Cross the Line: A Gabriella Cross Paranormal Romance Book 2 (9 page)

They pulled up to Gabby’s place at a quarter to ten. The three SUVs found places along the street, which Gabby thought was overkill since Michael had bought every building on her street months ago. Some of the tenants remained, but mostly the apartments and houses were now occupied by werewolves.

The wind howled outside, and fat clouds floated by overhead like dark warships. The pearl moon peered through the storm clouds, illuminating the autumn leaves as they violently whirled by.

“Thanks for the ride,” said Gabby, reaching for the door handle.

“Do you mind if I use your bathroom?” said Valentine with a smile.

“Sure, why not.”

Gabby let Valentine in and went straight to the whiskey. She tossed back two shots to steady her nerves and lit a cigarette.

Valentine finally emerged from the bathroom by the time Gabby had lit another cigarette and downed another shot. The succubus glanced at the bottle, and Gabby knew that she was hoping to be offered a drink. Not wanting to be alone with her racing mind, Gabby offered her a glass, which Valentine graciously accepted before making herself comfortable at the island.

“Your father is a strong man,” said Valentine with what looked to be genuine sympathy and concern. “I’m sure he’ll pull through, no problem.”

Gabby felt tears begin to pool and shot back another drink.

“It’s all my fault,” said Gabby, staring blankly at the glass in her hand.

Valentine lifted Gabby’s chin and smiled at her. “You took out those vampires that had us cornered. You saved our lives.”

“You were only at risk because I nullified you all.”

“You did what you had to do. Your father understands that.”

Gabby nodded, glad for Valentine’s kind words, but not believing them.

“He’ll pull through,” said Valentine. “Michael has some of the best healers in the world working for him. Don’t worry yourself so.”

The whiskey was hardly noticeable beneath the vampire blood, which still had her on pins and needles. Gabby tried to calm her racing mind and tumultuous emotions. She needed to talk about something else, anything else, lest she go mad with dread.

“How do you know Michael? You two seem like old friends.”

Valentine sipped her whiskey delicately, and a small smirk played at the corner of her mouth. She savored the velvety liquor and seemed to be wondering where to start.

“Michael and I have been good friends for a long time. You could say we have an on again, off again relationship.”

“Relationship?”

“You know,” said Valentine with a little wink.

“Oh, I didn’t know it was like that.”

“Not anymore…unfortunately. He doesn’t trust me when it comes to matters of the heart.” Valentine let out a sigh. “There are few who do. It is the price I must pay for my power.”

Gabby wondered exactly what that power entailed. She wasn’t even sure if Valentine was human. Lore told that succubae were demons who had sex with men in their sleep to harvest their sperm, but Gabby had learned that lore and myth were often a compilation of half-truths, and sometimes completely off the mark.

“You are curious about my kind?” said Valentine.

“I am. You’re the first succubae I’ve ever met. It must be strange for you, how your power doesn’t work on me, I mean.”

Valentine’s smile grew wide and beautiful. She bit the corner of her lower lip and stared deeply into Gabby’s eyes. “There are few who can resist my charms. It is refreshing when I meet one who can.”

“You probably see me as a challenge,” said Gabby.

“Your intrigue goes much farther than that, Gabriella. You hold such power, the power to nullify magic. It is exhilarating and terrifying at the same time.”

“What happened the other night in the club? I don’t usually…”

“You needn’t apologize to me. It was wonderful. You have so much passion inside of you, but you are afraid to let it out.”

Gabby blushed and refilled their glasses. She didn’t know why she had mentioned the club, but she found herself less embarrassed than she had previously felt. Valentine had a calming quality that Gabby found refreshing. There was no judgement in her eyes, only adoration. She looked at Gabby as though she were irresistible.

If Gabby didn’t know better, she would have thought that indeed Valentine had a power over her.

Valentine put down her drink and slowly moved around the island to stand before her. She reached up to Gabby’s face, delicately moving a curly red lock to the side, and caressed her cheek.

“You have so much passion, so much pain. You feel so alone, yet you are afraid to let anyone in.”

Gabby stared into Valentine’s mystical blue eyes, which seemed to hold as much mystery and depth as the endless waters of the ocean. Valentine leaned in slowly, her blood-red lips only inches from Gabby’s.

Her cell phone went off, and Gabby jumped. Valentine sighed and returned to her glass of whiskey.

