Emelie's eyes were downcast as she drew closer. To his horror, she went down on one knee and said, “My apologies, my lord. I did not realize—"
"Jesus Christ, Em, get up!” Raj pulled her to her feet. “I'm the one who has to apologize. I shouldn't have snapped at you like that. I don't know what's wrong with me."
Em studied him, her dark, brown eyes solemn, the lovely planes of her face showed off to advantage by a tight ponytail pulled up high on her head. “Raj, my friend,” she said softly. “That's not true. I only spent a few minutes with the two of you, but I know what's happening. And so do you."
Raj matched her serious gaze for a few breaths. When he looked away, he swore viciously. “Fuck! Why now? Why her? Jesus Christ, Em, this city's a total mess. Krystof's making new vampires like they're nothing but toys, someone's kidnapping women from blood houses, and now her! I don't fucking need this!"
His voice had gotten louder and louder until it drew the attention of the vampires on the other side of the room. They'd all stopped what they were doing. Even the TV watchers had pulled their headphones off. They might not mean to eavesdrop, but they couldn't help it if he was going to shout like an idiot. He drew a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I can't deal with this right now. There's too much at stake. I can't afford to be distracted by some little bit of a girl who thinks vampires are something she reads about in books with half-naked men on the covers."
Em's mouth tightened in an obvious effort to keep from laughing, but her eyes gave her away. “Why not just take the girl, boss?” she asked practically. “Maybe that's all you need—a quick sip, a roll in the hay and you're a free vamp."
"And if not? Then she's bound to a fucking vampire for the rest of her life. Not to mention, things are about to get hairy around here, and there are plenty of vampires who'd love to get their hands on her if she's linked to me. She doesn't deserve to get tangled up in all this."
Em shrugged. “Maybe you should let Sarah make that decision for herself. She's a grown woman, you know, not a child. Besides, there are worse things in life than being bound to a vampire, especially one as powerful as you are."
Raj just scowled at her. “Why don't we drop the subject of my love life?"
Em shrugged and said, “You're the boss. You want to tell me what's going on, or you want to brief everyone at once?"
"Let's do it all at once. I don't like leaving Sarah out there alone."
"So bring her inside."
"No,” he said instantly.
Em raised her brows significantly, shaking her head as she led Raj over to where the team waited.
"All right, people,” Raj started. “Here's what we've got. Several human women have disappeared in the last month, all connected somehow to vampire activities. The last one is the daughter of William Cowens.” He looked around and saw every member of his team nodding knowledgeably.
"It was Cowens who insisted the police follow up on the vampire angle. Krystof agreed to cooperate, mostly, I think, because he was sure there was nothing to it and it was an easy way to get some good citizen credit. He called me in to take the heat, and if there was fallout, to make sure it didn't fall on him. No surprises so far.
"But.” He paused, meeting the eyes of every one of his people. “Recent information leads me to believe there might actually be a vampire involved. I'm not certain if Krystof knows about it or not, but he clearly feels threatened by someone or something, and I don't think it's just me. He's making new vampires left and right, so many that Jozef doesn't even know about all of them.
"The key is the blood houses. With all these new vamps running around, the houses are bound to be crowded and someone might be dipping on the sly. I want you to split into teams of two, civilian dress. There are four blood houses in the greater Buffalo region. I already stopped at the Corfu house and there's been . . . a change of management.” Emelie gave him a sharp look. “I didn't get a chance to ask too many questions first, so I'll still want a team out there, and at each of the other houses on a rotating basis. With all the new vamps, it shouldn't be a problem for you to blend in, but let's not push.
"Em and I will be at large; you have our cell phone numbers. You find anything weird, you call us. Unless your lives are threatened, and then you do whatever it takes. Questions?"
"You want us on the bag, or can we feed?” Abel asked.
Raj thought about it for a minute and said, “Go ahead and feed at the blood houses; you'll stand out otherwise. But don't overdo it. I need you alert and ready to move."
