The fine hairs on my arms lifted as I finally recognized his voice. Karoly Kral was here. In the penthouse. Less than twenty feet away.
My pulse spiked. I had to leave—now. Tightening my grip on the switchblade, I glanced frantically around, but the only way out was past the living room.
“Hell.” Gabriel’s exhale was loud in the quiet. “All right. What do we do now?”
“I—” Karoly halted. “The woman is here?”
I froze. My fast-beating heart must have given me away.
“So you didn’t send her away,” Karoly said.
“Leave her the fuck out of this,” Gabriel shot back. “You think she’s weak? Out in Montauk, she saved my life. I was bleeding out, poisoned by silver. Too out of it to even think of feeding. She cut her wrist, made me drink her blood. And while I was fighting off Redbone, she staked Stefan.”
I wrapped my arms around myself. God, I loved Gabriel for defending me. But his father was only speaking the truth. I was a weakness. A human who’d always be a drag on Gabriel.
But this thing between me and Gabriel was too strong. This time, I wouldn’t run. This time, I’d fight.
Karoly raised his voice. “You can come out now, Mila.”
I started. Then I drew a deep breath, reminding myself I was no longer alone and on the run from Karoly’s cold-eyed enforcers. What’s more, I was blood-bonded to his son. Karoly Kral would just have to learn to deal.
I straightened my spine, pulled back my shoulders and walked into the living room. “You’re right.” It was still hard to speak, my voice a hoarse rasp, but I met Karoly’s gaze head on. “I am a liability.”
“Like hell you are,” said Gabriel.
But his father gave a short nod. His ebony eyes flicked to the switchblade.
The amusement I saw there made me grit my teeth, but I shoved it into my shorts pocket. It’s not like I was going to use it on him in front of Gabriel anyway.
“It’s okay,” I told Gabriel. “It’s what everyone will say behind my back. At least your father’s honest enough to say it to my face.”
Gabriel glowered at Karoly. “What the fuck was up with that anyway? You convinced her to leave. Wasn’t that enough? Did you have to threaten her family? Send enforcers to harass her?”
The Primus raised a slim hand. “Explain,” he told me. The man wasn’t any taller than Gabriel, with the same lean, catlike physique. Still, in his neat pin-striped suit, he seemed to loom over me, his dark eyes like flat black ice.
My nape prickled as a thought occurred. Karoly Kral had never promised not to compel me. I nervously licked my lips. “Explain what?”
“These enforcers. I sent Tomas to pay you off, yes. In exchange, you were to stay away for two years. But you were to be left alone unless you tried to contact Gabriel.”
A stunned silence fell. Gabriel and I exchanged a glance.
“But…they were Kral enforcers,” I said. “I saw the wolf tattoos. They fucking tried to kill me.”
Gabriel narrowed his eyes at his father. “You’re saying you didn’t send them?”
“That’s exactly what I’m saying. She’d done nothing wrong.” Karoly Kral’s jaw tightened. “I’m not a savage beast, to hunt a young woman for sport.”
I blinked. If I didn’t know better, I’d say the cold-as-ice Primus was hurt his son hadn’t believed in him.
“Then who did?” Gabriel demanded. There was a beat of silence. Then he swore. “Tomas. That sonuvabitch.”
My mouth dropped. “Holy crap.”
“What’s this about Tomas?” That was Karoly.
While Gabriel launched into an explanation, I sank onto the couch. I wouldn’t admit it to Karoly or even Gabriel, but I was exhausted.
I leaned my forearms on my knees, fingers tightly interlaced, and listened while Gabriel brought his father up to date on everything that had happened, starting with my years on the run and ending with the events of the past week.
Some of it was news to me, including that Jessa had almost certainly been sent by Slayers, Inc., an organization I’d never even heard of. The same organization that had kidnapped Zaquiel Kral.
My heart hurt for both Zaq and Gabriel when Gabriel explained as an aside to me that his brother had been kidnapped and possibly tortured by the slayers. I’d only met Zaq once, but he had the same charisma as all the Kral men, only in Zaq, it didn’t have that predatory edge. It just drew you in so you couldn’t help but like him.
