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Authors: Jeannie Holmes

Blood Secrets (23 page)

BOOK: Blood Secrets
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It didn’t budge. She’d locked the damn thing.

“Open this goddamn door, bitch!” He could hear her sobs even over the noise of the passing train as she fumbled
with her cell phone. Rage and impatience overrode his senses. His fist connected with the window, shattering it and releasing Piper’s high-pitched screams. “Com’ere, you fucking whore!”

“Hey!” a man shouted from nearby. “Get your hands off the lady, mister!”

Snarling in fury, Kirk whirled toward the voice, to find the truck driver slowly approaching from the rear of his rig with a .22-caliber revolver already drawn and aimed at Kirk. “Fuck off.”

“Step away from the car,” the truck driver ordered.

“If you insist.” Kirk leapt over the Nissan’s hood. Gunfire echoed off the surrounding buildings. He roared in pain as a bullet grazed his ribs. He reached the driver, knocked the revolver aside, and wrapped his hand around the man’s throat.

The force of the impact knocked the smaller driver into the back of his rig. Kirk held him suspended by the throat with his feet frantically searching for the ground inches below. Soft tissue collapsed beneath the increasing pressure he applied to the driver’s throat until he heard a
pop
and the man ceased to struggle.

Kirk dropped the driver and he collapsed in a heap. Turning back to Piper’s car, he growled when he saw the open door and the empty driver’s seat. More angry shouts rang out from farther up the street and sirens sounded in the distance.

He picked up the driver’s revolver and darted for his car. The pain intensified with his movements. Wincing and clutching his side, he slid behind the Porsche’s steering wheel and jammed the car into reverse. Seconds later he was rocketing through the downtown streets, heading for the one person who might offer him sanctuary.

He just had to convince her it was in her best interests to do so if she wanted to live.

* * *

The fading vestiges of daylight pierced the remainder of the alcohol-induced fog that veiled Tasha’s mind. She rubbed her temple, trying to ease the ache in her head, and focused on Varik Baudelaire as he stood—battered and bruised—on the steps in front of Jefferson PD and described a vampire known only as The Dollmaker.

“He’s approximately six feet, four inches tall,” Varik announced in a hoarse voice. The line of bruises around his neck was plainly visible even in the dim light. A cut on his right cheek had been stitched closed and dark bruises ringed both eyes. “Short blond hair, blue eyes that turn a very pale yellow.” He paused and swallowed, wincing, before addressing the vampires standing to one side of the gathered crowd of officers. “Enforcers, be advised, the Dollmaker has a scent similar to leather and old blood.”

A murmur passed among the human officers and Tasha shuddered. She’d known all vampires had a particular scent that was unique to each individual but it wasn’t common knowledge. Despite four decades of living openly, vampires were still a secretive lot and information regarding them was often hard to obtain. The fact that the FBPI was sharing this much information with humans underscored the gravity of what had transpired in the past few hours.

“Enforcer Sabian—” Varik’s broken voice fractured even more, forcing him to pause yet again. “Enforcer Sabian was abducted—” He stopped, and when he attempted to speak again, no words came forth.

Damian Alberez stepped forward, laid a hand on Varik’s shoulder, and Varik turned away, unable to continue with the briefing. Damian’s dark eyes swept the crowd as he picked up where Varik faltered. “Enforcer Sabian was abducted at approximately fifteen hundred
hours, or three p.m., local time. That was almost five hours ago. I know most of you have worked through the day on other assignments and I know you’re tired. Despite what you may have heard about events of weeks prior, Enforcer Sabian
is
a federal agent. She’s one of us. Let’s bring her home.”

The crowd dispersed, with the Enforcers gathering around Damian, who appeared to be issuing additional instructions. The human officers moved away in pairs or small groups. Those who’d been working through the day gave the new arrivals a brief rundown of the events. All officers had been called in for the search, even Tasha, despite her status on the sick roster.

Still trying to massage away the pain in her temples, Tasha entered the deserted Municipal Center lobby and strode toward the wing housing the Jefferson Police Department. A rush of air and noise signaled that someone had entered behind her. She glanced over her shoulder to see Varik limping toward her.

“We need to talk,” he croaked.

