by Brenda Trim
I shift my focus to Malik, and try to find any information on him. I do a search of his license plate and note it is registered to a forty-three-year-old Hispanic woman who lives in the Catalina wilderness. The same area Corbyn lives in.
Are all vampires filthy rich? A snort leaves my mouth as I realize that for them, five hundred is the new thirty. I’d be a billionaire, too, if I lived that long. Or perhaps I’d set a new record for how many shoes a single person can own.
Shoes are my thing. I can’t get enough of them, even the ugly comfortable shoes I wear to work. My absolute favorites are strappy sandals. Living in Arizona, I get to wear them for more of the year than when I lived in Utah, where it got too cold by early October to have your toes exposed. The last time I counted, I had 219 pairs.
I haven’t gotten rid of any of my shoes since I was a junior in high school. My father has tried to get me to part with them for years. Every time he helps me move, he complains, and tries to convince me I don’t need them, but I refuse. They’re my babies.
And, fashion may change, but trends always come back—at least, that’s what my grandmother said when she gave me my first pair of designer heels to play dress up in when I was four.
Typing in a new search, I find the python print coil sandals that I’ve been eyeing for months. Bottega Venetas come with a hefty price tag.
I’ve chosen to live in a crappier part of Tucson so I can afford to buy the expensive shoes a few times a year. I bought a pair of Garavani Rockstud slingbacks in March, so I shouldn’t even be looking at these, but I need the distraction. For the first time in the past forty-eight hours, I am not obsessing about vampires.
Unfortunately, even the python coils can’t keep my attention for long. It makes me want to cry. And then kill someone. Whoever is responsible for killing these women is going to pay when I find them. Shoes were my go-to stress relief. And now not even that is working.
Failure isn’t an option here. I believe a vampire is responsible for these murders, and has been killing for centuries.
A dark chuckle leaves my mouth when I realize how ridiculous that thought is. No doubt there have been hundreds, if not thousands, of vampires killing humans for longer than I can fathom. There is nothing I can do about the past, but I can make sure the vile being terrorizing women in Arizona is stopped.
Corbyn
Ava gets out of her car and unlocks the door to her small house from her garage while I sit in my car down the street, like a creeper. Part of me is surprised she didn’t notice me following her. I didn’t think I was capable of fooling the sexy, intelligent agent. Yet somehow, I managed to stay behind her when she left her office. Her garage door closes, and I climb out of my Hummer.
My heart races as I approach the front door. Lights pop on as I see her work her way through the small living room. Is this a good idea? She was pissed as fuck at me the last time I saw her. Coming here might backfire on me.
My gut has been twisted since she stormed out of Lucius’s office. There may be nothing between us, but I don’t want her to hate me. Lifting my hand, I knock on the door. Much to my surprise, my stomach churns. I haven’t been nervous or unsure in centuries, yet this woman has tied me in knots.
She is the one who should be tied up and at my mercy. The thought sends my mind in a thousand dirty directions at once. The image that shines brightest involves Ava on her hands and knees while I spank her pussy from behind. Wetness will weep from her core to soak my hand.
A bolt slides in the door and the panel opens to reveal Ava standing there with a smile on her face. That isn’t the reaction I expected, but I’ll take it. I smile back and hold out the bottle of wine.
“Just the vampire I was hoping to see.” She crosses her arms over her chest. “I didn’t hear from you today, so I wasn’t sure if you were going to get in touch with me again.” Her head cocks to one side and her lips purse for a second. “Before I forget to ask, are you awake during the day? Or do you have to sleep? Can you go out in the sun?”
I chuckle at the flurry of questions, and place the bottle in her hand. “Vampires are rendered unconscious during the day. Older vamps can remain awake, but they can’t do much except read a book. I’m relieved you want to see me. I thought you would still be mad at me after the conversation with Lucius.”
Ava snorts and turns to head into her house while waving at me over her shoulder. “I am pissed at you, but I need your help with my investigation.”
