Mathew looked nervous, but then realized that Flynn was only teasing him. The corners of his lips were slightly lifted and there were crinkles around his eyes.
Jolie wiped the tears from Camille’s face. “See, they’re in love. You have to stay or you’ll break their hearts.”
Camille hugged Jolie. “Thank you so much,” she whispered, trying not to cry again. “I’ll help you through the pregnancy. It’s going to be difficult at times.”
Both men looked panicked at the mere mention of ‘difficult’ and ‘pregnancy’ in the same sentence.
“Will she be okay?” asked Flynn, looking alarmed.
“She’s carrying two babies. It’s not going to be easy,” she reassured. “Maybe I should help you both through the pregnancy instead. Something tells me that the mistress’s mates will be in worse shape.”
Jolie laughed.
“Camille, you’re hired. You’ll fit in just fine.”
* * * H a r c o u r t e * * *
Saturday Morning
While in flight on the private jet, Jolie monitored her family. As she looked around in silence, there were ‘dead’ vampyres everywhere.
Camille had gone to death with Cari lying on her lap, and Mathew was sitting beside Chloe, her head on his shoulder as he fought the pull of darkness.
To anyone not accustomed to the dead, this might be one hell of a terrifying flight.
As Jolie lounged by herself, both of her mates were flanking Detective Gress, casually preparing him for what was waiting for them when the plane touched down.
He was about to be dropped into a house full of the undead, and he needed to be ready for it.
While they had chosen to fly at dawn, when it would have been more comfortable to travel at night, Jolie didn't want to wait any longer. Zola was on the prowl, and they needed to get home.
ASAP.
For now, she’d start planning their next move. Before long, they’d have one hell of a fight on their hands.
When Jacques glanced over at his mate, she looked calm as she sat in her seat. While looking serene, he was well aware that it was only on the outside.
Jolie was getting ready.
In her mind, she would be plotting and planning Zola’s demise. The woman was gunning for their family, and that was unacceptable.
Getting up, he headed to her side. As he approached, Jolie patted the seat next to her. When he flipped up the armrest between them, she pointed at her lap.
He wouldn’t say no.
He took the moment to rest his head on her legs. While Jolie played with his hair, there was peace. It was one of the little things she did that brought them both comfort. He sighed when she leaned down to kiss him on the lips.
He could relax with her safely by his side.
The next year was going to be very difficult for all of them. It would be a miracle if he survived. Already, his nerves were completely shot.
Jacques had that sick feeling in his stomach that he was going to have to fight for her life.
He knew it, and that scared him shitless.
Across the cabin, Detective Gress was studying him. While normally it would have worried him, he was at ease. Flynn was by his side, and he would keep them safe.
Jacques hated feeling weak, but the sun was moving high in the sky, draining him.
“Ask,” said Flynn, noticing that the other detective was staring at his mates.
Tommy looked startled. “You can read my mind?”
Flynn laughed at the look on his face. “Relax. I can’t but Jolie can, and she wants you to get the questions off your chest.”
“Oh,” he said, as his eyes met hers. “Why aren’t they asleep?”
“They don’t sleep, Tommy. They die.”
He looked disturbed by that. “They die as in gone, dead, die?”
“Yes, if you were to touch Camille and Cari, they’re cool to the touch. Right now, they’re hollow.”
“Where do they go when they die?”
Jolie figured she should answer that for him. “When we die, death reclaims us. We’re nothing more than the undead, Detective. She’s our mother of sorts. When all our energy is gone, we have to go back to her.”
“Oh, does it hurt?”
“Sometimes. Going is easy. Fighting to get away--that’s the worst part. Death doesn’t like to let us go, especially if we have a soul.”
Jacques sat up, so Jolie could cross to her other mate. She was depleted of energy, and Flynn would likely supply her when he couldn’t.
He opened his arms for her. “Hey, baby. Want to fly the Flynn skies? We serve blood or energy.”
She was amused and willing allowed herself to be pulled down into his embrace. To tease him back, she ran her fangs across his throat.
Flynn growled.
Tommy jumped.
“Sorry, but she’s teasing me again,” he admitted, nuzzling her shoulder as he nipped her back.
Not that he minded. She could use him as a chew toy any day. In fact, he’d happily give up any plans for the next thousand years to do just that.
“I can’t help myself around my mates,” she admitted.
Tommy had so many questions, but he opted to keep his mouth closed. Anything he said about the two men sharing her--might come out the wrong way.
Just then, the plane touched down, saving his ass.
“We better wake them,” Jolie stated.
Jacques touched Chloe to rouse her from sleep. “Wake for us,” he ordered.
She sat up and yawned. “That was fast.”
Yeah, not so much for them.
“Please wake Camille. We’ll need her coherent as we arrive home so she can be assigned a room.”
“Yes, Mistress,” she said, sending energy into her once she was at her side.
Camille immediately stood and cradled Cari in her arms.
The flight attendant opened the cabin door, and they began exiting out into the sunlight. Each vampyre hissed until they were in the cool darkness of their vehicles.
