by Kym Grosso
“You let me know if you get hungry. No more dizzy spells. I’ve got donors on call.” He glanced at Anthony, who approached. “The detective is still here for you, too.”
“Thanks.” She smiled and reached for his hand. “I’m doing well. I think last night…”
“Hey,” Anthony said, a warm smile crossing his face.
“Hey, yourself,” Sydney said. “I was just telling my fiancé here that I feel great. About last night…I know I already thanked you, but it meant everything to me…to us. I’m feeling like a new woman.”
“It was pretty hot, huh?” Anthony teased. “Who knew getting bitten could be so much fun?”
“Don’t get used to it, my friend,” Kade warned with a wink to Sydney. “On second thought, Sydney may need some practice.”
“Now, now, boys. We did have fun, but it may have been a one-time kind of thing.”
Both men feigned saddened expressions and she laughed. “Okay, maybe a couple more times, but I can’t keep Tony in New Orleans forever.”
“I won’t lie. It was pretty awesome. You think Philly’s got any hot vamp women?”
“I’m sure Tristan could hook you up in his club,” Sydney replied.
“Tristan is the only one I’d trust with our detective’s safety.” Kade’s face dropped as he spoke.
“What’s wrong?” Sydney asked.
“Everyone quiet!” Kade yelled. “Shh…”
“What is it?” Anthony whispered.
“Shh.” Kade held up a hand, silencing them.
Not a sound but the whoosh of passing cars could be heard in the room. In the distance, a baby cried.
“I thought I heard footsteps…something.” He shook his head in confusion and waved Luca over. “I want you to stay here with Anthony.”
“But Kade…” Sydney began.
“No arguments, love. If there’re any surprises in the back rooms, Luca and I will ferret them out.”
“Both P-CAP and the firemen have been through this building. It should be safe.” As much as she tried to rationalize what she was saying, the same instinct that had always kept her alive told her something was off.
“Safe or not, I agree with Kade. You’d better stay with me,” Anthony insisted.
“I know, it’s just that I don’t want him going alone.”
“I’m going with him, darlin’. I promise we’ll be back in a few minutes.” Luca rested his palm on her shoulder.
There was a time she and Luca had fought like cats and dogs. But their relationship had evolved into one of respect and friendship. They lived on the same property and Sydney had become close with his fiancée, Samantha, a witch, who was expecting.
“Okay, but both of you better be careful. You’ve got a baby on the way, big man. No messing around, you hear me? Call us if something happens,” she told him.
“Whatever the noise was I don’t hear it now,” Kade lied. He leaned in and pressed his lips to hers. “I promise we’ll just have a quick look.”
“Be careful.”
“I’ll be right back.” Kade’s eyes met Anthony’s. “Detective?”
“We’ll kick around in here, check out what’s left of the bar and kitchen.”
Kade nodded and took off through the rubble. Luca shoved away debris that blocked the entrance and they disappeared into the darkness. Sydney bit her lip, wrapping her arms around her waist. Never in her life had she considered herself ‘needy’. She wasn’t sure if it was their bond strengthening, perhaps caused by Kade turning her, but without him near, her stomach churned in worry. Resisting the urge to cry, she took a deep breath and allowed Anthony to take her into his arms. Bawling at a crime scene is not an option, she thought. Get your shit together.
Within minutes, she’d calmed her emotions, cognizant that with her transition, she had to learn how to better control her primal impulsivity. Ready to resume her work, she broke out of Anthony’s arms and pointed to the bar. In silence they picked through the remnants. She found herself looking back toward the hallway where Kade and Luca had gone. No matter the reassuring silence, she teemed with restless worry. Scurlock’s motives for burning the club to the ground may have been nebulous, but Sydney was certain he’d been the one who had done it.
Anthony called for her to go into the kitchen and she nodded. Her cell phone buzzed and she retrieved it from her pocket. By the time she’d finished reading the text from Mya’s number, the color had drained from her face. 495809 Mattise Lane 9pm The hair on the back of her neck stood up as Luca’s voice reverberated throughout the musky air. Without giving it a second thought, she sprinted through the pitch black hallway toward the back of the club. Suspecting something had happened to Kade, she ignored Anthony’s calls for her to return.
