by Tina Folsom
That bastard had told Samson that Portia had been at his place, in his bed even. And Zane had pretended that night that he’d had a woman there for sex. Quinn, that fucking traitor, had promptly run to Samson and ratted on him.
“In my office a half hour after sunset!” Samson repeated and disconnected the call.
Zane slammed his fist into the mattress, his mood as dark as it had ever been. He bolted from the bed, ready to beat his friend to a pulp. Friend? He had no friend!
How could Quinn go behind his back like that? Without even a warning!
Black hate chased disappointment as he considered Quinn’s action and what it meant. Two things came to mind instantly: Portia would remain a virgin her entire life, and Zane would never see her again.
Both options hurt equally. Hurt him, the man who thought he could feel no more pain because he’d felt it all before. But it was as strong as ever: white hot pain as if somebody were driving a hot iron through his beating heart. Yes, it was beating, harder than before, but not because he needed his heart to pump blood through his veins, but because he felt compassion for another person: Portia.
Despite the things that were written in her file, in his heart he knew that she had told him the truth. She might have tried to manipulate him in other ways, but he couldn’t deny what was in her eyes.
And he’d be damned if he’d desert her now and leave her in the care of people who didn’t believe her.
He rocked to a halt in front of Quinn’s bedroom and retreated. It wouldn’t do him any good to satisfy his need for revenge right now. Quinn would get the beating he deserved soon enough. For now, Zane needed to take care of more important things.
As quietly as his anger allowed him to move, he went into his bedroom suite and got dressed. A quick look at his watch confirmed that it was still at least two hours to sunset. It didn’t matter. He had to act now and get a head start before anybody caught onto what he was planning.
Zane snuck down the stairs, carefully avoiding those that creaked. In the hallway, he turned toward the door that led into the garage.
A soft whine made him spin around. Z looked at him, eyes big, his tail wagging excitedly.
“Go back to sleep,” he whispered.
Apparently the animal didn’t understand and jumped up his leg, hugging his calf.
Zane crouched down. “No, you can’t come.”
Big round eyes begged him to reconsider.
Ah, shit!
“Fine,” he growled low and dark. “But don’t complain if you’re freezing.”
He grabbed the dog and hooked him under his arm, then slid through the door into the garage. He didn’t bother switching on any lights, and instantly opened the door to his Hummer, plopping onto the driver’s seat quickly.
He set Z onto the back seat and eased the door of the vehicle shut.
When he started the engine, he cringed inwardly, hoping that the noise wouldn’t wake Quinn. His bedroom was in the back of the house, away from the garage, and since his guest hadn’t gotten used to the particular noises of this neighborhood, he could only hope that Quinn thought the sound of a car starting or the garage door opening belonged to the adjacent house.
Zane pressed the automatic garage door opener and backed out of the garage as soon as it had lifted sufficiently enough. It closed behind him as he backed onto the street and drove off.
Traffic in the late afternoon in the Mission was murder. It was always a risk to be out during daytime, even in a specially equipped car or one of the blackout vans Scanguards possessed to transport vampires during daylight hours. One accident was enough to put a vampire at risk for death. It was one of the reasons he’d bought a Hummer. Very little could damage the car that was practically built like a personal tank.
He was as safe in this car as he’d ever be outside during daytime. Still, it was a risk, but one he couldn’t avoid today.
As he navigated through traffic, he dialed Portia’s cell number.
It took two rings before she picked up. Before she could say a single word, he issued his order. “Say ‘hi, Lauren’.”
“Hi, Lauren.” Portia’s voice shook for a second, but she caught herself immediately. “What’ going on?”
Relief flooded him at her quick comprehension. “Listen carefully. Do you still want to lose your virginity?”
“Yes, of course.”
“Are you sure you want me to do it?”
“Yes.”
“Don’t just give one word answers, it sound suspicious if Oliver is listening.”
“Oh, that would be lovely, Lauren. When do you think we could do that?”
“That’s more like it.”
“What made you think of that?” she asked.
“My boss is pulling me off the assignment.”
“Oh, no!”
“Knowing Samson, he’ll assign somebody to you who won’t give you a chance to get away.”
“That’s so unfair.” She paused. “Lauren, that sucks.”
“Go up to your room now. Pack a few things, warm stuff mostly, sturdy shoes, a thick jacket. Things you need for a few nights.”
“A few?”
“Unless you don’t want to.”
“No, I’d really like that, Lauren.”
“Good. I’ll give you ten minutes. As soon as you hear Oliver’s phone ring, climb out your window like you did the other night. I’ll keep him on the phone and distract him. Run through the back garden and climb over your neighbor’s fence. I’ll be in a black Hummer on the street behind you. You know how to get there?”
“Sure. That’s a great idea.”
“When you get in the car, make it quick. I’m not in the mood for a sunburn.”
“Thanks. I appreciate it.”
Zane disconnected the call and steered the car clear of a truck, which was double parked. His car sped through the next light before he finally left the Mission behind him and entered Noe Valley.
Traffic was lighter once he crossed busy Twenty-fourth Street and reached the predominantly residential area. One block from Portia’s house, he turned off her street and went around the block to turn into the street parallel to hers. He counted the homes and parked right in front of the home that was directly behind Portia’s.
