Fangs And Fame (25 page)

Aurora

TYTUS ACCOMPANIED TREY AND the rest of the guys to their favorite local guitar shop on the way to the venue. I’d been in the middle of trying to track down some blood to refill the stash when they were getting ready to leave. I’d just told Trey to go on without me and promised I meet him at the venue. He’d promised to have a car waiting for me outside the hotel whenever I was ready to leave.

It was the last place I would have expected to run in to Damir Vidic, but there he was, climbing out of a cab when I walked out of the hotel. He met my gaze, and I knew better than to believe his timing had been anything other than a perfectly orchestrated plan.

He gestured for me to walk with him and began strolling down the sidewalk without waiting for my response. I hesitated. My car was waiting to take me to the venue, but Damir Vidic wouldn’t have tracked me down without a reason. My curiosity got the best of me, and I asked the driver to wait for me as I walked quickly, catching up to him.

“
What are you doing here?” I asked.

“
We can’t talk open here,” he said between closed teeth. I glanced around, but was genuinely confused by the entire situation. Damir paused at a little coffee stand halfway down the block and bought a black coffee, probably for looks. As he paid the man at the stand he spoke to me without so much as looking at me. “Is there some place safe we can speak?”

I shrugged and stuffed my hands into my coat pockets.
“Come with me.”

To my surprise, he didn
’t hesitate or ask any more questions, but followed me back to my waiting car. The trip to the venue was awkward, but mostly because I could tell he wasn’t going to divulge anything to me until we were alone, and I wasn’t about to sit and small talk with Damir Vidic like we were friends. So instead I watched him sip his coffee, which he seemed to truly detest. When the car finally arrived at the venue twenty minutes later, I felt like I’d been stuck in that stuffy car with him for hours. I still wasn’t even sure why I was doing it, but I led Damir over to the bus Trey and I shared and opened the door.

“
Have a seat,” I said. “I could use some blood. You?”

“
Absolutely.”

I went to the stash in the back of the bus and grabbed a bottle, pouring some into a glass for each of us. Damir was sitting on a leather bench when I came back out. I handed him a glass of blood and sat down on the bench across from him. He was silent, so I sipped from my own glass to occupy myself until he was ready to talk.

“Where’s your-” He’d been about to refer to Trey as my human, but caught himself. “Husband,” he corrected, chewing on the word.

“
He’s inside getting ready for the show tonight.”

“
Let’s get right down to it, then,” he said. “What are you involved in with my grandfather?”

I blinked at him.
“Stanislav? He saved my life,” I said. “I had a nice little stay at his vineyard, but since you’re the one who arranged it, I’m guessing there’s something else you actually came to talk about.”

Damir raised an eyebrow and said.
“I know Stanislav better than anyone,” Damir said. “I’m telling you, he’s up to something.”

“
Even if that’s true, what makes you think it has anything to do with me?”

“
Don’t forget who you’re talking to, Damir said. “You may have left home to wander about like a modern-day gypsy, but some of us are still connected in society. Stanislav has been keeping tabs on you and your musician. Unless you’ve lost touch completely, and you have a better reason for keeping that giant lug around, you’re on to him.”

He was referring to Tytus. I
’d almost forgotten just how insanely nosey Damir was, but now the charade was up. “Tell me what you know,” I demanded.

Damir leaned back, and I wanted to slap that satisfied grin right off his face.

“If I had all of the pieces of this puzzle, I wouldn’t be here trying to help you play detective now, would I?”

I glared at him. He had a point.
“He’s had some of his guys following us for the better part of the tour. We don’t know what he wants.”

“
Don’t you want to find out?” Damir said, raising an eyebrow.

“
Are you offering to call him up and ask?” I said sarcastically.

“
Not exactly.”

“
Why do you even care?” I asked. “So, Stanislav Vidic wants to call in a favor from me. What does that have to do with you?”

“
Aside from sharing his family name?” Damir stated. “I am the head of the Emissary. I make all matters involving the vampire community in Florida my business. You have a history of making decisions that ripple outward, so here I am. You’re leaving for New York soon?”

“
How do you know about New York?” I asked, but he ignored my question like it was a rhetorical one. Maybe it was.

“
There’s no way to soften the blow, so I’ll just come out with it,” he added. “The art collector who hired you is a puppet,” he said. “He’s on Stanislav’s payroll.”

“
What are you saying?”

