She shook her head, opening her mouth at the same time his phone trilled. Pulling it out of his pocket, Daniel scanned the screen with a frown. “Could you excuse me for a moment?” he asked, but before she could answer, he walked out to the front porch, keeping his distance from her window. He tapped the call-back number and waited with bated breath.
“I have what you asked for.”
Daniel glanced at the kitchen window. Ophelia was watching him through the curtains, her expression curious. “I told you to send it to me, not call me.”
The voice on the other end chuckled. “Trust me, my friend, you didn’t want this in a text.”
Shelving his annoyance, Daniel bit out. “What is it?”
“Your new friend…she’s got a dark side longer than you are tall.”
“Tell me.”
“Patience, patience. Have you got my price?”
Daniel glared across the street. “Not yet, but I will. I haven’t been out of Jaune, yet, and I’m not doing your business here.”
Another dark chuckle. “Very well. Because I trust you to come through, I’ll give you what I found out. I’ll even email you the file when I’m through, if you wish.”
“I do wish. So, spill.”
“You, my friend, have all the patience of a male mantis that just got laid.”
Daniel swore. “Look, if you’re just going to yank my chain, I’ll find someone else, and you’ll lose your supply. Is that what you want?” The voice laughed again as Daniel asked, “What does the name ‘Jeremiah’ mean to you?”
“He’s one of Jasmine’s old lovers. He’s a dhampir – not a full vampire, Dan – with a taste for mortal torture.”
“A half-vampire?”
“Yes, but he doesn’t answer to the Vampire Council. He answers to a sorcerer whose name you won’t get me to repeat, but you should ask your girlfriend. She’s been answering to the dhampir for a few months already, and now she’s wormed her way into your little group.”
“Damn it,” Daniel swore. “I was afraid of that. Do we know her motivation?”
There was the sound of rustling papers. “Yes. There’s no name, but she’s marked as ‘Ophelia’s mother.’ Apparently, Jeremiah has her mother prisoner, and won’t give her up until Ophelia brings down your little group of rebels.”
“How is one person supposed to do all that?”
“She’s got power, Dan. A lot of power.” The voice heaved a weary sigh. “There’s more, but I can’t access it. Whoever they’ve got protecting that information is better at security than I am at hacking. Unfortunately, I think you’ve only chipped a tiny portion off the iceberg, and when this thing blows, we’ll all sink faster than the Titanic.”
Daniel stared at his phone as the line went dead. This night just keeps getting better and better. He turned back toward the house, but he didn’t know where to begin. Something about the situation didn’t feel right. He’d done his own research on Ophelia after Carissa mentioned her to him, and he knew her mother disappeared when she was a little girl. Jeremiah wouldn’t have kept Ophelia’s mother alive that long, which left only one option: The thing they held over Ophelia’s head was nothing more than an elaborate trap to force her compliance.
And it looked like Daniel was the only one that knew the truth. Fuck.
He thought briefly about returning home, letting it all go. He could find Gwen on his own, he was sure. But his gaze returned to the window. Ophelia stared down at the can of soda, a frown on her face, and way too much sadness in her eyes for a woman so young. He swore again. No matter the reason, she was working with the enemy...and yet, something about her drew him like he’d never been drawn to another. Not even his Jaqueline. And he was never one to ignore the signs of fate.
His phone beeped, signaling an incoming email. His source hadn’t failed. He opened it, eyes narrowing at the message:
Listen to the audio clip. And watch your back.
And so, he listened, anger and the slightest hint of fear growing with every word. He looked back through the window. No, he couldn’t go. Smoothing his features, Daniel pulled open her front door and returned to the kitchen. She looked up as he entered, the frown still in place, her eyes guarded.
“Sorry about that,” Daniel told her. “It was business.”
Ophelia nodded and gestured for him to take his seat. “Yeah, you look a little tense.”
He gave her a bland stare. “I’d say you know quite a bit about being tense.”
“What do you mean?” Her eyes narrowed. “That phone call was about me, wasn’t it?”
Daniel leaned forward, propping his chin on his hands. “And if it was?”
