"What a load of s.h.i.t!"

Mal had been pacing and now dropped into the empty seat in front of the captain's desk. "I'd like to recover my little murdering s.k.a.n.k before I get old! Jinx is f.u.c.king evil, Cap, I can't let him stay on the street."

"Sorry, not happening. Not right now, anyway." Now, Captain Kordalis stood. "Look, you guys did good work. That folder has a lot of excellent intel. The implications are obvious, we know what these invoices and manifests mean. But it's not evidence. Just because can make informed guesses on the activity doesn't mean it's actionable. None of this will hold up in court."

Luka stood by the door, his arms folded.

"Cap, we're careful, you know that. At least let us use some of this information to threaten Berenstein and keep Jinx out of their pockets."

"Don't. Right now, they don't know we know about this. Find another way."

Mal nodded and looked at Luka. "All right partner. You heard the captain, let's. .h.i.t it. Miles to go before we sleep."

"I mean it, detective." The captain stepped in front of Mal as she stood. "Mal, I know you're pa.s.sionate about Jinx. He's a piece of s.h.i.t and if we're not careful, he's just going to disappear. But you've brought me some solid information, and this is bigger than Jinx. With this information, we can put a stop to some serious s.h.i.t. It's enough to put surveillance on the docks and watch for actual shipments that we can intercept and investigate. Give it time, we'll get them. Don't go off half-c.o.c.ked."

"Yeah," Mal barked out, and shoved Luka out of the small office ahead of her. As they walked past a row of desks, Luka turned to his partner.

Mal was p.i.s.sed. He knew she was looking forward to going after Jinx today and threatening Berenstein to stay the f.u.c.k away this time.

"Cap's right, Mal," Luka said.

"Yeah, I know it. But it doesn't make it any easier to accept that, even though we know Jinx killed two young girls last month, he'll still walk. f.u.c.k, Luk, I just want to lock that a.s.shole up forever."

"Welcome to disappointment row. Me, too. But we'll get him. Live to fight another day, right?"

"That's the problem. Jinx is getting to fight again, and he shouldn't!"

"Lunch? My treat. How often does that happen?"

Mal looked up at Luka, who was only slightly taller than her five foot nine inches. d.a.m.n, she loved that handsome dog. He knew her so well, everything that upset her, everything that made her happy, everything that made her laugh. What made her cry. He was the perfect guy for her, except that neither of them had any interest in a s.e.xual relationship. They both knew that this partnership, this friendship, was deeper than any relationship they'd had with another man or woman, and neither of them would risk it for the transitory concept of romantic love.

"Yeah, not often. In that case, we're going to Casey's."

Luka grimaced. Not the most expensive place in L.A. but not the cheapest either. That didn't matter, but they insisted he wear a tie. But she was smiling again.

"All right, you're on."

Mal yawned. "s.h.i.t. It's just too late. There hasn't been any movement for hours. Why don't we call it a night?"

Luka yawned, too, shadowing Mal's yawn. "Yeah, there isn't likely to be anything else tonight. Besides, we're out of chips and salsa."

"Stake-out isn't for the chips and salsa, buddy."

"It's why I'm here. Anyway, yeah, I agree. We both need to get some rest. I'll call Geraldo in the morning and let him know how the stake-out went so he can inform the Captain. Wouldn't want him to think we're laying down on the job."

Mal smiled. Her head hurt, she could use the rest, too. Tomorrow night, they'd be back to do this all over again.

IN A FANCY OFFICE BUILDING DOWNTOWN L.A.

"So, you saw someone watching the docks?"

The big man sneezed and blew his nose into a monogrammed silk handkerchief. "Sorry. f.u.c.king allergies. Anyway, it's the same cops? That hot girl and the Latino?"

"Yeah. It's them. Like freaking dogs with bones! Everywhere I went the past three days, they're on me like white on rice. I just wanna take the girl and..."

"Do not touch her. The girl is mine. I had my eye on her before she became a pain in my a.s.s."

"Uh, yeah, sir, I just meant, well, that she's p.i.s.sing me off. I wasn't gonna do anything, like, to her."

"See that you don't. Or anyone else who might think to take liberties. First off, she's a f.u.c.king cop and I don't need complications with the authorities. Secondly, if something needs to be handled, I'll handle it the way I see fit where it don't affect the business. You comprehend me?"

"Yes, sir."

"All right, Jinx. Get outta here and just keep me apprised."

Jinx left his boss's office as quickly as he could without seeming like a wuss. Canzone was no one he wanted to p.i.s.s off or even worry. Mostly, he just wanted to stay off the radar. Canzone was about as big as they got in this city, and he knew he was just a p.i.s.s-ant to him. Jinx had no desire to be near someone who would stomp him out as soon as look at him.

But he was Canzone's second-in-command right now, through the untimely death of Canzone's former second-in-command. His efforts to appear reliable and efficacious were not meeting with success, so he wanted to get the f.u.c.k out of California. Planning to head northeast and get lost in New York or Maine, he needed some seed-money, so he was trying to make it until he could take it. He was screwed if these cops had gotten onto them.

