Secret Life of a Vampire las-6

by Kerrelyn Sparks

  "But" — she put up a hand to stop him—"I will not allow you to control me or manipulate me."

  "Merda. I'm trying to keep you alive. He's a vicious vampire."

  "There's no such thing!"

  "That's what they want you to believe. They've used mind control to make everyone believe they don't really exist, that they're just make-believe monsters. But they feed on people, then erase their memories. It's been going on for centuries."

  Her skin crawled with gooseflesh. "How can you know about vampires? How would you know that Apollo's one of them? Have you met him?"

  "No, I haven't. But I recognize the signs. Apollo only appears at night. He can control people's minds and erase memories. He has super strength and speed. He can teleport."

  She gasped. "You're describing yourself."

  Jack winced. His eyes glinted with a wary look.

  Lara stumbled back and fell onto the couch. Oh God, he wasn't denying it. He was either crazy as a loon, or he was actually…

  "No," she whispered. "No. Vampires aren't real."

  He regarded her sadly. "Why would I lie about it? What can I possibly gain from this, other than your disgust?"

  She dragged in a shaky breath and pressed her hands against her eyes. Memories flitted through her mind. She'd never seen him eat. She'd never been able to reach him during the day. There was no mirror in his bathroom. There were thick shutters on the windows. He was over two hundred years old. He worked at a factory that manufactured synthetic blood. Damn, it was a grocery store!

  All the pieces of the puzzle had been there, but she'd never been able to fit them together 'cause she hadn't known what the final picture looked like. She'd expected a picture of a superhero. Not a monster.

  Her stomach lurched. Oh God, she'd kissed him. She'd let him touch her, make love to her.

  She covered her mouth as a moan escaped.

  "Lara." He stepped toward her.

  She pressed back against the couch.

  His face paled. "Santo cielo. Do not fear me. I would never hurt you."

  "I think you'd better go."

  "We still need to talk."

  "No." Her eyes stung with tears. What was there to talk about? She'd fallen for a monster. She'd been a fool.

  He frowned. "You know the truth about Apollo now. This is a matter strictly for vampires. You will let me handle it."

  Anger sizzled deep within her. "How dare you. This is not just about Apollo. All of his victims are human, so don't tell me to butt out. And don't expect me to believe that there are monsters who care."

  He stiffened. "We're not all bad, Lara."

  "I want you to leave."

  He rubbed his brow. "You're in shock now. In a few days, we can talk."

  "Go!"

  He lowered his hand, and his eyes glimmered with pain and sadness. He wavered, then disappeared.

  Jack materialized in the woods surrounding Romatech. He trudged toward the side entrance. If only he knew how to materialize without a heart. His chest ached so much, it hurt to breathe.

  He propped a forearm against a thick tree trunk and leaned forward, resting his brow against his arm. He closed his eyes, and images flipped through his brain, the expressions on Lara's face. Shock, horror, disgust, anger. Just like the women from his past.

  He'd lost Lara.

  You must have faith, Giacomo. Father Giuseppe's words echoed softly in his mind.

  How? He was a creature of darkness, trapped in a circle of hell. How could he possibly have faith? He was losing Lara just like he had the others. How many years had he suffered after losing them? And Beatrice—losing her had been sheer torment. He'd always wondered if she could have accepted him, but she'd died before he could tell her. She'd died all alone, believing he had abandoned her.

  Merda! He punched the tree with his fist. He would not abandon Lara, even if she hated him. He would not let her die.

  If Apollo kept to his usual schedule, he'd take another victim the last Saturday in June. That gave Jack plenty of time to locate the bastard and eliminate him. Then he could do a mind sweep on the police and FBI to clean up loose ends, find the whole ordeal would be over.

  Lara would be saved. He just needed to have faith. And the help of a few good friends.

  He pulled out his cell phone as he walked through the woods. Robby MacKay would help him. He'd first met Robby in 1820 at Jean-Luc's fencing academy in Paris, when they'd been paired as sparring partners. They'd become good friends when they weren't trying to skewer each other.

  Robby was now working as Jean-Luc's bodyguard. Since Jean-Luc was hiding in Texas, Robby was there, too.

