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JACE OPENED HIS CONDO door later that afternoon and found himself facing a tall man with dark hair and gray eyes. Although the man wore an expensive suit and what looked like handcrafted leather loafers, he had an aura that whispered policeman.
Jace wasn’t fond of people who dropped in unexpectedly, nor was he in the mood to be grilled. But he’d promised Wilfredo he would check this man out. Still, he saw no need to be particularly pleasant. “Detective Guidry-Sonnier, I presume.”
The man nodded. “And you are Eric Jason Makefield...vampire hunter.”
Jace arched a brow. The coming conversation should be interesting. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.” He stepped back from the door, his hand extended.
Guidry-Sonnier strolled past him.
Five minutes later, they sat facing each other in the living room. Jace studied the other man. Even without Wilfredo’s warning, he would have known that Jordan Guidry-Sonnier was not a normal human. He felt the other man probing his mind. He easily rebuffed the attempts, resisting the urge to do a little mind probing of his own. Unlike Wilfredo, he had no particular concern about his probe being detected.
“So you were about to tell me about your vampire killings.”
This cop had balls. “Vampires? As in Dracula?” Jace smiled. “Have you been drinking, Sergeant?”
“I never drink on duty and yes, I do mean vampires.” A small smile curved his lips.
“Never heard of the creatures. Besides fairytales, what brings you here?”
“Have you ever heard of an individual named Rogae Chalkin?”
Jace formed a mental picture of a pale, centuries-old vampire who had been fond of wearing all white, including a tall hat and a long cape. After chasing him for several months across a number of state lines, Jace had finally cornered and killed him roughly two years earlier. “Can’t say I’ve ever heard of a man by that name. Why do you ask?”
“You’ve never heard of a man by that name? What about a vampire? Ever met or killed a vampire named Rogae Chalkin?”
“Have I said or done anything to make you think I believe in creatures of the night?”
Guidry-Sonnier leaned forward in his chair. “Let’s cut to the chase, shall we? I know you believe in them. Hell, you even spend part of your time living with one.” He arched a brow. “Or are you going to tell me you don’t know a vampire named Wilfredo Miguel Santiago?”
Jace frowned. Why the hell hadn’t Wilfredo wiped Sonnier’s mind before allowing him to leave the mansion? “What the hell makes you think Santiago’s anything but—”
“A vampire? Look, you should have noticed by now that, although I’m human, I am not without certain psychic abilities. My mother is a Creole Ritual Priestess. I know when I’m in the presence of someone who’s not human. I know Santiago isn’t human. I’m sure that’s no revelation to you, since you aren’t fully human either.”
“Why are you here?”
“Have you ever heard of Patrick O’Reilly?”
Pat O’Reilly had been Chalkin’s lover and favorite lackey. “Should I have?”
“He knows you, even if you don’t know him. He’s the one who filed a report of a suspected murder with the district attorney’s office. He came to us with a cane which had once belonged to Chalkin. It was covered with what appeared to be Chalkin’s blood.”
“Appeared to be? Don’t you know blood when you see it?”
“This particular blood was a little degraded, as one might expect a centuries-old vampire’s to be.”
“Why would any of this interest me?”
“The cane had your fingerprints on it and O’Reilly told us you’d been chasing them all over the country for weeks before Chalkin got tired of running and decided to confront you. As you know, he was never seen alive again.”
“And his body?”
“Never found.”
“I see. Some nut comes to you with tales of creatures of the night and those who hunt them and you come harassing me? In case you haven’t noticed, Sergeant, this is New Jersey, not Philly. The last time I looked, I think your authority stopped at Philly’s city limits.”
“A more important question might be why you haven’t thrown me out already?”
Jace smiled. “I’ll be honest. Santiago is interested in you.”
The detective’s gaze narrowed. “In me? Why?”
“How do you feel about vampires?”
“So now you’re willing to admit they exist?”
“It’s possible. So tell me how you feel about vampires. I’m not talking about your average, live and let live vampire.”
