Immortal Revenge (27 page)

“I couldn’t help it,” Jules replied. “I really wanted the sexy, red negligee. I even told him how much it was and where to buy it for Valentine’s Day. I don’t know why he didn’t listen. Come on, what man buys pajamas instead of sexy clothes for V-Day?”

They both laughed as they came to a stop in front of the door to the hotel room. Since they’d left the rink they’d shared humorous moments from their relationships with their significant others. Katie’s cheeks hurt from laughing at some of the stories. The bit of comedy came at the right time. They’d each lost a loving man and the thought of never seeing them again left a sore spot in their hearts. Although they hadn’t confirmed Joe’s death, Jules came to the realization he was probably gone. Instead of dwelling on the grim news, Jules shared an embarrassing moment, which started a chain of them and more. They each took a turn providing amusing episodes from their lives. With wide smiles and laughter, their moods brightened. Even though their loved ones no longer existed, the happy memories would last forever.

“It’s the thought that counts,” Katie said as she dug inside of her purse, searching for the keycard.

“The thought provided little entertainment that night.”

The grin on Katie’s face held firm until the door opened. Riker stood inside with a slight glow to his green eyes and a frown indicating his discontent. His attire consisted of the usual black clothes. He grabbed Katie by the throat and yanked her into the room. Jules gasped as he dragged Katie to the bed. Katie’s purse and the skates fell off her shoulders and hit the floor with a thud.

He pushed her down and straddled her. “Where have you been?”

He squeezed her throat, constricting her airway. She choked as she attempted to breathe.

Jules dropped her belongings and leaped on Riker’s back. She swung her arms and hit his head, all while cursing and yelling to release Katie.

He tightened his grip on her neck. Rage rushed to Katie’s head instead of panic. Who was he to think he could control her? She didn’t have to check in with him, ask permission, or wait for his approval. He wasn’t her father, her boyfriend, or even a friend at this point. How dare he threaten her.

“Get off me you fucking asshole.”

His glowing eyes widened.

Fuming with ire, she grabbed his head and dug her thumb into his eye sockets. The vampire growled in protest. He let go of her and rose from the bed, throwing Jules off his back. She stumbled back until she smacked against the door.

Katie leaped from the bed with her hands fisted. Riker’s hands covered his eyes. His fangs dripped from his curled lip. She swiveled her head, quickly scanning for a weapon nearby. Nothing but the television and lamp offered suitable defense material. Where were her clothes and the rest of her belongings? Glancing at her purse, she recalled the knifed ring was inside it.

She snatched her bag and straightened quickly. Riker lowered his hands and revealed red smudges on his face. Katie shoved her hand into her purse.

“Wait!” He held his hands up and blinked his eyes as if trying to clear his vision.

Katie found the ring wrapped in the protective cloth and clutched it.

“How long have you been able to do that?” he asked.

“Do what?” She slowly slid her hand from her purse.

“Communicate with your thoughts.” He rubbed his eyes with his bloodstained hands. “Get off me you fucking asshole.” He repeated her words.

Katie froze with her mouth open. “You heard me? Kyle never heard me.”

“Never?”

“Not ever. We tried to communicate telepathically and it never worked. I couldn’t hear him and he couldn’t hear me.”

“Maybe your anger forced your thought from your mind.”

Katie didn’t have a chance to ponder the idea as she heard a melody coming from Jules’s purse on the floor near Riker’s side. They stared at her bag while the tune continued.

“I’ll get it,” Jules finally said and retrieved her purse.

Katie and Riker exchanged eye contact. She pushed another thought his way. “
Don’t ever touch me again, asshole.”
“Did you hear me that time?”

“Hear what?” he asked.

Obviously, she needed to practice more on sending him messages. Then again, maybe it was best he didn’t hear her so he wouldn’t be angry.

“Uh, I don’t know who this is,” Jules said, staring at the phone in her hand. “Should I answer it?”

Katie dropped the knifed ring in her purse as she stepped closer to Jules. The number on the screen triggered alarm bells for Katie. She snatched the phone from Jules’s hand. “It’s Ben.”

She ended the annoying melody. “Hello?”

“Hi. Is this Katie?”

“Yes, Ben. My phone is destroyed.” Katie shot a heated look at Riker. He turned and disappeared into her bathroom.

“I was hoping I could catch you with Julie. I tried your phone, but it kept going to voice mail. Now I understand why.”

Katie headed for the bed. “What’s going on, Ben?” She sat and placed her bag next to her in case she needed to grab the knifed ring again. Jules took a spot on her other side.

“I wanted to let you know I left the station after your visit and conducted a little research. It seems you were right about the deed.”

Katie silently applauded his efforts. Maybe now he’d take her advice. Perhaps later, he would understand vampires actually existed and one lived in Mishawaka over the last nine years.

“I wouldn’t lie to you, Ben.”
Not without good reason.

“I took your advice and left work. I told them I needed a few days off.”

Riker walked out of the bathroom with a towel in his hands. His face was clean from the blood smears. Though he appeared calm, the vampire’s temperamental nature left Katie on edge, thus the reason she kept the knifed ring close to her. He wiped his fingers as he headed for her.

