Books 1 & 2 of Connor and Sami: Operation Underworld Trilogy

by Carly Fall

  His face remained angry, but she saw a flicker of something in his gaze. Maybe regret?

  “I couldn’t tell you about this place. It’s against the rules I agreed to when I signed up. You, on the other hand, weren’t bound by anything as important except your own self-serving agenda.”

  She lifted her chin in defiance, even though she knew his words to be true. However, she’d been afraid that if she’d told him the truth, he’d think she approached the job of bringing down the rogues from an emotional place and not take her seriously.

  They stared at each other a beat, the silence incredibly uncomfortable.

  Finally, he spoke. “I don’t know what Dedou has planned for you, but I’ll be leaving in a few days. Until then, you stay out of my way, and I’ll stay out of yours.”

  He left, slamming the door as hard as he’d opened it.

  The breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding left her lungs in a long huff.

  Sitting on the bed, she placed her head in her hands and shut her eyes.

  Connor.

  After her father’s death, she’d scoured through his files. He’d had so much information, including the nightclubs that humans had disappeared from, and photos of possible suspects. Her father had said on his deathbed that those were the ones responsible for draining most of his blood and ripping his flesh.

  She’d never forget the day she first saw Connor in line at the nightclub. He’d stood right behind the vampires she’d suspected had been responsible for her father’s murder. The wait had been long to get inside, and she had wanted to enter at the same time as the vampires to watch them. At first, she’d approached Connor to flirt with him and jump in the line with him. It had worked, but she also couldn’t deny her immediate attraction to him.

  When the vampires had led the humans in a trance from the club and loaded them into the box truck out back, she’d gone along with it, acting as if they’d had her under their control. Because of the little vampire DNA she possessed, it hadn’t worked on her. Her plan had been to overpower those driving the truck, then take the wheel and follow the rest and see where they ended up. Her brilliant plan had ended there, but she’d had to see where they had committed the atrocities on her father.

  When she’d attacked the driver, she’d been taken down immediately by the older, much stronger vampire. If Connor hadn’t shown up, she’d probably have ended up dead, or at least, very badly hurt.

  He had told her that he knew vampires existed, and she hadn’t believed him at first. After all, vampires had lived among humans since the beginning of time, and very few knew about it. How had he?

  After an argument where she’d decided she couldn’t trust him ever again, she’d left his apartment. The next day, she’d realized she’d have to go back with her tail between her legs because she’d left her phone there. It was then that she’d also come to the conclusion that he could be very useful to her.

  Although she was a vampire, she couldn’t tell if someone on the street was. It was like asking a human to point out Irish people on a busy New York street—it couldn’t be done.

  They’d agreed to work together, and her lies had come easily. She’d told him she was with the ‘vampire police’ and that they hunted the rogue members of their species. It had seemed ridiculous to her, but he’d bought it. As they’d worked together, her attraction to him had become very strong, and sometimes, she’d caught the vibe that he felt the same. When she’d been hurt in an attack and became desperate for blood to help her heal, he’d offered his vein. She had known what would happen—they’d both become intensely aroused, and they’d end up having sex. It hadn’t been what she wanted, because if her secrets were ever revealed, he’d think she was using him. However, desperate times had called for desperate measures, and they’d ended up having the most intense sex she’d ever experienced.

  In the end, her lies had come to light, and he’d told her he never wanted to see her again, and she’d agreed it was probably best.

  Now, she slept in the room right next to his. Getting to her feet, she walked over and locked the door leading to the bathroom.

  Out of all the people in the United States, how and why did she end up sharing a bathroom with Connor, the one person whose hate toward her was almost palpable?

  5

  A light knock sounded on Sami's main door, and she stood to open it. She hadn't been able to rest after the fiasco with Connor, and she hoped Dedou was on the other side of the panel, and not him.

  Relief washed through her as Dedou smiled at her.

  "Are you ready to talk about your assignment?"

  She nodded and stepped out into the hallway, closing the door behind her. She followed Dedou down the hall and staircase, hoping she didn't see Connor again. Was Dedou aware of their past?

  Once inside the Voodoo store, Dedou motioned for her to sit at the desk while she took the chair behind it. The surface was littered with grinding pestles and herbs, and a black, rotary phone sat on the corner. Hundreds of candles still flickered around the store, casting shadows. Earlier in the day, it had seemed a little frightening, but now, she almost found comfort in the near darkness.

  "To accept the assignment, you must stay here overnight."

  She nodded, not seeing any problem with the requirement. Her hands shook with nerves as she tried to figure out how to tell Dedou that she knew Connor, and that their past relationship hadn't ended well.

  "Tomorrow, if you wish to accept the assignment, you'll speak to the head of the organization on the phone."

  "What is this place, Dedou? What will my assignment be?"

  Dedou smiled. "We hunt the paranormal entities that live among us and who want to hurt the human population. You know that, child. It was in my letter to you."

  She didn't have a hard time believing there were paranormal entities because she was half-vampire. Her mother had had enough vampire blood in her that she couldn't go out into the sun. But were there beings beside vampires? Considering she couldn't even pick out her own species while walking down the street, she had to assume so.

