How To Marry A Millionaire Vampire (28 page)

“This vampire television is amazing.” Alyssa sipped from a canned cola. “They have soap operas just like we do. And what on earth is Chocolood?”

“A drink made of chocolate and blood,” Shanna explained. “It’s popular with the ladies, though I heard it’s making them gain weight.”

Alyssa laughed. “You’re kidding me.”

“No. In fact, Roman made a new drink to help solve the problem. It’s called Blood Lite.”

This time, both her watchdogs laughed.

Austin shook his head. “They’re not at all what I expected.”

“Me, neither.” Alyssa bit into a piece of pizza. “I thought they’d be white and slimy, but they look so normal.”

“Yeah,” Austin agreed. “And they have this whole culture that’s different, but it still seems so… human.”

“They are human. They feel pain and fear and… love.” Shanna wondered what Roman was feeling right now.

“Well, don’t let your dad hear that,” Alyssa warned her. “He thinks they’re a bunch of vicious psychopaths.”

“Where is my dad?” Shanna asked.

“Watching Petrovsky’s house, as usual,” Austin replied. “He hates the Russians with a passion, especially since they targeted you at that restaurant.”

Shanna blinked. “Excuse me?”

“Way to go, Austin,” Alyssa muttered.

“I thought she knew.” Austin turned to Shanna. “Didn’t the FBI tell you?”

“Tell me what?” Shanna’s heart rate quickened. “Are you saying my friend’s murder wasn’t an accident?”

Austin frowned. “It was payback. Your dad sent some of the top mafia guys in Russia to jail. Your family was flown out of Russia in secret. No one knows where they are. When the remaining mafia guys wanted revenge, you were the only family member they could find.”

Shanna shook off a wave of dizziness. “They were trying to kill me? Karen died because of me?”

“It’s not your fault,” Alyssa insisted. “You only became a target because you’re Sean Whelan’s daughter.”

“Given the circumstances,” Austin continued, “working on our team will be the best life for you. You’ll be under the radar, untraceable, and well trained in self-defense.”

Shanna collapsed onto her back and stared at the ceiling. All this time, she’d thought that night at the restaurant was a terrible fluke. They’d been at the wrong place at the wrong time. But all along, she’d been the target. She was supposed to die, not Karen.

“Are you okay?” Alyssa asked.

“I feel terrible about Karen dying instead of me.”

“Well.” Austin popped open a can of soda. “If it helps, the mafia would have killed you both if they’d seen you. They wouldn’t have left any witnesses.”

Somehow, that didn’t really help. Shanna closed her eyes.

Shanna ? Where are you ?

She gasped and sat up. Austin and Alyssa stared at her. “I, uh, need to go.” She hurried to the restroom. My God, was Roman trying to contact her? Could their connection be strong enough to work long distance? She turned on the water faucets to mask her voice. “Roman, can you hear me?”

Yes. I’m here. His voice grew louder in her head as if he were tightening the connection. Where are you?

“I’m in a hotel with some of my father’s team members.”

Are you a prisoner? Or is that where you want to be?

“I’m fine for now. Don’t worry about me. How are you? Are you going to war tonight?”

The dispute will be finished tonight. Why—why did you call your father? I thought you were going to stay with me.

“I didn’t call him. He was outside, watching Petrovsky’s house, and saw me go in. He thought I was in danger, so he came in to rescue me.”

You intend to stay with him ?

“I’d rather be with you, but if staying here helps me to protect you—“

I don’t need your protection!

His angry voice reverberated in her head for a few seconds. “Roman, I will always love you. I would never betray you.”

The connection crackled with tension.

“Roman? Are you there?”

A new emotion sifted into the connection. Despair. He was hurting. Shanna pressed his silver crucifix against her heart.

If I survive this night, will you come back to me?

If he survived the night? “Roman, what are you saying? Are you going to war?”

Will you come back to me?

“Yes! Yes, I will. But Roman, don’t do anything dangerous. Please.” Her grip on the crucifix tightened.

There was no response.

“Roman! Don’t go!” She jumped when there was a banging on the bathroom door.

“Shanna!” Austin shouted. “Are you okay in there?”

“I’m fine,” she yelled. She concentrated on sending a mental message. Roman. Roman, can you hear me?

No response. The connection was gone. And so was Roman.