“So you left town.” Katie said.

“No. I grabbed a few things from my house and checked in at the Fairfield. I know you want me to leave, but if you’re in danger I want to be around to help you.”

Riker shook his head, indicating his disapproval. His vampire ears had without any doubt heard Ben’s words, which meant Riker knew Katie had shared too much information.

“I appreciate that, Ben, but I assure you, it won’t be necessary. I’m quite capable of managing the situation.”

“After what I’ve found, I’m rather anxious to hear your explanation for the
situation
.”

Riker crossed his arms and continued to hit her with his glare of condemnation. Seeking a more pleasant view, Katie looked at Jules.

“I’ll provide you with answers soon, and if I need anything I’ll call you. But for now, I highly advise you to avoid contact with your fellow officers and stay where you are.”

“I’m here if you need me.”

“Thanks, Ben.”

Katie ended the call and then handed the phone to Jules.

“He found a deed with Kyle’s name?” Riker asked.

“Yes, I told him to look for it.”

“Why?”

She twisted to face him. “He’s a detective, and a good one. He suspected something unusual at Kyle’s property, especially after this dark-haired man showed up at the station. I wanted to talk to him to see if he had anything new on the stranger. He offered an exchange of information.”

“You spoke with him today?”

“Yes, Jules and I stopped by for a visit.”

“Did he have new information on our assassin?”

“Yes, and no.”

He quirked a brow. “Explain.”

“He said the dark-haired man didn’t return to the station. Someone else did. On his way out he passed by Charles’s office and got a backside view of the stranger.”

“Let me guess, we have another vampire.”

“Based on what he’s told me, I believe we have two to destroy instead of one. And don’t worry, he doesn’t know anything about vampires.” Although she continued to use the word
we
, she really intended to say
I
. She wanted to destroy them, but understood the need for someone to watch her back so she didn’t end up six feet in the ground.

Riker headed for his usual seat at the desk. Katie followed his stiff stride. As he passed the desk, she noticed the laptop he’d worked on earlier was now missing. Riker pulled the chair out from the desk and sat. “Tell me everything Ben told you.”

“He said the man was shorter, wore casual clothes and had a tattoo on one arm. He heard the stranger tell Charles to have an officer at the property twenty-four hours a day. Ben thought it was unusual for some unknown person to walk in and give direction to Charles.”

“I would’ve thought the same thing,” Jules added.

“Did he hear a name?”

“Yes, he said Charles called him Brandon.”

“Our dark-haired stranger is someone else.”

“It would seem so.”

“Anything else?”

Katie chewed on her tongue as she replayed the conversation with Ben. “He waited in the parking lot and saw Brandon get into a black…”

The last word failed to make it out of her mouth as she recalled seeing a black van the very night of Kyle’s demise. She’d shown up at the Devil and people were piling into a black van. Could the vampires have stopped for drinks and then left to celebrate? The thought chilled her. She’d been close to them, too close without weapons and an emotional state of shock from losing Kyle. Had they known who she was, they would’ve killed her.

She swallowed and realized she could never put herself in that situation again. Once she removed the threat of the two vampires and claimed her revenge, she’d find some better clothes to conceal the weapons she’d carry with her at all times. Her need to survive was stronger than ever. Even without vampires around, she would be on guard and ready to act in a split second notice. Maybe she was a bit paranoid, but the world wasn’t exactly a safe place, anywhere.

“Katie?” Jules asked, snapping her from her thoughts.

“Yeah?”

“What are you thinking?” Riker asked.

“I saw a black van the night I found Kyle. It was at the Devil.”

Jules gasped. “Oh my God. I remember the two guys that came in and bought drinks for everyone. One had short, dark hair. The younger guy never stopped smiling or laughing.”

Katie’s stomach churned while blood rushed to her head. They’d celebrated Kyle’s demise. Revenge would taste sweet. She couldn’t wait to see the look in their eyes right before she severed their heads.

“Is there a way you could find out about this Brandon person since you are still linked to the Order?” Katie asked.

“No, I have few contacts and without a full name, they can’t help us.”

Katie let her gaze drift. She wanted to find information on the vampires sent to destroy Kyle. Then, she’d have an idea what kind of fighters she had to face. Were they fiercer than Kyle was or amateurs like the Asian?

“Your facing is healing,” Riker said, jolting her attention.

“What?”

“It’s just a little brown now,” Jules said.

“Huh? Oh.” She’d completely forgotten about the bruise on her face.

“What information did you exchange with this officer?” Riker asked, steering the conversation back on track.

“I told him to look up my speeding tickets in their database and showed him my driver’s license. The address in their system and on my license is the same one as Kyle’s.”

Riker shook his head and his locks swayed gently. “Fucking idiots. The Order is getting sloppy with their clean up.”

“I asked him if he remembered Kyle as our professor in college. He recalled a male instructor, but nothing more. I told him Kyle was my boyfriend and someone burned the house down and killed him.”

“You actually told him all this?” he asked in a calm, yet deep tone.

“Yes. I left everything out about vampires.”

“Why did you tell him?”

“Because he’s someone I may be able to trust. He could be a valuable ally down the road.”