“All right—for now.” He’d saved her life, but if he needed to out her problems to save his own butt, he would.
“Thank you.” She settled back against her pillow, her focus riveted on her daughter.
He picked up his blood pack on the way out the door. The baby wasn’t the only one overdue for a feeding. Out in the hallway, he leaned against the wall, glad for the breather. What a relief that mother and daughter were doing well. It had been a close call.
But she’d rallied after he’d gotten the IV started, although the journey had clearly cost her the last of her energy reserves. She’d be needing lots of fluids and protein to build up her strength.
After kneading the blood pack to mix it thoroughly, he popped it with his fangs and sucked it down. At least it was relatively fresh. According to Conlan, another delivery would arrive sometime during the night.
“Seamus?” Megan sounded hesitant. “I’m ready to lie down again.”
He tossed the empty blood pack in the trash and prepared to face his patient, not that he’d ever be a real doctor again. “Let me get the baby settled back in her bed while you eat the soup Conlan fixed. Then you can get some sleep.”
A short time later, he let himself out of the room after both mother and daughter had dozed off. The sun would be down in a few minutes, and he could finally escape the closed-in feeling of the dorm building. Fresh air would definitely be a welcome change, as would a chance to be alone for a while. It had been ages since he’d had this much intense interaction with anyone. He wasn’t sure he liked it.
He had one, and only one, goal: avenge his sister. His role as a medic had been intended as a means to accomplish it. He hadn’t expected to become entangled with any other resident of Rafferty’s estate, especially a woman with lavender eyes and dark secrets of her own.
Conlan returned shortly after dark, dragging Megan’s cart behind him. Seamus helped him lug the various bags and boxes inside to stack in the hall outside of her room. Neither man wanted to wake up the two females sleeping inside.
After they’d carried the last of the boxes in, Conlan led the way back to his office. When they were seated at his desk, the inquisition began.
“I’ve got to know—how contagious is Megan? Do we need to quarantine the compound until we find out if either of us or the baby come down with whatever knocked her flat? The supply shipment is due soon, and I don’t want to put the rest of the estate at risk.”
Seamus considered how much to tell him and settled for the truth. “You understand that without a fully equipped medical lab at my disposal, I can only make an educated guess about what the problem was?”
Conlan had been leaning back in his chair with his feet propped up on the desk. He immediately dropped them back down on the ground and leaned forward, a lawman scenting potential trouble. “After watching you all day, I’m willing to trust your gut. Spit it out, Seamus.”
“I would guess that if we’re not sick within twenty-four hours, we should be fine.” A safe enough assessment given poison wasn’t contagious. “I think whatever it was hit her hard because of her recent pregnancy. If she hadn’t gotten here when she did, she’d have died out there on the trail. As it was, I barely managed to pull her back from the edge.”
Seamus’s fangs ran out to full length, a fact he couldn’t hide from Conlan. “I can’t believe no one helped her before it got that bad.”
By now, the furious chancellor was sporting an impressive set of fangs of his own. Seamus wasn’t the only one who hated knowing Megan had gone through hell. Chancellors came hardwired with a strong sense of right and wrong.
Conlan pulled a pad of paper from his top drawer. “What kind of symptoms should we be watching for? I need to give the boss a heads-up.”
“Vomiting, clammy skin, weight loss and possibly gastric bleeding.”
Conlan looked up from his notes. “Sounds like fun.”
Seamus smiled at his black humor. “Chances are a healthy individual wouldn’t get the extreme version Ms. Perez did. She was already weakened from her youngling’s recent delivery.”
Definitely time to change subjects. “Which reminds me, why would Megan say that Joss O’Day should end up with her daughter?”
Conlan relaxed, but only slightly. “They’re cousins. Joss said they haven’t had much contact over the past few years, but were pretty close when they were kids.”
“That puts things in a different light. At least it would explain why Megan would risk so much to reach the compound, especially if she thought she was dying.”
The chancellor leaned back again, his boots landing on the desktop with a loud thump. “You’ve got to wonder why she didn’t turn to her parents for help or at least go to the local hospital.”
“It’s hard to think straight when you’re that sick. Most likely she didn’t know who to turn to, especially if she didn’t know who could be trusted.”
Seamus knew all about that—feeling so damned alone because he no longer knew friend from foe. After all, that’s why he’d ended here up on the outskirts of Rafferty O’Day’s estate. The bastard had managed to rob Seamus of everything that had held meaning in his life: family, status, honor. And for that, the vampire would pay dearly.
Something of what he was thinking must have shown on his face because when he looked up Conlan was giving him the evil eye. Before Seamus could decide what would distract his all-too-discerning host, Conlan jerked as if someone had just yanked on his strings. If Seamus hadn’t been so lost in his own thoughts, he would’ve heard the transport sooner.
“Sounds like we’ve got company.”
Conlan grabbed packets of gloves and masks off his desk and headed out the door before Seamus even managed to stand up. By the time he joined him out on the porch, the gate from the estate side had rolled open. The chancellor shaded his eyes, trying to see past the glare of the headlights. Once he recognized the vehicle, he slammed the office door closed and stalked down the steps.