Tasha didn’t respond and entered the JPD offices, breathing in the smells of stale coffee, gun oil, and sweat as she passed through the rows of empty desks on her way to the employee break room.

“Where the hell were you earlier today?” Varik’s ragged voice carried an edge of anger that quickened her pace.

“Sick.”

“I left messages for you to meet Alex and me at the mobile lab.”

Tasha reached the break room and rounded on him. She braced one hand against the doorjamb to keep from falling over as the world suddenly spun at a much faster rate than normal. “And I told you I was sick. It happens to humans from time to time. We’re not as robust as your kind.”

“You should’ve been there.”

“I’m not some rookie you can jerk around from one place to the other, or threaten, for that matter.”

Varik shoved her inside and closed the door behind him.

“Get your grubby hands off me!” Tasha pulled free of him. “Goddamn vamps think you can just barge in whenever the hell you feel like it and manhandle people—”

Varik clutched her shoulder, yanked her from her feet, and slammed her into the door. Fury twisted his face into a dark mask. “I haven’t begun to manhandle you, Lieutenant,” he growled, fangs flashing as he spoke. “Alex is gone, abducted by the Dollmaker, and if you’d been where you were supposed to be, it might not have happened.”

“You are
not
going to pin this shit on me.” She tried to push him away but she might as well have been trying to move a brick wall. Human strength was no match against a pissed-off vampire. “What happened to Alex isn’t my fault.”

“I ask you again: where were you?” His dark chocolate eyes became two kaleidoscopic maelstroms as they shifted from brown to gold.

Tasha’s stomach churned violently. She gagged and he released her. She ran to the sink, expecting to heave the contents of her stomach into it, but nothing came forth. Once the nausea had passed, she splashed cool water on her face, praying that Varik would be gone when she turned around.

He still stood in front of the closed door, arms folded over his chest and glaring at her.

She returned his hostile stare, trying not to wince at the extent of his injuries. The limp he now sported was the result of a savage kick to his leg that had dislocated his right knee.

When the Dollmaker took Alex, he attacked Varik first, using the ruse of a stranded motorist to move in close. Once Varik’s guard was down, he’d severely beaten the Enforcer and then wrapped Varik’s own jumper cables around his neck, choking him into unconsciousness. The cables had been left tied around Varik’s neck, slowly stealing his breath. If Freddy and Reyes hadn’t found him, drawn out of the lab by Alex’s screams, he would’ve died. He’d been very lucky.

Although, looking at him now, Tasha was certain he didn’t consider himself so.

“You could’ve helped save her,” he whispered. “Why weren’t you there?”

Tasha held his gaze for a moment and then looked away. The memory of finding Rueben naked in her bed zipped through her mind like a movie. “It was a personal matter.”

“That is the best answer you can give me?”

“It’s the only one you’re going to get.”

“When you compromised evidence by giving it to Sheriff Manser—”

Tasha shuffled her feet and frowned, avoiding eye contact.

“—Alex covered your ass.
I
covered your ass.” He stalked toward her, hands clenching into fists. “Now Alex is in trouble, and you’re going to stand there and play these stupid games?”

“I answered your question.” She backed away from him until her shoulders bumped into a corner. “You can threaten me all you want, but you should know by now, I don’t respond well to threats.”

He leaned in close so his face was only inches from hers. “And I don’t respond well to losing people I care about.”

The door opened and Damian Alberez’s hulking form entered the break room. His dark eyes swept the scene
as he placed his hands on his hips. “Is there a problem in here?”

Varik fell back a few steps but never looked away from Tasha. “No, no problem, just a misunderstanding. Right, Lieutenant?”

Tasha remained silent.

Damian grunted. “If you’re finished correcting it, the medical examiner has the report on the Jane Doe from the salvage yard.”

“On my way.”

“Lieutenant.”

Tasha glanced at Damian.

“Someone needs to follow up with the owner of the property next to the salvage yard. You’re it.”

“Whatever.”

Damian shot Varik a final parting glare and left.

Varik turned to follow but paused in the doorway. “This isn’t over between us, Lieutenant. Far from it.”

Tasha listened to his retreating footsteps as he limped down the hall toward the central office area. Her ears rang in the ensuing silence, and she struggled to control the hatred growing in her heart. Shaking like a rookie hyped on adrenaline, she vowed she would no longer allow herself to be pushed around by vampires.