It couldn’t be a matter of pride. Angus had to be wrong. Roman knew Jean-Luc was a better swordsman. Angus was a better soldier. So how could it be pride that was hurtling him down this chosen path? He didn’t know. All he knew for certain was he would do anything to save his people and Shanna. He’d changed many of the Highlanders himself. He’d even transformed Jean-Luc and Angus. He’d condemned all their souls to an eternity in hell should they perish. He couldn’t allow that to happen, even if it meant his own death and eternal damnation.

It was shortly after eleven when Roman climbed the stone steps and opened the heavy wooden door of a church. His steps echoed in the empty foyer. Flames flickered in row upon row of red glass votives. Statues of saints and the Holy Mother stared down at him, questioning his presence in a house of God. He wondered about it, too. What did he think to gain here?

He crossed himself, then reached for the holy water. He paused, his hand hovering over the font. The water swirled, then began to boil. Steam drifted upward, heating his skin.

He snatched his hand away. He needed it in good shape for the swordfight. As the water ceased to boil, his heart sank into despair. Surely he had received the answer to his question. His soul was doomed.

The door banged shut behind him. Roman whipped around, then relaxed when he saw who had entered.

Connor, Gregori, and Laszlo gave him sheepish looks.

“I thought I made myself clear. I was not to be followed.”

Connor shrugged. “We knew we could follow ye here. Ye wouldna be fighting a duel in a kirk, now would ye?”

“Besides,” Gregori added. “We were coming here, anyway. We wanted to pray for you.”

“Yes.” Laszlo crossed himself. “We’ve come to pray.”

Roman snorted. “Pray all you like, for all the good it will do.” He strode down the aisle to the confessional booths. He entered a booth and took a seat.

A small door slid open. On the other side of the screen, Roman could barely make out the shape of the priest in the dark. He seemed old and hunched over.

“Bless me, Father, for I have sinned.” Roman turned away and mumbled the first half of the next sentence. “It’s been five hundred and fourteen years since my last confession.”

“What was that?” an old voice rasped. The priest cleared his throat. “Fourteen years?”

“It’s been a long time. I have broken my vows before God. I’ve committed many sins. And tonight, I may cease to exist.”

“Are you ill, my son?”

“No. Tonight, I will risk my life to save my people.” Roman rested his head on the wooden wall. “But I’m not sure good can triumph over evil, or that I am even good. God has abandoned me, so surely I am also evil.”

“Why do you believe God has abandoned you?”

“Once, long ago, I believed I could save a village, but I succumbed to the sin of pride and fell into darkness. I have been there ever since.”

The priest cleared his throat once again and shifted in his chair. Roman figured his story sounded too strange. He’d wasted his time coming here. What had he hoped to find?

“Let me see if I understand,” the priest said. “The first time you tried to save people, you were certain of victory?”

“Yes. In my pride, I knew I could not fail.”

“Then, in your mind, you were risking nothing. Are you certain of victory tonight?”

Roman stared into the darkness of the booth. “No, I am not.”

“Then why are you risking your life?”

Tears filled his eyes. “I cannot bear for them to risk their own. I… love them.”

The priest took a deep breath. “Then you have your answer. You do this not out of pride, but out of love. And since love comes from the Father, He has not abandoned you.”

Roman scoffed. “You do not understand the magnitude of my sins.”

“Perhaps you do not understand the magnitude of God’s forgiveness.”

A tear rolled down Roman’s face. “I wish I could believe you, Father. But I have done such evil. I fear it is too late for me.”

The priest leaned close to the screen. “My son, for the truly repentant, it is never too late. I will pray for you tonight.”

It was after midnight when Austin’s cell phone buzzed. By his respectful tone and the way he kept glancing at her, Shanna suspected he was talking to her father. She’d been worried all evening about the possibility of a vampire war. Her attempts to contact Roman mentally had failed.

“I understand, sir.” Austin handed his phone to Shanna. “Your father wants to talk to you.”

She lifted the phone to her ear. “Dad?”

“Shanna, I thought I’d let you know what was going on. We have a tap on Petrovsky’s phone, so we heard him talking to Draganesti.”

“What’s happening? Are they going to war?”

“Well, it appears Draganesti was ready for one. He claims to have two hundred warriors. Petrovsky’s been on the phone all evening, ordering his followers to show up. We think he has about fifty at the most.”

