“You’re sure?”
Diesel crossed his tattooed arms and narrowed his gaze on Britt. “Didn’t I just say that I was?”
“Big deal. Doesn’t mean it’s true. I don’t trust anything a vampire tells me,” Britt said, still thinking about Morana’s deception.
Diesel took the comment personally and growled, “Piss off, Brittain. I don’t need to be grilled by you or any other cop. I’m not a snitch, and I’ll never be one.” He marched off, leaving Jess and Britt staring after him.
“He seems a little more riled up tonight than usual,” she said. Something must have happened.”
Britt bit his lip and exhaled hard. He couldn’t think straight right now because his brain was working overtime. He needed to find a way to tell her what had happened. And the only way he could think of was just to be honest—to tell her and hope she’d understand it was her bitch of a sister who’d tricked him. He cleared his throat but didn’t move when she grabbed his hand and tried to pull him into the club. “Wait. I have something to tell you,” he said. “Something important.”
She stalled and looked at him. “So tell me.”
“Can we get out of here first?”
She gave him a strange look. “Okay, if you want to leave—”
“I do.”
They backtracked and climbed the ladder to the street. Then he led her to a quiet, dark alley not far from LaCave’s entrance. Maybe because they spent so much of their time in alleys in New York City, he felt this was the best place to talk to her.
She kissed him before he said a word, but this time, she sniffed his earlobe and backed away. “What’s going on? Why do you smell like Morana?”
“That’s what I need to tell you, Jess. She tricked me tonight. Made me believe she was you.”
“How could that happen? There are definite differences that a man who loves me should know.”
His heart plummeted. She was right. He should have known.
Her cell phone dinged, and she pulled it out of her pocket.
“Can’t you check your cell phone later?” he said, desperation evident in his voice.
But she was ignoring him. Instead, she was staring at her phone with a horrified expression on her face.
His heart stuttered to a halt. Her phone played a video of Morana and him against a wall—her hands were inside his shirt and working their way downward toward the waist of his pants. It certainly looked as if he had enjoyed every minute of their make-out session. And, of course, she’d cut off the video before he shoved her off him.
She must have mounted her damned phone on the cave wall to take the video. How’d she do it without him noticing? Unless he really had been mesmerized.
Jess backed away from him, her cell phone still in her hand, but she held it out as if it were dirty.
“It’s not what it looks like,” he said.
“Really, you forget I know your every expression. I can see that you are enjoying what’s going on.”
“I thought it was you, damn it!”
“How could you have?”
“I think she mesmerized me. Tricked me into believing it was you,” he said. “When I got my wits about me, I shoved her away. For obvious reasons, she didn’t include that part of the video.”
“That’s why you and Diesel were arguing in the tunnel,” Jess said, her voice a mix of anger and hurt that ripped at his heart.
“Yes. We came close to fighting, but he soon realized that Morana had done this to me on purpose. He knows what she’s capable of.”
He only hoped Jess could give him the benefit of the doubt. If he’d seen a damning video like that, would he be able to get over it?
“It was against a wall, Britt—that’s what we do,” she said. “How would Morana know that?”
“I didn’t instigate anything, Jess. I was leaning against the wall, watching the crowd. She showed up, made me believe she was you. The position wasn’t intentional, I promise you.”
Jess let her body slide down the wall until she sat on the ground with her knees tucked up in front of her. She kept staring at the video, over and over again.
Britt moved so he couldn’t see it. It made him sick.
Finally, she turned it off and stood again.
He’d been waiting silently, his body so tense, he felt knots in his neck.
IT TOOK JESS A few minutes to think things through. The image she’d seen on the phone dominated her thoughts. How could he? Then she looked at him—her Britt.
His angst was palpable, and the muscles in his jaw were taut. His eyes were dull and vacant with both anger and fear. Her heart softened. He hadn’t done it on purpose. He wasn’t the one to blame here.
