“Si, amico mio. Grazie.” Carlo scrambled to his feet, his head bowed and his hands clasped in front of him. “I know I do not deserve your forgiveness, but I was trying to protect you both.”
“I am not having this conversation in my robe. You will wait in the parlor.” Nic returned to the house without looking back to make sure Carlo followed. As he passed Bayard, he paused. “See that he does not move. If he threatens you at all, throw him out. Violently.”
“With pleasure.”
Evangeline had already started back up the stairs, and he caught up with her as she pulled open the closet. He’d been about to ask her to stay in the bedroom, when she whirled around, fixing him with a hard stare. “You can’t just order me around, Nic.”
“I know. I am sorry.” Nic slid his fingers into her hair and drew her against him. “But you must understand. Vampires are possessive creatures. Even more so when we are bonded. I cannot stand the idea of Carlo—or even Vittoria—seeing you, touching you, without your consent. You remember…at the gas station when I wanted to throw Carlo off the roof?”
“Yes.” She wriggled out of his embrace so she could pull on a pair of lace panties, red this time, and Nic’s cock stirred to life, despite his former friend waiting for him downstairs. “I remember you asking me if I wanted Vittoria to give you a physical, too. I get it. Really. But do you remember what I told you in the forest?”
“Use my words?” Nic chuckled, pulling on a sleek, black t-shirt and a pair of black jeans. “I will try to remember that. Will you do one thing for me when we go downstairs?”
She arched her brows, waiting, a soft pair of linen pants in her hands.
“Stay close to me.” If he lost her, he wouldn’t survive, and though Vittoria and Carlo hadn’t physically harmed Evangeline, one violation could easily lead to another. The cold, bony fingers of fear that gripped his heart threatened to send rational thought fleeing, but he would fight to keep his wits about him. For her.
Evangeline’s voice softened. “I won’t leave your side.” As she took his hand and ran her fingers over his wedding ring, he felt her love deep in his heart. “But you have to trust me, Nic. I’m the one who got you out of Henry’s lab, remember?”
“I will never forget your bravery. Or your strength.” He marveled every day at this gift he’d received. A life mate with such brilliance, passion, and will.
“Partners, right?” The corners of her lips curved, and Nic claimed her mouth.
Always.
When Nic reached the parlor, he found Carlo sitting stiffly in the chair closest to the door. Bayard stood behind him, his weight shifted forward on the balls of his feet and his shoulders tense.
To his credit, Carlo didn’t move when Nic guided Evangeline around him to the settee. “Five minutes. Starting now.”
Carlo met his gaze for only a brief moment. “I decoded more from the Lazarus file before the guards came for you. Enough to confirm my suspicions.” He looked back and forth from Bayard to Sylvie. “Do you wish me to continue?”
“What’s the Lazarus file?” Evangeline asked, lacing her fingers with Nic’s.
“Something I should have told you about days ago,” Nic replied, regret sitting like a solid weight on his chest. “Your father had more secrets than we knew.” After a hard swallow, and a short prayer that Evangeline would forgive him for his poor choices, he returned his focus to Carlo. “We trust Sylvie and Bayard. Please continue.”
Carlo rubbed his hand over his chin. “Longo tested your blood every week. Yours and Evangeline’s. Three years ago, within a week of each other, you both stopped aging.”
“What?” Evangeline paled, and through their joined hands, Nic felt her heart rate spike. “We…don’t age?”
Sylvie whistled quietly. “Bloody hell. Can you fly too?”
After Carlo glared at the female vampire, he pulled a thumb drive from his inside jacket pocket and passed it to Nic. “Longo’s research. Everything I have managed to decode so far. The Conclave has access to all of this. And probably more. They have resources I do not. Dozens of the world’s top programmers at their beck and call.”
“I am certain that is why they drugged me and subjected me to the medical exam. They had to do their own research.” Nic said.
