Blood Wager (Blood Destiny #1)

by Connie Suttle

  Back inside his hotel room, Gavin downloaded the information from the flash drive he'd gotten from the teen into his laptop, sending that plus the other information to Wlodek's personal computer. Feeling restless afterward, Gavin walked the streets and wandered the canal that wound its way through Bricktown. Two women offered themselves to him as he walked through the nearly deserted sidewalks. Gavin growled at both of them. One of the women called him an unkind name as he left her behind. She was of no consequence; tonight he had other things on his mind.

  Gavin's cell was ringing the moment he stepped out of the shower the following evening. Recognizing the number immediately, he tapped the button to answer. "Yes, Honored One?" he said.

  "Gavin, I appreciate the information you sent," Wlodek said. "We have a new strategy, now."

  "Honored One?"

  "Oh, I still expect you to eliminate the girl, but there are other things to accomplish first." There was almost a smile in Wlodek's words and the Head of the Vampire Council didn't smile often. "We learned through channels that she's working for William Winkler as a bodyguard. I want you to get as close to Winkler as you can. Use her, if necessary. Become a bodyguard for him yourself; that might work best. We need to know how well his software is going to work, Gavin. If it is as good as the rumors make it out to be, you understand how it might impact our race. I expect you to use discretion if it performs as promised. It must not be allowed onto the market."

  Gavin stood rooted to the bathroom floor. This was bigger than he ever imagined it might be. Yes, he understood completely how this might affect his race. The Council, the Enforcers and the Assassins all worked diligently to keep the vampire race hidden. This could well be the assignment of his lifetime. "Of course I understand, Honored One," Gavin found his voice.

  "Good. Keep me apprised as often as possible," Wlodek instructed. "Through my personal e-mail account."

  "Of course, Honored One." Wlodek terminated the call. Gavin shut down his phone a little slower, finished toweling himself off and dressed.

  * * *

  The safe house Gavin had been assigned in Dallas was already stocked with blood in both the refrigerator and the freezer. The ground level of the home was for appearances only; the portion of the home Gavin would use was the basement, closed off from the rest with a very thick door. The basement ceiling was reinforced with steel and concrete with the door leading into it controlled by a security-alarmed keypad. He'd gotten the combination from Charles, Wlodek's personal assistant.

  A local mall or discount store was Gavin's next objective; he'd brought mostly suits and slacks with him. As a night guard, he needed jeans and casual clothing to wear. He would certainly have to play the part and modify his speech and accent if he were to present himself to Winkler as an addition to his stable of bodyguards. Charles had also given him a phone number and the information that an ad had been placed in the local newspaper for additional bodyguards for the security magnate. Charles thought Gavin was there to keep an eye on William Winkler—he still had no idea that the female vampire was being tracked as well.

  * * *

  "Yeah, we're looking for two more. Can you come in for an interview tomorrow?"

  "Tomorrow evening," Gavin informed the voice over the phone.

  "Fine. Be here at eight." The address was given and Gavin committed it to memory; he never wrote anything down. Gavin then turned to washing his new jeans. He hated the stiffness of the new fabric and the jeans that weren't stiff when you bought them looked as if they belonged in the rubbish bin.

  * * *

  "Lissa, we've got a couple of interviews tonight so you'll be walking the perimeter alone until that's all taken care of," Davis informed me.

  "That's all right," I grinned at him. I was getting comfortable quickly, and that probably wasn't a wise thing to do. I'm sure the Vampire Manual, if there were such a thing, would say to trust nobody and always be on your guard. More than likely, it would also say not to take jobs with humans because we were vulnerable in the daytime, but then nobody had been there to hand out a copy of the thing to start with or give me any helpful advice. "And if these two get hired?" I asked Davis.

  "We'll be working eight hour shifts instead of twelve and we might even get a day off, now and then." Davis grinned back at me.

  "Cool," I said. "Do you intend to interview these two like you did me?"

  "Yes, and I hope I can walk tomorrow," Davis laughed.

  "Come on, you could walk after I dumped you in the driveway."

  "True, but my shoulder wouldn't work for days."

  "Poor thing," I said.

