Erin sat down beside Bev, her slender legs stretched out in front of her.

"You've nothing to worry about," Erin said quietly, her eyes scanning Bev.

Bev found her too bold and rude. "I didn't say I did, and I certainly didn't ask you."

Erin laughed. "No, you didn't. I never wait for invitations, though, they're tedious. He's been through with me for five years. So you do have a chance, and quite a good one, because he is very attracted to you. Believe me, I know the man intimately."

Sitting across from Erin, Bev decided to claim her s.p.a.ce. "That's what a woman wants to hear from a man's ex."

With another laugh, Erin's eyes twinkling, she suddenly touched Bev on the side of her neck with three soft fingertips. "You smell nice. Very nice. Could I have a taste?"

What? Bev's head spun suddenly, as if she'd finished the bottle of wine, a languorous, sensual drunkenness came over her. Her respiration matched Erin's and she found herself nodding. Why was she giving this woman permission to touch her?

Erin moved closer and Bev stopped in place, then felt Erin's tongue on her neck. It was hot and travelled up the side of her face, over her jawline and up to her lips. The slow, torturous sensuality left Bev twitching between her legs. This woman was turning her on, and Bev had never been attracted to women.

"I think you are delicious. Kai is a lucky man."

"Kai is out of the picture," Bev said breathlessly.

Erin pulled the loose neckline of the thin cotton tee shirt away from Bev's throat and chest as she continued her journey, her tongue stopped just above one of Bev's nipples as it made erotic circles on her breast.

Bev thought that she should stop this arrogant, brazen, beautiful woman, and although she didn't, she did keep her eyes closed. Was she hoping she wouldn't stop?

Suddenly the warm breath and tongue were gone and Bev opened her eyes to find Erin standing.

"You must believe in your ability to snare any man, it is the truth. Give Kai another chance. He's worth it, and I am only a memory to him now." Then she was gone.

Bev dropped back, more aroused than she'd ever been, and that confused and fascinated her.

Chapter 11.

It was raining in London, which wasn't anything new.

Eillia loved the rain on a warm day, though, and raised her face to the soft mist that covered everything in sight. The refreshing coolness gave her a moment of respite from yet another horrible task. Lamont and his group had been the only nasty thing in her life this year that had seen so many incredible gifts.

Her mind went to Daniel and Caedmon and the new family she'd built with Koen and Park, as well as the community on the continent of Africa that was becoming family, as well. Looming ahead of them all was the unknown future of these increasingly powerful children born in record numbers recently.

Her eyes roamed across the four enormous men seated in a booth that barely allowed their ma.s.s. She smiled as she pushed open the door to the little sandwich shop to join them, and slipped her cell phone out. The men's mates back home would get a kick out of how comical they looked crammed into the red and yellow vinyl benches with huge milk shakes in front of each one of them, and what looked like a tray filled with French fries.

"I can see I'll need a separate table. Each of these benches probably seats four people, but you boys fill them up."

"Aye, and we still barely fit," Xavier complained. "I think half my left a.s.s-cheek is hangin' in open air."

Eillia glanced at the well-covered seat. "All very fine a.s.ses, I'm sure. But for now, I've connected with Taggert. He'll be arriving shortly, but I suggest we need a different venue. This is just not private enough, in addition to the inadequate seating for oversized b.u.ms."

"But the food is outstanding. It's my favorite restaurant in London." To punctuate his comment, Koen lifted several of the fries and munched down on them.

"Fine, we'll hit it again before we go. For now, I found a gazebo in a park just down the street. Right now, it's deserted and private. Taggert is going to meet us there in twenty minutes."

Sometimes, Eillia thought, it's like dealing with children. Even with men who were a thousand years old, they played like ten-year-olds. And thank G.o.d for that. The fact that they still had that sense of joy and play after so many years alive was everything. That their lives were full and rich, and loved, with nothing stale or boring after centuries of trudging through it all, through pain and loss, when it could so easily be so different, was a blessing and an accomplishment.

She looked at the four men who she was so close to now after fighting together for their families. Koen, friend and family for most of her one thousand years, Xavier, raised as Koen's brother, and while he was a challenge to get close to, he was a good man with strong ties to the first blood community. David, a gentle giant who had lived through thirty years of torture to finally make it home to love and hope again. He was new in her life, but such a kind, loving soul.

Ahmose. The biggest surprise to everyone in her world. He was a first blood from a huge clan of first blood vampires that her own people had never known existed. Less than twenty first blood vampires had been known to Eillia's first blood community until Koen had unexpectedly found Ahmose's hidden village in South Africa. It had brought an amazed and renewed spirit to her people.

From the clan of first bloods who called themselves the children of the moon, Ahmose was unique, quiet, powerful, with the strongest sense of duty and honor of anyone she'd ever known. She knew he would play a significant role in the future of the first blood vampires.

It took a moment for the men to get out of the booth, which really was much too small for them. Eillia wondered why the h.e.l.l they had even forced themselves into it.

Ahmose was the final vampire to crawl free and looked very uncomfortable with the situation.

