Sharkbait

Adrienne stood up in front of me, nearly shifting at the thought. My wolf was begging to get out, to rip this thing to pieces.

Alexander didn’t move; he just sat there and smiled. “Relax, my friends. I don’t mean we kill her for real. We just make it look like she’s dead.” Adrienne slowly calmed down and sat again, pushing her wolf down and doing her breathing exercises to relax. “I would hope we have established enough trust to continue?”

“How would we do this,” I said.

“You notice the resemblance between you and Emily,” Alexander said. “With clothes, a change in hairstyle, and makeup, she could pass for you. We set up a hit where you are taken out, with cameras that show the whole thing. Emily recovers from her ‘fatal’ wounds, and we keep you out of sight under my protection until I have the people behind this in my hands.”

Adrienne considered this for a moment. “The Council will want them for trial, assuming we are right about who it is.”

“Your council will want them dead, correct?”

“Leo warned them about going after me at the trial,” I said. “Execution is the only outcome for them. A rogue attempting to harm a Pack wolf, especially a ranked one, is automatic death.”

Detective Jack spoke up. “Will her pregnancy affect the outcome?”

I didn’t know, but Adrienne did. “Traci’s execution would be postponed until after she gave birth. Her remaining family would claim the child. If none exist or step forward, a childless Alpha pair could claim the child. Alpha blood orphans do not happen that often; even without a mantle, that child is important.”

“My coven would take care of all the arrangements, and trace the payment back to the people responsible. All you would have to do is play your part and follow my directions,” Alexander said calmly.

I could imagine. “And you would do this out of the goodness of your heart?”

Alexander laughed loudly at this. “Jack, Emily, leave us.” They got up and left. “Surely, you understand that these acts have value, and there is a cost for the services of my coven,” he said.

“What do you want, Master Vampire Corvinus?”

“Alexander, please. After our moment together, I think we are on a first-name basis,” he said softly. I shuddered, recalling his breath on my neck before the bite. “I want two things, and they are non-negotiable. I’m sure you know that your blood is powerful stuff. I’ve never felt anything like it, and I want it again.”

“I’m never going to be your familiar,” I said as anger rose.

“I would not ask that.” He looked back towards the door. “I have been the Master Vampire in this region for over a hundred years, and I intend to challenge for leadership of the Vampire Council on the thirty-first of October in New Orleans. The Supreme Vampire is an old and powerful creature. His skills are superior to any other Master, hence his long rule. With your blood, I will be strong enough to defeat him. I will call for you before the trip, and you will come here and allow me to drink from you again before I leave. It is a small price to pay for my assistance,” he said.

I hated the thought, but one time would not be that bad. “What is the other condition?”

“If I capture the two wolves, the Werewolf Council allows me to hold them captive until their deaths.”

Adrienne shook her head. “The holding of werewolves by Vampires is expressly prohibited by the Treaty. It’s out of the question.”

Alexander got up and went to his desk, coming back with a scroll. He unrolled it on the table; it was a handwritten copy of the Treaty. “The specific language is that ‘no werewolf will be taken prisoner or held against their will,’” he said.

“So how will this work?”

“They’ll volunteer to remain in my dungeons to keep breathing,” Alexander replied confidently. “I will ensure they never escape, and no harm comes to them; in return, they would supply me with a regular supply of Beta or Alpha-blood. When the child is born, Adrienne will take the child to its new home.”

“The Werewolf Council would not agree to this,” Adrienne said.

“It costs them nothing,” Alexander said. “If werewolves capture the pair, you’ll execute them after the child is born. If I find them, I keep them. Either way, you get the baby, and the rogue wolves are no longer a threat to the Packs. That is why I needed you here, Adrienne. I need you to convince your Council to approve the deal. Without this agreement, you’re on your own.”

“You would not carry out the contract, correct?” Adrienne’s glare was unsettling.

“Of course not. We would return the money, but nothing prevents those two from hiring another hitman,” he said. “It’s the only way to remove the threat.”

“I’m willing to provide the blood,” I sent.

“I guess I have to speak to the Council,” she replied. “It will take me a day or two to get an answer from the Council,” she told him.

“And Vicki? Will you carry out your part?”

“I will,” I said.

“Wonderful. I believe that concludes our business, then.” We all stood, and Alexander put the bag with the money in my hand. “You paid for the evidence, so this is yours.”

I took the clear bag with the cash. “I can’t exactly walk through the hotel with this in my hand,” I said.

“Quite right.” We went back over to the secretary, and he pulled out a folded gift bag. I put the baggie inside, and he taped it closed. He walked us to his door. “It has been a pleasure meeting you, Vicki. I hope we can do business again soon.”

I bet. I didn’t miss how the vampire looked at my neck with longing. “Thank you for the warning, Alexander. We will be in touch.” He held the handshake a little too long.

“I will contact you with the Council’s answer,” Adrienne said as she took his hand. “Now, if you’ll excuse us, it’s been a long day, and we need our sleep.”

“Good night,” he said.

We walked past the receptionist and did not have a chance to say goodby to Jack or Emily. Our security escort fell into place around us, one already waiting with an open elevator. “That was interesting,” I said.

“Nothing out loud until we get to the car. You’re right; it wasn’t what I expected to hear.”

