"What happened?" Duncan's stomach tensed.

"Several Kantre vamps showed up. If they could be out in this storm, I figured so could James."

"Don't tell me you let the Trackers engage Sabryn's men."

"Hell no! I was able to convince them to hold back, that we were way outnumbered."

"You compelled them."

"Bingo!" Mark sounded pleased with himself. "First 'group' compelling I've ever done. Man, it sucks the energy right the hell out of ya."

Mark's cavalier attitude with his powers was going to get him killed. "If the Trackers find out you're a vamp, you're toast," Duncan reminded him.

"Yeah, living on the edge is just my style."

"Cut to the chase." Duncan didn't like the sense of responsibility he felt for Mark. Why hadn't Ian told the man that as a new vampri, trying to compel so many minds at once would drain his strength considerably?

"The vamps went in and one came out talking on his cell phone," Mark continued. "I heard the Kantre say, 'He's gone, Sabryn'."

Duncan's call-waiting beeped. He quickly glanced at the caller ID display. Returning the phone to his ear, he said, "It's Sabryn. Get out of there, Mark. Whether you know it or not, the Kantres know you're there."

He punched the Talk button. "What the hell happened?"

"The storm happened," she replied, annoyed. "You told me you'd call Mark, not an entire contingent of Trackers, Duncan. My guys sensed them everywhere."

"I did what I could to keep James under guard," he replied in a cold tone, unapologetic for his actions.

Sabryn sighed. "Well, now we're both screwed. James is gone. Just in case, keep the woman safe until we can find him."

Duncan's chest tightened and his body tensed as he gripped the cell phone tighter. He knew exactly where James would go. The man had developed an obsession with Rose. That much he knew for certain.

"I've got to find her first," he said before he snapped the phone closed.

Rose drove around on Duncan's bike for the first five minutes, looking for a main road. Once she found one, she made her way back to the Lion's Lair, got in her car and went home, relieved to be back to her normal life. She stood in her bedroom and pulled off her clothes while she thought about the last few hours. They'd provided more strange and unusual excitement in her life than she'd had in her first year as a private investigator.

First she thought she was on a fool's errand that led to a vampire who stripped her naked while she was passed out cold and who obviously planned to take her blood and more. The thought made her sick to her stomach. Then there was the sexy, brooding vampire who made her feel things she'd long ago thought she'd never feel again. And most of all, the eye-opening education...holy crap, vampires existed!

As much as her mind wanted to forget about vampires and linger on Duncan's human attributes, like his gorgeous body and seductive touch, she squared her shoulders and pushed thoughts of him to the back of her consciousness. Glancing at the darkening sky outside her bedroom window, she quickly hopped into a much-needed shower.

After Rose had showered and dried her hair, she pulled it up in a clip, then dressed in a pair of faded jeans and a white cotton button-down shirt. She walked back into her living room and appreciated the light airy feel she'd accomplished by decorating with a mixture of light blue, aqua, navy blue and white accents around her home. Even the gray skies didn't dampen the effect for her. Glancing out her bay window, she noted the strong wind whipping at the trees and heavy rain coming down.

She knew she should be tired with the small amount of sleep she'd had, but her body was going on adrenaline. Once she slipped into a tailored navy blazer to dress the jeans up just a bit, she called to move up her appointment to meet with her client, Mr. Reed, in a few hours.

Mr. Reed was willing to pay seven grand for evidence vampires existed. She had clan names, some Kendrian history and best of all, she had the location of at least one vampire's home. Proof!

Then she'd have enough money to have her procedure done. She prayed it only took one try for success, otherwise she'd be saving for a few more years for another. Her heart swelled when she thought of what it would be like to be pregnant, to hold a child of her own. She brushed away tears that formed in her eyes. Why did artificial insemination have to be so damned expensive?

Thoughts of what it would be like to be a parent caused her mind to wander to her father. She picked up the phone and dialed the number to the Our Home care facility.

