Authors: Lina Gardiner
"Yes, sir?” Mannie stepped into the office, adjusting his wireless earpiece which was connected to Vaslov's intercom system.
"Why isn't Jess Vandermire here yet? The Mayor told me she would be."
"Not sure, sir. She was late the other night too. Seems she's a woman with her own schedule.” Only Mannie would dare talk to Drago like that. He'd been with him for ages.
"I guess that's why she's so appealing to our phone-in client. She's certainly not my type.” Drago rolled his eyes toward the ladies on his couch. Wanton and ready, and alive, that's the way he liked them.
"If the Mayor gave her orders to be here, she'll have to come. I'll tell security to keep an eye out for her and let her in immediately."
"Do that."
Mannie started to leave.
"Have you seen today's paper?” Drago picked up the paper and threw it at him. Mannie twisted and caught it in midair, but not before several sections fell out. He bent and gathered the sheets, putting them back in order without a change in expression. Vaslov liked that about him. He kept his cool.
"Check out the front page with full color photo. It seems Beverley Kellerman was found dead yesterday.” He closed his eyes and leaned his head back. The constant droning headache increased in intensity at the back of his brainstem. “What if their investigation leads back to us?"
"Even if it does, why should we worry? We're not involved in Kellerman's murder."
"Take a better look at that picture, Mannie."
Mannie stared at the paper. “I'm looking.” He tilted his head this way and that. “How'd reporters get this picture, anyway? That alone must've pissed off the cops to no end."
"My point, Mannie...” Drago held out a magnifying glass to Manfred Constantine, and snapped his hand back when his number one thug took it. “Is her neck. Look at her neck."
Mannie squinted through the glass. His eyes narrowed and his lips formed a thin line. “I see what you're getting at."
Drago sat on the edge of his desk, legs stretched out in front of him. “Now, reconsider the problem that Beverley will be traced back to my club."
"Looks like we're going to have to do some damage control.” He cast Drago a speculative look. “There's always the chance that they won't trace her back to us."
"Do you believe in fairytales, Mannie?” Drago pulled his legs closer to the desk and braced himself with his hands in case he decided to lurch forward and grab Mannie around the throat. His temper could be uncontrollable at times, but he'd never taken it out on Mannie.
The two bimbos in the corner giggled and waited for Drago to take his frustration out on his associate. They liked it when he got violent. Drago looked in their direction, his gaze raking over them. “Get out."
Their expressions changed to fear instantly, and they skittered out the room.
"I'm not holding this against you, Mannie. This isn't your fault. Whoever killed this woman could unravel everything we've worked so hard to build. Client or not, find the vampire who did this and kill him. I've got a good thing going here, and I won't let anyone destroy it."
"I'm on it.” Mannie was six-foot-four of solid muscle. His hair had been shaved off and replaced with an intricate tattoo of a Dragon, its tail curled down the back of his neck. “We'll have to retrieve Kellerman's body, I assume?"
Drago forced the anger lines out of his forehead with one hand, while he tried to calm himself. Through gritted teeth, he said, “Yeah, I guess so."
"I got a couple of men who can do that job."
"Can we trust them?"
Mannie grinned. “Probably not. They're just cheap ghouls-for-hire. I contact them by phone and they have no idea who I am. If they get caught they're on their own. They can't be connected to us."
"So, if they fail, we could lose Kellerman?"
Mannie shrugged. “Could. But we can always retrieve her again if that happens."
"Do it, then.” Drago turned away and, in doing so, dismissed Mannie. He gritted his teeth again and grabbed onto the desk in front of him, leaning his weight against it. Anger burned inside him so vehemently, that for a moment he felt dizzy. Losing control wasn't going to help. He had an empire to protect, and he'd do that with his last breath if he had to.
Britt literally tasted his frustration. Time for action since Sampson hadn't reported his findings on the video tape. Mind you, the man was up to his ears in bodies lately, but Britt had to find out what was happening to Jess and the sooner the better.
With the phone glued to his ear he waited for James to pick the damned thing up. It must've rung at least ten times.
"Hello,” James answered in a hushed voice.