I stuff my hands in my pockets, trying not to focus so much on her alluring ass. It’s a distracting sight, to say the least. “I need you to invite me in.”
Ava swivels around, making her hair fly out behind her. “What? Is that a vampire thing or something?”
“Yes. We can’t enter without an invitation,” I explain.
“Good to know. This morning, I wondered if there was anywhere safe from your kind. Come on in.” She watches as I cross the threshold. “I’d offer you something to drink, but I’m off the menu.”
My fangs tingle at the mere mention of her blood, and I have to take a deep breath while I close the door. By the time I turn back around, I’m no longer in danger of seducing her. I’m approaching her cautiously where a relationship is concerned. Trust is key with her.
I make my way down the short hallway and find her in the kitchen. She removes her suit jacket and kicks off her shoes. I notice she nudges them toward an area where there are at least two dozen pairs of shoes piled on top of each other.
I thrust my hands in my pockets and lower my shoulders. “This likely won’t mean anything to you, but I want to say that everything I said to Lucius last night was to help you. I informed him that I intend to keep you around to ensure no one comes and erases your memories. Mates are the one thing other vampires tend to respect. Oh, and I also told him I’m helping you with this case. Before you get pissed about that, understand the Vampire King doesn’t put up with any shit. He never allows a situation like this to go ignored. He would have assigned someone else to it, and I can’t guarantee you would have survived with your mind intact. I will never allow harm to come to you,” I promise her.
Her stunning, pale green eyes narrow for a second before she opens a drawer and grabs a wine bottle opener. I watch her twist the cork out before she reaches inside a cupboard for a glass. A low growl leaves my throat before I can stop it.
She raises an eyebrow at me then rakes her gaze down my body. It feels like she’s running her hand over my skin. My shaft hardens immediately, and her lips curl up in one corner when she notices. The half-smile is still there as she pours herself a glass of wine.
“I’m not sure if I should say thank you or be offended that you think I can’t protect myself.” She takes a sip, and her eyes go briefly to half-mast. “This is the best Cabernet I’ve ever had. Wow, I guess money can buy happiness. Anyway, I discovered a ton of information and yet nothing at the same time. The one thing that stands out most to me is your lifelong pursuit of treatment for conditions that no longer affect you. Why would you do that?”
I take the three steps into her living room and take a seat on her grey sofa. Her home is clean, with a comfortable feel. Her furniture is neutral, nothing fancy. It doesn’t seem to fit the dynamic owner. Unlike the pile of shoes. Those are as diverse and complex as she is.
I prop my arm across the back of her couch. “I have never forgotten where I come from. Growing up working class in Greece, with a mother who was ill, impacted who I became. Being turned into a vampire didn’t erase that entirely. There was a time when I went off the rails and did things that I’m not proud of before I managed to gain control over my urges.”
Ava sits on the opposite end of the couch and sips her drink. She’s so close, yet there are miles between us. “What did your mother have?”
“At the time, I had no idea. We used to believe her blood was imbalanced, and the attempt to fix issues meant focusing on restoring that balance. It was much later that I discovered the cause of illnes
ses in the human body. I won’t bore you with the details of how the medical field advanced, but I will say that knowing what I do now, I believe she may have suffered from arthritis.”
Ava cocks her head and nibbles her lower lip. “And that killed her? Isn’t that an old person’s disease? I remember my grandma couldn’t walk well because she had arthritis in her knee.”
I chuckle and shake my head. “There are different types of the disease. What I’m talking about is the autoimmune condition where a person’s body attacks itself. When it comes to arthritis, it affects mostly the joint, but it can also include the heart and lungs. It’s why patients with the condition must keep their symptoms under control. If not, it can lead to death.”
Ava lifts her body and curls one of her legs under her ass. “You’re very passionate about your work. If I had been an agent for centuries, I don’t think I would like it anymore. Is Lucius really that stupid? My co-workers would never let him get away with hurting me. We do have guns, you know. I can shoot before they even think about hurting me.” The abrupt subject change is jarring. I want us to continue sharing intimate details with each other.
