Shiela Stewart - [Darkness 02] Read online

  Dante shifted his gaze, his forehead creasing a little more. “What do you mean by that?”

  “The two of you have been going at it hot and heavy since she showed up.”

  “How the hell do you know what we’ve been doing? Do you have surveillance in our rooms?”

  Basil laughed as he lit a cigarette. “Now that is a thought. No, I don’t have you on surveillance. I can hear the two of you, everyone can. She’s a screamer.”

  Yes, she was, and yet Dante had never given it a thought to whether anyone could hear them or not. “Your walls aren’t very soundproof then.”

  “It’s old, what do you expect. Has she told you anything more about her captors?’

  “No.”

  “Have you asked?”

  “She’s told us all she can remember.”

  “Why are you so reluctant to question her? You afraid she’ll get annoyed and take off on you, leaving you without someone to fuck.”

  Dante spun on him, fists ready. “Don’t make me mess up that pretty face of yours.”

  “Like you’d have a chance.” To prove it, Basil vanished and appeared several feet behind him. “Then what’s the real reason?”

  He turned around, more annoyed now. “She was victimized. You can’t just interrogate someone who was abducted and assaulted.”

  “Did she say she was raped by them?”

  “No, but when I found her all she had on was panties and a bra. A bunch of vampires holding her and they don’t want to touch doesn’t sound right to me.”

  “Then just ask her if she was raped. I doubt she was because she wouldn’t be so eager to boff your brains out if she had been.”

  He hadn’t thought about that. “Okay, so then…they didn’t have sex with her. Still, she was traumatized.”

  “She seems to have come out of it all right to me. I’m just saying, she doesn’t seem too fazed by it.”

  No, she didn’t. She was holding up remarkably well. But that didn’t mean he was going to push her for answers. “Let’s stick to our agenda for the night, shall we.” Walking off, Dante ended their conversation.

  ***

  Damn, it felt good to be out. It seemed she’d been incarcerated for so long, in one way shape or form. First it had been the jail cell, then the crazy vampire guys and now at Basil and Trinity’s. Sure, she had her freedom to go wherever she wanted in the house, but she wasn’t allowed to leave the grounds alone.

  No one told Gypsy Dawn no.

  She’d spent a lifetime being told what to do and when to do it by strangers claiming to have her best interests at heart. All they’d been seeing when looking at her was dollar signs. As long as the families she stayed with got paid, they kept her around. And made her life hell.

  She’d run away more times than she could remember, lived in so many different homes she couldn’t even keep track. The last time she’d run off was when she’d been caught by Reggie’s parent while they were having sex in his bedroom. She knew they’d call the authorities to drag her to yet another home and she wasn’t going to have it. So she ran out and never looked back. She’d hitched a ride to the nearest town and been moving ever since.

  Then she’d come to Jacob’s Cove three months ago, hoping to stick around long enough to get some decent money and found herself being thrown in jail for burglary and theft.

  Hell, she’d done it so many times before and never got caught, but this time, she had. And it sucked. They’d stuck her in a cell pending arraignment and locked the doors. On the day of her trial, the sun had mysteriously vanished and all hell had broken loose. She should thank the sun for that, because it was enough of an opportunity for her to break away from the officer transferring her to the courthouse.

  With the city going ape shit, she was able to blend in—well, after stealing some clothing she found hanging on a line in someone’s back yard. She’d been more than ready to hitch a ride out of this hell hole when someone grabbed her from behind and shoved a cloth in her mouth.

  But she was free now, and she didn’t want to dwell on the past. Life was too short to dwell on something you had no ability to change.

  She wondered how long she could live now that she was a vampire.

  Wouldn’t that be bitchin’ if she lived forever? Imagine the money she could accumulate in her lifetime. Hot damn!

  She pulled to a stop in front of a boarded up clothing shop. She was tired of wearing hand me downs. She’d worn nothing but for most of her life. She missed her clothes but she knew those were long gone since she’d been evicted from her apartment when she’d been hauled off to jail.

