“Holy hell!”
“I second that,” Britt said.
“You can’t go into that room. That vampire will rip you to shreds.”
Britt nodded. “I have the feeling you’re right. I can’t go in cold. I need practice. I need to make sure I can stop this thing, first.” He paused. “I might not even be able to do this alone. Think about it. If Fisk can’t handle a couple of European vampires—and he knows what he’s doing—I don’t have a hope in hell against this beast.”
She tried to ignore the fact that he watched her go to the fridge and grab a bag of blood. She palpated the bag just enough to loosen it and drink it like an iced drink. She hated that she had to drink blood to sustain herself. But when she was in a state of near panic, she needed it. Luckily, he had turned his focus back to the computer by the time she returned to the living room. Good thing, because she didn’t like him watching her.
“I just found some information about Grigoroi,” he said, glancing at her before returning his attention to the manuscript … searching desperately for anything that might be of use.
Jess leaned forward and read over his shoulder. “Who knows if any of that information is true?”
He leaned back and rubbed a hand over his bloodshot eyes. “And there’s nothing that explains Grigoroi abilities.”
“What are you going to do?” she asked.
“I think it’s time I sign on to help Fisk. I need some practice before I try to help your brother.”
She wanted to argue with him, but daybreak always left her body heavy with impending death. She’d be dropping into stasis anytime soon. She’d have to go to her room. “Don’t do anything without me. Promise me.”
He looked at her. “Let me help you to your room.”
“I’d refuse, but I don’t think I’ll make it on my own.”
She could go into stasis anywhere, but she’d tried not to let him see her do it. It was like becoming a macabre storefront mannequin, and she didn’t want him to see that. This time, she had little choice. She’d waited too long.
He helped her to her bed and leaned down to brush his lips against hers. But she didn’t kiss him back. She couldn’t. It was too late.
BRITT LEFT HER locked in her room. He hadn’t promised he’d wait for her to wake again. She’d be livid, but he sensed that time was short, and if Regent had asked him to expose his abilities to the Vatican, the situation had to be very serious indeed. In fact, after seeing the video, he too, believed control over the vampire in the basement would soon be beyond their ability.
Why would the Vatican want this man to be returned to humanity so badly? Who was he? And why was he so important?
After double-checking that he’d locked Jess safely inside her vault, he went directly to Fisk’s office.
Another batch of heavily made-up youngsters worked at the front desk. They had more tattoos than skin, it seemed, and Britt wondered how deeply they’d embedded themselves into the vampire culture. Or were they merely cult members following Fisk?
Either possibility was likely.
The girl with purple and dark blue hair, frizzed up like the bride of Frankenstein, spoke to Fisk on the phone. Britt was ordered up immediately.
When Britt stepped into his office moments later, Fisk looked worried.
He’d glanced at his watch several times before motioning for Britt to have a seat. “Have you made your decision?” he asked.
“I have,” Britt said. “I’ll help you. What is it you need me to do?”
“As I indicated before, I need help to reanimate three olde vampires; one at a time, of course. The next session is tonight.”
Britt leaned forward. “You want to help them become human? Not take them out?”
Fisk’s face masked quickly. “Yeah.”
“Tell me the truth, man. I’m not going to help you if you lie to me.”
“I’m going to be very rich if I help them. I’ll make them as functional in the daytime as I possibly can. I very much doubt I can assure them total humanity.”
Britt eyed Fisk. “So, you’ve never changed a vampire back to human form?”
Fisk suddenly looked at Britt suspiciously. “No. It’s not possible, is it?”
He should be suspicious, because Britt had done it. But Fisk… . Now Britt knew he’d never managed it—and Britt got the feeling he’d been trying for quite a while.
“And you need me because?”
“Because I already tried to help one of them. It nearly wiped me out. I don’t have the strength to do it alone.”
Britt narrowed his gaze on Fisk. He hadn’t expected Malcolm to admit this vulnerability. He must really be desperate. Even more, he obviously didn’t know everything about the Grigoroi either.
Good. Excitement spread from his gut to his chest. “I’ll attend tonight’s session, but I’m not going to promise you anything until I have a better understanding of what you’re trying to do,” he said. And what he could learn.
Fisk let out a long, shaky breath and smiled thinly. “That’s good enough for me.”
Britt’s gaze wandered once again to the battle scene on the wall. What was it about that painting that called to him like the sirens in Greek mythology?
Fisk seemed irritated that Britt kept looking at it.
“You should go now. Come back refreshed and, Brittain …”
“Yes?”
“Come alone. Do not bring Jess with you this time. It’s for her safety. The olde ones don’t trust North American vampires, and word of her prowess as a vampire hunter has spread through Europe. I don’t want them thinking I have a vampire killer as a friend. I need them to trust me implicitly.”
“Understood,” Britt said, and stood to leave.
He just hoped that tonight he’d learn something about himself. Something that would make him understand his own abilities. He needed to know, if he was going to help Regent take out the monster vampire in his basement.
He returned to the condo and went into the bedroom Jess had given him when he didn’t share hers. The sheets were fresh and cool against his naked body. He pushed the room darkening button and the blinds closed.
