Dracul's Revenge 01: Dracul's Blood (20 page)

DRACUL’S BLOOD

Carol Lynne and T.A. Chase

130

Bobby ran his finger down the seam of Nik’s pants, pressing against his hole through the material. “Not too much playing. If you’re still horny when I get home, I’ll take care of you.”

Nik snuggled against Bobby’s chest. “You always do.”

After giving Nik’s ass one last squeeze, Bobby gave him a playful slap. “Let me up, you cock hungry beast. I’ve got work to do and killers to catch.”

Nik stood and readjusted his erection. “The sacrifices I make for the safety of my fellow man.”

Bobby led Nik to the door and gave him one last kiss before grabbing up his small duffle. “Make sure you lock up behind me.”

“I will.” Nik buried his face in Bobby’s neck and inhaled. “I’ll miss you.”

Bobby grinned. “You’re getting spoiled.”

“Uh huh. Remember that when you’re sitting in the car with no one to suck your cock.”

* * * *

Nik was busy cleaning the kitchen when his cell phone rang. He dried his hands and ran into the living room, snatching the phone from off the coffee table. “Hello?”

“Hi, Nik,” Professor George Lattimer greeted.

“Hi, Professor. I hope you have news for me.” Nik hadn’t told the professor about the journal, but he’d spoken to Bobby about it, and they both agreed if it became necessary to bring in the professor’s expertise they would.

“Maybe. The label under the seal isn’t going to be much help. It says ‘Wine is sweet but vengeance is sweeter’.”

Nik nodded. “That makes sense.”

There was a pause on the other end of the phone. “What aren’t you telling me?”

Shit.
“I found a journal written by Radu cel Frumos’ servant. It chronicles secret ceremonies the servant witnessed Radu and the other Knights of Paiderastia performing.

Along with the making of six casks of wine and what they were used for.”

“And?”

“And it’s not good.”“I want that journal.”

DRACUL’S BLOOD

Carol Lynne and T.A. Chase

131

Nik was surprised at the vehemence of the request. As a matter of fact, it didn’t sound like a request at all, more like an order. “I can’t do that. It’s part of the investigation.”

“You’ve turned it over to the police!” George shouted in anger.

“No.” Something told Nik he shouldn’t say more. “Look, Professor, I shouldn’t even have told you about it. Bobby will probably kill me when he finds out I did.”

“Bobby isn’t my main concern at the moment. That journal belongs in a museum.”

“Yes, sir, I realise that. Once the investigation is over, it’ll be up to the police.” Nik prayed the professor wouldn’t go over his head. The police didn’t even know he had the journal, and Nik knew withholding evidence could get him into a shit load of trouble.

He wondered if he should throw the professor off by mentioning the list of names Jablonsky had discovered. He was contemplating when George spoke again.

“You call me with anything you find, hear me? I’ve told you before. This case is taking you way out of your depth of understanding. It’s not only dangerous, but completely unprofessional of you to act in the capacity you are for an investigation you’re not an expert on.”

Nik reared back and held the phone away from his ear. Why did he suddenly feel like he’d just received a spanking, and not the good kind? “I’ll speak with you later, Professor.”

Nik hung up the phone before he said something he’d come to regret. He wondered if the professor was merely jealous of Nik’s discovery. What would it be like to work your entire life and not find something as important as the journal was to world history, a subject George Lattimer had devoted his life to?

Nik flopped down on the sofa and turned on the television. He wasn’t sure what he watched, his mind was occupied elsewhere.

Finally, at eleven o’clock, he gave up and went to bed. He thought about calling Bobby, but they hadn’t discussed phone procedures on a stakeout. With the luck he’d had lately, Nik would probably call at the wrong time and alert Vanderlist of Bobby’s presence.

He undressed quickly and climbed between the sheets, wishing Bobby was there with him.

Several hours later, a noise woke him. At first Nik thought it was Bobby. He crept out of bed and towards the living room when the noise came again.
Fuck.
Definitely not Bobby.

Whoever was breaking in was doing it from the small fire escape landing off the kitchen. He scrambled back to the bedroom, grabbing his phone as he went.

DRACUL’S BLOOD

Carol Lynne and T.A. Chase

132

He eased the door shut and called Bobby.

“Hey, babe.”

