9781936653027BorntobeWildArsuaga

by Cynthia Arsuaga

  He smiled. Damn, he wanted to touch her, kiss her sweet lips, make love to her, and feel her warm skin against his. He couldn’t answer. The pain of missing her wrenched his insides.

  Stefan? Are you still there? Rearranging the pillow, tucking it tightly under her head, she turned over in bed. Good night Stefan. She pulled the sheets up to her chin.

  The finality of her statement hit him like a hammer, and he quickly responded. I’m here. I need to see you again Alexandra.

  Where are you Stefan?

  He hesitated answering. I’m on assignment.

  Is that vamp code for you’ve been hired to make a hit on a fellow vamp? She giggled.

  Sparring with her amused him. God, he was falling helplessly in love. What the hell was he going to do? No, it means I’m working, like you.

  So, we’re not in Kansas anymore Toto?

  Huh?

  Giggling again, she responded, I’m tired and have to get up early. I’m really glad you called though. I really could use your help.

  Anything.

  It’s not what you think, silly man. Remember the conspiracy theory I had about the virus?

  Yes.

  We found a link between the virus and another substance, another synthetic blood with a drug in it. I know Ecaterina is involved. She can track me Stefan and I’m tracking her the old-fashioned way. What can I do?

  Tell me where you are?

  Not tonight, but soon. Good night Stefan.

  But?

  Good night.

  He inhaled sharply as he made his way to the white leather couch. This time when he thought of Alexandra he laughed, out loud. Earlier, when his heart dwelled in its darkest place, after killing an innocent and whipping Ecaterina, Alexandra brought light back into his life. He reached out to her, trying to touch her mind, in spite of her resistance to the connection. At this moment, happiness enveloped him where sadness once dwelled. The emotions welled up deep within his core, sharp and clear. He loved her. “Oh Alexandra,” he murmured. “I’m gonna make this right between us prinţesa.”

  Everything about his stay at SGM changed. His purpose became clear. He felt nothing but the desire to find a way out of his current predicament. Pure adrenaline pumped through his veins. Alexandra tracked Ecaterina to Miami. The woman he saw in the hallway was her. He warmed in admiration of her hunting skills, but feared the danger she’d put herself in.

  Stefan stood, pacing restlessly in his chamber. He needed an effective plan to protect Alexandra and get both of them safely out of this situation. The position of Elector Palatine of the Southeast Family Dragos tempted him. The power of it beckoned seductively. During the tour of the SGM plant, his sire showed him an empire of great wealth and power. As Elector, he would have absolute authority, speaking and acting for Dragos in his stead. It would be an honor working for a Grand Master, but it came with a price, quite possibly Alexandra.

  He could not continue his existence without her. Dragos would not allow a human to remain within the inner circle of the Family. Alexandra wasn’t ready to turn, which left him very few options.

  He let out a low growl, angry with himself and wished he had been more prepared for the consequences of the blood exchange with her. The obsession of feeling her warm flesh wrapping around him, inflaming all his senses, consumed him. Visions of feeding on her blood constantly bedeviled him. In all his lonely centuries of existence, he never experienced such joy and happiness as when he embraced her in his arms. He would not give her up.

  Stefan’s position as enforcer for Gregori occupied him for many years. Their friendship dated back even further, more than one hundred years. After the falling out with Dragos, he wandered throughout Europe for centuries. Just before the First World War, he moved to the United States, first to New York eventually meeting Gregori at a speakeasy. Stefan developed into an adept negotiator and, when called for, a killer, but only as last resort. The flair and adroitness he demonstrated when delivering the end result to a dispute earned him a reputation among the Vampire Families. Gregori became the Grand Master of the Mid-Atlantic Region and received Stefan’s exclusive services. Stefan became the Commander Enforcer, a position he valued and took pride in fulfilling. Gregori was his friend and a Grand Master, pledging one another loyalty and allegiance for eternity with a blood exchange.

