“There will be time for updates later. I need you to get on the first plane to Phoenix.”
“Why the hell would I do that?” she asks.
“Because I’m your king, and I said so.”
“Want to try that again?” she says.
“Want to stop being so annoying and act like an assistant for once?”
She grumbles on the other end of the line. “You’re never this mean. Now I know something’s happened.”
I groan. “The situation with the librarian is a bit more complicated than I anticipated, and I need to focus on putting pressure on these sunshine idiots to find Clive’s killer.”
“Complicated how?” she asks.
I explain what I’ve learned about the man I killed.
“What? Mikey, no. I can’t believe you’re asking me to babysit your little bookworm!”
“Mr. Vanderhorst. And, Lula, I am not asking.”
A long moment of silence ensues.
“Lula?”
“I don’t know if I can,” she finally says, her voice cracking with emotion. Lula has always been like this—vibrant and flippant on the outside, but she cares deeply, and her true emotions are never far from the surface. For this reason, I trust her. There’s little guessing involved.
“The sooner I finish what I came for,” I say, “the sooner I can go home and resume my life. You’re just going to have to find the strength to come. For God’s sake, woman, you’re a…” I lower my voice, “child of the night.”
“Ugh, I hate being called that. And I was just referring to the fact that on such short notice, I won’t have a visa to stay in that territory. I’ll have to pretend to be your significant other and room with you in that cesspool of an apartment. So, ick and ick.”
I know perfectly well that was not what she meant—she doesn’t want to look after my librarian in her time of need. She wants me to herself. But this is not what she says, and it’s a favor to us both that she’s moved the conversation away from the elephant in the room. I am now bonded to a woman I do not know, in a town I loathe and have no intention of remaining in.
“I suppose we’ll have to make do,” I say. “And I will advise the cockroaches that you are joining us.”
“And what reason will you give your other pet that I’m hanging around?” Lula asks.
“I’m sure you can figure out your own backstory, sweetheart. Call me when you’ve landed.”
“So you can pick me up?”
I scoff. “No. I need to charm the nurses to let you in after visiting hours.”
“You’re a douche.”
“And you, my dear sweet woman, are a foulmouthed minx. See you tonight.”
I end the call, feeling a twinge of guilt for taking this measure, but I must focus on one problem at a time. Right now, I must focus on Clive, and Miriam cannot be alone.
Then what? I wonder. What happens down the road? Come hell or high water, Clive’s killer will pay. And I will be left bonded to Miriam. I wonder if I will ever be able to leave her, given my need to keep her safe. Always and forever.
Holy vampire nightmares. This truly is my worst day ever.
CHAPTER TEN
Twenty minutes? Do they think I am so easily discouraged? Later that afternoon, I press the intercom buzzer for a fifth time. Like yesterday, the AZ Society of Sunshine Love isn’t so welcoming. The place also smells of fresh bleach again. God help any poor salesman who wanders in here.
“Hello?” says a female voice I recognize as Viviana.
“This is Mr. Vanderhorst. I’ve come to drop off my residency paperwork.”
“Come right in,” she says miserably.
The door buzzes, and I step inside. Viviana is sitting in a black silk dress behind her desk, which is piled high with envelopes.
She stuffs a card into one and seals it with a lick.
“Planning a party?” I ask, glancing at the top line of the card in her hand. It’s this Friday night.
“Something like that,” she says glumly.
I guess I’m not invited. Boohoo. “Thank you for answering the door so promptly. I will be sure not to forget the gesture.”
She shrugs without eye contact like she couldn’t care less.
A man with my years knows instantly that she’s unhappy and it has nothing to do with me. A fight with someone, perhaps?
“Is Mr. Aspen in? I wish to get an update on the status of Clive Bakker’s murder.”
She shakes her head and keeps stuffing. “He’s in Chicago.”
“Then put me in touch with whoever is working his case.”
“Mr. Aspen is personally handling it,” she replies.
So he lied yesterday when he said he had his best people on it. “That’s highly unusual for the head of a society to lead a case.”
She shrugs again. “It’s not every day someone so high ranking dies in our territory.”
I should hope not.
“Is this why Mr. Aspen is in Chicago?” What else, besides a lead, could possibly pull him away at a time like this?
“He’s at a car convention—he’s a big collector.”
My hackles rise. “Sorry?” I resist reaching across the desk to remove Viviana’s head. “So you are telling me that not only did Mr. Aspen not assign anyone to Clive’s untimely death, but he is now on…vacation?”
Viviana looks up at me with her green eyes. “He’s meeting with some clients there, too.”
She’s lying.
I narrow my eyes, and she pushes back in her chair. I’m about to let my anger get the best of me, and she knows it. Luckily, I catch myself. I also realize that she’s either not very bright for confessing this news about Aspen, or she’s trying to throw him under the bus.
Given what I’ve learned of the despicable man, I’m guessing it’s the latter. Thump, thump!
“Tell me, Viviana, if I were to guess that Mr. Aspen never intends to lift a finger with regards to Clive, would I be correct?”
“Who am I to say what goes on inside my fearless leader’s head?” She glances down at the pile of envelopes and back at me. Then envelopes. Then back again.