“What now?”

“The hotel. I need to set up a Council meeting, and we need to keep you safe but in the general area. I’m sending you back to Baxter, where you can have more protection. Then I’ll head to Killington to look into these two some more. There’s something about this that doesn’t sit right with me.”

“I know Traci and Timothy are mad at their loss of station, but what did they expect would happen when the rape came out? I don’t see how killing me makes it any better,” I said. “There’s no bond, and I have no interest in Timothy. They have enough problems as rogues without dropping two hundred large on a killing.”

“Do you think it is someone else?”

“I think we need to find those two before Alexander does. Maybe then we can find out the truth.”

We reached the parking garage, and our vehicle was waiting for us. As soon as we were in, the bodyguards ran ahead to our escort car and got in. Less than ten minutes later, I was back in the hotel room. “We leave at nine, breakfast at eight,” Adrienne said as she left me in the double-room with my Mom. “We have a lot to talk about tomorrow.”

“Thank you for everything tonight,” I said as I hugged my aunt. I told my Mom everything that had been going on since we left as I took a quick shower. She was not happy I’d let Alexander drink from me, but understood why I did it.

We fell asleep shortly after.

The next morning, I was dragging. I needed more sleep, especially after the two weeks of work at sea. If I looked tired, Adrienne looked like she hadn’t slept. “Change of plans,” she said. “Leo and Brent hired a plane and flew out late last night with Chairman Wolfe. They should be arriving in Killington within the hour,” she said.

Lewis Wolfe was the Midwest regional Council member and a close friend. He was planning to recommend Adrienne as his replacement before the events at the Summit. It said a lot that all three were on their way out East. “Unky Leo blew a gasket, didn’t he.”

“That’s an understatement. Leo and Brent aren’t happy about what Alexander did to you. I expect they’ll be talking to you about that later.” I bet. He was as protective as Brent was. “He’s going to coordinate the search effort. Chairman Wolfe is calling the Council to Killington; they will meet tonight when the last arrives. Leo is asking every Pack in the region to assist with the search for Timothy and Traci. I’m going to take a driver and the smaller vehicle to Killington, while the rest of you head back to Baxter. I want you to get there quickly, but stay safe. You don’t leave the car without two of them next to you.”

“I understand.” She left a few minutes later, while I was getting seconds on waffles and bacon. My guards were getting a bit nervous, especially when some people recognized me and came up to ask for autographs. They all relaxed when we were on the road again.

I called Amy and filled her in on what was going on. “I’ll be in Baxter for a week or two,” I said. “I don’t know if my Dad will make me postpone the Virginia Beach and Myrtle Beach appearances next weekend, or our gig the following Tuesday at the Navy Exchange.”

“That sucks for you; it’s easy money and fun,” she said. “I’d love to join you out east, but I’m not giving up any Kai time, and he’s not going to travel while recovering from the training week.” First-class flights, high-end hotels, fantastic food, and adoring fans usually made for a good weekend. Kai needed to sleep and prepare for the next week of training, and Amy knew being at home was more important. For the first four months of BUD/S, they got weekends off. He’d be training seven days a week from Halloween to Christmas, and then the travel started for him.

“What do you think of the revised event schedule Mercedes sent? I owe her an answer soon.”

“I’m not giving up any weekends before the end of October, but I’m game for any weekday trips,” she said. “November and December, I think we hit that hard in the southern hemisphere. I’d love to dive the Barrier Reef or South Africa with you, and when else will we have a chance?”

“I know.”

“I’d love to see the world. Even if it is fuzzy, and I have a dog at my side,” Amy said with a giggle. “I mean, Paris during Fashion Week? Hell yeah. Book me solid at the end of the year.”

“The first runway model with a seeing-eye dog in a Bodyglove harness!” It would be nice to travel with her and keep her mind off Kai’s training. “I’ll see what I can do to get more midweek events for you in the meantime. I don’t want to hide in a cave, Amy. I have to convince a few people of that.”

“We can’t be afraid of everything, right? You’re an adult, Vicki. Stand up for what you want.”

“Exactly.”

“I’ll talk to Steven about us traveling more,” she said. “I’m sure he’ll want more security than just the twins. Hell, he’s probably sending people down here right now after the threats on you.”

It sucked, and I didn’t like draining resources from the Pack; sooner or later, they’d realize it was easier to keep me on Pack lands than to live in Coronado. I wanted to travel and find my mate, not hide out with minders. Everything else was ready; all our college classes are online this fall, so Amy only needed to be in Coronado to see Kai on the weekends. “Is your eyesight improving?”

“Every week,” she said. “Even if I can’t make everything out, that dive in La Jolla taught me I can still have my fun.”

We sure did. “I need to figure this shit out, and then I’ll let Mercedes know. Now, how is Susan doing with Hammer?”

Amy gave a little laugh. “Mom’s reeling Hammer in like a marlin. She’s spending every night at his place now. She comes home sore with a smile on her face; he’s nailing her like a new roof.”

“Good. Susan deserves to be happy again.” Hammer was a great guy, and she deserved it.

“I have to go, Vicki. Call me tonight.”

“I will. Tell the twins I miss them.” I hung up and leaned back in the seat, watching the cars go by as we drove out of Boston.