  Because of the blood connection, he could contact his friend for help in carrying out the plan he devised. Dragos plotted to upset the balance of the past hundred years between humans and vampires, an unimaginable horror could ensue with the change. In the past others tried it, but never on such scale. Unleashing a deadly virus and addicting humans to a new blood drug could destroy civilization for humans as well as vampires. He would not be alone in wanting to stop Dragos in this pursuit.

  Gregori set a secret meeting for the next night. Representatives from the fifteen major families, even Sorin from Romania, announced intentions to attend. The question remained whether to bring Alexandra into the equation. Anything she knows, Ecaterina could learn through their connection, possibly compromising the entire plan. Also, Alexandra would be in grave danger if Ecaterina detected her presence. No, for the present, Alexandra must know nothing.

  * * * *

  After saying good night to Stefan, Alex curled under the covers. After the conversation, the headache disappeared. Her assessment was correct. He tried to contact her days before, but tonight she let her guard down and they touched each other’s minds.

  The attraction to Stefan began as a case of curiosity, quickly changing to more. The physical obsession with him quickly gave way to something else. He brought out feelings in her body and mind, previously unknown or explored and didn’t ever want them to end. Alexandra saw his true character, flaws, as well as scars. He probably had more to tell and she was willing to hear all of it. Keeping all those secrets infuriated her. Despite trying to turn the tables on him, she ended up liking him. Best of all, he accepted her flaws and thought her beautiful. What more could a girl ask for?

  She’d made up her mind they were going to give it a try. The next time they met face to face, she’d tell him.

  Closing her eyes and snuggling the pillow under her head, she conjured images of him. His smile, with the way the corners turned up slightly and a sliver of his white teeth peeked through his full lips. The wavy, thick deep brown hair, even more luxurious than the first night they met. He smelled like a tropical paradise, a blend of citrus and coconut. Oh how it made her feel warm and yummy inside. And those eyes—a dark and smoldering brown, burning directly into her soul.

  Good God, how can I sleep? She tossed and turned a few minutes before settling down again. A relationship with Stefan was like playing with fire. At any moment the whole thing could explode in her face if she wasn’t careful.

  Never wanting a relationship with a merely ordinary man, or settling for anything less, she wanted a wickedly fervent lover. The typical family unit with two point five children didn’t fit into her plans of happily ever after. Since college, she fantasized about her man inspiring hot, steamy, and erotic trysts in unusual, dangerous places. After last week at the sex club, here he was a dream man come true, and he was a vampire on top of everything. Her family would have a cow once they learn her intentions to stay with Stefan.

  Alex believed Stefan Marin was her soul mate. He made her laugh with adorable vamp humor and quips. In all things he cared for her needs and pleasure. Being easy on the eyes, he made her heart race and her body melt like chocolate on a hot sidewalk, but in all honesty, the clincher was how he looked at her with hunger for her body and not blood. She felt beautiful basking in his eyes and he loved to go shopping with her. What more could a girl want?

  With a bevy of pleasant thoughts swirling in her head, she nodded off to sleep.

  * * * *

  Special Vamp Division Conference Room, FBI Building

  “God, I feel like crap!” Alex said, walking into the conference room. Dingy sunlight angled through the windows,
doing nothing for her enthusiasm.

  “I hear ya. My ass is dragging,” Johnson said.

  The meeting started precisely at ten a.m. with Chief Martin, Johnson, and Alexandra attending. Everyone noticed Palmer’s absence.

  “I’ll make this short and sweet. Washington left us out to dry. It appears SGM has a license to manufacture narcotics. It includes production of the new drug. They’re double checking with the CDC and FDA. God only knows how long that’s going to take. Until then, we’re on our own to figure this out.”

  “So, we’re back to my idea with the rogue Ecaterina? Go after her and the virus and try linking her to Blue?” Alex asked.

  “Yeah, but I’m not happy with you continuing undercover at SGM Alex.”

  “Neither am I. Your mind-block exercises aren’t working as well as they should be. You’re suffering migraines,” Johnson said.

  “I’m fine. Today, no headache.” Superstitiously she knocked her knuckles on the table.

  The door opened.

  “Sorry I’m late,” Palmer said. “What have I missed?”