After he cleared the room, he slammed his fist against the dashboard of his Suburban SUV. He really wanted to take out that b.i.t.c.h cop. She'd been on him for months. Canzone's attorney had only just sprung him a few days ago and the cop was back on him again.

"b.i.t.c.h got a hard-on for me," Jinx said, as he started the car. "And that ain't gonna end well, no way. Not unless I get her first."

Another morning, another sunrise that interfered with sleep. Mal rolled over and sighed, exhausted beyond her ability to even think straight. She and Luka were spending their nights watching the docks and the recently released a.s.shole Jinx "the fingers" Jones.

Glancing up at the window in her bedroom, she closed her eyes and slid a hand against her bare skin. Two things she needed right now. A good light-blocking curtain, and a nice o.r.g.a.s.m.

Maybe Bev was right. A week or two away from the job, some one-on-one with a hot guy who would make her feel like a woman again, and an ocean view...yeah, she needed that a lot right now. As soon as they got Jinx, she was going to take off and just let herself breathe again.

Her fingers found their way between her legs and just lingered. She smiled, thinking that she did have a vibrator somewhere. Probably didn't even work anymore. When had she given up s.e.x? Finally, she drifted back off to welcome dreamless sleep.

Chapter 3.

The ocean waves were gentle tonight, the sea calm, providing the perfect backdrop for Ahmose as he stood on the balcony of Windari's beach house, sipping a local wine that wasn't anywhere nearly as good as the wines back home.

But it would do. He was on the third gla.s.s as he leaned against the railing watching the three-quarters waning moon, strangely elegant in its asymmetrical phase, as it reflected off of the sparkling water. It was something that he rarely got to see. As a child of the moon from southern Africa, his village sat on the edge of the magnificent Victoria Falls, but it was too far from the sea. The view made him feel calm on this first night he'd chosen to take a sabbatical from his village. He needed the rest, the disconnection, the quiet, just for a little while.

This past year had been crazy. It had seen the arrival of a woman with whom he knew he was destined to love and bring forth the next generation of first blood vampire children to the world. Then, destiny threw him a curve. Yes, the beautiful vampire that came to his village was meant to bear his children, but not to be his lover and mate. That revelation had broken his heart, yet brought a brother into his life that he'd learned to love against all odds.

His son had been born, a beautiful boy who would champion the Mother Earth someday in the future. It was clear from the beginning that the child was exponentially more powerful than previous generations, and that he was a protector. Ahmose couldn't love Eras more, the child was his heart and soul.

So was his lovely mother, the newly-made vampire Starla, mated now to Jacob. Now the three of them, Ahmose, Starla and Jacob, were accepted equally by Eras as parents. It still shocked Ahmose how well it worked. Male vampires were, by their very natures, jealous of another male near their women. But Jacob tolerated Ahmose's close relationship with his mate that required them to parent together, and although she was inseminated to begin the children, it was still an intimate relationship.

He was happy. Now, Starla was pregnant with the second of the three children prophesied by an empath who had helped guide them to this future. Another miracle.

But he was here, across the globe, away from his people and land, away from his child and the one who would arrive soon, looking at the moon from the other side of the world. He was happy, yes, ecstatically so...but he needed this respite. Tonight was the first time he'd been alone for centuries, and, by the grace of the Mother, it felt good.

He upturned the gla.s.s and let the sparkling wine pour down his throat. The soft buzz he'd been working on had calmed his tense body. Relaxed, he looked back up at the moon and saw two women pa.s.sing by, obviously out for a moonlight stroll on the warm sand.

Tipping his head in acknowledgement, he watched their appreciative smiles as they waved, their eyes locked on him. He glanced down. Ah, yes, he was naked, and it wasn't a completely accepted cultural norm here in America. It was warm tonight and he had no reason to put clothes on, and didn't want to, so he just smiled back and let them look. As a first blood, and the leader of the children of the moon, he knew his body was spectacular. Just for them, he dropped a hand and ran it gently along his c.o.c.k, which was partially filled.

The women's smiles widened. So did Ahmose's. Looking down, he smoothed his fingers over the tip. His body was fit and hard, and so was his c.o.c.k right now.

A lot of good that did him, since he had no one to share it with. Pouring a fourth gla.s.s of wine, he watched the women as they moved past the beach house, still looking back, and admonished himself for such thoughts.

He was the luckiest man on Mother Earth and it was unacceptable that he should ask for more. It was just that Starla and Jacob's love was flaming, like a meteor, and it was hard to watch.

Because he was ready to be in love. He was ready for a mate. A lot of long centuries had pa.s.sed, and as leader of the children of the moon and a child of the Mother Earth, he'd been dedicated and content with his journey, but he'd always felt the absence of someone beside him to share the journey with him.

As he looked back up at the moon, he asked its forbearance. "Please allow this ungrateful son a moment of weakness. I have been lonely but not alone. Here, now, alone, finally, I can access my feelings and work through my troubles. My children are everything to me, and I have no right to ask for more. Forgive me while I let myself ruminate for just a little while. Then I will return home to welcome my new daughter."

