"I can handle it," I said.
"Good. Because we're going to need to be convincing." She moved to the door, then paused. "And Cain? Whatever happens in there, it's just for the job. We clear on that?"
"Crystal clear."
She left, and I sat there processing. A sex club. Of course rcier would frequent a sex club. Where else would a sadistic vampire go for entertainnt?
Tomorrow was going to be interesting.
---
The Scarlet Room was located in a nondescript building in the Garden District, its entrance marked only by a red door and a small bronze plaque. Sarah and I arrived just after midnight, dressed appropriately – in an expensive suit, her in a black dress that left little to the imagination.
"Ready?" she asked.
"As I'll ever be."
The doorman was a werewolf, his amber eyes tracking us as we approached. "mbers only."
"We're guests of Antoine rcier," Sarah said smoothly, handing him a forged invitation Tommy had created. "He's expecting us."
The doorman examined the invitation, then nodded. "Welco to The Scarlet Room. Please rember – all activities are consensual, discretion is mandatory, and what happens here stays here."
We entered into a world of red velvet and low lighting. The main floor was a lounge area where people mingled, drinks flowing freely. But it was the rooms beyond – glimpsed through semi-transparent curtains – that made the club's purpose clear.
"Stay close," Sarah murmured, taking my arm. "We need to find rcier and get that blood sample."
We moved through the crowd, and I spotted him quickly. Antoine rcier sat in a private booth, surrounded by beautiful won who hung on his every word. He was handso in that ageless vampire way, with dark hair and cold eyes that suggested cruelty beneath the charm.
"There," I said quietly.
"I see him. How do we get close?"
Before I could answer, a woman approached us. She was stunning – Asian features, long black hair, wearing almost nothing. Her eyes held the glazed look of soone under vampiric influence.
"New faces," she purred. "Looking for anything in particular?"
"Just exploring," Sarah said, playing her role perfectly. "This is our first ti here."
"How exciting. I'm i. If you need anything – anything at all – just ask." She gestured to the private rooms. "The experiences here are... unforgettable."
"We'll keep that in mind," I said.
i drifted away, and Sarah leaned closer. "We need a way to get to him. Any ideas?"
I watched rcier for a mont, noting the dynamic. He liked being the center of attention, liked having beautiful people compete for his notice. And he definitely enjoyed showing off his power.
"Follow my lead," I said.
I led Sarah to the bar, making sure we were visible from rcier's booth. Ordered drinks, leaned in close to her, played the part of an interested couple.
Sarah caught on imdiately. Her hand slid up my chest, and she laughed at sothing I said, the sound carrying across the room.
I felt rcier's attention shift to us.
"He's watching," Sarah murmured against my ear.
"Good. Keep going."
She kissed my neck, her hand moving lower, and I had to remind myself this was for the job. Just the job.
Even if it was getting increasingly difficult to rember that.
"Mr. rcier requests your presence," i appeared beside us again. "He'd like to et the beautiful new couple."
"Lead the way," I said.
We followed i to the booth, and rcier's cold eyes swept over us with clear assessnt.
"New blood," he said, his accent carrying a hint of French. "How delightful. I'm Antoine. And you are?"
"Alexander," I said. "This is Rebecca."
Sarah smiled, playing her part perfectly. "We've heard wonderful things about this establishnt."
"Have you? From whom?"
"A mutual acquaintance," Sarah said vaguely. "Soone who suggested we might enjoy the... atmosphere."
"The atmosphere." rcier smiled, showing fangs. "Is that what we're calling it? Please, join ."
We slid into the booth, and I was hyperaware of rcier's presence. Two hundred and eighty-seven years old, powerful enough to control a significant portion of the city's underground, and currently looking at us like we were interesting toys.
"So," he said, signaling for drinks. "What brings a lovely couple like you to my favorite establishnt?"
"Curiosity," I said. "And a desire for new experiences."
"How open-minded." His gaze lingered on Sarah appreciatively before returning to . "I can appreciate that. Tell , how long have you two been together?"
