Blood Bath & Beyond

  There had to be a way to stop Josh—to distract him. Some way to buy us some time…

  My gaze snapped to just beyond him, farther down the hallway by the gaping open door. “You should probably know that there’s an enforcer from the Ring standing directly behind you.”

  Josh laughed hollowly at that. “Nice try, Sarah. Don’t take another step closer to me. I have this lined up perfectly with your heart. I promise I won’t miss.”

  Thierry’s grip on my arm was firm enough to bruise. He didn’t like that I was standing between him and the dude with the crossbow. Frankly, I didn’t like it much, either.

  I grappled to find my voice and keep it strong and loud. “You know, instead of killing those humans, you could have just taken out an ad to advertise this place. Or word of mouth is also great. Run an awesome business, word gets around. But you just weren’t patient enough. You wanted easy answers.”

  Josh shrugged. “I did what I had to do.”

  “How many more murders are there going to be before you’re satisfied that your campaign to scare up some business isn’t working? One a day? How long before someone catches you in the act?”

  “Oh, I don’t know.” He sounded so casual it made me shiver. “It’s a nice amount of blood I’ve been getting. I only ever took a quick taste to sample the goods. When I could, I tried collecting the rest into containers. Importing product for a blood bank is expensive, you know. And my line of credit is currently at its max.”

  My stomach lurched. He’d been using the victims’ blood to help stock his café all week? “You’re sick.”

  “I was looking for the cure to this sickness.” His crossbow didn’t waver. “The cure was the fear I would have seen in a human customer’s eyes as they wandered into the store not sure what to expect. The fear and excitement that would have opened their wallets to someone who just might be a real vampire. I like how you put it—scare up some business. That’s exactly what I’m trying to do.”

  “The sickest thing is you didn’t even do it because you’re crazy. You’re not out for revenge. You don’t particularly hate humans. You killed all of them as a business decision.”

  He gave me a thin smile. “You make it sound like a bad thing.”

  “It is. And you’re going to have to pay for it now.” I shook my head. “I would have helped you, even knowing what you’d done. If you’d been the least bit sorry for it, I would have tried to find another way to end this.”

  His lip moved back off his teeth, baring his fangs. It wasn’t a friendly expression. “You’re one of the most pathetic vampires I’ve ever met. You have no bite at all, do you? You give other vamps a bad name. You’re not a survivor, Sarah. You’re a victim.”

  “Wrong. You’re the victim here. And that bad luck of yours? It doesn’t seem to be improving any time soon.”

  Any amusement that had been in Josh’s gaze faded away. His finger tightened on the crossbow’s trigger. “Good-bye, Sarah.”

  “Good-bye, Josh.”

  The crossbow went flying out of his hands before he’d gotten a shot off. It clattered to the floor. Josh turned with surprise to look behind him.

  Markus Reed gave the other vampire a brief sweeping glance, from head to foot.

  “Good,” he said. “I’ll be able to wrap this case up quickly. I really hate Vegas. You have no idea.”

  “Wait, what are you—?” Josh began.

  He wasn’t able to finish his sentence. Markus plunged his stake into the other man’s chest, right to the hilt. His stake wasn’t imitation wood like mine had been. It was polished silver and looked more like a cross between a stake and a scythe. Fitting, really. An enforcer seemed to be synonymous with death. He really was like a blond grim reaper.

  Josh fell to his knees and touched the stake. This time he wasn’t able to pull it out and grimace at the sharp but meaningless pain it caused him, like an annoying bee sting.

  No more chances for redemption. No more possibilities for future business ventures that wouldn’t end up in failure. He said he hated being an immortal vampire—that it was hard work with very little benefit….

  Well, he wouldn’t have to worry about the “immortal” part anymore.

  With a last hiss of breath, he collapsed to his side and didn’t move again. Thanks to my morbid new talent, I knew he was dead and not faking.

  I half expected him to disintegrate into the black goo I was accustomed to seeing when a vampire was staked—like Bernard. But Bernard was several hundred years old. Josh was a newbie in the grand scheme of things. His body wasn’t going anywhere.

