Aria whipped out her pencil and order pad. One lone man had taken a seat at the counter. Amy had taken a couple to a table. Grabbing a menu, Aria headed to the counter, lifting her gaze to her new customer.
“Hello, little dove.”
Aria gasped; a cold fear ran through her at the sight of the man who had thrown her into the cell with Ethan. She made to jump back, but he was quick, latching onto her wrist to stop her retreat. “You! How’d you find me?”
Jacob slid her purse over the counter. “A few small inquiries. You were not hard to find. You are quite the lady of the hour, my dear. I left last night’s fee there, which is generous, considering you and your new friend did quite a number on me, Aria Tempest. Such a pretty name for a
pretty little thing. Much better than Candy. You can call me Jacob. Don’t fret, pretty. I’m not here to hurt you. I just want to talk.”
His words didn’t ease Aria’s fears any. “I’m not a whore, so you can keep your dirty money, and as I recall, you tried to kill me,” she hissed in a low tone.
He gave a shrug. His handsome, blond hair and blue-eyed façade wasn’t fooling her any longer. His lips curved up into a smile as his gaze swept over her uniform. “Oh no, I wouldn’t have killed you. I’m a lover, not a fighter. It was my job to feed the beast; how was I to know you’d make friends with him?”
“Ethan’s not a beast, and I’d be pissed off, too, if I was caged like a pig for two hundred years.”
“On a first name basis already, I see. Aria, we really do need to have a little talk.”
She tried to yank her hand away. He held it firm.
“You okay, Ari?” Dennis’ voice came over from the kitchen.
Jacob released her. “There’s a lot you don’t know about your new friend, Aria.”
“Yes, Dennis,” she called over her shoulder, and then she turned her attention back to Jacob. “He’s not my friend; thanks to you, he almost killed me.”
“Ahh, unlike many thousands of women before you, he didn’t. I wasn’t his first keeper, little dove, but friend or not, Ethan is not going to let you go so easily. He has tasted you and will be back for more; you’re a blue blood.”
“A blue what?” Her curiosity started to override her fear. She glanced around to make sure she wasn’t needed in the diner. “Order something.” She shoved the menu at him. “And tell me what the hell you’re talking about.” She picked up a mug and fetched the coffee pot, pouring the handsome vampire a cup.
Jacob pretended to be interested in the menu. “I must say you’re taking this all very well, being almost drained dry, knowing there are other things out there, and it hasn’t made you run screaming yet.”
Aria narrowed her eyes at him. “Near death experiences tend to
change people. Now quit stalling and tell me about this blue blood nonsense, about Ethan, and why you had him locked up.”
“He was locked away for not only his own protection but everyone else’s, vampire and human alike. He’s been nothing but a monster…well, until you.”
“I still don’t get it.”
Jacob gave a sigh. “He’s one of the first of our kind and a heck of a lot older than anyone cares to remember. If the rumors are to be believed, he’s not even from Earth.”
“You’re an alien?” Aria snorted in disbelief.
“No, Ethan’s the alien. I was merely turned. I actually grew up in upstate New York. But back to the point; from what I’ve been told, Ethan needs a special kind of blood to function and survive on our world. Not just any human will do, and, sweetness, you’ve got just the right flavor for him. If I had known, I wouldn’t have given you to him.”
Aria slammed the coffee pot down, trying to keep her hands from shaking. “I was never anyone’s to give. What I did last night was a mistake, one I’d rather forget.”
“We’ve already established that, though I must say you were so sweet, like a little girl playing dress up.” He gave her a seductive grin.
Aria wasn’t biting. “Why is my blood so damn special?”
“I don’t really know. Something to do with your genetic makeup, DNA or something like that. It’s very rare, very hard to come by. From what I’ve read, there hasn’t been a real blue blood ever found in the States, so that makes you the hottest commodity in the American vampire world.”
“You’re a vampire; do you live off a blue blood?”
He shook his blond hair. “As I’m already or was human, human blood is fine for me. Only the ancients need blue bloods, creatures like Ethan.”
Aria frowned, trying to make sense of all that Jacob was telling her.
“What do you want from me? I doubt you tracked me down just to give me a vampire history lesson.”
“Very perceptive. Ethan is awake and roaming around the city.
You, my dear, are literally his meal ticket. The elders want you brought in so they can bring him in, too.”
Aria frowned. “Firstly, I’m not going anywhere with you again, and, secondly, what do you care if he’s awake?”
“Because he’s very dangerous.”
Aria gave a snort. “What, and you’re not?”
“My dear, I’m the lesser of the two dangers you have to worry about now.” His handsome face formed a serious expression.
Amy chose that moment to swing around the side of the counter, giving Aria a glare for taking too long with a customer and leaving all the work up to her.
“I have to get back to work,” Aria said.
Jacob grabbed her arm and tugged her forward. “I don’t think you get it yet, Aria. This life is over as you know it; once you’re identified as a blue blood, every ancient bloodsucker in the world will want you and for more than just your blood. Be thankful I found you first. I don’t want to hurt you, little dove. I can protect you, but you need to trust me and leave with me right now.”