“Britt, it’s okay. I believe you. Morana played a dirty trick. I guess we’d better come up with a safe word so you’ll know it’s me and not her from now on.”
Truth was, his eyes held the look of someone who’d been impelled and let go too quickly. His serotonin levels would be off the charts. How could she be angry with him? She’d done the same thing to him once— only, she’d never admitted it to him, or anyone else. “I told you she was a bitch.”
He let out a long breath. “Thank God you believe me, Jess.” His voice was as ragged as she’d ever heard it. “I can’t help but feel I betrayed you, but I swear I was duped by her. You know I don’t trust her, and I wouldn’t care if I ever saw her again.”
Her expression must’ve telegraphed her inner turmoil, because he added, “But I will put up with her, for your sake. Do you care if I just dislike her privately?”
“Don’t put up with her if you don’t want to, Britt. In fact, dark soul or not, she’d better not try anything like this again, or I’ll make sure she’s particles floating on the air.”
“What’ll our safe word be?”
“Hmmm,” she whispered back. “How about angel? I don’t think that’d be a word in her vocabulary.”
He reached out tentatively. When she came to him, he held her in his arms as if she might break. “I swear, she had to have mesmerized me, because there’s no way I could ever mistake her for you. You always smell so great. In hindsight, her perfume was almost overpowering.”
Jess held up a hand. “Let’s forgo the details, okay? I’d rather not see that image in my mind ever again. In fact, I’m going to delete the video this second.”
He let her go, and she pulled out her cell phone, deleting the video with an angry poke.
“I’ve had enough of surveillance and Paris tonight. I just want to spend some time with you,” he said.
“Wish we could, but I was coming to get you because I can’t find Regent. I checked with Sampson. He has no idea where Regent is tonight, and he’s worried.”
“He might be working in the archives,” Britt said, running a finger across his eyebrow thoughtfully. “But it’s kind of late for him to be doing that.”
“He’s not there. I checked. Their logbook is monitored carefully, and according to the security guard, Regent hasn’t been there in weeks.”
“What? You’re kidding. Didn’t he say that’s what he’s been doing for the Church, searching the archives?”
“That is what he said. However, that’s not what he’s been doing.” She tried to ignore the dark red lipstick stain on his collar. She’d burn that shirt when they got home.
“I gather you’re not thinking he’s been kidnapped or anything else nefarious?” he asked.
“No, because if I’m right, this has been going on for weeks.” They left the alley. “He’s either doing something for the Church or something on his own.”
“Maybe it has to do with the real reason they sent him here?” Britt said.
“Do you mean the demon uprising?”
“The uprising only started after we arrived. I don’t think it’s the reason they summoned Regent to France. There has to be something else.”
“It must be something Regent can’t or won’t tell us. If that’s the case, I don’t like it. We’ve n
ever had any secrets from each other.”
Britt frowned. “Everyone has secrets.”
Jess cranked her neck around to look at him. She might be a tough kick-ass vampire, but never once had she considered that Britt might have secrets. Not ones he was keeping from her.
Chapter Eleven
MORANA POURED HER special herbs into the Longina Iced Teas and set them on a tray for delivery. She’d better copyright this recipe before word got out and it got stolen by someone—like Vlad. He’d been asking patrons about it. She had to figure out a way to get out of his debt.
No one would steal her recipe and get away with it—it was too important to her. And if word got out about her iced teas, Sinclair would kill her for using any of his secret stash of potions without telling him.
She rubbed her lower lip with her index finger and thought about kissing her twin sister’s man. He was hot! No wonder Jess managed to forgo her vampire needs to be with this human. She imagined he’d be as good in bed as he’d been up against a wall.
She’d never dreamed it would be so hard to enthrall him, though. It took almost every bit of her ability to make him believe she was Jess, and even then, she could feel him internally fighting against her the whole time. There was something different about him. But what was it?
