Out of the Night hn-170

by Trish Milburn

  She evidently fell asleep with that image playing in her mind, because she had dreams hot enough to burn the building down. Campbell’s gorgeous body spread out next to hers, moving along and within her, giving her a pleasure indescribable outside of the dream. When she woke to the barest hint of dawn, she was panting.

  Embarrassed, she placed her hands over her burning cheeks and grasped on to every image before it faded away the way dreams tended to do. She closed her eyes and let herself float on the sensations those memories had caused. It took only moments for her to grow truly hot and bothered again. She really should go take a cold shower and get her mind on the day ahead instead of something that hadn’t really happened.

  But it’d been so long since she’d felt like that, so long that she wasn’t going to deny herself. Pushing embarrassment away, she let her hand slide lower under the covers and finished what Campbell had started in her dream.

  When she finally made her way on shaky legs to the bathroom, she flicked on the light and looked at herself in the mirror, wondering if she looked different.

  And she did. It took the image staring back at her to realize that until this morning, she hadn’t been truly happy in two years. A part of her that had been dormant was coming alive again. Heartache came on the heels of that revelation. She couldn’t put herself at risk like that again. It was too dangerous. Campbell might not want to hurt her, but he wasn’t always in control of his actions.

  As she stared in the mirror and replayed the details of her dream, she wondered how she was ever going to convince herself that dreams would be enough.

  * * *

  Campbell met back up with the team at the cave just before dawn and sat on the edge of his desk as everyone gave reports of the night’s activities.

  “What about you?” Kaja asked. “Where were you all night?” She raised a perfectly shaped eyebrow as if she knew exactly where he’d been.

  “I went to check on Olivia DaCosta. She had two suspicious men come into her diner yesterday. Scared her and her best friend.”

  The not-very-well-hidden smiles and snickers of his team faded at his news.

  “It’s possible they were the guys who have been kidnapping other women. Could have been scouts. Could have been nothing more than a couple of grunts who needed some food. But it’s worth keeping an eye on the place when we can. I patrolled by the homes of the others on the list but saw nothing but a vamp snooping around.”

  “But these kidnappers hit during the daytime,” Sophia said. “We can’t protect her or any of them then.”

  And that fact tore him totally to shreds inside. “I have a call in to the Imperium representative here, see if he can make the NYPD listen. Until I hear back, we concentrate all our efforts on finding out who is behind this and shutting them down, hard.”

  From the nods around the room, the team was in total agreement.

  Campbell nodded toward Travis’s computer. “Do we have any shots at all clear enough to identify the abductors? Height, hair color, anything?”

  “No. It’s as though they know exactly where the security cameras are and are very good at shielding themselves from them.”

  “No demands have been made, so we know these aren’t your typical kidnappings,” Kaja said. “Those girls have been taken into the blood-slave trade. I’d bet my immortality on it.”

  “Monsters,” Sophia said under her breath.

  Campbell met the eyes of every member of his team. “If it takes us kicking down every vampire’s door in Manhattan to find those girls, we’re going to do it. We monitor every police report, every security camera in the city, every whispered rumor on the street. We get help from other teams if we need it. But I’m not having this happen in my own backyard.”

  After forceful expressions of agreement, his team went to their respective desks and got to work, a renewed fervor in their efforts. The vampires behind these abductions had no idea what level of hurt was coming their way.

  When he tried to work, his thoughts kept straying back to Olivia, hoping she was safe. His hand itched to grab the phone and call her, but it was too early. He’d already kept her up too late talking, kissing. God, that kiss had been even more amazing than he’d imagined. And stupid. Really, really stupid. Even after he’d jumped from her balcony, it’d been so difficult to leave. He hadn’t felt that human in a very long time. He’d been afraid if he left, he’d never feel it again.

  And if he truly cared about her, it would be the last time he got anywhere near her. Each time he saw her, it got harder and harder to walk away, to not ask her to invite him in.

  That last thought was what frightened him more than anything. If he ever lost control with her again and the worst happened, his team wouldn’t have the chance to take him out, because he would do it for them. He needed to assign one of the others to the patrol of her neighborhood and figure out how to ensure her safety during the day while he waited for the Imperium member to take his good sweet time getting back to him.

  “Seriously?” Kaja said as she looked up to find Len walking back to his desk after warming up some B-positive in her mug. “Now I’m never going to be able to use that mug again.”

  “We have this thing called water. You use it to wash dishes,” Len replied, then took a long drink just to further irk her.

  Kaja wrinkled her nose. “I could use the entire New York City water supply and never get the stench of that vile stuff you drink out of there.”

  Len just chuckled and went back to work. Kaja gave him another hard stare before resuming her work, as well.

  Campbell shook his head. He didn’t know why those two were like a case of sibling rivalry on steroids, but they’d been that way from the day they’d met. He shifted his attention back to the computer screen, where he was looking through the business records for both of the companies whose vehicles had been used in the abductions. He wanted to see if someone at either place had a reason for wanting to go into business with vampires or faking the reports of stolen vehicles.