She imitated his position, bringing her face within inches of his across the small table. “Well, you’re still here, so I can only assume it didn’t make you want to run away.”
“I never run from a challenge, Phia.”
Her eyes darkened, the green tint expanding, covering the brown in a vibrant display of shocked interest. “I’m not here to be your personal quest, Daniel.”
He leaned a hair closer, his hands brushing hers. “Until I know everything there is to know about your working relationship with Jeremiah, get used to it. I won’t give up until I have all the facts.” He frowned. “Carissa and Aden are important to me, too,” he said quietly.
Ophelia’s mouth dropped open and she slammed back into her chair with a startled gasp. “How did you find out about that?” she whispered, and his opinion of her grew a notch—she hadn’t denied anything.
He sat back and crossed his arms over his chest. “You’re not the only one with secrets.”
“And what are yours?”
Daniel shook his head. “Oh, no. This is about you and your promise to your friend.”
Ophelia heaved a sigh. “I wondered when you were going to circle back around to that.”
Daniel raised an eyebrow. Letting the rest go wasn’t in the cards, but he could hold off on pressing her for a while. She’d be more likely to spill her secrets if she trusted him. He held his silence, watching her worry her bottom lip with her teeth. Just looking at her stole his breath, and the longer he looked, the more he was convinced that her and his memory didn’t look as similar as he’d originally thought. His gaze drifted to the pulse in the side of her neck. She licked her lips, and the thrumming vein sped up.
Cursing silently, Daniel blinked, raising his eyes back to hers. He wanted to touch her like he wanted to breathe, and that was unacceptable. He was unattached for a reason. Unfurling his arms, he placed a hand on the table, swearing out loud when his phone chimed again. This time a text from another friend. Daniel set his phone on the table and sighed.
“Are you going to keep your promise or what?”
“First tell me what else you know.” She looked toward the hallway with a frown. “I need to tell my aunt something to keep her on her guard. She thinks she’s strong, but I know without me…” she sighed. “I’m all she’s got left, Daniel. Tell me what you know, and we’ll go from there.”
Daniel considered her words. It was more than she’d yet given him, so it was time to take a chance. “The werewolf Carissa’s father tried to get her to mate with was one of Jeremiah’s cronies, as well as the lover of a powerful Vampire Council member. They may have someone else pulling the strings, but there’s enough animosity there to cause us a whole new set of problems.” He tapped his phone with an impatient finger. “I also don’t think they took Gwen just because of Carissa.”
“What do you mean? I know they want to get back at Carissa for killing Ryker, and they couldn’t get to her father or Aden, so they chose Gwen.”
“That’s the thing,” Daniel said quietly. “She didn’t kill Ryker.” He looked up, pinning her gaze with his. “I did.”
“And you think Jeremiah knows, but didn’t tell me.”
Daniel tapped his phone again before pulling up his email. “No. I know it for a fact.” He slid his phone across the table once he pulled up the audio clip. “Pre
ss PLAY, Phia.”
Frowning, she did so, sucking in a sharp breath when Jeremiah’s twisted, whiny, voice filled the kitchen.
“News, Gavin. Now. Where’s Ryker?”
There was the sound of shuffling feet, followed by a deeper, more gravelly reply. “He won’t be coming back to us, sir.”
“And why is that?”
“Because Jasmine’s little bitch killed him.”
There was a moment of silence before Jeremiah asked, “You don’t mean Daniel?”
Gavin chuckled. “The one and only. What do you want me to do about him?”
Footsteps sounded, pacing away and then back to where the listening device was hidden. “Nothing,” he muttered.
“Sir?”
“Tell O we’re ready for her, and get Ophelia.” He laughed darkly, his voice sending shivers down Ophelia’s spine. “We’ll send our own little cat among the mice. Tell her the vampire’s whore did the deed, or whatever. Just get the sorceress to that house after I pick up Master’s prize.”
“Yes, sir.” There was the sound of retreating footsteps, and the clip ended.
Ophelia looked up at Daniel, tears in her eyes. “O is my mother,” she whispered. “The bastard set me up.”