  "Don't give me false sympathy." He took off toward the house. Turning away, I went to walk the perimeter.

  * * *

  "We have a bank of electronic surveillance monitors," Winkler ushered Gavin through the room where monitors lined the walls. "If the fence or the gate is compromised, they're programmed to automatically sound the alarm. The outside guards patrol the perimeter as well in case the system fails for any reason. This property backs up to two others and they often throw parties. I don't want the neighbors fried, shot or otherwise becoming dead if they decide to climb over the back fence as a drunken prank." Winkler smiled at Gavin who didn't smile in return; he merely nodded his understanding.

  "Since you only work nights," Winkler went on, "I'm going to pair you with Lissa. You'll be relieved in the mornings by Phil and Glen. Davis, along with James, the other new hire, will be doing the swing. I'm working on bringing in some staff that normally work for a bank downtown, just to patrol one day a week. This will give the regular guards a day of free time now and then. There hasn't been much of that, lately."

  "Will it be a regular day off or will it be staggered?" Gavin asked.

  "Staggered, no sense in letting the enemy know which day the normal staff will be off, now is there?" Winkler was grinning again. "You'll be informed when your day off comes up."

  "Very well," Gavin nodded.

  "I'll let Davis introduce you to Lissa and you can take the second bedroom in Lissa's top floor guesthouse. Mind you, I expect you to behave yourself. Lissa is a lady and a very good bodyguard. Step out of line with her and you'll be out of a job."

  Gavin nodded again while Winkler poked his head out the door and yelled for Davis.

  * * *

  "He'll be taking the second bedroom in your guesthouse," Davis informed me later. I did my best not to stutter as I told him that would be fine. It wouldn't be fine. I slept all day. What if the new guy came into my bedroom when I didn't answer to a knock or something? He'd probably think I was dead. Technically, I suppose I was, but I didn't want to be pronounced by a doctor and wake up in a coffin, or be hauled out in daylight and not wake up at all, I guess.

  "Here he comes, now," Davis said. I stared at the man who approached us. He had to be at least six-five and broad across the shoulders with dark hair that curled just a little, along with handsome features and a shuttered look on his face. The other thing I noticed as he drew near, and it almost knocked me to my knees, was the smell. No, he didn't smell bad. He smelled good. Really good. And it wasn't from soap or aftershave, either. If he had any on, I couldn't detect it. It was all him and it was spice and amazement, rolled together. It was a good thing we'd only pass each other occasionally while patrolling the perimeter. If I had to stay in close proximity to that, I might be persuaded to lick and nibble now and then and that wouldn't do at all.

  Mentally apologizing to my late husband for entertaining such thoughts, I shook Gavin Matthews' hand when he held it out to me. He left after a bit to bring in his clothing and other belongings. Gavin's things were already in the shared bathroom when I got off at six-thirty. He had to be in bed—he wasn't anywhere else—so I took a five minute shower (I can soap and rinse really fast since becoming vampire) and went to bed myself.

  Davis left a note under the guesthouse door, telling me that Gavin and I didn't have to be on duty until nine in the evening. I silently thanke
d whoever was responsible for that. The days were getting longer and I didn't know what I'd do when daylight saving time came along and I was still beginning my shift at six-thirty. As it is, I was up by then and had plenty of time to look for my donor outside the walls. I found one easily enough; there's a service station and convenience store not far away and restaurants and other businesses past that. Sort of a vampire buffet, if you like. After I fed, I went back to the castle of doom (that's what Davis called it on occasion), punching the code on the keypad to let myself back in.

  Gavin didn't say anything to me when I walked inside our shared guesthouse. He was busy watching the local news so I left him to it. If he was going to eat, I didn't want to watch. Food was now a forgotten pleasure. I remembered how it tasted and what it was like now. I'd nibbled, here and there, if somebody offered me something inside the house. It all tasted like dust and I'd have to throw it up later, otherwise it just sat in what I had left for a stomach until I got rid of it. One more thing for the Vampire Manual to explain, I'm sure. "Where do you normally start?" Gavin asked me later when nine o'clock rolled around.

