The Billionaire's Heir (Sucubus For Hire Book 1)

by Michael Don Anderson

  “They wouldn’t die if that’s what you’re thinking. They wake. Sluggish. Slower than if they’d eaten well. Groggy, the way someone who oversleeps gets. Less aware, too. And they wake hungry. It makes them more dangerous. To others and themselves.”

  “So just an evolutionary adaptation?” I asked.

  “Exactly. They aren’t doing it on purpose. They sleep together because they know they feel better when they wake.” She sneezed. “Sorry. One of my students had a cold and I think he passed it along.”

  “Must be tough.” I smiled. I hoped she did, too. “Alright, so tell me more about the dominant vampire?”

  “He’s called the Rake.”

  “A scoundrel. Sounds appropriate. And?”

  “And what?”

  “How is he dominant? Does he rule them like a master controlling slaves? Are they shared bloodlines? What?”

  “We’ve been friends for how long and you know almost nothing about your own kind?”

  I held my breath. Angry. Startled that her words felt like a slap. “I’m not a vampire.”

  “But you are preternatural.”

  “Not one of the undead.”

  “No. I know.” I heard genuine remorse in her voice. “I didn’t mean to be offensive. You aren’t ordinary like me and Snickerdoodle. Your kind have abilities.”

  “I keep telling you, Teresa, I don’t know anything about my kind. My mother was killed when I was little. A human raised me. An old Christian woman. I haven’t ever even talked to one of my own kind. I’m not keeping deep dark secrets from you.”

  “I know I’m in shit when you call me Teresa.” She didn’t elaborate.

  “Is that supposed to give me time to calm down?”

  “If we want to continue this conversation, yeah.”

  The distance grew between us. Almost palpable. I’d done it again. Made things worse. The goat hadn’t been enough. I’d almost fed from Luis. Even my emotions were harder to control.

  “I haven’t fed in a while.”

  I heard the shock in her voice. “How long’s a while?”

  “A goat today. But about a week before that.”

  “Damn, Bee! Why would you do that?”

  The question was a good one. “I don’t know.”

  “You sound scared.”

  “Do I?” I shook my head. I realized that she was right. I felt out of control. Luis had proved that. I was scared. “Maybe I am.”

  “You are.” Teresa softened. “It isn’t natural to be celibate. Not for humans. Definitely not for you.”

  “I’ve been managing.”

  She wasn’t buying it. “Doesn’t sound like it.”

  “I just wasn’t hungry. Now I am. Really hungry.”

  “Does this have anything to do with the vampire questions?”

  “No. That’s a client thing.”

  “He the client?”

  She was trying to figure out if the police, FBI or the family had called me in. My reputation for being discrete was well earned. Even friends didn’t get any juicy tidbits. “No. Bodyguard. And as for the kidnapping, the client thinks that teenage-seduction’s probably closer to the truth. I’m going to be investigating the vampire coven. I need to know what I need to know.”

  “That’s a lot.” She took a deep breath. Cleared her throat. I knew she was preparing for her lecture voice. “The Rake’s a leader. They follow him because he—or she—is the strongest. Strongest personality. Strongest energy. Magics. Whatever you want to call what vampires can do.”

  “But they can disobey. Other members of the coven.”

  “Yes. Just like children can disobey parents and criminals can disobey the law. The threat of punishment and severity helps keep the others in line. Starvation usually. Confinement. That part’s a little more opaque.”

  “What happens if someone in the coven challenges the Rake outright?”

  “A battle for leadership occurs. A real battle. Fangs. Claws. Magical powers. The winner takes over. Anyone who refuses to pledge fealty is kicked out. It’s hard to find a new coven. No one wants to be on their own. Most vampire executions result from individuals who don’t have a social network.”

  “So if the coven seduced a sixteen-year-old into their group, it would’ve been done with the Rake’s knowledge and permission.”

  “I don’t see how it could be otherwise. Unless an individual did it and hasn’t told the Rake. But Bee, that’s dangerous for the individual. Some people think the Rake knows what the rest of the coven is thinking. It’s not true. Mostly. Abilities vary.”