Daniel reached across the table, retrieving his phone with one hand, while laying the other over one of hers. “Your mother might be a prisoner, Phia. You don’t know for sure.”
She looked up as a tear trickled down her cheek. “I’m in too deep, aren’t I?”
“You are,” he said soberly. “But you aren’t alone.”
Ophelia’s smile was watery, but it was there. “I still don’t like you.”
Daniel laughed. “I know. But I’m here all the same.” He stood up. “Try to get some sleep. I’ll come back tomorrow night, and hopefully we’ll know something more.”
Chapter Eight
Ophelia watched him leave, waiting until he was out of sight down the street before she looked toward her darkened hallway. “You can come out, now, Aunt Jan.”
The older woman shuffled into the light, her brown hair in a braid that hung over her left shoulder, and a twinkle in her eyes. “How did you know I was there?”
Ophelia wiped the tears from her cheeks. “Usually it’s your perfume, but tonight I think it’s my guilty conscience. I’ve really stepped in it, haven’t I?”
Janice moved closer, pulling up a chair next to her niece. “Yeah, you have, but your vampire was right.”
“About what?” she asked. “And he’s not my vampire.”
Janice waved her hand dismissing Ophelia’s last statement. “You aren’t alone, Phia. You never were.”
Ophelia leaned her head on her aunt’s shoulder and sighed. “No, because you were always there for me.”
“And now he is, too.”
“Does it matter that I don’t want him to be?”
Janice turned, tilting Ophelia’s face up so she could look her in the eyes. “I know you, child, and I know better. I saw your face when you looked at him. I heard the catch in your voice when you talked about him. You’ve been half in love with him since the dreams started, and you like him even better in person.” Janice’s lips twitched. “Even when you lie and tell him otherwise.”
“I admit nothing,” Ophelia grumbled, and her aunt laughed.
“That’s only because you know I’m right.”
Ophelia sat up, but couldn’t hide her grin. “Sometimes I really wish you didn’t see so much.” She sobered quickly. “What am I going to do? Jeremiah’s got me locked in his web, but I can’t betray my friends.”
Janice tapped a finger against her chin. “You never intended to, did you?”
“Well, no, but now I’m angrier at Jeremiah than scared of him. I don’t want to see him win.” She sighed. “And I don’t want to see Daniel hurt, either,” she muttered.
Janice chuckled and shrugged. “Then keep doing what the bad guy wants. Only, keep the big stuff to yourself, and bring what you learn back to your rebels.”
“You think I should be a spy? What, is this some kind of movie, now? I’m not James Bond. If Jeremiah finds out, he’ll kill me.”
Janice wrapped an arm around her shoulders and squeezed. “Honey, he plans to kill you anyway, and you know it. He’s ruthless, and his kindness toward you is only good as long as you’re of use. I’d suggest confiding in your vampire, then turn the tables on Jeremiah. He can’t win against you both.”
Ophelia sat back in her chair. Her aunt was right, and judging by the smug smile on Janice’s lips, she knew it. “I told Daniel I needed to protect you,” Ophelia said softly, “but you’re the one that’s always there for me.”
Janice pulled her into another hug. One that Ophelia returned, burying her face into her aunt’s shoulder. “Honey, I love you. It’s my job to protect you. Not everything is your responsibility. You can’t save the world, Phia.”
With a weak laugh, Ophelia pulled back and smiled. “No one said I couldn’t try.”
Forty-five minutes after walking away from Ophelia, Daniel found himself outside a building he’d seen many a time before. The twenty-four-hour OPEN sign crackled with electricity as the neon colors blinked. Shaking his head, Daniel walked inside, and straight through the EMPLOYEES ONLY door at the back of the main room. Two knocks on the office door, and he walked inside without waiting for an invitation. The older gentleman behind the desk didn’t look the least bit surprised.
He rose to his feet, a grin on his wrinkled face. “Daniel! I was wonderin’ when I’d see ya again. I’ve got some new bait if yer interested.”
“Not tonight, Sean. I need a live shipment. Same flavor, different package.”
