Ian grinned. "Are ye so eager to jump in bed with me?" "Quiet." She glanced around the hallway. "I don't want to get you in trouble. And I don't want to get fired. I sure don't want to lose my memory, not after...you know."
"Are ye referring to how ye gushed all over my face?" She winced. "We shouldn't talk about that." She glanced around the hallway again. "We're all alone, sweetheart." She scanned the ceiling. "But there are surveillance cameras around here somewhere." "Aye. That's why I havena taken you into my arms." He folded his arms over his chest. "I just
took a cold shower, and it dinna help."
"Oh, Ian." She sighed. "I don't know where we can go. All the bedrooms down here have cameras." "I'll figure out something. It'll be easier once Connor takes Roman back into hiding. And Jean-
Luc is having a house party in Texas, so a lot of the guests are teleporting there later tonight." "That's good." Toni yawned.
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"Ye're tired. Go on to bed, sweetheart." As he watched her enter the silver room, he knew he could never give her up. He wasn't sure how he could fit into her plan to run an orphanage and school. But he knew he loved her enough that he couldn't bear for her to sacrifice any of her dreams. Somehow they would make it work.
Connor wouldn't dare erase her memory if she was engaged to him. That was a big step, but it didn't cause any warning signals to flare up inside him. It simply felt right. And exciting.
The next morning, Toni called Carlos to see how Sabrina was faring.
"She's fully awake now," Carlos reported. "And full of questions. She wants to know why she can't go home. And how you managed to get her out of the hospital. I asked Teddy to stay quiet till you got a chance to talk to her, but he keeps dropping hints about superheroes."
"Tell her I'll explain everything this evening when I get off work," Toni said. "Or I'll try to."
"There's another problem," Carlos continued. "The local stations have posted Bri's photo on their television newscasts. They say she's been kidnapped. I don't dare take her anywhere she can be noticed."
Toni winced. They couldn't stay hidden in a hotel forever.
"I thought we could meet you at that vampire nightclub," Carlos suggested.
"The Horny Devils? Why?"
"It's a great place to hide. No mortal would ever look for her there. And I doubt any Vamp would call the police to report her. It's also a really good place to convince Bri that vampires are real."
"I don't know." Toni frowned. "It might scare the hell out of her."
"The male Vamps there are strippers. They'll seem harmless." Carlos lowered his voice. "Bri still thinks she's delusional. We have to give her proof that she's right, or she'll end up back in a mental hospital."
"Okay, okay. I'll ask Ian to take me there tonight. We'll meet you at five-thirty." She hung up.
Early that afternoon UPS delivered a small blue box for her from Tiffany's. With her heart racing, Toni pulled out a gold heart-shaped pendant on a gold chain. It came with a note--All my love, Ian.
He loved her. She could hardly concentrate on anything for the rest of the day. She didn't want Howard to know she'd received a gift from Ian, so she slipped the heart underneath her polo shirt and let it nestle between her breasts.
When the sun went down, she hurried to the silver room to change clothes. "Thank you, thank you!" She grinned at Ian as she ran into the bathroom to change.
"We need to go to the Horny Devils," she called out to him. He was in the kitchen drinking his breakfast. "We're supposed to meet Carlos, Bri, and Teddy there."
"They're going to the Horny Devils?" he asked. "Why?"
"So we can convince Bri that she's not delusional." She pulled on a pair of jeans and a green sweater, then opened the door. "Can you teleport me there?"
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"Aye." He pulled his cell phone from his sporran. "Let me warn Vanda. And I'll need to tell Howard that we'll be gone for a little while."
Five minutes later, Toni arrived with Ian in the alley outside the Horny Devils. Carlos was already there with Bri and Teddy. He motioned to the bouncer. "That guy wouldn't let us in."
Bri gave Ian a suspicious look. "Why are we here? I just want to go home."
