by Mary Hughes
I pushed quite a few yellow lights and a couple reds, and breathed my own sigh of relief when I turned into the alley and parked behind the Strongwells’ garage. Aiden sprang out and swept Ric, sans cuffs, to the apartment’s back door before I’d even switched off. I scuttled after him.
Bo hustled Aiden inside and downstairs. I told Butler about Synnove, paused to brush off the worst of my dirt, then followed.
They were in the same room where I’d last seen my brother. I stopped to prepare myself, scrubbing a hand across my eyes. With a deep breath, I stepped in.
Ric lay naked, pale and waxy on the exact patch of dirt where Dirk had been. Pain skewered me.
Elena knelt beside Ric, picking shafts from his chest, dropping them onto a metal tray lined in rubber. Aiden, stripped of jacket and vest, watched her, his jaw clenching and unclenching.
Beyond them, Bo worked a spade in the middle of the room. Digging a grave.
I sucked in a shocked breath.
Aiden spun. “Sunny.” He dug a hand through his hair. Mr. Hyperaware must have been very worried about his friend not to have sensed me. “This isn’t what you think.”
“What do I think? That this is what you did with Dirk? That you buried my brother?”
Chapter Twenty-One
“Sunny, sweetheart.” Aiden came to me, took my shoulders. “Dirk will rise again. I promise.”
I noticed he didn’t bother denying the burial. My eyes stung. I locked onto his dark, compassionate gaze. Anywhere but that gouging shovel. “He’ll be a vampire, sleep in a grave. You sleep in a grave…” I trailed off as it hit me. Vampires were monsters. I was falling in love with a monster.
Oh God. I was falling in love?
“It isn’t like that.” Aiden brushed a thumb across my cheek.
“They sleep in beds.” Elena didn’t pause picking out shafts. “The soil is for energy and healing. Dirk will be fine. Bo isn’t so sure about Ric. There. That’s the last of them.” She rose to her feet and dusted off the knees of her pants. “We should call the Ancient One.”
“No.” The word was flat with Aiden’s rejection. “I won’t owe him.”
“The soil may not be enough.” Bo leaped lightly out of the grave and tossed aside the shovel. “I’ve never seen a poison do that.” He nodded at Ric.
“You know how old my husband is.” Elena’s gaze was steady on Aiden. “If he hasn’t seen anything like this—”
“All right.” Aiden’s jaw worked like he wanted to grind the very concept between his molars. “Call him. And while you’re at it, get him to talk to her.” He meant me.
“Oh no,” Elena said. “I’m not owing him for erasing her when she’s just going to stumble across more.”
“She’s not—”
“She will,” Bo said. “As long as she’s involved with you.”
“She’s not—”
“I am,” I said. “Deal with it.”
Aiden glared black death at me. A few days ago I’d have pissed my pants at those dead black eyes. But behind the death glare was something young and frightened. Calling to me. Wanting to ask for help, but not knowing how.
I put aside everything else to concentrate on him. On here and now.
Butler came in. “Dr. Holiday is resting comfortably.”
“Good,” Elena said. “Let us know the minute she’s awake.”
As Butler left, Bo pulled out a cell phone and put it on speaker. It barely got through one ring.
“Emergency?” The dark, deep voice shivered through my body into my very marrow. I knew that voice primevally. Resonant and powerful, it was that of a king.
“No, sir.” Bo glanced at Ric. “But critical. Holiday was hit by Nosferatu’s arrow trap and isn’t healing. Since Holiday is next best thing to Nikos Sparta’s brother-in-law—”
“I’m aware of the connection. I was not aware of any obligation on my part to Mr. Holiday.” A pause. “Unless Mr. Blackthorne has something to offer?”
Aiden paled.
Anger fired through me. Ric was dying and Aiden was vulnerable. Cave Voice was a manipulative bastard. I snarled at the phone, “Help him because it’s the right thing to do.”
“As you do in your police work, Officer Ruffles?”
My hot anger dissolved into a shiver. How did he know me? But I managed, “I’m a cop because it helps people.”
