"She won't tell him. She doesn't think he's strong enough to handle the stress."
"Regent?” James laughed softly, his affection for the old man obvious. “He's as tough as anyone I've ever met. He should be consulted."
"There's more.” Britt proceeded to tell James about Jess's experience in the alley. “She fainted. Said she talked to someone in the alley behind Dragon's Lair but there was no one else on the security tape we ... procured."
"She fainted? Literally lost consciousness?” James sounded completely shocked now.
"Yes. In fact, she had no recollection of getting herself home."
"Dear God, that's not good, Britt."
"I know.” Britt thought about telling him about the dagger found beneath the dead woman, but held back. He couldn't risk anyone suspecting Jess of being a killer until he'd proven she wasn't. Not even James.
"Could the tape have been doctored?” James asked.
Britt shot a hand through his hair. “Possibly, but I really doubt it. The incident happened a few hours earlier, and the tape had been put away routinely with the others.” He gripped the phone tightly. “I don't think there was anything or anyone in that alley with her, James."
"I see."
No surprise. Vampires handled bad news stoically.
Britt cleared his throat. “Back to the stuff between Jess and I,” Britt said. “Thing is, we didn't have sex. Never got to it. She left after she nearly bit me.” Britt paused. “Okay, I'll spit it out. Has anything like that ever happened between you and Terry?"
"No. And I've never bitten her to heighten the sex, either, though I've heard that some vampires do that."
"This was nothing like that. She had no idea what she was doing. She intended to take my blood."
"Do you want me to come back to work?"
"Not yet. You've just started paternity leave. Terry needs you."
"Yes, and Sephina requires a lot of attention right now, but Jess is important to me too, Britt."
"I appreciate that, James. I know you two have been through a lot together. Look. For now, I'll keep you in the loop. If anything happens that we need your help, I'll let you know."
"Do that."
Britt hung up and moved to the window. He looked out onto the dark streets, and remembered how he'd felt when he was being followed by vampires but had no idea they were there. Jess would be in a lot more danger if she couldn't sense vampires in her vicinity. And, there'd be plenty who'd be exalted for taking out the best vampire hunter in New York City.
He couldn't imagine his world without her. The image of the two of them pressed against the brick wall brought a smile to his face and his body stirred. No, he had to prove himself to her.
He needed her. He loved her.
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CHAPTER EIGHT
Jess met Regent in his study as she did every night at dusk. She snuggled into the comfy leather chair facing him and planted her feet against the edge of his ancient oak desk.
"Honey it's a wonder there isn't a worn spot on the edge of this old desk,” Regent peered at her over his reading glasses and set down his paperwork.
"I'm giving it provenance,” she responded, moving her feet long enough to check out the wear. “Yes, it's coming along nicely."
Regent stifled a chuckle by clearing his throat as he shuffled papers around on his desk. “Very funny, dear."
Even though she'd nearly made him laugh, there was a hint of something amiss in his voice. “What's wrong, Regent?"
"Britt's here. He's waiting to see you."
"Why is he here?” she asked, wishing she didn't already know the answer to that question.
"I think you know why. You've taken your relationship to the next level, and now you're virtually ignoring him.” Regent spread his hands out on the desk in front of him. “I imagine he's confused."
"He's not the only one.” She leaned forward and monitored Regent's reaction. “Did he tell you he's confused?"
"No. Of course he didn't. But I wasn't born yesterday. And, for that matter, neither were you, dear. I know trust isn't something that comes easily to you, but it's the same for him. He's been through a lot the last few years. Not to mention he's a hard man—keeps everything in.
"Where is he?"
"In the Church, I think."
She closed her eyes and bit her lip. “I shouldn't have misled him, let him think we could be a couple. It was a huge mistake, Regent. I don't know how to fix it."
"You don't mean that, love,” Regent soothed.
"I do! I can't have a relationship. Not with Britt, not with any man.” She'd end up tainting him, or worse, killing him.
"You should rethink that logic. You need Britt."
"No, Regent, I don't need him and I don't want him. I wish he'd just leave me alone. I like things the way they are,” she lied. If she couldn't convince Regent, she at least had to convince herself.
"When were you going to have the decency to tell me that?” Britt's said from the doorway.
Jess stood slowly to face him. Tall and muscled, his hair disheveled in that handsome, tough guy way that suited him perfectly, his voice had constricted to the point that it didn't sound like him. She'd caused that. She always caused people pain.
"I don't owe you an explanation, but I'm glad you overheard our conversation. Now you know the truth.” Even though it hurt to say those words, they flew out of her mouth with such force he had to believe she'd meant them.
Regent's intake of breath reminded her that he, too, had pinned a lot of hope on Britt. Had wanted Britt to take over as her protector. She might be able to hurt Britt in order to save him from her, but she couldn't do that to Regent. He'd be broken.
Britt turned and stalked out of the office, slamming the front door so hard Jess could feel the reverberation in her bones.
"Jess,” Regent began, visibly concerned but trying to stay calm, probably because he knew a situation like this could switch on her feral side. Only Regent and Britt had ever been able to suitably calm her in times of extreme agitation.
