Sexiest Vampire Alive las-11

by Kerrelyn Sparks

  “So the president has agreed to help us?” Roman asked.

  Before Gregori could answer, Sean jumped in. “Yes, he has. He ordered the director of Homeland Security to scrub the video, and the whole vampire story will be declared a hoax.”

  Cheerful comments reverberated around the table.

  “Excellent work.” Roman smiled at Gregori.

  Olivia tilted her head, studying him. “You don’t look very pleased, Gregori.”

  He shrugged. “It was like a poker game with a lot of maneuvering and bluffing going on. Even though the president agreed to get in the game with us, he has yet to show his hand. I’m not sure what he’s expecting from us in return.”

  “But it was an excellent start,” Sean insisted. “President Tucker was eager to form an alliance with us, and he seemed quite willing to trust us.”

  “Because he wants something,” Gregori muttered.

  “At least we have his support,” Roman said. “What about the other men?”

  Gregori took a deep breath. “The Homeland Security guy was ordered to get rid of the video, but he doesn’t really trust us because I refused to give him a list of all the Vamps in the country.”

  Angus winced. “Nay, we canna do that.”

  “The CIA director wants to be our ally so he can use us as a weapon against their enemies,” Gregori continued. “The secretary of defense and national security advisor are suspicious and not readily inclined to trust us. General Bond of the Joint Chiefs of Staff would prefer to wipe all the vampires off the planet. That’s why I didn’t think we should remain at the safe house in D.C.”

  A moment of silence settled in the room.

  Roman sighed. “I guess it will take them a while to learn to trust us.”

  Gregori nodded. “I tried the safe-and-harmless routine, but they were interpreting that as weak and worthless, and they only want us around if we’re useful. I had to prove we were worth saving, or they might agree with the general that it was better to just eliminate us.”

  “So how much did you tell them?” Zoltan asked.

  “Tell them?” Sean scoffed. “He showed them. He bent an iron rod, zipped around at vampire speed, teleported, and threatened to break the general’s neck.”

  Everyone gasped.

  Gregori shot Sean an annoyed look. “It was a demonstration of strength so they would respect us.” He adjusted his tie. “I believe it was an effective strategy.”

  “Apparently so, since you weren’t arrested,” Emma said. “And the president agreed to help us.”

  Gregori shrugged one shoulder. “He has an agenda. A humanitarian mission, he called it, that involves teleporting somewhere.”

  “We can do that.” Angus leaned forward. “Did he say where?”

  “No.” Gregori fiddled with his cuff links. “But I believe it involves taking his daughter.”

  Angus sat back with a surprised expression.

  “You mean Madison Tucker?” Olivia asked.

  Gregori shook his head. “The oldest daughter. Abigail.” He was met with blank looks. “She’s not well-known.” But she was fascinating.

  A small part of him was excited about seeing her again. He wanted to know what she was up to, why she was hiding, what made her tick. And how good she would feel in his arms. He winced. She’s the president’s daughter, you fool. A bigger part of him knew she represented sheer disaster. If the CIA knew what kind of thoughts he was having, they’d have a hit man assigned to him in a second.

  “You don’t like her?” Emma asked.

  He stiffened. “What?”

  “You were scowling,” Emma said.

  “Oh.” He shifted in his chair. “I’m . . . not happy with the . . . uh, situation.”

  “Yeah, it’s a bad situation,” Sean agreed. “The president asked Gregori to introduce his daughters to the vampire world. He wants to see if Abigail can get along with us.”

  Olivia’s eyes widened. “The president wants you to take his daughters out? You mean like a date?”

  Gregori gritted his teeth. “It’s not a date. It’s a . . . diplomatic mission.”

  Sean nodded. “Exactly. It’s serious business. The girls will arrive in Manhattan tomorrow with a Secret Service detail.”

  Phineas snickered. “Can you handle two women, bro? Or do you need a little help with your date?”

  Gregori jerked at his tie. “It’s not a date. It’s a damned babysitting job. The president made it clear. If the girls are harmed in any way, or just unhappy about how the evening goes, then the whole alliance will be canceled.”