Zane put the car in park and turned off the engine. He couldn’t risk Oliver hearing the engine running over the phone when he called him.
After sending a text message to a contact, he consulted his watch. He waited two more minutes, hoping he’d given Portia enough time to throw a few things into a bag. Then he picked up his phone again and dialed Oliver’s number.
The kid picked up on the second ring. “Hey, Zane. You’re up early.”
Zane forced himself to sound casual. “Damn dog keeps waking me up in the middle of the day. I swear I’m gonna give him back to Yvette.”
“Yeah, that’s why I don’t have pets. Too much responsibility.”
“Yep. Listen, Oliver, about what we talked earlier, about you thinking it would be cool to be a vampire.”
“Yes?” Oliver’s voice lifted in interest.
Perfect, he’d found the right subject to keep Oliver busy for a few minutes. He wouldn’t hear Portia open her window and jump out in the garden.
***
Portia felt giddy with excitement. It was really happening. Zane had decided to help her. Tonight, she would lose her virginity, and it would be at Zane’s hands. Whatever had made him suddenly make this decision, she didn’t want to investigate right now. His claim that his boss was taking him off his assignment of protecting her probably had something to do with it. But there had been no time to ask him about it, particularly not with Oliver within earshot.
At least she’d fooled him into thinking she was talking to Lauren, even though she’d said goodbye to Lauren only a short while earlier.
She rummaged through her closet and pulled out a few pieces, not really knowing what she should take. Darn, if he’d only given her a little more war
ning, she could have figured out what to wear and maybe even gone to Victoria’s Secret to get some suitable underwear. Now all she could find in a hurry were boring panties and a plain bra without frills. Great! That didn’t sound very romantic!
When she heard Oliver’s cell phone suddenly ring from downstairs, she suppressed a curse and threw the garment in her hand into her backpack and zipped it up. She snatched her boots from the bottom of her closet and rushed to the window.
As quietly as possible, Portia shoved the window open and threw out the backpack, followed by her boots. She quickly lowered herself out of the window and let go of the sill. Her landing made no sound. She was getting good at this.
She darted cautious looks to her left and right and listened for any sound from inside the house, but it was quiet. Picking up her backpack in one hand and her boots in the other, she ran toward the fence and vaulted herself over it with ease despite the height. Vampire strength and speed were handy at times.
The neighbor’s garden was empty, and she hoped nobody would see her and alert Oliver to her escape. She ran along the low bushes and hit the tiled garden path. Her socks soaked up the dirt from the ground, but she didn’t want to take the time to put on her boots until she was at a safe distance.
Running past the trashcans, she reached for the gate and flung it open. The street beckoned.
“Hey!” a male voice called after her, but she didn’t care what her neighbor thought.
Portia didn’t turn and continued running into the street, her eyes searching for the black Hummer. It sat double-parked in front of the house to her right. The headlights flashed at her.
Zane!
For a fraction of a second, she wondered whether she was making a mistake by trusting a man she barely knew and allowing him to practically kidnap her. But the thought fled just as quickly as it had come. Her heart beat faster, not from the brisk run, but from the knowledge that she would be with Zane, the man who excited her beyond all others.
She could still turn around now, but then she would be no further than before. No, Zane would keep her safe.
As she reached the Hummer, she remembered his words to be quick about entering the car. She jerked the door open, threw her backpack and shoes to the floor of the passenger seat and jumped in, slamming the door shut with the same movement.
The engine howled, and she was jolted forward, bracing herself on the dashboard.
“Hold on tight.”
Zane’s voice was on edge, driving home the fact that what they were doing was against not only her father’s wishes but also Scanguards’ rules. She knew that he would get in trouble for this. But there was no turning back now.
“Where are we going?” she asked as she tugged on the seatbelt and clicked it.
“Somewhere where nobody will find us. Make sure your cell is turned off.”
She pulled her phone from her pocket. “Why?”
“Scanguards has your number. They’ll be able to triangulate your location with the help of signals between the cell towers.”
She shivered at the thought that they were running away.
“Are you afraid?”
Portia quickly shook her head. “No.” She wasn’t afraid; she was terrified. Terrified of what was going to happen. What if she didn’t like it? What if this was a mistake? But she couldn’t chicken out now. She had to do this. Zane was most likely risking his job for her; she couldn’t bow out now.
“We can still turn back if you’ve changed your mind.”
She looked at him, and he turned his face to her, his eyes gleaming with understanding. But beneath it, she saw the disappointment that loomed there, disappointment that would surface if she pulled back now.
A bark from the backseat bought her time to answer. She leaned sideways and found a Labrador puppy staring at her.
“You have a dog?”
She already reached for the little pup and pulled him onto her lap.
“You’re going to spoil him. He’s not trained, and by the looks of it, he never will be.”
Portia petted the animal’s soft fur. “What’s his name?”
“Z.”
“Z? Just one letter?”
“That’s all he gets. He’s a pest.” Despite the words, Zane’s voice was warm, attesting to his affection for the dog.
