Rogue (Sons of Sangue Book 4) (37 page)

Her heart ached.

She missed him more than she’d care to admit. He may have kept his vampire side a secret from her, but what was he supposed say?
By the way, I need human blood to survive. Mind if I tap your artery?
Kimber was pretty sure however he tried to present it, she would have freaked out, nonetheless.

Tamera Cantrell had stopped by following the incident. Kimber preferred to refer to the night at the diner as “the incident” to prevent her from actually thinking about all the carnage and what Anton was actually capable of. He had taken four lives with ease, speaking of his unnatural strength as a vampire. Tamera had tried her best to explain about their existence, to assure her they weren’t all that different or unusual. Well, except for Vlad Tepes, the eldest of the vampires and his appearance in Oregon.

Yep,
the
ancient Romanian ruler. The one who impaled people and instilled fear in his followers. Kimber knew little about him from history, other than his tomb had later been found to be empty. The fact he still walked the face of the earth and was Kane and Kaleb’s great, many times over, grandfather was a little mind boggling.

How the hell did someone live for centuries?

Tamera made Kimber promise not to tell a soul about what she had learned. Their very lives depended on the anonymity. If humans were to learn about their secret, they might take to hunting them like animals.

Kimber wasn’t about to tell anyone, even before Tamera had made her swear to keep to secrecy. Who would believe her anyway? Should something happen to Anton, or any of them for that matter, because of her loose lips, she wouldn’t be able to live with herself.

Anton came back to the forefront of her mind as he often did in the past couple of weeks. Part of her wanted to see him, find out where this thing between them stood. The other part of her was petrified. Not that she feared Anton hurting her. No, she was scared to death of losing her heart to a vampire.

A little late for that, missy.

If she were truthful, then she knew she already had. Over the moon, so they say. Kimber was in love with Anton, though she had no clue what to do about it. Even though Tamera had given her insight, and she knew there wasn’t much to fear from the Sons of Sangue, their lifestyle still left her panic-stricken, petrified her into non-action.

It wasn’t exactly her fault. Kimber had been blindsided. Watching Anton kill the men with little effort had shaken her to her core. And yet, following the bloodshed, he had treated her with kid gloves, which Kimber rewarded him by fleeing into the night. Thank goodness for Diesel. Poor dog. Kimber had held onto him the entire night and into the dawning hours. Her dreams had been filled with bloodshed, fangs, and the daunting faces of the four men who had held her captive. She’d awake in a cold sweat, safe at home in her own bed, with Diesel still by her side. As the nightmares subsided, they were quickly replaced by visions of her and Anton naked and tangled in the sheets, his vampire features no longer hidden or frightening to her.

A car door slammed, bringing Kimber’s focus to the present.
Anton?
She hurried to her large picture window facing the road. A teary-eyed Tena walked across her porch. Her doorbell rang, and even then it took a moment to get her leaden feet, from the disappointment of it not being Anton, moving to answer the call. Kimber opened the door and invited her in. With all the craziness her life had become, she had forgotten to check in on Tena.

From what Tamera had told her, Bobby had taken flight and abandoned those who had given him eternal life. Well, not exactly abandoned. He had given his word to one day return, once he had come to terms with what he had become. Kaleb had made him promise to check in once a week. To do otherwise, would be in violation of a direct order. Should that happen, he’d send Anton, Alexander, and Grigore after him. She couldn’t help but wonder what the ex-preacher thought about being given immortality Sons’ style, or how that might work out with his faith.

Kimber had taken a few weeks’ leave from work to get her shit together. Lord, she had been self-centered. Not once had she considered what her friend might have been going through with Bobby’s sudden decision to leave town.

“Please come in, Tena.” Kimber held open the door for her. “I’d ask if everything was okay, but it obviously isn’t.”

Tena gave her a watery chuckle. “I just heard from Preacher.”

Kimber’s gaze widened, surprised the man had called. “Where did he say he’s been?”

