Embrace the Darkness (Darkness Series) (23 page)

“I feel more connected to Vincent—as if we share some sort of psychic connection that wasn’t there before. But I’m not going to research it further. Like I said last night, testing vampire blood on humans is dangerous.”

“And yet, you tested it on yourself.” Amber would risk her life for her country, for her partner, Reid, and for the innocent. She’d lay her life on the line for duty and honor. But for a man? For something as ephemeral as love?

Am I capable of such strong emotions?

Megan smiled. “I wanted to be with Vincent, but I didn’t want to be a vampire. So, for me, it was worth the risk. What about you, Amber? What would you risk for Gerard?”

Heat warmed her cheeks. She looked away, unable to meet Megan’s steady gaze—or face the questions in her own heart. “I’m risking my career. Gerard is a witness, and this is an on-going investigation. Not to mention the fact that he’s a vampire, and I’m now investigating vampires—without my partner or supervisor’s knowledge.”

“And Gerard is risking his life,” Megan said, her sweet voice turning harsh. “Can he trust you with it?”

Pride stiffened Amber’s spine. “I’m sworn to protect and serve. My oath applies to everyone, even the undead.”

“I certainly hope there’s more to it than that.”

A weighty sigh deflated her defenses. “There is. But don’t ask me to define it.”As if she could. There was an undeniable chemistry between her and Gerard. Like gasoline and a torch. Combustible. Explosive. But if there was more to it than lust, she wasn’t ready to deal with it. Not yet. Maybe never.

Love eventually led to loss—heartbreaking, agonizing loss. She’d lost her mother. Her grandmother. Andrew. Even her father. He wasn’t dead, but she no longer felt connected to him. Sometimes, she wondered if she ever had.

Does he know I’m not his daughter? Did he ever love me?

Even if he didn’t know she was a dhampir, he had to know he wasn’t her father. Did that explain why they’d never truly bonded?

“We don’t have to talk about Gerard, but can I ask a favor?” A note of concern crept into Megan’s voice. “If you find Axle, will you promise not to kill him—even if he is a vampire?”

Amber stiffened. Asking her to make such a promise was an insult. “Your husband’s paranoia aside, I’m not about to dash off half-cocked on some vampire-killing spree. I’m a cop. And Axle is a witness, a killer, or a kidnap victim. When the evidence points to a clear indication of which, I’ll respond accordingly.”

“I didn’t mean to offend.” Megan’s fair skin flushed. “But if he’s a vampire, he might be afraid or aggressive. He could hurt someone, and I don’t want you responding in kind when there are other ways to subdue a vampire.”

A garlic necklace? Holy water?

Holy crap.

It seemed ridiculous—as ridiculous as loving the undead. Uncertainty ate at her soul, undermining her confidence.

Just like in Iraq. And Germany.

Despite army training, she’d been unable to kill Surratt or protect Andrew. Had she known about her “abilities” then, could she have saved him? Could she save Axle now?

“I can’t make any promises,” she said.

Megan nodded. “Fair enough. But I hope you’ll consider my help. I still have some of the vampire sedative I created, but you have to promise never to use it on Gerard.” She smiled to lessen the sting of her words. “Or Vincent. No matter how crazy they make you.”

Confused. Crazy. Either way, she was already there.

But she hadn’t arrived alone. Megan had gotten there ahead of her.

“You created a vampire sedative
and
an antivirus? You’re quite the mad scientist. Aren’t you?”

Megan bolted upright in her chair, her posture defensive. “I created the sedative because it was my job. I created the vaccine because I was in love.”

Hearing the “L” word made Amber think of Gerard gazing at her with sleepy eyes at high noon—the sun shining behind the drapes.

His smile. His wit. His loyalty.

Warmth seeped into her chest. She stubbornly pushed aside those softer emotions. She needed to think like a cop—logical and practical.

“There’s only so much I can do on an official basis. But if I’m going to hunt vampires on my time off, I’ll need Gerard and Vincent’s help. And I can’t hunt at night. That would be the epitome of stupid.” Like every ridiculous vampire movie she’d ever seen where the hero or heroine carried a wooden stake into the vampire’s lair just before sundown.

