Vampire Trouble

by Sara Humphreys

  “Maya?” Sebastian narrowed his eyes and waggled a finger at her. “You are a crafty little girl and artfully avoided answering my question. Why did they come after you?”

  “I have something they want.”

  “Honey, you have something a lot of men want.” Diego waggled his blond brows at her playfully. “Like Shane, for example.”

  “Yes, well, I can’t get into specifics.” Maya’s hand fluttered to her throat. “But I can tell you that Otto is the one who sent them after us.”

  “Otto?” Diego said furiously. “That furry fucker is involved in this? I should drain him dry. I’ll tell you this much, at the very least he’s never eating here again. I don’t care how much money he has.”

  “Thank you.” Maya’s brow furrowed. “I’m still not sure how they figured out where we were staying, but that’s really beside the point.”

  “Honey, this is New Orleans.” Sebastian flashed his fangs and grinned. “There are eyes everywhere, but if you do figure out who spilled the beans, please let us know. If there’s a traitor in our midst, they will be dealt with promptly.”

  “If you came here looking for Otto, I hate to disappoint you because he’s long gone.” Diego rolled his eyes. “He’s probably at home sleeping off the booze.”

  “It’s urgent that I speak with him.” Maya nodded her head adamantly. “Otto is only a middleman, and I’m well aware of who he’s working for. I need to speak with him so that he can pass along a message for me. Do you know how I can reach him?”

  “Who is he working for?” Sebastian asked.

  Maya stilled and looked back and forth between the two men. She wasn’t sure how much to tell them and decided that the less information they had, the better off they’d be. She just hoped like hell they would accept no for an answer.

  “I’m sorry but it’s best if I don’t share that with you. It’s for your own safety,” she added quickly. “Can you help me get in touch with Otto?”

  “Can we help you?” Sebastian asked incredulously as he elbowed his brother. “That is our business, baby.”

  “My brother is correct.” Diego slipped a cell phone out of his pocket and touched the screen a few times. “We keep our regular clients on speed dial, and up until today, Otto was a regular.” His eyes narrowed when handed the phone to Maya. “But not anymore.”

  “Thank you,” Maya whispered. She took the phone and pressed it to her ear. It rang five times, and for a second she thought it would go to voice mail, but on the sixth ring, a sleepy and irritated man answered the phone.

  “What the fuck do you want?” Otto growled. “It’s five thirty in the fucking morning and I’m still drunk.”

  “Well,” Maya purred, “isn’t that a charming way to answer the phone? My, my, my, aren’t you a cranky wolf.”

  Silence filled the line and Maya’s confidence grew. She winked at Sebastian and Diego, a smile covering her face.

  “Who the hell is this?” Otto barked. Maya could hear the sleepy voice of a woman in the background. “Shut up, Tiffany. Go back to sleep.” He lowered his voice to a rough whisper. “Answer me. Who is this?”

  “I’m sure you’re surprised to hear from me,” she sang, putting on her most playful, seductive voice. “And I can’t say that I blame you, Otto. I guess your wolf boys weren’t up to the task, and sadly, they will no longer be able to run your errands for you—or do anything else, for that matter.”

  “I—I don’t know what you’re talking about, lady,” he sputtered nervously. “Wait a minute. I know this number.”

  “Yes, you do. Sebastian and Diego are rather upset by your behavior, so I think it’s safe to say that you should find somewhere else to hang out,” Maya hissed. Her fangs erupted as she fought to keep her anger under control. “I know we weren’t formally introduced earlier but my name is Maya, and if I’m not mistaken, I have something that you want.”

  “I don’t want it. It’s not me,” he sputtered. “It’s that crazy little bastard Horace. Look, I didn’t want to have any part of it, okay? He’s blackmailing me, and unless I wanted my dirty laundry aired in public, I had to help him. He could destroy my entire business. Get it? He’s the one you want, okay? He believes that stupid story about some gypsy necklace, and the little shit thinks it’s going to give him absolute power. I think he wants to overthrow his old man. He’s nuts.”