“Someone’s breaking in” Nik whispered, his hands shaking so badly he could barely hold the phone.

“Can you get out?”

“No. I’m in the bedroom.”

“Get in the closet and stay there. I’m on my way.”

Nik threw the covers up so the bed didn’t look slept in and retreated to the closet by way of the city lights shining through the blinds. He tried to make himself as small as possible. “I’m scared.”

“I know you are, baby. Just hold the line open. No more talking, okay?”

Despite Bobby’s orders, Nik couldn’t help but tell him how he felt in case it was the last time. “I love you.”

“I love you, too. Listen, I’m going to put you on speaker, so you know you’re not alone. Don’t say anything just be as quiet as humanly possible.”

Nik almost said okay, but stopped himself.

“I’ve lived quite a few years in this city, surrounded by millions of people and never did I hope to meet someone like you. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me, and I’ll be damned if I’ll let a prowler take you away from me.”

Nik wanted to tell Bobby the person breaking in was after something specific. It broke his heart, but there was only one person who could be responsible for the burglary. It suddenly dawned on Nik. If something happened to him, Bobby needed to know.

Cupping his hand over the phone, he whispered. “I think Professor Lattimer might be behind the break-in.”

“Lattimer? You can tell me why he’d be breaking into my apartment when I get there.

In other words, you, my love, have some explaining to do.”

Nik heard a crash in the living room and a loud curse. Whoever it was didn’t care if he was heard or not. “Did you hear that?”

“Yeah. I heard. I’m about four blocks away. Hide behind my clothes as much as possible.”

DRACUL’S BLOOD

Carol Lynne and T.A. Chase

133

Nik felt around in the dark and grasped the laundry basket. He dumped the dirty clothes and tried to bury himself under them.
Please let this work.
He’d fallen in love for the first time in his life and he wasn’t…

All thoughts stopped as he heard the front door open. Had the intruder left?

His heartbeat sounded in his ears as he waited. When the closet door was thrown open, Nik held his breath, his eyes squeezed shut.

“Nik!”

The clothes strewn on top of him were whisked away as he was pulled into the warm embrace of his lover. Nik’s hands clutched the back of Bobby’s shirt as he held on to his heart.

Bobby buried his face against Nik’s hair. “I’m so glad I got here in time.”

“Is he gone?”

Bobby nodded. “The door was wide open when I got here.”

“Then you just missed him. Maybe you should…”

“No.” Bobby shook his head. “The second you made the call, all I cared about was getting home to you. At that point I wasn’t a cop. I was the man who loves you more than anything in this world.”

Nik tried to control his shaking body, but soon came to realise he wasn’t the only one trembling. He continued to hold onto Bobby until both their breathing returned to normal.

Bobby leant back and stared into Nik’s eyes. “You okay?”

Nik nodded. “I told Lattimer about the journal, and he got really nasty with me. He wanted it. I told him he’d have to talk to the police about it after the investigation was over.

Something tells me he didn’t want to wait that long.”

Bobby cursed, closing his eyes momentarily. “I thought he was your friend.”

“Yeah, so did I.” He couldn’t admit to Bobby how much it hurt. He’d shared information with his mentor that could’ve gotten him killed. But it was the death of his friendship that made him want to break down in tears.

“Did he get it?” Nik asked.

“Probably. The room’s a mess.”

“It was in my messenger bag.”

“Then they got it. But, he can’t steal the knowledge we’ve already gained from it.”

“Yeah, but we can’t prove anything without the journal.”

DRACUL’S BLOOD

Carol Lynne and T.A. Chase

134

“We couldn’t have proven anything with it anyway. Even though you and I know it was the real deal, I doubt even Lattimer could have proved it. Besides, we took it from a crime scene without handing it over.”

“I took it, not you. I would’ve told them that.”

“And I wouldn’t have let you take the fall alone.” Bobby kissed Nik’s temple and set him on the floor. “I’m going to see what kind of damage I’ve got. Why don’t you get back into bed?”

Nik watched Bobby walk from the room. He slowly got to his feet and made his way over to the bed. He sank down on the mattress feeling worse about himself than he had in a long time.

He was still in the same position when Bobby came back into the room. His lover began to undress. With his jeans pushed down to his thighs, Bobby fell to the bed. He scooted over to wrap an arm around Nik. “It’s okay, babe. He’s gone.”