Kade speculated that Sydney’s senses were becoming more sensitive, but she hadn’t yet developed them enough to hear the soft crunch of the embers in the alleyway. Both he and Luca had heard footsteps, but as they made their way down the hallway, they were met with dead silence. Kade reasoned that it could have been looters, but his instincts told him that danger lurked in the darkened sex rooms. As they moved further into the labyrinth, it became apparent that the fire hadn’t progressed past the bar and seating area. He ran his finger along the soot-covered wall, its smooth texture sticking to his skin. The plastered structure remained firm as he rapped it with his knuckles.
Luca passed to his right and he nodded, acknowledging his departure into a larger room. Several feet up he spotted a door to a private alcove. The claustrophobic area housed just enough room for two lovers to engage in what surely would be an intense encounter. Approximately five by five feet, there was little room to wield a whip. While many of the spaces encouraged exhibitionism and voyeurism, this tiny closet did not allow for observation.
Kade wrapped his fingers around the cool brass doorknob and turned it. A loud click gave way to silence. He glanced over his shoulder, checking behind him. Confident no one was following, he placed a foot through its entrance. Scanning the room, he saw no other doors. A cool breeze grazed his face, and he caught sight of a small piece of cardboard fluttering in the wind. His attention was drawn upward to a large hole in the ceiling. The heart-shaped paper had been wound around a metal ring which was attached to the concrete wall. With both caution and curiosity, Kade approached. He took it between his fingers, noticing that unlike everything else in his surroundings, it was dry as a bone. He flipped it over, and saw the message: She’s dead.
By the time he heard the door slam shut, the heavy silver chain had fallen onto him. He swatted at it, the stench of scorched skin permeating the room. It fell away to the floor but his reprieve was brief. Kade grunted as a wooden dart pierced deep into his thigh.
“Luca!” He yanked the splintered projectile from his flesh.
A hidden door slid open and a blinding stream of light speared into his eyes. As the first human came at him, he swung, landing a solid punch to his face. A second chain wrapped around his neck, and he struggled to free himself. He fell to his knees, clawing at the interwoven rings. His head smashed against pavement as they dragged him into the van. A tunnel of darkness closed in, and his final thoughts were of Sydney.
Chapter Eleven
“Where’s Kade?” Sydney cried. Luca blocked her from entering the room where Kade had disappeared, and she pounded on his chest. “You fucking said you’d keep him safe.”
“We’ll find him,” Luca told her.
“What happened? Where is he?” She pushed around Luca and stumbled into what remained of the room. She caught sight of the large breach in the ceiling and wall. She ran into the alleyway, and looked up and down the street.
“We got a number on the car,” Anthony offered, coming up behind her.
“You didn’t answer me.” She confronted Luca. “How could you let this happen?”
“I was in the other room. There was no one back here. I swear it,” he explained, raking his fingers through his hair. “When I heard him yell,
I ran down the hallway and he was gone. You know we’re like humans during the day. I can’t chase down a car.”
“Are you fucking serious?” she growled. He attempted to reach for her and she broke free of his hold. “Don’t touch me. That is it. I’m done with this bullshit. Look at this.” She held up her phone, showing him the text.
“What?”
“The time and address. Tonight. He wants me to come alone.” She laughed. “I’m going all right. By the time I’m done with him, he’ll wish he’d stayed in that shithole prison.”
“Syd,” Anthony began.
“No. Don’t say anything, Tony. He’s fucking dead. This,” she hissed, allowing her fangs to drop. She gestured to her mouth and then to Luca who’d also exposed his teeth, “is who I am now. I’m not human anymore. I may have lived by human rules before, but those days are gone.”
“But…”
“She’s right,” Luca interjected.