Eillia looked up at him. "It's odd for you, here, in the West, isn't it?"

"I am adjusting. I spent a few days in California recently, and I loved the time there. I believe it is good for me to venture into the world now. Our children will have such a visceral connection with the world someday, and we must all be prepared to teach them and lead them."

With a nod, Eillia reached for a French fry. It really was very good! She grabbed a second before she spoke.

"The world is changing. Children are coming faster than any of us can believe. Ahmose, you are the father of two, and soon three, of those children. Are you worried for them?"

"I am worried for the Mother Earth, not the children who are destined to be her protectors." He smiled suddenly, then continued. "I've seen what they can do. I would worry more about anyone who must battle them."

Eillia stepped back to appreciate the brilliant smile.

What a lovely glow the smile gave his already handsome face. Her dear friend Starla had been given the choice of the vampire who had become her mate, or this spectacular leader of dozens of vampires. She would have been lucky either way.

Returning the smile, Eillia took his arm and led him from the eatery. "Boys, follow, please."

She glanced back to see Koen and Xavier packing the fries into a large bag before they joined David to do precisely as instructed.

Minutes later, they converged on a small community park that had the minimum of playground equipment, abandoned since it was after dark, and a small, but nicely landscaped pond. Abundant trees circled the pond, lit by a vibrant moon directly overhead.

"Here," a voice called out from the darkness under one of the stands of trees, followed by a dark figure that advanced at a slow human pace.

"Taggert," Koen said, and stepped forward to take his hand. "You look well. Odd, but well."

"Camouflage, sir," Taggert answered, his hand running across his short hair, now dyed light auburn, his beard shaved. "Claude and Lamont have pa.s.sed me several times over the past months and no one has noticed me at all. They're focused."

"I bet they are," Koen snorted. "Let's f.u.c.k up their day."

"That's the plan. I've sent the addresses for both Lamont's house and Claude's apartment to Eillia. I think it's easier to take them in their homes. The lab is better fortified than I've ever seen anything anywhere. His security crew is triple what you saw in Switzerland or L.A. coupled with state-of-the-art cameras. Once we have them, then I'll return to the lab, bring in my new team, and we'll do what we need to do to shut this entire operation down permanently."

"This must end tonight," Ahmose said, intense, his eyes focused on Taggert, who he did not know, but trusted on the strength of Eillia's recommendation. "Shall we go now?"

Xavier pitched the bag, now empty, into a trash bin, and brushed off his fingers. "Now's good. I've a right lovely wench waiting for me in my bedroom."

Eillia turned away and faced Koen. Xavier was such a womanizer and always said something to p.i.s.s her off. Tonight was no different. But he was a good and pa.s.sionate fighter and she was grateful he'd come with them.

"David, Xavier, do you want to take Claude? Since Lamont likely still has vampire skills, I think Ahmose, Koen, and I should go for him."

"Then we go, and now, yes?"

Ahmose's urgent plea was unusual for what Eillia knew of this man, who, ordinarily, was very patient.

"We will. I understand your desire to end this. Your children are in as much danger from him as mine, but we must approach with caution."

"I apologize. Yes, I agree. It is just that...again, apologies, but I find that my attention is fractured right now. There is someplace I find I need to be."

Up popped Eillia's eyebrows and curiosity. "And where is that, my friend?"

Ahmose bowed his head. "I am ashamed that I have allowed my mind to wander from this mission which is more important than anything else at this time. You have my complete focus now, Eillia."

He didn't answer her question. That alone was very telling. Was it a woman? Was it possible that after all of these centuries, and Ahmose's pain last year when Starla chose Jacob over him, that the woman destined to be his mate might have finally arrived?

"We will go in moments. Ahmose, what is this attention-hog you're dealing with?"

His soul-dark eyes landed on hers, unblinking. When he finally spoke, he was less than illuminating. "A project. Something that I left back in the States that I need to complete."

"Ah." Eillia's simple response was only because she already knew, she could feel it within him, the emotions roiling, the need peaking...this man was, for lack of a better term, in heat. He needed someone, and he needed her badly...probably worse than even he realized.

It fit with current events. The most powerful were pairing off and unexplainable numbers of children were coming. Ahmose would father his third child with Starla sometime this coming year. Eillia wondered how this new woman would fit into this unprecedented first blood relationship. It would be interesting, and she intended to be there to see it unfold. But for now...Lamont.

"Let's look at the plans Taggert brought us for the apartment and house before we go in. We have a tendency to just bulldoze through everything. It's time to be smart."

IN L.A. DOWNTOWN IN CANZONE'S OFFICE Jinx had been nervous ever since he'd stolen the information that would ultimately successfully prosecute Canzone. He'd come back to Canzone's office just long enough to grab a packet he'd stashed with access numbers to one of Canzone's overseas accounts so he could afford his relocation out of the country. He was sure that Canzone wouldn't be back soon, there was another charity event, and the guy loved them. Jinx was terrified of getting caught. His f.u.c.king heart was going to explode!