Back to that hot kiss. If Britt were hers, she’d keep him tied up in the bedroom, and she’d enthrall the brains out of him. She licked her lips and fantasized a little more about the muscles he had in all the right places. Even better, under the enthrallment, that hard man still gave off a don’t-touch-me vibe that was so hot! She rubbed her finger over her lip again, contemplating the possibilities.
Diesel shot her a black look. “You’re thinking about him, aren’t you?”
“That’s none of your goddamned business,” she said.
Diesel’s head lowered, and his expression turned menacing. She’d rarely seen that look on him, but it was kind of hot, too. Too bad he didn’t show his mean side more often. He usually came across as a lame puppy pretending to be alpha.
“I thought we were friends,” he said angrily.
“Yeah, like best buds,” she said sarcastically. “Hell, you’re like the best girlfriend I’ve never had.”
“Jesus, Morana, you’re such a bitch. I don’t know why you hate your sister so much, but don’t project that hate onto me! You’re going to get yourself into trouble messing with her.”
“Messing with whom? Jess?” She laughed. “She’s a half-vampire with less than stellar vampire traits. She couldn’t take me if I was blindfolded and had one hand tied behind my back.”
“That’s where you’re wrong,” he said. “She’s a wicked vampire hunter who’s renowned in New York City for her uber vampire hunting skills. She’s well-known and feared by the vampire population there, and she’s sent hundreds of them to their graves. She’s tough, and she’s deadly. Don’t ever forget that.”
“Hah! I find that hard to believe,” Morana said.
“The only reason she’s being nice to you is because you’re her sister. And that’s probably the only reason she hasn’t smoked me, too. She’s not fond of vampires, as far as I’ve heard.”
“Really? You’re serious?” Morana put her hands on her hips. “That’s why she wears that extreme get-up? Because she’s a fighter? Why didn’t you tell me that sooner?” Dear twin sis might just deserve a second chance.
“I assumed you knew,” he said. “Until I saw what you did to her man, anyway. You’re just asking for trouble by messing with him. Sister or not, I don’t think she’ll put up with you screwing around Britt. Especially since you had to enthrall him in order to do it.”
“How’d you know I did that?” She glared at Diesel. He’d been a foreigner. She’d taken him in, befriended him. . . . Most vampires avoided non-Europeans for safety’s sake—they were often less evolved. But it was too late now. He knew too damned much about her, even if she regretted their so-called friendship.
“You have an unusual trait for a vampire. It’s in your eyes. They remain black around the irises after you enthrall someone. Especially if you’re doing it for sex,” he admitted with disgust written all over him.
She glared at him while anger burned up her throat. She should rip him a new one right here and right now, but instead, she grabbed the counter, maintaining awareness that they were in a room full of humans. “You’ve been watching me? Have you been following me, Diesel? I could kill you for that alone.”
For an instant, Diesel’s lapdog attitude changed, showing underlying strength. Interesting.
“I want you for myself, bitch,” he said. “You must know that. I’m not going to watch you feeling up other men right in front of me.”
She turned on him. How far could she go before he showed his true colors?
She lowered her head and narrowed in on him, sending paralyzing thoughts into his Neanderthal brain. “Don’t try to change the subject! Have you been following me?” She hoped he’d say no. Because saying yes meant he’d be signing his own death warrant.
His eyes widened, and for just a split second, he looked petrified.
“No, of course I wouldn’t keep tabs on you. I’m just observant.”
She let off on the internal attack on his mind. Points to him that he held up so well under her attempts. “But you’re intimating I enthrall humans for sex here at work. What would make you think that?”
“I’ve seen you go off with humans and come back later looking very satiated. I understand that. I’ve done it myself when I needed to let off a little steam. We’ve got a whole herd of willing—well, quasi-willing— humans at our fingertips, so I don’t blame you.”
“It’s not wise to talk like that,” Morana said, showing the tips of her very sharp teeth. “We aren’t allowed to sup on humanity. It goes against the Pact.”