All this time, Gabriel had been worried about his own brother. No wonder he’d been so suspicious when I’d shown up out of the blue.
Gabriel saved his biggest bombshell for last—that he believed Lieutenant Mraz was the man behind the curtain pulling everyone’s strings.
“I don’t know why or how,” Gabriel admitted. “But it fits. Tomas knows every damn secret we have, and his security clearance lets him access any fucking thing he wants. He can act in your name, and no one in the Syndicate would question it. Not even me.”
Through it all, his father had listened carefully, his expression giving nothing away. Now he shook his head. “I can’t believe it.”
“Then answer me this,” Gabriel said. “How did Redbone know exactly where to find me this morning?”
“I don’t know. But Tomas? We are like brothers.” A muscle ticked in his jaw. “It’s impossible.”
“I know.” Gabriel’s hand moved, like he wanted to give his father comfort. But he checked the movement, brought his arm back to his side. “I didn’t want to believe it myself. But who else could it be?” A look of horror crossed his face. He cursed and whipped out his phone. “And I let him go out to Montauk to question Lougenia.”
“No.” I jumped up. “Oh, hell no.”
Gabriel grimaced at me. “Afraid so.”
But he’d already called Airi. As she answered, I crowded next to him to listen in.
Airi was baffled. “Tomas never showed,” she said. “I was about to send you both a text.”
“If he shows,” Gabriel replied in a hard voice, “take him into custody.”
“Sir?”
“Do it. I don’t care how you keep him there, but he’s not to leave Montauk.” He glanced at his father. “Karoly Kral’s orders.”
“Of course,” said Airi.
Gabriel ended the call. His gaze challenged his father. “Well? Where is he?”
Karoly already had his phone out. When Tomas didn’t answer the call, he sent a text. The seconds ticked past as he stared at the screen, waiting for a response. Then, for the first time since I’d entered the room, his control cracked.
“He’s not responding.” He scrubbed a weary hand over his face. “I don’t know what to think. The Slayers could’ve kidnapped him, too. Or he’s in this up to his neck. Either way, I promise you, I’ll find him. And when I do, I will get to the bottom of this.” The weariness turned to a cold fury that made me shiver and press closer to Gabriel.
Gabriel’s arm came around my shoulders. “I’ll give you everything I have, but I’m going to be conducting my own, independent investigation.” His look dared the Primus to object.
Father and son locked gazes. Then Karoly nodded. “As you wish. As for you…” He eyed me not unkindly. “Go home to Maryland. You and your family will be compensated, and you have my promise that you will never be threatened again. I’ll put the word out that you’re under my personal protection.”
I drew myself up to my full height. “We don’t need your money,” I returned, “but I’d be grateful for your protection—for my family.” My chin jutted. “But me? I’m not going anywhere.”
Gabriel squeezed my shoulders. “We’ll go together. Anywhere you want.”
“No,” rapped out his father. “I can’t spare you right now.”
“I’m sorry, sir,” Gabriel said. “But it’s not your decision. I’m taking Mila as my mate, and stepping down as crown prince.”
His father and I regarded him with equally shocked expressions. I had
to replay what he’d said in my head before it sank in.
“No,” I said. “You can’t.”
At the same time, Karoly said, “You’d give up everything for her?”
“I can and I will,” his son replied.
“If you’re worried about Camila,” Karoly told him, “I give you my word she’ll live out her life unharmed.” To me, he said, “I assume you believe you love my son.” At my nod, he continued, “Do you really think he’ll be happy farming flowers with you?”
I flinched. “No,” I admitted.
Gabriel’s arm tightened on me. “Stay out of this,” he snarled at his father. “My mind’s made up.”
Karoly spread his hands. “Think about it,” he said to me.
I hesitated, the weight of what I was about to do pressing on my chest and parching my throat. But looking back, I’d made up my mind to stay with Gabriel the instant I saw him again in the speakeasy. I hadn’t known how I would stay, but I’d known that if I somehow survived, I’d do anything necessary for a fresh chance with him.
“What if I become a dhampir?” I asked his father. “Will that be enough for you?”
