by Taylor Dawn
“I don’t believe you.” Gia’s eyes held unshed tears. “There’s no way my mother was a vampire.” She contested.
“I understand your doubt.”
“No, you don’t. You understand nothing.” She ran from the room. He didn’t know how to get her to see the truth, but it was necessary that she see it. Gia was caught in a feud between her kind and his. Layton wanted to send her away, breaking all contact between them but deep down, he knew that would never be possible. Their spirits connected, not only physically, but emotionally. If what he felt for her could be love, then he would give it that title. There wasn’t any other explanation for it.
When he went to find her, Layton tamped down his disgust in her kind. It wasn’t her fault that she was a Dahmpir, she didn’t ask to be one. It was thrust upon her with zero consideration. The world tried its best to keep vampires and humans from mating but sometimes the relationships slipped through the cracks. Things were kept hidden, and no one was the wiser.
“I would never hurt you,” he heard a weak voice as he stood in the living room. When he glanced to the sofa, he spotted Gia curled up with her face toward the back of the couch.
“I never thought you would.” Walking over, he took a seat down by her feet.
“I’m so confused,” she said as she sniffed and wiped her hand across her nose.
“I’m sorry to be the one to reveal this to you, Gia. I didn’t do it to hurt you. My priority is to keep you safe.”
“From what?” She rolled to her back, placing her feet in his lap.
“There are those who will want to harm you for being around me. They see it as a carnal sin.”
“Do you see it like that?”
“No.” he sighed. “Perhaps we should part ways before we get into this too deep.” Gia stood from her spot and walked in front of him.
Layton sucked in a deep break when she took a seat on his lap, straddling him. “I don’t want to leave you.” Her hands ran through his hair. Layton leaned his head forward to rest on her breasts. Her scent was tempting him more than ever.
“Gia, I don’t know that…”
“No, I’m not leaving.” She lifted his head, peering into his eyes with her soulful ones.
“You would risk your life to be with me?” she nodded.
“Why?”
“I can’t explain it.” Her hips moved over his lap. “I’m myself when I’m with you. Even though you’re an asshole, I can’t seem to stay away from you.” Her eyes closed as she rode his lap, turning him on. Layton couldn’t let lust distract him so he grabbed her hips and gave her a soft push. When she got the hint, she stood and pinned him with a disgusted expression. “Isn’t this what your contract is about? That until we find Zach, I’m supposed to be your human fuck doll?” Venom spewed from her words.
“Don’t say shit you cannot take back. This situation is more serious than you know.”
“Fuck this,” Gia stomped through the house, grabbing her purse on the way to the front door. “I don’t need your help anymore.”
Layton followed behind, “You’re not safe out there.”
“I’m not safe in here either.” She took a step across the threshold. “Don’t come around me and don’t contact me.” He could see tears streaking down her face. Even when he was human, Layton didn’t have a clue how to handle a woman when she was emotional. Mostly, he backed away and hoped they would handle it on their own. Gia needed space and even though he didn’t want to give it to her, he had no other choice. The discovery about her lineage was a blow, and he understood why she would be upset.
***
As she walked away from Layton’s house, Gia wiped the tears off her face. He’d rejected her and it stung to her core. It was all fine and dandy before when he didn’t know she was a vamp hunter. But when he figured it out, he pushed her away like it was the easiest thing in the world for him. He assumed that because she was Dahmpir, she would stab him in the heart one day. Gia wasn’t like that though. She couldn’t see herself betraying Layton. He’d dug his way into her so deep already that she couldn’t see where she ended and he began.
“Hey, human,” Gia heard a female voice say as she walked down the sidewalk, away from Layton’s club. When she turned to see who it was, Astrid stood there in a red leather corset, thigh high stockings and a pair of matching panties.
“I hope you realize you look like a hooker,” Gia spat.
“That was the exact look I was going for. Thank you for noticing.”
“What do you want?”
“I want to know why you are so damn special. My brother hasn’t given a second look to any human in over a hundred years, why you?”
“I can’t answer that. Maybe you should ask him.”
“Maybe you’re just a good lay,” Astrid laughed.
“You know what, fuck you,” Gia approached the female vamp.
“Oooh, kitty has claws.”
Gia reached her boiling point. As she moved closer to Astrid, she used all of her body weight to shove the bitch to the ground. Normally her human strength wouldn’t do much beyond pissing a vampire off but she caught the other woman off guard. It was unfortunate for her that vamps moved with lightning speed, however. In a blink, she was to her feet.
“I’ll fucking kill you!” Astrid slammed into Gia’s body full force, knocking the breath from her lungs and causing extreme pain in her ribcage. As Gia lay on her back atop the warm concrete, her eyes fluttered as consciousness faded. She was used to getting hurt and healing quick but this time, something was wrong. The pain never subsided, it only intensified as tears dripped from the corners of her eyes, and into her hair.
“Gia,” she heard Layton’s voice. “Astrid, what the fuck did you do?”
“Nothing that she didn’t deserve.”
“Gia, look at me,” Layton tilted her head toward him.
“Can’t breathe,” Gia whispered.
“Why aren’t you healing?” he looked her over.
