by Raven Stone
“Good. You need one too,” Jamie said.
I shot him my middle finger, then turned around and went back to my bedroom.
When I walked back into the living room, Degarr was already showered and sitting in one of the chairs. Jamie was across from him, sitting on the couch and devouring a pizza.
“Did you save me a slice?”
“If you’re quick,” he replied.
I grabbed one and sat down on the couch. “So what’s the plan for tonight?”
“You hear back from Amber yet?”
“No,” I said.
“Okay. We’ll start with the doc, then. See how much progress she’s made with the pills and the two vampires from last night,” Degarr said.
“When do you eat?” I asked.
Degarr just shook his head.
“Good luck with that,” Jamie replied, then stuffed his own face with pizza.
Degarr waited patiently until we were both done eating, then I grabbed my purse and we all headed for the door.
Jamie sighed. “Your smelly friend’s here.”
“Then for God’s sake, hurry, I don’t want him back in here. That could take forever.” I rushed them both out of the door and locked it.
“Nadia,” Oleg said.
Just in time.
“Oleg.” I turned to see him eyeing Degarr.
“Every time I stop by, he’s here. That’s not like you, Nadia. You going soft, darling?” he asked.
“Maybe I am.” I slipped my hand in Degarr’s. “Maybe I’m not. Maybe I’ll have ten of his babies. It’s still none of your fucking business.”
Degarr’s hand curled around mine, sending a thrill through me.
Oleg’s gaze shot to our linked hands, and stayed there, for a long, quiet moment.
“Your funeral,” he said finally. His eyes slowly lifted to Degarr’s face. “You should know that your new man’s dangerous.”
I laughed softly. “I know that. Didn’t you accuse me of sleeping with him for that very reason?”
“No, I accused you of fucking him for protection. That’s different.”
“I’m not hearing the difference,” I replied.
Oleg tore his gaze away from Degarr.
“I’m telling you my client’s afraid of him, Nadia. You know the type of people I work for. You know they don’t scare easily. Doesn’t that tell you something? Don’t you think you should be afraid of him too?”
“No.” I shrugged.
“Fine. Again, your funeral.” He gave me a flat stare, then turned his attention back to Degarr. “My client will meet with you, but only in a location of his choosing. And he will be bringing guards.”
“That’s fine, as long as the location is in a public place,” Degarr said.
“Agreed,” Oleg replied quickly. “Ten pm tomorrow night. I’ll text the address to Nadia’s phone.”
Then he left.
Chapter 41
Degarr – Chicago
We waited in the hall until my senses confirmed that Nadia’s unpleasant former associate had truly gone.
I didn’t like the way he talked to her. I didn’t like that he’d hurt her.
I didn’t like him being around her.
Period.
Hopefully, soon, that would no longer be an issue.
I kept Nadia’s hand in mine as we strode down the hall. We got into the elevator, and just after the doors closed, my phone rang. Her fingers slipped out of mine so I could answer it.
“Yes?” I asked, not even checking to see who was calling.
“You didn’t spend the day in the hotel,” Gabriel said.
His voice travelled down my spine like a warm finger. How did he manage that, considering the poor metallic speaker this little device had?
“I didn’t.” I agreed. “After I texted you last night, something came up.”
“A break in the case?”
Nadia, trying to hide her tears, huddled against my chest with my wolf in her lap, trying to make her feel better.
I reached for her without even thinking, wrapping an arm around her.
“No,” I said quietly. It would have been easier to lie to him. But I made it a rule not to.
“Then what came up?”
“I can’t talk about it right now,” I said. The elevator chimed, and we walked out into the lobby.
“You’re being very careful,” he said. “Are you okay?”
“Yes.”
“Who’s with you?” he asked.
“Jamie,” I answered.
“And?”
“Hmm,” I replied, walking away from Jamie and Nadia, and turning my back to them.
“You walked away from them, didn’t you?” he asked.
“Yes.”
He blew out a breath. “So, you are safe then.”
My stomach twisted. I hadn’t considered that my actions would be cause for concern, but given what we’d gone through, and the nature of my work, I could understand that.
“Yes,” I said again.
“But oddly tight lipped,” he replied. “It’s your contact, isn’t it? Nadia.”
I ran a hand across the back of my neck. “There have been some complications.”
“Complications that prevented you from taking her back to the hotel?”
“I have a requirement before I do that. Call it a boundary,” I said.
I was interested in Nadia. I liked her. But there was one thing I needed her to do for me, before I brought her back to the Red Circle club where I was staying, or before I exposed my home to her. Unfortunately, it was something I knew she wouldn’t like.
I would understand if she refused, but that would be the end of us.
“Interesting,” Gabriel mused. “I thought she was human.”
“She is. Why?” I asked.
“You form friendships with humans, John, like the friendship you have with Dakota. You have sex with them and feed from them, but that’s where it ends. You usually don’t have romantic relationships with them.”
He was right, of course.
I lowered my voice. “Who said I was building a relationship with her?”
