The Vampire SEAL Collection, page 63
Oh yeah. Something was definitely wrong. Hell if I was going to tell him, though. He’d only kissed me once. That one kiss didn’t give me the right to take his head off just because he might be in love with another woman.
I steeled my shoulders, straightening my posture. “Nothing is wrong,” I replied in a tone that would melt butter. “I’m going to the ladies’ room.”
“Do you know where it is?” he asked in his soldier’s voice, rough and stoic.
I’d remembered it was in the hall on the same floor as one of the entrances to the war room.
“Yep,” I said.
He cocked his head to one side. His expression softened.
Was he looking for something?
“Don’t go too far,” Webb said. “My meeting in the war room won’t take long.
I nodded then stalked off, heading to the exit.
I had my hand on the handle when Sam stopped me.
“You okay?”
“Fine. I’ll meet you in the war room. I’m only going to—”
“Mmf. The last time you went to the bathroom all hell broke loose,” Sam said.
“Blake isn’t here. The brunette is locked in with Tripp and Sloan. I’m safe.”
“Five minutes,” Sam said.
“Look, Sam. Webb’s right. You need to stay focused if you’re going to work with them. You need concentrate on keeping yourself safe. Besides, Webb will be here.”
He mashed his lips together. “You trying to piss me off?”
“Sam, get over Webb. Or do you want to have a conversation about Kate too?”
“There’s nothing going on between me and her.”
“Maybe not, but your body reacts when you hear her name.”
“Five minutes. Then I’m coming to look for you,” he said abruptly, before walking off.
I exited through a door that dumped me into a stairwell. Irritation scraped across my skin like a bad rash. My brother could be just as frustrating as Dad.
As I climbed the stairs I shook off thoughts of my brother, thinking about Webb and that girl, Nicki, instead. Who was she? Did Webb still love her?
I opened the door, and barely made it into the hall when a hand covered my mouth, while an arm encircled me, locking my arms in place. My eyes flew open as I tried to scream. I craned my neck to get a view of my attacker.
He leaned down. “We meet again, sunshine,” he whispered, his breath caressing my ear.
Jonah!
I squirmed, kicking him in the shins.
“That won’t work this time,” he said, dragging me into the ladies’ room. “She’s ready,” Jonah called as he closed the door, not letting me go.
Kate London walked out of a stall.
Kate London!
My eyebrows flew deep into my hairline. If Jonah’s hand weren’t plastered to my mouth, my jaw would’ve hit the floor.
What in the world was Kate doing here, and with him? I shook my head, refusing to believe she would have anything to do with the Plutariums. Why would she? Why would she betray her brother, her family?
I swallowed hard, and then tried to scream, but Jonah’s grip grew tighter around my mouth.
I had to get out of here.
Kate made her way to me with tape in one hand and a needle in the other. She whirled the syringe in her hand like she was twirling a baton on the high school drill team.
I had at least one second, if not two, between when Jonah would release his hand and the tape would seal my fate.
“Shocked, I see.” Her lips curled at the edges.
I grunted, groaned, kicked, and squirmed. I had to stall her for five minutes before Sam came looking for me.
She placed the needle on the sink, then unrolled the tape; the sound of it was ominous.
“Ready, Jonah?” she asked.
Jonah released his stronghold on my mouth. I tried to scream again with no luck. Kate was too quick with the tape, banding my lips shut.
“Hands next,” she said.
Jonah loosened his grip around my right arm. I counted to three.
“Don’t try it, Jo.” Kate’s voice had changed from the sweet girl I’d first met to something more evil, sinister.
I swung out my right arm, clenching my fist. Before Jonah could get control of my right side, I lashed out, punching Kate smack in her left ear. I kicked; the toe of my shoe connected under her jaw and her head flew back.
“Shit, Jonah. Get control! She’s a hundred pounds wet,” Kate barked, sliding backwards a few steps.
