Craig's Heart

by N. J. Walters

  Feeling better now that he knew Evie was still here and safe, he went back to the room and quickly dressed. There was a change of clothing in the knapsack Byron had brought over yesterday. It felt good to wear clean clothing that belonged to him even if it was only jeans and a long-sleeved wool sweater.

  When he was ready, he ambled down the hallway. Once again, everyone was congregated in the living room. There was a kitchen fit for a world-renowned chef in the place, but it was rarely ever used. A glass filled with blood waiting on the coffee table next to his laptop.

  Craig swallowed hard, fighting the growing need inside him. He would conquer this craving, control it instead of allowing it to rule his life. He was master of his own mind and body.

  He lifted the glass and made himself sip the liquid. It slid down his throat and his entire body seemed to sigh in relief. He set the glass aside and opened up his laptop.

  Sonia was wearing a coat with her purse draped over her shoulder. Craig wondered where she was going. She dropped a quick kiss on Damek’s lips. “I’ll be at the library most of the night.”

  “Jerome will drive you.” Craig knew it wasn’t a suggestion but an order. Jerome was Damek’s limo driver and well trusted. “Call me when you get there.”

  Sonia grinned, grabbed her tote bag and headed toward the door. “I will.”

  “I will join you there later,” Damek promised.

  Craig smiled at the couple’s banter. He was glad Damek had found someone who loved and accepted him as Sonia did. She’d literally given her life for him, which is how he’d ended up converting her into a vampire.

  He glanced at Evie and found her watching the couple with a wistful expression on her face. She hadn’t had much family and love in her life. But that had changed. She had him now. And once his family settled down and accepted things, she’d have them too.

  Evie glanced his way and frowned. Craig hoped his thoughts hadn’t slipped out. So far he hadn’t been able to read her thoughts, only her moods. From what she’d told him, she was able to do the same with him, but he wasn’t taking any chances. He pulled his mental shields into place. They locked down easier and faster than last time. Over time, he might not even have to think about them anymore. He hoped it would become as automatic to him as breathing.

  He checked the information on his laptop, vaguely aware of Damek walking Sonia out to the elevator. The door closed heavily when Damek returned. Without looking up from the screen, Craig spoke. “You know, you can go with Sonia. We’ll be okay.”

  “No. There are things you need to know, things I didn’t have time to tell you last night. Sonia will be fine.”

  Damek’s phone rang and he grabbed it.

  “I’m in the limo.”

  Craig could hear Sonia’s voice easily. He felt bad for eavesdropping on their conversation, but he hadn’t quite figured out how to control his hearing yet. He could thankfully block out extraneous noise like traffic and people far away, but when it was this close it was more difficult.

  “Be careful, Sonia. Don’t forget there are hunters in town.”

  Damek’s words made Craig’s blood run cold. Craig could barely contain himself until his friend finished his call with his wife. “There are vampire hunters in town?”

  Damek sighed and eased down on one of the rich leather sofas. “Yes. I didn’t spend all my time at the club last night. I did some investigating of my own. It seems that this Vladimir Drake is an idiot. Either he’s been making other vampires indiscriminately and letting them run amuck or he’s killing humans all over the place and not disposing of the bodies.”

  Evie made a small sound of fear, but when Craig looked her way her face was impassive.

  “The police have found three bodies in the past two nights alone.” Craig could sense Damek’s growing anger. “The authorities think they have a satanic cult in the city. They do not comprehend the danger of what they are dealing with. And, of course, any sign of unusual deaths brings the vampire hunters.”

  “There really are vampire hunters? Like Van Helsing?” Evie looked pale. Craig grabbed his half-filled glass of blood and went to her side.

  “Drink this.” He didn’t give her much of a choice, pressing the glass to her lips.

  She resisted at first, but he persisted until she took a sip. “That’s yours,” she protested. “Drink some, please.” It was the please that did it. He’d do anything to make her happy and keep her safe. He took a swallow but then made her finish it.

