Gardiner-BGraveBeyond the GraveLina GardinerImaJinn BooksCopyright © 2008 by Lina GardinerDark Fantasy/Romance. 65694 words long. enNoveltext/xmlDark Fantasy/Romance

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Beyond the Grave
by Lina Gardiner
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Dark Fantasy/Romance

ImaJinn Books
www.imajinnbooks.com

Copyright ©2008 by Lina Gardiner

NOTICE: This work is copyrighted. It is licensed only for use by the original purchaser. Making copies of this work or distributing it to any unauthorized person by any means, including without limit email, floppy disk, file transfer, paper print out, or any other method constitutes a violation of International copyright law and subjects the violator to severe fines or imprisonment.

CONTENTS

Prologue

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

CHAPTER NINTEEN

CHAPTER TWENTY

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

* * * *

BEYOND THE GRAVE

By Lina Gardiner

Prologue

Shadows created images of creatures that couldn't possibly exist.

Tonight he was shadow.

The jogging path wound through the deepest gloom while intermittent street lights cast their glow to the edges of the darkness, unable to penetrate the night.

He heard the car door shut and waited. He'd made it this long because he was patient.

Her footsteps approached. She faltered, unsure.

“Over here,” he said, keeping his voice low and only for her.

“Where? I can't see you.”

Her voice wasn't right. Too harsh.

He closed his eyes and imagined her the way she should be. With a voice that could entrance a man without effort, and blood red lips as luscious as her voice.

This poor second stumbled on the gravel path, still searching for him.

“Darling, I'm glad you were able to find some time for me,” he crooned from the security of the darkness, luring her to him.

She turned toward his voice. If he didn't look too closely she could almost be the one he really desired.

He sighed and tried to block the disappointment that threatened to annihilate his pleasure.

[Back to Table of Contents]

CHAPTER ONE

“Jess! Wake up, Jess, you're having a nightmare.”

Without opening her eyes, Jess Vandermire reached out. Her hands caressed John Brittain's bare chest before she grabbed his shoulders and pulled him on top of her. As always, his heat and strength filled her with need.

“Good morning to you, too, sweetheart,” Britt said, laughing a little, then moaning as she began to lick, then trail kisses along his neck.

At first he offered no resistance. He was more than willing—until her eye teeth elongated and she tentatively pressed them against his flesh. All part of the sensual experience. One quick bite and she'd be there.

“Shit! Oh shit, Jess! What the hell are you doing?” He tried to push himself off her, but she was stronger than him, especially now that she needed to feed.

His panic barely registering, she yanked him closer, her fingers digging into his upper arms. His body felt so good against hers, and she reveled in his raw masculinity.

“God in Heaven, Jess, stop right now! Fight it. You don't want to do this to me. I don't want you to do this to me.”

Those few words broke her concentration long enough to realize what was happening.

She'd been about to bite him!

With one hand she shoved him so hard he flew off the bed and landed on the floor on the other side.

What in God's name? Her eyes flashed open and she sprang onto her knees. Usually the process of her undead slumber was like night and day. One minute nothing, the next minute total awareness. So what had just happened?

Raking one hand over her face, she tried to clear her head while out of the corner of her eye she saw Britt in a heap on the floor, his left hand clutching his neck.

Had she bitten him? Oh God, had she bitten him?

“I don't know what happened,” she said in a broken voice. “Britt, can you ever forgive me?”

Remnants of her nightmare began to filter into her consciousness. Not only had she attacked him in the heat of bloodlust but she vividly remembered killing her own brother. Could still taste the tang of blood on her fangs.

“Oh my Lord, I killed him, didn't I?” her voice cracked and she covered her face with her hands.

“Killed who?” Britt rose to his feet. She bit the inside of her lip when he didn't approach her.

“I finally let the darkness take over. I've killed my own brother.” Her voice broke.

“You didn't kill, Regent, Jess. You're here. In my apartment. Don't you remember?”

Britt sounded pretty shaken up, too. Maybe even scared. She'd never heard him scared, not even when they'd fought Prometheus, one of the most vicious vampires she'd ever met.

Suddenly, she remembered everything with horrifying clarity. She'd been about to drain Britt's blood before he spoke those words that brought her back, before she'd tossed him out of bed for his own safety.

She ripped the sheet from the bottom of the bed and gripped it tight to her chest. She couldn't look at him. If she'd pierced his skin, took one tiny drop of his blood she'd never be able to forgive herself and she knew with ironclad certainty he'd never be able to forgive her, either.

Her gaze brushed across his chest, then to his neck, still covered by his hand.

“Did you say I had a dream?” A small frown marred her forehead.

“Yes. Why?”

“Because I can't dream. I haven't been able to since I was turned.”

“Well, you've just had a dream, and it was a doozy.”

“Please, God. Tell me I didn't bite you,” she begged.

He swallowed and tentatively pulled his hand away. Probably as afraid as she was to see what she'd done, he turned to look at his reflection in the dresser mirror, then tipped his neck sideways to get full view of his flesh.

Superior vision came in handy. She saw his unblemished flesh before he could. “There's no mark.” Her voice came out in a whisper.

His shoulders sagged and he took a slow breath, relief evident on his face.

The overpowering sense of dread remained. “It couldn't have been a dream, Britt. I must have left the apartment while you were sleeping.”

Britt faced her, but his expression remained cautious. “You'd never kill your brother.”

“How can you say that so easily after what I nearly did to you?”

Seeing the hesitation behind his eyes was worse than bathing in holy water. She looked away and cursed under her breath.

“Jess, you've got to believe me. You didn't hurt your brother, and you didn't hurt me either. I'm fine,” he said, even though a sheen of perspiration glistened on his forehead. He bent over her and his moist, warm lips brushed her forehead.

Her mouth opened. How could he be so forgiving? Why wasn't he as terrified about what had nearly happened as she was?

Dressed in low slung p.j. bottoms, he strode to the tiny living room just off his bedroom alcove, picked up the phone from the coffee table and dialed. His gaze never left her while he waited.

She wrapped her arms around herself and held her breath.

“Regent, Britt, here. How are you? Listen, Jess wants to talk to you. She's had a bad dream, and needs to hear your voice.”

Even before she took the phone from Britt she heard her brother's excited voice spewing through the phone.

He really was alive!

As happy as she was to hear his voice, the meaning of what had happened solidified in her mind. “Regent, it may have been a dream, or maybe it was a premonition, I'm not sure,” she said, “Either way, it isn't a good omen.”

“Of course it's a good thing,” Regent said. “You had a dream, which means you weren't totally in vampire stasis. So what if it was a nightmare? After all you've been through the past fifty years, a dream would most likely be dark.”

“Don't get your hopes up. I must have been awake and only thought I was dreaming.” She felt Britt staring at her as surely as she saw her own white knuckled hand grasping the phone.

Regent laughed. Nothing would dissuade him from thinking this was the best thing that had happened to her in decades.

Her brother wouldn't be quite so happy if he knew what she'd nearly done to Britt. The closest she'd come to attacking a mortal since she'd turned James, her partner, into a vampire decades ago.

Her heart clinched into a tight knot. James had been someone she'd cared for, too. Maybe not in the way she cared for Britt, but like a brother, and look what she'd done to him.

She could never be trusted.

It killed her to set her brother up for another disappointment. He'd tried so hard to save her when she'd turned into a vampire. In fact, he'd been able to partially save her soul through faith and prayer. Something that made the other vampires despise and fear her, because she had abilities they'd never know.

“I'll see you soon, Regent.” She hung up the phone. “He won't listen to reason. He thinks I'm on the road to salvation. I didn't have the heart to tell him what I nearly did to you.”

“But you didn't bite me, Jess.” She watched Britt's Adam's apple move, his mouth purse slightly. His blue-eyed gaze always did amazing things to her physiology. She'd never considered just how potent he was to her, until now. He could set her on fire with a mere look. But right now, there was something else in his gaze. Something she'd never seen before.

His body language said it all. The darkness inside her had won tonight. “I'm a vampire, Britt. A bloodsucking killer. You must be painfully aware of that now. Dreaming won't change anything. In fact, after what I nearly did to you, I don't think I'm on the road to humanity. I think I just got a whole lot more dangerous.”

“I don't believe that,” he said. “We'll figure this thing out, together, Jess.”

Together? He must be in shock. Hadn't had time to process what she'd nearly done. “You don't care if the dream is a dark portent? You don't care that I nearly bit you, drained you of your blood without knowing what I was doing?”

“I'm sure we can find out why it happened. Maybe with Regent's expertise we can come up with a reason,” he said.

“Is it really that simple for you? Don't you understand, in my dream I killed my brother. Drank his blood, and he died. I'm capable of doing that.” She nearly choked on her next words. “And I very nearly drank your blood, too.”

“But you didn't. You stopped when I asked you to.”

“Asked me to?” She laughed bitterly. “Don't you mean fought me to stop? Screamed at me not to do it. What if you can't stop me next time?” Her face felt like stone, just as cold and unfeeling as the rest of her—right down to her black soul. She dropped the sheet, unabashed by her naked form, and pulled on her clothes.

“You're leaving?”

She couldn't look at him again. “I am. In fact, I can't believe for one second that you could possibly want me to stay.”

Since he'd joined her team his strength and his street sense had never failed him. And he never failed to impress her, though she'd never admit that to him or to anyone else. He was as tough as they got, but he had a fatal flaw. A soft spot for a vampire.

If only she could let her hand trail over his body, experience his warm flesh against hers, but she couldn't bear to see his expression replaced by fear ever again.

“This has changed everything,” she said. “I made a mistake thinking we could do this.”

“Nothing has changed.” He folded his hands across his chest. “You've got to give me a chance to prove to you that we can get past this. You can't hide behind your fears of being a vampire, forever.”

“Can't I?” She pulled in a long breath. “You could be dust in the ground before I make up my mind.”

* * * *

Smart enough not to push too far, Britt kept his feelings to himself. It wasn't wise to tick Jess off, especially when she was already upset. He could tell she was fighting the transition to vampire. Her inner demon was always ready to come to the fore when she was stressed. Knowing Jess the way he did, she didn't want him to see her like that again so soon after she'd nearly attacked him.

“Go ahead and get dressed, Jess. I want our first time to be unforgettable,” he said.

“How long have you had these suicidal inclinations, Lieutenant Brittain?” She pushed off the bed and made for the kitchen to grab her leather backpack. “I shouldn't have deluded myself into believing I could have a normal relationship.”

“You carry the weight of the world on your shoulders. No one can do that alone.”

She felt the endless cold of the undead seeping back into her. Death touching her flesh ... and her soul. Until then, she hadn't even realized he'd made her feel almost warm.

“You're wrong about me. I have no choice but to be alone. That is my penance to pay. And when Regent dies, I'll be completely alone. No one else can take his place in my heart.”

“I don't want to take his place, Jess. I want to make my own place. You have room in your heart for me, whether you know it or not.”

“You're delusional.” She grabbed her car keys off the rickety kitchen table and slammed out of his apartment.

[Back to Table of Contents]

CHAPTER TWO

“Goddamnit!” Britt rammed his hand into the mirror after checking his neck for the umpteenth time. Two hours had passed and he kept looking at his damned flesh. What the hell was wrong with him? There wasn't a mark anywhere on his skin.

Tiny cracks spidered out from the spot where his fist had connected with the mirror. Great! Add seven years bad luck to his paranoia.

Was he afraid of Jess? Afraid of what she could do to him? He dropped onto the couch and lowered his head into his hands. His feelings for her hadn't changed. She was a vampire and he had to come to terms with what had nearly happened tonight before they could move forward.

That is, if Jess ever let him back into her life after the way he'd mishandled things. He shouldn't have let her leave like that. She'd been angry. And disillusioned by his reaction to her near attack. Who could blame her?

She hadn't made it this long as a vampire without having immeasurable strength of will. She could shut him out forever if she really wanted to. "Shit!"

His phone rang. “Brittain, here.”

“John, can you come to Central Park right away? We've got a dead body. A female,” Sampson Case, Jess's Forensic Vampirologist said. “I know you're on your time off, but I'd like you to attend this scene.”

Unusual to say the least. Why in the world would Sampson call him to a crime scene on his day off? “Who found her?”

“A civilian.” Sampson sighed. “Poor SOB. Listen, I need you here.”

“I'll be there in a couple of minutes,” Britt said, slamming down the phone and grabbing his badge off the dresser before he tore down the stairs to his police-issued car.

As usual, a bloodthirsty crowd had gathered at the perimeter of the yellow tape. The sun had set two hours ago and night had settled over the city creating dark corners and hidey holes in the park.

Citizens of New York thought the killers in this area were gang members. Truth was, gangs stayed away from this section of the park. He'd heard it from, Julio, a friend who lived in his building. None of the locals wandered into this particular gang's territory unless they wanted to die.

Showing his badge to an officer protecting the perimeter, Britt strode across the freshly mowed lawn, now glistening with dew.

“Sampson.” Britt touched the Forensic vampirologist on his shoulder to get his attention.

Sampson turned and blinked at Britt through goggles. With his white hood up and tied tight under his chin, he exemplified the typical geek scientist. One who was very good at what he did. Sampson smiled. “Glad you could make it, Britt.”

Looking over his shoulder, Britt eyed the familiar faces of the team on duty. “Aren't I stepping on Brogan's territory?”

“Normally, yes, but this is something that requires specialized knowledge,” Sampson said, letting his gaze wander in the direction of his forensic crew before he led Britt out of earshot.

What kind of specialized knowledge did Sampson think he had over the other Black Ops team members? Britt ran his fingers through his hair and set his jaw.

“Jess isn't with you?” Sampson asked. His voice held a note of tension.

“No, she's not with me. Why?”

“You'll see.” Sampson motioned for Britt to follow him, and he led him closer to the victim.

Britt's gut tightened as he stepped toward the body. Why the hell was Sampson being so cryptic? It wasn't like him.

A dark haired woman lay on the ground. Her throat had two sets of gaping holes with blood tracks going in two directions. The first set would have been made when she was standing, and the second set had been left when she'd dropped to the ground in this very spot.

“Vamped,” Britt said in a monotone. Nothing uncommon in this city lately. Jess's and Britt's team had taken out a horde of vampires in the last few weeks. Unfortunately, that didn't mean there were no vampires left in the city.

“She certainly was bitten. But there's something else, Britt. Something I didn't want anyone but you to see.” Sampson looked around, as though to make sure no one could hear him. He pulled an evidence bag of his pocket, the contents clamped in his hand so tightly his knuckles were white even through his glove. He opened his fist to produce Jess's jewel encrusted dagger.

“How'd you get that? Jess never goes anywhere without it,” Britt said.

A sudden gut-kicking realization struck him. “No way, Sampson. You didn't find that dagger in the victim.”

“Not in her, no. Beneath her. Evidence suggests Jess dropped it in the heat of the moment.”

“You can't honestly believe Jess Vandermire killed that girl? You've known her longer than I have. You know what kind of a person she is, and there's no way in hell she'd ever do anything like that.”

“Not normally. But she's got a dark side, too, Britt. A side she's managed to keep at bay for years, but who knows what might set her off? She is what she is, after all.”

Britt's hand clenched into a fist, and he nearly raised his arm to punch Sampson. How dare he say such things?

“Sampson, I'm going to forget you just said that, but just this once,” Britt said through clenched teeth. “But if I ever hear you say anything like that again, I won't be responsible for my actions.”

Sampson sighed. “Of course, I don't want it to be Jess. And until we can prove who did this, she's innocent. On the other hand, it is my duty to look at all angles. This is her dagger. There's no denying that. How'd it get here?”

“I don't know how the hell it got here,” Britt spat so loudly that several of the cops turned to look at him. He lowered his voice. “But, if you breathe one word of this to anyone! Anyone, before I find out what the truth is, I swear, Sampson, I'll gut you myself.”

Sampson actually laughed. “Good. Jess really knew what she was doing when she hired you. Prove her innocent. Please.” Sampson handed over the dagger.

Britt's eyebrows arched, but he grabbed the weapon out of Sampson's hand before he could change his mind. “You aren't going to turn it in as evidence?”

“Turn what in?” Without a backward glance, Sampson shrugged and moved away.

Britt pressed his eyes shut and sucked in a lung full of city air, then wished he hadn't. Tonight the city reeked of death and foul things that crept through the streets after dark. He'd give his next paycheck for a whiff of Jess's tantalizing perfume right about now.

* * * *

Her cab pulled in front of a brick building. Still royally pissed off that she'd been ordered to come here, Jess had to concentrate to keep her teeth from growing. She'd be the last person who should act as a public relations suck up.

A sigh escaped her. A wasted pun and Regent was nowhere nearby.

She stared at the building again and frowned. “This the Dragon's Lair Club?” she asked the cabbie.

“Yeah. They don't go for the obvious,” he said in a strong Brooklyn accent.

“Why would a club not advertise their location?” The place looked more like an office building than a club.

He tipped his hat back and turned to look at her suspiciously. “Cause it's exclusive. They don't let people like me inside.” The way he looked her over made her wonder if he thought the same thing about her.

“Thanks,” she said, slapping the money into his outstretched hand.

She'd been way too edgy since her episode with Britt. Not just because she'd nearly sunk her fangs into his neck, but also because she'd lost the opportunity to experience making love with the only man she'd ever allowed herself to care for in the fifty years since her dark curse began.

Now she'd ruined that opportunity forever.

Inside the building, at the end of a long hallway, a doorman beckoned her forward with two fingers. “Card please.” His voice droned. Even though he sounded bored, he was anything but. His sharp gaze raked over her and she had the distinct impression he knew exactly who she was before he looked at her card. The fact that he had a significant bulge under his right armpit made Jess a little more interested in finding out what Vaslov was up to.

Inside the crowded club she spotted Lieutenants Koss and Ballard waving at her from the far side of the room.

She walked toward them, ignoring the lascivious comments from some of the men along the way. Mostly because she wasn't supposed to be able to hear what they whispered under their breath.

Strange how men thought she was beautiful now that she was dead. Physically she hadn't changed, but she'd become dangerous—and dark. Why were men attracted to bad girls?

“Nice spot,” she said facetiously, sliding onto the bar stool next to her counterparts.

“Too nice for the likes of us,” Jarrod sipped a Scotch on the rocks. “What are we doing here, anyway?” He leaned closer. “And, what do you think of the specialized security they've got here? The doorman was packing, and so are several of the waiters.”

“I'll tell you what I think,” Brian Koss made a disgusted noise, “It makes me suspicious.”

“And, why would Vaslov invite us and not the brass?” Jess said as she turned to scan the room from her bar stool.

“Good question. Not to mention I'm giving up a night on stakeout in a dank, derelict building to sip free booze tonight.” He grinned and savored another drink of his Scotch.

“Believe me I'd rather be in a derelict building than pretending I belong in a place like this. At least on the street, I know where I stand,” Jess said.

Brian nodded his agreement. “Why were you so late arriving? Our host asked about you twice,” He leaned one arm against the bar and stared at her. Waited for her response. As if she owed him one.

“Really? What's this guy like? Is he as full of himself as most people with more money than brains?”

Jarrod choked on his whiskey just as Jess caught Vaslov in her peripheral vision. She clamped her teeth together. How the hell did Drago Vaslov get this close without her senses warning her? It shouldn't have happened.

She met Vaslov's gaze and allowed a cool, disinterested smile, effectively letting him know she wasn't intimidated by his position or his wealth. Or by the fact that he'd caught her unawares.

He wasn't quite as handsome as he'd looked in the papers. There was an underlying aura of a man who'd been on the mean streets, a man who'd adopted the air of sophistication. She'd bet her badge his poise was an act. In fact, besides vampires, not many people could give that wordless look of control with the impact he did. Points to him.

“I've always appreciated people who aren't afraid to speak their mind,” he said, a hint of dry humor in his voice. “It gets boring if everyone agrees with my every word.”

Jess very much doubted there was any truth in his statement. He didn't look like he'd brook insubordination.

Vaslov smiled at her smoothly. Too smoothly. And even though he nodded to the two cops behind her, he didn't take his eyes off her. “Of course once you get to know me better, I'm hoping you'll find that I do have the brains to back up the wealth.”

She gritted her teeth and decided his strong cologne wasn't the only thing in the room that stunk.

The fact remained that he could ruin an officer's career if he really wanted to, and being human, Drago couldn't hear Jarrod's erratic breathing behind her. Knowing Jarrod, he'd be panicking, afraid she'd do something to disgrace the Department. Like most of her fellow police officers, Jarrod didn't know she was a vampire, but he did know she had a temper that shouldn't be meddled with.

“Look, Mr. Vaslov,” she began.

“Please, call me Drago.” His hand held hers in his firm grip. “I've heard a lot about you, Captain Vandermire. I'm pleased to finally meet you.”

“Mr. Vaslov.” She ignored his request to call him Drago. “On behalf of the Department, we appreciate the invitation. I'm sure we're keeping you from your guests, though. We'll just have a drink, pay our bill and then be off.”

“No need to pay for your drink, it's on the house and please, please, don't hurry away. I've been hoping to get to know you a little better, Jess. May I call you, Jess?”

“We can't accept the drink without paying for it, as I'm sure you know.” She looked back at her two colleagues, who'd pretty much faded into the background. They didn't want to do anything to disrupt the almighty Vaslov.

“Why did you want to meet me?” She returned her attention to Vaslov and frowned.

“I've heard about you through the grapevine. You're well respected by your co-workers.”

That was one way to put it. She scared the hell out of most of them. “Really? If you'd be so kind as to tell me who mentioned me to you, I'd like to thank them.” Her co-workers were Black Ops. They didn't talk about each other, or their job. If they did, they'd be history. Someone's ass would be on the line over this.

His pupils contracted. He obviously didn't like her reply. Even though his mask remained firmly in place, he couldn't control his pupils. Mr. Vaslov had a tell.

“Excuse me, sir, you're wanted on the phone.” A tall waiter in a tuxedo nervously held a phone in his hand. Drago looked extremely irritated by the interruption and made no attempt to accept the phone. “Tell whomever it is I'll call them back.”

The uncomfortable employee cleared his throat but remained where he was. In fact, he looked as if he'd rather be anywhere else than here at the moment. “I think you'll want to take this call now, sir.”

Drago looked directly at Jess, and his expression softened perceptibly.

Apparently he could bullshit as good as the best of them.

“Please forgive me. It appears I'll have to take this call.”

“By all means,” she said, glad of the interruption. Now she had the perfect opportunity to nose around a little then make herself scarce. She'd be long gone before Vaslov got back.

He smiled at her stiffly, turned and, snatching the phone from his employee, stalked off, no longer trying to hide his irritation.

“I thought he'd never leave,” she said and slid off the bar stool. “Catch you two later.”

Jarrod sputtered but didn't get a cohesive word out before she was out of his range. Jess grinned. He was such a straight arrow.

Public washrooms were down a hall toward the back of the building. That gave her an excuse to explore. She found three office doors locked with electronic key codes. That alone, was enough to pique her already escalating curiosity about Mr. Vaslov's business and his interest in her and NYC's finest.

She could easily rip the doors open and break the locks but decided against it. She'd come back after the club closed and take a really good look.

Slipping through the rear exit door, she found herself in a garbage strewn alley. She wrinkled her nose. Sometimes, having superior olfactory senses didn't pay off. Especially at times like this.

A scuffling noise near the end of the alley gained her attention.

“A pleasure to see you again, Jess.”

Startled by the unexpected voice, she grabbed for her dagger, tucked into a sheath in the small of her back. What the hell? Her dagger wasn't there. She always had it with her.

With feet balanced for attack and her arms extended, she scanned the alley for the unseen bearer of the voice. It would be an understatement to say she was pissed that she had let someone get this close—again. Proof that she wasn't quite right tonight.

Then, without warning, a wave of dizziness sped through her. She reached out and grabbed the side of the nearest Dumpster. With waves of nausea twisting her insides and the world tilting, she finally saw someone standing on the opposite side of the alley.

She blinked and tried to focus. Not a vampire as far as she could tell, but then her senses weren't working very well. No way could she be sure what species he belonged to. Vampire or mortal?

“Do we know each other?” There was something not quite right about his features. His skin had an unnatural sheen. The color was off, and his facial features barely moved when he spoke.

“I've waited a long time for this,” he said. Even though his tone remained casual, there was an underlying terseness that gave his true emotions away.

She took several deep breaths and tried to shake the weird feelings catapulting through her. She was a vampire, for God's sake. She never got dizzy, or queasy.

What if getting too close physically to Britt had made her weak? After all, she'd had the dream when they were in bed. If only they'd had enough time to make love before she'd gone into stasis. Britt had wanted her to stay. Wanted to be with her when she woke up. Staying with him had proven how much she trusted him and loved him. At least it should have—before she tried to drain him of his precious blood. It couldn't happen again.

“You shouldn't be nasty to me, Jess, especially after all we've meant to each other,” the strange person said.

Jess laughed, hoping it would make him angry. “If you know what's good for you you'll piss off, right now.” She worked up as much strength as she could muster and pushed herself off the Dumpster, straightened her back and walked toward him, projecting an image of strong vampire.

Another wave of dizziness wormed through her. After fifty years of perfect health she was at a disadvantage. Unable to stop herself, she moaned and felt the earth tilt again.

Dear God, it wasn't possible for her to pass out!

Everything went black.

[Back to Table of Contents]

CHAPTER THREE

An hour later, when Britt got home from his meeting with Sampson, he pulled Jess's dagger out of the evidence bag and turned it over in his hands. How the hell had it surfaced at a crime scene? And why hadn't Jess noticed it missing? She never went anywhere without it.

If she found out about her dagger being discovered beneath a victim, there'd be no dissuading her from believing she killed that woman. Especially since she was sure she must have slipped out of his apartment when she had the nightmare.

A dull ache began to build behind his eyeballs. His cell phone rang and he grabbed it off his belt. “Lieutenant Brittain speaking.”

“Britt, it's me, Regent. Can you come to the Rectory immediately?”

It seemed someone was always phoning him with bad news lately, and by the tone in Regent's voice, this call was no different. “What's up, Regent?”

“Something's wrong with Jess. I'm not sure how to handle it by myself. She needs you here right away. After all, you're her protector now.”

Jess had never agreed to Britt being her protector, but it wasn't the time to quibble with her distraught brother. “What's going on? Is Jess okay?”

“I think so. But, Britt, there's something you should know before you get here.” Regent sucked in a shaky breath. “She's unconscious.”

Already halfway down the hall and jogging towards his car, Britt yelled, “Unconscious?” His blood began pumping in his ears. “How could that happen? Another vampire?”

“I'm not sure. There are no marks on her.”

“I didn't think vampires could pass out without a reason.” A reason like being burned with holy water. Britt cringed when he remembered how badly he'd inadvertently burned Jess once.

“Neither did I,” Regent said.

Those words terrified Britt. Regent had stood by Jess for fifty years. He'd been her protector, and he understood her condition more than anyone, except Jess, herself. “I'm on my way.”

“Right.” Regent hesitated. “One other thing, Britt. When Jess comes to, don't tell her I called you.” He hung up.

Britt slapped the siren onto the roof of his car and nearly broke the sound barrier on the way to Saint Eugenia. He slammed the brakes on at the Rectory and tore inside as if the hounds of hell were after him. He didn't bother to knock but made straight for Regent's office. They'd be there. It was their safe place.

As he opened the office door, he saw Regent leaning over Jess on the settee. Dear God! Was Regent delivering last rights?

The old priest twisted around when Britt barreled into the room.

“Oh, hi, Britt. What a coincidence that you stopped by right now,” Regent said trying to sound surprised by Britt's entrance, but failing miserably. Thank God, Jess's eyes were open, even if she was scowling at Regent.

“Jess isn't feeling very well,” Regent continued. “I found her unconscious on the couch in my office a few minutes ago. She woke up shortly after. I've been able to get a little sustenance into her to help her come around.”

Jess held an empty packet of blood the size of a frozen ice treat in one hand. She shakily ran the other one over her hair. “She's also in the room so you can stop talking about me as if I'm not here.”

Britt's heart tightened painfully. He'd never seen her look so physically weak, but she still had the capacity to crank up his interior thermostat and set his libido on overdrive with just one look. From the sable hair dusting her shoulders, to her beautiful ivory skin and blood red lips, she made his insides twist with a mere glance.

“Oh for Lord's sake, you two. Will you stop looking at me as if I'm about to turn into a pile of dust? I'm fine,” she said.

Regent sighed. “She's as cantankerous as ever, if that's any sign.” He didn't smile, but the relief in his faded, old eyes told Britt what he wanted to know. Jess would be okay. If anyone could judge that, Regent could.

As soon as Regent moved, Britt sat on the end of the couch near Jess's feet. She instantly pulled her legs up so she wouldn't touch him. He clenched his teeth. Obviously, she still hadn't forgiven him and he couldn't blame her. He'd acted like an idiot when he thought she'd bitten him.

“How'd you say I got here, Regent?” Jess asked.

Concern etched Regent's forehead and his worried gaze flicked to Britt. “I don't know. I found you lying on the couch a few minutes ago.”

Jess pushed herself up as if she'd had enough of being under the weather, only this time her lips drained of their color, and her pallor got worse.

“Forget pretending you're okay, Jess. Lie back down before you pass out again,” Britt said.

“I do not pass out. I'm a vampire, for God's sake.”

“Yeah, I know, but even hard-asses have times when they have to listen to others. Regent, do you think we should call Sampson? Have him come over and take a look at Jess?”

Regent sucked in a loud breath. “Sampson! Of course. I should have thought of him right away.”

Jess frowned. “Okay, this is ridiculous. I do not need a doctor.”

Regent held up a hand and she stopped her rant mid-sentence. “Jess, I think Britt's right, but I'll go along with your wishes. Just be warned, if you don't want Sampson, I consider it my responsibility to make up something to help you. A drink or a poultice? I have no idea how to make up a concoction for this situation, since it has never happened before, but maybe something for you to drink would be best?” He tapped one finger on his upper lip pensively, then began to rummage in a drawer in the corner cabinet.

“Oh God.” She slapped her hands on her forehead and cast Britt an urgent, pleading look. “Call Sampson quick, Britt, before Regent makes me take one of his vile concoctions that do absolutely nothing but make me gag.” She made a face. “And, I might add, it takes a lot to make a vampire gag.”

Regent shut the cupboard and moved to the phone. “Shall I phone him then?”

She crossed her arms and scowled at her brother. “Okay, you win. I'd rather have him treating me with modern medicine than have you devise something from your stash of dried up leaves and powders.”

Regent laughed. “Now, Jess, you know they help sometimes. I'll admit the process is hit and miss.”

Even though she rolled her eyes, there was a hint of amusement shining in their depths.

Since she appeared to be in a better mood, Britt asked, “What happened? Were you attacked?”

Jess heaved a sigh. “Wish I could tell you. Thing is, I have no idea.”

Regent stopped dialing and the room went silent for several seconds. “You're kidding, right?”

“Even though it's virtually impossible, I think I blacked out. I can't remember anything after stepping into the alley outside the Dragon's Lair Club.” She tipped her head as if in thought. “I vaguely remember that someone else was there and they spoke to me.”

Britt's spine locked. “Who?”

Jess shrugged. “I really don't know. I couldn't tell. All I know is I felt funny. Since that's not something I've experienced in many decades it threw me off. He might've been a vampire, but my vampire senses didn't seem to be working either, so I really didn't pick anything up from him.”

“That's worse than hearing that you fainted.” Regent forgot about the phone and dropped into his chair. He leaned forward, elbows on his old oak desk and stared at a picture of the Virgin Mary on the wall. His eyes closed and it was evident he was saying a silent prayer.

“Still think my bad dream was a good thing? Ever since I had that damned dream, things have been going from terrible to worse,” she said.

Britt reached over and took her hand before she had a chance to pull it away. “We're going to get to the bottom of this, but for now, I'm sticking as close to you as I can—whether you like it or not.”

“You've got one thing right. I don't like it.” Her voice rasped over him in a way that made him shiver.

She did some amazing things with her voice. She hadn't lost that ability, though he preferred it when she made him shiver with longing rather than fill him with the sense of cold dread she'd once inflicted on him. Once was enough. He hoped never to experience it again.

No way would he let her know that she'd chilled him to the core. Instead he smiled at her and pretended to be unaffected.

Her eyes darkened in preparation of transforming into a vampire. She did that sometimes to try to drive him away, to show him the hard and scary truth behind her vampirism. Problem with that, he loved her both ways, so she'd be wasting precious energy.

It was apparent the unfinished effort tired her. Her irises lightened again and she looked at her watch. “You're going to be late for your training session, Lieutenant.”

Damn, he'd completely forgotten about the new recruits. And even though he'd rather make them wait, Jess would never stand for that.

* * * *

Jess always thought being a vampire was the worst possible thing that could have happened to her, until she realized being a weak powerless vampire was much, much worse.

Would it do her any good to dwell on the fact that she had no idea how she'd gotten home, or what she'd done in between? Probably not, because the thought terrified her.

“What are we going to do, Regent?” She watched her elderly baby brother mull over their situation. He was her rock, her salvation, and she loved him as dearly as he loved her.

“Well, I phoned Sampson just before Britt left. He's coming right over. Let him do a few tests, and see what he can come up with. In the meantime, I suggest we both add extra prayers onto our regimen to keep you strong.”

“Good idea.”

“Jess.” Regent hesitated. “I don't mean to scare you, but there's something else I've been thinking. What if whatever's happening to you is the natural progression of your vampirism?”

Her eyebrows knit together. Since she was one of a kind, no one knew what course her vampirism would take. Even though Jess and her partner James, had been partially saved by her brother's prayers, Jess's gift had been greater. No other vampire could go out in the sunlight. It took preparation and prayers but she had abilities far beyond those of her dark brethren. Even James's salvation had left him unable to go out in the sunlight. “Is that why you called Britt tonight?”

Regent stared at her anxiously. “What else could I do? He's your protector and you needed him here.”

“No, you're my protector, Regent.”

Regent looked worried—and he looked tired. Jess wanted to curse. She should've been thinking about her brother's welfare more than her own.

“He loves you, Jess. He'll protect you whether you give him the title or not.”

She closed her eyes. Regent was right, but she was afraid. Was she losing control of her small piece of humanity and slowly killing her brother in the process?

By the time Sampson arrived, took blood samples and checked Jess over, she felt normal again. At least as normal as a vampire can feel. Sampson took her blood back to the lab, promising both of them he'd do his best to find out what was going on.

With her strength and energy renewed she slipped to her bedroom and dressed in her fighting leathers. She searched everywhere for her dagger but couldn't find it. The hairs on the back of her neck rose. Had someone taken it before she'd passed out in the alley? She shuddered. She didn't even want to consider why someone would do that.

“Where are you going, Jess?” Regent looked up from his desk as she tried to slip by.

“Out,” she said.

“At least call Britt and ask him to go with you, dear. Just for tonight. Please. I know you're feeling better, but it was only a few hours ago that you were incapacitated.”

She entered the office and sauntered over to her baby brother. Reaching out, she patted his sagging shoulder. His flesh lay thinly across his bones. Gone were the taut muscles of his youth. His gray-blue eyes had faded while hers remained bright and blue. He stared at her, weariness embedded in his carriage.

She sighed. “Okay. I'll pick up Britt at his apartment.”

“Thanks, Love. That's all I ask.”

She kissed his forehead. “Get some sleep. You look tired.”

“Be careful. And don't forget to take Britt to go with you.” He smiled at her with a loving twinkle in his eyes.

“Yeah, yeah.”

She stepped through the window of Regent's office, somersaulted off the roof and landed in the shadows where she wouldn't be seen by anyone passing by. It felt good to have her strength back.

And it felt even better to move quickly through the city. This was a life she'd grown used to. This method of travel, her enhanced senses and sight, were part of her. A tingle rocketed up her spine when she stopped on the rooftop of the building adjacent to Britt's. From here she looked into his apartment through his patio door. He was eating a TV dinner.

She sucked in a breath and stepped back instinctively when he turned and looked at the spot where she stood. Almost as if he knew she was there.

[Back to Table of Contents]

CHAPTER FOUR

Jess dropped soundlessly onto the tiny balcony and pulled the patio door open just wide enough for her to slip through.

“Come in. I'm glad to see you're feeling better,” Britt said, smiling at her. Bringing out the big guns. That smile always distracted her. And the fact that he didn't seem surprised to see her didn't go unnoticed either.

“You know how it is, I'm resilient. Especially when I'm ticked off,” she said, stepping into his apartment.

Dressed in snug fitting blue jeans and a cream colored T-shirt, he looked dark and sexy tonight, and maybe a little tired. It would be a bonus to feel his warm flesh against hers, his lips on hers. If only things could be different.

“How'd training go earlier?”

“Okay, we've got a few worthy fighters in this group.” His intelligent eyes took in every nuance of her. Even though his gaze was assessing and not in the least sexual, she looked away.

“Working tonight?” he asked in a voice that hinted he suspected what she was up to. He stretched his shoulders and rubbed the back of his neck.

Fighting vampires had taken its toll on his human physiology, yet he never complained. Of course, he had no idea what those simple stretches could do to her. Thoughts about being able to work those kinks out for him threatened to break her resolve.

Being a kick-ass vampire hunter gave her no tools against the feelings this tough cop engendered in her without even trying.

“I'm going back to the club. See if I can figure out what Vaslov's up to.” She pursed her lips and tried to focus on her job. Something she'd never had to work at before. “And maybe find out what caused my episode earlier.”

Upon closer inspection, Britt's shoulders were knotted and tight. Had she ever known a man who embodied tough the way he did? He had a few more scars since their recent battle with a vicious drug lord vampire named Prometheus, but that just made him sexier.