  “Can vampires tell if someone’s lying? Generally?”

  “Lycanthropes can. They smell changes in body chemistry. Hear the change in heartbeat. The quality of a person’s tone. Vampires don’t have any of that.”

  “So the group might not know about the actions of an individual.”

  “No. Only, members of a coven are rarely alone. They don’t have any individual space. Territory if you will. They don’t own a house or a cave somewhere away from the coven.”

  “But they could.”

  “Sure. Money and means aside. That’s not the issue. A coven shares blood. Not just human blood. They drink from each other.”

  “I thought vampire blood doesn’t nourish another vampire.”

  “It doesn’t. But I’ve told you about blood-links.” She sounded nervous. A very temperamental vampire had revealed this fact to her during an attempt to seduce her. Seduction without vampire tricks. A short fling that she’d only gotten involved with because she’d been young. And he’d been incredibly handsome. Charismatic. Up until the time he fled the police for a slew of crimes she’d never known about.

  She’d trusted me with that secret over a long night of wine and Scrabble. If he’d learned that she’d shared the knowledge with anyone, he’d threatened to come back. I hadn’t met him but she believed him. So I did, too.

  “I thought that was only between a vampire and a human. Or non-undead person at any rate.”

  “I guess I left out a lot the last time we talked about this stuff. Wine’ll do that.” She took a deep breath. Digging into more secrets no one should know. “No. Drinking each other’s blood creates a similar bond between the members of the coven. They know where each other is. Have a sense of what they’re doing. If they’re in danger. If they’re feeding. Limited shared knowledge. More than they get from touching while they sleep.”

  “When it’s a human, is it a two-way bond?”

  “It’s much stronger then. The vampire knows what the human knows. My understanding is that the human doesn’t.” She cleared her throat. Sniffled a bit. “I didn’t work up the courage to try it before he fled. None of this is documented. It’s not like vampires queue up to provide details about their existence. They certainly don’t provide human servants to testify.”

  She wouldn’t even say his name. That’s how much she feared him. And she wasn’t afraid of much.

  “What would their motive be for seducing a young man into the coven? A high profile, potentially wealthy sixteen-year-old?”

  Teresa didn’t answer right away. The silence meant I’d startled her. “That kidnapping?” She’d finally figured out the victim. Not who she’d been expecting. Were there other kidnappings that I didn’t know about?

  “They wouldn’t. Federal civil liberties are still very tenuous. It doesn’t take much to get on the wrong side of the law.”

  “You sound scared.”

  “I am. Maybe a little. If a coven did this and word got out—other covens would respond. They’d destroy the offenders. Leave nothing behind.” She went silent for a few heartbeats. “I thought this was something out of state. Missing street kids in Saint Louis and New Orleans. This—a prominent and wealthy kid taken close to home makes this dangerous.”

  “Are there that many covens in Los Angeles?”

  “Wouldn’t matter. They’d come from everywhere. California’s pretty liberal. We believe in human rights for everyo
ne. Everything sapient. Places like Oklahoma and Massachusetts barely keep vigilantes from taking out suspected vampire dens.”

  “Hence the Federal Vampire Privacy Reforms ten years ago.”

  “Exactly. Just because the law gave preternatural creatures legal rights doesn’t mean that God-fearing zealots don’t decide God’s laws are above Man’s laws.”

  “Don’t blame it all on the Christians, Ter. I’m Christian. My church-friends don’t go around trying to kill other people. Not even undead people.”

  Teresa laughed, a disgusted unpleasant sound. “You know, sadly, you have vampires to thank for your modern rights, too. The reforms ten years ago were built on the laws enacted in the sixties for all preternaturals.”

  I didn’t answer right away. The call was taking longer than I’d expected and I was still angry. She was still angry. Better to stop talking or find common ground again.

  “So in your opinion, the vampires wouldn’t have taken the boy. Even if he’d wanted to join them.”

  “Unless they were suicidally stupid, no. They’d make him wait until he was eighteen and get court approval. Or twenty-one. He could do whatever he wanted then.”

