Blood Lust (23 page)

“I do, Darby, more now than ever before.”

“Why more?”

“I don’t know, maybe because we are so close, or maybe your optimism is wearing off on me. I just feel that if anyone here deserves some happiness after this mess, it should be you and Devon.”

“Thank you, Anton. I think that’s the nicest thing anyone has said to me in a very long time. Thank you, too, for staying with me last night. I know you weren’t very comfortable, and I know it was stupid of me to be so…”

“My pleasure, Darby.”

“Do you think though, that after spending all this time with Libby, that Devon, I don’t know, may prefer her, now?”

“Not at all. I think if anything, he’s good and over her now, seeing her without those rose-colored glasses he had on for so many years. I think the last four months have probably shown him how stupid he was for carrying that torch for as long as he did. No, I’m positive he’s seen Libby in her truest colors by now.”

“So you think he will be happy to see me?”

“Darby, I think he will be ecstatic to see you and if he isn’t I will kill him and have you for myself.”

She smiled but she couldn’t help but wonder how Devon’s reaction would be at seeing her, if he was alive at all.

Chapter 20

An hour later, all were back at the house and helping Mark with the arrows and poison. The vampires kept their distance from the poison being made by Dean, Bernard and Mark, but they had plenty of people telling them what to do. That’s right, Bernard was right in there helping out, up to his elbows crushing yew seeds to Dominic’s specifications and adding them to the pot.

“Oh and Bernard,” Dominic said, “Please be sure to throw out anything used in the kitchen to make this. The tiniest trace could be detrimental to any one of us.”

“I most certainly will, Master Dominic. Consider it done.”

“Good man, Bernard. Thank you!”

“My pleasure, sir.”

Blake set up a couple of hay bales he’d gotten from the stables down the road for Mark to do some warming up. He didn’t want him missing and hitting Anton.

Blake was stunned at Mark’s accuracy. The grouping was no less then half an inch from the previous ones. No wonder he had won three years in a row. From then on, Blake referred to Mark as ‘On the Mark – Hood.’ Darby guessed it was a reference to ‘being on the mark’ and ‘Robin Hood,’ but who knew for sure with those guys. Mark, Blake, and Dean were pretty much inseparable after that. Mark fit right in with the other two; same sense of humor, competitive nature, and sweetness, though that was something they liked to keep under their ‘Hard as Nails’ personas.

As a last bit of practice, Blake set the bales up on the porch of the house, where all had agreed was the best place to stand Libby for her deadly kiss. Mark stood on his cue, hidden by shrubs at the corner of the cottage, facing the main house – a clear shot. All stood back, just in case, and though Mark was off by a couple of inches from his previous tight grouping, all were confident that if all went right, Anton would be in no danger.

Just in case though, Blake and Darby told them how they saved Devon from the poison arrow a few months back. Bernard was good enough to set up these supplies in the off chance that Libby moved and Anton was shot. Also as a backup plan, Dean had scoped out a place where he would be waiting in the event she tried to get away. And as a final precaution, Blake would have a stake covered in the poison and a hiding place where he would descend on her if she attempted to flee; with gloved hands, he would pierce her heart with the poisoned stake.

Dominic had made some discreet calls to someone, in order to secure a safe place to take Devon and Darby once Libby followed Anton back to the house. Darby and Dominic would go into the Openheimer house, hopefully, grab Devon and get to the safe house. Dominic kept the location a secret to all so that if influenced somehow by Libby, no one would know where they were.

He had also told Darby that he had confirmed the list of men were all alive so far, but he still was not able to get a hold of Simon Corbel, the one that Darby and Mark had seen Libby visit for only a few moments. They had thought at the time that she may have drained him that night because he was too weak to satisfy her cravings. But even if Simon hadn’t made it, the others were alive and could be brought back to health once their leech quit feeding on them.

“That’s good news, Dominic. Very good news. I’m sorry we didn’t uncover all of this before Simon…” Darby said.

“Considering we all gave up on Devon and you, I say we’re pretty damn lucky there aren’t a whole lot more dead, including my son. You have done more than your share to save as many as you could. Now it’s our turn to save you and Devon. So let’s get to it. Are we all ready?” Dominic announced in his booming voice.

They all were. “Do we all know everyone’s cell numbers and what codes we are to use to keep everyone in sync?” Lots of nods and yeses went around the room. “Good.”

Dominic turned to Anton. “Son, you’re the bait. I hate that! Please be careful. I almost lost you once to Libby; I don’t want to have it happen again. Do you have your little charm Darby gave you?”

“Yes,” Anton said and he patted his pocket and looked lovingly at Darby.

“Okay, we will follow you until we get very near the house. When you have gotten her to follow you and you are clear of the house, hit send on your phone to let me know Darby and I are in the clear to look for Devon.” Anton nodded.

“Okay. Then I will advise Blake that Libby and Anton are on their way to Westport. Right?” Again they all nodded.

“If you can get Libby to take the red car back, per your ruse to see her in the first place, then you will be in the Mercedes and able to send Blake a text when you are within a mile or two of the house for all to get in their places. I will text Blake when we are clear of the house and let him know if we found Devon or not.

“If not, then we go to ‘Plan B’ which is to not use the poison arrows, but the plain yew arrows, which will paralyze her, but allow her to talk. Blake and Dean know what to do to get her to admit to where Devon is. In that case, Darby and I stand by until we know where we are going and then go get him and proceed with the rest of the plan.

