She walked into the bathroom and pulled her hair up in a ponytail. After she brushed her teeth and washed her face, she added some of Delilah’s homemade moisturizer they sold in the shop. In search of some clothing, she walked to the guest closet and found a pullover and sweats, then changed out of her borrowed PJ's.
Once she found a pair of Brooke’s old sneakers, she slipped her feet into them and decided to go for a run to clear her head. Her heart thudded against her ribcage. What if one of Lawrence’s thugs came after her? She took a deep breath and reminded herself that the vampires who’d attacked them were in custody. She would be safe. Besides, she wasn’t about to let them dictate her life and scare her out of her routine. She swiped the hematite crystal off the nightstand just in case and shoved it in the front pocket of her hoodie.
The moment she made her way into the dimly lit hallway, her whole body tensed. She found Brooke curled up on the couch in the living room, pale and covered in sweat, clutching the amulet on her key ring.
“What’s wrong?” Gillian put her hand on her forehead. “You’re burning up.”
“I don’t know what’s happening to me, Gillian. My body feels like it’s on fire. I’m crawling out of my skin.” When Brooke lifted her head, two red bite marks showed on her neck.
“Lawrence bit you?” Saying the words out loud made her stomach churn with revulsion. She swallowed the bile rising from the back of her throat. Gillian took the key chain from Brooke’s hands and stuffed it in the front pocket of her hoodie. Then she replaced the amulet with the giant quartz off the coffee table to give her a surge of healing energy. “I’m calling Saje, There has to a potion that can bring you out of this. I’ll be right back.” She was headed to the guest room to grab her phone when all the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end.
The front door creaked open. Her heart pounded wildly in her chest. Immediately she sensed a vampire in the room. Gillian turned and caught sight of Kurt Lawrence, along with his bodyguard, the hulking vampire from the hotel room. She froze, too stunned to move.
“You need to invite me in, Brooke,” Lawrence commanded.
Before Gillian could even utter a warning or protest, Brooke invited him in. Her voice sounded desperate, hollow. The vampire swooped over to where she lay on the couch in a blur. He bent his head to her neck. “You’re bonded to me now. You go where I go.” When his fangs protruded from his lips and sunk into her neck, Brooke let out a blood-curdling scream.
Adrenaline surged through Gillian’s veins and forced her into action. She focused her mind on the quartz. With a flick of her wrist, the crystal soared up in the air and smashed into the back of Lawrence’s head.
When he turned around, his eyes narrowed into slits, filling with rage. “Don’t bother trying to fight me, you’ll never win.”
Before Gillian could look away, his gaze locked on hers, and just like before, her mind and body went rigid. Her magick stalled inside her body, frozen like a cold engine.
“It’s a shame because I found you charming, But let this be a warning: don’t ever get in my way again, witch, or next time I won’t be so nice.”
“Let’s go.” Lawrence motioned to his bodyguard and then grabbed Brooke by the waist and led her out the door.
Gillian blinked and the mental and physical hold on her drained away. She ran to the nightstand and grabbed her phone. Her chest heaved as she searched through her contacts for Mulroney’s number. When she found it, she pressed a button and inhaled.
Thankfully, he answered on the first ring. “M-mulroney?” Panting, she tried to catch her breath. “I…need your help.”
“Miss Howe? Is everything okay?”
“No! Brooke’s been bitten by Lawrence. He…he took her. The bastard tranced me. You need to send the police now!”
“You’re still at her apartment?”
She bit back a sob, and her eyes filled with tears. “Y-yes.”
“You need to get out of there. Now. Go to the Starbucks on Hudson Street.”
The adrenaline coursing through her veins made it hard to think or speak. “You need to find her. What if he—”
“I’m sending back-up to Brooke’s apartment as we speak. Maybe we can intersect him. I’ll be in touch,” he said, and the line went dead.
All Gillian could do was hope and pray that he wouldn’t be too late.
