Valentine studied her for a moment. “What did he say?”
“It was a woman. She said, ‘Come to me and save your father.’ I was near the ocean, I think. There was an old decrepit castle.”
Gabby shot out of bed and hurried to the living room. She sat at the computer desk and began searching castle ruins near the coast.
“Do you think it was real?” Valentine asked as she pulled a chair from the dining table and sat next to her.
“I think so. Yes, Victor had the same ability to reach me in my dreams. I think that though I am resistant to magic, telepathy can still be used against me.”
Gabby glanced at Valentine, wondering why the hell she was telling her such dangerous secrets.
“You’ve got to tell Michael,” said Valentine.
Gabby ignored her as she scrolled through the pictures of island castles in North America.
“Did you hear me?”
“What? Yes, Michael. I’ll tell him about it once I’ve learned more.”
“If Victor’s maker has come to you in your dreams, then she knows where you are.”
“Then she could have come after me already,” said Gabby. “She wants me to go to her.”
“It’s obviously a trap.”
Gabby found a castle that looked a lot like the one from her dreams, and she clicked on it to see more pictures. She realized that it was the wrong one and determinedly went back to her search.
“Gabby!”
“What!” said Gabby, jerking to face Valentine.
“I said that it is a trap. You’ve got to tell Michael so that we can plan—”
“No, I got the distinct feeling that she wanted me to go alone.”
“Are you crazy?”
“Maybe, maybe not. I’m going to end this once and for all. Too many of my loved ones have been hurt by these vampires.”
Valentine let out a sigh and leaned in to look at the computer screen. “Have you tried lake islands? Perhaps she is closer than you think. Reaching you in your dreams suggests as much.”
Gabby changed her search to islands in Lake Michigan. Within seconds she found the one that she had been looking for.
“You’re brilliant. This is it, Widow’s Island.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, this is the exact castle from my dreams.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I told you. I’m going to kill the bitch.”
Valentine offered her a disappointed scowl. “Gabby—”
“Listen, Val, I hardly know you. Don’t assume that you can tell me what to do. I appreciate you staying with me last night, but I don’t need a babysitter.”
Valentine acted hurt by her words. “I’m just trying to be your friend.”
“You want to be my friend, then respect my decision. I don’t want Michael knowing about this yet. I need time to think.”
“Alright,” said Valentine. “I’ll respect your decision.”
“Thank you.”
Gabby’s phone chimed. It was a text from the guards stationed outside her house.
Detective Riggs is heading for your house.
Chapter 19
“Son of a bitch,” said Gabby, hurrying to the door to look out the peephole.
“What is it?” Valentine asked.
“This cop that keeps sniffing around.”
“Do you want me to…get rid of him?”
“What? No…thank you. I think it is best if you take off. I need to speak with him alone.”
“Of course,” said Valentine, though she looked slightly disappointed.
To Gabby’s surprise, Valentine suddenly kissed her on the lips. The kiss lasted only a few moments, and Gabby stared at Valentine’s closed eyes, slightly shocked.
Valentine smiled when they parted and touched Gabby’s cheek lovingly one last time before opening the door and walking out into the bright sunshine.
Riggs stared at Valentine as she walked by, and Gabby had to give a small cough to get his attention.
“Uh, hello,” he said, looking confused. He glanced back at Valentine and shook his head. “Your friend is…”
“Yeah, I know. What can I do for you, detective?” Gabby asked, folding her arms over the front of her robe.
“May I come in? I have some questions for you.”
“Please, come in. I was just about to put on some coffee.”
Riggs accepted the invitation and closed the door behind him.
“Please, make yourself at home. I just need to use the bathroom,” said Gabby as she put on a pot of coffee.
“Take your time,” said Riggs with a strange little smile. “I’ve got all kinds of time.”
In the bathroom she checked the mirror and sighed. She looked like she had been crying all night, which she had. She splashed cold water on her face and put on some light makeup before combing out her gnarled hair. After putting it up in a ponytail, she brushed her teeth and rinsed with mouthwash, wondering all the while why she cared to freshen up for Riggs.
When she was done, she walked into the kitchen and found Riggs texting someone on his cell phone.
“Coffee, coming right up!” Gabby sang and tried to act cheerful.
“Thanks,” said Riggs, putting his phone down on the table and tapping the screen.
Is he recording this? she wondered.
“So what did you want to talk to me about?”
“Miss Cross…”
Miss Cross? What happened to Gabby?
“Why were you at Steele Tower the other day?”
Gabby froze. She had hoped that Riggs hadn’t noticed her.
“You were spying on me?” she said, stopping what she was doing and turning to face him, all the while trying to act angry.
“No, I was spying on Michael Steele. I saw you come out of the parking garage with the same car that is parked outside. What happened to your red Nova?”
“It’s in the shop,” said Gabby, busying herself with the coffee once more. “Sugar and cream?” she asked when the silence started to become too thick.
“Two and two,” he said.
She fixed their drinks and handed a mug to Riggs before sitting down across from him at the long six-seated table.
