“Drugged me with some of Simon’s chocolate truffles.” I made a face. “Guess I’m pretty predictable around food. As soon as Simon ate one, I was all over them.”
“Hey, I get it. How are you feeling now?” He brushed my hair back behind my ear.
“I’ll live. The drug’s worn off.” I sighed. “But what’s next? Water boarding?”
“Why did they bring you out here?” Rafe sat beside me on the bed again. “Why the drug?”
“Seems Brent Westwood’s alive and ‘Livin’ La Vida Loca’ out here as a new vampire.” I still couldn’t believe it.
“You’re shittin’ me. I saw you take him down.”
“Yeah, well, he didn’t stay down. Wild, isn’t it? He’s now the one thing he hated most.” I studied Rafe’s pale face. He’d lost a lot of blood, and I wondered if I could get him to drink some of mine.
“Damn it, we were sloppy that night. I should have confirmed that he was dead.” Rafe swayed.
“Yeah, well. You had your hands full, taking care of me. You know, you don’t look so good. Lay back, and I’ll tell you the rest.” He didn’t argue, which meant he really was weak. He even closed his eyes while I laid out the facts. Rafe’s bare chest rose and fell, and I wondered if he was asleep. I snagged his discarded shirt and draped it over him. He grabbed my hand.
“I’m awake. Barely. Must have a concussion. Talk to me. Shouldn’t sleep.” He opened his dark eyes. “You going along with Westwood’s plan?”
“No way. I’d like to see him staked out in the sun to fry.”
“Yeah, that would be cool.” Rafe’s eyes drifted shut again.
“Wake up, Rafe. Listen. I’m going to pretend to cooperate, or Simon will never let us go.” I jiggled his shoulder. Was he out again? Damn it. I bit open my wrist and pressed it to his mouth. “Drink. Pretend this is from a juicy rare steak.”
He groaned and reached for me, his hand on the back of my head. “Glory.” At least that got some of my healing blood into his mouth. I saw him swallow, then grimace.
“Don’t stop, keep drinking. Damn it, Rafe, I need you healthy. Do it for me.” I pressed my wrist harder against his mouth and laid my head on his chest. His heartbeat was strong and reassuring. I felt him swallow and smiled. “That’s right, buddy. Drink Glory’s magic juice. Then you’ll be all better.”
He shuddered, then his arm tightened around me. With his other hand he shoved my wrist away and rolled me under him. His mouth came down on mine, and he kissed me like he was about to take his last breath. I went with it, savoring his taste, the heat of his mouth and the feel of his hard body. Rafe. I couldn’t bear it if I lost him. The kiss seemed endless and stirred all sorts of feelings deep inside me. Then I heard the scrape of a key in the door lock.
I shoved him off and jumped to my feet. I’d rip out the throat of whoever thought they were going to beat on Rafe again. Then he was by my side, standing close and in the same defensive posture I’d taken. Fine, we’d kick butt together.
“Children, please relax.” Simon and two of his EV muscle-men stood just inside the door. “While I admit the preceding scene was quite illuminating, I want to talk now. Unless you make these guards take a rough road instead of an easy one.”
“You saw ... ?” I glanced at Rafe.
“Of course, my dear. Have you forgotten that I have every nook and cranny of this compound wired for sound and picture? I wonder what your lover Jeremy Blade would think if I sent him a short clip of you two rolling around on the bed?”
“If Jerry knew I was out here, he’d be at the head of the army ready to take you down.” I wasn’t about to lower my guard. “Once a voyeur, always a voyeur. How pathetic is that?”
“Not pathetic, Gloriana. Useful.” Simon smiled and gestured to his men. “Jerry, as you call him, will not be in such a hurry to rescue you if he thinks you’ve been out here with your new lover.” He laughed. “And he’ll wonder what’s been going on all those years he had you on his payroll, Valdez.”
“Why you—” Rafe lunged for Simon, but the two guards stepped between them. One of them aimed a weapon and there was a sizzle, then Rafe staggered and went down.
“What did you do to him?” I ran to where he lay flat on his back, scowling and twitching one foot.
“Taser.” Rafe growled at the two men. “Assholes, I’d like to see you try to hold me back without that.”
“Why should they, Mr. Valdez? It’s such a handy tool. Lucky for you I told them to keep it dialed back. Otherwise you wouldn’t be able to speak; you’d be in a drooling coma.” Simon chuckled. “Your big tough bodyguard came running to your rescue, Gloriana, but obviously he’s gotten careless since he’s fallen for your voluptuous charms. We caught him before he’d gone a foot inside the compound.” Simon flicked me with a look that made me want to check to see if my breasts were covered.
