Dracul's Revenge 02: Anarchy in Blood (19 page)

“You guys have been here all night?”

“No. We just came on shift about ten minutes ago.” One of the guys eyed Gray. “Is there something wrong?”

“I’m trying to find Aaron Baker.” He hoped they would tell him they’d seen him.

“Haven’t seen him, man. Sorry about that.”

“Thanks.” He went back inside.

Rick stood next to the couch, talking to Nathan while Cameron looked on. None of the men looked worried, and Gray hesitated for a moment. Maybe he was blowing all of this out of proportion. Maybe there was a perfectly good reason why Aaron had disappeared.

The President glanced up at him and smiled, his face showing concern at Gray’s obvious agitation. “Gray, you haven’t found Aaron yet?”

“No. He wasn’t outside when you went to look for him?” Gray shoved his hands in his pockets to hide the trembling.

Rick shook his head and shrugged. “I looked all over for him. Are you sure he didn’t leave?”

Gray contemplated the carpet under his shoes. “I guess I could ask the guys at the gates. The cameras would have caught him if he left instead of waiting for me.”

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“Come then. You can use Janice’s desk. I’m sure she won’t mind. Call down and talk to all the agents you want.” Rick patted his shoulder as he escorted Gray into his secretary’s office. He gestured to the phone. “Take all the time you need. Aaron’s like a son to me. I’d hate to have something happen to him.”

“I won’t let anything bad happen,” Gray promised, even though he knew it could be too late for that.

“He’s lucky to have a man like you looking out for him.”

He winced at the strength of Rick’s squeeze on his shoulder, but he forgot about that as he picked up the receiver to call the East Gate.

Ten minutes later, Gray slammed down the phone. “Shit. Fuck. This isn’t happening.”

Cameron peered around the edge of the doorframe. “No luck?”

“No. What could have gone on? I wasn’t that far away.” Gray pushed to his feet and stalked into the other room where the three men were. “None of the guards saw anyone coming or going who hadn’t checked in with them. The only thing I can think of is that he’s still in the White House somewhere.”

Gray saw Cameron’s gaze shoot over to Rick for a second before coming back to him.

“Did you guys have a fight? Maybe he’s gone to cool off, and he’ll call you when he’s over it.”

He pinched the bridge of his nose as he thought. “There wasn’t any kind of fight. Hell, we’re still in the honeymoon phase of our relationship. Sickly sweet and all that shit.”

Rick wandered over to where Cameron stood, slipped his arm around the man’s waist, and nuzzled his neck. “I know what you mean, though Cam and I haven’t gotten out of that stage yet.”

The stiff set of Cameron’s shoulders spoke of unhappiness, not love, but Gray wasn’t going to delve into their love life at the moment. Pacing, he tried to think about where Aaron might have gone. He shot his companions quick looks. Why didn’t they seem as upset over this as he was? Hell, there was a killer in D.C., hunting gay men who looked just like Aaron, and the bastard had uncanny access to the vicinity of the White House.

“Rick, stop.”

Gray turned just in time to catch Cameron pushing Rick away.

“I’m not interested in necking with you when Aaron’s gone missing.”

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Gray caught a glimpse of something as Rick’s shirt shifted slightly from Cameron’s touch. He practically jumped across the room, and grabbed Rick’s arm, whirling the man around into the brighter light.

“What the hell is this?”

He tugged Rick’s collar away from his neck. Bruises ringed the man’s neck like someone tried to choke him. Leaning closer, he sniffed, and the faint scent of Aaron’s cologne rose from Rick’s skin.

“You bastard.” He growled and shook the President. “What the fuck did you do with him?”

Rick sneered, but kept his mouth shut. Gray slammed him up against the wall and drew back his fist.

“I’ll beat the answer out of you. I don’t care who the hell you are. If you’ve hurt him, I’ll hunt you to the ends of the earth and rip your heart out while you’re still breathing.”

“Help. He’s attacking the President,” Cameron yelled.

Gray ignored the slam of the doors hitting the walls as agents flooded into the room.

He fought the hands trying to pull him away from Rick.

“Where is he? Tell me, asshole. If he’s dead, I’ll delight in slicing your throat.”

