All I Want for Christmas is a Vampire las-5

by Kerrelyn Sparks

  A twinge of unease knotted her stomach. What on earth did Carlos do?

  Ian stashed the six vials of the Stay-Awake drug in the safe room in the basement of Romatech—a room completely encased in silver so that a vampire could teleport neither in nor out. The silver room was equipped with its own air supply and enough food, water, and bottled blood to keep a mortal or Vamp alive for three months.

  Meanwhile, Connor and Roman were making sure the recipe for the Stay-Awake drug was erased from all computer files. Now there were only two sources for the formula—a CD in the silver room and Roman's brain. Connor wanted to send Roman and his family into hiding, but Roman didn't think the situation was dire enough yet.

  Since Ian still had a few vacation days left, Connor didn't expect him to stick around, so he teleported back to the townhouse. In the fifth-floor office, he connected the computer to the tracking device in Toni's handbag. He zoomed in on her location. Shady Oaks Psychiatric Hospital? Why would Carlos take her there? The light started blinking. They were on the move.

  His cell phone rang, and he retrieved it from his sporran. "Hello?"

  "Ian, this is Vanda," she whispered. "I need you to come to the club, but not to the entrance or the main room. Teleport straight to my voice."

  "What's wrong?"

  "Just come here now!" she hissed.

  "All right." He focused on her voice. A few seconds later, he arrived in a dark room next to Vanda.

  He glanced around. Scattered on the floor around low tables were overstuffed, tasseled pillows in red, purple, and gold silk. The walls were covered with sheer drapes of red and gold. On the tabletops, candles flickered inside golden mosaic glass, casting sparkly lights around the room. Music and more light filtered through the open cutwork of carved wooden screens that lined one side of the room.

  "What is this place?" he whispered.

  "The VIP room," Vanda replied. "Since we were harem ladies, we thought it would be cool to make it look like a harem. The screen folds open, so the VIP customers can look over the railing at the action below. But if they want privacy, we close the screen."

  Ian peered through a hole in the screen. Sure enough, the Horny Devils nightclub was below. In front of the stage, lady Vamps bounced merrily in time with the music while the male dancer on stage spun around in a black, flowing vampire cape. Beneath the cape he was naked, except for a black bow tie and red, sparkly bikini underwear.

  Ian winced. Dracula would roll over in his grave.

  "By the way, all the girls down there have been asking about you," Vanda said. "They want to meet you."

  "Why? So they can laugh at me?"

  Vanda snorted. "Actually, they all want the honor of being the one to take your virginity."

  "Bloody hell," he muttered. "Did ye tell them they're about five hundred years too late?"

  "I tried to, but they prefer Corky's version. I suspect they think being your first will make them famous and give them some airtime on Corky's show."

  "Och. So it's fame and no' me that attracts them. Was there an important reason ye called me here?"

  "I'm afraid so." Vanda peered through the screen. "Look at the bar."

  His gaze shifted to Cora Lee, whose blonde head was close to a stocky male Vamp. Ian's stomach twisted as recognition clicked in place. "Dammit to hell."

  Vanda cast him a worried look. "Then you know who he is?"

  "Aye. Jedrek Janow." Ian had last seen the murderous Malcontent in the Ukraine the night he'd gone there with Jean-Luc and others to help rescue Angus and Emma. Jedrek had been there with Casimir, but when the Malcontents started to lose the battle, both Jedrek and Casimir teleported away, leaving their Russian comrades behind to be vanquished.

  Shanna's father and his CIA Stake-Out team maintained a constant surveillance of the Russian-American vampires, and they kept Connor informed since he'd managed to plant the listening devices in their headquarters. Unfortunately, the bugs had been destroyed a few nights ago. Jedrek was being thorough.

  "He usually hangs out in Eastern Europe," Ian explained, "but he's recently been put in charge of the Russian-American coven in Brooklyn."

  "But he's Polish," Vanda protested.

  "Half Polish, half Russian, and Casimir's right-hand man." Ian regarded Vanda curiously. "How do ye know him?"

  A hint of pain flickered across her face. "Let's just say he got along really well with the Nazis. He's a vicious killer, and he enjoys it."

