by Rayna Vause
“Wait, what?”
“Dan, didn’t you hear what Sharon said? You’re probably going to be here a while. Figuring out how to help you isn’t going to be a fast thing. What’s happening to you is something new. Until we develop a game plan to manage it, you need to stick close. So you may as well be comfortable.”
“Right. Sorry. My brain is a bit fried at the moment.” Danny stood in the middle of the room, turning in a slow circle, taking everything in.
Kier slipped away, disappearing down a dark hallway that Danny assumed led to the bedrooms. He sank down into the sofa and dropped his head back so that he stared up at the ceiling. Exhaustion made his entire body heavy, and the adrenaline that had driven him all day leeched from his system. It left him in desperate need of sleep and turning his brain off for a few hours. How much more would get dumped on him? How much more could he handle? He shivered and rubbed his arms.
“Are you cold?”
Danny jumped and twisted to find Kier standing a few feet behind him.
“A little.”
Kier snapped his fingers and the fire blazed to life. Danny’s jaw dropped. He blinked at Kier once, twice, then goggled at the flames. “How did you do that?”
Kier smirked. “It’s a gas fireplace. Sound activated. What, did you think I could light a fire with the snap of my fingers?”
Danny huffed out a shaky laugh.
Kier snapped his fingers again. This time a tiny flame danced above his fingertip.
Danny groped for the arm of a couch and then pushed to his feet. Gaze locked on the dancing flame, he moved toward Kier.
“Why did I not know you could do that?”
Kier shrugged and snuffed the flame. “It would have been a little difficult to explain being able to light fires at the snap of a finger without telling you the whole story.”
“Why did you hide it from me?”
Kier gave him a “seriously” look.
“Don’t give me that look. I freaked, I admit it, but you weren’t exactly Mr. Honesty yourself.”
“Danny, get real. I met you outside an antivampire book club. However, I didn’t realize you were with them at the time.”
Danny crossed his arms and glared at Kier. “It was a support group for victims of vampire attacks. It was a safe place for victims and families of victims to talk about their experiences and losses at the hands of those vile, vicious creatures.” He all but spat out the words. When he met Kier’s eyes, hard ice stared back at him. Shit. “Kier, I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking. I didn’t mean—”
“Yes, you did. You meant every word of it, but keep in mind you’re now staying with and being medically treated by two of those vile creatures.”
“That’s different. You’re different.” Danny reached a hand toward Kier as his chest went tight.
“Vampires, like humans, have the good and the bad among them. Maybe you need to think about that in the future.”
“I know that. Kier, please.” Danny stepped closer to Kier.
“Do you? Think about what you just said, and then consider why I kept my mouth shut about what I am. I just wanted you to get to know me first. I thought maybe….” Kier shook his head. “Doesn’t matter now.” Keir turned away and headed for the fridge behind the bar. He pulled out a bottle of water, twisted it open, and took a long drink.
“Yes, it does.” Danny trailed after Kier and forced his words out through clenched teeth as anger, regret, and longing battled for dominance. “Maybe things would have been different if you’d just told me the truth from the start, but you let our relationship grow on a lie. If you’d only told me—”
“I did tell you and we already know what happened when you found out. You ran, and I didn’t hear from you for six months. You probably wouldn’t even be here now if it weren’t for your predicament,” Kier snapped.
“That’s not true, but think about where I was coming from at the time.” Danny gripped the edge of the bar, knuckles going white. His head started to throb.
“I know exactly where you were coming from—a place of fear and anger. Instead of thinking of the man you knew me to be, you burrowed back into your world of hatred and blame.” He slammed the open bottle on the bar top, spewing a stream of water into the air. His scorching blue gaze burned into Danny’s for endless moments. Then he sighed and dragged a hand down his face. All of the energy and emotion flowed from Kier like water down a tub drain. “This isn’t the time for this discussion.”