  Chief Martin scowled, continuing while Palmer uneasily found a seat. “Back to what I was saying, we will work on bringing this Ecaterina…” At a loss for her surname he shuffled through some papers searching for it.

  “Tomescu, boss,” Johnson said from across the table.

  “Yeah, thanks. Ecaterina Tomescu. We’ll bring her in and work on a connection between her and this Blue drug.”

  “Are you open to another angle sir?” Alex asked.

  Chief Martin eyed her with skepticism. “Sure.”

  Leaning forward, she took a deep breath and let it out. “The young woman recently murdered in the sex club, I’m working in her previous job.”

  “Alina,” Johnson said.

  “Yes, Alina. I was thinking after last night’s discovery with the new blood, did any strange or inconclusive findings show up with her tox report? If any of this Blue or the virus showed up in her bloodstream, we have the first piece of solid evidence to take to Washington.”

  Martin scratched his head and glanced over at Palmer and Johnson. “Hmm, that’s good thinking Alex. I’ll pass it on to Matsui to check.”

  A tap came to the door and Martin’s secretary, Ashley stuck her head in the room. “Excuse me Chief. There’s a call on three you really need to take.”

  “Who is it?”

  “Police Chief Rodriguez, MBPD,” Ashley answered.

  Martin nodded and picked up the handset. “Special Agent Todd Martin,” he answered, then paused and listened. “A Body? Where again? I’ll have the lead agent on site within thirty. Thanks for the call.”

  “What’s up sir?” Johnson asked.

  “Another apparent murder and take a guess where?” Martin asked rhetorically.

  “Oh shit! Euphoria?” Palmer asked.

  “Yeah. The vic is another SGM female employee,” Martin said.

  “I’m on it. Palmer let’s go,” Johnson said.

  “Don’t think you’re going to leave me out.” Alex interjected grabbing her bag. “I’m part of this team whether I’m officially on it or not.”

  Johnson turned to Chief Martin. “Sir?”

  Martin eyed Alex. She smiled broadly at him. His resistance melted. “I could never resist your mother either. Fine, go but, stay out of the way and don’t ask questions. You’re there unofficially. Got it?”

  “Yes, sir,” she said, demurely.

  Johnson and Palmer snickered, shaking their heads at Martin. “Used to getting your way, little one?” Palmer asked, half-jokingly.

  “Damn proud of it too.”

  The smell of death had an unpleasant and distinctive odor, unmistakable no matter how it occurred, indelibly imprinted onto memory from the first time as a rookie hunter accompanying her brothers. The moment Alex stepped through the club doors of Euphoria, a whiff of the sickly-sweet odor filled her nostrils. Coughing, she threw her hand up over her mouth and nose. In the heat of Southern Florida, it didn’t take long for a body to begin decomposition. Her guess was the poor victim died in the middle of the night. With the air-conditioning cut off at closing time, the warm humid Miami night air soon warmed the club to outside temperature. She walked behind Johnson and Palmer, determined to stay out of the way as Chief Martin asked. The unique equipment and décor resembled the sex club in Virginia. Damn a vamp sex club franchise business? I wonder if they take on new investors Not! She laughed inwardly.

  The uniformed officer stationed near the front entrance stood in a businesslike stance with legs braced and thumbs hooked under his gun belt. No one would pass without his approval. The green cast to his skin and beads of perspiration on his upper lip and across his brow advertised his discomfort in the hot, damp space. Alex felt the same. Johnson and Palmer flashed their IDs and walked by the uniform like he didn’t exist. Alex stared at the poor man who was obviously uncomfortable with the surroundings of his post. He glanced warily back at her, dilated pupils darkening his eyes. Alex nodded to the man and quickly caught the rest of her team.

  After her eyes adjusted to the darkened room of the club, Alex noticed the swarm of investigators performing their various tasks. A faint hum of voices whispered into individual recording devices, combining into an undifferentiated buzz both creepy and uncomfortably loud. Alex elbowed her way in, her petite frame allowed her to squeeze between the large men taking their notes, gathering evidence samples, or taking photographs. Breaking into the clear, she immediately confronted a woman’s naked body, a scene which recently became uncomfortably familiar.