  At this point, with the bad guy defeated, normally I’d be hugely relieved and throw myself into Thierry’s arms, thrilled that we’d survived and all was well with the world. But when the person who saved you was someone like Markus Reed, I would save my celebrations for the moment in favor of feeling completely petrified.

  Unconsciously, I’d moved to stand completely in front of Thierry. Markus noted this as he shifted his gaze from Josh to us. He didn’t comment on it, but his curious expression told me he found it interesting. Ultimately futile against someone like him, but interesting.

  I pointed at the body. “He was the serial killer.”

  “So I gathered.”

  “He even admitted it. It’s not even up for debate.”

  “I’m not debating it.”

  “What about his body?”

  “I’ll have it removed and cremated. Standard procedure.” He regarded us. “You’ve been a wily one, Sarah. Guess I should have taken you to the airport personally. I wouldn’t have left until I saw your plane leave the ground with you on it.”

  I cringed. “Hindsight is twenty-twenty.”

  “Then again, I have a funny feeling you just would have gotten on another plane and headed right back here.” He cocked his head. I noticed that he wore black leather gloves. They looked like something a murderer might wear to make strangulation both comfortable and fashionable.

  Thierry remained rigidly silent behind me. I pressed back against him to assure myself that he hadn’t vanished into thin air. But he was still there, getting stronger by the minute. I wondered if he’d recharged enough to do that ninja move he’d done in the suite again.

  “How did you know to come here?” I asked shakily.

  “Thierry called me.”

  I gasped. “He called you?”

  “After he spoke to you, he made a quick call to me.” Markus crossed his arms. “Your fiancé cares for you very much. He was willing to give himself up in order to ensure your safety.”

  My mouth was dry as this new piece of info registered for me. I turned to look at Thierry. His expression was unreadable, which only made this worse. I wanted to see worry or stress or something in his gaze to help me figure out how to feel right now. Should I be relieved that Markus had stepped in and saved us? Or should I be desperately afraid that he now had Thierry in his sights after we’d almost managed to escape?

  Thierry had been so close to getting away. But he’d given all of that up for me.

  “What is it?” Thierry asked, meeting my eyes. “You look…I’m not even sure how to describe it.”

  “Angry, furious, frustrated…grateful.” My voice caught before I continued. “Mad as hell. Freaked-out. Scared to death. That about covers it. You shouldn’t have done this for me.”

  He touched my face. “Yes. I should have. And I’d do it again in an instant.”

  “But this means…” I trailed off. No, it didn’t mean anything. Thierry was innocent. I spun around to face Markus. “Listen to me and listen very carefully, mister. I know you’re the Ring’s enforcer and that means you’re some sort of scary-ass death squadron, staking whatever looks a little funny. But I don’t think you’re stupid.”

  He cocked his head. “Scary-ass death squadron?”

  “Thierry is innocent. He was set up. We know that for a fact. I mean, we don’t exactly have proof, since the proof is dead and gone after being m
opped up last night. But it was Bernard. He hired that hunter to make an attempt on his life and frame Thierry.”

  “Is that so?”

  “Yes!” The strain in my voice made it go pitchy and near hysterical. “But he paid up front. And the hunter—well, he’s dead now, too. But he liked money. He got the money and figured he had nothing to lose. He thought it would be funny or whatever to actually kill a vampire dumb enough to pay him to stake him. Bernard hated Thierry. He wanted this treasure the two of them had locked away for ages, but Thierry refused. That’s what it was all about. That’s why Thierry looked guilty to you—Bernard was threatening him about this treasure and Thierry pushed back.” I was desperate for this all to get through to Markus even though I knew how insanely far-fetched it all sounded. “Damn it. You have to believe me. You have to!”

  Markus stood there, his arms crossed, his head tilted, and he studied me for a very long, very silent moment.

  Finally he nodded. “I do believe you.”

  “No, you don’t understand. You have to—” I blinked. “Wait…. What?”