She couldn’t imagine he had confided in Tena that he’d just been upgraded to vampire, and she wasn’t about to supply that particular information.

“He said he left town, needed some time on his own to sort his life out.”

Kimber couldn’t imagine why he’d leave the MC he had been given carte blanche to. “Back to Santa Barbara?”

She shook her head. “I got the impression he might not return. He said he was done with the Devils and wasn’t wearing colors.”

“No colors?”

“Meaning he’s done with the motorcycle clubs.”

Kimber happened to be just as baffled. Tamera had said Bobby picked up and left following his change, but she hadn’t said where to. Not to mention he had promised to return. Regardless, Kimber wasn’t at liberty to say what she knew. “So he’s not staying at the Sons’ clubhouse?”

More tears fell. “From what he told me, he was only there for a little over a week. He packed up and headed out for the east coast … on his own. Said he needed to reflect on the nightmare his life had become. When I asked him what he meant, he didn’t elaborate. Told me I was better off not knowing.”

“Woo hoo? Anyone home?” Chad’s voice came through her screened door. “Tena told me she was headed out here. I hope you don’t mind I extended myself an invite. You two can’t think to be partying without me.”

Kimber headed for the door and held it open. “We wouldn’t think of it, handsome. Trouble is, there isn’t anyone in the mood to party here.”

Kimber beckoned for Tena and Chad to follow her into the kitchen. Might as well drown their sorrows in alcohol. She opened her wine cooler and pulled out a bottle of moscato. After pulling three stemmed glasses from the rack, Kimber poured them each half a glass.

Kimber toyed with the stem. “You really liked him, huh?”

“I’m being stupid.” Tena picked up one of the glasses from the counter and headed for the breakfast nook in the corner of the kitchen. “I haven’t known him very long, but there was just something about him.”

Kimber and Chad followed, taking adjacent seats. “I don’t suppose we can govern our hearts. If we could, I could stop thinking about Anton and move on.”

Tena grabbed a tissue from the box on the table and blew her nose. “Aren’t we just a couple of whiners.”

Chad tsked. “I say we all stop being pissers and head for a nightclub.”

“No,” both Kimber and Tena said in unison.

“Oh, please.” Chad waved his hand. “Party poopers. Well, then, should we drink to no more broken hearts?”

“Hear, hear.” Kimber and Tena held up their glasses and clinked them against Chad’s.

Tena quickly downed the sweet wine. Chad walked over to the counter and returned with the bottle, pouring her another glass. “Well, if we’re to stay in, I say we might as well get drunk.
Men
. The bane of our existence.”

Kimber passed him her glass for refill. “You having men troubles too, Chad?”

“Oh, honey, I’m always having men troubles. So what’s got you all upset, Tena? What did Mr. Bear-alicious do?”

Tena shrugged, moisture gathering in her eyes. “I told myself I wouldn’t do this. No man is worth it.”

“Oh, honey, let me tell you. That bear of a man was worth it and then some. He was capital D-elicious—”

“He’s leaving, Chad,” she interrupted. “Said he was heading east.”

“How far east?”

“I believe all the way to the coast.” She blew her nose again. “It’s not like I can drive there over the weekend to check on him. I fear he’s never coming back.”

“Maybe.” Kimber patted Tena’s hand. “How about some optimism. He did call you.”

“He did, didn’t he?”

“See, there is a bright side.”

“The only bright side would be if he would’ve asked me to go with him.” Tena plopped her chin onto her palm, her elbow braced on the table. “Instead, I’m left sitting here nursing my sorrows. I’m so pathetic.”

“Honey, there is nothing wrong with giving your heart to a man.” Chad poured her some more wine. “The sorrow is in him not taking it. We should drive across country and show him what he left behind. You’re a prize. Any guy—”

“That’s it!” Tena righted herself. “You’re a genius, Chad. I’ll go after him.”

“I was speaking in jest, silly. You can’t go traipsing halfway across the country after a man you barely know.”

