Blood Sense (Blood Destiny #3)

by Connie Suttle

  "Lissa, are you in one piece?"

  "Yes. Will I not be when you see me again?" I was scared of what his answer might be.

  "Lissa, I want to turn you over my knee and then kiss you breathless."

  "Honey, the one, followed by the other, doesn't sound very tempting to me."

  "Lissa, I will not harm you."

  "I'll take what I can get," I said. There were different kinds of harm. Some people think yelling does no harm. It does.

  "Lissa, tell me that you love me."

  "Honey, I love you," I said. And I meant it, most of the time.

  "I love you, cara. Very much. Please stay out of trouble."

  "Honey, I always try to stay out of trouble but it finds me anyway, most of the time." Tony was now banging on the connecting door. "Sweetie, I have to go, all right?"

  "Fine," Gavin grumbled. "Call me again, soon."

  "I will." I hung up just as Tony barged into my room.

  "How long does it take you to eat and get dressed?" His hands were on his hips and he was glaring at me.

  "I had some calls to make," I muttered, hanging my head a little.

  Lissa, I don't have time to hug you, baby. I want to hold you. It'll have to wait, Tony sent to me. "Get back over here, we have to hammer out some details," he demanded aloud. My life's not confusing or anything.

  "Lissa's not an official part of the Claw and Fang Division," Agent White said. "She's on loan and we can't say from whom."

  "The Claw and Fang Division?" Bill said the term with disgust.

  "It's our nickname for it," Agent Townsend said, smiling. "Lissa has special talents. That's why Tony asked for her."

  "I had to make a truckload of promises and beg, along with everything else," Tony sighed.

  "Is the mindspeech part of those special talents?" Bill asked. I wanted to slap my forehead and then plain slap Tony for letting that out. It had worked for the speech, though. If he'd just given me more names, it might have worked better.

  "Yes, very few of our kind have that gift," Ken White said.

  "What else can you do?" Dusty turned his gaze to me. We sat around Tony's suite; there weren't enough chairs so I sat cross-legged on the bed. It was still rumpled from my being in it earlier. "And I want to see the claws again," Dusty added.

  "You can't touch them, you'll cut yourself," Chris Townsend let his slide out. His, like Gavin's, were darker than mine.

  "Hold his hand like this," I slid off the bed and did as Merrill taught me, taking Townsend's hand, cupping the back of it in my palm and turning it over, so Dusty could see the underside of the sharp claws. Agent Townsend offered a beautiful smile at my touch.

  "They're really that sharp?" Bill was looking, now.

  "He can slice through that metal lamp, over there," I nodded toward the lamp in question. "But you need it to see so we won't." I wasn't pointing out its twin that I'd sliced up—it was still on the floor on the far side of the bed. Tony got another call while Bill, Dusty and Arthur examined Townsend's lengthy claws. It was the Secretary of State's personal assistant, telling Tony that Madam Secretary was scheduled to fly back tonight and needed extra guards. "We'll be out back in five minutes," Tony promised and ordered all of us to come along.

  "We're getting chatter about a news helicopter flying over the highway," an FBI Agent came over to speak with Tony as we walked through the back door of the hotel. "We haven't been able to reach them to tell them to move away and we can't drive out of here until they clear the air space."

  "Lissa," Tony motioned for me to come over. "Baby," he said softly, "can you do anything about that?" He jerked his head toward the helicopter in question—it was circling the highway not far from the hotel.

  "Probably," I sighed. "Can I take White or Townsend with me?" In case compulsion is needed? I added silently.

  "Sure. Which one of you wants to go with her?" Tony asked the two vampire agents. They both volunteered.

  "Good enough, come with me," I said. There were tall, flowering oleanders growing behind the hotel so I pulled both agents along until we could duck between two large bushes. "You'll be mist for just a few," I said. Grabbing their arms, I turned all three of us to mist simultaneously.