  But the more he tried to concentrate on the task at hand, the more his thoughts diverted back to Olivia and how she’d felt in his arms. The way she’d talked to him as if he were just a normal guy, how she’d put herself at risk by coming out onto the balcony. She’d been so beautiful, and he’d found himself wishing he’d met her before he’d been turned, before she’d met her fiancé.

  He also remembered the meals she’d been preparing the night before and how he wasn’t able to talk her out of delivering them. As his gaze wandered the room, it lit on the wall full of weapons and blessed cuffs. An idea popped into his head. Not a perfect one by any means, but something that might prevent Olivia from going out alone. Unwilling to make the necessary call in front of the others, he got up and went to his room.

  He picked up the phone and dialed.

  “St. Patrick’s Cathedral,” came the bright and cheery voice on the other end of the line.

  “Hey, Chloe. It’s Campbell.”

  “Hey there. What’s shaking in the Bat Cave?”

  “Kaja and Len snapping at each other again. You know, business as usual.”

  Chloe chuckled. “I swear those two are either going to kill each other or fall head over heels for each other.”

  This time it was Campbell’s turn to laugh. The idea of those two together just didn’t compute. “If ever there was a story of oil and water,” he said.

  “So what can I do for you this bright and sunny day?”

  “That’s right, rub it in.”

  “Sorry. Just trying to help you live vicariously. So do you all need more holy water?”

  Chloe Ferris, the younger sister of Ethan “Doc” Ferris at the blood bank, was basically a dealer for V Force. They needed holy water to do their jobs, and her job as secretary for St. Patrick’s Cathedral put her in the position to get it for them.

  “No, we’re good for now, thanks. I... Listen, I need a favor.”

  “Sure, if I can help.”

&nb
sp; Campbell stared at the ceiling and tried to convince himself he was doing this for all the people Olivia helped and not just her.

  “We helped a woman a couple of days ago whose car was stolen. She was out delivering food to the homeless, which I guess is something she does on a regular basis. Travis is trying to find her car, but until then she has no transportation.”

  “And you want me to provide the wheels for her meals.”

  “Is that too much to ask?”

  “No. I think it’s a great idea. I just wish people could see this side to you guys.”

  “Maybe someday.” But again, he wasn’t sure if it was a good idea for humanity’s safety.

  Chloe sighed, and he knew the look of frustration she likely wore. She’d tried, unsuccessfully, to get the church to consider the possibility that all vampires weren’t bad. To them her brother was one of the damned, a demon who should be burning in hell. Though she was one of the perkiest, happiest people he’d ever met, that particular fact weighed heavily on her.

  “Before you agree too quickly, I need to tell you something else,” he said. “You’ve seen the stories of the abductions on the news?”

  “Yeah. It’s awful.”

  “We have information that makes us believe that vampires are behind it.”

  “So this is what they’ve been talking about on the news, the humans working with vamps?”

  “Yes. We suspect the Nefari, or at least someone who knows he can make a nice income off selling humans to the blood-slave trade.”

  “Oh, no.”

  “It gets worse. There is a list of targets and the woman who delivers the meals is on it. So she’s in danger until we catch these people. You would be, too.”

  He felt awful for asking Chloe, the one human before Olivia who didn’t think they were a pack of ravenous beasts, to put herself at risk.

  “Stop it,” she said.

  “Stop what?”

  “You’re feeling guilty for asking me when it makes perfect sense that two people are safer than one. We can watch out for each other.”

  “How do you know what I’m thinking?”

  “I’m an intuitive genius?” she said, a smile evident in her voice. “Now, what’s the lady’s name and number?”

  Campbell gave her Olivia’s contact information and told her how to get to the diner. “I want you both armed when you go out, no exceptions,” he said. “And be aware of everything and everyone going on around you. Don’t go too far from your car.”

  “Okay, Dad.”

  “I’m not old enough to be your dad.”

  “You will be before long.”

  “I don’t age, remember?”

  “On the outside.”

  “Remind me why I like you,” he said.

  “Because I’m impossible not to like.”

  “Oh, yeah, that.”

  She laughed, and he thought some guy would be very lucky to win her heart. In a world that was full of too much darkness, she was like a bright ray of happy sunshine.

  “I’ll help her as much as I can,” she said.

  “Thanks. You’re the best.”

  “I know. If only some hot guy with a pulse would notice.”

  Five minutes after the call ended, Campbell was still staring at the same spot on the ceiling and still thinking about Olivia. What had gotten into him? She wasn’t the only beautiful woman he’d ever seen, not even the only one since he’d been turned. He should be directing his attention toward a female vampire if anywhere, but something unnamed was pulling him toward Olivia. And it wasn’t just her blood type. Wasn’t even the fact that she was stunning. What the hell was it?

  Chapter 11

  Olivia burned with guilt all morning as she and Mindy worked to feed the breakfast crowd. She hated that she’d broken her promise to her friend, hated that she couldn’t talk to her about what had happened.

  She glanced through the pass-through and saw a young redheaded woman approach the front counter. Mindy stopped clearing tables to help her.

  “What can I get for you?” Mindy asked.

  “I’m here to see Olivia DaCosta.”

