Red Moon (Vampire Files Trilogy Book 2)

by RK Close

  “You haven’t told them? Where is your proof?” he asks, raising an eyebrow.

  Did I just step in it? Let me see if I can step out of it.

  “I have the proof and safeguards in place that, should anything happen to me, all the information will make its way into the right hands.” I’ve slowly been moving closer to my car and placing more distance between us.

  O’Donnell steps closer to me, and I step back again. “I think a war will happen. Is that what you want?”

  He steps closer, and I step back. It’s like a dance.

  “I want to know what happened to Madison. I don’t care who she slept with, unless it’s related to her disappearance. At this point, you have the most to lose and the best motive for making her disappear. Did you kill her?” I slide my hand inside my jacket, connecting with the dagger; the only defense I have against a werewolf.

  Colin notices my movement; he knows I have a weapon.

  “No,” he says, taking another step toward me. “If you don’t have the girl, how do you have proof?”

  Again, I swallow down a lump in my throat. “Pictures,” I say, lowering my eyes to his chest when the shock hits his face. When I meet his eyes again, he’s covered his reaction.

  He had no idea that she was going to blackmail him. I can read people, and I’m confident he didn’t know. Which tells me that Madison had not put her plan into motion. Whatever her plan was.

  I slide my hand out of my jacket, and I force my body to relax. O’Donnell relaxes as well, but the hard look on his face never wavers.

  “Did you know she was involved with both sons before I told you?”

  “Yes, but only after the fact. This happened eight months ago. I didn’t realize who Madison was until I was informed that Sean had been spending time with her. Like I said, it wasn’t something I’m proud of, and I didn’t see any reason to share that information with my son.” His expression hasn’t changed.

  “And Cian?” I ask.

  “I only recently was informed that Cian was involved with her, and only after she went missing. If what you say is true, I believe she targeted us, but I don’t know why. As far as I am aware, you, Madison, and myself are the only ones who know about what happened between her and me.”

  And there it is. If I’m wrong about him, then I won’t live to see tomorrow. If I’m right, then I’m no closer to finding Madison Taylor.

  “One more question, Mr. O’Donnell. Would a human be able to subdue a werewolf, if they wanted to?”

  “It’s unlikely, and that’s why the Luna Pack suspects one of us. We’ve all been looking for Madison Taylor. It’s in everyone’s best interest to find her. A wolf war will make the violence from the drug cartel look like child’s play. No sane person wants that.”

  As his words are sinking in, I hear a car pull up behind me. Looking over my shoulder, I see a green topless Jeep being driven by a girl with long red curls flying around her face. Deirdre pulls up next to my car, giving us a concerned look. She jumps out and rushes over. “What’s happened? Why is she here?”

  “Everything’s fine, Deirdre. This is Ms. Chase. She’s been hired by the family of Madison Taylor to find her. She had some questions, and now she’s leaving.”

  “I know. Sam’s a friend of Sean and Cian. What about?” Deirdre asks.

  “Never you mind,” says O’Donnell.

  He gives me a look that says I best be on my way, while I still can. Glancing at Deirdre one last time, I head for my car.

  Heading down the long drive back toward the interstate, I see a cloud of dust with a black dot in the middle. Someone is driving way too fast down this narrow dirt road, and they’re heading right for me. A motorcycle is on a collision course with my car. Just when I’m sure there is no chance to avoid a head-on crash, we both brake, sending clouds of dust everywhere.

  When the dust settles, I’m looking into Adam’s angry blue eyes.

  22

  Enforcer

  If looks could kill, I might be dead. Adam remains on the motorcycle, looking like an actual predator. He is something to behold when his emotions come to the surface. Spending so much time with him, I’ve learned that he prefers to keep his emotions buried deep, hidden from the world, and even me. I’m the catalyst for his current state of emotional turmoil, so I choose to tread lightly.

  Stepping out of the car slowly, my gaze trained on him, I move to stand just out of his reach, but close enough to realize he’s ready to lose it. Seconds turn to minutes as we stand there looking at one another. Before my eyes, he is morphing back into someone who can pass as human. Unnaturally attractive, but human at least. He’s wearing faded jeans, a leather jacket, and a gray t-shirt.

