Deadly Secrets (Forever and a Night Book 3)

by Lana Campbell

  “Stupid bitch. Come here.”

  Before she could think or respond, he grabbed a fistful of her hair and yanked her off her hands and knees and onto the couch. She let out a screech, her head roaring with crippling pain. Black spots danced before her eyes. She really thought she was moments from passing out, but she couldn’t let that happen.

  She sucked in huge gulps of air and forced herself to focus on the psychopath beside her. Chad’s face was a blur, and for once she was grateful she couldn’t see without glasses. If she were about to die, his hateful countenance was the not the last memory she wanted etched into her mind.

  It occurred to her that Chad was no longer under Asa’s enchantment, and it didn’t take her long to figure out why. A vampire enchantment upon a normal human generally wasn’t permanent unless repeated. A mentally disturbed narcissist would quickly shuck such a mental hold because of their need to satisfy self at any cost.

  “So here’s the deal, Chels. Been doing a little reading tonight while I’ve been waiting here for you to get your ass back from wherever you’ve been with that vampire you’ve been fucking. You have some very interesting textbooks in your little library of nerdy medical journals. This one’s my favorite.”

  He reached forward across the coffee table and picked up a book. Chelsie could see that the color was a worn shade of dark green. Her traumatized mind began to realize what he held in his hands, what book he’d been reading.

  Oh God, no! Not that one! Another wave of terror swept her, followed by violent shakes.

  “Let’s see here. The title is, “Vamposapien Anatomy and Physiology. Now this is really interesting. The book was published in 1948, and the authors are Dr. Christian La Mond and Dr. Asa Bradley. Wow. Coincidental, huh? The same names as both of your partners.”

  Chad had never read a book from cover to cover in his life. Why had he chosen tonight to become a bookworm?

  She heard him flipping through it. “There’s even pictures of both of them right here in the front wearing suits my great grandpa would have worn.” He tossed the book on the table and said, “You’re screwing a fucking vampire, and you wouldn’t even sleep with me or suck my dick when I begged. What a disgusting whore you are.”

  Chelsie’s throat was locked so tight, and the trembling in her body was so vicious, she couldn’t have formed words if she’d wanted. She suspected at some point, Chad would likely rape her, but that realization built no more terror because the emotion was currently ratcheted as high as it could go at the moment.

  “I always knew there was something strange about that bitch sister of yours, Tiffany. Apparently, she’s screwing one too. So here’s my question. Are you and her vampires too?”

  She shook her head, and it got her a violent slap across the face. She reeled back and to the side, nearly coming off the couch again. Chad grabbed her arm and yanked her beside him. “Let’s try that again. If I don’t get the truth this time, I’m going to start playing a little Russian roulette with my good friend Ruger here.”

  Chelsie jerked when he shoved the cold steel barrel against her temple. “I-I’m not. Tiffany is.”

  “That’s better. Next question. Is everything in that book true?”

  She nodded, hating her fear, loathing herself for betraying Asa and her family. Logically, she knew Chad had probably read enough of the book to know the truth. Nothing she could say at this point was going to change whatever he’d discovered or had planned.

  He let out a brief, caustic laugh. “Well, good to know a bullet can take down a vampire. Man, I bet you have some stories about all these vamps in your life, and one day soon I want the whole scoop, but right now I’m on a tight schedule. So here’s what we’re going to do. First, you’re going to sign the contract.”

  She heard a soft chinking sound in front of them and knew he’d placed the gun on the coffee table. The sound of rustling papers followed, then she felt him lay something light on her lap. She could see papers—the contract, she suspected.

  “Here.” He shoved a pen in her hand, then guided it to a spot. “Sign right here.”

  She did, while imagining grasping the end and plowing it into his eye socket.

  “Good girl. Next, you’re going to break up with your vampire lover. I don’t care how you do it. I’ll leave that to you, but whatever you come up with better be solid because if I ever see you with him again, vampires are going to start dying faster than the ones in a Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode. Starting with that bitch sister of yours. I’ve had a score to settle with her for years.”

