Dare to Bleed (Emily Sullivan Series) (7 page)

“
I don’t answer to you, wizard, so leave it alone.” Ezra pointed his finger dangerously close to Gavin’s face.

“
Wizard?” I asked, confused, catching up with the conversation. Gavin just looked away as if to say he didn’t want to talk about it.

“
Cheese and crackers, can you two hooligans just please shut up? I’ve had a very long day. I was almost killed twice, and seeing as neither one of you will actually answer any of my questions, I’m going to bed. I’m taking a mental health day tomorrow so if you would like to talk I’ll be here.”

They stopped bitching and looked at me in shock, as if that was the first time they had noticed me.

“
Twice?” Gavin asked softly.

“
That’s right, twice. And aren’t you supposed to be her protector? Today was the second time I had to save her,” Ezra snapped.

This was all turning out to be a damned pissing contest.

“
Just shut up both of you,” I yelled. I put my hand to my head to try and erase the headache that was coming on.

“
Ya know what? I don’t even want to know. I’m going to bed.” I finally gave up. I wasn’t getting anywhere with either of them. I was tired and just wanted some sleep.

I went to my bedroom and slammed my door to let them know I wanted to be by myself. I wasn’t sure if they would leave or stay. I almost wanted to go back out there and tell them to leave but then again I wasn’t sure I really wanted to be alone, especially when the attacker might come back to finish the job.

Nothing like some good old fashioned sexy supernatural men to protect me while I slept, although is a wizard really supernatural? I really didn’t even know what a wizard was, maybe like a grown Harry Potter? I heard loud laughter coming from the living room and decided that tomorrow I would sit down with Ezra and have a long talk about privacy. I kept thinking about everything that was happening as I drifted off to sleep.

Chapter Seven

I woke earlier than normal the next morning, feeling like crap. There was no way in hell I was going to work after everything that had happened. Harold was such a loser he would believe anything. If I told him I caught AIDS and I needed to go get the cure, he would just say good luck. But, since he was such asshole, I liked to mess with his head. He answered on the first ring, probably didn’t have anything better to do

“
Harold,” I croaked into the receiver.

“
Emily, is that you, what’s wrong?” he asked with actual concern in his voice. I almost felt guilt for what I was about to do to him. He would never recover. The man would be traumatized.

“
Harold, I’m sick. I got my period this morning and these cramps are killing me, and to add to that, my period gave me the runs.” I was
so
going to hell.

I coughed. “Oh shit, Harold. I think I just sharted myself and totally just projectile shot my tampon out. I don’t think I should work in these conditions, I’m sorry,” I finally finished, slapping my hand to my face.

“
Oh, um. Yeah, Emma. It’s ok, take today and tomorrow off, get better,” He said, obviously uncomfortable with the situation,

Having a male boss is the best thing ever for women, since they don’t really know what it’s like to have cramps or bleeding out your body like that, ew. It seems unnatural to think that a woman can just keep bleeding for a week straight and survive. I was lucky, for some reason I never had a period in my life. Kim told me once that it gave her the runs. I said TMI but I can’t believe one of her completely repugnant comments actually became useful.

“
Thanks, Harold, you’re a good guy,” I told him, trying to hold my laughter back. Ok, it was probably wrong, but you don’t know Harold. He gives out coupons instead of candy to all the little kids at Halloween. I mean, who does that! I’ve also seen him, multiple times, pick his nose at work and flick boogers at any poor soul who happened to walk by at that moment. Last year for Christmas, he took everyone’s holiday bonus and bought a big screen TV, only to find that he had nowhere to put it, so it is now connected in his office. So yeah, I may go to hell but Harold so deserved that.

I hung up and took a shower. When I stepped out and started drying my hair, I smelled the most amazing scent. Coffee! I had to pinch myself to make sure I hadn’t died and gone to heaven. I pulled my towel tight and headed straight to the aroma. I walked to the kitchen, took out a cup and poured the black goodness. Coffee is another weakness. It ranks up pretty high, next to sex and chocolate. It tasted so delicious I just stood there almost completely naked, stroking my coffee mug.

That’s when I noticed I wasn’t alone. Both Ezra and Gavin had a look of hunger on their faces. I gulped down a sip of coffee as I flipped them both off and marched back to my room. I threw on some clothes and pulled my hair back in a pony tail.

I came out when I was dressed and ready for the day, to find them both sitting on opposite ends of the couch. I felt on top of the world to see the two hotties had stayed over. Ezra ran a hand through his locks and tucked one side behind his ear, sending a shiver down my body. He looked up with those big puppy eyes and gave me a knowing smile. I turned my gaze to Gavin, who was studying the floor as if he didn’t want to meet my eyes. He looked like he hadn’t slept and still had the same gruff hair on his face. Damn him, even without sleep he looked sexy as hell. I walked into the kitchen, refilled my coffee mug and sat down in the chair closest to Gavin so I could see both of their faces as we talked.

“
Ok, ready, go,” I said, trying to break the tension. I figured it didn’t work since they both gave me a blank stare.

“
Anyways, how bout you start by telling me why two FBI dudes are following me around and ‘protecting me?”

They gave each other a look and I considered offering them a coin to flip to decide who goes first. Gavin lost. “We both work in a secret division of the FBI, created to protect humans from supernatural creatures or beings. We were sent here to protect you from a vampire named Damon.”

“
Why would this guy want me?” I asked, becoming nervous that this was probably who had attacked me outside the night before. I chose to ignore the comment about other supernatural creatures. I really just didn’t want to know.

“
He wants you because of what you are,” Gavin answered.

I was getting annoyed by these statements that did nothing for me. I was tired of asking questions.

Ezra answered my thoughts. “Emma, your father is a very powerful warlock, which makes you a very powerful witch.”

