“Fucking hell! Dammit, Frost.”
Nicholas chuckled. Yes, he imagined his informant didn’t
appreciate the chilliness since he was ectothermic. That’s what he got for
smoking. While Nicholas did request this meet, and knew the paranormal waiting
for him, he wouldn’t relax his guard. A lax assassin was a dead assassin.
He sniffed the air currents again. Nothing human had been there
in a very long time. The only living paranormal inside was who Nicholas
expected. Nothing undead lay in wait, either. To him vampires smelled slightly musty
with a hint of a moss. And, as odd as it sounded, decaying mushrooms.
Satisfied no one else lurked, he strolled out onto the main
floor. Standing in a sliver of moonlight was a tall, muscular man. All around
him was rusted machinery and equipment, some of which was broken. Tiles and
twisted wires hung from the ceiling. Layers of dust and dirt cover every
surface.
“Such a hostile place to do business.”
“It does have a delightful ambiance, does it not?” Nicholas
stopped several feet away and glared at the cigarette. “Those are horrible. The
scent is atrocious.”
Mick dropped the cigarette on the concrete floor and stomped
it out. “Hey, you worry about your vises and let me worry about mine.”
“If only I had vises to worried about.” Nicholas mused. He was
certain Mick didn’t hear the sarcasm in his words. “Good to see you, Mick.”
“Ordinarily I would say the same, but”—Mick waved his hand
around—"the creep factor here is over the top. Even for you.”
“It was for your safely. You cannot be seen with me right now.
You do not want to catch the attention of the one you have information
on.”
Mick huffed. “No, no, I don’t. This is some shit, for sure.”
Nicholas studied the man in front of him. Little telltale
signs of nervousness caught his attention, and he didn’t think it was because
Mick was away from his swamp.
Mick’s heart rate was up, and Nicholas tried hard not to stare at
Mick’s neck where his pulse fluttered. Mick was tense, and his breathing was
slightly elevated. Something dark moved deep within Nicholas—a need that
wouldn’t be denied much longer.