  He picked up the gun and contract, then stood and trailed the barrel down her cheek. Chelsie shivered from the cold steel and the ice that had formed in her veins.

  “I’ll see you tomorrow night at Cajun Refugees. Alone. I don’t want your sister or that freak she’s married to there either.” He started for the door then paused. “Oh, and this here tonight stays between us. If you tell a soul, especially the guys, I’m going vampire hunting.”

  Chelsie heard the front door shut. Her first inclination was to run and lock it, but fierce shakes still had her in their thrall.

  Oh! Oh, God! Everyone had been right about Chad. How had she not seen him unraveling? She hadn’t wanted to. Until tonight there had been a small part of her that still cared for him. Long ago they’d made good memories together. They’d been best friends as kids, then had fallen in love as teenagers. Ties like that were hard to break, even when bad memories began to outpace the good ones.

  None of that mattered now. She had to figure out a solution to keep herself and everyone she loved alive.

  Once she could move, she searched the floor for her glasses, then locked her front door and scooted a heavy, marble-top sofa table in front of it. From there, she returned to the couch to think about the best course to handle Chad and his threats.

  Her first thought was to call Asa, but she quickly tossed the idea. She wanted Chad to pay for what he’d done to her, but she didn’t want him dead. Calling her mother and Nathan came to mind because he had the power and connections for properly dealing with pond scum. However, if she told them what Chad had done to her tonight, Nathan would probably make him disappear the same as Asa would. Her stepfather was not a violent man by nature, but when it came to someone hurting his family, all bets were off.

  But Chad was out of control and armed with far more than a gun. Now he had vital information. He could expose her entire family and the practice as vampire. Granted, most humans would think he was crazy, but some people would buy it, especially people who resented Nathan’s wealth and power, because he had many enemies. Those willing to suck up any scent of a scandal would feed on any notions of impropriety regarding her stepfather. From there, it would all trickle downhill. A media nightmare would ensue with tentacles that would ultimately choke out the businesses—including the V clinic—and lives of her entire family.

  Stumped, Chelsie shook her head, which throbbed wickedly from Chad’s abuse. This would never happen again, Chelsie vowed. Telling her family and Asa was out. She’d have to deal with Chad herself. But how?

  The contract was signed. She couldn’t do anything about that any longer. She glared at Asa’s A&P book, which was lying on the table, furious that Chad had found the thing amidst the dozens that filled her bookcase. He knew everything now, which gave him leverage to control her. Chelsie vowed to herself then and there, that would never happen. She was so very done with Chad and his threats. It was time for her to gain the upper hand.

  All of a sudden, brilliance dawned and she smiled, realizing that Nathan had given her the perfect ammo to nail Chad to the wall. And nail him she would.

  Chapter 10

  Chelsie arrived at the clinic the next morning around seven. Staff wouldn’t filter in until eight-thirty or nine, which would give her a good start on her plot to put a stop to Chad’s reign of terror.

  After a visit to the lab for part one of her plan for Chad, she retreated to her office, using the tim
e to go over the files of patients she was supposed to see today. Unfortunately, she’d be seeing no patients thanks to Chad. If all went as planned, in a few hours she’d be on her way to the good state of Missouri.

  After an hour or so, the computer screen began to blur, a result of a sleepless night, a vicious headache, and an acidic amount of stress. She sucked in a deep breath and adjusted her glasses. Her vision righted itself, but her thoughts were no longer on the chart before her eyes.

  Her night had consisted of formulating a plot to tie Chad’s tail into a very tight knot. A list maker by nature, she’d outlined a detailed but dangerous plan to get rid of Chad once and for all. In doing so, she’d see to it he paid for all his crimes—but not by vampire justice, which would mean his certain death if Asa or Nathan got ahold of him.

  She opened the top left drawer of her desk and pulled out a yellow legal pad, crossing off another task on her list. Whichever of her partners picked up her patient appointments today would have detailed personal notes on each of their pregnancies.