"Helen Jenkins please," Rose said to the receptionist.

When the nurse who worked with her father picked up the phone, Rose said, "Hi, Helen, how's my dad?"

"He's having a low day today," the nurse replied. "He asked about your mom again."

Rose closed her eyes, her heart contracting. "Go ahead and have the billing department draft my account for two months in advance this time."

"I'll let Janice know," came the woman's chipper reply.

"And tell my dad I'll stop by today."

"I will, dear. He seems to have grown older this past week. I think your visit will perk him up."

"I hope so," Rose said with a half smile. "See you later." Her heart clenched at the idea her father seemed so down. She was glad she called and would be seeing him today.

When Rose hung up, she jerked her gaze to her front door, frowning at the sound of the doorknob being shaken. Surely the storm's wind hadn't caused that. She walked over to the door and peered through the peephole. Gasping in shock, she jumped back.

James Connor was standing outside her door.

Oh. My. God.

He'd found her. How the hell he had, she didn't know-she hadn't even given him her last name. But there he was. In daylight?

Her body tensed all over as she dug in her purse on the entryway table, retrieving her gun. When her driver's license fell out onto the floor, she realized with dread how James had found her. Holding her gun in one hand, she picked up her cordless phone with the other and backed into the living room, intending to dial 911. Maybe if she stayed quiet he'd think she wasn't home and leave.

"I hear your heart beating, Rose. I know you're in there," James' calm tone came through the door.

She called out, her voice quavering, "Get away from me. I'm calling the police."

Do you really think the police can stop me? he drawled, his confident voice entering her mind at the same time she saw the deadbolt on her door turn, unlatching itself. Blood drained from her face and her grip on the phone loosened. The dull thud of her phone hitting the carpet caused her to clamp her other hand tight on the gun to keep from dropping it, too.

Rose found herself rooted where she stood in the middle of her living room, transfixed by the extent of his powers. Fear slammed into her in waves as her front door slowly opened on its own. James' stocky build filled the doorway. Rain dripped off his bald head and beaded on his long black trench coat. Thunder boomed, shaking her house. She glanced out her bay window and realized why James could be out during the day-the dark clouds blocked out the sun, protecting him.

Rose's self-preservation kicked in and her heart raced in sheer terror. Raising her gun, she gripped the handle tight. Right when she pulled the trigger, her hand jerked to the left as if directed by someone else.

What the hell? The sight of James' cocky expression and the bullet hole in the doorjamb infuriated her. She moved to grip the gun with both hands in order to steady her shot. But before she could clasp the pistol with both hands, it was jerked from her grasp by an unknown force and flung across the room.

"Invite me in, Rose," he said, his tone seductive and alluring.

The pull of his words felt deep, almost physical. She knew he was trying to compel her to walk forward...to come to him. She even experienced a definite tugging as if he were trying to lift her. She focused on her anger instead of her fear. Relief washed over her when his strong, physical pull lessened considerably.

Why didn't he just walk inside? The morbid thought passed through her mind as she bemoaned the fact he'd so easily disarmed her, had her trapped in her own home. Somewhere in the deep recesses of her consciousness, she knew the answer to her question. He couldn't.

"You can't come in, can you?" Surprised by the calm tone in her voice, she tilted her head to the side and considered what that meant. "Do you really need my permission?" Thankful for all those old vampire movies she'd watched as a kid, she felt oddly empowered by the knowledge.

"Invite me in," he repeated, ignoring her question.

At the look of frustration on his face, she knew she'd guessed right and a little of her fear dissipated. She lifted her chin, rebellion kicking in. "Hell no!"

"I will have you. You are mine!" James slammed his hands against the doorjamb and the entire house shook.

She jumped at the evidence of his strength, her heart hammering even harder at the enraged look on his face. The force of his anger and lust washed over her in waves, sending shivers of revulsion down her entire frame. Taking several steps back, Rose turned to run to her bedroom, to get away from the evil power that emanated from him.

