The Vampire SEAL Collection, page 133
“Let’s drop the bullshit,” I said. “What is it that you’re really after?” I flared my nostrils, sniffing the humans, but detected no signs of fear. Edmund had prepared them.
Thomas sat back as though he was the one who held all the cards. “I’m not sure what you’re getting at. We’re here doing our job. Nothing more.”
“I’ll be frank,” Steven said. “As the commander and officer in charge of this base and the SEAL teams, I have access to top-secret information. And I am not aware of any job by the CIA to investigate a local fire. I’m also aware, Agent Thomas, that you’re in possession of a collection of blood samples that were supposed to be sent to our lab in Boston. Now tell me, why would you need blood samples from this base? Because the way I see it, I can detain you for stealing top-secret data.”
Thomas arched his back. “I’ve done no such thing. Besides, you can’t prove that.”
I moved in my seat. “Are you that dumb to think that we don’t have proof?”
“Or that we don’t know, Agent Thomas, that you are working with my brother, Patrick?” Steven asked.
Silence whipped around like an icy wind on the North Atlantic in the dead of winter.
Agent Thomas kicked back his chair before he slapped his hand down on the table. The sound boomed, almost hurting my eardrums. “I know what you two are.” He wagged a finger between Steven and me.
Steven schooled his anger, which I could feel dripping off him. “And what is that?”
Wyman watched quietly as though he was enjoying the interaction.
Thomas leaned over slightly, his cigarette breath potent as he bared his yellow teeth. “You’re not human.”
Steven and I laughed.
“Don’t mock me,” Agent Thomas said.
“Wyman, do you agree with your partner?” I asked.
All eyes went to the dark-haired agent.
“I know that the bodies that were uncovered at the lab explosion weren’t normal.” He sounded like a robot.
“So are you also under orders from your CIA director to kidnap my men?” Steven asked.
Wyman and Thomas exchanged a surprised look.
I angled my head at both agents. “Yeah, you two are guilty.” I craned my neck up at the light. “Tripp, send in the guards.”
“Wait,” Wyman said. “You can’t arrest us. You’re not even the law.”
Steven rose as though a spirit had lifted him from the grave. He slowly pressed his hands on the table, swinging his gaze between the agents.
Agent Thomas inched back as a rancid smell of body odor permeated the stuffy air.
Steven bent over slightly. “You are stupid.” Each word was delivered with a precise tone devoid of feeling. “The minute you drive through my gate on government property, CIA or not, you abide by my rules. And if you don’t start talking, I’ll see to it that neither of you walk out of here.”
Wyman did a double take. Thomas gaped.
Sam and Tripp entered.
Wyman and Thomas paled as they laid eyes on Sam and Tripp.
We were all tall, broad, and scary compared to the agents, who were a good head shorter than us.
“We’ll take care of them.” Sam wet his lips as though he wanted to sink his fangs into them. I would guess he did. Human blood, no matter how rancid the scent of fear was, did taste good.
“You can count on us to get answers,” Tripp chimed in.
“Throw them in a cell,” Steven ordered.
Tripp handcuffed Thomas, while Sam did the same to Wyman. Both agents jerked and kicked, but they were no match for the strength of Sam and Tripp.
“You’ll pay for this,” Thomas said.
“I got a family,” Wyman whined, a distinct change from his earlier cocky tone. “Can I at least call them?”
I have an idea, I said to Steven via a telepathic connection.
Steven dipped his chin.
“Tripp,” I said. “Take Agent Thomas. Sam will follow with Wyman in a second.”
Thomas struggled to get free. “Wyman, keep your mouth shut.”
Tripp shoved Thomas out of the door.
I pushed to my feet, staring at Wyman. “I’ll make you a deal. You tell us what we want to know, and we’ll let you call your family.” It was time to unleash our supernatural powers, vampire laws be damned. I was tired of dancing around.
Wyman considered all of us in the room.
Sam, who had a death grip on Wyman’s arm, let go. “Dude, you have a choice here. Make the right one.”