“Do you not expect a paycheck?”
I opened my mouth but nothing came out.
“While I’d like to help simply out of the goodness of my heart, I, like my fellow creatures, have rent to pay for residing on this planet. So unless Officer Ruffles has any more objections, I’ll ask Mr. Blackthorne—what do you offer?”
Something good came from my bumbling interference. I’d given Aiden time to recover. He said, “That depends on how long it takes you to help him.”
A chuckle. “I may solve the problem in a few minutes, but the knowledge that allows me to solve it took centuries to accumulate. Which time period do you mean?”
Aiden growled, low. “Dealing with you is like pinning down a drop of mercury.”
“And yet I am better than your erstwhile friend Eloise.”
“How did you know—?”
“Please. Why else would Mr. Holiday broach Nosferatu’s lair again? I did warn you.”
Aiden’s jaw worked, the tips of his fangs peeking out. “Fine. If you can help him, I agree to do one favor for you.” A beat. “If what you tell us helps.”
“Of course.” The dark voice smoothed back, all urbanity. “And since I know how you dislike owing anyone, I’ll request my favor now.”
Aiden’s gaze narrowed at the phone. “What is it?”
“If you find yourself at odds with me, a simple request that you discuss it with me before you take any action.”
“That’s it? Talk to you first if I have a grievance? What’s the catch?”
“No catch. When you have a problem with me, you talk it over first. That’s it.”
“Each time?” Aiden swore. “For one-time help, that’s not fair.”
“Perhaps, perhaps not. Have you another choice?”
Aiden’s glare could’ve melted the phone. “No. Fine. Help Ric.”
“Excellent.” Satisfaction colored the deep voice. “I’d heard Nosferatu had developed a vampire poison but had no proof. I suspect in acquiring one of his lieutenants as an ally, we’ve made a bad enemy of another. Strongwell, send the arrows to Steel. Drain all of Holiday’s blood—don’t touch it, use the machine—and send that too. Give him five quarts of donor blood then bury him for one hour. If he’s awake then, he should get a quart of vampire blood. Mr. Blackthorne, that’s your job. If he’s not awake after an hour, call me back.”
I whispered to Elena, “Who is that man?”
She nodded to the door. We went through but instead of stopping in the hallway, she strode out, through the basement and all the way upstairs before she would speak. “That is one scary ancient vampire. Kai Elias. He heads the Iowa Alliance.”
“Why doesn’t Aiden like him?”
“Was it that obvious?”
“Like a meat cleaver at a turkey farm.”
“Yeah.” Elena laughed. “Elias is a tit-for-tat kind of guy. He’s a huge help, but then you owe him. In case you hadn’t noticed, Blackthorne doesn’t like owing anyone. By the way, about Dirk. Bo says not this next sunset but the one after.”
I closed my eyes briefly. “Good. That’s good. All right. While I have you away from the guys…” I told her what had happened. “You mentioned training. I want to learn how to take down a vampire.” I didn’t tell her I had a specific vamp in mind, but it was Elena. I didn’t have to.
She nailed me with her shrewd detective’s gaze. “Anybody else, I’d say no way. But you’re a cop. Bo’s right, protecting is i
n your blood. Big plus, you’re a cop immune to vampire suggestion. Honestly, we need all the help we can get. Yes, I’ll train you. Come on.”
“Now?”
She arched a brow. “We’re both clear for an hour. You have a better time?”
“Well, actually…I’m not clear.” I’d forgotten in my concern over Aiden that I’d skipped work.
“Yeah, Tight Ass called. I covered, though there’ll be hell to pay later.” She led me to a room directly over the parlor with wall-to-wall mirrors, benches and weight sets, a changing screen in one corner.
“Okay.” She pulled out a couple mats and started to stretch. “A lot of what Mr. Miyagi taught you will transfer to fighting v-guys.”
I followed her lead, stretching neck, shoulders, arms, torso. “He knows about vampires?”
