Chapter 29
The vampire really did have a world-class backside, John thought. She would look lovely moon-bathing on the French Riviera, especially if they could talk her into a thong. A nice satin in royal blue would flatter her ivory skin.
The south of France would be where the three of them would honeymoon, he decided. Valerie would go for the idea, but he had to convince Lance. The guy could be so conservative.
“When will you two be moving to Geneva?” he asked. “I'll need time to find us a new apartment.”
Lance gaped like a koi fish searching for food. Secretly amused, John waited for Lance to catch up to him. The poor lad never could understand how John knew what Lance wanted before he figured it out himself.
Lance coughed. “Well, Iâ”
The sound of breaking glass signaled something about to go wrong.
“What the fuck!” John shouted.
Life slowed like frames in an Oliver Stone film. A huge tiger hung in midair, talons bared. The cat body-checked Lance across the room.
Even before he landed, Lance's 9 millimeter was in his hand and aimed down the snarling throat. The dinner-plate-sized paw checked Lance's weapon arm, skittering the weapon wide.
Even as he was thrown to the floor, Lance's right fingers flicked toward the tiger's eyes. The cat automatically flinched.
John scrambled for the gun, avoiding thrashing back claws.
Lance's right forearm smashed into its snout. Blood spurted, bright and metallic in the night. Faster than the were-tiger could move, Lance's right hand continued on its path, hooking the tiger's forelimb. Adrenaline speeding his reflexes, John picked up the pistol.
A black wind blew through the room. Slender white hands grabbed the tiger's legs. It howled as his front leg snapped. Involuntarily, the assassin shifted to human form.
Valerie's inhumanly strong arms held the were-tiger in an inescapable choke hold. A few more centimeters and she'd break his neck.
“Stop!” John ordered. “Do not kill him.”
“What?” his vampire hissed.
“What?” Lance bit out.
The blond hanging in her arms snickered. “Chickenshit.”
“In a way.” Unperturbed, John switched the safety back on and set the gun down. He couldn't believe that Lance and Valerie didn't think to question the would-be killer.
“Radu sent him,” Valerie growled, shaking the man in her arms.
“You can't prove that,” the tiger growled through his constricted throat.
“We don't need to.” She laughed. “I twist, and no body. No body, no crime.”
“How many humans have used that disgusting defense to excuse their violence against your kind?” Lance shot back.
“I'm a vampire,” Valerie spoke slowly, as though speaking to a very dim person. “We do expedient.”
Oh, for heaven's sake. These two would never get anything done without him. John crossed his arms. “The time for thoughtless killing is past,” he interrupted. “If we let him live, he will have to explain to his master that he failed.”
“Again,” Lance supplied helpfully.
Valerie met John's eyes, reluctant respect in her gaze. “Radu will not take this lightly.”
The tiger hung in Valerie's arms, his eyes shrinking back into his head. Seems he had prior experience with Radu's displeasure.
John shrugged. “If you truly fear him, she can kill you now, clean and easy. If you would rather have your own life, say something.”
Silence fell and stretched as the night shadows grew longer.
“I want out.” The tiger sighed.
John nodded to Valerie.
A wrench too fast to observe, and the vampire stood over a corpse. She had snapped the tiger's neck.
Together, they watched the body decompose until a pile of dust drifted to the hardwood floor of Lance's front room.
“Where did you learn to negotiate with night creatures?” She sounded surprised at the turn of events.
“The playing fields of Eton,” John quoted, suddenly tired of the waste of lives.
“What?”
He'd confused the poor woman. “The Sorbonne, of course. Don't be dense.” He sat on the floor, touching Roger's remains.
“At least he died with his heart at peace,” Lance said.
“He tried to murder you.” Valerie looked out the broken window at the defiant hags in the trees outside.
How dare they endanger Lance's life?
Fury had her jumping out the window. Before Lance could say anything, she was up the tree and in Betty's face. Her knuckles tightened on the lapels of Betty's dirty old corduroy jacket.
Veronica attacked from behind, her claws ripping Lance's shirt off of Valerie's back.
“Get off,” she sneered, shoving the second hag off the tree without even looking. Veronica screamed as she fell. She landed with a heavy splat.
Valerie bared her fangs and dug them into Betty's batlike ear, one of their few vulnerable spots. Disgusting stale blood welled and dripped down Valerie's arms and back.
“Are you a fool?” Valerie barked into the sensitive organ. “He could have died!”
“Better dead than in bed with a vampire,” Betty yelled.