  “Yeah, I figured as much.” Maya’s eyebrows flew up with surprise to hear Otto throw Horace right under the proverbial bus. She didn’t think he’d roll over that easily, but she was relieved to have her suspicions confirmed. At least she knew exactly who she was dealing with. “I want you to give your boss a message for me.”

  “He’s not my boss,” Otto hissed.

  “Maybe not, but you’re his bitch.” Maya rolled her eyes. She turned her back on the brothers and walked away, keeping her voice low. “Tell Horace to meet me at midnight on the Gapstow Bridge in Central Park. I’ll give him what he’s after.”

  “Gapstow Bridge at midnight. Got it.”

  “And tell him to come alone,” Maya added quickly.

  Turning around, she ended the call and passed the phone back to Diego. She was relatively sure that Horace wouldn’t show up alone, but then again, he wasn’t expecting her to be armed to the fangs, either. As far as Horace was concerned, Maya was just a silly little girl who flirted too much, not a sentry-trained vampire with a werewolf whammy.

  “Not bad.” Sebastian nodded his approval. “You’re a feisty little youngling, aren’t you? No wonder Quesada chose you.”

  “He’s trained a bunch of vampires,” Maya said. Suddenly feeling self-conscious, she adjusted her ponytail. “I’m not special.”

  “I wasn’t talking about being a sentry, and believe me, my dear girl, you are most definitely special.” Sebastian winked. “We’ve known Shane for two hundred years, and through all of that time, I’ve never seen him with a woman. Oh, don’t get me wrong, I knew where his bread was buttered but—”

  “What my dear brother is trying to say,” Diego interjected, “is that it’s quite clear why Shane chose you as his woman.”

  “I’m not his woman.” Maya straightened her back, and guilt tugged at her when she saw the look on their faces. “I’m sorry, I don’t mean to be rude, but I’ve got more pressing matters to deal with. Can you direct me to the underground tunnels so that I can start heading back to New York? I’d like to cover some ground before sundown.”

  “Of course,” Sebastian murmured. Linking his arm in hers, he guided her to the elevator. “But shouldn’t you wait for Quesada? I realize that he may not be at his best at the moment, but if memory serves, you are still a trainee, are you not?”

  “Trainee?” Diego laughed and waved off Sebastian’s concerns. “The girl is packing enough silver in that coat to take down a stampede of vampires or werewolves. My nostrils are burning just from being near it.” He winked at Maya. “See? That’s why I could never be a sentry. I’d never get used to the constant stench of silver.”

  “Speaking of Shane,” Maya said evenly as she cast a wide smile. “If he comes looking for me, please don’t tell him that I was here.” Sensing their apprehension, she added quickly, “Part of my final test to become a sentry is to handle a mission on my own. I’m sure you can understand how eager I am to reach the next level,” Maya said, praying they’d believe her lie.

  “Of course.” Diego tilted his head in deference. “As you wish.”

  “Thank you.” Maya smiled politely and stepped into the elevator with Diego’s comment lingering in the air. She hadn’t realized it until he mentioned it, but Maya barely even smelled the silver anymore.

  Diego slammed the gate shut, and the gentle hum of the machine surrounded them. Maya kept her attention straight ahead, not wanting to give any hint that she shouldn’t be doing what she was doing. It was probably a foolish move to confr
ont Horace on her own, but she had no intention of putting the people she cared about in harm’s way.

  “I’m finished with training,” Maya murmured when the elevator came to a halt. “It’s game time.”

  ***

  Shane awoke abruptly from the deep, healing slumber and instantly noticed the glaring absence of Maya’s soft, curvy body. He had slept alone for four hundred years—until he’d found Maya—and that was exactly the way he liked it. Solitary. Focused. However, being with her had turned everything upside down, and not having her with him felt wrong. He resented the hell out of it. He missed the scent of Ivory soap, the weight of her body against him, and the silky feel of her hair as it drifted over his shoulder.

  Shane cursed under his breath, swung his feet over the side of the bed, and ran his fingers through his hair. Growling with frustration, he rested his elbows on his knees and put his head in his hands. This entire situation was his damn fault. If he hadn’t gotten close and allowed himself to feel something for her, then he wouldn’t be feeling so shitty now.

