Within an hour, she drove the bug with the top down toward Seaport Village and a day of retail therapy with Edie and Lori. She took a long, slow breath, trying to pull the sunshine into her lungs. Another gorgeous San Diego day. Where else could you drive around with the top down at the beginning of December?
The wind whipped her hair around her face, and she finally smiled. Getting out was exactly what she needed. Maybe today would be a good day after all.
…
Father Mentigo couldn’t take his eyes off of her. She wore a dark green t-shirt that clung to the round curves of her breasts, hypnotizing him until he had to force his gaze elsewhere. Her dark blue denim shorts were no better, teasing him as she leaned over the front of her car. She stretched up to reach the top, and he held his breath, watching the sunlight shine on her dark hair. The way she struggled to lower the worn roof on her faded yellow VW enticed him to watch her shapely legs. He shifted in his seat. Oh, he enjoyed this battle more with each day.
Not only had he eluded the Night Walker the night before, but now he had also found the woman that Father De Cardina had discussed in his communications. However, the other monk had failed to mention her beauty. Father Mentigo watched Kate drive away and smiled. He would relish every bit of contact with her for as long as he could. He was more than prepared to do whatever was necessary, even if she had to die. Her life was a very small price to pay for what he stood to gain. And he wouldn’t allow anything, or anyone, to get in his way.
Once her car was out of sight, Father Mentigo got out of his rental and walked toward her house with a small brown parcel. Wearing unmarked cargo shorts with a plain, khaki, button-up shirt, he posed as a local deliveryman, hoping he would not draw attention to himself. He reached her front door, grumbling to himself when he found it locked. He couldn’t pick the lock right in front of the house. After checking for the prying eyes of any neighbors, he made his way around the side of the two-story home. He found the kitchen window open, and within minutes he was safely inside. It was practically empty. He frowned. Walking through the rooms, he wondered what kind of woman lived alone in an empty house. Ironic that her home was similar to the Night Walker’s. Empty.
He stopped when he found her opened duffel bag.
Kneeling down, he fondled the intimate clothes he found inside. He lifted a silk nightshirt, caressing his cheek with its softness, drowning in the scent of her skin. He forced himself to put it back and continued his exploration of her bag until his fingers hooked onto a pair of silk panties. He lifted them to his face, burying his nose in the delicate fabric. The soft, feminine scent intoxicated him with its forbidden pleasure, so he tucked them into his pocket.
Since his fingers were already there, he brushed the length of his hardened shaft, sending a chill through his entire body. He closed his eyes, treasuring the texture of her panties, every move of his hand teasing his passion higher. It was her. She was touching him, encouraging him toward his release. His hand moved faster inside his loose shorts, rubbing her underwear against his organ until it pulsed with need.
He suddenly withdrew his hand, biting back his desire. Enough. He would finish this later. Right now he had work to do. Searching through her things, he jotted down phone numbers and learned as much as he could about Kate Bradley, then retreated to his car. He needed the safety of his apartment before the sun went down. He couldn’t risk running into the Night Walker.
Not yet.
…
Afternoon wore into evening, and they decided to grab an early dinner and catch a movie. Lori and Edie wrestled with their bags.
Kate tried not to laugh. “Want me to carry a couple of those?”
Lori glared at Kate’s little Yankee Candle store bag and held out her bulky Bloomingdale’s bag. “Yes. You’re definitely not weighed down enough yet.”
Edie added bags from Payless shoes and Sephora to Kate’s load and gave her a once-over. “That’s better.”
Lori continued to glare. “I still can’t believe we’ve tromped all over Seaport Village and Horton Plaza and all you’ve bought is a couple of scented candles. That’s just wrong.”
“You’re not sick, are you?” Edie struggled with her bags to feel Kate’s forehead for a fever.
Kate dodged the attempt. “I’m fine. I didn’t come for the shopping today, I came for the company.”
Lori glanced at Edie. “Great, now we look like a couple of materialistic bitches, don’t we?”