Britt slapped his forehead. Of course! It was the middle of the night. Britt had been working the night shift so long he'd forgotten the majority of the city's population was asleep.
James, a vampire, had married a human woman. They'd been together for a short time, but the point was they
were
together. In fact, he and Terry had adopted a baby, Sephina, who'd been bitten by a vampire. Along with Sampson Case, Jess's Forensic Vampirologist, they were trying to give the child a normal life.
"Oh, damn, James. I forgot about the time."
"No problem Britt. If you're calling at this time of night, I know it's got to be important. Actually, it's good that you called now. I just stirred from my sleep a few minutes ago."
James called it sleep, but Britt called it death. Nothing would have woken James while he was out.
"James, I need to talk to you about Jess. It's personal stuff that she'd hate for me to tell you, but I ...
we
can't get through this alone."
James cleared his throat. “Okay."
"Jess nearly vamped me a couple of days ago, when we were in bed. It kind of put a damper on things.” Britt cleared his throat. He didn't know exactly how James would react to the news that she'd been going to sleep with him. Even if they never got the chance to make love, the intent was there. James and Jess had been together as partners for decades.
Silence greeted Britt. He couldn't even hear him breathing. “James?"
"You mean she was going to bite you as part of the sexual experience?"
"Not exactly. She was going to drain my blood without knowing what she was doing. She'd had some kind of dream, but hadn't woken completely."
Britt heard James breathe that time. He sucked in a surprised gasp. “How's that possible?"
"I take it you don't dream either?"
"Never."
"Yeah, that's what she said, too. She thinks something is happening to her. That the evil inside her is taking over.” Britt forced a cynical laugh. “Of course that's not going to happen."
"Britt, I don't mean to worry you more than you already are, but this is very troublesome. What did Regent say about it?"
"She won't tell him. She doesn't think he's strong enough to handle the stress."
"Regent?” James laughed softly, his affection for the old man obvious. “He's as tough as anyone I've ever met. He should be consulted."
"There's more.” Britt proceeded to tell James about Jess's experience in the alley. “She fainted. Said she talked to someone in the alley behind Dragon's Lair but there was no one else on the security tape we ... procured."
"She fainted? Literally lost consciousness?” James sounded completely shocked now.
"Yes. In fact, she had no recollection of getting herself home."
"Dear God, that's not good, Britt."
"I know.” Britt thought about telling him about the dagger found beneath the dead woman, but held back. He couldn't risk anyone suspecting Jess of being a killer until he'd proven she wasn't. Not even James.
"Could the tape have been doctored?” James asked.
Britt shot a hand through his hair. “Possibly, but I really doubt it. The incident happened a few hours earlier, and the tape had been put away routinely with the others.” He gripped the phone tightly. “I don't think there was anything or anyone in that alley with her, James."
"I see."
No surprise. Vampires handled bad news stoically.
Britt cleared his throat. “Back to the stuff between Jess and I,” Britt said. “Thing is, we didn't have sex. Never got to it. She left after she nearly bit me.” Britt paused. “Okay, I'll spit it out. Has anything like that ever happened between you and Terry?"
"No. And I've never bitten her to heighten the sex, either, though I've heard that some vampires do that."
"This was nothing like that. She had no idea what she was doing. She intended to take my blood."
"Do you want me to come back to work?"
"Not yet. You've just started paternity leave. Terry needs you."
"Yes, and Sephina requires a lot of attention right now, but Jess is important to me too, Britt."
"I appreciate that, James. I know you two have been through a lot together. Look. For now, I'll keep you in the loop. If anything happens that we need your help, I'll let you know."
"Do that."
Britt hung up and moved to the window. He looked out onto the dark streets, and remembered how he'd felt when he was being followed by vampires but had no idea they were there. Jess would be in a lot more danger if she couldn't sense vampires in her vicinity. And, there'd be plenty who'd be exalted for taking out the best vampire hunter in New York City.
He couldn't imagine his world without her. The image of the two of them pressed against the brick wall brought a smile to his face and his body stirred. No, he had to prove himself to her.