"We can't go to the apartment, Bri," Toni said. "Your uncle would look for you there. We need to hide you here for a while." Bri cast a nervous glance at the huge bouncer. "What is this place?" "I bet it's their secret Batcave!" Teddy exclaimed. "It's more like a nightclub," Toni explained. "Vanda is expecting us, right?" "Aye," Ian answered. "She agreed to let you hide in the VIP room. She even had some mortal
food delivered." "Mortal?" Bri whispered. "I knew it!" Teddy leaned close to her. "He's from another planet. That's why he has superpowers
here." "I'm no' a superhero," Ian grumbled. "Of course you are!" Teddy insisted. "You have superpowers, man. And I'm gonna be your
sidekick." "Ian, we have to tell them the truth," Toni said. He frowned. "Are ye sure they can handle it?" "Sabrina deserves to know that she was right all along." Carlos looked at Sabrina. "Menina, you
were never delusional." Bri shook her head. "No, I was wrong. Vampires aren't real." Ian glanced at Carlos. "Ye know the truth then?" He gave Toni a disappointed look. "Ye were no'
supposed to tell anyone."
"Carlos needed to know what was going on," Toni said. "And besides, he knows how to keep a secret." Ian regarded Carlos curiously. "Aye, he certainly does." Carlos exchanged a quick look with Ian before turning back to Sabrina. "Menina, remember how
you were attacked by some vicious vampires?" She shook her head. "I was mistaken." "You asked me to go to Central Park and find them," Toni said. "Those same vampires jumped
me."
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Bri gasped. "No!"
"Yes. I was attacked. And I might have died if a guy with a sword didn't come along and save me." "Did he have superpowers?" Teddy asked. "Yes," Toni replied. "He stabbed one of the attackers, and he turned to dust. The other two
vanished. Then the guy with the sword teleported me to Romatech." "Is that another planet?" Teddy asked. Ian groaned. Toni smiled. "It's Romatech Industries. They manufacture synthetic blood. Connor, the guy who
saved me, told me he was a good vampire." "Whoa," Teddy said. "A good vampire?" Bri shook her head. "There's no such thing." "Yes, there is," Toni insisted. "Just like mortals can be good or bad, vampires can be good or
bad." She motioned to Ian. "He's a good vampire." Bri backed away, a look of horror on her face. "He's one of them? He bites people?" "Nay." Ian frowned at her. "I drink bottled blood from Romatech." "And you have superpowers," Teddy added. "That is so cool. I guess you're fighting the bad
vampires?" "We call them Malcontents," Ian explained. "They call themselves the True Ones." "Toni." Bri sidled up close to her and whispered, "Why are you hanging out with...him?" "Ian's one of the good guys," Toni whispered back. "I've been working for them since I was
attacked." "Why? Are they controlling you?" "No. I wanted to find a way to prove you were right. You were never delusional, Bri. Your uncle's
been holding you prisoner and keeping you drugged so he can control your money." "But he--he's my uncle..." It was sad to watch. Toni could see Bri figuring it all out step by step as the emotions flitted across
her face. Disbelief, then shock, then horror, then anger. Her face flushed. "I was never sick." "No, sweetie." Toni gave her shoulders a squeeze. She gave Ian a wary look. "And vampires are real." She closed her eyes and shuddered. "Let's go inside," Ian suggested. "Hugo, these people are with me." Hugo grunted and opened the door.
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Ian strode inside with Carlos and Teddy. Bri hung back, clinging to Toni.
"It's okay," Toni insisted. "This is a nightclub for Vamps." When Bri's face paled, she continued, "They all drink from bottles. It's perfectly safe." Bri let Toni pull her inside. Bright flashing lights and loud music greeted them. Bri stayed close to
Toni, and her gaze flitted nervously about. Toni noted the usual bunch of scantily clad girls bouncing to the music, close to the stage. "Those girls are hot," Teddy said. "Are they all--?"
"Undead, yes." Carlos looked curiously about. The girls squealed when a dancer strutted onto the stage, dressed like a pirate. He tossed his tricorne hat into the crowd, and the ladies scrambled to claim it as a souvenir. More clothes flew through the air till the dancer was down to his bikini underwear. He turned his back to the crowd to show off the skull and crossbones printed on the back of his underwear. He rotated his hips suggestively.