Red rage blurred Valerie's vision. The dirty hag claimed to care for Lance. This contempt would not be allowed to stand.
“Your jealousy would have killed him,” Valerie hissed. “You leave him, disappear. In return, I will not destroy every hag in these forests.”
“You would start a war for him?” Fear and curiosity gave Betty's voice a slight quaver.
Valerie ripped the leathery ear off and spit it into Veronica's face. “I would raze the earth for him,” she promised, her voice low and deadly.
Betty turned a pleading face to Lance who stood in the broken window. “Do you know what she'll do to you? You will not thank her for saving you in the end.”
His face was a study in frozen betrayal. John stood to the side, his own expression disapproving and disappointed.
“I know who I will trust,” Lance replied flatly. “Leave me.”
“Please,” Betty and Veronica begged in unison.
“Go.”
Crying and torn, the hags flew off into the night.
When Lance and Valerie's gazes met, Valerie's stomach shivered.
Damn. Love really did make a fool of a woman.
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John and Lance watched the night hags hobble off. Rain began to drizzle as they veered away from his house.
His ever startling friend sighed and said, “I shall return to Europe in a week. Start shipping your goods within two. I'll have us moved into our larger apartment by the time you sell your house.”
What was it with John? Lance shook his head. “Are you crazy?”
“Sane as ever. Besides, you know better than to argue with me.”
Lance was saved by his unlisted cell phone ringing. Thank God for small mercies.
“Hello?”
“Father Soleil? It's Chad Trask. Could you meet me at my family's boat? I overheard people wanting to kill you.”
Chapter 30
Chad Trask watched his sorrows swim in his glass of Grey Goose. His girlfriend had dumped him this morning when he'd refused to take her to the conference. He replayed the scene in his head.
“Why not? I want to work in DC and you won't even introduce me!”
“Honey, you're pretty, but you're just not DC caliber,”
Chad had answered.
He didn't know why she'd walked away. He was just being honest.
The bottle gurgled another double shot over his melting ice cubes. At least he had been able to escape from Radu Tepes's post-announcement party in his parents' house to the Trask family sailboat. The house had gotten too hot and stuffy. The yacht was cooler and quieter, a good place for a sensitive young man to nurse a broken heart.
He swirled the glass. Another drink blurred Chad's memory just enough to light his self-righteous indignation. What had happened to her sense of humor? It was just a bit of fun.
Anything to keep thinking of the vampiress who had ripped open too many corners of his mind.
Chad wallowed comfortably in his oppression until the door from the top deck opened.
For a moment, Chad stared blankly, then he dropped his glass. The vodka sloshed across his suddenly numb fingers.
Through the years, the forty-five-foot yacht had hosted many parties, some up to fifty people. It had never felt as crowded as it did right now.
Because Radu Tepes, candidate for president, stood right in front of him. Chad had never been alone with Mr. Tepes. He wasn't even sure the vampire knew who he was.
The closer Radu came, the better looking he got, Chad thought hazily, until he focused on Tepes's expression. That famous face radiated a cold eagerness.
Everything in Chad's body clenched.
The bloodsucker sat down at the table, trapping Chad between the hull and the undead. Radu crossed his arms and smiled. Chad shrank into his seat behind the dining table.
“Mr. Trask.” Mr. Tepes smiled. It looked like it should reassure him. Somehow, Chad wasn't reassured. “Your future president needs you.”
“I thought you couldn't enter someplace you weren't invited.” Chad tried for bravado, but his teeth chattered at the air of menace. “You've never been on the boat before.”
“But I was invited, Mr. Trask. Your father told me I was welcome anywhere, anytime.”
He was in deep shit. Chad cringed.
“What do you want?” His demand came out as a whine.
“I saw you at the conference today.” Radu's smile grew toothier. “You were in deep conversation with a certain woman.”
“I'd just met her,” Chad lied. “I don't know anything about her.”
“Don't fib, Chad. No one likes a fibber.”
Chad's knees knocked together under the galley's table. He opened his mouth, but couldn't find a way to wiggle away.
Radu Tepes leaned forward. “You know the vampire that protects Father Soleil. Bring them both here.”
“I don't know how to contact her,” Chad answered, too scared to lie.
“Then bring him here. She will follow.”
“Why should I call them? You have more reason than I do.”
He had forgotten how fast vampires moved. A breeze ruffled his hoodie. Then his BlackBerry rested on the table between them. Radu pushed the phone into Chad's hand. “Be creative. You seem the smart type.”