But her bedroom door closed on its own, shutting her out. She turned back to face him. Deep-seated fear squeezed her chest and knotted her stomach.

"Go away, James. You don't have my permission to come in, nor to have me." She tried to keep her voice stern and in control.

A lecherous smile tilted the corners of his lips. "I don't need your permission to have you." He proved the truth of his statement when invisible hands grabbed her waist and began to slide across her breasts and down her stomach.

Rose screamed at his invasion of her body, slapping at the nonexistent hands. "Get your perverted hands off me, you sick bastard!"

"Invite me in and I'll stop," he commanded.

"Go to hell," she panted, her anger overriding her fright as she realized he was getting off on her fear. No man, fiend or otherwise, would ever hold that kind of power over her. She stopped trying to fend him off and stood stock-still, taking his torture as she gritted her teeth and stared him down.

"You might try to psych me with your mental games, but you'll never touch me physically." She drew within herself and swallowed the bile that had risen to the back of her throat while she tried not to focus on his "mental" hands assaulting her body.

"I'll be everywhere you go, inside your head and out until you give in to me." His promise sent a chill of inevitability down her spine, causing nausea to flood her stomach in renewed waves of fear and repulsion.

"You can't have me," she vowed, fighting back the need to vomit.

His touch roughened at her comment and she felt a sharp pain around her nipple as if she'd been bitten. Gasping in outraged fury, she said between clenched teeth, "I'm much stronger than you give me credit for. Fuck off."

"Fuck is a great word, isn't it?" He crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes. "I want you to come, to see you fight me as you give in to the fact I will own you-heart, body and soul." As he finished speaking, a determined hand slid down her belly, past the waistline of her jeans and into her underwear.

Oh, God, no! Sweat coated her skin and her body began to shake all over as she lost control over her emotions. A loud, hysterical scream reverberated throughout the room. At the same time Rose realized the ear-piercing scream was hers, she saw James' body slam sideways against the doorjamb.

Duncan!

He grabbed the vamp by his coat lapels and threw the bastard over the porch. "Get the hell out of here, Rose!" Duncan growled before he vaulted over the railing to land on top of James.

Chapter Three

Her heart racing, Rose grabbed her keys and dashed out the front door. She ran toward her car as the men rolled around on the grass. The sound of someone's roar of pain entered her consciousness, but she was afraid if she stopped to check on Duncan, James would capture her again.

The rain had slowed to a drizzle, coating her skin and clothes while she unlocked her car and jumped into the driver's seat. Once she slammed her door shut and hit the locks, her hands shook so badly she had to use one hand to hold the other still just to get the key in the ignition.

The force of someone slamming against her door, rocking the entire frame, caused her to scream out in fear. James' furious face loomed outside her car as he yanked the door handle. She bit back a scream when she saw his fist fly toward her window.

At the sound of shattering glass, she turned her head to avoid the flying shards. James' fingers encircled her throat in a vise grip as he bit out, "You're not going anywhere."

Gasping for air, terror rippling through her, Rose blindly groped for the gearshift. When her hand caught the handle, she shifted it to reverse and punched on the gas at the same time.

Excruciating pain sliced through her neck as the car's momentum ripped James' fingers from her throat. Rose sobbed at the fire burning her neck while she quickly put the car in "drive" and gunned the engine. As she sped away, she began to shiver all over with relief at her near escape.

A loud thud slamming on top of her car's roof caused her adrenaline and fear to spike once more. This time she dodged the hand that came through the broken window, blindly trying to grab her. Gripping her steering wheel, Rose jammed her foot on the brake. The car's wheels squealed in protest against the wet pavement at the same time James' body rolled down her windshield and bounced off her hood. His large frame bounced then skidded across the asphalt. The car's engine idled as she waited, watching his still, crumpled body on the road, hoping the impact he'd just taken was the end of her torment.

