“Are you Baojia?”
He smiled, somehow knowing it was Natalie Ellis before he turned. “Where did you hear that name?”
“Took me a while to figure it out once I saw it written,” she mused, stepping closer. “Bow—like the bow of a ship, jeeah. It’s cool. Chinese?”
“Perhaps.” Baojia spun around and regarded her. “Where did you hear it?”
“Does it matter?”
“Very much so.” He noticed that she had taken off the heels she’d been wearing and put on a pair of thin, black shoes, but her dress and makeup were the same. “You brought the wrong purse, Ms. Ellis.”
“How—?” She frowned before raising the very practical black handbag. “I guess you see a lot of college kids, huh? Not the usual?”
“You stood out. That’s not a bad thing. Where did you hear that name?”
She stepped closer. “Did your errand boy give you my card?”
“No. And I wouldn’t let him hear you call him an errand boy.”
Her lips wore a slight smile. “But he is.”
Baojia stepped closer. “We like to allow children their illusions, don’t we?”
Her eyes were blue. A clear blue that reminded him of old memories of the sky reflecting on the water. She was a creature made for sunlight—a dusting of freckles covered her nose and dotted her shoulders. Though her skin was pale, it was flushed with life. The unexpected curl of arousal surprised him. Human women rarely held his interest.
“Listen, I don’t want to waste your time. I’m looking for Baojia because someone told me he could help me with a story I’m writing.”
“Oh? You’re a writer?” In his experience, humans usually abhorred silence and woerelence auld fill it with useful information, given the chance. One rarely had to question them. Just remain silent and they would tell you what you needed to know.
“Yes.” The woman remained silent, too. One hand was placed on her hip and the other clutched her too-large purse. He couldn’t stop the smile. Apparently, they shared the same sentiments about silence. Finally, he shrugged and turned away.
“I’m sorry, Ms. Ellis. I can’t help you.”
“You are Baojia, aren’t you?” She was persistent; he’d give her that. “If you won’t help me, I guess I’ll have to go talk to Ivan myself.”
He spun so fast her eyes swam.
“Hey, how did you—”
Within seconds, Baojia had her tucked in the back of his sedan and told his driver to circle the block. Closing the privacy screen, he held her hand and watched her. She was completely out, rendered unconscious by the shock of his energy. He tried not to curse at his clumsy handling of the situation, but the sound of the other immortal’s name on her lips had startled him. What did this soft sunshine girl want with Ivan? And how the hell did she know to come to him for an introduction? She clearly did not know about their kind judging from her reaction to his speed.
“Ms. Ellis?” Still holding her hand, he called her name softly to rouse her. He lessened the electrical current that ran over his skin and onto hers. “Natalie?”
“Hmm?” Her eyes blinked open but still swam with confusion. “Where am I?”
“In my car. I’ll make sure you get home safely. Where did you hear the name Baojia, Natalie? Who gave it to you?” His amnis eased into her mind, loosening her tongue. At this level of influence, she would tell him anything he wanted.
“Dez did, silly.” She sounded drunk, her cerebral cortex awash in amnis. “You know, Desiree Riley… Well, Desiree Kirby now. I think she changed her name when she married Matt.”
“Desiree Riley?” Beatrice De Novo’s best friend was also the wife of Matt Kirby, who ran security and other sensitive assignments for the Italian fire vampire who had taken somewhat permanent residence in Southern California. Giovanni Vecchio was Beatrice De Novo’s husband and a wary ally of his sire’s. Desiree Riley was, to put it bluntly, a human who knew things. Also, a human who wouldn’t have given out his name without reason, from what he knew of her. “Why did Dez give you my name?”
“Badgered her.” Natalie laughed. “Poor thing. Kept at her until she cracked. It’s an important story, she knows that. Needed information. My editor…” The woman drifted off again and Baojia realized he had lost control of his amnis for a moment.
“Natalie?”
She was a lovely rumpled heap in the back of his car. Her red hair tumbled around her, falling into her face. Her nose wrinkled at the ticklish strands, causing Baojia to smile as he brushed it away.
“Need to talk to Ivan. Name keeps coming up.” Her forehead was wrinkled now. “So many gone. Can’t… can’t continue. ’S wrong, you know?”
“No.” He didn’t know. Didn’t know what she was talking about, but the mention of Ivan’s name was not something to be taken lightly. And there was no way this girl should be going to speak to the leader of Ensenada on her own. That was out of the question. He’d have to call Dez and investigate tomorrow night, but until then…
“Natalie,” he whispered.
“Yeah,” she whispered back.
“Where do you livname do yoe?”
She told him her address without question, along with a rather amusing anecdote about her neighbor Mr. Sanchez and his new Chihuahua. Finally, he had to interrupt.