Gina's Passion (Vampire Huntress Sage Book 4)

by Christina Escue

  “Sure,” Baxter said and handed her the keys. “Jensen, you’re right behind us, Watson behind him, and Johnson you cover the rear. Eyes and ears open at all times. This could very well be a trap of some kind.”

  “Let’s go,” Jensen said and walked out the door. He was really starting to lose patience with everything and everyone.

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  “Karma,” a voice she recognized well said from behind her, and she turned instantly at the sound. “I never thought I would see you again.”

  “I never thought I would come back,” she responded as she looked at a man she’d known since kindergarten. “I never intended to come back.”

  “You left without saying anything to anyone,” he said and took a step toward her.

  “I did what I had to do,” she replied and sighed.

  “I know, and now I know why,” he said and took another step toward her.

  “Stop,” she said and held up her hand. “I always intended on leaving, you knew that. You also knew we’d never be anything other than two people who went to school together. I made that perfectly clear the night you tried to force yourself on me.”

  “Karma,” he said and moved another step closer. “You know I was drunk that night, and you know I would never hurt you. You could have told me what you were, especially after you broke my arm at junior prom.”

  “Stop,” she told him again. “I couldn’t have told you. I couldn’t tell anyone.”

  “Karma, you know how I felt, how I still feel, about you,” he said, and she shook her head.

  “Yes, but I never have and never will feel that way about you,” she responded and snapped her head around when she heard footsteps approaching from behind. She inhaled deeply and sighed when she smelled Dylan and Nevaeh. “You should go.”

  “Why?” He asked, and she could see the hurt in his eyes.

  “Because two others are coming, and though you will be safe with one of them, I’m not sure how long I can keep the other from killing you if he picks up on your emotions.”

  “Who are they?”

  “Nevaeh and Dylan,” she answered just as they burst through the trees and stopped beside her.

  “Karma,” Dylan said, and she could hear the confusion in his voice. “Who is this?”

  “Dylan, this is Seeley. Seeley and I were friends in high school. Seeley, this is Dylan. He’s my lifemate.”

  “Friends, Karma?” Seeley said and looked at Dylan. “We were much more than friends.”

  When Dylan growled and took a step toward the man, Karma laid her hand on his chest.

  “Seeley, stop it. Dylan, we were never more than friends. He wanted to be more, but I didn’t. I never felt anything for him, and he knows it.”

  “Why this guy, Karma?” Seeley asked, not taking his eyes off Dylan.

  “Dylan and I are lifemates, bonded lifemates, but it’s more than that. He and I are also best friends. He’s been there for me despite the hell-storm that follows me wherever I go, and I know he will stand beside me no matter what,” Karma said and looked at Dylan. “I love Dylan with everything that I am, and nothing will ever change that.”

  “I see,” Seeley said and turned away from them. “There’s something you need to know before I leave though. There are vampire in town, a bunch of them, just north of here. I encountered them a couple of days ago.”

  “Why didn’t you call it in?” Nevaeh asked, looking at the young man.

  “Because the leader told me he’d let me live if I didn’t call the authorities,” he answered, and turned back to them.

  “Who is the leader?” Karma asked.

  “His name is Crompton,” Seeley answered, and Karma hissed.

  “Stay away from him,” she said as she heard vehicles approaching. “He’s the most wanted vampire in the US, and the VEB will end him and everyone associated with him.”

  “Where did you run into him at?” Nevaeh asked as the others pulled to a stop on the edge of the road.

  “Up by the high school,” he answered. “You know the place, Karma. We used to go there with Kerri and Matt after the team would win.”

  “Kerri, Matt, and a bunch of others,” Karma reminded him. “And I only went a couple of times, but I know the place.”

  “What place?” Baxter asked from behind Seeley.

  “I’ll show you,” Karma said and looked at Seeley. “Don’t go there again. Crompton isn’t a vampire you want to associate with.”

  “And these guys are?” He asked and looked at the group now surrounding him.

