9781936653027BorntobeWildArsuaga (11 page)

“That’s good. I like her, for a mortal, anyway.
There’s a…a light about her.”

He looked up at Sheena. “You see it too?

“Yeah, like a glow around her whole body. I wanted
to be close by and taste her from the moment we met, but I knew she belonged to
you. Where did you find her?”

“She found me.”

“Really?
What’s her real
name? I know it can’t be Medena. That’s a strange name for her.”

He laughed. “You’re a smart girl Sheena.” He
turned back to Alexandra. “Her name is Alexandra. Alexandra Carlton.”

“The protector of mankind.
I like it. It’s an interesting name for one so delicate and beautiful.”

He looked back to Sheena, his brow wrinkled.

Sheena nodded and walked toward the door to leave.

“Sheena, wait.”

Abruptly stopping at the door, her eyes engaged
his. “Yes Master Stefan.”

“Where’s Teo?”

“I think he’s in the front of the house tonight?”

“Get him for me, please.”

“Yes, Master Stefan.”

“And Sheena, no mention to
anyone as to Alexandra’s true name.
Her name is Medena to anyone who
asks. Understood?”

She nodded.

Stefan watched Alexandra breathe evenly. Confident
the worst had
passed,
the physical part of it anyway, he
relaxed. As for the mental end, only time would tell. He saved her with his
blood and anticipated her displeasure. The alternative would have been to let
her die, and he wasn’t having any of that. She entered his life when he was
ready to end everything. He’d be damned if she left him alone in the world
again.

“And damn the bitch that made me
do
this to you. I’ll make her pay. I promise you.”

A cell phone ringtone played a rock song. The
annoying sound came from Alexandra’s handbag. Stefan found the perpetrator and
answered.

“Hello, Alexandra’s phone,” he said.

“Who the hell is this?” a deep, gruff voice came
back.

“This is Stefan Marin, and you are?”

“Why are you answering Alex’s phone? Where is
she?”

“Alexandra is…indisposed at the moment. How can I
help you?”

“What do you mean indisposed? Who the hell are
you? I was supposed to meet her. If you’ve harmed her in any way, I’ll bust
your ass up in so many ways it’ll take you a month of Sundays to put the pieces
back together again. Now put Alex on the phone.”

“Ah, you must be Alexandra’s brother, Jordan.”

“Yeah, that’s right. She told you about me?”

“Yes, we are at another club taking care of some
business and have run into a bit of a problem, but everything is okay now. Tell
you what, why don’t I have one of my men bring you over here and you can see
Alexandra here instead of waiting. How does that sound?”

“Uh, yeah, sure.
Is
everything all right?”

“Yes, she’s fine.

After hanging up, he shook his head. Now, he has
to deal with another human. The older brother of the woman he’s falling in love
with.

A knock on the door and Teo stepped inside.

“You asked for me Master Stefan?” Teo, a vampire
knight employed by Gregori asked.

“Yes. I wanted to let you know your new submissive
arrived tonight from Master Sorin. I checked her out. She’s waiting for you in
Room Four. I was preoccupied earlier. Otherwise I’d have told you sooner.”

“Not a problem. Thank you Master Stefan. By the
way, I overheard Anton talking to that Robert Cramer rich dude. He has a couple
of state politicos with him. I think they’re looking for some action tonight.
Probably some building project Cramer wants state approval rammed through
appropriations. I guess he’s here buying their votes.
Just
wanted to let you know.”
Teo exited the room.

“Great. Thanks Teo.”

Fuck! Can my
life get any more complicated?

Chapter 10

Alexandra awoke disoriented and with a throbbing
headache. The last memory before everything went black, the crazy bitch vampire
charging up to her and…sinking fangs into her. The thought jolted her upright.

“What the hell happened? Oh, my God, I’m dead.”
Grabbing her throat in a panic, and looking around the room, a panicky question
crossed her mind, “Where am I?”

“Alex, you’re not dead. It’s okay, babe.” Jordan
assured her.

“Jordan?
Oh my God, Jordy!”
She threw her arms around his neck, squeezing him tightly. He returned the
embrace, sitting down on the couch with her.

“Hell, baby girl, I’m not going anywhere. You can
lighten up on the hugging a bit.”

“I’m sorry.” Releasing the embrace, she sat back.
“I’ve missed you,
that’s
all. Oh it’s so good to see
you.” She smiled, and punched his upper arm.

“Back at ya.”
He punched
her, lightly.

“How did you get here?”

“This dude sent someone for me after I called your
cell and he answered.”

“Oh yeah, I was supposed to meet up with you. I
lost track of the time. Speaking of which, what time is it?”

“Hell if I
know,
let me
see.” He flipped out his cell phone and looked at the face. “It’s after midnight,
twelve forty-nine.”