“If the Conclave can decipher the secrets in your blood—and in Evangeline’s…can you imagine? They could all be immortal. With the vote on the Blood Slave Act coming…”
“If vampires could be truly immortal, there would be even less cause to protect humans.” Nic shook his head. “If the young ones in America learn of this…soon, humans could be nothing more than slaves.”
“Si. The Conclave is already divided. You, Nicola…you would be—would have been—the deciding vote. Antonio cannot let you return to your seat, and I believe he will do anything he can to stop you. I had no choice. My contacts said Antonio was trying to block your release—perhaps indefinitely. I called Luigi and begged for an audience.”
“Is this why you took Evangeline’s blood?” Nic leaned forward, pinning Carlo with an icy stare. “Why you drugged her?”
“Si, capo. Lo siento.”
“You are sorry?” Rage prickled along Nic’s skin, and his fangs lengthened as his entire being prepared to fight. Only Evangeline’s presence at his side kept him in his seat. “You know what Longo put us both through. For years. You could not have asked me—asked her?”
“She was distraught, Nicola. Vittoria said—”
“I’m right here,” Evangeline said sharply. “Last time I checked, I still had some say in what happened to my body. And since you say I’m immortal too…”
Nic wrapped his arm around her waist. Hearing the betrayal in her voice shattered his already tenuous control. “She was calm enough to remember the conversation she had with Vittoria before the drugs took effect. You cannot tell me there was no other way.”
“We could not risk Evangeline protesting. Or calling Sylvie. We had to move quickly. But now…I fear I have put both of you in terrible danger.” Carlo dropped his gaze to his feet, his voice low. “If I could have the past few days to do over again, I would make different choices. Perhaps then…you would be able to forgive me.”
Evangeline dug her fingers into Nic’s thigh. “Did you…tell the Conclave that Vittoria had my blood?”
“They would have come for you,” Carlo whispered. “When I met with Luigi, Antonio insisted on joining us. He had some of the results from Nicola’s blood work. They already knew he had…evolved during his time as a prisoner. With the DNA analysis and the contents of the Lazarus file, they suspected the truth. They questioned me for two hours.”
“Two hours?” Nic couldn’t help the bitterness in his tone. “You betrayed our friendship after two hours. They held me for two days. Not to mention eighteen fucking years as Longo’s lab rat. I did not think you were that weak.”
“They threatened to arrest me, Nicola. I would not have been able to protect you.”
“Protect me?” Nic leapt to his feet, seething. “Any more of your protection, and Evangeline and I will be burned in the town square!”
“Nic.” Evangeline wrapped warm fingers around his wrist. “Let him finish.”
“Why? So he can feed more information to the Conclave? I let him into my home. I trusted him with your protection. And by giving them your blood, he practically handed you over to them.”
Carlo pressed his lips together for a long moment, then met Evangeline’s gaze. “I had time to call Vittoria before the guards breached her lab. She mixed donor blood—normal human blood—in with yours. Perhaps this will be enough to keep your secrets. Or…muddle them.”
“If I were you, Carlo, I would pray for such an eventuality.” Nic sank down next to Evangeline once more. “I do not care if your intentions were…noble. You and Vittoria are no longer welcome in my home. Your five minutes are up. What Evangeline and I do now…is none of your business.”
To his credit, Carlo merely nodded as he
rose. “I understand. You may no longer trust me, Nicola, but I am, and will always be, your friend. If you or Evangeline ever need—”
“Leave now.” Unable to look at the closest thing to a son he’d ever have, Nic turned to stare out the window towards the sea. Carlo’s footsteps faded, and when the front door clicked open, then shut, he drew Evangeline against him.
She offered silent support, resting her head on his shoulder and linking their fingers. “I’m sorry,” she whispered to his mind over their bond. “I know I didn’t do anything wrong, but you lost him because of me.”
“No, cara. Carlo did this. Not you. I do not blame you.”
“What do we do now?” Her eyes held such uncertainty.
