by Ava McKnight
Okay, get a grip!
Cat's heart thundered and her pulse raged. She fought to control the panic that was rapidly rising within her.
"Maddie will make you anything you like, no matter how simple or exotic. Do you want coffee? I'll have her send up a pot. Cream and sugar or do you take it black?"
The incessant chattering was making Cat extra nervous. Elaina was acting like they were best buddies. Implying Cat really needed to settle in with “the coven” and be a part of the gang.
Why was she the only one who saw her predicament as perilous? Illegal? Morally corrupt?
"Look,” Cat said, finally finding her voice. She tried to bring Elaina to a stop in the hallway, but the pretty blonde just kept on moving until she was practically dragging Cat down the hallway. “I totally appreciate how nice you're being to me.” Cat hoped she could reason with the gorgeous Amazon. She struggled to wrest her arm from Elaina's clutches, to no avail. “And I'm sure dinner or breakfast would be lovely, but I've got to get home."
They'd reached the door to Ryan's bedroom and Elaina literally pulled her over the threshold. “You are home, silly. And Ryan has made sure that you have everything you could possibly want or need.” She led Cat to a walk-in closet the size of most people's living rooms. “See? He bought you clothes. Dresses, jeans, shorts ... everything you could possibly need. And shoes, too. He had to guess your size, but I think he's pretty close.” She let out a low tsking noise. “He should have told me who you were last night. Or when he was shopping for you. I could totally figure out your size. Four, right?"
Cat's mind could not keep up with this bizarre conversation. She merely muttered, “Yeah. Good guess."
"It's a gift. I love to shop. Ryan knows that. I can't imagine why he didn't have me pick out your clothes. Weird. Anyway, anything that doesn't fit can be altered. And if there's anything you don't like...” She waved a manicured hand in the air in a dismissive manner. “We'll just send it back."
At Cat's sudden, and obvious, annoyance over this presumptuous move on Ryan's part and the increasingly frightening realization that she was never getting out of this fucking house, Elaina said, “Would you prefer I bring you some catalogs? Or you can shop online. Ryan will want you to have whatever makes you happiest."
What would make me happy, Cat thought ... then paused. What if Elaina could read her mind as well?
Not wanting to blow her chance at getting Elaina to help her escape, Cat pushed all thoughts from her mind. Instead, she played along. “You know what? I just realized that I don't have any makeup. I'm going to need some stuff from my house."
"Don't be silly. Ryan thought of that, too. He's so clever. There's makeup and toiletries in the bathroom."
Cat fought back the sigh of frustration that tickled her throat. Goddamn it.
Okay, let's see ... Ah, yes. Cat chose to appeal to Elaina, woman to woman. “I appreciate Ryan's thoughtfulness. That's wonderful that he thought of all the things that would make me feel at home here. Unfortunately...” She paused and let a frown play on her lips, which seemed to distress Elaina.
"What?"
"It's just that ... well, I have really sensitive skin and I use a particular type of makeup. Anything else makes me break out in a rash. It's positively hideous.” She leaned toward Elaina and said in a conspiratorial whisper, “I'd be mortified if Ryan saw me like that. It's absolutely terrible and it lasts for weeks."
Elaina's pretty face scrunched up. “Oh. Well ... That would be bad. Especially since Darius will want to meet you tonight, along with the rest of the coven."
"I want to look my best when I meet everyone,” Cat lied.
"Of course you do.” Elaina's perky tone returned as she patted Cat's hand.
"Great. So will you take me to my apartment? I'll just collect a few essentials. It won't take long at all. I promise."
"Oh,” she said on a hesitant sigh. “I don't know, Cat. I mean, Ryan specifically said not to let you out of the house. He's very concerned about your safety."
Cat tamped down the frustration that mounted with every passing moment. She crossed her arms over her chest and continued to appeal to Elaina's feminine nature. “You're a vampire, aren't you, Elaina?"
"Of course. We all are. Well, except for you."
"I saw firsthand last night what you all are capable of. Your physical strength, your natural instincts, your quick reactions to any situation. If you're with me, no one stands a chance of hurting me. I imagine you're a force to be reckoned with, which I think is pretty damned cool. I love a woman who can kick ass and take names."
