Real Vampires Have More to Love (17 page)

He groaned and reached for me, his hand on the back of my head. “Glory.” At least that got some of my healing blood into his mouth. I saw him swallow, then grimace.

“Don’t stop, keep drinking. Damn it, Rafe, I need you healthy. Do it for me.” I pressed my wrist harder against his mouth and laid my head on his chest. His heartbeat was strong and reassuring. I felt him swallow and smiled. “That’s right, buddy. Drink Glory’s magic juice. Then you’ll be all better.”

He shuddered, then his arm tightened around me. With his other hand he shoved my wrist away and rolled me under him. His mouth came down on mine, and he kissed me like he was about to take his last breath. I went with it, savoring his taste, the heat of his mouth and the feel of his hard body. Rafe. I couldn’t bear it if I lost him. The kiss seemed endless and stirred all sorts of feelings deep inside me. Then I heard the scrape of a key in the door lock.

I shoved him off and jumped to my feet. I’d rip out the throat of whoever thought they were going to beat on Rafe again. Then he was by my side, standing close and in the same defensive posture I’d taken. Fine, we’d kick butt together.

“Children, please relax.” Simon and two of his EV muscle-men stood just inside the door. “While I admit the preceding scene was quite illuminating, I want to talk now. Unless you make these guards take a rough road instead of an easy one.”

“You saw ... ?” I glanced at Rafe.

“Of course, my dear. Have you forgotten that I have every nook and cranny of this compound wired for sound and picture? I wonder what your lover Jeremy Blade would think if I sent him a short clip of you two rolling around on the bed?”

“If Jerry knew I was out here, he’d be at the head of the army ready to take you down.” I wasn’t about to lower my guard. “Once a voyeur, always a voyeur. How pathetic is that?”

“Not pathetic, Gloriana. Useful.” Simon smiled and gestured to his men. “Jerry, as you call him, will not be in such a hurry to rescue you if he thinks you’ve been out here with your new lover.” He laughed. “And he’ll wonder what’s been going on all those years he had you on his payroll, Valdez.”

“Why you—” Rafe lunged for Simon, but the two guards stepped between them. One of them aimed a weapon and there was a sizzle, then Rafe staggered and went down.

“What did you do to him?” I ran to where he lay flat on his back, scowling and twitching one foot.

“Taser.” Rafe growled at the two men. “Assholes, I’d like to see you try to hold me back without that.”

“Why should they, Mr. Valdez? It’s such a handy tool. Lucky for you I told them to keep it dialed back. Otherwise you wouldn’t be able to speak; you’d be in a drooling coma.” Simon chuckled. “Your big tough bodyguard came running to your rescue, Gloriana, but obviously he’s gotten careless since he’s fallen for your voluptuous charms. We caught him before he’d gone a foot inside the compound.” Simon flicked me with a look that made me want to check to see if my breasts were covered.

“Don’t listen to him, Rafe. He’s playing mind games.” I helped Rafe up. “What do you want, Simon?”

“To finish our earlier conversation. About Westwood. I’ll hold your ‘friend’ here as a guarantee that you cooperate.” He nodded, and one of the men aimed the Taser at Rafe again.

“No! Leave Rafe out of this. I’ll do what you want, just let him go.” I jumped in front of Rafe when he tried to get at Simon.

“Don’t listen to him, Glory. You know you can’t trust him.” Rafe looked battered, pale and determined.

“It’s okay, Rafe. Simon and Westwood need me. And Simon knows he has to hold up his end if he wants me to hold up mine.” I sent Rafe a mental message to trust me. He wasn’t happy, and I could tell he wanted to take another shot at those guards.

“Come along, Gloriana. If you’ve truly come to your senses, Mr. Valdez will be waiting for you when we’re done, no worse for wear.” Simon gave Rafe a warning look. “Be aware, Valdez, that your actions can endanger Gloriana. She’s right, we need her. So relax and heel like a good dog.” Simon laughed when Rafe lunged and got a jolt from the Taser that sent him to the floor again.

