As he was dragged into the bedroom, he knew he would die here tonight. He thought about his wife and how p.i.s.sed she was going to be about the table.

Chapter 12.

Kai would understand, Mal thought, as she took her seat onboard the small jet heading to Oahu, and then back to L.A. So would Bev. Besides, leaving them alone to deal with their budding relationship was probably exactly what they needed, both of them had had such failures in connecting with anyone in years.

Her mind wandered to Erin. Kai and a vampire. That was some crazy s.h.i.t. Her father had looked amazing, she and Bev had remarked about it, but who knew about the incredible youth-extending benefit of sucking and f.u.c.king a vampire.

That was harsh, but it felt wrong that he knew about this vampire world and had never let her in on the secret. And as soon as she thought that, she knew she was out of line. She would never have told anyone about Ahmose if she had held a long relationship with him and his trust.

As the engine's revved, the plane taxied, then accelerated quickly, and lifted off, she felt that heady rush as the plane slipped gravity's hands and accepted the sky. Her own hands wrapped around her daughter's cradle and she prayed to a G.o.d she wasn't sure knew her that this flight would go well and they would make it safely home.

Carrying this life inside of her had changed everything. What mattered most now, and always, was this person she'd made with the powerful, handsome man she would never see again, not after what Erin had told her. He'd been kind, gentle, loving with her, but she would never let him take this child from her.

"I know you want me to find your father, my darling, but I know now that I can't. We'll be so happy together, I promise," Mal whispered to her.

She laid her head back, the support of the seatback comforting. In the airport, before she'd embarked, she'd tried to reach Tommy, but the call went to voicemail. Her eyes now closed, she sighed. This felt good, just relaxing with nothing pending for the moment. She'd check with Tommy as soon as she got home in a few hours. In minutes, she'd fallen into a light sleep, the vibration and drone of the plane as effective as a lullaby.

IN L.A. IN A REMOTE WAREHOUSE.

"This is all you took? All you gave her?"

Canzone's eyes sought Jinx's with intensity.

Jinx shuddered. "Yeah, that's it. No one has anything now."

"You're certain?"

Jinx knew that this line of questioning sealed his fate.

"Yeah," he said, quietly, and knew that was the last word he'd ever speak. He was right.

Jinx heard a pop and he was gone, a single execution-style bullet hole in the back of his head. The shooter slid the automatic pistol into his jacket.

Canzone turned to Neck.

"Find out where she is right now and bring her to me. I'm through playing, even if she is my niece. This ends."

Neck walked out of the warehouse and took his seat in the pa.s.senger seat beside his a.s.sociate and friend.

"He's going to kill her, finally. I didn't think he had it in him."

Ted started the car. "What, you thought he was sentimental?"

"Yeah, I think he was. About her. About his sister. But I guess he has his limits. We find her and bring her to him."

"The weasel gone?"

"Are you kidding?"

Ted grinned. "What's the matter with me, asking dumb questions. Okay, where do we start?"

"I'm putting a man on her apartment and at her station, and I'll have someone see if they can locate her phone. We'll do it, and soon, or we're going to be having f.u.c.king tea with Jinx soon."

IN LONDON.

Ahmose would follow Eillia into Lamont's apartment, Koen just behind him. They would lead with those who carried the most power, although that was almost moot...all three first bloods were equally skilled and gifted. But Eillia's sensitivity made her the first choice, she would hopefully be able to read the things in his apartment and be able to target him quicker.

Ahmose did not like this plan, but the lovely Asian woman seemed to be in command and he had to admit it suited her. He could see any man following her into battle, as he and Koen were doing within the hour. Her regal beauty and bearing reminded him of Chione, although Chione was a softer soul than Eillia, quieter, not aggressive in the least. Her spirit walked easily on the earth and everyone who met her felt calmer for having done so. He missed her when he was away from his village, and only now realized how much.

"Xavier, you and David are ready, yes?"

Xavier shot her a high thumb's up, which she'd always found rude, but Xavier was good at that. It answered her question, though. David just smiled and nodded. Taggert would accompany them on the attack to take Claude.

Eillia knew there was something more personal for Taggert with Claude, although she had no idea what it was. As long as they got him, she didn't care at this point what it might be.