Gabriel swore. “Damn it, Mila.”
His father lifted both brows. “You’d do that?”
“Yes.”
“No,” Gabriel told me. “You’re perfect. And if my father can’t accept that, he can go to hell.” He glared at Karoly Kral. “Rafe can succeed you. As of now, I’m out of the Syndicate.”
I leaned into Gabriel. He’d always be there for me. That, I knew to the depths of my soul. And I loved that he was willing to do anything for me, even give up the Syndicate. But I didn’t want to be the weak human.
I wanted to stand by my mate’s side, not cower behind him.
I straightened my shoulders and spoke to Karoly, not Gabriel. “I’m bonded to Gabriel. And we’re going to be married—and mated, I guess.”
Karoly arched a black brow. “Are you?”
“He hasn’t asked me yet,” I said with a sidelong look at Gabriel. “But he will. And if he doesn’t, I’m going to ask him. So yes, I’m willing to be turned to dhampir.”
“No, damn it.” Gabriel’s fingers dug into my shoulder. “You don’t know what you’re doing.”
Karoly’s gaze remained trained on me. “I think she does.”
“Yes. Your mate explained it to me, and last night, me and Gabriel talked about it, too.”
“So you understand you could die.”
My already parched mouth dried further. I gave a noisy swallow and squared my shoulders. “I understand. Just tell me what I have to do.”
“Mila…” Gabriel said in a broken voice. He shot his father a beseeching look. “Stop this. You know how it was when Mom went through the transition. She almost died.”
Karoly’s black gaze went to him. “I believe your Camila will survive.”
I turned into Gabriel and touched his cheek. “You said you’d free me from our blood bond. Was that a lie?”
His eyes closed. “No,” he grated.
“Then either free me—or give me permission to make the transition. I need to be able to defend myself. Tonight we were attacked in your own penthouse. How do you know that won’t happen again, even if you resign as crown prince?”
His nostrils flared. “You don’t know what you’re asking.”
“The transition to vampire would be easier on you,” Karoly remarked. “You’re young, strong. You’d almost certainly survive.”
No fucking way. I concealed a shudder. “No. It’s dhampir, or nothing.”
“Are you sure?”
“Very.”
“A vampire is stronger, faster. You will live longer, be more powerful.”
I gave a firm shake of my head. “Gabriel’s a dhampir, isn’t he? If it’s good enough for him, it’s good enough for me.”
“Mm. Of course, as a dhampir,” he pointed out to Gabriel, “she will be able to bear your sons more easily—and to give you more than one.”
Gabriel’s look was livid. “You think I give a fuck about that?”
His father moved an elegantly clad shoulder. “When you’ve lived as long as me, you’ll find that life has a way of making you change your mind. You say that now, but later…”
“Just shut up,” Gabriel gritted.
“Please, Gabriel.” I set a hand on his chest. “You know this is the only solution. I don’t want to live my life afraid. I’ve had my fill of that. I want this. If I stay human, I’ll always be the weak one, the one you have to protect.”
Gabriel’s jaw worked. He pulled me aside. Karoly rummaged in a sideboard for a glass of blood-wine, giving us space, although we both knew he could still hear us.
“I never meant for this to happen,” Gabriel said in an undertone. “Never meant for you to become a target. I—”
“Hey.” I set my hand on his lips, stopping his self-recrimination. “We can’t go back now even if we wanted to. And I don’t want to go back. I love you. And if this is what I have to do to have you, then I’ll gladly do it.”
“We can leave.” He gripped my shoulders. “I have my own money. We can hole up in Montauk. Or go to some fucking island in the Pacific a thousand miles from anything else.”
“And do what?” I scoffed. “Work on our tans?” Actually, that didn’t sound bad right now. “It might even be fun…for a year or two. But for the rest of our lives? Sooner or later we’d have to come off that island, and I’ll still be a human.”
“But I’d have you.”
I cupped his face. “Listen to me. I’m. Not. Going. To. Die.”
He scrutinized me. “You really want to do this? You’re not just offering because you think it’s what I want?”
“No. I’ve had three years to think this over. And I told you, I choose you.”
