5 Darkness Falls (27 page)

I walked out the door, closing it behind me. I was met with bedlam. Nothing had changed in the time I
had slept.

I studied the space, the men and women conversing
loudly
,
using my home for a stake
out
.
In the middle of
the
madness, he came forward, moving towards me. I’d recognize him from the picture any day.

Rage coursed through me. I was on the verge of illuminating as my serum rose. He’d taken Kellan there. He’d dropped Kellan off right at Cecilia’s door.
Pendejo!

He gave me a
meager
smile, extending his hand towards me. “Hi, I’m Derek.”

I glared at him. Pulling back, I sent my right fist flying into his face. I felt his bones crunch beneath my impact.

He stumbled back. “Fuck!” His hand flew to his cheek.

The entire apartment silenced. No one moved a muscle.

“Thanks for nothing,
primo
,” I snarled, stompin
g past him towards the kitchen.

Chapter 24

My pulse was jumping as I looked out from
behind
the island. They all watched me from a distance; no one dared move towards me. My features were still twisted; I felt the telltale
tugging
on my face. Shock registered
deep
in my chest. I’d just punched someone. Hard.

This wasn’t like me. I didn’t knock someone out at the first greeting. Maybe I
was
hormonal. Maybe I was a nightmare pregnant woman. Maybe Kellan was just being nice about it.

I grabbed the Lysol wipes and proceeded to scrub the counters. I needed an outlet for my aggression, and a body wasn’t the optim
al
choice.

I lost track of how much time passed before Anthony, Bobby, Sal and Rashik showed up.

“Where’s Kalia?”

“Dropped her off to Auggy at headquarters,” Anthony said. “She kicked and screamed the whole way.”

“His parting gift was a spit wad to the face,” Bobby laughed.

I focused on Rashik. “How are you?” I looked him up and down. He seemed to be in good health. His pulse was solid; his heart beat present and strong for a vampeen, but I didn’t miss the darkness in his eyes.

I grabbed his hand and pulled him into the study, still empty aside from a guard on duty. “It’s safe in here. You can tell me anything.”

“How is my family?”

My heart broke. Fear had him fidgeting; concern wrinkl
ing
his brows. “I spoke with your wife yesterday, the moment you were found. She and your girls are doing well and anxiously waiting for your return.

His eyes glossed over
, and he
pressed
his lips together, as if trying to control his emotions.

“Do you want to talk about it?”

“I want to get home to my family.”

I understood that. “I’d like to change your territory if you don’t mind.”

His head whipped towards me.

“You can decline, but I’m thinking about you and your family’s safety. Do you have any other family?”

“In India.” He’d cloaked his emotions, slipping behind a mask, as if he didn’t want to hope.

“Alright. Then India will be your new territory. I’ll find someone else to cover South Africa.”

He stood silent before me, mulling over my words I was sure.

“There’s no rush to get back into things, especially after all that happened. And moving continents is a big deal. Is two months long enough if the vampeen army covers the moving expenses?”

He cocked his head. “I’m afraid I misjudged you. You are
certainly
not your grandfather.”

“No, at least I don’t want to be.”

“My family will be very happy.” His dark eyes seemed
to light up,
as if a weight had been lifted off him. “Thank you.” He extended his hand.

I shook his outstretched hand. His warmth engulfed me. A tingle went up my arm and sent my heart soaring. He was my proof that a good leader didn’t have to be a dictator. Kindness and humility were good qualities to retain in the highest positions.

I released my grip. “I’d like for you to give a detailed report of what happened in your time with Kalia. I’m not going to rush you, but if you could have it to me by that two month deadline, that would be great. It can be a verbal recording or a written document. Just e-mail it when you’re done.”

“That is
very
fair.”

“Alright. Then let’s go book your ticket home.” I smiled, leading him back to the living room.

I saw Derek sitting on the couch icing the side of his face. It was already healing from what I could see around the edges of the Ziploc bag. Kindness and humility, those had been my words.

“Drex?” The guard appeared at my side in a second. “Can you please book a flight back home for Rashik? The company card is in my wallet.”

He nodded, immediately moving towards my purse. I rarely used it, but when I was home, it was a drop bag for all that I used regularly when going out.

I turned to Rashik. “Drexel will help you, okay?”

“Thank you.” He ran a hand through his shaggy black hair. He was anxious to get home
,
I was sure. I felt bad taking him so far away only to send him back, but I had to see that he was okay for myself.

I
braced
myself, moving towards the sofa. “How’s the healing coming along?” I sat on the other end of the couch and angled myself towards Derek.

“It’s healing.” He gave me a haphazard glance. He couldn’t move
his face
as much as he’d like yet, but I saw the hard glint in his eyes along with the slight
inward
dip of his brows
.

“Sorry about that. Not exactly the best ‘hello’, I know.”

“I’m sure somewhere
along the lines
I deserved it.” He faced forward. His words were cut
short
and dry
,
with a rough edge. I’d hit a nerve.

“Hi. I’m Lexi.” I offered him my hand.

He stared at me for a long minute before he gave in and took my hand. “Derek.”

“It’s nice to meet you.”

