Temptation Calls

by Caridad Piñeiro

  “And your plan is?” Diego asked.

  “I’m going to file this down and pick the lock on the chains, only we won’t make a move—”

  “Until they come back. Have at it then,” he said, but Blake remained standing before him.

  She took hold of his arm. “Blake? What’s up?”

  Blake shot a look at her, but returned his attention to Diego. “The deal is—I free you. I feed you. When you’re free, you take Meghan with you. You promise not to hurt her.”

  Diego glanced from one to the other. As his gaze met hers, he must have seen something in her eyes. Something that told him leaving Blake behind would…

  Although she could avoid Diego’s scrutiny, it was impossible to ignore the pain in her heart. She gripped Blake’s hand. “You don’t need to do this. We can get out some other way.”

  Blake touched her cheek. “I’m sorry I turned you, Meghan. I want to make that up to you.”

  “Not this way, Blake. You don’t need to do this,” she whispered urgently.

  “But I do, love,” he said and kissed her. It was a gentle kiss, filled with longing and regret. It tugged at her heartstrings. As much as she had hated him for turning her, she thought she might hate him more now for leaving her.

  “Deal,” Diego said loudly, shattering the moment. “Just do it, amigo. The old bastard won’t wait forever once he realizes he can’t watch us.”

  Simon was calmer by the time Peter and Samantha arrived at Ryder’s apartment.

  Samantha sat beside him and laid her hand on the middle of his chest.

  “They’re hurting him. They’re killing him,” he said. Fear filled his voice.

  “Don’t worry, Simon. We will free Diego soon. Everything will be all right.”

  Simon nodded, closed his eyes and relaxed back into the pillows of the bed. Samantha motioned for Melissa to remain silent and follow her out of the room.

  As soon as she had closed the door to the room where Simon was staying, Melissa asked, “Can you explain what’s happening?”

  “When a vampire makes a keeper—”

  “It prolongs their life,” Sebastian filled in for her based on their conversation of the night before.

  “It does, but it also irrevocably binds that human to the vampire who made him. After a long time, the bond is so strong that what the vampire feels, the keeper feels. When the vampire dies—”

  “The keeper dies.” Melissa peered at Ryder. “Is that why you didn’t prolong our lives?”

  Ryder shook his head. “I didn’t know about that aspect of being…” He hesitated and it was clear that even after more than a century, he still wasn’t comfortable with what he was or what he could do.

  Samantha glanced across the way at Peter. His gaze, was troubled and she could understand why. Immortality seemed like such a gift, unless you were the one who had to live it. Who had to watch everything around you change while you stayed the same. Who watched everyone around you die, while you lived day after interminable day.

  “Clearly Diego is in trouble,” Peter said to break the uncomfortable moment. “All we know is that Sloan may be alive—”

  “Who’s Sloan?” The others obviously had information they had yet to share with her.

  “About two years ago, Ryder’s keeper—Frederick Danvers—and his wife were murdered because of some journals Frederick kept,” Diana explained.

  Samantha was confused. “Journals about—”

  “Me,” Ryder interrupted. “About me and how he had apparently found something about my vampire cells that cured his terminally ill wife. His associate, Edward Sloan, was after the rest of the journals, trying to recreate the cure.”

  “For himself,” Melissa said. “Sloan had cancer, but that wasn’t what killed him. He took me hostage and he died in a fire caused during my rescue.”

  “And you’re sure he’s dead?”

  “The fire that swept through the lab was so intense, it incinerated everything within the building, including his associate. Plus, after Sloan’s death, we confirmed with his oncologist that at best, Sloan had only a few months left to live,” Diana explained.

  “Unless he was turned,” Samantha said. “If he survived the fire and was turned—”

  “But if he’s a vampire why would he be after other vamps?” Sebastian asked.

  At his question, Peter reached for his notes and read out loud from the pad. “No limp. Fifties at most. But our culprit’s height, race and hair are the same. Not to mention the whole professor look.”

  “Sometimes when you’re sired, you appear younger.”

  Diana nodded. “It’s worth exploring since we have so few leads, only…Why would Sloan want Meghan?”

  “And why would Meghan go with him?” Samantha asked, but it wasn’t really a question. “Although if this…Sloan was able to find out about Frederick Danvers’s cure for human illness—”

  “Then maybe he’s discovered how to heal without becoming a vampire.” Diana looked over at Ryder. “Or how to reverse vampirism.”

  It was clear what both were thinking. With a cure, their lives would be totally different. As would hers, Samantha realized. With a cure…

  When her gaze met Peter’s, there was a hopefulness that was difficult to behold.

  “If Sloan is alive, I don’t want to put Melissa in danger again.” Sebastian moved toward Melissa, assuming a protective stance close to her.

  Peter held up his hand to quiet the young man. “We don’t know for sure. Even if he is, he’s turned his sights elsewhere.”

  “To me and my friends,” Samantha interjected.