Shanna exhaled with relief. “Roman has him outnumbered.”

“Well, not exactly. You see, Draganesti made a deal with Petrovksy. They’re meeting in Central Park. Instead of a war, the two of them are supposed to duel to the death.”

Shanna’s knees buckled and she collapsed on the bed. “What?”

“Yeah, they’re supposed to meet alone on the East Green at two in the morning. Silver swords and only one left standing.”

Shanna struggled for air. Roman was fighting to the death? “This—this can’t be true. We have to stop this.”

“Don’t think we can, sweetheart. But I’m a bit concerned about your friend. You see, we heard Petrovsky order his men to show up this evening. As far as we know, Draganesti will be coming alone. But Petrovsky, he’s bringing his whole army.”

Shanna gasped. “Oh my God.”

“When we listened in, we could tell Draganesti’s people don’t know where the duel’s taking place. So there’s no way they can help him. Kinda sad. Looks like a slaughter to me.”

Shanna thought back over the conversation. Two a.m., East Green, Central Park. She had to let the Highlanders know.

“Gotta go, sweetheart. Just wanted to give you an update. Bye.”

“Bye.” Shanna gripped the phone tightly and glanced at Austin and Alyssa. “I have to make a call.”

Alyssa stood. “We can’t allow that, Shanna.”

Austin lounged on the second bed. “What’s the harm in it? Even prisoners are allowed one call.”

Alyssa pivoted toward Austin. “Are you crazy?”

“No.” Austin gave her a pointed look.

Shanna quickly punched in the number to Roman’s house. She knew this was too strange. Too convenient. First her dad told her the information, and now Austin was letting her use his phone. But it made no difference. She still had to save Roman.

“Hello?”

“Connor, is that you?”

“Aye. Shanna? We’ve been worried about you.”

“Can you, uh, do that phone thing?”

“Teleport? Aye. Where are you?”

“A hotel room. Hurry. I’ll keep talking.” Shanna glanced at Austin and Alyssa. “There are two other people here, but I don’t think it should be a—“

Connor materialized beside her.

“Holy shit!” Austin scrambled out of bed.

Alyssa’s mouth dropped open.

“Sorry for the intrusion.” Connor took the phone from Shanna. “Ian, are ye there?”

“He—he’s wearing a kilt,” Alyssa whispered.

“Aye, that I am.” Connor’s gaze drifted over the female CIA agent. “And ye’re a bonnie lass.”

Alyssa sputtered.

“How the hell did you do that?” Austin asked.

“Och, about the same way I do this.” Connor wrapped an arm around Shanna. She grabbed him just as everything went black.

When the darkness faded away, she found herself in the foyer at Roman’s house. The first floor was jammed with Highlanders, all armed to the teeth. An air of frustration hung over them as they paced about.

Angus MacKay strode toward her. “Connor, why have ye brought her here?”

Before Connor could answer, Shanna broke in. “I have news. Roman and Petrovsky are fighting a duel tonight.”

“That is no’ news, lass.” Connor regarded her sadly.

“But Petrovsky is bringing an army! You have to help Roman.”

“Bugger,” Angus muttered. “I knew that bastard wouldna keep his word.”

“How do ye know this, Shanna?” Connor asked.

“My father bugged Petrovsky’s house. He heard their plans and told me. I had to warn you. Roman is meeting Petrovsky on the East Green in Central Park at two a.m.”

The Scotsmen exchanged desperate glances.

Angus shook his head. ” Tis no use, lass. We promised we wouldna follow him.”

“I’m not leaving him alone!” Shanna reached for Connor’s sword. “I made no promise, so I’m going.”

“Wait,” Connor shouted. “If Shanna goes, we can follow her. We never promised we wouldna do that.”

“Aye.” Angus grinned. “And the lass will need our protection. Roman would want us to follow her.”

“Great.” Shanna faced the Highlanders and lifted her sword in the air. “Follow me!”

The small kernel of hope Roman had garnered from his confession quickly withered away when he arrived at the East Green. Petrovsky had broken his agreement. He was not alone.

His coven spread out in a semicircle. Roman estimated fifty vampires, mostly male. About two dozen carried torches.

Petrovsky stepped forward. “It will be a pleasure killing you.”