“Hello, hello,” said Gabby, realizing that she was breathing heavily.

“Gabby, its Michael.”

“How’s my father?” Gabby asked nervously. She thought that she had heard something in Michael’s voice, perhaps reluctance.

“Nicholas is stable, though there have been some complications.”

“What do you mean, complications?”

“Gabby, the bullet that hit him, it wasn’t a normal round.”

“What do you mean?”

“It was poisonous,” said Michael. “It is nothing that any of my people have ever seen. We’ve removed the bullet, but the poison has left him in a coma.”

Gabby fought back her emotions. “Will it kill him?” she asked, bracing herself with a hand to the counter.

“I don’t know; it has left him in a kind of suspended animation. His condition is getting neither better nor worse.”

“Can I do anything to help? Is there any magic to the poison?”

“Unfortunately, no. Don’t worry, I’ve got some of the best in the field working on a cure.”

“What am I supposed to do?” Gabby asked, feeling helpless.

“There is nothing you can do right now.”

“Jesus Christ,” said Gabby, pacing the kitchen. “I really screwed up this time.”

Michael didn’t argue. “I promise I’ll find a way to save him,” he said.

“Thank you, Michael. You’ve done so much for me, and I just keep on screwing up. Three of your men died because of me.”

“My pack knows what they signed up for. We are all ready to make the ultimate sacrifice.”

“That doesn’t change the fact that it was all my—”

“You’ve got to stop this vendetta you’ve got against yourself. If I had been in your shoes I would have done the same thing.”

“Thanks.”

“Do you need me to come over…are you alone?”

Gabby looked to Valentine, whose high eyebrows and pitying look showed her concern.

“No, I mean, Valentine is with me.”

There was a moment of silence. When Michael spoke again, his voice had changed. It was guarded, as though he were finally divulging a secret. “You need to be careful with her. We’ve got…history. She enchanted and seduced every woman I got serious with for two years after I broke up with her. I’m not saying that you and I…” he sighed. “Just be careful.”

“I will,” said Gabby, glancing at Valentine, who now looked at her curiously.

“I’ll let you know if anything changes with your father.”

“Thank you.”

Again silence. Gabby wondered what it was he wanted to say. She held her breath, waiting.

“Goodnight, Gabriella.”

She released her pent-up breath slowly. “Goodnight, Michael.”

Gabby hung up the phone, and Valentine was there with a hand on her shoulder.

“What is it? How is your father?”

Gabby began to speak but then broke down. She was so utterly spent that she had not the words. Valentine took her in her arms and hugged her tight, caressing her head as she whispered words of encouragement.

Gabby ran through the forest and came out onto a sheer cliff. Far below, waves crashed against the rocky shore. The moon shone brightly, undisturbed by all but the smallest of clouds, which traveled across the sky swiftly, propelled by a haunting wind.

“Come to me.”

Gabby turned, startled by the whispered words that seemed to have come from right behind her. She searched the cliff and the dark pines beyond. There in the distance, an old ruined castle loomed above the dark forest. Its towers held dark windows, and Gabby could feel eyes upon her.

“Save your father.” The voice came again, clearer now.

“How? Tell me what to do!”

“Come to me, and he shall be saved.”

“Who are you!”

Gabby shot up straight in bed and glanced around frantically, not knowing where she was.

“Gabby, it was just a dream,” said Valentine, who sat on the edge of the bed.

“It was so real,” said Gabby, trying to shake the fog of sleep.

“You’re safe now,” said Valentine.

Gabby realized that her nightgown was soaked with sweat. She could still smell the scent of the pine forest. “No, it was more than that. I think it was Victor’s maker.”

Valentine studied her for a moment. “What did he say?”

“It was a woman. She said, ‘Come to me and save your father.’ I was near the ocean, I think. There was an old decrepit castle.”

Gabby shot out of bed and hurried to the living room. She sat at the computer desk and began searching castle ruins near the coast.

“Do you think it was real?” Valentine asked as she pulled a chair from the dining table and sat next to her.

“I think so. Yes, Victor had the same ability to reach me in my dreams. I think that though I am resistant to magic, telepathy can still be used against me.”

Gabby glanced at Valentine, wondering why the hell she was telling her such dangerous secrets.

“You’ve got to tell Michael,” said Valentine.

Gabby ignored her as she scrolled through the pictures of island castles in North America.

“Did you hear me?”