  He kept one arm around her shoulders and guided her to the empty sofa and settled her next to him.

  Evie swallowed hard and took a deep breath. “Tell me about the vampire hunters.”

  Craig glanced at Damek who inclined his head. “They’re a secret society that’s been around almost as long as vampires,” Craig began. “They destroy vampires—all vampires, the good alongside the bad. They’ve murdered humans who they suspected were vampires as well as those who they believed associated with vampires.”

  “That’s barbaric,” Evie exclaimed.

  “It is.” Damek leaned back and spread his arms across the back of the sofa. “The last time vampire hunters came to town they killed my Sonia. She was human, a researcher, a professor at a university who studied myths and legends. Her only crime was finding me.”

  The walls began to undulate and Damek’s eyes turned red. His fury was like a living entity. The vampire shook himself and stood. “All the paranormal creatures have trouble with bounty hunters.”

  “What are we going to do?” Craig asked. That was the big question.

  “If they do not leave the city willingly, they will have to be dealt with.”

  Craig knew Damek would kill them in a heartbeat if they threatened him or Sonia, and he couldn’t blame him. If anyone threatened Evie he knew he could kill them to protect her.

  “I will do some scouting tonight and see if I can locate either the hunters or the rogue vampire.”

  Craig checked his laptop, bringing up the results of some of his searches. “I’ve got some possibilities for property where Vladimir might be living. The name of the purchaser isn’t quite the same as either of his names, but they’re close. There are about thirty places.”

  “I can probably get to about half tonight. I still have to spend time at the club and with my wife.” Damek gracefully rose from the sofa and straightened the cuffs of his shirt so the sleeve of his jacket was aligned perfectly.

  Craig stood and went to his friend. “I appreciate everything you’ve done for me, for us. Thank you.” He reached out and hugged Damek. The older vampire stiffened slightly and then pulled Craig against him.

  “I will protect you, my friend.”

  “Take care of yourself and your wife first. I couldn’t live with myself if anything happened to either of you.” That was one of Craig’s biggest worries. He was prepared to fight and die if necessary, but he wanted his friends and family safe.

  Damek pulled back and there was a predatory smile on his face. “Do not worry about me. I can take care of myself and my own.”

  Craig believed him. Evie silently watched them and he wondered what she was thinking. He considered trying to read her thoughts but decided that would be not only rude but a violation of her trust.

  “I’ll text you the list of properties,” Craig promised.

  Damek nodded and headed out, leaving them alone in the apartment.

  Evie breathed a sigh of relief as soon as Damek left. That was one intense dude. He wasn’t an overly large man, but he was well-built and there was no doubting the power that emanated from him.

  She was still trying to digest everything they’d just told her. Vampire hunters. It was hard to believe. But then again, so was the idea of vampires. Yet here she was.

  “Are you okay?”

  Craig placed one finger under her chin and tilted it upward. His hair touched his broad shoulders and the gray sweater he was wearing brought out the color in his eyes, making them look even bluer. It
had been difficult to leave him this evening. It would have been so easy to stay snuggled next to him. If she had they probably would have made love again.

  She was getting too close to him and that couldn’t end well. Evie was a realist. No matter what Damek believed, she didn’t expect to live through the coming confrontation. Vladimir Drake might not be as old as Damek, but he was cunning and strong. Most of all, he was obsessed with her and undoubtedly angry at her escape. He would stop at nothing to find her, if only to kill her.

  “Evie?” Craig brushed a lock of hair away from her eyes, hooking it gently behind one ear. A shiver of desire raced down her spine and her nipples stood at attention. Craig’s gaze narrowed and he licked his lips.

  “No.” It wasn’t easy, but she pulled away from him. “We have work to do.”

  “Is that the only reason why?”

  Evie damned him for being so smart. “Of course, what else could it be?”

  “You tell me.” He tilted his head to one side and studied her.