  I’m in a lot of trouble, but damn, he looks good.

  When I feel it’s safe to do so, I take a few tentative steps toward him and find my voice.

  “I couldn’t answer when you called. I was face-to-face with Colin O’Donnell and didn’t want to let my guard down while having a phone conversation. I’m sorry that you drove all this way, but I had it under control,” I say in a soothing voice.

  I pull my jacket back to expose the dagger in my shoulder harness, giving him what I hope is a disarming smile. Adam continues to watch me, and I start to feel uncomfortable under his scrutiny. Guilt is starting to creep in as well. Maybe I should have mentioned my spontaneous plan to confront Colin before I did so.

  Without warning, Adam moves. One moment he’s sitting on the bike, and the next he’s standing behind me, one arm wrapped around both of mine and the dagger to my throat. Shamefully, I let out a short scream like a little girl. His breath is warm on my ear. My breathing is loud and fast from the scare he’s given me. Adam’s lips touch my ear when he speaks. His voice is soft and deceptively calm.

  “If I were Colin O’Donnell, you would be dead—or worse. They are equally as fast but not nearly as graceful as my kind,” he says.

  He continues to hold the dagger to my throat and doesn’t release me. My heart continues to pound inside my ears like a drum, and I’m hyper aware of his body against mine.

  “Okay. I get your point. Now let me go,” I say, trying to hide the quiver in my voice.

  “I don’t think you’ve learned your lesson yet,” he says. In the next moment, he stands before me. We are still so close. I’ve no idea where the dagger is. It could be back in the sheath for all I know. Trying to cover the fact that his demonstration has shaken me, I hold my chin up and glare at him.

  “I will not be treated like a child, Adam. Don’t talk to me like I’m your student who needs to be taught a lesson. If we’re doing this thing called dating, then we need some ground rules. You do not need to rescue me from every situation. You do not…” My rant is cut short when he grabs me in an embrace, silencing me with his lips.

  Initially, I fight him and his arrogant kiss. But there is so much passion and emotion packed into this one action that I’m quickly swept away by his need. My own desire rises to answer his.

  Suddenly, I’m lying on the hood of my Mustang, our kiss never interrupted. There, in the middle of a dirty, dusty road, he kisses me like there is no tomorrow. His hands roam freely over my body, and I can’t seem to get close enough.

  Unfortunately, the hood of a car is not the place to make out, despite what the movies would have us believe. As my back and neck begin to ache, the flame starts to cool.

  Gradually, he pulls away enough to gaze into my eyes. We’re both breathing like we ran a marathon. My head eases back onto the car, and I take a deep, steady breath, still watching him. His eyes are hooded with thick black lashes. If I didn’t know better, I’d say he was drunk. Moments like these—when his feelings are raw and almost tangible—are when I could promise him my heart. If only all our moments were like this.

  Did we just kiss and make up?

  “You are strangely intoxicating when angry.” He rises from me, offering his hand. “You may be the ruin of me, Samantha Chase,” he says, helping me off t
he car.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m the one you pulled a knife on and had flat on my back a few seconds ago.” Smiling, I walk to my car. It amazes me that he can scare the hell out of me and turn me on simultaneously. Maybe I’m weirder than I knew. “We can talk more after our meeting with Genevieve Taylor. This discussion is not over. And that kiss did not get you off the hook.”

  “Nor you,” he says, raising an eyebrow at me. I give him the same look.

  “You’re still going with me, right?” I ask. The irony of the question doesn’t escape me. He’s not allowed to follow me, lecture me or worry about me, yet I ask him to go with me to meet the other big bad wolf.

  I’ll ponder that conflicting notion tomorrow.

  Instead of answering me right away, Adam just looks at me as he straddles the bike and starts the engine. “You couldn’t keep me away.” He’s wearing a hint of a smile as he revs his engine.

