by Janice Jones
“So what’s really going on?” Ivy whispered over the rim of her coffee cup.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Alex shrugged.
“Don’t lie to me. You know I hate that.”
“I’ll only be in Vegas for a couple days,” Alex answered, “Some details to go over with Stavros.”
“What kind of details?”
“Just some loose ends, no big.”
“You can’t do that here?” Ivy sighed.
“You know me,” Alex smiled. “Any reason to go to Vegas.” Ivy didn’t smile back. “Don’t look so worried. I thought you’d be excited, happy.”
“I am, but I just wish you woulda kept me in the loop on this,” Ivy replied as she scratched so hard her colorful scarf fell loose.
“What happened to your neck?”
Ivy slapped at Alex’s hand and gave her a nervous laugh.
“Doctor says I’m allergic to that new perfume. You know, the one I got in Paris last month? Last time I buy anything French.”
They parted company at Alex’s office door. She watched Ivy walk quickly down the hall, tugging at the scarf wrapped around her neck all the way.
Alex walked around her office as she looked over the schedule Jason had sent for the conference. Standard Meet and Greet on the first morning. The next day, lunch at the hotel then an afternoon session with Jason, who represented the largest vampire houses in North America.
Even the Wolf Pack and the Warren Coven would be in attendance. That hasn’t happened, ever. Vampires, Werewolves, and Witches in the same place at the same time, how could she refuse?
On par for something like this, all the names were tied to businesses in case this fell into the wrong hands. But she knew the code and protocol they had created a few years ago.
Alex shredded the agenda, sat back down and dropped her head on the desk.
“I’m so screwed,” she whispered to no one, then raised her head when her desk phone buzzed.
“Alex,” her assistant’s voice came over the small speaker. “There’s an Esmeralda Warren on one. She says you’re expecting her.”
“Put her through,” Alex raised her head and straightened her clothes as if she could be seen through the phone. The small beep announced her line open. Alex opened her mouth, but nothing came out.
“I know you’re there,” the sweet sound of her voice oozed through the small speakers. “I can hear your leg shaking.”
“Hey Es,” Alex said after a sip of cool water. “It’s good to hear a friendly voice.”
“Don’t try to sweet talk me,” Esmeralda replied with a girlish giggle. “What are they doing there, Alexa?”
“Coop needs some help. And, before you ask, Ben’s ignoring him.”
Alex heard her let out a long breath, then she laughed.
“I wasn’t going to ask because we keep in touch. Unlike some people I know who refuse to even drop me an email just because she now owns some fancy underwear company.”
“This keeps me busy, sorry. I’ve been meaning to call, I swear.”
“Right,” she replied, “Just like you were meaning to come for a visit over the summer?”
Alex grinned as she turned her chair away from the desk to see the sun sitting high like a bird in the blue skies outside her window.
“The summer launch took longer than expected. I was coming though. I had tickets and everything.”
When Esmeralda laughed, the deep throaty vibrato brought her brown eyes and slim mocha colored hand as it rested on her chest to Alex’s mind. A very southern belle kind of a gesture, but on her it was charming and sexy, and that made Esmeralda hard to forget.
Esmeralda Warren hailed from New Orleans. Her family was one of the oldest in those parts. Some say her lineage dated back to the free people of color who lived in the French Quarter. But Esmeralda had never admitted that, and Alex had never really asked. She and her husband lead the largest coven in the world, practically, so it didn’t really matter how she got the power, did it? Esmeralda and Morgan Warren were feared and respected in the supernatural community and that’s what mattered most.
“So, why you?”
“Strictly business,” Alex sighed. “Besides, the Trackers have been assigned to his detail. Since when do they do protection for the vampire elite?”
Alex wiped her suddenly sweaty palms on her skirt.
“To the rest of the world, Jason’s human, Alex,” Esmeralda laughed again. “And for the world’s most famous rich guy, nothing but the best will do!”
“Are they still the best? I mean, they’ve been running interference for rock stars for God’s sake. How hard can that be, really?”
“You really believe that’s all they’ve been doing?”
“Why should I care what they do these days?” Alex groaned. “I can’t get involved in this.”
“Sounds like you’re already involved. Look at the bright side, at least you get inside Stavros’s inner circle. I hear he’s quite insatiable. When was the last time you . . .?”
“Never mind,” Alex cut her off with a laugh. Esmeralda laughed even harder. “Why are you bugging me anyway? Don’t you have a broomstick riding class to teach or something?”
“Bitch,” Esmeralda giggled. “Don’t get fresh with me. I called because I just got the agenda and low and behold, there’s one of your aliases, in very small print mind you, accompanying the most delicious vampire ever. Makes a girl wonder, you know?”
“About?”
“About why you think this is a good idea.”
“This was not my idea. Someone else started this and I’m getting dragged in,” Alex said.
Esmeralda’s silence, though short, chilled Alex to the bone. Even with her penchant for the dramatic, she was never at a loss for words. “You haven’t been in the game for a long time. Do you even know why they’re bringing this to you?”