  “Yes,” Karma answered. “These are agents of the Vampire Enforcement Bureau. They won’t harm you as long as you aren’t breaking any laws.”

  “Then I will avoid that area,” he said and looked at Karma again. “It was nice seeing you, Karma. I’m sure we will see each other again before you leave town.”

  “I wouldn’t count on it,” Dylan told him. “Let’s go, Karma. We have a vampire to hunt.”

  “We shall see,” Seeley responded softly as Karma and Dylan walked toward the SUVs the VEB and Huntresses pulled up in.

  “Dylan may be governed under the new laws, but we do have a copula clause being added to them as we speak, and if you do anything that could potentially harm Karma, he will end you and not face punishment,” Baxter told him after Dylan and Karma were in one of the vehicles.

  “I’ll stay away from the area where the vampire are, but I will not promise to stay away from Karma,” Seeley responded then walked away.

  “I will kill that boy myself,” Nevaeh said and shook her head.

  “Who is he?” Johnson asked.

  “Karma dated him, very briefly, a couple of years ago,” Nevaeh told them. “He wanted more than she did, so she ended it with him. It’s a small town with an even smaller school, and he and Karma have known each other since they were five. He fancied himself in love with her, and apparently the knowledge of what she is didn’t change that.”

  “Dylan will rip him apart,” Gina said and shook her head. “Is that the boy she went to her junior prom with?”

  “Yes,” Nevaeh answered, and Gina sighed.

  “This is going to be interesting,” Gina muttered then walked toward the SUVs

  “I’m missing something,” Harrison said and looked at Nevaeh.

  “Like I said a minute ago, Seeley Jamisen was Karma’s boyfriend for a while. On the night of their junior prom, he wanted to have sex with her, but she turned him down. He was drunk and tried to force himself on her. She broke his arm and broke up with him then came to the compound and beat the hell out of a couple Huntresses in sparring matches,” Nevaeh answered. “Now, let’s get going before she goes without us. I know seeing Seeley again messed with her head, but Dylan showing up had to have helped.”

  “Do you think she’s going to tell Dylan what happened with that kid?” Harrison asked.

  “Maybe, but I’m not sure. She knows Dylan would likely tear him apart.”

  “I want to tear him apart,” Harrison commented and wrapped his arm around her waist. “And I will not stop Dylan if he does.”

  “Neither will I,” Baxter responded and looked at Gina, who was standing beside the SUV she drove. “And no one will ever find out.”

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  “What is this place?” Dylan asked as he looked around the wooded area they were standing in.

  “This is the place we used to come to when any of the teams would win. A lot of the kids at school would party here every Friday and Saturday night,” Karma said and looked at Dylan. “I came here a few times with Kerri, Matt, and Seeley. Matt was the star of the soccer team, and when they’d win, the team and their friends would come here and celebrate. I came with him and Kerri a few times in eleventh grade.”

  “You dated Seeley, didn’t you?” Dylan asked, turning to face Karma.

  “Briefly,” Karma answered.

  “Why did you tell me you two were only ever friends?” He asked, and she could se
e the hurt in his eyes.

  “Because we were never more than friends,” she told him. “Yes, we dated, but we wanted very different things, so I ended it. I never had any feelings for him, and I never wanted anything with him aside from friendship.”

  “Okay,” Dylan said and turned from her to survey the edge of the woods again.

  “Dylan, listen to me. You, Dylan Collins, are the only man I have ever loved. I love you, I want to spend eternity with you, I want to marry you. I never saw myself with anyone until I met you. I never wanted to be with anyone until I met you. Everything inside me wants you, every part of me craves you, all of me loves you. You, only you, forever you,” she told him then kissed him softly. “You’re the other half of my soul, you’re my lifemate, and I don’t want it any other way.”

  “I’m sorry,” Dylan said and wrapped his arms around her. “Just being here, being in the place you grew up, made me realize how little I know about your past.”

  “I guess it’s not something that’s ever came up,” she responded and nuzzled against his chest for a second before pulling away. “Once this is over, I will sit down and tell you anything you want to know.”

