“Don’t you worry, boss. I got ya covered. I ordered a big, fat stretch limo with champagne and chocolates to meet her. She’ll think you’re the bee’s knees!”
* * * *
Matt sat on the dais in front of a crowd enthusiastic about BDSM anime, and endured what felt like the hundredth sake toast. He wondered darkly if Jonesy was being optimistic about Cat’s response to his romantic gestures. Yeah, sure, finishing this financial deal was important to Consort Group, and by trickle-down effect, thousands of employee families. He still worried Cat was a little too willing to do without him tonight.
Matt knew a lot about her now. Knew they shared many of the same views on life; knew about her dreams and goals, and she knew about his. What if it wasn’t enough? Jesus, what did a vampire know about making a relationship work with a twenty-one-year-old woman? Now that Cat was home, he was counting the minutes until all his dreams came true. The hopefulness of that, after so many years without hope, terrified him.
* * * *
Cat didn’t expect this trial to linger on. A long line of eyewitnesses, including her, preceded Matt to the stand. From the prosecution’s point of view, he was their closer. They had a confession from both gunmen, with one absurd exception. Miguel Dominion, the man who killed Maria and the teller, claimed he was driven to murder by the trauma of seeing Matt turn into a vampire. Matt told her he looked forward to testifying and putting Dominion away. It would almost be fun.
The day outside the Los Angeles County Court House was sun drenched and smog free. It was easy for Cat to imagine the jurors profoundly wishing they were anywhere but here, listening to the ludicrous arguments put forth by the defense. It had to be obvious to everyone present that this scum bag, Dominion, was guilty as hell, and if anyone on the planet deserved the death penalty, he did.
Miguel Dominion was a toad of a man, no matter how his attorney tried to clean him up in a cheap suit and haircut. He was up to his tattooed eyelids in crime and innocent blood, and the jury was, to say the least, hostile, especially when they were shown pictures of the young bank teller and Maria.
District Attorney, Angela Hall, finished her re-cross of the Medical Examiner. “So, Dr. Blake, in your professional opinion, there’s nothing that could have been done to save Samantha or Maria?”
“No. Both women sustained fatal injuries leading to their immediate demise.”
Cat sighed with relief when the Medical Examiner left the stand. No more gruesome photos of Maria used as visual aids, at least for the moment. Well, it wasn’t as if she could block out the mental images.
It had been mere months since Maria’s death, but the trial started in record time. The public outcry, given the senselessness of the crimes, was enormous. D.A. Hall was trying the case herself rather than farming it out to an assistant D.A. She’d pushed hard to get it started with all possible haste. If things went well on this one, it might set her up for a Mayoral run. Thank goodness Dominion’s public defender had political ambitions of his own, and was all too happy to throw his scummy client under the bus for the sake of speedy justice.
Cat thought back to the day in the bank. She was so grateful for Matt’s rescue. Now, she depended on him, loved him, which made their separation that much more painful. Because of him, she was alive to sit here in this courtroom, and so was everyone else in the bank. His vampire strength allowed him to overcome Dominion easily. Matt didn’t share her perspective, of course. He couldn’t see past the negative aspects of being a vampire, and the fact that the condition was forced on him. If his life had been lived and ended decades ago, she and a lot of other people would have paid a bitter price.
“The State calls Matthew James Brenner,” the District Attorney said clearly.
Cat’s head snapped up.
“Matthew Brenner, please step forward to be sworn.”
The doors at the back of the court room opened and Matt walked in. Was it Cat’s imagination or did the gaze of every woman in the room snap to him with rapt attention? She smiled inwardly. She was used to that. He was always the focus of female attention, and why not? He moved with a power and grace which gave testimony to his lithe muscular build and constant training. He was dressed in his usual—dark suit, dark shirt, dark tie. The combination could have been sinister on anyone else. On him it was just…sexy. There was really no other way to describe him. She drew in a deep breath and let it out again. This was going to be interesting.