  Roman stiffened. “That seems harsh.”

  Robby’s mouth twitched. “Luckily, Gregori is an expert at keeping lassies happy.”

  Phineas gave him a thumbs-up. “You da man!”

  “Are you guys crazy?” Sean growled. “If he lays a finger on them, we could all be screwed. I wanted to stop the president, but how could I tell him he was sending his daughters off with the most notorious womanizer in the vampire world?”

  “Gee, thanks, Sean.” Gregori glared at him. “Like I was planning to ravish them both.” Only one. He slapped himself mentally. Don’t even think it!

  “Where are you taking them?” Emma asked.

  “Everlasting Night. It’s a vampire nightclub in SoHo that’s very popular right now. I’ll buy them a few drinks, let them dance a little and gawk at the Undead, then drop them off at their hotel. They’ll have two Secret Service guys with them the whole time. It should be easy enough.” Gregori shrugged. “It’s just a stupid babysitting job.”

  Angus nodded. “Still, we canna afford to have something happen to the lassies while they’re in yer care. Phineas, I want you to go with them.”

  “All right.” Phineas grinned.

  Sean groaned. “What are you thinking? The future of Vamps around the world depends on this, and you’re subjecting those poor innocent girls to a playboy and the self-proclaimed Love Doctor?”

  Phineas huffed. “Dude, I can be a perfect gentleman.”

  “On what planet?” Sean growled.

  Angus chuckled. “I believe we can trust Gregori and Phineas to make sure the lassies are happy with their evening.”

  Emma smiled. “I agree. They can be very charming.”

  “You hear that, bro?” Phineas grinned at Gregori. “We’re like Prince Charming.”

  “More like toads,” Sean grumbled. “You’d better behave yourselves with the princesses.”

  Olivia leaned close to her husband and whispered, “Maybe one of them will be smart enough to recognize a prince in disguise.”

  “Like you did?” Robby squeezed her hand.

  One of them was smart, all right, Gregori thought. Sharp and observant. She’d known he was different from the start. But she’d looked horrified when she’d learned the truth. When they shook hands, she pulled away from him so hard, she fell onto the couch.

  He sighed. It was better that way. Better if she found him repulsive.

  The meeting came to a close with Angus and Roman stressing the importance of his keeping the president’s daughters safe and happy. He strode to his office, needing to get away from everyone. But once he got there, he found no peace. He grabbed a stress ball off his desk and squeezed it as he paced back and forth.

  Memories of Abigail Tucker kept sneaking into his thoughts. He had a feeling she suspected him of messing with the little dog. She didn’t trust him. And she didn’t want to be alone with him. He’d noticed how fast she’d coerced her sister into going on their night out.

  What kind of mission did Abigail have in mind that it had to be done in secret? What was she up to? He tossed the stress ball on his desk and turned on his laptop so he could find out more information about her.

  He paused halfway into typing her name. What was he doing? Feeding an obsession with her? He needed to stop thinking about her.

  He closed the laptop, pulled out his Droid, and called Maggie.

  “Hi, Sweetcakes.” He lea
ned back in his chair. “How’s the commercial going?”

  Maggie groaned. “It’s not. Every time Simone moves, something bad happens.”

  “It’s not my fault!” Simone’s voice shrieked in the distance.

  Maggie sighed. “Gordon and I have stopped for the evening. We decided to rewrite the commercial in a way that keeps Simone as stationary as possible. Can you be here tomorrow night when we shoot it?”

  He grabbed the stress ball. “I wish I could, Toots, but something’s come up.”

  “Everyone here is still upset about the Vampire Apocalypse,” Maggie said. “The makeup girl keeps saying we’re doomed. Can you tell me if Roman has started on the plan yet?”

  He squeezed the stress ball. “It’ll be all right, Maggie. I met with the president tonight.”

  “The president? Of the United States?”

  “Yep. That’s why I couldn’t do the commercial.”

  “Sweet Mary and Joseph! What happened?”