“You’re crazy if you think I’m just going to up and leave with you,”
she said, not even attempting to hide the disgust in her voice.
“As I see it right now, you have three choices. One: stay here and wait till Ethan finds you and enslaves you. Two: you can leave willingly with me under my and the elder’s protection.”
“And the third?” she prompted when he didn’t continue.
“You won’t like it, but you will give me no choice but to take you anyway. I can’t guarantee my protection if I have to do that, Aria.” His voice took on a menacing tone.
“Dennis!” Aria raised her voice, and in the next moment, the large, heavyweight cook came out of the kitchen.
Sweet on all the girls, the big black man also served as protection against any unruly customers. He glared at Jacob, who was still clutching Aria. “Unhand the waitress, mister, right now.”
Jacob did so, but he smiled. “I’ve been more than fair with you, Aria Tempest, but it seems you’ve made your choice.”
“You and your elder buddies can go fuck yourselves. I’m not going anywhere with you. I don’t want any part of your nightmare world.”
“It’s not your choice anymore. Your misadventure last night put you in deep. You can’t escape your fate. Your only hope is with me now.”
Not for a second did she believe that.
He rose to his feet, shelling out a few dollars onto the counter, while Dennis watched on with his big, burly arms folded, glaring at Jacob.
Aria kept a passive face, hiding the fear and anger over Jacob’s threats.
“I’ll see you again soon, little dove. It’s a long night ahead.” With that, he turned, striding casually out of the diner.
Dennis’ hand on her shoulder made her jump. “Are you all right, Ari?”
“I don’t know, Dennis. I sure hope so.” Her voice sounded a little shaky. Could Aria ever have a normal life again? Jacob had clearly stated that no matter what happened, he and Ethan were after her. Maybe she had another option and that was to run.
“I’ll make sure you get home tonight okay,” Dennis offered.<
br />
She gave him a grateful smile and snatched her purse off the counter. It had four hundred dollars in it; it was enough for a bus ticket to…? She had no idea where to go, and she couldn’t leave Mae, the only friend she had. The thought suddenly struck her that Mae was in danger.
If Jacob had been to her apartment looking for her, he would have encountered Mae.
Aria gabbed some quarters out of her apron pocket, hurrying down around the counter and weaving her way to the payphone at the back of the diner. Her fingers trembled as she dialed their home number; when it rung out, she struggled to contain her rising panic. She had to get back home and quickly.
Aria headed back to the kitchen, ignoring customers trying to gain her attention.
“Aria, what’s wrong? You look as white as a ghost. What did that customer say to you?” Amy asked in concern as Aria grabbed her jacket from the back of the kitchen.
She looked at Dennis’ and Amy’s worried faces. “I think Mae’s in danger. I gotta go right now.”
Mitch, the owner of the diner, came in from the back door, carrying boxes of frozen hamburger meat as Aria was tugging on her jacket.
“What’s going on? Aria, your shift isn’t over yet.” He glared at her.
“I’m sorry, Mitch. I have to go. Something important came up.”
“If she’s in danger, call the cops. Who was he, Ari?” Dennis asked.
“Who’s in danger?” Mitch glanced between her and Amy.
“I can’t. I have to sort this out myself.” Aria snatched up her bag and ran out the back door and into the alley.
Chapter Five
The scent of her was powerful; even before he had awoken, he’d sensed she wasn’t there. He’d quickly cleaned, dressed, and left the hotel to start tracking her. He let her scent lead him through the crowded streets. His thirst for her blood pulled at him. The hunger and lust for her body inflamed his soul.
The woman was his; no one was allowed to touch her or taste her like he had or would. By now, his ex-jailer would have figured out she was no ordinary human. He would be in pursuit.
Ethan continued to hunger for more of her blood, touch and taste.
He could easily go several more nights without feeding before the urge became overpowering. It would take a good week before he would turn back into the monster he once was. Ethan was angry she had run from him, even after making it clear she wasn’t to leave. She belonged to him.
She had ignored everything he’d told her. It would not happen again. He would take measures to ensure she stayed, even if it meant chaining her to his day bed. As selfish as it sounded, it was the only way to protect her now that she had been discovered by more than himself. Protecting Aria would be much easier once he took her to France, to the safety of his home, if the fortress still stood. Right now, he would face one problem at a time.
There was still much Ethan did not know about this modern human age; at this moment, he didn’t need to know. All he needed was Aria safe and by his side. The rest would follow at his command. He had
to find out what happened to his brothers-in-arms, and then he would find the bastard who had turned on him and imprisoned him for so long.
Laws would be reinstated, and all human vampires would fall into line or be destroyed. It was the only way to keep order to protect the humans.
From what he had seen of this world and the vampires dwelling here, it was chaos.
Ethan drew in a deep breath. She was close. His gaze scanned over the people passing on the sidewalk. Then he saw the top of her wavy, honey brown hair as she hurried through the thrum of humans. Her lush, pink lips were drawn into a tight line of worry; he could feel the race of her heart as she ran up the steps of a tall, worn building, disappearing inside.
Ethan made to follow then saw two other hybrid vampires follow her in through the same door. His anger surfaced, recognizing one of the vampires as his ex-jailer. They were after Aria.
