“A friend’s family gave it to me,” she said.
“Why is it chipped?” he asked.
“It tried to stop a bullet,” she whispered.
“I take it, it didn’t succeed.”
“No.”
“Pity.” He ran his finger over her cheek.
Rachel flinched.
“I’d bring you over if I thought you wouldn’t kill me the second you rose,” he taunted.
She turned in the direction she thought he was standing and braced herself. “I don’t need to be a vampire to kill you.”
He barked with laughter. “So tough. So fragile. So dead.”
The floodlights came on suddenly. Rachel blinked, temporarily blinded.
“Claude? Gabriel looked around in confusion. “What are you doing here?”
Rachel’s vision cleared and she saw the dark-haired man from the side street standing three feet from her. His green gaze was locked on Gabriel.
“You know this man?” she asked.
Gabriel didn’t take his gaze off him when he answered. “This is my partner—my friend. We work together.”
Rachel’s stomach pitched. Oh god. Did that mean that Gabriel would let him go? It didn’t bear thinking about. “This is the man who attacked me,” she said. “He killed those women.”
“No.” Gabriel shook his head. “That’s not possible. Claude, tell her,” he said, his disbelief clear.
“The woman is obviously mad. You said so yourself. Why else would she be down here again after dark, so close to the Otherworld entrance?”
Gabriel’s blue eyes burned holes in him. “Why else indeed?”
“You don’t believe her. Do you?” he asked. “We’ve known each other for years.”
“You knew she’d been drinking the night of the attack before I ever said anything. The only way you could’ve known that was if you were there,” Gabriel said.
“I assumed,” Claude said.
“No.” Gabriel shook his head. “You knew.”
“Clever boy.” Claude tugged at his cuff, straightening it. “It’s a shame you figured it out, mon amí. It would’ve been easier had you stayed out of it. You can still walk away. Our friendship doesn’t have to end because of a human—a woman no less.”
“You know I can’t do that. Someone has to stop you,” Gabriel said.
“And you think that someone is you and your lady cop here.” Claude launched himself at Gabriel before he could answer, knocking him into the wall of bones. He landed on top of him and proceeded to pound him with his fists.
Rachel hadn’t even seen him move. No human could’ve moved that fast. It was true. Everything Gabriel had told her was true. Claude’s arms blurred as he beat Gabriel. There was a loud crunch and blood splattered across Gabriel’s face. It would be a very short fight, if she didn’t do something quick.
She grabbed a thighbone from the pile next to her. “Claude,” she shouted, then hit him upside the head as he turned to look at her.
Gabriel scrambled to his feet and shook his head to clear it.
“You shouldn’t have done that, pouffiasse.” Claude snarled and his fangs extended. “Now I’m going to have to rip out your throat.”
“You’re not going to touch her again,” Gabriel growled and clenched his fists.
“Is the Gladiator finally coming out to play?” Claude asked. “You always thought you were so civil. That you’d moved beyond your past. But we both know the truth. Once a killer, always a killer, eh mon ami?”
Gladiator? Gabriel was a gladiator? That might explain the battered face, but the man she’d met was tender and caring. He may have killed in the past, but he was no callous murderer.
The men circled each other, taking swipes with their bare hands. Given the power behind their blows and the sharpness of their teeth, they didn’t need weapons. Rachel watched in fascinated horror as each man tore chunks of flesh from the other. The pieces landed on the ground like discarded waste.
Blood poured down Gabriel’s side and he limped with each step he took. He didn’t look nearly as focused, as he’d been earlier. He fought well and he fought hard, but his friend was better. Claude dodged right and struck Gabriel across the head with his fist. He went down—hard.
“Let’s end this so we can have some time alone.” Claude smiled viciously at Rachel as he pulled out a long antique dagger from his sleeve.
Gabriel moaned and tried to stand.
She’d already seen what Claude did to women and had no intention of joining his little club. Rachel looked around quickly and snatched up two damaged bones. The joints had been snapped off, leaving jagged points behind.
Claude grabbed Gabriel by the hair and twisted his neck. He raised the dagger and brought it down to slash his throat.
Rachel didn’t think. She roared in anger and rushed forward, bones held like stakes in front of her.
Claude blinked in surprise and quickly dropped Gabriel. He spun around to face the oncoming threat. Rachel was going so fast that she couldn’t slow down. She plowed into him. It was like smashing into marble. She drove the bones into his body. They went in a few inches, then splintered in her hands and turned to dust.
He grinned at her. “You missed.”
She stumbled back. Her legs didn’t seem to want to work. Pain blossomed in her stomach and spread across her chest. She looked down and saw a hole in her shirt, caused by the dagger protruding out of her abdomen. So much blood. She touched it. It was warm. She brought her stained fingers up to her face and shivered. Cold. Rachel dropped to her knees, still clutching the weapon in her gut.
