The Vampire’s Mail Order Bride (21 page)

“Remember when we were at Insomnia and Julian said Piper was out to get you?”

Delaney nodded. “Sure, but that’s not really a threat.”

“I didn’t think that much of it either, until I talked to Sheriff Merrow again—”

“When was that?”

“Right before lunch. You were still asleep.” Still lounging in the bed they’d shared. A bed he wished he’d stayed in longer. “Merrow came by to give me an update. His sister, Bridget, runs Howlers, a local dive bar in town and—”

“Wait. Is Bridget a werewolf too?”

“Yes.”

“Howlers? That’s not a little on the nose or anything.” Delaney grinned. “Go on.”

“Bridget had some customers come in who caused her some concern.”

“I’m not following.”

“Sheriff Merrow told her about your situation. That family is pretty close, and because of Howlers, Bridget has her finger on the pulse of this town.”

“Got it. So what about these customers?”

“They were from New York and asked where other New Yorkers tended to hang out in town.”

Delaney froze. “You mean like they were looking for me?”

He nodded. “Maybe. They paid cash so we don’t have any names, but Bridget is looking through her security footage to see if she can find a clear picture of them.”

Delaney hugged her knees to her chest. “Where does Piper fit into all this?”

“Merrow wanted me to talk to her after I told him what she’d said to Julian. He thought she was more likely to tell me what she might have done than anyone else.”

“And?”

It wasn’t good. But Delaney deserved to know. “Piper heard your name during the confrontation we had here. She researched you and found out there was a missing-persons report on you in New York.”

“What?” Delaney pressed her hand to her forehead. “That piece of—one of my co-workers texted me to say that if I didn’t show up, Rastinelli was going to call the police and tell them I’d gone missing. I thought it was just a scare tactic. I never thought he’d actually do it.”

Hugh shoved a hand through his hair. “Sounds like another indicator that he’s got some dirty cops on his payroll. Bloody hell. Those men at Howlers might actually be here looking for you.”

Hugh’s phone buzzed. He pulled it out to see a text from Sheriff Merrow. He opened it. “Bridget found some clear shots of the men. Merrow wants us to come down to the station so you can see if either of them are familiar.”

“Okay.” She reached out and grabbed his hand. “What if they come after me?”

He kissed her knuckles and smiled. “Sweetheart, I don’t care how dangerous those men think they are, they’re nothing against an aged vampire and his rook.”

“Damn straight,” Stanhill chimed in. “They won’t get a chance to lay hands on you, miss.”

She smiled.

Hugh squeezed her hand. “I want you to feel safe.”

“I do.” Her smile faded a bit and her gaze turned wistful. “I guess this means no parade, huh?”

He knew she’d be disappointed, but there was nothing he could do. Her safety was more important. “Probably not.”

“That kinda sucks.” She took a deep breath. “Let’s go see the sheriff. Get this over with.”

Stanhill stood. “I’ll bring the car around.” He grinned at her. “If it’s all right that I leave.”

“Yes.” She laughed. “Sorry about ordering you around like that.”

He winked at her. “I assure you, I’m used to it.”

“Oh please,” Hugh said. “Just go get the car.”

“See?” Stanhill shook his head as he walked out of the room.

Delaney’s soft laughter continued. “You two are quite a team.”

Hugh looked after his rook. “He’s a good man.”

She took his hand. “So are you. I’m sorry I gave you such a hard time about going to see Piper. That wasn’t fair of me.”

He pulled her close. “Considering your history with men not being honest, I’d say you get a pass.” He brushed her bottom lip with his thumb and heat spiraled through him at the thought of having her in his bed again. “I will never intentionally hurt you, Delaney. If I have to tell you that every day, I will.”

He sealed his promise with a slow kiss. “And I will never let anyone else hurt you.” He looked into her eyes. “If these men come after you, they will have to go through me. If they attempt to hurt you, I will kill them.”

She swallowed. “It’s totally wrong of me to be turned on by the thought of murder, but that’s kind of hot.”

Her words caught him off guard, and he laughed out loud. “You never fail to surprise me, woman. For someone of my age, that is a rare and outstanding quality.”

Two quick honks broke the mood. “Stanhill,” Hugh growled as he got to his feet. He raised a brow at Delaney and offered her a hand up. “That impudence is all for your benefit, I hope you know. He likes you. And he’s a tough critic.”

She smiled and took his hand as she stood. “I like Stanhill, too. When I first got here, I thought he was you.”

Hugh frowned. “You seem as though you would have been okay with that.”

“He’s a very handsome man, but he’s a little old for me.” She pursed her lips and leaned into him. “Of course, that was before I knew you were three hundred and seventy-seven.”

He started to argue that vampires aged differently, but she pressed a finger to his lips and smiled slyly. “Who knew I had a thing for older men with really sharp teeth?”

Fifteen minutes later, they were sitting in the sheriff’s office. It was a block off Main in a pretty brick building with a small front parking lot. Sheriff Merrow’s office sat just beyond the receptionist’s desk, which is where she and Hugh sat now. When they’d come in, she’d seen a smaller, second office, maybe an interrogation room, and a hall with a sign above it that said “Holding,” but not much more than that. Apparently, when your town’s sheriff was a werewolf, crime wasn’t that big of an issue.

“Appreciate you coming in,” Sheriff Merrow said.

He was about to close his office door, when the receptionist barged in. “Can I get y’all a Coke? We have bottled water too. Or coffee.”

He glowered at the woman. “Mrs. Caruthers, I am trying to—”

“You hush, Hank. Where are your manners? And for Pete’s sake, call me Aunt Birdie.” She shook her head and looked at Delaney. “I changed his diapers, you know. And his brother Titus’s.”

