Dearly Beloved (10 page)

“Then why are we off the plane? At least in there it’s air conditioned, even if it still feels like I’m moving.”

“We have a minute, thirty-seven seconds to the pick-up time.”

“A minute, thirty-seven seconds. Rashid. You’re fired.”

“Of course, Miss.”

“Are you always this pleasant? And cool? Sweat’s already dripping off me and yet here you are, covered head-to-toe, and actually look refreshed. What’s your secret?”

“I sleep when I have the chance. I do not have the luxury of playing video games when I should be resting.”

“I can’t sleep during flight. Never could. And I’ll have you know I’m a Gray Class marksman in the VIDWAR system, with so many registered kills I have a hard time getting anyone to fight me.”

“This is a good thing?”

“I’m an expert shot. With any weapon. I’m higher ranked than most of the West coast. And then some. If you knew your gaming systems, you wouldn’t have to ask.”

“I see.”

His eyebrows lifted and she saw a shadow of a smile before he turned to watch a vehicle, getting discernibly more distinct through heat waves as it neared.

“Where are we staying anyway?”

“The prince has lodgings reserved near Bookend Cliffs. At the Holiday Inn.”

“The Holiday Inn. A vampire is staying at the Holiday Inn. Why am I finding this hard to believe?”

“We always stay in hotels of this nature.”

“May I ask why?”

“Anything else could engender interest.”

“A servant from the Middle East, wearing a turban, arriving in this desolate place on a private jet - and booking a coffin into a room - wouldn’t already do that?”

“A coffin?”

“Of course. For Dominick to travel in.”

“His Excellency does not travel in a coffin. Why would you think such a thing?”

“I was raised on vampire lore. Everybody thinks that.”

“Well. It is wrong.”

“So…how does he travel?”

“You should ask His Excellency that when he joins us. Come. Our transportation approaches.”

“How long have you been with Dominick, anyway?”

“My entire life.”

“You’re a vampire, too?”

“Miss Courtney. Please. I am out in the sun.”

The car was a tan SUV with tinted windows and black rims. It rolled to an easy stop right beside them. Rashid flashed a quick smile, showing teeth that would have blinded if she didn’t have her sunglasses on. She put him higher on her Jerk list.

The man who stepped from the vehicle could have been anybody. Average height. Average build. Sandy-colored hair with a receding forehead. Khaki colored slacks, blue polo shirt. Anybody.

“Hey! Welcome to Four Corners! Don’t bow, Rashid. This is the US of A. No obsequious greetings allowed. I’m Leonard. But you can call me Len. This her?”

He stuck out a hand. Courtney lifted her brows and looked across at him.

“Her who?” she asked with a cool tone. He dropped his hand.

“Why…St. Guis’s mate. Was told to expect you. Welcome to the family. What? No bags?”

“I’m not his mate.” Her grand cool attitude got ruined with a yawn.

“Right. Come along anyway, then. Looks like some sleep is in order. We’ve rooms at the hotel. With big soft mattresses and tons of air conditioning.”

He winked and opened the back door, motioning her into cool, dark interior. She didn’t know why she fought it. On second thought…

“Are you a vampire?” Man! She wished her mind worked on zero sleep.

“Not likely, Love. Look about. It’s daylight. You know…you might want to be a little nicer to your sitter. I didn’t exactly ask for the chore.”

“My…sitter? As in
baby
-sitter?”

“Not unless you plan on acting like one. Get in. It’s baking out here.”

“I do not need a sitter. I’m perfectly capable of getting places myself, and I’m close enough to home to make a break for it. Why on earth would I get in?”

“St. Guis has my sympathies. And this is going to cost Akron double. Would you please get in now?”

She was close enough to reality to smell it! At the hotel she’d have more than air conditioning and a bed. She’d have a phone. Or she could stand out here and argue while turning into a sun-baked sweat-ball. Courtney got in.

o0o

“You rested?”

Courtney’s nose came off the pillow and she blinked it into focus. She’d have moved her hands to swipe at her eyes, but the chains stopped her. Damn it. Damn it. Damn it.

“They put you in cuffs?”

“Dominick. Finally. You know…it’s been uh…fun. I’ve had a wonderful time, really.”

He pulled and one chain ripped right through the wooden post of her bed, allowing her to swivel onto her back. It was bad enough being chained to a bed without being in that position. She’d never felt so open and vulnerable, and—

Holy cow
. Her jaw dropped and her heart was right behind it. The guy was worse than stunning. He was menace and threat, and shiver-inducing. She should be used to the sight of him by now. But dressed head-to-toe in black with two short swords strapped to his belt and the hilt of another rising from behind him, and there were no words. Seeing Dominick the first time had shocked and stunned. Seeing him dressed like a warrior in the VIDWAR game could be her undoing. Easily.

“You are not to be harmed. By anyone.”

Len was really high on her Jerk list, especially since she’d almost made the lobby the second time he’d caught her. Now, she actually feared for him. “He…didn’t hurt me. Look. They’re padded.”

Dominick hooked a finger beneath the metal and snapped it. He dispatched the other one the exact same way, leaning over her to do it, and then he looked down at her. She really should disguise some of the awed look she probably wore, and the slight smile on his lips showed he saw it. Evaluated it. And knew exactly what caused it.

And this guy
claimed
her? Amazing.

“Come. The moon has gone behind a cloud. It is time.”

“Time to do what?”

“My contract.”

“You’re assassinating someone aren’t you? Just like you did with Shawn.”

“Shawn?”

He really didn’t know his name? “Shawn Elliot. My former Brother-in-Law, Shawn. From the yacht.”