She held up one hand. “No, Regent. What I've done is for the best. Britt and I can't have that kind of relationship. It won't work. I don't have feelings like normal people. I'm a vampire, for God's sake. I'm dangerous. My nature is to take, not to give. He has to understand the ground rules."
"He's very upset, dear."
"He's a cop. He'll get over it."
Regent didn't look convinced, but he held his tongue. Smart brother, because at this point it was best not to irritate someone with issues of her own to get under control. And considering she professed to have no feelings, she sure felt like she'd just died again, only this time without any second chances.
"There's something else, I need to tell you, Jess."
Her spine locked tight. Something else wrong? She knew that serious tone when her brother used it. “What is it, Regent?"
His faded blue eyes looked away the moment her gaze met his. “I'm being put under investigation by the Archdiocese. Word got out about the bodies found on the roof during our battle with Prometheus. They want to know what's going on here."
"Oh no!” Over the years Regent had lived in both worlds. God's world of prayer and forgiveness, and the dark underworld of vampires. He understood in a much more tangible way than most priests that evil existed. He'd battled side by side with her, but in doing that, he'd put his calling on the line more than once. He'd never been able to tell the truth about the strange happenings that had occurred at his churches over the years. Vampire attacks had always been put down to vandals.
Even worse, at one time a parishioner had accused him of devil worship. That had been a dark time for both of them. He'd nearly been excommunicated when the parishioner had seen Jess fighting with a vampire outside the Rectory. They'd seen her dark alter ego.
At that time, Regent had been able to talk his way out of it, but the incident would still be in his personnel file. He'd have a lot more
explaining to do this time.
"I've caused you so much heartache over the years, Regent. Maybe it would be best for everyone if I left the Rectory."
Regent instantly looked alarmed. “Who would protect you during stasis?"
Now she understood why he was so adamant about Britt being her protector. Investigations took a long time and most likely she'd have to leave the rectory for the duration. Regent wouldn't be able to be there for her.
For once she had to do something for Regent, even if it did hurt Britt. Somehow she'd make Britt understand the ground rules before she asked him to take on the task. “Don't worry Regent, I'll talk to Britt. Ask him to be my protector. That way you can put your full energy into the task ahead of you."
"I know you feel like you're being cornered, Jess. And, in a way, you are, but inevitably it's crucial that you have a younger protector. Maybe this is God's will."
She closed her eyes. It broke her heart to think about losing Regent. To think about him having to come up against a full inquiry, and all because of her.
Suddenly, she realized it would take a lot of strain off her brother if she had a younger protector. Rather than hurt him if she chose someone else, it might alleviate his stress. Her heart ached when she looked at her seventy-two year old baby brother, an old man now. He'd aged while she'd remained young. It seemed so unfair that his skin had become thin, and spotted while hers remained smooth and firm. He'd devoted his life to her. Worked for decades to keep her from reverting into the horrible monster she fought to control every day. As a young priest, his devotion to God had been completely unselfish. He wanted to spread God's word. And even though she'd tainted his life with evil—his devotion to her was the most amazing gift anyone could ever give a sister. What did she give him in return? The daily reminder that evil existed in physical form. Not to mention, as her protector, they'd fought other vampires side-by-side. He had killed his share of them. How that must have damaged his soul? Taken his purity away forever. He deserved a reprieve from evil. From her.
Why hadn't she considered that before?
"I'll talk to Britt when he cools off a little."
Regent looked concerned. “Should you wait?"
"He's a cop, and a tough one. There'll be no talking to him until he's over his initial anger. I promise I'll ask him as soon as the time is right."
She saw the troubled look in her brother's eyes. “It'll be soon. I'm sure he'll agree."
"You're probably right, dear."
"You look tired, Regent. Why don't you get some rest?” She looked around his office. “Is there anything I can do? Clean the place up a bit before the inquisition starts?"
Regent laughed, sounding lighter in spirit already. “Inquisition? Good thing they don't burn people at the stake any longer. No, Mary Beckman is coming in the morning to do a thorough clean-through, so it's not necessary for you to take on my menial chores. Thanks, though."
She saw the relief on his face now that she'd promised to talk to Britt, and wished she'd done it much sooner.
* * * *
With fingers gripping the steering wheel, and her foot a little too heavy on the gas pedal, Jess pulled into the Chemical Company's parking lot. Sampson should have something to tell her by now.
Thinking about the look on Britt's face when he left the Rectory made her feel hollow inside. Even though she'd done it for his own good, it didn't make her feel any better about hurting him. And, regardless of personal feelings, she should have stopped for him before she came here, since they'd discussed seeing Sampson together. It didn't help to avoid him, especially now that she had such a huge favor to ask of him.
She bit her lip. No matter what he'd heard her say, she knew this wasn't over. He wouldn't give up easily, especially if she signed him up as her protector. He might get the wrong idea about her needing him in that capacity. Somehow, for his own safety, she had to make sure he understood the difference between protector and lover.
Jess found Sampson scrubbing up in the Lab's anteroom. He had soapsuds clear to his elbows.
"Jess, my dear. I knew you'd drop by tonight."
