9781936653027BorntobeWildArsuaga (25 page)

“I’m tired, but it’s
late.”

“You need rest. You have
to promise me you won’t participate in the operation tomorrow night.”

Suddenly jerking upright,
a wave of dizziness swept over her. “Whoa, not a good idea,” she said, easing
back and holding her forehead.

“See, I took too much
blood. You are in no condition. You are my life and I will not risk your health
or welfare. I forbid you to go.”

“Forbid me? You’re not
serious. You can’t stop me, Stefan. I will be there. You can’t make decisions
for me.”

“Don’t test me on this.
I’m trying to keep you alive.”

“Are you sure about that,
after what you just tried to do? Please. Don’t you intend to change me over
like you some day?”

He was silent for a few
moments and then ran his fingers along her arm with a long, languid stroke.
“Would you consider it?”

The thought actually
never occurred to her. Getting used to the idea of making love to a vampire was
bad enough. Now he wanted to know if she would become
one?
“The question is on the table. I’d have to think about it. I’d be giving up a
lot.
Like kids, sunlight, chocolate.
I don’t know.
That’s a tough one.”

He grinned. “Well, the
final decision will always be yours. I don’t ever want to be put in the
position of making it for you. That’s why I don’t want you going tomorrow
night. It’s too dangerous.”

“Fine.
I’m too tired to fight you right now. I need to sleep.”

“Sleep
prinţesa mea.
”

He called for a cab and
returned to SGM before dawn.

Chapter 23

“I’ll
meet you at the rendezvous point at 1830. I’ll bring extra stakes and holy
water. You do the same. You never know what we’re running up against when we
get inside to fight Jordy,” Alex said.

“You’re planning on going
in to that place today aren’t you?” Jordan asked.

“Yeah, there’s something
I have to take care of. I’ll be in and out. Don’t worry. I’ll see you on time.
Just don’t forget anything.”

What was it with the men
in her life, always worrying? She was a big girl and could take care of
herself.
Look where I am now, getting
ready to take on a powerful vampire. With the help of the FBI of course, but
still they couldn’t do it without me.

After making arrangements
with Jordan, she packed the duffle bag with the essentials, several vials of
holy water, twenty sharp wooden stakes, a couple silver-bladed knives, and
silver chains. With the FBI and the vampire contingent from Virginia heading
the operation, her hunter paraphernalia seemed insignificant, but Rule Number
Eight was screaming loudly in her head. So was Number Three, and Number
Four
wasn’t far behind either.

Something was missing and
nagged in the back of her mind. More proof of Dragos’ evil plan. She wanted
Ecaterina. Capturing and bringing them before the High Tribunal wasn’t enough.
She spent the night before searching the lab for written evidence, but found
nothing. Dragos struck her as arrogant and ostentatious based on her research
and the way he ran SGM and
Euphoria
.
The man was showy, flashy, smart, but not brilliant. He had to write his plan
down to keep everything organized because he was too busy showing off. The
power and money could be seen in the décor and architecture of the buildings of
both businesses. If there was evidence, he’d have it in his personal
possession, probably in his personal space, in the executive offices.

Alex changed into dark
jeans and black jersey T-shirt. After strapping a stake holster on each leg,
grabbing her duffle bag, keys and wallet, she headed out the door. If she got
into Dragos’ office before sunset, there’d be a chance of not being detected
and finding the information needed to put Dragos and Ecaterina away for a long
time. No technicalities with the justice system, no money buying their way out
of jail, and no fast talking lawyer to get them off.

Alex slipped into the
office unnoticed, her senses on high alert. Finding no guards raised the hairs
on the back of her neck.
Almost
too easy
.
Pulling out the penlight, every sense stood at maximum
alert while searching. Distant humming of an air-conditioning vent sliced the
silence, but barely noticed the noise as she took short tip-toed steps entering
the semi-dark room. There was a distinct scent of something herbaceous and
woody, mixed with leather, and alluring.

Definitely,
all male.

Continuing to prowl
through the dark space guided by the tiny light, she stopped abruptly, her ears
perked.
Nothing.
Stepping lightly toward the large
desk set in front of the floor to ceiling shade-covered windows, she pulled out
the chair, and sat. Shuffling haphazardly through papers stacked on the corner,
scrutinizing them for any reference to the drug known as Blue, she found
nothing. Jerking a desk drawer open, she scooped up the contents, and dumped
them on the desk, muttering something that wasn’t a curse but should have been.
Stefan wanted her to curb her cursing.
Yeah
right,
when you stop wanting blood!
“
Phfft
!
Like that’ll be a
cold day in Hell,” she whispered under her breath.