Nic brushed his lips over the twin scars on her neck, inhaling her unique scent—honeysuckle and gardenia—along with the scent of him, of their bonding. “Now, we find out what the hell is on that drive.”
17
Immortality?
Evangeline stood at the marble island in the kitchen, sipping the small cup of espresso but not tasting it. How could she be immortal? She was human.
“Cara, are you all right?” Nic trailed a knuckle along her cheek, and the worry in his voice pulled her from her thoughts.
“Uh…” Blinking hard, her thoughts jumbled, she tried to answer, but could only stammer, “I-I thought…how…what do we do…?” The cup shook in her hand, and he turned her and wrapped his arms around her. “I just wanted to be normal. Live. Be…free.”
“I know.” Sadness welled in his deep amethyst eyes, and a muscle in his jaw ticked as Sylvie and Bayard joined them. “I am grateful that I will not have to watch you grow old and die, but this is a…complication I fear will put very large targets on our backs. The Conclave could order us jailed.”
“But I’m human.”
“Not anymore,” Sylvie said. “Whatever you are—” At Evangeline’s flinch, she flushed. “Sorry. I didn’t mean that the way it sounded. You’re something new. When I smelled your blood, fuck me. It’s like a fifty-year-old scotch. Or the best wine in the world. Honestly, I worry a lot more about you tripping on the sidewalk and bleeding in the street than I do anyone seeing your eyes. Because any vampire within fifty feet would be attracted to you immediately.”
“And the Conclave has her blood.” Bayard leaned against the wall with his arms folded. “I do not think we should stay here—any of us. They could come for you at any time.”
“Luigi released me,” Nic said. “I do not believe he would allow—”
Bayard cut him off. “Luigi is old. Oui, that means he is strong. But Antonio is looking for any opportunity to oust him. This could be what he needs. If Antonio can convince even one additional member of the Conclave that Luigi should be relieved of his command, there is no telling what could happen.”
Tension banded around Evangeline’s skull, a dull ache that stretched down to her jaw. Unable to stand still, she fidgeted with the hem of her sweater, her fingers tracing patterns over the soft knit. “Where would we go?” she asked.
“I have property…elsewhere,” Nic replied, taking her hand to still her restless movements. “And every self-respecting vampire has money hidden in various accounts around the world. Italy is my home. I do not wish to leave, but if it is the only way to keep you safe…”
“I’m not the only one in danger.” She met his gaze, the love reflected in his eyes shocking her, as it always did. They’d been together all of two weeks—despite the connection they’d shared for years prior. How could she need, want, love this man so completely in so short a time?
“If we run,” she said, forcing herself to stand up a little straighter, “my father wins. The Conclave wins. Is there any way we can fight this?”
Sylvie dropped heavily into the chair across from them. “We talked about this a little last night. Two options I can see.” Looking to Bayard, she waited for his terse nod before leaning forward with her elbows on her knees. “First, you have to figure out exactly what’s in Longo’s files. And I mean everything. Find a doctor you trust—not Vittoria—and have them run tests on your blood. If you can prove that no vampire is going to achieve immortality by capturing, draining, or experimenting on you, then go public. Send the files to every major newspaper. Let the entire world know of the depravity of the Hand of God.”
She paused, her full lips curved into a frown, and gestured to the USB drive on the counter. “If what’s on that drive leaves any possibility that someone could use your blood to dose themselves, then you run. And you stay on the run. For the rest of your lives.”
Tears burned the corners of Evangeline’s eyes. Though she knew Sylvie was right, she felt Nic’s frustration and fear. He didn’t want to run—it went against his very being. She’d bonded to a fighter who’d lived through eighteen years of hell. Losing everything again…would he survive?
At her side, Nic cursed softly. “This is my home. When we escaped, it did not cross my mind that I would only have another two or three nights here. But…I know we cannot stay.” He picked up the small piece of plastic, turning it over in his palm. “Such a simple thing…yet what is on here could kill us both. My tech skills are merely passable. From what Carlo said on the flight to Italy, we need much more than passable.”
