Hot Blooded (14 page)

Iona made a decision right then not to reveal everything to her mother about his death. “There was a car accident.”

“When?”

“A few days ago.”

Sarah sighed heavily. “You should've called me. I'd have gone to that nasty place and taken care of everything for you so you wouldn't have to be reminded of that awful time in our lives.”

“Was it so awful? Really? Was it?”

“I've told you repeatedly how it was.”

Iona tucked her legs against her chest in the chair and closed her eyes. “Why did you return all of Dad's cards unopened? Why didn't you let me see them?”

“I didn't want to hurt you more. You know that. You would've asked for him, and there was no returning to him.”

“What I know is that you love money and men. You move from one man to the next more often than I change locations in my work.”

Sarah tsked. “Now, Iona, you know men can't be trusted. They're to be used. I thought I taught you that.”

“You did, and for the longest time I believed you. However, I don't believe you about my father. You didn't leave him because he couldn't manage money.”

“I certainly did,” her mother said, affronted. “He spent everything.”

Iona felt more tears coming as she opened her eyes. “I think you've told yourself that so many times that you believe the lie now. I think it was because he wouldn't give you access to all of his money.”

“All of his…” Sarah trailed off and laughed. “Iona, your father never had any money.”

“He did, actually. Lots of it he inherited, and more he made for himself with his novels. He lived simply, but the money was always there.”

Just as Iona expected, her mother was speechless. It wouldn't last long. Sarah had a knack for knowing how to obtain money easily. This time, she wouldn't be using her body. She would try something different.

“Why don't I come and help you sort all this out?” Sarah asked. “You shouldn't be going through all of that on your own.”

Iona knew her mother too well. “I'm an adult, and I've been handling this by myself just fine.”

“You've always been independent, Iona, but there's no need for you to not take help when it's being offered. We could sell the land and make a pretty penny off of that. I'll leave Illias, and we can travel together like you've always wanted.”

It was a prime opportunity for Iona to put her mother in her place once and for all. After all Sarah had done to keep Iona from her father, it seemed a perfect retaliation, but Iona couldn't do it. Regardless, Sarah was still her mother, and now her only surviving parent as well as her last living relative.

“I think you should remain in Morocco or wherever you're at.”

“You're not going to share the money, are you?” Sarah asked tightly.

Iona crossed her legs and leaned her head back. “Yes, I'll give you money. If you want to be on your own for a while, I'll make sure that you don't have to sleep with a man to have the things you want.”

“You're such a good daughter, Iona. I knew I raised you right. When can I expect the money in my account?”

“A week, two at the most.”

She squealed. “How exciting. I've got to go. There's so much to do now.”

There was a click and the line went dead. Iona hung up the receiver and sat in silence. The sounds of nature penetrated the house, lending a kind of peace and calm Iona recalled from her childhood.

It was no wonder her father had remained on the land. It wasn't just the legacy of his family, but part of his soul. The sad part was that she hadn't gotten a chance to experience it with him.

The more she sat there, the more her mind wandered and caused her to start crying again. Iona couldn't stand another minute of it. She rose and headed to the bookcase to sort through the stacks there before she tackled the second file drawer in her father's desk.

*   *   *

Rhi stood outside the cottage watching Iona. Over the centuries she made a point of checking in on whoever the current resident Campbell was. It began with her infatuation with the Dragon Kings, and developed from there to helping protect them after she got involved with her lover.

Since then, it has been something she was so used to doing that it became a habit. Perhaps if she hadn't been dealing with her own issues she might have seen what was going to happen to John Campbell and prevented it.

There was a new Campbell in charge now, but Rhi suspected the mortal had no idea what it was she had. If she did, she would be much more cautious about who she spoke with and about what.

The Dragon Kings had made one of the worst decisions ever by creating a doorway in which anyone—mortal or immortal—could cross and enter Dreagan undetected.

All because Con had been too angry to realize the consequences. It wasn't his first mistake, and it hadn't been his last. But it was his worst.

There were few who knew of the spot's existence because the Campbells so tightly guarded it. However, there was one who knew it, one who would use it to his advantage.

With a thought, Rhi vanished from her place and reappeared inside The Silver Dragon antique store. She was veiled, but revealed herself as soon as she saw Ulrik was alone. He looked up from his desk the moment she appeared. His golden eyes held a flash of surprise before he set down his pen and leaned back in his chair, watching her.

Rhi took her time looking around the store at the various items from suits of armor to teapots to the bookcases filled with books on the second floor. Neither said a word until she faced him once more. His mouth was lifted in a hint of a grin, one that said he had known she would eventually show up.

“You're looking well,” Ulrik said.

She shrugged and ran a finger along the edge of his desk to the corner where she then sat, crossing one leg over the other. When he looked at her clothes, she asked, “Were you the one who cleaned up my cottage and set out the clothes?”

“Nay.” He frowned and sat forward, his arms resting on his desk. “It appears I'm no' the only one who knows of your cottage.”

“Perhaps not.” She didn't entirely believe him, then again, why would he have the need to lie? She hated when she couldn't sort out a problem, and this was definitely a conundrum. “Maybe now you'll tell me why you had John Campbell killed.”

Ulrik's smile was cold, calculating. “Who is John Campbell?”

“You know full well who he is.”

“Why the interest? I thought you were done protecting the Dragon Kings?”

She lifted her chin. “Who says I'm protecting them?”

 

CHAPTER
SIXTEEN

Laith got out of his car and closed the door to the black Audi R8. He half expected Iona to stand at the door with a shotgun, ordering him off her property. When the front door didn't fly open, Laith glanced down at his clothes to make sure he looked all right and started to the door. He reached the front steps and gave three quick raps of his knuckles against the wood.