  “I’d rather not say just yet, but we’re hoping the government will help us out. I’ll try to stop by DVN tomorrow night after I’m done babysitting.”

  “Babysitting?” Maggie asked.

  He gave the stress ball another squeeze. “I’m taking the president’s daughters to a vampire nightclub.”

  Maggie laughed. “Once they see how well you can dance, they’ll definitely want to help us.” There was a pause, then he heard her mutter, “No, Simone, you can’t go with them. You have to be here for the commercial.”

  Gregori winced. Simone had overheard his plans. “Talk to you later, Maggie. Thanks for helping out.” He hung up, tossed the stress ball to his other hand, then called his mother. “Hey, Mom. How’s everything at the school?”

  “Oh, we’re fine. Is it true?” his mother asked in a rushed, excited voice. “I heard you have a date!”

  The stress ball exploded in his hand. “Shit.”

  “Excuse me? What was that noise?”

  “It’s nothing.” He tossed the ball in the trash. “It’s not a date, Mom. It’s a diplomatic mission. And how the hell did you hear about it?”

  “You seem a bit agitated, dear. Are you nervous about your date?”

  “It’s not a date!” He grabbed another stress ball. “I’m as calm as can be. I just have the fate of every Vamp in the world on my shoulders.”

  “Oh, well, some days are harder than others. So who is the young lady you’re dating?”

  “I’m not dating! I’m taking the president’s daughters on a friendly little outing to prove how trustworthy I am.”

  His mother made a tsking noise. “I’m not sure if that Madison Tucker is the right girl for you.”

  “I’m not interested in her. And how did you hear about this?”

  “Well, Emma called. And then Olivia called. So are you interested in the other daughter? Shall I come back to Romatech so I can meet her?”

  “No. Stay away.”

  She huffed. “That’s not very nice. I just want to meet your new girlfriend.”

  “I’m not dating!”

  “There’s no reason to raise your voice.”

  Gregori took a deep breath and carefully squeezed the stress ball. “I gotta go now, Mom. Important stuff to do. Talk to you later.”

  “Very well. Have a wonderful time on your date.”

  He hung up and threw the stress ball across the office. “Important stuff to do.” He pulled a bottle of Blissky out his bottom desk drawer and wrenched off the top.

  He took a drink and wiped his mouth. “It’s not a date.”

  But you wish it was.

  He took another long drink to drown out the foolish voice inside him.

  Chapter Ten

  Madison’s pretty blue eyes widened. “Wow! I haven’t seen you look this good in years!”

  “Gee, thanks,” Abigail muttered as she eyed herself in the mirror. What would Gregori Holstein think of her now? She tugged at the neckline of the black cocktail dress her sister had picked out for her on a whirlwind shopping trip that afternoon. “I still think this is too revealing.”

  “Will you get off that?” Madison tilted her head, frowning. “But it does need something. Just a minute.” She rummaged through her Louis Vuitton suitcase and pulled out a velvet jewelry case. “I should have something here.”

  Abigail sat on the edge of the bed and winced at how much of her pale legs were showing. She hadn’t worn a dress in years. She hadn’t taken a day off work in years, either. Mom was always telling her she needed a life, but her mom deserved to live, too.

  When she’d explained to her mom that Madison had actually been right and not only were vampires real, but they would be going out with one tonight, her mom had taken the news quite well. In fact, Abigail couldn’t recall the last time she’d seen her mother this excited. She’d looked five years younger when she’d seen them off this morning.

  So Abigail had decided not to feel guilty for missing work. Or for costing Dad a small fortune. Madison was used to traveling to New York on a private jet, but Abigail had never indulged in the glamorous lifestyle. What was the point? She’d realized years ago in college that having a six-hundred-dollar tote bag wasn’t going to help her pass a chemistry exam. And now she worked in a lab where everyone wore white coats. Her colleagues got excited over formulas and life-forms, not the latest trend in the fashion world.

  After landing in New York, Josh and Charles had whisked them immediately into a black Suburban limousine and taken them to the Waldorf Astoria, code name Roadhouse. She and Madison were sharing one bedroom of their elegant suite, so the guys could use the other. The agents planned to sleep in shifts so one of them would always be on guard duty.

