“And you believe him?”
“I have no reason not to. He helped save our lives, Melody. Neither of us would be here right now if it wasn’t for him.”
She still wasn’t convinced. “Chelsey, I don’t want to sound like a bitch, but the truth is you’re gullible and naïve when it comes to men and this one is a friggin’ vampire. He’s going to make you believe whatever he wants.”
I almost had to laugh. The day before she’d been the one defending him and now she was issuing warnings? “I’m in control of my beliefs, Melody,” I said. “And why do you find it so hard to imagine that Talia didn’t trick Slade so that she could sleep with him? We’ve already figured out that she’s a bitch.”
“Yeah, but that would mean she intentionally deceived her own sister. Her twin sister.”
“I know, which means she’s even more despicable than either of us guessed.”
Melody sighed. “Maybe so. Enough about her. I’m going to go and find something to eat downstairs.”
I smirked. “Maybe you’ll run into Liam in the kitchen. He’s got quite the appetite.”
“Yeah, he does. Too bad it doesn’t include moi,” she mumbled.
AFTER LUCIAN AND I were finished having sex, he took out his laptop while I got dressed.
“So, where is that pilot, Steve?” he asked with a sneer. “The one you had to coerce into helping us set this up?”
“I believe that he flew back to the U.S., early this morning, for another job.”
“So, he’s not exclusive to Mr. Billionaire?”
“No. They’re friends and Steve usually makes Aiden’s flights top priority, but he pilots for a few others, too,” I replied, walking over to the mirror.
“How nice,” he replied sarcastically.
“Nice for me. I don’t have to worry about avoiding him for a while.”
“If you’d like, I could make him permanently avoidable.”
I smiled. “You’d do that for me?”
“Of course.”
“As much as I would love to not have to worry about seeing him again, something tells me that Aiden would comb the ends of the earth to catch his friend’s killer.”
“I could make it look like an accident.”
“That might work.”
“It would work.”
“Let’s wait until after this business with Aiden and Doctor Shephard.”
“Very well. So, where are you off to?” he asked, staring at the screen on his computer. He was seated behind an antique writing desk, still naked, and I had to smile. As powerful as Lucian was, he seemed exceptionally vulnerable at the moment.
I gazed at myself in the mirror. My makeup was still intact, but if anyone saw my hair, they’d be suspicious. I definitely looked like a woman who’d gotten laid. “I need to make sure Dr. Shephard gets his soup,” I replied, taking my hair down to redo the chignon.
“That’s a good idea. We don’t need him catching pneumonia and dying on us.”
“Why don’t you just turn him into a vampire?” I asked, thinking it would solve a lot for us.
“He’s easier to manipulate as a mortal.”
“I suppose you’re right.”
“Of course I’m right.” He rubbed the side of his face and sighed. “After you’re finished getting the old man his soup, I would like you to show me around the city. Unless Aiden needs you, of course.”
I smiled in pleasure. The fact that he wanted me to give him a tour of the city was an unexpected surprise. “I can get away.”
“Just don’t forget to start working on him. I need you in his bed and the paperwork signed before we leave tomorrow.”
My smile fell. It was always business with Lucian. Business or sex. “I understand.”
“This will be the last time you have to do this,” he said, his voice softening. “If it wasn’t so important, you know I wouldn’t ask it of you.”
“I know, Lucian,” I answered.
He stood up and walked over to me. Sliding his arms around my waist, he stared at me in the mirror. “You know that the thought of him putting his hands on you makes me sick.”
Then why make me do it? I wondered.
As if reading my mind, he kissed my neck and said, “We just don’t have another choice at the moment, Darling.”
I nodded.
“I love you,” he whispered, licking my earlobe.
“I love you too, Lucian,” I answered, closing my eyes as his hand slid back under my skirt.
FIFTEEN MINUTES LATER, I stepped out of Lucian’s room and headed toward the staircase. Before I reached it, Slade appeared in front of me, blocking my path. He’d changed his clothes and his hair was damp. He also smelled of cologne.