“Good grief. How long was I unconscious?”

Stefan stood out of the way in the shadowed corner
of the office, watching the interplay between the two siblings.

“I hate to break up this love fest, but we do have
to get to work. Alexandra, how are you feeling?”

His presence surprised her. “Stefan, where did you
come from? I didn’t see you standing there.”

“On the other side of the room.
You didn’t answer me. How are you feeling?” he asked sternly.

“Hey, you can’t talk to my baby sister that way.”
Jordan stood defiantly.

Alex grabbed his wrist. “Jordy it’s okay. He
didn’t mean to sound the way he did. It’s his way, old school and all.” She
looked at Stefan and grinned. “I’m fine thank you. And you’re right. We do need
to get to work. I have to tell you something important. I think I have a lead
on the rogue vamp.”

Rising from the leather sofa, dizziness rushed
through her head, creating a sensation of the floor slipping from under her
feet. Stefan quickly moved to her side and helped her sit down.

“Whoa,” she said, her hands grabbing her head.

Jordan caught her around her shoulders. “You’re
not all right. What actually happened to you? This asshole told me you tripped
and bumped your head, but I don’t believe him. Tell me Alex.”

Staring into Stefan’s face, she searched for
answers to Jordan’s questions. The confrontation brewing was exactly what she
feared would happen when these two men bumped heads.
Big
Brother versus Big Vamp Lover.

“I tripped in the club. It’s dark in there and I
bumped my head. I’ll be okay, Jordy. I need to take it slow.
Stop
being such a big brother and fussing over me.
Please?”

“I don’t trust him, babe. He’s a vamp and we’re
breaking the rules by even sitting here having a civil conversation with him.”

“Jordan Carlton
behave
. He’s
helping me with this bounty. He’s risking his job with his Master by helping
me, so be nice to him. I trust him.” Placing her hand on Stefan’s, she squeezed
it affectionately.

The gesture riled Jordan more. “Jesus, Alex!
You’ve slept with him haven’t you? Damn it, you’re going to lose your license
and be brought up before the Council for so many violations if you’re found
out.” Standing, he paced the floor, throwing his arms up over his head. “And
Mom and Dad, they’re going to shit little green apples when they hear about
this. Good God Almighty! Their little girl is fucking a vampire. What else have
you done? Not that anything else could top this.”

“Now I know why you talk the way you do,
prinţesa mea
.” Stefan laughed.

“You think.” Her laugh joined his.

“This isn’t funny Alex.”

“I know it isn’t.” Still feeling a bit unsteady,
she rose slowly and walked toward her brother. “Jordy, what Stefan and I do is
our business and as far as the Council is concerned, well, what they don’t know
won’t hurt them. I am staying objective on this hunt and I will get my vamp and
bring him to justice. The Council can’t fault me for doing my job. As for Mom
and Dad, well, they’ll get over it because they love me and know I wouldn’t do
anything to hurt myself. And you will get over it too Jordy and so will Paul,
when you tell him of my so-called transgressions. We’re family and nothing can
tear us apart, nothing.”

Jordan glared at Stefan, fingers curled into his palms.
“You’ve done this to her, brainwashed her with your freakin’ vamp mind control.
I’m not going to let you get away with this.” He lurched toward Stefan.

“Jordan, stop. I mean it.” She threw her arms up
to his chest. He towered over her by at least a foot, but height never proved
to be an advantage during their battles of wills over the years. Slowly, he
backed down.

Stefan stood behind her. The two men sandwiched
her between them. Her arms outstretched to put distance between them and her.
“Enough I said. There are more important matters to attend than worrying about
my personal affairs. There are people dying because of a psycho vamp on the
loose with a deadly virus. Don’t you think that is more important than arguing
over who I sleep with? Grow up boys. I’m a big girl. I can make my own
decisions about who I can and can’t fuck. Got it?” Finding no answer from
Jordan, she shifted her attention to Stefan and waited for a response from
either one.

“Got it?” she asked again, in a stronger tone.

“Yes, I think the lady has spoken,” Stefan said
with a grin on his face.

“Jordy?”
Her eyes
surveyed him sternly.

“Yes, and I promise if he hurts you, he’ll have to
answer to me.”

“Your threat is noted.” Stefan nodded his head to
the brother.

“Good. Now that’s settled, can I please tell you
what I learned tonight which might help with the case?” Stepping between the
men, she headed toward the door.

Jordan and Stefan stared each other down, neither
one wanting to give ground. Stefan gave a low, throaty growl.

“You don’t scare me vamp.”

“Out of respect for Alexandra, I will not fight
you Jordan.” He turned away and walked toward Alexandra. “You’re welcome to
join us if you want to help,” he said smugly.

