by Kym Grosso
“Yes, she’s been in seclusion with her coven. I summoned her to the compound, and she’s expected to arrive tomorrow.”
“Thanks. We’ll need her assistance locating Simone. We also need to get details on what kind of magic is being used…why the girls were killed in the manner they were. Something is off.”
As Luca left, Kade pulled the blanket up over Sydney’s shoulders. He sighed, relieved that they’d soon be back in New Orleans. He could feel his power increasing, thrumming throughout his body as they got closer to the city. He breathed in the scent of the fragile woman who lay against his chest. He swore that no one was going to hurt Sydney again and live to talk about it.
Chapter Ten
Sydney woke in the middle of the night, finding herself naked in a strange bed. Nice. This is turning out to be a fine damn week. Not that she generally had a problem with nudity, but it was a little disconcerting to know someone had undressed her somewhere between thirty thousand feet and here…wherever 'here' was. She guessed she was at Kade’s house…well, she sure as hell hoped that was where she was. She scanned her surroundings, surprised by the feminine décor. The violet bedroom was decorated with cream, shabby-chic furniture. If she hadn’t known better, she would have thought she was in a Vermont bed and breakfast.
“Hey, Sunshine, ‘bout time you woke up. My ass is getting sore sitting here playing nursemaid.”
Sydney caught sight of a beautiful, tall, red-haired woman sitting in a large white leather chair.
“Nursemaid? Really? Okay, number one, I’m fine.” Sydney winced as she sat up in bed, covering her chest with the sheet. She felt like shit, but she wasn’t about to let 'Ginger' think that. The stranger’s unearthly beauty and pale skin led her to surmise that her companion was a vampire. Show no fear. “Number two, where’s Kade?”
“Yeah, okay. Well, Kade says you are not fine. And with Simone looking for your pretty little ass, I would be a little more grateful for a personal guard.” The woman walked across the room, opened a large wardrobe, and held up a dress, giving Sydney a cold smile. “I guessed your size and brought over some clothes. Your purse is in the bathroom. Luca brought it…thought you might need it. Shoes are in the closet. As for Kade, he should be here soon. So you might as well know that you really don’t look so great. Might want to go take a shower.” She put the dress back into the wardrobe and opened another door. “Bathroom’s here. Robe and slippers are in there too. Just like the freakin’ Hilton, huh? So, guess that's about it. As soon as Kade gets here, I’m done. Xavier will be on next.”
Sydney had had just about enough of the welcome speech. She felt as though she was in a bad horror movie.
“Thanks for the tour. But for the record, while it’s true that Simone sent someone to attack me, I don’t need a guard. You can ask the last vamp…oh, that’s right, you can’t, because he’s now a pile of ash.” Sydney sat up straighter, trying to appear as if she wasn’t in pain. “I’m not planning on staying here long, but I appreciate the clothes.”
The strange woman zipped across the room and was face to face with Sydney within seconds.
“Sydney, darling, I work for Kade, not you. If he says you need a guard, you get one. If you have a problem with that, take it up with Kade. I follow orders…that’s how this goes. And if you like living, human, you should accept it.” And with that, she strode out of the room and slammed the door.
Sydney shrugged, irritated with the encounter and left wondering what the stranger’s relationship to Kade was. Her priorities at the moment were getting showered and fed. After that, she was leaving. There was no way in hell she was spending her days living in a house full of vampires. She recalled the compassionate way Kade had tenderly held her on the plane. There was no denying the desire he’d awakened inside her, but she wanted no part of his world. Living in his home wasn’t an option. She reasoned that she could get a room at the Hotel Monteleone and work with Kade from there. She was willing to continue her partnership with him until they found Simone, or another dead girl showed up in Philly.
Sydney’s thoughts moved to the case. There was so much to do. She needed to call into her office, let them know what happened. Panicked, she remembered that she had no weapons with her. Where is my gun? She walked over to the wardrobe and retrieved her purse, thankful that Kade’s brooding friend had thought to bring it. Well, at least something had gone right; wallet, cell and charger were there, but no gun. Her weapons, that she’d so carefully prepared, were back in her condo. She felt naked, and it had nothing to do with her nudity. She clicked through her contacts and pressed the call button for Tristan. He picked up.