Wyman bowed his head. “I’ll cooperate, provided I can walk out of here.”
I opened a telepathic connection to Steven. If we let him walk, then we’ll need to erase his memories of everything he knows about us. It goes against your by-the-book rule, but we don’t have time to dick around.
I agree, he responded.
“It’s a deal,” I said. “Start from the beginning.”
Wyman dropped into the chair. “Agent Thomas has been working with his buddy from college, Patrick Mason, your brother.” He regarded Steven. “Patrick wants to sell his genetic research to the government. He claims he can build super soldiers, as in people who can take out our enemies. At first, Thomas and I didn’t believe Patrick until he showed us a video of a man’s ability before he injected him with some type of serum and after. But we were still skeptical. So Patrick invited us to his research facility in Anchorage. It was there that we couldn’t believe our eyes. He’s got a warehouse full of recruits who are amazingly strong and incredibly scary.”
Steven sighed. “And what’s your purpose for snooping around here?”
“Patrick wanted us to find a little girl and bring her to him. If we did, he would show us more of his research.”
Steven pressed his lips tightly together. Sam had a blank expression on his face as he stood guard next to Wyman.
“And my men?” I asked.
Lines creased Wyman’s forehead. “I don’t know anything about your men. I swear.”
“Does Patrick have any men in the city?” Sam asked.
“We met with a man earlier today named Dyson. He said he was with a government office in Boston and working with Patrick.”
Son of a bitch. Dyson was also Elder Dyson, as in Hollings’s colleague.
I gave Steven a sidelong glance. “That explains a lot.” More than a lot. I wondered if Hollings knew, and I was also curious what Dyson’s motivation could be. If I had to guess, I would say money. Greed and power were strong incentives to go against the law.
Steven didn’t show any signs of rage. Instead, he spoke in a calm voice. “Does Dyson have dark hair with a gray streak that stands out on his left side?”
Wyman nodded.
I gripped the back of the chair. “Two more questions. Who else within your organization knows about Patrick’s research? And what did Thomas do with the blood samples that he took from here?”
Wyman rubbed his thumbs together, a nervous tick no doubt. “Since Patrick isn’t ready to roll out his entire research, Thomas and I haven’t taken the info up our chain of command. We have to have more than some strong men and women to prove that they pass as super soldiers. As far as the blood samples, we gave them to Dyson.”
I blew out a quiet breath, knowing our DNA hadn’t fallen into the hands of the human government.
Steven popped off the wall. “Here’s what you’re going to do. When you leave here, you’ll take your family and disappear. No contact with your employer or Agent Thomas or anyone other than your family. Is that understood?”
Wyman nodded vigorously.
I eyed Sam as I spoke to him telepathically. Erase his memories of this conversation and everything he’s seen with Patrick. Then compel him to get out of town with his family and not to speak to anyone within the CIA, Edmund’s organization, or Dyson.
Sam blinked.
I moved toward the door. “Agent Wyman, Sam will escort you out. Thank you for cooperating. What you’ve told us will save lives.”
Wyman smiled.
Steven followed me out. As soon as we were in the elevator, Steven punched the wall, putting a deep dent into the metal structure. I stabbed the button for the fourth floor. I had to see Jo. She was the only one who could take me to a quiet place, which I needed so desperately at the moment. Otherwise, I would also be punching something, and I needed my strength for the real fight. I had no idea how we would handle the news of Dyson being a mole, although if it were up to me, I would hunt him down right now and kill him.
The elevator doors opened.
Steven and I stepped out.
“We both need to take a breather before we regroup,” I said. My head was spinning, and I would bet his was too.
Steven flicked a thumb behind him. “I’m going to check on Olivia and Abbey. They’re in my apartment. I’ll also contact Hollings, tell him the news, and get him back here.”
“With Kraft and Kodiak detained, we need more troops. I’ll call Victor Costner.” I checked my watch. “How about midnight in the war room?” That would give us six hours to call in folks, relax, and think straight.
He nodded as he ambled down the hall to his apartment.