Ethan jumped into action, racing down the streets. He moved silently so as not to alert the others to his presence. He wanted to question these two vampires before he killed them for even daring to go near his woman.
*
Aria’s hands trembled as she pushed open the door of her apartment; the fact that it was not locked and was slightly ajar added to her fear.
“Mae?” she called into the apartment before stepping through. She hadn’t checked on Mae earlier when she’d dashed home to change, assuming she had been sleeping. But surely she’d be up by now, getting ready for the night. “Mae!” She stepped over the threshold and passed their old sofa with the large pink throw rug that hid the stains underneath. Both she and Mae had strived to make their apartment clean and comfortable, a haven away from the rest of the world.
Very cautiously, she moved into the hall to stand in front of Mae’s door and knock. “Mae, you in there?” She closed her fingers over the
doorknob and twisted. The door opened with a soft click.
Aria stared into darkness; her fingers ran up the inside of the door and flicked on the switch. The dead stare of her only true friend made her feel like she was punched hard in the gut.
A hand clamped over her mouth, stifling her scream. She was pulled back into a hard male body.
“I see where you got your role model from, sugar. Now she really was a whore,” Jacob’s voice said in her ear.
Aria clamped her teeth into the side of Jacob’s hand, biting down hard, while shoving her elbow back into his stomach, making him curse breathlessly as air whooshed from his lungs. Then she tore herself from his grasp to run for the door and slammed right into another hard body in the hallway. Another pair of strong hands grabbed her.
“You were right about her being a fighter,” the second vampire said in an amused upper New York accent.
Aria stared into a pair of dark brown eyes as he quickly took hold of both her wrists, pinning them behind her back, making her strain her lower body against the stranger as she struggled. He turned her in his arms. She glared angrily at Jacob, who was examining the bite mark she’d left.
“Had she been one of us, I’m sure she would have bit my finger clean off,” said Jacob, amusement clear in his voice.
“You killed Mae, you fucking bastard!”
“Well, not me, exactly. Whores aren’t to my taste. I much prefer pretty little innocents, much like you. How did someone as sweet as you get mixed up with the likes of that?” His blue eyes regarded her as she struggled in the grasp of the second vampire. “John, here, was happy enough to snack on your dear, departed friend.”
“I’m going to kill you!” She was overwhelmed with anger and shock.
“Oh, come now, Aria Tempest, no need to dramatize everything. I gave you fair warning back at the diner: either come with me willingly or we would take you by force. I think I much prefer this way now. I see the beautiful bloom in your cheeks when you’re all riled up, the blood
rushing through your veins, the wonderful sound of your pounding heart.” He stepped closer and ran a hand down the side of her face, resting it on the side of her neck, feeling her racing pulse under his hand.
Aria stopped struggling as it was getting her nowhere. She gulped down some deep breaths, glaring at Jacob.
“The elders said I had to bring her in unharmed. They never said anything about not sampling her delights before we do so. I’ve been wondering what a blue blood would taste like.”
Behind her, John gave a chuckle.
“I must confess, I’ve been having fantasies about this little pink polyester uniform ever since I saw you in it.”
“Didn’t peg you for a cross dresser, but, hey, whatever gets your motor running.” The sarcasm was lost in her angry tone.
Jacob gave a laugh as his hand slipped down the front of her uniform, brushing over her left breast.
“Don’t touch me!”
“I would advise you to do what my lady says,” a deep, commanding voice said from the doorway of her apartment. Ethan stoo
d there, looking as sexy as hell in tight blue jeans and a navy blue T-shirt that defined his bulging chest and shoulder muscles.
Jacob spun around, but John held her firm. The deadly gleam in Ethan’s eyes made even her fearful.
“Well, my luck has certainly changed; two for the price of one,”
Jacob said with a menacing smile.
Unfazed, Ethan took a step forward. “You touched my woman, which is grounds enough to execute you. Let her go right now, and I will make it painless and quick.”
“Oh, I don’t think so.” Jacob pulled something out from his jacket pocket.
Aria’s gaze followed Jacob’s movements; she recognized the little black object in his palm as a Taser. “Ethan, he’s got a Taser. One jolt from it can render an elephant unconscious.” She was breathless, knowing he’d probably never seen one before.
Ethan’s gaze moved to the weapon Jacob held, seemingly summing
up the situation.
“Shut her up,” Jacob growled, his fangs suddenly lengthening.
John’s arm banded around her waist and the other around her mouth.
“You’re both coming back with me.” Jacob lunged at Ethan with the Taser.
Ethan sidestepped the younger vampire, avoiding contact with the Taser, moving quicker than Aria could see. Suddenly, Jacob was flat on his face, Ethan’s boot on the back of his neck pressing Jacob’s face into her pink rug. He’d removed the Taser from Jacob’s hand and was looking it over.
Aria found herself flung down onto the sofa as John moved to attack.
Ethan leapt off Jacob, diving at John around the chest. The pair crashed backward, her little wooden table breaking into splinters as they barreled into it. The two vampires snarled, fists flying.
Aria didn’t stop to watch the fight as she scrambled off the sofa.
Destined Hearts Page 4