  “Because it would have been too obvious if he’d come after you and the journals again,” Diana said, motioning to the young doctor. “If it’s Sloan, he’s come after Samantha and Diego because one of your other friends gave you up. But who gave them up?”

  It was Ryder who answered. “Ask around The Lair or any other similar club. Eventually, you’ll end up at The Blood Bank. It’s where all the curious and wannabes go in the hopes of finding the real thing.”

  “But it goes beyond that.” Diana began to pace. “Someone pointed out Meghan to Sloan. Why?”

  She snared Samantha’s gaze. “Why?”

  Samantha shrugged. “The rules are we keep our secrets to ourselves, but Meghan was a problem to some.”

  “To Foley?” Ryder asked.

  “Foley? Who’s Foley?” Sebastian asked.

  “The vamp owner of The Blood Bank,” Diana explained to her brother.

  Samantha shook her head vehemently. “Foley wouldn’t betray Meghan.”

  “How can you be so sure, Samantha?” Melissa asked.

  “Because Foley is a businessman. All those missing vamps are costing him money,” Peter answered. “That was clear from the night we paid him a visit.”

  Samantha considered Peter’s words, and something else occurred to her. “Meghan and Blake both went missing from the private rooms, didn’t they?”

  “Yes,” both Peter and Diana confirmed.

  She looked from Peter to Diana and then to Ryder. “There are various vamps on duty there, night after night. But only one vampire who saw someone like Sloan with both of them. Only one who was on duty both times.”

  “Which means we need to pay another visit to The Blood Bank and our friend Foley. Maybe he can help us find out what’s been going on with the vampire guarding those private rooms,” Ryder said.

 
“Let’s go.” Diana walked toward the door when Melissa asked, “What if Simon…What do I do if he starts to weaken again.”

  Diana turned to Samantha. “How closely are a keeper and vampire tied? Would their physiologies react similarly?”

  “Possibly,” she replied.

  Diana faced Melissa. “Take care of him the way you’ve taken care of Ryder.”

  In unison, both Melissa and Sebastian nodded.

  Peter stepped beside Diana and shot an uneasy glance in Samantha’s direction. “Do you think it’s wise to take Samantha with us? They may still be after her.”

  It was Ryder who came forward to answer. “She’s safer with us.”

  Samantha agreed. “Let’s go then.”

  Chapter 29

  D iego battled the waves of pain. He was chilled from the sweat pouring off him as his body slowly healed. Too slowly, he worried.

  The one that Blake called “the professor” had taken great delight in trying out various things on him as well as draining a large amount of blood. Before Diego passed out, he’d overheard the professor telling his assistant that he needed the vampire blood for some experiments.

  Diego wondered just what kind of experiments the sick old bastard did.

  He heard the snick of the lock as it turned and raised his head. The assistant was leading Blake and Meghan back into the room. “The Doc says you’re to feed your friend here. Keep him alive for more tests.”

  “Fuck you,” Diego called out.

  The professor’s assistant only laughed and blasted Diego with the stun gun.

  The energy sizzled along his body and Diego battled to hold onto the consciousness that was key if they were to execute Blake’s plan.

  The man laughed and left the room.

  Immediately, Blake and Meghan came to Diego’s side. They both wore worried looks, so Diego tried to reassure them with a weak smile. “I’ll be fine. I just need a little…” He couldn’t finish and was surprised he was that frail.

  “Easy,” Meghan said and laid a hand on his chest.

  He tried to smile again, but his muscles didn’t want to cooperate. In fact, he was finding it harder and harder to keep his eyes open. It occurred to him then that he might be too far gone to help his friends. “Blake,” he said, but it was barely a whisper.

  The vamp looked from Diego to Meghan, who suddenly seemed frightened. Blake tried to reassure her. “Don’t worry, Megs. He promised.”

  “He’ll drain me.”

  Diego shook his head. Or at least he thought he did. Everything in his line of sight was starting to darken. With the last of his power, he said, “Hurry.”

  Blake exposed Meghan’s neck to him.

  It was like tunnel vision. Suddenly all Diego could see was Meghan’s strong pulse. He didn’t know if he was moving toward her or she toward him, but abruptly that pulse was beneath his fangs.

  He sank his teeth into her flesh and fed.

  Her blood was hot and filled with the kind of power only vamp blood had, but not as powerful as older vamp blood. Meghan was still too young to carry the full strength that came with age.

  He drank of her deeply and slowly became aware of his surroundings.

  Blake was behind him, fiddling with the lock on the chains. The scratch and click of a successfully picked lock made him stop feeding.

  Weakened, Meghan slipped to the ground.

  Blake immediately raced to her side. “Megs?”

  “I’m okay.” Her voice was raspy. She gripped a hand to her neck, where blood still oozed from the puncture wounds.

  The energy from her blood was already beginning to course through his veins, but it still wouldn’t be enough if they were to complete their escape. He needed more. He needed Blake’s blood.

  As their gazes locked, Blake must have seen Diego’s need. Meghan must have also, for she gripped Blake’s arm to hold him back. “You didn’t feed before. You’re still weak.”