Abel nodded his understanding and Raj looked around. “Anyone else?"
There were no other questions, so Raj turned to his lieutenant. “Em,” he said, indicating she should walk with him to the door.
Once outside, he verified that Sarah was where he'd left her. He was surprised when she gave him a cheery little wave, but then glanced over his shoulder and scowled to find Em waving back.
"Christ,” he swore again. “Stop that.” He positioned himself between Em and the car, effectively blocking any view of Sarah. “Look, Em,” he said quietly. “This might be really bad. Some of what I'm hearing makes me think . . . Ah shit, I don't even like to bring this up.” He looked away, shaking his head, then looked back at her. “I think someone's selling vamp blood for research."
Em's eyes widened in a shock that mirrored his own feelings. “Not one of ours!"
"Hell, no. Someone local. One of the missing women was a researcher at the university. Her husband claims she was meeting someone who said he could guarantee access to vampire blood samples."
"Krystof?” Em asked in disbelief.
Raj shook his head. “It seems out of character. I've never seen him risk so much as a paper cut. And for something like this? The Council would crucify him at midnight and leave him for the sun, and he knows it."
"A lot of money in something like that, though."
"Yeah, but he doesn't need money. I thought maybe it was about finding a fix for whatever's wrong with him, but then why bring me here to dig into it?” He shook his head. “I don't think this is Krystof. I'm not ruling it out yet, but it doesn't feel right.” He glanced quickly over his shoulder and saw Sarah watching them closely, even though she couldn't possibly hear what they were saying.
He turned back to Em, lowering his voice even further. “I'm going to talk to the husband of the missing researcher tomorrow. The cops don't want to let me in, but I don't need their permission, and if this involves vamps, it's none of their business anyway. I'll be in touch with you afterward. In the meantime, take care of what's mine. Make sure no one goes out alone and that includes you, Em. You go out with one of the teams or with me. I don't want to lose anyone over this."
"I love you too, boss. I'd kiss you, but your new girlfriend over there wouldn't like it."
"Em.” He shook his head in disgust. “I'm leaving now, but I'll be in touch."
Sarah watched Raj as he turned away from Emelie and strode back to the car, moving with that lethal grace of his, every muscle coiled and ready. He glanced up at her and she could see his eyes had gone that strange icy-blue again. She smiled and caught his look of surprise, followed quickly by a scowl. It made her wonder why he was trying so hard not to like her.
He yanked the driver's door open and settled into the car, barely waiting until his door was closed before spinning them out of the dingy parking lot with a tire-squealing turn. He didn't say anything as they headed back toward the city, but Sarah didn't mind. She'd learned a lot about Raj tonight, probably a lot more than he'd intended her to know. You could learn things from watching people relate to one another, even without hearing what they were saying. In fact, sometimes it was better not to hear the words because words didn't always tell the truth, but the body usually did. For example, she knew for certain that Raj had told her the truth about Emelie. There was nothing sexual between them and never had been. They were friends, very old, close friends who were totally at ease with one another. But that wa
s it. Not a hint of sexual tension between them. No flirting, no posing for effect, even unconsciously.
On the other hand, there was Emelie's reaction to Sarah, and Raj's reaction to Emelie's reaction. Sarah smiled very privately. Yes, she'd learned some things about Raj tonight and it was all beginning to make sense to her.
"You still hungry?"
She interrupted her private thoughts to look over at him. “Pardon?"
"Dinner,” he said patiently. “Are you still hungry?"
"Oh, sure. Yes. Um, do you go to restaurants?"
He laughed. “Not usually. Well, not to eat food anyway."
She blushed at this unsubtle reminder. “I'm not starving. I mean it's okay if—"
"I know a place,” he said. “And we still need to talk."
"About what?” she asked nervously.
He glanced over at her. “About those lies you keep telling me."