He needed her. He loved her.
Jess met Regent in his study as she did every night at dusk. She snuggled into the comfy leather chair facing him and planted her feet against the edge of his ancient oak desk.
"Honey it's a wonder there isn't a worn spot on the edge of this old desk,” Regent peered at her over his reading glasses and set down his paperwork.
"I'm giving it provenance,” she responded, moving her feet long enough to check out the wear. “Yes, it's coming along nicely."
Regent stifled a chuckle by clearing his throat as he shuffled papers around on his desk. “Very funny, dear."
Even though she'd nearly made him laugh, there was a hint of something amiss in his voice. “What's wrong, Regent?"
"Britt's here. He's waiting to see you."
"Why is he here?” she asked, wishing she didn't already know the answer to that question.
"I think you know why. You've taken your relationship to the next level, and now you're virtually ignoring him.” Regent spread his hands out on the desk in front of him. “I imagine he's confused."
"He's not the only one.” She leaned forward and monitored Regent's reaction. “Did he tell you he's confused?"
"No. Of course he didn't. But I wasn't born yesterday. And, for that matter, neither were you, dear. I know trust isn't something that comes easily to you, but it's the same for him. He's been through a lot the last few years. Not to mention he's a hard man—keeps everything in.
"Where is he?"
"In the Church, I think."
She closed her eyes and bit her lip. “I shouldn't have misled him, let him think we could be a couple. It was a huge mistake, Regent. I don't know how to fix it."
"You don't mean that, love,” Regent soothed.
"I do! I can't have a relationship. Not with Britt, not with any man.” She'd end up tainting him, or worse, killing him.
"You should rethink that logic. You need Britt."
"No, Regent, I don't need him and I don't want him. I wish he'd just leave me alone. I like things the way they are,” she lied. If she couldn't convince Regent, she at least had to convince herself.
"When were you going to have the decency to tell me that?” Britt's said from the doorway.
Jess stood slowly to face him. Tall and muscled, his hair disheveled in that handsome, tough guy way that suited him perfectly, his voice had constricted to the point that it didn't sound like him. She'd caused that. She always caused people pain.
"I don't owe you an explanation, but I'm glad you overheard our conversation. Now you know the truth.” Even though it hurt to say those words, they flew out of her mouth with such force he had to believe she'd meant them.
Regent's intake of breath reminded her that he, too, had pinned a lot of hope on Britt. Had wanted Britt to take over as her protector. She might be able to hurt Britt in order to save him from her, but she couldn't do that to Regent. He'd be broken.
Britt turned and stalked out of the office, slamming the front door so hard Jess could feel the reverberation in her bones.
"Jess,” Regent began, visibly concerned but trying to stay calm, probably because he knew a situation like this could switch on her feral side. Only Regent and Britt had ever been able to suitably calm her in times of extreme agitation.
She held up one hand. “No, Regent. What I've done is for the best. Britt and I can't have that kind of relationship. It won't work. I don't have feelings like normal people. I'm a vampire, for God's sake. I'm dangerous. My nature is to take, not to give. He has to understand the ground rules."
"He's very upset, dear."
"He's a cop. He'll get over it."
Regent didn't look convinced, but he held his tongue. Smart brother, because at this point it was best not to irritate someone with issues of her own to get under control. And considering she professed to have no feelings, she sure felt like she'd just died again, only this time without any second chances.
"There's something else, I need to tell you, Jess."
Her spine locked tight. Something else wrong? She knew that serious tone when her brother used it. “What is it, Regent?"
His faded blue eyes looked away the moment her gaze met his. “I'm being put under investigation by the Archdiocese. Word got out about the bodies found on the roof during our battle with Prometheus. They want to know what's going on here."
"Oh no!” Over the years Regent had lived in both worlds. God's world of prayer and forgiveness, and the dark underworld of vampires. He understood in a much more tangible way than most priests that evil existed. He'd battled side by side with her, but in doing that, he'd put his calling on the line more than once. He'd never been able to tell the truth about the strange happenings that had occurred at his churches over the years. Vampire attacks had always been put down to vandals.