Now, they’d have to suffer through this leg of their journey.
“I want to kill her for this alone,” Flynn stated out of the blue. “I hate that Jolie has to be out in the sun like this.”
“Flynn, my love, I go out in the sun all the time,” she stated, patting him on the knee as he drove.
“Yeah, well I still wish we could take this trip at night.”
“If we’re weak, so is she,” Jacques stated.
Okay, he had a point.
As they approached the house, Flynn did the scanning. His mates were running on fumes. “The house is clear,” he offered.
At least they were just about safe.
Parking in the driveway, they needed to invite Camille and Cari into their dwelling. As they got out, Flynn pulled into the garage to park the vehicle.
“Welcome,” Jolie offered, leading them to the kitchen door.
“Thank you, Mistress,” she replied, following her into their new home.
“Come on, Tommy. We’ll show you to your room,” said Flynn, as he led him through the garage. “I think Jolie’s placed you beside Camille and Cari’s room.”
“Oh, did she?”
Flynn grinned. He was well aware that Jolie was playing matchmaker. She had seen the way the vampyre watched the detective.
It was sweet.
Jolie led the way down the hall, pausing in front of Mathew’s door. “Go rest, Mathew,” she ordered, patting him on his cheek.
He was grateful to be home. “Yes, Mistress.”
When he had closed his door, Jolie traveled down the silent corridor until she reached the next available room.
“Here you go,” she offered, noticing that the female vampyre looked around in awe.
“I hope it suits your needs.”
She didn’t know what to say. “Mistress, this is too much. I’m just an underling.”
One of her pet peeves was when a vampyre didn't see the worth in themselves. “How old a
re you, Camille?” The question must have surprised her because she looked startled.
“I’m relatively young. I’ve only been around one hundred twenty one years.”
Jolie smiled and patted her cheek. “I’ve been alive for a long time, and I know pain when I see it. You’ve had more than your share in your brief life. All I wish for you is that while you remain here, you feel peace and pleasure.”
“Thank you, Mistress.”
“Clariel will be around tonight to take you and Cari shopping. She’ll buy you whatever you want. I would really like you to spoil Cari as much as possible. Buy her clothes, toys, and anything else that catches her eye.”
Camille began to cry as Jolie walked back to the door. It eluded her as to why anyone, especially the mistress, would be so kind to her.
“Because, you’re now my family, and I take care of the people I love,” she said, closing the door behind her. Outside, her mates were showing the detective his quarters.
“I hope they’re acceptable,” stated Jolie, stepping into the room.
“You could say that. For the record, this room is bigger than my entire apartment.” He took a seat on a settee at the foot of the bed, since his leg was still a little sore.
Flynn laughed. “I remember thinking that once too.”
Jolie wanted him to feel at home in his surroundings, so she told him everything he’d need to survive there. “Downstairs, you’ll find food. Please feel free to go anywhere you want, just not into the private quarters. You really don’t want to startle a family member who thinks you’re here to kill them.”
“Okay, and thanks, Jolie,” he said, pausing. “Can I speak to you for a second--alone?”
Her mates didn't look happy.
“Certainly. What’s wrong?” she asked as the men in her life closed the door. There was no doubt they were pressed to the wall, listening to everything that was said.
They were just overprotective like that.
“I’m sorry if I upset you earlier. I really don’t want you to think that I dislike you. It’s just that I’m a little skittish around the idea of vampyres.”
“I understand, Tommy. You’re human and aren’t really accustomed to my kind. If it makes you feel better, before Flynn, I was skittish around humans. My family was betrayed by them and killed, so I don’t trust your kind either.”
“I heard what you said to Camille.”
Jolie lifted a brow. “I see you’ve gained a few gifts.”
“Yeah, I heard you tell her that she was family. Flynn told me you didn’t have to let them into your protection. I just wanted to let you know that just being near you, and seeing your compassion, makes me a little more comfortable with the idea of vampyres.”
The corners of her mouth curled into a smile. “May I approach you?” she asked.
He nodded.
Gently, Jolie dropped a kiss to his cheek. “Thank you, Tommy, for that heartfelt compliment. It was one of the nicest things a human has said to me in a long time.”
As she walked away, he watched her go.
“Oh, and by the way, Tommy?”
“Yeah?”
“I happen to know for a fact that Camille is fascinated with you. If you were to make a move on her, she likely wouldn’t stop you. I think maybe you should throw caution to the wind.”
He stared at her.
“Really. Trust me on this.”
When the door was closed and she was gone, Tommy dropped back onto the bed. A part of him wanted to do just that, but the other part was afraid.
What could he give her?
Tommy wasn’t even sure he was staying for long. Eventually, he was going to have to make up his mind and decide where he should be.
Was it here?
Or was it back in Pennsylvania as a cop.
Either way, Camille didn't seem like his type. She was beautiful, sweet, and had a child.
What did he have to offer her?