How the hell was he going to get away from Jess at dusk? Maybe he should just tell her the truth. She wanted him to help Regent. That might be the only way to accomplish what he needed to do. For once, he didn’t go to sleep with visions of Jess’s amazing body in his head. Instead, he drifted off thinking of the painting in Fisk’s room, and sensing the urgency and far-off hum of something old and powerful. Something that called to him. Was his own internal light causing the hum? That blue light that erupted from him in his sleep?
No. There was something very dangerous in Fisk’s office. And he had every intention of finding out what it was.
But not until he found out what Fisk could teach him. Then, he’d help Regent with his massive problem.
This time, the blue light erupted from his solar plexus before he fell asleep. Bone-tired, he closed his eyes and felt the light, an extension of himself, moving freely around the room. Instinctively, he knew it wouldn’t leave him for long and it wouldn’t go far, so he didn’t worry about Jess’s safety. Maybe he was gaining control of it. Sleep enveloped him, and he let himself go.
When the alarm clock sounded, he groaned and flopped an arm over his eyes. A slight headache reminded him that he hadn’t had much to drink yesterday. He was as dry as… . Something in the bed moved and a hand touched his bare chest under the covers. He tried to swallow, but couldn’t. His eyes flashed open to find Jess naked in bed with him.
Jesus!
His first instinct was to pull her to him. To press his face into her neck and nuzzle her long and hard. But they both knew he was dangerous to her. What the hell had she been thinking?
“What are you doing here?” he asked, sliding ever so slightly away from her while grinding his teeth against the exploration of her hand.
Jess smiled. “I’ve had enough of you avoiding m
e. Either you love me right now, or we’re done forever. And I mean it.”
Her words scraped him raw. She meant business. He’d used a lot of fucking inner strength to keep his hands off her. It was getting more difficult each time she tempted him, but having her body pressed against him right now… . It was torture. Sheer, delicious … torture.
He had to get through this.
He had one wild card left and he’d use it. “But, Jess, Regent needs you more than anyone right now,” he said. “You can’t just give up on your brother. Believe me, babe, there’s nothing I’d like more than to make love to you. But there’s a good chance I’d kill you. And I won’t do that. I’ll leave you first, if I have to, to keep you safe.”
Her eyes flashed angrily at him.
Damn. It was too late to take the words back.
“That’s dirty pool,” she growled. “Using Regent and the undercover team as a wedge between us is despicable.”
He shifted away from her. “But it’s true, doll. Regent is in trouble. As much as I love you, this isn’t the time to risk your life. Your brother needs you desperately.”
Her eyes closed and she sank back into the pillows. His gaze swallowed her whole. He’d never get enough of her. She was his life. Besides, he had to get ready to work with Fisk tonight. He’d considered going it alone, but decided against it. Jess deserved to know the truth. He quickly filled her in.
“I’m going with you,” she said.
“Fisk won’t like it.”
Jess sat up and the sheet barely covering her ample breasts slipped lower. She grabbed it up and covered herself. “Too bad. I can pretend to be an assistant or something.”
He gradually nodded. It would be good for Jess to be privy to whatever happened in Fisk’s office. That was, if he’d allow it. On the other hand, Fisk was pretty desperate, so what the hell?
Britt closed his eyes and imagined him and Jess together. Under the covers, his hand slid across the sheets and caressed hers. That was as far as he dared go.
He inhaled and snapped his gaze on her again. “Okay. If Fisk has a problem with it, he’s on his own.”
Jess smiled and pulled the sheet around herself, then got up and stood next to the bed. By covering herself with the sheet, she’d stripped it off him.
She eyed him up and down and winked. “We’ll get this thing figured out and soon. Being celibate isn’t in our cards, my darling.”
Britt grabbed his shorts and pulled them on. We’ll get through this, Jess. Before we know it, our lives will go back to abnormal-normal.”
“Wait, I promised to see Regent tonight,” Jess said. “I’ll go right away. What time is your meeting with Fisk?”
Britt glanced at his watch then yanked on his leather pants. “In two hours.”
“Good. That gives me time to get back from the rectory and go with you.”
“I should go to Regent’s with you,” Britt said, before realizing that Jess probably didn’t want him to. Not yet. Not until they figured out what the Vatican was up to.
She frowned but didn’t say no.
“You’re right. I’ll hang back for now,” he said.
She nodded and looked relieved. “It seems like everything we know is changing, doesn’t it? Will we ever go back to the way things were?”
“It doesn’t seem that way,” he said. No way would he tell Jess that there was a possibility that he might turn bad. Or had she heard that part, too?
Chapter Sixteen
AN HOUR LATER, Jess rang the rectory doorbell, something she’d rarely done in the past.
In fact, it was most common for her to enter via Regent’s office window. But that wasn’t a good idea when the rectory was full of Vatican soldiers.
Even from out here, the rectory felt different tonight. But, this was her brother’s domain, and as long as Regent was here, her heart was here. This place belonged to them, damn it.