“Stop it! Let’s go.” I didn’t look back at Rafe, just followed Simon out the door. God, I hated this. But with Rafe as a hostage, what choice did I have? We were both going to be out of this evil place before dawn no matter what I had to do.

Ten

Another face-to-face with Westwood, who was waiting in Simon’s office. I turned to the EV leader.

“Simon, I’m never helping this murdering rat bastard.”

“Gloriana, pay attention.” Simon pointed to the chair where I’d sat before my chocolate swan dive.

“I don’t trust either of you.” I dropped into the chair. “You’re wasting your breath.”

“Listen up, lady. Simon and I can make your life a living hell. You believe that?” Westwood was obviously in a better mood now, which worried me.

“Sure, Simon’s powerful and has lots of evil tricks up his sleeve.” I smiled at the thought of Westwood getting his energy sucked out while Simon spent his billions. “Slither out from under Simon’s skirts, and I’ll show you how vampires deal with each other. It’ll be fun for you, fledgling.”

Westwood’s snarl needed work, but he was definitely furious. “I fight with my brain, not my new fangs. I’m a computer genius, and that’s not bragging. It’s how I made my fortune. So I can hack into your records, empty your bank accounts, give you a criminal history, even issue warrants for your arrest in foreign countries. That could be fun for
you
.” His superior smirk begged to be slapped off of his very forgettable face. Westwood was average in every way—height, build and bland features under close-cropped mouse brown hair. It had made him a dangerous hunter who could blend in with a crowd.

Simon must have read my mind. “Gloriana, focus. I know Westwood’s not your type. You go for big men with short tempers.”

I smiled. “You’re right. I like tough guys, real men who aren’t afraid to stand and fight instead of hiding behind a piece of technology.”

“Listen to me, Gloriana.” Simon gripped that letter opener like he wanted to use it on me. “Westwood has his tricks, and you’re right, I have mine. We
can
make your life a living hell. And then there are your friends. Like Mr. Valdez.”

I flashed to Rafe’s bloody body. And with Westwood’s hacking skills, even Jerry could become a pauper. So not fair.

“Blackmail? Getting desperate, aren’t you?” I managed a superior look.

“Your friend Florence is having a wedding soon. It would be a shame to have the festivities ruined by an unfortunate event.” Simon dropped the letter opener, obviously assured he had my full attention now. He steepled his long fingers and tapped them together. “And you’ve been so looking forward to it. Florence too, of course. Even your friend Israel Caine will be here. How would things play out if you had some uninvited guests?”

Westwood laughed. “Got you on the ropes now, don’t we?”

He was right. I couldn’t risk my friends or their happiness because I hated this creep. Make a video. Okay, not a big deal. And if I could squeeze some money out of this, so much the better.

“Ah, I think you’re finally getting it, Gloriana.” Simon stood and walked around the desk. “We have some details to work out. It will be up to you to keep people like your Valdez from interfering as we take care of this. Can you do that?”

“If I have to.” I hated being backed into a corner. No way was I telling Jerry any of this. He’d want to charge right out here and make sure we had a Westwood body with us when we left. But Simon had an army of EVs and those damned tricks. Jerry wouldn’t stand a chance.

“Here’s the plan. You go back to your little life. Communicate to my children that you have a line on proving whether I’m alive or dead. That should keep them off your case while I get things set up.” Westwood leaned back.

“No problem. I already told your daughter I might be able to find your remains. Know what? She didn’t even shed a tear. Did a happy dance around my shop ’cause that meant she’d get to your cash sooner rather than later.” I smiled when Westwood looked sick. Aw, did I break the big bad man’s heart?

“Don’t be a bitch, Gloriana. Chocolate?” Simon strolled over and dropped one into his mouth. “The others were just to make sure you stayed around long enough to see reason. And you have, haven’t you?”

