by Cynthia Eden
Forgive me, Henry.
SAVANNAH AWOKE, alone. She squinted, her eyes slowly adjusting to the sunlight that streamed through the glass doors of the balcony.
She glanced around the expansive room, recognizing the furnishings. She knew this room. She’d been there yesterday. William had brought her there after he’d taken her blood in that horrible alley.
William.
She stretched slowly, feeling small aches all over her body.
She’d never known that lovemaking would feel that way. So intense. So consuming. She’d expected to enjoy being with William, but she hadn’t expected for the pleasure to literally overwhelm her.
She blushed as she remembered the things they’d done. The things she’d done. And she knew that she couldn’t wait to see him again. To once more feel the magic of his touch. It wasn’t about the bargain. It was about him.
Death had surrounded her for so long, and he made her feel alive.
She sat up, wondering what time it was. She knew William was down below, resting in his room. He’d told that he would rise at sunset.
How many more hours until sunset? How much longer until she saw him again?
Her clothes were neatly folded on the settee at the end of the bed. William must have brought them, perhaps when he’d carried her upstairs. She slipped on her jeans and her rumpled pullover and walked toward the balcony. With a soft push, she opened the doors and let in the sunlight and the crisp mountain air. The scent of pine tickled her nose.
She looked up, trying to gauge the sun’s location. It was already starting to sink into the western sky. In another hour or two, it would be dusk.
And William would rise.
She couldn’t believe that she’d slept so long. She usually rose early, especially since she’d started having the dreams. Turning from the balcony, she stepped back into her room. It was such a beautiful day, and she knew she wouldn’t see many more sunlit days. Soon, she would only see the night, so she’d better enjoy the light while she still could.
Her shoes were arranged on the floor beside the settee. She hurriedly put them on, then combed her hair and secured her mane in a loose bun at the back of her head.
She walked back out onto the balcony. The forest stood before her, the pine trees swaying gently. She moved toward them eagerly, a slight bounce in her step.
Birds chirped a soft melody. A light, happy melody. Her lips curved faintly as she caught sight of a cardinal soaring near the treetops. At that moment, she realized that something was missing. For the first time in over five months, she hadn’t awoken with her usual headache. Instead, she felt strong, refreshed.
Alive.
She smiled, contented. She felt good. For the first time in so very long, she felt good.
She walked along an old trail, strolling easily through the woods. She wondered how long the trees had been there. Some of them were old and twisted. Stretching high into the sky.
It was so beautiful on the mountain. So peaceful. So—
A twig snapped, the sound echoing like a shot. She spun around, her hand rising instinctively to her throat. She couldn’t see anyone. “Is someone there?”
The forest was eerily still. Even the birds were silent.
Savannah frowned. Maybe it had been an animal. A raccoon. Then again, maybe it had been something else. Someone else.
She took a step back, her eyes scanning the thatch of woods. She couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was there, watching her.
Her heart pounded. She retreated another step and stumbled into something. Into someone. A hand grabbed her shoulder, and she spun around, kicking out with her right foot. He grunted, his arms shooting out to catch her body in a tight grip.
She opened her mouth to scream, and his hand slammed down over her lips, silencing her before she could even make a sound.
“I’m not here to hurt you,” he whispered, his voice fierce. “I came to help.”
Savannah blinked, staring up in shock at the man before her.
Jack Donovan stared down at her, his jaw clenched. “I promise I’m here to help you.”
She shoved his hand away from her mouth. “Sure you are.” Her gaze was full of suspicion as she studied him.
He took a deep breath. “Look, lady, I think you’re in serious danger.”
She crossed her arms over her chest. She really wasn’t in the mood to listen to him attack William again. “I told you William wasn’t involved. He didn’t kill anyone!”
Jack didn’t respond.
Savannah glared at him. He’d followed her into the woods, terrified her, and now he was still blaming William for the murders—even though she’d told him that William was innocent. She pushed past him, heading back to the house. She wouldn’t listen to any more of his lies.
“Wait!” He hurried to catch up to her. “Dammit, would you just stop?”
She kept going.
He grabbed her elbow. “Please, stop and listen to me.”
She jerked her arm free. “I don’t want to hear anything you have to say. Why don’t you just go back to town?” And get the hell away from her.
“I can’t leave you here.”
She glanced back over her shoulder, a sneer curving her lips. “Sure you can. Just get back into your car, crank it up, and drive down the mountain. I’ll be fine.”
“No! You don’t understand—” He ran an agitated hand through his hair. “I’m trying to help you!” There was an almost desperate edge to his words
It was the desperation that stopped her. She turned back to stare at him, her eyes narrowed. “William isn’t the killer, Mr. Donovan. I told you that already. I’m not in any danger from him.”
“It’s not William that I’m worried about,” Jack said.
“What?”
Jack looked around the woods, his gaze darting frantically to the left and right. The setting sun sent dark shadows drifting through the forest. “Look, can we go inside? We really need to talk.”