Upon waking this morning,
Stefan’s words echoed in her ears. He had the nerve to forbid her from coming
to SGM tonight. No one had the right to forbid her to do anything—no one. If
information about the Blue, Dragos, or his plan was in the office, she was
determined to find it. When it came to doing her job, she did it well. No man
would ever have complete influence over her.
Just because I play little miss submissive in his bed doesn’t mean I’ll
play submissive when it comes to my work. He has a thing or two to learn about
me. Forbid me? Yeah right.

Perusing the papers, she
then flung them to the floor.
Damn it!
Nothing.

Standing with hands on
hips, she surveyed the room for other possible hiding places. Spotting the
credenza on the opposite wall, she walked over and opened drawers and began
trashing it too. Her back was to the door, and didn’t notice the silent, shadow
figure entering the office.

Creeping in unnoticed, he
came to stand directly behind her. When he inhaled with a deep sigh, she gasped
and stood bolt straight.
Oh shit!

He wrapped his arm around
her, trapping both of her arms, and clamped a hand over her mouth.

Smiling when she
squeaked, he tilted her head to the side, giving him a perfect view of her
round, full, enticing breasts. She felt his cock swelling against her backside.

Alex felt warm, soft, and
all womanly. She was his woman and his
prinţesa.

“I’m going to remove my
hand. Don’t scream. That’s an order. Do you understand?” The velvety voice that
went with her man commanded.

Oh shit!
She hesitated realizing he was in her mind and disliked
her foul language. Nodding she thought,
Oops
!

He smile and released her
mouth, wrapping his hand around her slender neck. She felt the weight of his
eyes on the rise and fall of her breasts as she breathed.

“Tell me why I shouldn’t
kill you, right here, right now?” His eyes smoldered dark, rimmed in red.

Pausing, she thought
surely he didn’t mean to kill her. Tingles ran down her spine and warmth rose
between her legs. “Tell me why I shouldn’t
kill
you
, right here, right now?” she
asked playfully.

“You’re in Dragos’ office
rummaging through his desk. That’s why.” He brushed his fingers over the
frantic pulse in her neck.

“You could look the other
way. Or, maybe it’s because you love me.”

“Hmm, maybe so, but that
still doesn’t answer my question. Why are you in here? This is dangerous. It is
almost sun set. Dragos will rise soon, if he hasn’t already, like me.”

“Then you better leave
before you’re caught too. I wanted to see if I could find evidence of his plan
for pushing the new drug on the street. Just in case things get crazy tonight,
I’m always looking at back-up plans.”

“Ah, what rule is that?”

“Oh stop it. You know.”

“Mmm, I think its Number
Eight.
Right?”

“Very
good.
You’ve been paying attention. I’m impressed.”

“Do you want to tell me
what exactly you’re looking for? I could help.”

An auburn eyebrow
suddenly arched upward.
“Really?
I don’t think so. You
only want me out of here.”

“Mmm, damn your Hunter
Rules,” he murmured against her neck. “You’re a stubborn woman, aren’t you? You
caught me. Maybe I should have my way with you so you’d be distracted.” He
breathed her essence in deep.

“Make up your mind.
Either help me, or let me go. You’re becoming a real pain in the ass right
now.”

His hand tightened on her
delicate throat. She winced.
Is he
serious about this vamp enforcer crap?

Stefan’s expression
remained cold and showed her nothing. “I’m working too. I think I will suck you
dry and not think twice about it. After all, technically I still work for
Dragos and I’ve caught you in a compromising position.” A wry smile crept
across his face and his tone softened. “I could do with you what I want right
now. Would you like to be punished?” He teased.

“Go ahead.” She played
along. “But I don’t think that is what you really want to do.” She ran her hand
across the bulge in his jeans. “This tells me you have other things in mind for
me.”

“You’ve never seen me
before a kill. I get very aroused. All vampires do. I thought good bounty
hunters knew that?”

He released his grip and
caressed the skin on her throat.

You rascal! You’re toying with me.

“I really want you out of
here,” he continued. “I can’t do my job if I know you’re not safe and protected
when the operation begins. I’m asking you again, Alexandra. Please forget what
are you looking for and leave before you’re caught.” He grabbed her wrists.

“You know better than to
argue with me when I’ve made up my mind.”