“The Pact,” he said between gritted teeth. “I’m so GD sick of it. It’s holding us back. We’re like the lesser beings in Paris, kowtowing to the olde ones. We need to be who we are. Doing anything less isn’t living.”
Morana laughed at that. “Maybe we are more alike than I thought,” she said, letting go of her anger toward him. “I guess that’s why I agreed to let you in on buying the bar in the first place. But for now, Diesel, watch your tongue. There are ears everywhere.” She cast a quick glance at the crowd. “Do you really think everyone out there is human?”
As if he really hadn’t even noticed, he turned and stared at the club filled with partygoers. Elbow to elbow on the dance floor, crowded around hip high tables and sofas . . . They were definitely not all humans. He reached down and flipped on the black lights in the ceiling in order to verify her statement.
“I knew more of them were coming, but I had no idea how many.” Dozens of eyes reflected in the black light in a way only another vampire could see.
Morana offered a fake smile. “After the last two or three deaths in the tunnels, they started coming in out of curiosity. They’re still here, so I guess they like it.”
“How many humans are being bitten each night?” Diesel asked in an irritated voice. She didn’t blame him. As a vampire, he should never be unaware of other vampires in his vicinity. But that was Diesel—not quite the badass he thought he was.
She put a finger over her lips and shook her head, then winked at him. “None, of course.” If Diesel was stupid enough to ask a question like that, when the bar was this crowded, he deserved what he got. But not her. She wasn’t going to give anything away.
JESS LOOKED UP at the apartment windows. It was a huge relief to find Regent at home. But once she and Britt got inside, she realized his mannerisms were off—out of touch, almost.
“We couldn’t find you earlier,” Jess said to him, without coming right out and asking him where he’d been.
“Sorry I missed you, dear. I was out walking and thinking,” he said. “I know you only want to keep me safe, but I used to hunt vampires, too. I’m not afraid, and I still stay in sha
pe. I can probably hold my own if a situation arises.”
Crap. Physically, he wasn’t an older man anymore. In fact, he might even be as good a fighter as he used to be. But she didn’t want him being tested on his own, here in Paris.
“Can you at least tell someone where you’re going? Or leave a note.”
His face flushed, and he looked away from her. “No, I’m sorry, Jess. I’m a grown man. I’m not going to start asking permission to go out.”
“Is there something you’re not telling us?” she said.
“Like what?” His eyes focused on her.
“Like, are you doing something for the Church that you can’t talk about?”
He let out a harsh breath in another example of unusual irritation. “If I were, do you think I could tell you?” he said.
She crossed her arms over her chest. “Since when have we kept secrets from each other, Reej?”
Her brother’s head sagged, and he sank onto the sofa. “You can relax. I do admit to feeling out of sorts lately, but walking alone at night calms me. That’s all there is to it. No secrets. The Church is not involved.”
Britt looked disconcerted at his statement. He’d been worried about her brother, too. But short of grilling Regent and making him more upset, she had to be satisfied with the fact that he was safe for tonight. And so far, he’d come home every night.
Regent ran a shaky hand over his eyes. He looked as if he hadn’t slept for a week. “Look, do you mind if I say goodnight? I’m tired, and I’d like to go to bed.”
“Of course,” Jess said, despair seeping into her bones. None of this made any sense.
Regent actually got up and headed for his bedroom while they were still standing in his living room.
“Lock the door on the way out, will you?” he said.
SHE AND BRITT didn’t discuss Regent on the way home, mainly because they didn’t know what to say. His behavior could be due to fatigue, she guessed. But fatigue or not, it wasn’t like him to dismiss guests and go to bed while they’re still in his apartment.
Britt’s shoulders looked tense. He’d been through a lot lately too. It was obvious guilt ate at him for his part in Morana’s betrayal, but no matter what she said, it didn’t help. He hadn’t tried to kiss her or suggest going to bed. She’d wait for him to come around, but she had a feeling he’d have to get the memory of Morana out of his head first.
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