Resilience

  Resilience

  Alicia Rades

  Copyright © 2018 Alicia Rades

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any matter whatsoever without written permission from the author except in brief quotations used in articles and reviews.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Published by Crystallite Publishing.

  Produced in the United States of America.

  Edited by Megan Linski.

  Cover design by Covers by Combs.

  For the fighter in all of us.

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  About the Author

  1

  Matias Vayne must’ve had a dick the size of a breath mint. That was the only explanation I could think of as I stood at the base of Vayne Tower, trying to take in its sheer magnitude. This vamp was definitely compensating for something.

  The morning sun was hidden behind the clouds—or was it smog?—but still, the windows six hundred feet above my head seemed to reflect the light. It wasn’t the tallest building in Chicago, but it certainly stood out in the forest of skyscrapers with its clean, modern architecture.

  “Rae?” Venn’s voice cut through my thoughts.

  I tore my gaze from the massive structure and turned to him. He wore a navy button-down collared shirt over a clean white t-shirt and a pair of jeans. The sleeves were rolled up casually, showing off his toned forearms. His dark eyes traveled over me, sending a wave of butterflies to dance around in my stomach. I swore Venn got hotter by the day.

  So unfair.

  “Are you ready?” he asked.

  “Yeah,” I said. “I just didn’t think it’d be… so big.”

  “I know,” Ryland agreed from several paces ahead. “It’s a little over-the-top, isn’t it?”

  “Maybe he needs it,” Teagan mumbled. “You know, for his… ego.”

  Fiona stifled a laugh beside Teagan. She wore black slacks and a nice purple top, but she didn’t have the heels for it. Teagan hadn’t foregone her usual skin-tight cargo pants, but she’d put an olive-green cardigan over her black tank top and let her dark hair fall in waves around her shoulders.

  After fleeing their burning home, none of us had many personal items with us anymore. Teagan, Venn, and Fiona had managed to pack a few bags in the car before the fire consumed everything else, but Ryland and I had nothing. I still wore my ripped jeans, black tee, and boots. Ryland wore his usual enchanted clothing—jeans and a t-shirt. His left arm hung in a sling we’d picked up this morning, since the bones were still healing after the vampire attack.

  Even with everyone else’s attempt to look business-casual, we still stuck out in the sea of businessmen and women rushing to their next appointments. Luckily, most people didn’t notice us. They were either preoccupied on their phones or staring straight ahead like robots. I had the urge to slap one of them just to see if they had feelings.

  I already missed Nocton, where we only had a hundred thousand people or so to worry about. Cities packed to the millions weren’t exactly my thing. But I had to face it for a few hours, because once we got inside and exchanged the Leora Locket for Sondra’s safety, we’d finally be able to hunt down my sister.

  As we approached the front doors, Fiona leaned over to me and whispered. “You’re going to love Sondra. She once made Ryland believe he was a chicken for three days because he insulted her drawings. We fed him dry cereal just to watch him peck at it.”

  She giggled, lightening the mood. I couldn’t help but laugh at the thought.

  We stepped into a huge lobby. Tile floor stretched out in front of us, and the room bustled with foot traffic. The ceiling was so high and the room so long that I was pretty sure it was big enough to play football in. The tall windows were heavily tinted, blocking out most of the sun and casting a gray hue across the room. I noticed several pairs of silver eyes and realized the dark windows provided enough sun protection to allow vampires to roam the building during the day.

  The lobby was empty of everything—even color—except for a long white desk situated opposite the door. There weren’t even any seating areas—or God forbid, a plant. Eight elevators lined the wall beside the front desk, where people hurried in and out of them.

  Ryland led the way across the lobby and stopped at the front desk. A thin woman in a dark blazer looked up from her computer. Her lips immediately turned down, showing the age lines around her eyes that she clearly tried to hide.

  “Can I help you?” She sounded like she meant it, but there was judgement in her eyes. Apparently, we didn’t look rich enough for her blood. She probably thought we were lost and needed directions or something.

  “Yes,” Ryland said in a confident tone. “We’re here to see Matias Vayne.”

  The woman couldn’t hide the scoff that escaped her lips. Her expression quickly fell so that I could barely read her face. Another robot. We wouldn’t want genuine human interaction, would we?

  No, I thought, not when you work with heartless vamps.

  “I’m sorry,” Robot Lady said, “but Mr. Vayne doesn’t take walk-ins.”

  “He will for us,” Ryland insisted. “Tell him we’re here on behalf of Leora.”

  “I’m sorry,” she repeated, “but your boss is going to have to call Mr. Vayne’s secretary privately to set up an appointment.”

  I held my breath. We had to get in. There was no way we were leaving here without Sondra.

  I wasn’t going to wait around. I pushed past Ryland and leaned my elbows against the counter. “You have a phone right there. Call his office and let him know we’re here.”