* * * *
Matt was sworn in, and then took the stand. He nodded at the judge, who turned to the District Attorney. “Please continue, Miss Hall.”
“Mr. Brenner,” the D.A. began, “would you please look at the defendant and tell us if you know him?”
“Yes, I do,” Matt said clearly, his deep baritone voice carrying easily.
“Would you please tell us what you witnessed on January 21st of this year, during the robbery of the First California State Bank?”
“Miguel Dominion killed Maria Gonzalez and Samantha Johnson. He shot Mrs. Johnson in the face, fired once at me, grazing my arm, causing a ricochet bullet to hit Mrs. Gonzalez in the head and killing her. I saw both women die of those wounds.”
“You were an eyewitness to those events?”
“Yes.”
“Was anyone else present when Mrs. Gonzalez and Mrs. Johnson were shot?”
“Yes.” Matt’s gaze swept over Cat. “Catherine Temple was with me during the incident, as were all the other occupants of the bank that day.”
“Did you have any interaction with the defendant, Mr. Brenner?”
“Yes. I volunteered to take the place of a pregnant mother and her young son as a hostage.”
“Please tell us what happened then.”
“We were on our way out the back door of the bank when Miss Temple screamed. It startled Dominion, and he turned to fire at her. I was able to push his accomplice out the door, and then wrestle Dominion for the shotgun. I disarmed and incapacitated him.”
“Are you aware the defendant claims he was terrorized by you into committing these acts of murder?”
Matt looked down at his hands folded in his lap and smiled wryly. “Yes, I’ve heard that,” he admitted dryly and stifled his smile as he replied.
“Mr. Dominion stated…I’m quoting now…” Hall read from a file. “Brenner is a devil. A vampire.” She smirked.
Matt let a smile creep out and bit it back. “Yes.” The grin spread across his face as he looked directly at Dominion. “I understand that’s what he says.”
The D.A. smirked again. “Mr. Dominion states you revealed yourself to him as a vampire when you wrestled him for the shotgun.” The court room buzzed with murmurs and stifled laughter. “So, for the record, Mr. Brenner, and remembering you’re under oath, will you please tell us whether or not you’re a vampire?”
Matt looked down at his hands, a relaxed smile on his face. “Not according to my mother, Counselor.”
“I see,” Hall continued, thoroughly enjoying the discomfiture of the defense attorney. “When you were sworn in, you placed your hand on the Bible, did you not?”
“Yes.”
“Did it burn your hand or repel you?” The District Attorney inquired, holding the Bible up for the benefit of the jury.
Matt held up his hand and examined it. “I’m afraid not.”
“If we order a pizza with garlic for lunch, will you be driven out of the room?”
Matt smiled. “Not unless you order anchovies, too.” Muffled laughter rippled around them.
“There’s a nice sunny spot here by the jury box, Mr. Brenner. I wonder if you’d oblige the court by standing in it.”
Matt stood and strolled to the spot indicated. He turned a lazy circle, his smile sweeping over the jury members.
“I see you haven’t burst into flames, sir. Would you mind holding this mirror?” Hall passed Matt a hand mirror, and Matt held it up so the jurors could plainly see his reflection. “Can you tell us what you see in it?”
With a strangled cry the defense attorney stood. “Your Honor, defense will stipulate that Mr. Brenner is not a vampire.”
There was outright laughter, and the judge banged her gavel for order. She motioned for Matt to sit back in the witness stand.
“Side bar, your Honor?” the defense attorney requested, and the judge waved the two attorneys forward.
Matt took the time during their discussion to consider how this little demonstration would have gone if he did not have the Humanité coursing through his system. He still could have handled religious items, garlic and the mirror with impunity. The sunlight would have been more of a challenge, but survivable. If all those superstitions had not been bogus, his kind would not have survived in society as they had for millennia.
The judge spoke again. “Court will take a brief recess while defense confers with his client. Please keep your seats.”