“Live and let live? Are there such creatures?”
Jace shrugged. “So I’m told, but those aren’t the kind I’m talking about. There’s another kind, or so I’ve heard, who feed from and kill any human who is unfortunate enough to cross his or her path.”
“Are there many of this latter breed?”
“How would I know? I’ve only heard that some feel that breed deserves to be taken down. There’s talk that there is an entire group of people trained for that very purpose.”
“Sounds like a foolhardy group.”
“Possibly.” He smiled. “You look like just the kind of person foolish enough to take on such a task.”
“Are you offering me a job as a fool?”
Jace laughed. “Not me. However, Santiago feels you’d make a perfect fool. So what do you say? Would you like to meet the master craftsman of fools?”
* * * * *
TATIANA STOOD AT HER kitchen stove sautéing the mushrooms and spices for her red gravy. The adjoining pot contained spaghetti. The aroma of fresh baked rolls filled the air. Red wine chilled in the refrigerator. Vlad’s favorite meal should help put him in a receptive mood.
“So how was Mikhel when you left Boston?”
“The little pissant was as arrogant and annoying as ever.”
She smiled, certain Vlad had worn out his Boston welcome—at least as far as Mikhel was concerned. “And how was Erica?”
Vlad’s voice had softened when he answered. “She’s...quite a woman.”
“Is she?”
“Yes. You know he doesn’t deserve her.”
“She seems to have made quite an impression on you.”
“She’s very...passionate.”
She placed the spaghetti in a large bowl and carried it, along with grated cheese, to the table. She linked her arms around Vlad’s neck and kissed his cheek. “I’m sure she was very grateful that you rescued Mikhel.”
He grinned up at her. “I look forward to further expressions of her gratitude.”
Tat had a feeling Mikhel would soon find Vlad making frequent trips to Boston—all while Mikhel was at work. “I’m sure Mikhel is equally grateful.”
“You couldn’t tell it from all the carrying on he did just because I didn’t pull away when Erica kissed me.”
“Well, it must have been like a sign from God when you showed up to rescue him.”
He frowned, pressing his cheek against hers. “When he realized I wasn’t Aleksei, he was resigned to dying. The little jerk actually thought I’d stand by while those bozos raped him. He doesn’t think much of me.”
She stroked a hand over his long, silky dreadlocks. “That might have been the case before, but now he knows that if he’s in trouble, one of his big brothers, whether it be Aleksei, you or Andrei, will be there to help him.”
Vlad grinned. “If he doesn’t realize that yet, I’ll have to slap him around until the idea sinks in...after accepting the grateful thanks of the luscious Erica.”
She smiled and returned to the stove. “How did you find Mother?”
“Once she had her fair-haired boy back in her arms, she was satisfied.”
Once Vlad’s voice would have been rife with bitterness and jealousy. Now he almost sounded amused. Maybe things had really taken a turn for the better.
After tasting the gravy, she decided it was seasoned just so. “Time to chow down.” She transferred the gravy to a warming bowl and carried it to the table. Moving across the room, she got the wine. With everything on the table, she sat opposite Vlad.
As they ate, she talked about her latest magazine acquisition. After their meal, they took a second glass of wine to the living room and sat on the love seat.
“Oh Lord, I’m dense. I haven’t asked about Adam or Slayer.”
“They’re both fine. Adam is working late and Slayer is staying to make sure no one else fucks what he considers his man.”
She laughed. “I’m surprised you haven’t kicked his handsome little ass by now.”
He shook his head. “The narcissistic, sex-crazy creature has grown on me. Hell, I might not even object if Adam is willing to give the little dickhead some ass.”
She arched a brow. “You are in a great mood.”
He shrugged. “For the first time in my life, I’m feeling positive about life in general.”
Then this was definitely the time to press him. “Have you given any thought to what you’d do if you ever met the hunter sent to kill you?”
“When I find the time I plan to look him up and return the favor.”
She sipped her glass of blood wine. “What do you mean?”
“What do I mean?” He blinked. “Isn’t it obvious? I mean I’m going to kill him.”