“Well, when is?” Danny leaned, wanting Kier to reengage. He hadn’t intended to open this discussion tonight, but he didn’t want to let it go. Not yet. Not with so much unresolved. Not when he could see Kier retreating behind the wall of indifference he’d built between them.
Kier rounded the bar and headed toward the hallway.
Danny threw up his hands and let them flop down at his sides. “So now what?”
Kier paused but didn’t turn back. “Now we go to bed. We can’t do anything more tonight, and arguing about the past isn’t going to accomplish anything. After we wake up tomorrow, we’ll figure out our next step. For now, I’m beat.”
Danny dragged his feet but followed. Kier stopped at one of the guest bedrooms and waved him in. “Bathroom is across the hall.” He skimmed his eyes over Danny’s face. “I’d suggest skipping food and drink until breakfast. They may be a bit big, but I left a T-shirt and sweats for you to sleep in. Good night.” With a nod, he started for his room.
Danny opened his mouth to speak, hesitated, then took the chance. “If you’re still so angry with me, then why are you helping me?”
Kier turned in the entrance to his bedroom. Danny studied his former lover’s eyes. Weariness, resignation, and irritation shone. “Because, like I already told you, I’m not an asshole. I’m not going to sit by and let you die because of what went down between us.” Silence stretched between the two men. “Look, it’s almost dawn. We both need rest. Just go to bed, Danny.” With that Kier disappeared into his room, closing the door behind him.
Danny stepped into his room; the simple space held all the basics. He crossed to the bed and picked up the T-shirt Kier left for him to sleep in. He changed into it, not even caring that it hung on him like a dress. Then he crawled into bed, but sleep wouldn’t come. His brain wouldn’t shut off. Worries pinged around like ricocheting Super Balls. How the hell did I get here? What the hell am I going to do if they can’t fix me?
Thoughts looped through his brain until his eyes and body grew heavy. Before he drifted off, one final thought slipped through his mind, a question that had nagged at him for the past few months. Could he and Kier possibly forgive each other and just maybe have a second chance?
Chapter 4
ROGAN ENTERED Purity HQ at eight o’clock in the morning. He’d gotten home after midnight and woke up to find at least fifteen emails updating him on the status of the investigation into Jared’s death and three voicemails, two from Lydecker, one from Melissa. It was going to be a long day. He made his way to the top floor of the building to Lydecker’s lab. The harsh scent of bleach assailed his nose as he stepped into the large white room.
“Dammit!” Thomas Lydecker shoved up from his rolling stool, lab coat flapping, hands fisted in his hair. He tugged at it as he growled and then kicked his stool so that it flew across the room and slammed into the wall.
“Is there a problem, sir?” Rogan stuffed his hands into the pockets of his cargo pants and waited by the lab door. Let rant begin in three… two… one.
“I’ve been up all night analyzing some of the samples your team collected from the scene of—” Pain flashed in his eyes, and he swallowed hard before continuing. “Well, from the scene.”
“Sir, you didn’t have to do this yourself. We’ve got a team of scientists that we pay well to do all of this.”
Lydecker snorted. “This is my son we’re talking about. Do you seriously think I’d trust anyone else with this?”
Rogan pinched the bridge of his n
ose. “Sir—”
He waved away Rogan’s concern. “Relax. You collected plenty of samples. There’s enough left for our team to do a thorough secondary evaluation.” He snatched a stack of papers off his desk and waved them in the air. “My son, my precious son, even in death gave me a gift.”
Rogan cocked his head. “I’m not sure I follow.”
Again, Lydecker shook the sheaf of papers. “He left me a way to continue my work. He found me a new subject for study.”
“Okay. So what’s the problem? I’m sort of lost here, sir.”
“Do you see this?” He thrust out a hand toward the computer screen. “No match. How could there be no damn match in the system? I’ve been searching almost all night and nothing. We’ve got no record of this wondrous revelation. I can’t continue my work until we find him. So, tell me you have something.”
“We’re working on multiple leads, sir. We hope to have something soon.”