Roman gripped the hilt of his sword. “I see you were too afraid to come alone. You even brought a few women with you to wipe your nose.”

“I’m not afraid. I gave my word I wouldn’t harm any of your people, but I never promised that my followers wouldn’t attack you if I’m killed. So you see, Draganesti, one way or another, tonight you will die.”

Roman swallowed hard. He’d already figured as much. The prayers of one priest and three friends were not enough. God had abandoned him long ago.

“Are you ready?” Petrovsky drew his sword.

Roman drew his own sword. A gift from Jean-Luc, it was razor sharp, the steel blade plated with pure silver. The hilt was steel and leather and fit perfectly in his hand. He swished the blade through the air and saluted Petrovsky. He allowed himself one last thought of Shanna, then focused his mind on one thing only—survival.

As Shanna ran to the East Green, she could hear the clash of swords. The sound was terrifying, yet reassuring. If Roman was fighting, he was still alive.

“Halt!” Angus stopped beside her. “I know we’re supposed to be following you, lass, but we need to do it faster.” He swung her up into his arms.

Trees zoomed by, and Shanna held on tight. The Highlanders moved with vampire speed until they reached the edge of the clearing.

Angus set her down on her feet. “I’m sorry I misjudged you. Here.” He handed her a sword. “Now we will follow you.”

“Thank you.” She stepped into the clearing.

The warriors spread out behind her, led by Angus MacKay and Jean-Luc Echarpe. Roman and Ivan Petrovsky were in the middle of the clearing, circling each other. As far as Shanna could tell, Roman was untouched. Ivan’s clothes were slashed in a few places. Blood oozed from a wound on his left arm.

Petrovsky glanced her way and cursed. “You bastard, you had her all along. And you brought your bloody army.”

Roman eased back and glanced quickly at Shanna and the Highlanders. He focused once more on Petrovksy, but yelled, “Angus, you gave me your word you would not follow me.”

“We dinna follow you,” Angus shouted back. “We dinna know where ye were. It was the lass we followed.”

Roman leaped to the right as Petrovsky charged. He spun about and jabbed the Russian in his hip. Ivan cried out and pressed a hand against the wound.

“Shanna!” Roman yelled. “Get out of here.”

“I’m not leaving you.” She stepped forward. “And I’m not letting you die.”

Ivan looked at the blood on his hand. “You think you’re winning, don’t you, Draganesti? But you’re wrong. Just like you were wrong about Casimir.”

Roman circled him. “Casimir is dead.”

“Is he now?” Ivan pivoted to keep Roman in view. “Did you see him die?”

“He fell just moments before sunrise.”

“And you and your friends fled to shelter. So you didn’t see what happened next. I took Casimir to my secret lair.”

A gasp echoed among the Highlanders.

“You lie,” Roman whispered, his face pale. “Casimir is dead.”

“He lives. And he’s growing his army for revenge!” Ivan lunged forward and slashed his sword across Roman’s stomach.

Roman leaped back, but the slice still found its mark. Blood seeped from the wound. He stumbled back.

Shanna gasped at the sight of Roman bleeding. Then, behind him, she spotted two Russians drawing their weapons. “Roman! Watch out!” She ran toward him.

With lightning speed, Angus caught her. “Nay, lass.” — Roman spun around to defend himself from the two Russians.

Ivan glared at Shanna. “I’m sick of you, bitch!” He zipped over to her, slicing the air with his sword.

Angus shoved her behind him and drew his weapon, but Jean-Luc leaped forward first, his sword raised. He brought it down with a loud clash. Ivan stumbled back. Jean-Luc lunged forward, thrusting and sending Ivan back in retreat.

Shanna gasped when she saw Roman skewer one of his Russian attackers through the heart. The man collapsed to the ground and crumbled into dust. The other Russian dropped his sword and backed away.

Roman moved toward Shanna. “Angus, take her back home where she’ll be safe.” He pressed a hand to the wound across his mid-section.

Shanna tried to run toward him, but Angus held her back. “Roman, come with us. You’re wounded.”

He gritted his teeth. “I have unfinished business.” He charged toward Petrovsky.

Jean-Luc jumped back just as Roman’s sword clashed against Ivan’s. Petrovsky was caught by surprise. With a quick maneuver, Roman whisked Ivan’s sword from his grasp. The sword flew through the air and landed close to one of the Russians.

