Amaury's Hellion (31 page)

Samson’s mouth dropped open. “You would leave us for her?”

Amaury had never been so sure of anything else in his life. He would exchange two-hundred years of friendship for eternity with Nina in a heartbeat.

“She’s mine to protect. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for her.” Amaury widened his stance, ready to prove he wasn’t bluffing.

“She’s played you,” Gabriel accused him. “You of all people. Didn’t I warn you this could only end badly? But you didn’t want to listen, did you? How did she get you to do it? Is she really that good in bed that you’d give her such power over you? Are you that far gone?”

Livid with rage, Amaury lifted his arm and swung—but didn’t connect with Gabriel’s face. Instead, he found himself being restrained by Samson. Amaury twisted out of his grip and faced him.

“When I’m done with Gabriel, I’ll deal with you!” Yes, he’d given Nina power over him, but he trusted her with his life—she wouldn’t betray him. “Nobody gets away with insulting my mate.”

A nod of Samson’s head and Zane and Quinn took hold of Amaury, their grip viselike. No matter how furiously he tried to shake them off, they held him fast.

Then Samson shoved a pointed finger at his chest. “You, my friend, listen to me now. We’re going to take out Luther, and you can either be with us or against us. Nina will remain here—Carl will watch her. If she does anything suspicious, Carl will restrain her. And there’s not a thing you can do about it. Delilah will talk to Nina.”

Samson’s wife was a former auditor and as such had an uncanny way of finding out information. “We’ll see what she can find out. If it turns out she’s innocent, you’ll get my sincerest apologies, but in the meantime, my word is law. So, what’s it gonna be?”

Amaury pulled against Quinn and Zane, but the two didn’t give an inch. With defiance he glared at Samson. “I’m with you, but if anybody harms her, God help him, because I’ll hunt him down and tear his heart out.”

Samson nodded. A moment later the two New York vampires released him.

Samson’s basement was a veritable arsenal of weapons. The need to survive two centuries of wars had made it necessary to be prepared for everything.

Amaury took his weapons—several stakes and a semi-automatic with silver bullets—and familiarized himself with the blueprint of the building. Everybody did the same. Nervous energy rippled through the room. Again, Samson made sure each member of the team knew their position.

After they synchronized their watches, they stalked upstairs.

Amaury watched how Samson pulled Delilah into the kitchen for a private talk. Nina stood in the hallway. He saw her look at the vampires as they congregated there. Nobody said a word, yet they eyed her suspiciously. Amaury took her aside and stepped into the living room with her.

“We’re going to smoke out Luther.” Did she know this already? He searched her eyes, but found nothing suspicious, only concern. For him?

“Take me with you.”

“No. It’s too dangerous. You’re safer here.” If she
was
truly on Luther’s side, she would interfere and give their positions away. And in the melee? She could get hurt.

Amaury sensed her apprehension and wrapped her into his embrace. Not wanting to be overheard by his colleagues, he whispered into her ear, “
Chérie
, please stay here. If anything happened to you, it would kill me.”

Nina lifted her lashes and looked up at him. “You come back in one piece, okay?”

“I promise.”

She attempted a smile, but it was miserable at best, as if she knew of the danger ahead. “Can I take that to the bank?”

He chuckled, trying to put her at ease. “Like cashier’s check—it’s guaranteed.” He took her lips and kissed her passionately. Her arms tightened around him, and her lips responded with the same passion as earlier in the night. No, his Nina was no traitor. She couldn’t be. This kiss felt true, not like a lie.

With his mind, Amaury reached out to her, but before he connected with Nina’s mind, Gabriel’s voice came from the hallway. “Ready everybody?”

Amaury pulled himself out of Nina’s arms. It was time to fight.

Thirty

“I’m hungry. How about you?”

Nina turned to Delilah who stood at the door to the kitchen. “How can you eat now?”

The house was eerily quiet now that all vampires but the butler were gone.

“I can always eat. And right now I eat for two. How about I cook us something? Come, join me.” She waved her into the kitchen, and Nina followed.

“You don’t look fat. I can’t believe you’re eating for two.” She didn’t mean to insult her, but Samson’s wife truly looked perfectly proportioned.

Delilah laughed. “I’m pregnant. Juice, water?” She pointed at the bottles in the fridge.