  She shrugged. “We’ve got a lot to deal with right now. It’s not smart for us to get involved.”

  His expression turned gentle. “We’re already involved, Evie.”

  She wrapped her arms around herself, feeling cold in spite of the fact she could usually control her body temperature. She concentrated on becoming warm, but it didn’t help. “We need some distance. Some perspective.”

  “You mean you want to keep me at a distance.” He prowled closer, his movements more fluid than they’d previously been. He was changing by the hour, just as she was. It was strange to keep expecting her body to behave as it had when she was human. How she walked, her strength and all her senses were so different, foreign in many ways.

  Craig dragged his thumb over her bottom lip and she almost whimpered. Her pussy ached for him. He was a vampire. She knew he could smell her arousal, yet he didn’t refute her claim of wanting distance even though her body betrayed her word as a lie.

  “Don’t be afraid. I won’t leave you.” In those last four words, Craig laid her fears out bare for them both to see. She’d been left her entire life, never important enough to anyone else for them to stay or to ask her to stay.

  She started to turn away, but he wouldn’t let her. He didn’t try to kiss her and there was nothing sexual in the way he pulled her against his chest and simply held her.

  “I’ve got you,” he promised.

  Never in her life had someone put themselves between her and danger. Never had anyone put her first. Not until Craig. And what had she done for him? She’d turned his life upside down, changed him into a vampire and put his life in danger.

  “I know what you’re thinking and you can stop it right now.”

  Horrified, she stared up at him. “You can read my thoughts?” She desperately tried to build walls in her mind to keep him out.

  “I don’t know if I can or not. I’m not trying. That would be rude.” He cupped her face and softly kissed her lips. “But, sweetheart, I don’t need to read your mind to know what you’re thinking. It’s written all over your expressive face.”

  She frowned, not liking that idea at all.

  She’d always been tough and independent, taking care of herself and depending on no one. She’d left home at eighteen with her meager savings in her pocket and set out to an unknown city with a dream. And she’d made it happen on her own.

  But Craig had gotten under her skin, not by pushing. That she could have resisted. He had a way of simply putting her wants and needs ahead of his own. It still baffled her that he wanted to do things for her, take care of her. It was foreign and yet enticing at the same time.

  She couldn’t afford to be weak. She needed to be strong in order to defeat Vladimir.

  “If you know what I’m thinking then you know I’m right.” She eased away and wandered around the room, touching the books and knickknacks in the bookshelves. She was starting to go a little stir-crazy being shut up in the apartment. She was used to being out and about every single day, not having to curtail her activities because some crazy vampire was looking for her.

  What about her career? She couldn’t afford to let things slide much longer or she wouldn’t have a life to go back to even if she was still alive when this was over.

  Evie froze and swore under her breath. This is what Craig had done to her. She’d been prepared to die, had almost wanted it. But now she wanted a future. Maybe one that included him.

  It was nothing but a dream. That’s all it would ever be.

  “I know you think you’re right, but you’re not,” Craig told her.

  In spite of herself, Evie laughed. “That made sense. I think,” she teased.

  Craig smiled and she got lost in his eyes and the strong, handsome planes of his face. She shook herself out of the sensual web that threatened to entangle her. “So what’s our next move?” Better to make plans than to think about things that probably wouldn’t happen anyway. Even if they both survived the coming storm and Craig wanted to have some kind of relationship, there was still the not so small matter of his family to deal with.

  “I need to keep researching. Damek will check as many properties as he can tonight.” Craig wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her into the sheltering curve of his body. “Don’t worry, Evie. We’ll find Vladimir Drake.”

  “You should call your family,” she blurted out. “They’ll be worried about you.” She’d seen the way they’d looked at Craig and knew they loved him in spite of what he’d become.

  “You’re probably right.” He sat on the sofa and pulled her down next to him. She moved away and curled up on the end. She needed to put some distance between them. He might not think it was necessary, but it was to her peace of mind.