Boy, did he know a place, Sarah thought to herself. She forked up a final bite of the most succulent salmon she'd ever tasted. They were in a small restaurant, one she'd passed almost every day on her way to campus without ever realizing what a treasure it was. In one of those frustratingly rapid-fire mood changes she was beginning to associate with Raj, he'd become almost cheerful once they sat down. He seemed to be old friends with the Polish proprietor—at least that was the incomprehensible language the two of them were speaking. Only Polish had that many variations of the letter S.
Raj was even drinking vodka, much to her surprise and his obvious amusement. “It's not that we can't eat regular food, sweetheart,” he'd said, leaning across the table to whisper conspiratorially. “It's just that the flavor pales compared to our usual diet.” He'd winked at her then, those cool blue eyes flashing icy hot, and she'd begun to wonder just what it would be like to have all of that vampire sensuality focused on her for a single night . . . or maybe two.
Raj had given her a confident smile, as if he knew what she was thinking, and she'd glared back at him. Which had only made him laugh yet again before the proprietor stopped by and the two of them downed yet another vodka. Not that it seemed to have any effect on Raj. She, on the other hand, was carefully nursing her single glass of white wine. It was hard enough to resist his charms while sober.
"Mr. Gregor,” a hearty voice boomed out across the room and Sarah looked up in shock to find Edward Blackwood bearing down on them. The proprietor gave Raj a questioning look, but Raj shook his head slightly and slid out of the booth, standing next to the table and not looking much happier to see the HR founder than Sarah was, although perhaps not for the same reason.
"Mr. Blackwood,” he said smoothly. “This is unexpected."
"An unexpected pleasure, surely,” Blackwood oozed. “I was sorry we didn't have the opportunity to chat more the other night. Perhaps we could take a moment now, if your companion wouldn't—” He swept a glance over Sarah, and she stiffened, convinced he had paused for a brief second with something close to recognition. Raj seemed to sense her discomfort. He stepped in front of her again, blocking Blackwood's inquisitive eyes.
"Sorry, Blackwood,” Raj said, not sounding sorry at all. “We have plans."
"Of course, you do. Rude of me to think otherwise. How is the investigation going, if I might presume for just a moment of your time?"
"Investigation?"
"Well, yes, with the police. Have you made any headway?"
"You'd have to ask them about that. I'm afraid I've been politely requested to stay out of it."
Blackwood frowned. “But I thought, that is, it was our understanding you would be involved."
"No,” Raj said, shaking his head. “I'm looking into it on my end, and I wouldn't mind talking to some of the witnesses, but I can't get access. Not officially anyway."
"Really. Well. Maybe I can make a few calls.” He retrieved a slim wallet from the inside pocket of his suit jacket and extracted his business card. Handing it to Raj, he said, “In return, perhaps you'll agree to meet with me when this is all over.” Raj took the card and slipped it into his pocket while Blackwood waited in obvious expectation of a reciprocal offer of some sort. When none was forthcoming, he smoothed his tie nervously, coughed and said, “Well, I'll make those calls then. You have a pleasant evening."
Raj didn't move until Blackwood had crossed the main dining room and turned out of sight into one of the smaller, private rooms. Without sitting down, he made some sort of gesture to his proprietor friend and slipped a hand under Sarah's arm. “We're leaving,” he said, all but lifting her from her chair.
Sarah didn't protest since she wanted nothing more than to get as far away from Blackwood as possible. She let Raj propel her out of the restaurant, but finally dug her feet in when he would have dragged her like some sort of stuffed toy down the street to where his car was parked. “Stop,” she said, shaking her arm loose from his firm grip.
He gave her a cool look. “I was under the impression you wanted to avoid Blackwood."
Sarah blushed, but raised her chin defiantly. “That doesn't mean I want to be dragged down the street like a recalcitrant child. I can walk, you know."
"Yes, I know,” he said in a way that made her blush even harder.
"How do you do that?"
"What?"
"Make everything seem like some sort of foreplay. It's just walking,” she complained.