The urge to trace the new scar across his chin before trailing her fingers to his lips surfaced. She quickly stepped back. She didn't even remember getting that close!

“You going alone?” he asked, his voice husky.

She put her hands on her hips and pushed her own shoulders back, reaffirming her willpower against his potent sexuality. It was working too, until his gaze slowly devoured her while he patiently waited for her response.

In self-preservation mode, she moved farther away from him. “No. That is, not if you'll agree to come with me. I know it's your time off, but...” She exhaled—time for the truth. “Regent made me promise to take you with me.”

She felt like an idiot telling him that. Big bad vampire needs backup to appease her baby brother.

“I know.” Britt's sexy grin made her knees go weak. “Regent called me. I wanted to give you the option to do what you wanted, not what Regent expected.”

“No wonder you knew I was on the roof.”

“Yeah, I timed you. Knew you'd be here in around ten.”

She shook her head and ignored the warm feeling wending its way through her. “That's what you're wearing, then?”

He looked down at his attire. “Yeah, we're off-duty, so I thought I'd better wear my civvies.”

“Probably right.” If only those close fitting jeans and T-shirt didn't drive her to distraction. Her gaze swept over him with admiration. Seconds after she'd ogled him her heart started thudding twice as fast, and her skin began to flush with a kind of warmth that wasn't usually possible for her. She'd made a mistake.

At least until then, he'd been keeping his distance. Now, with an expression as dark and dangerous to her as any vampire, he moved in and molded himself against her. One hand grasped her hip and pulled her closer. The other hand on the small of her back completed the full body press in an attempt to keep her from escaping—as if he could stop her if she didn't want to be here.

Then the heat of his breath fanned her hair while he slid his hands up her arms, skimming her breasts, then her shoulders before he reached her chin and tipped her head up.

“Kiss me,” he said.

“I can't.” She shuddered. She wanted to look away but was mesmerized by his mouth, his eyes.

He didn't care. His mouth came down on hers, scorched her with a sensual, bone melting kiss that went on and on. Taking pleasure as well as giving it, he groaned against her.

“Did I mention how much I'm enjoying your outfit tonight?” he said.

She didn't speak, instead she reveled in the way his hands explored her body with a reverence that both intimidated and excited her at the same time.

When his mouth sought hers again, she melted into his feverish kisses, returning them with her own intense desire.

If only he didn't make her feel like the only woman who could set him on fire. Worthy of his every touch, his every wanton need.

Their bodies strained against each other.

Suddenly, Britt pushed Jess backwards until her shoulders connected with the wall. He raised both hands and pressed them against the wall on either side of her head and he looked into her eyes. Blue irises burning for her, his mouth open just slightly. His breathing rough and suggestive of what he'd like to do next.

That half-inch of space left between them made her crazy with the need to experience his warmth, his male intensity. She wanted him against her and he knew it.

For one sweet second, she closed her eyes and felt his heat and his raw power. She wanted him desperately, would give almost anything to experience everything he was capable of giving her. But in that same instant the old fears intruded.

She loved him. Dear God, let her have the strength to prove it to him by stopping this madness before it was too late and Britt had to pay with his life.

She swallowed. “Britt.” Her tone said it all.

His body stiffened, and he stepped away. He'd given her a choice and she'd damned well taken it. His expression pained her more than anything she'd experienced in the last five decades. His features turned to stone and his eyes became dark and remote. She couldn't read him, but that was the way he wanted it. He'd read the tone in her voice and knew exactly what she was going to say. She'd hurt him—again.

“I'll go along with your wishes for now, Jess.” His voice held just a hint of anguish. “But my willpower isn't as good as yours. The next time, I might not stop, so decide before then if you care enough about me to show me how you feel in every way.”

“Britt, I...”

One finger lightly touched her full lower lip. “Don't say anything we both might regret. At least not until you've thought it through. As much as I need you, I can't stay with you forever with this unconsummated need burning between us. I'm just not that strong.”

Oh God. Her heart felt like it would break. He deserved better. “Britt, please understand,”

“I'll try, but that doesn't mean I'll be able to keep my hands off you.”

Then he switched from hunk of the month to the tough cop she admired. She had hurt him again and she hated herself for it. Bad enough wondering how her brother's life would have been all these years without her curse tainting everything he tried to do. But now she was on the verge of doing the same thing to another good man. Was she really that selfish?

As if able to read the heaviness of her thoughts and the burden of her soul, Britt said, “Let's take the stairs this time.” They both looked at the balcony that had become a revolving door for vampires lately.

“Like you have a choice.” She turned her head so he wouldn't see her grin. She silently thanked him for alleviating the tension between them before pushing past him and taking the lead.

* * * *

The Dragon's Lair Club was in darkness. “The alley's over there,” Jess said. “Let's break in through the rear door.”

“Lead on. I've got your flank.” She heard the humor in Britt's voice.

“Watching my flank is completely unprofessional, Brittain.”

“I know, but what can a Lieutenant do?”

She shot him a withering look, and he reined in his humor and at least pretended to be repentant.

Moving along the alley she ignored the handsome, tough-guy inches behind her by putting all of her energy into concentrating on her surroundings.

Grabbing the handle of the door she yanked it open. “You coming?”

“Still right behind you,” he whispered way too close to her ear, making her shiver.

They slid along the corridor inside the dark building. Britt followed closely behind Jess since she could see clearly for both of them.

“There must be an alarm system, somewhere,” Britt said.

She pressed her hand against his chest to stop him. “There is. Infrared beams start right in front of me.”

“Good thing your vampire vision can see infrared.”

She glanced at the wall to her right, then left and spotted the alarm. “Not a problem. We'll have this baby out of commission in no time.”

He locked his hands together to give her a foot up.

She didn't need it, but she accepted the boost anyway. She had the alarm deactivated within seconds.

“Vaslov's office is this way, but let's check these rooms first.” They opened the first door.

“Ahhh, a secondary backup to the alarm system. Smarter than I thought.” She bent down and looked at the screens monitoring every room in the club. Every room except Vaslov's office.

“Look. There's a view of the alley. I didn't notice the camera out there.”

“That means we'd better find the tape of us breaking in just now.”

“Maybe we'll be able to see who was in the alley with me earlier.”

Britt cursed himself for not being with her that night. Next time he wouldn't take no for an answer, superior officer or not. They'd passed that barrier when she slept in his bed. He rewound the current tape. “No good, the last tape was changed at midnight.” He scanned the office. “There's a locked cabinet over here, looks like the type that stores disks.” He pulled hard. The drawer rattled but wouldn't budge.

Jess reached over and, with the flick of her wrist, the drawer popped open. She wasn't showing off, so he ignored the hit to his ego.

It didn't take long to find the tape since they were filed by date and time. He shoved the tape into a machine in the corner and fast forwarded it according to the time code at the bottom. When he got close to ten p.m. they began watching in real time.

Jess pointed at the screen. “There I am, just stepping out the back door.”

When she moved in to look over Britt's shoulder, he clenched his teeth until they felt glued together and forced himself to concentrate on the screen. Did she have any idea how her nearness affected him?

“Okay, yeah,” she said pointing at the screen. “See, I'm looking around. That's when I heard something,” Jess said.

Britt saw Jess grab onto the Dumpster. There was no one else in the alley with her. They both watched until she literally dropped to the ground, out cold. And completely alone.

Britt replayed the tape and stared hard at every corner, every section of the alley. The camera was a wide angle and covered the entire alley. If there was someone there with Jess, why couldn't they see him?

“Jess, where was this guy standing?” He turned to see unadulterated terror on her face. She didn't speak.

“Was he over here?” He pointed to a spot that was a little more difficult to focus on because it was shadowed.

She made a strangled sound. “No. He was standing right there.” A perfectly lit location. In fact, Britt could make out the brand name of a candy bar wrapper on the ground.

“We must've missed him.” He rewound the tape and watched it again. No one stood in the alley with Jess when she passed out.

The weight of that thought hit hard. “You're sure you saw someone in the alley with you.”

“Yes! He spoke to me and I answered him.”

“Since your back is turned to the camera, we can't see your face. There's no way to tell if your lips are moving.”

“You don't have to see me to know I spoke to someone because I'm telling you I spoke to someone.” Her voice raised an octave.

Britt didn't want to worry Jess. Regent's prayers had kept her strong, but he was getting old. Did that have anything to do with her recent physical problems?

Had Regent come to the end of his abilities?

[Back to Table of Contents]

CHAPTER FIVE

Two days later, Britt spat out a litany of curses as he ran a red light and barely missed being sideswiped by a bus in pursuit of his elusive lady vampire.

Horns blared as he barely skimmed through traffic without being creamed. He slammed his hand against the steering wheel, scanning the lines of vehicles ahead of him. None of them looked like hers.

His cell vibrated on his belt. Given his mood, his first instinct was to rip it off and whip it out the window. Considering he was on duty and the damned thing continued to ring, he had to answer it. He swerved the vehicle to the curb and jammed the gear shift into park. “Lieutenant Brittain,” he spat out, barely maintaining professionalism.

“Britt, Sampson here.”

He'd lost her, damn it! She must've known he was following her. “What do you want?”

Sampson paused on the other end, probably wondering what bug had crawled up Britt's butt. He wasn't usually so hostile, but lately he'd been worried about Jess and his outbursts were happening more often.

“Everything okay with you, Britt?”

“Yeah, sorry about that Sampson. What's up?”

“Bad news.” Sampson Case spoke in his usual calm voice.

Britt blew out an exasperated breath. Not now. He wanted to find Jess—keep an eye on her. “Give it to me quickly, Sampson. I'm following up on something right now.”

Who was he kidding? He might as well call it quits for tonight. He'd never pick up her trail again. Damn it, the woman was good. She was probably laughing about how easily she could shake him.

“I'm afraid to say there's been another murder. Another body in the park. A woman. And the vic was killed the same way as the last one.”

“Shit!”

“I assume you'll put your other case on hold and meet me here momentarily?” Sampson said.

“You assume correctly. Where are you exactly?” The park was too big not to have an exact location.

“Same place as the last one.”

Britt's left hand gripped the steering wheel even tighter. “I don't like the sound of that.”

“I agree. How far away are you? I'd like to get the body out of here before we draw too large a crowd. Those gaping neck wounds are a dead give away. If people see them, they'll start screaming vampire.”

“Ten minutes, tops. I'm on my way.” Britt snapped his phone shut. Before he pulled into traffic he leaned over, opened the glove compartment and pulled out the evidence bag. A sigh of relief escaped at the sight of Jess's dagger still safely tucked away. At least this was one bit of evidence that couldn't turn up again.

Hopefully Sampson had some painkillers in his medical bag, because Britt had a headache that wouldn't quit. And it was getting bigger by the second.

It took thirty minutes rather than the projected ten before Britt arrived, another medical examiner might be irritated because he had to wait for the Detective, but not Sampson. He had patience like no one Britt had ever met. Sampson had worked for the Special Ops Unit of the Police Department for years, but he was paid by Jess. Most people weren't aware of that. Nor were they aware of just how specialized he was.

“Take a look.” Sampson rubbed one hand over his bald head and squinted through the darkness at the body lying on the gravel path. “After Prometheus got fried on your last big case, things have been so quiet. I'd hoped for a vacation.”

Britt allowed a cynical smile. “That was only a week ago, Sampson, and this is our second body since then.” Evil thrived in the city, and it wasn't about to let any of them take a vacation.

While Sampson filled him in on the jogger who'd found the victim, Britt scanned the crime scene. On a nearby park bench he noted the jogger being treated for a sprained ankle. Then he saw Jess approaching from the wrought iron fence near the street.

What the hell? Had she turned the tables and followed him back here?

She nodded casually to Britt, then Sampson. Dressed in black slacks and a low cut blood-red mohair sweater that reminded him of how sexy she'd looked the first night they met, he straightened his stance uncomfortably.

Her sable hair lay gently on her shoulders tonight, whereas, on duty she wore it up. That led him to the conclusion she'd been going somewhere private when he was trying to tail her.

He waited for a micro-expression—anything to tell him she knew he'd been following her. She remained perfectly impassive. He respected that ability, but it drove him nuts when she did it to him.

Sampson pulled back the tarp so they could get a look at the victim's body. A female dressed in an expensive Channel suit. If it weren't for the horrific gaping gashes at her throat, she'd look like she was going to get up and joke about lying here in the middle of the path.

“Have we got ourselves a rogue?” Jess asked. Vampires who killed in the open were rogues, beasts who no longer feared being caught or giving their kind away. Normal, solitary vampires, if you could call them that, preferred to hunt in the slums and obscure places where their victims had little credibility and wouldn't be missed if they were killed.

“Haven't had time to do a complete examination, yet.” Sampson opened his case and pulled out a pair of gloves, snapping them with effect.

Sampson had developed software similar to AFIS, only it tracked vampire VNA. If this was a repeat offender or the same vampire who killed the last woman and tried to blame Jess, he might be able to link the attackers, or at least identify the vampire's genetic fingerprint.

Sampson should be Jess's best bet on proving her innocence, so why was he so worried about the evidence they'd found so far? Britt gritted his teeth and vowed if science couldn't prove Jess's innocence he sure as hell would.

So far, Jess knew nothing about her dagger being found at the scene. Britt and Sampson had kept the incriminating evidence to themselves. Given that she had no idea what was going on, why was she here? Was it because this was only Britt's second case since he'd taken over Jess's job? She didn't trust him?

“Who found the body?” she asked Sampson, virtually ignoring Britt. Britt stepped in front of her forcing her to look at him.

“Jogger. He's over there.” Without taking his gaze off her, he pointed over his shoulder with his thumb in the general vicinity of the man. Jess frowned, and glanced quickly at the man sitting on a bench, then back to Britt again, her eyes narrowing ever so slightly.

“How'd he trip over her body without seeing her? It might be dark, but there are enough street lights to clearly see a body in the middle of the path.”

Sampson rolled his eyes. “He was on his cell phone.”

“Figures,” Jess said, she'd never understand why people were so fixated on those things. “Who's going to question the witness?”

“I am.” Britt said. “But first he's being checked out by the EMT. Apparently he sprained his ankle. Besides that Sampson said he's fairly traumatized. Landed on top of the victim, and came face-to-face with her on the ground. I'll talk to him once the EMT has given me the go-ahead.” Britt gritted his teeth

She stepped back to survey the scene. His gaze followed hers to an overgrown shrub in the distance. He'd become quite efficient at reading her and it was evident something had caught her attention over there. He found it a little unnerving that she didn't mentioned it. Surely to God she had nothing to hide. It had just been a breeze that rustled the shrubs, a random breeze that swept across the open path and lifted the edges of her hair, sending a hint of her vanilla scented shampoo his way.

“The witness will be taken back to the station, so we can question him further and get his clothes for trace. If he saw her neck wound and is suspicious about it, it might be wise for you to help him forget about it,” Britt suggested.

She nodded apparently pleased with his plan. Since James was on paternity leave, Jess was the only other vampire on staff who could make people forget about what they'd seen.

“Fill me in on what you find as soon as you get the information,” Jess said directly to Sampson. That made Britt scowl. Why was she going over his head on this? Going from leader of the Black Ops team to Captain of the Department overseeing Black Ops was new to her. But it was his job to report crime scene findings to her.

“I'll make sure you get that information, Captain,” he told her.

She focused on him and her mouth twitched. “You do that, Lieutenant. I'll be waiting for the information.” If he knew Jess Vandermire at all, he knew she respected the fact that he wasn't about to let her step in and take over.

Problem was he questioned his own abilities these days, though he'd never admit that to her, or anyone else. He didn't have her special abilities. Being a good cop with great gut instinct was one thing, but he didn't have her super-human abilities to hunt vampires. He had very good human abilities, though. He'd trained hard, studied all the techniques and could fight vampires, but when it came right down to it, he was still human. He drew in a long breath and considered that he might not be the best person for this job.

Everyone knew, including him, that Jess's long time partner, James, should have been given Britt's job. Jess wouldn't tell him why James didn't get the job, but he'd find out sooner or later.

“I've done all I can do out here,” Sampson grunted as he stood up and stretched his legs. He nodded his head and spurred the forensic team into action. They lifted the victim into the body bag and zipped it up.

“Can't do much more until I get our Jane Doe back to the lab. I imagine there'll be VNA present. Whoever bit her was extremely violent. More so than a normal vamp attack. Her carotid artery wasn't just severed, but was actually yanked right through the skin before incising it. Poor little gal. She didn't deserve that.”

Britt grimaced. “I wouldn't have thought that possible.”

“Me either, I'd say this vamp has a special set of fangs. Extra long and slightly curved.”

“You sure it was a vampire?” Britt asked, looking at the body bag being wheeled away.

“What else would it be? You know of some other otherworldly critters in New York?”

Suddenly, Sampson looked repentant at the use of his terminology. He patted Jess on the shoulder and whispered, “Sorry, hon. You know what I mean.”

“Don't worry Sampson, I agree with you totally.” Jess took Sampson's hand and gave it a friendly squeeze.

Why did that benign little squeeze make Britt's chest tighten? Surely he wasn't jealous of Sampson. His feelings for Jess were making him crazy. Sampson was a good man and deserved better from Britt than petty jealousy because he had a strong friendship with Jess. Besides, Britt didn't have time for jealousy, he had to clear Jess's name.

“I thought after we'd taken care of Prometheus, things might settle down around here for a while.” Jess sighed and pushed her hair back, exposing her own neck. Britt thought about how she tasted, and wondered if a vampire's urge for blood was similar to how he craved the taste of her skin right now.

God, he had to get a grip. He was on the job. He couldn't allow himself personal distractions.

As if Jess could sense his turmoil, she gave him an almost playful smile that threatened to buckle his knees. Yeah, he had to get a grip, all right.

Jess casually returned her attention to the general vicinity of the shrub again. He followed her gaze. He filed the location away. He'd check the spot out later.

Sampson wandered away without saying a word. He often did that when he was on a case.

“Why are you dressed up tonight, Jess? Going out?” Britt asked casually, wondering if she'd say anything about him trying to follow her.

“Actually, I've already been out. Department assignment.”

“What kind of assignment?” She didn't wear clothes like that for meetings.

“I had to go back to the Dragon's Lair Club, again. This time alone. The other two officers weren't invited.”

“I don't like the sound of that.”

“Yes, you're right. And I had every intention of ignoring the invitation, but the boss had different ideas when I got to work.” She pursed her lips. “Apparently the Mayor called him personally. He thought it was an excellent idea that we maintain a good relationship since Drago Vaslov does so much for the city. Didn't want the Department to disappoint our most esteemed millionaire.” Sarcasm dripped off her tongue. Britt knew she had little use for the wealthy, especially those who used their money to buy status in the city. Drago Vaslov had only been in the city for a little more than a year, and he'd monetarily escalated himself into the good graces of many of the high society. Jess would distrust him for that alone.

“Any indication that Vaslov knew we were inside his club the other night?”

“No, and he didn't report the break-in to the police, either. Mr. Vaslov definitely has something to hide.”

Britt's lips thinned. “But what is it?”

“I wish we'd looked in the other rooms while we were there. We shouldn't have found those tapes and skittered out without doing a full search.”

“Probably right.” Truth was, they were both so surprised by the tape of the alley, neither of them considered looking further.

“What was the club like fully populated with New York's elite? I've heard only the very wealthy get invitations to attend.”

“Pretentious.”

Britt followed her as she began moving around the crime scene, looking here and there. She was gravitating toward the witness. He suspected she was going to question the man. With or without him.

“I did see something that surprised me tonight, though. There was a vampire in the club. By the way he was dressed, he was very well financed. Not one of our random street vampires. This guy moves in high circles.”

Britt's hackles rose instantly. “So Drago is connected to vampires?”

“Maybe. We have no way of knowing if he's aware of vampires. Theoretically, anyone in the city could be patrons of Vaslov's place. That includes gangsters and city officials, why not vampires, too?”

As Britt and Jess approached, the EMT had packed up his equipment and was patting their witness on the shoulder. “I can give you the name of a counselor,” the EMT told the man.

“We'll take it from here, thank you,” Jess said to the EMT. She held up her badge, and the EMT nodded and left.

“Good evening, sir,” Jess said. “I'm Captain Vandermire, and this is Lieutenant Brittain, we'd like to ask you a few questions.”

The guy looked shaken. His Lycra jogging suit showed hints of moisture at his neck and underarms.

“Your name?” she said.

“Brandon Fedore.” The jogger's eyes looked dazed. Still in shock.

“How long had you been jogging before...” .

“I jog for an hour every night. I'd say I was about 45 minutes in.” His haunted gaze swept over the path. The body was gone now, but Jess knew that in his mind it was still there. Horrific memories like that weren't so easily dispelled.

“Did you see anyone else near the victim? Anyone at all in the area?” Britt spoke up, asserting his position as lead on the case.

Fedore dragged a shaky hand across his eyes. “I have no idea if there was anyone else around. After I fell on top of that woman and saw her face staring up at me in a frozen scream ... that was it. Everything else faded away.” He sniffed. “I'll never be able to get that image out of my mind.”

“So you can't say if there was anyone else nearby?”

“No. I'm sorry. I don't remember seeing anyone else.” He looked down at his bandaged ankle. “I'm going to have a hell of a time getting my sneaker back on.”

“Don't worry, we'll have an officer take you home after you give a short statement at the precinct.” Britt motioned for one of the boys in blue, who were waiting to take him to the station. Jess quickly fogged his memory of the woman's wounds. A sudden look of relief crossed Mr. Fedore's face.

“Yeah, sure. Wish I could be of more assistance.” He stood with Britt's help.

“Take care of this man, will you Officer Henry?”

“Sure thing.” The officer gave him a shoulder to lean on so he could limp to the police vehicle. Henry stopped for a moment and looked back. “It's really great to have you back, Britt. I always knew you were framed.”

Britt tossed his old precinct pal a grin. “Thanks, Chris, I appreciate that.”

Jess put her hands on her hips after Henry got the witness into his squad car. “Tell me, aren't people curious about what kind of team you're working on now?”

“Yeah, a few of the guys have asked. Told them it was a secret narc undercover op, so they didn't ask anything else.”

“You deserve some happiness after all you've been through the last two years,” she said abruptly, surprising him.

“You say that like you've got nothing to do with my happiness.” He sounded a little cynical, so he tried to adjust his tone. “Besides, you deserve it too, Jess. And I aim to be the man who gives you that happiness.” He turned and walked away before she could reply.

[Back to Table of Contents]

CHAPTER SIX

Jess strode into Britt's office the next evening. “Anything on our first dead woman?”

Britt looked up from the paperwork on his desk. He liked field work much better than this stuff. He clicked his pen closed with finality and laid it down.

“No. Now that you mention it, Sampson hasn't filed a report yet.”

“Think we should go talk to him?”

Britt looked at his watch. It was two a.m., but Sampson worked the same hours they did so he would be on duty. “Don't you have a meeting scheduled tonight?” Britt glanced at the calendar on his computer. Most scheduled departmental meetings were listed there.

“Damn it. I do,” she said, pursing her lips. Easy to see she didn't like office work any more than he did.

Jess looked beautiful standing before him in leather. Her dark brown hair softly curled around her face. He didn't have to see the back of her hair to know it was done up in a French twist of some sort. He didn't know the names of the hair-dos, but whatever she wore, her hair always looked professionally done.

A tantalizing hint of cleavage peaked out from the bodice of her outfit.

Suddenly, she leaned down and stared into his eyes. “My eyes are here, mister.” She feigned anger—he could see humor in her gaze.

“Sorry, I get distracted when you're in the room. He slid his chair back from the desk and stood. “On the investigation front, we found out who victim number two is. Beverley Kellerman. We had no luck finding anyone else who was in the area around the same time as our jogger.”

“Seems a little unrealistic to believe there'd be no other people on that path on a warm summer evening, doesn't it?”

“It's a given there were other people around. Britt tapped his fingers on the top of the filing cabinet. Anything to keep him from getting too close to Jess at the moment. He prided himself on his professional behavior, and staring at her cleavage, though tempting, was not appropriate at work.

“If this vampire was particularly voracious in his apparent hunger for blood there might not be all that much trace,” Jess said.

“Jess what are you thinking? You've got the same look on your face that you had at the crime scene.”

She sat in the chair Britt had just vacated and crossed one leg over the other. Hopefully she didn't notice how his gaze had been momentarily riveted to her long, shapely legs.

“I'm wondering why those particular women? Neither of them were down and out, and the first victim was dressed in a designer outfit. Attacking victims who are visible members of society is a highly unusual choice for a vampire.”

“It's not like it's never happened before or you wouldn't be a vampire right now.” Britt reached down and thumbed through his case file in an attempt to take his mind off Jess's pleasing proportions.

“What happened to me was a very long time ago. Times have changed. Now, smart vampires keep to street people and crooks. Even Prometheus, with all his grandiose schemes, was smart enough to stay low key when it came to taking victims.”

“True.” Britt surveyed her with an appraising eye. “I noticed you were interested in something at Ms. Kellerman's crime scene. Did you see someone?”

A tiny line marred her brow. That same line that let him know he'd hit a chord. Otherwise she was very good at keeping her emotions hidden.

“I thought there might've been someone there when we arrived. Still, my senses haven't been exactly on par lately, so I wasn't sure. I've been feeling a little off since I had that nightmare.”

Britt straightened. A cold chill went up his spine. “I don't like the sound of that, Jess. You've got impeccable instincts. If you think you're being watched, I'd be willing to bet you are.”

She let out a slow breath. “That dream affected my equilibrium somehow, I feel unsettled. I don't really trust my instincts right now.”

“What did Regent say about it?”

Jess didn't make eye contact and Britt knew her well enough to know why.

“I didn't tell him much about it except that it was a nightmare. I certainly didn't tell him I dreamed I killed him and drank his blood, while nearly doing that to you for real,” she said.

“I think you should talk to him, Jess. Get his take on the situation. He's been your protector long enough to have valid ideas about what's going on. Maybe he can suggest a reason for the change in your abilities.”

“I don't think he's well enough for me to worry him, Britt. That heart attack, though minor, was hard on him. He's not a young man, and he worries about me enough already. I don't want to add any more weight to the burden I've been his whole life.”

Britt scraped his top teeth over his bottom lip. He didn't agree with her. Regent could handle Jess telling him about her fear. Besides, he'd earned the right to know what was going on. And he would want to know.

“Promise me if this feeling persists, you'll tell me, and that you'll talk to Regent about the rest.”

She ran a hand over her hair as if to smooth it. “I'll think about it.” With that she pushed herself out of the chair and left.

He smiled. He'd expected her to lose her cool when he'd asked for her promise. She didn't have to promise him anything, and the fact that she even thought about his suggestion was a step in the right direction.

As her footsteps echoed down the hall, he kicked his door shut, grabbed the phone and began dialing.

* * * *

Halfway up the back stairs, Jess realized she'd unconsciously changed her regular pattern. Normally she'd take the front staircase to go to the third floor. She was still reacting to her irrational feelings of being watched. She stopped mid-staircase and assessed those feelings. Yes. They were still there. She looked over the railing and perused the stairs below. If there was anyone on the stairs, she'd either be able to hear them, or at the very least smell them. Her senses were top notch again. She took a long breath to quell the feeling of disaster that seemed to be always looming these days, and continued on her way to her meeting with her boss.

She knocked on the door.

“Come.” The baritone voice suited Chief Vance Brown. The huge man barely fit his ultra-wide leather chair. His neatly clipped goatee flowed like waves over three chins.

“You wanted to see me, sir?”

He waved pudgy fingers at a chair. “Have a seat, Vandermire.”

She'd rather stand, but Vance liked his people to do what he told them to. She sat.

“The mayor called to ask how things went at the Dragon's Lair Club.”

She stared at him. “Fine.”

His girth expanded and he hoisted himself forward. “I think the Mayor will want a little bit more than that, Vandermire.”

“Why didn't the Mayor go and find out for himself?”

“Apparently, he's a regular. But it seems Drago Vaslov is interested in you, Jess. Besides the fact that we want to keep up good relations, I'm rather curious about Vaslov's interest myself.” He held up his hands. “Not that I don't think you warrant the attention of a philanthropic millionaire, you realize, it's just that your specialization makes me a little nervous. If Vaslov knows about you, it's a concern.”

“I didn't get the impression he knew about my “specialization” as you put it.”

Vance sucked in heavily through his nostrils. “Nevertheless, Drago is still putting pressure on the Mayor. Apparently, you don't stick around as long as he would like. He wants to see you, again.”

She frowned. “Tough.”

He cleared his throat. “I know I can't ask you to do this, Jess. In fact it goes against my own ethics, but I want you to become a bit of a regular on your off-time.”

She started to protest, but he held up a hand the size of a ham and she closed her mouth.

“There's more. I don't want you to hang around to give Mr. Vaslov his jollies. Quite the reverse. This is our chance to find out just what he's up to.” He looked around the room. “Just don't tell the Mayor I said that. I'm taking the initiative on this one. Something's not quite right, and I want you to find out what the hell it is.”

She gave him her coldest, undead look and watched the sweat break out on his forehead. “Fine! But remember, I don't do regular police work, nor do I allow myself to be pimped out.”

He actually had the gall to laugh at that. “I'm very well aware of your standards, Vandermire. That's why you're perfect for this. And who said you can't do regular police work too? You're a full-fledged cop. A fine one at that.” He moved again, and settled back into his chair. “I'm assuming you have no problems with this assignment.”

She took her time and thought it out. The Chief never gave compliments. He must be desperate. Since he put it that way she had little choice. “I have no problem with it.”

“I'd like you to have backup on this, though. You're not going to poke around there without someone to watch your back.”

Jess listened to him. His suggestion was valid, but she had no intention of bringing someone else along. Drago Vaslov gave her the impression his interest was personal. She didn't believe it for a minute. She'd never get the whole truth out of him if she had a partner tagging along every time she saw him. No, this one had to be handled by her and her alone.

She smiled at the Chief. Somehow he didn't look assuaged.

“Pick whoever you think is best,” he said, before going back to his paperwork, thereby dismissing her.

Jess left his office and strode to the roof of the building, her favorite place to think. She scanned the city. Working with humans was necessary to combat vampires. After all, besides James, there weren't very many vamps lining up for the job. And even if they did, she'd never trust them. But she did trust her Black Ops operatives. They were good people. Brave people, who were willing to put their lives on the line to save their friends and neighbors from the evil bloodsuckers. She sighed, and pressed two fingers against each temple. Maybe she'd come to trust one of them too much? Could she ever walk away from Britt? Even if it was for his own safety.

A wave of dizziness rippled through her, then ebbed away. If she was reverting into one of the evil creatures of the night, Britt might be the least of her worries.

And if that did happen, how long could she trust herself alone with people she loved?

[Back to Table of Contents]

CHAPTER SEVEN

Drago Vaslov cursed and slammed his cell phone shut before firing it against the wall. It bounced off and landed with an unsatisfactory thud on the floor. “Goddamnit.” One wall was completely covered with mirrors, but the rest were padded, soundproofed, and covered with rich burgundy leather.

He glanced at the two beautiful, barely dressed women lounging on a settee in the corner. They looked sufficiently crestfallen to win an Oscar when they saw he wasn't in the mood to party tonight.

Drago pushed the button on his headset. “Mannie, get in here.” Drago raised his voice, but just barely. That's all he had to do. His people were at his beck and call. Or else.

“Yes, sir?” Mannie stepped into the office, adjusting his wireless earpiece which was connected to Vaslov's intercom system.

“Why isn't Jess Vandermire here yet? The Mayor told me she would be.”

“Not sure, sir. She was late the other night too. Seems she's a woman with her own schedule.” Only Mannie would dare talk to Drago like that. He'd been with him for ages.

“I guess that's why she's so appealing to our phone-in client. She's certainly not my type.” Drago rolled his eyes toward the ladies on his couch. Wanton and ready, and alive, that's the way he liked them.

“If the Mayor gave her orders to be here, she'll have to come. I'll tell security to keep an eye out for her and let her in immediately.”

“Do that.”

Mannie started to leave.

“Have you seen today's paper?” Drago picked up the paper and threw it at him. Mannie twisted and caught it in midair, but not before several sections fell out. He bent and gathered the sheets, putting them back in order without a change in expression. Vaslov liked that about him. He kept his cool.

“Check out the front page with full color photo. It seems Beverley Kellerman was found dead yesterday.” He closed his eyes and leaned his head back. The constant droning headache increased in intensity at the back of his brainstem. “What if their investigation leads back to us?”

“Even if it does, why should we worry? We're not involved in Kellerman's murder.”

“Take a better look at that picture, Mannie.”

Mannie stared at the paper. “I'm looking.” He tilted his head this way and that. “How'd reporters get this picture, anyway? That alone must've pissed off the cops to no end.”

“My point, Mannie...” Drago held out a magnifying glass to Manfred Constantine, and snapped his hand back when his number one thug took it. “Is her neck. Look at her neck.”

Mannie squinted through the glass. His eyes narrowed and his lips formed a thin line. “I see what you're getting at.”

Drago sat on the edge of his desk, legs stretched out in front of him. “Now, reconsider the problem that Beverley will be traced back to my club.”

“Looks like we're going to have to do some damage control.” He cast Drago a speculative look. “There's always the chance that they won't trace her back to us.”

“Do you believe in fairytales, Mannie?” Drago pulled his legs closer to the desk and braced himself with his hands in case he decided to lurch forward and grab Mannie around the throat. His temper could be uncontrollable at times, but he'd never taken it out on Mannie.

The two bimbos in the corner giggled and waited for Drago to take his frustration out on his associate. They liked it when he got violent. Drago looked in their direction, his gaze raking over them. “Get out.”

Their expressions changed to fear instantly, and they skittered out the room.

“I'm not holding this against you, Mannie. This isn't your fault. Whoever killed this woman could unravel everything we've worked so hard to build. Client or not, find the vampire who did this and kill him. I've got a good thing going here, and I won't let anyone destroy it.”

“I'm on it.” Mannie was six-foot-four of solid muscle. His hair had been shaved off and replaced with an intricate tattoo of a Dragon, its tail curled down the back of his neck. “We'll have to retrieve Kellerman's body, I assume?”

Drago forced the anger lines out of his forehead with one hand, while he tried to calm himself. Through gritted teeth, he said, “Yeah, I guess so.”

“I got a couple of men who can do that job.”

“Can we trust them?”

Mannie grinned. “Probably not. They're just cheap ghouls-for-hire. I contact them by phone and they have no idea who I am. If they get caught they're on their own. They can't be connected to us.”

“So, if they fail, we could lose Kellerman?”

Mannie shrugged. “Could. But we can always retrieve her again if that happens.”

“Do it, then.” Drago turned away and, in doing so, dismissed Mannie. He gritted his teeth again and grabbed onto the desk in front of him, leaning his weight against it. Anger burned inside him so vehemently, that for a moment he felt dizzy. Losing control wasn't going to help. He had an empire to protect, and he'd do that with his last breath if he had to.

* * * *

Britt literally tasted his frustration. Time for action since Sampson hadn't reported his findings on the video tape. Mind you, the man was up to his ears in bodies lately, but Britt had to find out what was happening to Jess and the sooner the better.

With the phone glued to his ear he waited for James to pick the damned thing up. It must've rung at least ten times.

“Hello,” James answered in a hushed voice.

Britt slapped his forehead. Of course! It was the middle of the night. Britt had been working the night shift so long he'd forgotten the majority of the city's population was asleep.

James, a vampire, had married a human woman. They'd been together for a short time, but the point was they were together. In fact, he and Terry had adopted a baby, Sephina, who'd been bitten by a vampire. Along with Sampson Case, Jess's Forensic Vampirologist, they were trying to give the child a normal life.

“Oh, damn, James. I forgot about the time.”

“No problem Britt. If you're calling at this time of night, I know it's got to be important. Actually, it's good that you called now. I just stirred from my sleep a few minutes ago.”

James called it sleep, but Britt called it death. Nothing would have woken James while he was out.

“James, I need to talk to you about Jess. It's personal stuff that she'd hate for me to tell you, but I ... we can't get through this alone.”

James cleared his throat. “Okay.”

“Jess nearly vamped me a couple of days ago, when we were in bed. It kind of put a damper on things.” Britt cleared his throat. He didn't know exactly how James would react to the news that she'd been going to sleep with him. Even if they never got the chance to make love, the intent was there. James and Jess had been together as partners for decades.

Silence greeted Britt. He couldn't even hear him breathing. “James?”

“You mean she was going to bite you as part of the sexual experience?”

“Not exactly. She was going to drain my blood without knowing what she was doing. She'd had some kind of dream, but hadn't woken completely.”

Britt heard James breathe that time. He sucked in a surprised gasp. “How's that possible?”

“I take it you don't dream either?”

“Never.”

“Yeah, that's what she said, too. She thinks something is happening to her. That the evil inside her is taking over.” Britt forced a cynical laugh. “Of course that's not going to happen.”

“Britt, I don't mean to worry you more than you already are, but this is very troublesome. What did Regent say about it?”

“She won't tell him. She doesn't think he's strong enough to handle the stress.”

“Regent?” James laughed softly, his affection for the old man obvious. “He's as tough as anyone I've ever met. He should be consulted.”

“There's more.” Britt proceeded to tell James about Jess's experience in the alley. “She fainted. Said she talked to someone in the alley behind Dragon's Lair but there was no one else on the security tape we ... procured.”

“She fainted? Literally lost consciousness?” James sounded completely shocked now.

“Yes. In fact, she had no recollection of getting herself home.”

“Dear God, that's not good, Britt.”