“
The work you were commissioned to do for the gala is all just a scheme to get you to New York.”

I felt like I
’d just been punched in the stomach, and he knew it. “What makes you-”

“
Don’t you find it a little coincidental that you happen to be doing work for a gala on the same night he’s going to be in town?”

“
Stranger things have happened,” I mused. But Damir had just planted a seed of doubt in me, and I would have been a complete idiot not to reassess the situation.

“
I’d know if it I were being played like that,” I insisted.

“
Would you? Who have you spoken to, exactly?” He didn’t even wait for me to respond before he continued. “The collector’s assistant? They would be far enough down the chain of command that they’d be totally clueless, wouldn’t they? You can’t read something in someone’s thoughts who isn’t privy to the information to begin with. It’s the perfect setup. That’s why it works, but believe me, they aren’t in the slightest bit interested in your talent. Stanislav is just using you.”

I glared at him, not knowing how to respond. I
’d been hanging all of my hopes on this gala and what it could mean for me in the future.

“
Don’t take it personal,” Damir added casually, pausing to take a sip from his glass. “He uses everyone.”

“
Let’s say you’re right,” I said, humoring him. “What do you expect me to do? Confront a Synod Elder and force him to divulge his plans to me?”

“
Precisely.” He stared at me, indignant. “For the first and perhaps only time, you have some leverage.”

“
You mean the gala?” He nodded and took a sip from his glass. I considered him a moment. “Why are you helping me? What do you stand to gain by getting involved?”

“
As the head of the Emissary, I work for the entire Synod, not just Stanislav Vidic. Contrary to what you might believe, I’m better off on the other end if he’s involved in something that could bring him down. I have myself to think about.”

The statement was too selfish not to be an honest one.

I gave him a wry smile. “Deceit and sabotage. Sounds like a great weekend, but I still don’t get why you’re here. You could have told me all of this over the phone.” Although, I wouldn’t put it past Damir to come all this way just to see the look on my face as he shattered my dream into pieces.

“
I’m coming to New York with you,” he stated.

I laughed. Just the thought of going to New York with Damir was enough to bring me to hysterics. He didn
’t so much as crack a smile as I tried to pull myself together again. “Why on earth would I take you with me?”

“
Because I could be helpful to your cause.”

“
I’m perfectly capable of threatening to sabotage an art gala on my own. Thanks.”

“
The last thing Stanislav will expect is for me to be at your side when you show up,” Damir said. “My presence might just be enough to cause him to misstep.”

“
You think he’ll screw up if you come along?” I had to admit, I was just a little intrigued by the idea. But then I remembered that it would mean having to put up with Damir Vidic for an extended period of time. I wasn’t sure I could handle it.

“
If Stanislav Vidic is going to this much effort to force you into being involved in some elaborate plan, he’s almost certainly setting you up to take the fall if something goes awry. Having the head of the Emissary at your side to give witness could come in handy, especially with your history of breaking the rules.”

And that was the nail in the proverbial coffin. Like it or not, Damir was right. I needed him. Now I just had to figure out how I was going to explain to Trey that I was leaving for New York early, and that I was taking Damir Vidic with me.

Trey

I ASSUMED AURORA MUST be having a hard time getting blood for the stash when she didn’t show up for soundcheck. Since I wasn’t in a hurry to go anywhere, I hung out on the stage afterward and played my guitar. The stage crew were bustling around behind me making last minute adjustments and bringing out Crosstalk’s gear for their soundcheck. The guys had all gone back to the lounge to eat, or at least I thought they had. I was surprised when O’Shea approached me.

“
What’s up?” I said, still strumming my guitar.

“
We need to talk,” he answered, planting his feet in front of me.

I didn
’t miss a beat. “Let me guess ... it’s you, not me. “

“
What’s going on with you, man?” O’Shea demanded, crossing his arms.

I frowned at him.
“Just playing-.”

“
That’s not what I mean, and you know it.”

“
What do you mean? Nothing’s going on.”

“
Something’s up with you, and I’m not the only one who has noticed,” he said with a disapproving shake of his head.

I stopped playing and met his gaze. I could tell immediately that the attitude was just a front. O
’Shea was doing his nervous jaw-clench thing he always does when he’s really worried about something. All of the appropriate alarm bells went off in my head at that point. I set my guitar aside and gestured with a nod for him to sit. He stared at me for a long moment before he uncrossed his arms and lowered himself onto the gear box next to me.