Elaina positively beamed. “Me, too! I love Lara Croft! Even though she's not a vampire."
"Oh, please. Lara Croft is a pussy compared to you."
Elaina laughed. “I may look tame, but I can be fierce when I need to be."
"I don't doubt it. So, you see, there's really no reason why we should be afraid to make a quick trip to my apartment. Seriously, we'll be gone for, like, an hour. That's all."
Elaina nibbled her lower lip as she obviously did a mental hem and haw over the situation. Cat practically held her breath in anticipation. Could she sway the pretty Amazon?
"Well,” Elaina finally said. She gave a casual shrug of her shoulder. “I can't see what it would hurt. I mean, if we're only gone an hour. That won't be so bad. And if it makes you happy to have your own stuff ... Well, Ryan will understand that."
Overjoyed, Cat threw her arms around the other woman's neck. “You're a lifesaver!” Literally.
They left the room and walked briskly down the corridor of the west wing. Cat was smart enough not to count her blessings too soon. They still had to get out of the house and then off the grounds. What kind of security would they encounter along the way? And could she and Elaina convince Ryan's goons that it was okay for Cat to leave? As easily as Cat had swayed Elaina, she suspected Ryan's vamps could just as easily persuade her to return Cat to the house.
"Your car is in the garage. Ryan had it moved there this morning. We can take it, since it'll be easiest to retrieve. But I'll drive."
"Sure. Whatever. You're in charge."
This seemed to please Elaina. “I'm so happy you trust me. Ryan said you were very ill at ease last night. But obviously he explained everything to you and you understand how important it is that we keep you safe."
"Absolutely,” Cat lied. Yet again. “I totally understand."
"I'm so glad."
Elaina located the keys to the car in the lockbox and they slipped into the leather seats of Cat's pearl white Lexus. Leaving the “compound” turned out to be a piece of cake. The vamps at the gate waved to Elaina and Cat as they passed through.
"See?” Cat tried to put a positive spin on the situation, just in case Elaina needed further reassurance that she was doing the right thing by helping Cat escape. “Everyone knows you're perfectly capable of keeping me safe."
Elaina giggled. “No, silly. They only let us through because they think Ryan okayed it. He asked me to look after you, and that's what I intend to do."
Cat knew she should just let the whole thing drop, but a curious thought tickled her brain. “About last night. I'm still a little ... confused."
"Oh that. I have to beg your forgiveness,” Elaina said as she tore her gaze from the road and flashed Cat a quick, contrite look. “Jesus. I had no idea you were Ryan's match. I didn't see the signs at all. I guess I just wanted you for myself. I didn't even notice that Ryan had the same intention."
"Okay, now I'm really confused."
Elaina laughed again as they headed toward the city. “What's so confusing? Darius said that he'd found the daughter of Palomus. And here you are. Royalty before our very eyes. No wonder I took an instant liking to you.” She shot Cat another quick glance. “I tend to have expensive taste."
She took the off ramp and followed Cat's directions to downtown. “Anyway,” Elaina continued. “Ryan wanted you all along. So, I just want to thank you for letting me sha
re some of the evening with you. I'm honored."
Cat frowned. “This royalty thing is a little odd to me, so, uh, there's no need to thank me. In fact, we can pretty much just drop the whole thing. You know, pretend like last night never happened?"
"Sure. Absolutely. Of course. I can understand that you wouldn't want anyone to know about it. Me being a commoner and all."
Cat cast a look her way. “I'm sorry, did you just say, commoner?"
She shrugged. “Yeah, I know, it's a little medieval. But we have ranks just like any other society. And I'm a commoner. My duty is to serve you."
"Okay, that's just plain weird,” Cat mumbled. First of all, what “commoner” would look as amazingly regal as Elaina? And secondly, the whole “my duty is to serve you thing” was wholly unsettling.
When they reached downtown, Cat directed Elaina to a twenty-nine-story steel and glass building. “I'll just be a minute,” Cat assured her as they double-parked out front.
"Oh, I have to go with you."