I suspect this is a sign—she can’t say more.
“Very good.” I pull the rolled-up paperwork from my jeans back pocket and hand it to her. “Let Mr. Aspen know that I’ve officially registered myself and my girlfriend, who will be arriving tonight.”
“Your girlfriend?” A note of disappointment flickers in her eyes.
She is attracted to me? Hmmm…I might need Viviana’s assistance in the future, so I add, “It’s a new relationship—one never knows how these things will turn out.” I flash my most charming smile, and she visibly flushes. “Please call and let me know when Aspen is back so I may follow up with him.”
“Yes, Mr. Vanderhorst,” she says sweetly.
I leave and immediately call Lula once I’m outside.
“I’m packing, okay!” she barks.
I slide into my blue mailbox with wheels. “Good, you’re still in Cincinnati. I need a favor. Stop by Clive’s office, find his appointment book, and take pictures of all the pages for the last few months. Look around for anything else that might tell us what he was working on or with whom, but don’t disturb anything.”
“Michael? What’s going on?”
“Just do it,” I command.
“But that’s against the law. We can’t tamper with an investigation, and what if someone sees me there?”
“No one will see you, Lula, because no one is investigating Clive’s death.”
She gasps. “What do you mean?”
“They’re not lifting a finger—I just found out.”
“But they have to answer to the council.” I hear the heartbreak in her voice, and it angers me. She’s still so young, so trusting, and I simply don’t want to take that from her.
Nevertheless, she is wrong.
The council is a group of twelve senior vampires from various territories who oversee our continent. Th
e eldest member of that group sits on an international council. Needless to say, these vampires are extremely ruthless and old-school. They love rules, they love enforcing them, and they love breaking them because they are like royalty and no one will dare stand up to them. All this means that the stronger you are, the more you can get away with. The idea of justice is simply a façade meant to lull the masses and keep the peace. Underneath it all, we are still vampires, searching for angles and looking out for number one. I am no different. I will gladly circumvent the rules when it serves me, though I am a good guy. Not everyone else is.
She adds, “I refuse to believe that the person who hurt Clive won’t be punished. Maybe they know who killed him and just can’t tell you.”
You are too sweet, Lula. “Maybe they do know and won’t take action because they plan to pin it on someone else,” I think out loud.
“No.”
“Yes. And while I would like to believe in justice, you are not here. I am. And something strange is going on.” She doesn’t remember the way things used to be before the time of societies. I caught the tail end of it when covens were constantly at war. It took people like Clive to act as peace brokers. Families who simply couldn’t get along were separated into their own territories and a leader appointed. However, most covens were glad for the change and ready to move on after thousands of years of violence. The few families who refused to sign the pact or live by the new rules were hunted down and eliminated. Since then we’ve enjoyed almost three hundred years of order, peace, and prosperity. Regardless, vampires are who they are, and when you’ve been around as long as I have, you know that a leopard cannot change its fangs. Vampires can be ruthless and underhanded, but most of all, we are creatures of extreme loyalty.
We’re also really, really great at doing things in secret, which is why we are quick to sniff out scandals.
“Either way, Lula, you need to get into his office and take pictures of his appointments and anything else you see before someone shows up to remove possible evidence.”
“I don’t know, Michael. It sounds risky.”
“You are right, which is why you will be extremely careful and use everything Clive taught you. Can I get a ‘yes, master’?”
She lets out a sigh. “Yes, master.”
“Thatta girl. We are not going to allow anyone to hurt our family.”
“Your librarian included?” she says petulantly.
“She is not family. She is merely a stranger I stepped in to help.”
“Keep telling yourself that.”
I forget that Lula might be young and emotional, but she is smart as a whip. She knows that while my attachment to the librarian isn’t sexual—because vampires don’t love or desire the human way—Miriam has quickly become more to me than a simple stranger, though I do not know why.
“Call when you’re safely out of Clive’s office and on your way here,” I say.
“Will you pick me up from the airport?” she asks, sounding hopeful.
“Uber, woman. Uber.” I end the call, and my mind goes straight into overdrive. I can quickly see how this entire situation with the Arizona Society of Sunshine Love can go sideways on me. Because I am taking over this investigation, which is very much breaking the law.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
“Sure. You can stay,” says the young nurse with short black hair and delicious olive skin. “But it’s gonna cost ya.” She crinkles her nose.
I’m standing in the waiting room, and visiting hours ended over an hour ago. I need to get in there and check on Miriam. “Well, it’s not just me. My girlfriend is coming later tonight, and we’d love it if either one of us can stay at Miriam’s bedside.” I take the nurse’s hand and place a soft kiss on top. “It would mean so much to me.”
“How much?” She giggles.
“Mmmm…” I growl, knowing what she wants. I must quickly decide whether to give it. “How about five hundred dollars?”
She frowns. “Not exactly what I had in mind.”
“A thousand?”
She pokes the center of my chest. “A young, strong guy like you—with those dark eyes and beautiful lips…” Her gaze falls to my groin. “And other impressive attributes? I don’t know. A thousand hardly feels like enough to pass up an hour with you.”