I lunged forward when Jonah’s fangs clicked into place. I turned, looking up at the large vampire. Before I could react, he bit. The crazy vampire bit me in the shoulder. I threw back my right elbow, hitting him in the gut. It didn’t even faze him. He just kept sucking the blood out of me.
“Jonah will rip you to shreds if you don’t stop moving,” Kate said.
I grunted again, but it was futile. My moans died against the tape.
Kate laughed. “Looks like he’s rather enjoying the sweetness of your blood.”
I lunged forward again, taking Jonah’s fangs with me. My skin ripped and blood dripped down the front of my shirt.
“Keep trying. It’s fun to watch you panic.” Kate wrenched my hands together in front of me before wrapping the tape around my wrists several times. “Jonah, enough. I need to inject her with the sedative.”
Jonah released his fangs. “Very sweet, sunshine. I could get used to tasting you.” His tongue licked my ear.
Sicko.
“We need to move before my brother no doubt comes to her rescue,” Kate said to Jonah.
Her brother? My brother was going to have her head for dinner.
Tears clouded my vision at the mention of him. My mind scrambled to make sense of all this. She was Webb’s sister. She couldn’t possibly be siding with the Plutariums.
Why? Why? Why?
With my hands and mouth taped, she pushed up the sleeve of my shirt. “Jo, the fun is just beginning.” Then she jabbed the needle into my arm.
Warmth seeped through my veins. The room spun. Images of Webb, Dad, and Sam flashed before me. I blinked several times, trying to keep my eyes open.
“Your…brother. Family. You…can’t….do…this,” I said, but the words were lost under the tape.
My body went limp. Then there was only darkness.
18
Soft music dragged me awake. I stretched slowly, raising my arms over my head. I slithered, slinked and squirmed against soft cotton sheets. My muscles ached as I stretched each limb, one by one. The music of Beethoven caressed my ears, but did nothing to sooth the blazing headache I had. It was as though I had a hangover from a wild night of binge drinking. Not that I would admit to knowing what that was like. I kept my eyes closed, breathing slowly in the hope it would calm the throbbing blood vessels beneath my skull. Snuggling under the thick comforter, I yawned then shivered. The room had a chill to it.
As I rolled over on the musky-scented pillow, my eyelids flew open. Classical music? Since when did Dad play classical music? I jolted upright, glancing around.
This wasn’t my bedroom. A large glass table graced the far right corner with a vase filled with lilies sitting on top. Their sweet aroma wafted around as I took in a breath. An oversized red velvet chair sat in the far left corner.
Oh, this wasn’t good at all. Think. I had to think. No, I had to stop falling the heck asleep.
The last time I passed out I woke up in the stupid prison cell. Now I was in some luxurious bedroom complete with flowers, decadent furniture and expensive bedding. The headboard alone was impressive with its cherry frame, which rose to the ceiling. Inside the frame were cushiony black leather squares with a button set in the middle of each. They looked like small pillows. The cherry end tables on each side of the bed had a lamp bolted to them, and a cherry-wood dresser lined the right wall next to the flowers.
Salt air hung beneath the scent of musk.
Where was I?
I jumped out of bed, only to stumble as the room swayed. I quieted my rioting mind for just a second, and heard the faint sound of water lapping against…a boat?
I ran three steps to the door, pulling on the doorknob. It was locked.
I darted to the round window on the left wall and peered out. Time stopped, my blood froze, and my brain fogged. In the distance, an orange glow painted the sky as the sun dipped close to the horizon. But that wasn’t what had me in a tizzy. I was on a boat completely surrounded by water. While I loved the sun and the beach, I couldn’t swim. I’d never learned how.
Don’t panic. Think.
Kate. My heart rate increased. She couldn’t be with the Plutariums.
As my mind scrambled to make sense of anything, the doorknob wiggled. I tiptoed over to stand behind the door.