“Don’t ever say that where another vampire can hear you. Some are so loyal to Lucius they’ll take offense. But, to answer your question: Lucius would do what is necessary to stop you from leaking information about us. Vampires can wipe memories. It wouldn’t be difficult for him to do, and it’s a dangerous process for the victim. Anyone whose mind he wiped could be left permanently brain-damaged, or even dead.”
Ava’s breath leaves her in a sharp exhale, and her eyes narrow. “I’m not sure I like you, but I appreciate you protecting me. How can I solve this case if I can’t conduct an investigation? Whoever is killing women has been doing so for a very long time. I found cases in more than half the states over the past century. I need to stop him.” Everything about her in that moment screams determination, from her hand gestures, to her eyes, to the tone of her voice.
I run the fingers of one hand across the soft fabric of the sofa. “That’s why I’m here. I am going to help you with this one, but I need you to promise me you won’t approach any vampires without me. You aren’t safe, and not even your guns will protect you.”
Ava drains the rest of her wine and sets the empty glass on her coffee table. “All I can promise is that I will call you whenever I’m going to talk to someone I suspect is one of your kind.”
“Then it looks like I need to stick close to you. In your bed close,” I say in a low voice. I laugh with her and scooch closer to her on the couch.
She puts up her hand, letting me know she isn’t ready to invite me back to her bed.
It’s a good thing I don’t let that shit stop me. I will have her underneath me again. I just need to turn up the seduction.
9
Corbyn
My body feels every bit of my over six centuries of living. Not that I experience aches and pains anymore, but after not really sleeping today, I am dragging. I’m an old fucking vampire, and I own a large company responsible for research and ground-breaking medications. I should have been up and working on the latest problem I’d set my sights on. Normally I’d be thinking about how to work around it, but that wasn’t the case.
It’s not like you routinely stay awake when you encounter problems with work.
Initially, I assumed—or rather, hoped—I had reached another level of my progression as a vampire and am now simply stronger, more able to withstand some effects of the sun. Very quickly, I realized my folly.
Old vampires aren’t able to stay awake simply because they are stronger. At some point, our bodies give in to the drain and we fall unconscious.
Unless a vixen like Ava haunts our dreams, that is. The restlessness, as I tossed and turned throughout the daylight hours, was maddening. I need to feed to get my head on straight, which is why I am heading into Club Toxic. I notice Liam manning the door, and suddenly have no desire to descend into the dungeon and find a donor.
Anyone will taste bland compared to Ava. Her sweet, complex blood is too fresh on my tongue and in my veins. And that thought is ridiculous. The only real difference between humans is their blood type, there’s nothing as mystical as complexity.
I’m a freaking scientist! I know their properties are all relatively similar, and should not cause major deviations in how they taste. However, getting my mind to believe that is another story altogether.
I approach the other vampire. “Hey, Liam. How’s it going?”
Liam is one of the good ones. I don’t like to spend too much time around other vampires. In fact, I rarely spend time with anyone outside the club. Aside from finding a donor or grabbing a glass of the blood Lucius has on tap, I use the time to socialize.
Liam nods his head in acknowledgement. “Another slow night. I don’t mind it at all, but we need more humans to start coming to the club or we might have a problem soon. Not enough to feed the rest of us.”
Liam found a woman not long ago, after some shifters tried to infiltrate the club. I’ve heard him talk about it a few times, but he never shared many details beyond the fact that he saved her from a crazy ex. He didn’t have to say anything for me to understand the woman is everything to him. The way his face brightens and he smiles when he talks about her, tells it all.
For the first time since Liam told me about his Harper, I wonder what it is like to be mated for life to another being. I have never stopped to contemplate the concept. It doesn’t surprise me that meeting Ava sparks these thoughts. It’s par for the course with her. What has my heart pounding and sweat beading on my brow is that I’m not entirely repulsed by the idea.