“I know.” Britt thought about telling him about the dagger found beneath the dead woman, but held back. He couldn't risk anyone suspecting Jess of being a killer until he'd proven she wasn't. Not even James.

“Could the tape have been doctored?” James asked.

Britt shot a hand through his hair. “Possibly, but I really doubt it. The incident happened a few hours earlier, and the tape had been put away routinely with the others.” He gripped the phone tightly. “I don't think there was anything or anyone in that alley with her, James.”

“I see.”

No surprise. Vampires handled bad news stoically.

Britt cleared his throat. “Back to the stuff between Jess and I,” Britt said. “Thing is, we didn't have sex. Never got to it. She left after she nearly bit me.” Britt paused. “Okay, I'll spit it out. Has anything like that ever happened between you and Terry?”

“No. And I've never bitten her to heighten the sex, either, though I've heard that some vampires do that.”

“This was nothing like that. She had no idea what she was doing. She intended to take my blood.”

“Do you want me to come back to work?”

“Not yet. You've just started paternity leave. Terry needs you.”

“Yes, and Sephina requires a lot of attention right now, but Jess is important to me too, Britt.”

“I appreciate that, James. I know you two have been through a lot together. Look. For now, I'll keep you in the loop. If anything happens that we need your help, I'll let you know.”

“Do that.”

Britt hung up and moved to the window. He looked out onto the dark streets, and remembered how he'd felt when he was being followed by vampires but had no idea they were there. Jess would be in a lot more danger if she couldn't sense vampires in her vicinity. And, there'd be plenty who'd be exalted for taking out the best vampire hunter in New York City.

He couldn't imagine his world without her. The image of the two of them pressed against the brick wall brought a smile to his face and his body stirred. No, he had to prove himself to her.

He needed her. He loved her.

[Back to Table of Contents]

CHAPTER EIGHT

Jess met Regent in his study as she did every night at dusk. She snuggled into the comfy leather chair facing him and planted her feet against the edge of his ancient oak desk.

“Honey it's a wonder there isn't a worn spot on the edge of this old desk,” Regent peered at her over his reading glasses and set down his paperwork.

“I'm giving it provenance,” she responded, moving her feet long enough to check out the wear. “Yes, it's coming along nicely.”

Regent stifled a chuckle by clearing his throat as he shuffled papers around on his desk. “Very funny, dear.”

Even though she'd nearly made him laugh, there was a hint of something amiss in his voice. “What's wrong, Regent?”

“Britt's here. He's waiting to see you.”

“Why is he here?” she asked, wishing she didn't already know the answer to that question.

“I think you know why. You've taken your relationship to the next level, and now you're virtually ignoring him.” Regent spread his hands out on the desk in front of him. “I imagine he's confused.”

“He's not the only one.” She leaned forward and monitored Regent's reaction. “Did he tell you he's confused?”

“No. Of course he didn't. But I wasn't born yesterday. And, for that matter, neither were you, dear. I know trust isn't something that comes easily to you, but it's the same for him. He's been through a lot the last few years. Not to mention he's a hard man—keeps everything in.

“Where is he?”

“In the Church, I think.”

She closed her eyes and bit her lip. “I shouldn't have misled him, let him think we could be a couple. It was a huge mistake, Regent. I don't know how to fix it.”

“You don't mean that, love,” Regent soothed.

“I do! I can't have a relationship. Not with Britt, not with any man.” She'd end up tainting him, or worse, killing him.

“You should rethink that logic. You need Britt.”

“No, Regent, I don't need him and I don't want him. I wish he'd just leave me alone. I like things the way they are,” she lied. If she couldn't convince Regent, she at least had to convince herself.

“When were you going to have the decency to tell me that?” Britt's said from the doorway.

Jess stood slowly to face him. Tall and muscled, his hair disheveled in that handsome, tough guy way that suited him perfectly, his voice had constricted to the point that it didn't sound like him. She'd caused that. She always caused people pain.

“I don't owe you an explanation, but I'm glad you overheard our conversation. Now you know the truth.” Even though it hurt to say those words, they flew out of her mouth with such force he had to believe she'd meant them.

Regent's intake of breath reminded her that he, too, had pinned a lot of hope on Britt. Had wanted Britt to take over as her protector. She might be able to hurt Britt in order to save him from her, but she couldn't do that to Regent. He'd be broken.

Britt turned and stalked out of the office, slamming the front door so hard Jess could feel the reverberation in her bones.

“Jess,” Regent began, visibly concerned but trying to stay calm, probably because he knew a situation like this could switch on her feral side. Only Regent and Britt had ever been able to suitably calm her in times of extreme agitation.

She held up one hand. “No, Regent. What I've done is for the best. Britt and I can't have that kind of relationship. It won't work. I don't have feelings like normal people. I'm a vampire, for God's sake. I'm dangerous. My nature is to take, not to give. He has to understand the ground rules.”

“He's very upset, dear.”

“He's a cop. He'll get over it.”

Regent didn't look convinced, but he held his tongue. Smart brother, because at this point it was best not to irritate someone with issues of her own to get under control. And considering she professed to have no feelings, she sure felt like she'd just died again, only this time without any second chances.

“There's something else, I need to tell you, Jess.”

Her spine locked tight. Something else wrong? She knew that serious tone when her brother used it. “What is it, Regent?”

His faded blue eyes looked away the moment her gaze met his. “I'm being put under investigation by the Archdiocese. Word got out about the bodies found on the roof during our battle with Prometheus. They want to know what's going on here.”

“Oh no!” Over the years Regent had lived in both worlds. God's world of prayer and forgiveness, and the dark underworld of vampires. He understood in a much more tangible way than most priests that evil existed. He'd battled side by side with her, but in doing that, he'd put his calling on the line more than once. He'd never been able to tell the truth about the strange happenings that had occurred at his churches over the years. Vampire attacks had always been put down to vandals.

Even worse, at one time a parishioner had accused him of devil worship. That had been a dark time for both of them. He'd nearly been excommunicated when the parishioner had seen Jess fighting with a vampire outside the Rectory. They'd seen her dark alter ego.

At that time, Regent had been able to talk his way out of it, but the incident would still be in his personnel file. He'd have a lot more explaining to do this time.

“I've caused you so much heartache over the years, Regent. Maybe it would be best for everyone if I left the Rectory.”

Regent instantly looked alarmed. “Who would protect you during stasis?”

Now she understood why he was so adamant about Britt being her protector. Investigations took a long time and most likely she'd have to leave the rectory for the duration. Regent wouldn't be able to be there for her.

For once she had to do something for Regent, even if it did hurt Britt. Somehow she'd make Britt understand the ground rules before she asked him to take on the task. “Don't worry Regent, I'll talk to Britt. Ask him to be my protector. That way you can put your full energy into the task ahead of you.”

“I know you feel like you're being cornered, Jess. And, in a way, you are, but inevitably it's crucial that you have a younger protector. Maybe this is God's will.”

She closed her eyes. It broke her heart to think about losing Regent. To think about him having to come up against a full inquiry, and all because of her.

Suddenly, she realized it would take a lot of strain off her brother if she had a younger protector. Rather than hurt him if she chose someone else, it might alleviate his stress. Her heart ached when she looked at her seventy-two year old baby brother, an old man now. He'd aged while she'd remained young. It seemed so unfair that his skin had become thin, and spotted while hers remained smooth and firm. He'd devoted his life to her. Worked for decades to keep her from reverting into the horrible monster she fought to control every day. As a young priest, his devotion to God had been completely unselfish. He wanted to spread God's word. And even though she'd tainted his life with evil—his devotion to her was the most amazing gift anyone could ever give a sister. What did she give him in return? The daily reminder that evil existed in physical form. Not to mention, as her protector, they'd fought other vampires side-by-side. He had killed his share of them. How that must have damaged his soul? Taken his purity away forever. He deserved a reprieve from evil. From her.

Why hadn't she considered that before?

“I'll talk to Britt when he cools off a little.”

Regent looked concerned. “Should you wait?”

“He's a cop, and a tough one. There'll be no talking to him until he's over his initial anger. I promise I'll ask him as soon as the time is right.”

She saw the troubled look in her brother's eyes. “It'll be soon. I'm sure he'll agree.”

“You're probably right, dear.”

“You look tired, Regent. Why don't you get some rest?” She looked around his office. “Is there anything I can do? Clean the place up a bit before the inquisition starts?”

Regent laughed, sounding lighter in spirit already. “Inquisition? Good thing they don't burn people at the stake any longer. No, Mary Beckman is coming in the morning to do a thorough clean-through, so it's not necessary for you to take on my menial chores. Thanks, though.”

She saw the relief on his face now that she'd promised to talk to Britt, and wished she'd done it much sooner.

* * * *

With fingers gripping the steering wheel, and her foot a little too heavy on the gas pedal, Jess pulled into the Chemical Company's parking lot. Sampson should have something to tell her by now.

Thinking about the look on Britt's face when he left the Rectory made her feel hollow inside. Even though she'd done it for his own good, it didn't make her feel any better about hurting him. And, regardless of personal feelings, she should have stopped for him before she came here, since they'd discussed seeing Sampson together. It didn't help to avoid him, especially now that she had such a huge favor to ask of him.

She bit her lip. No matter what he'd heard her say, she knew this wasn't over. He wouldn't give up easily, especially if she signed him up as her protector. He might get the wrong idea about her needing him in that capacity. Somehow, for his own safety, she had to make sure he understood the difference between protector and lover.

Jess found Sampson scrubbing up in the Lab's anteroom. He had soapsuds clear to his elbows.

“Jess, my dear. I knew you'd drop by tonight.”

“You know me well, Sampson,” she said. Anything interesting turn up yet?”

Why was her relationship so easy with Sampson? And Terry and James? Of course she knew the answer to that. She cared about them deeply, but she didn't love them the same way she did Britt.

Her heart lurched! She'd actually consciously formed the thought that she loved Britt. Not good.

“Wish I could answer that. In fact, I tried to call you on your cell phone, but I think it's turned off again,” Sampson said in his most diplomatic tone.

Not unusual for her to forget about her modern contraptions. She whipped her cell phone out of the case on her belt and looked at it. “Yes, it's dead, again.” Shrugging, she shoved the phone back into its case. “Why were you calling me? Have you found something?”

“Jess. This is going to be a bit of a shock.” He took a couple of steps backwards to grab a towel off a nearby rack.

Something in Sampson's expression indicated he might have preferred to have this conversation by cell phone.

“Spill it, Sampson.”

With a demeanor too cool to be real, his gaze went to her mouth. She smiled just to prove that she wasn't so angry that she'd grown extra long eye teeth.

“The second body was removed before I got a chance to do the autopsy.”

“By whom?” Her VNA saturated blood hiked into hyper drive. “And on whose authority?” It certainly wasn't hers!

“The Chief's, apparently.”

“He didn't say a word to me when I met with him last evening.”

“Did you find out where they were taking her? And why?”

“I had to practically come to fisticuffs to get some information, but they finally admitted that she was being taken to the police morgue.”

Jess gasped. “A regular morgue? Non-vampire? Oh, my God. Where's your phone, I've got to call the station and talk to the Chief. Find out what in hell's going on.”

She could see the newspapers now. Woman found murdered, exsanguinated through holes in her neck. “All hell's going to break loose if they realize she's not a normal murder victim.”

“I know. That's why I tried your cell.”

She hissed out a breath. “Damn phone, why doesn't it recharge itself with solar power or something modern like that?”

The station didn't want this kind of publicity. That's why Sampson was the only forensic specialist who dealt with vampires.

“Sampson, please tell me you had a chance to verify that she was really dead, and not on her way to becoming one of the undead.”

He pressed his lips together. “Nope.”

She stared at her watch. “Damn. I don't have time to call the Chief. This situation is critical. I've got to find that woman, and fast.”

Sampson reached into the pouch on his belt and handed her his own fully functional cell phone.

Jess dialed without thinking. “Britt, it's me. Listen, we've got a very serious situation and I need your help, pronto.” She'd have to discuss the issue of him being a protector later.

There was a slight hesitation before his professionalism covered his hurt and anger. “Where do you want to meet, Captain?”

“Meet me outside the police morgue. And, Britt, wear some B&E clothes. We've got to get inside and liberate a cadaver and quick.”

She looked at her watch again. It was nearly midnight. The woman had been killed the night before, if her blood had been depleted to the point where VNA would jumpstart her new life form, she could be waking up very soon. And she'd wake up hungry!

Britt was already outside the morgue when she arrived. “Why are we breaking into a building we have passes to enter?” he asked.

Britt's haunted expression cut her to the tiny piece of soul she had left. A tiny tinge of guilt surfaced, but she didn't have time for that right now. She still wished she could tell him why she had to do this to him.

“I don't know about you, but I really don't want the authorities to know I was in the building the same night a body was stolen. Beverley Kellerman is in there. She was taken from Sampson earlier this evening. Problem is, besides the obvious holes in her neck, he didn't have time to do the autopsy or check the VNA levels in her blood.”

Britt's eyebrows shot up. “Not good.”

No way in hell could he possibly understand the full impact of what that meant. Or how dangerous it could be. “There's something else, Britt. She might be waking up at any time. And if she does, she's going to be very hungry.”

“Christ.” The hurt left his face, and her best Black Ops team member took over. “Let's get in there, then.”

“Wait. Doesn't the staff take a break at midnight for a little supper in the coffee room?”

“Last time I was a regular cop, that's the way it was. They were never too thrilled if we brought in a DB when they were having their half hour.”

“Can't blame them. They don't get much down-time in this city.” She looked at her watch. It's nearly midnight, now. I'll go in ahead of you, and if they see me, I'll use mind fogging to make them forget. That'll give us a little longer to get her out.”

“Good idea. While you're doing that, I'll liberate Ms. Kellerman,” he said. “How'd you get here?”

“Regent's SUV,” she said.

“I'll put her in the back of Regent's SUV, and we can take the body back to Sampson from there.”

She grabbed his arm before considering her actions. Or before she thought about how good his warm flesh, and taut muscles would feel against her cold skin. She told herself to pull away, but she couldn't make her fingers obey the order.

“She could be very dangerous if she wakes up, Britt. She won't have any ability to reason. She'll be wild and terribly thirsty. You might not be able to control her alone.”

“I'll manage until you can join me at the vehicle. Besides, you said it takes a very special talent to turn a vampire. The odds of her becoming one are pretty low, aren't they?”

“I learned a long time ago that vampires are creatures that should never be underestimated.” She moved closer to the back door and knocked out the light with a rock. “But I hope you're right.”

Jess jammed her hand through the outside wall and ripped out the wiring for the alarm system. The door opened quickly. “We're in.”

They moved down the hall in unison. She motioned Britt toward the morgue, then indicated she'd go straight to the coffee room.

With a nod, he slipped through the double doors into the morgue. She prayed Beverley wouldn't wake up and consider Britt her midnight snack.

Laughter filtered down the hall from the coffee room. Someone bit into a crunchy apple. Even from this distance Jess's hearing and sense of smell were acute. “Red delicious,” she muttered under her breath. She prided herself on her abilities, and ‘good news’ they seemed to be working okay tonight.

She wouldn't attempt mind control unless she had to. If she left them too foggy and with lost time it would be an easy jump for the Chief to figure out that she took the body. He probably would anyway, but he'd have no solid proof to hang on her. She pressed against the wall just outside the coffee room door, listening for any movement or sounds that meant they were going to leave. At the same time, she kept her hearing attuned to the morgue.

If she had to fog the minds of the workers in the coffee room, how much time would she have to help Britt if things got dicey? Not enough. Not nearly enough.

* * * *

Britt entered the morgue with all the hair on his body standing on end. Damn it! He still hadn't shaken his phobia of bones! What if the local forensic anthropologist had remains in here? Give him a mutilated body any day over a pile of moldy, chalk gray bones. An uncontrollable shiver wracked through him.

Not in the actual morgue, but the storage area, a full bank of person-sized drawers were tucked into the wall on his right. There were name tags in slots in the front of the drawers so he didn't have to pull out each one in order to find Beverley Kellerman. Thank God!

He found her name on the third name tag, grabbed a gurney from the corner and pulled it close before he took hold of the handle to open the drawer. With the drawer still shut, he listened for sounds of a dead person coming to life inside. Hearing nothing but the sound of his own blood pulsing through his veins, he yanked the door open and rolled out the slab.

Beverley Kellerman looked very dead when he peeked at her face underneath the green sheet. He watched her for a few seconds. Was she really dead or just zonked out in vampire slumber? He'd seen Jess in stasis, and there was no way to tell if she was alive.

At any rate, Beverley Kellerman didn't look like Jess when she was sleeping. Instead she looked lifeless to the extreme. Put a whole new spin on deathly white, but that didn't mean a helluva lot, he supposed.

He poked her hard with his index finger. Then did it again.

Dead as it got.

Good.

Next he grabbed the thin sheet, whipped it off and tossed it into the corner so he could lift her onto the gurney.

He stared at her now and swallowed. Jesus. She was naked.

But of course, she was naked. What did he expect? At least she hadn't been autopsied yet. Didn't have long hideous cuts and stitches all over her body. In retrospect, throwing that sheet in the far corner had been a huge mistake.

“Get it over with, Brittain. You don't have all day,” he growled to himself, then pursed his lips and wrapped his arms around her cold, naked flesh. He flopped her onto the gurney like she was a prize catch just off a tuna boat. She had about as much give as a tuna, too.

He cursed again when he realized her shoulder length brown hair was caught in his watch strap. He tried to get free gently at first, then realized that was of little use to the victim. She really didn't care if he pulled her hair. So he yanked, and yanked hard. He heard a tearing sound that made his knees go a little wobbly before he pulled his wrist out from under her head. Yuck.

Thank God it was only hair caught in his watch strap. After that noise he'd been afraid he'd taken part of her scalp, too.” Eeeew ... He looked down at her just as the morgue doors flew open.

“What the hell is taking you so long?” Jess hissed through the opening.

His head shot up. This looked bad. Damn it! Why'd he have to ball up that sheet and throw it in the corner?

He stepped in front of the woman. Tried to hide her nakedness, as if she had any modesty at this point. She was still a human being and deserved some decency.

“Why are you standing over a naked corpse? And why isn't she in the SUV by now?”

He raised his arm, displaying his watch. “Her hair got caught in my watch strap. I just got it out when you threw the door open,” he whispered. “Where are the others, anyway? Why aren't you watching them?”

If looks could wither, hers just withered him. Shit.

“You took so long I had to create a slight fog in their minds. Here's hoping the discrepancy in their time doesn't set off any alarm bells within the Department.”

She was so angry her teeth had grown to a sharp point and her eyes had turned black. “Now, could you please get that naked woman off that slab and into my truck?”

She must've seen him look at the sheet in the corner because she went into super-fast mode, grabbed it and wrapped it around the dead woman.

“At least she hasn't turned into a vampire, yet.” She looked at her watch. “Now, let's hurry.”

Tired of manhandling a naked, dead person, he shoved the gurney through the morgue doors, and raced down the hallway. Even at his accelerated speed Jess had no problem making it to the door before him. She held it open, looked both ways, and beckoned him to proceed.

By the time they had the dead woman shoved into the back of the SUV, Britt had a fine sheen of sweat across his brow. His shirt felt equally damp and uncomfortable.

“That had to be the highlight of my career,” Britt said, ripping off his latex gloves and holding his hand out for Jess's gloves. She peeled them off and tossed them to Britt. Jumping into the passenger seat, he shoved the gloves into the center console while Jess revved the engine and put the vehicle in gear and pealed onto the street.

“Way to stay low key.” Britt grabbed the dash, looking over his shoulder to make sure no one saw them.

“Had to. Didn't you see Chief Brown walking up the sidewalk?

“No. How far away was he?”

“Probably far enough that if you couldn't see him, he couldn't see us. That's why I wanted to get away as fast as possible. If he made our plates, we'd have been screwed.”

Jess finally let up on the gas pedal, and Britt let go of the dash. “Where are we going? Back to Sampson's lab?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

Jess stopped the vehicle at a red light, and turned to look at him. “Because it's the first place the cops will look. We can't tell Sampson where she is, either. Plausible deniability.”

“Great. Where are we taking her then?”

“I've been thinking about that. For now, we need to stash her. I was thinking your old partner's crypt would be a good place.”

Britt's hair stood on end yet again. He hated that damned graveyard, and he hated that crypt even more. There were definitely bones in that building. And even worse, he'd seen them, smelled them and heard them rattle. He shuddered violently.

“Sure, no problem,” he said, releasing a slow breath. Maybe he should see a counselor. Imagine a shrink's reaction if Britt said he wanted the ability to handle seeing or being in the presence of human bones. Yeah. Not a good plan.

He looked over his shoulder at the corpse piled into the back of the SUV. “Do you think there's still a chance she can become a vampire?” He'd already met one too many vampires in that particular cemetery.

“Actually, there is still a chance. I'm going to take a blood sample after we get her inside, then I can analyze the VNA content when we get back to the lab. I know enough about rudimentary lab work to be able to do that without implicating Sampson.” She grinned just slightly. “And Sampson knows enough about me, not to ask questions if I decide to run a few tests of my own.”

Britt ground his teeth together. It wasn't the right time. Hell, of course it wasn't, but he wanted to talk to her about her comments in Regent's office. She didn't mean them. She couldn't.

But if he brought that subject up now, she'd probably toss him out of the vehicle without stopping. “I'll keep watch outside the crypt while you take her inside and lay her on Grandpa Starr's sarcophagus to get a blood sample.”

She laughed out loud, and this time he wasn't amused. Then she said, “I'm pretty sure his final resting place is called a coffin, not a sarcophagus.”

[Back to Table of Contents]

CHAPTER NINE

Vaslov stepped into the boardroom. Sitting around the massive oak table were some of the most powerful vampires on the planet. Vampires who liked their privacy, and the women he was able to provide for them.

They'd had lower class women for years. Now they wanted important women, women in power, to be theirs, if only for a weekend. Any longer and their disappearance would be hard to explain—not to mention Drago would have a hard time wiping their memories beyond that.

One of his customers had gotten carried away, but he wasn't about to blame any of these monsters for her death. Not openly. They'd all signed contracts with him promising they would stop themselves from actually taking all of their victim's blood. It kept him in business, and it kept them happy with whatever women they wanted.

“We've heard the news about Beverley Kellerman,” said Vincent Broderick, a tall, thin man with eyes so cold and dank Vaslov felt like his soul had been compromised just by looking into them.

Damn, he was hoping no one would mention Kellerman's death, but now that it was out, he had to do damage control.

“Yes. I've got my best man looking into the problem. Please rest assured none of our clients are involved. Nonetheless, we don't like being linked to anything like this. It's not good for any of us because it has the possibility of bringing attention to this club.”

Six vampires sat at his table, soulless killers all. They didn't care that Kellerman was dead, but they did care if any of the tainted blood spilled onto them.

For the most part, these were dark Lords who'd been able to transition into the business world as legitimate leaders. They had money, and they had reputations to uphold. Problem was they still had to eat to live, and they preferred warm blood from living hosts. And why not? The rich imbibed expensive champagne, not wine from the box. So, too, these affluent vampires preferred top notch victims for their palates.

“Will this affect your ability to supply us with new product?” Marrtin Bruner leaned forward, elbows on the table, he stretched out a hand displaying a blood diamond the size of Mount Vesuvius.

“Definitely not. There will be no slowdown in services.”

“And me? Have you got my next order ready?” A voice interrupted from a communication device in the center of the table. He was the weirdest one in the bunch, and it had taken Drago quite a while before he'd even let the guy phone in. He said his name was Kaled, but Drago didn't believe it. Even with his vast resources he could find nothing on any vampire by that name. And Drago had very well connected contacts. In the end his money was too lucrative to turn down, and since the other vampires weren't threatened by him, he decided to allow this method of interaction. He still had some reservations about the guy, but he'd been a client long enough to know he really was a vampire with a very healthy appetite and a lot of cold, hard cash.

“She's nearly ready. As I'm sure you can appreciate, she's the most difficult of our clients to handle without raising suspicion. The fact that she's both a vampire and a cop makes it that much more difficult. Are you sure she's the one you want?”

“Either you can supply her to me, or you can't. It's that simple.” Irritation spiked behind the monotone words coming through the communication device.

“I can. But it'll take more time. We can't rush this one.”

“Maybe I'll have a go at her when you're finished,” Reinhold Vasser leaned forward, an excited glimmer in his eyes.

“Not likely. This one is going to be exclusively mine. I've paid ten million to have her, and if I find out any of you have even touched her, I'll kill you myself,” Kaled said.

Laughter erupted around the table. Pheromones and power spiked the air. Kaled had done nothing but make everyone in the room interested in his quarry.

Drago cursed under his breath. A client had never demanded exclusivity with a victim before, but then, he'd never reeled in a vampire before, either.

His talents worked well on humans, but he still had to figure out if he had the ability to wipe a vampire's mind for forty-eight hours. Quite a bit longer than even the oldest master vampires could manage fogging minds, otherwise, Drago wouldn't be in business.

Danger always gave Vaslov a rush. He couldn't wait to find out if he could make Jess Vandermire, vampire hunter, his slave. What a coup that would be.

He looked up at the ceiling, and allowed a half grin at the secret camera taping every meeting. So far his methods were working on Jess. He'd been able to liberally lace her flesh with the powerful drug that enabled his mind to control hers. A few more doses and she'd be his.

* * * *

The moon had slipped behind heavy clouds just before Jess ripped open the door to Randy Starr's crypt for the second time.

Britt lifted the corpse out of the back of the truck and carried Beverley Kellerman forward as gently as he would a living woman.

An uneasy feeling settled in Jess's stomach. He was too good for this job. It would be the death of him. And it would be her fault.

“Damn it,” he said, when he stumbled over a hefty bit of grass. “Wish I could see in the dark like you do.”

“No, you really don't. Nothing is worth this.” She didn't mean for her statement to sound quite so cynical. The last thing she needed right now was for him to feel sorry for her. Her anger hiked up a notch.

He ignored her statement. Smart guy.

“Is everything clear inside?” he asked.

She looked in. “Not sure what you mean by clear, but, yes.”

His groan was barely audible. “No open coffins, I presume.” He hated to be weak, but couldn't help his phobia. He really couldn't handle human bones.

“Nothing much. No vampires. No bones. Nothing but dust and a few desiccated flowers.”

“Great.” She heard his teeth grit.

A thin beam of moonlight sliced through the tiny window at the back highlighting the cement coffin in the center of the room. “Just lay her here for now.”

“Do we leave her here and go back to the lab to do the blood tests right away?

“No. I've got to stay with her.”

“Ah, tonight's the night if it's going to happen?” He shuffled his feet and put Ms. Kellerman down on the cement. When her head smacked harder than expected, the hollow thunk made him cringe. “Sorry about that Beverley.”

“She'll forgive you,” Jess said dryly. She could hear Britt's heavy breathing, his increased pulse rate vibrating between them. The darkness reminded her of the two of them entangled in the sheets a few nights ago. She had to push that image out of her head.

“What will you do if she is a vampire? Take her to Regent? See if he can save her the same way he did you?”

“Not possible. Regent's too old. It takes a lot of strength and love to do what he did for me and James.”

“So, you'll what? Kill her?”

“Yes, Britt. We'll kill her.” She gave him her most solemn yet understanding look. “Just like we killed Prometheus and his horde of vampires. It's what we do.”

“I don't like killing women.” She heard the regret in his voice. The fear that maybe he couldn't do it if he had to. Obviously his feelings for her were clouding his judgment.

“She's not a woman. She's a creature. A vicious, horrible creature with needs and desires that have no place among humans.”

“Stop it, Jess. You're not going to drive me away.”

“Who said I was talking about me? You asked me about Beverley.” She shoved her hands onto her hips.

“Please, give me credit for having some intelligence. You're trying to force me to acknowledge that you're one of them.”

Even the wind had faded to a whisper outside, and the air inside the crypt remained lifeless and thick.

Normally, she didn't feel the affects of bad air, but for some reason, tonight she felt as if she couldn't get enough oxygen.

He sucked in a deep breath, too. “It's hot and stuffy in here, isn't it? Maybe we could catch a breath of air if I shove the door open a bit wider.”

* * * *

Britt's gut didn't feel right. His skin prickled with Goosebumps even though he was sweating from the heat inside the crypt.

He swallowed hard. Could barely see Jess's outline in the dark. She'd moved toward Kellerman and had leaned over her corpse. Maybe she didn't sense anything but fine hairs rose on the back of his neck.

Not a sound permeated the crypt. Just death.

He needed that door opened wider—to get air. His teeth ground together as he inched forward in the cloying darkness.

One hand reached out and contacted the heavy oak door. It creaked open slowly. Its rusty, high pitched moan interrupted the silence vibrating in Britt's head like an alarm. Stepping outside, he paused. Looked around. His gut sense heightened now.

It was calm outside. Dead calm. And dead wrong.

[Back to Table of Contents]

CHAPTER TEN

“Britt, wait!” Jess shouted, chasing him outside in a blur of speed.

She was too late. When Britt looked back, pain exploded in his right shoulder. He dropped to the ground in dizzying agony. At first he thought he'd been shot, then realized he'd been whacked with something hard.

He was sure the intent had been to knock him out, but his attacker had just barely missed his head and neck area. His shoulder screamed in pain, but he was lucid and played dead long enough to figure out what his next move should be.

Through half-closed eyelids he saw two vampires moving in on Jess. They had some sort of rudimentary, jerry-rigged Taser. Red sparks arced from the center as they got closer to Jess.

“Surely you don't think you can capture me with a little Taser, do you?” Jess laughed. “Since when do vampires need Tasers, anyway?”

Britt could tell by her stance and her voice that she didn't feel threatened by these two.

The vampires were dressed in black jeans and T-shirts and looked more like Jimmy Dean wannabe's than the goth-like vampires he'd seen on the streets lately.

“Word is spreading about you, Vandermire. Traitor. Killer of your own kind. Word is you've completely turned against us. You kill us, yet you live in the house of God and act as if you're special.”

Jess's expression turned to stone. “I kill those of you who are evil, whereas, you kill innocent, men, women and children.”

“And you do the same thing to us. It isn't evil to fight to survive. It's called survival of the fittest. Even you must realize we are the fittest, the strongest. We deserve to survive. What right have you to judge us?”

Britt had never heard a vampire try to rationalize Jess back into the fold. Maybe he was delusional from the knock on the shoulder?

“Why do you want this woman?” Jess asked, circling the two vampires.

“She's one of us now. Surely you can sense that. You must feel the life awakening inside her just as we do.”

“Except that I don't think she's going to be able to join you because she's going to be dead. Truly dead.”

The taller vampire, with slicked back hair, shook his head. “Have our words had no impact on you, Hunter? Do you not see the wickedness of your ways?”

“No, but I see the wickedness of yours.”

When they weren't looking, Britt got to his feet in a smooth, quiet motion.

“You can throw away your toy, it won't hurt me, vampire.” Jess said the word “vampire” as if it were dirty. That enraged the tall one who'd been trying to bring her over to his side.

“If you don't let us take her, we'll have to fight you. However, if you let her come with us, we'll leave you alone tonight. This is not an ordinary Taser. It'll immobilize you and you'll feel the same pain you've inflicted on scores of your brethren. Then, when you're screaming for mercy, we'll help you breathe your last breath.”

Jess laughed. “That remains to be seen.” She whipped out a blade and tossed it from one hand to the other. The polished silver in the hilt reflected the light from the Taser.

Britt frowned. Where did that dagger come from? He still had her signature dagger in the glove compartment of his car.

“If you back away and let us take her, we'll let you live tonight.” His voice had deepened, almost like an alto on crack.

Britt reached under his arm for his companion Ruger. The spare that he kept handy for situations just like his. It wasn't much good against a vampire. Merely an irritant, but the bullets were blessed and would slow them down.

“You know, Captain Vandermire has the reputation for being the best for a reason. She's not someone you should mess with,” Britt said, hoping for an element of surprise.

The smaller vampire spun and hissed at Britt, his fangs long and dangerous looking. “So you're the pet? The one who's in love with the big bad vampire?”

“I'm Jess's friend.” Britt held up the Ruger and pointed it between the vampire's eyes. “Blessed bullets—lovely craftsmanship,” he said matter-of-factly.

“Shit, you should've hit him harder. I thought you'd knocked him out,” the vampire told the taller one.

“Why didn't you make sure he was dead after I hit him?”

“Because you hit him. I didn't think he could get up again.”

“Gentlemen, don't fight.” Jess said in that sandpaper voice that scratched over a man until it made him forget what was going on.

Britt shivered, but was able to keep his focus.

“Bitch could be fun,” the tall one smiled.

“Why don't we find out just how much,” the small one said.

“You kill the human, I'll disable the hunter, and then we'll share her.” The taller man jumped off the ground and catapulted himself at Jess, while the other vampire circled Britt.

With one quick glance Britt could see that Jess had stepped into the crypt. The vampire was closing in on her. The Taser revved up again and sparks reverberated in an arc off the machine. “Put the gun down or he'll jack her with the full dose of electricity. It makes vampires sizzle in a way that isn't pretty.”

Even though Britt saw Jess grin at the idiot with the Taser while beckoning him further into the crypt, he had no idea if it would harm her. Whoever wanted her out of the way must be desperate to send these two clowns. Then he noticed something else. That gave him an idea.

“Do you mean it? You'll just take Beverley and leave Jess alone?” Britt said.

“Britt! What the hell are you doing?” Jess hovered near the body.

“Jess, Ms. Kellerman's not worth getting killed over. Let them have her.” He stressed. Hoping she knew by his tone what he really meant.

“Listen to your pet human,” the vampire said.

Jess blew out an irritated breath. A little on the dramatic side, but the other two didn't catch on. “Okay. Take her,” Jess said, obviously understanding Britt's message.

“Yeah? Yeah, that's more like it, bitch. Otherwise you'd have been begging for mercy.” The vampire looked at the Taser as if it had suddenly become way more capable than he knew it to be. Their IQs were less than stellar.

With a backward glance at Beverley, Jess left the building again and stood beside Britt. She pressed her arms across her chest, and drummed her fingers on one arm. “Good eye, Britt. Shouldn't be long now,” she whispered.

“Yeah, that's what I'm talkin’ about.” One of the vampires said, as if he'd taken Jess down single-handedly. He really thought he'd scared her away.

Beverley's toes twitched again. Jess had said she'd wake up mean and hungry. “Are we just going to let them have her?” Britt whispered.

She shrugged. “They've been hired to take her in. Surely they're qualified to control her in the event she wakes up.” Jess tipped her head to one side to see what they were doing inside the crypt. “We'll wait. We can't fight them and control her too.”

“An excellent plan,” he said.

She tipped her head toward him. “I'm curious. Why didn't the vampire who turned Ms. Kellerman come get her himself. That's how it's usually done.”

At her statement, Britt suddenly wondered who was Jess's master. What had happened when she'd been turned?

Suddenly, a woman's screams rent the air. “Jesus. What's the hell's going on?” Britt moved closer to the crypt door, but Jess grabbed his arm and pulled him back.

“It's Beverley. She's got to go through a very painful transition when she reawakens. All of her cells have died, and her organs have atrophied. In order for the VNA to reawaken her body, it has to reinvent them. Extremely painful.”

“God!”

“Or the other guy,” she said.

Next thing Britt knew the two vampires were trying to control the newest member of their group. She was writhing and screaming and lashing out at them. She grabbed one by the neck and drank. “Stop her before she takes too much!” he screamed. The other vampire dove at her and tried to pull her off.

She attacked him next while the semi-drained vampire lay on the floor trying to recuperate.

“Aren't we going to do something?” Britt found it hard to watch. Not to mention the indignity for the poor woman. She was still naked. If only they'd brought her some clothes.

“You want a piece of that action?” Jess sounded surprised. “Unless these two can't control her, I think we should just wait here until she gets her fill. Then she'll be tired and need to sleep. She won't have as much fight left in her.”

“Where the hell did these dweebs come from?”

“I don't think they've been around long. They haven't learned how to use their abilities to their fullest.”

Beverley threw the second vampire across the crypt. He hit the wall head first, and they heard the sickening sound of the bones in his neck cracking. He screamed. Unfortunately, both vampires were now incapacitated and Ms. Kellerman was still in a frenzy.

“Our turn,” Jess said, moving toward the door.

Beverley was still screaming, her head twisting back and forth. Nails ripped at her throat and chest as if she were trying to claw off her own flesh.

“Put her out of her misery, Britt. It doesn't get any better after the re-cellularization stops. Then the hunger begins for real.”

“Holy shit. So what we just saw wasn't the real hunger?”

“Not even close.” She sprang at the taller vampire on the floor, tapped her heal twice and kicked out her leg. The extended heel spike impaled him through the heart. He didn't even have time to scream before he died.

The other guy lay crumpled and moaning in the corner. Apparently, Jess left that one for him, but he'd have to get past Beverley first before he could take the male vampire out.

Britt wasn't afraid to admit that this newly-regenerating, naked vampire scared him more than the biggest, strongest vampires he'd fought so far. Mostly because she was a woman. A vampire like Jess. But this woman should've had a life and a brilliant career. Instead she'd been brutally victimized by a monster as dark as the devil himself. And then, when things couldn't get any worse for her, when she woke hungry for blood and probably scared, he was going to kill her as viciously as she'd been killed the first time.

Yanking his specially designed stake from its holster, he hit the button and it extended. It had to be done.

Even in her state of painful regeneration, Beverley realized she was in danger. She attacked, screaming and clawing like a mad woman. He grunted, ducked sideways, and stuck out a foot. She tripped, but regained her balance and turned toward him. Her strength was growing by the minute, and she looked at him like he was breakfast.