“Why would she heal? She’s not one of us,” Astrid stood to the side with her arms crossed over her chest.
“She’s a Dahmpir.”
“Are you kidding me? We need to get rid of her.” Astrid grabbed one of Gia’s arms and pulled her from the ground. The blackness pulled Gia under as her body was lifted by Layton. She could feel his cool temperature against her cheek as she rested it on his hard chest. Shutting her eyes, Gia let it take her under.
Just before she succumbed completely, she could have sworn she heard Layton say “I love you.”
***
“Why isn’t she healing?” Layton asked Dr. Gorman. The other man was a vampire as well and knew about the history of the Dahmpir. Taking Gia to the hospital wasn’t an option. Had they found out that she got injured by Layton’s kind, they would have faced punishment.
“They aren’t like you and I. Yes, she can heal when small injuries occur. But this isn’t something trivial,” Dr. Gorman said.
“What can I do for her?” Layton stood by Gia’s bedside, looking down at the woman who taught him how to love again.
“It will take a few days to get her up and going again. Just let her rest.”
“I guess I need to figure out what to do with my sister.” Layton still couldn’t believe what he’d walked up on with Gia and Astrid. It was the first time since being turned that he felt unequivocal fear riddle him.
“Well, I’ll leave you to it. Call me if you need anything else.”
“Thanks, doc.” Layton showed the other man out, then went back to Gia’s side. Dawn was coming soon, but he didn’t want to leave her alone. What if she needed something?
“I’ll be fine,” Gia croaked.
“You’re awake,” Layton took a seat on the edge of the bed and reached up to brush a few strands of hair from her face.
“Yeah, and you need to get to the basement.”
“I don’t think you’re in any shape to be ordering me around,” he chuckled.
“Probably n
ot. But I’d rather not witness you turning into a piece of toast when the sun comes through that window.
” Layton nodded. “I’m sorry that my sister got out of line.”
“It was my fault. I antagonized her and I shouldn’t have.” Gia admitted.
“I hate to ask this, but are you planning on turning her in?”
“Of course not. I don’t want any trouble.” She gave him a half smile and wrapped her hand around his.
“Thank you,” he said, then leaned down to place a light kiss on her lips. “If you need anything, anything at all, please come to the basement and wake me.”
“Okay.”
With each footfall toward his resting place, Layton became racked with guilt. If he had just let her go on her merry way, in the beginning, Gia would’ve been safe. He placed the blame on his own shoulders and it was becoming heavy. How was he supposed to keep her safe when his sister was a loose cannon and with the revelation of Gia being a Dahmpir?
Twelve
THE NEXT MORNING Gia stood at the window of the bedroom, watching the sun pop over the horizon. She had slept little since Layton left, and major exhaustion was seeping into her pores. Her ribs were still aching and burning, causing her to wince each time she moved too fast. In the past few days, a bombshell had been dropped on her and she was having a hard time with it. How could she have not known about her mother? Why didn’t her dad say something, so that Gia didn’t live most of her life in the dark about what she was? The way her dad acted toward Layton in the hospital made sense though. He didn’t want his daughter to go down the same dangerous path he had. In his own way, he was protecting her. There was now a mystery behind what happened to her mother and Gia was determined to find out what it was. Layton would expect her to stay at his house until he awoke that night, but she couldn’t stand there and lose time. As bad as her pain level was, she would power through it and hopefully get a few leads on what she was looking for. After taking a quick shower, dressing and grabbing her purse, Gia was out the door and in a cab. Her first stop was the police station. When she stepped into the musty interior, she cringed.
“Can I help you?” a tall, skinny officer behind the desk asked. Gia stepped forward.
“I’m looking for information about the death of my mom.”
“Does this look like the public records department?” he chomped down on a piece of gum and pinned her with an annoyed stare.
“Of course not. But I was hoping…”
“Lady, why don’t you go home and Google what happened to your mom. Unless you need to report a crime, you’re wasting my time.” He turned away from the desk and walked off.
“Looks like somebody’s late for their donut break.” She mumbled as she made her way to the exit. The one person who would know what happened was her father, but Gia knew it would be a mistake to ask him. He’d been closed off from the death of her mom ever since it happened. There wasn’t a snowball’s chance in hell he’d discuss it now. She would just have to find answers on her own. With the searing desert sun beating down on her, Gia walked away from the police precinct. She hadn’t gotten far when her phone rang. When she pulled it from her purse, Zach’s number scrolled across the screen. “Zach?” her hands shook and her stomach did a flip.
“Hey, G,” Zach said.
“Oh my god, where are you?”
“I can’t say. But I need to see you.”
“Just tell me where you are and I’ll come there.” Excitement peppered her voice.
“Listen, meet me at the Fill-Up-Mart on the corner of 2nd and Elm. Be there at seven p.m.”
“Okay, but Zach,” she began but was soon cut off by the line going dead. Disappointment wafted over her followed by curiosity. Was her brother in trouble? He hadn’t sounded like he was, but he could have been. There were just too many possibilities to name.
“Gia?” she heard a familiar voice behind her and spun around.
“What do you want, Micah?” her brow furrowed with anger.