Jordan grumbled something indiscernible under his
breath and followed them out the door.

Alex sat between the two men at a corner table at
the front of the club. The back room sex scene wasn’t the place to talk about
vamp hunting. Hell, this room wasn’t much better, Alex thought. Without all the
sex, she could at least concentrate better.
Mental confusion as a
result of the crazy vamp attack left her feeling disoriented.
A
couple of hours seemed to have disappeared from memory.

“Stefan, the female vamp looked familiar. I’ve
seen her face somewhere before.”

“Yes, Ecaterina.
What
about her? Where did you see her?”

“I don’t know where. I think she might be the
rogue though.”

His brow furrowed and he shifted in his seat. “Why
do you think that? Because she called you a name and…tried to attack you?”

“Attack you? Who tried to harm you, Alex? You said
you tripped and bumped your head.” Jordan’s went up an octave at the end.

“I know. I didn’t want to upset you, but some
overly made up whack job vamp with a pet boy toy went postal on me, but I’m
okay bro.” She waved Jordan off with her hand and words.
“And
no, Stefan, not because the bitch tried to kill me.
I talked to Gerry,
her boy toy. He told me a few things I think fit a pattern.”

“Like what?” Jordan asked.

“Like, he met her in South Carolina, in Myrtle
Beach. He’s a Marine. While on leave, he went to a vamp club with some of his
buddies. Before he knew what happened, he was on the road with the Psycho Bitch
from Hell. Over the past several days, they have been to several vamp clubs
working their way up the East Coast. They arrived here early this morning. She’s
been screwing his eyeballs out. That’s his terminology, not mine. He’s freaking
out and can’t get away. She made him available to other vamps to feed from him.
I’m guessing to spread the virus. He was ready to tell me more when the psycho
bitch attacked me.”

“So, how does any of this link her to being the
rogue?” Stefan asked.

“I thought about the same thing and probed more.
He told me when he met her in Myrtle Beach another dude accompanied her. The
guy looked like death warmed over. Real bad off, he talked to him before he
disappeared.”

“Disappeared?” Jordan interrupted.

“Yeah, that’s how he said it. I thought it strange
too. Anyway, he said the guy freaked out and came from Miami. The guy gave him
a letter addressed to his wife and asked for him to mail it for him.”

“And did he?” Jordan asked.

“No. Seems the bitch found out and snatched it.
The dude disappeared. He never saw him again. This Gerry guy is her new boy
toy.
Wrong place at the wrong time situation.
I’m
telling you. The timing, the places, everything fits. She’s crazy enough to be
the one. Stefan? Why are you looking at me like I’m the one who’s psycho?”

“Ecaterina is crazy, I’ll give you kudos on
nailing her on that, but I can’t picture her going rogue and purposefully,
methodically killing vamps with a virus. Her method is to just go for the kill
outright. A virus is not her style. It doesn’t make sense.”

“Why did she want to talk to you privately?”

He hesitated.
“Something about a
job for me.”

“What kind of job?” Alex asked.

“A kill.”

Alex jerked her head back.
“A
kill?
What?
Who?”

“A hit on a Fed and a couple of hunters he put
onto her. Beyond that, she wasn’t too clear about them.”

Stefan had Alex’s complete attention. “Did you
believe her Stefan? What did you tell her?”

“Actually, I didn’t have a chance to tell her
anything, before she went psycho on me and went after you.”

“I don’t get it. This whole thing about her
doesn’t make sense. Why would the Feds be after her unless they thought she did
something illegal, like drugs or broke a vamp law?
And
hunters?
No, we would have heard about it through the Network. What can
you tell me about her history? I need to run a background check and see if
anything interesting shows up in the database. Maybe, just maybe we’ll get a
break. Can we go back to your place and use the computer?”

“To his lair?”
Jordan
asked astonished. “Tell me you haven’t—”

“Yes, Jordan.
He has a
nice place on the beach. With a computer we can access information on vamps,
their profiles, and their whereabouts, everything about anyone. It’s cool,
except he doesn’t have any food in the house.”

Stefan shrugged and gave her a dismayed look.

“We can stop and pick up food on the way,” Stefan
suggested.

“Oh goody, junk food here I come. I haven’t had
Cheese Doodles and Cherry Coke in days.”

“Cheese Doodles?”
Stefan
shook his head.

“You don’t know what you’re missing, baby.”
Grinning, she leaned in and kissed him on the cheek.

“I’m sure I’m not missing anything.” Stefan
grinned.

Jordan grimaced. “He’s right. I’ll take a few
brewskies
. The Cheese Doodles are all yours, sis.”

“You drive. I still don’t know my way around,” she
said.

“I planned on it, sweetheart,” Stefan said.

Alex thought her life couldn’t get any more
complicated.