  “I figured it was something like that. Makes perfect sense, actually. Bernard was always a greedy bastard.” The enforcer’s gaze dropped to my hand. “You’re not wearing your ring. I hope that doesn’t mean that you’ve called off your engagement.”

  I stared at him with shock at the brisk change of subject. Had he really said he believed me? “A tattooed, tunnel-dwelling, street kid vampire named Charlotte took it as payment earlier today for saving my life.”

  “You really need to be careful with the vampires who choose to live underground. They’re unpredictable.”

  My mouth hung open so wide I might start attracting small birds looking to build a nest. “What is going on here?”

  “Which part?”

  I turned to look at Thierry. “Did you know he’d believe me? About what I said about Bernard?”

  “It’s the truth.”

  “Yeah, but…” I grappled for the proper words. “But he’s an enforcer.”

  “And he enforces vampire law when needed. He doesn’t indiscriminately kill those who are only suspects.”

  “But did you think he’d believe us?”

  “No. I was certain he’d find me guilty.” Thierry glanced at Markus before returning his attention to me. “This is…unexpected.”

  “You deal with surprises way differently than I do. I think you get even calmer.”

  He smiled. “Or so I’d have you believe.”

  Before he said anything else, I threw my arms around him and hugged him very hard. He cringed a little as if it hurt him.

  “Sorry.” I loosened my hold and stared up into his face. “I know you’re still healing.”

  “It’s fine.” He shook his head and stroked the tangled hair back from my face. His brows were drawn together and the calmness from earlier had shifted a bit to show the worry beneath. “Sarah, when you called me, the sound of your voice…”

  I watched him carefully. “What about it?”

  “All of this has just made everything very clear to me. The Ring…my job with them…it’s too much. Too dangerous. I think the best answer is for you to go back home where I can be assured of your safety. I won’t have much time to visit, but every day I can get away and get on a plane, I will be there with you. We can still make this work. I know we can.”

  He kissed me softly and I returned it, so relieved that he was okay. That I was okay. But it was me who pulled away first, now troubled. I couldn’t think of a proper response to what he’d just said to me, so for once I said nothing.

  “I need to work with Markus to clean up this mess and file my report with the Ring. Go back to the hotel and I’ll be there as soon as I can. It’s over, Sarah. You’re safe. Markus believes in my innocence. Everything’s better now.”

  Well, we were still alive. Josh was dead. Bernard had been revealed as the instigator of his own murder. And Thierry still wanted me to go back home without him, where I wouldn’t get into any more trouble.

  Whether it was all better was still up for debate as far as I was concerned.

  Chapter 22

  I returned to our suite at the Bellagio. David and Jake were still there. Word had gotten to them about what had happened and they acted sheepish around me now. Whether they felt bad for treating me like a criminal, or if it was because Thierry had easily kicked their butts, I wasn’t sure, but they kept their distance and gave me some well-needed privacy. Jake even offered to go to the Glitter motel and retrieve my suitcase for me. When he returned with it, I took the time to freshen up and change clothes after having a very long, very hot shower.

  It didn’t wash all my cares away.

  A few hours had passed since the showdown with Josh. It was going on midnight, but sleeping was the last thing on my mind. Since my latest cell phone was resting in pieces, I used the landline to make another late-night call to my best friend, Amy.

  “Hey, you!” she greeted me cheerily.

  “Hey yourself.” Somehow, I didn’t think she’d had quite the life-or-death experiences I’d had in the last day and a half. Call it a hunch. “Just wanted to touch base.”

  “You okay? You didn’t text me back earlier.”

  “Yeah…I’m fine. I’m in Vegas right now.”

  “Oh my God, I love Vegas. Fun! Have you seen any shows? Cirque du Soleil is so awesome.”

  “Haven’t really had the chance yet.” I lay back on the king-sized bed and stared up at the ceiling. “I’m…headed back to Toronto tomorrow.”

  I tried to put some enthusiasm into it, but knew I failed miserably.