  Hiking around the back of the shop, Gypsy searched for some sort of entryway that wasn’t locked or boarded up. She doubted very much that any of the shops in the city would have their alarms engaged. Seeing a small window near the rear of the building, she jumped for joy. Then she searched for a rock or something to break it with. Seeing a piece of wood lying in the alley behind her, she grabbed it, then swung her arm back and sent it flying through the window. It shattered in nice little pieces and, again, she jumped for joy. Using her elbow, thankful for the long sleeves, she broke away the rest of the glass. Then she shimmied her way inside.

  She stood in what was probably the boss’ office, then quickly made a dash for the front. “Oh yeah, come to momma.” She ran to the racks of clothing, leafing through them for clothes in her size. When she found something she liked, she hung it over her arm. In no time flat she had an armful. Carrying her loot to the front, she grabbed one of the bigger shopping bags from under the counter and stuffed her clothes inside.

  Now shoes. Thank God this shop had it all. By the time she was finished she had enough clothes to last her a few months and shoes for several of the outfits, her own underwear and some lingerie. She was looking forward to wearing them for Dante.

  He was such a sweetie, and a damn good lay. The guy had stamina and she so loved a man with stamina. She was considering asking him if he thought his friend Jonah and his wife would be into having a foursome. That Jonah was a cutie with those big brown eyes and long lashes. She imagined he was the type of guy who liked to take his time on a woman.

  Carrying her bags of clothing and accessories, Gypsy pushed through the back door and hurried to her car. Well, someone’s car. She’d slipped the keys from the rack and had taken it without permission. She was sure no one would mind, or notice as Dante and Basil were gone and the others were in their rooms or dealing with the vampire prisoners. She felt sorry for the bastards—okay, maybe not so much. As long as they were locked up, she was happy. And if she had enough nerve, she might go down and see if any of them were the ones that abducted her.

  She heard someone screaming in the distance and hurried to her car. She unlocked it, threw her bags inside then climbed behind the wheel. She sped off and headed back to the castle.

  ***

  “You hear that?” Dante asked, running towards Basil.

  “I have ears don’t I? It came from the east.” Saying nothing else, Basil took off in the direction of the scream.

  Dante was right behind him. Though he was fast, he didn’t have vampire speed. Doing his best to keep up with Basil wasn’t easy and when Date finally caught sight of him, Basil was already negotiating with the vamp holding a woman by the neck. Dante decided to sneak around the back of the guy and hopefully get a shot off with the taser before the vamp knew he was there.

  “Look, if you’re hungry, there are other means of getting blood. I could invite you to my place where I have a stocked plasma bar ready for the taking.”

  “I like my blood fresh.”

  “Yeah, well this lady doesn’t want hers spilled at the moment. And besides, she looks a little sickly. You wouldn’t get anything worth while from her anyway.”

  “I’m betting I would.”

/>   Dante took the shot just as the guy leaned down to the woman’s neck. He got him in the back and the volts shot through him making the guy do the funky monkey as he released the woman. He went down on his knees, gurgling. The woman ran to Basil, crying and Dante walked to the twitching vamp.

  “That really smarts, I know.” He pulled the barbs out of the guys back then tucked the gun in his weapons belt. “It’ll subside soon enough. In the meantime, I want you to listen to me. I’m going to let you go, but you have to do me a favor. You don’t agree, I let my friend over there take you to his dungeon with the rest of your pals. Wanna know what the deal is?”

  Still shaking, the guy nodded. He had spittle sliding down his pointy chin.

  “You know who Danny Vega is, right?” The vamp’s head bobbed up and down. “You are going to give him a message for me. Tell him his brother Dante wants to talk to him, tomorrow four a.m. at Vega Investigations. Got it?”

  The vamp nodded.

  “Good. Now, you’re going to hit me in the jaw and make it good. I’m going to fall back and you make like a rabbit and run. Got it?” The guy nodded again. “Good. Do it.”