“I know a couple of guys,” Sylvie offered. “Part of the Network.”
“Can we really trust this Network?” Evangeline asked, her question meant only for Nic. Her instincts told her Sylvie would protect them, but the more people who knew about their…immortality…the greater the risk.
At her side, Nic held himself preternaturally still. “I do not know.” Turning his attention to Sylvie, he voiced their concern. “You are asking us to trust someone we have never met. After my oldest and dearest friend turned on us. I was there when Carlo was made. He is…was…like a son to me.”
Her strong vampire, the man who had calmly allowed her father to slit his throat because he trusted she’d save him, now struggled to keep the emotion from his voice. She felt every moment of his battle—and wasn’t sure if he’d ever fully recover from Carlo’s betrayal.
Sylvie sat back in the chair, defeat marring her delicate features. “Yeah. I am. If you have another idea…”
“Contact them. But do not tell them anything about the information. Before we hand the drive over to anyone, I insist on meeting them. And I need to move as much money as I can into accounts the Conclave cannot possibly trace.” Nic turned to Evangeline and took both of her hands in his. “Cara, how would you feel about a honeymoon? In Rome.”
Evangeline yanked her hands away. “A honeymoon? You’re joking, right?” A moment ago, they’d been talking about running, escaping, hiding for the rest of their lives. And now he wanted to go on a vacation?
The tension lines bracketing his mouth deepened as he frowned. “Si. Rome is a very large city. Several million people. We would travel under false names, be able to hide while Sylvie contacts the computer experts she knows.”
“Wouldn’t it be better to just disappear somewhere…I don’t know…like Australia or Antartica? The moon?” The very idea of a large city—so much larger than Sorrento—terrified her.
Sylvie got to her feet and jerked her head at Bayard. “I need to make some calls. You should do a perimeter check.”
“Oui.” Without sparing the two of them a glance, Bayard slipped out the back door, Sylvie on his heels.
With his hand on the small of her back, Nic urged Evangeline up the sweeping staircase to their bedroom. He sank down on the bed and rubbed his eyes. “I do not wish to disappear, cara. But we must prepare for such an eventuality. Every self-respecting vampire has money hidden in offshore, untraceable accounts. But accessing those funds can be difficult. In Rome, I can visit several different banks—perhaps two a day over the course of a week—and transfer small amounts of cash into accounts we will be able to access from anywhere. This is the only way I can be certain we will have enough money to keep us safe for…merda.�
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“What?”
He offered her a wry smile and a sharp huff that might have been a laugh. “I was going to say ‘for the rest of our lives.’ But as we may have eternity…I will have to also set up new brokerage accounts under different names so I can invest for us.”
Evangeline slid a hip onto the end of the bed. “Will you teach me?”
“Che cosa?” Surprise played across his handsome, but drawn features, and he started to speak—likely to translate for her—but she held up her hand.
“Teach me how to invest. To do…something for us. I feel useless, Nic. I don’t know anything about vampire society. I can’t—and don’t want to—drive, I have no idea how to book a hotel or even how much I can eat at a restaurant without raising suspicion. My memory might not be as perfect as yours, but I’m good with numbers and I’m a quick study.”
Nic sat up a little straighter as he smiled, and her insides trembled, as they always did when he gazed at her like she was the only woman in the world. “I will teach you. So you will let me take you to Rome?”
She almost retorted that she didn’t have much choice, but the longing in his voice stopped her sharp tongue. Her emotions wouldn’t settle. One minute she wanted to jump him and fuck him blind, the next she was terrified again. Was the hope she felt hers? Or Nic’s?
Chewing on her lower lip for a moment, she tried to separate her own feelings from his. “Si. The idea of going somewhere that big makes me want to throw up. But we need cash if we’re going to run, and I’d rather not sit here waiting for the Conclave to come and arrest us.”
Revelations in Blood Page 10