I have to go, but I'll get help.

Where?

I don't know where. You just hold them off for as long as you can.

Isn't this what you wanted?

You know you tore my heart out when you left me for that human wh.o.r.e, but this is not what I wanted.

She felt his remorse. I never wanted to hurt you, but I couldn't help that you weren't my bloodl.u.s.t. You know I had no choice. I either pursued her or risk losing my mind, but I never wanted you hurt.

To her surprise, tears stung her eyes because she knew he spoke from the heart. And she understood. One had to pursue one's bloodl.u.s.t, as she had pursued him. For the first time, she looked at him and saw not a male who had broken her heart, but one who no longer held power over her. If she could manage to somehow get them both out of this mess alive, she could finally get on with the new phase of her life.

This is not what I intended. I'll get help. Hold on!

He inclined his head.

She flung Lina across the room and then flashed past the four vampires in a blur. She fled at full speed until she was several miles from the cellar. Only then did she slow down and pull out her cell phone. Breathing deeply, she dialed a familiar number in Boston. She paused, her finger hovering over the b.u.t.ton that would connect the call.

If she called Palea Dumont, she might be signing her or her remaining sisters' death warrants. Mikhel's mother would surely be furious when she realized that Deoctra had set the plan in motion that had resulted in Mikhel's being kidnapped, tortured and raped. And then there was the question of what was happening to Serge in Africa. Although she didn't think Bellamonte would physically harm Serge, she couldn't swear to it.

She shook her head, holding the phone against her chest. No. She couldn't call Palea Dumont. She glanced back the way she had come. She couldn't call Palea, but she couldn't leave Mikhel to be raped either.

This was a h.e.l.l of a time for Falcone to disappear.

What could she do? Who could she call to help save Mikhel who would understand that she had never intended to put him in the position he was now in? Aleksei was out of state and couldn't arrive in time to help Mikhel. She feared Tatiana's reaction. That left Vladimir. Although she knew from Vitali that he felt no particular affection for Mikhel, he surely wouldn't allow Lover and the others to rape him. And he, of all Palea' s children, would be more inclined to understand how easily hastily made plans could go wrong.

She punched out his number and placed the phone against her ear.

"Are you going to tell Tatiana and the others?"

Vlad stopped pacing the length of the living room he shared with his bloodl.u.s.t Adam Cady. He looked at the handsome blond whose love had begun the mental healing process for him. "No."

Adam, seated on the loveseat with the Keddi, Slayer, perched on his shoulder, frowned. "You're going after him by yourself?"

"Who says I'm going after him at all? How do I know she isn't lying? She's had it in for Mikhel ever since he dumped her for Erica. And she has reason to hate me. I nearly killed her. If she thinks I'm going to walk into a trap, she's sadly mistaken."

Adam exploded off the loveseat. "I heard the urgency in her voice, Vladimir. She wasn't lying. You have to get to him-and you have to get to him before they rape him."

Vlad bared his incisors. "What makes you think that thought bothers me? His tight a.s.s could use a f.u.c.king."

Adam crossed the room and stared at him, his blue eyes blazing. "I don't believe you just said that. You take your jealous a.s.s out of here and you rescue him, Vladimir, or I swear, I'll never forgive you."

Slayer, a sentient shape-shifter who had pledged allegiance to Vlad's son, Etienne, and was currently shifted into the shape of a miniature Vladimir, flew off Adam's shoulder. He hovered in the air in front of Vladimir's face, his tiny chest puffed out. "Slayer go with Father to protect little brother."

"Later, Slayer," he said and turned his attention back to Adam. "What? Are you threatening me?"

"Call it what you like. If you think I'll stay with you, knowing you turned your back on your own brother when he needed you most, you're an ignorant a.s.s fool."

Vlad glared at Adam. "Don't threaten me."

Adam's hand shot out, his palm stinging his cheek. "It's not a threat, you ignorant b.a.s.t.a.r.d. You take your sorry a.s.s out of here and you rescue him or I'll never speak to you again."

Adam lifted his hand to slap him again. This time Vlad caught Adam's wrist before his palm could connect with his face. "Slap me again and-"

Slayer, clearly agitated and uncertain whose side he wanted to be on in the dispute, resumed his natural form, that of a tiny, majestic gray wolf, and flew across the room to the mantel to watch.

Adam jerked his wrist away and slapped Vlad again. "And what? What will you do? Beat me? Go ahead. It's not like you have anything better to do-like save your little brother. What do you think Aleksei is going to say when he finds out you allowed Mikhel to be hurt when you could have saved him?"

Vlad bared his incisors. "Don't you throw Aleksei in my face!"

"No. I shouldn't. I mean, it's not as if you're half the vampire or big brother he is. It's an insult to him to even mention his name in the same breath as yours."

