“Dammit! A fucking diversion!” Dylan shouted from behind him.
Navarro didn’t voice his horror. Sidney was standing right in Zachary Powell’s path. His heart thudded like a slow drumbeat. He charged through the entry, not bothering with the knob. He knocked the door off its hinges.
When the blast hit, it tossed him backward, into Viper and Dylan who’d been close on his heels.
“The bastard’s in the basement!” He scrambled to his feet and ran toward the back of the house.
Viper tackled him in the hallway and held him pinned to the ground. “Thank, man! He’s already inside. If you charge into that room, there won’t be anybody left.”
Navarro rolled with him, fighting to get free, also fighting the monster screaming inside his head for release.
“Think! We can’t take him inside that room. We have to wait!”
“But Sidney—”
“From what I’ve seen, she’s a smart girl,” Viper said, his voice low and urgent, “but she doesn’t stand a chance if we go barreling in there.”
“Son of a bitch, get off me!”
“Dammit, Navarro!”
Navarro grew still beneath him. “I understand. We wait. But get the fuck off me.”
Viper rose and stepped to the side.
Navarro rolled to his knees, his head low to the floor. This was his fault. His arrogance had placed her in danger. Goddamn, it couldn’t be happening again. He wouldn’t lose her! He jumped to his bare feet and ran out the entryway.
They’d meet Zachary in the garden.
* * * * *
Zachary Powell was scarier than his brother. He had the look of a stone-cold killer—movie-star perfect features, empty ice-blue eyes, and a smile filled with jagged, white teeth. His mahogany hair fell to his shoulders—his bare shoulders. Unlike the rest of his team of murderers, he was shirtless.
Sidney, clutching Navarro’s silky robe closed, took a precious moment to ponder that anomaly. It wasn’t likely he’d been woken in the middle of the night.
He tugged open her robe from her clenched fingers, and his gaze raked over her. Then he leaned close and inhaled. “Sidney Coffey, the ‘News at Nine’ girl. So, you’re Navarro’s woman. How delicious!”
The way he drawled the last two words had Sidney’s stomach lurching.
He nodded to one of the younger vamps with him. “She comes with us.”
The young vampire grinned and motioned for her to precede him.
Fighting panic, Sidney closed her robe and cast a desperate glance behind her as she was forced through the wine cellar. There’d be no rescue forthcoming from there—Moses lay in a bloody heap on the floor. The blast had knocked him unconscious.
The three scientists, prodded with machine guns at their backs, followed behind.
With the monitors laying in pieces on the floor, she didn’t know whether rescue awaited them above. At the moment, she only hoped that Navarro had survived.
Once up the stairs, Sidney slipped on the tiled kitchen floor. Moisture beneath her feet had her steps sliding. Had Inigo mopped earlier?
No, even in the dark she could see her dark, smeared footprints. She’d cut her feet.
Her captor shoved her from behind, “Keep moving!”
She stumbled into the garden, feeling no relief from the fact the gunfire had ceased, and the sound of distant sirens meant the police were on the way. Her life could be ended by the time they made it to Navarro’s estate. She shivered as a gust of cool wind whipped at the edges of her robe.
Ahead, Zachary and his young vampires moved faster, exiting the garden, spreading out as they headed to the far wall—ironically, toward the very place she’d begun her wild adventure.
Sidney placed one leaden foot in front of the other, wishing she could stall, hoping for a glimpse among the trees of one particular tall, dark, shadow.
A blur from the corner of her eye bled from one tree to the next. Sidney’s heart beat faster.
Suddenly, rapid movements, panicked shouts, the crack of fists on flesh—so many wonderful occurrences, her mind couldn’t fathom what was happening. Only her heart knew it meant—Navarro!
He leapt past her and swept her escort away—a groan, a cloud of dark dust, powdering her as it caught by the wind.
Navarro shoved her roughly to the ground, and Sidney stayed, her hands clutching the grass to anchor her there. She closed her eyes tight and prayed, promising a month of Sunday confessions, a hefty tithe—true contrition—if only God would spare Navarro.
