She put her fingers to the woman’s neck. “Pulse seems quick, but nothing weird. I think we’re good to leave her. Cops will be here soon after that blast, but we can call 911 anyway, just to be sure.”
Temo nodded. “I have a burner in the glove box. We can call from that.”
Neo stood. “Then let me turn the power on, and let’s bounce.”
“I hate to leave her,” Donna said.
Neo’s mouth bent with disbelief. “Donna, she was going to blow a hole in you. And she was letting Joe hide out here for money.”
Donna nodded. “And we need to get these two taken care of. I know. You’re right.”
Sirens wailed in the distance, and Neo tipped her head. “See?”
“I hear them,” Donna said.
“Hear what?” Temo asked. “Oh, never mind, I hear them now too.” He adjusted Joe so he was better positioned on his shoulder. “Let’s hustle, ladies. Those sirens are still a long way off, but they’ll be here soon enough.”
They all headed out, Neo flipping the breaker back on as they exited.
There was a light or two on in the neighboring houses. Lights that hadn’t been on before.
Temo hit the button on the key fob to open the back of the SUV, and they poured on the speed, moving quickly to get Carmella and Joe loaded.
The process resulted in more muted curses and complaints, as well as a lot of squirming from Carmella and dirty looks from Joe, but Donna couldn’t have cared less. The mission had been successful.
After far too long, Joseph Barrone was truly off the streets. He wasn’t going to be a menace to society—or her—anymore. And she’d done it without killing him. It was a wonderful feeling.
They got in the SUV, and Temo started driving. Less than ten seconds outside of Holiday City, two patrol cars, lights flashing and sirens blaring, flew past and into the development.
Donna exhaled, causing the wound in her side to ache a little. That was the first time it had bothered her, probably because of all the adrenaline in her system.
Neo twisted around in her seat, smiling. “You did it.”
“We did it. And thank you for your help.”
She shrugged. “You’re the most interesting vam—I mean, person I know.”
Donna snorted. Wouldn’t do to have Joe knowing what she really was. “Thanks. But I’d like to be a lot less interesting for a while.”
Temo looked at her in the rearview. “You going to let Rico know we’re coming?”
“Yes, but I want to time it right. I don’t want a big production, you know? Just dump and run.”
Temo nodded. “Then I’d say text him when we’re five minutes out. We can sit nearby and wait too. Make sure he takes delivery, if you know what I mean.”
“I do, and that’s a good plan. In fact…” She pulled her phone out of the seatback pocket. “I might just see if he’s still awake.”
She tapped her screen on to see several waiting texts from him, all a few minutes apart.
Those accounts are in both L & J’s names.
Several million each. Now frozen.
Not like you not to respond.
Promise me you’re not doing anything dumb.
Donna. I like it a lot better when you answer me.
She laughed. “He’s awake. Or at least he was.” She checked the time stamps. “An hour and five minutes ago.”
She responded to his last text. Answering you now. Still up?
A fresh round of muffled complaints and pleading started up from the back. As much as she would have loved to tell Joe the truth about who she was now and what exactly had happened to his five million dollars, she ignored him. She didn’t need to give him anything that he might use against her.
Or worse, use to defend himself. Somehow, he’d turn his wife becoming a vampire into an insanity defense. She wasn’t going to risk anything like that.
Her phone chimed with an incoming text.
Rico. I’m up. Why were you so quiet for so long?
Busy. But even as she hit send on that, she knew that wasn’t going to satisfy him.
Doing what?
Vampire things.
That’s what I’m afraid of.
She grinned. Great news about the account numbers. How’s the search for Joe going?
We found the SUV. Dumped near the shipping yards and set on fire.
So no leads, then.
Enough time went by before he answered that Donna could sense his frustration.
No.
Anything I can do to help?
If I thought there was, I’d tell you. You sure you don’t know that woman?
Joe had a lot of girlfriends over the years. I stopped paying attention after a while.
I can understand.
Neo looked around the seat. “Awfully busy with the typing there.”
Donna smiled. “Just chatting.”
“With Rico?”
“Yep.”
“You tell him yet?” She tipped her head toward the rear of the SUV. “About what you’ve been up to this evening?”
“Not yet, no.” She glanced through the windshield to get her bearings, then scooted forward to be closer to Temo. “How close are we?”
He looked at his phone’s GPS. “Says eight miles. You could probably tell him to meet you. Especially because he might not be coming from home.”
Neo nodded. “Plus, the clock’s ticking toward sunrise. Let’s not forget that. We can’t exactly sit there all night and wait for him to show up.”
“Right. I’ll see where he is.” Donna started typing again. Are you near the office by any chance?
Why?
She thought for a moment. I have something for you. I can just leave it by the front door.
What kind of something?
The kind you’re really going to want. How’s Agent Cheng btw?
Still in surgery.
Donna shook her head. That poor man. She touched her crucifix, praying he’d live. How soon can you get to headquarters?
20 mins. Maybe 15. What are you dropping off? Can’t I just get it in the morning? We have a drop slot in the door.