  I glanced at the clock. “Thanks for the information, Ter. I’ve got to go, my next appointment’s almost here.”

  “Be safe, Bianca.”

  Teresa hung up with such finality that I wondered if I’d ever see her again. A slow creeping sadness mingled with my hunger. Pushed my need to feed deep down inside me.

  Sorrow was the only emotion that could mask my appetite. It was also the one emotion I rarely gave in to. I had too much to be sad about if I paused to dwell on it. Too many friends who’d died while I kept living. Some of them had died protecting me. Something I felt bad about.

  Guilt was fine. I had survivor’s guilt up the wazoo. It turned into a nice, useful anger at times. Made me harder than I’d be otherwise. I was dealing with cases involving missing people, murderers and the supernatural. Hard was a good way to survive in my business.

  I focused on the sadness of losing Teresa’s friendship. I could feel my body settle down. My power muted. It didn’t last long. My belly grew icy. My hunger once more in control.

  Not that it mattered with Joseph. I couldn’t accidentally hurt him. It was more about not losing my cool. I suspected the man was going to try to push my buttons tonight. I was determined not to give him the satisfaction.

  Chapter Seven

  Joseph showed up right on time. Freshly showered. Wearing a sexy, black button-up. Long-sleeves. White pearl buttons. Black leather belt. Black buckle. Expensive black trousers and Gucci loafers.

  “You going to a funeral or just an AC/DC fan?”

  His smile wilted just a fraction. He produced a bouquet of white roses. “I thought the black would frame the roses to better effect.”

  “Right.” I accepted the flowers awkwardly.

  There were no empty vases in my office. No vases at all. I didn’t do flowers. I saw enough death without keeping reminders around me. I laid them respectfully on the desk. “Thanks.”

  “We’re talking here, correct?” I nodded and he produced a bottle of Moscato. Condensation forming on the glass suggesting it was chilled. “A gentleman never arrives unprepared.”

  I actually smiled. “Barefoot. One of my favorites.”

  He stared at the bottle as if he were disappointed to be holding it. “I wanted to bring something much more expensive. To show an earnest interest. But I was told that you preferred this. It’s local to Central California and that matters to you?”

  I ignored the implied criticism. “Do vampires drink alcohol?”

  “We do a great many things.” He smiled like it was date night.

  “Do you get drunk?”

  He shrugged, his smile lingering. “Sadly, no. We don’t metabolize it any more than you do meat.”

  “But you enjoy the taste.”

  His smile turned lecherous. “I enjoy many things.”

  “Stop with the flirting already. This is a business meeting. Our time’s limited. And on the books.”

  “Gibraltar’s research said you were no nonsense. I thought perhaps the chance to enjoy sex without the danger of killing your partner might appeal to you.”

  “I’d like my choice of partner to appeal to me.”

  He clutched his heart theatrically. “Ouch. You wound me to the quick.”

  I didn’t smile. Instead, I took the Moscato and grabbed two empty tumblers from behind my desk. They’d have to do as I didn’t keep wine glasses handy. I opened the bottle and poured us each a drink. He took the glass I offered. I sipped mine.

  The carbonation gave the wine a lightness that I liked. “Nice.”

  “A bit sweet.”

  I frowned. He was trying to be contrary since flirting was off the table. “Can we get to business?”

  “Of course. Ask away.”

  I took another sip, considering the information Teresa had given me. I trusted her as a researcher. But it didn’t hurt to ask the source directly. “Why would the Atlantic Revenants want Vincent? Would they have access to his money? Control of the company?”

  Joseph sipped his wine in imitation of me. Taking his time. Playing games as a type of dominance. I held my tongue, watching him with a strained smile.

  Finally he gave in. “No. It’s not about money. Dead or undead, Vincent’s share goes to a trust he can never touch. He’ll no longer be the heir to the empire, so to speak.”

  “Why then?”

  “The grandson of one of the richest men in California? Even if Vincent can’t touch the money, his grandfather might be persuaded to help them. If it helped Vincent. A grandfather’s love. Favors. Resources.”