And she shut out the sounds of more gunfire, violent curses and blows—and a sharp flap, like a sheet hanging from a clothesline on a windy day.
Huh?
Sidney stared upward as Zachary Powell extended his arms from his sides. The streetlamp from the opposite side of the wall cast him in silhouette as he transformed into his frightful vampire persona—bony facial armor, expanding muscle and sinew—and wings that sprouted from his back and shoulders and elongated as they unfurled.
With a roar that sent a chill down her spine colder than any Arctic wind, he flapped his enormous wings and rose in the air. He cast one malevolent glance down to someone behind her, then turned sharply in midair, and flew out of sight of those left gaping from behind the estate’s wall.
Hands grasped her waist and pulled her up to stand. She wavered, and an arm slipped around her. She glanced up to meet Navarro’s dark gaze. “I’m okay,” she said. “The others?”
“Fine.” The word was terse, biting. Then he dipped down and swung her up into his arms. “You’re bleeding. I smell blood.”
“My feet. It’s only my feet.” She realized her lips trembled, and her jaws chattered together. She’d forgotten it was cold outside.
Dylan O’Hara halted in front of Navarro. “What the fuck was that?”
“Let’s get inside. The police are pulling through the gates now.”
Sidney lay her head on his shoulder, suddenly so exhausted she hadn’t the energy to demand her own explanation for the creature she’d watched ascend into the sky.
When she’d rested, Navarro had a lot of explaining to do.
* * * * *
After Navarro deposited Sidney in her bedroom, leaving a shaken Inigo to care for her cut feet, he gathered with the members of his team in his study—less Viper, whose reputation with the law was just shy of reprehensible. Moses Brown, bruised and bandaged, ran roughshod over the forensics team gathering evidence for their home invasion investigation from the grounds and the basement.
For the moment, disaster had been averted.
“So, are you going to explain to us what we saw?” Dylan asked, his hands cupping a snifter of brandy, sitting in the chair opposite Navarro.
Emmy perched on the arm of his chair beside him, unusually subdued. She still pouted she’d missed all the excitement.
The three scientists, their faces alight with giddy excitement sat on the sofa. Joe Garcia stood before the fire, his back to the room.
Navarro’s jaw tightened. “What you saw was a born vampire.”
Joe’s back stiffened.
Dylan cursed. “Nicky Powell sired his brother—they were both originally human. What you’re saying is impossible.”
“So it would seem.” Navarro steepled his fingers together, and stared at Joe Garcia’s back. “I think we’ve grossly underestimated Zachary’s progress on the genetic engineering front. I think he’s already tried gene splicing. I believe what we witnessed was a successful test.”
“Excuse me,” Dr. Deats held up his hand. “As I do have some expertise in this area, may I speak?”
Navarro nodded, giving the man the floor.
“There are many problems with that theory. First, I don’t believe anyone currently working in the field has reached the degree of sophistication it would require to accomplish such a feat. While we’ve spliced genes to create larger, faster-growing salmon and crossed flounder genes with tomatoes so that the tomato can grow at lower temperatur
es—we’ve done this at the conception of an organism, not to a fully developed one.”
“Vampires are nearly immortal because all our cells regenerate while we sleep,” Dylan murmured. “But for there to be any splicing between a born and a sired vampire, doesn’t there have to be a DNA donor? Who among us has even met a born vampire?”
Joe Garcia whipped around to face the room. “Fuck! What this means is someone has already breached our security in Vero Beach. Lily had fluids drawn from the sac surrounding our babies in her womb for testing—”
“An amniocentesis test,” Emmy said, her eyes growing wide. “It could have been lifted from the doctor’s office or the lab. But, dammit, the doctor’s one of us. A vampire!”
“For the right price…” Dylan murmured.
“We have to get back,” Joe said, his fists clenched, his face a mask of dawning horror. “How fast can your plane be ready?”
Navarro rose. “I’ll have Inigo notify the hangar. I have to pack.”