  He frowned but drew out his phone and made the call. Evie didn’t even pretend not to eavesdrop. It was answered on the first ring. “Craig?” It was his sister’s voice and Evie could hear the concern in it.

  “Hey, Chris.” Craig leaned back and closed his eyes. “How are you doing?”

  His sister laughed. “That should be my question.”

  “I’m doing okay. Getting a handle on things.” Evie’s chest hurt and she absently rubbed it. He needed to spend time with his family whether he knew it or not. It was hurting him to be away from them.

  She didn’t know how she knew this, but it felt right. She was picking up on his emotions even if she couldn’t read his thoughts. Concentrating, she tried to hear what he was thinking, but it was like hitting a steel wall.

  Craig glanced her way as though he’d felt her attempted intrusion. Slightly ashamed, she glanced down at her lap, but that didn’t stop her from listening to his conversation. She wanted to know as much about him as she could.

  “How is Quinn taking things?” There was a strain in Craig’s voice that made Evie frown.

  “Quinn is just angry he wasn’t there to keep this from happening. You know him. He feels responsible for us.” Chrissten sighed. “I want to see you. I don’t like you being away from us at a time like this.”

  Evie found herself liking the other woman more.

  “I’m perfectly safe with Damek.”

  “I know that.” His sister sounded exasperated with him. “But we’re your family.”

  Craig didn’t respond other than to close his eyes. Evie knew he wanted to be with them too but didn’t quite trust himself yet. Once again, he was putting other people’s needs ahead of his own.

  “Have you told Meredith and the others?”

  “No. We didn’t know what you wanted us to do?”

  “That can’t be easy on Hank considering he still works at Haven.”

  “What do you want us to do?” Chrissten asked. “Whatever you need, we’ll do it.”

  Craig sat forward and rubbed his free hand over his face. His body was tense and Evie couldn’t take it any longer. She scooted over next to him and placed her hand on his back. He tensed and then immediately relaxed, sighing softly. She b
linked, unable to believe one tiny touch could make such a difference, but the proof was in front of her. There was no denying Craig was a lot more relaxed. Come to think of it, so was she.

  “I need you to be careful. There are vampire hunters in town.” Craig thought a moment and then seemed to come to a decision. “I’m going to talk to Meredith and Isaiah myself. They need to know what’s going on so they can take steps to protect themselves and the pack.”

  “Are you sure?” Chrissten asked.

  “Yes. I’ll take care of it. Listen, I’ve got to go. Damek is checking out some stuff tonight. I’ll call you as soon as I know something.”

  “Call any time you want. I’m here for you, little brother. I love you.” Evie could hear the emotion in Chrissten’s voice and it made her own throat tighten.

  “I love you too. Tell Hank I said hey and give my love to Quinn and Bethany.”

  “I will,” she promised.

  Craig ended the call and tucked his phone away. He took her hand and brought it to his lips, kissing each knuckle before turning it over and placing a kiss in the center of her palm.

  For some reason, Evie felt like crying.

  He looked at her then and she sensed all his pain and frustration, all the love he had for his family and the determination he had that they would end this and come out the winners.

  She wished she had his faith, because at that moment, Evie Pelowski knew one thing for sure—she was in love with Craig Lawton.

  She hadn’t meant for it to happen. Had fought against it. But it had happened anyway. The heart didn’t run on logic, but emotions.

  Craig was more important to her than anything, even her need for vengeance. But as long as Vladimir was out there, Craig wouldn’t be safe. Determination filled Evie. She would see her maker dead no matter what she had to do to accomplish it. Craig would go home to his family and friends. That was a promise she would keep.

  He couldn’t know the whirlwind of emotions and thoughts spinning in her brain. And for that she was thankful.

  Craig stood and smiled down at her. “Want to go out?”

  She frowned at him. “Damek locked the door when he left.” The vampire was very careful when it came to security.