The creak of the restaurant’s door opening sent alarm spiking through me. Fear for what was coming beat the fear of Kisten’s having lost it, and I pulled on his arm, the scent of old blood mixing with his usual scent of leather. “Get in the car. Kisten, get in my car!”

“He never looked at the books,” Kisten said again, in shock. “Just put down an ultimatum, then gave my last blood to the vampire who set up the deal between him and that demon to get him out. Someone who doesn’t care about me. I…I wanted him to have it.”

This was just too sick. “Kisten, we have to go!” I exclaimed, my gaze darting to the five big men walking toward us, their pace slow and their wide shoulders swinging. One hesitated at the chair Kisten had thrown, twisting a metal leg free before falling back into step. Ah, shit.

Kisten’s head came up at the sound of metal tearing. My face went cold. He was dead inside. Though he breathed and his heart beat, Kisten was dead, killed by an anger and betrayal that I’d never comprehend. He’d known Piscary his entire life. Bound his life to him. Was given power and authority over others through him. Found and relished the power of living above the law because of him. And Piscary had ripped all the promises away and thrown him to the curb without pity or thought. Discarded. Given to someone as a gift to take pleasure in killing him. This is who I wanted to buy protection from?

“Please,” I whispered, both wanting and fearing Kist’s turning his black eyes to me. My hand was on his shoulder, and the muscles of his arm tightened as he made a fist. I saw his determination before he voiced it.

“I need to hurt someone, Rachel,” he said, brushing my hand from him. “Don’t stop this until I can’t move.” He pulled a pool cue from the wreckage and hefted it.

“Kisten!” I pleaded, but he shoved me backward. I stumbled to catch my balance, frightened, and Kisten went to meet them, never looking back. Panicking, I shifted my weight to follow, but Jenks dropped down to block my way.

“Let him go,” he said, his hands on his hips and a grim determination on his face.

“They’re going to kill him!” I said, pointing to the advancing vampires as Kisten took up a stance between me and my car, but Jenks shook his head.

“No they won’t,” he said, eyes never leaving them. “He belongs to someone else.” His eyes went to me, filled with deep fear. “After they finish beating him up, you’ve got to get him out of Cincy before whoever that is finds him.”