“
You’re kind of freaking out.” I said. “You know that, right?”

“
Yeah,” he said with a sigh. “You’re not acting like yourself lately. It’s freaking all of us out.”

I
’d been dreading this conversation. To be honest, I’d been hoping to avoid having it all together, but apparently that wasn’t working out. “Just because I’m married now doesn’t mean I’m a different person.”

“
It’s not that,” he said. “The guys and I love Aurora. She’s been nothing but good for you. For all of us. It’s just that things aren’t just different lately, they’re ... “ His voice trailed off, and it was obvious he didn’t have the words to explain what he was thinking.

“
I don’t know what you’re so worried about,” I said with a shrug. “We’re selling out show after show. The fans are eating up the new record like it’s Halloween candy. I’m giving one hundred and ten percent of myself out there every night.”

“
I’m the first to admit you’re on top of your game,” he said to me. “Your voice is in great condition, and you’re like a machine on stage. Maybe having Aurora here is part of that.... I don’t know, but you seem distracted lately, and I don’t think it’s just newlywed bliss.” Then there was the list of things he’d noticed but wasn’t saying out loud. I could hear the thoughts in his head as clear as night.

I know you said nothing is going on with the fans you keep bringing backstage, but something still seems off about it all. Every now and then the new guy acts like he
’s almost guarding your bus, but from who? Me and the guys? I see you searching the crowd when we’re on stage like you’re looking for someone, but I can’t imagine who. Some days you hardly eat. I have no idea where you get your energy....

O
’Shea sighed in frustration, and I felt bad because everything he was saying made total sense, but I couldn’t talk to him about that. “Look,” he continued before I could say more. “Just tell me you’re not on something.”

The laugh escaped my lips before I could stop it, but the look on my best friend
’s face made it clear that he wasn’t joking. I put my hand on his shoulder, squeezing tight. “I’m not on drugs,” I told him, a smile still tugging at the corners of my mouth. “Seriously. I’m not taking anything.” Blood didn’t count, right? Luckily, O’Shea would never have suspected that, even in his wildest dreams. I met his scrutinizing gaze and held it until he looked away, rubbing his hand over his face. “You believe me?” I asked, bumping his shoulder with mine.

He let out a humorless laugh, but it was accompanied by a nod.
“Yeah,” he said. “I’ve known you long enough to know when you’re lying.” I smiled, staring out at the empty seats that would be filled with fans less than an hour from now. “Just promise you’ll talk to me if something’s getting to you,” he added.

I shot a sidelong glance at him and said,
“Yeah, sure.”

“
I don’t want to end up on one of those
Behind The Music
specials a few years from now because something was going down, and I was just too blind to see it.”

A small pang twisted through my heart, and I forced a smile to cover it up.
“That’s not us,” I said to him, willing my words to be true. “And for your information, I don’t plan to star on
Celebrity Rehab
anytime soon, either.” He laughed then, and this time it reached his eyes. Poor guy. I was certain attempting an intervention with me hadn’t topped his list of fun things to do today. I got to my feet and offered him a hand up. “Now, are we done sharing our feels, or is there anything else you want to get off your chest before the show?” I asked with mild sarcasm.

“
Yeah,” he said. “You still owe me fifty bucks.”

I left O’Shea in the lounge with the other guys and headed out to the back parking lot to see if Aurora had made it back. I immediately sensed the other vampire on the bus with her and wondered if she’d set up a meeting with her contact to bring the blood to us. It wasn’t like her to conduct business so close to home, but I couldn’t imagine another scenario as I approached. Tytus was standing near the bus, dutifully on guard.

“
Who’s in there?” I asked him casually.

“
It’s ... uh ...”

“
Come on,” I said. I wasn’t sure if he didn’t know a name, or if he just didn’t want to tell me.

“
Aurora made me promise to stay out here,” Tytus finally managed.

Now I was more than a little curious as I pulled open the bus
’s door and climbed inside. I found Aurora seated on one of the leather benches, a glass of blood in her hand. The vampire sitting across from her was one I hadn’t expected to see anytime soon, certainly not on my tour bus. Damir Vidic met my gaze with mild interest.

“
Trey,” Aurora said, getting to her feet to greet me.

“
What’s the occasion?” I asked, still eyeing Damir. “It must be good if you were willing to trek across the country to find us.”

“
I’m here to see Aurora.”