  And he wouldn’t have hurt Maya.

  He had hurt her. He knew he had, and that wounded look on her face would likely haunt him for the rest of his days. He shoved the guilt aside and kept reminding himself that it was for the best. How could he be with Maya when he was so obviously incapable of thinking clearly whenever he was near her?

  Shane’s love for Maya blinded him, and that made him a liability. With all the changes that were happening in New York, with the arrival of Olivia and Doug’s child, the Presidium didn’t need an ineffective sentry in their midst. Neither did Maya. How could he protect her when she made him mad with worry?

  After his egregious error with the wolves, Shane realized that loving Maya would mean letting her go. In the long run, she would be better off without him.

  Rising to his feet, he stretched and moved his body, grateful to find all of his wounds had completely healed, although the werewolf bites left scars on both his leg and his shoulder. He caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror and made a face of disgust. His clothes were bloody and torn, and he looked downright haggard. Shane pulled the bloodstained shirt off and tossed it aside before inspecting the scar that ran along his neck and shoulder. The scars would fade and eventually be barely noticeable, but at the moment they were still red.

  Shane strode out of the room and crossed the hall to the door of Maya’s bedroom. He paused for moment before knocking and reached out with his senses to see if she was sleeping. Maya’s distinctive energy pattern was nowhere to be found. Frowning, he opened the door and was met with an unexpected sight. The drape had been pulled down and the window was wide open. Maya’s sentry uniform was gone, along with several throwing weapons, two guns, and most of the ammunition.

  A feeling of dread crept up Shane’s back as he ran downstairs calling her name. He burst through the front door and shouted for her but was answered only by the bullfrogs in the bayou. Flying up to the roof, he scanned the entire property, but Maya was nowhere to be seen, heard, or felt.

  Shane reached out to Maya with his mind, desperately needing to feel the intimate telepathic connection that only they shared. Maya? Maya, where are you? Answer me. Warmth flooded his body when their minds linked, but the connection was stopped swiftly and he knew she’d severed all communication. A deep, aching void filled him from the lack of her presence. Panic. Fear. Anger. All of it flooded him viciously when he realized that she really was gone.

  “She ain’t here.” Lottie’s voice drifted up from the kitchen window. “Get off my roof before you fall through it.”

  Shane jumped from the roof and landed silently in the backyard before running up the back steps into the kitchen. Lottie, who was dressed in her fortune-teller getup for work, looked at Shane with something resembling pity.

  “Like I said.” Lottie sighed. “Maya ain’t here.”

  “Where did she go?” Shane’s fists clenched and unclenched at his sides while an overwhelming sense of inadequacy filled him. “Please,” he said, softening his tone. “Do you know where she’s gone?”

  “Beats the hell outta me. Don’t know why you’re so surprised that she took off.” Lottie grabbed her big leather bag and draped it over her chest. “I may be old, but I ain’t deaf, and conversations carry through this empty old house. I heard what you told that poor girl. Why didn’t you just rip her heart out and stomp on it? That probably would’ve hurt less.”

  “I did what had to be done.” Shane’s mouth set in a tight line and he folded his arms over his chest, suddenly feeling defensive.

  “Don’t gimme that shit. You’re scared.” Lottie wagged a finger at him. “You are a big, fat fraidy cat. You love that girl. I know you do. So why the hell are you doing your damnedest to lose her?”

  “It’s better for everyone this way.”

  “Bullshit,” Lottie shot back. “Better for who? You? I don’t think so, because you look like warmed-over alligator bait. You obviously love that girl, so I don’t know why you are pushing her away. The only reason I can come up with is good old-fashioned cowardice.”

  “It’s complicated,” Shane said tightly.

  “I don’t really think it is. When she showed up here with you that first day, she was a different person. Scared and unsure of herself, and in so many ways, Maya was lost. Now…well…she found herself, and I think much of that is thanks to you.”

  “Maya will be fine.” Shane knew how hollow the words sounded, but he hoped if he kept telling himself that, it would eventually be true. “Her life will be better off without me in it.”

