Blood Lure (16 page)

“Hello?”

“Hey, yeah,” Tommy blurted. “Is this Jared?”

“It is, yes.”

“I called you earlier to let you know about Andrew and told you he was goin’ to St.

Agnes’s hospital. I just called over there and they told they had no record of him being admitted there. D’you know which hospital they took him to?”

“Ah, well. You see, he’s not actually in a hospital.”

“What? Well, where the hell is he? The guy was in serious condition and—”

“I can assure you he is out of danger.”

“Wait a minute,” Tommy snapped, “just who are you exactly?”

“My name is Jared Lantos, as you know. I am a friend of Andrew’s. He is with me and his other friends, and like I said, he is no longer in any danger.”

Friends? Something fishy’s goin’ on here
…

BLOOD LURE

J.P. Bowie

103

“You know, I get the feeling there’s something fishy goin’ on here.” Tommy’s voice began to rise in decibel level. “Andrew was in critical condition when I last saw him. The paramedics said he needed urgent medical attention, and now you’re tellin’ me he’s out of danger. Are you all doctors then? The fact that it looked like somebody attacked him in his hotel room doesn’t exactly fill me with confidence that you are tellin’ me the truth. What if I just call the cops and give them your phone number so you can explain all of this to them?”

“There is no need for the police to be involved, Tommy,” Jared said smoothly. “You may speak to Andrew yourself, if you like. Would that convince you that he is indeed out of danger?”

That reply was not one Tommy expected. “Huh? Oh, okay, I guess so. You mean he’s well enough to talk?”

“Hear him for yourself. He’s right here…”

There was a faint rustling sound, then a voice, weak but audible said, “Hello, Tommy.”

“Andrew, are you okay?”

“Yes, thank you for your concern, and thank you for rescuing me from that fire. I owe you my life.”

“Well, that’s nothing,” Tommy said gruffly. “It’s my job. Just as long as you’re okay.”

“I am in good hands, as they say.”

Wish you were in
my
good hands
, was Tommy’s thought.

“Well…” A sigh of relief escaped his lips. “I’m real glad to hear it wasn’t as serious as it looked. Hey,” he added quickly, “when you’re feeling up to it, how about you and me getting together for a drink, dinner—something? I’d really like to see you again.”

“That would be very nice. I, too, will look forward to seeing you again, Tommy.”

“Uh, okay. Good. You want my cell number?”

“Please.”

He reeled off the number and heard Andrew repeat it to someone.

“Okay, then. You take care, Andrew.”

“You too, Tommy, and thank you again, for everything you did for me tonight.”

Andrew handed the phone back to Jared and lay back on the couch with a sigh.

“So, a fireman, eh?” Roger’s teasing voice made Andrew smile despite the pain that lingered in every fibre of his body. “That sounds hot.”

BLOOD LURE

J.P. Bowie

104

“What else could a fireman be?” Micah asked dryly.

Jared smiled down at Andrew. “He sounds very concerned for you. Perhaps you should take him up on his offer, when you are feeling ‘up to it’ as he put it.”

Andrew looked up at the faces surrounding him. In addition to Tommy, he owed every man here his life.

“How can I ever repay all of you for what you’ve done for me? Even you, who did not know me well, perhaps did not even like me very much, after what I put Jared through.”

Jared sat by his side. “Hush now, that is all in the past. Everyone here is your friend, Andrew, and we will find out who did this to you, and why. Do you remember anything prior to the fire?”

Andrew nodded. “Two men broke into my room. Ordinarily, I could have handled them easily, but they threw a net of silver over me. I knew it had to be silver for it weakened me immediately.”

“A net of silver barbs,” Marcus muttered. “Fiendishly clever.” He put a hand on Jared’s shoulder. “Are you sure this is Fieldman’s work? How could he know so much about us?”

“Of that I’m not sure,” Jared replied. “But Joseph said he threatened Andrew’s life. We have to presume this was his doing.”

“I should have wiped his mind clean when I had him in my grasp,” Joseph said vehemently.

Marcus was quick to reassure him. “You did what Jacob Quince ordered you to, Joseph. None of us suspected the man would attempt something like this. Anyway, I suggest you stay here, Andrew, until you regain your strength.”