  “Yeah,” Dylan said as she pulled away.

  “We ready to go check this place out?” Jensen asked with a note of irritation.

  “Yes,” Karma responded and looked at him. “Follow me. I’m pretty sure I know exactly where they’ll be if they’re here.”

  “I’ll be right on your ass,” Dylan said and grinned at her.

  “Maybe later,” she shot back and winked at him before turning to the others. “Stay close and be as silent as possible.”

  “Yes ma’am,” Baxter said and grinned when she rolled her eyes.

  As they moved through the trees, Baxter kept his eyes on Gina. She was right beside him, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was going to happen.

  “I’m fine,” she mouthed when she looked over and saw him watching her.

  “I love you,” he mouthed back.

  “I love you, too,” she responded then looked ahead just as Karma held up a hand and motioned for Baxter to join her.

  “What’s going on?” Jensen asked as he joined them.

  “Caia is up ahead,” Karma whispered and looked at Jensen. “She’s not alone, but I don’t smell Crompton.”

  “It could be a trap,” Baxter reminded them.

  “Yes, but what does that matter?” Dylan asked. “She’s family.”

  “Exactly,” Karma said and looked at Jensen. “Everyone stay alert.”

  “Let’s go get our girl,” Harrison said and looked at everyone around them. “And be safe while doing it.”

  “Yes, be safe,” Karma said and looked ahead. “Let’s go.”

  As they moved through the trees, everyone was paying extra attention to the area around them.

  “Fuck,” Karma said loudly as she stopped abruptly.

  “Oh my god,” Gina said when she spotted Caia laying unmoving on top of a pile of what appeared to be dead vampire.

  “CAIA!” Jensen yelled and took off running toward her.

  “FUCK!” Karma yelled and took off after him. She reached him as about fifty vampire immerged from the wooded area behind the pile Caia was on.

  “It’s a trap!” Dylan yelled behind them, then jumped into the mix just as the vampire reached Karma and Jensen.

  “Son-of-a-bitch,” Baxter said as he pulled a stake from his belt.

  When Karma looked over, she saw Jackson fighting three vampire who were between him and Caia and she knew he was going on pure emotion.

  “Jensen!” Baxter yelled, and the other agent’s head snapped up just in time to see a vampire pick Caia up and toss her over his shoulder.

  Growling loudly, Jensen took off after the vampire who disappeared into the trees carrying his copula. When footsteps sounded behind him, he inhaled deeply and grinned. Karma, Jackson, and Baxter were right in his heels.

  “Karma, go,” Jensen yelled, knowing she was faster than he was and could get in front of the vampire carrying Caia. “We’ll he right behind you.”

  “Go!” They heard Dylan shout, and knew he was why Karma hadn’t already gotten in front of the vampire.

  When Karma sped past them all, Baxter was once again thankful she was on their side.

  “She’s fucking fast,” Gina muttered as she caught up to them.

  Baxter didn’t answer as they pursued the vampire carrying Caia.

  “VEB, stop now!” Jensen yelled, but the vampire kept running. He wasn’t that far in front of them, but hadn’t noticed Karma, who was in front of him, yet.

  “Stop or die!” Baxter yelled and the vampire slowed a little, but didn’t stop.

  “He said to stop, fucktard,” Karma said from in front of him, causing him to halt abruptly and drop Caia.

  “FUCK!” Jackson said and ran to her as the vampire who was carrying her turned to face Jensen.

  “Zyan?” The vampire asked when his eyes landed on Jensen.

  “Do I know you?”

  “We were together for over five decades, and you don’t remember me?”

  “Remington?”

  “That’s me,” he answered and grinned.

  “Why are you here?” Jensen asked and narrowed his eyes at the vampire who was with his creator when he was turned.

  “Our creator sent me to assist her creator,” he answered.

  “Following orders still? I figured you’d have left her by now,” Jensen said and looked at the other male.

  “We can never leave her,” Remington answered. “She will be able to compel us for eternity.”