Rage welled in him and his vision turned red as all he could think of was getting to Rick, forcing the man to tell him where he’d hidden Aaron.

“Mr. Mills, you have to calm down or we’ll be forced to take drastic measures.”

He knew what those drastic measures would be. They’d either taser him or shoot him.

He didn’t care how much pain he suffered as long as he could hold Aaron again.

One guy forced Gray’s arm behind his back while the other pushed him away from Rick. Something fell out of Rick’s pocket and Gray kicked it towards Cameron.

“What’s this?” Cameron picked it up and everyone froze as the Chief of Staff’s face turned beet red.

“That’s Aaron’s phone.” Gray started struggling again. “You lied. You did see him.”

The agents wrestled with him and got him on the ground while Rick glared at him, arms folded and a rather superior look on his face.

Christ! What had the man done? Gray wanted to reach out and tear Rick apart.

“You lying bastard.”

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Silence reigned in the room as those hate-filled words were spoken. The agents’ grips on Gray loosened slightly, and he raised his head to see Cameron approaching Rick.

Everyone gasped as Cameron slapped his lover. Even Rick seemed shocked by it.

“You took him there, didn’t you? The place you said was just ours.” He held up Aaron’s phone. “The place you said you’d never take any other man.”

“No. I didn’t take Aaron anywhere.”

“This is his phone. Don’t lie to me, Rick. I’m not an idiot. You’ve been panting after that boy for years. Finally couldn’t resist him, could you? Did you put something in his wine? Is that how you managed to cart him down there?”

“That isn’t Aaron’s phone. I don’t know how it got there. Must have dropped out of one of their pockets.” Rick nodded towards the agents gathering around them.

Gray climbed to his feet with help. He met the confused gaze of Kasey, one of his old friends with the Secret Service.

“Kasey, my phone is in my pocket. Could you pull it out and hit the most recently dialed number, please?”

She did and the phone in Cameron’s hand rang. Everyone jumped and Gray lunged towards Rick again.

“Whose number did his phone dial, Heatherton?” Wetherby strolled in.

“It says Aaron, sir.” She handed Gray’s phone over to him.

“Agents Thompson and Linton, keep an eye on the President and Senator Griggs. Mr.

James, I want you to come with Mr. Mills, Agent Heatherton, and myself.”

“You can’t possibly believe I had anything to do with Aaron’s disappearance. I found his phone lying on the ground when I went out looking for him.” Rick’s tone held contempt along with disbelief that they were even questioning him.

“Then why is there blood on it?” Cameron held it up, pointing to the brick red streaks on the surface of the phone. “Did you cut him, Rick? Did you drink his blood?”

Gasps from the others in the room echoed in Gray’s ears. Tremors shook his entire body as he fought to keep control and not go after Rick like every atom in his body wanted.

“Don’t do it, Mills.” Wetherby tilted his head towards Rick. “We’ll get to the bottom of this and get Baker back.”

Wetherby motioned for Cameron to lead them into the Oval Office with Gray and Kasey right behind them.

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“I object to this. You can’t honestly think I have anything to do with this.” Rick protested.

Nathan hadn’t spoken a word while all of this drama was happening. His face was pale, and fear held sway in his eyes. Senator Griggs knew what was going on, and that angered Gray even more. Why didn’t these men say anything? Why were they going to let Rick get away with whatever he planned on doing to Aaron?

“Put that phone in here, Mr. James.” Wetherby held out a plastic bag.

Cameron dropped the phone in with a shaking hand. Gray couldn’t tell if it was anger or fear coursing through the man’s body.

“So where is this room you were talking about?” Wetherby set the bag on a coffee table and folded his arms over his chest.

“It’s here.”

Cameron went to one of the bookcases lining the wall. He reached up and slid his hand behind one of the books. The entire case slid forward, revealing an elevator. Wetherby hit the button and the doors opened.

“Where does this lead?” The narrowed eyed glare at Cameron told Gray the head of the Secret Service didn’t know about this.

“Down to the Presidential lounge.” Cameron held up a hand before everyone climbed on. “You need a key. Rick probably has it on his person somewhere. The asshole never went anywhere without that stupid key.”

“Get the key from the President,” Wetherby ordered Heatherton.