She rapped hard on the door—it instantly opened. When a broad-shouldered, dark-haired man with cold eyes, dressed in black slacks and military T-shirt, eyed her up and down, she forced a smile and bit back the urge to show him her teeth. “Jess Vandermire, here to see my brother,” she said.
He opened the door wider and pointed to Regent’s office, as if she didn’t know the way. She bit back a rude comment and pushed past him. He dove ahead of her, and put his hand on the doorknob before she could enter.
His stolid expression stalled her.
He’d make a good vampire hunter. He had the obligatory chip on his shoulder and the mean countenance that was crucial to the hunters on her team. And having him and his comrades here probably kept Regent safer from the beast in the basement.
Beast—wasn’t she the same thing?
She tugged at her leather jacket while she impatiently waited to be granted entry, anything to keep her hands busy, so she didn’t throttle the Vatican representative holding her brother hostage inside.
The second he saw her, Regent jumped from his chair. He crushed her in a brotherly bear hug with a strength he hadn’t had for years.
She spotted the second man instantly. This guy must be Vasilli. He wore white robes with a gold embroidered sash in a pattern she didn’t recognize. It was definitely not one of the ceremonial robes she’d seen before, but more likely one that was symbolic of what he was trying to accomplish with the vampire in the basement.
“Dearest! I’ve missed you so much,” Regent said.
She let him hug her. She always let him hug her. She adored her brother, but the vampire inside her rarely gave in to experiencing the full emotion of the moment. That allowed her time to monitor the other man standing and watching them. He was obviously of European descent. Dark-skinned. With dark hair and very tired eyes. That said, he was also keeping a very keen eye on her. As if he didn’t trust her either. Again, she had the urge to show her teeth but she managed to control herself.
Regent pulled back from his hug. “I apologize for my poor manners, Card … Vasilli. Jess, please let me introduce you to Mr. Vasilli, from Rome.”
“You’re a cardinal?” she asked.
“Hello, Ms. Vandermire,” he said, not answering—or correcting—her. “It’s nice to finally meet you.”
She nodded but kept her distance. She didn’t trust this man. After all, look what he’d done to her brother. He was in his forties again. Like that was a bad thing—right? Crap, she didn’t know what was good and what was bad anymore.
“Where’s Britt?” Regent asked, looking toward the hallway as if he expected him to pop around the corner at any moment. “I’d hoped he’d be with you.”
“He’s busy,” she said. “On an important case.”
“But this is very important, too,” Regent said, then wandered back to his chair and dropped down as if he’d been defeated. He’d obviously really hoped Britt would agree to help them with the vampire in the basement.
“He knows that. He’s working on something that will help him realize his full potential, so he’ll be better equipped to help you.”
“What potential is that?” Vasilli interrupted. “What can this man do?”
Jess frowned at Vasilli. He was being rude now. And presumptuous. She ignored his comments. She moved to the fireplace and placed a couple of logs on the embers burning there. Even though the flames grew and the logs crackled, she felt no heat. The only heat she ever experienced was between her and Britt. And that couldn’t happen again. Britt had proved that to her tonight.
“Vasilli,” Regent said, motioning respectfully for the man to back down. Regent knew only too well no one could force Jess into saying or doing anything she didn’t want to.
Jess bit back a grin. Her attitude had less to do with her vampirism, and more to do with her genetic stubbornness. She quirked an eyebrow in Regent’s direction. It definitely ran in the family.
“Give Jess a chance to warm up to you, Vasilli. She doesn’t take to strangers. Especially strangers from the church.”
&
nbsp; Vasilli’s eyes registered that fact quickly. “Of course, Father. How insensitive of me. I do apologize, Ms. Vandermire.”
“It’s Captain Vandermire,” she said in a monotone. “Of the New York City police Department.”
“My mistake in misjudging you,” he said.
She looked at the flames sparking in the fireplace again. He hadn’t misjudged her. He was as sly and resilient as they came, otherwise he wouldn’t be the keeper of that monster she’d seen on the video. Of course, he wouldn’t give away any more information than he needed to either.
“Why did you call me here?” she asked.
Regent folded his hands, as if in prayer, in front of his chest. “Somehow, we need to get through to the vampire downstairs. He’s not listening. I believe that’s why the prayers aren’t reaching him. He’s so hungry, his mind is completely absorbed with it.”
“Regent, I have no experience with anything like that. What can I possibly do?”
“I need to get inside the room. I need to have some physical contact with the vampire in order for my prayers to be more efficacious. Vasilli isn’t strong enough to control him any longer.”
Vasilli grunted. She could tell he was ticked that Regent had divulged private information.
We need someone with your strength to help me try to make a connection.”
“Holy shit!”
Regent’s eyes closed for a second and his mouth thinned. “Jess …”
“I know you don’t like me to swear. But have you considered that I might not want to lead you into that room like a lamb to the slaughter? What if I can’t control him? What if he’s too strong for me?”
“He isn’t. Not yet. But if we don’t find some way to get through to him, he soon will be.”
Vasilli remained silent, merely watching Jess intently through those hawkish eyes. She felt her teeth threatening to appear and wasn’t sure she wanted to hold them back. “You want to do this tonight?”
Grave Expectations - Jess Vandermire 4 Page 17