“No,” Chad repeated. He didn't know what the other man wanted, but it couldn't be good.
Radu's beaming face made Chad's ass clench even harder.
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Chad hung up his cell phone, his sprained wrists shaking.
“Father Soleil is on his way. I'll just head out now.” He zipped his red sweatshirt up around his newly bruised face and made for the cabin door.
If only his family had docked at the popular Riverfront Marina, he would have been safe. But no. His father insisted on having their own dock downstream on the river. “More private,” he'd often stated proudly. Like privacy was so fantastic. In reality, Chad knew his father had wanted to show off their affluence. Too bad money couldn't protect him now.
Chad refused to rub his damaged skin as his shaking knees managed to climb the stairs to the top deck. Nearly everyone went their entire lifetime without meeting a vampire. How'd he manage to meet two?
He was nearly out the door when Radu appeared in front of him.
The vampire took his arm as though they were lovers. “I lied,” Radu whispered seductively. “I have another use for you.” Chad landed against the far wall of the main cabin.
Before Chad could breathe again, Radu had slapped duct tape over Chad's mouth and forced him into the smallest of the cabins. As the door slammed shut, Chad feared he'd never see his family again.
A wave of anger screwed his resolve to the sticking place. That jerk might kill him, but at least Chad would go down swinging.
He rolled on the carpeted floor. Three nights ago, he'd brought Melody to the boat. They'd split a bottle of wine in this very cabin. He'd thrown out the condoms, but the corkscrew should still be ...
Yes. Right there, under the bed. He twisted as best he could and tried to reach it with his hands behind his back.
Radu opened the door. “Forget about escaping, child. I can hear you.”
Chad slumped against the bunk.
Radu gave him yet another smile that was supposed to be comforting. The man really needed to work on that, Chad's panicked mind said.
“Never fear, infant. I won't kill you. I'll keep you when this is done.”
Chad groaned against the tape. At least his brain had shut up.
“You'll love it.” The vampire's voice deepened, turning his words into an enticement. “No more worry. No doubt. No problems with police. I will take complete care of you. All you have to do is amuse me and supply blood. You will be able to do what you want. My money and influence will guarantee the best parties. The best drugs.”
Chad swallowed.
Radu bent over until Chad thought the vampire would kiss him through the tape.
“I'm going to be president. There are many advantages to being a good friend of the president.” Radu touched Chad's neck with disturbingly tender fingers.
“You'll be untouchable. Anything you want, you can have, as long as you give me what I want.”
Chad floated away on the fantasy of Radu's voice. He could see his future in that rarified world. Anything he wanted, at any time. No responsibilities. As much pussy and booze as he deserved.
“Chad, here try this.”
“Oh, Chad, I just love this shirt on you... .”
“We'd love to have you over, Chad.”
“No problem, Mr. Trask. Please drive carefully.”
Radu's voice broke into his vision of the life he wanted.
“Think on it, Mr. Trask. I doubt you'll get a better offer.” Radu left the cabin and locked the door. Through the walls, Chad heard the vampire's soft footfalls.
“Right on time. You're mine now, Father Soleil.”
Eyes shut, Chad shuddered. Maybe the price for that promised life was too high.
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Lance parked Ilona six blocks away from the Trask home. He and Valerie heard Elvis rocking the jailhouse all the way down the street. The multimillion-dollar mansion splashed light over the entire neighborhood. The singing and chattering shook the sidewalk under Lance and Valerie's feet.
She frowned as they bypassed the house for the dock. “I have a bad feeling about this.”
“Good thing you're my bodyguard, then. I heard that nobody is as fast as a vampire.”
“You've got another death threat. Don't be frivolous.” Valerie shook her head as they approached the Trask sailboat. “Boat. More like a yacht,” she muttered.
“
You
disapprove of luxury?” Lance retorted. His girl who drove an outrageously expensive car?
“That's different,” she muttered. “Look at this thing.”
It floated in the water, a gleaming blue and white ship fit for a prince.
“My car at least is useful. Let me go first.” Valerie led the way onto the top deck.
Four silver knives flew through the air. Valerie staggered as they pierced her chest. The meaty thuds threw her into the water, blood streaming ribbons into the night.
“Valerie!” Lance dropped to his hands and knees. All he saw was a drifting of dust on the surface of the water.
Before grief could begin its journey through his heart, iron-hard hands threw him onto the deck of a boat. Even as he scrambled his feet underneath him, darkness spiraled through his vision. The last thing he saw before he blacked out was Radu Tepes's famous gleaming white smile.