Panic seized Cat's heart. “That's not necessary, really. I'll be quick."
"Cat, I can't let you go alone. Ryan would never forgive me if I let you out my sight. Anything could happen to you, and then where would we be?"
Huh? “Elaina, why is my well-being so important?"
The other woman looked taken aback. “You mean other than the fact that you're Ryan's soul mate?"
"Okay, that's an interesting choice of words."
Elaina smiled. “Well, it's true. The two of you were destined for each other. It's so romantic,” she said on a sigh. “He's known for three hundred years that this day would come. And after you were born, he had to wait twenty-six years for you to come of age."
Cat shot her a curious look. “I'm sorry. Come of age?"
"Well, yeah. Sure. I mean any younger and it would be difficult for you to understand who we are. Plus, the other vampires may not accept you as mistress of the coven because of your youth. So Ryan agreed with Darius that twenty-six was the perfect age for the mating."
"Yeah, that,” Cat mumbled. “He seems convinced that I conceived last night."
"Oh, you did. We could all smell the change this morning,"
Cat did a double take. “Did you say ‘smell’ the change? So what? I smell different now that I'm pregnant."
Whoa!
Now that I'm pregnant?
Holy Christ. What had gotten into her? Was she subconsciously starting to believe all of this bullshit?
Shocked to the core, she tried to refocus the conversation. She had directed Elaina to Seth's office building, not her apartment building. But she couldn't have Elaina tagging along with her when she met with Seth and told him all the weird, sci-fi things that had happened last night. That continued to happen today.
"Look. I'm totally flattered that you took a liking to me. It's mutual. Really. So let me just zip upstairs and collect my cosmetics, and then we can talk about this a little more. Okay?"
For a moment, Cat thought she was going to make a clean break. She was already reaching for the handle on the car door.
But then Elaina frowned and said, “You don't seem to understand how important it is that I keep you safe. I mean, if anything were to happen to you, Ryan would never forgive me. And Darius would banish me from the coven. No, no,” she said as she shook her head. “I can't let you go up there alone.” She shut the car engine off. “Just give me a sec..."
Cat didn't have another “sec.” She had to get the hell out of this lunacy. Desperate to escape, she reached under her seat and extracted the small baseball bat she kept there, in the event she found herself the victim of a carjacking. The miniature ball bat was solid wood with the Cubs logo engraved on the handle. Without thinking twice about what she had to do—because she hated like hell to hurt Elaina—she whacked the Amazon alongside the temple with great force.
In Cat's defense, she wasn't even sure she could cause bodily harm to a vampire. So when Elaina slumped over and her forehead hit the horn, making it blare obnoxiously, it took a moment for Cat to react. Quickly, she gripped Elaina's shoulders and pulled her back so that she rested against the car seat.
"I'm so sorry,” she whispered before she slipped from the car. She sprinted across the sidewalk and into the building, dodging young executives in expensive suits who were leaving for the evening. She knew she looked disheveled and unkempt. The buttons on her blouse, she realized, were skewed. The hem was haphazardly tucked into the waist of her skirt, which was twisted slightly, the seams out of alignment. And her hair ... Cat checked it in the shiny reflection of the chrome elevator doors as she took the car up to the twenty-ninth floor. She cringed. Her long dark brown hair was a tangled mess that had clearly been mussed during a rousing erotic interlude.
"Oh, God,” she whispered as she fingered the strands into a little bit of order.
The door dinged seven times before she glanced up and saw that she was almost at her destination. Anxiety welled inside her. She could hardly wait another second before she revealed all to Seth.
"Damn it. Hurry up,” she hissed under her breath.
The elevator doors slid open and she stepped out onto the twenty-ninth floor. Rushing down the long corridor, her heels clicking on the tiled floor, she headed straight for the executive wing. Mina, her administrative assistant, walked out of the copy room just as Cat passed by.
"Oh, there you are! Thank God! Mr. Hilliard is looking for you. He's buzzed me at least a dozen times today. He's frantic to see you."
"Likewise,” Cat muttered. She hurried past secretary row and drew up short in front of Seth's executive admin. “Hi, Lisa. I need to see Mr. Hilliard. I believe he's expecting me."