  "A Malcontent poster boy." Ian peered through the screen. "He's drinking Bleer to fool Cora Lee into thinking he's a regular Vamp."

  "Unfortunately, it's not that hard to fool Cora Lee."

  Ian strained his ears, but he couldn't hear Jedrek's low voice over the din of loud music and squealing women. "I need to know what he's saying."

  Vanda frowned, considering. "If I go down there, he'll recognize me and—oh, I know. There's an intercom on my desk that connects to the bar. I use it when I need to talk to Cora Lee. This way."

  She strode to a door partially hidden behind a sheer red curtain. Ian followed her down a flight of stairs and into her office.

  "Is this it?" He reached for the intercom on her desk.

  "Wait. It's a two-way connection," she warned him. "We'll have to be perfectly quiet."

  He nodded and pushed the button with his finger.

  "So you know Ian?" Cora Lee asked.

  "Sure," Jedrek replied with a fake Brooklyn accent. "We go way back. I can't get over the way he looks now."

  "I know! I didn't even recognize him at first," Cora Lee confessed. "I can't believe he got older like that."

  "And you say it happened in Texas?" Jedrek asked.

  "That's what Ian told me."

  "Sweetheart, could you get me another Bleer? This stuff is freakin' fantastic. Roman is a genius."

  "He sure is. You know him, too?"

  "Who doesn't? The guy's famous," Jedrek commented casually. "But you know what? He looks a bit older, too."

  "Yep, all of a sudden he turned gray at the temples."

  "But he didn't go to Texas, did he?" Jedrek asked.

  "Nope, he was here when it happened. Land sakes, I can't imagine why anyone would want to look older."

  "They would if there was a really important, secret purpose behind it," Jedrek said.

  Vanda gasped, and Ian shook his head to remind her to stay quiet. No doubt she had grasped the full danger of the situation. If the Malcontents acquired the means to stay awake during the day, they would slaughter Vamps who were helpless in their death-sleep.

  The phone on Vanda's desk rang, and Ian quickly lifted his finger off the intercom button to break the connection. Vanda grimaced and answered the phone.

  Ian dashed back up the stairs to the VIP harem room and peered through the screen. Cora Lee must have heard the ring, for she'd answered her phone. With a confused look, she hung up. Meanwhile, Jedrek was scanning the surroundings, his eyes narrowed. No doubt he suspected something.

  Ian considered teleporting down to challenge him, but before he could weigh the pros and cons, Jedrek vanished.

  "What's happening?" Vanda rushed into the room.

  "He's gone."

  "That damned phone," Vanda muttered. "It was the dancer I fired Thursday night. He heard Corky was planning to sue me, so he decided to have a go at me, too. The bastard."

  "I'll get the name of Angus's solicitor," Ian offered. "He's the best in the Vamp world. And doona fash over Corky. I'll pay to settle with her. I canna have ye suffering on my account."

  "But I'm the one who attacked her." Vanda dragged a hand through her spiky hair. "And now we have this mess with Jedrek Janow. He's not going to stop until he knows what caused you to age. And if he gets his hands on that drug—"

  "I know. They'll kill us in our sleep."

  Vanda pressed a hand to her brow. "This is all my fault. I made you too famous, and now you're in danger. Jedrek will hunt you down. He'll—he'll—"

  "It will be all ri
ght."

  "But I completely screwed up," she cried. "You're like one of my little brothers to me. And I lost all of them. I can't stand to lose you, too, not when it's all my fault."

  "Shhh." He pulled her into an embrace and patted her on the back. "I doona blame you, Vanda. Yer heart was in the right place. But I would appreciate it if ye could tell Cora Lee and Lady Pamela to keep their bloody mouths shut."

  "I will, I will." Vanda stepped back and sniffed. "And I'll keep trying to find you the perfect mate. I'll make a list of the girls who want to meet you, and I'll interview them myself to weed out the ones who just want to be famous."

  Ian figured that was all of them, but he didn't want to belittle Vanda's offer. "That would be great. Thanks."

  She squeezed her eyes shut. "I want you to be happy, Ian. And safe." When she opened her eyes, anger flashed in them. "So help me, if that Jedrek bastard hurts—"

  "Vanda, promise me ye'll do nothing about Jedrek Janow. Leave him to me and Connor."