Matt sat relaxed in the witness stand, caressing Cat with his gaze. He’d been unable to call her since she landed. Her clear blue-eyed gaze caught his from across the room, and she smiled faintly. He nodded imperceptibly.
Matt could barely restrain himself from vaulting over the witness stand to snatch her against him. He needed to show her he was here for her now, as he knew she was here for him. He’d fantasized about her for so many months. Now, the chance to actually hold her hand on the beach, or in a restaurant drove him to distraction. He would kiss her lips until they were swollen and she was out of her mind with need for him. He was certainly crazy with need for her. With annoyance, he willed his erection away. Yeah, that was all he needed, for the whole courtroom to know he itched to get hard and horizontal with their star victim. From her half-stifled expression, he knew she was hot and wet just looking at him.
The attorneys filed back in, and Matt was relieved when the judge waved him to stay seated, though the threat of having to stand had pretty much brought down the house.
* * * *
Cat followed him with her gaze as he walked from the courtroom, and Matt wondered with amusement if she knew he hid a fading hard-on. He presumed the judge would soon call a recess for the day. It was late, and he was sure the prosecutor wanted the jury to consider his testimony overnight.
Matt, his hands burrowed deep in his trouser pockets, hung around the courthouse hallway for a few minutes, praying for the opportunity to see Cat. And soon, just as he’d hoped, the courtroom began to empty. She exited while deep in discussion with D.A. Hall, but he felt her gaze seeking him the second she stepped through the door. Her head went up and she honed in on him like radar. A smile teased her lips.
“Can you give me a minute? I need to talk with someone. I’ll be right with you,” Cat explained. Hall looked annoyed, but nodded.
Matt smiled pleasantly, he hoped impersonally, as she glided toward him. His heart thundered wildly. He wondered if hers did, too.
Their gazes met and held. How could anyone look so beautiful in black? Sunlight caught her golden hair and illuminated it. Her tongue flicked nervously at full pink lips, and a rosy flush invaded her cheeks as she approached.
“Hi,” she whispered.
“Hi.”
“Good job on the stand.”
He laughed softly. “Oh yeah? Was I convincing?”
“Shh.” She looked around. No one was listening. She chuckled. “Well, I bought it.”
“Yeah, but you were always an easy sell.”
Just reflexively, as if nothing had separated them and time had never passed, she swatted his arm as a reprimand for the smart remark. Her blue eyes danced.
“Thank you for all you did, you know, the limo and flowers and all. I don’t know what to say. It was all so much.” She stopped babbling, looked around to be sure they weren’t being observed and took his hand. “I’ve missed you so much.”
“You know, Cat, I’m right here.” His voice was suddenly a caress, and her eyes grew serious.
“I know. I just, I need to finish this, you know? For Maria. And then…”
“Then what?” Matt asked almost coolly.
“Then I’ll call you. If that’s all right?”
Another impersonal smile. “That’s always all right.”
“Cat!” Hall called.
“I…I’ve gotta go. Hall needs to talk to me. I…” She touched his arm and squeezed gently. “I want to talk to you. I have a lot to say. I just…”
He looked down at her hand and then back to her eyes, and the hungry, longing expression on his face drew a tiny gasp from her. “Me, too.”
“The trial could be over tomorrow, depending on the jury. I’ll call you as soon as there’s a verdict, okay?” Her eyes pleaded with him for understanding.
“Of course.”
“You understand, I need to finish this. It’s like a commitment I have to Maria. I have to do this for her.”
“I understand, Cat.” He stroked her cheek with his fingertips. “I’ll wait for you.”
* * * *
Matt still cringed hours later. I’ll wait for you. Why did those have to be his last words? I’ll wait for you. I love you. Without you, I might as well be buried in a box like Maria. It was all pretty much the same sentiment.
In frustration, he stretched weary muscles that never used to ache, and then snatched a bottled water out of the office fridge. His body felt wrong, colder than usual, his senses a little sharper, leading to concerns the Humanité might be wearing off sooner than expected. Still, Bernstein’s work in extending the life of the drug was extremely promising.