He was average, and that didn't bode well for him.
Then again, she wasn’t normal either.
She was dead.
Shit!
Why couldn’t his life be normal?
∞ Chapter Seventeen ∞
Saturday afternoon
In all honesty, Flynn really hated being awoken by anyone but his mates. When someone else in their family stood over him in bed, it was never a good thing. Immediately, his heart began to pound in his chest. As he heard his name being called, and a gentle hand shaking his arm, he assumed the worst.
Something had happened to Jolie.
Sitting up, Flynn found himself face to face with Chloe.
Literally.
Her face was inches from his.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, glancing over his shoulder at the two bodies peacefully resting beside him. When he saw them, Flynn relaxed.
“Detective, you told me to wake you when your package arrived from the courier service,” Chloe said, holding the little box out to him.
“Oh, thank you!”
When he took it, Chloe started to leave.
“Wait! I need a woman’s opinion, and I can’t ask Jolie on this one.”
Their donor returned to the bedside. “Yes?”
“Tell me if this is worthy of her,” he asked, opening the box in his hand.
Chloe checked out his gift. There was no doubt in her mind why the detective was jittery. In the box, there sat an engagement ring.
It looked like the detective was going big, or going home.
“Do you think she’ll like it?” he asked, staring down into the box. Even Flynn noticed how his hand shook. He’d never bought a ring for a woman before. His Jolie was the first and last--if he had anything to say about it.
Chloe touched it with gentle fingers. It flashed fire and ice at the same time. While Jacques had given the mistress a band, the detective went more traditional. Actually, the rings looked like they could be a matched set.
“It’s gorgeous. There’s no doubt that she’s going to absolutely love this ring. You’ve done a really good job, Detective.”
When he’d picked it, Flynn had wanted it to look more traditional, but still be Jolie’s style. The fat diamond was surrounded by black and red stones in a platinum setting. It complimented the ring Jacques had picked out.
It was girly and sweet all rolled into one.
Yes, Jolie was a vampyre, but he’d noticed that she took the time to dress for them, liked makeup, and perfume.
He was taking a gamble.
“I want to do something special when I give it to her. What do you think I should do?”
Chloe tapped her fingers on her chin thoughtfully. “I have an idea if you are willing to let me help you take care of the details.”
“Yes, please, Chloe. I don’t know how Jacques gave her his ring, but I need to do something memorable. This is the equivalent to me asking her to marry me. It needs to be unforgettable. I’m only doing this once in my life.”
Chloe clued him in. “I believe they were in the tub together when he asked. There was candle light and about two hundred red roses.”
“Hell,” he said, closing the ring box.
Chloe stood. “Give me two hours, and I’ll have everything ready. Then you can take over and finish it up,” she said, patting his hand.
When Jolie first brought the detective into their home, most of the family thought she was crazy. Now they loved him to death--not because he kept them safe, but because Flynn genuinely loved their mistress. You could see it in his eyes, actions, and now the ring he’d chosen for her.
“I appreciate this, Chloe. I’m not exactly suave like Jacques. I need all the help I can get.”
“Oh, you’re suave enough, Detective. You’ve swept her off her feet, and that’s not easy--trust me.”
He hoped so.
“We’ll need to set the scene first, and that means getting you dressed.”
“Okay.
“If I pick out her clothes, can you get her
into them?”
“Absolutely.”
“Great,” she said, already working out the plan in her head. “Then let’s get started, shall we?”
Chloe would help the detective make this a night that Jolie wouldn’t forget.
She deserved it.
And for that matter, so did he.
* * * H a r c o u r t e * * *
Not far from the house sat Zola, observing her prey. She watched the comings and goings, plotting her next move. At some point, she’d need to get into the house. While she could walk in, she knew that wouldn’t be prudent.
Jolie would expect that.
No, she needed leverage.
She needed a shield.
When she went in, Zola wanted to make Jolie bleed as much as possible. By now, the detective was dead, and they had to be hurting over that.
So, she’d strike while the iron was hot, and then she’d drive it into Jolie’s heart.
It was time.
Zola should probably send her a thank you card. She knew that Lucricia, that irritating twit, was likely dead.
And that was a good thing. No one could run back to the council in Philadelphia and rat her out. Zola liked tying up loose ends, unlike her old mistress.
Now the loose end Jolie had let go was about to take her down. Jolie Harcourte was about to feel her wrath.
This was for her mate.
Devin would be mourned.
His memory would live on forever in her heart. Yes, he’d betrayed her, but Zola understood why.
He was driven to it.
Jolie was to blame for that too.
In the end, when she destroyed the family, Jolie would feel the same pain she’d been forced to live.
It was time.
When someone left the safety of the house, she knew what she needed to do.
They would be her victim.
The trap would be set.
When it was all done, she’d take the head of her old mistress and stick it on a pike in the front of the house.
Jolie Harcourte was going to be dead.
It was only a matter of time.
Dangerous Retaliation (The Harcourte Vampyre Society Book 4) Page 23