Alex didn’t know how to answer her without lying. “Not yet.”
“Then, don’t do it,” Esmeralda sighed. “You’ve created a fabulous life there. Why mess that up by getting involved in Strategic nonsense again?”
Esmeralda sighed again and let out a low yawn. “So are you coming to Romania or not?”
“I haven’t decided yet.”
“Well we’re dying to see you, even if it means having to spend a week in a godforsaken hole covered in snow,” she sighed. “We’ve missed your beautiful face.”
Alex picked up the receiver. “I miss you too.”
“Then it’s settled,” she heard Esmeralda cheer. “We’ll see you for the Solstice. You can come to the celebration. Oh please Alex, please?”
The celebration of the Winter Solstice, for this coven of witches and warlocks at least, was like an out of control rave on steroids. After the boring ceremonial stuff ended, the real fun would begin. Music, food and drink with lots of ‘Lollapalooza’ style love throughout, the Warren Winter Solstice Celebration would be by invitation only. Alex still didn’t remember her first foray into partying with Esmeralda and her husband Morgan. What she could still remember was lots of booze, music, and party favors.
As Creed’s right hand girl back then, wherever he went, she went. If he received an invitation to anything, his personal bodyguard was always at his side. No one turned down Esmeralda and Morgan Warren, not even Mason Creed.
“Maybe, if we have time.”
“Come on,” she purred. “You had a great time at the last one.”
“I still don’t even remember most of it,” Alex laughed.
“Well I do, my dear sweet Alexa Stone,” Esmeralda cooed. “And you had the time of your life, trust me.”
“On that note, I must bid you adieu, ma chére,” Alex smiled. “Let that gorgeous husband of yours know I said hello and I’ll let you know when I’ve decided for sure about the tr
ip.”
“Alex?”
“Yea.”
She heard Esmeralda’s deep breath and then she exhaled.
“Blessed be and remember one very important thing.”
“What?”
“Remember that I love you,” she replied.
“Blessed be and I love you too.”
Alex placed the receiver back on the base then stood and crossed the room again.
Her head rested on the warm glass and she wondered who was pissed at her and trying to get her attention. She was in again and she was sort of looking forward to it.
Chapter 14
It was good to be home. Jason sat back as he read his newspaper and waited for the dreaded call from on high. Conner had begun checking up on him like he was a ten year old. One of the rules of working for the Council was reporting to Conner on the status of Alex Stone.
When his phone rang, he took a deep breath, popped his neck and answered.
“Good morning, Conner,” Jason sang through a fake smile.
“Good morning to you,” he replied. “How was Texas?”
“Warm and sunny; New York?”
“Cold and snowing,” Conner chuckled. “Perfect holiday weather.”
Jason straightened himself in his seat and thanked his butler for the tomato juice with a quick nod. Nothing would please him more than to have New York buried in snow, phone lines down, so that he didn’t feel like one of Conner’s children calling daddy for permission to breathe.
“I expressed our willingness to help and she seemed interested. I’m confident she’ll do the conference. She just wants to flex her muscle first.”
He heard Conner clear his throat. “As I can see from the Times this morning. How exactly is this going to help us?”
“It’ll keep the human press busy for a while,” Jason answered with confidence. “Having us meet in Vegas will give them something to chew on.”
“Really,” Conner huffed. “Because it seems to me they’ll be on your tail twice as much trying to get a shot of the two of you doing other things. How are you going to control this situation now that the human press thinks you’re joining forces with their golden child?”
“They’re not that hard to control, Sire,” Jason laughed. “They’ll chase any bone I throw out, like hungry dogs.”
“And what about her? Will she do the same, or are you the hungry dog in this scenario?” Conner asked in a low tone. “If you don’t think you can handle her, say so now.”
“I can handle her,” Jason replied. “I know that Romania is important. I know it’s my job to convince the others that our best defense is to stay united. And I understand if Tristan resurfaces, all of this goes to hell. I will have her on our side, I swear it.”
“Well if you manage that one,” Conner replied in an uncharacteristically cheerful tone, “we’ll talk more about your new role in Council chambers.”
“Absolutely, sire,” Jason said, with a big smile on his face. “I’m sure she’ll cooperate fully once she understands what’s at stake.”
“Don’t say that unless you know it for sure, Jason. I’ve been very pleased with you up to now. Pictures can be explained away,” Conner stated firmly. “I don’t like regretting my decisions.”
“Have I ever let you down?”
“No, but there’s always a first time and you won’t get a second chance. Are we clear?”
“Crystal clear, sire,” Jason replied, as his excitement died as quickly as it came.
A long pause, then he heard what sounded like a door closing in the background.
When the line went dead, Jason started to breathe again. If he didn’t do exactly what he’d promised, he’d stop breathing sooner than he thought.
In the next minute, Coop had joined him on the terrace with a cup of coffee and a hangover from last night. He sat quietly as Jason scratched on a notepad and sipped on a dark brew in a mug right next to him.