“So?” he asked evenly.
Gabby blew on her coffee and tried to think of an excuse for her being at Steele Tower.
Riggs ignored his drink and stared, waiting.
“I…I was spying on him as well.”
Riggs studied her. “You were spying?”
“Yes. You said that he was a suspect, so I went there to learn what I might.”
“And what did you learn?”
“Nothing much. I kind of pussed out. Left before I got the nerve to go in the building.”
“And your friend, Quip. Did he puss out as well? I saw both of you leaving. And strangely enough, neither of you were in your usual car.”
Gabby was startled by how much he knew. She sipped her coffee casually and laughed to herself. “Yeah, you could say that he pussed out too.”
“Gabby, what in the hell were you doing snooping around a suspect’s place?”
“Sorry if I don’t have a lot of faith in the legal system. Even if you find evidence on Michael, a man like him will never do time for murder. He’s a billionaire, for Christ’s sake.”
“So you decided to take matters into your own hands?”
“I…no, I just…I don’t know. I guess it was stupid.”
“You’re right it was stupid,” said Riggs, looking disappointed.
“Do you have any more leads on Michael?”
“It’s funny you should ask. I’ve just been given the stand down order on him.”
“Stand down order?”
“Yeah, right from the top. Seems like our friend knows whose hand to cross with silver.”
“You think he’s bribing the cops?”
“Wouldn’t be the first time it’s happened. The department is cleaner than it used to be back in m
y father’s day, but there’ll always be dirty cops.”
“So you’re giving up?”
Riggs watched her with those knowing eyes, ones trained to see bullshit a mile away.
“The way I see it, innocent men have no reason to pay off the police. He’s hiding something, and I intend to find out what it is.”
“Will you get in trouble if the department finds out you’ve gone rogue?”
“No more trouble than I’ve ever been in.”
Gabby respected his sense of duty, but she wished that he was exercising it under other circumstances. Riggs was beginning to become a bit of a pain in the ass. If his superiors couldn’t get him off Michael’s back, she doubted anything could. Eventually he was going to go sniffing up the wrong tree. And if he was following her around, he was bound to see something Otherworldly happen.
“Gabby, do you know anything about the accident the other day on the freeway?”
“The one in the news?” she asked, trying to play dumb.
He nodded.
“It was a grill or something that blew up in the back of a truck, wasn’t it?”
“Something like that. But what I found strange was the banged up Z28 parked on the side of the road that I saw in the report. It looked a lot like your friend Quip’s car.”
Gabby let out a laugh. “What, you think I had something to do with that accident?”
“I’m just asking questions. I saw you and Queen Princess leaving a club owned by Michael Steele less than an hour before the accident.”
“You have been following me.”
“I’m just doing my job, Miss Cross.”
“Your job? Why is it now your job to follow me? Am I a suspect or something?”
“I’ve been at this long enough to know when someone is telling half-truths. All due respect, Miss Cross, but quit bullshitting me. What are you hiding?”
“I’m not hiding anything.”
“Gabby, what happened after you left the club?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking a—”
“Why were you at a club owned by Michael Steele?”
“How was I supposed to know who owned it?”
“Who are those men guarding your house?”
Gabby was at a loss for words. She tossed up her arms, got up from the table, and began pacing the kitchen.
“You want the truth?”
“Yes, yes I do.”
“Fine, here’s the truth. My sister Maggy was killed by a vampire named Victor. He tried to frame Michael for the murder, and for a while I believed him. You asked me where I was for those months following my sister’s death. Well, the truth is I was with him at his castle in California. He seduced me and lied to me, but in the end I got him. I killed my sister’s killer. So, you see, Detective Riggs, your investigation has been in vain. Michael told your superiors to back off because you are wasting your time.”
Riggs stared at her for a long time, his face expressionless. “You were kidnapped by a vampire who killed your sister,” he said flatly.
“Yup.”
“But you killed said vampire, and I should just drop the case.”
“Yup.”
Riggs shook his head. “I’ve heard some doozies, Miss Cross, but that takes the cake. Tell me, why are you defending him?”
“Because of what I told you. Michael didn’t do it. Victor did, and now Victor is dead.”
“Alright,” said Riggs, getting up from the table and heading to the door. “Have it your way.”
“Look, why don’t you just take the advice of your superiors? Just drop it,” said Gabby, following him.
“I will be in touch,” said Riggs, stopping at the door and tipping his hat. “Soon.”
Chapter 20
After Riggs left, Gabby got a call from Juliette saying that Michael wanted to see her at Steele Tower. Gabby had intended on going to see her father anyway, and informed Juliette that she would be there within the hour. She took a quick shower and armed herself in the white room before heading out. She didn’t usually leave the house with a small arsenal on her, but she was at war, and anything could happen out there. This time, however, she didn’t bring any vampire blood with her.
She got a text from Quip saying that Mick was taking over the watch, and her father’s condition was the same. Quip added that he would be at work later and to stop by if she got a chance.
