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“I thought we’d drive out to the lighthouse.” Jesse glanced at her slyly.

“Okay. I have to go home afterward though.”

“What’s your hurry?”

“I have a job interview tomorrow.” She lied. She realized she didn’t really like or trust him.

“No prob. We won’t stay long.”

They’d no sooner parked when he was all over her. He thrust his tongue in her mouth. His kiss was wet, sloppy and horrid. He
plunged his hand down the front of her shirt and squeezed her breast. 

“Come on baby. Give it up for Daddy. Your wish is finally going to come true. I know you’ve wanted me for years. I’m going to give you what you want. I’m going to fuck you.” He was breathing hard.

Jennifer was appalled. How could she have thought he was the best thing since sliced bread at one time? She shoved him away. “No Jesse you’re
not
going to fuck me. You’re going to drive me home. That’s what you’re going to do!” She hissed at him.

“I don’t get it. I thought you wanted it.” He sounded angry.

“Well I don’t.”

He smirked. “This is your last chance. I won’t offer myself to you again.”

“That’s fine with me. Now drive me home before I smack your arrogant frigging face.”

Jennifer was seething the whole way home. She slammed the truck door and stomped into the house, leaned against the door and took deep breaths to calm herself.

Tina was glued to the television set watching the DVD.
How many times had she watched it? It was only 10 minutes long,
thought Jen.

          “
Tina?”

The poor girl jumped a mile. “Christ, you scared me. I didn’t hear you come in. How’d it go?”

Jennifer shrugged. “It was okay.”

Tina had a funny look on her face.

“What?” Jennifer asked.

“Have you . . . watched the DVD, I mean the whole thing yet?”

“No. I always end up crying at some point and turn it off. Why?”

“There’s something on it you really need to see.” Tina sounded excited as she fast forwarded the DVD, slowed it down to a single frame and hit stop.

She dragged Jennifer over by the hand. Both of their faces were inches from the screen. “There.” Tina pointed to Dorian’s face, illuminated in a wash of white light.

Jennifer remembered that. The camera man had come very close to them. She’d found it annoying at the time. The light was almost blinding. That was the only time she’d even known he was there. Until then, he’d been in the distance.

Jennifer’s eyes opened wide as Tina hit a button, the picture frame moved in slow motion. Dorian was saying something into the camera.

“Do you see what he’s saying Jennifer?”

“Oh my God! I see it.” Tears welled up in her eyes. She was completely floored.

He mouthed the words so perfectly there was no mistaking them. “I love you
, Jennifer.”

C
hapter 33

Dorian and Ian were at the dark island, strategically placing the compact blocks of C-4 throughout the entire house, including the basement and the attic. Once the C-4 was detonated, there would be no escape. The explosion was highly reliable and so small in size, it would go undetected in the crawl spaces and other places they’d planted it.

Ian’s
mouth dropped open in shock when he came to the dismal room with the chains hanging from the ceiling and fastened to the floor and walls. All had heavy metal cuffs attached to them.

“I know what you’re thinking
, Ian and you’re right. This is not a dungeon in the sense that e.Vampire’s posh rooms are. This is a real medieval dungeon. The canes, whips, riding crops, X-frame and chains are all meant to subdue victims. This is where they have hard core BDSM sessions, where I’ve engaged in that sort of thing as well. And they kill here. Dorian heard the shame in his words. He hated himself for what he’d done. Yet, he’d told Ian the truth about all of it. He owed him that much. The man had shown him unwavering loyalty and friendship.

“When was the last time you did these . . . things?” Ian whispered, unable to take his eyes off the horror of it all.

“It’s been a very long time and I’m truly sorry for it. She’s changed all that and even before her, I felt remorse for the things I’ve done.” He thought again of that innocent young girl with whom he’d had his first sexual experience.

It was so long in the past now
, yet every bit of that night was as vivid as if it had just happened. How he’d almost killed that girl and Malachi had finished the job for him.

Even at the blood feast, he’d fed but never inflicted the fatal wound. As for the BDSM sessions, he’d had ruthless sex with mortal and vampire alike in this chamber. He’d have to live with that. It couldn’t be undone.

Ian breathed a little easier. “I believe you. I know you’re a good man or I wouldn’t be here. What’s past is past. It can’t be changed, but you, Dorian can and
have
changed. I think you’ve always held goodness in your heart and I think Jennifer’s made you an even better man.”

Dorian closed the door to the chamber. Soon, he’d never have to lay eyes on the wretched place ever again. “Speaking of Jennifer, any word on what she’s doing up there? I know she’s alright or you would have told me.”

Ian looked uneasy. “Yes. She’s fine. None of the others have been spotted.”

“I know there’s something you’re not telling me
, Ian.”

“She went on a date.”

“Who was he?” Dorian struggled to keep his voice steady, even as a jealous rage coursed through his veins. His eyes burned with it, his eye teeth protruded ever so slightly and brushed against his bottom lip. The jealousy was overpowering him.

Had he really thought he could be happy for her if she found love with another? He’d been fooling himself. And why shouldn’t she see someone else? She had a limited time left and as far as she knew he was out of the picture for good. There was the DVD in which he’d told her he loved her. What if she hadn’t even watched it? And if she had, did she think it a heartless joke?

Ian looked scared.