“Oh. Him.”

“Yes. Him.”

“In that event, no,” he finally replied.

“So…you’re not going to go and kill someone? Then what? You’re attending ComiCon?”

“I am not going to kill anyone like I killed Shawn. That was a failure and I do not fail.”

“He’s dead, isn’t he?”

“Along with several innocents. Come. We’re wasting time.”

“Shawn was an innocent.”

“He was a businessman with a bent toward crime. He had a contract out for his wife, Stella. She had a contract out for him. She contacted the better firm. Us.”

“Please don’t tell me my sister is dead.”

“No. I believe she is in the Witness Protection Program at the moment.”

“For what?”

“Safety. She is still the target of a contract that has yet to be filled.” He held out his hand.

“Stella? Look, I know she’s heartless, but really. This is a lot to swallow.”

“Tomorrow. We can speak more of this tomorrow. For now, hold to me.”

“How can I contact her?”

“You? You are counted among those killed in the explosion of the yacht. Your obituary was very short.”

“You’re joking.”

“I never joke. Now, come. Please?”

“I can walk.”

“We are not walking.”

“This should be good. What are we doing, then?”

She didn’t need to ask. It was a good thing it was dark and he didn’t go very high. At the speed he moved, it wasn’t more than a blink or so later before he seemed to just stop, descend, and then crouch, taking her with him. His hold wasn’t needed. Courtney was glued to him with both arms and legs. She untangled them from him and smoothed her shirt down over her waistband before rubbing at her arms. She was under-dressed for being out in night desert air. It was chilly.

“Where are we?”

She whispered it, which was stupid. They were in the middle of nowhere, atop a rock precipice, overlooking a large span of desert valley. And then she noticed a small circle of lights marking some sort of settlement.

“About time you got here.” Len’s voice preceded the desert-camo clothed man, crawling toward them.

“How many?” Dominick asked.

“Eight on the perimeter fence. Six inside. They secure all their cult members in the underground complex for the night. I understand this is a ritual for their faith. I think it’s more like prison.”

“Weapons?”

“Automatics. Side-arms. Extra clips. Grenade launcher at the front gate. No info on the inside. Sorry.”

“What is that?” Courtney pointed.

“Cult devoted to peace – if you can believe that. Trouble is they don’t exactly practice what they preach. They kill anyone who tries to leave and they’re too stupid to keep from leaving evidence that a rich father can find and then seek vengeance for. Which explains why we’re out here…if you take my drift.”

“You talk too much,” Dominick interrupted.

“Right.” Len whispered back.

“You stay here. With Courtney.”

“You’re taking on fourteen plus armed men by yourself?”

“I wanted a large assignment.”

“I’m supposed to sit up here baby-sitting your little mate again? No way. And if you’re sentencing me to that, you really should anticipate the argument.”

“I am to have her with me. Akron’s orders. I will not have her harmed. By anyone. Including you.”

“Look. If she wasn’t such a wild-cat, I wouldn’t have cuffed her. But come on, St. Guis, I used my sex cuffs. They’re fur-lined. Nothing drastic.”

“I will take that up with you later. When I return.”

“Dominick?” Courtney reached and put a hand on his shoulder. He might have been looking at her, but she couldn’t tell. “I have a really bad feeling about this.”

“
Agapimeni
. This is child’s play. Wait. Watch if you like. You have the glasses?”

“Please. Do I look like the beginner here?” Len replied.

A pair of binoculars was placed on the ground beside here. And then Dom was gone. Just like that. She didn’t even feel him move from beneath her. All she felt was rocks and sand.

“It’s taking too long. I can’t see anything.”

“It’s been five minutes since you last said that. And you never see anything if St. Guis is involved. The man’s practically a shadow. I’d think his mate would know that.”

“You’re already near the top of my jerk list, Leonard. A few more snide remarks could see you firmly—. Wait! What was that light?”

“Lightning bug in front of your lens, probably.”

“OK. That puts you at the top. Above Rashid.”

“Oh…I’m all kinds of terrified over here,” he replied.

“There it is again!”

“You’re imagining things.”

“And you’re blind. Those are little green lights. Like laser guidance things. They only come out for a moment and then they’re gone.”

“Green lights you say? Could be Hunters. It’s possible, but I think they’re still occupied with systematically demolishing St. Guis’s villa. Damn shame that. It made a great vacation spot. I don’t suppose you’d like to tell me what happened?”

“What makes you think I know?”

“There’s always a woman involved. I almost feel sorry for St. Guis, except the guy’s a complete recluse and doesn’t give me the time of day. Shit! That really is a green laser sight!”

“Is that bad?”

“If it’s Hunters.”

“There really is such a thing as a Vampire Hunter?”

“Dead serious folks, too. Won’t even listen to a bribe. Too busy cleaning demons from the earth – or some other pious code they swear to.”

“Will Dominick be all right?”

“Depends on how many there are. And if he’s already taken out the original targets. Hmmm. Could be interesting to wait and see.”

“Wait and see? Are you nuts? Dom is in trouble.”

“What do you care? You were escaping him last I checked. Looks like you might get your chance.”

What did she care? Emotion gripped her entire chest and started radiating from there until her fingernails even throbbed with it. She cared. A lot. That realization terrified and thrilled before turning everything into worry.

“Eleven. No. Looks like Twelve. Damn. St. Guis has his hands full tonight. He probably should change to guns. They’re easier.”

“He doesn’t know how to shoot?”

“How would I know? The man rarely condescends to notice me. All I’ve ever seen him with are those swords. No…wait! Thirteen.”