Bound in Blood (20 page)

He’s hurting, and Micah and I just wanted to help.”

Joseph put his arm around Micah’s shoulders and hugged him to his side. “That is a very nice thought,” he said in his husky tones. “But you really should not be interfering in matters like these. Carlos made the decision to have Christopher forget him. To try to change that without Carlos’ consent is invading his privacy.”

“You think he’ll be mad at us?” Micah asked.

“Undoubtedly,” Marcus said, his gaze still fixed on Roger. “Have you thought of the consequences of your actions?”

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Roger shrugged. “Well, what I’m hoping for is that Chris and Carlos will be reunited.

Isn’t that what we all want? The guy’s thinking of leaving for Santa Barbara tomorrow—

probably for good.”

“Then that is how it must end,” Marcus said. “You will not meddle in this again.”

Roger pushed out his lower lip defiantly. “But this is crazy,” he blurted. “Marcus, you of all the vampires in the world, could make this right. You did it for Micah and Joseph—

why not for Carlos?”

Marcus sighed. “That was different. Joseph was in danger at the time. I merely sowed the seed in Micah’s mind that when they next met, he would know what Joseph was. I didn’t have time to ask Joseph’s permission.”

“And it worked out great,” Roger interrupted. “So why not for Carlos and Chris?”

“Because, as I have already stated, Carlos has made his own decision. If he had wanted our help, he would have asked for it, and of course, I would have given it gladly.”

“What if you offered?”

“I have offered, but he wanted Christopher to come to him of his own free will, not coerced by vampire magic.”

“Well, damn,” Roger muttered, looking decidedly mutinous.

“Enough now.” Marcus looked back inside the house. “Carlos is here.” He turned to look again at Roger. “Promise me you will not attempt to interfere again. As well intentioned as your actions are, Carlos will not welcome them.”

“But—”

“Roger.” Marcus put his hands on Roger’s shoulders and locked eyes with him.

“Promise me.”

Roger sighed and put his head on Marcus’ chest. “I promise,” he mumbled.

Micah couldn’t resist checking to make sure Roger’s fingers weren’t crossed behind Marcus’ back. His attention was drawn to Carlos’ handsome figure as he stepped onto the veranda.

“Hi, Carlos.”

Carlos inclined his head, smiling at Micah and Joseph before his gaze swept over Marcus and Roger still in each other’s arms. “Am I interrupting?” he asked.

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“Not at all,” Marcus replied, disengaging himself from Roger’s embrace. He took in his friend’s sombre expression. “Are you all right?”

“
Si, gracias
. I have just come from Christopher’s apartment, making sure he was safe for the night. He plans on leaving soon for his home in Santa Barbara.”

“I am sorry, my friend,” Marcus murmured.

“It is perhaps for the best.”

“But—” Roger started to object. Marcus gripped his arm warning him not to say what was on his mind, and for a moment or two, there was a slightly uncomfortable silence amongst the friends. Carlos regarded Roger for a beat longer, and when he smiled, it did not quite reach his eyes.

“I know that what you did, Roger,” he said quietly, “was done with the best of intentions and, I am sure, with my happiness in mind. But I must ask you to please sever the blood bond you’ve formed with Christopher and let our destinies be as they were intended.”

His gaze flicked to Marcus as he continued, “I shall return to Madrid as soon as I have dealt with the hunter, Martin Kellogg.”

“But Carlos,” Roger blurted. “Why give up so easily? Look, I know what I did was out of line, and I apologise for that, but I’m telling you Chris is the guy for you. I saw how he reacted to the memory of you.”

“
Roger
.” Marcus squeezed Roger’s biceps tightly until the younger vampire winced.

“You promised me you would no longer interfere in this matter—now let it go. Carlos must decide what it best for him and Christopher, not you.”

Roger slumped against Marcus’ powerful body. “All right, all right. But it just pisses me off that Carlos is being such a wuss about this.”

“
Roger
.” Marcus stared at him in shock.

“Excuse me?” Carlos, who was not short in stature to begin with, seemed to grow taller as he bridled at Roger’s insult.