“Water is fine.” Nina took a seat at the counter. “I was wondering whether you were human or not, but I guess that clears it up. I’m assuming vampires can’t get pregnant.”

“Amaury didn’t tell you? Men, they often forget the most obvious things.”

She and Amaury hadn’t exactly had an awful lot of time to talk. They’d barely discussed their own relationship, if it could even be called a relationship.

“Here.” Delilah handed her a glass.

Nina took a sip.

“I’m sure he’ll explain all important things to you soon. When I first blood-bonded with Samson, there was so much I didn’t know—”

“Excuse me, explain
what
to me?” She couldn’t follow Delilah’s ramblings, as nice as the woman was.

“The blood-bond and everything that goes with it.” Her hostess made it sound like that was the most obvious answer.

“That’s okay. I don’t really need to know anything about that. Once this is all over I’ll just go back to my regular life. The less I know the better.” It wasn’t like she wanted to write a book about the mating habits of vampires.

Delilah’s face looked distraught. “But, you can’t leave him now.”

“Amaury?” No, she didn’t want to leave him, but there was no future in whatever they had. She wasn’t naïve. Amaury had everything. There was no reason for him to saddle himself with somebody like her. Sure, she could try to keep him interested in her for as long as possible, but at some point he would stray and look for something new. “That’s really just a fling.” She had to downplay what they had. The less importance she gave whatever was between them, the better.

“A fling? Nina, you don’t blood-bond with a fling.” Delilah’s tone was scolding.

“Who says anything about blood-bonding?” How old-fashioned was Delilah? Just because she’d slept with Amaury didn’t mean she’d get to marry him. And besides, hadn’t Amaury said he wasn’t the promise kind of guy?

“But you and Amaury are blood-bonded.”

Now the poor woman had obviously gone off the deep end. Was that what pregnancy did to women? “No offense, but what gives you that crazy idea?” Nina reached for her glass and brought it to her lips.

“Amaury told Samson that you blood-bonded.”

The water spewed from Nina’s mouth as she almost choked. “What?” Something was seriously wrong here.

Delilah gave her a startled look. “You mean you don’t know?” Her forehead wrinkled even more.

“I didn’t do anything.”

Frantically, Nina searched her memory for everything Amaury had ever told her about blood-bonding. She remembered Luther’s story clearly, but at no point had Amaury explained how it actually worked. Why would he say such an outrageous thing to Samson?

Delilah came around the counter and sat on the stool next to her. “Tell me what happened earlier tonight when you were with Amaury.”

Nina felt heat rise into her cheeks. She couldn’t possibly discuss her sex life with a woman she’d met only twice. “Sorry, but I can’t.”

She felt Delilah’s warm hand on her arm. “It’s important. Tell me what happened.”

With a reluctant movement, Nina opened her mouth. “We had sex.”

“That goes without saying. What happened during sex?”

Nina cleared her throat. She wanted details? “Can you be a little bit more specific?” She felt her cheeks flush.

“Did Amaury take your blood?”

The rush of blood to her head suddenly made her feel dizzy.

“Yes, but he feeds from others, and that doesn’t mean he blood-bonds with them.” There had to be some kind of misunderstanding. She knew for a fact that vampires fed off humans without any aftereffects. In fact, when she’d first started investigating Eddie’s death and followed some of them, she’d seen them feeding. That had been proof positive that they were vampires.

She felt Delilah’s hands on her shoulders, shaking her out of her thoughts.

“Did you take his blood?”

Nina’s cheeks burned with embarrassment. In the heat of passion she had sucked his blood and, by God, she’d found it erotic. But no way would she admit this to a stranger. It was hard enough to admit it to herself. And besides, he’d promised her it wouldn’t turn her into a vampire. Had he lied to her?

“Did you?”

Nina looked straight at her hostess. “No, that’d be gross!” The lie rolled off her lips like water.

“It’s one of the most erotic things to do with your partner. Whenever I drink from Samson—”

“You drink his blood?”

Delilah nodded. “It’s part of the bond. At first, it establishes the connection. Then later it sustains it. Nina, please tell me the truth. Did you drink from him while you had sex and while he drank from you?”

Nina closed her eyes and nodded.