  “You’re wrong about that. She hasn’t compelled me in a very long time.”

  “Only because she doesn’t need you for anything,” Remington told him and grinned. “Now, I must return to her, and I must take the human girl.”

  “You are not taking Caia anywhere,” Jensen snarled. “And you will never see our creator again.”

  “Big words from someone who has been toeing the line for as long as you have,” Remington countered.

  “I may follow the laws, but that doesn’t mean I won’t kill you,” Jensen told him.

  “You can try,” Remington said and grinned.

  “This is between me and him,” Jensen said, and all the agents took a step back to let him know they wouldn’t interfere.

  “I have Caia,” Jackson called out and stepped behind the others with her in his arms. Seeing him holding her made a little of the tension winding in Jensen snap. He knew she was safe with Jackson.

  “Who is the girl to you? To all of you?” Remington asked as he looked at the vampire and Huntresses surrounding them.

  “She’s my copula, and Jackson’s sister,” he answered. “And you made a fatal mistake when you touched her.”

  “We shall see,” he countered, and Jensen snarled again. “Bring it, Zyan.”

  “I don’t let my emotions lead me any longer, Remington. I’m not the same vampire I was when I was still with you,” Jensen answered then grinned. “But I am still just as lethal.”

  “Prove it,” Remington challenged, and Jensen’s grin grew.

  Without another word, Jensen kneeled and pulled something from his boot. “Let’s play,” he said when he rose with one of Karma’s silver daggers in his hand.

  “Weapons, Zyan?” Remington asked with a sneer.

  “This is for him,” Jensen answered and let the dagger fly. When it hit its mark, everyone’s gaze shifted to the vampire who was standing in the tree line watching them.

  “Who the fuck?” Baxter asked and darted to the vampire lying motionless on the ground. “Nico.”

  “Fuck,” Gina said, but didn’t take her focus off Jensen. “We will deal with him later.”

  “Good shot,” Remington said and looked at Jensen again. “Maybe you are just as good as you were before.”

  “I am, and I’m tired of chatting,” Jensen responded and leaped. When he lande
d, he was behind Remington. His fist connected with the back of the other vampire’s skull before he had time to react, and he dropped in a heap at Jensen’s feet. “I won’t kill you, not yet anyway, because I want you to take a message to our creator. Tell her to stay the fuck away from me if she wants to live. She’s on the VEB most wanted list, and we will find her, but if she tries anything like this again, or attempts to contact me in any way, I will end her. Blink twice if you understand.”

  Remington looked at him for a moment before he blinked twice then closed his eyes.

  “Once you’re healed, you will return to her and give her my message,” Jensen told him then rose to his feet and looked at Jackson, who was cradling Caia against his chest. “Is she alive?”

  “Yes, but barely,” Jackson answered, and Jensen saw the tears in his eyes.

  “I can save her,” Jensen told him. “But we have to be somewhere safe first.”

  “Let’s get her back to the house,” Karma said. She’d rented them three houses in the next town over so they’d have a safe place to stay while they were here. “And we need a crew here to clean this up. This was a slaughter, and if I had to guess, these vampire were created for the soul purpose of being killed.”

  “Let’s get out of here before whomever did this, returns,” Watson said and looked around.

  “Yes,” Jensen said and walked to where Jackson was holding Caia. Acting on instinct, he bent and brushed his lips across the weak pulse in her throat and inhaled deeply. “She’s going to be okay.”

  “Yes,” Jackson commented and sighed before holding her out for Jensen to take. “And she belongs with you.”

  “I will spend eternity caring for her,” Jensen told him as he gently took her from Jackson. “Now, let’s get out of here. She doesn’t have too much longer before it’ll be too late to change her.”

  With that, Jensen turned and took off toward the SUVs with the others on his heels.

  Chapter Forty

  “She’s going to be okay,” Jensen said as he walked into the kitchen of the very large house they were staying in. “Jackson and Delanie are sitting with her at the moment so I could come tell you all.”