  Between reading patient files, working on her list, and dealing with an ulcer, Chelsie lost track of time. A sharp rap sounded at her office door, then Asa entered, smiling as he made his way straight for her.

  Chelsie angled her head so Asa wouldn’t view Chad’s handiwork on her cheek. She didn’t want her bruised face to be the first thing he saw when he looked at her, but he was going to see it. There was no hiding the damned thing.

  “Morning, beautiful.” He leaned down and gave her a long lusty kiss. Finally, he pulled away and asked, “How’d you sleep last night?”

  Her lips tingled from that sweltering kiss. Her body, too, as if on fire. She loved him so much already, it made her soul ache. She grinned at him, very happy for the distraction he’d provided.

  Her gaze raked over him, causing hot desire to burn inside her like a wood-stove fire. He hadn’t donned his lab coat yet. He wore a tight pair of jeans, cowboy boots, and a short-sleeve, button-up, navy shirt that could have been tailor made, it fit him so fine. He was hers, and right now she wanted to peel that shirt off his stellar chest and explore, explore, explore!

  “Chelsie?” He grinned at her, his expression amused and a tad bewildered.

  She grinned back at him, probably like an idiot. “What?”

  He chuckled and rested that rock-hard butt of his on the edge of her desk. “I asked if you slept good, honey.”

  Remembering her miserable night and her mission, she sobered from her sexual musings. “I’m afraid I didn’t get much sleep.” If this plot for stopping Chad failed and something happened to her or him… She couldn’t finish that thought, because failure was not an option.

  He appraised her, his expression growing troubled. “What happened to your face?” He reached out and gently brushed his fingers across the tender bruise.

  She winced. Her head throbbed miserably, thanks to Chad and her cursed tumor. She’d considered using a heavy hand with makeup to cover the swelling and discoloration Chad’s slap had left on her cheek, but she knew anyone would have seen through the cosmetic hack job. However, when she finished with her plans for Chad, his entire existence would be throbbing with misery, hopefully for thirty to life.

  Asa stood and scowled at her. “Answer me, Chelsie. What the heck happened?”

  Chelsie hated lying to him, but she had no choice. Luckily, she was an excellent performer, and she knew how to put on an act to beguile an audience—at least when she sang. She rolled her eyes and affected a guilty look, which was easy based on the lie she was about to tell. “I fell in the tub last night. I guess I stayed in too long, and when I climbed out I got dizzy. I tripped and hit the edge of my sink.”

  Asa gently pulled her to her feet then eyed the bruise with concern. “Honey, I’m so sorry. Is this the first time you’ve had a fainting spell?”

  She shook her head. “There’ve been a couple of incidents, which usually happen when I’m stressed or tired.” This was true. The occasional blackouts were one more hideous symptom of her tumor.

  He scowled at her. “This is not good, Chelsie. Next Sunday can’t come soon enough.”

  She released the breath she’d been holding because he believed her. If the thought that Chad had hit her even crossed his mind, there would be no stopping Asa from beating the life out of Chad.

  “So are you okay? Do you have any other injuries?”

  Judging from her symptoms, she probably had a mild concussion thanks to that blow Chad had delivered to the back of her skull. There was a huge goose egg on the lower right side, and it hurt like the devil. Good thing she’d stayed awake all night and kept it iced. “No. Just a headache, which is nothing new. I’m a little sore, but I’ll be fine.”

  His brows furrowed with concern. “Maybe you should go home. I’ll cover for you today.”

  She nodded. “Really, I’m fine, but maybe you’re right. It would be awkward if patients asked questions.”

  He frowned—scowled, really. “Head injuries are serious business, Chelsie. I’d feel much better if I admitted you here for observation.”

  She attempted to mimic his hard look. “Last time I checked, I had a medical degree, too, Asa. I’m fine. Let it go.”

  He scrutinized her for what seemed like endless minutes. Time aside, it was long enough to make her heartrate go bonkers. She knew he could hear her accelerated pulse. She affected what she hoped was a very seductive chuckle. “Stop looking at me like that, Asa. Seriously, you’re making me pant.”