I went in the opposite direction. It was time to steal my future bride for some quiet time.
15
Webb
Jo and I were snuggled up on the couch at my house on base. Beethoven’s Piano Quartet in E-flat Major was playing on repeat in the background. I wasn’t much into music, but I did love some of the classical pieces, which relaxed and calmed me.
My legs were kicked out on top of the coffee table, while Jo snored lightly with her head in my lap. She’d been sleeping for the last four hours. I’d closed my eyes for about two hours. Now I was staring at the picture directly ahead of me that portrayed a beautiful sunrise over the Atlantic. I’d taken that photo the morning after I moved into my house in Maine over four years ago. That day had been one of the most peaceful days in my entire life. The water had been like glass with the waves sweeping the shore as gracefully as a ballet dancer, while the sun peeked over the horizon, casting a soft glow across the sky. I wanted that day back again. I wanted Jo to experience the beauty of nature and the peace that nature had to offer.
Soon enough, I told myself as I began to trace the outline of her ear.
She stirred in my lap before she sat up and yawned. “We’re just a lively couple, aren’t we?”
“We needed the rest,” I said.
She adjusted, turning over on her back with her head still in my lap. “I can’t read your mind. You’ve taken that mind-blocking potion.”
I tapped her on the nose. “Didn’t we talk about you staying out of my mind?”
She sighed. “You’ve been preoccupied, and I want to make sure you’re okay.”
“You almost died,” I said. “And I can’t seem to get that out of my head, especially not when we’re about to confront Edmund. I’m tired of worrying about you getting killed.”
She found my hand that was lying on her stomach and started rubbing my fingers. “I’m sorry about not being more attentive when I was near Nicki at the funeral home. She just made me so angry.”
“Anger can be good and bad,” I said. “Around your enemy, you have to temper that anger to be able to think on a dime. Promise me you’ll be more prepared when we face off with Edmund.” I knew better than anyone that rage could fuck up a mission in less than a second. Edmund was a prime example, considering he’d lost all thought when he killed Ella Case.
“I promise,” she said with conviction. “Was that all you were thinking about?”
I dragged my hand through her hair as I grinned. “No. I was daydreaming about us, about how I can’t wait to get married. Speaking of marriage, we haven’t talked about where we would get married. Any ideas?”
She sighed as she glanced at the window area. “I have been thinking. What if we get married next month around Christmas? Of course, it would be too cold for a beach wedding in December. I know that’s one place you wanted to get married.”
“The beach would be nice in the summertime. Frankly, I don’t care if it’s a beach, a church, or any place as long as we get married. But why Christmastime?” Not that I was complaining. I loved the idea.
She gnawed on her bottom lip. “Growing up, Sam and I never had a true Christmas. We hardly got presents from our foster families. Most of them couldn’t afford to spend a lot of money, especially with their own kids. And I’ve never experienced the true meaning of Christmas with a family who loves me. I know I had Sam, but we didn’t have our parents. So it would mean so much to me to celebrate our marriage on that day with my dad there and all my other extended family, like Olivia and the SEAL team.”
As she was talking, I couldn’t help but think of Victor Costner’s large estate, where he’d held the charity ball last spring. That would be a perfect venue. “What would you think about asking Victor if we could get married on his estate? He’ll be here for the meeting. We can ask him then.”
Her silver eyes widened. “Oh my God. That would be perfect.” Then she frowned. “But what if we can’t get Edmund out of our lives before then.”
“Then we adapt. We can always get married on the beach behind my house in Maine in the spring.” Not that I wanted to wait that long, but I would if our mission wasn’t successful.
She laughed. “If we have to wait until the spring then I want you to make love to me on Christmas. I’m not waiting longer than that. Deal?”
The silky strands of her hair slipped through my fingers. Before I could say a word, she straddled my lap and shoved her tongue in my mouth.
I chuckled.
She nibbled on my lips. “Don’t say no. Just think about it.”
That was all I thought about.