“I know and that’s what
scares me.” A laugh rumbled in his chest. “Don’t push me to the limit
prinţesa
. You won’t like what
happens. I will keep you safe.”

She pushed against his
hold. “Please release me, you’re hurting me. I’m not leaving. I know you want
me safe, my work is important to me and I want to find this information. Work
with me Stefan.”

“We need to get out of
here now.”

“No. You can’t make me.”

He gripped her wrist. “
Prinţesa
, that’s where you are
wrong, now come with me. It’s time to leave. I’m through playing games. If you
don’t leave, Dragos may find you and he will want you dead or turned. I can’t
protect you if he catches you here.”

“And what do we have
here?” Dragos asked. He and Ecaterina stepped in from the foyer of the office.

“I told you I sensed
unrest in the building, Dragos. It was her,” Ecaterina said.

“Stefan, would you like
to explain what is going on?” Dragos asked.

“I found her going
through your desk and I was taking care of it when you walked in,” Stefan said.

“We’re you really? The
little human thought she could find something to use against me? For what my
dear, to put me in prison, take me before the High Tribunal? Please, I own
them.”

“She’s a hunter. It’s
what they do, hunt and put our kind away for crimes against humanity,” Stefan
said.

“She’s Stefan’s woman.
They’re working together. I saw her at the club last night with that Fed,”
Ecaterina said.

Alex grimaced.
Oh shit! I’m in trouble now.

Dragos drew closer,
turning his head to take in her essence. “Yes, now I see it.
The
red hair, the green eyes, the plump flesh.”
He drew a long fingernail
across her cheek down to her chin, lifting it slightly.

After experiencing a
moment of fear at his touch, she remembered about her appearance and her eyes
narrowed defiantly. “Hey, I’m not plump.”

Dragos’ menacing gaze ran
over her slowly, inch by inch. He didn’t miss anything. His eyes lingered on
her face, her breasts, and her legs. Even though she had on clothes, he made
her feel exposed. Her defiance began to waiver. What would he do to her? Kill
her quickly, turn her, or lock her away to die a slow death. Or worse, turn her
over to Ecaterina.

“My dear, it was a
compliment. My son, you always did like the feisty ones. They make you feel
alive don’t they?”

He nodded.

“Tell me, my dear, why
were you in my office? By the looks of the mess, you were looking for
something. May I ask what?”

“None
of your business.”
As a bit of defiance returned, she glared up at
Dragos.

“I’ll ask you only once
again, little one. What are you looking for? Next time, I probe your mind and I
won’t care if it hurts you.” He grabbed her wrists.

“I told you none of your
business and I’d like to see you try.”

A low growl escaped his
mouth. “Woman, you are testing my patience. You have no idea what I’m capable
of and what my business is here.”

“Why don’t you just kill
her and be done with it Dragos? Stefan can find another mortal submissive to
train.”

Stefan shot Ecaterina a
venomous look, and then turned to Dragos. “Alexandra is a hunter, and yes, my
woman. When you walked in, I was about to take care of her recklessness and
disrespect. She seeks information about Ecaterina.”

“In my
office?”

“I know she was close to
you and had something to do with the vamp virus. I wanted proof, something to
use against her. I want her dead.” Alex chimed in.

Ecaterina came toward
Alex. Stefan stepped in the way. All Alex saw was a blur of motion.

“Enough,” Dragos said.
“Stefan I know we have had our problems in the past, but you were never
dishonest. I believe what you say is true. Ecaterina is the jealous type and I
believe she did attack your woman. And what I’ve seen of her, she’s a fighter.”

“This is ridiculous.
You’re taking his side?” Ecaterina asked.

“Not entirely.”

Dragos walked over to his
desk and picked up the handset. A few moments later, two guards arrived.

“Take these two
downstairs to my personal dungeon. I’ll be along later. Cuff him. I don’t want
him to try anything heroic,” Dragos instructed.

Stefan groaned as the
silver-coated cuffs were placed on his wrists, searing his flesh. Alex turned
her head, grimacing at the sight.

“You
evil bastard!”
Alex directed at Dragos.

* * * *

A knock on the unmarked
van door parked across the street from the SGM main entrance drew an angry
voice from the inside. The two men standing on the outside waited patiently for
the door to open.

“What is it Palmer, you
better
make
it good,” Chief Martin blared.

“This here guy says he
knows you and needs to talk to you. He wouldn’t tell me about what.”

“Jordan? What’s up,
where’s Alex?” Martin asked.