Bait

Csali
"Bait"

Chapter Two: Hidden Claws


Drago Ionescu zipped up his pants and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. Lip smacking good indeed. He'd expected the idiot to be armed but it was just a matter of knocking the gun from his hand and his prey was powerless. If that was the best they had to offer, that gang of thugs was even more pathetic than Drago thought. He looked down at the cooling body sprawled on the ground like a pile of rags. The young man, if Drago could call him that, cried and whimpered like a baby even before Drago took him the first time. By the time he'd had him several more times, the guy had screamed so much that he could only croak and weakly groan when Drago's enjoyment became more… carnal.

He left more behind than he usually did. Wasting was as much a sin to his blood as killing for sport but Radu said enough had to be left over to send a message. Just like the one that Drago's cousin Nicu killed. Nicu said that his prey was just as weak as Drago's, just the fact that they had to depend on their guns and their knives spoke volumes. Without their weapons, the Raptors gang members were as weak as field mice and about as brave.

Radu and Vérszomj had nothing but contempt for weakness and the young man's rape and gory death was Drago's judgment of that weakness. The judgment that Drago's prey was less than nothing.

He was only human.
* * *
"Oops, I didn't realize you were still on the phone," Balint suddenly piped up. I didn't even hear him approach me. How much of the conversation did the little brat hear?

I tapped the code on the cell that meant I was being watched and hung up on Zack. "It's alright," I reassured him. "I'd rather talk to you."

Balint smiled and it was like sunshine was flooding the sky even though it was night time. "Good."

"Your boyfriend isn't gonna get jealous is he?" I jibed, the thought of fucking with what was Radu's exciting me.

"You mean Radu?" Balint made a face. "He's not my boyfriend."

"Your lover then?"

"No." He slid up to me, snuggling. "It doesn't matter, does it?" His eyes darkened. "Unless Radu is the one you want to sleep with."


Uh, no thank you very much. Don't get me wrong, Radu was fucking beautiful and I'd be lying if I said that my dick didn't get hard the first time I saw the boy, which was probably why I fucked the hell out of the stupid bitch who was probably his sister. But there was a definite sense of power that was barely hidden that suggested that Radu was able to back up his arrogance. Balint was scrappy but more like a kitten. Easier to handle. Easier to dominate.

Once I did, it'd be only a matter of time until I could turn little Balint against his not-boyfriend and use his Gifts to decimate that band of Gypsies once and for all. And anyone else who dared oppose us.

Now I knew once Zack knew the kid was only not a fuck and dump but would become one of us he'd be beyond jealous and maybe even a little insecure. He had nothing to worry about. Balint would be a toy I'd play with til I got tired of him, then if he still proved himself useful he'd stay in the background til I needed his talents. Zack may have been my muscle and my right hand but his main use to me was that he was my best friend, in and out of bed, and I trusted him more than anyone else.

My answer to Balint's comment was to cup his face in my hands and kiss him softly. "You know you're the one I want. Not Radu."

Balint practically melted against my body, oh he was gonna be a fun toy. "I'm glad." He laid his head against my arm. Cute. "I gotta be back by tomorrow."

Not happening but I wasn't gonna tell him that until I had him in my bed. Then he'd be shit out of luck if he tried to bolt. "Let's go."

I called Zack and told him to have the car waiting by the entrance of the bazaar and as soon as we got there we hopped into the car. Black Hummer fitted with the latest in comfort and safety measures, not to mention a V30 engine that moved close to mach speeds.

Hey, I had the money, so I was gonna have the best that money could buy me. Zack drove and I slid into the back seat with Balint and took advantage of the easy access. I could hear Zack's breathing change with every one of Balint's moans but I knew he was as aroused as he was angry. By the time we parked in front of my luxury high rise, Balint was face down on my leather car seat and I was driving into him into it.

Zack knew me well enough to know I was not gonna budge out of the car until I got off so he sighed and kept a look out while I fucked Balint into oblivion. My libido will be the death of me yet!