“Couldn't you give me a hand?” he grunted at Jess while he swung the stake at Beverley, and missed.

“If I have to, I will. I think you've got this one covered by yourself.”

He gasped and dove sideways to avoid fangs coming at his neck. If Ms. Kellerman hadn't gotten full control over her body yet, he'd hate to see what she'd be like when she was in control. Jess had been right about one thing, she was hungry.

He sidestepped and ducked again, this time her fangs just missing his neck. Finally, the desire to eliminate the threat versus the reality that she'd once been a woman like Jess, sank in.

“Enough of this. I'm sorry, but you have to die.” He rammed his arm out as hard as he could and staked her in the chest. He wasn't positive he'd hit his mark until her eyes widened and she let out another ear-piercing scream.

She fell to the floor, empty eyes staring blankly at the ceiling. Young vampires didn't turn to ash, and he stared at the naked, staked body of the poor woman whose life had been ripped away yet again. Had she known what had happened to her before she died? Before he'd killed her for the second time? He grabbed the sheet and covered her.

Jess leaned against the casket in the corner, watching him. “You did a good thing, Britt. She was suffering, and it wasn't going to get any better for her.”

Britt clamped his teeth together and quickly staked the last vampire who'd been whimpering in the corner. That one was easy. Without a word to Jess, he left the crypt as fast as he could. He'd been inside that damned cement tomb for far too long.

Jess followed Britt out after taking a vial of blood. He didn't stay to watch the procedure. His chest heaved from exertion, and he glared at Jess to let her know how much he detested being forced to kill Ms. Kellerman. “What should we do with her body?” he asked.

“We'll leave her here for now. I'll have to talk to the Chief first. I need to know what the hell's going on at the Department before we show up with her again.”

Outside in the darkness, he scanned the surrounding headstones. “Any chance there's more of these guys around?”

“It's my guess they won't have any use for her now that she's truly dead. They wanted the vampire, not the corpse.”

She slammed the crypt door shut with a creaking thud.

He watched her covertly. Proud of her strength, but terrified that she too might meet the same fate as Beverley Kellerman. Her soft brown hair flipping up gently at the ends left no indication that she'd just battled with immortal enemies. She wasn't breathing heavily like he was. Exhausted from the battle they'd just fought, but too damned stubborn to show weakness, he worked at regaining his breath.

She seemed to think the vampires were only after Beverley Kellerman. She had no idea some evil bastard out there was ripping the necks out of women and making it look like she was the killer. Like she'd killed Beverley Kellerman.

He looked at her again and she smiled at him.

He squirmed inside at the poisonous thoughts that threatened his belief in Jess. He couldn't get Sampson's words out of his mind, as hard as he tried. ‘She is what she is, after all'. He wished Sampson had never spoken those words out loud. The logical cop in him just couldn't completely dispel the fact that what Sampson had said was true—no matter how hard he wanted to deny them.

[Back to Table of Contents]

CHAPTER ELEVEN

On the way back to the city, Jess bit off an expletive and pressed her fingers to her temple. She shouldn't be feeling fuzzy again, so why did she?

Britt turned a corner, and slowed the vehicle to pull out his cell phone. It hadn't rung, so she assumed he had it on vibrate.

“Brittain here.” He held the phone so tightly to his ear Jess could barely make out the muffled voice at the other end. Since her hearing was more acute than a living person's, she should be able to hear every syllable. Her chest tightened. It was happening again. She couldn't hear what was being said.

It didn't take vampiric powers to notice Britt's expression had gone from casual to serious.

“Right,” he said. “We'll be right there.” He flipped the phone shut and slid it back onto his belt. “Another woman was found vamped. Very close to where the last two were found.”

“Damn it,” she rammed her hand into the dash in protest. “Unusual enough for a vampire kill his victims and leave them in a public place once, but three times? This is crazy. Especially if this victim has been turned, too. We've got to find this vampire and soon.”

“I thought turning a person into a vampire was a really difficult thing to do?”

“Like I said, never underestimate vampires. And even though vampires have to drain almost all the victim's blood, leaving just the right amount so their VNA can mix into the body through saliva to begin the process, regenerating the dead cells is like any other talent, some vampires don't have to learn how to do it. It's instinctive.” She gave him her most serious look. “It takes nearly twenty-four hours for the change to complete. And when the vampire regains life, they have to go through the pain you saw earlier. You know how painful it can be if a limb goes to sleep. Imagine how it would feel if every cell in your body had died, then regenerated. The pain is more excruciating than you can imagine.”

His mouth tightened. She had the feeling he wanted to ask her about her own experience. Thank God, he didn't, because she was feeling even more out of control right now. And remembering that horrible night that she'd been turned, always flipped on her feral instincts. If she'd been tougher as a cop back then, she might've been able to save herself. Her insides squirmed like she might be sick. But that was impossible. Didn't happen to vampires.

They reached the park and strode across the dewy grass. Like the night they found Beverley, a crowd had gathered and the regular forces were keeping them back. Yellow police tape in a hexagonal shape covered an even wider area than the last time.

Sampson was already on his knees beside the victim. His bald head reflected light from the spotlights that had been set up.

Jess hung back to let Britt take the lead.

“Sampson, anything to report, yet?” he asked in a serious tone.

“Not yet. Except that this case is way too similar to the last vics, I'm afraid. Highly unusual for this type of killer to display his prey like this.” He didn't say vampire in case someone in the growing crowd overheard. Or even worse—the media.

“Yeah.” Britt ran a hand through his hair.

Jess visually searched the surrounding shrubbery ensconced in darkness. Was someone watching from the sidelines? Serial killers often did that. Maybe this vampire had more in common with serial killers than they thought. She still had the feeling she was being watched. Worse, she couldn't hone in on where it was coming from.

Britt stared at the victim. “She looks a lot like our last victim,” he noted. “Dark hair, trim figure. Well dressed. Not poor by any means. Look at those diamonds.” He leaned down and scrutinized her right hand.

“I noticed that, too. Seems this attacker has a penchant for well-to-do brunettes.”

Jess remained silent, trying to figure out where that weird being-watched feeling was coming from. Maybe her bad dream not only meant she'd regained a little more humanity, but she'd lost some of her vampire special abilities! At this point, that would be a very bad thing.

The cold dead eyes of the victim stared up at the night sky. There was something familiar about this woman, but Jess couldn't quite put her finger on it.

Finally she realized Britt and Sampson were staring at her. “What?”

“You were a million miles away, Jess,” Sampson said. That apparently surprised him.

A look passed between the two men that she chose to ignore.

“Where do you want this body to be taken? Our forensic lab, or the police's?”

“Ours, of course.”

“If it's like the last time, she won't be there long. I'll begin the autopsy the minute we get her there. That'll give us some samples to work with, just in case.”

“How many samples do you have in the VNA bank?” Britt asked. “Is it likely you'll be able to find a match?”

Sampson shrugged. “I only have around 200 samples. Hard to say how many of those came from the vampire horde that you two destroyed, though. Was there ever a body count on that one?”

“I've got some figures in the office. I'll get someone to do a tally and come up with a count. Problem is a lot of them burned up in the Shoe Factory fire,” Jess said. “I have a blood sample from victim number two, now.”

Sampson's eyebrows rose. “Really? How?”

“Best not to ask.” She looked at the new victim.

“Right. Back to this victim. She had no identification. Not even a purse. Our first task will be to figure out who she is,” Sampson pushed up from one knee, and brushed off his white coveralls.

A flash broke in the semi darkness. Jess glared in the direction of the light, expecting the person to be media. She saw no one. “Where did that camera flash come from?” she asked.

“I don't know,” Britt raised a hand and beckoned one of their team. He leaned over and whispered in the officer's ear.

This time Jess heard every word. She nodded. “And hurry, before he's gone,” she said.

* * * *

“What did you find out?” Drago pushed out of his chair and stalked to his assistant, Mannie.

Mannie shrank back from him.

Ridiculous! Drago had never taken out his anger on Mannie. It always irked Drago that Mannie pretended otherwise. Besides, Drago had learned to control his darkest anger and used it to his advantage for the most part. He needed that inner dark strength when it came to mind control.

In fact, even if he said so himself, he was a genius when it came to entrepreneurial ventures. When he'd learned about vampires and how they existed in the underworld of illicit gambling, drugs, and gangs, he knew he'd have a huge niche market if he could do something to help elevate their status in the human world.

It didn't take long for him to learn that very rich master vampires had everything they wanted except powerful women to slake their thirst. They had to stay low key and could only divest themselves of the lower class women, whose disappearances wouldn't make headlines.

That's when Drago began researching his latent mind control abilities. Since finding a rare drug in a Mayan archeological dig over thirty years ago, he'd become quite good at controlling those around him. All he had to do was touch them enough times to get enough of the Mayan paste's properties circulating through their bodies and he was in control.

By providing powerful women to these vampires, even for a couple of days, he was on the road to becoming richer than he ever dreamed. And the women couldn't remember a thing when they got home. He still wasn't sure if it would work on Jess, a vampire, but the reward was too lucrative to ignore.

The fact that someone had killed one of the women he'd been manipulating made things a lot more difficult for him. The vampire members of his club all knew what was at stake. They could have their victim for forty-eight hours as long as they didn't kill her. They could take their pleasure however they preferred and she wouldn't remember a thing when it was over. But they had to return her alive.

What were the odds that some random street vampire had killed her? It had to have been one of his vampires, maybe even one of the vampires at the table a few hours earlier had broken their pact. If so, the idiot was pulling a hell of a firestorm down on himself. Kellerman had been a favorite of several of his top customers. So popular, he had to pace them. He couldn't provide her to them every week since he could only wipe her memory once a month. That made things more difficult to figure out because any one of them could have gotten greedy and gone after her for themselves.

“The last vampire to entertain Kellerman was Boris Klaufman.” Mannie said, stating the obvious. “If he killed her, however, it had to have been after the fact since she'd gone home and contacted the police telling them she couldn't remember anything, and she thought she'd been roofied, the slang term for the date-rate-drug, Rohypnol .”

Drago scowled. That was bad enough. “Damn it. In essence, she was roofied. Only with a very powerful mind-control roofie.” He let out a long, hot breath, and slammed his hand against the wall in front of him. “Now the cops know she'd reported being drugged before her death. This thing is not going to blow over easily.”

“Probably not,” Mannie agreed.

“Make sure nothing points to us. Break into her office and steal all the invitations to the club. Make sure the cabbies who brought her here are duly warned not to talk, or else.” He got into Mannie's face. “And don't fuck this up, or you'll be fish food yourself.”

One eyebrow rose, and Mannie, who'd pretended to cower a moment ago, stared blackly into Drago's eyes. He didn't like threats. He didn't mind pretending, but when Drago really got in his face, Mannie's true persona pushed through.

Drago turned and slammed through the leather padded door into his inner sanctum. No one ever came in here but him. No one knew what he kept back here.

Not the vampires who trusted him with their secrets. Not even Mannie.

[Back to Table of Contents]

CHAPTER TWELVE

On the way to Sampson's lab, Britt tried to figure out what it was that had been bothering him about the three victims. Even Jess had been perplexed. He'd seen her expression when she looked at the recent Jane Doe.

He drummed his fingers on the steering wheel as he took the final turn into the parking lot.

It finally hit him!

They all looked like Jess.

Not as beautiful, but overall they had very similar features. Dread pooled in his gut. Was it coincidence? Somehow he didn't think so.

Now the fact that Jess felt as if she was being watched made a whole lot more sense. And what the hell could he do about it?

The minute he got out of his vehicle, he noticed Regent's SUV. That meant Jess was at the Special Ops morgue, too. Good. He wanted to talk to her.

He'd barely made it inside when he heard the shouting. He keyed in his security code and entered the lab. Jess and Sampson were facing off against two burley men from the Coroner's office.

“You can't have the body. I'm the lead coroner on this case,” Sampson said, his hands fisted in balls at his sides.

“We have our orders. Chief says no more autopsies will be done outside the City's purview.”

“The Chief said that? I don't believe it,” Jess said, whipping her cell phone out and dialing immediately.

Britt decided to hang back. This wasn't his arena, but he'd stick around in case Sampson or Jess needed backup. It really looked as if Sampson wasn't going to give up this victim.

Jess moved away from the men yelling at each other, so the Chief would be able to hear her when she got him on the line. “Chief Brown. This is Captain Vandermire. I'm phoning from the Special Ops Morgue. There are two men here from the Coroner's office demanding to take our latest victim. What the hell's going on—sir?” She added as an afterthought.

“Surely this isn't a surprise to you, Vandermire. You must know the second victim was taken from the morgue?”

“Yes, I knew the other victim was removed, but I've been too busy to phone you to find out why. Actually, there are some things I have to tell you about that case, but not over the phone.” She realized she was holding the phone so tight that with her strength she could break it. She loosened her grip.

Chief Brown cleared his throat, obviously irritated. Whether irritated by her questions, or whatever else was going on, Jess wasn't sure.

“Get your ass in here as soon as you can. And release that woman's body right away.”

“Chief,” Jess said. “That's a really bad idea. You know why we use this morgue for our special cases. Surely you understand the serious implications that could arise if this victim is autopsied outside of this lab?” What was wrong with the man? Had he lost his mind? They couldn't release another vamped woman and wait for her to go into hyper drive and kill the innocents working in the morgue. They'd have no idea how to handle themselves. Even if they were able to get over the shock of a dead person coming to life in time to put up a fight.

“Let her go, Vandermire. That's an order.”

Jess held the phone out and looked at it with incredulity, then pressed it back against her ear. “Under protest. I'll be writing up a formal complaint when I get back to the office.”

“You do that!” He hung up in her ear.

Jess could feel her VNA saturated blood beginning to boil and her teeth threatening to break through. An angry growl was forming in the pit of her stomach.

“Jess. Everything's okay. Don't worry, we'll get a handle on whatever's going on. Let's not let this situation get totally out of hand.” Britt placed a firm hand on her shoulder. Only he would dare take the chance of touching her right now. No one else would even think of touching her in this heightened state of emotion.

The two men in uniform, obviously tired of the waiting game, forced their way past Sampson who was still doing everything he could to stop them. He'd even thrown himself in front of the body on the gurney. They just pulled him off and roughly shoved him aside.

Sampson was middle-aged, and balding. A loveable, slightly overweight science geek. They knew he'd be no match for them, and she hated the casual way they shoved him aside. Like he wasn't the most amazing brain on the planet. They had no idea who they were manhandling.

One of them cursed under his breath when he looked at the Jane Doe in full rigor mortis, and who looked very much worse for wear.

Jess's VNA neared the boiling point again, and she closed her eyes to repress the urges that could come upon her quickly. She could kick their asses, and send them running. They'd be more scared of her than that bluish corpse staring at them from the gurney .

Britt stepped in front of Jess, blocking her view of the men. She nearly shoved him aside, but one look at his caring eyes made her stop. Cool her jets. Recite a silent prayer to keep her dark urges at bay.

“You've got guts, Brittain. You do realize what you just did could be dangerous. Even to you?” She slammed her arms across her chest, exposing a little more of her cleavage than usual. He didn't dare look. Smart man. “Even Regent would be cautious about approaching me in this state,” she said, enhancing her voice to make it vibrate through him. To make him realize he shouldn't mess with her.

“I know you wouldn't hurt Regent, or me,” Britt said, rubbing the quarter inch of shadow on his unshaven jaw. He looked lean and angular, and totally kissable. She tried to shove that thought to the very furthest recesses of her conscious mind, but images of the way he looked at her in his apartment the other night exploded into her memory and she had to force herself to maintain her stance.

“You know nothing of the sort. And if you're wise, you'd remember what I am. Not who I am, Lieutenant John Brittain.”

She turned and stalked away, slammed out the door and left Britt to mop up Sampson. He'd be a wreck after losing another patient and John would be a better choice to soothe the poor man.

She trusted Sampson, just like she trusted Britt. In fact, she had a pact with Sampson that no one knew about. Not even Regent. If she ever turned evil, he'd find a way to take her out. To kill her.

Holding her head in her hands, she stood outside the SUV in the black of the night and prayed she wasn't being sucked into that dark existence against her will.

She wouldn't let it happen. Not without a fight.

[Back to Table of Contents]

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Britt followed Jess to the police station a few minutes after assuring Sampson they'd find out what the hell was going on. He left the man looking barely mollified and sipping a soothing cup of herbal tea.

He knew exactly where Jess had gone.

Raised voices penetrated into the hallway before he got close to the Chief's door. No vampire hearing required. He walked by casually, trying to catch the drift of the conversation.

The Chief spotted him. “Detective Brittain, in my office, now!”

Britt turned his head and feigned surprise. Chief Brown probably wanted a buffer between himself and Jess, and any able-bodied cop would do.

Jess didn't acknowledge Britt when he entered the room. Her entire focus was on the Chief, who appeared to be holding his ground against Jess, even though the tension in the room was palpable. “I don't agree with you,” she said. “This is something I should handle on my own.”

“I thought we'd decided you wouldn't go there on your own. That you'd find someone to back you up.”

She looked repentant. “It wasn't an order, sir.”

“It is now, and John Brittain is going to be your backup.”

“What? No,” she said.

“Yes,” said Brown. “And that is an order. No discussion.” He brushed invisible crumbs from his hands, and leaned back in feigned repose. “Report back at the end of the week, whether you learn anything or not. Dismissed.”

Britt had no clue what the Chief was talking about. But seeing the sparks flying from Jess's eyes, he'd wait to let her tell him after she'd cooled down.

“You haven't answered my question,” Jess said to Brown, staring at him, pulling his gaze into her own. No doubt, making him experience the bleakness she could instill. That cold sense of dread that filled one's senses and left a lingering feeling of hopelessness. Just a couple of seconds. That's all it ever took. When she allowed him to break contact, he looked away from her. Britt almost felt sorry for him. Almost.

“Why did you have the bodies removed from our lab? I know you realize the repercussion of having these victims autopsied by regular M.E.s,” Jess said.

Brown's face turned to pale marble, and he took a long, hard breath. “I don't have a choice.” He gave her a suspicious look. “And, if you happen to have any idea who stole that body from the morgue, I'd suggest you warn that person that surveillance has been heavily upgraded so that no one can get in and out without being caught on hidden cameras.”

When the Chief scanned the interior of his own office Britt guessed he'd probably just stuck his neck out to tell her that.

“This whole situation is crazy, and dangerous. How will we control the population if they learn the truth? The last thing we need are lynch mobs in the city,” Jess told the Chief.

“I'm working on containing this thing. And trying to make sure Sampson is the only ME who handles these cases. If things go the way they should, he'll have the body back within a few hours.”

“Why didn't you just say so?”

“I just did. As I said before—dismissed!” He turned his back on the two of them and opened an email on his computer.

Jess glanced at Britt angrily, then turned and marched out of the office.

He followed her but remained silent. In fact, he followed her right into her office and closed the door behind them.

When she heard the door latch she spun around and glared at him. “What are you doing? Did I ask you to come in here?”

“No. But I think we need to talk about what just happened in Chief Brown's office.”

She dropped into her chair. “Nothing happened. We're being kept in the dark.”

“I have something to tell you, but I don't want to say it here. Can we meet later tonight? After I take my team out on patrol?”

She flashed him a curious look. “Where and when?”

“In the establishment next to the spot where we first met.” He'd deliberately withheld the location just in case the walls had ears.

Her head lifted and she squinted at him suspiciously. Then she nodded.

* * * *

It was well after two a.m. when Jess arrived at their designated meeting location outside the bar. This place brought back memories best forgotten. A breeze ruffled leaves in the small green space on the other side of the street. The sounds of nature used to be pleasing to Jess when she was human. She now tried to recapture some of those feelings but couldn't quite manage it.

“Fancy finding you here.” His voice came from behind her and startled her. She jumped.

Instant concern crossed his face. Of course he realized she should have heard him coming. Why hadn't she?

She pretended not to care. “What's going on, Britt? Why did you want to meet here?”

“Back in Chief Brown's office, when he was talking about added surveillance cameras in the morgue, he kept glancing around his office. You were ticked at him at the time, so in case you didn't notice, I thought I'd apprise you. I don't think he felt that he could talk openly.”

“Really?” She pursed her lips. “You're right I didn't notice. I seem to be missing a lot of things lately.” She slumped. “What the hell is going on, Britt? And what's wrong with me?”

“I intend to get to the bottom of it, Jess. I'm not going to give up until we figure this thing out.”

His words washed over her and warmed her. “I guess now's the time to tell you, the Chief insisted that you be my backup in future.” She held up her hands. “But only when it comes to finding out about Vaslov. For some reason, Vaslov's a little too interested in me. The Chief wants me to play along and find out what his agenda is.”

“I can't say that plan impresses me. What the hell is the man thinking!”

“He thinks I'm a cop who can handle it.” Her words were ice.

“Of course you can handle it, but after what happened in the alley, it's not safe to...” He gaped at her. “You were supposed to have backup that night, too, weren't you?”

No doubt Britt knew he'd made a mistake the minute the words came out of his mouth. Even before she'd chastised him so succinctly. He'd inadvertently insinuated that she needed help to do her job, and she didn't appreciate it.

She glared at him, infusing him with the essence of darkness. He deserved it this time.

But, when his face paled and his gaze flinched she broke eye contact. Damn it. She hated being a vampire some days. “Yes! I ignored his orders the night I passed out in the alley. I wasn't supposed to go alone.

“From now on you have backup,” he said. “Let's get to the bottom of this thing, and the sooner the better.”

Jess avoided making eye contact.

“No matter what our personal problems are, we can work together as professionals.”

He'd hit home. Her mask slipped, just a little. He'd touched the lingering element of woman inside the vampire. As much as she tried to deny it, just possibly she wanted him as much as he wanted her.

“What about your current murder investigations? Whoever killed those women is not a normal feeding vampire. He's calculating, and he's deliberately leaving a body trail. It's your job to find out who it is,” Jess said.

He shrugged. “Until the body is returned to Sampson, and we decide what to do with Kellerman, I've got time. Besides, the Chief ordered me to be your backup.”

“I'll agree, for now. But don't take that as an invitation to try to follow me if I don't want you to.”

He nodded. He'd probably been waiting for her to say something about his failed attempts at tracking her.

“Deal. I couldn't keep up with you anyway.”

Surprised he'd just admitted that, she softened, but wondered how long could he work with her without letting personal feelings get in the way? “Then for now we have a truce?”

“Truce,” he said. “What about you? Are you feeling okay now?”

She straightened her spine. “Great.”

“Really? Back to normal, then?”

Damn. Without a doubt, he'd seen her jump. Knew he'd caught her off guard. No sense lying about it. “Not quite,” she admitted. “But things are improving.”

“How so?”

“I haven't passed out since that night in the alley.” Cynical, but what the hell.

“Jess, I know there's something wrong with you right now. You're not yourself.”

She pushed off the wall. “No. To be honest, I lost some of my abilities again tonight. I didn't hear you approaching.”

“What would cause that?” He shoved his hands into his pockets.

“Your guess is as good as mine. This has never happened to me before.”

“We'll figure it out.”

She grunted disdainfully. “All I can say is it's a good thing I'm not out with the team hunting vampires right now, isn't it?”

If she were truly honest with herself, maybe she'd never be able to go back to being human again. She'd grown accustomed to her abilities. A shiver ran down her spine. If nearly having sex with Britt made her regain some humanity, what would happen if they made love?

Britt touched her shoulder and she tensed.

“Jess, the other night, when you saw the man in the alley, what did he say to you?”

She'd almost forgotten about that. What the hell was wrong with her? When she forced herself to remember, gooseflesh broke out on her arms. “He said we meant something to each other.”

“So, it was someone you knew?”

She shook her head. “No. I don't think so. There was something strange about his face though. It was surreal. Waxy, maybe a mask.

“Do you think he caused you to faint?”

She shrugged. “I have no idea. If he did, why did he let me go?”

“How do we know he did? Maybe you fought him and just can't remember.”

Jess stopped in her tracks and stared at the ground. “That's something I've been contemplating, believe me.” Her memories were too fuzzy to dredge up anything concrete.

Britt pinched the bridge of his nose. “Is this job always going to be this complicated?” he asked. “Is there ever going to be a day when we go out and take down some nasty vampires, then go for a beer before we go home to relax?”

“Probably not.” She looked at him from the corner of her eye and began walking down the sidewalk. “You didn't really think being a vampire hunter could ever be ordinary, did you?”

“No, I guess not. I just wish things were a helluva lot clearer. At least with Prometheus we knew we were up against an old, master vampire and his team. If this stranger from the alley is able to cause you to faint, and lose your memory, how the hell do we fight that?”

Jess's hands started to shake. What if it wasn't another vampire who'd caused her recent episodes? What if she'd been completely taken over by her dark side that night? Is that what she had to look forward to in future? If so, how could she be trusted with anyone? Especially those she loved?

[Back to Table of Contents]

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Verlie Post checked her Rolex. Ten past nine. She'd be late. She paid the cabbie and dashed through the front doors of the club.

The bouncer recognized her immediately and let her in. She stopped just inside and looked around. What the...? There was no one else in the building. Strange. At this time of night the place was usually humming with people.

She'd been coming here for the past two months. As Deputy Commissioner of Operations for the NYC Police Department she rarely had time to go clubbing. But since she'd met Drago Vaslov, she couldn't seem to stay away. Sure he had appeal, but not in that way. At least not for her. She was gay.

So why did she keep coming here?

A funny sound buzzed through her head, and she felt her adrenaline surge. She turned to find Drago, tall and exquisite looking in his tuxedo.

“My dear, you're late.”

“Sorry, the cab had a flat. I had to flag down another one.”

“No problem, I'm glad you're here now.”

She looked around the room. The place was as quiet as a mortuary without patrons. She frowned. “Is the club closed tonight?”

“Yes. This is a special night. One for just the two of us.”

She held up a hand to stop him right there. “Wait, you don't understand, I'm not interested in...”

When he tipped his head and closed his eyes that buzzing started at the base of her skull and grew in volume until it filled her head. Suddenly, she felt as if she'd been sucked into a black vortex with no light at the end of the tunnel.

The last thing she remembered, was being taken for the very first time into Drago's office. Some weird equipment was laid out on his desk. She heard chanting before she felt the blackness envelope her.

* * * *

Jess's cell phone vibrated on her hip. Funny how well the thing worked when she remembered to charge the battery. “Captain Vandermire speaking.”

“Jess, Sampson here. You'll never guess who just returned to the lab.”

“Our latest victim?”

There was a pause at the other end of the line. “How'd you make them do it so quickly?”

She laughed. “I can't take any credit. Chief Brown said he'd have her sent back to you within a few hours. He's working against the current, it seems. He doesn't want those bodies going to the other morgue either.”

“Who's pushing for it then?”

“That's something he wasn't willing to share, but I intend to find out.”

She stepped outside the Rectory and came face-to-face with Britt. Apparently he was taking Chief Brown's word very seriously about sticking close to her. Too close.

He'd been trying to follow her for days, but she'd kept giving him the slip. She felt a little mean about it, but he really shouldn't infringe on her privacy. Not even if it was for the right reasons.

She moved the phone away from her mouth. “Sampson's got the third victim back,” she said to Britt.

“Anything solid to report?” he asked, opening the door of the vehicle for her then grinning absently when her gaze shot daggers at him. She hated that. She'd told him before not to do it.

“Any results yet, Sampson?” She said.

“I haven't had much time to work on her yet, but I did find one thing. Not something we should talk about over a cell phone line, though. Can you come over?”

“Sure can, we're on our way.” Jess snapped the phone shut, and gave Britt a shove for opening her door.

He laughed out loud.

The last thing she needed right now was to share a personal moment with the man she couldn't allow herself to love. Fingernails on a chalk board would be less irritating.

She slammed her door, and gave him a black look when he jumped in beside her. “You're pushing it, Brittain. Let's go. I'm very curious to hear what Sampson has to say.”

A short time later they entered the elevator to the lab in the sub-basement. The elevator had never felt as small as it did tonight. Heat from Britt's body and his delicious scent permeated the small enclosure. She loved his fresh-from-the-shower scent to the point where she'd rather be sniffing anything but him at the moment.

Pretending indifference, she inched toward the left wall. At least she'd regained her abilities. Over the last hour she'd noticed her enhanced hearing and sight gradually filtering back. What would cause them to come and go? It didn't make sense.

Right now, she was thankful Britt didn't make small talk. He was the perfect partner on the job. He only spoke if there was something pertinent to say, probably because he was the consummate detective, always had his mind on the job.

The doors opened and she slipped past him. They went to the viewing area above the lab. Sampson wasn't there, nor was the corpse. He'd finished already?

“I thought he'd still be working on her,” Jess said absently.

“Haven't started yet,” a voice echoed through the room. Jess grinned. The speaker system in the room picked up their voices and filtered them into the lab below. Sampson had to be in the anteroom.

“We'll be right down,” Jess said, wondering how he could have something important to tell them if he hadn't done the autopsy yet.

“In here kiddies,” Sampson said, pulling off his mask and gloves and smiling at them as they entered the scrub room.

“You look like you're finishing up after an autopsy, Sampson. What gives, if you haven't started working on our corpse?” Jess asked.

“I've been doing a little blood work. Our corpse has something strange in her blood. I've never seen anything like it before, and I haven't been able to categorize it yet. I've got the blood sample running through all the tests to see what I can come up with.”

Jess pushed two fingers to her temple. She didn't get headaches, but she felt a band of tension close enough to a headache.

“There were high doses of an unknown substance in the vic's body. Most vampires I know prefer to stay away from toxic meals,” he added, pursing his lips. “But, since I don't know what this element is, I have no idea if it's toxic.”

Britt's eyebrows rose. “What about the hookers taken by vampires? A good many of them are on drugs.”

Sampson nodded and rubbed a hand across his shiny, bald head. “True. But those who are actually vamped are clean.”

Britt whistled. “Shit! That's a kicker. They stay away from drugs, and end up as some monster's breakfast.” He turned his attention to Jess. “You sensed a vampire that night at the crime scene, didn't you?”

She nodded. “But the scent was very faint. I tried to follow it when I left,” she snapped her fingers. “One minute it was there, the next minute gone.”

“There's something else you need to know about our latest victim,” Sampson cut in. “I don't think our big, bad vamp bit this one. She was exsanguinated, and she had the holes in her neck, but there was no VNA.”

“How is that possible?” Britt asked.

“I haven't figured that out yet, but I'm working on it.”

“Okay, given what we know now, what's the correlation between our victims? I'd swear these women were killed and left on the path by the same perp. Everything is the same except the method of their murders. And we know for sure that victims one and two were vamped. You got VNA from victim one, and we watched victim two turn,” Jess said.

“So far I haven't had time to match the VNA we found in victim one to our collection of VNA samples. By the way, that victim is still a Jane Doe. I'm beginning to think I might need an assistant.”

Jess frowned. “You do have a lot of work to accomplish for one man. Why don't you look into hiring someone to help?”

“I'd like to. I'm just not sure I'll find someone trustworthy who's got the expertise we need.” Sampson rubbed his hands together. “All that aside, when do I get to work on Beverley Kellerman? I'm interested in finding out if these two women have the same VNA in their system.”

“Now that you've got the third victim's body back from the police, I'll see that Beverley Kellerman is returned too.”

“Do we know who the third victim is yet?” Sampson asked.

Britt cleared his throat. “I think her name is Sally Marshall. She's on the missing persons list, and I have a photo of her.” He dug into his breast pocket and handed it to Jess. “This photo is ten years old but it looks enough like her that I'm sure you'll be able to verify her identity through the information we've been given by the family members who reported her missing.”

Jess paced back and forth. “What are we missing, here? All three women looked alike. Slim, tall, dark hair. Not to mention their bodies were left in the same place in the park. Why?” Jess asked.

Sampson ran his stubby fingers across his shiny head and stared hard into space. “Maybe once I've completed my autopsies and lab work on the three women, I'll be able to help with that question.”

“I'll keep my cell phone charged,” Jess said.

“There's something else,” Sampson's expression darkened.

“What is it?”

“I've got the results on your blood work, Jess.”

“Oh?” Judging by the look on Sampson's face, she wished Britt wasn't here.

“If you want me to, I'll wait outside,” Britt said, as if he could read her mind.

As much as she'd like to agree, he needed to know what the hell was going on, too. Especially since he was her only option as protector—when, and if, she ever asked him.

“What is it?” Jess asked Sampson.

“There were trace amounts of that same unknown substance in your system.” Sampson's brow furrowed and he looked more worried than she'd ever seen him.

“What did you say?” Britt eyebrows turned murderous. “How the hell did that happen?”

Sampson shrugged. “Your guess is as good as mine. I couldn't find any point of entry on Jane Doe, but that doesn't mean there wasn't any.” He turned a weary gaze to Jess. “Since you passed out and lost track of time, the drug could have been administered then.”

Shock registered. “That was the very last thing I expected to hear.”

“Me, too,” said Britt.

“You think someone injected me with a drug?” She planted her hands on her hips.

It was true, she had no recollection of the time she'd lost during her blackout. Anything could have happened to her. Anything!

A quick look proved Britt must be thinking the same thing. Her blood pressure rose and she bit back her fangs. Whoever had injected her with drugs was going to be very, very sorry they ever touched her.

“We'll find out who did this to you, Jess.” Britt promised.

She wanted to say something, anything, but her insides tightened as she worked at controlling those never-ending inner demons. She made for the exit.

“Wait,” Sampson called out. “You can't leave now. First you have to tell me how you got Beverley Kellerman out of the morgue without being caught. Don't forget I'm stuck here in the basement most of the time. I need to hear a bit of the exciting stuff. What happened when Beverley turned into a vampire? Did it happen at the police lab? Did she bite anyone?”

Jess and Britt exchanged glances. Britt flushed at how it must've looked when Jess caught him standing over the naked corpse. Not his finest moment. Damn it.

She looked at her watch. “Okay, but I still have a full night's work ahead of me and I'm on a time limit before sunrise. We had to fight off a couple of low-level vampires who didn't have a clue how to handle a transitioning vampire. They didn't make it. Britt killed Ms. Kellerman for real, and we stashed her in the cemetery.”

“Good place for a dead person.” Sampson leaned against the scrub sink in a relaxed position, obviously hoping for more.

“Now we have to get back there before someone else finds Ms. Kellerman.”

As much as Britt hated that damned cemetery, he'd go back for Jess. Even if chills crawled up his spine at the thought.

They reached the Starr crypt at ten p.m. just about the time it got truly dark. He shivered involuntarily, even though the cemetery was blessedly quiet when they arrived. Not a vampire in sight. No one waiting to jump them. At least not yet. He wouldn't let his guard down, just in case.

Jess got out of the vehicle and opened the crypt door. When the door squeaked on rusty hinges, he said, “Remind me to bring some oil for those hinges next time we come.”

Jess laughed. “What makes you think we'll be here again?”

“I don't know, we just always seem to end up here.”

“Not your favorite place, is it, John?”

She never called him that. Why'd she use his first name? Oh hell, he was over-thinking everything about her.

He prepared for the worst while Jess looked inside. “She still dead?” Not knowing what state of decomposition she might be in also irked him. Made him edgy. He hated showing Jess what a wimp he was when it came to skeletal remains.

“Don't know. She's gone.”

“Gone? What do you mean? How could she be gone? Did she turn into a vampire after all?”

“Nope. You staked her good. A newly transitioning vampire won't be coming back after that.” Jess left him standing outside the crypt door and walked back to the truck. Waited for him. “C'mon, get in. We need to leave.”

“Why? What's going on?”

“The body's gone. No sense staying, is there?”

He frowned. Didn't understand her calm and sudden urgent need to leave the cemetery. “You're doing some strange things these days, Captain Vandermire, but since I can deny you nothing...” He paused and grinned. “And, because you're the boss, I'll do what you tell me to.”

Jess pulled her door shut and waited for him to get in the passenger side. “Smart man.”

“Why aren't you upset about the stolen body?”

She turned the key in the ignition and stepped on the gas pedal, causing the tires to kick up pine needles and gravel.

He thought about the cemetery's security guard. After all of the weird events and vandalism that taken place here over the past few months, he wouldn't blame the guy if he quit.

The speed limit was supposed to be fifteen and she was traveling at least fifty through the cemetery grounds. “What's the hurry?”

“I'll tell you when we get out on the highway.”

“Okie dokie.” He crossed his arms and leaned his head back against the headrest, faking a relaxed pose when in actuality her erratic driving made him nervous.

He chanced a glance at her profile. Her face was set, and her luscious lips were slightly pursed and totally kissable. She wore her leathers tonight, and her milky white skin drove him to the point of distraction—until they hit the highway and she sped up to 100 miles per hour. At that point he grabbed the dash and gritted his teeth.

“Reach into the glove compartment and take out the GPS monitor, will you?”

“Why?”

“I planted a tracking chip into our corpse. A very tiny capsule imbedded into the back of dear Beverley's brain stem, just above her hairline. We should be able to track her quite easily and find out who sent those two idiots to get her.”

“Holy shit! No wonder you weren't upset about her being taken. You were excited. They took your bait.”

When she smiled he watched those rose-petal-soft lips light up her face. Any time she looked at him with an exulted expression, his bones went weak.

“Stop gawking and get the GPS working,” she demanded.

[Back to Table of Contents]

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

“Did you get a signal yet?” Jess asked.

“Still haven't found the switch,” he said, wondering if this was one of Sampson's new mechanical wonders.

“On the side.”

“The thing that looks like a rivet?” He clicked the rivet and the GPS began to ping. Within seconds a map illuminated the screen and a yellow dot pulsed in the center. “Got it. There's a marker showing. Looks like it's in the center of the city.”

