Authors: Toni Kelly
“Smells delicious, huh?” She spun around and yelped at his nearness. “Luke, what are you doing?”
He bent his head over her bare shoulder and opened his eyes. He did not need a mirror to know they glowed deep burgundy with hunger. He grasped the whisk from her hand and stirred the yellow puree behind her, embracing her between his body and the stove. “Must I wait until later for a taste?”
She laughed and shoved him back, but not before he felt a tremor wrack her. “Savannah.” He groaned and buried his face against her chest.
The bell to his apartment buzzed.
“Bloody hell,” Luke said. “He is early.” He would kill Broderick.
“Don’t be rude, he’s your friend.” She pushed him aside to answer the door.
“Wait.” He slipped his hand around hers and spun her back to him. “Finish up here. I will greet him.”
Her eyes narrowed then she reached for the pot of polenta and removed it from the burner. “Fine, but be nice.”
Nice? The halfling deserved a lesson in etiquette. Luke walked to the door and opened it. “What happened to the key I lent you?”
Broderick grinned and stepped inside. “Wouldn’t want to interrupt anything.” He held out a bottle of red wine. “I brought
vino
for the lady.”
“You are fifteen minutes early.”
He scoffed, removing his leather jacket. “If you hadn’t started with her already, fifteen minutes is hardly going to make a difference.”
“I disagree,” Luke replied. “Still, we shall postpone that discussion until I have time to school you in the art of giving pleasure.”
“Ouch.” Broderick laughed. “Guess I did get you at a bad time.”
“You’re here.” Savannah entered the foyer, arms spread for an embrace. The sight stole the words from Luke’s lips, forcing him to turn away. “Since you’re here, you can help Luke finish setting the table. He’s been a distracting assistant, to say the least.”
“I bet he has, but I see you’re learning fast. Haven’t even been here five minutes and you’re putting me to work.”
“No work, no food,” Savannah said in a sing song voice as she headed back toward the kitchen.
“You good, man? You talk to Lorenzo?” Broderick’s hand came to rest on Luke’s shoulder.
“I spoke to him.”
“And?”
“It is as I expected,” Luke replied. “He has been behind everything this entire time. Of course, he would never admit this.”
“What are you going to do? Will you tell her what she is?”
“Not yet. I do not want her frightened.” Luke turned, nodded toward where Savannah had disappeared. “We can talk later. Ready to make yourself useful?”
“Sure, let’s do this.”
27
Jealousy is that pain which a man feels from the apprehension that he is not equally beloved by the person whom he entirely loves.
—Joseph Addison
Luke clasped his hands beneath the dining room table for fear he would snap the solid slab of wood in half. Considering the trouble Savannah had gone through to lay out tonight’s meal, the move would hardly get him in her good graces.
Jealousy was a vicious sentiment. And an unpleasant, new one for him. Born into privilege and wealth, he’d expanded his holdings through buying and selling real estate.
As a human, station alone had earned him friends and garnered the affections of society’s heiresses. Not so with Savannah.
“Wow.” Broderick made a show of rubbing his flat stomach as he slid further down in his high backed chair. “I’ve been around long enough to know a great meal when I’ve eaten one and that was most definitely a great meal. You would make a wonderful chef.”
Savannah smiled and sipped her wine.
Luke had lost count of how many smiles she’d shared with Broderick. This was her fourth glass of wine, though, and the Chianti had worked its magic. Or so he preferred to believe.
“Oh, tonight was nothing,” she gushed, grasping Broderick’s wrist. “You’ve got to try some of my classics. I don’t claim to be Italian but I make a mean cannelloni.”
“Dish time.” Luke stood, picked up the almost empty wine bottle and shoved it at Broderick’s chest. “Guest’s honor. You can help.”
“But I’m not done with my drink.” Savannah pouted, her face etched with confusion. “And we’re having such good conversation.”
Maybe so, but if she smiled at Broderick one more time, he would end up doing something he would later regret. “It is late. We must leave for the charity auction soon.”
“Another auction. What kind of charities could vampires possible have? Why must we go?”
Luke caught Broderick’s gaze. “We have already established we are not an uncivilized people. Please get dressed. We will wait for you here.” He turned to Broderick. “I will lend you a blazer.”
Savannah rose from her chair, her expression one of restrained anger. “I can see you’ve gone into your closed-mouth mode again.” With a polite nod at Broderick, she turned and left the room.
“You’ve only angered her,” Broderick said. “Why not tell her the truth? You plan to kill Lorenzo and turn her.”
“Do not be daft. She would leave here running for her life or whatever short time remains of it.” Luke walked to the foyer closet and pulled out a black blazer. “Besides, if I can avoid changing her, I will.” He lifted the blazer. “Here, this matches your pants.”
Broderick accepted the jacket. “I don’t see another way to get her out of this alive or without being tortured. Still, she would forego a lot as a vampire.”
“I know.” Luke rolled his shoulders. “I want you to ensure she has everything she needs to open her restaurant. Life as a vampire would be different but she can still achieve her dreams.”
“What about you?”
“What about me? You know what needs to happen for me to turn her.”
“You can have someone else turn her,” Broderick said. “Not everyone knows what her blood is capable of.”