Varik scared her, especially now that Alex had been abducted, but what frightened her even more was the prospect of people discovering where Tasha had been: drunk and in bed with a man whose last name she didn’t know.

Just like your fucking mother
, the nagging voice in her head taunted.
How long did she wait after your father split to shack up with someone? One week? Two? You’re just as pathetic as she was
.

Tasha bolted from the room, trying to outdistance the voice that sought to break her spirit and drove the self-destructive thirst building within her.

“Lieutenant,” a woman’s voice called from the hallway behind her.

Tasha stopped and glared at Morgan as the vampire approached. “What is it, SI Dreyer? I’m in a hurry.”

“Running from the ghosts of your conversation with Director Baudelaire?”

Tasha tensed. “Excuse me?”

“I couldn’t help but overhear what Director Baudelaire said to you, specifically the threats.” Morgan slipped her hands into the pockets of her tailored designer slacks. “Such behavior is unbecoming for someone of his rank. If you’d like to file a formal complaint, I can see that it receives the appropriate attention at FBPI headquarters.”

“Wouldn’t that start an inquiry against him?”

“It’s possible, depending on the severity of his threats and if he’s made any against you in the past.” She shrugged. “Just something to think about,” she said as she sauntered past.

Tasha replayed in her mind her encounter with Varik, absently rubbing her shoulder where he’d grabbed her. “Ah, hell,” she muttered to herself then raised her voice. “SI Dreyer?”

Morgan stopped at the end of the hall and half turned toward her.

“I think I’d like to file that complaint.”

As Morgan strode back down the hall, her smile wide enough to show her fangs, Tasha couldn’t help but think she’d just made a deal with the devil.

fifteen

A GENTLE BREEZE RUFFLING HER HAIR AND THE SCENT
of wildflowers forced Alex’s eyes open. The wind brushed her again and something slithering over her outstretched arm sent her heart into a frantic rhythm. She pushed herself away from whatever had touched her.

Soft things encircled her, and her mind began to piece together her environment from touch and smell. She lay on what she surmised was a huge bed, surrounded by mounds of pillows and a fluffy comforter. Sheer drapes billowing in the breeze from an open window beside the bed had brushed against her arm, startling her.

Wildflowers permeated the air with their sweet fragrances. Frowning, she searched for the bouquet. Her hand encountered a crystal vase on a table nestled between the bed and the open window. The flowers felt real enough, but how was it possible to have fresh-cut wildflowers in November?

A foreboding she couldn’t shake settled over her like a mantle.

She swung her legs over the side of the bed and was surprised when her feet didn’t touch the floor. Blood pounded in her head and the world threatened to spin out of control as she slipped off the bed and landed unsteadily with a loud
thump
. She closed her eyes and groaned, waiting for the dizziness to pass.

Once the sensation had eased, she opened her eyes
and, sweeping her hands in front of her, slowly made her way to the window. Darkness still ruled her sight.

Alex heard the footsteps approaching seconds before a door opposite the bed opened. She spun to face the door and groaned loudly as the floor tilted beneath her feet. Her head pounded in response and her stomach threatened to release its contents. She slumped against the wall and sank to the floor, drawing her knees to her chest in misery.

“Darling, what are you doing?” A familiar man’s voice filled the room. “You shouldn’t be out of bed. You need your rest.”

Fear clutched her heart as the shadow of recognition nibbled at the edges of her brain. “Who are you?” she croaked. “What is this place?”

The man sighed. “You see? This is precisely why you shouldn’t be out of bed. You’re not fully recovered.”

She batted away his hands when he grabbed her arms. “Don’t fucking touch me.”

An image of Varik, along with the muffled sounds of a struggle and then a horrible silence filled her mind. She opened the blood-bond, searching for Varik’s comforting presence, and was met with only a mind-numbing cold. An overwhelming sense of loss gripped her, constricting her lungs and turning her breath into short, rapid gasps.

“Easy, now,” the unknown man murmured. He clasped her hands in his, retaining a firm but gentle grip when she struggled to free herself. “Deep breaths. That’s it. Just take deep breaths.”

BOOK: Blood Secrets
5.52Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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