Won’t fit. She snickered. She was actually kind of enjoying this. It was like the criminal version of Twenty Questions. And you probably don’t want to wait that long.
On my way.
“Pulling in,” Temo said.
The SUV dipped as it went into the parking lot. Donna glanced into the back to see Joe wriggling into a seated position.
He saw the building ahead of them. And the FBI insignia on the door. Anger filled his eyes for a moment, only to be replaced by a much more pitiful expression as the indecipherable pleading started up.
She had no sympathy for him or his moll.
He inched toward her, the begging growing more insistent.
She glared at him, thinking about all the times she’d feared him. And feared for her kids. “You think this is unfair of me? You think I should set you loose and let bygones be bygones?”
He nodded vigorously.
She leaned in ever so slightly. “Maybe you should remember that I could have killed you. But didn’t. Even after you put a bullet through me and left me for dead.”
Chapter Twenty-six
Her last couple of words stopped Joe’s nodding. He went quiet, but his eyes were wild and full of questions about how Donna could still be alive.
She wasn’t about to tell him. Instead, she kept prodding him. “Was it fair of you to do that to me?”
Temo parked outside FBI headquarters. “We’re here.”
“Thanks,” Donna said without looking away from Joe. She wasn’t ready to let him off the hook so fast.
“You want me to pop the back open?” Temo asked.
“Not just yet,” she answered. Then she spoke to Joe again. “Well? Was it?”
Joe remained still and silent. But he was seething. She could tell by the flare of his nostrils and that twitchy left eyelid. Probably wishing he’d done a
better job with that bullet.
Wouldn’t have mattered. It hadn’t been wood. Not that he’d have known that’s what it required these days to take her down. Although…did it? Her crucifix had made her immune to the sun. Had it also made her immune to other things that could hurt her?
Interesting thought. And one she’d have to pursue in more depth at a more suitable time.
But right now, she pursed her lips. “Seems to me handing you over to the authorities is a kindness you don’t deserve.”
More seething. She almost laughed. He could be as angry as he wanted. It didn’t matter. In about ten minutes, he would no longer be her problem.
The thought made her smile.
Joe growled behind his duct tape, then suddenly lunged at her—to do what, she wasn’t sure—but she reacted with vampire speed and instinct. His face met her fist. Not a punch. Just him running into her tightly clenched hand with a great deal of velocity.
His head snapped back like it was on a tether, and he went down flat in the cargo hold. Donna leaned up to peer over the seat. “You just don’t learn, do you?”
Joe groaned, and his eye looked like it was already swelling up. Carmella was crouched next to him, as best she could with the restraints, and stared at Donna with new respect, which was as it should be.
Donna put her backside on the seat again and faced front. “All right. I’m going to get out and wait for Rico. Smells too much like criminals in here.”
Temo laughed. “No drop and run, then?”
She shook her head. “Changed my mind. We deserve credit for our hard work. And Rico needs to know about Grandma. She was helping these two, and I’m not cool with that.”
“I agree,” Neo said. “Plus, she tried to kill us.”
“Good point.” Donna hopped out and went around back.
Neo and Temo joined her. She leaned on the rear bumper and tipped her head back to stare at the sky. The cold felt good. And not because she was having a hot flash either. Those were a thing of the past, thanks to her new life as a vampire.
In fact, it seemed she wasn’t as susceptible to extreme temperatures anymore. At least not the cold, anyway. She hadn’t been in hot weather since she’d been turned. If she ever got to Florida to shop for that condo, she’d see how heat-tolerant she really was.
She closed her eyes for a moment. The thought of spending some time on the beach instantly made her relax. Thankfully, because of the crucifix around her neck, she could still do that.
Probably wouldn’t do any full-on sunbathing. No point in tempting fate.
Neo’s laugh made Donna open her eyes. “What?”
“You’re all smiley. That happy about dumping Joe off, huh? Can’t say I blame you.”
“Well, that is pretty much a dream come true.”
“I get it. I do. Congrats on that finally happening.”
“Thanks.”
Neo leaned back next to her and looked at the sky. “I hope it doesn’t snow for Francine’s party. It’s pretty, but it’s messy.”
“I don’t know,” Donna said. “I see a lot of clouds. And the air has that smell about it. We might wake up to a dusting.”
A car pulled into the parking lot.
“That your FBI guy?” Temo asked.
Donna stood up straight. “That’s him.”
She didn’t recognize the car, but she could see Rico through the windshield. She’d never seen his personal vehicle before, but the sleek, black Dodge Charger didn’t surprise her. There was something slightly feral and predatory about that car, which made it perfect for a guy who was both an FBI agent and a werewolf.
He parked nearby and got out. “All right. I’m here. What do you have for me?” He looked at Neo and Temo. “I see you brought backup. Must be good.”
“Why don’t we just show you?” Donna looked at Temo and nodded. “Open it up.”
He and Neo stepped out of the path of the lift gate. Temo pushed the button on the key fob, and the rear hatch rose skyward. Joe and Carmella writhed around inside like worms bound for the hook.