  “Well, I guess she would be fine.” Lottie nodded her head and pursed her lips together and looked him up and down. “She’s tough and resilient. Yes, sir, that girl finally got her past figured out, and until you threw that curveball at her, she thought her future was straightened out too.”

  “Maya’s future will be as it should.” Shane straightened his back and kept his gaze on Lottie. “She can go back to her life at The Coven.”

  “No, she can’t,” Lottie whispered. “No more than you can go back to living a solitary existence—and don’t give me that shit about it’s better for her. You’re scared and loving her makes you feel out of control. You did this for you—not her.” Shane flinched at Lottie’s unsettlingly perceptive observations. “That girl needs you, Shane, and you need her. She might have gypsy blood, but she’s not meant for the solitary, isolated life of a gypsy like I am. Maya’s got a fire in her belly about something, and based on the way she flew out of here last night, I’d say it’s burning her up.”

  “Last night?” Shane’s chest tightened. “She left before sunrise?”

  “Yes, sir.” Removing her car keys from the bag she shrugged. “Not surprised you didn’t notice. You were pretty banged up from those nasty wolf bites. Anyway, yes. She flew right past my window not long before sunup. Why are you so freaked out? Can’t you do that blood tracking thing to find her?”

  “No.” Shane ran his hand over his jaw, wracking his brain trying to figure out where the hell Maya would have gone. “Her gypsy power hid her memories, and unfortunately, it also seems to shield her location.”

  “If I had to make a bet, I’d say that stubborn girl is off to prove a point.”

  Wrapped up in his own thoughts, Shane didn’t even notice that Lottie had left the house. He ran up to their room and put on his sentry uniform, making quick work of arming himself with what Maya had left behind. Launching himself into the night, one thought ran through his mind.

  Where the hell did she go?

  Given that there had been little darkness left when Maya flew off, he suspected she went either to Bayou Escape or The Den. She was unfamiliar with the entrances to the underground tunnels in this area, so she’d have to take refuge from the sun somewhere familiar. He checked with Lillian and Boris, but they hadn’t seen or heard from Maya, which
meant she must have gone to see Sebastian and Diego.

  Fury and frustration filled every fiber of Shane’s body, and he strode right past the hostess at Bayou Escape. He scanned the restaurant for the two men, but they weren’t there. Ignoring the hostess’s pleas to stop, Shane took the elevator down to the vampire club. His fangs hummed and erupted when he detected a faint but familiar scent. “Maya,” he whispered.

  The smooth, seductive jazz music drifted over Shane, and memories of his time here with Maya came roaring to the forefront, which only served to heighten his level of agitation. The club was packed with vampires, but tonight everyone was dressed like they’d come straight from the Roaring Twenties. The men wore old-fashioned tuxedos, and the women were clad in flapper dresses. Sitting in the middle of it all like two proud peacocks were Sebastian and Diego.

  Dressed in white ties and tails, the brothers waved him over to their table. Sipping out of crystal flutes, they snapped their fingers, which brought two scantily clad human women over to the table. Both of the women approached Shane and look disappointed when he waved them off, refusing their advances.

  “That sentry uniform is not exactly in line with our theme this evening,” Diego said, watching the girls flounce away. “It’s our annual Prohibition Party, and you aren’t dressed for it.”

  “I’m not here for the party.” Shane leveled a stern glare at the two men and didn’t miss the curious stares from some of the clubgoers. “And you know it.”

  “Why so grumpy?” Sebastian asked, placing his crystal flute on the table. He rolled the delicate stem between his fingers, glancing from Shane to Diego. “Lose something?”

  “Cut the crap, Sebastian,” Shane growled. “I know Maya was here, so don’t even try to deny it. Where is she?”

  “Sorry.” Diego sighed and rose to his feet. “She asked us not to tell you, and as you know, we have a reputation for providing discreet service to our customers. We won’t start breaking that rule, not even for you.”

  In the blink of an eye, Shane placed both hands on the table in front of the two vampires, getting right in their faces. The club was bustling around them. Shane had no desire to make a scene, and drawing attention to himself was unwise. Wrestling for control over his temper, he kept his voice low.