Kate laughed and followed them up the escalator to the movie theater, where a well-reviewed drama was playing. They left the theater sniffling, drying their eyes and laughing at their own sappiness.
“I hate it when they don’t get to live happily ever after,” Edie said.
Kate sighed. “Me, too. I like the fairy tale endings when everyone falls in love and rides off into the sunset.”
Lori glanced at Edie, then Kate. “Guess it doesn’t happen that way in real life very often.”
“No, it doesn’t.” Kate wiped her eyes. “Come on. Let’s get some coffee and talk. I’ll buy.”
She walked a couple of blocks up Fourth Avenue before she realized where she was going. When she opened the glass door she wanted to cry again. This was the coffee shop she visited with Calisto the night her life changed.
Lori settled at a quiet table and pierced Kate with a serious look. “We’ve talked about everything except why you moved back. How long are we going to ignore the elephant in the room?”
“Lori!” Edie shot her a disapproving look. “She’ll talk when she’s ready.”
“Hey guys, I’m sitting right here. And I think I’m as ready to talk as I’ll ever be.”
Her friends sipped coffee, and Kate struggled to tell them her story without revealing the parts of herself that she never shared with anyone.
“After I called off the wedding and came back here... ” She hesitated before going on. “I met a man while I was here.”
Lori opened her mouth to say something, but Kate held up a hand.
“Nothing really happened between us, but at the same time, everything did. I know it doesn’t make any sense, but I’ve never had a connection with someone like I did with him. I couldn’t stop thinking about him no matter how hard I tried. I had to come back.”
Edie smiled and patted Kate’s hand. “He must be something special to turn your life upside down like that. When do we get to meet him?”
Lori interrupted. “I don’t know. No man is worth giving up your job and your life for, you know? You were only with him one night, right? You can’t possibly know him well enough to push your life aside for a chance with him.”
Kate bristled. Typical of Lori to be the cynic, and though she was right, Kate wasn’t in the mood to be lectured. “I don’t know much about him, but that’s why I waited until winter break from my job to come back. It’s not like I quit my job. I don’t go back to work until January. Until then, I can stay at Mom and Dad’s. I took it off the market for now.”
Edie grabbed Kate’s sleeve and tugged. “So when are you going to see him again?”
“Hell if I know. I don’t know his phone number, let alone if he wants to see me again.” Kate laughed and rubbed her eyes.
Lori raised a brow. “What? You made it sound like you were in love, and now you’re not even sure he feels the same way? Geez, are you sure you did the right thing?”
Kate sighed. “I’m not sure of anything anymore except that I’ll go crazy if I’m always wondering about what might have been.”
“Why wouldn’t he want to see you again?” Edie asked. “Sounds like you guys had a great time together, right?”
“Yes, but I… ” Kate grimaced. “Well, he came out to Reno on business and we bumped into each other. He and Tom ended up getting into a fistfight, and I told him I never wanted to see him again.”
“So let me get this straight. You came back here for a man who probably thinks you hate him?” Lori shook her head. “Do you expect me to be happ
y for you?”
“Damnit, Lori, can you just be my friend? I don’t need lectures. I’m prepared for whatever might come, including consequences. I might not ever see him again, but I had to try. It’s a big risk, and I’m scared. But I owe it to myself to stop running away from my feelings.”
Lori stared for a few long seconds. Edie broke the silence.
“I hope everything works out for you.” Edie gave her a little hug. “And I can’t wait to meet him. What’s his name?”
“Calisto. Calisto Terana.”
“The guy you met at the mission.” Lori leaned forward in her seat with newfound interest and a little caution. “He runs a charity for the arts or something, right?”
“Yes. He’s the founder of Foundation Arts.”
Lori nodded. “I’ve heard of him before. He’s sort of reclusive, isn’t he? And I guess he’s rich, too. How in the world did you end up going out with him?” She frowned a little. “You said you didn’t give him your number.”