  “You don’t sound very convinced.”

  “I’m simply answering your questions.”

  “You and Gibraltar seem to think Vincent left voluntarily. The FBI report shows the window was forced from the outside. That he was taken from his bed in the middle of the night. Sheets spilled on the floor. He didn’t take any clothes or toiletries.”

  Joseph just watched me, waiting for me to say or do something to distract him from the v-line of my breasts. “That’s what security says.”

  “Where were you when he was taken?”

  “Watching over Hank at his office. A business deal with Chinese nationals. They were still on Beijing time.”

  “Who was watching Vincent?”

  Joseph frowned, setting the tumbler on my desk. I picked it up and stuck a mostly decorative coaster under the glass. He bobbed his head in apology. “Supernatural bodyguards aren’t particularly commonplace, Bianca. I can call you Bianca, can’t I?”

  “Go on.”

  “Henry keeps Anton and I on his personal rotation 365 days a year. Vincent, however, is protected by a top of the line human security team.”

  “Anton’s the werewolf?”

  He nodded.

  “Why do you have to make every answer a winding road through the country?” I didn’t mention to him that my secretary had a similar bad habit.

  He leaned back. “I’m trying to paint a picture. I wasn’t responsible. I’m not responsible for the team overseeing Vincent. Gibraltar insisted on that himself.”

  “Fine. You aren’t to blame for his disappearance. Now continue.”

  “It’s a standard five-man team watching inside the house. Two people assigned specifically to Vincent. All of that in addition to electronic surveillance.”

  “The FBI report doesn’t mention the two guards.”

  “We didn’t mention them.”

  “Because?”

  “They disappeared as well.”

  I stared at the vampire appalled. “You mean they could’ve taken Vincent themselves.”

  “No. The security company’s too high end. Their assets vetted. The team’s probably dead.”

  “So why not tell the Feds? Any lead might help them find Vincent.”

  “The company tasked with pro
tecting Vincent has a reputation to uphold. If word got out that they’d lost two men in addition to a valuable client. People might actually believe they took him. It could cost the company billions in revenue.”

  I held my glass frozen, inches from my lips. “Billions?”

  “Over a period of ten years. Yes.”

  “And Gibraltar would rather protect this company than give the FBI all the help he can in finding Vincent?”

  Joseph picked up his wine and swallowed it in one quick swig. “The company also provides the security assets who protect Maureen and Blake. If Henry throws them under the bus, he loses their protection.”

  “What am I missing?”

  Joseph studied me. Playing with his glass, tilting it to cause the last lingering drop to dance around the bottom. Finally, he shrugged.

  “The Atlantic Street Revenants have been pressuring me to get them hired on. Additional protection for the family. Without Henry’s current security firm, he’d be forced to seriously consider them.”

  “They’re blackmailing him into hiring them?”

  “I think they persuaded Vincent to join them as leverage. Give us the contract and he comes home safe and sound. Don’t and you have no one to protect your grandchildren.”

  “Why can’t Gibraltar just hire other humans from another company?”

  Joseph studied me. “This is where the discretion gets weighty.”

  “I’ve never betrayed a client’s confidence unless it was confession of an impending criminal act. That was in the document your boss signed before I met with him.”

  “Just want to make sure you understand. The security company’s more dangerous than any non-disclosure.”

  “Tell me who.”

  “Amperdyne Technologies.”

  I’d heard of them. Not much. New gadgets for the future. Government contracts. That sort of thing. “A tech company provides security?”

  “What better security than hi-tech weaponry. Surveillance. Tracking.”

  “You have the FBI on this. You have Amperdyne and all their gadgets looking for Vincent. Adding me into the mix is like hiring a sniper at a bar fight.”

  “All the technology in the world is useless if the person employing the tech is under the sway of another.” Joseph held my gaze. If he was trying to use vampiric powers on me I couldn’t feel a thing. The same way he didn’t feel alive. But I was betting he was testing my ability to withstand his power all the same.