He didn’t reply. He turned back to face the TV across the
room.

Guilt
smacked
me hard. I probably deserved his cold shoulder, but it still infuriated me. After all, he was the one who had endangered one of the people I loved. “Why did you take Kellan there?”

“Seemed like he could handle himself.” H
is eyes locked with mine.
“He was hell bent
-
with or without me.”

I’d assumed that, but I was still trying to talk myself out of
believing
it. I didn’t want to think of Kellan as the impulsive vamp who would get himself
killed.

Once again, my
tummy chose that ever-so-awkward moment to growl. The baby immediately followed the hollow roar of my belly with movement. I winced as it rumbled around, pressing on sensitive spots, even for a vamp.

Derek suddenly relaxed, his face softening. “You should probably get something to eat.”

“Yeah. Thanks.” I gave him a smile, but it wasn’t sincere; more along the lines of a disheartened whimsy.

He sighed, his eyes traveling the room before landing back on me. “Sorry to have pissed you off.”

“Sorry for socking you.” This time my smile was genuine. We’d reached a mutual understanding, a compromise.

“I’ll be sticking around the area for a while if you need anything. Kellan has my number.”

“Thanks.” I got up to go search for food.

Vamps were everywhere it seemed. Some I recognized, some I knew well, others were merely faces in a crowd. I hated not having a retreat. I didn’t like not having a place of solitude.

I was moving towards the kitchen when there was a knock at the door. I could have sworn they had guards checking each person before they let them inside. I glanced around; no one was making a move for the door. I took a quick look at the security monitor, but saw that Kai was running some sort of update on it. It
only
showed a loading bar.

I went for the door. I unlocked it before stepping aside to open it. My body shuddered as I came face to face with a man
,
standing
a few inches taller than me. He had a dark essence about him. The hairs on my body stood up.

He leered, a broad grin on his face.

Instinctively
,
I took a step back. I caught sight of the guards on the ground in my peripheral vision. My heart sped up; serum swarmed my mouth.

Without warning, he sent something flying towards me, faster than a bullet. It sliced through the air
,
before cutting my cheek. I cried out, my hand
lifting
to my face as the pain spread.

A stampede
was coming up
from behind
me
, but in a blink, he was gone. That was him; that was the one who’d been chasing me.

“What happened?” Drexel whisked me towards him.

Warmth. I felt liquid warmth pooling in my palm and streaming down my arm.

Drex didn’t say anything. He immediately lifted me into his arms and carried me to the kitchen. He set me down on top of the island.

Kai grabbed a dish towel, wetting it and coming right
over to
me. He reached around where my hand was plastered to my face and wiped up my forearm.

Kellan appeared; his eyes were stricken as he took me in. “What the hell happened?” he barked.
The
tone in his voice
was laced with accusation
.

Drex had a bag of ice and a cup of blood ready to go. Both men ignored Kellan.

“I need you to move your hand, Leka.” Kai wrapped his hand around my wrist.

I was afraid of how bad it was. He must have carved off a piece of my flesh with whatever he threw at me. I was certain of it. The area throbbed; a stinging ache seemed to shoot out from
the wound.
He’d moved so fast
as if he was on vamp steroids
. In
what seemed like
less than a
nanosecond,
I’d been hit. His speed and reflexes were impossible to fathom.

Slowly
,
I allowed Kai to move my hand away. Cool air seemed to touch my bones.

The guys didn’t react verbally, but they didn’t need to. Their eyes narrowed and darkened as they
gawked
at my
face.

Snapping
out of it, Kai pressed the towel to
my cheek.
He glanced sideways at the cup of blood. “She needs vamp blood. She won’t heal as fast being pregnant,
and
she can’t afford to lose so much.”

Why did every injury have to be so complicated for me? I was a vampeen for
goodness sake.
Somehow I was the exception for the healing rule. I knew I was being pessimistic, but it was maddening. I was a strong, independent vampeen
. Apparently, that was
except
when it came to taking care of myself physically
.

“Here.” Kai bit his wrist and put it to my mouth.

I looked to Kellan. His entire body was stiff; his lips were curled into a scowl. “Do whatever the hell you want,” he snapped, pushing through the vamps watching.

Tears welled. It looked like our talk had done nothing. He was choosing to walk away, and it seemed like he was doing it much easier than I’d hoped.

I
accepted
Kai’s
offering, placing
my mouth
around his flesh. I closed my eyes as tears dribbled down my cheeks. His blood was
like
sweet honey pouring over my tongue. It slid down my throat, cooling my serum yet warming me
at the same time
.

He moved the towel away briefly. “It’s working. The muscle will take a bit longer, but as long as the flesh closes, you’ll be good.” He dabb
ed
the side of my face with
the towel,
as if the blood was slowing already.

I opened my eyes, looking towards him.

His
eyes
softened as he met
my stare.
“When he’s gone,” he stated, assuring me I wouldn’t be alone.

I released his wrist. “Sorry.” I pushed off the island. Vamps slid out of the way as I escaped to my bedroom. I bypassed Kellan pouting on the bed with hi
s
phone and ran straight for the bathroom. I locked the door the second
the
serum surged into my mouth.