She set her glass down. “He didn’t really do any harm.”
“I plan to be more skillful than him. He won’t be coming away from our encounter alive.”
“You hate him?”
“Hate him? No. I have no particular feelings one way or the other about him.”
“Then why go out of your way to kill him?”
“Because I don’t take kindly to people who try to kill me.” He frowned, leaned back in his chair, and studied her face. “What’s your interest in him?”
She averted her gaze. “What makes you think I have any interest in him?”
He reached over to cup his hand over hers. “Tatiana? What is it?”
“Nothing.”
His fingers tightened around her. “I know I’m not Aleksei, but—”
She jerked her head up and met his gaze. She shook her head. “No, Vlad. That’s not it. It’s not because I’m used to talking to Aleksei...please don’t think that.”
“Then what is it?”
How could she look him in the eye and tell him she was obsessed with the male who had done his best to kill him? On the other hand, how much longer could she expect to keep her relationship with Jason hidden? Even if she managed to conceal her shameful desire from Aleksei and Vlad, she and Andrei were too close for her to be able to keep it from him for any length of time.
“You can tell me,” he urged, his voice soft. “No matter what’s bothering you, you can share it with me.”
She sighed. “I love you as much as I do Aleksei. I hope you know and believe that.”
He nodded. “I know and I’m thankful for that.”
She frowned. “Why should that make you thankful?”
He released her hand and averted his gaze. She watched the muscles in his jaw flexing. When he spoke it was in a low, brusque voice. “I know I’ve done many things that made you ashamed to be related to me.”
Her eyes filled with tears and her throat tightened. For the first time she realized the damage her misguided attempt to be human and distance herself from Vlad had done. At a time when he had been most fragile and most in need, she had turned her back on him in her selfish quest to seek personal happiness.
She rose and went to kneel at his side. Slipping her arms around his waist, she pressed her cheek against his leg. “Nothing you’ve done has been as shameful as what I did,” she whispered, tears running unchecked down her cheeks. “I’m so sorry. Please forgive me.”
“We’ve already had this conversation and I told you then there were no need for regrets, little one.” He lifted her onto his lap and held her, stroking her hair. “Now tell me what’s bothering you. When Mikhel was missing you mentioned something that felt like a betrayal. What is it?”
She laid her head on his shoulder. “It’s him.”
“Who?”
“When you still wanted to kill Mother, Andrei and I were out looking for you. To cover more distance, we separated. I met him while I was alone. He was injured. I probably shouldn’t have, but I stopped to help him. Somehow, things got out of hand and we ended up making love.
“I knew at the time it was a mistake, but I couldn’t stop myself. There was something about him that drew me to him. I knew there could never be anything real between us, so I didn’t tell him who I was. He wanted to pursue a relationship, but I ran from him. I never thought he’d find me, but he has. And like before, I can’t resist him. I slept with him again.”
She fell silent, waiting for Vlad to speak. When he didn’t, she lifted her head and looked at him. His lips were pressed into a tight line and his gaze was narrowed.
“Vlad?”
He sucked in a deep breath. “And this...him?”
Her throat tightened and she found she couldn’t speak.
“It’s Makefield, isn’t it?”
She closed her eyes, nodding.
He swore slowly and bolted to his feet so abruptly she was hard-pressed not to land on her ass. He flashed across the room to the door and turned to stare at her, his eyes blazing, his incisors bared. “Did you know who he was when you slept with him?”
She swallowed hard several times and rejected the temptation to lie. “When we first met, all I knew about him was that he was a hunter.”
“And that wasn’t enough to make you keep your distance from him? What the hell were you thinking, sleeping with someone who hunts us? Had he succeeded in killing me, would you still have found him so damned irresistible?”
Fresh tears filled her eyes. “How can you ask me that?”
“How can I not?” he challenged. “He set out to kill me. His damned master did his best to kill Aleksei and Mikhel. Even after you knew all that, you slept with him again?” He leveled a finger at her. “Has trying so hard to be human robbed you of your common sense?”