  A door was open on the helicopter and someone was indeed pointing a video camera at the hotel and the caravan waiting to depart. That's where the similarity to any official news crew ended. This is trouble, I sent, landing all three of us inside the chopper. The helicopter wobbled dangerously in mid-air as four heads were separated from bodies quickly. I didn't do any of them; White and Townsend did. I didn't even have time to squeal or wonder who was going to fly the helicopter afterward; White took over and flew the damn thing. Well, Merrill knew how; maybe I should take lessons. I held onto a strap amid bloodied bodies while Agent Townsend hauled a headless body from a seat and dumped it in the floor so he could sit down.

  Townsend was on the radio quickly, telling somebody on the ground that the crisis was over. He also instructed them to meet us at the airport. I sent mindspeech to Tony, letting him know what happened.

  They had rocket launchers, Tony, I gave the mental shout—the helicopter was so noisy I could barely hear myself think.

  * * *

  "How the fuck did they get up there?" Arthur watched as the helicopter took off toward the airport. The FBI agent was getting information from someone; he was nodding and telling Tony that the problem had been eliminated.

  "You can meet up with your people at the airport," the agent informed Tony, who climbed into a car with the other three. Dusty drove and they followed Madam Secretary's convoy with no further mishaps. The Secretary of State was safely delivered to her plane and Tony and the others watched it take off before going in search of their missing vampires.

  "You know, if they can do shit like that, maybe it's not such a bad idea," Bill declared, shaking his head as the three vampires stood around the confiscated helicopter while FBI agents examined bodies and combed through it for evidence.

  Tony stared at Agent Jennings in mild surprise as the seasoned veteran used profanity to punctuate his statement. He'd never heard the man say so much as damn before. "No, it's a good idea," Tony slapped Bill's back. "Let's go get 'em."

  The FBI was now removing bodies from the helicopter, along with two rocket launchers when Tony and his three agents walked up. "Holy shit, man, they weren't kidding," Dusty watched as the weapons were unloaded. Lissa was standing nearby, out of the way so the agents could work.

  * * *

  "Lissa, were any of these from the house in Georgia?" Tony came to stand beside me.

  "Tony, two of the people in the Georgia house, along with the second vampire were in the air duct at the building that was blown up," I said. "But the third one wasn't in the helicopter. They were all human, too, as you can see." Tony nodded at me. He didn't ask and I didn't tell him. That second vampire had been the first vampire's brother and was most likely a mister, just as his brother was. I'd surprised him completely, taking his head. He may have had last minute plans to get out of the building but I relieved him of that notion, along with his head. Secretly I was hoping that Madam Secretary would stay close to home for a while.

  "How did they get a news chopper?" I asked. The helicopter had the logo for one of the local channels painted on it.

  "Good question, let's check," Tony grinned and walked over to one of the FBI agents. They talked for a while, with Tony nodding occasionally. I didn't listen in.

  "They say the news channel didn't report a missing chopper and all of theirs are accounted for so this one was fixed up," Tony told me. "I'm sure they thought they could bluff long enough to take their shot and after that, it wouldn't matter."

  "These weren't Middle Eastern terrorists," I said, looking Tony in the eye.

  "No, they're not," he sighed. I didn't tell him what I feared the most over the whole thing—I was afraid that Saxom's progeny were now pulling strings big time, trying to cause a major rift somehow or bring ab
out global warfare. One or two of the men in the chopper might have had ties to terrorists, but I couldn't say that for sure. All it would take, though, would be a rumor to get the fear started.

  "Don't worry, we'll keep this under wraps," Tony was reading my mind. I just hoped he could continue to keep this secret while those behind all this were taken down quietly.

  "Lissa, how did you get inside that chopper?" Dusty came over to ask his question.

  "You want I should show you?" I quipped, offering the agent a smile.

  "Is it dangerous?" He quirked an eyebrow at me.

  "No. Come over here by the SUV." He followed me until we were behind Tony's vehicle. I grabbed his hand, turning both of us to mist. There were planes parked at gates along a nearby terminal—some of them loading and unloading passengers. I took him inside one of the planes easily, setting him down in a seat at the back of the plane. Dusty stared at me as if he wanted to laugh, scream, or both.

  "Now, we need to leave before somebody comes to claim their seats," I said and got us out of the plane as easily as we'd gotten aboard in the first place.