  "Like what? What other entities?"

  Dedou shrugged. "Demons, witches, aliens ... my spirit guides show me what we need to know, what type of paranormal beings are causing trouble."

  Sami furrowed her brow as confusion tore through her. It sounded strange to hear someone talk of spirit guides as if she spoke about the weather or other monotonous things.

  Her gaze flitted across the desk as she considered her options. She could just say she had no interest in the assignment and leave, but that would only take her back home. With her inheritance, she could do pretty much whatever she wanted, within reason. She supposed she could do some traveling, but that didn't sound like enough for her. She wanted to do something, to be productive, to be challenged. Hunting those of her own kind who didn't follow the rules that had been set centuries ago fit right into that category. In a way, it would be like pursuing those who'd killed her father all over again, but this time, she would be the one to bring them down.

  No, she didn't want to go anywhere, and she had to be honest with Dedou. She must tell her about Connor.

  "I know Connor," she blurted as she stared at the desk. "We worked together in Los Angeles."

  Dedou nodded and smiled. "I'm aware of that. How did things end between the two of you?"

  She sighed and met the woman's gaze. "Not well. I wasn't truthful with him, and that put him in danger. When he found out that I'd lied to him, he became very angry and told me to get out of his apartment. I haven't seen him since, until just a little while ago upstairs."

  Dedou stared at her for a moment. "That's it?"

  Sami nodded. Dedou didn't seem to think much of her indiscretions against Connor, and she hoped she read the situation right and that she wouldn't be asked to leave. It was as if her sanity rode on being able to stay. She didn't want to go home; she wanted to be here.

  "I don't see where the problem will lie," Dedou s
aid with a shrug. "You are both adults."

  Relief swept through Sami, hoping that both she and Connor could prove her right.

  "Now, may I tell you about your assignment? Do you still want to hear about it?"

  "Yes. Please."

  "With you being half-vampire, you have a knowledge of the species that we don't. My spirit guides told me that there are vampires who are causing many problems among humans, and we want you to help us find them, and stop them."

  She'd been under the impression that everything in Los Angeles had been wrapped up by one big fireball.

  "That's what happened in L.A," she countered. "I was under the impression that Connor had taken care of that mess."

  Her heart ached as she said the words. Would it ever not feel like a fresh wound when she thought of the rogue vampires that had killed her father, or the lover she had lost?

  Dedou folded her hands on the desk. "He did. However, there is more to the story, although we can't pinpoint exactly what it is."

  She'd learned her lesson with Connor, and had every intention of being completely truthful with Dedou. She didn't fully understand how her being part-vampire would help in this situation, and she wanted to make sure Dedou knew that she wasn't anything special. "You know that I'm more human than vampire, right? I can be out in the sun, I can't put anyone in a trance state, and I can even go without blood."

  A shiver traveled down her spine as she recalled her last feeding with Connor, despite her attempts to forget about it. It should never have happened, but it had. His blood had been warm, sweet, and lush as it had gone down her throat, the strength in it infusing her with more energy than she'd ever thought possible. And what happened after ... no, she couldn't relive it, and she had to work to forget it. Instead, she focused on Dedou.

  "Of course, Sami. We know all about you, but I have a feeling that there are things about yourself even you aren't aware of. My spirit guides were very demanding that we ask you into the organization, and I work to make them happy. So, here you are, and I hope you will stay.”

  Sami nodded, and even though Dedou smiled at her, her stomach flipped. She'd expected them to look into her background, but how deep had they gone? She didn't have anything to hide, but it still made her uncomfortable to think that her privacy had been invaded.

  As for Dedou's spirit guides, well, she'd just have to trust the woman about that because right now, Sami had a hard time believing in anything divine. Her soul felt like a decrepit, black pit of tar.

  "Knowing her, it's all lies."

  Sami jolted at Connor's voice, her heart thudding in her chest as he approached the desk. Even with his fists at his sides, his mouth in a fine, pinched line, and anger practically radiating off of him in tangible waves, he still took her breath away.

  She couldn't help but recall the way she'd held on to those wide shoulders as they'd made love, his hard body pressing against hers as she drank his beautiful blood.

  "We are in the middle of a private conversation, Connor," Dedou said, her smile still in place. "One that doesn't concern you."

  He crossed his arms over his chest, his nostrils flaring. "It does concern me. She almost got me killed, and now, she's sitting her talking to you about assignments involving vampires. That's my area."

  "But here you are, all in one piece," Dedou said. "I know all about it, Connor. Now please, go."

  "No."

  He met Sami's stare, and she almost melted into a pile of goo. Looking into those hazel eyes had always made her heart skip a beat and her body warm, despite the rage she saw in the greenish orbs.

  Her reaction had been like that since the first time she'd seen him while he waited in line to get into the club.

  Dedou stood. "Connor, you will be working with Sami again if she accepts the assignment, so I suggest you get past your issues with her. Please remember to act your age and not your shoe size."