Kate scowled at Lori. “I didn’t.”
Lori held up a hand. “Sorry. I just... I worry.”
Edie interrupted. “Oh he was handsome! How did you find him again?”
“I ran into him while I was signing the papers for the foundation to pick up Mom’s piano. Later that night we ended up in the same movie theater and it went on from there.”
“Sounds like you’ve got it bad.” She reached across the little coffee table to give Kate’s hand a squeeze. “I don’t want you to get burned in the end. I worry, too.”
“Nobody wants to get burned. But it’s time I went after what I want. I’m a big girl. I can deal with it.” Kate set down her coffee mug, eager to change the subject. “I guess we should get back. I have a lot of unpacking to do.”
Edie stood. “I have to work early tomorrow anyway. I had fun with you guys today.”
“We’ll have to do it again soon,” Lori said. “Maybe next time Calisto can join us... ”
Kate gave Lori a quick, grateful hug. “I can only hope.”
They walked through the calm night to the excellent curbside parking spot Lori scored.
“Sure you don’t want a ride over to your car?” Lori asked.
“That’s okay.” Kate handed them their bags. “I’m just around the block. I could use the walk.”
“Be careful,” Edie said.
“I will. See you guys soon.”
Kate watched them drive away, waving before she walked toward the end of the block. Staring up at the moon, she wondered if somewhere in the city Calisto was looking at it too. It made the world seem smaller somehow, like they were closer together, sharing a moment, even though they were probably miles apart.
She shivered and kept walking. As she rounded the corner, she suddenly had the feeling she was being watched. The hair on the back of her neck rose to stand on end, and her pulse quickened. She picked up her pace, listening to everything around her. She didn’t hear another set of footsteps, but she didn’t turn around to check.
She was too afraid of what she might see.
What did newscasters instruct women to do when they walked alone? Keep your head up and have your keys out and ready. Now if she could only find her keys.
Kate groped through her purse, hurrying toward her car in the parking lot with her head held high, praying the paranoia was all in her mind and no one really followed her. Finally, she found her keys and grasped them tightly. Almost there.
Her instincts screamed at her to run, but she managed to cage her fears.
Clasping her keys in her fist, she walked toward her car where it sat under the dim yellow street lamp in a parking lot. Her inner voice begged her to hurry, more than certain she was in danger, but before she could run, something sharp poked through the back of her t-shirt.
“Scream, and you’re dead.”
Chapter Fourteen
After he fed, Calisto wandered the dark streets of downtown San Diego, searching for the Fraternidad’s new ambassador, the fool who chose to break into his home and leave behind incriminating photos. Fury churned in his gut at the thought. His pursuit of the arrogant bastard yielded no leads since he had no idea whom he was looking for.
Yet.
He’d already visited the Mission de Alcala, but he didn’t find anything new. None of the priests knew of the arrival of any monks from Spain. His stalker appeared to be keeping his presence hidden from the other priests as well.
Without a face or a name, he couldn’t search for mortals who might have seen the monk, which made his hunt even more futile. Only by opening to all of the mortal thoughts around him could he locate the monk who dared to expose his existence. It would be an overwhelming task in such a large city, but he had no other choice.
Closing his eyes, Calisto braced himself for the pain and lowered his mental shields, welcoming all of the silent voices around him, searching for the thoughts of a monk who trespassed inside of his home.
Entwined within the myriad of voices and thoughts, he heard a mental cry that filled his heart with terror. Please God don’t let me die…
He knew that voice. It haunted his every waking moment.
Kate.
By the sound of her plea, she was in trouble. But where was she?
Forcing himself to remain calm, Calisto struggled to find her, his mind searching for any others who might have seen her. Before he found any mental trace of her, he heard her scream.
He followed the sound, racing toward her as fast as his body would allow. Until the night settled into an eerie silence. He waited, listening, praying for a sign. His muscles contracted, ready to launch into action as panic festered inside him.
It was too quiet.