  The victim had been pretty, a young girl with a firm body full of vitality. Now she lay spread-eagled on the floor, her face frozen in pain or pleasure. It was hard to tell. Her head turned to the side. A thin line of some kind of blue liquid trickled out her gaping mouth. There was a wound—a two-hole prick mark on her neck. Blood made a trail from the puncture points, dropping slowly onto the hardwood floor. Someone manacled her ankles to a spreader bar and cuffed her wrists behind her back.

  Stomach acid surged into Alex’s throat and threatened to boil over like an unsavory concoction left and forgotten on the stove. Wrenching her gaze from the ghastly scene, she turned and smacked into the chest of Johnson. Grabbing her shoulders he asked, “Are you okay Aly?”

  “It’s Haley. I covered for her last night so she could come here.”

  “You sure?”

  Fighting back tears, she nodded yes.

  “Breathe. Stay focused.”

  Alex took in a deep breath. “Okay. I’ll be fine. The initial shock, that’s all.”

  After a moment, he moved around her, and said, “Who is in charge here and what have we got?” Johnson asked.

  “Chief Manny Rodriguez.” A tall, ruddy complexioned man, in his early forties, with distinguished features said. “You must be with the Vamp Squad.”

  Johnson extended his hand. “Special Agent Scott Johnson and this is my partner, Jared Palmer. We’re actually with the FBI Special Vampire Enforcement Unit. Who was the first officer on the scene?”

  “I was, sir,” a young uniform stepped forward, still shaking from the experience.

  “Your name young man?”

  “Officer Douglas Anderson,” he said. He fumbled in his pocket, pulling out a notepad, “I received a call at eight-thirty-six a.m. that a body had been discovered in a local night club. My partner and I were dispatched, and arrived about fifteen minutes later.” He waved his arm at his partner, a short, skinny, dark-haired Latino, leaning against the far wall and puking. The woman’s death and the scene freaked both men out. It must have been the blue liquid oozing from her mouth.

  “And this is what you found?” Johnson asked.

  “Yes, sir. The dead naked woman and…”

  “And…what? What else did you find?”

  He hesitated, casting his eyes down to the floor and up to his partner across the room. “This is the first murder scene for both of us. Nothing prepares you
for this.”

  Palmer showed no sympathy for the officer’s anguish. “Hmm. Okay, I’m sure the last thing you expected to find was a dead body in a vamp sex club, right officer?”

  “Yes sir,” the officer meekly muttered.

  “This is the second homicide in a week at this location. The last one was a foreign national. I don’t think this broad is,” the Chief said to his quavering subordinates. Before they could answer he turned to the FBI contingent, adding. “Just so we’re clear, we aren’t releasing jurisdiction on this one. I only called out of courtesy.”

  Ever the paragon of tact and diplomacy when it came to handling sensitive situations between law enforcement agencies, Johnson cleared his throat and said, “I appreciate you and your staff’s cooperation thus far Chief, but the situation is bigger than your department. I’m not at liberty to discuss the matter further. We will take over after your CSI teams complete their work. You are welcome to call my Division Chief and speak with him if you like.”

  “I’ll do that,” Rodriguez said curtly.

  Johnson and Palmer stayed out of the way, observing the scene, and taking notes. They had the time. The body certainly wasn’t going anywhere.

  Johnson pulled out a notebook and twisted his arm around to check the time. He wrote it, along with the crime scene location, his name and rank. He studied the body of the young woman. He’d remembered seeing her around SGM a couple times, in the break room, at the security checkpoints, in the hallways on his walks with Alina, and most recently with Alex. Fuck! How were these deaths related? The Blue?

  By noon, the majority of the local police department CSI and ME departments gathered their evidence and departed, leaving Johnson, Palmer, and Alex to examine any remaining evidence.

  “You think this is all related to the virus don’t you Alex?” Johnson asked.

  “Yeah, I do. There is something bigger going on here beyond Ecaterina spreading a virus thing. Haley knew something and so did your contact. They both worked in the same lab. The same lab where Blue is.”