Midnight Temptation

by Shari Nichols

  He supposed getting staked in the chest by a hundred-and-twenty-pound female could lower anyone’s cocky meter a notch or two. Garrett set his briefcase down on the floor, pulled out the case file, and set it on the tray table. “Why don’t you start by telling us why you were in the penthouse at the W hotel? Who put you in touch with Kurt Lawrence?” Garrett wanted to make him pay for attacking Gillian, but he needed some answers first. “Are you part of the Du Sang Brotherhood?”

  Greystone remained silent, staring at the wall, while monitors beeped all around them.

  “Let me remind you that it’s in your best interest to talk,” Denopoulos said, angling his head to the bag of blood intravenously being pumped into Greystone’s veins. “I’m afraid the Council doesn’t take kindly to vampires who try to bond with women against their will. They’ll vote against you and send your ass straight to Hellios.”

  The mage prison for the criminally insane, and for those who’d committed heinous acts deemed a threat to society, sat at the ridge of a jagged precipice. The only way out was in a body bag. Such a fate seemed justified in Garrett’s opinion.

  Chair legs slammed on the concrete floor. Teague leaned in close; his horns elongated and flared red. “The Chimera guarding the perimeter eat pretty boys like you for lunch and grind up your bones into soup.”

  Greystone flinched. “I have no attorney here. I’m not answering your questions, and the petty threats are beneath you.” His words belied the fear in his eyes.

  “Why not let me try?” Garrett snatched a picture of one of the dead girls from his file and held it up. “Do you happen to know her, Mr. Greystone? Her name is Serena Benson. Her body was found two weeks ago on the seventh of October. I’m curious what you were doing on that chilly Sunday evening?”

  “I’ve never seen her before. I was home alone finishing some work,” Greystone muttered. “I’m a commercial real estate broker.” Well, that explained how he could afford entry into the Brotherhood. From what Garrett had gleaned from his research, the fees were astronomical.

  “This was someone’s daughter or sister we’re talking about, before her life was snuffed out and her body disposed of like a piece of trash.” Garrett let out a pent-up breath and tried to keep the urge to punch the vampire square in the face in check. Every moment they wasted with this Neanderthal was a moment they could be searching for Brooke Corey.

  “Why would I know who she is?” Greystone muttered, looking bored.

  Denopoulos cursed under his breath, scratched his beard, and then shoved one of the more graphic photos under Greystone’s nose. “Oh, I don’t know, maybe because she was found with all the blood drained from her body in a way that only a vampire could manage, and then thrown in a ditch right off of Frank Sinatra Boulevard, not far from the W hotel.” He flipped through the file before looking up. “Isn’t that place one of your hangouts? Did you hit on Serena at the bar and then get a little rough, maybe do a little trancing when she told you to go to hell?”

  “Can anyone verify your whereabouts that night? Perhaps a colleague could corroborate your alibi?” Garrett asked, moving to sit on the edge of his bed.

  “I’m not answering any more questions without my attorney present.” Greystone’s hand hovered on the call button for the nurse. “If you’ll excuse me, gentlemen, as much as I’d love to continue with this conversation, I tire easily and need my rest.”

  “We can place you at the scene at the time of the murder. Couple that with trancing, assault, and attempted blood bonding without consent, and you’re looking at a life sentence, my friend.” Garrett looked from Denopoulos to Teague, hoping one of them had an ace in their hip pocket because so far, they weren’t getting jack from this piece of shit. Denopoulos shrugged and Teague only lifted his eyebrows. “It’s in your best interest to start answering our questions. We’re running out of patience, and if you don’t start talking, we’re prepared to transfer you to the infirmary in Hellios.” Okay so maybe he was bluffing, but Greystone didn’t need to know that. “And believe me, it’s a lot different than the penthouse suite at the W.”

  Greystone sat up, suddenly looking alert. “I didn’t murder anyone. I was just there to appreciate the company of a female for the night. No one was supposed to get hurt.”

