying

her down the stairs.

Before the door at the top of the stairs closed she heard yelling and

what she was sure of was the beginnings of a fight. When the door

slammed shut, it grew silent. They carried her down a long hallway.