Gabby drove Michael’s loaner to Steele Tower, all the while being trailed by a small army of not-so-discrete SUVs. Juliette was there to meet her in the garage, no doubt given a heads-up by the weres trailing her.
“How is my father?” said Gabby after getting out of her car.
“He is stable. Nothing has changed since you spoke to my brother.”
Juliette brushed by her without another word and headed for the elevator.
“Michael wishes to speak to you.”
“Then he will have to wait until I’ve seen my father.”
The doors closed, and Gabby punched in the floor to the infirmary. The receptionist directed her to room twenty-seven, and Gabby hurried down the long hall. Mick Gallagher came out of her father’s room looking as though he hadn’t slept in a day or two.
“Mick,” said Gabby, hugging him.
“Hello, Gabs. Your father will be glad to hear your voice, I believe. Even if he can’t speak back.”
Gabby noticed the gathering tears in his eyes and turned away for his sake. She had known Mick Gallagher all her life and had never seen the man cry. His tears caused the worry to knot in her stomach, and she gulped down a growing lump.
Her father was hooked up to a plethora of strange and also common devices. His care was a melding of ancient and modern medicine. There was an IV and an EKG machine, but there were also bones laid across his pristine blanket, and a green, glowing mud covering his bare chest. Luminescent runes were carved into the head and footboard of the bed; their glow gave her pause, for she did not want to negate any of the magical energy surrounding her father.
“He can still hear you from there, Gabs,” said Mick from behind her. “Whatever you say, he’ll hear you. Trust me.”
Gabby heard his footsteps moving down the hall and finally let her tears fall.
“Father, I’m so sorry. This is all my fault. I was so eager to impress you, but in the end I just screwed everything up. I swear to you—I will find a cure. I’ll find who did this to you and make them pay. Mark my words.”
She stood in his doorway, wanting nothing more than to be able to go into the room and touch him. But her gift had become a curse.
“I love you, Dad. I just got you back and I’m not going to lose you so soon. You just be strong, and give me time.”
Gabby saw movement out of the corner of her eye and turned to see Michael a few doors down, waiting for her.
She turned away and wiped at her eyes, taking a moment to pull herself together. She hadn’t worn any eyeshadow for this very reason. When she had settled, she walked down the hall to stand before Michael.
“How are you holding up?” Michael asked. His kind eyes held hers in their sympathetic gaze.
“I just got him back,” said Gabby, feeling herself slipping swiftly. “I just got him back and now he’s been taken away again.”
Michael wrapped his arms around her and held her close as she sobbed into his wide chest. She felt safe in his arms, and wanted nothing more than to stay there until all of this trouble had passed. His body heat wrapped around her and she felt a calm settle over her. When she pulled away, she found Michael smiling down on her.
“You must think me a fool,” said Gabby, wiping her eyes.
“Come on,” he said with a laugh and an arm around her shoulder. “Let’s get a drink.”
Michael brought Gabby up to his penthouse where Victor had met his end. She couldn’t help but stare at the place on the floor where he had died by her hand.
“What would you like?” Michael asked as he headed to the wet bar, which was as well sto
cked as any bar that she had ever been to.
“Vodka.”
“Come on, give me a challenge at least.”
“Alright, vodka martini.”
“Now that’s more like it,” he said, rolling up his sleeves. “One vodka martini coming up.”
Gabby watched Michael work behind the bar. He moved with an animalistic grace that was enchanting. His muscled arms bulged against his tight sleeves as he shook her drink, and she couldn’t help but stare at his perfect ass while he turned and added an olive.
“If this isn’t the best vodka martini you’ve ever had, then it’s free.”
“Where did you learn to make drinks?”
Michael popped the top on a Sam Adams and raised the bottle. “First, a toast. To General Cross’s quick recovery.”
“To Dad,” said Gabby, clanging glasses. She took a drink and bit into the olive. “It’s delicious. Could you make me another?” she said, downing the rest in one gulp.
“Coming right up,’ said Michael.
“Well, you never answered my question.”
“I spent a year as a bartender in South Side.”
“South Side?”
“Born and bred,” Michael said proudly. “I wasn’t always a billionaire, you know. My father was a deadbeat, only showed up when he needed something. And my mother was bi-polar. She meant well, but she was nuts. She killed herself when I was seventeen. Juliette is the rock of the family. She kept me and my brother in line back in the day. Hell, she still does.”
“Yeah, she can be a real hard-ass,” said Gabby.
“True, but there’s a reason I put up with her shit.”
“What’s that?”
“She’s usually right,” said Michael before tipping back his bottle and emptying it.
“You think that she was right when she bitched me out like that yesterday?”
“What do you think?”
Gabby stared at him, but then realized that indeed, Juliette had been right. “Yeah, I guess she was. I’m just a giant fuck-up.”
“Come on now. She said nothing of the sort.”
“Yeah, well, I screwed up pretty good.”
Michael shrugged. “We all screw up. It is the only way to learn.”
Cross the Line: A Gabriella Cross Paranormal Romance Book 2 Page 9