“Oh boy,” Micah muttered.

“Well, I’m sorry.” Roger’s tone was defiant and not at all sorry. “You’re just so ready to walk away from him because you can’t stand the thought of having to deal with his terror of what you are, of what we
all
are. But I’m telling you this, Chris was in love with you and could be again, if you handle it right.”

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“That’s enough, Roger,” Marcus snapped.

Anything further that Roger or Carlos might have said was stayed as a muffled cry for help reached both their minds.

“Chris—topher,” they said simultaneously.

Micah looked at them with alarm. “What is it?”

“Someone’s got him,” Roger said.

“But I sealed his apartment from the outside.”

“He might have opened the door—”

Marcus raised himself into the air. “Let’s not waste time. Carlos, lead the way. We will follow!”

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Vince LaGuardia pushed Martin aside with an angry grunt of impatience. “You’re telling me you couldn’t take this kid on your own? Call yourself a hunter, Martin? You’re less than worthless.”

Martin seethed with rage beside him. “You just got lucky, that’s all. You were fortunate he was half asleep when he answered the door.” He looked down at Chris’ unconscious, bound and gagged body. “Let’s get the hell out of here before his vampire friend figures out we’ve got him. We have to be the ones with the advantage.”

Vince glanced at Martin’s sweating face and sneered. “Scared, Martin?”

“No, just careful. The vampire’s strong, stronger than any you or I have dealt with in the past. We shouldn’t hang around here. Let’s get the kid over to the base. There, we have the advantage.”

His one time partner snickered as he hoisted Chris off the couch and over his shoulder.

“You’re scared,” he rasped, his eyes showing contempt. “Okay, let’s go.” He headed for the door, Martin following close behind. Once outside, they made for Vince’s vehicle, a black Oldsmobile SUV. Throwing Chris in the back, the men wasted no time, gunning the Olds, lights out, down the street. Martin twisted round to peer out the rear window, and his jaw dropped open as he saw five dark shapes descending from the night sky outside Chris’

apartment building.

“Holy Christ, Vince. He’s brought reinforcements.”

“What are you talking about?”

“There’s at least five of the bastards back there.”

Vince swore under his breath. “You didn’t know he had friends? What kind of research did you do? You and your
instinctual perception.
What did you do? Switch off your fucking brain?” He swore again as Martin remained silent. “You’re not going to be hunting much longer at this rate, Martin. You’re going to get yourself killed, and me along with you if they get to us first. Shit! I never should’ve listened to you.” He punched the accelerator hard, BOUND IN BLOOD

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entering the freeway that led to downtown at breakneck speed. “Let’s just hope we make it to base before they pick up his scent.”

“Maybe we should just ditch him,” Martin muttered.

Vince shook his head vigorously. “Uh-uh. Even if we let him go, they won’t let up ‘til they find us. The kid’s our leverage. We’ve come this far, we’ll see it through. Keep your eyes peeled for any sign of them.”

Nervously, Martin dropped his window and peered out again, his eyes scanning the cloud-covered sky above them. “Nothing,” he mumbled, turning to look at Chris who glared at him from the backseat. “Kid’s conscious,” he told Vince.

“Good. Means I don’t have to carry him again,” Vince said, chuckling.

Martin glanced at him, shivering at the intensity that gripped the other hunter. He knew Vince was just crazy enough to try to take on all five vampires. He was arrogant, considering himself invincible and a match for anything the undead threw against him. It was true he’d had considerable success hunting vampires in the past. He’d collected several bounties over the years, but they’d been mostly for young vampires, newly changed and unaware of the full potential of their powers. The vampire Martin had gone against the other night was different—strong enough to survive even with a silver blade buried in his back.

Martin shuddered again at the memory of how close he’d come to being killed. Now, the possibility was even greater, especially if Vince was nuts enough to try taking out all five at the same time.

No way could it happen, and yet…

His greedy mind couldn’t resist the thought of what it would mean if they managed to pull it off.
Man, five bounties
. Even if he had to share with Vince, he’d be set for life. He licked his lips at the thought of the money. His eyes darted to the sign that told him they had reached the downtown exit. He stuck his head out the window for a last look around. Still nothing. They might just do this.