She stared at him silently, her lips trembling.
He stalked back across the room to glare down in her eyes. “There’s not much I wouldn’t do to please you, as you knew when you invited me for this cozy little dinner. But let me give you a reality check, Tatiana. He is the hunter who tried to kill me. Out of consideration for your lust for him, when I kill him, I’ll make sure his death is as painless as possible.”
She clamped her hand on his arm. “No. Vladimir, no. Let him live. Please.”
Her curled his fingers in her hair and tugged her head back so he could stare down into her eyes. “You had better decide where your loyalties lie, Tatiana. When I go after him, will I find you at his side ready to battle in his defense?”
“It’s not just lust I feel for him—”
“I don’t give a flying fuck what you feel for him. He’s going to die. Is that clear? Which side will you be on?”
She jerked away from him. “How dare you ask me that? When have I ever done or said anything to make you think I’d ever align myself with any male against you?”
“Then you won’t interfere?”
She wiped at her cheeks. “Please, Vladimir...don’t do this. Please.”
“I am going to kill him.”
“Why? Doesn’t how I feel count for anything?”
“How the hell can you feel anything for a creature who kills your kind? Have you been playing at being human for so long you’ve forgotten what it’s like to act and think like a full-blood?”
His jab hurt. She clenched her hands into fists. “Have you forgotten what it’s like to really care about someone so much that those feelings drive you to do things you know you shouldn’t? If I could wipe him from my thoughts, I would, but I can’t!”
“When I kill his ass that should help the process.”
A knot of rage tightened her stomach muscles. She bared her incisors. “If you go after him, I will not challenge you, but know this, Vladimir, if you kill him, I will never, ever forgive you. Never!”
“Then I’ll have to learn to cope with your hatred,” he retorted and flashed out of the kitchen.
When she heard her front door open and slam, she sank down to the kitchen floor, wrapped her arms around her body and sobbed. Several hours later, lost and afraid, she did something she hadn’t done since she was a very little girl. She closed her eyes and reached out. Mother. Mother. I need you. Help me. Please.
* * * * *
SEATED ACROSS THE TABLE from Madison Savoy, Jordan found himself hard-pressed not to suggest they forget their drinks, forget business, and go somewhere more conducive to fucking like bunnies than a smoky sports bar. He sipped his drink. “So you were apparently right about Santiago and Makefield. Neither is human.”
She sat back against her seat, her dark gaze meeting his. “Do you think Makefield is guilty?”
“Of offing Chalkin? Absolutely.”
“He admitted it?” She scooped a handful of nuts from the small bowl on the table they shared.
He watched her full lips part and felt the unmistakable stirring of his cock. Damn, he couldn’t remember the last time any woman had got him so hard and so hot with so little effort. What he wouldn’t give to kiss her soft, sweet-looking lips.
“Sergeant?”
He blinked and smiled. “I’m sorry? You were saying?”
“Are you all right?”
“I’m fine. Why do you ask?”
“Because you’re licking your lips and staring at mine.”
He laughed and raked a hand through his hair. He forced his gaze away from her lips. “Was I? I’m sorry. My mind wandered.”
“Where?”
“Where what?”
“Where did your mind wander?”
“Why do you ask?”
“Because now you’re talking to my breasts.”
Oh hell. What was the use in playing games? He raised his gaze to hers. “That’s probably because they’re large and round and...”
Her eyes widened. “Excuse me? Are you sitting there talking about my breasts?”
He widened his gaze. “Of course not. You were saying?”
“Perhaps we should continue this conversation at another time in a place more conducive to conducting business.”
“There’s no time like the present.”
“I was asking if Makefield had admitted to killing Chalkin.”
“Not in so many words, but when we went to see Santiago, he practically offered me a job.”
“What kind of job?”
“Without actually saying it, he—Santiago—implied he wanted to teach me the fine art of vampire killing, or dispatching, as he called it.”
She sucked in a breath. “What did you say?”