“We're on our way,” Jess stepped down on the gas pedal even harder.

Britt gripped the dash. “Why don't we go the speed limit and get there in one piece? We don't have to attract attention. Especially not with this device.”

“Sometimes you're no fun,” she teased, but let off on the gas and allowed Britt to relax a little.

“It's a wonder Regent ever lets you borrow his vehicle. Turn right then take the next left at the intersection,” Britt said staring at the tiny illuminated map.

“Oh, oh. I don't think I'm going to like where Ms. Kellerman is leading us,” Jess said.

They pulled in front of a building, and the GPS dot changed from a ping to one long beep. Britt looked out his window and stared at the familiar brick façade. “The Dragon's Lair Club.”

“Vaslov's interest in me is getting a little more bothersome. Especially since they've got our dead vampire inside.”

“Are we going in?”

“No. For now let's play along. For some reason he seems to want me to attend this club. I'll just have to make myself a lot more accessible.”

“I don't like you using yourself as bait.” Britt turned off the GPS and returned it to the glove compartment.

“We can handle this guy, Britt. He's human, and he's messing with someone who's going to be very dangerous to his health.” She put the car in gear and slowly drove away.

Hung up on her choice of words, Britt smiled. She'd said we.

* * * *

Drago Vaslov smashed his fist against his desk and brought it back bloody. Didn't matter. He didn't feel a thing. He'd lost the feeling in his hands quite some time ago.

“Why the hell did you bring that corpse back here, Mannie?”

Mannie's jaw hardened. “You said you wanted me to make sure no one connected her to us. They can't connect her if they don't have the body.”

Drago let out an irritated breath. “Unless they find the body here!”

“I thought it would be better if we decided what to do with her, before we got rid of her.”

Drago looked at the dead woman, wrapped in a sheet from the morgue. The green material had fallen away exposing her breasts and the garish hole where a stake had plunged into her heart.

Using two fingers, he pushed back her lips to note her eye teeth. Longer than normal but they hadn't reached full size. She'd been killed before becoming a true vampire—she had been in transition.

“How will this help us identify who killed her?”

Mannie turned her head and pointed at the holes in her neck. “Aren't bite marks as good as finger prints in humans?

A little tension ebbed away and Drago smiled at last. “So they are. So they are, Mannie. I hadn't even thought of that.”

“Don't you have all of your clients’ bite marks on record?”

Drago nodded, impressed with Mannie for the first time in a very long time. Why hadn't he thought of that? He'd been so focused on business, he wasn't thinking clearly. “I certainly do. Before I find women for any of my clients, I insist on getting bite mark records, just in case.” Even his phone-in client had to fax in his bite mark. He reached out to pat Mannie's shoulder, but Mannie moved away before his hand could connect.

Drago went to the computer and called up the program. Not sure if visually comparing the pictures would do it, he pulled out a digital camera, laid a ruler next to the bite and took a photo to digitally compare the bites. It would take a while to find out for sure, so he completed the picture, uploaded it into the program and left it to work.

“If one of my clients did this, we'll have to kill him.” He looked at Mannie. “Or should I say you are. I will not allow one of these blood suckers to ruin my business.” Nevermind the fact that the aforesaid bloodsucker paid him handsomely, he couldn't afford the risk of exposure. “You can get rid of her body now, Mannie. Make sure no one sees you.”

Mannie snapped his fingers and two of the club's bouncers entered the room. They stared at the exposed vampire and grinned at each other.

Bile rose in Drago's stomach. For God's sake, she was dead. Sometimes, he didn't even want to think about what these men did with the bodies they occasionally had to deal with. But as long as they made people disappear, never to be found again, he could live with whatever their sick hobbies were.

He looked at his watch. It had been two days since he'd been in contact with Captain Vandermire. She was supposed to come back yesterday, but hadn't shown up. He'd put as much pressure as he could on the Mayor and the Chief, but Drago had the feeling the Chief was getting suspicious.

He'd tried to lure the Chief in, to get some control over him, but hadn't been able to.

Gritting his teeth, he smashed one fist against his desk again, making everything on it rattle. He liked to have much more control than he had right now. Closing his eyes, he visualized his prize. Vandermire was within his grasp, and he wasn't going to let her go. After all, she was the first woman anyone had ever paid ten million dollars to harness. That made the challenge all the sweeter.

Drago entered his private chambers, spun the tumbler on the wall safe, and pulled out an ancient Mayan urn. The rough clay felt wonderful against his fingers because this was the only thing he could feel any more.

To think he'd started out in this business as an archaeologist.

He laughed. He'd come a long way since then. It was in a Mayan ruin he'd found this urn almost full of the powerful paste that had made him richer than he'd ever dreamed possible.

He'd also found his first vampire feasting on the neck of a tourist at that dig. The vampire hadn't noticed him, but Drago saw enough to realize he was the real thing. By the time Drago had figured out what the paste could do for him, he'd made his first pact with a vampire. The arrangement proved lucrative enough to branch out, and before he knew it, he was building an empire.

That was twenty years ago.

He looked at his hands again. Constant exposure to the paste had killed his nerve endings. Without absorbing the chemical himself he couldn't make a mind to mind connection with his victims. Somehow the ancient Mayans had found a synthetic conduit to control thoughts, and he was the only man on the planet who knew about this miracle paste.

Loss of feeling in his hands was a small price to pay.

[Back to Table of Contents]

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Jess hesitated outside the precinct door. Now that she was aware Drago had to be involved with vampires, she resolved to shut him down permanently. She tried to tamp down her anger, but it bubbled up with such severity her fangs grew before she could stop them.

She hated a lot of things these days, but being used was at the top of her list. And all trails led to the Dragon's Lair.

“Jess?” Britt stepped in front of her. “You okay?”

Without hesitation she looked into his eyes. It wasn't hard. His soul remained open to her. She reached out to his mind and felt him lose himself to her. Become hers.

The worst part, he didn't even try to stop her. Right now, she needed to feel his lips against hers. His hands on her body. Her instinct was immediate. She didn't take time to think about what she was doing. She just did it.

At first his eyes went blank, then his arms dropped to his sides.

She yanked him around the corner of the building into the shadowed alley where they couldn't be seen. Totally under her control now, his mouth took hers desperately, and she groaned with pleasure. Yes! Yes! She needed this so badly. His hands worked their way over her body, more lascivious than he'd ever been with her before. Probably because he didn't have full control of his own mind—her own need was driving what he did to her.

With rising tempo, his lips savaged her mouth, her neck, then moved down to her breastbone.

“Oh God!” she groaned in self-loathing, and shoved him away so violently he landed on his rear end on the other side of the alley.

As much as she didn't want to develop a conscience right now, she couldn't do this to him. Besides, his kisses weren't the same without freewill. Britt's inner strength was what she enjoyed the most.

Damn it. Damn him! She picked him up and led him back around the corner before he began to reawaken.

Unfortunately, she'd let his mind go too quickly in her haste to unburden herself from the horrible thing she'd done to him. Normally, she'd back out slowly, giving the person's brain time to normalize.

He suddenly stumbled backwards. Looked confused.

She hated herself for what she'd just done to him. The worst part was Britt would've happily kissed her without having his mind clouded. But then he'd know how she felt about him and she couldn't let him know.

“That's strange, I forgot what I was going to say to you.” He looked puzzled. Then he saw her face and reached out to touch her. To soothe her. After what she'd done to him!

She backed away. Shoved his hands away from her vehemently.

The look of confusion on his face added to the corruption of what she'd just done.

What did he expect of her anyway? She was a vampire! A creature of the night. She didn't play by human rules.

She cursed under her breath. “Never mind the station. Let's get back to the Rectory. There's nothing more we can do here tonight,” she moved too fast for him to keep up, and waited in the vehicle until he got there.

Britt seated himself next to her and cleared his throat, obviously still confused. “What just happened back there?”

She swallowed. Poor man, she had dropped control of his mind much too fast. “What are you talking about?”

He pointed to the building. “Something happened outside the precinct, didn't it?”

“Yes, I decided we should talk to Regent rather than go back inside.”

If he remembered what she'd done to him, he'd never forgive her. Even worse, he'd been used by both his ex-wife and his partner. Trust had become a crucial issue for him, and rightfully so. Now she'd violated his trust in a way that was completely unforgivable.

She hated herself for what she she'd done to him.

“You're right, Jess, we should talk to Regent. He should be kept in the loop,” Britt said.

“Exactly,” she replied, swiping an errant strand of hair off her face and, for once in her life, paying rapt attention to her driving.

In an attempt to forget what she'd done to Britt, she turned her thoughts to Regent. That didn't help either. All she could think about was the fact that Regent needed a break as her protector and he'd wanted her to ask Britt.

Regent was worried about who would keep her safe when the investigation began at the church. Thankfully, the Bishop of the diocese hadn't shown up yet, which was lucky because she hadn't told Britt about the pending investigation, yet. Nor had she asked him to be her protector. If she didn't do it soon, she'd be on her own.

“Man, I seem to be having a lot of headaches lately,” Britt said, pressing his fingers to his temple.

Jess cringed. By using her unethical wiles, she'd lowered Britt's serotonin levels to the point that he'd have a helluva headache and feel mood swings over the next hour. Again her stomach tightened. If only she could take back what she'd just done to him.

It hurt to see him mulling over something he couldn't quite fathom. Something she had done.

When they arrived at Saint Eugenia, she burst into Regent's office with every intention of going to her room and leaving Britt with her brother. Then she spotted Drago Vaslov in the chair facing Regent's desk.

The hair on her arms rose, and she had to fight the urge to grab him and make him talk.

Regent instantly flashed her a look of warning, telling her to calm herself and not give herself away. While both men stood, Jess moved into the fold of Regent's reaching arm. He squeezed her shoulders in what looked like a brotherly show of affection, but in reality was a calming technique he'd mastered over the years.

“Jess, I know you've already met Mr. Vaslov. He's here to donate a very large sum of money to the Church for much needed repairs.”

Jess turned dark eyes on Vaslov and offered a fake smile that she was sure looked sickly sweet. It was the best she could muster under the circumstances. After all, he was in possession of a dead vampire's body. He had ulterior motives. And she didn't like him coming into her brother's life. Not at all.

“Isn't that nice,” she said, the words nearly sticking in her throat. Regent squeezed her again.

Britt came around the corner and stopped short. “Excuse me, Father Vandermire. I didn't realize you had company.”

“Britt, please come in,” Regent said. “I'd like to introduce you to Mr. Drago Vaslov. This is John Brittain, but we call him Britt. He's Jess's boyfriend.”

Without missing a beat, Britt's gaze swept over Jess in a proprietary way, a devilish smirk hovering at the corners of his mouth. He winked at her before turning his attention to Vaslov.

Jess's blood boiled. Regent squeezed again.

“Nice to meet you, Mr. Brittain,” Drago said, picking up his jacket from the back of the chair and flipping it across his arm. He looked at his watch. “I must be off. I have another appointment.” He held out a hand to Jess, which she accepted grudgingly.

Apparently unaffected by her reticence, he leaned over and kissed the back of it. “I look forward to your next visit to my Club, my dear.”

Before she could say a word, Regent cut in, “Thank you again for your generosity, Mr. Vaslov. If you'd supply us with your mailing address, I'll have my assistant send you a receipt for taxes early next week.”

“That'll be fine,” Vaslov said, not looking at Britt or Jess again before he left. Regent followed closely behind him on the way to the front door.

The minute Regent returned Jess said, “What was that about?”

“You mean the boyfriend thing?” Regent let a slow, mischievous smile sneak across his aging features. “I actually had a valid reason to do that.”

Jess's arms were planted across her chest and she was drumming her fingers on one arm. “And that would be?”

“That man came in here asking all sorts of personal questions about you. He's way too interested, and I don't like him,”

Regent's smile slipped away. This was probably the closest she'd ever seen him come to bristling.

“Who does he think he is, coming in here waving around wads of money and trying to get information out of me like I'm a naïve old priest who doesn't understand the real world?” Regent moved to the desk and plunked into his chair.

“Regent, I've always known that you're a great judge of character, but this cements it,” Britt said.

“Why thank you, Britt,” Regent said, then instantly narrowed his eyes and his lips thinned. “Okay, spill it. You know more about this guy than you did when you left here tonight. What happened?”

Jess tipped her head toward Britt. “Besides being a good judge of character, he picks up on subtle messages very quickly, too.”

Regent grunted, and his faded blue eyes flicked over her before turning to Britt. “She learned that the hard way, I'm afraid.” His eyes softened. “C'mon. Tell me what you know. It's big, isn't it? I have a bad feeling about that rich son-of-a....”

Jess's hand flew to her ears. “Don't say it. You'll ruin all my illusions about my baby brother the priest.”

“I was going to say “gun.” Son-of-a-gun. Now spill it.”

“Drago Vaslov stole Beverley Kellerman's dead body and has her at his club. He has to know she's a vampire.”

“By Godfrey, I knew I didn't like him. I just didn't like the interest he was showing towards you. It felt like he was trying to buy you. This makes everything a whole lot worse.” Regent played with a pen in front of him on his desk. “Do you think he knows you're a vampire?”

She shrugged and leaned back in her chair. “Given what we've seen tonight, it's a definite possibility.”

“Britt, what's your take on this mess?”

“Personally, I agree with Jess. I don't believe in coincidences. I don't think it's a twist of fate that he knows about vampires and just happens to be interested in Jess, too.”

“Exactly. So what are you two going to do about him?”

“We've been tasked by the Chief to find out what this guy's up to,” Britt replied. “The Chief doesn't buy his philanthropic crap either. Vaslov's pushing a little too hard, and he seems to be getting desperate. Since Jess isn't exactly cooperating with him by going to his club, he's apparently changed his tactics and is trying to get to her through goodwill towards the Church.”

Jess pursed her lips thoughtfully. “So he is. And maybe we should let him believe what he's doing is working.”

“What? I don't want his money. I just said I'd take it tonight to get him out of here. I already feel like I need a shower,” Regent said.

“Jess, that's a brilliant idea,” Britt said. “This guy thinks he's suave and that he has us fooled. We'll give him a little time to show us what he's up to, then we'll reel him in. But first, Regent, you'll have to agree to take his money, otherwise, he won't buy in.”

Regent's mouth twisted. “Well, since you put it that way, how can I refuse? But, I'd really rather not take his blood money.”

Britt nodded. “That might be a very accurate statement, but if his money is somehow connected to vampires, we need to find out how. He isn't a vampire, is he, Jess?”

She shook her head. “No. He's human. He's not a wannabe either. He had no scent on him, no markings, or tattoos that I could see.”

“Well, whatever he's up to, he tried to hit on the wrong gal.” Britt stood and stretched his back, expanding his shoulders as if he were about to scare off a grizzly. He didn't realize how his body actions looked to Jess and Regent, until he caught Regent covering a happy smile with his hand.

Whether Jess liked it or not, she was his, and he wasn't going to let anyone take her away from him.

Jess moved toward the fireplace for warmth. She really liked it there, he'd noticed. To her left was a large window. Britt paced to it and looked out into the night. Skyscrapers were most impressive at night. Large hulking monoliths, representative of his favorite city in the world. At the sight of the rising moon above one of the buildings, Britt snapped his wrist up to look at his watch. “Damn it, gotta go, I'm late for my recruitment class.” He made for the office door. “Jess, don't you dare go to that club without me,” he said on is way down the hall.

“I won't,” she called back. In fact, I'll be waiting for you when your class is over.”

He smiled. She'd hate what he'd just said, but she'd be there nonetheless.

* * * *

How dare Britt tell her what to do. She sizzled inside.

Regent reached out and took her hand in his. “He meant well, Jess and you know it. Don't go and get all fired up over a simple grouping of words.”

“Ordering me not to do something is very dangerous for a mere human.”

Regent let go of her hand and cleared his throat in a scolding manner. “If I didn't know you so well, I'd think you were saying you're better than a mortal.”

Jess thought about that. Maybe she did. She couldn't be killed. She was stronger, faster, and more dangerous.

Could it be that she liked it that way?

“Okay, Jess, you're mulling that statement over for way too long. What are you thinking?”

“I don't think I'm better. Not exactly. But there are things about being a vampire that makes me less vulnerable than a human.”

“That's true. But in other ways you're very vulnerable. That's why you need a protector. Someone who can watch over you during that time of vulnerability.” He surprised her. He always did. The thing she loved about Regent was his ability to listen. Really listen.

“I've been thinking a lot lately since I had that nightmare. If I am regaining my humanity, I'm not sure I'll be able to handle it. I've been a vampire for too long.” She thought that statement would shock Regent as much as it had shocked her at the realization.

“I've often wondered if it would be easy for you to go back. I'm not surprised to hear that you feel this way, Jess. I think it's a perfectly normal fear given the situation.”

“You do?” Tension drained out of her. She needed Regent's wisdom right now. “You don't think it's evil to have thoughts like that?”

“Of course not. We all have a tendency to find solace in the norm. For you, being a vampire and having those strengths is the norm for you now.” He looked down at his old desk, evidently mulling over a thought. “In fact, you may never be able to go back, even if such a time comes that it is possible.”

She nodded, and realized how much consideration her brother had given to her plight. Much more than she had ever done herself. As a student of humanity he'd been her superior, but as an advisor to her dark, evil self, he'd been a gift from God.

Jess's skin felt like it was covered with ice-cold spiders at her next thought. What if her blackouts meant she was losing her faith and her shred of humanity rather than regaining it? What would Regent think about her then? Had she killed? Taken blood from innocents? If she had, would she feel it inside? Or would she be oblivious?

She bit her lip. Maybe she should tell Sampson, just in case. He'd been ordered to kill her if she lost herself.

[Back to Table of Contents]

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Not again! Jess's eyes flashed open. She had no idea what time it was, or what day. Worse her head felt fuzzy and a bout of dizziness made her weave sideways.

She looked around and bit back several vivid curses. Another nightmare? Or was this real? Cold wind grated across her exposed skin.

Exposed because she was standing on a bridge fortification in her nearly see-through nightgown. She had no idea how she'd gotten on this narrow metal beam suspended over dark water that swirled in ugly eddies below her. Surely she was dreaming.

But the offensive odors of the river and the city swamped her senses. This felt real.

“Oh, my God. How the hell did I get here?” She swayed against another wave of dizziness and grabbed the nearby beam.

“Jess, take it easy. Take my hand.” Britt's voice came from above and behind her and caught her off-guard. She nearly lost her balance. He reacted quickly and grabbed the back of her flimsy nightgown as if the thin stands of silk would hold her weight. At least his grasp helped her to lean back and regain her balance.

“What are you doing here? How'd you find me?” she asked, still staring down at the murky water below.

“We can talk about that in a minute. Right now, let's get you back onto solid ground.”

He reached down and grabbed her under the arms and pulled her up to the bridge. Normally she'd be able to spring from a spot like this onto the bridge without thinking about it. Apparently, it wasn't that easy when she was disoriented. She cursed again, when another wave of dizziness engulfed her, and she grabbed at Britt for stability.

His strong arms wrapped her in his firm hold, tight enough to make her feel safe. She burrowed closer. It was the first time in many, many years that anyone had made her feel physically protected.

Regent had, of course, protected her for years, but this felt immediate, and on a level that only a female in love with a tough cop would understand.

The image of Britt's tall, strong body, clothed in black jeans and a gray T-Shirt under his black trench coat, was a sight for her weary eyes. His dark hair, always cut short, curled over his ears as if he'd just gotten out of the shower. She looked around. Land fog hung in patches in the city. Moisture beaded on the steel beams of the bridge, which was probably the real reason his hair looked damp, although she preferred the image of him freshly showered.

She'd been saved by her very own tough cop, and right now his gaze touched her like liquid heat burning across her skin and making her feel warm.

Without contemplating the effects of her next move, she pressed herself against him again, grinding as close to him as she could get. She needed his warmth right now. She needed his strength, because she had no idea what was happening to her. Where would she end up next? Her worst fear would be standing over a bloodless body.

“Jess. Do you know what you're doing to me?”

“I'm sorry, Britt. I can't help myself.”

His lips brushed across her forehead, and his fingers moved across her back, tightening his hold even more. This felt much different than the Britt who'd kissed her in the alley while under her control. This was the real Britt, the man who could make her feel like a living woman.

She lifted her head and pulled her shoulders back while keeping her pelvis pressed against his. His hungry expression roamed down her, absorbed every nuance of her in her flimsy nightgown. His full attention was for her and her alone.

A lava-hot fire threatened to erupt the moment his mouth crushed down on hers and turned hot. The man's kisses were unbelievably sexy. His mouth graduated from rough and desperate to slow and sexy, totally eliminating her freewill.

She was mesmerized by his ability to fog her mind.

Strong arms still held her in that protective shield. Without thinking she reached up to drop the strap from her nightgown. His kiss ended slowly and with obvious regret while his hand stopped her from going further.

She tipped her head back and looked at him, quizzically. So what if she was sending him mixed messages, didn't he want this as much as she did?

“We're on a bridge, Jess. Exposed to the city.”

She closed her eyes for a moment. She'd completely forgotten that. But he hadn't forgotten. He'd come here to protect her, and he was doing that in every way.

“How'd you find me?” She forced herself to leave the warm envelope of his arms and his body.

Instant death-chill returned, and along with it the realization that she'd once again experienced lack of control. Dear Lord.

“Regent phoned me when you left the Rectory wearing only your nightgown.” The timbre of his sexy voice cut into her resolve. She swallowed, and looked down at herself just as a taxi crossed the bridge. His headlights cut through the thin veil of fabric and exposed her body.

The cabby rolled down his window and made a graphic, disgusting comment.

“Damned idiot,” Britt said, whipping off his trench coat and wrapping it around her shoulders. “Let's get off this bridge.”

“Sounds like a good idea to me,” Jess said, unaffected by the cabbie's rudeness. In her world of fighting her own kind, comments like that were frequent and usually worse. She'd grown a thick hide.

“That jerk should have his license revoked.” Britt's jaw was so tight the words came out through clenched teeth.

“He probably thought I was a hooker. And why not, dressed like this and standing in the middle of a bridge. Who could blame him?”

“I could blame him,” he growled.

“If that's the worst that happens to me today, I think I'll survive. Where's your car?” she asked, still worried about what she might have done while in blackout mode.

“I left it on the street a few blocks back. I was having a hard time to keep up with you, moving from one roof to the next. It was quicker for me to cut through the alleys on foot.”

She stopped at the end of the bridge and stared at him. “I don't remember any of that.” Unyielding fear flooded her. Was she totally out of control?

“It was like you were in a trance. I called your name, but you didn't hear me.”

“Still, that doesn't explain your ability to keep up with me. Was I moving abnormally slow?” Vampires moving from rooftop to rooftop were fast, and impossible for a human to keep up with.

“No, you weren't slow at all.”

That's when she noticed his flesh glistening with sweat. She had attributed the moisture to the dew caused by the fog, but he must've been running a marathon to keep up with her.

“Problem was, I couldn't keep up with you. That's how you got on that beam before I could stop you. In fact, for a second I thought you were going to jump.”

She shivered and thrust her arms through the sleeves of Britt's coat that had been hanging on her shoulders. She tied the belt to cinch it tighter.

“If I got away from you, how'd you track me on foot?”

Suddenly he looked sheepish. “I was able to follow you with this.” He reached past her to dig into the trench coat pocket. He pulled out Jess's new GPS tracking device.

He'd bugged her? Anger flared, but she tamped it down. As much as she hated what he did to tail her, if he hadn't, she'd have gone into that awful river. She shivered with disgust. She hated cold, dirty water more. Casting her gaze at the ground, she counted the cracks on the pavement in front of her. “How'd you get the tracking device on me?”

He cleared his throat. “In you.”

“What!”

“When you were asleep, I used the same technology you used on Beverley Kellerman.”

Her teeth gritted together and she bit back a vile curse when he admitted taking advantage of her most vulnerable time.

“Why did you bug me without talking to me first?” Even while she snapped at him, guilt assaulted her. She had no right to be issuing recriminations. She'd taken advantage of him without his consent or knowledge.

“You know I've been trying to keep tabs on you in order to keep you safe,” he replied. “You were too good and I couldn't keep up. After you showed me Sampson's new creation, I decided it would be good in other ways too.”

She stared at him. “Why didn't you just ask me to cooperate?”

“Would you have cooperated?”

Suddenly, she realized something else. She felt her blood running thick and cold because there was only one way he'd be able to implant that device while she slept. He had to have had help. Help from someone else she trusted implicitly.

John looked at Jess with guarded desire. She wore the silkiest of film that barely covered her voluptuous curves, and her hair caressed her milky white shoulders in thick, straight edges. Anyone who saw her now would never believe she was the city's best vampire hunter—and a vampire herself.

Right now she was all woman. All angry woman. He ran his teeth across his bottom lip and bit back the urge to kiss her again, to take her mind off his infraction. Maybe make her forgive him completely.

He held himself in check. If she had any idea how much he really wanted her, she'd be gone so fast, even the tracking device wouldn't find her.

Worse, now he'd told her that he'd violated her body and her privacy in her own bedroom while she was in stasis.

It was crucial to be able to find her if she blacked out. But, he had hoped to hell he'd never have to use the device. Too late to worry about the consequences now. Not as if he hadn't already agonized over it. He'd done it for the right reasons, whether she liked it or not.

“Jess, you know I wouldn't have done this if I didn't think it was necessary.”

She planted her hands on her hips. “Where'd you put it?”

He reached out, pushed up his coat sleeve to expose her arm and ran two fingers across her skin just above her wrist. There wasn't even a scar.

“It's amazing how quickly you heal,” he said.

He thought she was going to go ballistic. If anyone had taken advantage of him in his sleep he'd have felt the same way. Instead, she turned away, but not before he caught a glimpse of her disappointed expression. Maybe he'd have preferred ballistic.

“Regent helped you, didn't he?”

For about two seconds he considered lying. Regent had agonized over the decision to do this, but he'd finally agreed it was necessary when Britt told him about Jess's blade being found beneath the murder victim in the park. They needed to keep tabs on her.

If Jess got upset with Regent...

Hell! Britt didn't want that to happen. The old man didn't deserve that, not after all the years he'd spent praying for her and protecting her in his own way.

Jess wouldn't mean to upset him. She adored him, but sometimes the vampire inside her got overheated. Well, in this case, who could blame her?

“Only under duress, Jess. I bullied him into it. Coaxed and bullied him until he agreed. He really didn't want to.”

“I see.” She let out a long breath, and continued to look at the ground, staring at her bare feet which were covered with dirt from wandering the city streets and rooftops in an uncontrolled daze.

What the hell she was thinking, he wondered in frustration. This aloof exterior was not normal for Jess. She was hot blooded. Spirited. Even dangerous. But never calm like this.

“My car is a few blocks over,” he said.

“Let's go. I hate having dirty feet.”

“Jess, I'm sorry I didn't catch up with you before you ended up in that precarious position on the bridge.”

Her abrupt, self-recriminating laugh caught him off guard. “It's not like the fall would've hurt me.” She grimaced. “It wouldn't have been pleasant, though.”

He froze. She couldn't die that way? He shook his head. There was still a lot about vampires he still didn't know.

She strode on ahead of him. For someone who looked like she had no energy reserves left, she outpaced him easily. He jogged for a minute, then ran full-out to narrow the gap between them.

By the time he caught up to her, he was out of breath. They found his vehicle askew on the side of the street with the driver door still hanging open, just the way he'd left it to chase after her.

Jess didn't comment. She just got in and waited for him to drive.

“Aren't you angry with me?” How long could this cool act last?

“No. I think you did the right thing. She stared out the passenger window as they drove along. “You never did tell me why you felt you had to track me.”

“You had that fainting spell behind the Dragon's Lair,” he said, hoping that would appease her.

“That's it? There's no other reason?”

“Does there have to be?”

“I guess not, but I have the feeling I've done something I shouldn't have. Ever since that nightmare I haven't been able to shake that fear.”

“Not as far as I know, Jess.” That was the God's honest truth. He didn't know.

“Britt, there's something I didn't tell you.” She kept her face averted. Even though she wouldn't look at him, he'd already noticed how distressed she was tonight. “I lost my blade.” She turned to him with an imploring look. “Did you find it in your apartment?”

Britt considered his response. Should he tell her the truth or pretend she'd simply left her blade at his place? Damn it, he didn't want to tell her it was found at the crime scene. She'd believe the worst about herself, and she was having a hard enough time right now.

“Stop the car!” she shouted before he had time to formulate what to say.

Reacting quickly he pulled the car to the curb and jammed on the brakes. Jess jumped out and took off down the street.

Before he could get out of the vehicle, she had disappeared into the maw of a dark alley. Not again! He'd never be able to keep up with her on foot.

* * * *

As the vampire ducked down another alley, Jess took off after him. Running at full speed after a vampire felt real to her. This was her world. A world where she knew the ground rules and was ready to break them. She was in her element. Only one thing she'd change—not to wear filmy lingerie again until she figured out what was causing her somnambulism. Worse, Britt's coat had come undone with her accelerated speed and was flapping in the wind behind her.

Now she was running through the city dressed like one of the female vampires in a 1950's Hammer film. That didn't appeal to her liberated feminism at all.

Even though she couldn't see much more than the vampire's back as he raced away from her, there was something familiar about him. Her mind stretched out and tried to touch his.

Nothing. He'd shut her out. He was very powerful. Usually vampires could at least sense each other's presence. With this vampire she felt nothing.

He was on a dead run. For a vampire, that was fast enough to create a blurred image to humans.

Even with bare feet she managed to keep up, but it would've been a hell of a lot more comfortable in her leathers than in a nightgown and a flapping, oversized trench coat.

By the time she'd nearly caught up to the vampire, they had scaled several buildings, each one taller than the last. As he neared the edge of the final building, no other structures were close enough to jump to. She had him!

He slowed long enough to look back at her, and she froze.

Those eyes!

She'd seen those eyes before. Although she couldn't remember where or when, just the sight of them nearly incapacitated her.

She hesitated too long. He turned and sailed off the top of the building. Before she got the edge, she had no idea which way he'd gone. He'd disappeared into the dark below.

As before, there was nothing to tip her off. No residual energy, very little scent.

Nada. He'd gotten away.

Now, standing at the precipice of the building with her chest heaving from exertion, Jess stared down into the blackness of the alley below. The vampire had been faster than any she'd ever seen. And he was like a ghost. He left no trail. Why?

She closed her eyes to rid herself of the image of his evil gaze. It burned in her brain like a vicious scar.

Not much frightened her anymore. But those eyes terrified her more than anything she could remember. Even more than becoming the monster she fought against every day. She hoped she never saw him again.

When the sound of an evil laugh carried to her on the wind—her skin broke out in Goosebumps.

[Back to Table of Contents]

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Left in the vampire's proverbial dust, Jess opened the doorway and descended two levels of stairs before deciding to take the elevator the rest of the way down.

She'd let him get away and she had no freaking idea how he'd been able to do that—unless her episode on the bridge had hampered her abilities. The fact that he could actually frighten her left a bad taste in her mouth. She wasn't a timid vampire. She'd fought evil for fifty years. This dark demon could do nothing to her that hadn't already been done.

She heaved a sigh, exited the elevator on the bottom floor and walked through the lobby to the sidewalk. Being barefoot caused enough stares, and she was thankful for Britt's trench coat. She buttoned it up again and pulled the belt tight.

If she had her vampiric speed, she could cover more ground and get back to Britt quickly, but she was actually experiencing something else right now. Overwhelming fatigue. Another new experience.

She blew out a breath and looked up at the buildings around her. Was the vampire back up there watching her? Laughing at her?

Had he been the one she'd sensed in the park?

She was a cop. A vampire hunter who was detested by every vampire in New York. If she lost her abilities completely, she'd be at the mercy of every vampire in the city.

Several cars passed while she walked along the sidewalk. One man stopped and tried to pick her up. She allowed herself to transition enough to scare the wits out of him. Maybe he'd stay at home from now on.

Another car pulled up next to her. She stopped and tightened the belt again so her chest wouldn't be exposed. The passenger door flew open.

“Get in.”

“Britt. How'd you find me?” The GPS monitor sat on the dash pinging loudly. “Oh, right,” she said, her spirits deflating even more.

Britt reached over and shut it off, his mouth set in a grim line. “Why'd you take off down that alley?".

“Didn't you see the vampire? He was following us, and I wanted to find out what he wanted.”

She watched the muscles in Britt's arms knot. His fingers circled the steering wheel tightly. “No. I didn't see anyone.”

“Really?” She frowned. “How could you have missed him?”

“Maybe because my attention was on you, not the sidewalk.”

How was that possible? Britt was a trained observer. If she saw the vampire on the sidewalk, he should have too.

“Take me home. I'm tired.”

“On our way, Jess. We'll be there in a minute.” He accelerated the vehicle and sailed through the next three green lights. She could have kissed him for not drilling her with questions right now. It had been a long night.

He obviously hadn't seen the vamp she'd chased halfway across the city. Why not? Had the vampire actually been there or was he another figment of her imagination? Britt had to be wondering the same thing.

She looked at the spot on her arm where the tracking device had been implanted. Maybe it would be a good thing after all. Especially since she had no recollection of leaving the Rectory tonight and going to the bridge. Wandering outside without knowing what she was doing was the least of her worries. Without proper preparatory prayers, not getting home before dawn meant she'd die like any other vampire caught outside at sunrise.

Britt had barely reached the next light when they lurched violently forward, the vehicle instantly forced to a stop. The sound of shrieking metal filled the night.

“What the hell? Jess are you okay?” Britt reached for his seatbelt and unlatched it. His head had hit the window and he had a cut above his left eyebrow. She unwillingly inhaled his rich scent.

“You should be more concerned about the fragile state of your own body, Britt. Not mine.”

She glanced at him, made sure he was intact, then stared out through the shattered windshield.

The hood of their vehicle had a deep dent in it. The engine had been crushed. But how?

“Something must have dropped onto the hood from one of the buildings.” Britt rolled down his window and leaned out for a better look. “There's nothing out there. No debris. Only one thing could have caused that much damage and disappeared,” he said.

“A vampire,” she agreed. She sensed the vampire now. Why hadn't she sensed him before this? Because he didn't want her to?

“He must've been damned fast if you didn't see him, Jess.”

She nodded and felt a surge of relief running through her like adrenalin. At least the vampire existed in the flesh—he wasn't a delusion. He'd jumped on their vehicle and crushed it, though. He was very strong. “Most likely the same one I chased down the alley.”

Was she crazy or did Britt suddenly look relieved too?

“What the hell does he want?”

Jess was able to laugh at that question and it felt good. “I'm guessing he wants me dead, just like the others we've encountered.”

“Like that's going to happen.” Britt reached for the stake he carried in a shoulder holster.

Jess frowned. “I don't like this. I don't have a blade with me. Another thing I'm going to have to wear to bed if I keep sleepwalking.”

Britt stared at her, a haunted expression of his face. “Open the glove box. Your blade's in there.”

“What? Why didn't you tell me I left it at your place when I asked?”

Britt started to open his car door. “This isn't the right time to discuss it, Jess. We need to focus on killing this bastard, and getting you home before the sun rises.”

Goosebumps rose on her already dead-cold flesh. “Yeah, that's a very good idea.” She had no desire to burn up in the sunlight. “But when we get back to the Rectory, I want a full report on how you got my dagger.”

“Ten-four,” he said and dove out of the vehicle, checking the roof on his way.

Jess exited her side and scoped out the streets. Not a vampire in sight.

* * * *

Britt's mouth formed a hard line as he scanned the area. Jess needed a weapon to fight the vampire who had crushed the engine of their vehicle and disappeared. Problem was, now he had to explain how he'd gotten her blade. At this point, lying to her was not an option. He might have done some unsavory things, but he would never lie to her.

Luckily she was distracted by their attacker right now, but she'd be asking him for the details soon enough.

“So where is this guy?” How could he jump on their vehicle and incapacitate it with such speed? And where had he gone? It didn't make sense that he'd leave after he had stranded them.

Sounds of the city melded into oblivion as Britt focused on the fight ahead. “Come down here, coward,” he shouted. “Show yourself.”

Jess held up a hand. “Whoa, Britt. I don't think this is a vampire you want to piss off. He's powerful. More powerful than any vamp I've encountered before, if his speed is any indicator.” She pulled out her cell phone and dialed.

“Who are you calling?”

“James.”

Britt's heart lurched. She didn't think he could cut it? Damn it all, he'd proven himself over and over again. What did it take? Anger spiked and his lips curled back. He couldn't wait to get his hands on that damned vampire who was playing with them. He'd show Jess just what he was capable of.

She spoke quickly into the phone then clicked it shut. “He's on his way.”

“Great,” Britt spat out. Even more determined to find the vampire, he turned slowly with the spike in his right hand while he monitored the surrounding rooftops.

Apparently Jess felt she needed James to fight this vampire. Britt wasn't a good enough vampire hunter enough for her.

“It doesn't make sense. Where is he?” she said.

“I think he's playing with us. This is reminiscent of the latest murders in the park. I'm beginning to think this may be the vampire we're looking for.”

Jess stepped up beside Britt. She looked hesitant as she said, “I'm pretty sure I saw him back at the bridge, too.”

It took a minute for the possibilities to sink into Britt's brain. When they did, he felt even more worried about what was going on with Jess. He continued to scan the dark shadows around them. Tall buildings circled them like towering chess pieces. He could be anywhere. “You think he had something to do with you being on that bridge, don't you?”

“If he didn't have something to do with it, it was a hell of a coincidence that he happened to be at the same place.”

“He could've been following you.”

“Do you believe he got that lucky?”