  Teague stood and took a menacing step closer to Greystone until he was forced to look up at the demon’s imposing frame. “Were you attempting to murder Gillian Howe? Or were you just trying to ‘enjoy her company’ against her will?” he demanded in a voice that grumbled like the bowels of hell.

  “Gillian,” Greystone repeated. His lip curled into a sneer. “The bitch who staked me?”

  “Watch your mouth,” Garrett warned, his fangs extending from his lips. “She can identify you, which puts you in a tight spot. Imagine how that scenario will play out to the Council with the case we have against you. I think it will go something like this, ‘were you attempting to murder the young lady and throw her in a ditch after you turned her into a blood slave?’”

  “No! None of it’s true.”

  Denopoulos pulled a plastic bag containing a signet ring out of an envelope marked as evidence. “What about this little beauty? Does it belong to you?” Before Greystone could respond, Denopoulos turned it over, and his lips twisted into a smile. “What a coincidence, it looks like your initials are engraved.”

  “When your boss discovers that you were talking to us, he's going to take care of you in a big way.” Teague ran his finger across his throat. “But we can help you by offering you a deal to keep you safe from him and out of Hellios. I’m going to ask you again, how did you get involved with the Brotherhood? And don’t skip over even the smallest detail.”

  Greystone turned away from him. “It’s arrogant to think that the three of you can protect me from him.”

  With a smile, Teague stepped aside and motioned to Garrett. “Why don’t you tell him about the vampire protection program?”

  “Oh, right.” Fortunately, he’d been partnered with Teague on enough cases to pick up on his bluff. He turned to Greystone and made a point of shuffling some papers from his briefcase. “It’s simple. You agree to our terms and we keep you alive, or we send you to Hellios, your choice. I’m personally hoping for Hellios.”

  Greystone glanced from Garrett to Teague and back again before sighing. “Fine, I’ll tell you everything, but I want the offer in writing.”

  Teague gave him a nod. “Done.”

  Garrett removed a piece of paper and a pen from his briefcase, composed a quick affidavit, then signed and dated it. He slapped the paper on the dinner tray along with his pen and rolled both over to the vampire. They waited in tense silence while he read over the fake paperwork, and then signed it.

  The moment Garrett put the papers back in his briefcase, Greystone started talking. “You must first be referred by someone already in the Brotherhood. Then, you get an access code to their website. Not much different than the more elite online dating services. After I make my selection, a phone number is provided to me. I’ll call from a burner phone. A man answers, and a meeting is set up. After that, I wire twenty-five thousand dollars to a Swiss bank.”

  When he hesitated to go on, Garrett pressed him. “If you had women you paid to bond with for the evening then why attack Miss Howe?”

  Greystone’s eyes darted to the ring. “I may have gotten carried away. She was so sexy, and her scent made me crazy. Ah, the things I would’ve done to Gillian if given the chance.”

  A low growl emitted from the back of Garrett’s throat. He lunged forward and grabbed the vampire by the neck. “Don’t ever say her name. Don’t even think it, or I will decimate you.”

  Denopoulos placed a hand on Garrett’s shoulder “Easy there, big guy. He's not worth it. Let’s go back to headquarters. We need to create a profile for you. I think we just found a way to infiltrate Lawrence’s organization. I’m afraid it means turning you into one of them.”

  Chapter 17

  By noon
the next day the foot traffic in the shop was slow. So in honor of Willow and Alex’s engagement party, they decided to close early. From the moment Gillian had set foot inside the shop, she’d been trying to open a link to Brooke but without any luck. Trying hard not to scream with frustration, she downed a green drink to boost her energy and shoved a crystal in the front panel of her bra to replenish her magick. After Gillian shut everything down and emptied the register, she walked behind the counter and flicked the neon open sign off.

  All morning long she kept checking her phone to see if there was any word on Brooke or any new sightings of her vampire captor, but nothing so far. She heaved a deep sigh, her whole body tensing with disappointment. She couldn’t stop imagining what Greystone had said to Garrett and the other agents, wondering if any of it would assist them in their investigation.

  Garrett made sure to text her a few times to check on her and let her know that a development had come up in the case. She prayed it led them one step closer to Brooke.