“Thank you, Marcus.” Andrew sat up and smiled. “The blood everyone here has given me is already proving to be a miracle cure. I feel much stronger.”

“Nevertheless, you can’t go back to that hotel. So, consider this your home until you can make more permanent plans.”

“Again, I thank you. I expect I’ll return to New York as soon as possible.” He paused and laid a hand over Jared’s. “Now that Jared and I are friends again.”

“What about your hunky fireman?” Roger winked at Andrew. “Don’t you want to see him again before you go?”

“A one-track mind,” Marcus said with a heavy sigh. “Roger, Andrew has other more pressing things to think about.”

BLOOD LURE

J.P. Bowie

105

“What could be more pressing than a hunky fireman? Huh, Micah?” Roger nudged his friend.

Micah chuckled and side stepped away from Roger. “I think I’ll stay out of this one.

You always get me into trouble over stuff like this.”

Andrew laughed and stood, stretching his arms over his head. “Don’t worry, Roger. I shall see Tommy before I leave. I owe him my thanks in person, at the very least.”

Roger nudged Micah again. “And we know what that can lead to.”

Jared embraced Andrew. “Carlos and I should go. We left Chris and Joey back at Carlos’ apartment. I’ve called them to let them know what happened, but they are impatient to hear all about it.”

“Among other things,” Roger said in a stage whisper.

BLOOD LURE

J.P. Bowie

106

Bernard Fieldman listened with satisfaction to his henchmen tell of their success in finding and killing Andrew Berés.

“Well done, boys. Come to the game tonight, and I’ll take care of you.”

He sat back in his chair and snorted in contentment. So, another job accomplished and with a minimum of fuss. He’d had both of the Berés brothers taken care of just like he’d been paid very well to do. The man who’d hired him would be very pleased.

When the stranger had approached him with the information that Michael Berés was in fact a vampire and had shown him the proof of it, Fieldman had at first been terrified, but the man had explained how Berés could be killed, and the profit was simply too much for Fieldman to ignore.

And, of course, the same had applied to Andrew Berés. The man had supplied the net of silver barbs that he said would undoubtedly weaken, then kill, any vampire. Vampire blood, strong and impervious to all disease as it was, could not counteract the poison contained in silver.

Fieldman snorted again.
Vampires, for Chrissakes, who’d of thought it possible?

And for all he knew there could be even more of them out there. He still got that nasty little knot at the back of his skull when he remembered the dream he’d had about being taken in front of a whole crowd of the bloodsuckers. Like that was possible! But it had unsettled him for days after. Still did at times. And how had the police connected him to that wino Lombardi’s murder? Had Michael squealed? Vampires could read minds after all…

Shit
. Just as well he had them taken care of. As for Lombardi, Charlie Haynes would get him off the hook.

It’ll cost a bundle, but Charlie’s the best defence lawyer in town
—
he’ll probably set up some kind
of a deal with the DA
.
And from now on, when someone new wants to get in on the action, they get the
third, fourth and
fifth
degree, before they’re allowed anywheres near me and the boys!

BLOOD LURE

J.P. Bowie

107

Tommy was glad he had the next twenty four hours off. It had been the week from hell, and even he, in his near perfect physical condition, was feeling the toll of too many long shifts—dealing with the hotel fire on Robinson, then an apartment fire that had taken hours to contain. Then there had been that weird situation with the guy he’d rescued from the hotel fire—
Andrew
.

He’d checked with the paramedics who were supposed to have taken Andrew to the hospital and they’d looked at him like he had three heads. Even his buddy Alex didn’t seem to remember much about the incident, and when he’d gone to check the log there was no mention of them handing a hotel guest over to the paramedics.

Yet, he knew he wasn’t mistaken. Andrew had locked eyes with him, they’d recognised each other, he’d called Andrew’s friend just like he’d been asked to—then … then, he wasn’t sure about the rest, but somehow Andrew had ended up being looked after, successfully it seemed, by these friends.

They had to be awful good doctors because Andrew had been really sick. Close to death
,
really.

Yet, when he’d spoken to him on the phone he’d sounded good. Maybe it just hadn’t been as serious as he’d first thought. But there had been all that blood.

