by Jackie Ivie
Crap.
The odds were stacked against her here. She’d have to be really lucky. She didn’t have much to go by. He worked for something called VAL. She started that search next.
And that’s when she saw the cell phone. Placed on a shelf at her eye level along with a scrap of paper. She unfolded it with fingers that trembled.
When you are ready, just press connect.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Akron held him back with one hand while he pulled a phone from somewhere beneath his cloak. The man had his palm against Anso’s heart. He had to know how it thudded heavily with every continuing ringtone. Akron held the phone for longer than he needed, and let it ring four times before he answered. Anso lowered his jaw and settled with giving the leader of the Vampire Assassin League a baleful glare.
He tensed his muscles. Locked his teeth. His left eye twitched. He didn’t make a sound, however. He was under orders.
Akron was smiling slightly as he finally answered. “Yes?”
“Oh. Thank goodness! Hi there!”
Anso’s knees wavered as he heard her voice, not only through Akron’s speaker, but it was audible through the door they faced, the one with a metal plate marked with numbers. Three-Eight-One. His mate was so close! He jerked involuntarily. Akron pushed against his chest. The man’s hand sent Anso against the far wall, and then it held him there. Anso felt every ridge of his sword; the intricate hilt, the hammered metal that trimmed his scabbard, the blade that was jammed against his lower spine and buttocks. And then the pressure eased as his sword bit into the wall with a crunching sound.
That was going to leave damage.
Good thing it was the midst of the night, his mate lived in a secured complex, and nobody appeared to be having a fest this eve. He and Akron made quite the sight. Anso was large, but Akron topped him by a good two inches. Maybe more. The man wore his usual long, disguising black cloak. Beneath it, he’d donned black leather, distressed so it wouldn’t have any shine. He wore his hood so it projected a shadow across his features. Why, if he carried a staff, he’d probably be mistaken for the Grim Reaper.
Anso was little better. They’d taken a private VAL jet. He’d washed the dirt off in the jet’s shower, but he’d done it fully dressed. The only change of clothing available was menswear. Mainly suits. Sport coats. Woolen trousers, some pleated. Some not. Such attire didn’t fit his image, and everything was too small in the shoulders. So, he wore his usual. Leather trousers, leather cuffs. Leather and steel neck piece. And he carried his large sword at his back. That wasn’t going to go unnoticed.
If any of Leah’s neighbors happened into the hall, they were in for a surprise. Leah spoke again. Anso actually kept any reaction from happening although a tremor scored his frame.
“You’re the guy from the explosion, right?”
“What makes you say that?” Akron answered.
“Your voice. It’s...Um Yeah. Difficult to describe. Unique.”
“You are correct, Doctor Thurman. I am the man that pulled you from certain death.”
“And Anso?”
“Who?” Akron asked nonchalantly.
“Oh. Please. Don’t do this to me!”
Despite the lock he had on his body, Anso reacted to the pleading tone in her voice. His muscles tensed involuntarily. Akron shoved against his chest. Anso’s shoulders touched the wall before the pushing stopped. The sword broke through the depth of wall with a jerk.
“Do what, my dear?”
Akron asked it with a slow, carefully modulated tone. Anso caught the growl before he got punished again. They didn’t have time for this type of conversation! Sat phones were different. They could talk for as long as necessary. Cell phones were different. Calls could be traced. There was a time limit!
“I need to know where he is! Okay? Please?”
“I have a lot of associates in my firm, Doctor Thurman. I am equally fond of all of them. And well aware of what they deserve...and don’t deserve.”
“Please?”
“You understand he is a vampire? A real one? We do exist. Yes?”
“Yes! Yes, I do!”
Anso’s head lifted. His eyes went wide. Akron winked at him. Anso flushed. Akron’s smile at his blush was quick, over almost the instant it started. He cleared his throat. Spoke to Leah again.
“Are you saying you believe in us? Truly?”
“Yes! Now, please. Please? Just tell me how to find him!”
Anso pulled in a deep breath. Barely stopped the howl. But it required an act of will, and he still bit his tongue.
“You realize you sound insane.”
“I don’t care! I love him! I need him! I want him! Please, say you know how to find him!”
Leah sounded like she was sobbing. Anso’s eyes watered, too. He didn’t know what expression Akron had. He was too blurry.
“Oh, my dear. Dear. Logical Doctor Thurman....”
“Yes?”
Hope stained her voice. Anso recognized it easily. He caught a breath and then started shuddering violently. The wall behind him began dusting his shoulders and the carpet at his feet with chunks of building material.
“He is on the other side of your front door.”
He heard her scream, the handle of her door wobbled. Akron released him and stepped to one side. And then Leah erupted. She launched across the hall and into his arms. And nothing had ever felt as wondrous.
She covered his face with kisses. Locked her arms about his shoulders and hugged him, and she was sobbing. And shaking. And laughing.
“Oh Anso! Anso! I love—!”
She didn’t finish the declaration because he had her lips. Her perfect body. Her heart. He had everything. He lurched away from the wall, taking a section from it as his sword followed. They stumbled across the hall. Entered the dark privacy of her enclave. And from what sounded a long way away, he heard Akron’s comment before Anso slammed the door shut with a foot.
“Ah. True love. It never grows old. Never.”
About the Author
Jackie Ivie lives in the ginormous state of Alaska with her husband and three very spoiled pets. She started her writing career writing hot highland historical romances for Kensington Publishing LTD. There are now ten “Clans series” books, available in seven languages. Keeping her head in the clouds most of the time, Jackie now spends her time researching, developing, and writing her two paranormal series – the Vampire Assassin League, and the NEW Dark Angel series Chronicles of the Hunter, as well as her other historical line – the Brocade Collection
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