Authors: Toni Kelly
He closed a hand around her trembling arm and pulled her to face him. A firm but gentle grip. “I have no illusions of being a white knight and quite frankly, mysteries bore me.” Frowning, he traced the pale, raised skin over her collarbone then detoured off the scars and down the slope of her chest. “And you are wrong on another account. Not hideous.” He hesitated. “Quite unique, beautiful.”
Air expanded through her chest and shuddered through her. What was he playing at? A sarcastic laugh bubbled up in her throat and she broke through the fog of confusion. “Now you’ve done it. Try telling that to...”
“To?”
“Nobody.” She waved a hand and sat on the bed. She wasn’t going to take such a dark path again. “Do you mind turning around? If you aren’t going to leave, I’d at least like to have some clothes on.”
His intense gaze narrowed then he stepped back and turned away. “Did this nobody hurt you?”
Yes
, she wanted to scream, but a broken heart was probably not what he referred to. She tugged on her shirt and khakis. Two years later, and it still ached to speak of Ben. “I already told you, I hurt myself.” Scooting further back on the bed, she pulled her legs into her chest.
“You do not speak the truth.” Luke sat beside her. “Did a man’s hand harm you?”
“No.” She bent her head, giving up on avoiding him. He obviously wasn’t going to stop pushing and she wasn’t quite sure she wanted him to. Rubbing her neck, she hunched into herself. “It wasn’t anything like that. I argued with my ex.” When he didn’t say anything and looked at her expectantly, she continued, “I worked in a bar. Still do. He used to drop by after my shift ended so we could spend time together before going home. One night as usual, he came over. We were crowded. I grew tired of standing on my feet all day but he wanted to stay and watch a basketball game.”
“You argued about a basketball game?”
“Stupid, huh?” She shrugged, trying hard to pass the memories off as if they meant nothing, resulted in nothing.
A deep crease formed between his brows. “A true gentleman should take into consideration a lady’s sentiments.”
She laughed bitterly. “Yeah, um, Ben is not exactly your true gentleman. Too bad I didn’t realize until too late. I ran from the bar angry and didn’t look where I was going. I heard the screech of tires.”
“You were hit.” He’d stated the words with gravity, his gaze searching hers.
She nodded slowly and bit her lower lip. The room around her blurred. “I froze. I’m not sure if I could’ve moved fast enough anyway. It didn’t hurt at first, even as I bounced off the broken windshield. Pain came later.” And seemed to never stop.
“Did he come after you?” Luke asked.
“I don’t know, I don’t remember much until the hospital,” she lied, unable to say what she truly remembered. Nothing could erase the most dreadful and painful days of her life but there was no need to open closed wounds.
“You stayed there for quite a period. In the hospital, I mean.”
She attempted a smile she didn’t quite feel. “Long enough. If I can help it, I never want to see the inside of a hospital again.”
He stood and walked over to the dresser, lifted a bottle of perfume. He turned the small bottle in his hand, as if contemplating his next words. “I apologize for the car chase the other night.”
Her intention was not to make him feel guilty. “Don’t worry. You couldn’t have known—”
“Please, accept my apology. I do not offer them frequently. You had a right to be frightened. I understand why now.”
She cleared her throat. “Apology accepted.”
“Thank you.”
The gravely rasp of his voice sent sparks flurrying through her. Awareness flooded her limbs. She wore a shirt, but without her bra, the tips of her breasts thrust against the thin cotton. Even if she didn’t want him there, it was apparent her body did. She hugged her knees tighter.
“You may take your time with your shower and dressing. We will depart after sunset.”
“Oh? Where are we going?” And why did he insist on sleeping the days away?
“You know, I have a garden.”
She blinked at the topic change. “Did you say a garden?” He could be awkward at times.
“I sense you grow restless during the day. If you continue down the hallway, past my quarters, there you will find a stairwell leading to the roof.”
“And there’s a garden there? I don’t see you as a gardening type.”
“There is much you have yet to learn.” He turned and headed to the door, then paused. “Working with my hands clears my mind. And I like watching life’s cycle. The plants grow, blossom then die. How it should be.”
“You mean the way it is,” she said.
“Pardon?”
Savannah huffed. “You said
should be
although I’m sure you meant to say
is
. You don’t need to speak so formally to me, you know.”
He nodded. “I find it difficult to forget my roots. My family was quite formal.”
Was? Did he no longer have any family? Though she wanted to ask him, his pensive expression transformed into an impenetrable mask, and she thought better of it.
“I’ll leave you now so you can shower. We are going to see a property and then to Blood Bar, the same place we went the other night. Wear the burgundy dress and your citrus perfume.”
“Do I have a choice?”
“You always have a choice, Savannah.” He slipped out the door.
* * * *
When they left Luke’s apartment, Savannah wore a silver halter dress. The sheer act of rebellion put a spring in her step. Luke smiled as she strutted down the cobblestone sidewalk ahead of him. Beneath the moon’s light, her pale skin glowed, caressed only by silver silk, which blended with night’s shadows. He admired her defiant streak. She walked with her head up, shoulders back. Her dress displayed her elegant shape yet guarded her scars like the painful secrets they were.
Broderick’s file said nothing regarding an accident landing her in the hospital for an extended period of time. How could he have missed such a large piece of the picture? There had to be a good reason for such negligence. Either Broderick had blundered or Savannah was the most incredible of actresses. But no. Luke shook his head. He had touched the disfigured skin along her collarbone and sensed the sharp physical pain she experienced. And physical pain was always the easiest to bear, or so life had shown him.