  “Ma’am,” she said with a frown, like my demand only amused her, “if I called Mr. Vayne every time someone came in asking for him, he’d never get any work done. If this is an urgent matter, your boss can—”

  “Is there a problem here?” A woman with flawless dark skin and silver eyes stepped forward. Even her vampirism couldn’t strip away her dark skin tone. Her hair was pulled back into a tight bun at the base of her neck, and she wore a slimming red pantsuit and high heels.

  “They want to see Mr. Vayne,” Robot Lady replied. “On behalf of… what did you say your boss’s name was?”

  “Leora,” Ryland told her.

  “Right. And I told them—” Robot Lady started, but the vampire cut her off.

  “Leora?” She looked at us in shock. “Please, come with me.”

  Robot Lady stared at us with her mouth agape as we followed behind her vampire boss. She led us away from the long line of elevators and to a hall at the far end of the lobby.

  “Mr. Vayne has been eagerly awaiting your arrival,” she said in a professional tone.

  “We apologize that we couldn’t make it sooner,” Fiona said.

  Vampire Boss stopped at the end of the hall and pressed a button beside the lone elevator that stood there. She folded her hands and turned to us. “Not to worry. You’re here now, and that’s what’s important.�
�

  The elevator doors slid open, and Vampire Boss gestured for us to step inside. We all filed in. She pressed the button to the top floor, and the doors glided shut.

  My gut twisted as the elevator ascended, and it wasn’t because I was scared of cramped spaces. We’d just locked ourselves in a tiny room with a vampire who could eat us all if she wanted to. Not that she’d succeed, considering she was outnumbered, but I still felt uneasy in her presence. Instinct told me to stake a weapon through her heart, but even if it came to that, there were no weapons in the immediate vicinity. We’d all agreed Teagan should leave her blades in the car so we wouldn’t provoke the vamps.

  The elevator was eerily quiet, despite the tacky music playing softly from hidden speakers. Venn must’ve noticed my unease, because he grabbed my hand and squeezed it. Tingles spread across my skin at his touch. I laced my fingers through his and squeezed back.

  The elevator doors opened, revealing an elegant waiting room. There were no windows, and the room was cast in soft lighting. Black carpet stretched from one gray wall to the other. Plush red couches that looked worth more than I made in a year sat around a burning gas fireplace. If Matias was going for modern vampire lair, he’d certainly hit the decor on the nose.

  Beyond the waiting area, a blonde woman with breasts that bulged out of her top sat behind a long reception desk. She wore a pair of reading glasses, but I knew she didn’t need them. Her silver eyes gave her away as a vampire. Along with flawless beauty and supernatural strength, vampires had perfect vision. Beside Blondie and straight across from the elevator sat a pair of double doors.

  Blondie glanced up from her desk and smiled when she saw Vampire Boss leading us into the room. “What can I help you with, Veronica?”

  “These ladies and gentlemen are here to see Mr. Vayne,” Vampire Boss—Veronica—replied, stopping at the desk.

  Blondie turned to her computer. “Do they have an appointment?”

  “No, which is why I escorted them here personally,” Veronica said. “They’re here on behalf of Leora.”

  Blondie typed something into her computer. “Mm… Leora… I don’t think—” Realization suddenly dawned. “Oh! I’ll let Mr. Vayne know right away.” Blondie quickly picked up the phone on her desk and punched in a number.

  “Please, sit,” Veronica offered, gesturing to the red chairs nearby. “Can I get you anything while you wait?”

  I could’ve asked for a water, but who knew if they served anything but blood around here? They probably planned to add us to the menu.

  “No, thanks,” Venn said. “We’re fine.”

  Everyone else nodded in agreement.

  “Enjoy your visit to Vayne Tower,” Veronica said kindly before leaving us alone and returning to the elevator.

  Because I was so going to enjoy myself in a vampire-infested skyscraper.

  I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. For expensive-looking couches, they weren’t very comfortable.

  “You okay?” Venn asked from beside me.

  I nodded, though honestly, I felt uneasy. I preferred to kick vampire ass on the street, where there was an easy escape. Here, we were trapped. I hoped Ryland knew what he was doing.

  From the chair beside Venn, Fiona grabbed a magazine off the end table and began flipping through it. Teagan sat close to her, looking distressed. Ryland stood near the fireplace with a hard look on his face. He wasn’t about to try getting comfortable in a place like this.

  Venn’s thigh brushed against mine. My skin heated where he touched me, and all I wanted to do was scoot closer to him and wrap my arms around him. Freaking hormones. Now was not the time.

  We were only alone for a moment before the double doors beside the reception desk swung open. I turned to see a man in his early forties step out of the room. He had a strong jaw, straight nose, and a five o’clock shadow that most women would swoon over. Like all vampires, his skin was flawless, and his eyes were silver. He wore a dark tailored suit that showed off his trim figure. Not a single one of his brown hairs was misplaced. Everything about him screamed money. Though the very sight of the vampire repulsed me, I couldn’t deny that the guy was insanely attractive. What was it with rich, attractive men like him? He set off all sorts of asshole alarms.