My father, who I had never known about, was a warlock? I didn’t know what that meant but I suddenly felt overwhelmed and light headed. I put my cup down and my head between my knees to keep from passing out.

“
Good going, Blood Sucker. I was trying to ease her in, and you just threw it in her face,” Gavin complained to Ezra.

“
You were annoying her, plus it’s her life. She deserves to know the truth,” Ezra snapped back.

“
Stop acting like you know what’s best for her.”

“
I do know what’s best for her. I can hear it straight from her head.”

I was so tired of the arguing. “For the love of sprinkles, just shut up. Maybe if you two would stop your yapping for two seconds
I
could
tell
you what is going on in my head.” After a moment of silence I continued, “Now, I’m fine. I was just a little overwhelmed. Gavin, is this Damon the same guy who’s been killing girls in our apartment complex?” I asked, hoping his answer would be no.

“
We believe so. It would make sense.” Seeing the annoyed look on my face he continued, “Damon worked with us in our division before he went rogue and disappeared. He was your father’s assistant. Robert was working on a big case that involved some serious black magic. Apparently a group of witches discovered a book of spells. Inside was a spell that transfers power and strength. The problem was that the spell needed a powerful witch or wizard to recite the incantation. The group had neither, so it was never done. We ended the group and retrieved the book, but before it could be locked away, Damon stole it. He then tried to bribe and threaten Robert to do the spell. Robert refused and Damon told him if he wouldn’t do it he would find someone who would. No one in the division knew Robert had a daughter except Damon, so we were sent here to protect you in case he came for you, which he apparently has. We figure he found out what area you lived in and was trying to find you. He’s been questioning random women and when they weren’t you, he killed them.”

My heart dropped as he spoke. These women had died because of me. I felt tears building up. I didn’t want to cry in front of Ezra or Gavin but I didn’t think I could hold them back. I was truly scared for my life. I wanted to hide somewhere away from everyone. What about my mother? What if Damon went after her? Damon was a killer and would kill me if he had the chance.

On top of all of this, my own father couldn’t even come tell me the news in person, he had to send two of his people to protect me. I knew he was a dead beat dad, but this topped the charts.

Ezra stood up and knelt in front of me, pulling me into a tight embrace. His sweet gesture was very comforting. I felt like I belonged in his arms.

“
Don’t worry, Em. We are here for you,” Ezra gently whispered in my ear. His husky voice sent a wave of hot tingles down my body, and at that moment I was very thankful that Gavin was in the room chaperoning. Ezra pulled away and tucked a flyaway hair behind my ear. Again with the shivers. This guy was a pro. We stared into each other’s eyes, and I felt safe again. No one could touch me while I was with Ezra. He was my knight in shining armor.

Gavin cleared his throat, reminding me that we were making it awkward for him and bringing me back to reality. I stood up quickly and headed for the kitchen.

“
What are you doing?” Ezra asked as I opened the cabinet under the sink.

“
Cleaning.” I sighed. It would be nice to finally have a normal guy to call my own but it would never work out. Ezra came with mind reading baggage and Gavin came with chick drama. Both sound like players, plus I had more important things on my mind, like a killer vampire who was out to get me so I could perform a spell on him. I started wiping down the counter.

“
I have never in my life cast a spell, or whatever, so why would this guy come after me? Who says that I can actually do witchy stuff? I don’t even know if I believe in all that hocus pocus mumbo jumbo.” I put away some dishes from the dish washer. What would the guy do kidnap me and expected me to know how to do a spell. Two minutes ago I didn’t even know that I was a witch or that I had witch potential.

“
Your father has been watching you your entire life from afar. He knows you have more than potential, you are the real thing,” Ezra replied to my thoughts.

I really needed to get him out of my head. Wonder if there is a spell for that.

In response, he gave me a melt in your mouth, gleaming smile. I was such a sucker. I glared at him in return.

“
I need to go inform headquarters of your attack. Do you want me to bring you dinner tonight?” Gavin asked as he stood. I had almost forgotten he was still there.

“
Yeah, that would be nice, thank you,” I replied.

“
Chinese ok?” he asked politely.

“
Yeah, that’s cool,” I answered.

“
O positive for you, Ezra?” Gavin glared at Ezra and I could feel the energy bouncing off the two. Giving up, Gavin left me alone with Ezra. I was nervous for about two seconds but then decided now was a good time to have a chat. I stopped my cleaning punishment and walked back into the living room.

“
We need to talk,” I informed him.

“
Usually that would scare a man but since I already know what you’re thinking, it saves us time.” Ezra smiled.

“
Seriously, you have got to get out of my head. Not only is it rude, it’s embarrassing. And it’s so unattractive,” I told him as sternly as I possibly could. He had to realize that I was fed up with it. I wanted my thoughts back.

After a minute of silence he finally sighed and gave up. “Ok, I’m sorry. I’ll try to stay out of your head.”

That was too easy and I knew there would be a but somewhere. He sat down beside me on the couch and scooted close. I could feel his breath on my neck

“
But, it’s just so tempting to know exactly what you… desire.” He breathed into my ear. There goes the but. Although I should have argued, he was a damn good distraction. And I felt like I had swallowed a jillion butterflies. I bit my lip to keep my mind on something besides his soft kisses on my neck.

He guided my face to his and kissed my lips softly at first and then with more passion. He was lying on top of me and forced me to lie back on the couch. This was a very dangerous position for a girl to be in with Ezra the Corruptor. I felt like a school girl virgin, I didn’t know where to put my hands, so I placed them on his back, and we continued to kiss. His hand started sliding up my shirt, and I was saved by a knock at my door.

Thank you baby Jesus for interruptions. Whoever was at the door was getting a big slobbery kiss, even if it was Damon. Ezra jumped off and I headed toward the door.