“Yes and no. He knows but then gets erased. It’s a little hard keeping up with whether he’s aware or not. I argue with Bo to bring him in permanently, but you know how the Viking feels about that. By the way, remember that we don’t use the v-word anywhere but sealed, protect rooms. Mostly. Get into the habit.”
“V-euphemisms. Sorry.”
“That’s okay. So fighting is fighting, whether in the boardroom, on the battlefield or up-close-and-personal. Know your opponent’s strengths and weaknesses, and your own strengths and weaknesses.”
“Okay. My strengths? I’m a cop.” I started stretching my legs, lifting one over my head.
She paused her own stretching to stare. “Limber too.”
I managed a smile. “But I’m a Ruffles. A bad luck charm. That’s a weakness.”
“I’m not so sure about that.” She shook her head. “Dirk always seems to show up in the wrong place at the wrong time—but sometimes wrong is exactly right.” She searched my eyes then sighed. “I can’t explain it, but I get this feeling about you. You stumbled across Blackthorne in time to save him. Got yourself into a shitload of danger, but you both came through all right. Is that good luck, or bad?”
“I…I don’t know. I never thought of it that way before.”
“You’ll figure it out.” She stood and motioned me up. “V-guys are stronger and faster—but not smarter, mostly. You can work that to your advantage.”
She showed me a couple moves similar to those I used to fight bigger opponents. “Go for the head or heart. No heart, no circulation. No circulation, they have to shut down.” She demoed a throat jab and solar-plexus punch, followed by a spinning hook kick to the head.
I mimicked her moves. We practiced by alternating. After about half an hour, she motioned me toward a table display. “You can do a lot more with weapons. We’ll start with blades. Chopping spine is hard. A little extra heft and swing makes that easier.” She pointed out axes, hatchets, sickles and kopides.
I nodded. “Does removing the head also stop circulation?”
“No. They can seal off the neck and, if they still have a pumping heart, they can actually move. It’s weird to see a headless body groping for its head. Bo thinks maybe that’s where the Sleepy Hollow legend came from.”
Yikes. “So why lop the head?”
“To remove the guidance system. The brain. Although they’ll still instinctively attack prey. Or try to find their heads.”
“Which is why I punch out the heart, got it.” I pointed at a selection of pointy sticks.
“If you were a v-guy, sure. But a human? Going through the sternum or diaphragm is work. And experienced vamps will just pull the stake out.”
“Shit.”
“I know, right? So us humans, we use long-range weapons, like a crossbow.”
“Or a bazooka?”
She grinned. “Any SMAW will do”
“Can’t beat a Shoulder-launched Multipurpose Assault Weapon. Where do I get one?”
“Bruno Braun, but be careful not to torch any tourists. Best bet? Lure the v-guy into direct sunlight.”
“The legend’s true? Simple sunshine dusts them?”
“It’s never simple, unfortunately. The weaker the sun, the longer they can be out in it. And the older the v-guy, the longer they can stand it, although then it’s Towering Inferno time. But younger ones, yeah, they’ll char pretty quick.”
She showed me her collection of weapons and I’d managed in my Ruffles way to nick myself on a bayonet when, in a replay of my first night on the MCPD roster, the door burst off its hinges.
Aiden stood there, magnificent chest heaving, a dangerous dark shadow in jeans and sleeveless tee. “Sunny. What the fuck?”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Aiden was not in a good mood when he got off the phone with the estimable Kai Elias. Physical danger Aiden could overcome, but while the ancient was supposedly one of the good guys, he was wilier than Nosferatu and all his lieutenants combined. If Ric’s life hadn’t been on the line…but it was, and the promise to go to Elias if he had a beef didn’t seem onerous. Although, with the ancient’s habit of thinking not one, not two, but a whole lifetime’s moves ahead, that could go pear-shaped fast.
But an hour later, when Strongwell helped him unearth Ric and his friend was awake enough to drink and looking better, Aiden’s mood softened. He hated giving up his freedom, but this time, it was worth it. He gave Ric a donation, sucked down a couple of bagged pints himself, then left the room while his friend rested, briefly grateful he only had the one friend to worry about.
