“Great. Shall we head downstairs?” the tall policeman asked.
Alexi led the way to the basement door. Greg couldn’t see the expression on her face, but he imagined it was one full of pain and discomfort.
“Is that a bloodstain?” the short cop asked when they reached the bottom of the staircase.
“I’m afraid so. I need to get it cleaned soon before it settles,” Alexi said.
The cops stood above the dark splotch and peered at it. Then they both looked at her.
“Ms. Cartwright, no offense, but I find it difficult to believe you don’t have any broken bones. The fact you’re standing is a miracle in my opinion,” the tall policeman said.
“Does this blood belong to anyone else?” the short one asked.
“No, it’s mine.”
The policeman gazed at each other. Greg had hoped not to mention what they were, but clearly, they men were speculating. Better to come clean than to cause more trouble later.
“Officers,” Greg said. “Ms. Cartwright is a vampire. She was injured, as you can see by the mark on her forehead and the way she walks. But she healed. That is why she is able to stand before you.”
Alexi kept her arms wrapped over her ribs and her lips together. Pain and worry tightened the features of her face. Greg gave her a nod of confidence, hoping it would offer her some tiny bit of comfort.
The two policemen stared at her.
“You’re a vampire?” the short cop asked.
“Yes.”
The short policeman looked at Greg. “How hard did she hit her head?”
Greg inhaled a deep breath as irritation pricked at him. He’d hoped they were part of the one in ten who believed in the existence of supernatural creatures. To avoid further questions that would delay Alexi’s feeding, he ignored their question.
“Would you like to see the office where the safe was kept?” Greg lifted his arm toward the hall.
“I think we should.” The tall officer met his partner’s gaze and gave him a tilt of his head.
Alexi led them into the office and stopped near the bookshelf where her safe should’ve been. “This is where I had it.”
“That’s a perfect spot,” the tall cop said, staring at the three feet by three feet empty space. “Did you have these shelves built?”
“Yes, I did.”
“Very nice.” The tall one turned to his partner. “I think we’ve seen enough. Forensics needs to sweep for prints ASAP.”
His partner stepped back and looked at Greg. “Can you stay here until the team arrives? We can take Ms. Cartwright to the hospital.”
“That won’t be necessary,” Alexi said strongly.
“I’ll stay here with her and make sure she’s cared for,” Greg said to appease the cops. He didn’t think Alexi’s face could tighten any more, but it had and it took on a pink tint too.
“All right, we’ll phone this in and get someone out here within the hour,” the tall cop said as he stuffed the notepad back into his chest pocket. “Can you give us the names and numbers the movers gave you?”
“I’ll have Greg contact you with the information.”
Greg placed his hand on Alexi’s shoulder. “Stay here, I’ll show them out.”
She nodded, clenching her jaw.
The short officer withdrew a couple of business cards. He handed one to her and another to Greg.
“I assume you will notify your insurance company right away,” the short cop said.
“Yes, I will,” Alexi answered. “The contents of my safe are extremely valuable. I need it returned right away.”
“Do you think the thieves will be able to break into the safe?” the tall cop asked.
“If they have enough time, maybe. I don’t know what kind of tools they have, or their experience with cracking open safes. If they don’t have the skills, then it will take time.”
The tall officer nodded. “Good.”
“You may give your insurance agency our number if they have any questions. I would contact us in two days to make sure the team has gathered all the evidence they need. It shouldn’t take longer, but sometimes it does,” the short one said.
Greg withdrew his wallet from his pocket and pulled out a card. “Here’s my contact information. I’ll contact you soon with the names and numbers.”
The tall cop took the card and slid it into his chest pocket. “The sooner the better.”
“If there’s nothing else…” Greg tucked his wallet in his pocket.
“Ms. Cartwright, I hope you feel better soon. Please go to the hospital and see a doctor,” the short cop said.
Alexi looked away from the cops. “Thank you for your concern.”
Greg glanced at Alexi one last time before he left the room. He inhaled a relieving breath; glad the initial investigation piece was over. In all, it hadn’t gone too bad. Now, he could focus on the most urgent matter at hand–feeding her.
As he ascended the stairs, he made a mental list of things to do. He needed to contact Corey about the glass door, ask Phillip if Alexi could stay with him for a few days, and notify the officers of the mover’s names and numbers. All would wait a little longer until he took care of Alexi. He hoped she wouldn’t put up another argument. Damn it, what caused her to reject him all the time?
Resolve filled him by the time he reached the top of the staircase. He would find the answer to his questions about Alexi. Somehow, someway, he’d talk to her and get her to break free, no matter how long it took. Determination was one of his greatest strengths, and she’d soon find that out.
11
Alexi gritted her teeth as she walked out of her office, laptop and power cord in hand. Cramping in all her muscles brought her intense pain, which made it difficult for her to think straight, let alone move. With each step, she felt like she weighed a ton. Soon, she’d feed and the ache would go away. The reminder repeated in her head, motivating her to hurry the hell up.
She paused near the stairs and listened to Greg talking to the police officers. They kept insisting Greg take her to the hospital and he kept assuring them he would get her help. If only they had believed she was a vampire. Life would be much simpler. Less questions anyway. But some still refused to acknowledge supernatural creatures existed.