"Yes. He's in the conference room. He's been waiting for you.” Lisa's discerning eye roamed Cat's body from head to toe, taking in her messy appearance. “Is everything alright, Miss Bellasario?"
"Yeah, sure. No worries,” Cat said as she waved a hand in the air in a dismissive manner. She passed Lisa's desk and knocked on the door of Seth's executive conference room. She didn't wait for him to answer before she entered. Time was definitely of the essence.
"There you are,” Seth said as he glanced at her over his shoulder. He stood at the south end of the room, the wall of which was covered with floor-to-ceiling windows. “I was starting to get worried."
"Yeah, well.” She dragged a hand through her messy hair, hoping to smooth it a little more. “I got detained. Actually,” she said, letting out a near hysterical giggle. Now that she was safe, she could feel the breakdown coming on. She fought it off for a few minutes more. “I was kidnapped."
Seth turned fully to face her. “What did you just say?” The stricken look on his handsome face made her falter. That breakdown was coming on hard and fast.
She choked back a sob. “Ryan Donovan. He kidnapped me last night. Held me captive in his mansion. I just barely escaped. In fact..."
"Donovan?” Seth seethed. “What the hell were you doing with him?"
"Nothing. I mean ... well...” she stammered, not sure about the vehement reaction Seth had to hearing she'd been with Ryan Donovan. “I went to his house last night because I wanted to secure the deal on the Lake Shore Drive property."
"Catalina!"
"I know, I know! You didn't want me to proceed without consulting you. But, Seth, I was so close! I mean, Donovan agreed to a sale, but then I saw a photo of him and Michelle Eaton in the paper and I just..."
The thought of Michelle Eaton made Cat falter. Just one more question to add to her growing list. What, exactly, was Ryan's relationship with her? Was she a vampire? Was she a part of his coven?
"Cat.” Seth's stern voice penetrated her wayward thoughts. “What the hell are you talking about?"
She shook her head, trying to clear her mind. “You're not going to believe it. Hell, even I don't believe it.” A part of her wanted to blame the past nearly twenty-four hours on alcohol. She had consumed a lot of it with Elaina. She wanted desper
ately to believe that her alcohol-induced state had conjured up all the freaky vampire stuff and the erotic activities she'd indulged in last night. But then, how would she explain Elaina and the conversations they'd had today ... when Cat was sober?
Ugh. She couldn't come right out and tell Seth about her erotic evening. He'd totally freak and, of course, he'd never look at her the same. Her professionalism and credibility would be at the bottom of the Chicago River, along with her scruples.
Shit.
"Okay, here are the two pressing problems at hand,” Cat said, trying to gain control of the situation. “First, Donovan cheated me out of the property. Second, he held me captive in his house last night. I only just barely escaped. As it is, I've got a ... a...” Holy shit. Was she just about to say aloud that there was a vampire unconscious in her car? No. Oh, hell no! Seth wouldn't save her from Donovan. He'd ship her off to an insane asylum. Instead, she said, “One of Donovan's bodyguards is waiting for me downstairs."
"So the time has come,” Seth said in a quiet voice. He rubbed his hands together. Circling the enormous conference table, he stalked toward Cat. When he was within a couple of feet of her, he drew up short and inhaled deeply. A frown canted his lips that quickly turned into a snarl.
"You spent the night at Donovan's house?"
Cat's heart suddenly hammered in her chest. She didn't like the hard glint that had entered Seth's dark brown eyes. Nor did she like the strange tension that suddenly filled the room. She and Seth had never had trouble communicating, had never experienced anything convoluted between them. But there was definitely something amiss now.
"Seth?” She studied him a moment, but his steely gaze gave nothing away. “Are you listening to me? Donovan kidnapped me. He's trying to hold me captive in his house."
Panic began to rise within her. Why the hell wasn't he on the phone with the police right now? Why wasn't he demanding justice and ensuring her well-being?
His jaw clenched tight. “You reek of him.” Another full breath and he let out a vicious growl. “You whore! You fucked him."
"What?” Her mind couldn't quite process the level of betrayal that registered on Seth's face and echoed in his voice.