An image of Sunny appeared in his mind, studded with Ric’s arrows.
A full-body shudder stopped Aiden mid-stride. He’d given up one precious freedom for Ric, but if she’d been hurt, damn the consequences. He’d have promised Elias anything.
He closed his eyes and felt for her, reaching out along the blood scent, the smell/taste of every person he’d ever sampled. Her essence resonated in his very cells.
He misted up two flights, straining to get to her but snapping back shy of the room. His stamina had been sapped by the last few days.
His first breath drew the scent of Sunny’s spilled blood.
Never rash, be damned. He kicked in the door. “What the fuck? I leave you by yourself a few minutes and you’re bleeding again.”
“Aiden?” Her whole face brightened seeing him. “It’s nothing. An accident.”
“That’s not the point. You’re hurt.” He sped to her, spat on his hand and wiped the wound shut. He meant to be brusque but was unaccountably gentle.
“Really, it’s nothing. Elena was training me to fight vamps—”
“To what?”
“Sorry, v-guys.”
“That’s not what I meant. She has no business teaching you that.” He glared over his shoulder at the woman, who simply shrugged. He switched his glare to Sunny. “You are not fighting vampires.”
She fisted hands on hips. “You’re not the boss of me, Aiden.”
He growled mentally. She was strong-minded and independent, and his inability to shield her from all harm pissed him off. “You will not expose yourself to danger you have no idea how to handle.” He glared at Elena. “What’s wrong with you, making her think she has to fight my kind?”
“Not me.” Elena raised both hands, palms out. “I can’t make her think anything.” She paused. “Like you.”
He let his growl out.
“That’s exactly why I was training.” Sunny reclaimed his attention. “So I can handle v-guys. Right, Elena?”
“Nope.” Elena backed away. “I’m not getting in the middle of a marital spat.”
They both yelled at her, “It’s not a marital spat!”
She rolled her eyes. “Su-ure. Well, whatever it isn’t, I’m not in the middle.” She stepped over the broken door and skedaddled.
Aiden knew he was yelling at Sunny because he was scared for her. With her he felt more scared…and more excited and hopeful and more everything…than he had in decades.
Which scared him even more, because he wanted to hang on to this feeling. Wanted this, wanted her, permanently.
A very bad idea. He stood alone; he’d done so for decades and it had served him well. He had no room in his life for another, especially not a permanent other.
Time for a strategic exit. “No human fights vampires alone, not even Elena. Strongwell is with his wife at all times. He protects her—and until you have a vampire at your side protecting you, you will not fight them!” He spun to stomp out.
“Don’t you walk away from me.” Sunny seized his arm and tugged, spoiling his exit. “We had a deal, remember? You promised to let me fight my own battles.”
“Vampires are not your battle.” His words were harsh but he was careful and gentle peeling her fingers from him.
“At least one vampire is.” She spun arms around his neck, pulled him to her and kissed him.
He was awash in her, the tangy-sweet scent of her exertion, the thud of her accelerating heartbeat, the glide of her damp hot body under his roving hands…he was putty when it came to this, when it came to her, all his discipline shattered and in ruins at his feet.
If this was a battle, she was trouncing him.
As her small tongue darted into his mouth, he banded arms around her and crushed her to him, wanting to meld with her right here and now. As if she’d heard him she lifted her legs and wrapped them around his hips. She undulated against him, scrubbing herself with abandon against his rising cock.
Satisfaction filled him. She was as lost to this as he was.
With the last of his awareness he realized he could use that. When it came to loving her, he couldn’t say no—but neither could she. He could seduce her then restrain her again. Or make love to her until she was languid and sleepy and couldn’t get in trouble fighting vampires.
Then she groaned, “Aiden.”
His name on her lips, in return for her right to fight. A bargain, yes, but more. It gave them equal footing, acknowledged each as a person. Him, a reality beyond Blackthorne the assassin. Her, a right to her own battles, her own life.