“You just risked your life for her by spending the day at her place. How is that not trying to build a relationship with her?”
“Fuck,” I said. Because he was right. Again.
He laughed. “The part that really gets me is you were willing to risk your life for her, but you weren’t willing to risk anyone else’s life by taking her to the Red Circle. That tells me a lot.”
Of course he would figure out why I didn’t take her there.
“What does that tell you?” I asked.
“That you’re still thinking logically and rationally, even with the effect this human’s having on you. That’s a good sign. It makes me feel better.”
“Good,” I said. “And for what it’s worth, I’m sorry. I just didn’t think.”
“Understood. Just don’t let it happen again, okay?”
“Okay,” I said. “Wait, I never said we were at her place. How did you know?”
He laughed. “John. Really.”
Then he hung up.
I stared at the phone in my hand, then I shook my head. I turned, holding up one finger to Jamie and Nadia, telling them to give me some more time. Nadia seemed a bit amused, while Jamie looked a bit bored, but both of them stayed. I made a quick call to Doctor Miller, making sure she had time to see us, then I made a final, third call before I rejoined Nadia and Jamie.
“Finally.” Jamie shoved his phone back into his pocket.
Nadia simply smiled at me. “All done?”
“For now,” I said. “Let’s go to the doctor’s.”
“Where’s the scarf?” She checked my hands.
I smiled. “This is one of those secrets I was talking about.”
She returned my smile. “No scarf then?”
“No scarf.” I confirmed.
“Alright.”
Both of them fell in besid
e me, and the three of us headed for the exit.
“Everything okay?” Nadia asked.
“Yes.” I held the door open for her, and she shot me an odd look before going through. Jamie simply went through, and I followed.
I stopped in my tracks the moment I saw what was waiting for us.
Chapter 42
Degarr – Chicago
There was a black SUV parked directly in front of the entrance. I could tell it was one of ours. The aftermarket modifications wouldn’t be obvious to humans, but I knew them well enough to know this particular vehicle would keep us safe from broad daylight while under attack from Hunters.
Hell, that thing could probably make it through the zombie apocalypse, and I was betting it was stocked with bloodwine, real blood, whiskey, and privacy screens to boot.
My King liked to travel well.
A smile touched my lips. He deserved it. He deserved every luxury we could ever find.
The vampire standing quietly in front of the vehicle shot me a hopeful look. Odds were, he’d been here for a while, standing just like that in his black suit with his hands clasped in front of him. And while he looked like a normal chauffeur, I had no doubt he had Nightfall or White Guard training.
I tapped my phone, and held it up to my ear.
“Did you have me followed, love?” I asked when Gabriel answered.
“God, I love it when you call me that,” he said.
“Answer me,” I demanded.
He laughed softly. “I can’t believe I never knew about this side of you until recently.”
“Gabriel,” I growled.
“No,” he said, laughing. “I didn’t have you followed. A member of Nightfall dropped you off last night, remember?”
Oh.
I crossed an arm across my chest. “Right. Of course.” I eyed the vampire in the suit, who was perking up as I stared at him. “Don’t you think this is a bit of overkill?”
“You disappeared.” Gabriel’s good humor left immediately. I could almost feel a chill over the phone.
“I did not. I explained that,” I said.
“I didn’t know that at the time,” he said tersely. “What did you expect me to do? Twiddle my thumbs in a different state while you disappeared? Again?!”
My chest locked up, and I found it hard to breathe. I’d hurt him just as badly as I’d hurt my wolf, and I’d never meant to.
“Gabriel,” I finally managed to say in a low voice. “I’m sorry. Not just for today, but for then too.”
“I know,” he said softly. “But that does nothing to help with my fears, especially when I wasn’t able to reach Jamie either. I didn’t have you followed this time, but I will if I have to. You will not disappear on me again. I don’t care if I have to ask Orleande every five minutes if you’re alive whenever you leave my side. I don’t care if it makes me look crazy or obsessed. I’ll do it, you hear me? I’m not going through that again.”
Pain sliced through me at how I’d hurt him, followed by warmth.
Gabriel loved me.
I knew that. I’d felt that. But here was proof of it again, loudly being declared to the world in the form of a vehicle and a driver.
“I understand, love,” I said softly, staring at the black vehicle in front of me.
“Do you?” He demanded. “Because I don’t think you do.”
“You don’t have to bother Orleande,” I said. “Why don’t I just give you my blood?”
There was dead silence on the other end of the line, and I could feel the weight of Jamie’s stare. I usually didn’t share my blood with anyone, and both of them knew that. But if I gave my blood to Gabriel, and he shared his blood with me in return, then he would always know whether I was alive or not, just like Orleande did.
“I didn’t ask you to do that,” Gabriel said finally. “You don’t have to do that.”
No, I didn’t. But frankly, I’d been thinking about it for a long time.
I turned and walked away from Jamie and Nadia. I leaned against the cool stone of her building and lowered my voice.
“Don’t you want to?” I asked.