  "That's a really rare talent," Tony was waiting for us when we got back. "I expect you to keep quiet about this, Agent Howell, or you'll place Lissa's life in danger."

  Dusty nodded, his eyes wide. Normally I'd have placed compulsion for him to forget about this and I might still. But Tony had given away most of my secrets. What was left?

  "Do people become vampire if you bite them?" Bill asked questions on the drive to the hotel. Agent White laughed.

  "No," Townsend answered. "It takes a long and complicated process to make a vampire. You're not an ideal candidate. None of you are." That offended them, I could tell.

  "You're not an ideal candidate because you're young and healthy," I explained. "In addition to it being hard to do a turn, the candidate must be of good character and death must be imminent. They don't take people who are in good condition. What would be the point?"

  "What about werewolves? Do you become one of those if they bite you?" Arthur asked.

  "You've been watching too many scary movies," I said. "Werewolves are born, not bitten. Get that out of your head right now."

  "But you seem so benign," Dusty said.

  "We are, until we rip somebody's head off," Agent White nodded. "Just ask those four guys in the chopper."

  "I saw them," Bill said. He had—four bodies, with separated heads, had been hauled away by the FBI.

  "Don't ever take the wolves for granted, either," I said. "They appear human, work as humans. There are a few I know that are in the military or are lawyers and doctors, even. That doesn't mean they don't go howl at the moon or can't track a scent for miles. They can and do."

  "So, what happens if you bite someone, then?" Dusty was back to the question.

  "Agent Howell, if a vampire bites you, it'll be the best sex you've ever had," Tony grinned.

  "He's kidding, isn't he?" Dusty laughed.

  "Um, well." I didn't finish, Agent Townsend did.

  "He's not kidding."

  "Even if a guy bites?"

  "They can withhold it if they want," Agent White said, "but trust me, it's better with the climax. You don't notice the teeth in your throat so much."

  "Tony, are you sure telling them all this is in their best interest?" I asked when Tony and I walked behind the others into the hotel. "I'm not sure it's in my best interest."

  "I'll have White place compulsion and tell them to forget he placed it," Tony soothed. "Nobody's gonna rat out my baby." He put an arm around my shoulders.

  "Tony, what are you doing?"

  "What I should have done earlier. You saved our asses, Lissa. I ordered more wigs for you, by the way. This is your last one," he flipped a strand of my expensive, human hair wig. "And since you lost the others in the line of duty," he grinned at me.

  "You really are a piece of work, you know that?"

  "I do. Just ask me, I'll tell you all about it."

  "When you were young and fought with your brother, who won?" I asked tartly.

  "How do you think I was so well-prepared for Special Ops?" he chuckled.

  "You lunatic."

  "Nah, that's my brother."

  "Tony, there's something you should know."

  "What's that, baby?" He pulled me against him. The others had already gone upstairs; we were waiting for another elevator.

  "These two vampires from the house in Georgia? They were probably under the influence of someone else's compulsion. This last one seemed to be waiting for the building to blow while he was inside it. Plus, these two were brothers. I can smell the kinship."

  "Do you think White and Townsend can do that?" Tony turned to face me, placing hands on both sides of my jaw, his thumbs stroking my cheeks.

  "I don't know," I sighed. "The two oldest vampires I know can't do it."

  "Is your fiancé one of those?" Tony leaned forward and kissed my forehead.

  "No, but he's not far behind them," I mumbled against his chest. It felt good to lean against him like that—to let his heartbeat soothe me.

  "I always heard that the older the vampire, the more dangerous they are," Tony said softly.

  "They don't live that long by being nice all the time," I replied. We took the fourth elevator that came along so the others wouldn't come looking for us.

  "We have to get going," White and Townsend were leaving Tony's suite when we arrived. "I placed compulsion already; they won't know anything if somebody asks them about us," Ken White grinned. "And they don't remember the compulsion, either. I sent them to their rooms to sleep. If you need additional security, besides Lissa here," he turned his grin on me, "you'll have to send for it yourself."

  "Thanks for the help, Ken." Tony heaved a sigh of relief.