“What? Yes, Michael. I’ll tell him about it once I’ve learned more.”

“If Victor’s maker has come to you in your dreams, then she knows where you are.”

“Then she could have come after me already,” said Gabby. “She wants me to go to her.”

“It’s obviously a trap.”

Gabby found a castle that looked a lot like the one from her dreams, and she clicked on it to see more pictures. She realized that it was the wrong one and determinedly went back to her search.

“Gabby!”

“What!” said Gabby, jerking to face Valentine.

“I said that it is a trap. You’ve got to tell Michael so that we can plan—”

“No, I got the distinct feeling that she wanted me to go alone.”

“Are you crazy?”

“Maybe, maybe not. I’m going to end this once and for all. Too many of my loved ones have been hurt by these vampires.”

Valentine let out a sigh and leaned in to look at the computer screen. “Have you tried lake islands? Perhaps she is closer than you think. Reaching you in your dreams suggests as much.”

Gabby changed her search to islands in Lake Michigan. Within seconds she found the one that she had been looking for.

“You’re brilliant. This is it, Widow’s Island.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, this is the exact castle from my dreams.”

“What are you going to do?”

“I told you. I’m going to kill the bitch.”

Valentine offered her a disappointed scowl. “Gabby—”

“Listen, Val, I hardly know you. Don’t assume that you can tell me what to do. I appreciate you staying with me last night, but I don’t need a babysitter.”

Valentine acted hurt by her words. “I’m just trying to be your friend.”

“You want to be my friend, then respect my decision. I don’t want Michael knowing about this yet. I need time to think.”

“Alright,” said Valentine. “I’ll respect your decision.”

“Thank you.”

Gabby’s phone chimed. It was a text from the guards stationed outside her house.

Detective Riggs is heading for your house.

“Son of a bitch,” said Gabby, hurrying to the door to look out the peephole.

“What is it?” Valentine asked.

“This cop that keeps sniffing around.”

“Do you want me to…get rid of him?”

“What? No…thank you. I think it is best if you take off. I need to speak with him alone.”

“Of course,” said Valentine, though she looked slightly disappointed.

To Gabby’s surprise, Valentine suddenly kissed her on the lips. The kiss lasted only a few moments, and Gabby stared at Valentine’s closed eyes, slightly shocked.

Valentine smiled when they parted and touched Gabby’s cheek lovingly one last time before opening the door and walking out into the bright sunshine.

Riggs stared at Valentine as she walked by, and Gabby had to give a small cough to get his attention.

“Uh, hello,” he said, looking confused. He glanced back at Valentine and shook his head. “Your friend is…”

“Yeah, I know. What can I do for you, detective?” Gabby asked, folding her arms over the front of her robe.

“May I come in? I have some questions for you.”

“Please, come in. I was just about to put on some coffee.”

Riggs accepted the invitation and closed the door behind him.

“Please, make yourself at home. I just need to use the bathroom,” said Gabby as she put on a pot of coffee.

“Take your time,” said Riggs with a strange little smile. “I’ve got all kinds of time.”

In the bathroom she checked the mirror and sighed. She looked like she had been crying all night, which she had. She splashed cold water on her face and put on some light makeup before combing out her gnarled hair. After putting it up in a ponytail, she brushed her teeth and rinsed with mouthwash, wondering all the while why she cared to freshen up for Riggs.

When she was done, she walked into the kitchen and found Riggs texting someone on his cell phone.

“Coffee, coming right up!” Gabby sang and tried to act cheerful.

“Thanks,” said Riggs, putting his phone down on the table and tapping the screen.

Is he recording this?
she wondered.

“So what did you want to talk to me about?”

“Miss Cross…”

Miss Cross? What happened to Gabby?

“Why were you at Steele Tower the other day?”

Gabby froze. She had hoped that Riggs hadn’t noticed her.

“You were spying on me?” she said, stopping what she was doing and turning to face him, all the while trying to act angry.

“No, I was spying on Michael Steele. I saw you come out of the parking garage with the same car that is parked outside. What happened to your red Nova?”

“It’s in the shop,” said Gabby, busying herself with the coffee once more. “Sugar and cream?” she asked when the silence started to become too thick.

“Two and two,” he said.

She fixed their drinks and handed a mug to Riggs before sitting down across from him at the long six-seated table.

“So?” he asked evenly.