Claude’s green eyes began to glow. His fangs extended even more, as he stalked toward her. “You should’ve waited your turn.” He tsked. “But if you insist on going first. I will oblige you. After all, I am a gentleman.” He hauled Rachel to her feet and slammed her against the pillar. “Don’t move.”
She was too numb to do anything, to feel anything.
“What, no begging or pleading for your life? How about the life of your lover?” He glanced at Gabriel.
“How did you…” Words failed her.
“I smell him on your skin,” he said. “His scent is all over you. He claimed otherwise, but I knew cared. I could tell.”
Rachel glared. “Just get on with it, asshole. I don’t need a monologue.”
Claude scowled at her. The tips of the bones made sucking noises as he pulled them out of his body and dropped one on the ground in disgust. He wrenched her neck back and opened his mouth. His warm fetid breath bathed her throat. “Painful, but pointless,” he snarled as he held up the remaining bone for her to see. “Do you not know how to kill a vampyre?”
“No.” Rachel braced herself.
“I do,” Gabriel hissed, driving a bone through Claude’s back.
Claude’s body jerked. “Mon ami.”
“I’m not your friend,” Gabriel hissed.
Claude released Rachel and looked down. She followed his gaze to see the sharp edges of a femur protruding from the middle of his chest. Fragments of his heart were still stuck to the end of the bone.
Rachel grabbed one squishy fragment and held it up so Claude could see it. “I guess this makes us even.”
There was no drama to Claude’s death. He didn’t burst into flames, shrivel up and age, or flail about. He simply fell to his knees, grimaced, and died.
Rachel’s legs gave out and she slid to the ground. “We got him,” she said, then coughed. Blood smeared her delicate lips. She wiped it off.
“Yes, we did.” Gabriel rifled through Claude’s pockets until he found what he was looking for. He dropped the St. Michael medal into Rachel’s hand. “I believe this is yours,” he choked on the words. “I told you I’d get it back for you.”
She smiled and touched his cheek, leaving a streak of blood behind. “Thank you.”
“Listen,” Gabriel said. “We don’t have much time.”
Rachel laughed and winced. “We knew that goi
ng in.”
“No.” He shook his head. “You don’t understand. You have a choice to make. Normally this is done by the Sang who sired you. But since he’s dead, I can now offer.”
Rachel’s lids drooped shut.
Gabriel shook her hard. “Wake up and listen.” He sounded desperate.
Her eyes fluttered open, but they didn’t focus.
“I can change you into what I am, but it has to be done with your permission. The rules for the Sang have changed over the years.”
“What are you saying?”
“Do you want to live?” Gabriel asked. “Yes or no.”
Ever since Paul’s death Rachel had been asking herself that question. Up until now the answer had always been the same—no, but that was before she’d met Gabriel. He reminded her that she was indeed alive. She glanced at the St. Michael medal in her hand. It used to bring her pain and comfort in equal measure. Now as she stroked the pendant with her thumb all she had was fond memories. She met Gabriel’s eyes.
He trembled under her regard. She could tell what it was costing him to wait. He’d live with whatever she decided, but hope burned eternal in his gaze.
“Do it,” she said, then braced herself.
Just like when they’d made love, Rachel felt a slight sting as his teeth broke the skin on her neck. Gabriel held her close, stroking her lovingly, comforting her as he drank. The drips in the bird-less bath faded and the world began to dim. Rachel’s heart stuttered. Before it stopped, Gabriel pulled the dagger out of her and sliced open his wrist, then pressed the bleeding wound to her mouth.
“Drink for our future.” Gabriel forced her to swallow, when every instinct inside her revolted. “I won’t let you get away from me that easy.”
*
Two Days Later…
Gabriel stood before the Sanguis High Council with the petition in his hand.
“Present your request,” Marcus said.
The Sang leader looked to be twenty-five with his smooth skin, long black hair, and toned body, but he had sat on the council for as long as Gabriel had walked the earth. No one knew for sure how old Marcus was or where he came from and no one asked.
He took a step forward. “I am here to officially request the admission of Rachel Chang to the Sanguis and the Otherworld.”
Marcus looked around the room. “Where is she? Why is she not here to speak on her behalf?”
“She’s still in the process of changing,” he said. “She hasn’t woken up yet.”
“And you’re sure she will?” he asked.
“Positive! She’s a fighter,” he said.
Marcus’ black eyes slid over him. “You are referring to the human female who was attacked by your partner, are you not?”
Gabriel’s head dropped. “Yes.”
“You are not responsible for Claude’s actions,” Marcus said. He flipped his long black hair back over his shoulder.
“I know,” he said.
“But you wish to be responsible for the woman?”
Gabriel’s head shot up. He forced himself to hold Marcus’ knowing gaze. “Yes, I will take full responsibility for her.”