“Work faster.” Lydecker threw down his papers, and they hit the table with a loud slap and scattered a collection of writing utensils, sending them clattering to the floor. “It shouldn’t take this long to find one person. With all the cataloging and tracking Purity has done over the years, there must be some record of the creature with this fascinating blood profile. This amazing scientific find.” His voice went dark and menacing, causing goose bumps to form on Rogan’s arms. “This man took my son from me. The least he can do is help me complete my work.”
Rogan cleared his throat, needing to ease some of the tension that had rushed in to fill the room. “We’re doing the best we can, sir. Moving as fast as possible, following up every lead. We’re going to interview the library staff, but they won’t be in until ten. With luck, we’ll get some information that will lead us to the victim.”
“Victim?” If Lydecker could shoot lasers from his eyes, Rogan would have been sliced in two.
“Sorry, sir. Jared’s assailant.”
Lydecker smoothed his hand over the wild disarray of his salt-and-pepper hair, but he only made matters worse. From his expression, Rogan couldn’t tell if the man wanted to explode again or not. He remained quiet, waiting while the doctor made a visible effort to settle. He straightened his lab coat, adjusted the collar on his shirt, and then sucked in a breath.
“Rogan, I know I’ve asked before, but it’s more important than ever that I stay up to date on the progress of your investigation. This person is vital to my research. In fact, I think he can help take it to the next level.”
Rogan just nodded. The doctor might be an overzealous old man, but he was also a grieving father. Rogan actually felt sort of bad for Lydecker. “Can I ask, sir, what makes this individual so special?”
Lydecker’s face lit up like he’d just won the Nobel Prize. He reclaimed his rolling stool and scooted over to the microscope, peered through the eyepiece, adjusted a few nobs, then glanced up. He waved his hand, gesturing Rogan over. “Come here, look.”
Rogan crossed to the table and leaned down to view the slide.
“Do you see the miraculous little blood cells on the slide?”
“Yeah, I think so.” Rogan stood and eyed the doctor, noting the excited gleam in his eyes.
“Those cells are almost identical to Jared’s, but the DNA analysis shows that this blood isn’t Jared’s.” Lydecker grinned at him like a kid getting his first science kit.
“This all sounds fascinating, sir, but I have to admit science was never my strongest subject.”
Lydecker sat, energy seeming to drain out of him. Rogan had a flash of guilt that his comment seemed to take the wind out of the doctor’s sails.
“I am so close. So close.” Lydecker fisted his hand and pounded it against his thigh.
“That’s terrific, sir.”
“I’ve put in countless hours to create a serum to reverse the effects of the vampire’s curse. Jared, my poor, weak-willed child.” Lydecker’s voice broke. He cleared his throat, then continued. “He inspired all of my research, and the drug I’m creating works, almost. It’s designed to prevent the body from producing vampire cells and to begin reproducing normal human blood cells, but it wasn’t quite strong enough. Jared’s cells, like those of his unknown assailant’s, were hybridized, a combination of both human and vampire.”
Rogan frowned. “Am I looking for a vampire, then?”
Lydecker shook his head. “No. The number of hybrid cells in this sample is small. I’m pretty sure what we’re looking at is the beginning of a conversion. But since it’s with Jared’s weakened vampire blood, this individual may or may not be able to fully convert. I’m not sure. This is all new. But I do believe he will reach a point where his blood profile is extremely similar to my son’s. Once we have him, I’ll be able to complete my research. With a little more time and study, I’ll find the cure. Although it will be too late for my poor boy, thousands will flock to us for help, and finally the world will be rid of this horrid affliction that rips families apart.”
Rogan pressed his lips together and studied Lydecker; his stomach turned like he’d eaten something that didn’t agree with him. He held no great feeling for vampires one way or the other, and having a cure for those who wanted it could only be a good thing. Right? They wouldn’t really try to force it on all vampires, would they?
“Your serum would be just for those who want to be human again?”