Savannah hesitated.
“I’m not going to hurt you,” he promised. “I only want to help.”
“What about your client?”
A muscle flexed in his jaw. “I’m not working for him anymore.”
Savannah’s brows snapped together. “Then what are you doing here?”
“I told you, I’m here to help you.”
“Why?”
His lips thinned into a small line. “Because I think I’ve just arranged your murder.”
WILLIAM COULD FEEL her. Something was wrong. She was afraid.
He lay perfectly still on the bed. Not a single muscle moved. Yet his mind raged.
Something had happened. Savannah was in danger.
The evil was growing closer once more.
SAVANNAH LOCKED the balcony door behind Jack. “Okay. We’re inside. Now say that again.”
He exhaled heavily and dropped into a nearby chair. “I’ve screwed up.”
“How?” He was starting to scare her, and she didn’t like to be scared. She clenched her hands. “What have you done?”
He leaned his head back and closed his eyes. “Remember when I told you that my client’s brother had been killed?”
“Yes.” His words still echoed in her mind. All of the blood was drained from his body. Her neck tingled.
“I called a buddy of mine on the Panama City force. He gave me the victim’s name. Peter Gilbert.” Savannah paced, listening intently to his words as he continued, “That matched up with what I’d been told. My buddy confirmed the victim had one brother, a man named Jonathan.”
“And Jonathan was your client?”
“Jonathan Gilbert was the name my client gave me,” Jack replied carefully.
Savannah stopped pacing. “
The name that he gave you? Are you telling me that wasn’t his real name?”
He shook his head wearily. “No. It wasn’t his real name. I spoke to the real Jonathan Gilbert late last night. He didn’t know me. He had no idea that I was even working on his brother’s case.”
Savannah felt icy tendrils close over her heart. “If you weren’t working for Jonathan, then, who, exactly, was your client? Who hired you to follow me?”
Jack met her blazing stare without flinching. “I don’t know.”
“What?”
Jack flushed. “I never met him in person. I talked to him on the phone and via the Internet. He wired money directly to my account.” He shrugged. “He sent me files to back up his story. I had no reason to doubt his identity.”
“You’re telling me that someone hired you to follow me around the country, and you have no idea who that person is?”
He nodded, his cheeks staining a dark red.
Great. Just great. The detective had no clue.
Unfortunately, Savannah had an idea who his client was. Deep inside, she knew. But she prayed that she was wrong. She rubbed her arms and began to pace around the room. “You said that you’d set up my murder. What did you mean by that?”
“Yes,” William drawled from the open doorway. “Tell us how you arranged for her to die.”
Jack jumped from the chair as if he’d been scalded. “Who—” He turned, catching sight of William’s furious visage. His eyes widened.
William stalked toward him with the slow, unrelenting stride of a hunter. A hunter that has scented true prey. A faint sheen of red glowed from the depths of his black eyes.
Savannah hurriedly placed herself between the two men. William looked like he could easily kill Jack in that moment. “William, I can explain—”
William never took his gaze off Jack. “I want him to explain. I want him to tell me why I shouldn’t do the world a favor and just kill him right now.” His accent was heavier.
Savannah touched his arm lightly. “I’ll tell you why. Because you aren’t a killer.”
“Yes, he is.” Jack moved to stand beside her, trying to push her behind him.
When Jack’s hand closed around her arm, a low growl emitted from William’s throat. Savannah thought she could see the edge of his teeth.
“Step back,” she whispered to Jack, knowing that he was in serious danger.
“No way.” Jack was obviously terrified, but he stood his ground. “I know about him. William Dark is a cold-blooded murderer, and I’m not going to let him kill you!”
A cold wind swept through the room. Goose bumps rose along Savannah’s arms. William stared at Jack and smiled.
His canines were long. Lethal. And his eyes were blood red. True fear swept through Savannah in that moment.
“No!” She screamed and took a step forward, breaking free of Jack’s restraining hold.
“Are you crazy?” Jack snapped, “He’s going to kill us!”
No, William wasn’t going to kill her. She knew that he would never hurt her. But Jack was a different story. “William, calm down. It’s not what you think. He’s a detective. He’s been following me—”
Rage swept across his face. She could feel his anger, beating against her mind. Uh-oh. She’d definitely said the wrong thing.
Jack foolishly grabbed her again, pulling her back toward the balcony doors.
William just watched them, his gaze burning, swirling with deadly intent.
“We’re getting out of here,” Jack said, reaching for the balcony door. He turned the knob, shoving the glass door open.
A gust of wind slammed the door shut before he could take a single step.
“You’re not going anywhere.” William took a slow step forward. His hands were at his sides, relaxed, loose. But his nails were lengthening into razor sharp claws. “Now step away from Savannah or I’ll rip out your throat.”
Savannah knew he meant it. She wondered if Jack realized he was seconds away from his death.
Jack froze. And he seemed to look at William for the first time. To really look at him. Jack’s eyes widened in horror. “Jesus Christ, what the hell are you?”