“Listen Jas,” Coop mumbled. “I know I sorta messed up the other night, but . . .”
“Messed up? Messed up is an understatement,” Jason replied, still scratching away on his notepad. “Your little stunt could have done more harm than good. Someone might have gotten hurt or killed.”
“But no one did,” Coop huffed. “She’s fine. We’re all fine.”
Jason put his pen down and turned in Coop’s direction. He put his hands in a prayer pose in front of him and blinked. “Maybe we should let her lead the team then. She seems much more suited to the task than you.”
Coop smiled, rubbing his chin. “Based on what exactly?”
“The fact she took on your entire first string without a problem,” Jason smiled back.
“Whatever,” Coop growled. “I told them to take it easy on her anyway. It was my call and it turned out just as I planned.”
Jason tilted his head to one side and continued to smile. He could smell Coop’s sweat as it came to the surface. The candy smell was almost too sweet for him.
“Barely,” he hissed. “You promised me someone with experience. Who knew it would be Little Miss Underwear? Lucky for you, I was able to salvage this before it got out of hand. Having Conner spare your life is my gift to you, Coop, but don’t press your luck. You’re almost out of time, don’t forget that.”
Coop wiped his brow with the back of his hand. He coughed several times, washing back the mucus with the coffee.
“I’ve got all the time I need, but thanks for your concern,” Coop grinned.
Jason stood slowly as he smiled at Coop.
He walked to the brick wall surrounding the terrace and looked over. The humans below were clueless, like the one seated with him, testing his patience.
When he turned, Coop was sweating more. He poured water on a napkin and wiped his face again.
“You’re getting weaker by the day,” he stated. “You said she’d be happy to help. She’s not. I put my reputation and my head on the block solely on your word that you could deliver a way to get to whomever is after all of us. That she would help you find a cure for what’s killing you. She just might do that, or just kill you for what you’ve done.”
“Let her try,” Coop responded as he pushed out his chest. “She’s been out of the game too long.” He stretched his legs out in front of him and put his hands behind his head.
“It’s good to have confidence,” Jason smiled as he walked up to Coop. “But don’t get ahead of yourself. Our alliance is still in its infancy as far as the Tracker program is concerned. After three centuries of being what I am, I can still see the true face of human kind from time to time.”
His personal butler entered with a grave expression on his face. He leaned in, delivering the news as if he were reporting the weather.
“When?”
“Our contact in the police department says three days ago,” he replied.
Jason’s good day was going south pretty quickly. “Have my car brought around please.”
He nodded and disappeared inside again.
“What’s wrong with you?” Coop coughed again. “You look like your dog just died.”
“Get back to work. I’ll bring her here myself.”
“She won’t go anywhere with you, Stavros,” Coop laughed as Jason put his phone to his ear. “Let us bring her.”
“Do as you’re told,” Jason said stepping closer to Coop. The sweet smell of his body was putrid to Jason. “I’m going to get her.”
Chapter 15
“These stone walls have seen so much,” he mused. “So much loss and pain and blood over the centuries. Now, it was ready for hope. Hope for an existence long denied my kind; a co-existence in a world that still considers us monsters of myth and fairytales.”
He ran his hand over the smooth tabletop as he thought about everything and nothing at all. He hated to wait, but wait h
e would until they reported success or failure.
While he waited, the twelve year old Scotch his sons had given him on his birthday kept him company. After almost two thousand years he thought it funny he still celebrated such things. But the boys insisted on a party after some business was concluded and he agreed, halfheartedly.
Oddly, he found himself looking forward to it now.
Then this came up; old business he thought was finished twenty years ago. And that business is why he waited in the main hall of Council chambers for his team to return with good news, he hoped.
He poured one more short glass for himself, then dropped his head back against the high back of his chair and closed his eyes. Images popped up in the dark of his mind. Some good, like the moment his eldest son was born. Others, not so good, like the day his wife died.
Conner Gale, founder of Gale Enterprises, the top biomedical engineering company in the world, counted himself blessed. His company had led the pack in everything from artificial hearts to biopharmaceutical advancements, like vaccines for various diseases and the creation of the synthetic blood product used by most of the vampire population.
His many charitable contributions gave him a status in the human world very few have achieved. This human world may never know the supernatural existed, and most days he was glad. But lately he had to consider the possibility that their secret wouldn’t stay a secret for long. That weighed heavy on his mind tonight.
His eyes opened when he heard the doors yawn on their hinges at the far end of the empty hall. They walked in one after the other, haggard and hungry from their latest adventure. Someone was missing, however.
“Where’s Michael?” Conner asked, as they made their way across the open space.
“He’s following a lead on the woman,” Aiden replied.
The team stopped in a straight line in front of him, bowing politely. Then his oldest son stepped forward. He brooded, which signaled their failure to complete the task they were given.
“Sorry,” Aiden sighed as he rubbed his hands together as he was prone to do when he was agitated or disappointed in himself. His mother had done that. “He was gone by the time we arrived. The house was empty and my contact says he and the woman have already entered the United States.”