Vlad clenched a hand into a fist and swung it up toward Adam's face.

Adam lifted his chin and stared at him, his blue eyes filled with what looked like hatred. "Go ahead. Hit me. It's not as if you haven't done it before. It's what I've come to expect from you."

Adam's reference to the time a year earlier when Vlad had lost his temper and knocked him out sent a chill of remorse through Vlad. He dropped his hand to his side and stepped back. "Why are you doing this? Why are you trying to push my b.u.t.tons?"

Adam shook his head. "I'm trying to reach you, Vladimir. You can't stand by and not help him. I've called Katie and Palea, but I can't reach them. You're the only family member who knows where he is. Please help him."

"No.""For me?"Vlad stiffened and narrowed his gaze. "Why should you care about him?""I care about him because Katie is my best friend and she loves him. He's her big brother. And I care about him because he has some of the same blood running through his veins as you do. G.o.d knows why, but I love you. Help him, Vladimir." Adam touched his cheek. "For me?"

"f.u.c.k you." He flashed out of the room. Slayer shifted back to a miniature of Vlad- complete with long, silky dreadlocks and blue eyes-and flew after him. At the front door, he turned and took a deep breath. He glanced back toward the living room where he could hear Adam pacing. He stroked a finger down Slayer's cheek. "Go back and protect him," he said softly.

Slayer shook his head. "Go with Father. Slayer warrior cla.s.s Keddi... strong and fierce. Protect Father's back."

Having the diminutive creature call him father always gave Vlad a secret thrill. He smiled. "Stay here and protect Father's interest."

"Want to help," he protested.

"I know. If something happened to Adam... "

Slayer expanded his chest. "Will stay and protect." He leered at Vlad. "Maybe f.u.c.k tight a.s.s too."

Vlad laughed. Slayer had been in l.u.s.t since meeting Adam, as Vlad himself had been. "In your dreams," he said and left the house.

Hurt and angry at Adam's words, Vlad sat in the darkened cab of his SUV. d.a.m.n Adam and everyone else who expected him to go charging to the rescue like Aleksei. He was not Aleksei. Why the h.e.l.l did everyone keep telling him what Aleksei would do?

Aleksei could risk his life to save the worthless Mikhel, but d.a.m.n if he would. Recalling his enigmatic conversation with Vitali, he realized the other vampire had probably approved Mikhel's kidnapping. If Vlad attempted to interfere with the Brotherhood's plans, he'd have to face them down by himself. Although he normally didn't fear death, he had begun lately to think life just might be worth living after all. Not only did he have a bloodl.u.s.t, he had a son he was fiercely proud of and a sister-in-law who happily welcomed him into her bed and arms whenever he felt a need for love with a woman.

There was no way in h.e.l.l he was going up against a bunch of crazy vampires to save Mikhel. The dumba.s.s baby vamp had gotten himself into his present s.h.i.t, he could get out the same way.

Vlad slammed his foot on the gas pedal and sent his SUV speeding down the road in the opposite direction from where Deoctra had said Mikhel was being held. Held and tortured. Possibly gang raped by centuries-old vampires.

He swallowed slowly. The vampires involved knew Vlad and knew Mikhel was his brother. Although Mikhel was a brother Vlad didn't give a d.a.m.n about, he was a brother nonetheless. Many vampires felt no affection for their relatives. Everyone who knew Vlad knew he and his siblings would gladly die to protect each other. The vampires holding Mikhel knew he was Vlad's brother... his little brother. Knowing that, they still dared to touch him?

Without conscious thought, Vlad took the first off-ramp he came to, turned his SUV around, got back on the interstate and sped down the highway. G.o.d help any state trooper foolish enough to try to stop him. An hour later, he stopped outside a dilapidated motel. Leaving the engine running and the keys in the ignition, he jumped out of the SUV and rushed inside the dark building.

Vlad paused in the lobby, listening. He sniffed the air and caught a familiar scent that sent him rushing forward through the dark. He located a closed door secured with a chain, which he easily snapped. Pulling the door open, he quickly descended the stairs.

At the bottom of the cellar steps, a pair of glowing eyes stared at him from the dark bas.e.m.e.nt.

Mikhel, naked and bruised, sat up against the wall, a relieved sigh escaping his lips. "Aleksei? I knew you'd come."

Mikhel's a.s.sumption that Aleksei would come to his rescue annoyed the h.e.l.l out of Vlad. He was sick to death of hearing about Aleksei, as if his twin had no faults, and he himself had no virtues.

He shook his head. "Sorry to disappoint you, but Aleksei is in Arizona."

