He watched the four vampires under Alex’s command approach, the ones he’d personally chosen for the mission. To them, he still worked for Alex, still ruled their actions. He watched the vampires come into view and motioned for them to join him. Dressed in a long trench coat, Carrie walked willingly with her captives, controlled by their mental connection to her.
“Carrie!” Jolene screamed out the minute she saw her friend. Carrie acted as if she hadn’t heard Jolene. “Carrie, please. Are you okay?”
“Shut up,” Drago growled at Jolene, putting on a show, but hating every minute of it.
Riker took a step forward. “Tie her up,” he said, inclining his head at Carrie. “I know you control her mind. I don’t want her trying to run off.”
“Do it,” Drago ordered the vampire closest to him.
Riker continued, “Jolene and Carrie will leave with my men so I know they’re safe. Then, and only then, will I hand myself over.”
“Not happening,” Drago said. “They stay until we finish this or there’s no trade.”
“We both know you have no intention of letting me live,” Riker argued. “I won’t have my daughter be a witness to my demise.”
“I’ll be gracious and do it without an audience,” Drago said, “but the women stay until you’re secured.” He let the challenge linger in the air. He had to play this out in a way that wouldn’t raise suspicion. “Deal or no deal?” He pressed the blade to Jolene’s throat. “Does she live or die?”
“Fine,” Riker conceded reluctantly. “But hand the women over to my men.”
With Drago’s approval, one of Alex’s men shoved Carrie forward and Gareth grabbed her. A second later, Jolene gasped as Gareth sunk his teeth into Carrie’s neck. He had to take her blood in order to control of her mind, to steal it away from the other vampires. It would also allow him to read the location of the third slave camp.
Now, the moment of pain for Drago. He had to let Jolene go. Remember what I said. Stay close to Galen.
Stop worrying about me and focus on staying alive yourself, damn it.
He would have laughed at her fiery attitude if the situation wasn’t so grave. Reluctantly, he released her, and she rushed into her father’s arms, a planned event.
Riker hugged her and kissed her forehead. Following her script, she pleaded with her father. “You can’t go with them. They’ll kill you.”
Riker didn’t respond, a hard shell in place as he handed her off to Galen who shoved her behind him, shielding her with his big body. Drago and Riker stepped forward, toe to toe, eyes locking as they silently counted down as planned. Giving Jolene time to get untied. One, two, three.
At the same moment, Drago and Riker pulled weapons and turned on the four vampires. In each of Drago’s hands, he gripped long, corkscrew-type circular blades designed to destroy a vampire’s heart. Drago landed the point in the first vampire’s heart before the male ever knew what had hit him, twisting it to destruction.
He whirled around just in time to kick a second vampire solidly in the chest. His attacker stumbled and Drago took advantage of the moment, using his second blade to destroy the vampire’s heart.
Poised to attack again, Drago scanned, finding the battle done, at least for now. Riker, too, had been successful, killing his assigned opponents. Relief rushed over him as he found Jolene safe and by Carrie’s side, Galen closely guarding her.
Drago started toward her right as Carrie collapsed against Gareth, who picked her up in his arms. Jolene yelped. “Oh, God. Did you take too much blood?”
Gareth gave her a hard look, as if he didn’t like being accused of such a thing. “She’s fine. I’ll take her to the complex for treatment.” He eyed Drago. “I called in the location of the third slave camp to team three.”
Galen eyed the four bodies. “Perimeters secured. I’ll do clean up here.”
“Wait,” Jolene said. “I need to go with Carrie.”
Drago hesitated, hating the idea of letting her out of his direct protection, but knowing he needed to ensure firsthand that Alex was dealt with.
He eyed Galen. “Forget clean up. Take care of my woman.”
“And my daughter,” Riker chimed in.
Galen looked from one Slayer to the next. “Why do I think I just got handed the most dangerous assignment of my life?”
“Because if anything happens to Jolene,” Drago said. “We’ll kill you.”
“Oh good grief,” Jolene said, eying Galen. “Let’s go before they get any more out of control.”
Drago pulled her close and kissed her soundly on the lips. “I’ll never apologize for protecting you.”
“I know.” Her hand went to his cheek, her eyes tender. “Thank you for saving Carrie.” She brushed her lips over his. “Take care of you now. For me.” She eyed her father. “And that goes for you, too.”