"Okay, my friends, let's pony up," Eillia announced.

Please let this go well, she prayed.

IN L.A.

The cab dropped Mal in front of her apartment building, she paid him, and stepped out, her eyes swiveling. What the f.u.c.k was this? Two police cruisers?

No! Oh, G.o.d, no! Tommy...

She took the stairs two at a time, but when she got to the top, she stepped onto the landing to a crowded hallway. In front of her own apartment, two police officers stood talking, the door to Tommy's apartment open.

Mal's stomach churned as she approached. She didn't have to speak with anyone at the scene, she already knew. Canzone had gotten to Tommy. The files Jinx had surrendered to him would be gone, and Tommy would be dead.

And it was her fault.

When she reached the end of the hall, one of the officers looked up at her.

"Excuse me, ma'am," he began, but she already had her badge out of her satchel and flashed it. He nodded and she went through the door. But that's as far as she could bring herself to go. Standing frozen at the threshold, Mal scanned the room. Tidy, nothing out of place in the living room except an upturned coffee table and some gla.s.s beneath it.

Another cop turned to ask her a question, and he saw her face.

"Detective," he said, recognizing Mal. "Who called you in on this? It's out of your area, isn't it?"

"Uh, no one, officer. I live across the hall."

"Ah, man, I'm sorry. You know the vic?"

"He's dead?"

"Yeah, thoroughly. The perp sliced him like a pepperoni pizza. Like someone was sending a message, you know?"

Don't throw up, Mal. Keep it down until you can get home...because she knew, yes, they were sending a message.

Nodding, she walked away quickly, digging her keys out after she pa.s.sed the doorway and hurried to her own apartment.

As soon as her door closed behind her, Mal dropped onto the floor and emptied her stomach. Tommy had been a really good guy, and that this was her fault, she couldn't deal with it right now.

Luka was dead, or as far as she was concerned, he was. Her father had been f.u.c.king a vampire. She was pregnant by one. A vicious creep had killed her neighbor now, just to say "hey, I've got you," to her, and the father of her child would apparently take her child away if he ever found out she existed.

Mal was done. She needed rest, desperately, then she would go to the station and get what she needed. Right now, she wasn't certain what she was going to do to fix this, but all that was on her mind were two things. First, she had to get justice for Tommy and Luka. Second, Canzone had to be stopped, forever. The Captain had said they'd never been able to prosecute Canzone, no one had been able to get the evidence the legal system needed to do its job.

Lifting off the floor, Mal walked into the kitchen to get paper towels and her trash can. Her gait was even, her eyes focused, her head forward, the muscles in her neck tight. Would she stay within the letter of the law?

No. Canzone would die the moment the opportunity opened up. It didn't matter anyway. Once done, she would disappear.

After she cleaned up the mess, Mal killed the lights and fell into her bed.

"I'm so sorry, Tommy," she whispered as she fell into a deep sleep. Just before she lost consciousness, she felt the baby inside of her moving. It would all be all right because it had to be. Only one question followed her into sleep. Where would she go?

Cheeto saw her enter. Holy s.h.i.t, she was back. He'd had Moon Pie and one other buddy keeping an eye on the woman's apartment. Since he and Moon Pie had followed her back from the house where he'd slain the vampire, she'd suddenly disappeared, so he'd had no recourse. He'd f.u.c.ked up the a.s.signment and knew his chance with the big organization, SRS, was over.

Now, though, excited, he dialed his phone. No answer, but that was no surprise since Claude thought Cheeto had f.u.c.ked up the a.s.signment. And he had, until now.

He remembered how thrilled Claude was to finally get a promotion within the organization, and that was precisely what would happen for him since he had information that would give Lamont exactly what he wanted. He knew where the vampire's woman was. He'd seen the vampire with her, it was apparent he'd f.u.c.ked her, that he liked her, from the steamy, hands-on kiss they'd given each other. Wouldn't she be exactly what they needed to capture the vampire? Bait?

He left a message.

Mal slept fitfully for about three hours before she sat up and rubbed sore, tired eyes with rough fingers. Three a.m. Too early to go to the station, too late to save Tommy or Luka. Nice life, Mal, whose life you gonna f.u.c.k up now?