"A few months," Sarah said smoothly. "We're still in that phase where everything is exciting."
"Ah, young love. Or young lust, perhaps?" He laughed. "Either way, I admire your adventurous spirit."
The conversation continued, getting progressively more suggestive. rcier was testing us, trying to figure out if we were genuine or if we had another agenda.
I played along, matching his energy, while ntally cataloging everything. His mannerisms, his speech patterns, the way he moved.
"You know," rcier said after we'd been talking for about twenty minutes, "I find you both quite intriguing. It's rare to et a couple with genuine chemistry and the courage to explore places like this."
"We appreciate the complint," I said.
"I'd like to offer you sothing. A gift, if you will." He gestured to one of his attendants, whispering sothing in her ear. She nodded and disappeared into the crowd. "A private booth has just beco available. Very exclusive, very comfortable. And I'm sending you so company – a lovely young woman who I think you'll both enjoy."
[Warning: Potential surveillance]
[Recomndation: Accept but remain cautious]
"That's very generous," Sarah said.
"Think of it as a welco gift. Though I should ntion – " his smile turned slightly predatory " – the company I'm sending is soone I trust. She has excellent judgnt about people. I value her... insights."
There it was. The real purpose. He was sending soone to watch us, to report back on whether we were what we claid to be.
"We're honored," I said, keeping my expression neutral.
rcier stood. "Enjoy yourselves. And perhaps later, if you're still here, we can speak more. I do love making new friends."
He left, and within minutes, i returned to guide us to a private booth. It was larger than I expected – plush seating, mood lighting, a curtain that could be drawn for privacy but was currently open enough to see out.
"Mr. rcier's guest will join you shortly," i said, then disappeared.
Sarah imdiately moved close, her voice barely a whisper. "This is a test."
"I know. Whoever he sends will be reporting everything back to him."
"So what do we do?"
"We commit. We make it convincing enough that she reports we're exactly what we appear to be – a couple looking for excitent."
"Cain, that ans – "
"I know what it ans." I t her eyes. "Can you do this? Because if you can't, we abort now and find another way."
She was quiet for a mont, then straightened her shoulders. "I can do it. For the job."
"For the job," I echoed.
A woman appeared at the booth entrance. She was stunning – mid-twenties, with honey-blonde hair, green eyes, and a body that was pure sin wrapped in barely-there lingerie. Her smile was friendly but her eyes were sharp, assessing.
"Hi," she said, her voice sultry. "I'm Isabelle. Antoine asked to keep you company tonight."
"Please, join us," I said, gesturing to the seat.
She slid into the booth with feline grace, positioning herself where she could see both of us clearly. "So, Alexander and Rebecca. First ti at The Scarlet Room?"
"First ti," Sarah confird.
"How exciting. I love introducing new people to the possibilities here." Isabelle's hand rested on my thigh, casual but deliberate. "Antoine ntioned you two have great chemistry. I'm looking forward to seeing if he's right."
[Target Assessnt: Isabelle]
[Role: Monitor/Reporter for rcier]
[Threat Level: Low combat, High intelligence gathering]
[Objective: Convince her you're legitimate]
This was it. The point of no return.
If we didn't commit now, Isabelle would report back that sothing was off. rcier would investigate further, and our entire plan would collapse.
"He's usually right about these things," I said, my hand finding Sarah's thigh. "We're very compatible."
Sarah leaned into , her lips finding my neck. "Very compatible."
Isabelle smiled, clearly pleased. "I see."
And with that, the dynamic shifted from conversation to sothing else entirely.
Sarah kissed , and I kissed her back. It started as performance but quickly beca sothing more – weeks of tension, the stress of the job, the adrenaline of the situation all combining into genuine heat.
Isabelle watched with obvious interest, her hand moving higher on my thigh.
This was going to get complicated very quickly.
But we needed that blood sample. We needed to maintain cover. And right now, that ant crossing lines we'd probably regret later.
Later.
Right now, we had a job to do.
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