“This is all I need,” he muttered as he waited for the vehicle to clear the gate before closing it again.
Seamus hung back to see who had the chancellor looking as if he’d swallowed something nasty. A tall woman climbed out of the passenger’s side of the transport as an even taller male slid out of the driver’s side. Seamus’s chest tightened as his mind jumped to the obvious conclusion. However, the last thing he wanted to do was raise suspicions. If he was right about the couple’s identity, he was about to finally meet Rafferty O’Day and his new chancellor bride, Josalyn Sloan O’Day.
He’d hoped to put that pleasure off for a few more days at least, but he had no choice but to act curious and wait for an introduction. He drew comfort from the fact that Conlan also didn’t seem particularly happy to see his employer. What was his relationship to the vampire and his wife? Could the man be a possible ally?
There was no use in thinking that way. Without bothering to try to disguise his interest, he listened in on the conversation out in the courtyard.
“Since when do you two run a delivery service?” Conlan tossed them each a mask. “Here, put these on before you come any closer. We don’t know whether or not Megan is contagious.”
Without bothering to wait for a reply, Conlan picked up a box from the back of Rafferty’s vehicle and started toward his office. Rather than be left alone with Rafferty and his wife, Seamus decided to lend a hand without waiting to be asked.
He nodded at the couple, careful to keep his expression neutral, but friendly. They picked up the remaining two cartons and carried them inside. He noticed one was a blood cooler. Good. At least he wouldn’t go hungry.
Conlan’s small office was even more crowded with the clutter of supplies and two additional people. Rather than hang around, Seamus set his box down with the others and started for his room.
“Get back here, kid.” Conlan sounded more like he had when Seamus had first arrived, but Seamus had the impression that his bad mood wasn’t directed at him.
There was no mistaking the bitterness in Conlan’s voice. Before Seamus could decide what to think about that, the security officer continued on. “Rafferty, Joss, this is Seamus Fitzhugh. He’s the one I told you about.”
Rafferty ignored his employee’s poor manners and stepped forward, his gloved hand held out. “We have you to thank for saving Megan’s life. We both owe you for that.”
Seamus forced himself to accept the handshake. “Ms. Perez is a fighter.”
Joss smiled and followed Rafferty’s example. Her grip was every bit as strong as her husband’s. “Even so, it was a miracle that we had a medic appear at just the right moment. A person with your credentials would’ve been welcome, anyway, but your timing couldn’t have been more perfect.”
“Glad to be of service. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll get out of your way.”
He sensed their surprise at his abrupt departure, but he had to put some space between himself and the O’Days. Even though their gratitude seemed genuine, he wanted nothing to do with it—or them. Of course, it was easy to be gracious when they were the ones in a position of power. Not that he’d let his resentment show.
What had Petra ever seen in that man, anyway? No amount of money was worth shackling herself to a bastard like O’Day, especially considering the price she’d paid for doing so. The vampire obviously thought he ruled the world. Well, once Seamus established himself on the estate, they’d see who really was calling the shots.
Conlan stared after Seamus, wondering if he’d only imagined that sudden predatory gleam in the vampire’s eyes. It was gone before he could be sure. He didn’t want to raise any unnecessary suspicions about Seamus at the moment. After all, the kid was running on empty, same as he was. Under the circumstances, they were both entitled to be a bit testy.
But neither would Conlan ignore the possibility that Seamus wasn’t exactly what he seemed. Tomorrow would be time enough to start digging into his past. If there was a problem, he’d find it. A question from Joss jerked him back to the conversation at hand.
“When can I see Megan?”
“Last I looked she was sleeping, but you can peek in on her and the baby, if you’d like.”
After Joss left, he turned to Rafferty. “Why don’t you ask your questions? I’m hungry and short on sleep. The longer this takes, the less likely I am to have many answers.”
The vampire didn’t blink at Conlan’s blunt offer, but he didn’t act all warm and fuzzy, either. Rafferty had hired Conlan because Joss had asked him to. Conlan had accepted the offer because he’d had no other options. It didn’t make for the friendliest working relationship.
Rafferty pulled up a chair. “What do you know about the medic?”
“So far, just what he told me. He lost his scholarship because of a scandal involving a woman. He had enough credits to get licensed as a medic. He says he had nowhere else to go.”
Steepling his fingers, Conlan stared at them briefly before continuing. “He’s hiding something, but I don’t know what. All hell broke loose right after he arrived, so I haven’t even done a preliminary check. Judging by how he handled himself today, though, his credentials are legit. I was damn glad to have him here when Megan Perez collapsed coming through the gate.”
Rafferty sat up straighter. “How bad was it?”
“Bad enough. I can’t believe she walked all the way here.”
“What was she thinking? If she’d sent a message to Joss, we would have picked her up.” The anger in Rafferty’s voice was clearly due to frustration.
“My guess would be that she didn’t want to stay in any one spot long enough to wait for an answer or a pickup. Our young medic isn’t the only one with secrets.”
“You didn’t say what the baby is.”
Joss rejoined them. “She’s female and a full-blooded vampire. Megan didn’t mention the father, and I didn’t press.”