“Last night you saw the best of me, but deep inside there’s a monster that’s going to be let loose. Every single human and vampire involved with taking Kade is going to die. You can either help or leave, but you will not stop me.”
“Sydney, you know I’ll always have your back…it’s just…” Anthony stammered.
“Tony. Please just stop. Are you with me? ‘Cause I know for damn sure Luca’s coming.”
“Fuck yeah,” Luca agreed.
“This asshole thinks that I’m weak…that I can’t feed because he’s got Mya. He thinks that because he took Kade, he owns me. But he’s so fucking wrong,” she growled. “He’s mine.”
Sydney took a long draw of blood from Anthony’s wrist while he lay back on the sofa. She’d been so concerned that she’d lose control that she insisted that Luca and Samantha stay with her in the room. After fainting in Mya’s apartment, she was determined to feed more often and stay strong. Concentrating, she’d focused like Kade had taught her. Reaching within her mind, she focused on knowing he was her friend, that she’d never hurt him. She cut off all sexual thoughts, but still ensured it was pleasurable for Anthony.
As she released Anthony’s arm, she felt a small comforting hand on her shoulder and glanced up at Samantha. The red-haired witch was full with child, and they expected she’d go into labor within the month.
“You did nicely,” she said softly.
“Thanks, Sam. You okay?” Sydney asked Anthony. Relief poured through her as his eyes flickered open and he gave her a grin.
“Yeah, I’m good.”
“Thank God,” she sighed.
“Not as good as last night, but with the big man out…”
“Don’t even joke about it.”
“We’re going to find him.”
“I know, but right now, I can’t think of anything else but getting Kade home safe.”
“He’s a strong vampire.” Samantha sat down next to Sydney and took her hand. “And you’re strong too. I can see it in your aura. Everything has changed. You and Luca can do this.”
“Hey, what about me? I’m startin’ to feel a little underappreciated here.” Anthony inspected his forearm and rubbed his fingers over the newly formed skin.
“You’re human. You must be careful,” Samantha noted.
“The humans never understand how truly weak they are,” Luca added, brushing his hand over Samantha’s hair. “It’d be comical if it weren’t so pathetic.”
“Hey,” Samantha scolded, glaring at the father of her child. “Not nice.”
“But true,” he countered.
“Still not nice. You’re going to have to learn some manners when our daughter is born.”
“I’ll teach her how to fight off the vampires who seek to court her.”
“She’ll be able to fight them off herself with magic. Now, don’t distract me.” Her eyes darted over to Anthony, who looked amused by their exchange. “Even though Anthony is human, he can still help. But he must be extra cautious. Remember, dear, I was able to defend myself.”
“But you were a witch when you did that. When you were mortal…darlin’, you know that didn’t turn out so well.”
“True, but Sydney was the one who saved me,” Samantha countered. “And she was human when she did it. Now she’s like you. And more determined than ever.”
“Thanks for sticking up for me, ma’am, but I’m going no matter what these vamps say. I may not be all badass like Luca the Drac, but I’m a sharp shooter. I’m good with a stake too, if I must say. Been trainin’ at home.”
“You’re not serious.” Sydney shook her head.
“Like a heart attack. I just need a glass of juice and I’m gonna be ready to go here.”
“Do you feel okay?” Sydney asked again, her voice soft with concern. She placed her palm to his cheek. “Did I take too much? I’m really sorry. I thought I only took a little bit…”
“I’m fine. It’s like blood bank day at the station. Although I could use a cookie. Maybe a kiss to make it feel better.” He waggled his eyebrows at her and she slapped his arm.
“Stop trying to distract me. If anything happens to you tonight, I’ll never forgive myself.”
“Ah, as much as I detest humans, I must give credence to the detective’s courage,” Luca said, giving Samantha a smile.
“He’s going.” Sydney blew out a breath and shook her head. “Dominique and Xavier stay home with Samantha.”
“I don’t need them,” Samantha protested. “I’m well able to take care of myself.”
“No arguments, darlin’. You and our baby are my world right now. Whoever did this will suspect I’m going with Sydney. They’ll know you’re alone.”