  “Thank you. Not just for tonight, but for coming to check on me,” I say, slipping into the car before it gets too weird and I lose my leverage to argue my independence. It’s important that I make my own choices, even the dumb ones. Adam needs to accept this or let me go. I won’t be smothered or lose myself under the pretense of a relationship, no matter how much I want it to work.

  ***

  Before the meeting with Genevieve, I pay a visit to Professor Davis at the A.S.U. campus. My visit turns up nothing, as he is yet another willing victim of the Madison Taylor Syndrome. He’s more of a coward than Martinez, and just as frightened of losing his tenure because of his indiscretions with a student.

  Where are the real men these days?

  I can’t help but wonder if Madison was born this way or molded into the monster she is—or was.

  ***

  Adam and I arrive at Tempe Beach Park where Festival of the Arts, an annual event, is taking place. There are vendors and people galore, which is why I chose to meet Genevieve here. Once we arrive, Adam gives me a look and heads off to watch from afar. Not wanting to spook my client, I asked Adam to keep his distance.

  Tempe Beach Park was originally established in 1923 and was home to the first Olympic-sized pool in Arizona. The park consists of twenty-five acres and five miles of trails. This is a fun place to be if I wasn’t about to meet a werewolf who may want to kill me.

  As I make my way through the crowd, my hand finds the dagger under my jacket. The memory of how quickly Adam took it from me keeps my nerves on edge.

  It’s not long before I find Genevieve sitting alone on a bench. She’s as beautiful and polished as I remember from our first meeting. Tonight, the CEO is wearing a dark tailored skirt that falls just above her knees and a red silk blouse. I would break an ankle in the matching red heels she’s wearing. Tonight, her long blond hair hangs in large soft waves around her shoulders and makes me think of movie stars from the age of the silver screen.

  I’m trying to visualize her as the pack enforcer. My mind just won’t reconcile this feminine vision with the strong image of an enforcer. Maybe Jacob’s wrong, and it’s more of a symbolic position like the queen of England.

  Genevieve smiles warmly and stands to greet me. We both refrain from shaking hands this time.

  “I hope you have some encouraging news for me, Ms. Chase.” She sits on the bench, and I sit as far away as possible. Even though I can’t imagine her as the pack enforcer, I’m not foolish enough to think I’m safe. Genevieve scares me more than Colin O’Donnell, for some reason.

  “I thought I had a lead, but it turned out to be a dead end. You know, I could have been further along in my investigation if I had been given all the information,” I say.

  Her demeanor changes slightly as she raises one perfect eyebrow at me.

  “And what information are you referring to?” she asks, coolly.

  “To start with, it would have been useful for me to know that I’m not dealing with ordinary humans.” She doesn’t react to my revelation as I expect.

  “Let’s get right to it, shall we? We hired you to find our daughter, Ms. Chase. That is your only concern. What have you found that can lead us to her?”

  Her lovely face is more severe now that she’s dropped the effort of pretense.

  “You’ve had someone following me. Why would you do that? Afraid I’d discover your secret?” I’ve been wondering this myself.

  “That was a concern.”

  “And what if I had? What was Creepy Stalker Guy supposed to do?”

  She stares at me for a long moment before answering. “Andrew would eliminate you. Our secret is too important to leave loose ends,” she says, as if we are discussing exterminating cockroaches. Her confession drives an involuntary chill up my spine.

  So, Creepy Stalker Guy has a name. My potential killer is named Andrew.

  Moments pass, the weight of her words hanging heavily in the air. She watches my reaction with an amused look. Glancing around nervously, I try to spot Adam in the crowd. Instead of Adam, I see Creepy Stalker Guy, or Andrew, standing by a booth watching me.

  “I understand you know my son, Chad,” she says, breaking through my panicked thoughts.

  Looking back to her, I can only nod before searching the crowd again for Adam. Slowly, I become aware of other individuals in the group who seem to be intently watching me.

  “Did Chad tell you this?” I ask, mostly to keep her talking while I figure out how much danger I’m in. Did they do something to Adam? Where is he? Doesn’t he sense my fear?

  “No. Chad hasn’t said a word, which I find interesting. Why wouldn’t my son tell me that you know our secret? Why are you still alive, after he found out?” she asks, sounding curious.