Drago and Riker stood there, side by side, watching her departure, and Drago felt the oddest connection to the other male. A bond born of love for one woman, for Jolene.
And with that realization, Drago whispered the words to her mind, the words he thought he’d never say to another.
I love you, Jolene.
***
Jolene sat in the chair next to Carrie’s bed, her gaze fixed on the machine that showed her vitals, listening to the steady rhythm of the beeping, grateful for her friend’s new chance at life. Though she had yet to wake up, the doctors assured Jolene that Carrie would be fine. Likely traumatized and in need of love and support, but fine, nonetheless.
Gareth occupied a chair in a far corner. He had been with the two of them the entire time during the twenty-four hours since their arrival, using duty as an excuse. Jolene got the impression he was here for Carrie, though, not her. Almost as if there had been some kind of bond formed when he’d touched her mind.
Pushing to her feet, Jolene walked to the window, her mind on Drago. Outside, the sun was on the rise, mountains surrounding them in a rainbow of greens and browns. The time apart from Drago, though short, felt like years. She needed the people she loved close and secure.
“He’s fine,” Gareth said, from behind her. “They both are.”
Jolene turned to face him. “I know.” She offered a soft, appreciative smile. “Thank you for the support. I just wish they’d get here.”
Drago had made contact through their mental path, but not for hours now, and she hesitated to initiate another link, fearful she might distract him in some type of battle.
As if on cue, the door creaked and Drago appeared. Jolene rushed forward and threw her arms around his neck. “Oh, thank God. I was worried.”
Drago smiled and kissed her. “You feel so damn good,” he said, holding her close and lifting her feet off the ground. “I didn’t know I could miss another person as I did you.” He settled her to the ground again and gave Gareth a nod.
“I’ll stay with Carrie so you two can take some time,” Gareth offered.
Jolene thanked him and let Drago lead her to the hall. “My father?”
“He’s fine. He’s locking Alex up.”
“You brought him here?”
His expression turned grim. “I wanted to kill the bastard, but the council wouldn’t let me.” He offered an apologetic look. “I guess I need to learn to curb my tongue.”
“Why?” she asked. “I wanted you to kill the bastard, too.”
Drago laughed and tugged her into his arms again. “You really are my mate, aren’t you?”
“Was there a question?”
He brushed hair from her eyes with a tenderness that defied the harshness of his prior words. “None whatsoever.”
“Why is he here anyway?” She shivered. “I hate the idea of being near that . . . that thing.”
“The FBI wants to connect the dots on a string of missing person’s cases, all young females without families. The council agreed to help.”
“Oh. Well, that’s good. That’s really good. And the slave camps? Did you save the women?”
<
br /> “We did. The council sent in a team of doctors who will be evaluating and deciding how to best help each one.”
“Maybe I can help?” she asked, feeling deep inside this was a calling for her, a part of her destiny. “I have a unique understanding of what they faced with Alex.”
Admiration filled his eyes. “That’s an excellent idea. I’m sure there are many things you can do to help. We can talk with the council about it tomorrow.” He reached in his pocket and pulled out several keys. “You up for a little tour?”
“Of the complex?”
“No,” Drago said. “The council gave us our choice of three houses in a remote section of the complex. They thought we might want some immediate privacy while we decide what our future plans will be.”
Excitement filled Jolene. She wanted a life here at the complex. She’d have Drago with her and her father nearby. “Yes. I’d love that.”
Drago’s eyes twinkled. “I figured we should try out the beds in each. You know, we have to have a good bed.”
She laughed. “Why limit ourselves to the beds? I think we should try out all the rooms, too.”
Hand in hand, they walked toward the elevator, and for the first time in years, Jolene didn’t feel alone. She felt complete.
Epilogue
Six months later
With Jolene’s unique insight into the ways of both human and vampire, the council had convinced her to serve as a liaison dealing with the two governments. A job she had taken reluctantly fast became the job of her heart.
Jolene sat at the conference table inside the offices of the council, Carrie beside her, reviewing the final details of the menu for the next night’s charity event. Jolene had contracted with Carrie’s new catering service to handle the event.
Her pet project, a children’s hospital for both human and vampire research and treatment, was well underway. This charity event, hosted by the Vampire Council and the New York City Council, should offer the final funding needed to begin construction.