“Mrs. Ca—
Aunt
Birdie.” Sheriff Merrow pointed out the door. “Back to your desk
please
.”

Delaney hoped her shock wasn’t registering on her face. She could not imagine changing a werewolf’s diapers. “I would have thought it was more of a housebreaking situation,” she muttered under her breath.

Hugh coughed and shot her a pointed look.

“What was that, dear?” Mrs. Caruthers asked as she soundly ignored Sheriff Merrow.

“Nothing,” Delaney said. “We’re good on the drinks.”

Mrs. Caruthers’s grin widened. “If you change your mind, just let me know. And y’all can call me Birdie.”

Sheriff Merrow pointed with greater enthusiasm.

Birdie left.

He shut the door. “Sorry about that. She’s a force of nature, that one.”

“Is she really your aunt?”

Sheriff Merrow’s nostrils flared. “Yes.”

Delaney stifled a snort of laughter. “I like the pushiness of Southern hospitality, although it’s going to take some getting used to.”

Sheriff Merrow sighed, opened a file and pushed it across the desk toward her. “Pictures are grainy, but it’s the best Bridget could do. Resolution on her security feed isn’t great.”

She studied the pictures, finally pushing the file back toward him. “Sorry, neither of these men look familiar, although they do look like the type of guys that Little Tony—that’s Anthony Rastinelli’s son—hangs out with.”

Sheriff Merrow closed the file and moved it to the corner of his otherwise pristine desk, then looked at Hugh. “What did you find out from Piper?”

“Not much,” Hugh said. “Just that she found a missing person’s report on Delaney.”

Sheriff Merrow tapped a finger on the file. “That doesn’t help me eliminate these two at all.”

“Probably makes them even more suspicious, huh?” Delaney sighed. “Hugh said we probably shouldn’t go to the parade tomorrow with those two in town.”

“Actually…” Sheriff Merrow sat forward. “If you went, we might be able to draw them out. If they are indeed in town after you.”

“No,” Hugh said. “We’re not using Delaney as bait.”

She put her hand on his arm. “Wait a minute. If it means getting rid of these guys—or maybe finding out there’s no one here after me—then why not?” She looked at the sheriff. “I’d be totally protected, right?”

“Absolutely.”

“By you and two deputies?” Hugh snorted derisively. “I wouldn’t call that totally protected.”

Sheriff Merrow’s already squinty-eyed gaze got a little squintier. “We’re all werewolves. And I’d assumed you’d be at her side the whole time. Are you saying you plus three of us wouldn’t be enough?”

Hugh leaned forward, clearly not amused, considering the stern set of his mouth. “I’m saying I don’t want to put her into any more danger than she already is.”

“The thing is,” Delaney started. “We don’t actually know if I’m in danger or not. This would be a good way to figure that out.”

Hugh shifted his gaze to her. “I don’t like it.”

“I’m not madly in love with it, but it’s a solid plan.” She nodded at Sheriff Merrow. “I’m willing to give it a shot.”

Hugh frowned. “What about your new friend, the gargoyle? You think he’d be up for helping out? Just to add a little sheer brute force.”

“I talked to him for five minutes. I have no idea.” But it was nice to know Hugh was over being jealous of Nick. She looked at the sheriff. “He said he knew you from the Army. Nick Hardwin?”

Sheriff Merrow’s head did a slow bob. “Nick Hardwin. Good guy. Just into town. I could deputize him if it makes you feel better.”

“Yes, it would.” Hugh stared at Delaney. “Are you sure you’re all right with this?”

“With three werewolves, one gargoyle, one vampire and Stanhill? I can’t think of how I might be safer.”

“I can,” Hugh groused.

“Yes, I know. If I wasn’t there at all.” She bit back a laugh. “Sheriff, what about the possibility that these men don’t even see me at the parade?”

“In that crowd, they may not. If nothing happens tomorrow, we’ll have to reevaluate.” He thought for a moment. “You two should go out to Howler’s tonight. Talk about going to the parade. It’ll be packed, and there’s a good chance our guys will be there.”

Hugh growled softly.

Sheriff Merrow nodded. “I get it, Ellingham. I wouldn’t want my woman to be in danger either, but we need Rastinelli to act first. Without provocation, we’ve got nothing. That’s why he’s not already in jail.”

“What about the video of him shooting that guy?” Delaney asked. “Why haven’t they acted on it?”

The sheriff frowned. “I have a feeling whoever Rastinelli owns in the police department made that disappear.”

“Well, that sucks.”

“It’s just more reason for you two to go tonight and set this plan in motion.”

She grabbed Hugh’s hand. “C’mon, it’ll be fun to go out and…have fun.”

“Fine.” Hugh laced his fingers with hers as he looked at the sheriff. “But if I have to rip someone’s heart out, I will.”

The sheriff sighed. “I’d rather not know about that. But I’ll still tell Bridget to expect you.”

Howler’s was Hugh’s idea of hell. Wall-to-wall human tourists, loud music, cheap alcohol and questionable bar food.

“This place is crazy,” Delaney exclaimed with a happy grin. “Ooo, I see dart boards in the back room. I love darts!” She hooked her arm through his. “You want to put our name on the list to play?”

Maybe Howler’s wasn’t that bad. Especially not with Delaney at his side. Somehow she made jeans and an off-the-shoulder T-shirt look as provocative as a lace teddy. Bloody hell, she turned him on. “You don’t want to play darts with me. My accuracy won’t make it much of a game, I’m afraid.”

She pretended to be upset with him, but her eyes sparkled. “We could shoot some pool.”