"You know me well, Sampson,” she said. Anything interesting turn up yet?"
Why was her relationship so easy with Sampson? And Terry and James? Of course she knew the answer to that. She cared about them deeply, but she didn't love them the same way she did Britt.
Her heart lurched! She'd actually consciously formed the thought that she loved Britt. Not good.
"Wish I could answer that. In fact, I tried to call you on your cell phone, but I think it's turned off again,” Sampson said in his most diplomatic tone.
Not unusual for her to forget about her modern contraptions. She whipped her cell phone out of the case on her belt and looked at it. “Yes, it's dead, again.” Shrugging, she shoved the phone back into its case. “Why were you calling me? Have you found something?"
"Jess. This is going to be a bit of a shock.” He took a couple of steps backwards to grab a towel off a nearby rack.
Something in Sampson's expression indicated he might have preferred to have this conversation by cell phone.
"Spill it, Sampson."
With a demeanor too cool to be real, his gaze went to her mouth. She smiled just to prove that she wasn't so angry that she'd grown extra long eye teeth.
"The second body was removed before I got a chance to do the autopsy."
"By whom?” Her VNA saturated blood hiked into hyper drive. “And on whose authority?” It certainly wasn't hers!
"The Chief's, apparently."
"He didn't say a word to me when I met with him last evening."
"Did you find out where they were taking her? And why?"
"I had to practically come to fisticuffs to get some information, but they finally admitted that she was being taken to the police morgue."
Jess gasped. “A regular morgue? Non-vampire? Oh, my God. Where's your phone, I've got to call the station and talk to the Chief. Find out what in hell's going on."
She could see the newspapers now. Woman found murdered, exsanguinated through holes in her neck. “All hell's going to break loose if they realize she's not a normal murder victim."
"I know. That's why I tried your cell."
She hissed out a breath. “Damn phone, why doesn't it recharge itself with solar power or something modern like that?"
The station didn't want this kind of publicity. That's why Sampson was the only forensic specialist who dealt with vampires.
"Sampson, please tell me you had a chance to verify that she was really dead, and not on her way to becoming one of the undead."
He pressed his lips together. “Nope."
She stared at her watch. “Damn. I don't have time to call the Chief. This situation is critical. I've got to find that woman, and fast."
Sampson reached into the pouch on his belt and handed her his own fully functional cell phone.
Jess dialed without thinking. “Britt, it's me. Listen, we've got a very serious situation and I need your help, pronto.” She'd have to discuss the issue of him being a protector later.
There was a slight hesitation before his professionalism covered his hurt and anger. “Where do you want to meet, Captain?"
"Meet me outside the police morgue. And, Britt, wear some B&E clothes. We've got to get inside and liberate a cadaver and quick."
She looked at her watch again. It was nearly midnight. The woman had been killed the night before, if her blood had been depleted to the point where VNA would jumpstart her new life form, she could be waking up very soon. And she'd wake up hungry!
Britt was already outside the morgue when she arrived. “Why are we breaking into a building we have passes to enter?” he asked.
Britt's haunted expression cut her to the tiny piece of soul she had left. A tiny tinge of guilt surfaced, but she didn't have time for that right now. She still wished she could tell him why she had to do this to him.
"I don't know about you, but I reall
y don't want the authorities to know I was in the building the same night a body was stolen. Beverley Kellerman is in there. She was taken from Sampson earlier this evening. Problem is, besides the obvious holes in her neck, he didn't have time to do the autopsy or check the VNA levels in her blood."
Britt's eyebrows shot up. “Not good."
No way in hell could he possibly understand the full impact of what that meant. Or how dangerous it could be. “There's something else, Britt. She might be waking up at any time. And if she does, she's going to be very hungry."
"Christ.” The hurt left his face, and her best Black Ops team member took over. “Let's get in there, then."
"Wait. Doesn't the staff take a break at midnight for a little supper in the coffee room?"
"Last time I was a regular cop, that's the way it was. They were never too thrilled if we brought in a DB when they were having their half hour."
"Can't blame them. They don't get much down-time in this city.” She looked at her watch. It's nearly midnight, now. I'll go in ahead of you, and if they see me, I'll use mind fogging to make them forget. That'll give us a little longer to get her out."
"Good idea. While you're doing that, I'll liberate Ms. Kellerman,” he said. “How'd you get here?"
"Regent's SUV,” she said.
"I'll put her in the back of Regent's SUV, and we can take the body back to Sampson from there."
She grabbed his arm before considering her actions. Or before she thought about how good his warm flesh, and taut muscles would feel against her cold skin. She told herself to pull away, but she couldn't make her fingers obey the order.
"She could be very dangerous if she wakes up, Britt. She won't have any ability to reason. She'll be wild and terribly thirsty. You might not be able to control her alone."
"I'll manage until you can join me at the vehicle. Besides, you said it takes a very special talent to turn a vampire. The odds of her becoming one are pretty low, aren't they?"
"I learned a long time ago that vampires are creatures that should never be underestimated.” She moved closer to the back door and knocked out the light with a rock. “But I hope you're right."
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