  "At the gate, but Davis and I switch it up sometimes and start at the back fence," I said. Gavin's scent had permeated the guesthouse; I'd noticed that right away after coming back from feeding earlier. Hoping I'd get used to it, I asked him which side he wanted to take.

  "I'll do clockwise," he said, taking off in that direction. I just shrugged and took off counter-clockwise. James, the other new guard, came outside for a smoke a couple of times while Gavin and I worked. He was bunking with Davis, who is a bit of a health nut. I wasn't surprised James got sent outside to take care of his habit.

  * * *

  Gavin silently cursed Wlodek, Edward, Sergio and all eight Council members every time he passed Lissa on his rounds. Lissa's scent was overpowering and he thought briefly about placing compulsion on Winkler to get a different roommate, but discarded that thought immediately. Where else was he going to get a housemate that slept the same hours and had the same needs? Not that he intended to give himself away to Lissa; it would make it easier to eliminate her down the road. She had absolutely no idea that he was vampire, like herself. A true sire would have taught her that and many other things necessary for her survival. Instead, she was fumbling her way along, blind to all of it.

  Gavin saw her during their brief lunch break, sitting on top of the wall near the front gate with her knees drawn up to her chest, staring out over the street that passed before the manor. He'd gotten a little background on her from Harry and wondered what else he might discover about her. The information could be found easily enough on the computer, he concluded, shrugging away the urge to place compulsion and ask Lissa himself.

  * * *

  "Kiddies, we're taking a little trip," Winkler announced a few days later. "I'm sure you're all tired of walking the grounds here, so we're going away for a bit."

  "Where?" Davis asked.

  "A little north of the border. We're going to Oklahoma City. I have an associate who owns a large house in Nichols Hills, so I'm going to borrow it for a bit. Ever since I went to the Mavericks game, the media has been bombarding me with requests for interviews and such. If I granted the requests, I'd never get any work done." We stood inside Winkler's kitchen, watching him drink a cup of coffee while he talked.

  "Are you moving your equipment up?" Phil wanted to know.

  "Yep. Andy and I packed it up this afternoon and you and Glen are going to drive it up. Tonight. In fact, we're all going tonight. It's only a two and a half hour drive. I have vans coming for all of you; I just need to know who is driving."

  "You want to drive?" Gavin turned to me, a slight frown on his face. That frown was nothing compared to the one plastered across my face, most likely. Serge and Ed might be there, waiting for me. I'd come to Texas in the beginning to get away from them. Would I be safer if I stayed at the house in Nichols Hills all the time? I hadn't seen or heard anything after they'd shown my face on ESPN. Those two didn't seem to be basketball fans.

  "I'll drive," I shrugged, since Gavin was waiting for an answer.

  "Lissa is from the Oklahoma City area, she can take point in case you have any questions about the local amenities," Winkler smiled at me. I bit my lip instead, truly glad that I'd gone out to feed early.

  Gavin and I loaded up our bags and such; I was surprised to see he had a small refrigerator in his room, which he also loaded into the van. Maybe he kept beer and snacks in it. Why would I care? I drove the entire way, stopping only once so Winkler could stretch his legs. "Remind me to get you a real cell phone," he told me. Mine had run out of pre-paid minutes when he'd called to tell us to pull over.

  "Whatever you say, boss," I said. He might be saved the trouble and expense if Ed and Serge found me. Gavin was quiet most of the trip, asking only a few questions once we drove past Norman on I-35.

  "Norman's a college town," I said. "University of Oklahoma. I have a master's degree from there," I added, realizing immediately that I should have kept my mouth shut. I no longer looked old enough to have a master's degree.

  "Which area of study?" he asked, ignoring my discomfort.

  "Fine Arts," I said. Yeah. A fine arts degree. Pretty worthless, actually. I'd worked as a clerk for a judge, holding an MFA. Well, it was better than retail management. That's what I started out in and the benefits had certainly been better.

  Gavin didn't comment on that. "So, what is there to do in Oklahoma City?" he asked instead.