“Tristan! Thank God.”
“Hey, Sydney. You okay? Kade called me and told me about the vampire. Listen, Syd…I need to talk to you.” There was a period of silence as if he was seeking the right words. “Kade said that he told you everything about Simone. I know I should have told you, but I was just hoping that it wasn’t her.”
“Don’t worry about it. I know you guys have a connection to her. But Tristan, this is just another killer. We'll get her.”
“But, that’s just it. You don’t know what she's capable of…what she did. Aw hell. I just don’t want to see you hurt. Before you even say it, I know it’s your job to protect people, but there are forces that could easily kill you. You’re human. She got my sister, and she was a strong wolf. If you could have seen what she did to those girls…you just need to be extra careful on this case.” He sounded exasperated. “Look, I’m coming down there. My brother, Marcel, is the Alpha in the region, and before you say anything, which I know you will, don’t argue. It’s not negotiable.”
“Okay, Tristan. I get it. Simone - evil vampire. Me - weak human.” She rolled her eyes. Men. “I won’t argue…well, not now anyway. But I need a favor. I need you to stop by my place and bring my weapons. You know, the special gifts you gave me a few years ago. I also need my guns. I left them in the condo. I might need them down here.”
“Okay Syd. I’ll bring the weapons, but please just stay with Kade until I get down there. You’ll be safe with him at his compound. We can talk about next steps when I arrive.”
“Okay, Tris, call me when you get down here. Thanks for bringing my stuff.”
As she hung up, she sighed, resigned to the fact that it was going to be even more difficult working with both Kade and Tristan. Both men, the Alpha and vampire, thought they could boss her around. It was their nature to dominate, but it wouldn’t deter her from her task. It might be a challenge to navigate around their domineering ways, but she was determined to catch the killer.
After taking a shower, Sydney gingerly brushed out her hair, still feeling the goose egg on the back of her head. At least the headache was gone. She dressed in a pair of black leggings and pink workout top, both of which clung to her figure, revealing a hint of cleavage. Her stomach growled. She recalled eating dinner with Kade, but she wondered what nourishment, if any, they kept in their own homes. She cringed, thinking about what they really ate: people. She wasn’t stupid. She knew that human donors, both women and men, served themselves up on platters at Eden, but Sydney had never witnessed a 'feeding'. And in a house full of vampires, she didn’t plan on offering herself. Just play it cool, get your weapons, and you’ll get a hotel room in the French Quarter. You’ll be fine.
Deciding not to wait for Kade, she ventured out in search of food. A hand gently blocked her way as she took her first step out of her room. She looked up to see a good-looking, African American man smiling down at her. He must have been at least six-five, lean and strong. He was dressed in casual black sweatpants and a white sleeveless, spandex shirt that showed every hard line of the muscles in his arms. He was statuesque and reminded her of a Greek god.
“Where do you think you’re going without me, cher?” He grinned knowingly.
Sydney smiled back. She didn’t know this man, but her gut told her that he had good intentions. “I take it that you’re Xavier? Hi ther
e, I’m Sydney Willows, Detective Sydney Willows. Nice to meet you.”
“Ah, so very nice to meet you.” He reached for her hand and kissed the top of it. “Yes, I’m Xavier. I’ve been assigned to accompany you during your stay at the Issacson Estate. I’m a good friend of Kade’s, and we do intend to keep you safe.” He let go of her hand.
Okay, here we go again with the chivalrous hand kissing; so polite, so deadly. Sydney sensed he was a nice guy, so she decided just to go with the flow, no use fighting with the hunky, vampire guard. She would save her energy and deal with Kade once she found him. “Xavier, I really need something to eat.” She laughed a little. “You know, like human food. Also, I really need to talk with Kade.”
“This is N’awlins, girl. You kidding? We’ve got plenty of food.” He laughed as if she was crazy. “Come on, you must be famished after your ordeal. We heard all about it, tough girl you are.”