Britt peeled his attention from their surroundings and looked into Jess's eyes. They were wide and beautiful. Mirrors to her soul?

Maybe. But right now he could see another reflection mirrored in them as her gaze shifted fractionally. Someone was behind him.

He spun, arm tensed, stake out and ready to impale. He slammed the sharp tip of the hawthorn wood into the vampire directly behind them.

“Britt, wait!” Jess screamed.

Britt missed his mark, and his knees went weak when he saw who he'd nearly fatally impaled.

“Damn it, Britt. You could've killed me,” James shouted. The stake was buried into his flesh all right, but thank God it was only in his shoulder. James cursed when he pulled the stake out. He put pressure on a wound that looked nasty now, but would heal in a couple of hours.

“Jeez, James, I didn't expect it to be you. How the hell did you get here this fast?”

“Regent phoned me right after he phoned you. I've been having a devil of a time finding you. When Jess called me and told me where you were, I was just a couple of blocks over. I thought turning up quickly would be a bonus, especially if you were fighting a big, nasty killer vampire.” He looked around. “You already kill him?”

“No. He disappeared,” Jess said. “Jumped onto the hood of our vehicle, crushed it and left. He was so fast, I didn't even get a look at him.”

They stared up at the obsidian glass windows glinting under the light of the half moon. Obviously no one believed it could be that simple. He had to be there—somewhere.

“That's a strange thing to do.” James said in his usual calm way.

“Goddamn it, James, if I'd killed you, Terry and the baby would be alone. I came way too close.” Britt exhaled shakily.

James grinned. “Don't worry. It was my mistake to misjudge your abilities. Next time I'll give you warning before I sneak up behind you.”

At that, Britt couldn't help grinning. Compliments like that didn't come every day. James had given him the boost he sorely needed right now.

Jess plunked down on the curb and propped her elbows on her knees. “Somebody phone Regent and get him to come pick us up.”

For a second Britt thought she'd said that for his benefit—the human who couldn't move at their speed. But then he saw her face. Pale and exhausted.

James's gaze met Britt's and they both frowned.

* * * *

Jess sighed and wanted to run and hug her brother when he pulled up in his SUV and rolled down the window. “Hello, children.” He looked at the crunched vehicle sitting at the red light. “What about what's left of your car, are you going to leave it in the street?”

“I phoned the station. The police wrecker is coming to pick it up,” Britt said.

They climbed in, Jess in the front and James and Britt in the back.

“What happened?” Regent asked on the way to the Rectory.

“Britt found me just before I jumped off a bridge,” Jess said in a bland tone.

“Oh dear Lord. What do you mean jump off a bridge?”

“Not on purpose. I wasn't exactly thinking clearly at the time.”

Regent sucked in a quick breath and his brow furrowed with worry. “Thank the Lord that Britt was able to find you on time,” he said.

Now that she knew what he'd done, she could hear the guilt in his voice. “I know about the implant, Regent, so don't worry. This time you both did the right thing. If I'm going to wander off without knowing what I'm doing, someone's got to keep track of me.” She sounded grateful but at the same time bitter.

“Jess, we...”

“Don't apologize, Regent,” Jess cut in. “You did what you had to do. What you've always done in order to protect me.”

When they reached the church, they entered the Rectory and went straight to Regent's office. The house smelled different and Jess sniffed loudly. He looked at her. “Got it cleaned today.”

“A definite improvement.” Jess felt comforted, as always, when Regent's faded blue eyes met hers. But she also knew this was an attempt to change the subject.

“If I hadn't agreed to implant that tracking device, who knows what might have happened to you tonight.” Regent ran a weary hand over his brow. “It was the hardest decision I've ever made.”

“I think you had help making that decision, brother.” She cast a sideways glance at Britt. He appeared unruffled, as if he had no qualms about doing what he felt was right.

“Always knew Britt was the right man to be your protector,” Regent said.

“Her other protector,” James interceded. “She has two.”

Both Regent and Jess turned to James. “That's very true,” Regent touched James’ shoulder in a fatherly manner. “You've been by Jess's sides for decades. None of us have forgotten that, my son.”

James nodded tightly.

Suddenly, Jess felt another wave of dizziness and she put out one hand to steady herself against the wall. James had an arm around her waist instantly, and she leaned into him. She'd never had to rely on anyone before. This was getting to be a pain in the ass.

“You're ill again!” Regent cried. “Set her down on the couch.” He instantly grabbed the phone and started dialing.

Jess groaned. She hated being weak. “Who are you phoning?” she asked.

“Sampson, of course.”

“No way. I don't need a doctor.”

“You're joking, right? You've never had a moment of illness in fifty years, and now, in a few days time, you've been ill a half dozen times. Even you must realize this could be serious, Jess.”

“It probably won't kill me.”

“Don't be so sarcastic, dear. You have no idea what's going on. Something is very wrong.”

James pressed closer to Jess, giving her a critical perusal.

“I'm fine James, you can go home to Terry and the baby.”

He didn't move, and his severe expression didn't change.

“What? Are you my bodyguard now, too?” Jess snapped. Having three men hovering over her was more than she could take tonight.

“If that's what you want to call me.”

Regent spoke quickly into the phone, then hung up and held up his hands in protest. “Don't fight children. Now, tell me exactly what happened tonight, Britt.”

“I found Jess about to leap off the Brooklyn Bridge into the cold, dark water below.”

“A little dramatic, Britt.” Jess crossed her arms over her chest and blew out a breath.

“If I hadn't gotten there on time you might have jumped,” he said.

Regent gasped. “Dear Lord in heaven, girl, what were you thinking? Is this about being a vampire? Can't you take it any more? Why didn't you tell me?”

Jess's heart nearly burst with sadness for her baby brother. She'd caused him so much pain in his lifetime. “No Regent, I'm not suicidal. You don't have to worry about that. Besides, no matter how unpleasant it would have been to end up in that water, we both know it wouldn't have been fatal.”

“That's not the point, dear. If you're not suicidal, what were you thinking?”

Jess's lips thinned and she swallowed. If she didn't tell Regent, Britt would. He'd already proven that earlier. “I wasn't thinking. I have very little recollection of the last four hours.”

“You can't be serious.”

“Deadly.”

Regent ran a hand through his gray hair, messing it up enough that a tuft remained standing on end. “This is no time for puns.”

“Sorry, Rej. You know I can't help myself where you're involved.” She smiled at him and watched some of the worry lines fade away at her attempt to make a joke.

Probably for lack of anything else he could do for her, Regent went to work and prepared a poultice to wrap around her neck. “These herbs will soothe you and make you feel better.”

She rolled her eyes. “I've had enough mollycoddling by the three of you for one night.” She motioned for all of them to disappear. Though a little weak, she stood. “If I promise to wear this for a while, will you all just leave me alone?” she asked, grabbing the poultice and heading for her bedroom in the basement. “James, it's nearly sunup, you'd better get going, too.”

“If you need me, Jess, just phone,” James said.

“If you insist,” she gritted out just before shutting the basement door and breathing a sigh of relief at being alone at last.

Moments later, she heard Britt descending behind her. “You're a hard man to dissuade.” She pulled off the useless poultice and threw it on a side table outside her bedroom door.

“Jess, I'm sorry for what I did to you. I wouldn't have done it if I didn't think it was necessary to keep you safe.” He took her arm, his thumb rubbing over the spot where he'd sliced her open and inserted the tracking chip.

“Piss off, Brittain.” She wrenched her arm from his grasp. “I've survived for fifty years without you looking after me. I'm quite capable of kicking ass all by myself.”

“I know that's true. I want to make it up to you.”

Only a brave man would make bodily contact at this juncture, yet he molded his hands to her shoulders then let one hand glide softly down her arm until his fingers entwined with hers. One quick tug and she was in his arms.

Unafraid, his lips pressed against hers hard enough to stop any half-hearted objection. Besides, his scent filled her nostrils, and she closed her eyes while he tasted her. As much as she wanted to protest, his expert mouth took her breath away and she got lost in the moment.

Though detrimental to her plans to drive Britt away, she allowed his advances. Their tongues made contact.

She'd never felt this close to humanity since she'd become a vampire. His lovemaking made her body react in ways that she'd previously thought impossible.

She shuddered against him, and moaned. Her hands moved up his neck and into his hair, while his lips caressed her face, her neck, and moved toward her cleavage. Sexy and tantalizing. A full night with Britt would be heaven.

Just as he started to slowly unbutton the trench coat she still wore, the sound of footsteps coming down the stairs stopped him.

He took a step away from her. “Damn it,” he said with a sigh. “We're always interrupted.”

She pressed her hand on his chest and quietly pushed him farther away so she could regain her equilibrium. How could she make herself believe she didn't want this? She wanted more—much more.

“This can't happen, Britt. We're just torturing ourselves.”

“I'm not giving up, Jess. You and I are meant for each other,” he whispered, moving closer again.

She turned away. Only if he wanted to die. And, even while his warm breath caressed the back of her neck, she was planning her next move to distance herself from him.

“Good night, Regent,” she said to her brother, who'd just reached the bottom step. With that, she entered her bedroom and closed the door, leaving the two men on the other side.

* * * *

Britt's team was on patrol tonight. Even though he was the senior officer, he wished he had another experienced cop with them. After Jess had phoned James for backup last night he'd been severely dinged in the macho pride area. Why'd she make him team Captain if she didn't think he could cut it?

“How long do we have to be out here, sir?” Marshal Banes asked.

“As long as it takes, Banes,” Britt said a little more sharply than necessary. Taking out his wounded pride on the new recruits was not his style. He pasted on a professional exterior and became the tough cop they needed to emulate if they wanted to survive this job.

Mind you, they hadn't seen any vampires for hours. The night would most likely be a non-event. He would let his team of seven finish this street then they'd head back to the station. Maybe Jess would be in her office.

Yeah, he was distracted, all right. So distracted he nearly missed the vampire who'd spotted one of the recruits dressed in street clothes.

The recruit, unfortunately didn't recognize the vampire. She was the prettiest hooker Britt had probably ever seen. Tall, statuesque and very buxom. And only had eyes for the recruit. And teeth.

Britt raised his arm and spoke into the mike he held in his palm. “Retreat. Vampire at 12 o'clock. That means you, Mr. Brooks. Back away from the hooker, she's not what you think.”

Brooks didn't handle the message being piped into his left ear very well. He started backing up, all the while looking wildly around. Panicked, he started searching for his other team members, and giving their positions away, too.

“Shit!” Britt moved in quickly. They'd have to run into a vampire tonight of all nights. But even with his battered ego, he could handle a single vampire, female or male, for that matter. After all, he had a handful of greenhorns to look after.

This vampire was a tall one. At least six foot to his six foot three. That gave her an advantage since she had superior strength.

He smiled at her, showing his human pearly whites to throw her off. She would expect a human to be more afraid.

Her eyes narrowed and she hissed before lunging at him.

Classic vampire move. In all their years on this earth, Britt still marveled at how they'd never come up more than a few new moves, mostly because they relied on their speed and strength. And even though they were nearly invincible, their action/reaction was always pretty much the same. That gave him a very slight edge.

He countered her move.

She screamed in anger when he outsmarted her. That move led to the next one he was expecting. He countered again, and she saw red. That's when he had her. Slamming his hand out and driving the stake into her heart came as a complete shock as she slashed her long fingernails across his left cheek then fell to the ground. She didn't vaporize; only the oldest vampires did that.

His cheek stung, and he dragged one hand across it to wipe away some of the blood. Chest heaving from exertion, he stared down on the woman who's life he'd extinguished.

His team moved in for a better look at the dead vampire. Most of them had never seen a real one before. This group still had no idea Jess was a vampire, and since James was on parental leave with baby Sephina, they hadn't met him yet. Maybe it was best that they weren't confused by the fact that at least two vampires were good. At least not right away.

He bent down on one knee and checked her pockets, then the tiny purse that hung on her shoulder by a chain. She had nothing in her pockets and only makeup in her purse.

“Check her bra,” Kendrick said. “Some hookers keep their most important valuables in there.”

Britt raised his eyebrows. He didn't like the idea of pawing inside a dead vampire's bra. He tentatively poked at her. Even though he'd killed her, it felt like a violation to feel her up afterwards.

Damn it, there was something inside her right cup. He stuck two fingers in and grabbed the item as quickly as he could. It was a shiny red and black business card.

Big surprise. Probably her own.

He flicked the card between his fingers and held it up toward a streetlight to get a good look at it. In black Cyrillic print, the name Drago Vaslov was embossed onto the shiny foil. That nearly made him drop it.

What the hell!

Vaslov again.

“Let's get this woman off the street,” he told his team while he tucked the card into his pocket.

Brooks stepped up and kicked the woman in the head.

Britt reached out and yanked the recruit away from the corpse so fast the kid look dazed. “Have some respect for the dead, Brooks. Not to mention you've just interfered with a crime scene,” he shouted into the kid's face.

“Respect? She's a freakin’ vampire who would've killed me as quick as look at me. Why should I respect that?”

The kid was obviously in shock, or didn't want his job much longer. “She was also someone's daughter. People don't go out and ask to be turned into a monster who hunts for blood. Remember that. It could happen to you too. Besides, now that she's dead, she's no longer a vampire and she deserves the respect we'd give any dead person.”

He heard a snicker at the back of the group, and someone whispered. “I heard he takes it hard when it's a woman.”

Britt heaved a low breath and rubbed a weary hand over his eyes. He remembered one male vampire he'd killed, a young man who'd led him to believe he was worthless. In reality, the kid had just wanted to die because he could no longer live with what he was. That killing still weighed on Britt's conscience.

He had a lot of work to do with this group. They still didn't get it. Yes, they had to kill vampires, but they had to retain their own humanity in the process.

After his team was sufficiently reprimanded about improper conduct on the beat, Britt left them in the classroom writing up reams of paper on how they viewed the incident. Brooks would think twice about his actions, especially since his fellow officers were being punished for his insubordination.

Just as he entered his office at the precinct, his cell phone rang. He sighed and whipped it off his belt. He was beginning to hate the damned phone. “Brittain here.”

“John?” It was Sampson.

Britt's gut swooped. Lately Sampson only called him for one reason.

“Can you meet me at our favorite spot in the park?”

Britt didn't realize he'd been slumped in his chair until he shot upright. “You can't be serious?”

“Unfortunately yes, and there's something very disturbing about this one.”

“More disturbing than the last three?” While he waited for Sampson to spill it, he mindlessly grabbed an apple from his desk drawer and bit off a large chunk realizing he hadn't eaten yet today.

Sampson paused. “I'd rather you see the victim first. I want to see if you come to the same conclusion I did.”

Britt chewed the apple and swallowed. It could've been sawdust for all he noticed. He'd lost weight lately, and he couldn't fight vampires if he didn't stay bulked up. He needed every advantage he could get.

“Be there in ten,” he said, clicking the phone shut and dumping the apple core in the waste basket.

Another body! And this one so soon after Jess's last black out.

Britt's gut twinged to the point he thought he might actually be sick. He stopped, and leaned over—pain cutting through his mid-section. The apple curdled in his gut. He breathed for a minute, waited for the nausea to pass, then rubbed the back of his hand across his mouth and made for the door.

Jess Vandermire could not be killing those women! He slammed one hand into the wall as he strode down the hallway, his heart beating double-time and feeling like it might shatter if he didn't find out what the hell was going on.

He hurried to his vehicle.

[Back to Table of Contents]

CHAPTER NINTEEN

“Is it possible that this victim is in the exact same position as the last one?” Britt surveyed the all too familiar scene. His insides twisted at the sight of another beautiful brunette on the ground. Another woman who looked way too much like Jess.

Sampson clucked, and straightened his stance. Today, he looked like a giant insect in his white overalls and those big yellow goggles. “That would be inherently impossible, but she's pretty darned close to where the other bodies were found.”

“So who the hell is doing this?” Britt's hands tightened into fists, and he fought back the urge to curse loudly. Not good for the leading investigator to do in full view of the public. Did this have something to do with Vaslov? So far the evidence they'd found just didn't fit the way they should.

“Someone is obviously obsessed with Jess,” Sampson said.

Britt froze, then turned slowly to look at Sampson. “So I'm not alone. You think these women all look like Jess, too.”

“Sure do. And since we got the bodies back, I've been able to do some testing on the VNA present. There's something a lot more disconcerting going on here, Britt.”

“Why haven't you presented your report?” Britt frowned.

“Just made the final analysis before I got the call about this gal.”

“Does Jess have this information, yet?” Why did Britt think Sampson hadn't given Jess the report? Something about his demeanor? The man looked beaten down tonight. Like the world had turned against him. Not like him, at all. He was the consummate upbeat forensic vampirologist.

“Because I want to redo my tests first. I think they may have been compromised somehow. I may have mistakenly cross-contaminated the samples.”

Muscles tightened along Britt's shoulders. Sampson would never mix up the samples. He was too good.

Weary eyes peered at Britt from under fogged up goggles. “It was Jess's VNA, Britt.” He flipped the goggles onto his head and swiped at one eye with a gloved hand.

“That's not possible, and you know it,” Britt ground out. “Jess would never do this.” He looked down at the vapid stare of the corpse on the ground and felt his world begin to crumble. He hadn't forgotten that Sampson had told him he'd promised to eliminate Jess, kill her like any other vampire in the city, if she turned bad.

“It's true. It's Jess's VNA.”

“Do not do anything to Jess! Do you hear me, Sampson?”

Sampson sniffled, then covered it with a ragged throat-clearing sound.

“There's no damned way Jess did this. She's being set up somehow, and I'm going to find out who's doing this to her.” Britt fingered the business card in his pocket. “I have a pretty good idea where to start.”

Sampson looked hopeful for the first time. “You do?”

“I sure as hell do. Meanwhile, you redo the tests, okay?”

“Yeah, tonight after I do a preliminary workup on this poor woman.”

“Let me know right away. No matter what time of night or day. And...” he reached out and touched Sampson's shoulder. “Whatever you do, don't tell Jess yet. You know she'll automatically believe she's guilty.”

“She might be guilty, Britt. You have to face that fact.”

“No, I don't. And she isn't. I'm going to talk to Regent, and then I'll come by the lab later on tonight to see if you've come up with anything. That okay with you?”

“Yes. I really regret promising Jess I'd handle things if they got out of control.” He sniffed again. “I honest to God never thought it would happen.”

“Don't think about that now. Not yet. Everyone is innocent until proven guilty. That goes double for Jess. After all her years of saving human lives, she deserves that much.”

“She does.”

When Britt finished at the crime scene he jumped in his car and made for the Rectory. It was two a.m. Regent would be asleep and Jess should be at work shuffling papers, so he wouldn't have to worry about running into her.

He knocked on the Rectory door for several minutes before a light went on in an upstairs bedroom. When Regent finally opened the door his tousled hair looked whiter than ever. The last few weeks had been hard on him.

“What's wrong, Britt?” He looked over Britt's shoulder as if he expected someone else to be standing there. “You alone?”

“Is Jess at work?” Britt asked. He could have used the GPS signal if he hadn't promised Regent he'd only use it in dire emergencies.

“She must be at this hour.” Alarm instantly pinched Regent's expression and he leaned against the door casing. “Why, has she disappeared?”

Britt felt terrible about the way he was handling this. The last thing he wanted to do was cause Regent more stress. He held up his hands in protest. “No. I'm sure she's at work. I need to talk to you, fill you in on some things that are going on, but first I wanted to make sure she wasn't here.”

“Since she's the boss, isn't it wrong to have a discussion without her?”

“It would be if she truly were the unfeeling vampire she thinks she is and could disassociate her feelings from what I'm about to tell you.”

“What's this about?” Regent stepped back allowing Britt inside. He shut the door and led Britt into the kitchen where he put on the kettle and sat at the table.

The thing is, we both know Jess's biggest fear is losing her humanity. I think someone's playing on that fear. There's been another murder tonight, and someone's making it look as if Jess killed these women. She's being set up.”

Regent ran a hand through his wild hair. It didn't help. When he leaned his elbows on the kitchen table and lowered his head and closed his eyes, for a moment Britt wondered if he'd done the right thing in coming to Regent. Then he remembered James telling him Regent could take it. He might be a tad sallow-skinned tonight, but he was a tough old priest, who would want to help his sister. And Britt had to bounce some ideas off him.

Regent finally lifted his head. “I've just added another prayer to my repertoire for Jess. Now tell me why you think she's being set up.”

“Sampson told me tonight he found Jess's VNA on all of the victims but one, but you and I both know Jess would never do this.”

Regent remained silent, but his faded eyes stared unflinching into Britt's while he waited.

Britt shifted uneasily and went on, “Sampson thinks he contaminated his own samples somehow, but I don't think so. I think someone has gotten hold of Jess's blood, possibly during one of her blackouts, and they've planted evidence on the bodies.”

“What about her blade? It was under the first body.”

“Yeah, and what a coincidence for Jess to have left it behind.”

Regent started to look more upbeat. “You're right, my son. That is too much of a coincidence. We have to find out who's doing this.” He started to get up. “But, Britt, I honestly think we need to tell Jess.”

“I hoped you'd say that, Regent. I wanted to leave that decision up to you. If you think she can handle the information without instantly believing she's guilty and shutting herself off, then she should know.”

“She can handle it.” Regent's expression turned even more serious. “Britt, you understand that Jess might never be able to go back to being human, don't you? That she does good things as a vampire.”

“Of course I do, Regent. And, I can accept her just as she is,” he said, but at the same time frowned and wondered why Regent had made that statement.

Regent's shoulders instantly relaxed, and he smiled. “Let's do this tonight,” Regent said. “You phone Jess, and I'll phone Sampson and James. Get them here as soon as possible. Jess needs to know what's going on and she needs her support team here and ready to do damage control.”

* * * *

Jess had received the message and was already waiting when the men entered Regent's office. She twisted away from the fireplace to face them. Didn't give anyone a chance to speak first.

“This is ridiculous. Do you realize you're all acting like I'm some helpless female who can't look after herself?” She figured they were going to tell her she should step down from her job until she had control of her blackouts.

Regent made a move to console her, but she held up a hand. “Stay where you are, brother. I don't know why you've called this meeting, but I've got something to say first, and it's wise right now if you listen to me. I am a vampire. If you're concerned about the episode on the bridge, I can't be killed by falling into a filthy river. So no matter how disgusting it would have been, you all know it wouldn't have harmed me physically.”

“But you fainted before that,” Regent began.

“I did faint. But that hasn't happened again. And yes, something is happening to me, but whatever it is, I'm a big girl. I can look after myself,” she asserted. Of course she didn't want to consider that she might be losing her abilities. Or that she might have hurt someone when she was wandering around the city in some weird daze. She'd cross that bridge when she came to it.

“James, I shouldn't have called you the other night either. Britt was with me. We really didn't need another hunter.” She hesitated, trying to figure out for herself why she'd called him. “Something about this vampire put me on high alert.”

“I am always on call for you, Jess.” James's low voice sounded more proprietary than she would have expected. But why not? They'd been partners and best friends for many years.

She looked at the men in Regent's office and considered the twists her life had taken. No matter how dark her prospects, these three made it all worthwhile.

“I appreciate that, James, but you have a wife and a child who need you much more than I do. Terry doesn't know how to handle a baby vampire in the throes of blood thirst. You need to be there, not following me around the city.”

“Terry is doing great. She's adapted to our world very quickly.” James smoothed his neatly kept beard. He always looked like a university professor. “I can come back to work if you need me.”

“I can also fire your ass if you don't do what I tell you to do, so I'd suggest you listen to me right now. This is not a request, it's an order. Go home and spend time with your new family. Forget about the ongoing war for the time being. Britt and I will hold down the fort, and if we need you, we'll call.”

Without conscious effort, her teeth had grown, and she imagined that her eyes were black coals right now. She smiled at James, showing her fangs, and he smiled back with his own fangs evident. It was their form of respect.

“Another thing. That slimy bastard Drago Vaslov has been here in my brother's house—a house of God. That doesn't make me happy. We are going to find out what the hell he's up to. That means Britt and I are on the case.”

Regent leaned against his desk, and Jess's gaze moved to him instantly. She always knew when he suffered. When his heart ached and he mourned for the atrocities he felt she had to endure. He was hurting for her right now. Her irises returned to normal and her teeth receded.

Britt stood and paced to the fireplace. He stared into the flaming embers before turning to face her. “Jess, we didn't assemble here to talk about your incident on the bridge, or the fact that you fainted behind the Dragon's Lair Club.”

“You didn't?” She felt a lump form in her throat and she glared at him. “What the hell are you not telling me? What have I done?”

Visions of her nightmare resurfaced. She'd attacked and killed two vampires in that dream. It had seemed so real. Her insides clenched into a tight knot of fear. Dear God in heaven, maybe she should turn in her badge. She wasn't safe to be around.”

“Don't condemn yourself yet, Jess. Hear us out,” Britt said. “Sampson has some information about the women who've been killed by the vampire. Information that will come as a shock to you, but before he says a word, I want you to remember that evidence can be tampered with.”

She frowned at him, then at Sampson. “You kept information from me?”

Sampson cleared his throat. He sat in the corner with his paperwork on his lap. “This is data I've just gathered tonight, Jess. Nothing has been kept from you for long.”

“But you discussed it before anyone thought to mention it to the person in charge?”

“We did,” Britt said. “And we have a very good reason for doing that. Just as we decided to hold this meeting here at the Rectory rather than at the Department.”

Jess didn't like the sound of that. She pursed her lips and crossed her arms over her chest. “All right, give it to me straight.”

Sampson spoke first. “The results of the VNA show one person attacked our victims.”

“Who ... Who is it?” She faltered. Looking from one to the next, she measured their expressions. Concern etched deeply in each of their faces. That didn't bode well for her. Her fingers wrapped around the jeweled cross at the end of her blade and she said a silent prayer to keep herself from reacting in a way that would further hurt Regent.

“I retested all of the samples tonight. I got the same information.” Sampson cleared his throat. “Jess, it's your VNA in those bodies.”

Even though she had the feeling they were going to say that, she heard the words as if from far away. A strange buzzing started at the back of her head and got louder. She was standing beside the fire but could feel none of its warmth.

A hand touched her and she jumped. It was Regent. “Sit down on the sofa, dear, next to me.”

She let him lead her to the sofa and she plunked down. Could it be true? She'd killed humans. Taken their lives. The very worst thing she could imagine.

“Jess, we don't believe the information. We...” Sampson looked at Britt. “After hearing Britt's theory, we believe the evidence has been tampered with. The bodies were a set up, and your VNA placed there without your knowledge.”

Jess stared down at the worn carpet and listened to Sampson. His words were like cardboard floating in the artificial void of her world right now. Nothing felt real.

“Jess!”

She looked up at Britt's worried gaze.

“You didn't do this, do you hear me?” He sounded angry.

She nodded. But he wanted her to be innocent. Probably couldn't face what she really was. She'd dreamed she'd killed, and now there was evidence that she really had.

“At first I was afraid you'd done it, too, Jess,” Sampson said openly. “But Britt reminded me it was all too coincidental. Especially since your knife was found under the first victim. Maybe a vampire in a fugue state could kill without knowing it, but leaving their blade behind? A blade they didn't use?” He shook his head. “It was planted evidence. Someone is playing mind games with you. Britt figure it out, and I truly believe it now.”

She frowned. “My blade was at a crime scene? My missing blade!” She glared at Britt for not telling her sooner. “But I've been having blackouts. I tried to bite Britt.” She couldn't look at Regent; she hadn't told him about that.

“But you didn't bite me,” Britt said.

For the first time she felt her spirits lighten. Britt was right. She should know if she'd killed someone and had taken their life's blood. Part of the victim's spirit entered a vampire at that time and remained, instituting a never-ending connection between them. She'd felt that with James until Regent had prayed over him and partially saved his soul. After that their connection had become weaker.

“If you're right how are they getting my VNA?”

“I still have all my samples at the lab,” Sampson said. “No one has gotten any of them.”

Britt cut in. “But you blacked out in the alley behind the Dragon's Lair. And you don't remember what happened after that.” Britt paced in front of the fire. “Someone could have taken blood from you, either in the alley or that night on the bridge before I caught up to you”

“But why?”

“Why indeed,” Regent murmured, suddenly looking as if a light bulb switched on over his head. “And isn't it interesting that at the same time someone reported the bodies left on the church's roof to the Bishop, making sure I'll be out of commission during your time of need.”

“You're right,” Jess leaned forward. “I'm beginning to believe in Britt's conspiracy theory.”

Britt smiled at her and his eyes lit up. She knew that look. The heat from that smile touched her and she suddenly wished they were alone so she could thank him in person for having faith in her.

“Of course I'm right. You hired me for my keen investigative skills, and I'm going to prove to you how good I am.”

Jess allowed a wry grimace. It wouldn't do to show too much of her soft side to the men in this room. She had a reputation to maintain after all. “Don't get too full of yourself. I hired you because you were an ex-cop who'd been accused of murdering your partner. Not because I knew you were a great detective.”

He smiled again, and she tore her gaze away.

“Guess I still have a few things to prove to you then, don't I, Jess?” He'd been very blatant with his sexual innuendo—the tone and slow tempo of his voice made his true meaning abundantly clear. And in front of her brother and James!

“We can't all be shining stars,” she rejoined, trying to tamp down the feelings he'd spurred inside her. “If someone is setting me up, then what are we going to do to catch them?”

“Earlier tonight, I found Vaslov's business card on a dead vampire hooker. I think he's in this up to his eyeballs. We should continue to focus our attention on him,” Britt said, his expression turning serious.

Jess gave a disbelieving shake of her head. “It's obvious he's up to something, but this is so much more involved than I would have thought possible for someone like him. Why would he do this? How could he do this? He's not a vampire, of that I'm sure.”

“But he's up to his neck in vampires right now and we not only have to figure out what his game is, but we've got to find out why he's so interested in you,” Britt said.

Given everything she'd learned tonight, and Regent's newest notion about being reported to the Bishop in order to get him out of the way, she had to arrive at the conclusion that someone had gone to a whole lot of effort to set this thing up. At least it was a viable straw and she wanted to grasp at it. It was better than the alternative—that she was killing those people.

If it were Vaslov doing this to her, no way would he get away with making her think she'd killed those women if she were innocent. The men in this room wouldn't let that happen. She considered herself very lucky to have such loyal friends. But reporting her brother and possibly ending his beloved career in shame would not be tolerated.

If Vaslov was behind this, he'd be very sorry. That she vowed.

“What about the Bishop? Have you heard from him, Regent? Do you know when his investigation is to begin?” Jess asked.

“The investigation begins next week. That mean's they'll be in the Rectory for the foreseeable future. I'm afraid it's not going to be safe for you to stay here during that time, dear.”

She nodded. “Figured as much. Not to worry, I've got the condo.” She always kept her own place—just in case of emergency. “I phoned the housekeeper last week and asked her to clean it. And Sampson offered to stock up the supplies,” she added, referring to her refrigerated blood supply. “I'll move in this week.”

Regent sagged. “You're staying there alone?”

“What does this investigation mean, Regent?” Britt asked before she could answer.

Prayerfully, Regent clasped his hands together and looked upward. “I've had other bad reports in the past. This time the diocese is taking the parishioner's story very seriously.”

“It could mean the end of his job,” Jess said. She'd wanted him to retire, but not in disgrace. It was all her fault. Even worse, she needed him now. Needed his prayers and his guidance to help her through this problem.

But that's why she was being set up, wasn't it. Someone knew about her physical problems, had possibly manipulated everything to make her vulnerable. Make both her and Regent vulnerable.

“Why didn't you tell me about the investigation before this?” Britt asked.

She raised her eyes to meet Britt's intent gaze. “Lately, we've been going from one crime scene to the next. There's been very little time in between.” Not at all true, but she didn't have the guts to tell him why not—because then she'd have to ask him to look after her.

Regent's audible sigh let her know he was disappointed that she still hadn't asked Britt to be her protector.

She glanced toward James. “James, my friend, go home. I promise to keep you apprised of what's going on,” Jess said. “That is if I get the chance to tell you before someone else gives you the information.” She scanned the other men in the room with a severe expression.

“Okay, but if you need me, I want you to call.” James moved toward the study door. “I'll say goodnight.”

“See you, James. Bring the baby over tomorrow. Terry and I have set up a schedule for prayers,” Regent said.

James nodded, the small ponytail at the back of his neck bobbing. “Thanks, Regent. We both appreciate how hard this is for you.”

“I can handle it, my son, don't you worry.” He winked and poked his thumb in Jess's direction. “I'm nearly as tough as this one, here.”

Jess nodded, then said, “Britt, you and I have got work to do tonight. I'm getting very tired of being used as a pawn in this game, and I think it's about time we showed them they've messed with the wrong cops.”

“Right behind you, Jess,” Britt said.

Regent smiled at Britt and the old priest's eyes watered.

The fact that these men had joined forces to figure out what was going on made her heart swell. But, as much as she wanted them to be right, she couldn't discount the fact that she was also capable of killing. Her blackouts were very worrisome. And, as much as they professed their belief in her, they had to know the possibilities of her being the murderer.

She rubbed her arm, and for the first time was really grateful the tracking chip was embedding inside her. At least if she wandered off in a stupor again, she shouldn't be able to disappear for long before Britt found her.

[Back to Table of Contents]

CHAPTER TWENTY

While Jess took sustenance in her room, she sent Britt back to his apartment to change into appropriate evening attire.

Half an hour later she let herself into his apartment via the balcony. She heard the shower running and could smell the fresh scent of his body, and the soap he used. Trying to distract herself from the thought of him naked, soap-covered and dripping with steaming hot water, she scanned his meager belongings. The place was tiny. His furniture old and worn. Why hadn't he upgraded now that he was making a good wage?

His stake lay on the table inside the specially designed shoulder holster. Her insides tightened and her hand went to her own blade forged in the shape of a cross with rubies encrusted in the hilt. It had been a gift from Sampson many years ago. He'd made it in the shape of the cross to scare the other vampires. Remind them that she had abilities they didn't have and couldn't get. She alone could go into a Church, hold a cross, and walk in the sunlight given the right preparation. Even James had limited abilities compared to her.

Her blade had become something of a security blanket for her. She'd felt naked when it was missing. Taken by someone with ulterior motives. Someone who seemed to know her insecurities far too well.

“Ready?”

She spun around to find Britt watching her from his bedroom.

She'd had no idea he was there. Great. She'd have to work with diminished abilities again tonight. If she told him she wasn't functioning fully, he'd probably try to back out for tonight. That wasn't an option.

Looking at his freshly shaved face, and clean hair, she inhaled and tried to figure out how much she could smell. Not enough. Not nearly enough.

Britt opened the apartment door and glanced back at her. “Ready?”

“Let's get this thing figured out,” she said ignoring how handsome he looked in his Tuxedo, she stepped past him into the hall. They walked to the unmarked car in silence.

* * * *

Britt parked the car and looked at Jess. “How do we get inside? Isn't this place invitation only?”

Jess held up a shiny business card. “This is our passport inside. A necessary commodity in order to be allowed past the doormen.”

She got out of the vehicle and made for the main entrance. Britt followed. He'd been floored by Jess's attire when she'd arrived at his apartment. Still was, in fact, floored and practically drooling. She wore a full length, low cut red silk gown that made his blood pressure spike every time he looked at her. He was more than a little overcome by her body in that dress—and he'd seen her naked! This dress hiked his need to see her naked again. And soon.

And, hell, he had to take his mind off her and focus on their job. She wore that dress tonight for a reason. She was on the hunt, and she'd made herself the prey.

As she moved through the room in front of him, all he could see was that luscious rump being caressed by silk, and Lord Almighty, he'd stake his next paycheck she had nothing on underneath.

The thought surfaced that he was a professional, and he needed to take his eyes off the bountiful pleasure in front of him. His gaze swept the room. Too many of the male patrons were staring at Jess as if they'd never seen a beautiful woman in their life. His anger spiked and he wanted to punch out the lot.

“You're being ogled, and I don't like it,” he admitted through gritted teeth.

She let her gaze slide over him. “Good. I had hoped to find some way to cause a distraction.”

“Woman,” he groaned. “How could you not know what your body would do to any red-blooded male in the place?”

She looked him over as though admiring his physique in his newly rented tux. “And yet, I only have eyes for you.”

Heat flushed up his collar and he wanted to curse again. “It's cruel to say that to me in a place where I can't touch you, Jess, and you know it. I didn't know you were such a tease. Now, if you said that when we weren't in the middle of a job, you'd be in deep trouble, because I wouldn't let you get away with it.”

“Oooh, I'm scared,” she joked, then became more serious. “Just remember, I'm a blood sucker, Britt. Teasing isn't outside the parameters of hunting and luring food. I'll do whatever I need to for the ultimate goal.”

He blew out a breath and whispered, “It always comes back to this, doesn't it? Well, my gorgeous vampire vixen, let me tell you, that outfit on you tonight has absolutely clinched it. You're never going to get rid of me.”

“For God's sake. You've seen me completely naked, yet this outfit can drive you this wild?”

He stared at her, his eyes burning. “Yeah, it can.”

Her head snapped away from him. “We'll talk about your weaknesses later. Drago just arrived.”

As hoped, Drago spotted her right away. He instantly left the man he'd been talking to, apparently in mid-sentence. He, too, only had eyes for Jess.

“Seems like it's working on Drago, as well,” she said under her breath to Britt.

“Lovely, just frigging lovely,” he grunted. “What do you want me to do? Act jealous.”

Jess glanced at him sideways and allowed a playful, sexy smile to cross her flawless features. She tipped her chin up to him slightly, as if she held him in her complete control. “No. Why don't you pretend you're not jealous and you'll loan me out to the highest bidder?”