  Sami lowered her gaze to her hands. Working with Connor again? It probably wouldn't be a good idea. He was obviously still upset about the way she'd treated him beforehand while in Los Angeles, and frankly, he had every right to be.

  However, she also wouldn't let him chase her away. She needed to be part of Operation Underworld--she needed to do something important. And the fact that Dedou said she'd be working to catch nefarious vampires again ... she wanted to be involved. Her species had remained hidden among the humans for so long, and it was imperative they stay that way. If there were those of her kind whose actions might out the rest of them, they had to be stopped.

  But how did she make Connor see that they could work together? It seemed her only option would be to tell him the reason she'd acted the way she had. It would be difficult, but maybe if the truth lay in between them, he would be able to understand, and she could stay with Operation Underworld.

  She stood and met his gaze. "Connor, can I speak to you in private, please?"

  He narrowed his stare at her and remained silent long enough for her to think that he would say no. She pursed her lips and stood up straighter, willing him to say yes. Nerves made her pick at her fingernails, and she hoped he didn't notice.

  "Fine."

  She glanced at Dedou, who smiled and nodded. It was as if the woman knew what she was about to do.

  Trailing Connor up the stairs to the bedrooms, she tried to get her thoughts in order. Her stomach lurched with anxiety. She'd never been very good with apologies.

  He led her into his room and shut the door. She glanced over the space decorated in baby blue and noted how the beds were perfectly made, yet his clothes lay strewn all over the floor. She remembered him being sort of messy, and the familiarity of it made her grin.

  "So, what do you have to say?" he asked.

  She didn't feel comfortable standing, so she motioned over to one of the beds. "May I sit down, please?"

  He nodded, and she sat on the edge of one mattress, while he sat across from her on the other.

  "I would like you to hear me out, Connor."

  He scoffed. "Fine, I'll hear what you have to say, but that doesn't mean I'll believe a fucking word of it."

  She tried to clamp down her irritation at his tone of voice and words, but she reminded herself that she'd put them in this position.

  She took a deep breath. "Connor, first, I want to apologize to you. What I did was wrong, and I'm sorry."

  As he stared at her, she thought she saw a flicker of softness in his hard gaze, but it passed before she could even be sure it had been there.

  "The first time I saw you, I did want to use you to get in line behind the vampires. I should have been honest about my motives, but deep down, I knew I was in over my head. I knew I needed help. I was afraid if I told you that I was hunting the vampires because of a personal vendetta, you wouldn't help me, so I made up the story about belonging to the police department."

  He stared at her, his face an unreadable mask. She didn't know if that could be a good thing or a bad thing, but at least, she had his attention, and he seemed to be hearing her.

  "As we continued to work together, things changed for me, Connor. I began to--"

  He held up his hand. "I don't want to hear any of this, so move on to whatever you have to say next."

  "Connor, I--"

  "No, Sami. I'm not going to hash up what happened between us. You want to stay here, right? Why should I let you?"

  She sighed. No matter what she did, no matter what she said, he wouldn't believe that she'd developed feelings for him which, because of her past, had scared her. She'd blown it too badly with him.

  Shaking her head, she stood. "Fine, Connor. I know you think that every word that comes out of my mouth is a lie, and I deserve that. However, I will stand here and beg you give us a fresh start, to try to put the past behind us. I need this. I have to be here."

  He stared at her a beat, as if he tried to decipher whether she told the truth or not. She wouldn't tell him what was in her heart, but she'd do just about anything to be able to keep
on with Operation Underworld.

  "Why do you need this?"

  She took a deep breath before she responded. She had no more tears to cry, but saying the words still hurt. "Because my mother died. I have nowhere to go, nothing to do. I can't stay at my family home because I feel like I'm living with the ghosts of my parents. I need to get away from there, to do something productive. I was summoned here. They want me. Please, I understand that you want nothing to do with me, but don't make this difficult for us."

  He turned away from her and paced the room, kicking his clothes out of the way as he went. She couldn't help but grin at the Superman boxers that flew across the room, and she wondered if he considered himself some type of superhero in his great fight against those of her species who harmed humans.

  She shut her eyes, her hands in fists at her sides. She understood it wasn't up to Connor to decide her fate here--it was up to her, Dedou, and whoever was in charge of this place. However, she wanted to try to smooth things over with Connor, to make the working arrangement easier for both of them, as well as ease her own guilt. She had never meant to hurt him, especially when he became so important to her in such a short period of time.

  Her own selfish motivations had gotten in the way.

  "I'm sorry about your mom," Connor said, his voice not carrying the anger from before.

  She opened her eyes noticed that his gaze had softened. The urge to go to him and feel his arms around her emerged, but instead, she crossed her arms over her chest. It was the most comfort she would get at this point. Besides, he'd probably toss her across the room if she approached him.

  "Thank you, but I didn't tell you that to gain your pity. I just want you to understand where I'm coming from, why I need to be here."

  He nodded and closed the distance between them. She could smell the soap he'd used in the shower, and his stare searched her face. Pursing her lips together, she glanced at his mouth and remembered how soft, yet firm, his lips had been on hers. His close proximity caused heat to bloom in her belly.