Balint bucked under me as the pleasure filled my body like helium and rose until I couldn't take anymore and I cried out as orgasm hit me right between the eyes. I also found out that under that pretty, impish face was a passionate and wild boy who was anything but submissive when it came to sex. His nails were on the sharp side and warm blood dripped down my back where he scratched me. And Balint bit down his scream when he came, right into my shoulder.

I pulled out of him and quickly got dressed. "You like it rough, little Balint?"

"Don't call me that," he snarled. He actually snarled before he seemed to remember who I was and all that hostility vanished as if it'd never been there. Balint rolled over on his back, then reached down to the car floor to grab his clothes. "Sorry," he said but I could tell he really wasn't. "My family and Radu call me "little Balint," he told me in a way that said it was a right I hadn't earned.

As much as he was pissing me off, I was gaining respect for the little brat. "Your family is fierce," I remarked.

Balint laughed, but this time it was with me. "Understatement, Nicky-nick," he purred. "They're ferocious."

Nicky-nick, huh? I decided I liked the little show of affection. "And are you?"

Balint's lips curled into a smile that gave me shivers. Shivers of pleasure because I could see that there was more to the kid than I thought and shivers of uneasiness because there was something chilling and almost scary about his smile. It reminded me of a dog baring his teeth before attacking. "What do you think?"

I closed my fingers around his jaw. "I think you're not the playful kitten you pretend to be."

He calmly buttoned and zipped up his jeans. "Oh?" he said, all innocence.

"I've seen your claws, Balint."

He slumped against the car seat and I let him go. "You don't want me?"

Balint didn't just have puppy dog eyes, they pulled at me in a way I never should've let them. "Never said that, lovely Balint. In fact," I leaned forward and kissed his mouth, "it makes me want you more."

He didn't seem surprised. "Alright," was all he said.

Zack's words suddenly echoed in my head.

Be careful. There's something not right about Balint.

Well even though I wanted to overpower him, I didn't want a pussy and Balint was anything but.

Apparently Zack had enough because he got out of the car and opened our back door. "We going in?"

"Of course." Both of us were dressed so it was just a matter of getting out of the car and walking up the stairs to the lobby.

"Fancy," Balint observed as we made our way towards the elevator.

I suppose for him it was fancy, for me it was home.

Balint suddenly noticed Zack was still around and he didn't sound happy. "He's coming with us?"

Zack was about as thrilled. "I stay at Dom's place," he said in a way that showed that Balint hadn't earned that right.

Balint's eyes moved from me to Zack, then looked back to me and he smirked. "That's not all you do at his place."

Zack whispered in my ear, "You're not gonna let him disrespect you like that."

I whispered back, "Don't worry, he'll learn to watch his mouth soon enough."

"He'd better," Zack said soft enough for just me to hear as an aside, "or the other guys will think they can do the same."

They'd be dead before I let that happen but I did appreciate Zack's concern.

Once we got into the elevator, I punched the button for the third floor, Sig's place. Sig was our headshrinker and Healer and the plan was to drop Balint off there to see what made him tick and what strengths, weaknesses, abilities and skills he had. Sig did that for every recruit we had and I looked forward to what he'd find out about Balint.

The elevator doors swung open and I had Zack hold them there while I led Balint inside Sig's office which took up the whole third floor.

Balint's eyes narrowed as he realized he wasn't going directly to my penthouse. "What's this for?"

Sig's smile was friendly. "Mr. Giancarlo has requested that I examine you."

Balint shook his head violently. "No! I don't need to be examined, I'm healthy."

Oh yes he was definitely gonna learn before the night was through that his choice had ended the moment he agreed to go home with me. But for now, I'd play along and use charm instead. "I know you are," I soothed as I stroked his hair, "but just humor me, okay?"

"Okay," Balint agreed, "but no blood test."

Maybe he wasn't as healthy as I thought. "No blood test," I promised, then left the two of them and walked back to the elevator. It was an easy promise since as a Healer, one scan would tell Sig what he needed to know without something as imprecise and archaic as a blood test. I realized that he and his Old World family probably hadn't joined this century when it came to certain things.