And he hadn’t heard from the guy. That hurt. He’d been so sure Andrew had been sincere about them getting together. He’d tried calling the number Andrew had given him—

that Jared whatever his last name was—but there had been no reply, no voice mail to leave a message. Why the hell hadn’t he thought to ask for Andrew’s cell number?

Oh well, chalk it up to just a bout of anonymous sex. Except it hadn’t been anonymous, and the memory of Andrew’s beautiful eyes, luscious lips and sexy accent just wouldn’t fade from his memory.

Damn, but he needed to get laid!

He’d celebrated his time off by taking a long leisurely bath then cracking a Bud light.

Now he lolled on the couch, beer in hand, wearing only his boxer briefs and fiddling with the remote trying to find something worthwhile on the television. Maybe he’d go out later…

A knock at the door startled him.

Can’t be Alex,
he thought, padding over to the door,
he’s on duty ‘til tomorrow morning
.

He pressed his eye to the peephole just in case it was someone he should put more clothes on for. His breath quickened.

Andrew
.

BLOOD LURE

J.P. Bowie

108

He flung open the door, a big welcoming smile on his face.

Andrew’s eyes gleamed as they skimmed over Tommy’s naked torso, but his answering smile was shy.

“I hope you don’t mind me just dropping by like this?”

“No, not at all. Come in, come in.”

Tommy beamed some more as Andrew stepped inside, and was glad he’d taken a few minutes to tidy up some after his bath.

“How do you feel? You look good—amazingly good, considering. Hey, how’d you know where I lived?”

Andrew chuckled. “You’re listed in the phone book.”

“Oh, right… Duh. Well, I’m real glad you came by.”

“I wanted to see you, Tommy, and thank you again for all you did for me the other night.” Andrew reached out and touched Tommy’s face gently with his fingertips. “I would have undoubtedly died, but for you.”

Tommy tangled Andrew’s fingers with his. “Not on my watch,” he said huskily. He raised Andrew’s hand to his lips and kissed the cool palm. Their eyes met and Tommy whispered, “God, but you are beautiful. That night in the club, I remember only some of it.

God knows why. I should remember it all. It was—
you
were wonderful.”

Andrew could hear the countless questions forming in Tommy’s mind. Questions he could not yet answer. Answers that Tommy would never understand. If the time ever came when Tommy should know the truth, he would have to be told in the most careful and gentle way possible. But for now, Andrew only wished to bring the handsome fire-fighter pleasure.

He owed this man his life; it was the very least he could do. While their eyes were still locked on one another, a quick mental pulse calmed the confusion in Tommy’s mind.

Andrew moved into Tommy’s embrace, and their parted lips met in a scorching kiss, tongues tussling, probing, breath mingling, setting each man’s senses on fire. Andrew felt the power in his new blood course through him, heightening his awareness of Tommy’s scent, his taste, the warmth of his skin, all of it
fantaszticus
. A low growl rumbled up from his throat and Tommy tightened his arms around him.

“Oh, yeah…” The young fire fighter breathed his desire into Andrew’s mouth. “My thoughts exactly.”

BLOOD LURE

J.P. Bowie

109

They didn’t make it to the bedroom. As if of one mind, they both sank to their knees, their mouths still locked together, Andrew’s arms around Tommy so tight he had to remember to ease up just a little in case he cracked the sweet man’s ribs. Andrew fell backwards, bringing Tommy down on top of him. His mouth settled on Tommy’s neck and the scent and the lure of the young man’s blood almost drove him mad with desire.

Not yet, not yet, not this time
…

His hands slid down the length of Tommy’s sleek, muscled body, ripping away the fabric of Tommy’s boxers, to cup the round swell of his ass and pull him in against his own stone-hard erection. Tommy was tugging at the buttons on Andrew’s shirt. In his impatience to feel Tommy’s naked body pressed to his own, Andrew threw caution to the wind and willed his own clothes gone.

Tommy didn’t even seem to notice, just started feasting on Andrew’s nipples, all the while giving out little moans and sighs of appreciation. Tommy’s mouth moved sensuously over Andrew’s chest, teasing the dusting of black hair between his teeth, licking and nibbling at Andrew’s nipples until the vampire thought even he could not bear it a moment longer.