  Robby answered the phone. "Hi, Jack. How's it going?"

  "A problem's come up. Can you spare a few hours? I could use your help."

  "Thank God. I'm bored out of my skull here. Last night Jean-Luc's daughter asked me to play dolls with her, and I nearly said yes. That's how desperate I'm getting."

  "Then it's your lucky day," Jack said. "In fact, I may need you for a week or so. Phil, too, if he can come."

  "I'll check with Jean-Luc, but I'm sure he willna object. See you soon." Robby rang off.

  Jack pocketed his phone and strode toward the entrance.

  "Hey, bro." Phineas zoomed up to him. "I was making a round when I heard your voice."

  "I was on the phone. Did Connor arrive?"

  "Yeah, he's in the office." Phineas cast a sidelong glance at Jack. "Are you all right, dude? You look kinda wasted."

  Jack winced. "I want you and Carlos to live at Romatech for the next week or so. There are a few bedrooms in the basement, right?"

  "Yeah. What's wrong? Are the Malcontents up to something?"

  "No, but the police might come to the townhouse. We don't want to be caught there in our death-sleep."

  "Damned po-po." Phineas halted. "Shit. Did you tell that cop lady about us?"

  Jack gave him an irritated look. "Didn't you just advise me to?"

  "Well, yeah, but since when does anyone take my advice? So I guess it didn't go well, huh?"

  Jack shook his head.

  "Damn," Phineas muttered. "I thought women were into vampires. I thought she'd be cool with it, man."

  A jab of pain sliced through Jack's chest. "She wasn't."

  "Shit. Do you think she's gonna tell her police buddies about us?"

  "I don't know. She might. So grab whatever you need from the townhouse and bring Carlos here, okay?"

  "Okay. Sorry, dude." Phineas teleported away.

  Jack reached the side entrance, swiped his card, and used the hand sensor. He was halfway down the hallway when the security door opened and Connor leaned out.

  "I saw Phineas teleport away," Connor said. "Where did ye send him?"

  "To the townhouse to fetch Carlos. They're going to stay here for the next week or so."

  Connor's eyes narrowed. "And why is the townhouse no longer safe?"

  "It may be perfectly safe. This is just a precaution." Jack strode past the Scotsman into the office. He heard the door shut behind him.

  "Bugger," Connor whispered softly.

  Jack turned to face him.

  "Ye told her."

  Jack widened his stance and folded his arms across his chest. "I did what I had to do."

  Connor snorted. "I gather it dinna go well."

  Jack shrugged one shoulder.

  "Ye told a police officer about vampires," Connor muttered. "Did ye really expect it to go well?"

  "She knows I love her."

  "Och, and that is supposed to make a difference?" Anger flashed in Connor's blue eyes. "Do ye seriously believe that rubbish about love conquering all? How many mortals have we loved, only to watch them succumb to death. All the love in the world canna stop them from dying."

  "I know that." He'd lost Beatrice when an outbreak of typhoid had swept through Venice. "Love is fleeting. That doesn't make it worthless. It just makes it more special."

  Connor glowered at him. "It makes it mo
re painful. Ye must know that. I can see the pain in yer face."

  Jack swallowed hard. He couldn't deny that.

  "Have ye even considered what this great love of yers will do to her?" Connor asked. "Ye'll be dragging her into a world that she may no' want any part of."

  Jack winced. He had to admit Lara had not reacted well. Still, other mortal women had adjusted to the vampire world. "Shanna is happy. And Emma and Heather."

  "Ye canna expect every woman to want to live with the Undead," Connor grumbled. "I brought Darcy Newhart into our world, and she hated me for it. Ye wouldna want to live with that kind of guilt."

  Jack wondered if Connor had felt more than just guilt. "Darcy's very happy now. And she still works with us."

  Connor waved a dismissive hand as he strode toward the desk. "Let's get back to this friend of yers. Is she going to tell her superiors about us?"

  "I don't know. Maybe not." Lara wouldn't want them thinking she was crazy.

  Connor took a seat, still scowling at Jack. "I'm sorely tempted to put a dent in yer skull, but ye look so miserable 'twould be like kicking a dog."