“Excuse me,” I said, annoyed that I liked the way that he smelled.
“We need to talk.”
The way he was staring at me made me nervous. It was as if he could see right through me. “I don’t think you and I have anything to discuss.”
His smile chilled me to the bone. “We have a lot to discuss. Vanessa.”
AFTER MY SHOWER, I changed into the items that we’d purchased at the sporting-goods store – including a pair of black Capri leggings and a long white T-shirt, with a grumpy looking cat on the front. Then I pulled my hair up into a ponytail, brushed my teeth, and went in search of Melody and Slade. I stopped first at Melody’s room, but found it empty, so I headed downstairs toward the kitchen. When I reached the main floor, I found her flirting with Liam.
“So, you’re really not going shopping with us, Liam?” she was saying as I approached.
“I wish I could, but like I said, I have other plans this afternoon,” he answered. “Hi, Chelsey.”
I smiled. “Hi.”
“So, what are you doing tonight after you return Bradan’s mother to the nursing home?” she teased.
He grinned. “Since you young girls have a curfew, I’ll probably hang out with the adults while you’re safe and sound in your beds, with visions of sugar plums dancing in your heads.”
“I’m usually holding out a dollar bill toward the visions that are dancing around in my head,” said Melody, grinning wickedly.
He grunted. “I don’t doubt it.”
“Speaking of,” said Melody, noticing as Aiden walked toward us. “Here comes your yummilicious brother.”
Liam’s smile fell and he turned toward Aiden. “You finished with your conference call already?”
“We rescheduled it,” he answered. “Hello, ladies. Did you sleep well last night?”
“Yes. I slept like a rock,” I answered.
“The beds are heavenly,” said Melody, her voice suddenly airier. “It’s like you’re floating on a cloud.”
He grinned in amusement. “Good, I’m glad you like them. They’re actually air-beds, so you can change the firmness of the mattress, if you’d like to.”
“Mine was perfect the way it was,” I answered.
“So, if I wanted to sleep on something harder, all I have to do is dial it up?” asked Melody.
“If that’s what you want,” said Aiden. “I usually prefer mine firm but pillowy on top.”
“Do you, now?” asked Melody, nonchalantly sucking in her stomach, making her chest stick out further.
Noticing, Liam looked at me and shook his head. I smiled back. It was obvious that Melody was flirting with Aiden again just to rile Liam.
“Contrary to popular belief, if a bed is too firm, it’s not always good for your back,” replied Aiden.
Melody’s eyes widened. “Really? So, your bed is both soft and firm at the same time?”
He nodded.
“I wish I could lie on your mattress to see what you mean,” she said.
“He has the same mattress as everyone else,” said Liam dryly. “Just tell her what number you’ve got your air-bed dialed up to, Aiden.”
“Actually, mine is a different mattress brand than the others in the castle, so the numbers are different.”
&
nbsp; “Can I see it?” asked Melody.
“Sure,” he answered. “If you want to.”
“I’d love to get into your bed,” she said and then added quickly. “To see what you’re talking about, that is.”
Aiden, who wasn’t stupid, laughed. “Sure. Anyone else?”
“No,” said Liam, looking bored. “If I’m getting into anyone’s bed today, it isn’t going to be my brother’s.”
“Chelsey?” asked Melody. “You want to try it out?”
I smiled. “No. I’m good. Has anyone seen Slade?”
“He’s around,” answered Liam.
Aiden’s face became serious. “That reminds me… we have some other guests staying with us.” He lowered his voice. “I’d prefer it if you didn’t go wandering the castle by yourselves.”
“Why?” whispered Melody.
“One of them is a vampire and he’s already made it clear that he prefers his meals warm,” said Aiden. He looked at his brother. “Whatever you do, don’t leave either of these girls alone in the next twenty-four hours.”