  I stood, mostly because I didn’t want to let my guard down, but I suspected Venn, Teagan, and Fiona followed suit out of respect.

  “Ryland,” the vampire sang. He opened his arms wide, as if expecting a hug.

  Ryland stood rigid. “Matias.”

  Matias dropped his arms. Up close, I got a better look at his eyes. I could’ve sworn I recognized him from somewhere. I racked my brain trying to remember, but I figured I’d just seen him in a TV commercial or something.

  Matias’s eyes scanned our group until they fell on me. “Who’s the lovely new lady?”

  He reached out his hand for mine. I swallowed hard but let him take it. This guy probably wiped his ass with hundred-dollar bills. I didn’t want to find out what he’d use his money for if we disrespected him. His fingers were cold, sending a shiver down my spine. He brought my hand to his face and brushed his icy lips across it. I wanted to gag.

  Venn stepped forward. “This is Rae, and if you know what’s good for you, you’ll keep your grubby little hands off of her.”

  Matias dropped my hand. Venn was officially my hero. I could kiss him right now. Then again, I always wanted to kiss him.

  “I think the witch-shifter can speak for herself,” Matias said, eyeing me curiously.

  “I can,” I replied through tight lips. “But you’re lucky I didn’t. How’d you know I was a witch?”

  Matias smirked. “I didn’t, but you've just confirmed it.”

  “You play dirty. I see how it is,” I said.

  Matias laughed. “Sweetheart, I’m a vampire. Dirty is all we know. I may be able to find a position here for you if you’re in to that kind of thing.”

  Was he hitting on me? Gross!

  Venn snuck his shoulder in front of mine protectively. Good thing, because if Matias kept looking at me that way, my knee would be all up in his royal jewels. My lack of self-control was a serious curse.

  “Are we done yet?” Ryland cut in. He sounded completely unamused. “Let’s cut to the chase, Matias. You know why we’re here.”

  Matias’s eyes lit up. “Yes, of course. I presume you have the item on you.”

  The way he said it suggested the family wouldn’t dare enter this building without it.

  “We want to see Sondra first,” Ryland demanded.

  “You’ll see her as soon as I receive the locket,” Matias said coolly.

  “No,” Teagan protested.

  “I’ve got this, Tea,” Ryland said under his breath as he placed a hand on her shoulder.

  Teagan ignored him. “You’ll bring her out here safe and unharmed, or you can kiss your precious locket goodbye.”

  Matias smirked, like he found Teagan amusing. He glanced between the five of us and must’ve decided we weren’t screwing around.

  “Fair enough.” Matias turned to Blondie behind her desk. “Allison, call Walker and tell him to bring the girl.”

  “Yes, sir,” Allison said as she picked up the phone on her desk.

  The following silence was agonizing. Matias stood there with his hands folded in front of him. He held his head high, looking positively pleased. Though Ryland held his gaze, Matias’s eyes kept flickering toward me. It made my skin crawl.

  The sound of a door opening across the room caught all of our attention. A tall, muscular vampire in a suit stepped into room, dragging a woman by her wrist behind him.

  “Let me go!” she protested.

  “Do as she says, Walker,” Matias commanded calmly. “She is, after all, our guest.”

  Walker dropped the woman’s hand, and she straightened. She was tall, but so thin that it looked like they hadn’t fed her in days. She looked at least thirty, and though she had dark circles under her brown eyes and wore
no makeup, she was beautiful. Her facial structure was similar to Fiona’s, but her chestnut hair matched Ryland’s.

  I couldn’t explain it, but I could sense a goodness radiating off of her, like she was someone I could trust even though she was a complete stranger.

  Her eyes fell on our group, and she instantly rushed forward.

  “Hold on, Sondra.” Matias held a hand up, and Sondra stopped in her tracks.

  “What’d you do to her?” Venn demanded.

  Matias shrugged. “Nothing. It’s not my fault she refused to eat. I’ll take the locket now.”

  “Do we have your word that we’ll be allowed to leave unharmed?” Ryland asked.

  “Yes,” Matias answered. “I’m a vampire. I’m not a monster. I run clean business deals.”

  A muscle popped in Ryland’s jaw. I wasn’t sure how Matias could consider a hostage situation a clean business deal.

  Matias held out his hand expectantly, and Ryland reached into his pocket and pulled out the golden locket. He placed it in Matias’s hand.

  “It’s been a pleasure doing business with you,” Matias said with a smile. “Half of the agreed amount will be deposited into your bank account within the hour.”

  “Half?” Ryland gawked.

  “Yes, half.” Matias was dead serious. “You were late on your delivery. Be glad I’m generous enough to offer payment at all, considering your unprofessionalism.”

  Nobody said anything. I mean, Matias was right. He could’ve just had his vampire staff kill us all. Matias turned on his heel. Sondra ran forward, and Fiona pushed past the rest of us to reach her first. They fell into an embrace. Fiona buried her face in Sondra’s hair.