“So you did touch the daughter,” Father said.
“That’s not the point,” Rafe gritted.
Father waved a long-fingered hand. “Find a way around Victorine. Use a glamour on the daughter…or that famous charm of yours.”
I regarded my dad incredulously. “You negotiated the end to the feud yourself. Now you want to risk starting it up again?”
“If I’m right, it’s they who have broken the truce. The Tremblays have close ties to the French vampires. Victorine’s own sire is an enforcer in the Paris Syndicate. Take me and my sons out, and Victorine is perfectly placed to step into the power vacuum that would open up.” Father trained a cold stare on Rafe. “This isn’t up for discussion, Rafe. Your brother’s life may depend on what Zoe can tell you. If Victorine is part of this, we need to know. Please,” he added.
My brows crawled toward my hairline. I could count on one hand the number of times I’d ever heard Father say please. And never to one of us.
“Jesus.” Rafe plowed his fingers through his black curls, then gave a grin that was all sharp teeth. “Okay. Sure. I have some unfinished business with the woman anyway.”
“Good. Sit down, both of you.” Father indicated the chairs in front of his desk. “Tomas and I have ten minutes to brief you, then I’m off to France. Rafael, I’ve made arrangements for you to fly to Montreal.”
“What about Mom?” I asked as we seated ourselves.
“She’s safely at the mansion in Maryland with Giles”—one of his top enforcers—“and a couple of my best people.”
I nodded. Karoly Kral might be a cold bastard, but my mom was his heart. He’d drive a stake through his own chest before letting anyone hurt her.
“She knows about Zaq?”
“Not that he’s been kidnapped, no. Just that he’s run into some trouble and I’m investigating.” Father pressed the intercom on his desk. “Tomas?” he said in Slovak. “You can come in now.”
The big blond lieutenant entered. “They know?”
Father nodded. The two exchanged a few rapid sentences in Slovak and then switched to English to explain to us exactly how this was going to go down.
When they were finished, Father steepled his fingers beneath his chin and examined us. “Any questions?”
Rafe and I shook our heads, and we all rose to our feet.
Father clasped Rafe in a hug. “Check in with Tomas as soon as you make contact with the Tremblay female.”
“Zoe,” he corrected, tight-lipped.
Father raised a dark brow. “As you say. No unnecessary communication,” he continued, speaking to all three of us. “Gabriel’s in charge, but if you have any issues, contact Tomas, not me. And use burner phones and your code.”
Rafe and I nodded. When sending and receiving from a burner phone, it was standard Kral procedure to identify yourself with a short string of letters and numbers known only to the inner circle.
“You two go.” He nodded at Rafe and Tomas. “I have something to say to Gabriel.”
He waited until the door closed behind them before turning to me. “You wanted a chance, son. This is it. As soon as we get your brother back, I’ll announce that you’ve been promoted to oversee the two southeastern covens. Meanwhile, you have my permission to act on my behalf—within reason, of course.”
The southeastern covens covered a good two-fifths of the Syndicate’s territory, stretching from Maryland to Louisiana. Excitement gripped me, but I kept my face as stony as his.
“Thank you, sir.” I stuck out my hand.
He clasped it and hung on for a few seconds longer than necessary, his way of showing me affection. Rafe and Zaq got the occasional hug, but I was the Kral crown prince. I had to be hard, emotionless. Controlled.
“We will get Zaq back,” I said as he released my hand. “And don’t worry, I’ll keep things running here. You won’t be sorry you left me in charge.”
A thin smile. “See that I’m not.”
3
Mila
In the dim light, the vampire’s eyes shone pure gold, like polished coins set in the smooth brown of his face. Wolf’s eyes. He had the lean, hard muscles of his kind; something about being turned does that to them.
“So you’re Camila.”
At the satisfaction in his voice, the fine hairs on the back of my neck stood upright.
Never show fear.
I straightened my spine, drew back my shoulders. “What do you want? Where’s Gab—?” I halted.