  "Little girl," Chris Townsend came over to me and took my hand, "that's some talent you have there. I always heard that misting took several minutes. I've never seen anything like what you did."

  "It's the result of desperation, I assure you," I said. He smiled and winked at me before he and his partner left us in front of Tony's door. Tony got us inside with his key card and shut the door.

  "Lissa, I don't suppose you'd come to bed with me?"

  "Tony, I can't." I felt like crying over that fact. Gavin's ring was on my finger and as much as I might like to let Tony take my troubles and worries away for a little while, there wasn't any way I'd be able to face Gavin later. I'm a terrible liar.

  "Lissy, don't worry about it," Tony tipped my face up and placed a careful kiss. "If I were engaged to you, I'd appreciate that loyalty, too." He let me go and I walked on wobbly, stubborn legs away from him and into my adjoining bedroom.

  * * *

  When I awoke on Tuesday evening, I learned two things. One, Greg had pancreatic cancer and two; Weldon had a werewolf police officer doing my legwork in Great Britain. He also told me there were several runaways listed in the past weeks; something the police knew but hadn't released to the press to keep them from jumping to further conclusions. There were numerous calls coming in with tips on the blond man with the scar but none could be verified. I sent a quick email to Weldon, thanking him for the help and the information. Franklin was next on the list and I called him personally.

  "Lissa, it's advanced so the option is chemo," he said. "Merrill has already offered—you know what I'm talking about—and Greg doesn't want that. Neither do I, in case it comes down to that. If I'm unconscious someday, you make sure he remembers."

  "I'll make sure he remembers," I promised. "Is Greg okay for the time being?"

  "He has some bad moments," Franklin said. "Merrill told him to move in and he's hired a part-time nurse. Greg will probably go crazy with that, at least at first."

  "Honey, I am so sorry," I said. "I wish I was there, only I don't know what good that would do." At least I had experience in ongoing diseases; Don, my husband, had heart disease and we'd had to work around that for quite a while before he died.

/>   "Lissa, I would take anything at this moment; Greg's in a little bit of a funk to be honest."

  "He never did get his yelling done over the whole I'm getting a suntan thing," I joked.

  "No, he didn't," Franklin said. I could hear the hint of a smile in his voice.

  "I'll see if there's any way I can come, even for a few hours," I said. "They never tell me from one day to the next what I'll be doing so there are no guarantees."

  "Sounds like the government," Franklin snorted. I agreed with that assessment completely.

  As it turns out, we were flying back to D.C., and while Tony wanted me to come home with him, he agreed to let me spend three days in New York instead. I told Franklin I was coming and not to worry about picking me up. If I couldn't get a cab, I had other ways of getting myself around.

  The flight on the government jet from D.C. to La Guardia got me there around three in the morning. I was worried about waking Franklin when I called but he blew it off and told me that he'd already checked me in with the guard downstairs. I managed to get a cab and the driver dropped me off at a very nice brownstone in Manhattan. I gave my name to the guard who let me in. He told me to go up to the top floor, which was the sixth in that particular building. I suppose that the lower five floors were all separated into nice condos, but the top floor was all Merrill's. The door was double and wide, facing the elevators as I got off. The entry just off the elevators was marble—there was gold on the door handles and I was completely impressed.

  I knocked lightly as Franklin asked—he let me in almost immediately. "Greg is sleeping," he said as I carried my bags inside. "You can have Joey's old room," he went on, leading me down a hallway off the spacious kitchen.

  "Joey?" I asked.

  "Merrill's last and youngest natural turn," Franklin replied. "Still younger than you age-wise, but not by much," he smiled. "He's been vampire for sixteen years and is working elsewhere now, so the chances of your meeting him are very slim."

  "I see," I said. And there I'd thought Brock and I were Merrill's youngest. Turns out, I was wrong. Merrill never talked about his other turns and so far, Brock was the only one I'd met. Joey's bedroom was nice and quite large, with its own bath and small sitting area. There was a shelf of books, too, but they were all computer manuals or science books and not a single one had For Dimwits after the title. Might as well have been written in one of the languages that Gavin was so fond of using; I wouldn't understand any of it.