Just as he was leaving the room with a packet stuffed into his jacket, the elevator door pinged and Canzone walked out of it with four oversized apes that went everywhere with him for protection.

f.u.c.k me, Jinx thought. Guilt-ridden, and moments from escape, he was too nervous, he had to calm down or Canzone would see that. The man was a freak, it was like he had eyes in the back and sides of his head and could read minds. Jinx knew that his only chance was to do everything he could to appear casual and untroubled. He wouldn't know if he pulled it off until he got on that elevator and made it out of town alive "Eh, boss. How's it hanging tonight?" Lame, but at least he managed to smile.

Canzone stopped, his apes alongside him, and stared at Jinx.

Jinx tried to maintain the casual smile, but he could feel the muscles of his cheeks pulling, the forced smile failing.

Canzone's eyes got sharper, his expression stormier.

"What's wrong with you?" he asked Jinx abruptly.

"Wrong? Nothing, sir, nothing at all. I think I had too much coffee this evening, caffeine overload." Jinx laughed nervously. "Bouncing off the walls!"

Standing still, his hands clasped, Canzone kept his steel-like gaze on Jinx, which froze Jinx in place as he waited for Canzone to catch his act of betrayal. Why had he done it? He still had no idea.

Suddenly Canzone motioned for his apes to step aside. Once they did, Canzone stepped forward and slid his hands under Jinx's collar. "You're acting like a guilty man, Jinx. I recognize the stink. What did you do? And don't lie. I f.u.c.king hate it when my people lie to me."

Jinx had no control now, he was so terrified. His head kept moving back and forth frantically. "Nothing, I swear. Nothing." He paused as Canzone stepped back and perused him, head to toe.

Canzone clicked his tongue. "Second chance. And last. What did you do?"

"Honestly, sir, what could I do? There's no problem, I swear. I killed one cop for you, and the second one is out of town, maybe permanently. With them gone, no one is really looking at you anymore. Right?"

"Unless someone brought me to attention again. Unless someone betrayed me. I'm getting a strong vibe that tells me that you've been breathing too long."

This was it, this was it, he was toast! Jinx lost it. "I swear, sir. It wasn't my fault! I don't even know why I did it. But I couldn't stop myself! I gave her the files from your office. All of them. Please don't kill me! It was like I was possessed or something!"

Canzone's face turned red and he walked over to the floor to ceiling window on the front of the office. No one spoke or moved for the next sixty seconds. Then Canzone turned and spoke quietly, in control, almost kindly.

"Jinx, where's my girl? Where's Mahalo?"

"Out of town, I don't know where."

"Okay. Now, you said you gave her my private files."

"Yeah." Jinx stopped. "Well, not directly, she wasn't in her apartment, so I gave the files to her neighbor tonight."

"Tonight? So she doesn't actually have them? They're with some civilian?"

"Yeah. I told you, I was possessed or something, I had to get them to her, but I swear, I don't know why I did it."

"We'll deal with that later. Right now, I'm interested in the fact that the files are likely still uncompromised. Jinx, go with Ted and Neck here. I would like you to retrieve the files and eliminate the threat. Come back as soon as you've done this and we'll talk about your future."

Jinx's heart nearly flew from his chest. He had a future? Or futile hope that he did? There wasn't any point in worrying about it now, he was at Canzone's mercy, and that was a bad place to be.

Tommy pushed his socks off his feet and propped them up on the gla.s.s end table his wife had bought last month, which she loved, and he hated. The gla.s.s just didn't seem solid enough for anything, he didn't like fragile things. And even though she told him to keep his feet off of it, she was at work, and a great MMA fight was starting in ten minutes. His beer and tortilla chips waited on the side table along with his remote. Just as he reached for it, the doorbell rang.

"Don't it figure," he mumbled, and reached for a chip as he walked to the door. Usually, he didn't bother with the peephole, but for some reason, this time, he did.

What the f.u.c.k? It was the goofy guy who'd given the folders to him to give to Mal. He waited for a few moments before he opened the door, but then pulled the safety chain, turned the lock, and flew backward when the door slammed open with brutal force.

Tommy's head hit the floor hard enough to see light splinter in his field of view, then he sat up.

Two professional wrestler-sized men stood beside of the smaller guy that had begged him to get the folders to his neighbor. Tommy knew immediately that this wasn't going to go well for him. He glanced around to see if there was anything he could use for a weapon, but there was nothing. It didn't matter anyway when a few moments later, one of the big guys grabbed him by the neck and hauled him up.

"Where are the files I gave you?" the little guy asked.

Tommy pointed towards the kitchen, where he'd stashed them in the microwave. The second big guy went into the kitchen, Tommy heard crashes, gla.s.s shattering, and then the guy came out with the folders in his hands.

"This all of it?" the huge man asked the smaller man.

Jinx nodded.

"Where's the girl?"

Tommy paused, then told the truth. "I don't know. I swear." He prayed they would just take the folders and go, but the man who held his neck in one beefy hand hauled him through the living room, shoving the gla.s.s end table over with one foot. It crashed and broke into shards against the wood floor.