He raised his eyebrows and felt his mouth stretch into a thin line. He swallowed and nodded, with disgust blazing behind his irises he stepped back to give Drago full view of the most amazing woman in the room.

* * * *

Jess tried not to think about what she'd said to Britt. She'd used him to get the reaction she needed Drago to see. It was unscrupulous. Something one would expect a heartless vampire to do.

“Jess, I'm pleasantly surprised to see you here tonight,” Drago took her hand, kissing the back of it before shooting a quick acknowledgement to Britt. “What brings you out on this fine moonlit evening?”

“Why, your wonderful invitation, of course. I had work to attend to last night and wasn't able to come. I was so disappointed that I insisted that Britt and I come here tonight.”

Drago's eyes watched her mouth. She had the impression he was mesmerized by every nuance of her body. In fact, he was still clinging to her hand, rubbing his fingers across the back of her hand.

She extricated her fingers slowly from his.

“Please, I have a table in the corner. You must join me for dinner,” Drago said.

“Thanks, we've already eaten. We will have a drink with you though.”

“Dessert then?”

“Sounds great,” Britt said. Jess shot him daggers. Had he forgotten that she couldn't eat?

They followed Drago to a private booth near the back. Talk about luxury dining. The cutlery was gold, the napkins gold lined, and the crystal sparkled like diamonds.

Jess paused before they sat down. Looked around the room. She sensed a vampire nearby, but she didn't see one. With her impaired senses acting up, maybe the vampire was still here for all she knew..

Now that it was evident that Drago knew about vampires, she suspected he knew about her, too, hence the attempt to offer her food to see how she'd get out of it.

He snapped his fingers and two waiters appeared.

“I'll just have a glass of dry, red wine, please,” Jess said.

Drago touched her hand on the table, and smiled at her. And our best double delicious chocolate cheesecake.”

“No, really. I'm not hungry.”

He tented his fingers in front of his face. “Please. At least allow me to show you how delicious our desserts can be.”

Jess shrugged.

“I'll have the same thing,” Britt said when it was his turn.

Drago ordered red wine for himself. Jess frowned and watched him a little more closely. Could he be a vampire and she couldn't sense it? Her abilities were screwed up. “Aren't you having cheesecake?”

He patted his mid-section. “Already had a piece today. We have a world renowned chef. And believe me when I tell you the cheesecake is divine. It's also laden with calories that I can't afford to overindulge on now that I'm getting older.”

“My goodness, you're not old enough to have to worry about a thing like that.”

He smiled, but ignored her request to eat with them.

The food arrived, Jess took a sip of her wine, and Britt tasted the cheesecake.

“I'm curious, Mr. Vaslov, why did you invite me here, again?” If she didn't ask questions like that, Vaslov would probably be suspicious.

He looked uncomfortable for a moment. “That's why I was hoping we could talk ... privately.”

Jess feigned ignorance until Vaslov's gaze jerked toward Britt. Britt's jaw tightened.

“I have no secrets from Lt. Brittain. Anything you want to say can be said in front of him.” She reached over and touched his fingers in a gesture that would be considered too intimate between a Captain and her Lieutenant, then she let her hand slide back across the table.

“Actually, I wanted to pick your brain,” Vaslov leaned back in his chair, and unbuttoned his suit jacket, revealing a designer shirt. Vaslov liked expensive things.

“Really? Why me?”

“As you can imagine, I have to hire specialized security to protect my...” He hesitated. “...assets.”

Jess's gaze flickered to Britt and back to Vaslov. “I'm not sure how I could help you with that.”

“I cater to a varied clientele. They need to know their privacy is completely safe.”

“I'm a police officer, I don't do that type of security. I'm afraid I can't help you.”

Vaslov leaned back. His eyes boring into hers. “Really? I must have been misinformed. I was told you knew all about the city's underworld.”

Britt stopped chewing and his gaze burned a hole into Vaslov. Jess could hear him swallow his mouthful of cheesecake in one gulp.

“May I ask who told you that?” She tipped her head and tried her damnedest to look curious, as opposed to pissed off.

“I actually didn't find out his name. He was with one of my more affluent clients. One doesn't ask too many questions in a situation like that. Since he was adamant that you were the officer who could tell me how to handle my more difficult problems, I had every reason to believe him.”

Jess hesitated. Perhaps it had been the vampire she'd sensed earlier? Maybe she should pretend that she worked off-the-books. “Well, sometimes, I do take a case on the side.” She kicked Britt under the table when he started to speak. “But only in very special circumstances.”

“Good.” Drago smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. “This is my lucky day, it seems.”

“Jess. I don't think we have time for this one. We've got a full case load right now,” Britt ground out, giving her an urgent stare.

“But it's not everyday someone like Drago Vaslov asks for our help. How can we say no?”

Drago frowned. “You two work on these cases together?”

“Umm hmmmm,” Britt said. There was an edge in his voice that he didn't bother to hide and his eyes narrowed. Testosterone rent the air. He didn't like the way Drago looked at her and, apparently, he wasn't about to hide those feelings from Drago.

Jess outwardly heaved an impatient sigh, but inside she was thrilled. Whether it was instinctual or planned, she'd counted on Britt's possessive reaction to make Drago believe they were on the level.

Drago smiled. “Not a problem. It's just that I heard Jess worked alone.”

“Not any more. We're a team,” Britt said.

“Really?” Drago looked at Jess as if he didn't believe Britt.

“What the man says.” She shrugged and smiled. “If you'd rather not hire the two of us, I'm fine with that.”

Drago looked instantly relieved. “You'll take the case yourself?”

“No. But I'll try to find someone else who can help you out. But first you'll have to tell me what your problem is precisely.”

Drago looked very irritated at that comment. “No. That's fine. If you two must work together, then that's the way it'll have to be. I don't have time to fill you in on the details tonight since I have a pressing issue I have to attend to. Maybe tomorrow?”

Britt stood and shoved his chair back loudly. Then he picked up his napkin, wiped his mouth and threw it onto the table. “Tomorrow is better for us too. We have other matters to look after tonight, as well.”

Jess followed Britt's lead. She stood and held out a hand to Drago. “Thank you for your hospitality. I'll look forward to finding out if we can solve your problem for you.”

Drago glared daggers at Britt then turned his attention back to Jess. His expression immediately softened, and he smiled at her. “Till tomorrow, my dear.”

While they walked to the entrance, Jess scanned the room for another vampire. Her senses were so skewed she just couldn't trust them.

* * * *

Outside, Britt took off down the sidewalk ahead of Jess.

“We're walking back?” she asked.

“Damn straight. These are your streets. You wander them alone, so surely you'll be okay.”

“What the hell's wrong with you?” She grabbed his arm and made him stop walking.

He threw his hands into the air. “What's wrong? You've just signed on for God only knows what kind of criminal activity. What the hell were you thinking?”

“I'm thinking we've been put on this case to find out what Vaslov is up to, and we'll have an inside track.”

“I don't think so. Vaslov is dirty. He's not going to let you in on anything that'll tell us what he's up to.” Britt didn't like what was going down. Not one bit. Fighting vampires might be in his realm of strengths, but how the hell could they fight a millionaire intent on manipulating them? There were too many variables and he feared for Jess's safety. Especially if Vaslov was the one trying to frame her. He had unlimited resources.

Acid churned in his gut. “I sure as hell wish we knew what we were up against. A horde of vampires is less dangerous than that one viper back there, I'd bet on it. We have no idea what he's doing.”

Jess looked unconcerned. “Well, if anyone can figure it out, it's us.”

His shoulders loosened fractionally. He liked it when she included him in the equation. It was then he realized he'd taken off down the sidewalk expecting her to keep up in that beautiful silk gown.

“Jess, I'm sorry. I forgot about your dress. You can't walk far with that on.” “You underestimate me sometimes, John Brittain. There are many things I can do that would surprise you.”

She reached up and planted her soft lips against his for just a second.

It didn't take much to set him on fire. His hot gaze slid over her x-rated body barely covered by the silk. It took every bit of inner strength not to reach out and run his hand across the most perfectly shaped rear end he'd ever seen. He'd wanted to do that all night. Instead he clamped his teeth together. As badly as he wanted his tongue on her smooth skin right now, he knew she'd regret it later, and maybe she'd resent him. She needed to know he could be trusted. Not just for a quick roll in the hay, but for eternity. At least for his little bit of eternity, and he could wait until she was absolutely sure.

He pulled his gaze away from her. “Sure you're okay to walk?”

She looked surprised. She'd given him the opportunity to take advantage and he still hadn't. As they continued down the sidewalk she was quiet. Too quiet. He glanced in her direction then dragged a hand through his hair. The look she'd aimed at him nearly set him on fire.

Hell and damnation, what was she doing to him? She was damned well making it very difficult for him to stick to his resolve tonight.

Had he been wrong to back off? Wasn't this what she wanted? Was she disappointed he hadn't taken her up on her offer?

He stopped in his tracks and grabbed her hand, pulling her into the alcove of a closed office building. “I sure as hell hope I'm reading you right, Jess. The last thing I want to do is to disappoint you. I get the feeling that little invitation back there is still open?”

She looked up at him. The pink tip of her tongue flicked out to moisten her lips. She nodded, but didn't speak.

He groaned, and pressed her taut body against the wall, grinding himself against her until she tipped her head back exposing the line of her neck, and voluptuous cleavage. The sight of her obvious pleasure nearly finished him. Sandwiching her between his hard body and the wall felt like his teenage fantasies were coming to fruition. He finally had the babe with the amazing body.

Every nuance, every experience with her felt new and exciting. His body ached for her, and he had the feeling she was just as aroused as he was.

He kissed her again. Hard. She parted her lips and welcomed his assault, moving sensuously against him as their kisses deepened, nearly robbing him of the ability to breathe.

He reached down with both hands and cupped her rear, pulling her even tighter against him.

“Dear God, Jess, you're driving me wild. I can barely control myself when you're dressed like this. Do you know what you do to me?”

She nodded, her lush lips curling up at the sides.

Hell, how could he ever understand how to make her happy? A normal woman was difficult enough, but a vampire? A sexy, unbelievably sensual woman like Jess, could turn on the heat and drive him past the point of no return in seconds flat. And that was without using her mind power. He suspected a single thought from her joined with his could turn sex into a mind-altering experience.

Her soft hair brushed against his face when he pulled her into his arms. He inhaled her scent, a hint of rose mixed with something exotic and increasingly addictive to him. All he knew was that he craved that scent as much as he craved her.

“I'm crazy about you. You know I wouldn't have made this move if I didn't think you wanted it too, don't you?”

She didn't answer. Instead she ground herself against him again, and he sucked in a quick breath. Did she know how her firm breasts tantalized him through that red silk? Talk about pleasurable agony. He bit his lip in order to stay in control.

“Britt, I've thought this through. I'll take my chances at whatever happens next between us.”

Britt looked into her eyes and buried his hands into the hair at the back of her head. “Only for you,” she whispered, kissing his collar bone before moving to his neck.

Suddenly, he realized he wasn't the least bit afraid that she might bite him. He'd gotten over that fear. In fact, he was so hot and bothered right now, he didn't care if she did bite him. At least he'd die happy.

“Come back to my apartment,” he said thickly just before her lips claimed his with such ferocity he nearly lost it right there.

“I thought you'd never ask me again,” she murmured against him, then slipped her tongue inside and drove his libido into overdrive.

He groaned, and pushed her slowly away. “Not here.” He grasped her hand and pulled her back onto the sidewalk, waving one hand in the air. “Taxi!”

She slapped his arm and laughed. “You idiot, there aren't any taxi's here.”

He grinned. “Oh right. We'll then, it looks like I'll have to drive. I warn you though, I'm just a little bit distracted at the moment, but I'll get us there as fast as possible.”

“Oh,” she smiled wickedly at him. “Let's not make it fast. Let's make it slow and pleasurable.”

The grin wiped off his face and his burning need for her spiked into hyperdrive. “Dear God, woman, you know how to torment me.”

[Back to Table of Contents]

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Britt reluctantly let go of Jess's hand as she settled back on his bed and smiled up at him.

She'd never felt more sure of what she wanted. Him. And the way he was looking at her right now made her quite confident he felt the same way. Not to mention, with the aid of her returning vampire abilities, she was erotically aware of every physiological change in his body—his heartbeat, the blood pounding in his veins, and his heated skin exuding pheromones so enticing and aromatic that she breathed in deeply.

He stood next to the bed now, staring down at her with such adoration, she nearly squirmed. “You're very sure about this?” he asked.

“Positive.”

She adjusted her hips to a more comfortable position and instantly felt the heat of his gaze riveted to her every movement. As if the motion of her hips was suddenly more than he could bear he ripped off his shirt and lowered himself next to her on the bed. His warm, moist tongue began a sensual exploration in the V of her silk dress along the hollow between her breasts creating an electrical charge that exploded sensations along her nerve endings. Sensations she didn't even know were possible until now.

Aware of her own ragged breathing, she took infinite pleasure in each sensation he elicited, until his hand slipped under her gown and slid up her leg while his hot mouth still explored the edges of her gown with his tongue.

“Britt, I...”

His firm lips covered hers. Splendidly numbing her mind and making her forget whatever it was she wanted to say. Never before had his kisses brought her to the brink of euphoria. Kisses so hot, so dark, so intimate and probing she nearly forgot about what his hand was doing to her. Until that exploration took on a life of its own and she gasped at his expert abilities.

Beyond logical thought now, she explored the taut muscles of his back which were suddenly as moist as she'd become. Sensations rippled through her. Nearly robbed her of her breath, and she became absorbed in the sheer pleasure he was able to incite. Pleasure she'd never known before. Pleasure she was able to give as well, by the sound of his own breath rasping in her ear while he slid down the zipper on the side of her dress and slipped the bodice down to her waist.

He cursed violently when her naïve touch became more intimate, driving him to the edge of sanity.

Suddenly, he pulled away. She moaned a protest, but he hushed her. “We need to get this dress off you. Lift your hips, baby.”

She complied, and he pulled the silk free, tossing it aside.

“God, Jess. You're beautiful. So beautiful.”

“I'd return the compliment, but you're still dressed,” she complained.

He took the hint, stripping off the last of his clothing. “Better?”

Dear God, he was gorgeous. Broad shoulders, muscled abs, lean hips, powerful thighs, and more, so much more! She smiled. “Much better.”

Then he was with her again, on her, pressing her into the mattress with his weight.

Jess felt like she'd died again, only this time she'd been given the gift of light. His light, his love. His proficiency made her body sing, made her scream with a sense of pleasure so profound it rocked her. Made her feel as if she were truly alive. Even at that moment when she lost her virginity to him, there was brief pain, then pleasure like she'd never experienced in her dark life.

That was the best gift, his ability to fill her heart and make it burst with emotion. At least that's what she thought until he fitted himself inside her with such sweet urgency that she found herself responding heart and soul. With his body, his words, and his mouth, he drove her higher and higher until she shattered. When he followed, she clasped his trembling body. As the last tremors of ecstasy faded, tears stung her eyes. She felt whole, or as close to it as she could remember being.

He'd given her a gift of humanity, a gift that no other man would ever be capable of giving. She could no longer deny that she loved him, heart and partial soul. Her breathing hitched and she snuggled tighter against him.

After lying in each other's arms for what felt like a perfect slice in time, Jess smiled and brushed her cheek against the coarse contours of his chest. “I'm sorry I've been putting you through hell, Britt. I'm confused myself. When we nearly made love the last time, I was afraid.”

He laughed softly and nipped at her ear. “Nothing scares you, lady,” he said.

“I'm not kidding. I thought our growing intimacy caused me to faint. To lose some of my vampire abilities.”

He stopped nuzzling her neck and lifted his head, concern lining his features. “Why would you think that?”

“What if our physical connection really did instigate another element of my humanity? At the same time, it could have taken away some of my vampire abilities. Or at least alter them to the point that my physiology is out of kilter. My problems started right after I had that dream, in your bed, just before we...”

A look of terror crossed his face. “But why didn't this happen the last time you got close to someone?”

She looked away for a moment. “This was my first time, Britt.”

“Ever!”

She nodded and Britt sucked in a shocked breath. “I had no idea. You gave me no indication...” Fifty years as a vampire and she'd never formed a relationship with anyone else? Not even James? He'd always assumed that she'd bitten James during sex. In fact, Britt had been harboring a spark of jealousy toward James since he'd met him.

“God, Jess, did I hurt you?”

She laughed at him. “Not likely. I may be a woman, but I'm also a vampire. I'm not that fragile anymore.”

Suddenly, the implications of what she'd risked by having sex with him began to seep into every crevice of his brain. “Are you saying having sex with me might help you become human again?”

“She nodded. “That's an oversimplified version of what I think might be happening, but yes.”

“But that's great!” Even before he'd said the words, he knew there was something wrong. Somehow the implications were a lot more exciting for him and a lot less exciting for Jess. “Would it be such a bad thing to regain your humanity?”

She stilled beneath him, and he felt the barrier go up between them again.

“I'm not sure what I want. I've been this way for nearly a whole lifetime. I've tried to use my curse for the betterment of people. This has become the essence of who I am.” She lowered her head, as if ashamed. “I know it sounds crazy, Britt. You must think I'm a monster to even consider remaining a vampire given a choice to become human again. I'm not sure I even understand it myself.”

Vampire or not, her inner beauty was undeniable. She didn't need humanity to recover that.

Then his blood ran cold as reality sank in. What if being intimate really could take away something she didn't want to lose? If loving her could alter her abilities, they might never be able to have this kind of closeness again.

He clenched his fists. “You shouldn't have let me do this to you before telling me what might happen, Jess. I had every right to know how it could affect you. What it would cost you.”

A tear came out of the corner of her eye and rolled down her cheek. She appeared shocked at the tear and reached up to touch it with her index finger.

She'd been a vampire for too long. It had become part of who she was. Now he understood why Regent had gone out of his way earlier to point that out to him that Jess might never be able to change.

One thing he knew, he loved Jess. Vampire or human. But would she still love him if he had ripped away the essence of her? The dark side that she'd shaped into a weapon to save humans against her own kind. She'd turned her darkness into something good.

Then his brain latched onto something else that Regent had probably already considered. Something he doubted very much that Jess had thought of. She'd be weak as a human. His muscles clenched involuntarily.

And she'd still be a target!

Now he realized why she had to remain a vampire. She wouldn't last a day as a human. She'd be under attack by every vampire in New York City and she'd have no extraordinary means to protect herself.

* * * *

Jess fought back a sob. Britt must think her emotionally unstable, not to mention that he was livid that she hadn't confided her fears to him about their intimacy. She couldn't blame him.

What if their one amazing encounter had changed her physically? Had initiated something inside her to become human again. After all, she was already half-way there with the help of Regent's prayers, what would it take to tip the scales toward humanity, if it was at all possible?

But, she couldn't go back to being a frail human. She'd done too many dark things. She also believed she'd been given a gift, a partial reprieve from total darkness. What if it wasn't a mistake that she'd been allowed to become the hunter who could fight her own kind? Giving that up, might be a worse offense against her gift.

It wasn't like her to do something without considering the repercussions first. Namely, how Britt would feel about her self-doubts. She didn't want to hurt him. She wanted to experience every moment of her dark life over again—with him by her side. He made everything clear. Gave her an even stronger reason to do what she did. For love.

One thing about John, he might want her physically, but he'd probably been repulsed by her statement. Maybe that was a good thing, because now that she'd experienced being loved, it would be very difficult to give it up.

* * * *

Drago slammed into his office and picked up his phone. “Get Mannie in here. Pronto!”

The voice at the other end of the line began stuttering in panic.

“Spit it out. Where the hell is Mannie?”

“He left a half hour ago, sir. Said he was taking a break.”

“A break? Mannie doesn't take breaks.” Drago leaned forward and scowled at the phone like it had become a piece of slime in his hand.

“I'll try to find him, sir.”

“Do that! And hurry!”

The idiot was so unnerved he didn't even bother to hang up the phone. He just dropped it and ran off; the crash nearly broke Drago's eardrum. He cursed violently, and slammed the phone down.

Fuming by the time the knock came on his door, he yelled, “Get your ass in here, Mannie.”

Mannie stepped inside the office, not a whisper of regret on his face.

Drago, had never noticed that about Mannie before. All the rest of his employees were afraid of him. Why the hell wasn't Mannie? Maybe he'd never been afraid.

“Where have you been?”

“Took a break. Needed some air,” Mannie said, lounging against the padded leather wall, his muscled arms crossed casually in front of him.

None of his employees spoke to him like that. But then, none of his employees were aware of his darkest secrets either. Mannie, on the other hand, knew too much and that gave him leverage. Up to now, Mannie had never used any of his knowledge against Drago. That thought suddenly made Drago suspicious and a little worried. After all, he hadn't gotten this far by being stupid. He narrowed his eyes and studied Mannie's body language. Yeah, something had changed. He'd better watch his step. Mannie knew where the bodies were buried—literally as well as figuratively.

“Mannie. I have a very important job for you.”

“Yeah? What's that?”

“I need you to take care of a big problem. I have a contract on Captain Jess Vandermire, and I can't get her here alone. She's always with someone else. Lately it's been John Brittain. I need him to be taken out of the picture—permanently.”

Mannie straightened to his full height, which was an impressive six foot four of lean, mean thug. He'd had a tough life, and looked more like a muscled pirate complete with tattoos on his arms, head, neck and torso. His arms were as thick as most men's legs and he rarely flinched when he was asked to kill.

Tonight he blinked. He actually blinked! Drago sucked in a breath. What in blazes did that mean?

“John Brittain? Cop? How much are you paying for this job?”

Drago let out a long breath. He needed to think long and hard about the impact of his answer. Mannie knew his frailties. Knew this contract for Jess was the biggest he'd ever weaseled out of anyone. Ten million dollars. Drago practically slavered just thinking about it.

Mannie wouldn't do this job for a song, especially knowing Drago would get the lion's share of the profits. And, after all, Mannie did the dirty work. Maybe it was time he stopped taking Mannie for granted and let him in on a little more of the profit. Maybe even tell him how he managed to control people's minds. Maybe.

Drago looked into Mannie's eyes. The eyes of a killer. “I think it's time you and I sat down and talked. It's time you earn a bigger piece of the pie and more status in the business.”

Mannie's expression didn't change. Had he really expected it to?

When Mannie didn't speak, Drago said, “First thing I want to tell you is that Jess Vandermire is a vampire. I've never successfully indoctrinated a vampire for a full forty-eight hours. If I can do it, she's worth a veritable fortune.”

“That's why you want Brittain out of the picture?”

Why wasn't Mannie surprised by the news that Jess was a vampire? On the other hand, Mannie had been handling his problems with vampires for many years. He could probably spot them better than Drago could himself.

“Yeah, Brittain is a pain in the ass, and he's way too suspicious. Even if Vandermire is playing me, once I get her alone, I can make her forget everything.”

Mannie stared at Drago with eyes slightly narrowed, and his lips pursed. “Do you think you can work your magic on Capt. Vandermire?”

Drago hesitated. “I'm not sure how long it'll last, but I sure as hell intend to do everything in my power to make that happen. My client is very anxious that we pull this off.”

“I'll take care of Brittain.” Mannie turned and left the office without a backward glance. Drago shook his head, satisfied that he'd finally be able to make his next attempt at Jess. He'd been able to touch her hand several times tonight. The compound would be working its way into her system soon, and he'd be able to make a connection with her mind. The last time, he'd lost control and she'd ended up nearly jumping off a bridge. That was bad. He wanted her body in very good shape for his client.

He'd have to get closer to her this time, make sure his connection was stronger.

[Back to Table of Contents]

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Britt entered his building with coffee and a croissant in hand. He was starving. He climbed the stairs to his apartment, barely paying attention to his surroundings.

Besides experiencing the best sex he'd ever had, and wanting to experience it again soon, he had to think about Jess's perspective. What if she was right? What if he could help revive her human self? If prayers could affect her, why couldn't love? But having sex with him without telling him what it might do to her, and how it might affect her? That was unfair. He cared too much about her to be responsible for something she didn't want.

He sighed when he reached his landing. It was shabby, and when he entered his apartment, he realized it was dim and dismal. Now that he was making more money, he could move to a better neighborhood. Get a nicer place.

Problem was he liked his neighbors. They were good people. And they put up with his strange hours and visitors in the night who, more often than not, entered his apartment via his third floor balcony.

If any of them saw shadowy forms entering his place through the patio door, no one ever said a word. He smiled.

An empty feeling filled his chest. He couldn't imagine existing without the knowledge that vampires existed. That Jess Vandermire existed. He looked at his watch. Even though the sun wouldn't be up for another couple of hours, Jess had left. When he looked at the rumpled bed sheets he couldn't stop thinking about her.

In an attempt to take his mind off his predicament, he flipped on the television, keeping the sound low. The neighbor below had twins. If he woke them up, there'd be hell to pay. He grinned. The two little red-headed boys were as cute as buttons, but they could wear their poor mom down. She definitely needed her sleep.

Before he had a chance to extricate his early breakfast from the bag, the lights flickered and went out. It wasn't normal to lose power unless a rainstorm blew in and the underground wires shorted out, so he got up and made his way to the patio door. The only building without power was his. His cop instincts kicked instantly into high gear.

Something rustled above his balcony and Britt grabbed for his stake.

The next thing he heard was a thud, followed by the groaning of metal as his balcony stressed under the weight of the tall figure that'd landed there. Shadowy, and impossible to make out, Britt's muscles tightened. If the silhouette on the balcony was a vampire, things were going from bad to worse. This definitely wasn't a friendly visit from anyone he knew.

“May I help you?” he said to the unknown vampire, trying to throw him off by speaking to him through the glass.

“Yes. Die!”

The leviathan smashed through Britt's patio doors with such force the glass flew at Britt causing tiny cuts on his arms and face. Cheap landlord didn't buy safety glass, Britt thought in the millisecond he had before his patio door exploded.

Inside now, the monster inhaled the scent of Britt's blood. Even in shadow, Britt saw a smile on the bastard's face. Long teeth bared into a sneer as a low growl permeated the room. Felt like it rattled his bones. For a minute Britt was stunned by the momentum of this guy's resonating voice.

The vampire stood a foot taller than Britt and he was massive in muscle structure as well as bone structure. He wore leather pants, and vest, leaving his brutish arms bare and littered with tattoos.

As ominous as his body structure was, his face struck dread in Britt's mid-section. High arching brows over burning black irises that should have belonged to the hounds of hell, glared at him with the vilest of intent.

His fangs, long and curved, hyperextended into the foulest, most evil grin Britt had ever experienced. It made him cold. It made him truly afraid for a second. Then the will to survive kicked in.

With stake in hand, Britt hit the button to extend its length. The apartment wasn't in total darkness since lights from the building across the street caused pockets of illumination and shadows. Britt blessed some of the shadow. He had the feeling if he truly saw this vampire in the light, he might be undone.

“You don't really think you'll get a chance to use that against me, do you?” The voice vibrated through him again. Almost like Jess could do, but with much more force and animosity.

“Why not, you wouldn't be the first vampire I've taken out.”

The vampire laughed. His voice as dank and soulless as any Britt had ever heard. “I'd be the first Vampire you've met who has my abilities. Do you have any idea how many humans I've killed just for fun?” He made a fist and twisted it quickly sideways. “Human's necks are very weak, they snap like brittle chalk. Hardly a challenge at all.”

Britt cringed involuntarily. Damn, he didn't have the strength to fight this massive vampire. No sense even trying to delude himself. He was screwed. Still, just in case the guy was lying about his prowess he couldn't let him psyche him out either.

“There's always a first time,” Britt forced confidence into his voice.

“Not likely.”

“I didn't invite you in,” Britt said randomly.

“The vampire laughed as a slice of illumination from outside flashed across his ugly face. “This isn't a movie. This is reality, human.”

Britt shrugged, continuing to back up. The vampire's eye teeth reminded him of a croc he'd seen at a zoo once. Big and scary.

“Why do you want to kill me?”

“You're inquisitive for someone who's about to die a very painful death.” The vampire's voice changed. The air between them thickened, and Britt felt the floor turn to jelly underneath him.

He shook his head to stave off whatever this vampire was doing to him. Bracing one hand against the wall for support, he twisted the stake in the air to catch a shaft of light. Silver glinted and reflected toward the monster.

The vampire hissed and turned his face away from the light, but only for a second. When he turned back, he let the sliver of light burn a scar up the side of his face while he laughed. “Your little parlor tricks bore me, human. Surely you don't think a little burn from silver shining off a beam of light could slow me down for even a second?”

But it had. That thought gave Britt hope. This beast wasn't as unconquerable as he wanted Britt to believe. But he was very tall, and therefore very strong, Britt had no intention of underestimating him.

He'd go in low and punch up high to stake the vamp in the heart. It would be more of a challenge to counter some of the vampire's moves, though. He was big. Much bigger than any vampire Britt had come across.

“You've picked the wrong human this time. I'm not afraid of you. You might even be surprised by my abilities.”

Britt rubbed the sleeve of his shirt across the perspiration on his forehead. Damn, he felt odd. The room went wobbly for a moment and his brain felt fuzzy. Out of the blue he remembered that first time Jess showed him how she could fog a human's mind. She'd allowed him to maintain consciousness to comprehend what she'd done. It had been a terrifying experience to lose control and know it was happening. Imagine losing control with no memory of it. His hackles rose.

No way in hell would he go down without a fight because the thought of complete subjugation to this mean-ass vamp didn't appeal one bit. But how could he fight the waves of lethal mind control invading his skull at the moment? One thing he knew for sure. If he survived this attack, he'd sure as hell have to learn how to fight off this type of onslaught.

As a last resort he dug under his shirt and pulled out the cross Jess had given him. He rubbed it between his thumb and index finger for luck.

“What have we got here?” The vampire reached out and ripped the cross from Britt's neck. The chain snapped, but not before it burned a searing channel through his skin.

Damn it. He was going to lose. There was nothing he could do. And really, what harm could that little cross do in that vampire's huge hand?

He was toast.

It surprised him when the cross started to burn in the vampire's palm. Smoke billowed up, and he threw it at the wall screaming.

Damn it all, the idiot had woken the twins. Britt could hear them crying in the apartment below. Now that was the final straw!

The dizziness that had swamped him began to ebb away. Amazing how that little cross could distract the vampire. And lucky for him, the distraction broke the mind numbing intrusion that had threatened Britt's freewill.

No telling how long it would last, though. If he had a hope to save himself, he'd better come up with something fast.

The vampire stood between him and the kitchen so the holy water he kept in the cupboard over the fridge was still out of the question.

“Is that little cross the best you've got?” the vampire's voice slid over Britt's flesh like black oil.

Britt didn't want to push his luck by reminding him that Jess's cross did serve its purpose. He'd lost control. At least temporarily.

“I've still got a few things up my sleeve.”

“Really? Well you'd better get out the big stakes because I'm getting bored. You only get to stay alive as long as I find you entertaining.” He stepped closer. Even in the dark Britt saw eyes that were obsidian and cold. Eyes that were probably the harbinger of his death.

“I'm a trained vampire hunter. Maybe you've heard of my team?” He'd either make the vamp think, or he'd piss him off even more. Either way, he was still trying to bide his time.

No answer except a guttural laugh. Did he really expect one?

Then the vamp said, “Humans who aren't afraid are always the most surprised when they die, because they think they're stronger than they are. They think they can actually put up a fight against someone like me.”

Britt swallowed. The big guy had a point. But Britt had a point too. On the end of a spike. Adrenalin surging, he dove for the vampire. He slammed his arm out with such force, muscles tore in his shoulder. Before he made contact, though, the vampire deflected his assault with one arm, as if he was batting at a fly.

Britt sailed across the room and slammed onto the couch, flipping it over with the momentum of his body and forcing the air out of his lungs as he smashed into the wall. Shaking his head, he pushed himself to his knees, ready to jump up as soon as he could catch a breath.

The vampire waited for him to regain momentum. Why did Britt feel like they were playing cat and mouse, and he was the mouse?

Yeah, he was in trouble. This vampire hadn't even worked up a sweat. Not that they could sweat. While trying to move out of the way, Britt remembered the holy water in the kitchen.

He'd never make it that far.

“And now you die. This is going to give me ultimate pleasure,” the vampire said.

Britt moved around the couch and faced the brute. If he was going to die, he'd at least die fighting. The vampire moved quickly to block his escape. Must have thought he was trying to run.

“Quitting so soon, human? How disappointing.” The vampire smiled, his feral teeth glistening in the low light of the room. “Maybe you would've fought a little harder if I'd told you I'm not going to kill you. I'm going to make you a vampire. One of my slaves.” He grinned and his eyes became evil slits.

No way in hell would that happen! Britt actually had a suicide pill in his collar. He swiftly extricated it and popped it into his mouth.

“Sorry, but I'll kill myself before you can turn me into a monster. And I hear aberrations like you don't like your victims filled with toxins.”

If he bit down, the cyanide would end his life, but he wasn't in a hurry to die. He hadn't lost all faith in his own abilities, at least not yet.

Stake gripped tightly in his hand, and arm raised over his head, he advanced on the vampire with as much mean-cop aura as he could exude. Besides what he'd learned on the streets of New York, he'd seen enough Bruce Willis movies to know how to project mean.

Unexpectedly, the vampire stepped back. His gaze skirted to the apartment door. “It appears our little meeting will have to be rescheduled. Looks like you get to live today, human. Enjoy what time you have left, because I will be back and the next time you won't be so lucky.”

“No way. We'll settle this now,” Britt's self-preservation mode kicked in. He'd fight now, rather than wait to be picked off later. He dove at the vampire just as the ultra-large villain swirled away toward the shattered balcony window. So fast, it was like trying to catch a tornado. Britt swung at nothing and spun nearly all the way around before he landed on his ass just as the apartment door opened and Jess stepped inside.

“Why's the power out?” she asked. “Better question. Why are you on the floor?” She held a bag from his favorite breakfast place in her right hand.

* * * *

Britt sat on the floor next to his upturned furniture, and judging by his pissed off expression there'd been a vampire in his apartment not very long ago. “I take it I interrupted your fun?” Jess said.

In anger, he spat the cyanide onto the floor, got up and brushed off his legs, barely masking his anger. “You arrived just in time. I was about to be eaten by the big bad wolf, and my what big eyes he had.”

Jess pretended to laugh, but couldn't take her eyes off the cyanide pill. “Only you could make a joke of such a serious situation. “Who was he?”

“Whoever he was, it appears he didn't want to come face-to-face with you.”

Jess froze. “Really? Why not?”

“Probably because you could kick his ass. Which would be a lot more than I could do. I was dead meat before you showed up. This guy was massive. A giant vampire with black eyes.”

Jess's heart contracted and she held her breath. This was the same vampire she'd chased across the buildings that night she'd nearly jumped off the bridge.

“He started to control my mind, but he didn't really even have to bother, physically I didn't have the means to combat him. He was too strong for me.”

Jess's blood turned colder than ice and her flesh contracted against her bones in a fear so deep she felt impaled by it. Britt couldn't physically fight against a big vampire intent on controlling him. She hadn't given him all the tools he needed to survive.

She couldn't lose him now.

“Time to learn a few more tricks then,” she said in the best casual tone she could muster. Best not to let him know just how scared she really was by this particular vampire. That he had abilities even she'd never seen before. He could become a ghost—impossible to track. He could dive off buildings where even she couldn't follow.

“What kind of tricks?”

“Nothing physical. There's a way you can stop a vampire, at least long enough to get away, or stake him, if you're really fast.”

Britt frowned. “And you didn't teach me this little trick before now because?”

“I tried it out when we fought Prometheus. I don't even know if a human can make it work, but it's powerful. Ancient text that Sampson found in his studies on vampires. A lost language that speaks to the heart of the vampire and in some cases can put him in a kind of trance for a few seconds.”

“Teach me then,” Britt said. “Because, this guy is coming back for me.”

[Back to Table of Contents]

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

“What do these words do, Sampson?” Britt watched him take down the flip chart in the Board Room after tirelessly going over the intonation of the words, syllable by syllable.

With Sampson's unflagging instruction, Britt had worked on memorizing the short set of ancient Romanian words for two days. Not a master in languages, he'd found it a challenge to wrap his tongue around some of the syllables, but now he had them down pat.

“Okay, here's the thing. I'm not sure what these particular words do.” Sampson rattled the papers in the air. “Unfortunately, there's only one way to find out and that's in the field. Not scientific at all. This phrase is different from the one Jess used against Prometheus in your last battle because that phrase only helped for seconds before it made him stronger. We don't know enough about the text yet, but I'm postulating that the phrases can set off genetic memories vampires haven't used for a millennia. The last thing we want to do is inadvertently make them stronger as a race. That's why we'll have very tight parameters with regard to their use. These words can be dangerous. Maybe to us. Maybe to them. Fact is, you'll have a fifty-fifty chance this phrase will help.”

“Why haven't you tried them out on Jess or James?”

Sampson's face became very serious. “I'm just beginning to unravel this language I managed to dig out of an old library in Romania.” I have found a passage that indicates some of the words grouped together can kill a vampire instantly. Needless to say, I'm not going to experiment with them unless it's on someone we don't mind turning into collateral damage.”

Britt blinked hard and looked at the long table in front of him. “Jeez, we'd be untouchable if you could find those words.”

“I have the feeling, if words that can kill vampires really do exist, they'd be well protected and are not one of the phrases left lying where just anyone can find them.

“Shit.”

“Exactly.” Sampson tucked the folded pages of ancient text into a special sheath of acid free paper. “The phrase you just learned is for use only as a last resort.”

“Understood.”