"Oh my," Sabrina whispered. "He's very talented," Toni agreed. "Ladies, are ye coming?" Ian stood by Vanda's office, watching them with a wry look on his face.
Carlos and Teddy were waiting with him. "We're coming." Toni tugged on Bri's arm. She glanced back at the dancer. "I'm starting to feel much better now." Toni laughed. "It's good to have you back." She joined Ian at Vanda's office, and he arched an
eyebrow at her. Her face grew warm. "I was just looking." His mouth twitched, and he knocked on Vanda's office door. She greeted them. "Come on in. I've got everything ready." As Toni entered, she smiled. "Thank you for your help." "No problem." Vanda regarded her sternly. Toni had a feeling she didn't approve. As Ian introduced everyone, Vanda's gaze flitted over Bri
and Teddy, then came to rest on Carlos. Her eyes narrowed suspiciously. Carlos smiled slightly. "I like your cat suit." "Thanks." Vanda adjusted the whip she used as a belt. She opened a door that revealed a narrow
staircase. "This is the back entrance. I figured you don't want anyone to see you going up there." "That is correct." Ian led them up the stairs. Toni stepped through some hanging strands of beads and brushed back a gauzy curtain. "Good
grief." "Wow," Bri whispered. "It's beautiful. It looks like Princess Jasmine's boudoir."
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"Glad you like it." Vanda swept into the harem-styled room. "As you can see, there's food and drink on the table and plenty of big cushions for resting." She pointed at two doors across the room. "That's the restroom and the main stairs."
"It's perfect." Toni wandered over to the carved wooden screen. She could see the club below. "Thank you, Vanda."
She adjusted her belt with an annoyed look. "Ian's a good friend. I'd do anything for him." "So would I." Toni glanced at Ian. He was at the refreshment table, pouring himself a glass of Bleer.
Vanda stepped closer. "Would you give him up?" Toni stiffened. "Why would I do that?" "Because he wants a true mate," Vanda insisted. "Someone who can spend eternity with him. You
can't do that."
"I don't know how things will work out," Toni said. "But I do know I'm in love with him." She heard a gasp behind her. "You're in love with a vampire?" Sabrina screeched. Toni winced as everyone stared at her with shock or dismay on their faces. Everyone except Ian.
He was watching her intently, his eyes sparkling with emotion. She lifted her chin. "Yes, I'm in love with Ian." He walked toward her, a smile slowly forming on his lips. Vanda scowled at him. "You said all you wanted was a vampire." "I changed my mind." Ian was grinning now, and the sharp points of his fangs showed. Sabrina pressed a hand to her chest. "Toni, how could you?" "How could I not?" She pulled the heart pendant out from behind her green sweater. The gold
chain and heart glimmered in the soft overhead lights. "Thank you for sending me your heart." Ian halted and his grin faded. "I dinna send that." Toni blinked. "But it came this afternoon with a note that said, All my love." Ian zipped toward her, and with a quick wrench of his wrist, he broke the chain around her neck. "Ian--" Toni gasped when he dropped the pendant on a low table and smashed it with his fist. He picked up a small metal piece. "That's a tracking device," Carlos said. Ian dropped the device on the floor and crushed it with his heel. "I'll summon Phineas and Dougal
here, and we'll teleport everyone to Romatech." He stepped away, closing his eyes briefly. Toni realized he was sending out a psychic message.
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Sabrina clutched her arm. "Who--who would want to follow us? Is it my uncle or the police?" "Worse," Carlos muttered. Teddy's eyes lit up. "The evil forces! They're upon us!" Shots exploded below in the club, and screams filled the air.
Chapter Twenty-one
Ian dashed to the wooden screen to see what was happening below. He spotted Jedrek Janow with a pistol in his hand and a sheathed sword hanging from his belt. Jedrek shot twice in the air and laughed when the women scurried about, screaming. Thankfully, most of the women had enough sense to teleport away.