“You blood-bonded with him. He was telling Samson the truth. You are his mate.”

His mate. She—she was Amaury’s mate. For eternity. Always. This couldn’t be true. “Why would he do that?” Amaury didn’t love her—he’d admitted that he couldn’t love. She knew their relationship was only temporary.

“He didn’t explain that to you? Then I guess, he didn’t ask for your permission either?” Delilah’s voice was deadpan.

Nina remembered the one thing he had asked her. “Unless you consider his question ‘do you want me?’ as asking permission.”

“Hardly,” Delilah said. “Did he just bite you without asking you? You could bring charges against him. Samson can bring it up with the council. How despicable of him!” She seemed truly annoyed with Amaury.

“Not exactly. I did ask him to bite me, but I didn’t know what it meant.” Suddenly she felt true anger well up in her. The arrogant macho had done it again: he’d imposed his will on her. As if his wish was her command! “That son of a bitch! He tricked me! He knew what he was doing, and he did it anyway. He’s gonna pay for that. I’ll feed him his balls for breakfast, and then I’m out of here!”

Fury coursed through her. He had blood-bonded with her without asking her, without explaining anything, like she was some woman who had no rights. What century was he living in? She’d show that bastard what he could do with his blood-bond.

“Nina, you can’t leave.”

There was a firm determination in Delilah’s voice that made Nina level a gaze of refusal at her.

“I can and I will. This is over! If he thinks he can treat me like some piece of property, he can go right back into the Dark Ages where he’s from.”

“Seventeenth century, actually,” Delilah interjected.

“Whatever. Me and Amaury—that’s history!”

“Nina. Maybe I should explain something about the blood-bond to you, since obviously nobody else has.”

“I know more than I ever wanted to know about it. I don’t need to know anything else. It’s over!”

Delilah cleared her throat. “Maybe I should pour you a brandy. I think you’ll need it.”

Suspicion crept up Nina’s spine and settled uncomfortably at her nape. “I don’t need a brandy. Say what you’ve got to say.”

“A blood-bond is forever. Only death can sever it.”

“Ah, fuck! Please tell me you’re kidding.”

Slowly Delilah shook her head. That’s when the realization broadsided her. She was bonded to Amaury for eternity. And she hadn’t been given a choice about it. He, caveman that he was, had decided for her. This changed
everything
.

“Oh, wait until I get my hands on him!” And that was a promise
he
could take to the bank.

Thirty-one

The minivan came to a stop half a block from the warehouse. Oliver killed the engine. He would be the lookout while the vampires went in.

“This is the place,” Samson said.

“Are we sure?” Amaury asked, glancing out the window.

Gabriel nodded. “It looks exactly like in Paul Holland’s memories. This is Luther’s base. Paul couldn’t lie about it even if he wanted to. Luther should have been more careful about what he allowed him to see. Now we’ll get him.” The scar on his face throbbed.

“You all know what to do. Let’s get into positions. Gabriel calls the shots,” Samson ordered.

“Communication equipment on.” Gabriel touched the little device sticking out from his ear. The others did the same. “Checking.”

Amaury heard the sound of Gabriel’s voice in his earpiece. Everything worked fine.

They scrambled out of the van. Amaury stretched his legs and looked around. The neighborhood was industrial and on the other side of the train tracks, if not to say the wrong side of the tracks. A few blocks down was San Francisco Bay, a couple of blocks up the Potrero Hill neighborhood. The streets were deserted. It was better that way. Nobody would call the cops once the fight started.

Amaury tensed. It would be over soon, but so much for him depended on the outcome. Was Nina truly on the other side, or was she just as much a pawn as Paul Holland had been? Maybe drawn in by some promises Luther had made and would never keep? In a short time, he’d know the truth, and it scared him.

His entire future depended on the truth. He would never leave her. She was his mate and he was responsible for her life now as she for his.

“Ready?” Ricky’s voice came from behind.

Absentmindedly he nodded. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

The group split up, every pair making their way to their prearranged place, covering the various entry points to the building. Ricky and Amaury walked side by side, gliding silently toward the side entrance.

The closer they came to the entry door, the more worried Amaury was. He was supposed to help the group by sensing anybody’s emotions from the inside, yet right now he couldn’t even sense what Ricky was feeling. And the guy walked right next to him.