  She heaved a sigh. "Okay, but please be careful. He'll want answers, and you're the one who has them."

  "I know." Ian realized Jedrek could be hunting for him right now. And the first place he'd search would be Roman's townhouse. "I need to use your computer."

  He dashed down the stairs to Vanda's office and accessed the tracking device in Toni's handbag. She was back at the townhouse. All alone.

  Ian's stomach clenched. Toni, he thought, just before he teleported away.

  CHAPTER 13

  A hot shower helped take the chill out of Toni's bones and relieve the ache in her bruised hip. She leaned over to wrap a towel around her wet hair, and as she straightened, she accidentally brushed her hip against the counter.

  "Ow!" She eyed the bruise. It had swollen to a lovely shade of purple that coordinated well with the red scars on her torso and breasts.

  "Toni!"

  She jumped at the sound of Ian's voice coming from her bedroom. Her hip knocked against the counter. "Ow! Dammit!" She grabbed on to the towel bar to keep from falling.

  "Toni, are ye all right?" Ian pounded on the door. "Is someone hurting you? Should I teleport in?"

  "No!" What was he doing out there? "I…I have the entire offensive line from the New York Giants in here. Oh yeah, I'm feeling good! Second down and eight to go."

  There was a pause. "Ye're jesting, right?"

  She snorted. "Brilliant, Sherlock."

  "Come out now. We need to talk."

  Not that again. "I don't have any clothes. Go away."

  "I'll close my eyes."

  Now it was her turn to pause. "I don't believe you."

  "Brilliant, Sherlock."

  Damn him. She wrapped a towel around herself. "Go away."

  "No. I've come to rescue you."

  "From what? Mildew?"

  "I'll step into the hall so ye can get dressed. Please hurry."

  She heard footsteps and a door click shut. She peeked out. The bedroom was empty.

  She eased toward the dresser. "Why are you pestering me? I'm off duty now." She dropped her towel and quickly pulled on some panties.

  "This canna wait," Ian spoke from the hallway. "We're in danger from a Malcontent assassin named Jedrek Janow. He's the new master of the Russian-American coven in Brooklyn, the bastards who attacked you before. Jedrek wants information about the drug I took in order to age, so he'll be searching for me."

  Any irritation Toni had felt sifted away, only to be replaced by a twinge of fear. She reached behind her back to hook her bra. "How serious is this?"

  "Verra serious. If he comes to the townhouse, he willna come alone. He'll bring other Malcontents with him, and everyone here, including you, will be attacked."

  A chill prickled her skin with gooseflesh. "They know about this townhouse? I thought it was a secret." Damn, she had thought she was safe from them.

  "Roman's home is a secret, but this place has always been known in the Vamp world. Every spring, Roman hosts a conference at Romatech, and coven masters come from around the world to attend. They always stay here, and Angus's company provides security. Are ye decent now?"

  She could be attacked again? God, no. Memories of that night threatened to wash over her. No, not again.

  A form appeared before her, and she gasped.

  Ian's eyes widened. "Toni."

  Her hands fluttered around her panties and bra. Damn! Her undies didn't cover up much. And her scars! She glanced at his face and saw his expression go from shock to horror.

  "Go away!" She turned her back to him. Dammit, what was worse? Being caught almost naked or seeing a guy's horrified reaction to it?

  "Toni, ye're covered with bite marks."

  "I know. I was there when it happened." She rushed to the closet and yanked a pair of jeans off a hanger.

  "And yer hip. It's bruised something terrible."

  "Stop looking at me!" She pulled on the jeans. "I fell in a parking lot."

  "At the Shady Oaks Psychiatric Hospital?"

  She gasped, and the jeans slid down to her knees. "How—" She noticed his gaze drifting south, and she jerked the jeans back up. "How did you know?"

  "I'm a verra good investigator."

  Damn him. She zipped up her jeans. "You've been spying on me?"

  He strode toward her. "Is that yer suitcase there?"

  She jumped aside to keep some distance between them. "What are you doing?"

  He opened the suitcase on her dresser and started filling it with her clothes. "Finish getting dressed now."