A delicious scent teased his senses.
Blood.
He tracked it to a dimly lit parking lot behind a broken-down liquor store. But he wasn’t prepared for the scene before him.
Kate lay facedown on the cracked pavement of the parking lot, struggling to break free from her attacker. The man crouched on top of her, his hand tangled in the back of her hair, pressing her face against the blacktop while his other hand held the blade of a knife against her throat.
“I told you not to scream, stupid bitch!” he said, looking around to be sure they hadn’t attracted any attention.
As the mugger reached for her spilled purse, Calisto emerged from the darkness, eyes glowing crimson with pure, primal fury. He yanked the leather-clad man away from Kate and held him off the ground.
Before the man uttered a sound, Calisto hit him with all his strength, feeling the bones of the man’s face shatter under the force of his blow. But his rage wasn’t appeased, and hearing the man’s blubbering cries wasn’t enough to atone for harming Kate. He wanted to rip the man’s head right off his shoulders, but Kate was too close.
Instead, he threw the mugger away in disgust, finding some solace in the hollow thump as he connected with the graffiti-covered back wall of the liquor store that bordered the parking lot. The sight of the bloody body embedded in the crumbling stucco further satisfied Calisto, bringing a smug smile to his face. The man now resembled a bug smashed on a car windshield and it seemed a fitting end.
The scent of blood instantly surrounded him, intoxicating him with its fragrant call. Streams of it trickled down the wall from the mugger’s lifeless body. Such a waste—
“Calisto?”
The sound of her voice shocked him back into the moment. He turned and knelt beside her, hoping to block her view of the carnage that, only moments ago, was her attacker.
“I am here,” he whispered.
She nodded and her eyes drifted closed. She lost consciousness.
His hands trembled, inspecting her wounds. He couldn’t bear to lose her again. If only he had gotten here sooner. He smoothed her hair back, looking over her bruised face. Other than a split lower lip, a minor scrape on her cheek, and a bump on her forehead, she seemed otherwise unharmed. The haze of panic and rage gradually thinned.
r /> He needed to get her far from the crime scene before the police arrived. He couldn’t risk having any connection to the bizarre death they were going to find plastered against the wall of the old liquor store.
After retrieving her purse and car keys, he scooped her into his arms. Slowly, he scanned the perimeter for any sign of a security camera. The yellow streetlamp sputtered, apparently the only witness to Kate’s attack. Satisfied they hadn’t been seen, he carried her to the old Volkswagen convertible.
Looking down at her face in the moonlight, his gaze strayed to her mouth. Part of him was sickened by his own attraction to the blood pooling on her lower lip. The scent enticed the beast inside of him, teasing his thirst, and seeing its rich redness on her sensual lips was almost more than he could bear. It awoke the predator in him, and right now he wanted nothing more than to be a mortal man again. A man who could offer her a future she deserved. A man she could love.
He didn’t have time for these thoughts, though. Not right now.
Forcing his gaze from her face, he reached to open the passenger door of her car, frowning when it only opened a couple of inches. He tugged, but the door pulled back. He bent closer to the car and found the cause of the problem. The sound of his own laughter surprised him. He forgot about the elastic band tethered to keep the door closed.
Dear God, what a mess of a car.
He almost heard her telling him again that she was “restoring” the car and it just needed a new passenger door.
Shifting her slightly, he held her in one arm and reached inside to unclasp the elastic strap from the door handle. When he took a step back, the door creaked and fell open. He carefully lowered her into the passenger seat and reattached the elastic bungee strap to hold the door closed again.
He stared down at her for a moment, wanting to heal every cut on her soft skin. But he couldn’t, not yet. He needed to get her, and her car, far from this place so neither he nor Kate would be implicated in any way with the gruesome murder site.
It also meant he would have to drive.
In all his years, he had never driven an automobile. The closest he had come was watching various assistants through the years as they chauffeured him. He wasn’t sure he could even remember how to start the car, but right now he had no choice.