“The headcount is off,” Jolene said, pursing her lips. “It’s seven hundred and seventy people not six hundred and seventy.” She gave Carrie a concerned look. “This is a typo, right?”
Carrie’s baby blue eyes went wide. “What? No. This is the number you gave me. I wouldn’t make a hundred-person mistake.” Her pale face went paler. “Tell me you’re joking because I am having a heart attack.”
Jolene tried to keep a straight face but she couldn’t. She burst out laughing. “I couldn’t resist. You are wound so tight I had to tease you.”
“That was so not appropriate,” Carrie said, glowering at Jolene. “I was seriously freaking out.”
A knock sounded on the door and Gareth peeked in through the entrance. “Ready to go?” he asked Carrie. They’d hooked up as soon as Carrie started coming around for the catering event and had been inseparable for weeks.
The instant Carrie looked at Gareth, her expression softened. “Yes,” she said, pushing to her feet and straightening her cream-colored dress. “More than ready, actually.” She cast Jolene a warning look. “Do that to me again and I might be the one growing fangs.”
Jolene laughed and did a playful hiss. “Get some rest tonight. You deserve it.” She eyed the blond Adonis, the half vampire waiting at the door, and lowered her voice. “Or maybe it’s him you deserve.”
Carrie waved off her remark and grabbed her notebook. Jolene watched her depart, happy her friend had recovered fully from her experience in the underground.
The doctors at the complex had wiped Carrie’s memory free of Purple Magic, though Jolene hadn’t known until after it was done. Despite her mixed feelings about the action, she’d since decided it was a good choice. The doctors had encouraged Jolene to tell Carrie about what had happened. That way, Carrie would own her past, without being tormented by bad memories she couldn’t change.
“There you are.” Drago appeared in the doorway where Gareth and Carrie had just disappeared. “I went to your office but you weren’t there.”
She gasped at the effect he had on her, everything inside her warming. Her mate never failed to steal her breath away. In black leather and a matching jacket, his hair wild around his shoulders, he was a fantasy of sex and sin. Even better, the wild warrior, with fiery kisses and talented hands, had also mastered the role of tender, attentive mate.
“And we both know you aren’t a patient man,” she teased, referring to his comment on the day they’d mated. “You weren’t about to sit and wait for my return.”
“You know me well,” he commented, crossing the room, even as she pushed to her feet, and then pulling her into his arms.
A long, sultry kiss later, she sighed, hands resting on the solid wall of his chest. “You really know how to say hello,” she murmured.
A smile touched his lips, something he seemed to offer more and more each day. She loved his smile. “I saw Carrie leaving. Gareth appears quite taken with her.”
“I agree,” Jolene commented. “And her with him. Any chance they could be mates?”
He shrugged. “There’s one thing I learned about shifters, and that’s anything is possible.”
Shaking her protectiveness of Carrie was hard. “Yes, but—”
Drago kissed her again, easing her back on the conference table, his hand sliding up her leg, and beneath her black pleated skirt. “I was thinking,” he whispered, nibbling her lips.
“Someone is going to see us,” she complained weakly, moaning as his hand explored the strip of satin along her backside.
“Ask me if I care,” he said, but he didn’t give her time to respond, his fingers continuing to explore, to tease. “When Carrie finishes this job, I have another one for her.”
“You have a catering job?” she asked, her words coming out a bit breathless.
“Hmm.” His dark eyes simmered with heat, with admiration, with . . . love. His hands went to her face. “A human wedding. Our wedding. You’ve made your life my world, Jolene. You deserve the chance to be a bride, to have the bond humans recognize. To have the white dress, the cake, the huge list of guests. And the customary ring that’s as big and beautiful as you want it to be.”
Her hands went to his, and tears welled in her eyes. Six months before, Drago had no understanding of human ways, but for her, he’d tried hard to learn. Each night he asked her questions, prodding her for stories about her youth and her wants and desires.
“I love you, Drago.”
“And I love you, my beauty.” He brushed his lips over hers. “So you’ll marry me?” he asked, as if there was really any question.
She laughed and kissed him, thankful she’d found her Slayer and a real happily ever after.
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Lisa Renee Jones is the author of the Tall, Dark, and Deadly series, as well as highly acclaimed Inside Out series: If I Were You, Being Me, and Revealing Us. The series has been optioned by the STARZ network for a cable television show.
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