“Perhaps, at first.”
Rogan’s gaze met Lydecker’s. Something flickered in the scientist’s eyes, something dark and unsettling. Rogan took a step back. Again, his stomach churned. Purity’s job was to keep vampires in check and, in his opinion, to keep humans from taking the law into their own hands. But to force conversion, that didn’t sit well with him. It didn’t sit well with him at all.
“I should let you get back to it, then.” Rogan headed for the door, hands balled into fists.
Lydecker smiled and nodded. “Yes, there is much to do. Finishing the cure will be a fitting memorial to my son, and we’ll get there. But not until we find this specimen. He’s the key that will unlock the formula.” He leaned down to look into the microscope, then reached for his notebook to jot down more notes. “Maybe we should consider putting together a task force just to focus on the search for this person. I don’t understand how he’s not in our database. Not in any database. We need to expand our cataloging. I want this individual found. Collect him, but do it without making a scene. We don’t want him trying to run during acquisition and some concerned citizen interfering.”
Rogan’s jaw went slack. The hand that had been about to press the door latch fell limp at his side. “You want me to kidnap this man? But, sir.”
“That’s such an ugly term. I prefer to think of it as involuntarily acquiring his time and services.”
Rogan couldn’t look at him. He couldn’t keep the shock and disgust off his face. He hadn’t always agreed with the orders he’d gotten from Melissa and Lydecker—he’d somehow managed to rationalize all of that away—but this….
He pushed through the door into the hall, ready to hand in his resignation for the first time in the five years he’d worked for them. His cell phone beeped. He snatched it from the holster on his waistband. This better not be goddamn Melissa. He sighed and settled a bit when he saw the picture on his phone screen. His brother Brian stared up at him with a big goofy grin on his face, shining brown eyes, and Mickey Mouse ears on his head. He’d taken that shot on their trip to Disney to celebrate Brian’s high school graduation two years ago. He smiled when he swiped to read the message.
Hey Mike. Tuition bill came today. Ouch. PS—I stole some cash from your sock drawer. ;-)
That one short message threw a bucket of cold water on the remainder of his fury. What the hell was he going to do? College tuition money wouldn’t just land in his lap, but he’d make sure his baby brother got the best education he could afford. As much as he wanted to, he couldn’t just quit, and finding another job in the next eight hours—so not happen
ing.
He jammed his finger into the Down elevator button. He needed out of here right now. Rogan growled when his cell phone rang as he shoved out the front door that led to Purity’s parking lot. His growl changed to a groan when he checked the screen to find Melissa’s name displayed.
“What?”
“Have you found the person who killed Jared yet?”
The cool, unamused tone grated on him. “We’re interviewing the employees at the library this morning. Hopefully that will help point us in the right direction.”
“Under no circumstances does Lydecker get that information before me. You got it?” She snapped out the words. That she’d let the calm professional mask slip even this much surprised Kier.
“I take it you heard about Lydecker’s results.”
“Yes. Unbelievable. I’d hoped this little mission of his would have died with his son. What are the odds, Rogan, that he’d find a replacement?” Her breath came hard and fast through the phone.
“I have no idea. But if you want me to track this guy before anyone else, you need to let me go so I can do my job. If one of my men locates the subject first, I can’t and I won’t order him to lie to the doctor. You’re not the only person we report to.”
He could swear a low growl came across the phone line. “Just find him.”
“I will.” He disconnected the call. “But I make no promises that I’ll turn him over to either one of you.”
Rogan frowned. Melissa’s lack of support for Lydecker’s work was one of the worst-kept secrets at Purity, but this level of anger seemed unwarranted. He didn’t like it. He didn’t like being stuck between crazy and crazier. Being given orders that contradicted each other and for that matter given orders that were flat-out illegal. His gut told him he needed to watch his back, especially around Melissa. He huffed out a breath and climbed into his Jeep. First, he’d find this man, and the rest he’d figure out from there.