Zane hadn’t just left him behind. He’d brought the puppy with him. Didn’t that mean that he cared, that he was responsible, and definitely not as indifferent as he tried to make himself out to be? A man who had a dog, especially such a cute one, was a man who had a heart and feelings.
It sealed it for her. She could trust him. He would take care of her just like he took care of the dog. “Let’s get wherever you want us to go.”
There was something in his face that could almost be called a smile, or at least the beginning of one: his lips twitched and curved upwards by a tiny fraction of an inch.
“How far is it?”
“We’ll be there in four hours.”
“I can’t wait.” She lifted her hand from the pup and slid it onto Zane’s thigh, suddenly feeling courageous. His muscles bunched just as they had the last time she’d done that. No reprimand followed her bold action.
“Maybe I can make that three and a half hours,” he conceded and placed his hand over hers, not to remove it, but to capture it where it was.
“I’d like that.” Portia had never heard her own voice sound that husky before.
When their gazes collided for a fleeting moment, awareness made her body burn with unquenchable lust, a lust she saw reflected in Zane’s eyes.
Yes, this was the right decision. The only decision. Zane would be hers. Soon.
Chapter Twenty
Quinn slammed the door to the empty garage shut and pressed his cell back to his ear.
“Shit, he’s taken the Hummer. And the dog is gone too.”
On the other line, Oliver let out a low curse. “Damn it! I was hoping she’d run to him. Have you checked his bedroom?”
“He’s gone, Oliver. And by the looks of it, he’s taken Portia with him.” Why hadn’t he seen that coming? That was exactly the kind of thing Samson had asked him to come and watch Zane for—and to prevent.
“Shit, what am I gonna do now? Samson will have my hide for this.” There was fear in Oliver’s voice.
Quinn felt for him. This was his first big assignment, and he was screwing it up royally. No, actually, Zane was screwing him over big time.
“Pick me up at Zane’s house. Let’s go to Samson’s together.”
“Thanks, Quinn.”
Ten minutes later, a glum-looking Oliver picked him up with one of the limousines. In another twenty minutes they were in Nob Hill and parked in front of Samson’s house.
Oliver switched off the engine and took a deep breath. “This is so fucked up. I should have said something before.”
“About what?”
“That Portia used mind control on me and left me in the dust the other day. When I called Zane for help, he told me she was with him. Fuck, why would she do that? Why would she trick one bodyguard just to run to the other?”
Quinn slapped him on the shoulder. “I guess you haven’t noticed how those two look at each other.”
Oliver gave him a stunned look. “You’ve seen them together?”
“Last night. Long story. But I’m telling you something: when two people look at each other like that, there’s nothing you can do. Best to stay out of it.”
“Zane has the hots for Portia? No way!”
“Not only that, I think she has the hots for him. And I’m not even sure it’s just that. I know Zane too well. He doesn’t turn all territorial over just any woman. So here’s my advice: keep your mouth shut about what happened the other day. Nobody needs to know about that. It’ll only get you in hot water with Samson.”
Oliver ran his hands through his impossibly messy hairdo. “Are you sure? What if somebody knows about it?”
“I’m the only o
ther person who knows, and I won’t blab. So, take my advice. As for what happened tonight, they both tricked you. It’s not your fault. He’s duped me too, and I know him better; I should have seen the warning signs.”
Besides, he should have heard the garage door opening and closing, but with the constant noise in the neighborhood and the hustle and bustle that went on there during the day, he’d tried to block out any sound so he could sleep, and had used earplugs.
“Okay then,” Oliver finally agreed.
“Just let me talk. And don’t volunteer any information that’s not asked for.”
Oliver trotted next to him up the five steps to Samson’s house. Quinn rang the door bell and was surprised when the door was opened almost instantly.
Samson had his cell glued to his ear. When he noticed Oliver, he pointed at him.
“Hold on, Thomas, it’s Oliver.” Then he almost glared at the young human bodyguard. “Where’s your charge?”
Oliver flinched. “She tricked me and got away.”
Quinn shoved his colleague into the foyer and shut the door behind him.
“Fuck!” Samson cursed. “Thomas, I’m putting you on loudspeaker.” He pressed a button and held his phone out on his palm.
“When Thomas got to the house at the end of your shift, the house was empty. What happened?” Samson demanded from Oliver.
“Why would Thomas take over from Oliver? It was Zane’s shift,” Quinn interrupted.
Samson glared at Quinn. “Zane fucked up. I suspended him and assigned Thomas instead.”
“Ah, shit, no wonder he’s gone,” Quinn responded.
“What?” Samson shifted his gaze between Quinn and Oliver.
“Zane is gone. He took the Hummer and the dog,” Quinn replied.
Oliver nodded. “And most likely Portia.”
“He took Portia?” Samson yelled.
“Zane called me an hour or so before sunset. He kept me on the phone so Portia could get out the back.”
“How do you know that?”
“Her window was open, and I found footprints in the back yard. He must have been waiting for her.”
“Shit!” Samson cursed.
“I’ll see if I can get a lock on the GPS in his cell or his Hummer,” Thomas’ voice came through the phone.