  Today his partner, Natalya Dubrosky, had taken her to work. All morning long she’d browsed through the aisles, pretending to be a customer. As part of her cover, Natalya nixed the suit for jeans and a flowy blouse to blend in. Her witty manner and chilled vibe put Gillian at ease, along with the gun she kept holstered under a fringed suede jacket.

  Saje walked to the counter and set a black overnight bag on the glass. “Everything you need for the party is inside, along with a gift I made just for you. See for yourself.”

  “You’re the best.” Gillian flushed, becoming overwhelmed with gratitude. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.” Saje had been her rock throughout this ordeal and the only one of her friends that knew the truth about her and Mulroney.

  “You made me a gift? I think you have me confused with Willow. Last I checked she’s the one getting married.” Gillian unzipped the bag and removed a small hair spray bottle marked with a black x. “Extra hold?” Gillian asked, glancing at Saje with a smile.

  “It’s definitely not hairspray,” Saje said, nodding at the small bottle in Gillian’s hands. “What you’re looking at is a potion I made from bat’s blood, vervain, chocolate sprinkles, and a clove of garlic. It’s a vampire repellent.” Saje walked behind the counter and tallied the register receipts.

  “Whoa, keep that stuff away from me.” Natalya poked her head out from behind a bookshelf and made a face. “I can smell it from the other side of the store. It’s making my eyes water.”

  “Sorry, Natalya. At least we know it works.” Gillian shoved the spray bottle in her purse and walked over to Saje, pulling her into a hug. “Thank you for always looking out for me. You’re the best friend a girl could have.”

  Tears swam in Gillian’s eyes and Saje let out a small sniffle. Her best friend pulled away and gave her a watery smile. “Ditto. Are you ready to get out of here?”

  “Yes. Let’s go.” After Gillian walked to the front door and clicked the locks in place, she turned on the alarm. She reached for the overnight bag and her purse off the counter, and when both Natalya and Saje made their way to the back, she flicked the lights. “Speaking of gifts, I already got one, but I still need to pick up some wine for the party. There’s a liquor store right on the corner.”

  The three women made their way through the storeroom and out the back. The honk of taxi horns and the familiar smell of roasted peanuts from a nearby food cart soothed her frayed nerves.

  “Okay, you two. I’m taking off. See you tonight.” Saje gave Gillian another quick hug and headed in the other direction.

  “I don’t know about this, Gillian.” Natalya jerked her head at the cop car parked across the street. “Garrett said I should take you straight home.” They took a few steps to the flower shop next door. “What about a bouquet?”

  Gillian glanced through the window at the long line. “It looks super busy in there.”

  “Okay then, wine it is.” Natalya turned her head to the side and her gaze darted up and down the sidewalk. “The streets are crowded. We should drive over.”

  “It’s right there.” Gillian pointed to the end of the block. “Besides, you’ll never find parking. C’mon, I promise I’ll be quick.”

  They walked up the sidewalk through the throng of business people in suits and young moms wheeling strollers. She caught a whiff of vampires among them and tried not to flinch. Not every vampire was bad, she reminded herself, and thought of Garrett and Natalya. The loud chatter filled her ears and Gillian was grateful for the sound. A breeze blew a pile of leaves in every direction and she sighed, enjoying the crisp autumn air. The sizzling aroma of garlic bread from an Italian restaurant lingered in the air.

  Natalya stopped in the middle of the street and touched her arm. “Hold on a minute. I’m getting a call.” She moved off to the side and put her phone to her ear.

  A delivery van screeched to the curb in front of them. A vampire in an arm sling climbed out of the back and attempted to unload a box onto the sidewalk without much luck. He glanced over his shoulder at Gillian with a pleading look in his eyes. “Excuse me, miss? Could you help me?”

  Gillian hesitated for a moment, hating feeling like a scared little chicken. This was still her neighborhood and her peeps. “Sure, give me a minute.” She slung the strap of her purse across her body and hoisted her bag onto her shoulder. Once her hands were free, she walked over to the box to lift it out of the van, and an arm wrapped around her waist in a vicelike grip. She let out a blood-curdling scream, and another hand closed over her mouth. She cried out and sank her teeth into his hand.