“Liam already has plans,” said Melody, sidling up to Aiden. She fluttered her eyelashes. “So, I guess that means we’re following you around all day. I am, at least. I’m sure Slade and Chelsey will want to go off and do their own thing.”
Both men looked at me and my cheeks turned pink.
“What kind of thing is that?” asked Liam, smirking.
“I don’t know,” I answered a little too quickly. “Just, hanging out. You know?”
“Is there anything going on between you and Slade?” asked Aiden, his eyes searching into mine.
I laughed nervously.
VANESSA’S EYES NARROWED. “Excuse me?”
I grabbed her wrist and pulled her into one of the bedrooms.
“What in the hell are you doing?” she asked, as I released her.
Blocking the door, I crossed my arms under my chest. “That’s what I was going to ask you.”
“I don’t have time for games.” She stepped toward me. “Get out of my way.”
“I guess there’s no other way to do this but then just say it outright - I know who you really are. You’re not Talia. You’re Vanessa. I just don’t understand why you’ve been lying all this time,” I said, my voice softening.
Vanessa’s mouth opened and then shut.
I smiled. “Didn’t think I’d find out, did you?”
She regained her composure and raised her chin, defiantly. “What you’re saying is absurd and how dare you accuse me of something so underhanded. Vanessa killed herself and it was because of you. We both know that.”
My eyes searched hers, wondering what had happened to the woman I’d once loved. Her hatred for me seemed to be the only thing real about her.
“Cut the act. I overheard your conversation with Lucian last night, Vanessa. I know everything. I even know that you’ve been conspiring with him to get to Aiden.”
A look of panic spread across her face. “What are you talking about?”
“You came to Rylan Castle just so that you could help talk Aiden into funding this research project. I know it. He knows it. We all know about it, Vanessa.”
“That’s bullshit,” she snapped. “I didn’t even know Lucian until he came to us about the research project. I was already working for Aiden.”
“Other sources say different.”
“What other sources?”
“Aiden’s. Do you really think he would go into this meeting blindly? Not knowing anything about Dr. Shephard or Lucian Tepes.”
Her eyes widened. “Tepes? Who is that?”
I laughed coldly. “Would you quit with the acting! Lucian Frazier is Lucian Tepes.”
“Nonsense.”
“It’s true. We both know it.”
And still she tried acting ignorant. “I don’t get this. Who is Lucian Tepes and why would he pretend to be someone he’s not?”
“Tepes despises all Lycan. He’s trying to get the funding because he knows that Aiden’s worth billions of dollars and would never agree to invest in the project if he knew Tepes was involved.”
She glared at me. “I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about,” she answered, trembling. “All I know is that Lucian Frazier contacted us about the experiment and I set the meeting up. As for your accusations, they’re preposterous. You and I both know that you broke my heart!” she cried.
I sighed.
Noticing her mistake, she turned away from me.
“Talia tricked me, Vanessa. I didn’t know. I thought she was you.”
She began to cry harder.
“Vanessa,” I said, putting a hand on her shoulder.
“Leave me alone!” she hissed, tugging away from me. “Don’t you dare touch me.”
“I know that you don’t believe me, but… I loved you so much,” I said, wishing that I could take away her pain. As pissed off as I was at her lies and all of the deception, I could see that even after all of these year, she was still tormented by the past. “I would have never slept with your sister had I known who she really was.”
She turned around and smiled at me coldly. “Is that right? I’m supposed to believe that you’re telling the truth; just like you were truthful about being a vampire? Oh, wait – it wasn’t me that you confessed it to. It was Talia.”
I groaned. “I didn’t know! Talia seduced me into believing that she was you. I swear to God, Vanessa. You have to believe me.”
HIS EYES BEGGED me to believe him and I wanted to, but I thought back to the time I’d seen them together, kissing behind his house. The passion between my sister and Slade had been real, regardless of who he thought had been in his arms, that night. There was no way that I would ever really know the truth; he’d kept the fact that he’d been a vampire from me before ever meeting Talia. Why should I believe anything that came out of his mouth? “Excuse me if I don’t.”