“Everyone clear on what’s going to happen?” Dominic said.

Everyone agreed.

“Anton? After you,” Dominic said.

Anton, Darby, and Dominic headed for the garage. Darby stopped Anton for a moment and said, “Please be careful, Anton. I don’t want to come back to find another one of her casualties. Promise me you’ll be careful.”

He kissed the top of her head and said, “How can I fail with your special magic to help?” He patted his pocket and smiled. Dominic watched the two of them, as he stood with the door open to the car. She walked back to the Mercedes where Dominic was standing. Dominic met his son’s eyes and said, “Be careful, Anton. You’re all I have, you know!”

“I know, Dad. I will!” Both cars drove off towards Fairfield, Connecticut.

Dominic and Darby talked in the car, but not about anything serious. Small talk mostly. Dominic was too worried about Anton, and Darby was too worried about Anton and Devon.

“Are you nervous, Dominic?”

“Yes, I guess I am. You?”

“Extremely.”

“It’s silly, I suppose, since we are in the least amount of danger.”

“True, but we don’t know if Devon’s really at the house and most every other person I love and care about is in mortal danger, aside from you,” Darby said.

“You mean I’m on your list of loved ones now?”

“Most definitely,” she smiled.

“I’m honored. Well, think positively. It makes the most sense that he’s here in Fairfield.”

“But what if he isn’t?”

“Plan B. We will find him, Darby. Sit back and relax. You’ve done most of the hard work while we all sat on our butts believing the worst. Let us do our jobs now and worry about you and Devon. Okay?”

“Okay.”

Dominic parked the car one street over from the house in the direction Libby and Anton would not go when they left, just in case she recognized the car. It was much like the stakeout she and Mark had been on just a couple of days ago. Or was it only a day ago? It seemed to all run together now, she couldn’t remember anymore. However, unlike the first, this stakeout had no pizza, but a very nice Italian leather interior instead.
Too bad though, a Pepsi and a slice of pizza would be good about now,
she thought. Dominic laughed. “I hadn’t thought of food. That would have been a good idea.”

“Stop that. Devon used to do that to me.”

“Well, you are as loud as a megaphone, my sweet girl.”

“That’s what he used to tell me, too. Do you think Anton will be okay after all this is over? She’s destroyed so much of his life, I worry he won’t find love again or even try. She’s done such awful things to his self-esteem.”

“With time, sweetheart, I hope he will be lucky enough to find someone half as wonderful as you.”

She sighed deeply, hoping he was right. Dominic looked at her with such endearment. He, too, wished this for his son. A selfish part of him even hoped that Devon wouldn’t survive. Maybe Anton and Darby would find their way together. He could see his son already was in love with her, but he too, wanted Devon to be alive and Darby to be happy. A father always wants the best for his son and Dominic could see none better than Darby. The good news was that Devon too, was a son to him and Gail would be so pleased he had found someone like Darby to love.

Poor Gail – so much she’s missed with Devon and Blake. He had been blessed with the job of being as much of a father as he could be to her two noble sons. He smiled at this thought and again looked at Darby.

On the next block over, Anton parked his car in front of the driveway, blocking the expensive, flashy red car. He walked up to the door and knocked. The look on Libby’s face when she opened the door was priceless, thought Anton, utter shock at seeing a ghost.

“Anton, love,” she finally squeaked out.

“Libby. You’re looking well, and so is my car.” He turned towards the car in the driveway.

She invited Anton into the house. “Umm, how did you find me? I can’t remember the last time you tried to find me?” She seemed confused and out of sorts.

“I had a P.I. track the car. I figured you’d be with it.”

“So you were looking for me?”

“I was.”

“How sweet. Why? Did you miss me?”

“Of course, Libby. How could I not? By the way, nice house, one of your gentleman’s, I suppose.”

“Oh this, no. I’m renting. No, I don’t see those men anymore, Anton. I’ve really been out of sorts since I saw you last.”

“Hmmm. I’m sorry to hear that. I would have thought you and Devon would have been very happy.”

“Devon? God, no. He’s nothing compared to you.”

“Where is Devon nowadays? Heard from him?”

“No, Anton, I had to send him away after just a couple of weeks. He was so needy and boring. No, I’ve not seen him in months. I suppose he’s gone back to that Debbie or whatever her name is.”

“Huh! That’s odd, because Darby’s been at the house for weeks now. We’ve become quite, umm, close I guess you could say. I found her freezing cold, out of money and half out of her mind in Massachusetts. She never did find Devon, but she doesn’t look anymore, now. Dad loves her. Even Mr. Chow seems to adore her and that cat doesn’t like anyone. I’m finding her quite remarkable myself. I’ve been thinking of taking her to the house in Nantucket soon.”

He could see Libby’s eyes filling with hate. It was working just as they had planned. The charm was working too. He could feel Libby in his head and let her rummage around in there, but it was all him making the big decisions.

“Oh, so she’s staying with you now? Hmmm. Maybe you and I could go someplace for a while? Try to reignite that flame we’ve always had.”

“Really? You’d want to be with me? I’d have figured you were shacked up with some rich guy that couldn’t keep his hands off of you.”

“You used to be that way. That part of our relationship has never changed, Anton. Maybe we should see if we could, I don’t know, find our way back to one another.” She ran her red-tipped finger along the side of his face. “After all, we are still legally married.”