They made their way to the kitchen table where an older woman served bread, eggs and andouille. Sydney was pleasantly surprised that they had a human cook in the house. As she ate her meal, enjoying her hot, chicory coffee, she wondered exactly how many people lived here. She talked with Xavier and learned that the mansion was located in the Garden District. She was pleased to learn that she was in a place where she could easily get to the French Quarter without needing directions. On one of her previous trips to the city, she had stayed in a lavish bed and breakfast in the area and knew exactly where she was.
Xavier told her how he’d come to know Kade in the year of 1868. His father was of Acadian descent and married his mother, who was an African American freed slave. He grew up in Lafayette Parish on the bayou, learning to fish and trap as his forefathers had done. Around his twenty-eighth birthday, he was attacked by the Southern Cross KKK and left to die in a field. As he struggled for his last breath, Kade had found and turned him. Soon after, he’d come to live with Kade, Luca and the others. He was a loyal friend to Kade and currently worked for him as a technology specialist.
After she finished eating, Sydney explored the lower level of the home, discovering a large sunroom, which was filled with orchids, lilies, and various other flowers. Someone had designed this room as if it were an indoor garden. Moonlight poured into it through glass walls, and she found herself resting in a large, overstuffed chair. Xavier had told her she could wait there for Kade and that he would be nearby if she needed his assistance. Even though she thought there were other vampires living in this home, the house was curiously quiet. All she heard was the rhythmic serenade of the cicadas.
A familiar tingle danced up her spine, and Sydney quickly turned her head, aware of his presence. Kade. She blinked, and as if by magic, he stood in front of her. Seeing him again, her stomach filled with butterflies. Her breath caught as he reached for her, taking her hands in his, bringing her to her feet. Face to face, mere inches apart, this was the first time she would really get to talk to him since he held her in the bed on the plane…since the kiss. She wanted to be mad at him for bringing her down here, yet her body reacted as he placed a chaste kiss to her lips. Aroused, her nipples hardened in anticipation of his touch. She wanted more, but it was clear he wasn’t about to give it to her yet. Kade sighed, and sat down on the ottoman. Sydney followed, resting back down into her chair. He placed his hands on her knees.
“Sydney, love, so sorry to have left you alone for the past hour. I have much business to catch up on since I’ve been to Philadelphia. Please forgive me.” He appeared relaxed, as if his home was the one place they’d be safe.
“Thanks again for getting me out of the condo,” she began, her voice soft. Sydney found it impossible to keep from touching him as she reached for his hands. “As much as I love New Orleans, this was not how I expected to return. I…I don’t think it’s a good idea that I stay here in your home. It makes me really nervous…all these vampires roaming around your house. Besides, I know this city. I’d be okay on my own in a hotel. I don’t know it as well as I know Philly, but I can get around, and we can still work together. I talked to Tristan this morning and…”
Kade removed his hands from hers, stood, and walked across the room. He turned to her, astonished that she’d said she was leaving. Unbelievable. This woman had been in his home for less than twenty-four hours and was thinking about leaving already. And damn it all, she’d talked to Tristan about it. Sure, Tristan was a good friend, but he would not have her going to another man for protection, no fucking way. It was time he set her straight.
“Sydney, I’m not sure what you talked to Tristan about, but while you are in my city, in my home, you will abide by my rules. We will catch Simone together, but you will do this my way. I am completely serious. And before you open that lovely mouth of yours, I will not have any arguments about it. I’ve already called your captain and given him my assessment of what happened back at your condo. There is agreement between P-CAP and your department that you are here on a consultation basis only. That means no leaving this house without my knowledge and protection from me or someone from my security team. On the case, I tell you what to do and when to do it. I will not have you getting yourself killed while you are here.”
Kade blew out a breath, steaming with anger and arousal. That lovely little mouth; he wanted to kiss it, to make love to it, to feel himself surrounded by her lips. But she wouldn’t listen to reason, and he'd had enough of this 'I am a cop' nonsense. Simone would hang her from her wrists and skin her alive…he’d seen her do it before. They could work the case together, but Kade refused to let Sydney go it alone anymore.