“Don’t listen to him, Rafe. He’s playing mind games.” I helped Rafe up. “What do you want, Simon?”
“To finish our earlier conversation. About Westwood. I’ll hold your ‘friend’ here as a guarantee that you cooperate.” He nodded, and one of the men aimed the Taser at Rafe again.
“No! Leave Rafe out of this. I’ll do what you want, just let him go.” I jumped in front of Rafe when he tried to get at Simon.
“Don’t listen to him, Glory. You know you can’t trust him.” Rafe looked battered, pale and determined.
“It’s okay, Rafe. Simon and Westwood need me. And Simon knows he has to hold up his end if he wants me to hold up mine.” I sent Rafe a mental message to trust me. He wasn’t happy, and I could tell he wanted to take another shot at those guards.
“Come along, Gloriana. If you’ve truly come to your senses, Mr. Valdez will be waiting for you when we’re done, no worse for wear.” Simon gave Rafe a warning look. “Be aware, Valdez, that your actions can endanger Gloriana. She’s right, we need her. So relax and heel like a good dog.” Simon laughed when Rafe lunged and got a jolt from the Taser that sent him to the floor again.
“Stop it! Let’s go.” I didn’t look back at Rafe, just followed Simon out the door. God, I hated this. But with Rafe as a hostage, what choice did I have? We were both going to be out of this evil place before dawn no matter what I had to do.
Ten
Another face-to-face with Westwood, who was waiting in Simon’s office. I turned to the EV leader.
“Simon, I’m never helping this murdering rat bastard.”
“Gloriana, pay attention.” Simon pointed to the chair where I’d sat before my chocolate swan dive.
“I don’t trust either of you.” I dropped into the chair. “You’re wasting your breath.”
“Listen up, lady. Simon and I can make your life a living hell. You believe that?” Westwood was obviously in a better mood now, which worried me.
“Sure, Simon’s powerful and has lots of evil tricks up his sleeve.” I smiled at the thought of Westwood getting his energy sucked out while Simon spent his billions. “Slither out from under Simon’s skirts, and I’ll show you how vampires deal with each other. It’ll be fun for you, fledgling.”
Westwood’s snarl needed work, but he was definitely furious. “I fight with my brain, not my new fangs. I’m a computer genius, and that’s not bragging. It’s how I made my fortune. So I can hack into your records, empty your bank accounts, give you a criminal history, even issue warrants for your arrest in foreign countries. That could be fun for you.” His superior smirk begged to be slapped off of his very forgettable face. Westwood was average in every way—height, build and bland features under close-cropped mouse brown hair. It had made him a dangerous hunter who could blend in with a crowd.
Simon must have read my mind. “Gloriana, focus. I know Westwood’s not your type. You go for big men with short tempers.”
I smiled. “You’re right. I like tough guys, real men who aren’t afraid to stand and fight instead of hiding behind a piece of technology.”
“Listen to me, Gloriana.” Simon gripped that letter opener like he wanted to use it on me. “Westwood has his tricks, and you’re right, I have mine. We can make your life a living hell. And then there are your friends. Like Mr. Valdez.”
I flashed to Rafe’s bloody body. And with Westwood’s hacking skills, even Jerry could become a pauper. So not fair.
“Blackmail? Getting desperate, aren’t you?” I managed a superior look.
“Your friend Florence is having a wedding soon. It would be a shame to have the festivities ruined by an unfortunate event.” Simon dropped the letter opener, obviously assured he had my full attention now. He steepled his long fingers and tapped them together. “And you’ve been so looking forward to it. Florence too, of course. Even your friend Israel Caine will be here. How would things play out if you had some uninvited guests?”
Westwood laughed. “Got you on the ropes now, don’t we?”
He was right. I couldn’t risk my friends or their happiness because I hated this creep. Make a video. Okay, not a big deal. And if I could squeeze some money out of this, so much the better.
“Ah, I think you’re finally getting it, Gloriana.” Simon stood and walked around the desk. “We have some details to work out. It will be up to you to keep people like your Valdez from interfering as we take care of this. Can you do that?”
“If I have to.” I hated being backed into a corner. No way was I telling Jerry any of this. He’d want to charge right out here and make sure we had a Westwood body with us when we left. But Simon had an army of EVs and those damned tricks. Jerry wouldn’t stand a chance.
“Here’s the plan. You go back to your little life. Communicate to my children that you have a line on proving whether I’m alive or dead. That should keep them off your case while I get things set up.” Westwood leaned back.