“Sam, I know how it is to feel a little…” Sydney searched for another word besides helpless. It wasn’t that Samantha didn’t have powers, but they couldn’t put her in jeopardy. She already had difficulty walking the distance between their homes. “…vulnerable. I know you got magic, girl, but with the baby? No…just no.”
“Hell no,” Luca added.
Samantha looked to Anthony, who shrugged.
“Sorry. Gotta agree with the two of them on this one. This is getting ugly and the last thing we need to do is put your baby in danger.”
“What about Logan? He could go with you,” Samantha suggested.
“That’s a good idea. I’ll give him a call on the way over. As wolf, it’s likely they’ll go undetected,” Sydney agreed. She glanced at the address on her phone one more time and flashed it at Luca. “This is in St. Tammany Parish?”
Luca checked the screen. “Yeah. Not too far out of the city.”
“As soon as the sun falls, we’re outta here.” Sydney shoved out of her chair, twisting her hair up into a knot. She dug a rubber band out of her jeans and made quick work of tying it up into a bun. “Weapons?”
“Yes, weapons,” Luca repeated. “If there’s one thing I have, it’s those.”
“I thought vamps didn’t need guns,” Anthony jibed.
“Just because I don’t need them doesn’t mean I don’t like them.” The corner of Luca’s lip curled upward.
Sydney ignored their banter. Her thoughts drifted to Kade and her chest tightened. She knew Pat sought to punish her in the worst possible way, to inflict immeasurable pain by taking the one she loved. She closed her eyes, taking a deep cleansing breath in an attempt to focus on her task. Whatever went down tonight, she’d kill Pat Scurlock. The beast inside her would seek its revenge and she’d allow it its due. A night of reckoning would come, as her true nature was revealed.
The gravel beneath the tires spit up onto the car, cracking the windshield. The sound of the splintering glass should have startled Sydney, but she remained focused. From the satellite image, they determined that the secluded home was set deep into the forest. The lush landscaping had been well kept, indicating the property wasn’t abandoned. It belonged to one D. Tessa Saulnier.
Luca had scoured the security records, and no person of that name was a registered vampire, nor had Logan
heard of her. They assumed the individual was human, but neither Sydney nor Anthony could find any connection between the prior murders, Pat Scurlock and the home. They’d considered the possibility that perhaps there was a relationship between Scurlock and Saulnier. Yet with no evidence to prove it, they surmised it was more likely that Pat had broken into the home while Ms. Saulnier was on vacation. Repeated attempts to call the phone number on record were ignored, as were the several texts Sydney had sent to Mya.
Sydney choked on the dust streaming into her open car window. She glanced at Luca, who quietly nodded, then set his eyes back on the road. The click of Anthony’s Sig Sauer told her he’d begun checking his weapon. It was a nervous habit she’d watched him do many a time when they worked together. Sliding the clip out and working the action, he made sure the weapon was loaded. Oddly, she found the sound of snapping metal comforting. They’d started this case together, arresting a murderer, and tonight she planned to end it.
“Here,” Luca said, pointing to an entrance that sat fifty feet up the road.
He pulled the car over into the grass, got out and slid into the back seat with Anthony. Sydney jumped over the console and sat in the driver’s seat. The large SUV’s tinted windows blocked the view from outside, so only the faint outline of a driver could be seen inside the vehicle.
“We do this like we planned,” Sydney told them. “I go in first. I’m who they want. Tony, you go around back with Luca. Get Kade before you come for me. If Mya’s still alive…”
“Doubtful,” Anthony stated. “It’s been more than twenty-four hours. There’s a good chance he’s killed her by now.”
“I have to agree with the detective.”
“Like I said, Kade’s the priority. Once you get him freed, come help me. If by some miracle Mya’s still alive, we’ll try to get her out.”
“I’m not thrilled about this plan.” Luca shook his head and placed his palm on her shoulder. “If something happens to you, Kade’s going to kill me.”
