A barely perceptible nod.
Before Asher could question further, the front door flew open. He tensed, ready to do battle with more intruders but stopped when he scented Grant, Max, and other packmates.
“This vamp broke in here and the hotel, Grant,” Asher growled.
“Yeah, and I know why. You can let him go. This bastard isn’t going anywhere.” His alpha’s voice was tight, angry.
Asher flexed his grip around the vamp’s heart and neck once in warning before dropping his hands. The vamp collapsed on the floor, struggling to drag in a breath as blood spilled from his chest. The wound was already mending though and he’d be upright in minutes.
As Asher moved back to stand next to Grant, light flooded the room as someone flipped the overhead lights on. Risking a quick glance around he saw half a dozen packmates, including Max who was standing protectively next to Ella. Asher gave her a quick once over to make sure she was unharmed, before turning back to the vamp. When he turned, another of his packmates handed him a dishrag. Murmuring thanks, he started wiping the blood from his hands while keeping an eye on the vampire.
Coughing, the male glared at all of them as he managed to stand upright, but Asher could sense his fear. “I just want what’s mine.” His throat and chest were already starting to heal, but blood soaked his torn clothes.
“What exactly do you think is yours?” Grant asked, his voice a deadly blade.
Something about his alpha’s tone told Asher he knew precisely what the vamp was after. Especially since he said he knew why the vamp was there.
“I want what that bastard Marshall took and I know she has it,” the vamp spat, his gaze narrowing behind Asher and Grant on Ella.
Growling low, Asher took a step forward, only stilling when Grant placed a hand on his forearm. It took all of Asher’s restraint not to attack the vamp.
“She didn’t take anything. But I have what you want. After your break-in, I made some calls, including one to the previous owner. He stole from you,” Grant said.
“Yes. Stupid fucker, he’s lucky I didn’t kill him,” the vamp snarled.
“Why didn’t you?” Grant was still, but Asher knew he was barely holding his wolf in check.
He could sense his alpha’s anger. This vamp had breached their hotel, then dared to break into the pack’s compound. Cubs and females lived here. There was no way his alpha would forgive this.
“I needed to make sure he wasn’t lying first. You have my money?” He’d lowered his voice, but it still held an edge of anger.
Grant nodded. “I decided to pay Marshall a visit.”
Rick Marshall. Asher knew of the man because Grant had given him a detailed file after the break-in. But Asher hadn’t realized he’d already visited Marshall. His alpha had planned to do it later today.
“That safe Rick Marshall hid was in the wall of the office next to the one you ransacked. And it’s just full of cash.” There was a taunting note in Grant’s voice.
Asher was surprised to hear about the safe and the money, but didn’t care about that right now. Grant would fill him in on the details later. Right now Asher only cared about Ella’s safety and getting this vamp out of her place.
“Give me my money and I’ll be gone.” The vamp’s voice radiated with anger, but also a healthy dose of raw fear.
Grant barked out a laugh, the sound sharp and brittle. “I have a better idea…” He trailed off and glanced over his shoulder, down the hall to the front door.
A moment later a lean, blond male Asher recognized appeared in the doorway. Using his vampiric speed, the newcomer was down the hall in a second. Rex Serano. Vampire and bounty hunter. Asher had run across the vamp many times over the last few decades and he knew his alpha was friends with him. Still, it surprised Asher to see him here.
Rex nodded once at Asher in acknowledgement then gave Grant a grin that could only be described as lethal. He turned that gaze on the other vampire and his grin grew wider. “John Dulin, you’ve been a bad, bad vampire and my employer paid me to bring you in alive.”
The fear that spiked off the vamp was nauseating. He started to run, but lightning fast, Rex had him pinned up against the wall. The plaster cracked under the force of the move. Rex squeezed his hand around Dulin’s throat in an impossibly tight grip.
Asher might not know all the details, but he could guess why Rex’s employer wanted to bring the guy in alive. Vamps liked to torture wrongdoers. And if this guy had pissed someone off, especially another vampire, they’d want to keep him around to torture for years. Maybe decades. Brutal bastards.
“This vamp broke into my female’s place. He put her and our pack at risk,” Asher said. He wouldn’t outright defy his alpha, but he wanted to deal with this vampire. Not hand him over to Rex, even if he did like the guy.