Megan frowned. “No matter how we change the dosing schedule, the sun is still their enemy. It weakens a vampire. Or kills them. And I don’t think a vaccine can change that. But the liposome lotion seems effective. Perhaps if additional precautions were taken, they could move about in the daylight.” Her face glowed. “Maybe they could finally live more human lives.”

Not human enough for Amber. And that saddened her more than knowing she couldn’t share this case with Reid.

Chapter 15

The women had been awake for several hours when the men finally joined them in the kitchen. The summer sun had passed its zenith, but it still shone outside, brightening the heavy shades covering the windows. A thin shaft of light found its way into the kitchen and danced across the floor. Gerard and Vincent gave the errant beam a wide berth as they moved toward the kitchen table where Amber and Megan still sat with their coffee.

Megan stood to meet Vincent’s lips as he bent forward for a kiss—a kiss that made Amber ache. She turned away, her gaze colliding with Gerard’s as he leaned against the counter, animal hunger glowing in the depths of his flame-blue eyes.

Desire heated her blood. Her muscles clenched with hot, aching need. Bending forward, she pressed her buttocks to the chair, straining against carnal cravings. Arms crossing her waist, elbows jabbing her thighs, she fought an almost uncontrollable need to reach for Gerard and drag him back to bed.

That hard, rocking body called to her, his eyes promising more than just sexual gratification. They promised a lifetime of love. But Gerard’s lifetime extended into eternity. And she had an expiration date.

Sadness swathed her soul, smothering desire like a wet blanket tossed over an open flame. Her shoulders slumped.

When Megan broke free of Vincent’s not-so-casual embrace, Amber reached up to grab her wrist, clasping it as if it were a lifeline.

“Tell them about the vaccine,” she blurted out, desperate to escape the weight of Gerard’s stare.

Megan opened her mouth. Gerard cut her off before she could speak.

“Whatever it is can wait. It’s Friday afternoon already. That gives us three nights before Amber has to go back to work Monday morning.” The words resonated with a calm efficiency incongruent with the bulge distorting the front of his jeans.

Amber released Megan’s arm and leaned back against the chair, forcing her eyes away from the evidence of Gerard’s desire. “Three nights for what?”

He pushed away from the counter with predatory grace. “To search the parking lot at Lifeblood for any lingering trace of the clone.”

Picturing Gerard on all fours, nose to the pavement as he sniffed asphalt in search of skin cells and stray scent particles doused the remnants of her lust. She huffed out an exasperated breath. “How are you going to explain sniffing around the parking lot like a bloodhound?”

“He shouldn’t have to,” Megan said. “The facility closes at five today and won’t reopen again until Monday morning.”

“And don’t worry about the security guards,” Vincent added. “We’ll keep the situation contained.” As usual, his primary focus was damage control.

Amber understood his fear of discovery. She’d watched a couple of vampire movies through spread fingers when she was younger. A vampire’s survival hinged on secrecy. But finding Axle Travers took precedence. She stood, turning to face Gerard.

“What makes you think you can track a clone when you couldn’t track Nicolas—a full-fledged vampire?”

He arched a brow, looking offended. “I’d never met Nicolas. So, I couldn’t recognize his imprint—or scent. But I’m linked to the clone by blood, and I’ll have your help tracking him.”

“You might be able to follow an invisible odor trail but I need a paper trail.” He’d be better off with a dog.

Do vampires even like dogs? Did they keep pets?
There was so much she didn’t know about Gerard—so much she was afraid to learn.

“You’re a dhampir,” Vincent said, playing that tired tune again. “Tracking is inherent.”

Her head started to pound. She rubbed her temple. “I follow evidence. I need footprints or credit card receipts—something tangible. I don’t know how to use whatever skills you claim I possess.”

Gerard stepped closer. “Don’t worry. I’ll help you learn how to track with your mind. Between my genetic connection and your intrinsic abilities, we should be able to pick up his scent. Then Vincent and I can follow it. If we’re lucky, he’ll lead us back to Weldon’s lab.”

Even if that was possible, did he really think she’d play pointer and then go home to await his call? This was her case. She wasn’t walking away.

She opened her mouth to protest, but Vincent beat her to it. “We can’t go in blind. We need time to formulate a plan. Once we find the facility, Amber can obtain blueprints, and Sonia can help with the cleanup afterward. We need to cover our tracks.”