  She didn't care for his authoritarian tone. Or that he'd been spying on her. She jerked a T-shirt off a hanger and pulled it on. "Fine. I'll get dressed. Then you won't have to look so horrified at the sight of my body."

  He paused with a handful of her panties in his fist. "I was angry when I saw how those bastards punctured you with holes. I wasna horrified. Yer body is beautiful."

  How could she stay angry when he said that?

  He dropped the panties in her suitcase. "Please hurry. We need to go."

  "Where are we going?" She ran into the bathroom, grabbed her hairbrush, toothbrush, cosmetic bag, and contacts, then tossed them into the suitcase.

  "I'll take you to Romatech. Security is much tighter there. Then the lads and I can return here to fight the bastards if they come."

  She liked the idea of being safe, and she really hated the idea of seeing the Malcontents again, but something about Ian's plan annoyed her. She didn't like being a weak damsel in distress. She sat on the bed to pull on her socks. "I'm not going to hide and leave all the fighting to you guys. I was hired to fight."

  Ian smiled as he grabbed clothes from her closet and dumped them in her suitcase. "Ye're a brave lass, and I commend ye for it, but this is no' yer fight."

  Normally she would agree. Why risk her life over a vampire dispute? But the night the Malcontents attacked her, it became personal. As much as she hated seeing them again, she had to do it. She jerked on her boots. "This is my fight. I won't cower in fear. I'll do what I was hired to do."

  Ian zipped her suitcase shut. "Sweetheart, ye were hired as a day guard. That means ye're supposed to fight daytime enemies, namely mortals. Ye're off duty at night for a reason. Ye canna survive against a vampire foe."

  "I pinned Phineas down the other night."

  "A lucky break."

  "Look, sweetheart." She marched toward him. "I'm good. I'm damned good. Do you need a demonstration?"

  "Perhaps ye do." He vanished, and a second later he was behind her, pulling her against his chest.

  She reacted quickly, ramming her elbows into his chest. It was like hitting a brick wall.

  His hands moved to her neck and face, and his voice was soft against her ear. "The next sound ye would hear is the snapping of yer neck."

  Rage swept through her. Dammit to hell, was there no winning against them? The memory of her attack flooded back and sucked her under, drowning her in horror. She shook her head, trying to dislodg
e the memories, but they filled her mind, playing back every excruciating detail. A shudder almost doubled her over.

  "Toni, it will be all right," Ian whispered.

  "No!" She fought back the tears, but the more she struggled, the more her emotions swelled. She broke free from Ian and staggered back. "I—I hate your kind!"

  His face paled. She pressed a hand to her mouth, startled by the intensity of her outburst.

  His mouth thinned, and pain glinted in his eyes. "At least ye're being honest now."

  She splayed her hands across her scarred rib cage. "They chewed on me like I was food. Like I wasn't human. I was just a piece of meat." Tears rolled down her face, and she wiped her cheeks. "I couldn't fight them. They took over my mind, and it was like my soul was squashed."

  He pulled her into his arms. She stiffened, but he held her tight. "Lass, I would never harm you. Ye can trust me."

  She took a slow, shuddering breath, and let it out. "I know." She burrowed her face in his thick sweater and let his scent fill her nostrils. He smelled clean, but earthy. Sweet, but manly.

  He rubbed a hand up and down her back. "I hope I do see those bastards tonight. I'd love to skewer them for what they did to you."

  She rested her cheek against his shoulder. He still didn't quite understand. She appreciated his desire to protect her, but she didn't really want a protector against evil vampires. What she wanted was a way to protect herself. And given their superior abilities, she didn't think such a way existed. And that's what bothered her the most—the inequality and injustice of it all.

  "I wish I could whip your ass," she whispered.

  Ian chuckled. "That's my girl."

  She nestled her cheek deeper into his thick sweater. He was surprisingly warm and wonderfully solid. When he released her and stepped back, she wanted to throw herself back into his arms.

  "We need to go, lass." He dragged her suitcase off the dresser.

  She pulled on her coat and grabbed her handbag. "Are you driving?"

  "Teleporting. It's faster." He grasped the handle of her suitcase with one hand and extended the other toward her. "Ye'll need to hold on to me."