* * * * *
Sidney awoke in the darkness, more rested than she had felt in days. She lay in Navarro’s guest room, in the bed where she’d discovered a passion she’d never known, where she’d surrendered her heart. At last.
But where was the master vampire who’d accomplished the impossible? She rose, stepping gingerly to the floor, but found her feet weren’t the least bit sore. Was that Navarro’s doing? Sweet man. She’d been so out of it the night before, she had only hazy memories of his hands stroking over her body while she lay in the warm circle of his arms, her cheek resting on his broad chest as she’d drifted into dreamless sleep.
She found the clothing she’d removed the previous evening folded neatly over a chair and dressed. Then she went in search of the others.
Inigo was in the kitchen, pouring hot water into a teapot. At the sounds of her approach, he slowly raised his head and gave her a kind smile. “It took nearly the whole day to clean up the dust and broken pottery. I was just making tea for you.”
“Thanks, Inigo, but I need to find Navarro.”
His smile faded, and his eyes softened with concern. “My dear, he’s gone.”
She stilled. Gone? “But, he didn’t even say goodbye.” As Sidney’s heart plummeted, the kitchen door opened.
Moses stepped inside. His mouth stretched into a lopsided smile. “Your vampire’s at his hangar, gettin’ ready to leave your ass here. Whatcha gonna do about it?”
* * * * *
The tires of Moses’ police vehicle squealed as he came to a stop outside Navarro’s private airplane hangar. The doors of the hangar stood open, but the bright lighting inside revealed it was empty.
Sidney released her death grip on the dashboard and fumbled for her seat belt.
Moses shoved her hands away and unclipped it. “Now, go!”
“But he’s already gone,” she said, trying to curb the wail building inside her.
He shook his head. “Man, you got it bad. The plane’s over there,” he said, gripping the top of her head to turn her gaze.
A small jet sat on the tarmac as a crew with clipboards checked off the preflight list.
Her breath rushed out.
“I’d bet anything he’s still in the hangar,” Moses said softly.
Sidney swung her gaze back to him. How could she tell a dear friend and lover thank you for helping her throw herself at another man?
Moses’ eyes were moist. “All I can say is he better be worth it.”
Sidney cupped the side of his face with her palm. “Thanks, Moses, for being my friend.”
His smile didn’t hide his wince. “Just be happy, sugar.”
Sidney dropped her hand and stared at the hangar. “He might just throw me back. He made no promises. And he’s never said he loves me.” There, she’d voiced her worse fears aloud.
“You’ll never know, unless you get your ass inside there, now.”
She swung her gaze back to him. “Will you wait for me, just in case?”
“He won’t throw you back.” His eyes were soft as melted chocolate. “But I’ll wait.” He reached across her and opened her door. “Now, go!”
She smiled and stepped out of the sedan, and walked on shaking legs to the hangar. Once she passed the door, she blinked at the brightness, but followed the low murmur of masculine voices to an office at the side of the building.
Emmy O’Hara saw her first, and a pleased smile curved her lips. “Knew he was forgetting something,” she murmured.
The room went silent as all gazes turned to Sidney.
Her cheeks warmed under their stares. How embarrassing! Would everyone be there to witness his brush-off? Sidney struggled for a moment, fighting the panic fluttering in her belly.
Then Dylan and Joe stepped to the side, and Navarro appeared in her line of vision. Tall, dark and dead—dressed in that killer leather trench coat. She remembered how he’d left her inside his big old house without so much as a goodbye and lifted her chin. “Mister, you still owe me a story.”
“It’s time to board the plane,” he said, his gaze never leaving hers.
The room emptied around them in moments, and the office door shut quietly behind them.
Sidney wished she had an ounce of Navarro’s eerily accurate intuition. Then she’d know whether that dark, broody stare meant he was irritated with her being there, or if he was struggling for just the right words—just like she was. “Why didn’t you tell me you were leaving?” she asked, knowing the question revealed her hurt.
“I wanted you safe. I thought it best.”