Vince pulled the SUV into a dark side street and brought it to a screeching halt outside an unlit doorway.

“Out, quick,” he yelled at Martin, flinging himself out of the car. He yanked open the passenger door and hauled Chris out, pushing him towards the doorway. “Hurry it up,” he rasped. Martin unlocked the door and three of them stumbled inside. Vince slammed the BOUND IN BLOOD

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door behind them, quickly saying the words that sealed it against uninvited entry. The building they used as a ‘hunter base’ was not anyone’s home, never had been, therefore they could not bar entry to a vampire or other supernatural force without the hunter incantation.

“That should hold them ‘til we’re ready,” Vince muttered.

Chris looked around the dingy room, a feeling of despair clutching at his stomach. He shivered from the cold air, realising he wore only his briefs.
What the hell did these madmen
think they were doing?
He felt bewildered by all that had happened in the past few hours
.

What possible reason could they have for taking him to this godforsaken place?

The one named Martin looked nervous, but his partner Vince was another kind of man altogether. Tall and well built, handsome in a rough sort of way, he looked determined—and dangerous. Chris glared as Vince pushed him down onto a chair and lifted the gag from his mouth.

“Your buddies will be here soon,” he said, his ice-cold eyes locked on Chris’. “They’ll follow your blood scent and come straight here.”

“Blood scent?” Chris stared at him. “What the hell are you talking about?”

“He doesn’t know what’s been done to him,” Martin said, snickering. “Doesn’t know he’s slept with a vampire and drunk vampire blood.”

“You’re both nuts,” Chris gasped.

“No.” Vince grabbed Chris’ hair and tilted his head back, staring even harder into his eyes. “We’re not nuts. We’re vampire hunters, and we have you here as bait. Pretty soon your vampire lover and his cronies will try to get in here to rescue you, but we have a couple of surprises for them.” His eyes widened, and he jumped back, releasing his grip on Chris’

hair as a tremendous crash shook the building.

“Christ,” Martin yelped, then yelped again as another crash seemed to shake the building to its foundations.

“They can’t get in,” Vince snarled at him.

“They won’t have to, if they knock down the fucking building,” Martin rasped back.

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Chris gaped up at the two men. What was happening? Whatever it was, these two were going to be no use to him if whatever or whoever actually managed to destroy the building.

He struggled with the ropes that tied his hands behind his back. He stiffened as he heard a deep and melodious voice inside his mind telling him to be calm and not be afraid.

Who…?

Christopher, I must reveal myself to you again. My name is Carlos, and you are going to
remember me now, and all that we’ve meant to one another. Don’t be afraid, querido.

Chris’ mind was flooded with images of himself and a beautiful, dark-haired man locked in an embrace, their lips joined in an all-consuming kiss. Chris felt his body suffused by a sensual heat that brought back myriad memories of nights spent in the man’s arms, of whispered conversations, of sweet longing, of total fulfilment—and a revelation that had torn them apart. Only now, he understood, and he was not afraid.

“Carlos,” he murmured. Closing his eyes he gave himself up to the rapture that coursed through his body setting his blood on fire with desire—and strength. With a final wrench, he broke free of the ropes that bound him.

Martin’s eyes fairly bugged out of his head when Chris jumped to his feet. “Vince!” he yelled. “The kid’s snapped the ropes—the vampire blood’s made him even stronger. Shit!”

His words were lost in a violent rending sound as the ceiling above them began to peel back.

“Jesus, Vince, do
something
!”

“You know the words as well as I do,” Vince yelled at him. “Start saying them now while I take care of the kid.” He darted across the room to where Chris stood staring about him, looking for a way out. Chris picked up the chair he been tied to and swung it at Vince’s head as the man tried to grab him. The chair hit Vince’s shoulder, slowing him down, and he cursed out loud reaching for Chris as he ran for the door, pulling so hard on the knob it came free in his hand. He turned and threw it at Vince, the metal glancing off the hunter’s skull, bringing a screech of pain and rage from his throat.