“If you ever do have to use it...” He cleared his throat. “...and if you survive to talk about it, I'll catalogue each phrase used so we'll be able to build them into our arsenal of combat tactics.”

“Yeah, can't say I'll be lining up for that job unless I absolutely have to.”

“Good idea.”

* * * *

When Michai Constantine, or Mannie as he was known to Drago Vaslov, had exited John Brittain's apartment by scaling the building then jumping from rooftop to rooftop, he'd wanted to obliterate Brittain so badly he could taste it. Just his damned luck the beautiful vampire had turned up.

It was too early to let Jess know he was nearby. He'd waited this long to call her back to him. Waited fifty years because her brother had severed their connection through prayers.

If Mannie forced Jess to come to him now, she'd never truly be his. Her love for her brother was too strong. So he'd continue to sit back and wait for her brother to die. After all, what's the short lifespan of a human compared to a super being like himself?

He bit his lip and made it bleed. Blood trickled across his tongue and he fantasized that it was Jess's blood exciting his taste buds. Unfortunately, things had changed since John Brittain came along. Before that arrogant human, Jess had never shown interest in anyone. He'd been happy about that.

But when he saw that inferior mortal press her against the wall and kiss her, he'd decided he couldn't let either of them continue acting like oversexed teenagers. It was unthinkable. As distasteful as it had been, working for that idiot Drago Vaslov for the past twenty years had given Mannie cover. He'd virtually slipped out of the vampire community and was able to keep a close eye on Jess, even when Vaslov had been a low level criminal. Wouldn't Vaslov's rich patrons be surprised to know he'd been a city resident all along.

Other than his taste for women who resembled Jess, he rarely took fresh human blood. Until recently, he had learned to rely on a stocked supply stolen from upper class hospitals.

He sighed and slammed his fist onto the hood of a random vehicle parked on the side of the road. Its security alarms went off, and he slid quickly into the shadows where he could become nearly invisible to humans. Most vampires could, but he was especially good at it.

In fact, he'd even fooled Jess a couple of times. Even though she'd looked his way, she didn't seem to be able to sense him. He attributed that to her priest brother's prayers and her partial redemption. He tasted blood again and licked his tongue across his lip.

Drago, on the other hand, had no idea Mannie was a vampire. Nor did he know Mannie was the vampire who phoned in his orders. The one who wanted Jess and was willing to pay handsomely. Mannie didn't care about money; he had more money than he'd ever be able to use.

Unwilling to wait any longer, he'd decided to have Jess through Vaslov until her brother died. Why wait, when he could have her and she wouldn't remember a thing?

Vaslov's tactics were actually affecting Jess. Mannie had stolen some of the paste and opened Jess's mind to the point that he'd been able to enter her consciousness twice. Though not as competent as Vaslov, he was learning. And as soon as he mastered control over Jess, Vaslov would have outlived his usefulness.

But for now, Vaslov was the only person able to sustain forty-eight hours of control. And that time with Jess would be the ultimate in satisfaction. Plus, she'd have no recollection of anything afterwards.

But first he'd take care of John Brittain. Initially, he'd wanted to kill the man, but now he realized he could condemn the human to a fate much worse than death. Mannie would make him pay over and over again for ever coming between himself and the woman he wanted. Just thinking about it sent shivers of ecstasy through him. Vengeance would definitely be sweet.

Too bad he hadn't been able to turn Brittain earlier, but when he sensed Jess outside the apartment door he'd had to leave. He wasn't ready to face her. Not yet. He wanted his forty-eight hours first. After that her brother would die, and Mannie would make her his. He was tired of waiting, tired of pretending to be a mere human working for an idiot.

Lifting his head, he sniffed the night air. The overwhelming scent of woman assaulted his heightened senses. Dare he hope she'd have dark hair? He'd take a very weak second at this point.

His passions were pitiless. It wasn't just the blood for him. It was the non-consensual sex combined with draining their blood that really made it worthwhile.

The random woman walked by him. Reddish brown hair, a little heavy set. She looked directly at him without even seeing him. He cursed under his breath.

No good. Now he had to go find a suitable replacement. Someone to assuage his burning desire for the most magnificent creature he'd ever created.

So far they hadn't figured out who'd been killing women and leaving them in the park. Even though Jess had a forensic vampirologist on the job, the guy obviously wasn't as wonderful as they seemed to think.

It was possible Sampson had made some sort of connection between Jess's VNA and his, but he doubted it. Jess didn't even remember he existed. They had no clue his VNA would be virtually the same as hers since he'd turned her.

He laughed low in his throat. It gave him pleasure to set up the Vampire Hunter. She deserved to be taught a lesson. Humans turn on vampires given the slightest provocation. Did she really think she'd be any different if they considered her a threat?

And if she saw the truth, maybe she'd also be able to redeem herself in his eyes. Maybe. He might be tempted to bring her back to the fold. If she was very good, and did everything he told her told. He laughed at the wicked images in his mind. Considering all of the women whose paths he'd crossed over the decades, it was a huge compliment to qualify her as the ultimate.

Mannie had always had a penchant for willowy, slim, dark-haired beauties, but Jess had been the best of the best. He'd known that from the first time he'd seen her on the beat all those years ago.

He'd killed many who looked like her over the centuries, but the moment he saw her, he knew she was the real thing. Any of the women he'd taken before or since had failed in comparison. She been so special to him, he hadn't even violated her when he'd turned her. That moment had to be perfect. It was coming, and soon!

He took a deep breath, raised his nose and scented the air again. There was another female approaching. If this one was even close to looking like Jess Vandermire, she'd be his tonight.

Like the last woman, she walked past him, looked directly at him standing in the shadows but didn't see him. Lucky night for this female. She was blond.

When he swirled out of the shadows and moved away at vampire speed, she might have turned and wondered what had caused the whirlwind to kick up the dust. But she'd never see Constantine.

[Back to Table of Contents]

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

The next night Jess entered the precinct and went straight to Britt's office.

Britt looked up from his desk. He appeared to be expecting her. “Evening, Captain.”

“Have you finished your lessons with Sampson?”

If surprised by his formality, she didn't show it. He had to distance himself from her now. Especially at work.

She looked tired again, and he didn't like it.

“Would you care to sit, Captain?”

She sat in the chair in front of his desk. “I'm worried Britt. Worried that I am the one who killed those women. After all, VNA doesn't lie.”

“I think it does.” Simple statement. He meant every word.

“If I ever attack you, use the words on me, Britt.”

“Not damned likely. They might kill you.”

“I'd rather you kill me before I kill you.”

He sighed, got up and walked around his desk. “You're being set up, Jess. I'd bet my life on it. And don't forget that vampire we've run into a couple of times. I'm willing to bet he's involved in this somehow.”

“I haven't forgotten him. In fact, I think I know him. Or should I say knew him.” She shook her head and wouldn't make eye contact. “I don't know. Maybe I turned him into a vampire, too?”

“You didn't.”

“Why do you always have so much faith in me?”

He looked into her eyes. “You know why.”

“You're too trusting. It'll get you killed.”

“Not by you, it won't. And, Jess, you may have recruited me into this job, but you didn't force me to stay. I want this. If I die, I die doing a job I want to do. We make a difference.”

“What about that vampire threatening you? He'll come after you. I want to stay with you and protect you,” she said.

Britt allowed a quick grin. “That sounds like a familiar scenario. You might have to sneak a GPS tracking device into me in order to do that.”

“Stop joking. This is serious.”

Since she was still seated in the chair, he crouched in front of her but didn't touch her. “I know it is, Jess. I'm not making light of the seriousness of this situation. And, believe me, I realize I'm at a disadvantage with this guy. But if I can't fight him, what good am I to the team? If it's not him, then some other vampire will come along who's just as tough. This is a battle I have to win if I'm going to be capable of doing this job.”

She lowered her head. “I don't want to lose you.”

His heart soared. “And, I'm going to do everything in my power to make sure you don't. But don't take this fight away from me, Jess. If you think I can't cut it, then I'll have to quit. I can't be part of the team if I can't carry my own weight.”

She didn't answer.

“Either you trust me, or you don't,” he said, tipping her chin up so she'd have to face him.

Their eyes met and held. “I trust you. And I know you're strong enough and smart enough to find ways to combat this vampire. But, Britt, even I was afraid when I was chasing him and he stopped and looked at me.” Her fingers kneaded together. “That's why I phoned, James, Britt. He scared me.”

“Okay, we both admit he's stronger than anyone we've come across, and since we know that, we can come up with ways to combat him. One way for me is using the ancient text, if I have to.”

Jess breathed in deeply then looked at the cross on Britt's neck. The cross she'd given him. “I can smell him right now.”

Britt saw where she was looking. “Yeah.” He lifted the cross and looked at it. “It burned him, and he dropped it.”

She leaned in and sniffed again. “That scent is very familiar to me,” she said scrunching her forehead into worry lines. “I'm not sure, but it might be the vampire I smelled in Vaslov's place the other night.”

“Why doesn't that surprise me?” Britt said dryly. “Okay, we need a plan. Vaslov wants to hire us, and I say we go back again. This time we don't leave until we find out exactly what he's up to. Tonight.”

“I agree. At least that way we'll have the advantage of surprise.”

“Just give me a minute to gather a few weapons, and I'll be ready,” Britt said, going to a cabinet and extracting several canisters of holy water and shoving them into the slots on his belt.

Jess visibly shivered at the sight of the water, and he, of all people, understood her reaction. He'd never forget that night outside the church when they fought Prometheus. Britt didn't know much about vampires back then, but he'd seen enough old movies to consider bringing Holy water along. Jess had been too close when he threw it at Prometheus, and he'd burned her so badly it took several painful days for her to recover fully. If there was any chance of splash-back on Jess tonight, he wouldn't use it. He'd never burn her again.

“Before we go, is there any way I can stop him from fogging my mind?” Britt asked.

Jess looked thoughtful. “I've never heard of a way.”

“Wait a minute. I broke his concentration when I distracted him with this cross. If the time comes, maybe I can do it again.”

Jess thought about how she'd taken over Britt's mind and he was none the wiser. She suspected that the only reason he'd managed to break away from the vampire's mind control was because the vampire was enjoying the battle and didn't want to fight a mindless automaton.

Her stomach twinged. “It won't work, Britt. It only worked the last time because he didn't want it to work.”

“I'd better get used to the idea of using that cyanide next time, then, before he gains total control over me. Because no way am I going to let him turn me into a vampire.”

Jess felt a growing sense of panic. If this vampire wanted Britt so badly, would she even be able to stop him? He seemed to have more abilities than her. At this point, it wouldn't be at all helpful to tell that to Britt.

* * * *

When the doorman buzzed, Drago jumped out of his seat. Relief washed over him. He'd been sitting here trying to figure out a way to get Jess here tonight.

Normally, she didn't show up without a lot of effort on his part. Even the Mayor was becoming suspicious about his requests and hadn't been as cooperative as he used to be. Drago didn't have time to mollycoddle the city's elite. Not with a job like this on the line. He had to provide Jess to his client tonight. He'd promised. It wasn't smart to irritate a vampire.

He heaved a sigh. But why was John Brittain still alive? Mannie was supposed to have gotten him out of the way. Mannie had never let him down before. His heart pounded several times and he sucked in a breath. The stress of possibly losing ten million dollars was obviously getting to him. He'd never been so affected by stress before.

Drago met them at his office door, and ushered them inside.

“It's so nice to see you here tonight. I take it you've decided to work for me?”

“Yes,” Jess said. “Assuming your offer is lucrative enough, we won't pass up.” She tipped her head and eyed him.

“I guarantee it'll be well worth your while,” Drago said.

“What is it you want us to do?” Britt asked.

Vaslov ignored his question. “Did you see my assistant, Mannie, when you came in?”

Jess and Britt exchanged glances. “I'm afraid I have no idea who Mannie is,” Jess said.

Drago frowned. “You've never met him when you've been in the club?”

She made a quizzical face. “No. Why? Should I have?”

“It's just that he always greets my guests before they see me. He's sort of my front line man.”

“I've been here several times, and I've never met Mannie,” Jess said.

Now that Drago thought about it, Mannie was always on break when they were here. Strange didn't begin to cover that. He pressed the button on his headphone. “Mannie, get your ass in here.” No response. Vaslov went to the door and hollered to one of his employees. “Where's Mannie?”

“He left a couple of hours ago, boss,” the employee said.

Jess put her hands on her hips. “Mr. Vaslov, if you have something more pressing to attend to we can come back another time.”

“No! Tonight's the night. I must do this tonight.” Irritation welled up and he had to quash it before they got suspicious. As it was, his face felt hot and a there was a fine sheen of moisture across his forehead. If she hadn't come to him tonight, he'd planned on going after her. His client had been adamant. He got her tonight or no money.

“Okay,” she said.

Brittain didn't look as accommodating; his expression was thunderous.

God! How the hell was he going to do this without Mannie? He was the muscle.

Panic welled up Drago's throat and his hand went to his neck. He couldn't feel a thing in his hands. They felt lifeless, yet they were trembling. Jess noticed, too, so he lowered them instantly.

He'd never asked Carl, his doorman, to handle these kinds of issues, but it looked like he'd have to tonight. He'd have Mannie's head on a spit over this.

“Excuse me one moment,” Drago said.

He left the office and strode toward the towering brute named Carl. The guy was a monster, all muscles and brawn, and he packed a Glock under his arm.

“Carl, I need you to keep Lieutenant Brittain busy for a while. I've got some business with Captain Vandermire, and it can't happen as long and Brittain is there.”

Carl looked surprised. “He's a cop, right?”

“Yes.”

“He's not going to want to cooperate is he?”

Vaslov smiled at him. Carl had promise. Too bad Drago hadn't noticed that before. “No, he isn't. Will that be a problem?”

“Nope.” The big guy patted his armpit, and stretched his broad shoulders to the point of nearly splitting the seams on his jacket.

“Thank you. I'll make sure you're handsomely reimbursed for this Carl. And...” He patted the doorman's bicep, because he couldn't reach his shoulder. “...I think it's time you were promoted.”

Carl winked. “I'm your man, boss.”

“I'll send Brittain out to you. Keep him out of the way. Permanently, if you can handle it.”

Drago returned to his office and tried to keep his outward demeanor unreadable. In reality, he felt as if he was about to implode inside.

* * * *

Even with her diminished vampiric abilities, Jess heard Vaslov's thundering heart. His face was pinched and moist, and he didn't seem to know what to do with his hands.

“Lieutenant Brittain, it seems my doorman has a phone call for you.”

Britt frowned and moved toward Drago's desk to take the call on his phone. Jess knew as well as he did that there was no call. He wanted Britt out of the way.

Drago held up a hand to stop him. “Sorry, it's a different line. You'll have to take it at the doorman's desk.”

Britt looked at Jess and she nodded. He rolled his eyes just for her and left the room. She stifled a grin. Even with her problems, she could handle a human without his help.

But the minute Britt left the room, Vaslov lowered his head and took a deep breath and she felt the room spin. What the hell?

She opened her mouth to scream for Britt when she started to black out. She heard Vaslov's blood pulsing in his veins, smelled the scent of his humanity. A coppery fragrance that all vampires recognized.

When she opened her eyes she was in the alley again.

“I'd hoped you'd come back.”

She whirled toward the voice and saw the same face she'd seen in this alley before.

With wavering vision, she tried to focus on the waxy face. Her head felt hollow and light. He didn't approach her. Just watched her.

“Who are you?”

“Can't you feel me? I'm becoming more a part of you. In our thoughts and in our minds.”

She took a step closer to him, but when she did she felt even dizzier, when she moved away the dizziness subsided.

She tried to sense if he was a vampire. Wait. He was in her head. She felt him. Vaslov?

“How have you managed to do this?” she asked.

“What do you mean? You shouldn't be this aware.”

“You're in my mind. How and why?”

She couldn't see any facial movement, but the eyes narrowed behind the waxy mask. She knew she was right, and he wasn't happy that she'd figured out at least that part of it.

“I have something to offer you. Something you'll never experience in your life as a vampire.” He spread out his hands as if giving a liturgy. She watched him closely, making sure she stayed back because the closer she got to him, the dizzier she got.

“You're going to be very sorry you messed with me, Vaslov.” she told him

“He laughed. “No, I won't because you won't remember.” His voice began to fade away, and Jess felt as if she were falling through space. Suddenly, she opened her eyes and found herself still in Vaslov's office. She'd never really been in the alley.

Unaware she'd fallen, but flat on her back on the floor, she tried to focus. Her mind warred against whatever was trying to incapacitate her. She stared at the walls covered with leather and mirrors—lots of mirrors. She remembered telling Britt vampires couldn't see themselves in mirrors, and he'd actually believed her until she laughed. Was Vaslov naïve enough to think the same thing?

Suddenly, she realized Vaslov was gone. Why had he left her alone? What had happened to Britt? A faint heartbeat echoed through the mirrored wall. Was that him? Torn between finding Britt to make sure he was okay, and finding out who was behind the wall, she gambled that Britt could hold his own against that mountain of a doorman she'd seen earlier in the outer office.

Sluggishly, she got to her feet and stared at one section of mirror with joining lines that were a little wider than the rest. Could this be a door?

She pushed it. Nothing happened.

Staggering to the desk, she searched the drawers, then looked beneath the desk and found a button. When she pressed it the mirrored door swung open.

Odors from inside began to waft into the office, and she felt funny again. If she went inside would she risk total incapacitation?

At this point, she didn't have a choice. She had to find out what Drago was doing to her.

Hanging on to the door casing, she stumbled into a smaller room. Completely decorated in some sort of South American motif. An ancient clay pot sat in the middle of the room. She stood over it and peered inside. It was half full of something that looked like beeswax. Made sense the South Americans used beeswax in their daily lives, but why would Vaslov have it?

“I'm so glad you decided to accept my offer, Jess.”

She knew that scent. She turned slowly to face familiar, cold eyes. How'd he get in this small room without her seeing him?

“We meet again,” she said to the vampire who'd been stalking her. “You gave me quite a run the other night before you destroyed our vehicle. Quite a parlor trick.” She still pressed her hand against the wall to hold her weight.

Britt might be in more danger than she'd previously expected.

How long had she been unconscious this time? Her heart rate elevated in a way a vampire's rarely does.

The massive, tattooed vampire grinned at her, his black eyes boring into hers and his long teeth a vicious reminder that he would be an impressive enemy.

What had this room, this urn, to do with anything? Why had Vaslov wanted her inside here so badly? “What is this about?”

He pointed long fingernails at the urn. “That, my dearest, is the key to illumination.”

“Is it a drug?”

He laughed, his soulless eyes taking in every nuance of her body. “Not exactly. But it has the ability to open your mind to new things.”

Jess widened her feet into a fighting stance. “Sounds like a drug to me.” She scanned the room and noticed Drago Vaslov slumped in the corner. He still had a faint heartbeat, but there were two puncture holes in his neck. He was dying.

“It's merely an herb mixed into the beeswax. Something that comes from the jungles of South America. Quite common really, but its special abilities have been forgotten over the centuries. Vaslov found it quite by accident.”

Jess stared at the oversized monster with a dragon tattoo on his bald head. Why would he bother to tell her so much?

When he dipped two fingers into the wax, she felt a buzzing at the back of her brain. She tried to block out that scent. Bizarre, yet somehow familiar.

Was it the cologne that Vaslov wore?

“Why do I know you?” Jess asked.

He gave her a patronizing smile. “That's why we had to meet this way. You've been able to disconnect from me. When I found Vaslov's little niche market years ago, I realized, when the time was right, this paste could help reunite us once again—with or without your brother.”

She put her hands on her hips, fear spreading throughout her chest. “What are you talking about?”

“Don't pretend you can't sense who I am. Even though you've been able to disassociate yourself from your own kind, you have to know deep down exactly who I am.” His face contorted, and his lips curled back to display his feral grin. “I've been leaving gifts for you. Hints so you could find me, so you could come to me without prejudice.”

Jess frowned. “Gifts? What gifts?”

He sighed and rolled his eyes. “I paid homage to you in Central Park—several times.”

Those dead women! “You're crazy.” Jess backed away. The truth of who he was threatened to choke her.

“I've been satisfying myself with women who have physical similarities to you while waiting for your brother to die. He kept us apart, kept your mind from letting me in,” He laughed. “I was willing to wait as long as you remained celibate. For me.” His eyes closed for a second and then flashed open. Anger burning behind his bloodshot orbs.

“If you were waiting for my brother to die, why are you here now?” Fear clotted inside her.

The vampire made an angry, throaty noise. “Why? Because you nearly broke your vow of chastity with a human. Worse, this human is planning on becoming your protector, taking over for your brother.” He reached one hand out, tried to touch her face, but she backed away as he continued, “He had the ability to keep you from becoming mine for another fifty years. I'm not willing to wait that long for you to become a full-blooded vampire with all the urges and carnal needs that come with it. I want you now, Jess. I can wait no longer.”

She swallowed. “I'll never be yours. No matter what you do to me.”

“Never say never. Vaslov was on to something. Too bad he was human and incapable of knowing the full potential of this paste.” The vampire closed his eyes, and she felt dizziness rising up like a tsunami inside her. She tried to fight it, but it was beyond her ability. Damn it! She needed Britt. Where was he?

She backed away from him, willing her mind to put up walls against whatever it was he was doing to her.

“Mannie, stop this,” Vaslov mumbled weakly from the corner.

“Mannie?” Jess frowned at him. Imagined him with hair. Her eyes narrowed. “Michai Constantine?” She'd fought many vampires over the years, but coming face to face with the bastard who'd ruined her life forever was something she'd given up on years ago.

Mannie's smile grew, and he bowed slightly to Jess, the whole time eyeing her body with renewed lasciviousness.

“You're the one who turned me into a vampire,” she choked out, dread and anger warring inside her.

“Finally! I thought you'd never notice.” His sick voice scraped over her, made her want to tear open his throat.

Suddenly, a figure with a wax face appeared beside Constantine. Somehow Constantine looked surprised. “How are you doing that?” he screamed at her.

“I'm not. I thought it was you.” She tried to force her lethargic limbs to move. To get away from the monster who'd ruined her life.

The vision moved toward Constantine with one hand out, index finger pointing. He slashed out a hand to fend off the attacker, but his hand went right through the apparition.

Then Constantine laughed. “A parlor trick? You think a mere parlor trick will scare me?”

To his surprise the finger physically touched his temple, Constantine reached up and pulled something sticky away from his skin. “What the hell? How'd you do that?” he screamed.

Jess could see the yellowish substance clinging to his temple. Then she watched the vision float away and disappear back into Drago's body.

An apparition he'd sent. He'd tried to help her.

Drago turned and stared at Vaslov lying on the floor, then spat on him. “You're dying, Vaslov. You've used the last of your energy on a weak parlor trick.”

Vaslov looked very pale, and he didn't open his eyes.

The vampire turned his attention back to Jess. “Even with the use of this paste, I haven't been able to completely control you. You're the only one who's been able to block me. You're strong.” His lascivious gaze devoured her from head to toe. “And you're the woman I will have in every way possible, thanks to this South American find.”

Vaslov groaned from the corner. Jess allowed a quick glance in his direction. The man was full of surprises. He'd actually regained some of his strength and was trying to stand.

When the outer office door suddenly flew inward and Britt burst into the room, Jess chanced a quick glance at him. He was beaten and bruised, but he was alive. In his right hand, he held his Ruger.

“Britt, stay back. He's very strong. He's Vaslov's assistant, Mannie. The reason we've never seen him before is because he's also Constantine, the vampire who turned me,” she said the words with slow deliberation, hoping to give Britt time to protect himself.

“I heard everything he said to you.” Britt tapped the headset he now wore, one he'd taken from his assailant.

Keeping the gun on Constantine, Britt reached out and wrapped his arm around Jess's waist to support her. “Against the two of us, he doesn't stand a chance, babe.”

A roar of disgust filled the air, turning Britt's insides to the ice cold of death. And he'd thought Jess could send chills through him!

Along with those chills came a paralyzing rush that felt like ice crystals forming inside Britt's head—pervasive and debilitating. The vampire was fogging his mind.

“No!” Britt shouted, letting Jess go. He started speaking the words from the ancient text that Sampson had taught him. When both vampire and Jess began to scream, he stopped instantly, but not before Jess slumped against the wall and slid to the ground.

What had the words done to her?The vampire, still standing, laughed. “You'll pay for your choice of friends, human. You'll pay for an eternity.”

He dove at Britt, fangs extended. Even though Britt was able to extricate his stake from its holster, it felt too heavy to hold. Britt aimed for the vampire's heart, but those ice crystals in his brain were slowing his movements.

“Britt, get out of here. He's using tactics we might not be able to combat,” Jess ground out. “I can't move. Constantine is controlling me.”

“No, Jess. This has to end. Here and now. I'm willing to do whatever it takes to get this creep off your ass.”

“I don't want you to, Britt. You'll get hurt. I can't help you.”

The logic center in Britt's brain began to seize. He had to act fast or he'd be totally under the vampire's control. Luckily Jess's words had broken his hold long enough for Britt to regain some of his strength.

“No matter what happens to me, Jess. I love you heart and soul. Nothing will ever really take me away from you,” Britt said.

“You will die!” Constantine screamed, angry to the point of insanity at Britt's words.

Even while Britt rushed at Constantine, he knew in his heart, this was a battle he'd lose. His freewill was almost nonexistent by the time Constantine's teeth sank into his carotid artery and he felt his life's blood draining away. Too late for Cyanide.

At the last moment a dark void swallowed him whole.

* * * *

Jess watched with horror from her position on the floor. Unable to move, she screamed, “Britt, fight him. Don't let him take you from me! I love you!”

Constantine whipped around with Britt's neck still in his mouth. His cold stare burned into her until he finished draining Britt then dropped him to the floor like a rag doll.

Blinding tears hung on Jess's eyelashes. She closed her eyes, forcing the tears to spill down her face while she focused on regaining her strength. She had to get to Britt before it was too late. She might still be able to save him.

Using methods of prayer and meditation that Regent had taught her, she concentrated on bringing her body back to its full physical strength and forcing her mind to shake off the effects of the drug. Pain spiked through her skull, but she ignored it. She had to get to Britt.

Before she could push herself off the floor, however, Drago had managed to stand. Weaving and looking like death on a slab, he rushed at Constantine.

“Help me, Jess,” Vaslov said through clenched teeth. “I can't do this by myself.”

Constantine laughed. “To think that for the past twenty years I've let this insipid human think he was superior to me. All to gain control of you, Jess.” He put a hand around Vaslov's neck, and squeezed. Vaslov gurgled.

“Stop it Constantine,” Jess screamed.

Constantine looked at her, excitement evident in his evil gaze. “So you do remember me.”

“I remember you,” she spat out. “To think I let you do this to me. You lured me away from the job that night fifty years ago. You lured me away to kill me.”

His smile turned menacing. “Don't deceive yourself. You wanted me. You wanted this. After all, I was the only male on the force who accepted a woman police officer. How could you not fall for me?”

“You used your vampire skills to blind me to the truth. Don't pretend I would have wanted you otherwise.”

He scowled and dropped a choking Vaslov to the floor. “As one of my creations, you have no choice but to bow to my wishes. I am your master. You will forget the humans and their frailties once you accept your true allegiance. When your brother is gone and you have no protector, you'll come crawling to me, begging me to take you back and protect you from your own brethren.”

Jess cast a glance at Britt's unmoving form on the floor. She couldn't see his face since his back was turned to her, but Constantine had drained too much of his blood, of that she was sure. He needed a transfusion and fast.

She dug deep and fought the residual affects of the paste. She called upon every Saint and guardian angel in her repertoire. Then, even though they hadn't spoken for a very long time, she asked God for help. She had to save Britt.

“You're mine now, and he'll never have you again,” Constantine said, grinning wickedly at Britt's body.

"She's stronger than you know, vampire. She can fight from the inside. You'll never be able to contain her spirit."

Jess heard Britt's words even though his body hadn't moved. His words had been inside her head. Had he really spoken them, or had he instilled that belief in her? She chanted a silent prayer for Britt's salvation, while reaching for her blade.

Vaslov hadn't given up yet. Somehow he was still alive and had actually crawled back to the urn. Since Constantine no longer perceived Drago as a threat he paid little attention to him.

With his fingers dripping with paste, Vaslov lunged at Constantine again and slathered it heavily across the vampire's right temple. Constantine turned wicked, black eyes on him and slammed out one hand, sending the injured Drago into the mirrors on the far side of the room.

The mirrors cracked and rained down on Drago's crumpled body.

Drago might have mastered the paste on others, but it was apparent he had no control over Constantine. The Paste hadn't affected him, but then, maybe Drago had to be conscious for that to happen. Jess scanned Drago. This time he was dead.

“At first I planned to kill you for betraying me,” Constantine said, his attention solely on Jess. “Then I came to my senses. I will have you as my own. And with your expertise at training vampire hunters, we'll turn the tables on your human hunters and wipe them out of existence.”

“You assume Jess will let her humanity go. She's too strong for you,” James voice shouted from the doorway. “There's no way you'll make her forget those she loves.”

Jess offered a silent thank you for sending help. Regent and James entered the room while Sampson hung back in the office.

Regent bent over and helped Jess to her feet.

“How'd you know to come?” she asked her brother.

“Britt phoned us,” Regent answered, “Sampson is here, too.” She saw the shock on Regent's face when he spied Britt's lifeless body on the floor. He sucked in a breath. “Oh God, hear my prayers...”

Jess felt cold tears forming at the back of her eyes again. Britt must've phoned before he'd broken into the office to save her, forfeiting himself for her.

James moved in front of her, and Jess knew he was giving her time to regain her strength. It was their practice after years of being partners.

“James, be careful. This is Constantine,” she said as quietly as possible.

James's back stiffened. “Are you certain?” he asked.

“Yes, he's the one who turned me, the one who did this to us,” she said, all the venom she felt coming out in her voice.

James focused on the vampire. “She's too strong, even for you, Constantine.”

Ignoring James, Constantine smiled wickedly at Jess. “Do you think I'm afraid of your pathetic progeny?” He turned his gaze to James, staring at him as if he were an insignificant dust mite. “And you. You'd have impressed me much more if you'd proven your strength to her. You should have mated with her, made her yours. It is our way.” He grinned wickedly. “Of course, then I would have killed you for touching her.”

“I think you underestimate Jess,” James said.

Constantine flicked an invisible piece of lint off his black leather jacket. “Enough of this bullshit. I'm tired of words. I want my prize.”

He looked at Jess who instantly tore herself from Regent's protective embrace and took a step toward Constantine.

“No! Jess, wait. You're not strong enough. Don't let him control you,” Regent begged.

“I'm fine, brother.” She spared another glance at Britt. “I'm doing this for Britt.”

James stepped back, giving her the space she needed. Constantine laughed at him.

“What a weak puppet you are, vampire. Stand your ground like a man. Even the human put up a better fight.”

James watched him, anger and hate spilling from the depths of his gaze. Jess blessed her partner for knowing she'd have to do this on her own. She wanted revenge. She needed to kill Constantine herself. To make him pay for what he'd done to Britt. She had to hurry if Britt stood any chance at all for survival.

“You want me? Come and get me, but first let my brother and James, go,” Jess said, straightening her stance in front of him. His gaze moved over her body with salacious intent. In a blur he was on her. Had grabbed her by the throat with one hand while he stared into her eyes.

Gaining eye contact he forced his way into her mind. With an arm around her waist, and Regent protesting loudly in the background, Constantine yanked her closer. His fetid breath washed over her while she mindlessly tipped her head for him and exposed her neck.

“No!” Regent screamed.

“Jess?” James raised his voice to be heard. With one quick sideways glance she sent a silent message and James backed down. He turned his attention to Regent, to calm him.

Constantine waved them off with a flick of his hand. “You can go.”

“Go to hell!” Regent shouted.

Constantine laughed, while at the same time delving deeper into Jess's psyche, invading her private moments, her deepest thoughts. She'd never been raped, but now she knew what it felt like. Besides the pain, there was the violation. Violation at a level so profound she writhed in an attempt to escape the hands digging into her upper arms.

Not satiated, he continued, slavering as he read her most intimate thoughts. Thoughts she'd never shared with anyone.

Suddenly, his eyes flew wide and his lips curled back in a snarl. “No! You miserable whore. You ruined yourself with that ... that human!"

Seeking a weapon against his infiltration of her innermost thoughts, she'd focused on her strongest memories of the night she'd made love with Britt. Pulled forth every scent, every erotic experience, in an attempt to drive a virtual stake through Constantine's heart.

“Only with him,” Jess said softly, lovingly, and immediately sensed the fire of rage that erupted inside Michai Constantine.

He pulled out of her mind and staggered backward, his expression black and volatile.

With only a second's advantage, Jess raised her dagger and attacked him. Before she could drive the blade into his heart, he reached out one hand and picked her off the floor by her neck. The black-hearted look on his face was horrifying even to her.

Her spine elongated and she screamed until her windpipe constricted and she could barely breathe. With every ounce of strength she could muster, she slammed the blade into his flesh. It was only his shoulder, but it hurt enough to make him drop her.

She coughed and sucked in some air. “I've been physically—sexually—satisfied in a way you'll never know, Constantine. Heart, mind and soul. No one will ever take Britt's place, no matter how dark and dank my soul might become. You may be able to turn me completely evil, but Britt's given me something more profound than you can imagine. Nothing will ever take that away from me.”

With a snarl of rage, Constantine's gaze burrowed into Jess's. The dizzying speed at which he began to corrupt her freewill was almost unbearable.

His eyes were the only thing she was conscious of. The caustic, self-serving stare burning into her soul. Then, suddenly, he gasped, and his eyes flew open.

It took a Jess a moment to realize that while he was distracted, Regent had driven his eight inch cross into Constantine's back with James's help.

It wasn't enough to vaporize him, but it gave Jess a chance to finish the job. She moved quickly, and drove her dagger into his heart with as much strength as she could muster.

He screamed and imploded into a whirlwind of dust that had so much power it completely trashed the room, and left them all gasping.

When he was gone, they rushed to Britt's side. His eyes were open. Glassy. Frantic, Jess dropped to her knees beside him and felt for a pulse.

[Back to Table of Contents]

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Jess fought against the arms that pulled her back from Britt until she realized it was James. He was speaking softly, encouragingly in her ear. “Let Sampson help him, Jess. Give him room to help Britt.”

Sampson's serious expression made her knees go weak, and she literally dropped to her knees on the ground beside him. James didn't let go, he dropped with her, his arm still securely around her. She could hear Regent praying, but couldn't tear her gaze away from Britt.

“Is he going to be all right? Jess asked.

Sampson slowly took his fingers away from Britt's carotid artery. His eyes were red-rimmed and watery. “He's gone, Jess.”

“No, he's not, Sampson. He's alive,” she said. “He has to be.”

Sampson slowly took his cell phone from his belt and phoned for the team. Jess stared at him in shock. “What are you doing? Why are you calling the Black Ops team for Britt?”

Sampson gave her a caring look. “He's been killed by a vampire, Jess. He has to be processed through our lab.”

She collapsed on top of Britt. His body still felt warm. “Britt, no! Don't leave me. Dear God, don't take him from me,” she sobbed.

Sampson looked at James. “Get her out of here, James.”

Regent sniffed behind her, then placed a loving hand on her shoulder. “Jess, come with us. We should let Sampson do his job.”

“No, Regent. It's a mistake. Britt's going to be fine. He saved me. He gave me the time to revive so I could fight Constantine. He's strong. He can't be killed so easily.”

James bent down and lifted Jess up. She felt like a rag doll, no vampire anger, no ability to fight back. She felt as if she had no bones left in her body, and her world had gone horribly wrong.

* * * *

Two days later, Jess came out of her room. Regent was waiting for her in his office.

He jumped out of his chair and met her at the door. “Oh, Jess, I've been so worried about you. Come in and sit down.”

She sniffed, her eyes bloodshot and her voice nearly gone from crying. “I can't believe he's gone, Regent. I just can't believe it.”

“I know, hon. He was quite a guy.”

Jess ran one hand over the settee's leather covering. “Did Sampson get the results yet? Was Britt going to become a vampire?” Her throat constricted. If Britt had been infected, Sampson would have killed him. It was what they did. Britt would want that.

Regent cleared his throat. “Jess, this is going to be difficult, but you have to be told.”

She sniffed again and frowned at her brother. “What are you talking about? What could be worse than Britt being dead?”

Sampson sucked in a long, deep breath. “Britt is gone. His body disappeared from the lab.”

Jess lurched forward in shock. “What in the name of God are you saying? No one could steal him from our lab, our security is too good.”

“Whoever took him had Britt's security code.” Regent paused. “There's more...

Jess stood up and paced to the fireplace. Britt's body had been taken? For what reason? “Dear God, Regent, what about the level of VNA in his blood? Was he going to turn into a vampire?”

“That's the thing, dear. He did have VNA in his blood, but Sampson said there was something else in his blood too. Something Sampson hasn't been able to identify.”

“Why not? Sampson's an expert.”

“It seems that Britt's blood was in the process of changing. It was rejecting the vampire VNA at the same pace that his genes were changing. Even while Sampson watched them under the microscope.”

“That's not possible.”

“Whoever took Britt, must have known his body would reject the vampire VNA. Must have known what was left of his blood would be very valuable for research.”

Jess felt hollow inside. Someone was using Britt's body to foster more sick experiments!

Not on her watch.

She jumped to her feet and brushed back her hair. She'd get Britt back, and he'd have his funeral. He'd want to be buried in hallowed ground.

She'd do that for him, if her life depended on it.

* * * *

Copyright 2009 by Lina Gardiner

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