  Her comment brings my attention back to her. She’s wearing a thoughtful look as if trying to figure something out.

  “I don’t know why he didn’t tell you. I assumed he would.” As my anxiety rises, my hand slides inside my jacket. Genevieve’s eyes follow my movement. I need to learn not to be such an open book.

  “Oh, Samantha, my dear. If I planned to kill you, it would already have happened. First, I want to know what happened to my daughter, Ms. Chase. Tell me everything you’ve learned.”

  “I’ve learned that half the town could have motives to harm your daughter. Does that kind of popularity run in the family?” I ask, growing tired of being afraid.

  Something dark passes over Genevieve’s face before she checks herself. I’m angry that she flat-out admitted she was okay with killing me. What did I ever do but try and find her hateful daughter?

  “I’m aware that my daughter is not the angel her father believes her to be. But, she is my daughter, and I want her back. If she is dead, then I want justice. Is the Mojave pack behind this?”

  “I don’t believe so, but I’m not positive. I need more time,” I say.

  If I weren’t positive they’d kill me anyway, I’d tell her where to stick this job. It would be the first one I’ve ever walked away from.

  “We are out of time.” She stands, and I follow as if attached by a string. Almost as fast as Adam, she is in my face and holds my chin in her hand. “I suggest you pick up the pace, Ms. Chase. And if I suspect that you’ve shared our secret with anyone, I’ll kill you and them, myself.” Her sudden movements would have caused me to fall backward if she didn’t have such a tight grip on my chin.

  In the next moment, I’m moving so fast I think I’ll throw up. Everything stops, but my vision which continues to go out of focus. When the world stops spinning, I realize that Jacob holds me in his arms.

  Genevieve, Creepy Stalker Guy, and several other people I don’t recognize stand in a semicircle, facing Adam, Jacob, and myself. We are no longer surrounded by the busy happenings of the festival but somewhere more secluded, the trails I think.

  Jacob sets me on my feet and moves to stand next to Adam. Both vampires look ready for battle, but so do the others. I’m still shaky on my feet and fighting nausea.

  “If you touch h
er again, I’ll destroy you and your entire bloodline,” Adam says. His threat fills me with dread. I’m not sure what thought bothers me the most—that he would make such a threat for my sake, or that I believe he’d do it.

  23

  Bite Me

  There’s a chill in the air as Adam’s words sink in. Andrew, who I still want to name Creepy Stalker Guy, growls and takes a step forward but Genevieve reaches out a hand to stop him. It’s a small movement, but he follows her direction without question. All six pairs of eyes glow with an eerie amber light.

  Genevieve stands with hands on hips as she cocks her head to one side. She looks thoughtful as if considering Adam’s ability to carry out his threat.

  The very air around us feels charged with energy, making my skin crawl. Adam and Jacob stand confident and sure. As for the others, they look ready for something, but not nearly as certain. Except for Genevieve, who seems to be taking Adam’s measure. Calculating is the word that comes to mind.

  “I see you have connections, Samantha. Where did you find yourself a couple of vampires willing to do your bidding? Or are you this one’s property?” She jerks her head towards Adam. “Is that why he’s so protective?” she asks, her tone condescending.

  I step around Adam with my chin raised. “I’m nobody’s property. We’re dating, not that it’s any of your business,” I say, realizing too late that I sound like a twelve-year-old. Both Adam and Jacob moved when I did, and now flank me on either side. “It’s a little one-sided, wouldn’t you say?” I sweep an arm at them. They have double our number, and I don’t even know if I count.

  “That can be corrected,” Jacob says just before moving like a blur. It takes several blinks for me to realize one of the werewolves is missing as well. Genevieve holds her hand up as if to keep the others from panicking or breaking form. Her smug confidence may be slipping just a hair.

  Only seconds’ pass before Jacob returns, but the werewolf does not. I search his face until he turns and gives me one of his lazy smiles and a wink. He must see my concern when he says, “He’s a little light on his feet, but he’ll be okay, Sam.” Jacob then turns that same smile on Genevieve.