Knight Edition (13 page)

“Let’s begin,” Navarro said, casting his glance around the room. “You have to be wondering about this summons and the presence of our new brethren.” He tilted his head toward the scientists. “We have a mystery to solve, and an old enemy appears to be at the center of it.” He turned to Dylan. “Did you ever discover what drew Nicky Powell to Vero Beach?”

Dylan shrugged, his smoldering gaze still glued to Viper. “Other than drug trafficking, no. We had heard a rumor he was joining his brother there, but we haven’t found a trace of Zachary.”

Navarro nodded. “It appears Zachary never left Seattle. I think he has larger plans than creating a new drug cartel. Dr. Deats,” he said, leveling his stare on the man who appeared oblivious to the somber mood inside the room. “The vampires who attacked you—they made no mention of their intentions?”

The doctor’s shoulders shuddered. “None. It was over so quickly, I may have missed any conversation.”

“Your research—explain briefly to the group what you were working on.”

Dr. Deats straightened his shoulders. “We’re just one of several research facilities around the world working on cloning—not humans, naturally, but mammals.”

“I would think it’s pretty safe to say that the drugs in Vero were just the means to an end,” Navarro said. “Zachary sent Nicky to set up the operation and funnel money back. If Zachary is interested in setting up his own laboratory, he would need a lot of money.”

“Nicky wasn’t in business long enough to fund an operation like that,” Dylan said.

“I doubt seriously that Nicky’s efforts were the only illicit activities Zachary had an interest in. And if he was ready to put Dr. Deats and his associates to work, I’d say he’s got a very sophisticated network.” Navarro turned next to Joe Garcia.

The Cuban cop straightened, his chin jutting in defiance. “Don’t know what the hell I’m doing here.”

“I think you have an inkling,” Navarro murmured. “The operative I sent last to Florida didn’t complete her mission. Pia was to report on rumors that a breeder is inside your compound. I believe that breeder is your wife.”

Joe’s body went rigid. “My wife doesn’t enter into this conversation. The subject is strictly none of your damn business.”

“You think I don’t already know?” Navarro asked silkily. “She’s pregnant. Carrying your get.”

Dylan and Joe exchanged a charged glance. Dylan turned to Navarro. “Why is she important to this discussion?”

“If there’s a possibility Joe’s bred a litter of born vampires, I think Zachary is already aware. He may make an attempt to take the children in order to use their DNA for a little gene splicing.”

Joe Garcia’s olive skin blanched pale. “Then what the hell am I doing here? I shouldn’t have left Lily alone.”

“Relax,” Navarro said. “I sent a security team to augment your SU force. Your woman is safe. I thought you might like to be part of the trap I’m setting.”

“You’re going after Zachary Powell, then?” Dylan asked.

“No. I’m waiting for him to come here. I have everything he wants,” he said, staring at the three bemused geneticists.

Dr. Deats cleared his throat. “Are we the bait?”

“I’m afraid so.”

“Well,” he said, straightening his stooped shoulders, “life certainly takes odd twists. Just days ago, I complained to Brad here that I needed a little excitement in my life. What do you want us to do?”

“For now, play bridge,” Navarro said with a small smile. “We have to wait for Zachary and his children to make their move.”

“If we’ve got trouble headin’ our way,” Moses said, “then why are you keepin’ Sidney?”

Although irritated by the man’s continued interest in his houseguest, Navarro nodded his agreement. “You’re right. She isn’t safe here. I want you to take her, keep her hidden. Zachary already knows of my interest in her.”

Moses nodded. “You mean, the punk at the morgue.”

“Yes.”

“Sure you trust me with her?” Moses asked, his mouth curving in a sly smile.

“Of course not.” Navarro gave him a withering glance. “But I’m willing to take the chance of losing her…affections. I would rather she live. Wait until daylight to take her out of here.”

“That’s a long time to wait,” Moses said.

“I guess you’ll have to ask Dr. Deats to switch his game to poker.”

“What makes you think they won’t strike tonight?” Dylan asked.

“I don’t know that they won’t. I’d like the three of you,” Navarro said, nodding to Dylan, Joe, and Viper, “to keep watch on the grounds.”

Dylan’s lips drew into a snarl as he stared at Viper. “Sure you can trust me not to dust this asshole?”

Navarro’s eyes narrowed. “You won’t touch him because I’m asking you to set aside your animosity until this is over.”

“You still haven’t explained what Viper’s role will be in all this,” Dylan said, his tone still surly.

“His work is mostly done. He told Zachary Powell how to get inside this place.”

‡

S
idney’s stomach gurgled
loudly, waking her up. She sniffed the air.
What is that smell?

“’Bout time,” came a cheerful feminine voice. “It’s way past sunset, and I’ve already eaten half the pizza by myself.”

Sidney stared at the woman sitting cross-legged on her bed through the one eye not mashed against the pillow. “Who the hell are you?” she asked, rolling onto her back.

Strangely, she wasn’t alarmed to find a complete stranger sitting beside her. It must have had something to do with the woman’s beatific smile as she chomped happily on her gooey slice.

The woman wiped her mouth with a napkin. “Emmy O’Hara. I’d shake your hand, but I’ve got bits of mozzarella stuck to my fingers. You gonna tell me why I’m supposed to keep you out of trouble?”