I pause a few feet from him. “Did Lucius tell you about the FBI agent?”
Liam nods his head, but keeps his mouth shut while a couple of females totter on their high heels toward the door. I watch as they flash their IDs, pay the cover, and Liam waves them inside.
Liam scans the street while he leans against the building, his leather jacket creaking as he moves. “Lucius informed us that the agent poses a danger to our kind. I’ve been given orders to keep her from entering the club.”
I shove my hands in the pockets of my slacks and narrow my eyes. “Lucius is wrong about Ava being a danger. If she was going to reveal our existence, she would have by now.” Anger churns in my belly while I defend her. “I hope Lucius stressed that we need to discover the vampire responsible for these murders. There are irrefutable details that point to one of us.”
Liam shifts his gaze my way. “Why are you so interested? You’ve never gotten involved in anything before.”
I force myself not to lash out at the bouncer. He is right. I’ve never gotten involved in any shit outside my lab. “My survival is just as much in danger as yours. And, I admit Ava captured my attention. For many reasons, I can’t walk away without helping her.”
Liam lifts one corner of his mouth in a smirk. “It’s not about the victims, but your desire to impress the woman. That makes sense.”
I want to refute his words, but there is nothing I can say that will sound remotely plausible. Liam will see through me in a heartbeat. “Honestly, she’s unlike anyone I’ve ever known. And, she will get herself killed pursuing this investigation, so I’m helping. Even if she doesn’t want my assistance. There’s just something about her. None of that is important right now. Have you seen anything suspicious?”
Liam snorts and shakes his head from side to side. “Suspicious? Vampires feed from humans, there’s nothing suspicious in that.”
A heavy sigh leaves me. He’s right. This seems impossible. “Are most humans under a thrall when they leave with the vamps?”
He tilts his head to one side. “Actually, no. Most vampires feed in the dungeon and go home alone. I’m not saying they always leave alone, but more often than not, they do.”
“Given how private most of us are, that makes sense. Can you do me a favor and let me know if you see anything that seems out of place?”
>
Liam shifts his stance, crossing one booted foot over the other. “Not sure I will have anything for you, but yeah. I made a vow to protect Lucius, and I’ll do whatever is necessary. If there’s a vampire using Club Toxic as his hunting ground to violate one of our laws, I will do whatever I have to in order to stop him.”
“A loyal vampire? How surprising.”
I swear my dead heart starts beating when I hear Ava’s voice behind me.
A second later, heat detonates in my bloodstream, and I whirl around to face her. She’s stunning with the moonlight shining off her black hair. It makes her pale green eyes look otherworldly. For a split second, she looks supernatural. I take her hand and lift it to my mouth then kiss the back of it. “Ava, lovely to see you. What brings you here tonight?”
Liam stands up straight. “Lucius says you aren’t allowed in the club anymore.”
She thrusts her hands on her hips in a picture of defiance. “Why is that? Because he’s hiding a killer in his bar and is afraid that I’ll expose him for what he is?”
My gaze travels over her figure and to the low-cut amber top that reveals the swell of her cleavage. She’s fucking perfect.
“Ava,” I warn. “Lucius isn’t harboring anyone. Vampires are familiar with murder and death, but we have taken steps to change our ways. Lucius is at the fore of that movement. He promised he would find the culprit and handle the matter.”
Liam takes a step toward Ava. I immediately move in between the two and snarl at the vampire before I can stop my reaction. Liam chuckles. “Corbyn is right. Lucius will not tolerate someone killing in his city. And I will do what I can to help, but I think you’re barking up the wrong tree here. You won’t find anything inside the club to confirm your suspicions.”
Ava waves her hand. “Then you won’t mind if I go in for a drink, right?”
“Be my guest,” Liam offers before leaning in until he is an inch from her face. “But if you step out of line, I will personally escort you off the property.”