He laughed and wrapped an arm around her waist, getting her moving again toward his car. “Not when you do it, sweetheart. And not with those heels you're wearing."
Sarah smiled despite herself as he opened the car door and she slid inside. But her smile faded when she saw Blackwood standing outside the restaurant looking their way.
"He's watching us,” she murmured as Raj settled into the driver's seat.
"I know.” He spun away from the curb, executing an illegal U-turn that took them in the opposite direction they wanted to go but avoided driving past the restaurant and Blackwood's prying eyes.
Sarah expected him to turn somewhere, but he caught the main road out of town instead.
"Where are we going?” The words were no sooner out of her mouth than he was crossing several lanes of traffic and pulling to a stop on a dark street of quiet homes and very little traffic. He left the engine running, but put the car in park and turned to face her, one long arm along the back of her seat.
"I think it's time for our little talk, Sarah."
"Here?” she asked.
"Here. We can begin with why you're afraid of Edward Blackwood. The guy makes used car salesmen look like boy scouts, but he's fairly harmless. Unless you happen to have a few million stashed away in a trust fund somewhere?” He gave her a questioning look.
"No.” She drew a deep breath and stole a quick glance at Raj. He sat watching her with that cool blue gaze of his, looking as if he had all the time in the world and was ready to spend it waiting for her to spill her guts. She restlessly played her fingers on her thigh until he reached out and placed his hand over hers, stilling them.
"Look at me, Sarah.” She did. “Whatever it is, whatever's going on . . . it can't be that bad. I'm a vampire, sweetheart. I drink human blood on a regular basis. What can you possibly have to tell me that would top that?"
She laughed and, to her horror, felt tears pressing against the back of her eyes. “It's just . . . I've spent years getting away from it all, and now—"
"The other night you asked me about the other women. You wanted to know their names. Why?"
The tears were threatening to overflow and roll down her cheeks. She wanted to tell him the truth, and something told her he'd understand if she did. Maybe he was right, maybe it was because he was a vampire and nothing she could tell him would be worse than that. But—
"Tell me, Sarah."
"I left home when I was sixteen,” she whispered miserably, hating herself. “I couldn't live there anymore. I changed my name and cut off all contact so they couldn't find me.” It was close to the truth, close enough, she
hoped, that he wouldn't know the difference.
He frowned at her in the dark car. “Why? Did something happen?"
She nodded, refusing to meet his gaze. “It just wasn't a good place for me."
"So where does Blackwood come in?” he asked, clearly puzzled.
"What?"
"Blackwood,” he repeated. “I saw your reaction at the police station and again tonight. You're really spooked by him."
"Blackwood . . .” Sarah said, thinking quickly, “. . . knew my parents. He'd recognize me and then . . . It's been twelve years since I've seen any member of my family. I'd like to keep it that way."
Raj was quiet, tapping on the steering wheel lightly, his gaze on the nighttime traffic, but his thoughts seemed far away. Abruptly, he looked back at her and asked, “So why this case? Why your interest in the missing women?"
"I just . . . I read about Trish in the paper. I felt sorry for her and I thought . . . Since I knew Tony sort of, and Cyn's my friend. I thought maybe I could do something instead of just waiting for Trish to die.” That part, at least, was true.
She waited for Raj's reaction, waited for him to blow up at her, accuse her of lying yet again, but he just tapped his fingers on the steering wheel some more, then checked his watch and said, “I've got to get you home."
When they reached the house, Sarah threw the car door open without waiting for Raj to turn off the engine. She started up the walk to her stairs, digging her keys out of her purse as she went. Behind her, she heard the beep of the BMW's remote and then he was next to her, beating her to the door and waiting while she unlocked it. She opened the door, stepped inside, and threw her purse on the stairs, shrugging out of her coat. Aware of him towering over her, she kept her heels on, but could still feel his cool stare following her every move. How much did he see? she wondered. Could vampires read human thoughts? Some said it was just a myth, but vampires weren't exactly lining up to be studied, so who really knew the truth?
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