Sidney blinked, trying to gather her scattered wits. So, the beautiful, plump, blonde-haired woman was supposed to keep her out of trouble?
Navarro!

“He’s got some kind of hush-hush meeting going on downstairs. Probably doesn’t want me to hear what’s going on anyway—everyone thinks I can’t keep a secret. So, I decided to come up and see who the troublemaker is.”

“He?”

“Master Navarro. Your new honey.”

“How’d you know he’s my…honey?” she asked, just now realizing the covers were around her waist. She hitched up the blanket to cover her breasts.

“I can smell him—even over the pepperoni and anchovies. Want a piece?”

That
was the odor. Sidney sighed, relieved she’d discovered the source of the fishy smell. She had initially worried she might be in really bad need of a bath. Then she realized what the woman just said. “You can smell him? You’re a vampire?”

Emmy O’Hara nodded. “Yup. Don’t worry. I won’t try to bite. I already had Jeff.”

“Jeff?” Sidney asked, feeling faintly sick.

“The pizza delivery boy. Nice kid. Lovely Type B.”

Sidney shivered and pulled the covers up around her neck.

“Oh!” Emmy’s eyes rounded, and she held out a hand. “I just drank a little. He was quite happy to share. The young ones take less than a minute to come.”

“Come?” Sidney asked, her words feeling strangled.

Emmy’s head canted. “You’re kinda new to this vampire thing, aren’t you? It’s not like I had sex with the guy, although he thinks I did.” She wrinkled her nose. “I kinda gave him that idea before he left. It’s the trade I make. They give me dinner, I give them an orgasm. Now, Dylan doesn’t much like it, but he knows it’s harmless. My meals never really touch me. This body is all his,” she said, running a hand over her generous hips. She waggled her eyebrows and grinned. “Pizza’s just dessert.”

“Dylan
O’Hara
?” Sidney asked weakly.

Emmy’s eyebrows shot upward. “You know him?”

“I saw him once…” Sidney felt her heart lurch. “You’re the blonde at The Cavern!”

“You saw me at Dylan’s old night club? I was only there once. That was the night we met.” Her eyes grew dreamy. “He rescued me from Nicky Powell and made love to me up there in his office afterward. I have to tell you—once you’ve had vamp there’s no goin’ back! You know what I mean?”

Sidney found herself nodding her head. The woman’s nonstop chatter left her feeling winded and a little dazed.

“So, tell me, I’m doing a kind of unofficial poll. Is Navarro really hung? I mean, I’ve wondered if it’s just a vamp thing—the bigger-than-human cocks—or if maybe they just get bigger the older they get. Which would make Navarro’s like—King Kong!”

The woman’s stare was so innocent and expectant, Sidney found herself nodding again.

“Lily, that’s Joe’s wife—you’ll meet him later; he’s downstairs—anyway, she’s writing a book about vampires, and she’s gathering statistics. Only none of the vamps at The Compound will let her get their measurements. So, do you think Navarro would let you?”

Sidney smothered a laugh. “I don’t think so. We don’t really know each other that well.”

“That’s okay. I had to ask or Lily would be disappointed in me.” She closed the pizza box and wiped her sticky fingers. Then she lay down on her side, her head resting on her hand. “So, is Navarro like the most incredible lover you’ve ever had?” she asked, her eyes alight with curiosity and mirth. “My Dylan’s got like almost two hundred years of experience—kinda blows my mind to think about all the women he had to pleasure to get that good.”

Sidney’s cheeks felt flushed, and she couldn’t hold back a smile. “Navarro’s…” She, Sidney Coffey, who made her money with words was stuck for just the right one. “…he’s incredible,” she whispered. “And it’s not like I haven’t had really, really great sex. But he’s the only man who makes me want to give up control.”

Emmy shivered with seeming delight. “They do get all master-y, don’t they? Gives me goose bumps.”

*

“Better go break
up the gab-fest,” Moses muttered. “Guess I ought to be grateful Sid’s into vamps, right now.”

Navarro sat in front of the monitor, stunned, wishing he hadn’t turned it on to check on his prisoner.

Dylan clamped a hand on his shoulder and laughed. “Now, you know what Joe and I have to put up with back home. Be glad you’ve got a continent between you and Emmy.”

“She’s a very bad influence.” Navarro toggled off the monitor and rose. “I’d best get up there before—”

“—Emmy gets your girl to spill the beans about your ‘measurements’?” Joe laughed. “Lily will be disappointed. By the way, your girl has lovely tits.”

Navarro gritted his teeth as Dylan and Moses choked back laughter. He was thankful that the rest of the men had departed the room before he’d thought to check in on his houseguest. It was bad enough Dylan, Moses, and Joe Garcia had heard the women’s nonsensical conversation and spied on Sidney’s sweet attributes.

“Odd how these twenty-first century women manage to nail our old hides to the wedding bed,” Dylan said, clapping his shoulder again.

Navarro opened his mouth to deny his comment, but decided not to add to their amusement. He rose from his chair and aimed a deadly glare at the smirking men. “I believe you have work to do.”

“Sure thing,
stud
,” Moses said, his shoulders shaking.

Navarro stalked out of the security room and up the stairs.

*