  “You don’t sound like you want to go.” As bubbleheaded as Amy sometimes was, she did know how to read me like a Kindle.

  “I…I don’t know. I’d thought I might be traveling for a while—with Thierry. He has a new job with the Ring that requires him to go all over the place. But it doesn’t look like I’m going to go with him after all.”

  “I’m sorry.” Her genuine compassion for my disappointment was clear in her familiar voice. “But, you know, sometimes these things happen for a reason. Maybe it just wasn’t meant to be and you’re on the path to even bigger and better things in the future.”

  I sat up and hugged a pillow to my chest. “You think?”

  “Sure. If you want a change, then you should move out here with me. I could get you a job with my new company easy. And it’s so much fun. Makeup application, makeovers, testing, free samples…it’s like a dream come true. And it’s got a sister company—a shoe company. I get eighty percent off designer shoes, Sarah. I could die. My feet have never been happier.”

  “Sounds amazing.” Or, at least, I would have thought it sounded amazing once upon a time. Free makeup and deeply discounted shoes? Yes, please.

  Once upon a time felt like a million years ago.

  “So do it. Move out here. Take a chance, Sarah. You never know where it will lead.”

  “I—I don’t know.”

  “Promise me you’ll at least think about it, okay?”

  I promised. She chattered on about her husband and their new city for another ten minutes before we said good-bye. I put the phone down with a heavy heart.

  Change was good. I liked change. I embraced change. I welcomed change into my life.

  I repeated it to myself over and over again.

  There was a knock at the door. I left the bedroom and went toward it cautiously. Thierry wouldn’t knock.

  I looked through the peephole in the door, surprised to see Markus Reed standing there. “What do you want?”

  “May I talk to you, Sarah? Privately?”

  I opened the door slowly and peered out at him, scanning the hallway. “Where’s Thierry?”

  “He’s downstairs by the pool on a conference call with some Ring elders.” He shrugged. “I assume he’s filling them in on what’s happened here between Bernard and the serial killer case.”

  “You’re not part of that confer
ence call?”

  “Thierry’s the consultant, not me.”

  “Which means?”

  “I don’t do meetings.”

  The man still made me nervous. I’d always be grateful that he’d swung in to save the day, but I didn’t welcome the chance to hang out with him socially. “So what’s this, then?”

  “This isn’t an official meeting. May I come in?”

  After considering it for longer than was polite, I held the door open wider. “Sure. Why not?”

  He entered the hotel room and walked over toward the window to look outside. He didn’t seem in any rush to speak.

  “Look, Markus, I—I really want to thank you for helping us tonight. And for believing us about Bernard. This job of Thierry’s is a strange one. It’s hard to wrap my head around it all. I want him to reconsider. I mean, he hasn’t signed the papers yet—”

  “He has,” Markus told me. “When we returned to the hotel. I witnessed it personally.”

  That deflated me immediately. “Well, he could still change his mind. Lawyers could pull apart any contract that might—”

  “He signed in blood. It’s binding. Trust me on that.”

  My shoulders slumped.

  Of course. Signed in blood. What other way would a shady vampire organization have to lock an employee in for a fifty-year term than to use a little of that blood magic I’d been hearing so much about lately?

  Markus studied my reaction. “You’re angry with him about this.”

  “Yeah, you could say that. I don’t understand why he’d want this. And he won’t tell me, even though I feel like I have the right to know. I know they’ve got something on him—and he refuses to tell me what it is. Maybe it’s got something to do with that stupid treasure of his that Bernard and he hid away.”

  “Diamonds, right?”

  I looked at him with surprise. “How do you know that?”

  He spread his hands. “It’s my job to know everything I can.”

  “Must be nice to be omniscient. Maybe you could tell me why a stash of diamonds upset Thierry so much he threatened Bernard in public. He doesn’t lose his temper that badly over anything. Why are they so damn important that dangling them in front of him is enough for him to write off fifty years of his life…not to mention our relationship…to be at the Ring’s beck and call?”