A cold smile. “Did you think the prince had sent for you?”
My stomach bottomed out. Because okay, a part of me had hoped that Gabriel had sent for me. The part that had cried a little every day since I’d snuck out of town with only my backpack and a suitcase full of clothes.
“Then what’s this about?”
The vampire pursed his lips. “You haven’t seen your family for—how many years?”
“Three,” said Martin.
My interrogator nodded. “You haven’t even kept in touch.”
A sick dread coated my throat. “So? We don’t get along. Is that a crime?”
“I think you get along just fine,” he returned silkily. “I think you’ve stayed away to protect them. You’d do anything to keep them safe, wouldn’t you?”
I stared back without speaking.
He glided across the room to a large desk and tapped a key on a computer, rotating the screen so I could see it. Photos of my family scrolled by.
I couldn’t help it. I moved closer, gazing at them hungrily.
Mom, with her messy brown bun and wry smile. Dad, with his dark, expressive eyes and curly black hair. And Joey, all grown up now, a younger, skinnier version of my father. He’d turned twenty-one last birthday, and I hadn’t even sent him a card.
I wrenched my eyes away. “What do you want?”
“Your cooperation.”
My scalp tightened in warning. “To do what?”
He nodded at Stefan and Martin. “Wait in the drawing room. You may feed, if you wish.”
“Yes, sir.” They left, closing the door behind them.
The vampire waved a hand at a couch. “Sit, please.”
I sat, aware of how defenseless I was. You couldn’t hear the air conditioning, but it must’ve been set on Arctic blast, because goosebumps popped up on my bare arms and legs. My fingers literally itched for my switchblade. Maybe I’d end up dead, but at least I could do some damage first.
He inclined his head. “Allow me to introduce myself. I’m called Andre.” He seated himself in a nearby leather armchair.
“Andre.” I nodded back, as if keeping things polite meant I’d walk out of here a free woman.
His eyes narrowed. “So the reports are right. I can’t tell what you’re thinking. I can’t even tell if you’re afraid. You’re like a clear pool.”
I hitched a shoulder. It was true, as far as I knew, although Gabriel was the only supernatural I’d ever tested it on.
“Not that it’s worth anything,” I muttered. Maybe vamps couldn’t read my mind or emotions, but they could still compel me to obey them.
“That’s where you’re wrong. If you hadn’t disappeared like that, we’d have hired you three years ago.”
“As what?” My chin jutted as I recalled the beautiful, empty-eyed thralls in the other room. “I won’t be some vampire’s blood whore.”
He waved a blunt-fingered hand. The big ruby in his thick gold pinky ring glinted blood-red.
“Of course not. That’s for humans without your gift. No, you’ve shown initiative, intelligence. You’ve even developed some rudimentary fighting skills. Not many humans could’ve gotten past Martin’s guard. Most importantly, you’ve attracted the interest of the crown prince. That makes you very valuable in my world. Do you know that ever since you, Gabriel will only drink from dark-haired, dark-eyed women?”
My stomach twisted. I hated to think of Gabriel with any woman but me.
“Who the fuck are you?”
I demanded. “And I don’t mean Andre, or whatever you’re calling yourself this decade. Are you from a rival syndicate? Because if you are, you might as well kill me now. I won’t be used to hurt him.”
I’d left as much for his sake as for mine. I’d be damned if I’d be dragged back and used against him.
For a man, Andre’s lips were full, sensual. They turned up in a small smile. “You know I can compel you.”
My lungs compressed. “You can try. But I also know it takes a helluva lot of energy to compel a human for more than an hour or so, especially when she resists with everything she has. And I will resist you.”
“Ah.” He nodded. “But there are other, just as effective methods to gain cooperation.” His gaze flicked to the PC.
My fingernails dug into my bare thighs. An icy sweat prickled my nape. But I made myself stare back coolly.
“However,” he continued, “I prefer my humans happy.”
“I’m not your human.”