Dorian knew he was seeing him as he really was; his eyes gleaming fiercely in the dark, his
bottom lip dotted with blood from where his vampire teeth made contact.

“You needn’t fear me, Ian. Just answer my questions. Who did she go out with?”

“His name is Jesse Moore. Some guy from college. Big, blonde, outdoorsy type.”

“Did she fuck him?” Dorian’s tone was as cold as ice.

“I don’t . . .”

“It’s a simple fucking question, Ian. Either she did or she didn’t
.”

“No. She didn’t. Jose said they had dinner and afterward they went to some lighthouse. She had words with him and he brought her home. That was it.”

Dorian sighed with relief, running his hands through his hair. “Thank God.”

Ian stood at the door. They were finished there.

“Let’s get out of here.” Dorian locked up. They climbed into the black Escalade and headed down the uneven dirt path toward the mainland.

Ian hadn’t spoken a single word since they’d left.

“Is there something else you want to say Ian?” Dorian asked softly. He felt terrible about scaring the man.

“It’s just that . . . I can’t imagine why you’d ask me such a thing. You must know there will never be anyone else for Jennifer. You’re the only man
she’d ever give herself to, the only man she’ll ever love.”

Dorian apologized for his outburst, hoping like hell Ian was right, that she’d forgive him for the misery he’d inflicted on her and she’d accept him for what he truly was.

He could barely wait for tomorrow night, the night of the blood-feast. All his men were ready. They’d be fighting an enemy unlike any they’d ever come up against. They were only mortal after all. He was the only one with the strength of a vampire.

The next day, the hired men arrived at the dark island during the daylight hours. They waited in the Escalade, pulling it far off the road.  Each had blue tooth devices and w
as given sharp stakes and knives to fight with. Guns would be useless against vampires. Ian and Shane were in the armored truck.

The hired men had
questioned Ian about the use of such primitive tools. He’d told them it was a ritualistic killing. That seemed to satisfy them. All were quite skilled in hand to hand combat and asked no other questions. And he’d paid them more money than they’d probably ever seen in their entire lives.

Dorian arrived at the dark island at two-thirty am. Exiting the Ferrari, he gave no indication that anything was off. He didn’t scan the area to see if his people were ready. He didn’t have to. That was Ian’s job and he trusted him to do it.

Malachi’s car was already there. He was sure Bianca and Theodora had come with him. Erik and Liam’s motorcycles were parked next to it. Erik and Liam were the youngest among them. They were always eager to taste the blood of living mortals.

The blood feast served another purpose as well. He knew Jennifer was safe while they were here. Paying the three men up north and those who stood ready to do battle outside had cost him a fortune.
He would’ve given up everything he had if necessary. Money meant nothing to him without her.  He entered the house, his face a mask of stone.

“Dorian. Welcome, my friend.” Malachi kissed him on the cheek.

The other’s sat around the enormous dining room table talking in hushed, excited tones about what they were going to do to the girl who awaited them in the dungeon. They stood up and nodded respectfully to Dorian.

“Come Dorian and feast your eyes upon our choice. I think you’ll be pleased.”

The girl was a slender, long-legged beauty with flaming red hair. She was bound to the floor by an ankle cuff which was attached to a short chain. Her wrists were tied with course rope and she was blindfolded and gagged. She was shaking all over.

“You’ve done well. She’s positively mouthwatering.” Dorian patted Malachi on the back.

“Thank you. Is there anything more enticing than a feisty redhead to fuck and suck?” Malachi chuckled. The sound of it was bone-chillingly evil. “We shall begin at 3:30. Let the ladies go first and then the boys can have their way with her. You and I shall go last. Always save the best for last I say. We’ll fuck her like she’s never been fucked in her life. And the blood will pour. Would you like the last bite this time Dorian?”

“No. You go ahead. It will be my peace offering to you.” Dorian smiled; a smile that never reached his eyes. They remained utterly cold and cruel, just as Malachi expected.

Malachi shook his head. “You still won’t kill. But, I accept your offering.”

Dorian knew the routine without being told. They liked to feast as close to dawn as possible. It was the thrill of taking a life just before the world came alive. It was also an honor to administer
the killing bite. After the feast, they’d go into the basement and seal themselves off from the daylight.

“If you don’t mind, I’d like a moment alone with her. I won’t fuck her. I’d like to taste her skin while it’s still fresh and pure.”

Malachi looked at Dorian intently and laughed. “You beast! How I’ve missed you. Of course, you may have the first taste. I shall leave you to it.”

Dorian watched Malachi leave. Within seconds he’d opened the back door, a signal to the men waiting outside to come and get the girl out.

He flew to the girl’s side, put his lips to her ear and spoke quickly and quietly. “Help is on the way. Sit tight and
do not
struggle against those who come for you. They’re here to help get you out of here. Do not make a sound from this moment on. I know you think I mean to hurt you, that you’ve heard my voice among the evil ones, but I will not harm you. You have no reason to trust me. You simply have no choice. These people are brutal sadists and killers. Nod if you understand what I’m saying.”

The girl’s trembling eased off and she nodded her head up and down furiously.

The back door swung open and Lucas, Raphael and Angel walked in. The three mortal men were all as tough as nails.

Even so, they looked around the room, obviously stunned by the dungeon. “Holy fuck,” Angel whispered. “What in hell
is
this place? Who
are
these people?”