“I told him I already had a job, but I’d consider it.”
She frowned. “Why?”
He shrugged. “Why not? I happen to agree with him that vampires who kill humans need killing. Don’t you?”
“Yes, but that’s hardly the point—”
“Actually, I think it is the point. Maybe you should meet with him, then you can gauge for yourself whether or not he’s someone doing something we want to interfere with.”
“He can’t go around killing people.”
“He’s not. I wouldn’t call rogue vampires people. I think if you met him, you’d be convinced that he’s okay.”
“Would that be safe?”
He nodded. “If he wanted to, he could have killed me. He made no effort to do that.”
“Okay. Then set something up.”
He nodded. “I will. Now, can I buy you dinner?”
She hesitated before shaking her head. “We have to stay focused and keep things strictly professional between us.”
“Why? I happen to know you’re divorced and not seeing anyone. And I’m sure you’ve learned from your investigation that the same is true of me.”
“That doesn’t follow that we should mix business with pleasure.”
“It would certainly be a pleasure to take you out to dinner.”
She moistened her lips. “I heard you were dating Detective Malone.”
“I’m not dating anyone. She and I are friends.”
She arched a brow. “I heard you were lovers.”
“Were being the operative word here. We tried it for a while and decided we made better friends than lovers.”
“She’s very beautiful.”
“Yes, she is...if you like that type. So, can I buy you dinner?”
She shook her head. “I don’t think...well, actually...yes. Yes, you can, but I think I should make it clear that dinner is all I’m interested in tonight.”
That implied she might be interested in something more at a future date—if he pressed her hard enough. And he intended to press very hard. He smiled. “Dinner it is. Can I call you Madison?”
“Yes, Sergeant, you can.” She turned that wonderful smile of hers on him. “What would you like me to call you?”
“Oh, I love the way you call me Sergeant.”
Her smile widened. “Sergeant it is then.”
Several hours later when they said goodbye outside of her apartment door, he was hard-pressed not to wrap his arms around her and kiss her until she couldn’t breathe.
“I’ll contact Santiago and set up a meeting,” he told her, his gaze on her lips.
She nodded. “Okay. Thanks for dinner. Goodnight.”
She spoke in a low, breathless voice. He dragged his gaze from her mouth to look in her eyes. “I wouldn’t say no to a nightcap.”
She shook her head. “You of all people should know better than to drink and drive, Sergeant.”
“After a few hours in your company, my intoxication level is probably off the charts. One little drink isn’t going to hurt.”
She moistened her lips. “Look, Jordan, we have to work together. We can’t afford to let our...libidos get out of control.”
“Mine’s already out of control.” He bent his head, stopping with his lips just inches from hers. “What about yours?”
She pressed her hands against his shoulders. But instead of pushing him away, she lifted her lips and linked her arms around his neck. “It’s on overload,” she admitted. “So let’s just...kiss and say goodnight.”
He slipped his arms around her and brushed his lips against her soft, sweet mouth. “I’m going to do a lot more than kiss you,” he told her. He pressed her against her apartment door with his body. He licked the side of her neck, just below her ear. “We should go inside—unless you want to be fucked out here in the hallway.”
She shuddered against him and pushed against his shoulders. “If you think I’m going to let you fuck me on a first date—”
He pressed his fingers against her lips. “I am going to fuck you tonight. The only question you need to decide is where it’s going to happen. Here in the hallway or inside on a bed. Or would you like to go to my place?” He stroked her cheek. “We can fuck in the Jetted tub, on the bed or in the living room in front of the fire. Which do you prefer?”
Her saw the surrender in her dark gaze before she leaned against him. “It’s been a long time for me. Are you prepared to give me what I want?”
“Yes.”
She pressed her cheek against his shoulder. Trailing a hand down his body, she unzipped his pants and palmed his cock. “I’d like to lie on my stomach and feel this big, hard cock of yours slowly sliding in and out of my ass. I want a slow, tortuously sweet ass-fuck. I like it slow and deep. Can you handle that?”