  "Gee, thanks."

  "Did she make any threats? I could teleport her someplace where she couldna tell anyone about us."

  "No." Jack gritted his teeth. "You will leave her alone."

  Connor snorted. "I wouldna harm her. 'Tis better than having the New York Police Department hunting us down."

  "I don't think she's a threat to us. She's more of a threat to herself. She leaked all of my information on Apollo to her superiors."

  "Bugger," Connor muttered.

  "The police and FBI have formed a special task force, and they've asked Lara to go under cover. On the fourth Saturday in June, Apollo will be trolling universities, giving his seminar, and looking for the perfect victim. If the police have their way, that victim will be Lara."

  "Bloody hell." Connor looked appalled. "We have to stop it. Apollo could kill her."

  "That's why I told her the truth," Jack said. "I was trying to scare her into quitting the assignment."

  Connor nodded. "All right. I can understand that."

  "We're in a race for time," Jack continued. "We have one month to find Apollo and kill him. I've asked Robby to help."

  "We have plenty of time." Connor motioned to one of the surveillance monitors on the wall. "Robby has arrived. And he's no' alone."

  Jack peered at the monitor. Robby had teleported onto the grounds, and he'd brought Phil with him. As a day guard, Phil wasn't able to teleport. But as a shape shifter, he had other talents that made him valuable.

  "There's Phineas and Carlos." Connor pointed at another monitor.

  Jack spotted Phineas materializing outside the side entrance with the day guard Carlos. They were joined by Robby and Phil, and the four men entered the building.

  Jack smiled grimly. He'd assembled his own special task force. Counting himself and Connor, he had four vampires plus a werewolf and a were-panther. Lara should be safe now.

  Apollo wouldn't live long enough to hurt her.

  CHAPTER 18

  The next night, Jack paced around the conference room, wondering if it was too soon to call Lara. Everything else was under control. Roman had sent word to all the coven masters in North America to be on the lookout for a spa with classical Greek architecture. Already, a few leads had come in, and Robby and Phil were checking them out. Phineas was guarding Romatech. Carlos, who worked during the day, was sleeping in the basement, on call if they needed him. Howard had offered to help, but he also doubled as the day guard for Roman's family, so his time was limited.

  Jack considered investigating some of the missing girls, but he figured Apollo's MO would remain the same. He lured pretty girls to his seminar on staying young and beautiful forever, then he selected a victim.

  Jack halted his pacing. What if Apollo was making good on his promise to keep the girls young and beautiful forever? He might not be killing them. He could be transforming them.

  Jack winced at the thought of controlling a harem of vampire women. Merda, he couldn't even control one mortal woman. At least there had been no police snooping around the townhouse. No police had come to Romatech, either, so it looked like Lara was keeping quiet about vampires. Most probably she feared her superiors would think she was crazy. But Jack hoped she still harbored some protective feelings toward him. If only her feelings for him could survive. If they could outlast her initial reaction of horror and disgust, he might have a chance.

  You must have faith, Giacomo.

  He called her apartment. The phone rang once. Twice. If she had Caller ID, she would know it was him. Three rings. She might be avoiding him. Four rings.

  "Hello, Jack."

  It was LaToya, her roommate. "Hello. Is Lara—"

  "Save your breath. She's not here. And she doesn't want to talk to you. Ever. Good-bye."

  "Wait. Is she… is she all right?"

  "She's totally bummed out, you moron. I don't know what you did to her. I've never seen her so upset. She won't even talk to me. And she's always talked to me."

  "She didn't tell you anything?" Jack felt a flicker of hope. Lara was keeping his secret.

  "All she said was that she never wanted to see you or talk to you again. In case your super hearing didn't catch that, the operative word was never."

  The flicker of hope sputtered out.

  "And I am really pissed at you," LaToya continued. "You've got Lara moping around like the world has come to an end, when she really needs to be on the top of her game right now. Your timing really stinks!"

  "She's going ahead with the undercover assignment?"

  "Shit. You know about that?"

  Jack wondered if he could find an ally with LaToya. "I don't want her to do it. I think it's too dangerous."