Chapter 6
Shaking from head to toe, Gillian got more than a few curious glances from the barista and the constant flow of customers lining up to get their drink orders. Too nervous to sit, she began shredding napkins and pacing back and forth—spilling the coffee she tried to drink all over the table. She probably looked like a crazy person. She tried not to think the worst, but it was impossible considering what she now knew about vampires. Brooke’s fate rested in the hands of Kurt Lawrence, a total psycho with a personal bodyguard and unlimited funds at his disposal. What did it all mean for Brooke?
A sudden tremble in her limbs made her sit down at an empty stool. The ache in her chest intensified. She refused to stand back and do nothing. She lifted her phone from her pocket and began composing a tweet.
#KurtLawrence, #vampireentrepreneur arrested amid #humantrafficking scandal.
She posted it and then linked it to her Instagram account, praying the two would work in Brooke’s favor. Before she could go over the whole ordeal again in her head, the front door blew open bringing a brisk autumn breeze with it. Mulroney walked in alone. Relief washed over her, and she had to force herself not to jump into his arms.
He towered over everyone else, a tall, brooding presence with an intense look in his light blue eyes that made her shiver. A few female heads turned to stare at him, but he appeared not to notice, his focus directed solely on her.
“Miss Howe?” His brows creased in concern when he spotted her through the crowd. He made his way over to her table, and her breaths came out too fast. “Are you okay?” he asked, his gaze darting to her neck. Despite having just been tranced and threatened by a vampire, the sound of his voice managed to chase some of the darkness away.
“I’m fine. What about Brooke?” she whispered. “Did you find her?” Tears burned her eyes and clogged in the back of her throat. To her horror, she let out a sniffle. The last thing she wanted to do was fall apart in front of Garrett Mulroney.
“Why don’t we go somewhere private to have this discussion?” Mulroney motioned to the door.
A shudder rippled through her. “No, I’m not going anywhere until you tell me what’s going on.” Between his solemn expression and his rigid stance, she sensed whatever he had to say was bad. Her hands began to shake.
His gaze softened a fraction and then darted around the coffee shop before they met hers once more. He resumed his usual guarded expression, pulled out a chair, and sat down. When his jaw visibly clenched, she braced herself for the worst. “We combed through the apartment, but there was no sign of her. From what you told me on the phone, and by all appearances, we believe Brooke was kidnapped.”
Hearing her suspicions confirmed made Gillian burst into tears. A mixture of fear and anger washed over her like a tidal wave.
“I’m so sorry. Hey, it’s going to be okay. We’re going to find her.” When he reached across the table to squeeze her hand, a searing heat spread up her arm and burned through the thin material of her sweatshirt. He froze momentarily before he swiped his hand away. What was with her reaction to this guy? She tried to ignore it along with the knot of guilt in her belly.
His expression turned fierce as his eyes locked on hers. “This should never have happened.”
“What about the cops?” Her voice bordered on hysterical, but at the moment, she didn’t care. “I thought they were supposed to be keeping an eye on Brooke’s place. How did Lawrence and his bodyguard slip past them?”
He frowned. “We sent a patrol car to drive by earlier, but they didn’t see anything suspicious, so they left. I’m so sorry I wasn’t there.”
After a
few minutes, when the tears finally subsided, she took a deep breath and tried to pull it together. It wouldn’t do Brooke any good to have her falling apart. She needed to remain strong so she could help find her and bring her home. “Now what?”
“Good question. We have a team of special agents and police working on locating her as we speak. Let me get you some water.” He walked to the counter and came back and handed her a glass bottle. He sat back down across from her and pulled a silk handkerchief from his pocket. He placed it in her hands, clearly uncomfortable.
Shock mingled with gratitude as she wiped her eyes and blew her nose in a very unladylike way. “Thank you.” She glanced down at his initials embroidered across the front before looking up. “Who carries a handkerchief around anymore?” She wasn’t sure why she was even talking about monogrammed handkerchiefs at a time like this. I must be in shock.
“Some of us still do,” he clarified.