Then he waited.

And waited.

Laith looked at John's Rover and Iona's rental car. Either she didn't want to talk, or she was out in the woods again. He didn't take her for the type to avoid someone. No, Iona would have come to the door and told him herself to bugger off.

He backed off the steps and walked around the house, looking for any sign of her. When he didn't find her at the back of the house, he peeked in a window, but wasn't able to see her.

Laith then looked to the forest. Somewhere among the trees, ferns, and moss was Iona. It wasn't difficult to find her tracks leading from the deck. She didn't venture the same way she had the day before.

It was easy for him to deduce that she was headed toward the waterfall. Laith followed the well-worn trail John and his ancestors had made over the years. The sound of the waterfall could be heard well before he spotted Iona standing by the shore staring into the pool of water.

He stopped several feet away and simply watched her. She stood silently in her jeans and hunter green shirt. He almost hated to disturb her. She looked dejected and lost. Despite what he saw, he had to talk to her. Too much rode on learning answers, least of which were the lives of every Dragon King.

“Iona,” he called.

Her head turned so that her gaze clashed with his. There was no welcoming smile, but she didn't tell him to leave either. After a moment, she looked back at the water.

Laith took that to mean he could approach. He waited until he stood beside her before he said, “I'm sorry about yesterday. I should've handled that better. I thought you were in trouble, and I reacted.”

“Why didn't you tell me my father was murdered?”

He drew in a breath and shook his head. “Dreagan has enemies, powerful enemies, and we didna know if we could trust you.”

“You mean you thought I might have killed my father?” she asked, anger deepening her voice as she faced him.

Laith turned to her, trying to find the right words. “We know you didna kill John, but we had to be careful. We would've told you the truth.”

“Yeah, I bet you would've.”

“I would have,” he insisted.

Her shoulders drooped and she looked down as she kicked the dirt. “I believe you.”

“Good.”

“Did you find out anything from those men yesterday?” she asked and looked at him expectedly.

“I wish I could say we did. Turns out they had cyanide hidden in their teeth. They used it before we could question them.”

Her eyes grew large. “Are you kidding? That doesn't happen in real life.”

“It does actually. We have a close friend in MI5, and an ex-agent who is married to another of my friends.”

She put her hands in the back pockets of her jeans. “What is going on around here? My father is murdered, men hiding out in the forest tracking me, and committing suicide by poison.”

Instead of trying to explain, he asked, “Do you know the history of your family and Dreagan?”

“I remember my dad telling me stories about Dreagan, but I can't remember them.”

Laith looked from the waterfall to the forest beyond. “Dreagan was here long before anyone settled the area. The Campbells were one of the first, and your family and Dreagan made a pact of sorts. They protected each other.”

“From what?”

“Anything. Everything,” he said, looking back at her. A strand of hair caught in the wind and tangled in her eyelashes. He pulled the hair free and tucked it behind her ear. “For hundreds of years that pact has remained.”

Her gaze skated away when he touched her, and then slid back to him. “Which, I suppose, is why my father's will stipulates I can't sell?”

“Aye. It's in the will of every owner of this land.”

“Why?” she asked, frowning. “I don't understand.”

Laith wasn't sure what was told from one Campbell to another when they inherited, and he was loath to muck it up. “Your father should have left you something explaining things.”

“Oh,” she said in surprise. “He did. I completely forgot about it.” She ran her hand through her hair and sighed. “I was distracted about his death and learning he wasn't who I thought he was. Then I discover he was killed.”

“I'm sure the letter will explain everything.”

“And those men? My father's murder? Can those be explained as easily?”

Laith gave a shake of his head. “I'm afraid no'. I wish I could, but as I said, we have enemies.”

Her head cocked to the side. “What do your enemies want? And don't you dare say it's the recipe to your whisky.”

“Corporate espionage is real,” Laith pointed out.

“True.”

“And people have been killed for less.”

She gave a nod of agreement. “Again, true.”

“We're the top seller in Scotch whisky, and we outsell most of the Irish whisky.”

“If it was just the recipe your enemies wanted, why would they kill my father and track me? What are they really after?”

Laith smoothed a hand over his hair to the queue at the base of his neck. “You wouldna believe me if I told you. Trust me when I say that these people will kill anyone who stands in their way.”

“I've been around dictators, generals, and tyrants too many times to count, and I know how those kinds of people think. This ‘pact' you speak of between Dreagan and the Campbells is a weakness for Dreagan, isn't it?”

Damn, but she was smart. Laith wished she hadn't figured it out so soon. He really wanted her to read the letter before they spoke, because he had never told a human what he was. He didn't know what words to use so he didn't scare her.

“I see,” she said. “Which means, I'm a liability, just as my father was.”

“We protect our friends.”

“Like you protected my father?”

Laith looked away. She had a point, and it pained everyone at Dreagan that John Campbell died because of them.

“I don't blame you,” Iona said. “I blame the people who did it. You can't protect everyone, no matter how hard you try.”

Laith then made a decision to tell Iona some of what they had pieced together, if for nothing more than to keep her aware of the danger. “We believe your father was killed to bring you here.”

“I was already on my way here,” she said with a snort. “There was an … incident at my last assignment where I almost died. I couldn't stop thinking of my father, so I decided to come see him.”

“I wish you'd had the chance to talk to him, but then you might have been in the Rover with him.”

Iona shrugged. “Why do you think someone wanted me here?”

“We're no' yet sure why it was important that you come, but whoever is pulling the strings has a purpose we've no' yet discerned. It's the only reason to kill your father so they could get to you.”