The Drifter (Sanguine Hearts Book 2)

2 A New Face In The Club

As the beautifully handsome stranger approached Grason, Ariel watched his expression transition from a look of peace and tranquility to one of anger pure and hot. She acutely felt the increased anger and tension that rose in him. She had watched that stranger walk into the club, noted his dress, and measured his walk. He was confident and strong, elegant and beautiful. He had an air of arrogance that seemed warranted. As she watched him walk, she wondered where he was from and what he was doing in Bey Luna Beatz. He seemed a little out of place among the crowd. His dark hair was cropped shorter than Michael’s but just as neatly styled. His eyes were a deep dark brown that, like his elegant face, held a mysterious beauty. When he first arrived, he looked lost and confused. When his eyes locked on her, he started moving her way. She watched him for a while, but he couldn’t hold her interest. Ariel turned away from him and sought out the one person that was always on her mind. Grayson was sitting at the end of her bar with an empty water glass. When the stranger spotted Grayson, he turned in that direction until he was standing face-to-face with Grayson. Only then did his confidence and swagger falter.

The moment he took his eyes from hers and let them come to rest on that handsome stranger, Grayson stood in one swift and graceful movement. He looked dreadfully angry as he glared into that set of deep brown eyes. He wasn't much taller than the other well-dressed dark-haired man. He didn’t need to be. His stance alone was more than enough. The tension in the entire club slowly grew to a level she had never felt before. For the longest time, they stood staring at each other. "Julien Russo." Grayson's voice held icy venom, "Why have you come here?" It was an odd way to phrase that question, but so too was the color Grayson's eyes had shifted to. Everything in him was instantly guarded. His lean body was curled tightly, ready to pounce. She’d never witnessed Grayson so tense or felt so much anger and hurt in him. She didn’t have time to wonder why he felt so much hurt. He slammed shut the doors of his mind and locked them tight. Seeing it as the warning it was, she did the same. She had no clue who Julien Russo was, but it was clear that he was no friend to Grayson.

"I--I," the smaller man stuttered and stopped talking for a moment. Taking a deep breath, he gathered himself. Once he found his confidence he continued, "I was looking for Michael." Grayson's eyes, crimson, and gold promised Julien a slow and painful death if Michael was harmed in any way. Grayson still cared for Michael. Even after all the time that had passed, perhaps because of it, he didn’t want to see him hurt. His mind, ever sharp and extremely powerful, penetrated deep into Julien's mind. His push was none too gentle. He didn’t care if he caused Julien pain with his intrusion. He wouldn’t purposely hurt him, but he felt no need to take any precaution either. 'Do not hurt him again. Lead him further astray and I will end you. His pleas will not stop me this time. Leave the humans in this place and this city alone or face the wrath of the council. Do not leave a messy trail of blood, lies, brutality, betrayal, and death in our city. You will die. I promise.'

Julien’s eyes grew a touch wider before they grew hard and cold. His lips became a thin line between anger and disappointment. What exactly did Grayson believe him capable of? He knew his role here. He finally understood that. He didn’t much care for it, but he did not have a choice. This was Grayson’s territory. ‘As you command, My Prince.’ His eyes momentarily dropped to the floor and he gave a near imperceptible nod. He couldn’t bow. They were in public. It wouldn’t go unnoticed. “Have you seen him?”

“Third floor.” Grayson didn’t sit. He didn’t move. He just stood staring holes into the newcomer. They stood like that as the bouncers moved into position and prepared for a fight that they would most assuredly lose. If things came to blows between Grayson and Julien no one would be spared their brutality. The first floor of the club itself would suffer greatly. Any persons near to them would be beaten or crushed, perhaps even die, if caught in the crossfire of their powerful dislike for one another. Their fights were often very successful in destroying the people and things around them, but clearly not nearly enough in destroying the other.

Ariel watched in dismay as Grayson’s anger mounted. She felt waves of negative energy coming from him. It threatened to overwhelm her. She could only hope that Julien would be moving along shortly, if not she would need to find a way to break the tension. He had inquired after Michael. She knew that Grayson and Michael at least knew each other, but the moment the stranger, Julien, inquired about Michael, Grayson’s eyes darkened and his shoulders squared as he took on an instinctive defensive stance. She would have to ask him later about Julien and Michael. She didn’t know what he’d tell her if anything, but there was history between this Julien and Grayson. The history seemed dangerous. It pissed Grayson right the f**k off. She had not experienced his anger to that degree until that night. She didn’t want to experience it again.

The boy named Julien slowly backed away from Grayson. He moved like he didn’t trust him enough to turn his back on him. Wisely so in most cases. Given the pure hatred in Grayson’s eyes, it was probably not a good idea to do so in that case. She had never seen so much anger in one place and she never expected to see the anger on Grayson’s lovely face, but it was there, and she could not deny it. Julien moved over to the stairs and took them one by one to his destination. Grayson and Ariel watched his every move until he was out of sight. Ariel turned questioning eyes to Grayson. ‘What was that about?’

At the sound of her lovely voice, Grayson turned crimson and gold eyes to her and tried to smile. His smile was weak and did not reach his eyes. He needed to let it go; for now. He closed his eyes for a long moment. When he opened them again they were green and beautiful just as they always were. It gave her a start to see his eyes change to an unnatural color. She couldn’t help but wonder at that. She would worry over the meaning of that later. Quietly he answered her question., “Nothing.” His tone was final. I wasn’t. Nothing. No, it was definitely something. She knew better than to ask him more than once. In all their conversations he was fluid and kind regardless of the topic. She got the feeling, there would be little of either if their conversation ever ventured towards the reason for his angry protectiveness over Michael or the soft space she noticed he had in his heart for him. When Michael boldly inquired about Alex, a missing friend. Wisely she let it go. He returned his gaze to the last spot they saw Julien as he disappeared into the crowd on the upper floor.

“Would you like another Scotch or more water?” She needlessly placed her hand on his. His anger and fear invaded her. She pushed back with warm confidence and peace. His eyes returned to her and smiled. ‘Thank you’

He patted her hand gently, “No, neither. Can you take a break?” right on cue Darius came over to cover her. He smiled at Grayson and they shook hands.

“Yeah, she’s free for a few.” He looked into Ariel’s eyes and smiled a mischievous smile, then shooed her along. Grayson took her hand as she stepped out from behind the bar and led her back around the back of it to the breakroom.