  Even though you expected the hit, it didn’t make it any easier. And the guy had boney knuckles to boot. Dante saw stars as he fell backwards, hitting the pavement. He just hoped the wailing woman kept Basil distracted long enough so he couldn’t go after the vamp.

  It was just his luck that another vamp came out of nowhere to distract Basil. He wiggled his jaw as he got to his feet. Glancing back, he saw his vamp scurrying off in a staggered run. By the time he turned back to Basil, the guy had the vamp subdued and the weeping woman under control. He really was a smooth operator.

  “Where the hell’s your vamp?” Basil scowled; his prey unconscious on the ground.

  Dante rubbed his jaw as he walked towards Basil. “Clipped me when I went to take the barbs out. Last thing I saw was stars and a blur running past me.”

  “Shit. Okay, we got this one at least. Let’s give this nice, hysterical lady a ride home.”

  The woman looked like the slightest noise would send her to the moon. “Sure. Where do you live, ma’am?”

  “T-taylor S-street,” she stuttered, wrapping her arms around her body.

  “We’ll stick him in the trunk.” Basil hoisted the sleeping vamp from the ground and slung him over his shoulder.

  “I-in the t-trunk? Won’t h-he s-suffocate?”

  “You don’t have to worry about him,” Dante advised, taking her arm and leading her to his car. It was down four blocks but the walk did her good. Even though she clung to his arm, her body wasn’t quaking as badly as it had been when she’d first touched him. And by the time they dropped her off at her door and made sure she got inside okay, she was feeling much better.

  “What did you do to her?” Dante asked while driving back to Basil’s.

  “Just a little soothing mind control. By the morning she’ll think it was all a dream.”

  “You do that often?”

  Basil smiled and it actually gave Dante the creeps. “When necessary.”

  “Don’t ever do that to me, ‘kay? Don’t mess with my mind.”

  “Please, you actually need a mind for me to mess with.” Basil vanished before Dante could smack him.

  Chapter Eight

  They got the newest vamp locked in the crowded cells, and since his shoulder was screaming like a bitch, Dante decided a nice, hot shower should help alleviate the pain. He stripped from his clothes, tossing them in the corner of the bathroom knowing they’d be gone in a few hours when the maids made their rounds. It was rather nice having maids. He’d never in his life pictured himself being waited on but now that he was, it was kinda nice.

  He knew better than to get used to it though. It wasn’t going to last. And soon enough he was going to have to go back to his day job and live above his investigations office like a normal Joe. Just as soon as the sun came back.

  Dante stepped under the hot spray of water and let it massage his aching muscles. His chin was a splash of color already, but it was well worth the pain. As long as the vamp gave Danny the message it was worth it. He really hoped he did.

  It was time he and his brother had a conversation.

  He had so many questions for him but, mostly, he just wanted to see him again. That brief moment outside Chaos’ compound hadn’t been enough. He just couldn’t understand why Danny hadn’t come to him sooner. Sure, he could factor in that maybe Danny hadn’t wanted him to see him as a vamp. Or that Danny didn’t think he would believe that his brother had become an animal. Okay, so the more he thought about it the more he understood. Danny more than likely figured his family thought he was dead, why tell them otherwise?

  Turning off the water, he stepped from the shower and toweled off. He changed the bandage on his shoulder and noticed that—miracles of miracles—he hadn’t torn any stitches this time. The bitch better heal soon because he was getting tired of being a human pin cushion.

  Throwing on a t-shirt and sweats, he glanced at the TV with a fleeting thought to check what was on, then said screw it and headed out of his room. He had too much energy to sit still and watch crap on TV. What he needed was Gypsy.

  Dante was pretty sure he was perilously close to becoming a sex addict. He’d enjoyed the act before, but nothing compared to sex with her. She was a goddess in the sack and it didn’t hurt that she gave him multiple orgasms.