Surprise, surprise, I thought. If the moon had been out he would have heard, and I wouldn
’t have cared.

“
I’m actually here to offer information,” he added calmly.

“
What kind of information?” I asked.

Damir got to his feet and set his glass down on the table.
“I’ll leave Aurora to get you all caught up.” He moved toward the door, and I had to step out of his way. “I’ll be in touch,” Damir said, and he disappeared into the night. Aurora stood and collected the empty glasses, rinsing them in the sink.

“
Did that seriously just happen?” I said. “He’d better have a good reason for tracking you down.”

“
He does,” she said as she dried her hands on a towel.

“
Hey,” I said softly. She gazed up at me, and I looked into her green eyes and saw heartbreak – raw and cold.

“
What’s going on?” I asked, stepping closer and pulling her into my arms. “Are you okay?”

She shook her head, but let me hold her close.
“He knows too much,” she began. “About everything.”

“
Wait a minute. What do you mean?”

“
He knew all about the gala, and the art collector in New York City. He knows Stanislav is having us followed.”

I took a second to process that.
“This is Damir we’re talking about,” I added, not nearly surprised enough to justify that devastating look in her eyes. “Knowing stuff is kind of his thing, isn’t it?”

“
That’s not all,” she added. “He insists that it’s all connected.” I pulled back far enough to look at her face again. “It was all a set up,” she continued. “The job in New York? It’s just Stanislav’s way of manipulating me into coming to the city.”

I hadn
’t seen that one coming, but her reaction was starting to make sense. “And you believe him?” I asked.

“
I ... I don’t know.” Aurora sighed. “What if he’s right? What if this whole thing in New York is a sham? I ... I couldn’t stand getting played like that.”

“
What if Damir is part of it?” I asked. “We don’t really know that we can trust him.”

“
He helped us before,” she reasoned. “He’s the one who convinced Stanislav to meet with you and Mark when I was hurt.”

“
That’s true,” I said, taking her by the shoulders, “But even Tytus said that Damir was the one who had collected evidence from Malena and gone straight to the Synod with it. Now Stanislav is so eager to ask a favor of us in return that he’s having us followed and creating elaborate job schemes to get you where he wants you. What if Damir was involved all along?”

“
I believe him,” she said simply. “He thinks he can help me uncover what Stanislav wants from us.”

“
Help you how?”

“
He wants to go to New York with me,” she said, turning to head for the back of the bus.

I followed her.
“He what?”

“
I know it sounds crazy,” she said, sitting down on the edge of the bed. I let out a breath of air, but bit back the retort I had in mind. “I just don’t know what to believe about anything anymore,” she added. “I need to sort all this out.”

My heart was thumping now, competing for attention against the sick feeling that was taking root deep in my stomach. Aurora looked up at me again, and her expression was almost one of sympathy before she looked away. That didn
’t help. “Wait. You’re not seriously considering going with him?” I asked. She wouldn’t meet my eyes, but her silence confirmed what I was dreading. I fell to my knees in front of her, pulling her hands into mine. “Aurora,” I began. “We can’t trust Damir.”

“
What choice do I have?”

“
We’ll find another way.”

“
There might not be another way,” she insisted with enough conviction to send my thumping heart and sick stomach to a new level of distress. “I don’t know about you, but I don’t think I can take this game of cat and mouse much longer. Aren’t you tired of wondering what he wants from us? Of being followed everywhere we go? Stanislav Vidic has us right where he wants us, and we have no idea how this game of his ends. If I can change the tide, I have to do it.”

“
You don’t,” I argued. “Not right now. Not with Damir.”

“
How else are we going to get to the bottom of this?” she demanded, raising her voice for the first time.

“
We’ll figure it out,” I said, letting go of her hands and leaning back. “We’ll come up with a plan. We’ll go together.”

“
When?” she demanded. “How? Are you just going to ditch the guys and leave the tour to play detective with me?”

“
I have days off,” I said, feeling my argument crumble as I spoke.

“
You have one night off in the next week,” she countered. “If Damir is right, and Stanislav is really behind my New York job, then I need to face him at the gala. For whatever reason, Damir seems to have our back on this.”

“
He just wants you to believe that,” I insisted. “It would make sense that he knows exactly what to say to make you take him with you. Can you be certain he’s not in on all of this? For all we know, he’s been involved from the beginning.” Aurora shook her head. “He wants you,” I finally said. “He’d do anything to have you. You know that.”