Noting the hope go out of Mikhel's eyes when he realized he was not Aleksei, Vlad felt a particular twisting in his chest. Ever since he had learned of Mikhel's existence, he had longed to see him injured or even killed. But seeing the baby vamp with whom he shared a bloodline injured and without hope, he felt an unexpected sense of rage.

Although he felt no great love for Mikhel, he knew Aleksei and Palea did.

"I see you've discovered our little pet. Would you like to have a go at him?"

At the amused voice, Vlad swung around and stared at the speaker, a tall, slim female he sensed was a nocturene. He stared at her. "Pet? Did you say pet?"

"Yes." She ran her tongue along her lips. "At times we pet him. At others times we f.u.c.k him until his c.o.c.k goes limp. At other times, when he misbehaves, we beat him."

"You what?"

"We beat him."

Vlad swallowed slowly. "Are you aware of who I am?"

"Yes. Even with the older vamps, you have quite a rep as a bad-a.s.s."

"And do you know who he is?"

"He's our pet."

A knot of rage rose in Vlad's throat. He gave into his instinct and backhanded the fem. Her slender body flew across the room. Even before she fell against the wall several feet from Mikhel, Vlad raced after her and reached down to close his fingers around her slender throat.

Ignoring her struggles, he lifted her in the air until her feet dangled a foot above the floor and he could stare into her eyes. "Your pet is my brother, and I will be d.a.m.ned if I' ll stand by and watch you torture him." He tossed her aside. He moved across the floor and bent down to Mikhel. He grabbed the chains securing Mikhel's ankle and wrist. Why hadn't Mikhel broken free? Even a baby vamp should be able to break crystal chains.

He soon learned they were not ordinary chains. As he struggled to snap them, the fem got to her feet and raced from the room. He could hear her calling for help.

Mikhel looked at him. "She's getting help. There are too many of them. You should go."

"And leave you? Aleksei would never forgive me."

Mikhel swallowed hard. "Is that the only reason you're trying to help me?"

"Yes." He grabbed the chain again and this time managed to break the one around Mikhel's wrist. Next, he snapped the chain around Mikhel's foot.

Noting the bruises on Mikhel's naked body, he removed his jacket and draped it around his shoulders. Recalling Adam's concern, he studied Mikhel's face. "Did they penetrate you?"

Mikhel shuddered but shook his head. "No. Before she left, Deoctra warned them against it. She tried to help me-"

"It's her d.a.m.n fault you're here in the first place!"

"I know, but she tried to save me. And you're here because she called for help, aren' t you?"

"You talk too d.a.m.n much," he said and lifted Mikhel in his arms.

He turned and found himself facing a tall, blond full-blood. "Get out of my way, Marcello," he warned, using the vamp's name as an insult.

"After you put him down."

Vlad lowered Mikhel to his feet and stepped in front of him, using his body as a shield. He leveled a finger and bared his incisors. "Get out of my way, shifter, or I'll rip you into pieces so small, it will take your Heoptin an eternity to try to put your sad a.s.s back together again."

"You're going to have to take on us as well, Vladimir."

He sucked in a quick breath as Vitali and several other vamps entered the room and stood at Marcello's side. "If you want to get out of here alive, you'll have to leave him."

"I am not leaving him."

Vitali arched a brow. "You really want to die with someone who means so little to you?"

He felt Mikhel straighten against his back. Go, he urged. It's enough that you tried to help. It would devastate Mother if we both died here.

He ignored Mikhel and centered his gaze on Vitali. "If you think I'm leaving him here with you, you don't know me at all. Whatever I think or feel, he is my brother-my little brother. That may mean nothing to you, but it does to me. Now get out of my way, or I'll go through you."

Vitali shook his head. "Even your crazy a.s.s can't expect to take us all on while trying to protect that liability leaning against your back. Walk away and I promise he'll get a swift, painless end. You have my word."

"f.u.c.k you and your word. I'm not leaving without him."

"Then you'll die with him."

"Not so fast."

Vlad stiffened. The vamps challenging Vlad turned. A tall vampire with short, brown hair, dark eyes and rather pale skin pushed his way through the others and stood by Vlad's side.

He brought his clenched right hand up to his chest. "Do not make the mistake of forcing the issue, Vitali. Withdraw now and you just might live. Proceed, and I will kill every last one of you."

"This does not concern you, Jacoby," Vitali said.

"Anytime one of my brother vampires threatens another's life, it concerns me."

"Then maybe you should spend your time talking to Santiago and his G.o.dd.a.m.ned hunters instead of challenging your brothers," Vitali shot back.

Jacoby inclined his head. "I will be speaking to Santiago, but right now I am speaking to you. Before you force me to kill you and those with you, carefully search your dormant memories, Vitali. Recent events should have begun to stir them. Search them carefully and quickly. And then stand aside."

"Or?" Vitali challenged.