  "They have an NBA team now, if you like basketball. A minor league baseball team which should start playing soon, minor league hockey, lots of fast food restaurants, plenty of sleazy bars and a couple of good bookstores and museums. The museum downtown has a great Chihuly exhibit and I went to see the Roman exhibit they had not long ago; it was definitely worth going to see. There is also a symphony and live stage performances. And if you're ambitious, you could always go to Tulsa. The Philbrook museum is there. If you're into gambling, there are several Indian casinos scattered around, some of them pretty nice, actually." I realized I was babbling a bit while Gavin remained silent, digesting the information I'd given.

  "We only get one day off per week and won't know when that is until it is upon us. Not enough time to make many plans," Gavin almost smiled. Almost. I hadn't seen the man smile once since I'd met him.

  "I intend to go to the bookstore when I get a little time," I said. "I haven't gotten anything good to read in weeks."

  "What do you read?" he asked. Gavin's beautiful, deep brown eyes showed the first signs of interest since I'd met him.

  "All sorts of things. Politics, history, humor, fiction, mystery, science fiction, even a little religion and new age from time to time." I also intended to visit Don's grave but I wasn't about to divulge that information. I might have to be careful, too. Ed and Serge could have it staked out, no pun intended, which gave me a new set of worries. What about crosses, stakes, holy water and churches? Damn. Where was that fucking manual? The only two vampires I'd recognize for sure were the ones I was doing my best to stay away from. Maybe there were others out there, but would they help me if I found out whom they were, or had Serge and Ed ruined everything for me? I had no way of knowing. Gavin turned away, lost in his thoughts just as I was.

  I followed the van in front of me as we caravanned to Nichols hills, pulling through yet another gated wall and parking near an enormous house. Many were the times I'd driven through Nichols Hills, just to look at the grand mansions lining the streets. The grounds around this one weren't as expansive as the house in Denton, so I'd have a shorter walk every night. Gavin and I were given the two-bed apartment over the four-car garage and moved our things in. Once upon a time, I'd have huffed and puffed, lugging my belongings up those stairs. Now I could run up them carrying a Mini Cooper if I wanted. Not that it would fit through the door or anything.

  "Which bedroom do you want?" Gavin asked, dumping his luggage in the entryway.

 
"I don't care," I said, and I didn't. It wasn't like I'd spend much time awake in it anyway.

  "They both have a bath and are nearly the same size, so I'll take the one closest to the door," Gavin decided for both of us.

  "Good enough," I made an expansive gesture with my arms and then added, "While I realize that many women might have a tape measure out, calculating the square footage of both just to make sure they got the better deal, well, I truly do not care." I picked up my bags and carried them into the second bedroom down the hall. Gavin's laugh followed me the entire way.

  After hanging my small wardrobe inside the walk-in closet and setting out my three pairs of shoes, I sighed and decided I really needed to go shoe shopping. The one pair of dress shoes that Davis had bought for me was fine, but I needed other things. The other two pairs were athletic shoes, one pair white, one black, but I was wearing them out quickly, walking all night. I knew where the New Balance store was in Edmond, not far from the Nichols Hills mansion. Maybe I could borrow a van and drive there. Surely, vampires didn't hang around New Balance stores. There was also a mall not far away, where other shoes could be purchased. I had two paychecks already that I hadn't cashed, so finding a bank with late hours was a necessity. There were at least two branches in town that stayed open until eight, I'd just have to find the right day to do it. No way was I opening a checking account; that would surely be a catastrophe of epic proportions.

  * * *

  "Honored One," the e-mail read, "we are now in Oklahoma City. Secondary has decided to work from here. Am keeping primary under observation. Primary seems completely ignorant, which is most unfortunate. I cannot fault her in her eating habits, however. She is quite careful in that respect. Have learned that secondary is nearing 60% completion. Will keep you advised.

  G."

  Wlodek sighed as he read the message. The girl was an unfortunate victim; he'd already questioned Sergio and Edward. He was only waiting until the situation was resolved and she was properly disposed of before he brought the two before the Council for final questioning and sentencing. Gavin would be present for that and would give his views on the entire affair before final decisions were made. Only Nyles Abernathy, Edward's sire, was still alive. Sergio's had walked into the sun nearly a hundred years before. Nyles would be notified at the proper time and Edward and Sergio's assets would be liquidated and added to the Council's coffers. That was standard procedure when a vampire was sentenced as a rogue.