Rico put his hands on his hips and just stared into the depths of the SUV for a few long seconds. Then, his mouth set in a hard line, he shifted his gaze to Donna. “I told you not to—”
“You told me not to kill him,” she cut him off. “I didn’t.”
Rico looked around her. “That’s quite the second shiner he’s got.”
“He ran into my fist. Also? Not a fatal injury.”
“Donna.” Rico massaged the back of his neck.
“I kept him alive, didn’t I?” Donna stepped into Rico’s personal space and squared off in front of him, hands on her hips, her head tilted back slightly to better make eye contact. “That’s more than I should have done after he tried to kill me. Now say thank you.”
A tiny spark of amusement lit Rico’s eyes. “For keeping him alive or bringing him in?”
“Both,” she answered.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” She moved to the side so he could admire her handiwork.
“How did you know where to find him? And why didn’t you call us in and let us handle it?”
“I had help, and that’s all I’m saying. I didn’t call because, to be honest, you probably would have wanted to do things by the rules, and that’s not exactly how we ran this. Doesn’t matter now. My team was very efficient and got the job done.”
He looked less than impressed. She didn’t care. “Now, listen, there’s an old woman in Holiday City who blew a hole in her house with a shotgun. It wasn’t burglars, or whatever story she told the local PD, who were just arriving as we were leaving. Anyway, you need to know this because she’s Carmella’s grandmother, and she was aiding and abetting these two, so she needs to pay for that.”
“And…” Neo stepped forward, finger raised. “That shotgun blast was meant for us. So attempted murder too. Just saying.”
Rico nodded. “I’ll take care of it.”
“One last thing.” Donna chose her next words carefully. “If Joe is ever out on the streets again… Let’s just say there’s a good chance he’ll end up in another accident. One that’s much more successful than the first.”
Rico frowned at her. “Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.”
“Let’s. Especially since his incarceration is up to you now.”
Rico sighed. “He won’t be going anywhere. Besides a holding cell. You have my word.” He reached for his phone. “I’m going to call in a few more agents to get this taken care of, but I’ll get him and Carmella off your hands and into custody as quickly as I can.”
“We can help you get them out of the SUV and into the building.” Donna glanced at the sky as if sunrise was a concern for her. Really, though, it was Neo’s vulnerability she was worried about. Although it wouldn’t do for word to get out that the vampire governor of New Jersey was immune to the sun, so Donna had to keep up appearances. “Our time is running short.”
“Right,” Rico said. He pulled keys from his pocket. “Let me get the door.”
By the time they had Carmella and Joe out of the SUV and were headed back to the penthouse, time really was running short. Too short for Neo to beat the sunrise home.
Donna stared at the horizon, not sure if she was imagining the line of pink there or not. “Neo, you’re going to have to stay over.”
She glanced at Temo. “It’s cool.”
Donna smiled. “Just means you’re going to have to hustle a little to get ready for the party. Not being at your own place and all.”
She shrugged. “I’ll manage. Sun’s down around seven, and the party doesn’t start until ten, so that’s plenty of time. Especially for a low-maintenance sister like myself.” She turned a little to see Donna better. “One thing, though.”
“What’s that?”
Her grin was big and bright. “You going to let my plus-one have the night off?”
Donna smiled. “I think that can be arranged. You are talking a
bout Temo, right, and not some other plus-one?”
Neo made a face at her. “Stop playing. You know who I’m talking about.”
“I do, and it’s adorable.” As best as Donna could tell, Temo looked like he was turning slightly pink. Which really was adorable. “I want him at the party anyway. I’d love to have Charlie there as well. After all, I’m the guest of honor, and they’re my staff, so that just seems fitting. But I don’t know what to do about Rixaline.”
Temo looked up, seemingly happy to have something new to discuss. “Don’t you think seventeen is a little young for a grown-up party?”
“I do, and I wasn’t planning on taking her. Not just because of her age, but it’s too dangerous for her to be so exposed. Having her out for a short amount of time in the car while hunting Joe is one thing, but all night at a crowded party? The risk of the fae trying to grab her again is just too much. What I mean when I say I don’t know what to do with her is, I don’t want to leave her alone in the penthouse.”
Neo nodded. “You don’t trust her?”
Donna sighed. “I do, but not entirely. I hate to say that with the help she’s given me, but the situation is still so new, and although she hasn’t given me any reason not to trust her, this is one of those cases where I am going to err on the side of caution for a while.”
“I think that’s wise, boss.”
“Thanks, Temo.” Donna sat back. “I just don’t know what else to do but ask Charlie to stay with her. Which feels like punishing Charlie. Maybe not punishing, exactly. But it’s certainly not fair for her to be the one who has to be the stay-at-home chaperone.”
Temo looked up. “Why don’t you let my cousin Penina take that job? She’s one of the two new security people I hired. She has the same skill set I do with a little fire magic thrown in. That seems to be standard with the females in our family. I’m sure she’d do it.”
“You think?” Donna nodded. “That would be great. Call her and see.”
Temo nodded as they pulled into the parking garage. “She’ll do it. But I’ll call her to confirm.”
He let Neo and Donna off at the elevator, then went to park.
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