I stepped inside and Zack pressed the button to the penthouse. My penthouse. "He's a little gun shy about Healers. Probably never had one before. It should be interesting."

"What's he hiding?" Zack suddenly said as the elevator went up.

I turned to him. "What're you talking about?"

"Your new friend Balint the Gypsy. Why is he so nervous about being put under the magnifying glass?"

I sighed and pulled Zack close. "You already have an answer so why don't you tell me." I started kissing down his neck.

"I don't have an answer," Zack grumbled but allowed me to soften him up. "I just think he's trying to put something over on us. And it's not just that Gypsy con artist bullshit, although you can bet he's doing that too."

I laughed. "Zack, you baby, you sure that this isn't your jealousy talking?"

He crossed his arms in front of his chest and pulled away from me. "Jealousy my ass. There's something about that boy that puts me off and it's not just his Gypsy ways or his refusal to give anyone respect."

I frowned. "Puts you off?" I repeated. "You mean that you don't like or that you don't trust?"

"I mean that makes my hackles rise." Then he laughed a little. "I know it sounds stupid but if I was a cat, I'd be hissing at him. Or barking if I was a dog."

"You're right," I said softly, "it sounds incredibly positively stupid. But I'll be curious to know if Sig sees the same things as you do."

The doors opened again and it was just a matter of walking through the steel doors and voila, my penthouse. I knew Sig would send Balint back up here when he was done with him so I kicked off my shoes and led Zack to the bedroom.

As we undressed, I turned on the 72 inch plasma screen but the TV was used for many things, including remote access for the cameras I had all over Sig's office. I was damned if I wasn't gonna watch the process and Zack always watched with me to offer his input, just like we always did when Sig did his "intake."

Of course Zack usually offered me other things once he got bored with the intake and we started to pay less attention to the TV screen and more to each other. Cameras recorded everything while it happened so I could always watch later and frankly, by that time lust was talking stronger than anything else.

Something told me that boredom would not be an issue tonight. Zack's eyes were as glued to the screen as mine were….

"Have a seat, Balint," Sig said cheerfully. He was a good enough fighter to be in the Raptors but Sig, aka Sigfried Dietrich, was here mostly for his Healing and spot on ability to analyze people. Sig lived for this and I knew he was relishing every moment.

Balint slid into the seat with a sullen look on his feline features. "Is this going to take long?"

"That will totally depend on you," Sig answered calmly, no doubt making mental notes. "Now, why don't we start off with how old you are."

"Old enough to do what your boss brought me here for," Balint replied. Then he smirked. "Unless you're planning to turn him in for having sex with a minor and I know you're not about to do that." Fucking wise ass.

Sig chuckled and brought out his tablet and jotted things down with the stylus. "But you want me to."

Balint shrugged. "Do what you like. It doesn't matter anyway, does it? Besides, he's not the oldest one who's gotten into my pants."

Sig jotted down some more things and Zack said to me, "It seems your Gypsy does more than fortune telling."

"Shut up," I hissed, punching his shoulder. I didn't even have to look at Zack to know he was smirking. Instead I focused more on the TV and Sig's interview.

Apparently, it piqued Sig's prurient curiosity as well. Good man. "What age is the oldest, Balint?"

"Almost seventy." Balint laughed at the disgusted look that crept over Sig's face before he quickly reverted his expression back to the kindly but bland look. "Don't judge what you don't understand, Doc."

I understood just fine. His family was so desperate they were pimping him out to anyone who could pay. Balint really WAS their meal ticket. Fucking excellent.

"But that leads us to our first question." Sig's eyes fell on Balint. "How old are you?"

Balint rolled his eyes. "Fourteen. Does that interest you?"

More notes. "Boys don't interest me, Balint."

Balint shrugged. "Then why the need to know?"

"Do you always distract when you don't want to answer a question, Balint?"

"Do you always psychoanalyze every boy Giancarlo wants to fuck?" was Balint's answer.

Balint seemed determined to show how much he didn't respect Sig, how much he didn't respect me and I was quickly growing more and more annoyed with every remark he made. I decided that the brat needed to learn some humbleness. And fear.