“An hour?” I snap. “Jesus, woman. That’s a long time.”
Not that I couldn’t perform, but it’s simply a lot to ask of a man who’s merely bartering for one small favor and doesn’t live for sex. Do not get me wrong. I like sex, but only when it’s combined with the act of drinking blood, in which case, there’s nothing hotter. Me. Her. Our warm bodies writhing while I do what nature intended and she gains excruciating pleasure from it all. That perfect synchronization only comes along once in a blue moon. Otherwise, my kind is usually just taking sustenance and using our gifts not to get caught.
“Two thousand?” I offer.
She smiles and sticks out her hand. “Deal. But if anyone makes noise about you being in the room, then you have to go.”
I shake her hand. “Done.”
“And I want a kiss.”
My lips crinkle in protest.
“I’m sorry,” she says, “but your lips are…wow. I don’t think I’ll ever sleep again if I don’t kiss them.”
I remember my upbringing and hear Clive’s voice in the back of my head, “You’re a vampire now, and with that comes great responsibility. You must always remember that you not only have the strength to destroy a person’s body, but their spirit as well. Always be kind and gentle, Michael. Always. Save the viciousness for those who truly deserve it.”
I nod. “Of course. It would be my honor to kiss such a beautiful woman.”
Her grin stretches from ear to ear, and she takes me inside, past the big double doors and into a vacant room. I slide my hand to the back of her warm neck, ignoring the strong pulse of hot blood flowing just beneath the surface. Staring into her dark eyes, I slowly bend my head and place a kiss on her soft lips.
Quickly, her arms are around my neck, and she clings to me, her tongue delving into my mouth.
I cannot lie. It is a very nice kiss. The sort that once would’ve made me buckle at the knees and offer marriage. Yet I feel nothing.
I sigh and gently pull back, offering her a warm smile and the intimate touch of my thumb sliding across her lower lip. “You are a lovely kisser, Nurse Davis. Truly lovely.”
She bats her eyelashes, and I know she’s drunk with lust. But I am a gentleman, first and foremost. I do not take advantage of the weak, the good, or in her case, the ones who are about to beg me for it.
I step back. “There’s ice water in the fridge.” I know because I’ve seen the nurses dipping into the stash every time they get near me. I would claim it’s because I am handsome, powerful, and confident—all true—but that only accounts for sixty percent of it. All right, eighty. The rest is my vampire charm.
Nurse Davis strolls away, fanning her face, and I eagerly make my way to my quirky librarian, anxious to see how things have progressed. By now, she will be feeling the draw like I do.
“Oh, Michael. You’re back,” says Miriam, sipping on some apple juice and sounding less than enthusiastic. “I was expecting your girlfriend.”
I try not to allow her comment to ruffle my feathers. “She’s tied up at work, so I told her I would keep you company tonight.”
Miriam gazes into her cup and wiggles her toes under the beige blanket.
“I can go if you want.” I point over my shoulder. “I just thought that after everything, you might not want to be alone.”
“No. It’s fine. Really.”
“Are you sure?” Because either way, you won’t be left alone. I would simply remain just outside the door.
“Yeah. I’m sure. I’m just not very good company right now,” she says. “This whole thing is a mess.”
You have no idea. “I’ve been through worse. Very recently, in fact.”
“Are you talki
ng about your friend who just passed away?” she asks.
I almost forgot that I’d told her.
I grab the plastic chair from the corner of the room, place it to her side, and take a seat. “That would be a yes.”
“Oh, Mike. How awful. First you have to deal with that, then with me.”
“Yes, well, my mother used to say that if it doesn’t kill us—”
“It makes us stronger,” she offers.
“No—then we should be more careful because life is fleeting and someday we might not be so lucky, and dying really hurts.”
Miriam frowns.
“My apologies. My mother was rather dark sometimes,” I say.
“Still, I guess she was right.”
Not really. I died, yet here I am. “But that’s enough about me. How are you feeling?”
Miriam returns to staring at her cup. “I’m not sure.”
“The events are much to digest, I’m sure.”
She looks at me and cocks her head to one side inquisitively.
“What?” I ask.
“Nothing. It’s just that sometimes you remind me of someone much older—not only what you say, but how you say it.”
Oh boy. I’ve let my age show through too many times. Perhaps it will be easier to simply spin another lie, even if I’d prefer not to.
I run my hand over my hair. “I had a strict upbringing. My parents didn’t allow slang.”
She laughs. “Seriously?”
“Yeah. Seriously.” I nod.
“Well, I find it kind of endearing, actually.”
“Really?” I ask.
“Sure. You actually remind me of my grandpa—rest in peace.”
I suppose it is better than being thought of as creepy.
She continues, “And I’m guessing your parents must’ve wanted the best for you, so they wanted you to learn how to speak properly—it’s kind of nice when you think about it.”
They had wanted the best, but they hadn’t wanted me. That, however, is all in the past, which I let go of long ago.
To change subjects, I begin telling Miriam about my day at the library, omitting that I found her dirty vampire book and attempted to scare the children. I leave in the part about story time.