Hot damn! He’d hit the jackpot. He smiled at her and palmed her ass. “It will be my pleasure to fuck your large, lovely ass until I make you come.” He bent his head and kissed her lips. “Then I’m still going to want some pussy.”
“Give me a sweet ass-fuck first and you can have all the pussy you want, Jordan.”
“It’s been a long time since I’ve been with a woman who excited me as much as you do. I’m going to want to eat and fuck your pussy all night long.”
She caught her breath and licked her lips. She removed her hand from his pants and linked her fingers with his. “Then let’s go to bed, Sergeant.”
* * * * *
TATIANA AWOKE ABRUPTLY and bolted up in her dark bedroom, aware that although she could see no one, she wasn’t alone in the room. Instead of apprehension, a warm feeling settled over her. A sense of peace she had not felt in over three hundred years overwhelmed her.
She jumped from her bed and stood staring into the shadows of the room. Suddenly, the figure of a slender, dark-haired woman appeared.
I heard your cries and I came to comfort and protect you, my little one.
Tears welled in her eyes and quickly spilled down her cheeks. “Mother! You came?” she whispered.
“I will always come when you call, my little one. Come.” She opened her arms. “You will tell me what troubles you and I will make it right. Yes?”
Tatiana stumbled forward into her mother’s arms. When they closed around her, she sobbed, burying her head against her shoulder. “I called and you came...you came!”
“Did you think I would not?”
“I didn’t know...I haven’t been very...I haven’t tried as hard as I should have to makes amends with you. I had no excuse not to welcome you back into my life.”
“It does not matter. What matters is that you called to me. There is no power on earth that could have kept me away from you.” Her mother lifted her and carried her to the chair by the window. Sinking down into it, she rocked her, stroking her hair. “Tell me what troubles you and I will make it right—no matter what it takes.”
Tatiana shook her head. She could not ask her mother to choose sides, not when she and Vlad were still trying to make their peace with each other. Perhaps Aleksei would forgive her if she interrupted his time with his new family to ask him to try to change Vlad’s mind.
“Thank you for coming, but this is not something I can ask your help with.”
Her mother slipped a hand under her chin and lifted her face. “There is no need to disturb Aleksei when I am here and capable of helping.”
Tatiana sighed and decided not to complain about Palea invading her thoughts. “Shouldn’t you be with Mikhel? How is he?”
“He is surrounded by love. Not only are Erica and Dimitri at his side, but his father is there as well. He is fine. He understood when I told him of your call. His friend Cal Harris piloted one of Mikhel’s jets to bring me here.”
She moistened her lips. “And Serge? Has Derri finally heard from him?”
“Yes. He had a little trouble with a former lover, but he was able to overcome her and break away.”
“He’s all right?”
“Yes. He and his boys are on their way home.”
“And this former lover who held him hostage?”
“She will be dealt with at the proper time. Now, what troubles you, little one?”
“I...don’t want you to have to choose sides.”
“Sides? Between you and who?”
“Vladimir.”
She felt a shiver pass through her mother’s body. “Vladimir?”
“Never mind. It’s really not—”
“No, my little one. Tell me what troubles you or I will have to resort to probing your mind for the information.” She stroked her cheek. “I know you have studied the shadow arts, but they will not help you in blocking my probe of a mind that is a part of mine. Trust me to do the right thing. Tell me.”
“First I have to tell you that the dispute between myself and Vladimir is entirely my fault. I’ve betrayed him—again. He’s right and I know he is, but I can’t help how I feel.”
“What has happened?”
“Oh, Mother, he’s going to kill him and there’s nothing I can do to stop Vlad without challenging him. I can’t do that. But how can I allow Vlad to...how can I stand by and do nothing while Vlad kills him?”
“Who is this male Vladimir wants to kill, and why?”
Tatiana closed her eyes and pressed her face against Palea’s body. In a small, shamed voice, she told Palea about her relationship with Jason. When she fell silent, she lifted her head, ready to face the condemnation she’d see in her mother’s gaze.