Ivan ran toward his sword. Roman sliced him across the back of the legs, and he stumbled to the ground. He rolled over, but Roman was already there, pointing his sword at Ivan’s heart. “You lose,” Roman whispered.

Ivan looked frantically about.

Roman pressed the tip of his sword against Ivan’s chest. “Swear that you and your coven will never harm any of my people.”

Ivan gulped. “I swear.”

“And you will cease your terrorist activities against my factories.”

Ivan nodded. “If I promise, you won’t kill me?”

Jean-Luc eased forward. “He has to die, Roman.”

“Aye.” Angus let go of Shanna and strode toward them. “You canna trust him.”

Roman took a deep breath. “If he dies, someone else will take over his coven and leadership of the Malcontents. And the new leader will continue to terrorize us. But if we let Petrovsky live, he’ll have to keep his word. Right?”

“Right.” Ivan nodded. “I’ll keep my word.”

“Of course you will.” Roman smiled grimly. “Or I will find you during the day while you are defenseless. Understand?”

“Yes.” Ivan slowly stood.

Roman backed away. “Then we’re finished here.”

One of the Russians dashed forward and picked up Ivan’s sword. “I believe this belongs to you.” He stabbed Ivan through the stomach.

Ivan stumbled back. “Alek? Why do you betray me?” He fell to his knees. “You, you bastard. You want my power, my coven.”

“No.” Alek glared at him. “I want your women.”

Ivan collapsed on the ground, clutching his stomach.

“You fool.” A female vampire walked toward him and pulled a wooden stake from her belt. “You treated me like a whore.”

Ivan gasped for air. “Galina. You stupid bitch. You are a whore.”

Another female pulled a stake from her belt. “You won’t ever call us bitches again. We’re taking over your coven.”

“What?” Ivan scooted across the grass as the two female vampires approached. “Katya, Galina, stop. You can’t run a coven. You’re too stupid.”

“We were never stupid.” Galina knelt beside him. “I’ll have all the men I want.”

Katya knelt on the other side. “And I’ll be like Catherine the Great.” She glanced at Galina. “Shall we?”

The two women plunged their stakes into Ivan’s heart.

“No!” His cry faded as he crumbled away to dust.

The women rose and faced the Highlanders.

“A truce, for now?” Katya suggested.

“Agreed,” Angus said.

The Russians zipped away, disappearing into the night.

It was over.

Shanna gave Roman a shaky smile. “That was strange. Here. Raise your arms so we can bind your wound.”

Connor wrapped a bandage around Roman’s middle and tied it off. Then he removed a bottle of blood from his sporran and passed it to Roman.

“Thank you.” Roman took a drink, then reached for Shanna. “We need to talk.”

“We sure do. Don’t you ever agree to a stupid duel again. I’ll lock you up in the silver room and lose the key.”

He smiled as he wrapped his arms around her. “I love it when you’re bossy.”

“Release her!” a voice shouted.

Shanna turned to see her father approaching with a flashlight. Behind him, Garrett, Austin, and Alyssa were carrying flashlights and silver pistols. Their belts were lined with wooden stakes. They stopped a distance from them and surveyed the scene, their lights moving here and there.

Her father shone a light on a pile of dust. “I’m hoping that’s Petrovsky?”

“Aye,” Angus answered. “And ye’re Sean Whelan?”

“Yes.” Sean located the second pile of dust. “Another Russian?”

“Yes,” Roman answered. “I killed him.”

With a sigh, Sean gazed about the East Green. “Not exactly the result I was looking for. Only two dead.”

“What are you talking about?” Shanna asked.

“You did your part well, sweetheart. I know you’re under the influence of that filthy creature who has his paws on you right now. I told Austin to let you use his phone. I knew you would warn Draganesti’s friends.”

“You were hoping for a war.” Roman tightened his arms around Shanna. “You hoped most of us would die.”

“Less work for us if you kill each other off.” Sean shrugged. “But we’ll get you. Mark my word.”

Jean-Luc lifted his sword. “Foolish words when we have you outnumbered.”

“Aye.” Angus moved toward them. “What ye doona realize is that ye need us. There’s an evil vampire amassing an army as we speak. Ye’ll not be able to defeat Casimir without our help.”