“Did you think I’d make a scene? Beg you to take me with you? If you recall, I told you I had no expectations—and we didn’t promise each other anything.” But she’d had hopes. Hopes that were crumbling into dust the longer she stood there, feeling foolish and knowing she wore her disappointment on her face. “It just wasn’t very polite.”
“I’m sorry.”
Sidney turned from his piercing gaze and stared out the glassed window on the office door. “So that’s your polite? Apology accepted,” she whispered and reached for the doorknob.
The air whooshed behind her, and Navarro’s body pressed her to the door. “I wanted you safe,” he said, his voice a ragged whisper in her ear. “My arrogance almost got you killed.”
“Navarro,” she moaned and leaned into him. “I’m not fragile, and there are never any guarantees in this life.” She turned in his arms and looked up, letting him see the love and tears filling her eyes. “I’m not asking for forever—I just don’t want to miss ‘Now’ with you.” Just tell me you love me!
His arms encircled her, and he leaned down to rest his forehead against hers. “I do love you.”
Sidney brought her head back, smacking it against the door. She stared at him for a long moment, and then narrowed her eyes. “You know what I’m thinking!”
Navarro’s lips quirked. “It’s a talent I have. Part of why I secluded myself for so many years. People have very noisy minds. I’ve been learning to shut out their voices.”
“But not mine?”
“I wanted to hear your thoughts.”
She pushed at his chest until he stepped back. “So you already knew I was falling in love with you, and you still left me like that?”
“I wanted you sa—”
She waved her hand. “I already heard that part.” Sidney raked her hair with her hand. “I bet you’ve been inside my head from the start.”
“Not from the start—I wasn’t that interested at first.”
She leveled a killing glare his way, and didn’t miss the mirth twitching his lips. “What? I’m not pretty enough?”
“That’s not it. My attraction grew slowly. It wasn’t until I decided to have you—”
“You decided?” Sidney felt like screaming. “You conceited assho—”
Navarro grabbed her and cupped her chin, forcing her face up. “I am that. But I love you, Sidney P. Coffey. But right now, I have a plane to catch.” His mo
uth crashed down on hers.
Sidney leaned into his body, wrapping her arms around him, drowning in his kiss. No way are you getting on that plane without me! She rubbed against him, chest to mons. I’m on fire for you, Navarro.
He broke the kiss. “The flight’s five hours.”
She reached for his belt and unbuckled it, all the while pressing kisses to his neck. Too long, gotta have you now!
Navarro backed up to the desk dragging her with him. When he sat on the edge, he hauled her into his arms. “They’ll see us through the glass.”
Sidney straddled his hips and shoved his coat off his shoulders, sealing his mouth with hers. Won’t take a minute. Promise! They won’t even have time to wonder what we’re doing.
When he tried to break the kiss to reply, her mouth smiled against his. Look who’s got the advantage now!
Laughter shook his chest, and he gripped her hair to pull her back. “I’ve changed my mind. You’re going with me.”
Sidney smiled, and a warmth she could only attribute to a happy heart filled her chest. “Too late—I already made up my mind to go. It’s my decision.”
“You’re a stubborn woman.”
“My middle name doesn’t start with a ‘P’ for nothing.”
“What is your middle name?”
Sidney wrinkled her nose. “Promise not to laugh?”
“No.”
“Persephone.”
Navarro’s wicked grin told her he hadn’t missed the irony that she’d been named for the woman Hades had held a prisoner in his dark realm until she agreed to be his wife.
Sidney pushed up his shirt, but his hand closed over hers. “We really do have to leave now.”
She raised an eyebrow. You’re really gonna make me wait?
“The loo is quite spacious, love.”
Mile High Club, here I come!
As Sidney trotted beside Navarro across the tarmac to the waiting plane, she said, “That was one helluva weekend you gave me. But I’m reminded I don’t know a thing about your past.”
“We have forever to learn each other’s dark secrets.”
“My life will take a minute.”
My Immortal Knight V: Uncovering Navarro Page 11