His hand snaked out and he grabbed my wrist. “What can I do to make you change your mind about me?”
I stared into his eyes. “Nothing.”
I didn’t trust him. I couldn’t trust him. It had been too long and my heart now belonged to Lucian, anyway. If it were true, and he’d been just as much a victim, I didn’t know if I could handle it. It was easier to believe in the notion that Slade had always been the lying scoundrel Talia had claimed him to be.
He suddenly pulled me to him and kissed my lips.
“Stop it!” I cried, pushing him away. “What in the hell are you thinking?”
“I’m sorry,” he said, running a hand through his hair. “I thought maybe-”
“Maybe what? That the years would melt away and we’d go riding off into the moonlight together?” I said, laughing bitterly. “Really?”
“I don’t know.”
“Slade, go back to your fiancée,” I said. “There’s nothing between us.”
“She’s not my fiancée,” he answered.
My eyes widened. “Another lie?”
“I’m telling you the truth. I want you to know that I’ll never lie to you, Vanessa.”
I grunted. “You did on the plane.”
“Yeah, but I thought you were Talia.”
We stared at each other in silence, for a while, and then I asked, “Who exactly is this girl, Chelsey, to you?”
“To be honest, I’m not sure.”
“Do you love her?”
He took a while to answer. “I have feelings for her. As far as loving her, it’s too early to tell, I guess.”
“So, you might be falling in love with her, and yet, you tried kissing me,” I said with a sneer.
“I wanted to see if there was something still there. Between us.”
“And what did that kiss tell you?”
He shrugged. “Not a whole lot, I guess.”
“I’m sure it didn’t. I love Lucian,” I admitted.
“Does he love you?” he asked, looking skeptical.
“He says that he does.”
“Do you believe him?”
I sighed. “We’ve been together for a long time. He was there for me after Talia turned me into a vampire.”
“Talia was the one?” he asked, looking angry.
“Yes, it was right after I learned about you two. I’d just packed a suitcase and was trying to leave town when she confronted me.”
“She attacked you?”
“No, but I was frightened. I tripped and fell backward, hitting my head. I almost died, but she brought me back. She said it was the only way…” I said, remembering our last conversation.
“What happened to her?”
I smiled grimly. “It was an accident. Apparently, I killed Talia by draining her of every last ounce of blood.”
“I don’t understand.”
I told him about her empty husk. “Lucian said that Talia must have left me so hungry that I was unable to control myself. I took everything she had left.”
Slade snorted. “What made him the expert?”
“He was there when I woke up.”
“Why was Lucian there?” asked Slade, his face darkening. “You didn’t know him, did you?”
“No, but Lucian’s father was one of Talia’s dead husbands. He’d been following her.”
“And she didn’t have any idea?”
“I guess not.”
“Was he a vampire at that time?”
I nodded.
“So, he showed up at your house, already a vampire. What do you think he wanted?”
“Her. He believed that Talia had killed his father.”
“So, he was there for revenge. What else did he tell you? Did he mention how he became a vampire?”
“I don’t really know how that came about. He doesn’t like to talk about it.” It wasn’t exactly the truth. I knew that he’d become one voluntarily, only because of his hatred toward the Lycan. I didn’t feel that sharing this information with Slade would be wise. Not when his closest friends were mongrels.
“I guess that I can relate.”
“How so?” I asked, curious as to how he’d become one himself.
His eyes were suddenly filled with pain. He sighed. “It’s a long story.”
I reminded myself that Slade wasn’t a man that I needed to feel sorry for. Whatever it was that may have happened to him, it didn’t hold a candle as to the pain he’d caused me. “Enough about the past. It’s over and everything is different. Are you going to tell Aiden who I really am?” Not that it mattered. He’d obviously found out about the scheme. It made me wonder why Aiden hadn’t outed us at the meeting.
Toxic (Venom Series) Book Three Page 3