Alexi continued down the hall and rounded the corner with an overwhelming sense of gratitude for Greg. He’d acted like the perfect lawyer, and in a way, he protected her. After she’d informed the cops about her age, their expressions made it clear they wanted to question her personally rather than talk about the robbery. Greg had stepped up to the plate quickly and set them back on the right track. The werewolf’s quick wit and guardian attitude took her by surprise, yet again. She owed him for his help.
She returned to her bedroom and set the laptop and cord on the mattress. Her thoughts drifted back to the moment in the bathroom at the party. Each stroke of his tongue against her clit gave her wave after wave of pleasure. A shame he didn’t get to finish the job. Would she ever get the chance to feel so alive, feel such erotic bliss again? She wondered, especially now that she was in debt to him. Men typically took what they wanted and didn’t give in return. But Greg seemed different. Since she owed him for helping her, she’d probably find out soon if he was like all the other greedy, lust-filled bastards or not.
Scrubbing her hand over her forehead, she stepped into the closet. Sweat coated her fingers, yet her temperature matched that of an ice cube. Not good. She scolded herself for not feeding properly before moving to Westport. Had she done so, the stress along with the tumble down the stairs wouldn’t have drained her so much. She paid the price now for her stupid decision.
Letting go of her frustration, she grabbed an empty suitcase and dragged it to the bed. She had to steer clear of her house for two days. Greg mentioned staying with Phillip, but she didn’t want to impose on a neighbor she hardly knew. Besides, she didn’t want to be indebted to the vamp and she certainly didn’t want Greg owing any favors to Philli
p. The two didn’t appear to have hit it off so well earlier. Her best option was to find a hotel with dark shades and wait there.
She unzipped the bag and set her laptop inside the plastic lining. A quick glance at the clock near the bed showed it was past 2:30 a.m. By her estimate, she had four hours to feed and find a hotel. She snatched clothes from the closet as quickly as she could, then filled the suitcase in case she had to stay more than two days.
“They’re gone,” Greg said, and she turned to find him standing in the doorway.
She closed her bag and tugged on the zipper. A bead of sweat dripped from her forehead and into her eyes. “Thank you for talking to them and handling the situation. I’ll pay you back.”
He walked into the room as she straightened. “You’re sweating.”
She rubbed her arm across her forehead. “Yes, but I’ll be all right.”
“Alexi, let me help you.”
His soft voice calmed her while his blue eyes offered compassion. Part of her wanted to believe he cared. He acted different from the others. Was he different, or could the pain have distorted her thinking processes?
“You have helped.”
“You need to feed.” He moved closer.
“I will. I’m going out.” She stepped away from him until her ankle bumped into a box.
“Why waste time?” He lifted his arm to her. “I’m here, willing to share what I have.”
“You don’t know what you’re–”
“I do know,” he said in an elevated voice as he shortened the distance between them. “Damn it, you are not well enough to leave this house.”
She walked backward, trying to keep space from him but eventually she’d hit the wall. “I’m a vampire. I’ve been in far worse situations and drained to the brink of insanity, but I survived. This little bit of dehydration is nothing. Be careful, Greg. I’m still stronger than you, even in this condition.”
When she smacked into the wall, they both stopped.
“Why won’t you feed from me?” he asked in a calmer tone.
“You’re my neighbor.”
“So what?”
He lifted her hand and gently placed her palm on his chest. She gazed into his blue eyes while the beat of his heart thumped under her palm. Heat penetrated through his shirt and her flesh. She chilled from his warmth. Searching for a distraction, she breathed in his scent. The soft musk with a twist of spring freshness appealed to her. She’d picked up his perfume earlier from his shirt, but denied how good it smelled. Now, she couldn’t. Her sharp teeth ached, signaling they were ready.
“Tell me why you refuse me.”
She listened to his heart. The strong, steady beats were a soothing sound to her ears.
“I owe you enough.”
Greg brought his body closer to hers and stared deep into her eyes. “You owe me nothing but answers.”
Her brows rose. He wanted answers to what? Her puzzled thoughts scattered as he brushed his nose and lips over her cheek.
“What questions do you have?”
“Why do you refuse me all the time? Has someone hurt you?”
She lowered her gaze. The painful encounter was one she didn’t care to share. Some memories were better off locked in a vault, as her maker often told her.
“Someone has.” He backed up a few inches. “I sense it in the way you respond. I’m not like that person. I would never harm you.”
Alexi chuckled in her head. How many times had a man sounded so nice and turned out self-centered and rapacious? Too many.
He lifted her chin. “I’m attracted to you, Alexi. I want to help you and to know more about you.”
While Greg acted different, she had difficulty believing he was. Men used her. They always did. She didn’t want to risk her body and soul on a chance that he might be real, might be honest and caring.
She removed her hand from his chest. “I appreciate everything you’ve done to help me. I’ll reimburse you if you tell me what you want.”
He glided his hand down her arm. “I don’t want money. I want answers and to help you. You’re an incredible woman I can’t stop thinking about.”