She peppered kisses all over my face. I leaned my head back against the couch and let her explore and have her way as a slow fire started, igniting the tingling sensation coursing through my body. The tips of her canines grazed my neck before she bit, quick and deep.
I almost shot off the couch. Instead, I stilled, listening to her moan, moving her sweet hips as she pressed her body against mine. I was in heaven with an inferno blazing inside me. I angled my neck, giving her better access to take as much as she needed.
The sound of my phone tore through my haze, but that didn’t stop Jo. I considered not answering the call, but I was waiting to hear from George. I’d called him before I fell asleep. Not to mention, if Jo’s father was calling and I didn’t answer, he might assume the worst. The phone stopped only to start blaring again in the quiet room.
“Jo, I have to answer it.”
She tucked her fangs away as she climbed off me and disappeared through the arched doorway into the other part of the house.
I adjusted my groin as I got up and answered my phone. “Hello.” My voice was husky.
“Howell should arrive on base within the hour,” George said.
“Perfect. Thank you.”
“Do you need my help with anything else?” he asked.
“Um, yeah.” I stalked over to the arched doorway that Jo had gone through. I didn’t see her, so I moved to the window in the living room that faced the front of the house. “That hotel Jo and I stayed at recently in Boston. Can you check their availability for a honeymoon suite for next month?” I kept my voice to a whisper.
“When’s the big day?” George asked with pride in his voice.
He was like a father to me.
“Not sure yet, but Jo wants to get married sometime around Christmas.”
“What about Edmund?” he asked.
As I stood looking out at the sparse tree limbs, I didn’t know if waiting to kill a vampire who wouldn’t seem to die was the right thing to do. I couldn’t keep putting off my life or Jo’s because Edmund was walking the earth. And whether Edmund was alive or dead, I wanted to marry Jo. I wanted her to be my wife, my everything. Not only that, she was right. She’d said on a few occasions that we might not be here tomorrow. Fuck. If her in a coma wasn’t enough to wake me up, I didn’t know what was.
“Webb?” George’s voice cut through my thoughts.
“I’m still here. Regardless if Edmund is alive or dead, Jo and I will get married at Christmas.”
“I’m so glad to hear that,” George said. “I’ll do some homework. Be safe.”
The line clicked off.
I hurried through the house, looking for my gorgeous vampire. I found her in the bathroom, brushing her hair, looking beautiful and somewhat rested. I wrapped my arms around her from behind as my lips ghosted over her neck. I dared not bite since her blood was like a fine whiskey, smooth and strong. I needed my wits about me to get through the meeting and beyond.
She melted back into me. “You seem extremely happy all of a sudden.”
“I had an epiphany.” I locked eyes with her in the mirror. “Whether we kill Edmund before Christmas or not, you and I will get married then.”
She sucked in a large amount of air, squealing as she turned in my arms. “Seriously?”
I lifted her up on the sink. “You’ve always been right. We can’t live our lives based on someone else or on what could happen.” I swiped my fingers over her rosy cheeks. “We deserve to start our future together.”
Her lips locked with mine. I kissed her with all the energy I had, taking as much as I could, memorizing the way her lips molded with mine, the way she tasted of home, sunshine, and my future. I would die before I let anything happen to her.
After that body-humming kiss that lasted a good five minutes, we left the house for the meeting.
The bright lights of the war room made me squint. It took me a second to clear my vision. When I did, Victor Costner; his daughter, Alia; her son, Matthew; and Sam were busy talking to one another.
Jo glided over to Matthew, who was by far not the lanky human anymore. Since turning vampire, his upper torso had broadened and his jaw had grown sharper, much like his grandfather, Victor’s. The only attributes of Matthew’s that matched his mother’s were his blond hair and blue eyes.
I settled next to Victor. The last time I’d seen the formidable vampire was when he had helped Olivia and me find Sam and Jo, and he’d almost taken Edmund’s head off. Man, when he’d had Edmund in his grasp, I’d held my breath, praying so damn hard Victor would slice Edmund’s head right off. Sadly, Edmund had been quicker.