Matt reached for the small metal vial in his breast pocket. It contained one emergency dose of the drug. He intended to keep it on his person at all times. A safety measure in case he was ever separated from his supply. A literal ton of the stuff sat safely in his spare room, so what the hell, he’d replace his “emergency” supply when he got home. Right now, when he was so close to consummating his relationship with Cat, he couldn’t afford to slip into vampirism again, even temporarily. He gulped down the capsule and then slipped the vial back into his suit coat, determined to replace it as soon as he walked in his front door.
Resolving that work was fruitless, Matt shut down his computer and decided to spend the remainder of his evening with Rick and his donors at the Gaoler. He stood at the door of Rick’s private dungeon, and before he swiped his card for admission, bent over to tie his shoe. He was about to straighten when the door opened. The first thing he saw was a delicate foot wearing an ankle bracelet. As he slowly raised his head, he saw a gorgeous young woman with thick, silver hair drawn back in a ponytail, hanging long and glossy over one shoulder. She might have smelled fruity and delicious like some kind of tropical wet dream, but she was built for business. Her long legs rose to narrow hips, and an impossibly tiny waist. Her shoulders and arms were lean but muscled, like a swimmer. Her complexion glowed with sun-kissed health. This, he thought with amusement, must be the new girl.
She smiled invitingly. “Cute. You must be the partner.” Her golden eyes flashed.
Matt held out his hand. “Matt Brenner.”
She shook it. “Georgia Gregoriev.” There was enough of an accent to hint at exotic locales. “I’m new here.” She ushered him into the room and gestured for him to take a seat opposite her on the couch. “The other girls will be here in a minute. They’re with Rick. Everyone’s very excited to see you.”
Rick’s private party adjourned to the dining room where Matt enjoyed a few drinks, and then dinner in the company of his old friend. It was a treat to eat the meals prepared by their gourmet chef. The donors ate like this every night, he thought with amusement. No wonder they never wanted to leave. While he ate heartily of stuffed salmon, Rick settled himself at the table with a twin donor on each side.
After dinner, Georgia stood and chatted with Matt while Rick took an urgent call. She took two steps into Matt’s space, and keeping her eyes straight ahead, sque
ezed his well-developed backside. He started and looked down at her in shock.
“What are you doing after you leave here?” she whispered.
He still had enough of the early 20th century in him to be shocked. Georgia might make it as one of Rick’s assistants, but he doubted she’d ever go further if she was willing to risk Rick’s wrath with action on the side.
“Actually, I’m spoken for, but I appreciate the offer. If it was an offer.”
Georgia gave him a sultry look. “Oh, it was an offer, all right.”
Matt frowned. “You should know, Rick doesn’t share…much, and I don’t share at all, anymore.”
Georgia shrugged an elegant shoulder. “What a shame.”
Matt readjusted himself and glanced at her appreciatively. “If anyone can bring the dead back to life, it’s you.”
On the way home, Matt had to fight the compulsion to drive to Cat’s place, bend her over and bang her like a screen door in a hurricane. Fuck, Georgia had made him hotter than ever! Rick was going to have his hands full with that woman, and God bless her, Rick needed a challenge! Matt only hoped he could tame his own lust into submission for the sake of his sanity. He needed to get Cat beneath him—now. She’s a virgin for God’s sake, choke back your dick long enough to finesse her. Where’s the neighbor lady to turn a hose on me when I need her?
The traffic on Wilshire was surprisingly light on this late June evening, and Matt enjoyed the feel of the city breeze tossing his curls. He tapped the Bluetooth on his steering wheel, answering the ring of the phone.
“You need to know something.” Rick’s voice sounded odd.
Matt’s forehead wrinkled as he drove. “Hey, listen, if this is about Georgia—”
“No.” Rick cleared his throat in discomfort. “I’m sorry to tell you this, dear boy. Your condo is on fire.”
Blood Rising Page 10