William smiled again, showing his wickedly sharp teeth. “I’m death.”
No. She wasn’t going to let William hurt Jack. Just because the man had been duped didn’t mean he deserved to be attacked. “William,” she said, deliberately injecting a calm, soothing note in her voice, “we need to talk. There’s been a misunderstanding.”
“Misunderstanding?” Jack shook his head. His eyes were huge. “Lady, you’ve got to be kidding me. That guy’s some kind of a monster!” His fingers bit into her arm, causing a sharp gasp of pain to slip from her lips.
In the next second, Jack was the one gasping in pain. William had moved in a blur, launching his body across the room. He ripped Jack’s hand from Savannah, effortlessly squeezing bones and tendons.
“You need to leave the room now, Savannah.” William’s focus was on his prey.
Savannah shook her head. She took a step forward and shoved William back. He snarled, turning that terrifying stare onto her. She watched his eyes flash. Red. Black. Red.
“Listen to me,” she entreated, her stare fierce. “I know you think he was trying to hurt me, but it wasn’t like that. He came here to help me.” She had to make him believe her. She couldn’t have Jack’s blood on her hands, too.
William touched her cheek. His eyes closed and he took two deep breaths. When his lashes lifted, his midnight stare was back. “You risk too much,” he whispered, bending his head to press his lips quickly against hers.
She smiled, relief sweeping through her. He’d beaten the beast, at least for the moment. Her arms wrapped tightly around him. “I risked nothing. I know you’d never hurt me.” And she did. She trusted him, completely.
He swept her against his body, holding her close. She could feel the faint tremble that swept through him.
Jack rattled the doorknob.
William’s head jerked up. “You’re not trying to leave so soon, are you?” His arms slowly released Savannah. She stood by his side.
Jack’s hand jerked away from the knob. “Uh, no. I was just, uh, making sure the door was still locked.”
All things considered, Savannah thought Jack was showing amazing composure. He’d almost been killed by a vampire, yet he wasn’t screaming in fear. His hands shook, but he pushed them behind his back as he faced William.
“Who are you?” William demanded.
“Jack Donovan.” His voice wasn’t quite steady, but he managed to meet William’s probing stare.
“And you were hired to follow Savannah.”
Jack nodded.
“Why?”
Jack looked beseechingly at Savannah. She said, “Jack knows that I’m after the man who murdered my brother. He was trying to find the killer, too.”
“So he trailed you.” William shook his head in disgust. “How long have you been following her?”
“Since she left Seattle.”
“Tell me who hired you.”
Savannah heard the compulsion in William’s voice.
Jack answered immediately. “I don’t know. He said his name was Jonathan Gilbert. He told me his brother had been killed by the same person that attacked Mark Daniels. He hired me to follow Savannah. He said she would lead me to the killer.”
Savannah sat on the edge of the bed. “He never met his client. They just talked on the phone and exchanged messages on the Internet.”
“How much did you tell him?” William asked, using that same soft, compelling tone.
“Everything,” Jack said, his voice flat. “I told him every move that she made. Who she talked to. Where she was staying. When she came to visit you.�
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William swore and turned to look at Savannah. “He’s going to be coming for you.”
“Wait just a minute!” Jack held up his hand. “What are you saying? That my client—”
“Is the one who butchered those people,” William finished. “And, thanks to you, he now knows exactly where he can find Savannah.”
Savannah stared down at her right palm. The scratches were barely visible now. He’s going to be coming for you. Her fingers clenched into a fist.
“Let’s not jump to conclusions—” Jack began.
“You know I’m right,” William interrupted, his tone brisk. “Don’t deny it. That’s why you’re here. Deep down, you know who he is. You know what he’s capable of.” He paused a beat. “You know what he’s going to do.”
Jack’s shoulders slumped. He suddenly looked very pale. “We need to call the cops.” His voice was hoarse. “If you’re right, if that guy’s the killer, we have to get the hell out here.”
“No,” Savannah said softly, firmly. “The police can’t help us.” And they couldn’t. She’d learned that lesson already. The only one who could help her was William.
“Of course, they can!” Jack’s voice was stronger. Fiercer. “They’ve got guns. If this guy comes after you, they can stop him. They can shoot him!”
“A gun won’t stop him,” Savannah said. If only it were that easy. “You can’t kill him with a gun.”
Jack stopped pacing. “Lady, you can kill anything with a gun. Trust me. I was on the force for ten years. A bullet in the heart will stop any killer in his tracks.”
William moved closer to Savannah. His legs brushed against the side of the bed. “But it won’t stop a vampire.”
“A vamp—” Jack’s eyes widened in disbelief. “What are you talking about, man? Are you crazy or some—” He broke off, his mouth falling open in disbelief.
William stared back at him, his eyes glowing blood red, his gleaming incisors a dark threat.
“Shit.” Jack’s body seemed to tremble. “Shit,” he repeated. “This can’t be happening. You can’t be a—”