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Spade leaned forward "Not so fast I said what I had was better than anything you had, but you haven’t given runted "If I hadn’t already pocketed a lot of your money, I’d swear you were just lookin’ for a free handout You have yours with you?"

Denise tensed, but Spade didn’t hesitate "Yes"

"Alrighty, then" Black Jack opened a lower drawer on his desk, ruffled through it for a few seconds, and then pulled out a tiny dark vial He handed it to Spade "This is top-shelf Dragon, ten CCs Goes for a grand at friend prices If you have anything half as good, I’ll cover your losses froreed?"

"Agreed"

Spade took it with one hand, still using the other to trace firm patterns across her shoulders Denise almost held her breath as he popped the top on the vial and then tilted it to his ? Wouldn’t that er, as it had before?

Spade closed his eyes, sing Her heart began to thuht greenand fixated on her neck

Then he turned to Black Jack "You sell that shite for a grand? That’s bloody robbery, in the reen as well "Now you’re insulting my business, pardner, and I don’t take kindly to that"

"You’d take kindly to the idea of quadrupling your profits, wouldn’t you?" Spade shot back His hand slid down from Denise’s shoulders to her arm "Hand me a knife and I’ll show you what I ive hiued and annoyed as he pulled out what looked like a silver switchblade from his jacket Spade flicked it open one-handed and then pricked her upper arrip when she would have pulled away

"Don’t," he said in an unco tone

Denise froze, but not because she was afraid of Spade doing anything to her if she refused If he was so insistent on this course of action, he had to have a reason I trust you, Denise thought,her arainst the cut he’d just made A drop of crimson pearled onto the blade Spade took the knife away and then offered it to Black Jack

"Taste"

The vahed "Is this some kind of joke?"

Spade didn’t blink "Do I look like I’ave another a the tip where her blood stained it

As soon as he sed, his eyes widened, and then he bolted out of his chair

"Ho-lee shit!" he shouted He was around the desk in a blink, but Spade was standing, too, blocking his path to Denise

"No more Too much will make you lose control, and I can’t risk her safety for obvious reasons"

Part of Denise was still battling against the horribleher to run like hell But still she waited, trusting that Spade had a plan that didn’t involve selling her blood to this ahole

"She’s a source," Black said al at Denise in a way that made her want to hide "And she’s a woman! A beautiful woman Good Christ, boy, do you knoto make off her?"

Spade smiled coldly "I haven’t decided if I want to partner with you yet So far, you’ve only shown oods How do I know you’ll be able to provide the sort of protection that would be necessary to keep her away fro to stop the trade?"

Angerher panic She knew Spade was faking, but Black Jackabout her like she wasn’t even a person

Black Jack threw up his hands "Do you kno rare sources are? There’s only one, to e, so we have to dilute his blood seven ways from Sunday to stretch it and still keep hion you tasted is like puke compared to her blood But another sourceand a woman" The vampire shuddered in what looked like ecstasy

"What’s the bonus ofa woman?" Denise couldn’t help but ask "I mean, blood is blood"

Black Jack opened his mouth and then shut it "We’ll talk more about details later, but you have nothin’ to worry about"

"We won’t talk at all if you don’t start i me with your connections," Spade replied inexorably "So far I haven’t heard any Perhaps I should go to the other peddler Ian toldDenise saw the logic of his strategy even as she wanted to run away froht be other sellers, but none likecockily "My Master is Web You’ll have heard of him, and he has direct access to the people who started the Red Dragon trade Connections don’t get higher than that"

Spade snorted "Nice story, but where’s the proof? Anyone could say they’re one of Web’s I could claim it myself to someone ouldn’t know better"

Now Black Jack looked frustrated "What proof do you want? You’ll meet him once I tell him about this Believehiht now Let me hear his voice Otherwise, I walk out with her and find someone else to partner with"

Black Jack didn’t like being threatened; it was clear from the fury that crossed over his expression But just as quickly, his face smoothed into another smile

"No proble "Give me Web," Black Jack said to whoever answered After a few , his smile widened

"Master I have the best news for you - "

Spade’s hand shot out, grabbing the phone Black Jack went to snatch it back, but stopped at the glare Spade gave him

"What is it?" Denise heard an annoyed voice bark from the phone Then, "Black Jack? Can you hear me?"

"I hear you just fine," Black Jack said, al "And so does my new pardner, Henry - "

Spade clicked the phone off and then, to Denise’s surprise, ripped the base from the wall Black Jack’s whoop turned into a curse

"What the fk you’d do that for?"

Spade handed Denise his own cell from his jacket "Go up to the main hotel entrance and call for our ride I’ll -infested varound, Denise snatched Spade’s phone and headed for the door