  "Oh."

  "I'm trying to locate Apollo myself, so Lara won't have to put herself in danger." There was a pause, and Jack hoped LaToya was reassessing the situation.

  "I've got to go. Bye." She rang off.

  Jack sighed. He'd keep trying.

  By five a.m., Robby and Phil had checked out four locations, all false leads. They promised to return the next night, then teleported home to Texas.

  Four more nights passed. The month of June began, and Apollo's location remained secret. By the second Saturday in June, Jack was beside himself with worry. Only two weeks were left. Still no sign of Apollo.

  And no word from Lara. Was she trying to forget him?

  The following Monday, he tried calling again.

  "She still doesn't want to talk to you," LaToya said.

  "How is she?"

  "She's sad and depressed. I've heard her crying a few times in her room. Does that make you happy?" LaToya growled.

  In a sad way, it did, although Jack knew better than to admit to it.

  "Have you found that Apollo guy yet?" LaToya demanded.

  "No." Jack was beginning to wonder if Apollo's Greek-style resort even existed. He could be showing bogus pictures in his seminar. "We're still trying."

  "Well, you'd better try harder. Lara's going under cover in a couple of days."

  "Where?"

  LaToya snorted. "Like I would tell you?"

  "I'm worried sick about her."

  "Well, that makes two of us." LaToya hung up.

  Jack paced around the conference room. Lara's undercover work would obviously be at a university. The special task force had probably enrolled her under a false name, and she was living in a dorm. But which university?

  He sat in front of the laptop and checked his information on the missing girls. They came from ten different universities. He made a list of the past twenty months in chronological order, then listed the universities that Apollo had targeted each month. There was definitely a pattern. Two universities in Connecticut, four in New York, two in New Jersey, two in Pennsylvania, then back to Connecticut. Apollo's last hit had been Columbia University. If he followed his pattern, Syracuse Univ
ersity would be next.

  "Jack." Phil strode into the conference room. "We've got a new lead. A place called Apollo's Golden Chariot, in Massachusetts."

  Jack stood. "Is Robby back yet?"

  "No, he and Phineas are still in Hoboken, checking out the Grecian Goddess Spa and Resort."

  "All right," Jack said. "You and I can go. Do you have the phone number?"

  "Right here." Phil passed him a slip of paper.

  "Are you armed?"

  Phil opened his brown leather bomber jacket to reveal a forty-four Magnum in a shoulder holster. Jack had a dagger strapped to his calf and another sheathed beneath his black leather jacket. If they ended up in a skirmish, he would call Robby and Phineas for immediate backup.

  "Let's do it." Jack punched in the number on his cell phone.

  "Apollo's Golden Chariot," a feminine voice answered. "Macy speaking."

  "Hi. Can you give me directions from… Connecticut?" Jack asked.

  As the speaker launched into a long explanation, Jack focused on the voice. He grabbed Phil's arm and teleported them both. He quickly scanned their new surroundings. A small office, a file cabinet, a messy desk, the harsh smell of chemicals in the air, and a blonde, staring at them with hot pink lipstick outlining her gaping mouth.

  "Aack!" She let out a high-pitched squeal and dropped the phone.

  "It's all right." Jack unfurled a wave of psychic energy to take over the woman's mind, but before he could gain control, she jumped to her feet, let out another squeal, then collapsed into a dead faint.

  "Merda." Jack frowned at the sprawled body on the floor. "We scared the poor woman to death."

  Phil snorted. "That's not a woman."

  "She screamed like a woman." Jack's gaze ran over the hot pink miniskirt, black hose, and hot pink boots. They looked feminine enough, but the black tank top revealed broad shoulders and a flat chest. A man.

  Jack hunched down beside the unconscious man and swept into his mind. Macy, you will not fear us. We walked into the office, looking for Apollo. You will awaken now.

  Macy's green-shaded eyelids flickered open.

  "Are you all right?" Jack asked. "You fainted."

  "Oh my God, this is so embarrassing." Macy sat up and tugged at his pink miniskirt. "It must be this new diet I'm on. I swear, I'm so woozy."