  “Are you ready to go for a little ride?” he whispered close to her ear and lifted her off her feet. Her vision blurred as panic set in.

  She kicked out with her feet, but it was like hitting a brick wall. He let go of her and shoved her into the back of the van.

  “Stop right there and hold up your hands or I’ll shoot you in the back.” Natalya’s voice cut through the crowd.

  The asshole turned around, giving Gillian enough time to reach inside her purse and grab the potion bottle. She climbed out of the van, pressed her finger to the nozzle, and sprayed him on the side of his face.

  He covered his eyes with his hands. “What the fuck? What did you spray me with? It burns.”

  “Get your hands up. You’re under arrest.” Natalya slapped a set of cuffs on his wrists and hauled him up against the side of the van while he continued to howl in pain.

  “Did he hurt you? Gillian? Please, say something so I know you’re okay.”

  Her chest heaved and her heart continued to thud against her ribcage. Gillian nodded slowly, trying to catch her breath. “You were right. I should’ve gone with the bouquet.”

  Gillian lifted the steaming mug to her lips and let out a deep breath. “What’s in this? It’s good.” Her voice still sounded shaky, not to mention hoarse from all the screaming. She glanced over at Natalya, who was seated next to her on Brooke’s couch. She’d agreed to take her to her apartment. It was the only place she’d wanted to go after the attack, hoping to pick up on her cousin’s energy. Gillian leaned back in a cushion, trying to recover from adrenaline overload.

  “It’s brandy, hot water, nutmeg, and cinnamon. I found some liquor in a kitchen cabinet. You needed something to calm your nerves. I’m so sorry about what happened,” Natalya's voice filled with guilt.

  “Stop blaming yourself. It wasn’t your fault. Except for a few scratches, I’m fine. Maybe Lawrence will think twice about sending one of his minions. You were a total boss back there.”

  Natalya cracked a smile. “You too. I’m quite sure that vampire is still trying to figure out what hit him.”

  After Gillian finished her brandy, she got to her feet and paced around the apartment, touching everything she could get her hands on, from the remote control to Brooke’s favorite cookbook from the Barefoot Contessa. Nothing new came through, only fragmented images from the past.

  “I think it might have the opposite ef
fect. You’ve exposed him all over social media, which will cost him all of his high-power connections.” Natalya fell silent when her phone pinged. “Hold on a sec.” She glanced at the screen and pursed her lips. “Garrett just texted me. He’s insisting on coming here to pick you up after the attack.”

  Her pathetic heart gave a little flutter. “Do you think Greystone told him anything that could lead us to Brooke?”

  Natalya shrugged. “I’m sorry, Gillian. I can’t say at this point.”

  Gillian did another sweep of the place, and finally, she gave up, feeling sad and emotionally drained. Suddenly, everything crashed over her all at once. She plopped back down on the couch and burst into tears. Her body shook with the force of her sobs. She reached for a tissue from a box on the end table and blew her nose. “I’m sorry. I’ve been trying to be strong.”

  “It’s going to be okay. I promise.” Natalya squeezed her shoulder. “You’ve been through hell and back. I think you’re entitled to a good, hard cry.”

  When the tears finally subsided, she started to feel a bit better. She exhaled, and decided to try another way to create a psychic link with Brooke. She needed to channel her divination skills, and the best way to do that was to help someone else. “Have you ever had your cards read?”

  Excitement flashed in Natalya’s eyes. “Yes, but it was a long time ago. Do you have any here?”

  “I keep a spare deck on me at all times.” Gillian got up from the couch and reached for her purse off the table. She pulled out a velvet pouch and took a seat in a chair across from Natalya. The moment she held her cards and shuffled them, magick pure and bright pulsed beneath her fingertips.

  “I’ve always been fascinated by the tarot. You have an amazing selection of decks at your shop. My Aunt Agatha was a witch. She read palms and used crystal balls. I remember going to visit her as a child, and you could always count on a line of people trying to get in to see her for a reading.”