“Gods, John, of course I do.” His voice had a husky edge. “But I want it to be for the right reasons. I want you to give me your blood because you can’t stand the thought of going another night without doing it, not because you’re trying to pacify me. You should never share your blood just to shut someone up. I thought you knew that.”
“I do know that. I was very proud of you for sticking to your guns on that with Elodie. But I’m not giving in to pacify you. Don’t you know how much I want to?” I lowered my voice further. “How many times have I run my fangs across you?”
A shaky breath came across the phone.
“Enough times to drive me crazy,” he breathed. “But you’ve always said no. Why are you saying yes now? Why the sudden change?”
“It’s not sudden.” I admitted, resting my head on the cool stone. “I’ve been thinking about this for a long damn time. Every time I’ve scraped my fangs across your skin, I’ve fantasized about it a hundred times more. I dream of sinking my fangs into you and finally taking you completely. Finally tasting you.”
I ached for it. Yearned for it. And right now, I was hard, just from thinking about finally feeding from him.
“Any time,” Gabriel said. “Any time you want my blood, it’s yours.”
God.
My heart soared in my chest. It meant everything to me that he wanted to give me his blood, especially when he had never wanted to give it to Elodie.
“What’s been stopping you?” he asked quietly.
“Because it’s not fair to keep it one sided. And I want your fangs in me too. I want to feel you feeding from me.” My voice was rough, bordering on hoarse.
And if I kept talking about it, I was going to dry hump this wall.
He was quiet, waiting for me to continue.
Patient. Always so patient.
“I haven’t because I’ve been afraid of the pain I’ll feel if I lose you,” I admitted.
“You won’t lose me,” he said quietly.
“Fear isn’t rational, love,” I said. “That’s why it’s fear.” I blew out a ragged breath. “But I can’t miss out on the good things because of fear. And if I lose you without doing this, I know I’ll regret it for the rest of my life, and that will hurt me more.”
He was quiet again.
“I love you too,” he said finally.
“God, Gabriel, I love you too. And I want to share blood with you when I get home. Will you share blood with me?”
“Yes,” he said huskily. “Gods, yes, John. Come home soon, so we can do exactly that.”
“Soon.” I promised.
And then I hung up.
Chapter 43
Degarr – Chicago
Three people were staring at me: a human; a werewolf; and a vampire. The triskele of my world.
The vampire approached me first.
“Mr. Degarr, I’m your driver. The King –”
I clapped a hand over his mouth. “Nothing more. The four of us,” I jutted my chin towards Nadia and Jamie, “are getting in the back of the SUV and talk, understand?”
The driver made an agreeable sound, and I removed my hand. He unlocked the vehicle, then opened the back door and held it while the rest of us climbed inside. Then he followed us in and closed the door.
“What’s your name?” I asked the driver.
“Gordon.”
“Okay, this is Jamie. And no matter what you hear, you will call this woman Bellamie when we’re in public, understood?” I asked.
He gave me a strange look.
“Okay,” he said slowly.
“Do you have Nightfall training, or White Guard?” I asked.
“I’m Nightfall. Transferred into Chicago last month,” he replied.
“Have you heard about the two vampires we found last night?”
He leaned forward. “Yes. I heard their shields wer
e gone. Is that true?”
“Yes,” I confirmed, “and we’re looking for the people who are responsible. By now, they’ve probably heard about me, or heard that I’m looking for them. However, I’ve heard nothing that indicates they know about the King, and I’d like to keep it that way. When we’re in public, just call him Captain, understood?”
“Understood,” Gordon said.
“Good. I’m meeting with some people tomorrow night. I’d like you to switch out the plates on this SUV before we go, and then again after we leave. Make sure to use plates that can’t be traced back to vampires, and keep them handy in case we need to do it again,” I said.
He nodded.
“Garr, you’re not meeting with them alone,” Jamie interjected.
“Jamie –”
“He’s right,” Nadia said. “Going in there alone isn’t a good idea.”
I frowned. “Oleg said they’re scared of me.”
“Yes, he did, which means if you go by yourself, they’ll be tempted to squash the big scary thing under their boot while it’s vulnerable,” she said.
It was a good point. I’d been to plenty of meetings like this when I’d been a solo Hunter, but truthfully, leaving some of those meetings had been a bit dicey. Ignoring the risk in this situation would be ill advised.
“What are you suggesting?” I asked.
“I should go with you. They’re expecting me to be there anyways, since they found you through me,” she replied.
“They found both of us through Oleg.”
“Yes, and I suspect he’s already told them everything he knows about you and me, plus anything he could think of to make it juicier,” she said.
“Meaning?”
“He’s told them I turned down their contract because I’m hot for your dick,” she said flatly.
I laughed. “Then if we both go, wouldn’t that make them more likely to kill me and make you take their contract?”
Something in Nadia shifted.
She became softer, and more vulnerable.
“Degarr,” she said softly, placing her hand gently on my wrist. “I may be good at my job, but I’m just a woman. I’m soft and weak.” Her expression matched her voice and tone, transforming her into someone beautifully innocent and fragile.