A shrug. “Your degree is in agriculture. After you left Maryland, you apprenticed at an organic farm, and since then, you’ve worked at farms whenever you can. Tell me, Camila, what could you do with a million dollars?”
My jaw dropped. My secret dream was to open a sustainably managed flower farm. A million dollars would go a long way toward making that dream a reality.
But not at the cost of Gabriel’s life—and how the hell did this vampire know so much about me, anyway?
I leaned forward, speaking slowly and distinctly. “I won’t hurt him. Not for any amount of money.”
“You don’t have to hurt him, darlin’. Just distract him. That should be easy enough.” He looked me up and down. “He craves you, and I think you aren’t unwilling.”
My lip curled. “So you can do what?”
“That’s not important.” Wolf-gold eyes burned into mine. “Think about it. No more running, and maybe you could convince Gabriel to make it permanent. If not, by this time next month, you’ll be a rich woman.”
I hesitated. I’m not ashamed to say I was tempted. Not by the money—if I’d asked, Gabriel would’ve bought me a farm. Back when we were together, he was always trying to give me expensive jewelry and clothes.
But I was tired of running. Tired of always looking over my shoulder, wondering if this would be the day the Syndicate would finally catch me.
And I’d have Gabriel. A deep ache squeezed my chest.
It was too good to be true, like a fairy godmother had snatched me up and granted my every wish.
Which is why I shook my head. I might have left Gabriel, but I’d never stopped loving him. I was damned if I’d let this devil in a sleek gray suit tempt me into betraying him.
“No.” My nails dug deeper into my skin. I knew that I wouldn’t leave here alive. Andre couldn’t risk me going to Gabriel and telling him something was up.
Andre eyed the tiny red crescents on my thighs. His nostrils flared and a vivid, electric blue shimmered around the edges of his irises. The look he turned on me was pure predator.
Too late, I recalled you never let a vampire see blood, even a tiny amount.
“Are you sure?” he murmured.
My throat had closed up. Somehow I pushed the word out of my mouth. “Yes.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.” He rose and opened the door.
A terrible premonition slithered down my spine. I jumped to my feet.
“Mila!” It was Joey, face ashen beneath his tan.
4
Gabriel
I leaned against the hammered copper bar of Ruby’s Speakeasy and took a sip of blood-wine. The music in the Syndicate’s exclusive underground club was thick with the pounding beat of hard, sweaty sex. Paintings of vampires and humans in various erotic combinations hung on the walls, and candles in red glass votives flickered on small black tables. In the speakeasy’s nooks and crannies, the plush couches had been claimed by vampires and their thralls.
Three days had passed with no news about Zaq. Three days in which I hid my worry for my brother behind a cool exterior while managing the Syndicate’s many concerns. These days, most of our businesses were legal, if not completely aboveboard. Casinos up and down the East Coast. Exclusive clubs and trendy restaurants. A media group that owned everything from magazines to TV stations. Hell, even a major New York investment bank.
I’d worked twelve-hour nights, often staying up past dawn. With Tomas’s help, I was staying on top of things. My father would be proud when he finally returned.
If he returned.
I tightened my grip on my wine glass.
It was as if he’d fallen along with Zaq into some fucking black hole. What was going on? And how long was I supposed to wait before I said the hell with it and went looking for them?
I didn’t even have Rafe to discuss things with, because of Father’s prohibition against unnecessary communication.
Two of the Syndicate’s newest thralls sidled up on either side of me, both dark-haired with olive skin and full, kissable mouths. One of my men must’ve sent them over.
“Hello, Gabriel.” The one on the left raked bold black eyes down my body. “You look…lonely.”
I hesitated, but Rafe had been right. It had been too long since I’d fed from a warm human throat. The music throbbed in my groin, the insistent beat reminding me it had also been too damn long since I’d had a woman.