She supposed it was kind of sweet, in an old-fashioned way. “My grandfather used to carry a handkerchief,” she said with another sniffle.
“It’s nice to know I remind you of your grandfather. I’m guessing I’m probably much older than him.”
He seemed like he wanted to smile, but from the haunted look in his eyes, she guessed he’d seen too much pain and suffering in his life. In a flash, the vulnerability was gone, evaporated like a fine mist. The image of Lawrence biting Brooke and taking her would never leave her mind. She guessed Mulroney must’ve seen a lot worse in his day. Maybe sarcasm and jokes were his way of not letting all the ugliness get the best of him.
“Why don’t you start by telling me what happened?”
After she relayed the details to him, she took a sip of water and tried to calm her nerves. “If Lawrence was arrested and brought into custody how did he get out of jail? I thought he was going to Hellios where he belongs.”
“He’s got connections, not to mention a team of high-priced attorneys. They got him out on bail.” His full lips pursed into a tight line. “The Council didn’t even have a chance to vote.”
For the first time since she met Mulroney the air of arrogance was gone, replaced with remorse. He ran a hand through his hair, and shadows appeared under his eyes. This case appeared to be taking a toll on him as well.
“I just found out. The officers parked outside of Miss Corey’s apartment were supposed to warn both of you, but by the time they got inside, they said the place was empty.”
“Yeah, well, I think they were a little late. How did Lawrence and his bodyguard slip past them?” she asked, exasperated. “I thought they were supposed to protect her from something like this happening.”
“Unfortunately, the officers didn’t see Lawrence or his bodyguard go into the building. Vampires can move quite fast when we want to.” His eyes remained steely. “I’d like you to come back to Brooke’s with me and then to the station to get your statement. It’s a miracle you managed to get away from them.” He got to his feet. “It seems as though luck is on your side, Miss Howe. You have more lives than a cat.”
By the time they made it to the coven in Raven’s Hollow, the sky had turned dark. After spending hours back at Brooke’s apartment and the station, she gave Mulroney, Alex, and his partner Cayden, what they deemed an eyewitness account. After that, Mulroney had insisted on escorting her home.
Moonlight illuminated the stone path that led to the kitchen door. Mulroney instructed her to go in through the back of the manor in case someone was inside waiting to attack. The thought filled her with unease. A cool autumn breeze whipped through the air and blew loose strands of hair from her ponytail. The wind chimes clinked together, soothing the anxiety churning in her gut.
“Try to stay calm. I can smell the adrenaline pumping through your veins. If a vampire’s here, you’ll give yourself away,” he whispered close to her ear. His breath fanned her cheek and sent a tingle down her spine.
“Was that supposed to put me at ease?” she whispered back. Taking a deep breath, she turned the handle on the old wooden door, and it slowly creaked open. Living in a hundred-year-old Victorian had its perks, as well as its fair share of challenges—like no one could ever remember to lock the numerous doors and windows around the house.
Mulroney brushed past her, and she followed him into the kitchen. “Stay put while I have a look around.” The idea of Lawrence, or one of his thugs, waiting for her inside the house made her break out in a cold sweat. The place was unusually quiet. The only sounds came from the hum of the fridge and the pounding of her heart.
Fortunately, one of them was able to see in the dark. She stood there frozen while Mulroney roamed through the house. After several agonizing minutes, heavy footsteps scraped against the stone floor.
“We’re all clear.” His voice cut through the darkness and eased some of her fear. He flicked on the lights, and she covered her eyes from the sudden brightness. “You need to take proper precautions. A bunch of women living alone, leaving the back door open is a recipe for disaster.” He took a step closer to her, and her eyes roamed over his tall, powerful frame. He was so big and broad, all six-foot-three inches of him filling the space.
“I’ll talk to the other girls.” Not that she tended to agree with him, but in this case, he was right. Besides, if a creature was powerful enough, they could break through the protective charms and spells throughout the house if they wanted to.