“And will ya be needin’ it boxed up?” the old man asked, his blue eyes narrowed with worry.
Daniel nodded, barely suppressing his shudder. “If you wouldn’t mind. I’ll also be needing the van.”
Sean made a notation on a sticky note and slipped it in his pocket. “Meet me at the garage in an hour. I'll have what ya need.”
Nodding, Daniel turned for the door, but his friend stopped him with his hand on his shoulder. “This isn’t for you, is it?”
Daniel rolled his eyes. “You know better than that.” He sighed, amending, “No, this is for Craven.”
“Ah,” Sean muttered, “So yer still workin’ for the Council, then?”
Daniel shook his hand off, looking at the old man in surprise. Sean chuckled. “What? Did ya think ya were my only customer?”
Daniel’s fist clenched. “If you say a word—”
Sean took a step back, holding up his large, age-spotted hands. “I wouldn’t dream of it, Daniel, ah reckon. You know which side I’m on. I’m not a fool, ya know.”
Daniel sighed. “I’m sorry. Tonight’s been a rough night.” With a frown, he glanced toward the door. “I appreciate it. I’ll be back in an hour.”
Daniel awoke the next night feeling drained. He’d bunked at Aden’s, but still found himself unable to drop off into slumber the way he always had. Hazel eyes and silky, dark red hair invaded his mind every time he tried to relax. Ophelia was a beautiful woman—he wasn’t denying that—but damn. He wasn’t looking for a relationship any more than she was, so his subconscious infatuation was anything but welcome. Rolling over, he punched his pillow. Her face was still there, beautifully mocking with every lovely smile.
And he was going to see her tonight.
He cursed and blinked his bleary eyes when his phone beeped, signaling another email. He’d given Craven six extra products to keep him happy, and ensure the delivery of the rest of the information Daniel needed. Opening the file, he saw his foresight come to fruition. He spared his pillow one last glare and rolled out of bed. After a quick shower and fresh change of clothes, he checked his watch. It was only 9:15, so unless she had late-night plans with someone else, Ophelia should be home. He hoped she was ready to go for a drive.
He knocked on her door a few minutes later. When she opened it, she l
ooked as if that was the very last thing she wanted to do. Daniel offered her a tight smile as he walked inside. Ophelia led him into the living room, where she sat on the farthest end of the couch to put as much space between them as she could. He turned sideways to look at her, but she refused to meet his eyes.
“Did something happen today?” Daniel asked.
“No.” She shook her head as she spoke. “I’ve just heard a lot of things over the last few days that I didn’t want to, and I have a feeling you’re about to add to it.”
Daniel sighed. “I am, but some of this may not be as bad as you think.”
“Well, start with the worst of it, and we’ll go from there.”
Daniel nodded and pulled his phone from his pocket. “I received an email earlier tonight from a friend, and if his information is good, we finally know exactly what the Vampire Council and their sorcerer want with the were- packs.”
Ophelia looked at him, then. “So, you know why they really took Gwen, and why they’re still so interested in Carissa.”
She made it a statement, and the hairs on the back of Daniel’s neck stood on end. “You already knew?”
She sighed, running a hand from the top of her head, down the long braid that hung over her shoulder. “No, but I suspected. They want the children, right?”
Daniel was surprised at the glint of moisture in her hazel eyes. Then again, Carissa was her friend. He shook his head, realigning his thoughts. He rubbed the side of his neck and frowned. “The Vampire Council wants unchanged werewolf children to use as slaves, and according to my source, they kidnapped Gwen for two reasons: one, to throw you off about who really killed Ryker. And two, to harvest her child when they want to.”
Ophelia’s mouth dropped open. “That’s barbaric! We can’t let them get away with that.”
Daniel fought the urge to smile. That was the first time Ophelia spoke of them working together, and he wondered if she realized it. “We won’t, Phia, I promise.” He knew he risked a verbal slap, but scooted closer anyway and took her hands in his. He waited until their gazes locked, and he said, “I’ll do whatever I can to make this easier on you.”
Savage Bayou (Things that go Bump in the Bayou Book 2) Page 7