  He never would have thought he would be screwing a vampire. Sure, he’d had the hots for Trinity, but that was before he knew she was a vamp. And, he could admit it to himself if no one else, that having sex with her, knowing that at any time she could bite him, was a huge turn on. Even though he constantly told her no biting. There was always the danger factor that maybe this time she wouldn’t listen. Not that he wanted to become one. It was just the allure of the possible biting. Who knew he was a sadist?

  He knocked on her door, his dick already throbbing with anticipation. And when she opened it wearing a skimpy, red, see-through nightie, he almost lost it.

  “Well, hello, big guy. I was hoping it was you.”

  What did she just say? “You answer the door in something that would be illegal in most states without knowing it was me?”

  “Sure. Why not?”

  He pushed her inside and closed the door behind him. “And if it hadn’t been me, then what?”

  She shrugged delicate shoulders clad in only a thin silk strap. “Depends who it was that was on the other side.”

  He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Then he saw the pile of clothes on her bed and the bags on the floor and his mind was suddenly occupied by something else. “Where did you get all of those clothes?”

  “Um….my place.”

  “I thought you said you didn’t have a place?”

  “Right…I don’t. A friend lent them to me.”

  He walked to the bed and having her race him to it was a dead giveaway. He grabbed a blouse and the tag that dangled from it clued him in. “Your friend leaves the purchase tags on? I don’t think so, Gypsy, so you had better come clean with me.”

  She huffed, then plopped down on the bed right on top of the clothes. “I borrowed them.”

  “Borrowed? Okay, let me explain to you what I do for a living. I am an investigator. I investigate things for a living, which gives me a pretty keen eye and a good sense of when crap is being handed out to me. You didn’t borrow shit, Gypsy.”

  “Okay, fine. I stole them. Happy?”

  What a stupid question. “Happy? I am anything but happy. When and where did you grab these?”

  “Don’t you like my little nightie, Dante?” She stood up, running her hand over the see through material.

  His dick twitched and he reminded himself what the important business was right now and it
was not easing the ache in his balls. “Answer my question, Gypsy.”

  Sulking, she plopped back down on the bed. “I don’t know the name. One of the shops on Galley street.”

  “You don’t even know the name?” He squeezed the bridge of his nose. She was beginning to give him a headache. “You have to give these all back.”

  “Nuh uh.” She stood up crossing her arms over her chest. “And you can’t make me.”

  Oh, Christ, listen to how young she sounded. “Let me see. Investigators license says, yep, I can.”

  She lifted her chin defiantly. “What are you going to do, arrest me?”

  Oh, she was pushing him now. “Damn straight.”

  She narrowed her eyes. “Right. You’d give me up to the cops. Please.” She snorted.

  “What is that supposed to mean?”

  She stepped right in his face and grabbed hold of his balls. “And lose the one person who makes your eyes cross? I don’t think so.”

  He was not ruled by his dick. “There’s plenty more like you in this city. I could have anyone I chose.”

  She snorted again and this time, slid her hand up to cup his hard-on. “None of them give you what I can.”

  He was not ruled by his dick. “Sweetie, I hate to break it to you, but you are nothing special.” Oh, now that was just nasty.

  Her eyes went wide. “How dare you.”

  She made a move now that completely took him by surprise. She grabbed his arm, twisted it behind his back and pushed him to the door all before he even had a moment to realize what was happening. The next thing he knew, she opened it and shoved him out. He turned just as the locks clicked on the door.

  “Open the door, Gypsy.”

  “Go to hell, Dante.”

  “Woman trouble?” Jonah asked, coming up behind him. He had a tray in his hand with two glasses of milk and two sandwiches. It reminded Dante he hadn’t eaten in several hours.

  “Yes. Do you know where Basil and Trinity keep the room keys?”

  “Not off hand. Why’d she lock you out?”

  “Long story.” He left Jonah in the hall and marched to Basil and Trinity’s room. He hammered his fist on the door, then waited impatiently for someone to come to the door. When Trinity answered, he spoke gruffly. “I need the key to Gypsy’s room.”