With a bowed head, he released his guilt and let himself enjoy the beauty of this beach cottage outside of Los Angeles that had belonged to a lost sister of the moon, who was now gone forever. It had been prepared for a vampire, so there was a safe place for daylight, and a large refrigerator so he could fill it with good food and wine and just stay here on the beach for a week. He could breathe.

A sudden chirp interrupted his calm night, and he glanced down to see that Jacob was calling. Ahmose picked up the phone and just stared at it for a few moments, then his thumb hovered over the b.u.t.ton for another few moments before he hit it and held the phone to his ear.

"Jacob," he said, his voice graveled from speaking so little for the past 24 hours.

"Ahmose, are you okay? Starla is worried. Koen told us you've lost Lamont's trail, so we expected you to come home. But he told us not to expect you for a while. He said, and I find this hard to believe, that you are on vacation. You don't take vacations, right?"

"I never have. The word doesn't even have a place in my world. But I find that at this time, I need some breathing room. I will be home shortly. Please a.s.sure my little Shoazan that I am well and she must not worry. Our daughter must feel safe and loved at all times."

"Well, she's going to. Ahmose, what's wrong? This isn't like you."

Ahmose sighed and turned his back on his beautiful moonlit scene. He drew a long breath.

"Jacob, I just wanted time to myself. For the first time, I just want to have nothing and no one depending on me, needing me, wanting something. I just need a break."

Now Jacob was silent. Then he said, "I get that. More than you know. Take all the time you need, my friend. We're good here. Starla is tired, but she's well, and our daughter is in good spirits. Everyone needs a mental day off. Yours has been a long time coming. Be well, and drink a lot of wine."

Ahmose smiled. "I will. Don't let our little mother worry."

"I'll keep her occupied. Be safe."

Jacob rang off and Ahmose dropped the phone onto a wicker chair. He wouldn't answer it for anyone now. Officially, he was on vacation.

"G.o.d, these nights are long!" Luka moaned. "I have always hated stake-outs."

Mal snorted as she laughed.

"Like I don't know that. They're even longer with you complaining about it all night. Here, have another hot dog."

Luka groaned, but he took the hot dog that was anything but hot anymore. He shoved it into his mouth, took a huge bite, and let his eyes wander back to the dimly lit dock.

"Nothing again. Let's just get the f.u.c.k..."

That was the first thing he remembered when Luka finally woke up sometime later. The d.a.m.ned hot dog. His eyes landed on the green-lit clock on the dashboard and he couldn't seem to process it. He knew what it was, but it didn't make any sense. Something had happened. What was it?

It took a moment to realize he was slumped over in Mal's car, something red oozed all around his leg. s.h.i.t, was he shot?

Carefully scooping the stuff onto a finger, he realized the blood looked odd. He held it closer, then touched it to his tongue. He let out a coa.r.s.e laugh.

"Ketchup," he whispered.

But something had happened to him. He wasn't right. He looked over to the driver's seat, but it was empty, the driver's side door wide open. A sound had been intruding since he woke up and he realized it was the alarm dinging that the key was still in the ignition.

Where was Mal?

Pushing against the dashboard, Luka shoved himself out of the car and nearly hit the pavement. Oh, G.o.d! Shooting up to his temples, his hands wrapped around his skull and pressed hard against the pain.

His head hurt like a motherf.u.c.ker. Someone had hit him, and that was why he hurt so badly and had lost consciousness. But where was Mal?

Panic set in, which felt odd, because Luka prided himself on always remaining calm. He never panicked. But he couldn't find Mal, and nothing terrified Luka more than the idea of something happening to her.

"Mal," he tried to call out, but his volume was strangled by the pain in his head.

"Mal," he tried to yell again, a little louder this time, scanning the area. She wasn't anywhere around at all.

Luka knew something had happened to her. She would never have left him alone without help, and if she were nearby, she'd have answered. He reached back into the car and grabbed his cell.

"Officer down," he called into it. "I've been attacked and my partner is missing. We're at the South Port Docks in front of Gate 16."

"We're en route. What happened Luka?"

"I don't know. Someone attacked me. They knocked me out, and I just woke up a moment ago. Mal's gone."

"We'll be there soon. Do you need an ambulance?"

"f.u.c.k. No. I'm gonna try her phone. Thanks, Geraldo."

Luka autodialed her number and heard her ringtone. G.o.d, her phone was still here. The sound came from the driver's side, so he rounded the front of the car, and he found it easily, kicked on the ground underneath the car. No doubt at all. She'd been taken.

They were wise enough to bind her before they took her from the site of the stake-out. If they hadn't, as soon as she was certain they couldn't hurt Luka, she'd have gone ballistic on them. She'd have taken them down so hard they would never have gotten up again.

That was the only reason they got her. Mal had only agreed to come with them without trouble if they didn't kill Luka. It was her only option when she'd gotten the drop on one of them and held her gun on him to look up and see a second man holding his gun to the temple of an unconscious Luka.

"Someone wants to see you. You come with us, he lives. You don't, I take him out right now," the man holding on Luka said.

She'd dropped her weapon without delay.

Her hands bound tightly behind her, and blindfolded, Mal knew that she was led into an elevator, based on the familiar pings and sounds, and the unexpected motion that made it clear they were going up.