“How dare you go and talk to my captain without my knowledge!” she yelled, jumping to her feet. She began to pace. “You don’t get to tell me when to leave this house! I’m not waiting around while you go off and do business, or whatever you do. I’m the detective. You are…you are…I don’t even know what the hell you are. I sure as shit know that you aren’t a freakin’ detective!”
Kade frowned. She was the most stubborn woman on the face of the earth. She was hot, sexy, beautiful, and damn hardheaded.
“I run this city, love. All of the supernatural activity in this town, including any P-CAP investigations, only happen with my approval and permission. That is all you need to know about my business. I am the law in New Orleans.” He moved toward her, closing the distance. “So unless you’d like to be tied to a bed, and believe me, I would love to have you tied to mine, you had better follow my rules.”
“Okay. Fine. No going out on investigations without you, but I’m not staying in a house full of vampires. This just isn’t practical or safe. I’m not going to end up a happy meal because someone got the munchies. And I’m not going to waste my time sitting around here while you do business. Where you go, I go. We work this case, get the bad guy, and I go home. Seriously, I can’t stay forever, so I want to make the most of my time.”
Finally, capitulation.
“Sydney, I want you to know that I admire your independence and tenacity. I just want to keep you safe. I want all my people safe.” Kade didn’t want her to know how deeply he was starting to care about her. He was pissed as hell knowing that she’d called Tristan instead of talking to him first. Hell, he wasn’t sure he even liked that he was so captivated by her. After all, he’d been alone for a few centuries now. He didn’t lack for female attention, and he had enough to keep him busy in life without complications. And Sydney was a huge complication. Yet he could not deny that he was very much connected to her and she to him. He gave a small smile as she backed away from him, making her way back into her chair. It was as if he could almost see the wheels spinning in her head.
Sydney pulled her legs up underneath her, glancing up toward her dominant but ever so sexy vampire, feeling conflicted about her situation. Tied to his bed? Duly noted and under consideration. She hated that she was starting to care about him, hoping that he’d kiss her again. He acted like he cared about her, like he wanted her, but she questioned his motivation. Was he making he
r stay here, because he was some kind of a control freak? After all, he didn’t just want to keep her safe…no, he’d said that he wanted to keep everyone safe. And he hadn’t kissed her either. It upset her to think about how disappointed she'd be if he really was just trying to manipulate her. It wasn’t as if she hadn’t accepted long ago that she would spend her life alone. That was how she wanted it. Sydney averted her gaze, attempting once again to pull up her emotional wall, nice and high.
“Don’t worry about stroking my ego, Kade. I get it, you are the protector, and I am the consultant. No problem. So what’s next? Where do we find Simone?”
As she was about to make a suggestion, Luca entered the room. “Kade.” He nodded and turned to Sydney. “Sydney. I’ve got a lead on Simone. There’s been rumblings that she was seen collecting donors downtown at Sangre Dulce.”
“Sangre Dulce?” Sydney asked.
“Sangre Dulce is a local club specializing in…how would you say?” Luca looked over to Kade, clearly hoping for some assistance. Finding none, he continued. “It is a fetish club. S&M. Caters to the supernaturals and humans alike. If Simone was looking for someone to torture, she could easily find a submissive there who would go off with her. I talked to Miguel, the owner, and he said a bartender reported that a woman who looked like Simone was in the club well over a month ago. We cannot be certain it was her, but we could ask around. And Kade, if we do go to Sangre Dulce, I would advise against taking the human.”
Sydney wanted to smack Luca. Why did he always have to be such a condescending ass? “Hello? Luca? That human is right here. I already established with Kade that we're going together.”
“Kade, she serves no purpose on this trip,” Luca commented, stone-faced. “Simone will have spies, and they will see her. And others…vampires…they’ll view her as available. She is not marked, nor claimed, nor does she work for us. They will recognize her as an outsider. It’s not wise to bring her. I must insist that you reconsider.”