“What I see is that I have no choice. Unlike you two social rejects, I
do
have friends. And I won’t have them bothered on my account. Don’t interfere in Flo’s wedding or hurt any of them, financially or otherwise.” I was over chocolate. Just the smell had my stomach doing jumping jacks into my windpipe.

“Cooperate and everyone near and dear to you will be fine.” Simon smiled and went for another candy. Sadist. “Sure you won’t have one? These are excellent. I may let you have some for your little bachelorette party.”

Bachelorette party. Like I could think about that now. It seemed so normal and impossible.

“Let’s get this over with. Bring out the camera.” I looked from Simon to Westwood. “Let Rafe go as a sign of good faith.”

“Not so fast, Gloriana. As I said, we have things to arrange first. But you and your”—Simon winked—“
friend
may leave. You understand the consequences if you try to back out of this deal now, don’t you?”

“Yes, yes. Just tell me when and where, and I’ll do it.” I grabbed the doorknob. To my surprise, it turned beneath my hand. “Release Rafe and we’re out of here.”

“Why not? I’ll have Gregory give you a ride.” Simon walked toward his desk and picked up the phone.

“Forget it. We’ll shift and get back on our own. Call and tell them to release Rafe.” I glanced out into a hallway but had no idea exactly where they were keeping him. Simon had led me through two buildings before we’d arrived at his office. “Have him meet me outside.” I could see the glass door to the grounds at the end of the hall. “Now.”

“So demanding.” Simon picked up the phone. “Send the shifter to the front of the temple. Tell him you’re taking him to his girlfriend, but put an extra guard on him, he’ll probably give you trouble. Release him when she gets there.” He hung up and looked at me. “Satisfied?”

I didn’t bother to respond. I hurried to the door and pushed it open. I was in the area in front of the gold-domed temple where the goddess resided. I heard an ominous groan coming from there, and my nerves shredded. When I saw Rafe being half dragged from the opposite side of the clearing, I ran to him. The guards just dropped him at my feet and stepped back.

“Was this necessary?” I snarled at the guards. They didn’t bother to answer. “Bastards!”

“Rafe, what the hell happened?” I knelt beside him and touched his forehead. He was bleeding from a new gash.

“Taser again. I wanted to know if you were okay and where they were taking me. They didn’t like questions.” Rafe held on to my arm. “What now?”

“We’re free to go. Can you shift? I can get us a ride, but I thought we could just fly the hell out of here.” I glanced at the stony-faced guards. One of them had a bruised chin and the other the beginning of a black eye. All right, Rafe.

“I can manage.” He looked at the guards. “Let’s jet.” He visibly pulled himself together. With a groan, he changed into a bird in a blur of motion.

I did the same and we headed out. Not that I had a clue which way to go, but I figured Rafe had found me out here, he could lead us home.

I was right. We landed less than a block from the shop and apartment. The flight had been a long one, much longer than I was used to, but Rafe had been watching out for me to make sure I didn’t stray too far from him. We shifted back, and both collapsed on the grass under a tree.

“I want to hear what you had to do to get us out of there, but home first. It’s late.” Rafe slung his arm around me.

I leaned against him. “You’ve been Tasered and kicked around. Can you stand up?”

“Think so.” He pushed himself up, using the tree for leverage, then put his arm around me again. “You did great, Glory. Shifting like that.”

“Thanks. And I’ll tell you everything when I wake up. It
is
late, and you need to lie down before you fall down.” We walked toward the alley, Rafe limping but surprisingly strong. He was still the bodyguard, scouting out the area first before we got close to the back door of the shop. Luckily Rafe still had his keys. Mine were inside where I’d left them.

In the back room, I grabbed my purse, then remembered that my cell phone was in my pocket. Three missed calls and a voice mail from Jerry. Later.

We checked in with Erin, who promised to phone Lacy and let her know I was all right, then headed for the apartment. I opened the door and almost walked into Nadia, who’d just come out of the kitchen with a glass of her favorite synthetic.

“Rafael, where the hell have you been? I needed you there tonight.” She came closer. “What happened? You look like you were in a fight and lost.”