“No. I do not want anyone else touching her. I cannot trust anyone else.”
“Have you thought about the fact that she loves you? I see it in her face whenever she glances your way.” Broderick stood and faced him. “It mirrors the look you have when you see her.”
“Do not be absurd.” He glanced away, unable to meet his friend’s gaze, when he knew he spoke the truth. “And even if what you say is the case, what difference should it make?”
“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe you deserve a chance at happily ever after and that mushy crap?”
Luke bit out a sarcastic laugh and shook his head. “There is a reason they call it mushy crap.”
Broderick sighed. “Any other plan in the works?”
Nothing, unless a deal could be established with the Ancients. “I shall speak with Rafe tonight.”
“A death wish, considering you used his stolen vial of blood.”
“My arm is also proof it did not work.”
“How do you know he’ll be there, anyway?” Broderick threaded his hands through his hair. “And if he is, there are so many things that can go wrong. He might try to kill or capture Savannah himself once he knows there is no cure against her.”
“The Ancients always attend these charity events. Makes them appear generous. I do not believe Rafe would capture her.” Luke shook his head. “He had his opportunity. My instincts lead me to believe him different.”
“You’ve got a lot riding on mere instincts,” Broderick said.
Luke nodded. The risk he took was beyond dangerous. What if Rafe did not accept Lorenzo’s death in exchange for protection? What would he request?
“I’m ready.” Savannah walked out in a simple, navy gown with an asymmetrical neckline. The dress hugged her curves and as she approached, side slits swung open, revealing a creamy expanse of shapely legs. “How do I look?” She spun and the dress fluttered up, showing off dainty diamond-encrusted shoes. A collar of diamonds and sapphires covered her most visible scars.
Broderick gained his ability to speak first. “Absolutely stunning.”
She smiled then turned and glared at Luke.
“Breathtaking.” His voice came out gruff and he lifted his good arm. “Shall we go?”
* * * *
The charity auction appeared much like the garden event Savannah attended the first night, only tonight rain forced them in doors. Trying hard to behave civilly instead of strangling Luke, she smiled and plucked a glass of champagne off a passing tray.
“There are a lot of people here tonight,” she said as a group of elegantly dressed vampires passed by, laughing amongst themselves. “And I feel underdressed, even with this necklace.”
Next to the graceful immortals, that was probably the understatement of the century. She wished Luke had given her more information about their plans, but pushing him earlier when he was annoyed would have gotten her nowhere.
“A larger ballroom would have been preferable.” Broderick squeezed her arm gently. “And you look lovely. Don’t worry about your dress.”
“Poor planning on our host’s part. It has been threatening rain for several days now.” Luke pulled Savannah in front of him as they wove around the maze of vampires and blood slaves filling the room. “This is an immense torture. I detest crowds. They make me feel claustrophobic.”
“What a surprise,” Broderick drawled.
“Wait with Savannah a moment, I will return shortly.”
Savannah’s back went cold as Luke removed his hand and disappeared through a cluster of people. “Doesn’t he drive you crazy?”
“With Luke, you have to learn to take both the good and the bad. After a time though, you learn there is much more good than bad.”
In her aggravated state, she was reluctant to agree. “Where is he going now?”
“I believe he spotted Rafe,” Broderick said.
“He is going to talk to the Ancients? Why?” An icy coldness settled deep in the pit of her stomach.
“He wants to talk to them about Lorenzo.”
“And if they won’t listen to him? He should have given them a vial of my blood.”
“Yes, and then you’d be chained in some basement being drained for experimental purposes and we’d be dead.”
Trapped amongst packs of vampires didn’t seem any better. “If life deals me such a fate, so be it.”
Broderick tugged on her arm, pulled her to face him. “You don’t mean that. Whether you speak from fear or concern, I don’t know. Perhaps both, but I assure you Luke wouldn’t do this for just anyone. If he didn’t care for you, you would have been dead long ago. Stop behaving like a naive human. I know you’re capable of more.”
She bowed her head, suddenly embarrassed at her spoiled retort. He was right. Wine had gone to her head, creating a pounding headache. “I’m sorry.”
“Impeccable timing.” Broderick’s eyes widened as Lorenzo approached him from behind and lifted a knife to his neck, gliding it along his tight, pale skin. “Enchanting as always, Ms. Michaels.”
“Leave, Savannah,” Broderick said.
“How noble, but I’m afraid she has no place to go. Or maybe she doesn’t want to leave you stranded.” Lorenzo smiled. “Am I right?”
Savannah stepped back, only to find a steely arm had snaked around her midsection. She shoved at the arm clothed in black cotton. “What do you want?”
Three large vampires came to stand on either side of Broderick as Lorenzo approached her, caressed her ear with his lips. “I’ve got plans for you.”
An icy shiver skipped down her spine.
Broderick’s expression had turned stormy. “Let her go. Your quarrel isn’t with her. What is it you want?”
“Nothing you or that prick Evans could give me.” Lorenzo trailed a finger along her jaw, turning her gaze upward so she looked into his angular face. His eyes flared a deep pomegranate. “Sleep, dearest.”
“No.” Fear coiled within as her eyelids drifted shut.
28
Fear cannot take what you do not give it.
—Christopher Coan