Not only did his touch provide her with more chills, so did his words. She enjoyed knowing he had an interest in her, but his goal to obtain answers bothered her. Answers to her past would only tarnish her reputation. No, she couldn’t give him what he sought. She’d just moved into the area. How could she look at him or anyone else if she spilled her deep secrets?
“What if I don’t want your help?” she asked, avoiding the first part of his request.
“You need my help.”
“I can manage.”
He clenched his jaw and raked his fingers through his dark hair. “You are one incredibly stubborn–”
“Are we done here?” She arched a brow. “I really need to go out and feed, then find a hotel to stay at.”
Greg grumbled and reached for her shoulders. He pinned her to the wall and claimed her lips. He plunged his tongue into her mouth and kissed her with enough zeal her head spun. She responded without hesitation, welcoming his warmth, his explorative tongue and the hard muscle touching her stomach. Desire quickly replaced pain. She longed for his touch, for him to fill her. And he seemed to be eager to do just that. He rubbed his solid erection against her and she moaned softly. God, he felt incredibly hard. She yearned for him, but she had to resist. Her intense hunger for blood and sex made her dangerous.
She wedged her hands between their bodies and braced them on his chest. Her body hungered for his, but she didn’t want to hurt him. She broke off the kiss and pushed him back. He stumbled a few steps and stared at her, his eyes hungry with lust.
“We can’t do this,” she said.
“Why?”
Did the werewolf ever stop asking questions? Maybe he learned it from being a lawyer.
“Trust me.” She stepped past him and grabbed her suitcase. “We can’t.”
He gripped her arm and spun her to face him. “I want you, and I think you want me. Stop fighting it.”
“This isn’t a game. I could hurt you.”
“You won’t. I promise. Please, listen to your heart.”
Tears built in her eyes. He trusted her with his life. Why? They barely knew each other. Did he care that much for her? Did he really think they could have a chance together? Surely he didn’t love her. Love didn’t exist. And she had plenty of proof. Every time she listened to her heart when it involved a man, she gained a world of pain and suffering.
“Please, don’t stop me. I’ll contact you by tomorrow night.” She swung the heavy suitcase around and headed for the door.
“Wait. Please!”
She kept walking, suitcase in hand. If she stopped, she’d cave and let him have his way with her. And where would she end up? Used like all the other times.
“Alexi, wait!”
She heard his fast beating heart behind her. “Don’t follow me. If you want to help me, then let me go and I’ll call you tomorrow.”
Gritting her teeth, she lifted the bag and ascended the stairs. When she reached the top, she glanced over her shoulder. Greg stood with his hands on his head. His sealed lips and pained expression pierced her heart like an ice pick. What if love existed and she’d never seen it until now?
She rounded the corner, pushing the question out of her head and holding back the cry ready to burst free. If true love had found her and she was walking out, then she was making the biggest mistake in her existence.
* * * *
Greg stood, horror-stricken and heart aching as he watched Alexi walk away. He tried to stop her. Words didn’t help, nor did his show of deep longing. He wondered if he’d been too forceful, but he merely wanted to prove to her how much he yearned for her. She had a thick skull and nothing seemed to get through it, until he kissed her. She responded beyond his expectation, sucking on his tongue so vehemently he almost had an orgasm. Then, she pushed him away. Why? He couldn’t understand her and it was
tearing his heart to shreds.
He turned away and swung a punch in the air. “God damn it!”
Fury blazed within him. His bones tingled and made him pause. A good run would help him blow off steam, or a good blowjob. Her cold lips would easily soothe his ache. Why did he continue to think about her? She rejected him.
“Fuck it.” He didn’t know what else to do. He headed for the stairs, only to stop when his phone vibrated. He withdrew it from his pocket, checked the screen, then answered. “Are you at home?”
“Yeah, I was about to come over to cover the hole until I saw the police cruiser in the driveway,” Corey said. “Are they gone yet?”
“They left, and so did Alexi.” Greg passed the stain and ascended the steps. He made a mental note to call a cleaning crew in the morning.
“What do you mean she’s gone? Where did she go?”
“She refused me and left to find someone else to feed from.”
“Oh. Well, that’s good, right? You don’t have to worry about her biting you.”
“To be honest, the thought never bothered me. She needs help.” He rounded the corner and headed for the kitchen table where her clothes were in a neat pile on one of the chairs.
“And you’re just the one to give it.”
Greg sighed. “She refuses my help every fucking time. I’m so frustrated.”
“She’s a vamp. You’re better off finding a fae. At least they don’t bite.”
He stopped at the table and spotted two business cards and a key. One card listed her information. The other was from the moving company. He lifted her card and noticed a wet mark on it. A tear?
“Shit.”
“What?” Corey asked.
“Nothing.” He studied the card with her email and telephone number. The area code was from Chicago. Maybe she’d moved from there. No surprise, the card didn’t show an address.
“I have a board to cover the hole in her glass,” Corey said.
“Don’t bother, the police are sending a forensics team out to check for prints. They asked her to stay away for two days.”
“Where is she going to stay?”
Welcome to the Neighborhood Page 10