“I can, and I will.” She nearly leaped from her seat. “Don’t you see? It would be such a romantic gesture.”

Kimber didn’t know what to say, but following Bobby was probably not a good idea. To begin with, Tena had no idea what he had become. “I don’t think…”

“He said good-bye, Tena,” Chad chimed in at the same time. “I doubt showing up on his doorstep would make him think of roses and wine.”

“Oh, come on. Where’s your sense of adventure?” Tena swirled the wine in her glass, then drank what was left. “I say road trip. I have his number. I’ll keep in touch with him along the way, tell him I just want to know that he’s okay. Then when he finally stops, I’ll get his address. Tell him I have a gift for him. Then I’ll show up on his doorstep, wrapped in a big bow.”

“Really, Tena?” Chad began before she cut him off once again.

“That’s exactly what I’ll do. It’s not like once I’m there he’ll throw me out, right?”

Kimber suppressed her groan, afraid that’s exactly what Bobby just might do.

“You can’t go alone,” Chad said. “It wouldn’t be safe.”

“And what are you going to do, follow me?”

Chad groaned. “I’ll no doubt regret this come morning. Hell, no. I’ll drive the damn car.”

Kimber watched the exchange, nibbling on her nail. This was not a good idea at all.

“Don’t worry, Kimber. I’ll keep her cute little ass out of trouble.” Chad winked at her. “And you, missy, aren’t about to change anything by sitting here wallowing in self-pity when your man is a hop, skip, and jump down the road. Stop worrying about all the crazy crap life throws you. You love that man. I can see it in the way you look at him.”

When Kimber meant to argue, he held up a finger. “You can’t deny what the heart wants. I know Mr. Tall, Dark and Dangerous is all crazy about you. Trust me, girlfriend, if nothing else, I’m an expert at reading men. Now, Tena and I are going to take our little butts right out that door and you’re going to go after what you want. It’s time you took charge and did something for yourself. Don’t let your silly fears get in the way. Since Tena and I will be taking a leave of absence from work, you best call us with the juicy details.”

Tena pushed Chad toward the door. Probably hoping to get Chad out of there before Kimber talked them out of their ridiculous notion to cross the country, looking for a man who no doubt didn’t want to be found. Kimber couldn’t be held responsible for what trouble those two might get into. Hell, she had her own life to sort out.

Just before they cleared the door, Chad looked back and said, “I’ll take good care of Tena. You take care of you.”

And she would. Starting with Anton.

Time to go after what her heart wanted. Kimber would figure the rest out later. So what if Anton was a vampire. It wasn’t like he’d be biting her with his fangs … right?

Then again, maybe she’d let him nibble just a little. Mind made up, Kimber took the stairs to her bedroom to pick out the perfect outfit. She had one seriously sexy vampire to seduce.

* * *

“So what’s it going to be, Blondy? You coming back as club secretary?”

Kaleb had arrived at the farmhouse a short while ago and was just now getting to his reason for stopping by. Not that Anton didn’t enjoy the club P’s company. Hell no, he was damn glad to be back among the Sons of Sangue. He never wanted to leave behind his colors again. Getting the Devil tattoo inked over on his shoulder was definitely high up on the list of to dos. It was a constant reminder of the past he’d rather move forward from.

He ran his hand through his short hair. Going back to his natural dark blond was right up there too. Dying it was a pain in the ass. Not that he hadn’t grown accustomed to his moniker Rogue. He was starting to prefer it over Blondy.

“If you don’t mind, P, I think I’d like to keep the name Rogue.”

Kaleb’s eyes bored into him. “You want to give me one good reason why? It’s bad enough half the fucking year I was left to believe you deserted us.”

“The name is a reminder of the hell I went through, I’ll give you that.” Anton shrugged. “But just like scars, they become part of us. I’m not the same man I was a year ago. I left him behind, pining away for a woman that wasn’t mine to begin with.”

“And now?”

“I love another.”

A line formed between Kaleb’s brows. “You telling me you want to ask for a mate?”