Rafferty frowned. “Well, that narrows it down to either a chancellor or a vampire, not that it matters. If Megan wants a home here, she’s got one.”
Then he shot Conlan a look. “So does Seamus Fitzhugh. Tell him we’ll come back for him and Megan as soon as she’s fit to travel.”
Conlan held his coffee in a white-knuckled grip. If Rafferty wasn’t going to follow his own rules, then why bother having them at all? “I’m not worried about your cousin, Joss, but I haven’t had time to check into Seamus’s story at all.”
“I know, but I think this exception is necessary. We need a medic, especially until we know if Megan will make a full recovery. Do your normal search. If he proves to be a problem, I’ll handle it.” Rafferty rose to his feet and walked out.
Joss hung back for a few seconds. “Thanks again, Conlan, for contacting us immediately. I appreciate it.”
“Just doing my job.”
Despite his curt response, Joss smiled at him. “I know, but I sleep better knowing that you’re here. Rafferty does, too, even though he won’t admit it.”
“Don’t worry about me and Rafferty. We understand each other just fine.”
She laughed. “Oh, I know you do. It’s like watching two peas in a pod that don’t really like each other.”
He followed her to the door. “Liking each other has nothing to do with us trusting each other, especially when both of us have a tendency to bite first and ask questions later. However, because of you, we try to be civil.”
“If you call what passes between the two of you civil conversation, I’d hate to see you when you’re rude.” Joss softened the comment with a quick kiss on his cheek.
He opened the gate and watched them drive off. Time for some sleep and then he’d start digging into Seamus Fitzhugh’s past. He’d feel a heck of a lot better if he had a nice fat background report in hand before letting the young medic out of his sight.
After all, Joss might be Rafferty’s wife, but she was the last real friend Conlan had.
Chapter 3
Megan eyed the huge breakfast Seamus had set in front of her. When was the last time she’d really felt like eating at all? It didn’t help that she felt a bit self-conscious wearing nothing but a nightgown in front of someone she barely knew. How silly was that? During the worst of her illness, Seamus Fitzhugh had seen far more of her than what the rather demure gown revealed.
But he was a vampire, reason enough to be on her guard around him even if he had saved her life.
At the moment he was too busy walking her daughter back and forth in the small room to pay much attention to Megan herself. She didn’t want to get caught staring, but she couldn’t seem to pull her eyes away. There was no mistaking the strength in Seamus Fitzhugh.
Sure, part of that was standard equipment for vampires, but there was something about him that reminded her of tempered steel. As if he’d been sorely tested, but survived the experience all the stronger for it. It was there in the set of his shoulders and the faint lines that bracketed his mouth.
Whatever had happened had left shadows in his intensely blue eyes, which also reflected a powerful intelligence that at times saw far too much. He hadn’t asked her many questions, but she could feel them coming.
“Little one, your momma needs to eat every bite on her plate,” he crooned, the order intended for Megan although he was looking at the baby. “Or we’ll have to spoon-feed her.”
“I’m eating, I’m eating,” Megan groused. Did the man think she was an idiot? As a nursing mother, she was still eating for two. She took another bite of the eggs.
He still stopped to check out the contents of her plate. Her steady progress evidently pleased him because he resumed his pacing.
“Hey, pretty girl, I still don’t know your name.”
Megan could take a hint. “Her name is Phoebe Perez.”
“A beautiful name for a beautiful girl.” Then he wrinkled his nose and grimaced. “A
nd you’re still beautiful, little Phoebe, even if I do have to change your diaper. Again.”
“I can do that.” Megan started to set the tray aside.
The medic headed right for the makeshift changing table. “Concentrate on eating your breakfast. You have years of diaper changing ahead of you. I’ll take care of this one.”
While he very efficiently handled that little chore, she considered the best way to broach a touchy subject. Finally, she just spit it out.
“Have you updated our medical records?”
He gave her a hard look. “No, I haven’t had access to a computer yet. Why do you ask?”
“Because I haven’t registered Phoebe’s birth and want to keep it that way for the time being.”
If Seamus was surprised, he didn’t show it. Instead, he finished bundling Phoebe back up in her blanket before answering. He turned back to face Megan, speaking softly.
“Conlan still thinks you were sick with an infection.”
Her heart jumped in her chest. “And is that what you think now?” she asked, although it was a sure bet he didn’t from the expression on his face.
“Rather than your being poisoned?” he asked, tossing the problem back in her lap. “No, and it wasn’t an accident, either. You really need to tell Conlan and Rafferty.”
She could no longer look him straight in the eye. “No, and no matter what you think, it was some kind of infection.”
“Believe that if you want to. But antidotes for iron poisoning don’t work on infections, and that’s what I gave you.”
Fear threatened to choke off her breath. “So why aren’t you telling him the truth yourself?”
His eyes were glacier cold. “Let’s just say you’re not the only one with secrets and let it go at that.”
He turned his attention back to the daughter, his voice softening again. “So, let’s see, little girl. Coalition law states attending physicians must keep careful records, especially for infants and children, complete with the mother’s name, the father’s name and the species of the child in question.”
Vampire Vendetta Page 3