“Speaking of the women, where are they?” Mulroney asked, glancing around the empty kitchen. The scent of rosemary and thyme filled the air. Dried herbs from their solarium hung from the wooden beams above the island. “I’m not picking up on any conversations.”
“A Mabon Ritual, for the autumn equinox.” She wasn’t sure what she was going to tell the other girls as to the reason she’d blown it off. They’d worry when she didn’t show, but if she told them the truth, she’d ruin the ritual. For now, she needed to let them know she was okay.
She reached for her cell from her back pocket and sent a group text.
Sorry, I couldn’t make it tonight. Something came up.
At least that part wasn’t a total lie. After she shoved the phone back in her pocket, she glanced over at Mulroney and pointed to his cell which continued to beep. “You can actually hear other people’s conversations? I thought that was a myth along with burning up in the sun.”
His stance was rigid, his jaw locked tight. “There’s always some hint of truth to all those legends, and while some of us can pick up on a dozen conversations at once, even from far away, we can’t burn up in the sun. Although sunlight does slow down our speed and strength. As for some of the other myths, I prefer my meat cooked rare actually and not raw when I indulge. Any other questions, Miss Howe?”
“Yeah, do you have any idea where Lawrence could’ve taken Brooke?” Gillian’s mind whirled in a million different directions, devising ways to keep the other girls out of harm’s way. They’d have to use their collective magick to strengthen the spells and charms throughout the house.
He rubbed the back of his neck, and a crease appeared between his brows. “I’ve been on the phone with Alex and my partner and that seems to be the question of the evening. The MBI sent a forensics team to take hair and blood samples. The case is in their jurisdiction. Agents have been sent to Lawrence’s last known address in the city, and they’re searching his offices for any evidence that could lead us to her whereabouts. I’m afraid we don’t have much to go on at this point. But we are pouring all our resources into it, I promise you.” He motioned to the table. “Why don’t I wait with you until the others get back? You shouldn’t be left alone. I’m hoping a conversation might jog your memory.”
His words filled her with a mixture of disappointment—and fear. Gillian wanted to try scrying for Brooke, but her powers were depleted after expending so much magick in the last twenty-four hours. “I’m willing to try if you think it might lead you to Brooke,” she said over her shoulder as she walked to the fridge and took out a green
juice. She offered one to Mulroney, but he made a face and held up his hand, taking a seat. “If you were doing surveillance on Lawrence, then you must know all about his operation.” She unscrewed the cap off the Mason jar and took a sip.
“Our sources tell us he's not working alone,” Mulroney explained, folding his arms across his broad chest. “We have reason to believe he’s the frontmanfor a bigger, badder organization. A demon by the name of Tristan Saint Claire was the head of a crime syndicate known as the Shadow Cabal. When he was killed, his operation was dismantled, making room for a group of vampires who call themselves the Du Sang Brotherhood to take over the reins.”
“The Du Sang Brotherhood?” she repeated. “I suppose it has a certain sinister ring to it.”
“I suppose it does,” he agreed, rubbing at the scruff along his chin, and she wondered if the man ever shaved. “It’s French for blood. We have reason to believe they’re now being led by Kurt Lawrence and his cronies. The bastards have their hands in everything from human trafficking to money laundering.”
“I don’t understand,” she said, shaking her head. “Kurt Lawrence is a mogul with a legit business. Why go into this life of debauchery? It can’t be for the money.” She walked to the table and sat down next to him in one of the wicker back chairs.
“He's been using the other business as a front for money laundering,” Mulroney explained, resting his hands on the table. “Lawrence’s empire is in trouble and has been for a while, mainly because of his gambling problem. He owes debts all over the place. He was vulnerable and a man with connections, which put him in a prime position to be recruited by this type of organization. But I believe someone else is running the show.”
“What does this mean for Brooke? Are you officially calling this a kidnapping even though she invited him in?” she asked in a defensive tone and immediately regretted it. She wasn’t angry at Mulroney but furious at the whole situation. She reached for a deck of her cards stacked on the table and began shuffling them, needing something to do with her hands.
Midnight Temptation Page 5