Nik shook his head. “It’s not that.”

“Then what is it? I can tell something’s bothering you.”

Nik took a deep breath and turned to face Bobby. “It seems like you’re always saving me, and I know someday you’re going to get tired of it. Maybe I should take some karate classes or something.”

“What?” Bobby pulled Nik back until they were lying side by side. “I save people for a living, complete strangers. What kind of man would I be if I didn’t do everything in my power to save the man I love?”

Still naked, Nik snuggled against Bobby. “Well, thank you for being that man for me.”

DRACUL’S BLOOD

Carol Lynne and T.A. Chase

135

Frowning, Bobby pried his eyes open and stared up at the dark ceiling. His cell phone rang again. He realised this was the sound that had woken him. Nik murmured and snuggled closer.

“Hey, sweetheart, you have to move.” He pushed Nik gently away from him before reaching for the phone on the nightstand.

“You’re on vacation,” Nik muttered.

He chuckled as he answered the call.

“God, you sound cheerful for it being three in the morning.” Jablonsky grumbled in his ear.

“I’m on vacation, Jablonsky. Not having to get up at a forsaken hour of the night means I can stay up doing other things.”

Jablonsky grunted. “I don’t even want to think about what you mean by that.”

“What do you want? I doubt you called to find out what I’m doing.”

After climbing out of bed, he turned to pat Nik on the ass and to make sure his lover was covered by the blankets.

“They found two more bodies.”

“Fuck.”

The curse burst from his throat, causing Nik to roll over and stare at him.

Bobby repeated Jablonsky’s message to Nik while digging in his dresser for a clean shirt and socks.

“That means he’s escalating, doesn’t it?” Nik sat up, blankets pooling around his waist.

“I think so. It depends on if they were killed at the same time, or just dumped in the same place.”

He tugged on his jeans, socks, and boots. “Where am I headed, Jablonsky?”

“You have to make sure no one sees you. The commissioner will get pissed if he finds out you showed up at a scene. Especially one that might be connected to the other killings.”

DRACUL’S BLOOD

Carol Lynne and T.A. Chase

136

“I’m not a rookie, Jablonsky. I know how to make sure I’m not seen by anyone who might tell the commissioner.” Bobby leant over and kissed Nik. “I’ll call you when I’m on my way back.”

He headed down the hallway, holding his T-shirt while he finished talking to Jablonsky. “Where am I going?”

“Harlem.” Jablonsky gave him the address. “It’s an alley behind a pay-by-the-hour motel.”

“I’ll be there in thirty or so.”

After ending the call, he set his phone on the entryway table and yanked on his T-shirt. He checked his gun before slipping it in his back holster, making sure the hem of his shirt hung over the grip. He was going into a hard part of town, and he didn’t want to give anyone the chance to grab his sidearm.

“Bobby.”

He turned and spied Nik leaning in the doorway, a sheet wrapped around his hips.

Nik bit his bottom lip, worry clear in his eyes. Strolling back, he cupped Nik’s cheek and stroked his thumb over his lover’s chin.

“Keep the door locked and your phone close by. I don’t think anyone will come back since they have what they want after taking that stupid journal. If you get worried, call me and I’ll come back.” He kissed Nik hard.

Nik slipped his hand around the back of Bobby’s head, holding him close for a minute before letting him go. “Take care of yourself and tell Jablonsky I said hi.”

“I will.”

He headed out, running down the stairs out to his car. As he drove to Harlem, he thought about what finding two bodies meant.

Shit.
When had Vanderlist found time to kill them? Bobby had been following the man for the last two days and had never seen anything that indicated the man was doing anything illegal. Of course, some of those evening meetings were probably with the other men on the auctioneer’s list, but Bobby hadn’t had time to run the licence numbers yet.

The twirling lights of the police cars alerted Bobby to which alley he had to go to.

Locking the car, he wandered over to where the uniformed cops stood. Hansen didn’t say a word or even look at him, just lifted the crime tape to allow him to slip under. No one else DRACUL’S BLOOD

Carol Lynne and T.A. Chase

137

glanced in his direction and the stray thought crossed his mind. Was this what it felt like to be shunned?