“I wanted to apologize for the way I behaved the other night. I was drunk and did some things I regret.” Micah had his hands shoved in his pockets and a sad expression on his face.
“Fine,” Gia said, then walked away.
“Wait up.” He caught up to her. “I don’t want tension between us, Gia.”
“Then don’t be a dipshit.”
“You’re right.” He held his hands up as if he were surrendering to her. “Will you tell your vamp boyfriend that I’m sorry?”
“He’s not my boyfriend,” she laughed.
“Oh, I thought…”
“We’re friends, nothing more.” Gia knew that was one big fat lie. She had fallen for Layton Kyle and as she stood there in the daylight, she wanted to be next to him.
“Got it.”
“I have to go.” She picked up her walking pace and continued down the sidewalk toward the local library. Micah didn’t follow and for that, she was grateful. It was hard for her to forgive people in her life. When she was hurt, she put up defenses so strong that the military would have a hard time breaking in. She didn’t give second chances.
***
“Where is she?” Layton searched every room in his house and Gia was nowhere to be found. It angered him to know that he told her to stay and yet again, she failed to listen. Her headstrong ways would get her hurt if she wasn’t careful.
“Hungry?” Astrid handed him a wine goblet half filled with blood.
“Is it fresh?” he asked as he took a whiff of the thick crimson liquid.
“A donor just got done giving it fifteen minutes ago. It’s still warm, just the way you like it.”
Layton drank the blood and sat his glass in the kitchen sink. “I need you to run the club again tonight.”
“Again? I’m tired of fielding questions about why you’re gone.”
“Then don’t say anything, problem solved.”
“I know I fucked up, but I wanted you to see that she will get a stake driven through your heart one day. Why can’t you see that?”
“Love is blind.”
“So you love her?” Astrid’s perfectly groomed eyebrows shot up in surprise.
“Yes.”
“How do you expect to have a relationship with a Dahmpir?”
“I don’t know, Astrid. But right now I have to find her and make sure she’s safe.” He grabbed his car keys from the counter and walked to the front door. His sister could say what she wanted to and it wouldn’t change his mind about Gia. He’d waited years to feel something again and he would not let it slip away no matter what Gia was. They would have to keep things a secret for a while, but he hoped one day they could be a real couple. But the first thing he had to do was locate her and his instincts told him that she might be at her father’s house. Once he was in his car, Layton pulled onto the highway and headed in that direction. As he traveled, he thought about his undead life and how for the first time in forever, he didn’t regret his decision to become what he was. He now had a reason to walk the earth—even if it was only in darkness. Gia could give him the light he needed to carry on and be grateful for what he was. Pulling into the driveway at her father’s house, Layton shut the engine off and got out. The front door was closed and there were a few lights illuminating the interior of the house, meaning that someone was in there. He stepped up to the door and gave a few knocks. No one came to the door. With a deep sigh, he drove to Gia’s house. Maybe she would be there resting.
***
“What is going on?” Gia hopped out of the cab and threw her arms around Zach’s neck.
“I can’t talk about it here. Come on,” he said, then motioned to his truck parked under a pole light. If she wanted to know where her brother had been, she needed to trust him and see where he was taking her. Climbing into the seat, she clicked her belt into place. “It’ll take thirty minutes before we get there,” he explained. “I found out some things about us.”
“I think I know what you’re talking about.
”
“Our mom?” he looked across the bench seat and asked.
“Yes. How did we not know about her being a vampire?”
“Dad was good at keeping secrets.” Zach chuckled.
“I’m so confused and angry. I don’t like being lied to. You know how I am about trust issues.”
“Yeah, I know all too well about that shit.” He grabbed her hand and wrapped his fingers around it. “I need you to trust me, G. I only have your best interest at heart here.”
“I trust you.” She smiled. With each mile that ticked by on the odometer, Gia’s stomach began a nervous flutter. She still had no clue where her brother was taking her.
“We’re almost there,” he said while turning onto a dusty one-lane road. It seemed to stretch for miles, the headlights barely cutting through the gathering dust up ahead. When the dirt cleared, she could see what looked like a large metal gate. Staying silent, Gia watched Zach punch four numbers into a keypad right before the gate. It swung open, with two guards standing post on the inside. Zach stopped as one man approached the driver’s side door. “Hey man, just bringing my sister in.”
“Okay,” the man said, then stepped away.
“What is this place?” Gia asked while looking around at the compound like place.
“This is The Haven. It’s a place where people like us meet.”
“There are more like us in Las Vegas?”
“Yep,” Zach said as he found a place to park the truck.
The truck came to a stop in front of a larger sized home. There was nothing on the outside showing who might live in it or that they were so closely connected with both humans and vampires. Gia wasn’t sure how she felt about meeting more like her but she knew she felt safe because Zach was there. He wouldn’t let anything happen to his big sister.
“Come on, I want you to meet Dahlia, she’s kind of the head of this place,” Zach said as he popped the handle to open his door. Gia did the same and slowly slid down from the cab of the truck. She continued to assess her surroundings as she walked behind her brother and up to the door of the house. When Zach pushed the door open, he led her in.