Vampires looked down on dhampirs as weak half-breeds, but in my opinion, I had the best of both worlds—a vampire’s powers and enhanced senses, and yet I lived and breathed just like a human, and if necessary, could even survive without blood. Still, drinking blood amped up my vampire half, made me stronger, faster, more powerful. Extended my already long life by centuries—and made me damn near irresistible to a human.
Too bad it hadn’t worked on the only human I’d ever really wanted. My mouth twisted.
The thralls lost their smiles, edged away.
She’s never coming back. And you need blood and a good fuck.
I set the wine glass on the copper bar and reeled the two women back in. “Not lonely. Waiting for you.”
They smirked, playing the game. The thrall with the bold eyes pressed closer. I racked my brain for her name.
“Krystal. Can I buy you a drink?”
“I’d like that.” Her smile said she’d like that and more.
The thrall on my right slid her hand beneath the collar of my silk shirt. A sharp nail toyed with my nipple.
Her name I knew. “Gina. What can I get you?”
Even white teeth closed around my earlobe. “Something cool…and wet.”
I don’t apologize for drinking from thralls, or using their soft human bodies. We pay them well, and they’re free to leave whenever they wish. If some stay longer than is good for them, they can’t say they haven’t been warned.
It’s no secret that a human can get addicted to the high of being fed on. A blood high, they call it. I’m told it makes the sex incredible.
“Can do. Two mojitos,” I told a server in a tiny black dress and steered the women toward a nearby alcove.
Krystal nuzzled my neck. “I’ve always wanted to do one of the Dark Angels.”
I turned my head to smile down on her and stilled.
Mila Vittore. Twenty feet away, staring at me like I was a ghost.
It was as if my craving had conjured her out of the speakeasy’s dark corners.
My already slow-beating heart thumped, a single hard knock against my chest. How many times in the past three years had I thought I’d seen Mila only to be disappointed?
It’s not her. She’s never coming back.
I’d made my peace with that. I’d kept tabs on her. At any time, I could’ve sent men to bring her back, but I’d honored her decision to leave. A Kral keeps his promises.
Besides, this woman looked different. Thinner, harder.
My Mila had a wild cloud of chestnut hair, not a chic updo. My Mila wouldn’t have been caught dead in that sh
ort, tight-as-sin red dress and strappy high heels. And my Mila would never have set a toe in a vampire speakeasy.
Still, I couldn’t help staring. The sound of the crowd faded away. I didn’t even notice I’d loosened my grip on the thralls.
The woman’s dark, soulful eyes snagged on mine. Her mouth rounded in a soft O.
And everything I thought I knew about Mila was turned on its head.
5
Mila
Gabriel Kral.
A thrum went up my spine, spread out to my belly. Even my fingers and toes tingled.
He hadn’t changed in the three years since I’d last seen him. Same long, powerful body. Same raven hair and peaked black brows. Same brilliant green eyes, like emeralds set in the strong planes of his face.
Two curvy women were stuck to him like Velcro. Andre hadn’t lied. From the back, the women could’ve been me—not now, but a few years ago, before I’d lost twenty pounds. They hung onto his biceps, nuzzling his neck, rubbing their breasts against his arms.
My mouth flattened. If he wasn’t careful, they’d drool on his shark-gray Armani suit.
But he was relaxed, smiling…until he glimpsed me across the club. The smile faded. A brief word to the thralls, and they moved on to another man.
Gabriel stalked across the club to me. He’d always reminded me of a panther. Lean. Graceful. Purposeful. Every movement controlled, predatory.
The crowd parted for him like he was royalty—which I suppose he was.
I straightened, made to shove my hands into my pockets. Except the sleeveless red bodycon dress didn’t have pockets. I left my hands on my hips, hoping I didn’t look as awkward as I felt.
He stopped a few feet away and inhaled slowly, as if testing it was really me. His gaze raked down my body before returning to my face. The heat in his eyes made me gulp.
Pursued: A Vampire Syndicate Paranormal Romance (The Vampire Syndicate Book 1) Page 3