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Ravenscroft had taught him anything, it was how to be patient. "I won't deny I'm disappointed with your decision," he said, "but I'll respect it."
    He could tell his sincerity surprised her, but she recovered quickly and nodded. "Thank you."
    He looked around. "So, now what?"
    "Right now, I have some unfinished business lying unconscious in a trash Dumpster. You're welcome to stay here while I'm gone. I should be back in a couple of hours."
    "I have a better idea," Darius said, walking to the door and pulling it open. "I'll go with you.
    CHAPTER THREE
    It was six o'clock when Lexi walked back into her apartment after taking Maurice Gonzalez to jail. She and Darius had found him just where they'd left him in the Dumpster. Though she'd never admit it to Darius, she'd been grateful for his help. He'd easily removed the cement blocks and lifted Gonzales's two hundred plus pounds out of the Dumpster. When Gonzalez woke up and tried to resist arrest, Darius restrained him as effortlessly as if he were holding on to a butterfly.
    Lexi knew she could have taken in Gonzalez by herself, but Darius had made it so much easier. He'd been so polite and helpful, she considered inviting him to spend the evening with her after all. It wasn't like he had anyplace else to go. But before she could ask, Darius told her he wanted to explore the city. She'd offered to show him the sights once she filled out the paperwork on Gonzalez at the station, but he hadn't wanted to wait.
    She suspected he was looking for a woman who would be more accommodating than she had been.
    The thought made the dying embers of her previous anger flame hot once more.
    How dare he assume she'd have sex with him? It wasn't that she refused to have sex with a complete stranger-goddess knew that from time to time, she'd done just that-out of need, of course, she silently argued. No, it was more his arrogance in just assuming she would.
    If she were honest with herself, she'd admit that not all of her anger was directed at Darius. The truth was that she had been tempted to have sex with him. Forcing the Immortal from her thoughts was nearly impossible, so she headed for the kitchen to make her self something to eat. She felt restless and needed a distraction. But she couldn't help wondering where he was. What was he doing? Who was he doing?
    When the phone rang, she welcomed the diversion. "What are you doing tonight?" Mai asked with that not-so-subtle, hey-I've-made-plans-for-us tone of voice.
    "Feel like helping me do some research?"
    "What kind of research?" Lexi asked hesitantly. "I want to check out the Crypt."a "That new vampire bar?"
    "That's the one," Mai said.
    "Why?" Lexi asked, not sure she wanted to know the answer. Mai was not only a tenacious investigative reporter, she was a wood nymph with a gluttonous sexual appetite. The fact that she wanted to do research at New York City's newest and most-raved-about vampire nightclub couldn't be good news.
    "I hear the back rooms are really hot."
    Lexi heaved a weary sigh. "I don't know. I realize it's the place to go, but I'm pretty sure it's Vlads' territory.
    Ricco's not going to like the idea of us going to a club owned and operated by his chief rival."
    Mai heaved a weary sigh. "We always go to Ricco's place, and then you run off with Ricco and I'm left with someone boring."
    "You never complained before. Did something happen?"
    "No. It's just that I've been through all the regulars at Ricco's, except for Ricco himself. I'm in the mood for a Ricco, and I know that's not going to happen with you around. I thought that maybe at the new place, we might find new blood, so to speak." She laughed at her own pun.
    "I don't know," Lexi repeated.
    "Look, if you don't think Ricco will like you going to another club, don't tell him." Everything was so simple for Mai. "Besides, this isn't just for fun. It's work. I'm doing an expose on the popularity behind the vampire nightclubs, but the article is going to be severely slanted