She went into the other room while Gray and the two men waited.

“How long have you known about this lounge?” Gray couldn’t stop from asking, even though he knew Wetherby only allowed him along because it was his boyfriend who might be in danger.

“Since about two days after Rick took office. We were in a meeting and he asked me if I wanted to have a private party, just the two of us where no one would be walking in on us.”

Cameron grinned like an idiot.

Gray snorted and Wetherby rolled his eyes.

“When Matthews mentioned all those times Douglas slipped out on his detail, he was actually in this secret room?”

A scuffle sounded from the other room and they heard Rick protesting loudly.

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“That’s my private property. You can’t take that without my consent.”

“It was found while we were frisking you for any weapons, sir.” Heatherton’s voice was cold. “We’ll just see if it’ll fit in this lock.”

“Cameron, you lily-livered coward. I knew I should have listened to Nathan and never brought you into the society.”

“Rick, shut up.” Nathan finally spoke.

“What society?”

Wetherby looked at Gray who shrugged. He had an uncomfortable feeling that he might be able to guess, but he couldn’t wrap his mind around the President of the United States being a member of a group of paedophiles.

“The one that Rick is the head of.” Cameron’s laughter was harsh and tinged with hysteria.

Heatherton brought a small key with her and Gray grabbed it away from her.

“Let’s discuss all of this later. I want to make sure Aaron’s all right.”

“Lead the way, Mills. Heatherton, I want you to stay up here with Mr. James.”

“Yes, sir.”

Gray and Wetherby stepped onto the elevator and Wetherby put the key in the lock.

After the doors slid closed, Wetherby turned to look at him.

“Do you think Douglas could be involved with the murders?”

Meeting the man’s inquiring gaze, he shrugged. “I have no idea, but this doesn’t look good. All the victims could be dead ringers for Aaron. I doubt Aaron went with him willingly.”

“Not if the blood on the phone is his.” Wetherby sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. “This is going to be a fucking nightmare.”

“Yes, sir.”

The car stopped and the doors opened. Gray and Wetherby stepped out, their mouths dropping open.

“Holy shit!”

Gray raced across the room to where Aaron lay tied to the bed.

“Aaron! Aaron, are you okay?”

“Gray? What are you doing here?” Aaron opened his eyes and stared up at him blankly for a moment. Suddenly, a flash of fear flared across his face. “Rick isn’t with you, is he?”

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“No, baby. The Secret Service has him upstairs. Don’t worry.” He started to untie Aaron’s arms.

“Don’t let him touch me, Gray. Don’t let him near me.”

Gray cradled his lover’s face in his hands. “I won’t. He’ll have to kill me before he touches you again.”

“He’s my father, Gray. He was going to rape me. He’s my father.”

Aaron pulled away and threw up over the side of the bed. Gray tried to process what Aaron said. Wetherby grunted, drawing Gray’s attention away from Aaron for a moment.

“Do those look familiar?”

The older man pointed towards the insignia’s embroidered on Aaron’s white silk gown.

Gray remembered seeing one of the designs in the file Bobby had sent him.

“The one on the right is the seal of the Knights of Paiderastia.”

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131

Aaron woke in a hospital bed to find Gray sitting at his side. He started to speak but coughed instead. His hand went to his throat. He remembered being unable to stop the vomiting. Concerned, Gray had ordered an ambulance.

“They gave you something to help you sleep,” Gray said.

Aaron pointed towards the plastic cup beside his bed. His throat felt like it had been through a meat grinder.

Gray brought the cup to Aaron’s lips. “Just a couple of sips.”

Aaron listened, holding the last bit of water in his mouth for several moments before swallowing. “I…drank…blood,” he was able to finally admit.

“I know. There was so much blood when you threw up, I was afraid you had internal injuries. The emergency room doctors were able to assure me it wasn’t your blood you were vomiting.”

Aaron shook his head. Gray evidently didn’t understand him. “I drank blood.”

Gray leant in and brushed the hair away from Aaron’s face. “I know, honey. It’s okay.

It’s over now.”

Aaron closed his eyes and turned his face away from the man he loved. Did he dare admit to Gray that while he was drinking the blood he’d actually enjoyed it?