“My partner would be more help than Sonia,” Amber protested, knowing she couldn’t include Reid in the investigation. “She might know how to get into computers without leaving a trail, but Reid would know where to look. I trust him. I don’t trust her.”

Too much caffeine and too many suggestions on how she should run
her
investigation made her edgy. She wasn’t used to taking orders from civilians—especially—vampire civilians.

“You don’t trust any vampire. Do you?”

“Vincent!” Megan popped his chest with the back of her hand. He barely flinched.

“Give it a rest, Vin.” Gerard stepped behind Amber, resting his palm on the small of her back, infusing her with confidence. “Just because she’s a dhampir doesn’t mean she’s going on a vampire-killing spree.”

“She might,” Vincent said, watching her as if half-expecting her to snap at any moment. “She’s a born hunter.”

“So are vampires,” Gerard responded in her defense.

Technically, vampires weren’t born. They were created. But why belabor the point? They
were
effective hunters. They had to be to have survived for so many years. But she wasn’t a natural born anything.

Even if she was a dhampir—and she wasn’t admitting anything without proof—she wasn’t motivated by instinct alone. She’d honed her survival instincts in Iraq—instincts tempered by intelligence.

Then again, she had slept with a vampire. How smart was that?

She forced a smile. “Relax, Vincent. I’m not some dumb animal incapable of thinking a situation through. I don’t need your vampire girlfriend’s help. I just need to find Weldon’s location and then go in at high noon, locked and loaded.”

But going commando on Weldon and his vampire would be a lot easier if she had silver bullets. Or a crossbow with sterling arrows. All she had was her Glock, Megan’s vampire sedative, and the sterling silver letter opener she planned to snag from her desk at home.

“Sonia’s not my girlfriend.” Vincent winced when he looked at his wife. It didn’t take a detective to recognize guilt. At some point, he and Sonia had been lovers. But for a vampire, it could have been a month ago or a century ago.

Megan looped her arm through his and leaned against his shoulder. “I’m not jealous of Sonia.” She didn’t sound jealous but her flashing eyes spoke volumes. She didn’t like the vampiress. Not one little bit.

Amber smiled. “Either way, I don’t need her help.”

“You might.” Megan ground her teeth as if it pained her to say the words. “I hate to admit it, but she has her uses. And she’s not afraid to kill. Vincent and Gerard could hesitate where Sonia wouldn’t.”

“I’ll do whatever’s necessary,” Vincent said, as if his wife had questioned his manhood.

Gerard nodded in agreement. Two alpha males on a mission. Then his determined expression turned resigned. “Vampires instinctually protect their creator and any vampires they’ve created. It’s a bond stronger than family or friendship. It’s a blood bond. I didn’t create the clone, but we share the same DNA—the same blood. And Vincent created me. So, whether we like it or not, if killing was our only option, we might hesitate. Sonia wouldn’t. We need her.”

Doubt settled in the pit of Amber’s stomach. If a vampire who looked like Gerard attacked, could she kill him? Would she be able to tell the difference between him and his clone?

“Shouldn’t a creature created from your DNA share the same instincts?” Megan asked. “If you can’t kill him, then he shouldn’t be able to kill you. Or Vincent.”

“I don’t know.” Gerard shifted, leaning away from Amber. “I do know destroying a man with my face won’t be easy.”

“Well, don’t think I’ll hesitate,” Amber said. “If it’s kill or be killed, I’ll get the job done.”

Killing a reflection of Gerard would haunt her dreams, but taking a vampire into custody didn’t seem like a viable option. Explaining to her captain why she’d staked a suspect with a sterling silver letter opener didn’t sound plausible either—assuming there’d be enough left of the corpse to raise the question.

“It’s the hunter in you,” Vincent said.

“Killing isn’t genetically imprinted on my DNA like a barcode. I’m a cop who used to be a soldier. It’s the training.” But had that latent instinct pushed her to be a better soldier? Had it allowed her to be more aggressive?

She’d volunteered to man the guns the night they entered the Ninewah Province in Iraq—the night Hodges and Morrison died. She’d sprung into action at the first mortar explosion, killing at least two insurgents.

Reid claimed she was a better detective—better with weapons. They both assumed it was due to her army training. But what if it was because she had a genetic predisposition for violence? For—hunting?