  Abigail sighed. The combined cost of the hotel suite and her dress was more than she earned in a month. She had to admit, though, it had been exciting, running around Manhattan with the paparazzi chasing them and the Secret Service guys guarding them like they were something special.

  “This will be perfect!” Madison held up a glittering rhinestone necklace. Her grin faded. “What are you doing sitting? You’ll wrinkle your dress.”

  Abigail returned to the spot in front of the mirror, wobbling on the borrowed high heels. “I’m going to fall over in these things. I’d rather wear the flats I brought.”

  “Don’t be silly. You need the heels. You’re a little short, you know.” Madison looped the necklace around Abigail’s neck and latched it in the back.

  Abigail winced. A long string of sparkling rhinestones ended in the valley between her breasts. It was like a flashing billboard that advertised, Look what I’ve got!

  This was crazy. A vampire nightclub? Sexy cocktail dresses? This was nothing like the mission she’d proposed to her dad. That trip would require hiking through rough mountainous terrain. But she supposed this was a safer way to get acquainted with Gregori and his world.

  Madison checked her makeup in the mirror, then glanced at Abigail. “You need some lipstick. Here, this color will suit you.”

  Abigail frowned at herself in the mirror. She’d put on lipstick ten minutes ago, but it was gone. She must have chewed it off. She’d probably poisoned herself just to impress a vampire. An incredibly handsome vampire.

  With a groan, she pulled the top off the lipstick tube. She needed to calm down. Relax. He was just a guy. A gorgeous, mysterious guy who happened to be Undead.

  She applied the copper-red shade. Great. This would probably remind him of blood. Stop fixating on him! Why would he care what her lips looked like? He’d be a lot more interested in her carotid artery. Or in playing mind games with her and putting her to sleep like he had Madison’s dog. And that would really be a shame, because if he ever played games with her, she’d want to be fully awake.

  She winced. What on earth was she thinking?

  The phone rang and she jumped, smearing the lipstick across her cheek. “Oh no!”

  “Don’t worry about the phone.” Madison checked her mascara. “The guys
will pick it up.” She looked at Abby and flinched. “Oh my God! What have you done?”

  “I slipped.”

  “Sheesh! I leave you alone for ten seconds and you turn into the Joker!” Madison dug into her cosmetic case. “I’ll find a makeup remover pad. Hang on.”

  A knock sounded at the door. “That was Gregori,” Josh announced. “He’s down in the lobby.”

  Abigail’s heart lurched.

  “We’re almost ready,” Madison called out as she wiped the lipstick off Abigail’s cheek. “Are you nervous about tonight?”

  “How’d you ever guess?” Abigail muttered. “Aren’t you nervous?”

  “No. Not too much. Dad sent the two biggest Secret Service guys to watch over us.” She lowered her voice. “Have you seen Josh without his jacket on? Oh my God—”

  “Madison, our guards may be strong, but they don’t have supernatural powers like the vampires. In fact, I strongly suspect Gregori didn’t reveal all his powers. He may have some strange psychic abilities.”

  Madison shrugged. “Probably so. It’s one of those vampire things. Kind of sexy when you think about it.” She tossed the dirty makeup remover pad in the trash can.

  “Sexy? It’s downright dangerous.”

  “Abby, chill. You heard Dad. If we’re unhappy about anything tonight, he’ll call the alliance off. Gregori won’t dare do anything to upset us. The way I see it, that puts us in the position of power.”

  Abigail bit her lip. She wouldn’t call their position powerful, not when Gregori was the one with the powers.

  “It’s all about attitude,” Madison continued. “I’ve played hostess at a lot of events, and I’ve met people from strange countries and cultures. You just smile and act like everything’s okay. You can do this.”

  “Okay.” A twinge of guilt pricked at Abigail that she’d never given her sister the respect she deserved. For the past few years, Abigail had congratulated herself for being the one most dedicated to helping Mom. She worked long hours trying to come up with a cure for lupus, while she considered her sister the frivolous party girl.