Keys jangled and I grabbed the vase of lilies. I hated to ruin the lovely arrangement, but it was the only thing close to me. Heck, it was the only pseudo-weapon available. At least it might startle the person.
Another jingle of keys, two clicks then the doorknob twisted. My heart rate picked up, thundering in sync with the beat of the music overhead.
Slowly, the door opened inward, trapping me behind it.
With my hands tight around the Oriental vase, I raised it level with my face. Then I took in a quiet breath and held it.
A tall figure slinked in with his back to me, and I swung the vase against his head.
The expensive piece shattered. Water sprayed everywhere, flowers flew across the room, and large chunks of the ceramic vase sprayed down around the man.
Stunned, he listed to one side, creating an opening for me to run.
Grabbing the edge of the door, I threw it back, ready to bolt out into the hall. But no sooner had I turned than his large paw grabbed me by the arm.
“No so fast, Princess,” a very familiar voice said.
I turned and came face-to-face with Edmund Rain, head of the Plutariums.
“Edmund?”
“We meet again.” His voice was like cut-glass digging into my skin. “That wasn’t very nice,” he said, wiping the water from his face.
Well, one thing was for sure. I wasn’t dreaming, and Kate was a double-crossing bitch. Poor Webb! Pissed off wouldn’t even begin to describe the indomitable vampire when he found out his sister was the enemy.
Someone came running down the hall, boots clamoring on the wood floor.
“Sir, is everything okay?” Jonah asked.
Gone was his signature blue bandana. In its place he wore an army-green ball cap with the Plutariums’ insignia embroidered on the front. In thick black stitching was the capital letter P superimposed on top of the letter L. In thick red stitching was a red diagonal ring circling the black monogram letters. The design immediately took me back to the first time I saw it on Neil Foster’s neck at the funeral home. An icy chill pricked me.
“It’s fine. Get out,” Edmund commanded, waving his hand, then closed the wooden door. He leaned against it as he crossed his arms over his chest, staring at me.
The asshole hadn’t changed much. His black hair had grown. No longer did he sport a military crew cut; his hair now curled around his ears. His face was clean-shaven, and his eyes were a golden-brown. He was clad in black jeans and a light-blue cotton shirt that disappeared into the waist of his jeans.
“Sit,” he said, motioning to the bed.
I stood at the base of the bed and didn’t move. Instead, I crossed my arms over my chest and stared back.
He raised one eyebrow.
“Where am I?”
“You’re home,” he said in a clarion tone, pushing off the door.
Home, my butt. He was crazier than a mental patient.
“What do you want with me? I don’t have anything to give you. You took DNA from my twin brother. Besides we’re vampires now. You don’t need me.”
He walked over to the window, staring out. Looking at what? There was nothing out there except a vast body of water.
“I just love the ocean. I always have. One of the reasons I joined the Navy. The sea is soothing and serene, especially during dusk and dawn.”
“I don’t give a shit about what you love. Are you going to answer me?” Anger rose to the surface. I tamped it down. Expending my energy, or allowing my telekinesis to take over my body, would only make me weak.
“I see you still haven’t learned manners,” he growled.
“Get over it. When it comes to you, manners are not the first thing on my mind.”
“Then what is?” His tone softened.
I laughed. My enemy wanted to have a conversation on what I thought about him? Now I was convinced he should be a mental patient.
“Seriously?”
“We have a few minutes. Besides, your father is detained with other matters. My plan fell into place nicely. The valiant soldier, Webb” —he laughed, a heinous sound that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand at attention— “will be too preoccupied cleaning up the mess at the shipyard. They probably don’t even know you’re missing.” He placed his hands into his jeans pockets, a smug look on his face.
My chest tightened. He was probably right about Webb, but he hadn’t factored my brother into things. The noose around my neck loosened slightly. Sam said he’d come looking for me if I wasn’t back from the ladies’ room in five minutes. But as soon as a small bit of hope washed over me, dread set in. How would Sam even know where to look for me? I was out in the middle of an ocean.