  Blake dropped a kiss on her lips. “I’ll be fine, Megs. Don’t worry about me.”

  Before Blake pressed himself close so that Diego could reach his neck, Diego noted the chill of the other vamp’s skin. The slightly damp slickness that spoke of how weak Blake was.

  Although Blake had always been a cocky, utterly royal pain in the ass, Diego had to admire the way the other vampire had behaved so far. His admiration made him hesitate as he brought his fangs close to the other vampire’s neck. “Are you sure?”

  “You remember your promise, Diego?”

  “I’ll take care of her for you, amigo.”

  “Bollocks. Who knew it would end like this, mate.” Blake pressed Diego’s head forward, sinking Diego’s fangs deep into his jugular.

  Foley held his man by the neck, nearly a foot off the ground. The vampire kicked and grabbed, trying to break free, but Foley was too strong.

  “Tell us, Mickey. Tell us how you betrayed Meghan and Blake.” Foley repeatedly smashed the vampire against the rough brick wall until he was almost as limp as a rag doll.

  “Let up, Foley,” Samantha said.

  Foley whipped his head around and nailed her with his gaze. “You’d let him go after what he did.”

  Ryder shook his head and laughed harshly at the other vampire’s actions. “He can’t tell us anything if he’s not alive, Foley.”

  Chagrin flashed across Foley’s face before he let Mickey slide down to touch the floor. He lessened his grip on Mickey’s throat, but didn’t let go. “Who paid you, Mickey?”

  “An old guy. Said he wanted to meet someone who didn’t want to be a vampire anymore. Like anyone would want that.”

  Mickey’s voice had a thread of fear in it, and Samantha didn’t doubt the reason why. Betraying another vampire carried a death sentence and Mickey knew it. It was probably the reason why he quickly tried to justify his actions to his boss.

  “I knew you wanted her out of the way, Foley. She was a problem for you. I thought I was helping you. Helping her if this guy could do what he said.”

  “And Blake? Were you helping when you betrayed him as well?” Foley asked, clearly unmoved by Mickey’s rationale.

  Samantha watched Peter, Ryder and Diana as they stood quietly, observing. To a person, there was no pity or compassion for the traitor vampire. But despite what Mickey had done, Samantha couldn’t justify the punishment Foley intended.

  She stepped between Foley and the other vamp. “We need answers. We won’t get them if you kill him.”

  “Who was the man who paid you, Mickey?” Foley asked.

  “I don’t know his name. All I have is a phone number.” Even before Foley could pose the question, Mickey rooted through his pockets and pulled out a small piece of paper.

  Foley passed the paper to Peter. “Cell phone number,” Peter said out loud. “We can ask the phone company to try and give us a position.”

  “Then let’s get moving,” Ryder said. “Come on, Samantha.”

  Samantha met Foley’s gaze and had no doubt what he planned. “Don’t do this, Foley. He helped us.”

  “He helped himself, Samantha, and risked us all in the process. If you don’t get this old psycho…” He didn’t finish. He didn’t have to. They all knew what would happen if they failed to find the person responsible for the kidnappings.

  Behind her, Mickey had realized his fate. He opted for action instead of flight. Before she could do anything, he grabbed Samantha across the shoulders and br
andished a knife to her throat.

  “I’m leaving now, Foley. I’m—”

  He didn’t get to finish. Peter fired his gun.

  There was barely a ripple in Mickey’s body as the knife dropped from his grasp and he fell back.

  She turned and stared into Mickey’s wide-eyed gazed and the neat bullet hole smack in the middle of his forehead. “He can’t be dead,” she said. Bullets didn’t normally kill vampires.

  “Silver,” Diana explained. “It’s a special load. I gave Peter a clip in the car.”

  A special load? One reserved for when Diana had to deal with vampires?

  Foley cursed beneath his breath. He nudged Mickey’s body with the point of his boot. “Dead as can be.”

  “I’m not sorry, Foley,” Peter said and holstered his gun.

  Foley laughed out loud. “Seems to me you’re getting to like this, dude. The darkness is a beautiful thing, isn’t it?”

  Peter didn’t want to consider Foley’s words. They struck a little too close to home. As much as he’d worried about the violence within Samantha, he knew he had much of the same violence within him. He’d unleashed it more than once to protect humans in his role as a law enforcement officer and it seemed he had no qualms about unleashing it to protect vampires as well. Maybe he and Samantha weren’t all that different.

  “He’s not like us, Foley,” Samantha said, slipping her hand into Peter’s.

  “Your heart is too soft, Samantha. You all are sorry pairs. I hope that now that you’re done here—”

  “We’ll be going.” Ryder nodded at Foley. “See you around.”

  “What about Mickey?” Diana motioned to the dead vamp’s body.

  Foley grinned. “Mickey’s body will help remind everyone of our code.”

  With that, he tossed Mickey body across one shoulder and walked away down another corridor.

  Peter asked, “Where’s he going?”

  “To a special room. One reserved solely for vamps,” Samantha answered and moved toward the main club area.