  Olivia froze for a moment before telling herself that this woman looked about as likely to be a kidnapper as Bugs Bunny. She wiped her hands and went to stand next to Mindy.

  “I’m Olivia. How can I help you?”

  The pretty redhead smiled. “Of course you are.” Before Olivia could ask what that meant, the other woman glanced over to where a few older guys were in the corner drinking coffee and shooting the bull. When she looked back at Olivia, she said, “I’m Chloe Ferris, a friend of Campbell’s. He sent me to help you.”

  “Help me?”

  “I understand you need to deliver some meals and are without wheels.” She gestured to where she’d parked outside. “I happen to have wheels.”

  Mindy made a sound of disgust and stalked toward the kitchen.

  “Excuse me,” Olivia said to Chloe then raced after Mindy, who was headed toward the back door. “Min, wait.” She grabbed Mindy’s arm, but she shook her off.

  “You’re still in contact with that vampire, aren’t you?” The look on her face was one of wounded disbelief.

  Olivia hesitated for a moment. “Yes.”

  “You promised me you wouldn’t.”

  “I tried. But he really is different.”

  “I’ll remember to say that at your funeral.” Mindy grabbed her jacket and left, slamming the door in her wake.

  Olivia stared at the door for several seconds, her heart breaking. She didn’t have many friends left, and she’d done the one thing Mindy might never be able to forgive. Slowly, she forced herself to turn and retrace her steps to the dining room. She noticed the coffee drinkers had left their money on the table and vacated the premises.

  “I take it she’s not a fan of Campbell’s,” Chloe said.

  Olivia shook her head. “No. Her mother and sister were killed by vampires.”

  “Ah. I understand, then.”

  Trying to get her mind off Mindy and how she might have just walked out for good, Olivia asked, “How do you know Campbell?”

  “I work at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. I provide V Force with the holy water they need to do their jobs.”

  “Are you...a nun?”

  Chloe shook her head, her riot of beautiful copper curls bouncing around her face, and laughed. “That’s the funniest thing I’ve heard in a long time. No, I’m just the church secretary.”

  “Oh.”

  “But I like to think of myself as a covert operative.” Chloe shot Olivia a wide smile. “I sneak holy water out when the priests aren’t around. The church doesn’t do shades of gray well. It’s all good or evil, and vampires are firmly ensconced in the evil column. But I know better. My brother was turned, and he’s the same guy he always was unless he’s hungry. Luckily he doesn’t get hungry since he works at the blood bank.”

  Olivia scanned the empty diner. “We’ll have to make the deliveries quickly so I can get back before lunch. Looks as if I’ll be running things by myself.” Suddenly, she wondered if talking to Campbell, kissing him, had come at much too high a price.

  “Quick we can do. I have to get back to work, too.”

  Olivia went to the kitchen and boxed up the dinners.

  “Here, let me take that,” Chloe said, and reached for the box when Olivia returned to the front. “Campbell wants us to be armed when we go out. You got something?”

  The idea of a church secretary with a weapon struck Olivia as really out of place, but she guessed over the past two years lots of people had started taking precautions they’d have never considered before.

  “Yeah. Be right back.”

  She made quick work of running upstairs and slipping her Glock into the back waistband of her jeans and covering it with her shirt and wool peacoat since the temperature had taken a dip overnight.

  Olivia changed the sign on the door to show when she’d be back, then locked the door before hurry
ing outside and into the passenger seat of Chloe’s little blue SUV.

  “Where to?” Chloe asked.

  “Central Park.”

  As Chloe zipped out of the parking space, turned the corner and dodged a garbage truck, Olivia realized how cooped up she’d felt the past couple of days and how freeing it was to be outside of her building.

  “So have you done this for a long time?” Chloe asked.

  “About three years.”

  “Like I told Campbell, I think it’s awesome. There’s just not enough kindness and selflessness in the world anymore. People have let the fear replace them.”

  “You don’t seem afraid.”

  Chloe shrugged. “Don’t much see the point. As long as I don’t go out at night and don’t do something stupid, things are pretty normal.”

  “Until now.”

  “We just have to be cautious. Doesn’t mean we have to go around afraid all the time. That’s not the kind of life I want to lead, especially after it was spared during the Bokor outbreak.”

  Olivia decided she liked Chloe a lot, really admired her attitude and outlook on life. “So how did you start working with V Force?”

  “My brother was turned toward the tail end of the pandemic, and Campbell’s team found him and helped him through his transition. Now he’s sort of their unofficial doctor. Ethan told me about them and how they did their work. When he told me that their source for holy water at St. Patrick’s had died, I went the next day and made a very successful argument for the church to hire me so I could help V Force. Of course, I didn’t tell the church officials that last part.”

  “If you don’t mind my saying, you have a very different attitude toward vampires than I’d say pretty much everyone.”

  Chloe glanced toward her. “Except you.”

  “Oh, no, I held the prevailing attitude until a few days ago.”

  “Really? What changed then?”

  “Campbell showed up outside my building to apologize for almost killing me.”

  Chloe jerked her attention to Olivia, a wide-eyed look of surprise on her face. “What?”

  “He didn’t tell you how we met?” Olivia said.