“It was you?” I pinched my eyebrows together. “You blew up the ship on base? And you had something to do with the Secretary of the Navy?”
Why was I surprised? One, Dad had said from the very beginning that Edmund was out for power and revenge, and two, Dad mentioned that the Plutariums might be responsible for the first explosion. The Sentinels did spot Jonah outside of base, after all. One piece of the puzzle just fell into place.
“Let’s just say that the Secretary had it coming,” Edmund said. “He was worthless. Besides, if I want my plan to work, I…Never mind. I shouldn’t be having this conversation with a child. So, tell me: what don’t you like about me?”
I shook my head. “You’re evil. Need I say more?” A hiss escaped me. I sounded like an angry cat just before it attacked its enemy.
“I like to look at it as that I’m defending myself. You know about defending yourself, don’t you, Jo?” He grinned with glee.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You don’t? You sure about that? That boy you killed today. Does that ring any bells?”
News traveled fast.
“Tell me how you did it.”
“I didn’t kill him.” I sat down on the bed before my legs failed me.
“Your powers are developing nicely. Over the years, your dad and I speculated about which of you twins would brandish more power. We even had a bet. You see, I bet on you. Although your brother will turn into a great fighter, no doubt, his powers will not match yours.”
I met his gaze, tilting my head to one side. He was the second person today to tell me Sam would make a great fighter. Had Edmund been talking to Webb? No. Stupid thought.
“Ah, you’re confused.” He bent down, removed his hands from his pockets and picked up a lily from the mess on the floor before sniffing its sweet scent. “Your father hasn’t told you a thing, has he?”
He was right to a degree. I was confused. Dad had only told me about a vampire’s special abilities when I asked or when it was necessary. Otherwise, I was learning by trial and error, or from books in the secret library room. No one had yet to sit down with me and explain everything in detail. In fact, Dad kept saying that school would teach Sam and me all that we needed to know. The way things were going I was afraid I wouldn’t be allowed back to school, or even live long enough to find out if I would.
“What do you mean Sam’s powers won’t match mine?”
Edmund smiled. His bronze eyes twinkled in the soft glow of the room as though he’d just won the grand prize.
Curiosity was a bitch.
“The question I’ve been waiting for.” He let out a sigh, twirling the flower stem between his right forefinger and thumb. “I’ve had dreams about you. Dreams that tell me you will be very powerful one day. You’ll have powers that the vampire world hasn’t seen in all of their existence.” He raised the fragrant lily to his nose and his nostrils flared.
I swallowed a gasp at his revelation.
Dad had mentioned that vampires’ dreams could see into the future. But Edmund had to be smoking some serious dope. Me? Powerful? Absurd.
“What? Like I’ll be the first female president of the United States?”
He laughed. “Much more powerful, minha linda. So much so, in fact, that I can’t have you walking around in this world, ruining my plans. You’re a liability.” His tone had turned cold-blooded all of a sudden.
“So then kill me.” The words rolled off my tongue as a shiver zinged through me.
He sauntered over to me and bent down. He snapped off a large part of the flower’s stem before placing the lily behind my ear.
“It’s not on my agenda. Yet.”
The three-letter word yet packed a punch that sent my pulse into overdrive. My body began shaking. The walls were closing in, and the boat started rocking, as though the sea were getting angry.
Focus. I had to focus. I couldn’t let my powers take over. If I destroyed the boat in the middle of nowhere, I’d kill myself in the process. Then I wouldn’t have to worry about Edmund killing me; I’d drown first.
I was on a death cruise that was for sure.
“We have a few hours. I do want to play a little. I think Kate has a present for you,” he said as his right hand caressed my face, his lips curling at the edges.
I slapped away his hand. “Get your nasty claws off me.”
“You look a little pale.” He smiled, a fake smile. “Let’s see if we can put some color back into that gorgeous face of yours.” He went to the door and opened it, poking out his head. “Jonah,” he called.