“You are her Sire?”
Gabriel’s lips thinned. “I finished what Claude started.”
Marcus’ dark brow rose. “Do you not wish to be her Sire?”
“I wish to be so much more,” Gabriel murmured.
Marcus’ lips canted. “I see.”
Gabriel was sure he did. Nothing got past Marcus. He was all seeing. All knowing. All powerful.
Marcus picked up a pen. “Bring me the document.”
Gabriel rushed forward with the request.
Marcus gave it a cursory glance, then signed it and handed it back.
“Thank you.” Gabriel bowed to Marcus, then to the rest of the council members.
“Good luck,” Marcus said.
Gabriel grinned.
*
Rachel awoke to find herself in her bed at the hotel. She ran her hand over her tender abdomen and winced. She lifted her shirt and saw a clean white bandage. How had that gotten there?
She glanced around in confusion. What happened? Nothing looked different, but the bandage meant the battle in the catacombs definitely hadn’t been a dream. Claude had stabbed her and she’d died. Her heart began to pound. If she was dead, how had she gotten back to the hotel? And even more confusing was why she’d come back? This wasn’t exactly the kind of place she wanted to haunt.
She heard a splattering of rain. No, not rain, the shower. Someone was using the shower in the bathroom. A moment later the door opened with a billow of steam and Gabriel stepped out with a white fluffy towel wrapped around his trim waist.
“You’re finally awake,” he said, relief clear in his voice. He smile was bright—a little too bright. It gave away the nerves he was trying to conceal.
“You’re okay?” It was a question and a statement. Her relief was palpable.
“I’m okay,” he said, running a hand down his chest. “I thought I lost you.” This time he couldn’t hide the fear in his voice. “How are you feeling?”
Rachel clenched her teeth and sat up slowly. “Fine, I think….for someone who died. How did we get here?”
He grinned and her heart skittered. “I carried you.”
“You do realize the hotel is never going to let me stay here again, right?”
“This is Paris. The city of love.” His expression grew solemn. “What are you going to do now that you’ve recovered?”
He watched her carefully. The vulnerability she’d seen in the catacombs was back in full force. Rachel made a show of thinking about it. She had nothing to go back to in New York other than a small apartment, an empty refrigerator, and months of psychological evaluations.
“I thought maybe I’d stick around. My French is rusty and I need to learn the ropes of this whole vampire thing,” she said.
Hope blossomed in his blue eyes. “I’d be more than happy to teach you, if you like.”
“What would I do for work?” she asked. “You can’t live on love alone, not even in Paris.”
Gabriel’s smile was back, wider than before. “I happen to know of a job opening now that my partner has retired.”
“Is that so?” Rachel had a hard time keeping a straight face.
“Of course, you’ll have to interview for the job.” His heated gaze raked her and she felt an answering pull deep inside.
Rachel arched a brow. “What does a vampire interview entail?”
Gabriel dropped his towel, revealing his growing desire. “It starts with a very thorough physical.”
Rachel grinned, admiring the view. “Did I ever tell you I received the Presidential patch for fitness when I was in school?”
Gabriel’s lips quirked. “Prove it.”
# # #
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
JORDAN SUMMERS
Jordan Summers has thirty-one published books to her credit and has sold over 130,000 ebooks. She is a member of Novelist Inc., International Thriller Writers, Horror Writer’s Association, and Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. Find out more about Jordan Summers’ work at: www.jordansummers.com.
*
OTHER WORKS BY THE AUTHOR
Dead World 1: Red
Dead World 2: Scarlet
Dead World 3: Crimson
Dead World Prequel: Raphael
Dead World Prequel: Kane
Phantom Warriors: Bacchus
Phantom Warriors: Saber-tooth
Phantom Warriors: Talon
Phantom Warriors: Arctos
Phantom Warriors: Linx
Phantom Warriors: Riot
Phantom Warriors: The Dark King
Phantom Warriors Volume 1
Phantom Warriors Volume 2
Atlantean’s Quest 1: The Arrival
Atlantean’s Quest 2: Exodus
Atlantean’s Quest 3: Redemption
Atlantean Heat
Atlantean’s Quest
4: The Return
Atlantean’s Quest 5: The Dark King
Atlantean’s Quest Bundle 1
Atlantean’s Quest Bundle 2
Moonlight Kin 1: A Wolf’s Tale
Moonlight Kin 2: Aidan’s Mate
Tears of Amun
Private Investigations
Mesmerized
Heat of the Night
Ride em’ Cowboy
Lords of the Night 1: Gothic Passions
Lords of the Night 2: Rose’s Rapture
The Ghost Hunter Chronicles: Solomon’s Seals
Blood Lite 2: Overbite.
Love's First Bite: Bad Boys and Alpha Vampires Boxed Set (6 book bundle) Page 83