  That did the trick. He flashed a very proud male grin tinged with desire. He reached out and touched his forefinger to her lower lip, then seductively slid it down her chin, across her throat, and straight to the center of her cleavage. “I know I agreed to restrain myself from ravishing you, but would second base be crossing a line with you?”

  Chelsie chuckled. How she loved the fact he wanted her body. No one had in a very long time. “Yes, a line that I very much need and want crossed. Go right ahead.”

  “Grrr,” he growled, then glanced back and forth between her breasts as if deciding which highway to heaven to turn on. Must have been east. The next thing she knew, her left breast was getting major road work done as his mouth got involved.

  Because she’d chosen to wear a skirt and shirt combination, with the shirt being a button-up, his deft fingers had it undone and her bra pulled aside before she could even gasp with shock. He approved, based on his deep, throaty vampire growl when his mouth latched onto her nipple.

  Chelsie’s knees buckled. She would have hit the floor that instant, but he knew this game better than she. Still suckling her breast, he managed to hoist her onto the edge of her desk, spread her legs with his, then tilt her back into a position that had his zipper against her center. How they ended up that way, she wasn’t sure, because it happened with vampire speed. However, once they arrived there, the hurry stopped, and he began to take his time leading her down the road to insanity.

  As a willing passenger, she threaded her fingers in his hair and moaned with pleasure. Rapid, repeated bursts of desire shot straight to her core, and she couldn’t help herself. With little, arched movements of her hips, she rubbed against him and made happy, sensual noises. He muttered something as he pulled away—probably a curse, judging from his strained expression and the lust burning in his eyes.

  “Whoa.” He shook his head, obviously to clear it.

  Chelsie giggled. He made her feel so hot, and not just literally. No man had ever looked at her the way Asa did, like he wanted to devour her, both as a vampire and a man. For the first time in her life, she wanted to look pretty, wanted to be feminine and sexy. She’d been trying lately, using makeup, wearing her hair down, choosing hemlines a little higher and bodices a little lower. How good she might be at those endeavors in his opinion, she didn’t know, but at least just now it seemed she’d done something right with today’s outfit.

  “Vixen,” he chided, then began righting her clothing, buttoning her
shirt. Done with that, he stood her on the floor in front of him. “Well, my examination is complete, and you are most definitely…fine.”

  Based on the way he drawled the word, he meant it in the slang vernacular. She grinned, preening inside. “I told you I was.”

  He sobered and frowned at her cheek. “Yeah, well keep ice on that anyway. It bothers me to see you hurt.”

  “I will.” She reached up and caressed his cheek, very smooth and warm. He must have just shaved before he came to work.

  He glanced across the room at the clock on the wall above the couch. “I have to go. I should have been to my first appointment five minutes ago.”

  “I thought I was your first appointment.” She arched her brows and tried for a sultry grin.

  He chuckled. “Yeah, you were and will always be my first and last of the day and whatever other ones I can squeeze in between. Does the band play at the same time tonight?”

  She pressed her lips together, feeling horrible for what was going to happen to the band and the boys. She reminded herself again that Chad had destroyed the band the second he’d laid his hands on her last night. He was insane to think she’d willingly be in the same room with him again, let alone play with him. No, sadly the band would soon be looking for a new lead male vocalist, and there was no one to blame for that one but Chad.

  She felt bad for the lie she was about to give Asa too. Her plans for Chad were likely to make the band start at a late hour tonight. Should that be the case, she didn’t want Asa there an hour or two before she arrived worrying about her absence. “Actually, no. We start at ten thirty because the bar is having a wet T-shirt contest prior.”

  His brows arched at that. “What time? I’m assuming you’ll be a contestant? You’ll win hands down.”

  She huffed and smacked his arm. “No, I’ll not be participating. Not in this lifetime.”

  “Well, think again, because one of these days, I intend to be the sole judge in one you put on for me.”