“Even this so-isolated island might not be safe,” Karoly murmured in his cool voice as he strolled back to us. “It seems someone wishes to ensure I leave no heirs.”
“Hell.” Gabriel’s breath scraped from his lungs. He raised his eyes to the ceiling as if looking for an answer there, then looked back at me. His expression was taut, the muscles of his neck corded with tension. But he gave a curt dip of his chin. “Fine. You have my permission. But if you change your mind…”
It was my turn to take a deep breath. But my mind was made up. When you’re backed into a corner, sometimes the only way out is to restart the game.
“I won’t,” I said firmly and glanced at his father. “I can ask anyone I want to take me through the transition, right?”
“That’s correct.”
“Then I request that you, Primus Kral, turn me into a dhampir.”
Beside me, Gabriel’s body went rigid, but he remained silent.
Karoly’s smile was small but approving. “I accept. Name the date.”
“A week from now. I want to go home first, spend some time with my family. Just in case—you know.”
In case I didn’t make it.
Karoly nodded. “You’ll make the arrangements?” he asked Gabriel.
“I will.” His expression was grim. “And I’ll take her to Maryland myself.”
“Then I will see you in one week,” Karoly told me.
I gazed back calmly. Now that the decision was made, I felt oddly serene. Whether I lived or died, I believed I’d made the right choice.
“I’ll be there.”
28
Gabriel
Mila had done the one thing guaranteed to win my father over. Or maybe Mom had twisted his arm; I didn’t know.
But he’d come around. When we returned from Maryland, he’d even unbent enough to ask Mila how the visit had gone. For Karoly Kral, that was as friendly as it got. Apparently she was worthy of me now.
Tomas hadn’t been seen since the night he’d left for Montauk. His bank accounts were untouched and his credit cards hadn’t been used. At least, the ones we were aware of.
My father hadn’t completely accepted t
hat his oldest friend was a traitor. He still hoped to find something exonerating Tomas. Proof that the lieutenant had been set up, or that he’d somehow been blackmailed into collaborating with the slayers.
Frankly, I believed it was more likely we’d find a smoking gun aimed straight at Mraz.
“Think about it,” I told Father. “How the fuck did Redbone set up a nest of blood slaves in the middle of your own city? Tomas is your lieutenant. It’s his job to know about these things.”
Father nodded, his face drawn, his eyes shadowed. “You are correct, of course.”
An unfamiliar pity twisted through me. It couldn’t be easy suspecting your best friend of conspiring against you.
For now, we were keeping things quiet. If word got out that Father’s own lieutenant had been working against him, it would shake the Syndicate to its foundation.
Then there was Zaq. If he’d actually escaped from the slayers, why hadn’t he come home? Either he couldn’t…or he was afraid to.
At least Lougenia was in the clear. I’d hired a forensic hacker to look into my own security system, but first, I’d had him investigate the evidence against Lougenia. It had taken a couple of days, but he was convinced the evidence had been planted.
Unfortunately, he couldn’t prove it. According to him, whoever had planted the evidence was very, very good. They’d set up a false identity just for this job, and routed the commands through so many servers it was impossible to tell where they’d originated.
I told him to keep looking, but if Slayers, Inc. was behind this as well, I didn’t hold out much hope he’d identify the perpetrator. If the Tremblays or another powerful coven was working with the slayers to target me and my family, they’d have made sure to cover their tracks.
Meanwhile, Mila had spent the week with her parents. I had the Fortiers for dinner at Black Oak a couple of times—minus Joey—and Mila stayed each night at the mansion with me, but mostly, I left them alone. They had three years of catching up to do.
Thursday morning, Mila and I returned to New York and spent the day together—shopping; doing touristy things like taking the elevator to the top of the Empire State Building, which I’d arranged to have all to ourselves; having a late lunch at the most exclusive restaurant in Manhattan. Of course, the paparazzi found us—#DarkAngelMate was already trending on Instagram—but I’d had my P.A. prepare our way ahead of time so that we were able to shop and eat in peace.
Pursued: A Vampire Syndicate Paranormal Romance (The Vampire Syndicate Book 1) Page 23