“The past few nights have been beautiful,” she said. Her heels clicked along the cobblestones. Light from the streetlamps bathed her form and a light breeze ruffled her hair.
He closed his eyes, letting the scent of orange blossoms brush over him. Lips curved, he inhaled deeply. Her citrus perfume. At least she’d acquiesced to one request. “Yes. Usually, the weather is much cooler at this time.”
“How much farther? Aren’t you worried with your car back there?”
“No. Besides, I thought you would enjoy the stroll. It is the second entrance from the corner up ahead.” He pointed in front of them past several shops and a small bakery. Shadows blanketed the sidewalk every few feet.
“It’s so quiet here. Why would Lorenzo want to set up a bar here? I can’t imagine a Blood Bar in this neighborhood.”
Nor could he, but he did not much care to know what Lorenzo’s plans were. He scanned the street for any sign of him, pausing when he caught a smoky musk. “Lorenzo.” He turned as the vampire approached behind him. Idiot, he knew better than to use lightning speed when humans were near. “Have you been waiting long?”
Lorenzo’s lips curved as he struck a match. His cigarette glowed fiery orange in the darkness. “No.” His gaze moved beyond Luke. “Good evening, Savannah.”
“Hello.” Savannah huddled closer to Luke. “I didn’t see you.” Her pulse grew erratic as her shoulders gave an involuntary shudder.
“I like to stick to shadows,” Lorenzo responded, a cloud of cigarette smoke drifting up into the night air.
Luke cupped Savannah’s hip, a silent comfort to her. “Are you ready to see the property?” he asked Lorenzo.
“Lead the way.”
Luke walked the last hundred feet to a cherry red door and inserted a key into the lock.
Inside was spacious. Hardwood floors and a long wooden bar. Heavy wooden tables and chairs. Dust covered most surfaces but if Lorenzo searched for a tavern-like appearance, the space would do. Most importantly, the property shared a large loading space with a deli. Either way, it wouldn’t matter, as Lorenzo’s activities would occur primarily at night or during dawn’s early hours.
“What do you think? It will attract a different type of crowd,” Luke said.
“I want it to. Target a larger market and you get a variety of tastes.” Lorenzo walked beyond the bar and kitchen to a loading area at the back. Moments later, he returned. “There is a stairwell back there.”
“Yes. Included in the price are an apartment upstairs and an unfinished basement.”
“Space for my office and a cellar. It is perfect. Have you got the papers?”
“Not with me. I will have my secretary, Gina, fax them to your office at Blood Bar. We are headed there shortly.”
“Wonderful. I’ll let myself out through the back and see you at the club.”
As Lorenzo left, Savannah released a long breath. “I think I like your friends at the auction better. I don’t see what you have in common with him or why you even do business with him.”
“It is quite complicated. Lorenzo helped me during a difficult time.” What an understatement. If not for Lorenzo, he might never have found Victoria’s murderers and avenged her death. For that, he would always be grateful to the other vampire. “You should not be fooled by the comforts of the rich. Luxury creates the illusion of safety but as you saw the other night, darkness seeps everywhere.”
“You’re right, I know. He’s creepy. I can’t explain why he rubs me the wrong way.”
For a human, she was intuitive. It made no sense to him why Lorenzo would want real estate in this part of the city. Perhaps he serviced higher-end clients requesting drugs? Pure hypothesis. Lorenzo never discussed side activities with him. That theory could be completely off the mark.
“Come.” He cupped a hand at the small of Savannah’s back, guiding her to the entrance of the space. “Let us make our way to his club.”
* * * *
Blood Bar was packed. The bodies of humans and vampires alike writhed in sync to a pulsing drum and bass rhythm. Luke’s only consolation amid the chaos was that they were seated in the somewhat secluded corner Lorenzo reserved for personal use. Velvet curtains added a sense of privacy, but tonight Luke insisted they remain open. Even with a good twenty-five feet between them, he could identify Savannah’s scent. Still, he found himself searching out her face every so often. He shoved a hand back through his hair. “Incredible. You would think these types would tire of incessant noise and crowds each night but they do not.”
“By the Ancients, you sound like an old man.” Lorenzo sat back against a red velvet booth and slipped a pack of MS cigarettes onto the table.
“If I were human, I would nearly be two hundred and thirty years old.”
“You’re not human.” Lorenzo pushed a tumbler full of amber liquor his way. “Why the foul mood? Trouble in paradise?”
“What is it to you?” He grasped the glass of scotch and sipped. Savannah’s aversion to Lorenzo seemed to be rubbing off on him. Or his vulnerable state made him more irritable than usual. Lorenzo was no saint, but had no motivation to hurt him and had been asking him to partner with him for years.
“You’re the only vampire I know who decides to get personal with dinner. A slight problem. Let me guess, she’s not as evil as you first thought?” Lorenzo slipped a cigarette from his pack. “This can’t be the first time you’ve killed an innocent.”
Luke lifted his head and met the other vampire’s gaze. He could hardly describe what stared back. Ruthlessness. A harsh, barren landscape. His kind never ceased to amaze him. Savannah might not prove innocent. But if she did, he could not go through with taking her life. Her innocence would defeat the purpose of choosing his victims based on their greed.
“Fuck,” Lorenzo said. “You truly believe you are dealing justice?” He laughed. “Most times I forget you’re only two hundred then you go and say something stupid.”
“I have not spoken.”
“You didn’t have to.” Lorenzo leaned forward. “What makes her different than other human scum you’ve disposed of?”