When James suddenly lifted his head and turned his bloodied face her way, his movement spurred her into action. She lifted her foot off the brake, intending to slam on the gas and run the bastard down when a blur rushed in front of her car. Duncan rammed into James with a roar of rage, knocking him to the side of the road.

Rose didn't wait around. She hit the gas pedal. Her wheels spun on the slick pavement until they finally caught. Burned rubber assailed her senses as she shot forward. While she sped away, she couldn't help glancing in the rearview mirror at the men battling.

"Thank you, Duncan," she said aloud, then whispered, "Please be safe."

With her heart pounding out of control, Rose drove straight to Our Home. She couldn't count on the fact Duncan would beat James. If Duncan didn't succeed, this might be the last time she could see her dad for a long while, or maybe even forever if James caught up with her again. She'd die before she let him touch her.

As she pulled into a parking space, she gave thanks it was a rainy day. Her dad spent a lot of time outside on the main grounds in his wheelchair. He didn't need to see the condition of her car as she drove up.

After she turned off the engine, Rose sat in her car for a long time, taking deep breaths to calm her rioting nerves. Her entire body trembled all over at the near-miss with James. Once her hands no longer shook, she glanced in her rearview mirror to make sure she had a composed expression on her face, then opened her car door.

Pieces of glass fell to the ground as she eased her way out of the car, trying to avoid getting cut. She brushed all the glass out of her seat onto the pavement using a cloth from her glove compartment. Shutting the car door, she made her way to the entrance.

"Hi, Helen. I was able to get here sooner than I expected," she called out in an upbeat tone as she approached the main desk.

"Ohmigod, child, what happened to your neck?" The older woman set down the medical chart she was working on.

"What?" Rose asked as she raised her hand to her neck. Searing pain accompanied her touch. She winced and quickly drew her fingers away to see them coated with blood. The sight made her feel sick to her stomach.

She looked up at Helen with imploring eyes. "I...uh..."

Helen glanced at the receptionist who was staring at Rose with a wide-eyed look and said, "I'll be back in a few minutes. If you need nurse coverage while I'm gone, call Sally." After the receptionist nodded her understanding, Helen moved from behind the desk and put her arm around Rose's shoulders. "Come with me. We'll get your wounds cleaned up and you can tell me what happened."

Feeling weak in the knees, Rose leaned into the woman's soft, cushioned body and inhaled her vanilla scent as Helen walked her down the hall. The nostalgic scent made her miss her mom all over again. She hadn't thought of her mom in a while, but this woman's kindness brought her memory slamming back.

"Thank you for always being so kind to me," she whispered as Helen led her to a small room and shut the door behind them.

Helen directed her to sit in a straight-back chair. The nurse pulled out a first aid kit from the cabinet and rolled a cushioned stool over to sit in front of her.

She opened the kit, withdrew antiseptic and cotton balls, then began to cleanse her wounds. "I've watched you grow up from a scared little girl who'd just lost her mommy to the lovely, strong woman you are today." Helen's brown eyes, full of concern, softened. "Even though I have children and grandchildren of my own, I've always felt like you were mine too in a way."

Rose's heart swelled at the woman's kindness. Her neck burned from Helen's ministrations, but she ignored the pain as she swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat.

Blinking back tears the woman's words caused, she grabbed Helen's wrists to still her movements and said in a quiet voice, "Thank you for taking such good care of my dad and...for everything." She gave her a smile and released her hold.

Helen returned her smile and began to work on her neck once more. "I think he likes how I spoil him."

Rose looked away, a bit sad. "I think he doesn't want to be a burden to me." Meeting Helen's sympathetic gaze once more, she said with a small smile, "I've even tried to get him to agree to come home with me during his less lucid moments."

Helen threw the bloodied cotton balls in the trash then pursed her lips. "His lucid moments seem to happen less and less often, my dear." A thoughtful look crossed her face, replacing the concerned one. "I still can't get over the fact your dad came out of his year-long coma the same day your mother passed away."