As soon as that thought pa.s.sed her mind, calmness overcame her, and she consciously felt her body relax and her mind clear. This child, this incredible child.

"How are you doing this, my baby girl? What are you that you can do this?"

Silly question. Mal had already completely accepted the existence of vampires. It was apparent that her unborn child was doing vampire tricks from the womb, and while she was ready to concede that other forms of life, supernatural life, existed, the knowledge that the baby inside of her had these powers, blew her mind. That didn't change anything. The baby was affecting her mother, and Mal actually achieved a calm balance.

She didn't need the coffee now. Or the sugar. Just a chance to kill Canzone and evaporate.

"What do you think, baby? Is this the right path? I feel like it is. I feel like someone needs to stop him, and he's begging it to be me. I like to please."

With a big yawn, Mal dropped back into her bed and tried to fall asleep again. Her eyes were still open when the sun finally punched a hole into her window.

Cheeto's phone finally pinged, and although it was four a.m. when he looked at the screen, he was thrilled that it was Claude.

"Hey, Boss."

The silence was deafening. Yeah, Cheeto knew that Claude had been angry that Ahmose was still alive.

"I know you're p.i.s.sed at me, but I think I can make up for it. You know that vampire you wanted me to kill but I couldn't, even though it wasn't my own fault and even though he was able to survive a dead-shot to his forehead since it turned out that you were right?"

Claude sighed loudly. "f.u.c.k, Cheeto, take a breath. What are you trying to say, anyway?"

"I got his girl. I mean, I know where we can get his girl. He'll want her back and you can catch him that way. What do you think, you want us to take her?"

Claude didn't speak again and Cheeto decided that maybe his idea wasn't as good as he thought.

Then Claude started laughing.

"Yeah, I do. One thing I know about these vampires is they love their women. You think he'll come for her?"

"I bet he will. I saw him with her that morning when he disappeared. He gave her a hot kiss. I know he f.u.c.ked her."

"Then he likely will. I'll let Lamont know. And Cheeto, capturing her will go a long way towards fixing things with me. So don't f.u.c.k it up again."

"No, sir, I won't sir. Anyway, she's human, right? I can control a chick."

"If she's with the vampire, I would be careful. She may not be human, and even if she is, she's likely to be quite feisty."

"Done, Boss. See, Cheeto knows what he's doing. It's just that f.u.c.king vampire, who saw that coming."

Claude said nothing since he saw that coming and, even warned, Cheeto had still failed.

"Just, call me when you have her," Claude finally said and the phone call ended.

Cheeto slipped his cell phone into his pocket and whistled while he walked back to his car. It was going to be okay.

IN LONDON.

Claude dialed Lamont. When Lamont answered, agitated as usual, Claude sighed and continued.

"My man in the U.S. has a little gift for us. He's securing a woman that the big new vampire from Tasmania seems to have feelings for. We've discovered that with a simple threat to their loved ones, they comply without problem to whatever we ask of them. We may yet be able to influence a first blood to convert us."

"Wonderful. How soon will she be here?"

"My a.s.sociate is still in procurement, but expects to have her secured by tonight. You want her brought here?"

"I do, and as soon as possible. In fact, I'm restless tonight. I think I'll head to the facility to get some work done."

"Fine," Claude responded. "I will keep you in the loop on the girl's capture and transport."

"I know that you will."

Lamont left the conversation, leaving Claude staring at the screen of his phone. d.a.m.n, that man was arrogant! I know you will. It wasn't a statement of confidence in Claude but a demand that he knew better than to fail.

If this idea came to fruition, if they were both made vampire someday, and more powerful because of that, Claude antic.i.p.ated a battle to the death in that future between himself and the intolerable Lamont. Someone had to be king.

On the street outside of Claude's apartment in the highest building on the street, David, Taggert, and Xavier arrived in their borrowed car. Their plan was simple, designed by Xavier. Go in, blow the s.h.i.t out of Claude, and go home. No discourse, no delay, kill the motherf.u.c.ker and get back to normal life without the looming threat of these a.s.sholes.