Gabby blew on her coffee and tried to think of an excuse for her being at Steele Tower.

Riggs ignored his drink and stared, waiting.

“I…I was spying on him as well.”

Riggs studied her. “You were spying?”

“Yes. You said that he was a suspect, so I went there to learn what I might.”

“And what did you learn?”

“Nothing much. I kind of pussed out. Left before I got the nerve to go in the building.”

“And your friend, Quip. Did he puss out as well? I saw both of you leaving. And strangely enough, neither of you were in your usual car.”

Gabby was startled by how much he knew. She sipped her coffee casually and laughed to herself. “Yeah, you could say that he pussed out too.”

“Gabby, what in the hell were you doing snooping around a suspect’s place?”

“Sorry if I don’t have a lot of faith in the legal system. Even if you find evidence on Michael, a man like him will never do time for murder. He’s a billionaire, for Christ’s sake.”

“So you decided to take matters into your own hands?”

“I…no, I just…I don’t know. I guess it was stupid.”

“You’re right it was stupid,” said Riggs, looking disappointed.

“Do you have any more leads on Michael?”

“It’s funny you should ask. I’ve just been given the stand down order on him.”

“Stand down order?”

“Yeah, right from the top. Seems like our friend knows whose hand to cross with silver.”

“You think he’s bribing the cops?”

“Wouldn’t be the first time it’s happened. The department is cleaner than it used to be back in my father’s day, but there’ll always be dirty cops.”

“So you’re giving up?”

Riggs watched her with those knowing eyes, ones trained to see bullshit a mile away.

“The way I see it, innocent men have no reason to pay off the police. He’s hiding something, and I intend to find out what it is.”

“Will you get in trouble if the department finds out you’ve gone rogue?”

“No more trouble than I’ve ever been in.”

Gabby respected his sense of duty, but she wished that he was exercising it under other circumstances. Riggs was beginning to become a bit of a pain in the ass. If his superiors couldn’t get him off Michael’s back, she doubted anything could. Eventually he was going to go sniffing up the wrong tree. And if he was following her around, he was bound to see something Otherworldly happen.

“Gabby, do you know anything about the accident the other day on the freeway?”

“The one in the news?” she asked, trying to play dumb.

He nodded.

“It was a grill or something that blew up in the back of a truck, wasn’t it?”

“Something like that. But what I found strange was the banged up Z28 parked on the side of the road that I saw in the report. It looked a lot like your friend Quip’s car.”

Gabby let out a laugh. “What, you think I had something to do with that accident?”

“I’m just asking questions. I saw you and
Queen Princess
leaving a club owned by Michael Steele less than an hour before the accident.”

“You
have
been following me.”

“I’m just doing my job, Miss Cross.”

“Your job? Why is it now your job to follow
me
? Am I a suspect or something?”

“I’ve been at this long enough to know when someone is telling half-truths. All due respect, Miss Cross, but quit bullshitting me. What are you hiding?”

“I’m not hiding anything.”

“Gabby, what happened after you left the club?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking a—”

“Why were you at a club owned by Michael Steele?”

“How was I supposed to know who owned it?”

“Who are those men guarding your house?”

Gabby was at a loss for words. She tossed up her arms, got up from the table, and began pacing the kitchen.

“You want the truth?”

“Yes, yes I do.”

“Fine, here’s the truth. My sister Maggy was killed by a vampire named Victor. He tried to frame Michael for the murder, and for a while I believed him. You asked me where I was for those months following my sister’s death. Well, the truth is I was with him at his castle in California. He seduced me and lied to me, but in the end I got him. I killed my sister’s killer. So, you see, Detective Riggs, your investigation has been in vain. Michael told your superiors to back off because you are wasting your time.”

Riggs stared at her for a long time, his face expressionless. “You were kidnapped by a vampire who killed your sister,” he said flatly.

“Yup.”

“But you killed said vampire, and I should just drop the case.”

“Yup.”

Riggs shook his head. “I’ve heard some doozies, Miss Cross, but that takes the cake. Tell me, why are you defending him?”

“Because of what I told you. Michael didn’t do it. Victor did, and now Victor is dead.”

“Alright,” said Riggs, getting up from the table and heading to the door. “Have it your way.”

“Look, why don’t you just take the advice of your superiors? Just drop it,” said Gabby, following him.

“I will be in touch,” said Riggs, stopping at the door and tipping his hat. “Soon.”