Cross the Line: A Gabriella Cross Paranormal Romance Book 2 (6 page)

Gabby woke up with her face pressed to the cold floor. Her phone had been ringing and was still vibrating in her pocket. She thought to let it go to voicemail, but then remembered Quip. Hurriedly she fished it out of her pocket and answered.

“Hello?”

“Gabby?”

“Juliette, how is Quip doing?”

“Quip is doing fine, got out of surgery a few hours ago. I left you a voicemail.”

Gabby breathed a sigh of relief. “Thanks for letting me know.”

“That’s not why I called. I need you to come to Steele Tower as quickly as possible.”

“Seriously? I’m not feeling too hot right now,” said Gabby, pulling her aching body up off the floor.

“Yeah, seriously. It’s an emergency. You’ll be filled in when you get here.”

“I’ll need some time to get ready.”

“Hurry up,” said Juliette, hanging up before Gabby could argue.

Gabby fed her cat Mitzy and took a quick shower. She wondered all the while what kind of job they had for her this time.

Outside, Bob waited in an armored car, along with an escort of two SUVs. Bob was as quiet as he had been the night before, to which Gabby was thankful. She spent a long silent ride to Steele Tower, thinking about everything that had happened the previous night. She chalked up her erratic behavior to the vampire blood, and vowed to herself never to take it again.

No matter what

The car pulled into the garage and Gabby was led to the elevator. After another long silent ride, the doors opened to Michael’s penthouse floor.

Juliette stood waiting right in front of the door like a soldier. “What took you so long?”

“I’m here now, what’s the big emergency?”

Juliette shook her head and beckoned Gabby with a long finger. “Come.”

Gabby was led to Michael’s bedroom, and to her surprise, she found a disheveled and thrashing Valentine on the bed, still in her dress from the night before.

“What is she doing here?” Gabby blurted.

“You know her?”

“No…I meant, what happened to her.”

Juliette studied her for a moment, but just then Michael came through another door.

“Good, you’re here. Come, we haven’t much time.”

“What’s wrong with her?”

“Seems she was jumped by a group of vampires outside my club last night. She was able to charm them and get away, but not before being bitten and forced to drink their blood.”

“Why hasn’t she already turned?” Gabby asked. She dared not get any closer to Valentine. The woman looked demented. She gnashed the air and cried out in pain one moment, but then moaned with ecstasy the next.

“She has a magic all her own, and so far it is holding the vamp blood at bay. Listen Gabby, this is unlike anything that you’ve ever done. You have to nullify the vamp blood, but not her innate powers. Do you think you can do that?”

“Jesus, I don’t even know if it’s possible.”

“You have to try.”

Michael gestured for her to go to Valentine’s side and stepped back.

Gabby reluctantly did so, sitting on the edge of the bed.

Valentine’s eyes focused suddenly, and she looked to Gabby with love in her gaze. “There you are, my love,” she said softly, seductively.

“Uh, you two should wait out in the other room. I need to focus,” said Gabby.

Juliette looked to her brother for affirmation. The look on his face said “I don’t know…” but he finally gave a pensive nod. His eyes lingered on Gabby for a moment before he finally turned and left her to her work.

Gabby turned back to Valentine, who had returned to her gyrating and convulsing. “It’s like ice in my veins. Please, please make it stop.”

“Ok, ok, just try to sit still. And be quiet,” said Gabby.

She took three slow breaths and tried to relax. Her nerves were as taut as a bowstring.

Gabby’s ability to sense magical energy was not like any other of the five senses. It was much more vague, like the feeling of knowing that someone is watching you. Gabby had to focus hard to make out the two distinct energies emanating from Valentine, but once she had distinguished the innate succubus power from that of the vamp blood, it was easy to focus only on the invading power.

“Alright, are you with me?” Gabby asked.

Valentine was clawing at her dress, which was now shredded and in tatters. She moaned one moment and cried out in pain the next.

“Valentine!”

“It is so deliciously painful,” Valentine groaned, and then began to convulse.

Is she having an orgasm?
Gabby wondered.

“Look, just try to sit still.”

“Oh, Gabriella. I need you.”

Gabby shook her head and tried once more to focus. She separated the two powers in her mind and lightly touched upon the magical vamp blood coursing through Valentine’s veins. One wrong move and she would not only nullify the vamp blood, but Valentine’s power as well.

Valentine cried out in pain and thrashed on the bed, threatening to break Gabby’s concentration.

Gabby focused her attention on the magic of the vamp blood and unleashed her power slowly. Valentine’s back arched and she cried out in ecstasy before passing out.

“Valentine?” Gabby slapped her cheek lightly.

When she didn’t answer, Gabby reached out with her senses. At first she felt nothing and panicked, thinking that she had taken Valentine’s ability from her, but then she felt the telltale energy of the succubus. It was weak, but it was there, and there was no sign of the vamp magic.

“Valentine, it’s all over,” said Gabby, leaning over and lightly shaking her shoulders.

Valentine suddenly awoke and pulled Gabby in for a long kiss.

“Gabby?” Michael’s voice came from behind her suddenly, and she pulled back from the kiss, realizing that she had been returning it.

“It worked,” she said, not liking the guilty shakiness of her own voice.

Michael’s furled brow told her that he had seen the kiss. He clenched his jaw, and Gabby thought she saw a hint of jealousy, or was it apprehension? He moved to the side of the bed and looked down upon Valentine with a look of relief, one that told Gabby that Michael had a personal stake in this “job.”

“Mmm,” Valentine hummed, rubbing her exposed breasts. “Come to join us have you, Michael my dear?” She extended a hand and curled an alluring finger before passing out.

Gabby covered her up with a blanket and followed Michael out of the room.

“Thank you,” said Michael when they were outside the room. “You did good work in there. Your control over your power is growing.”

There was so much that Gabby wanted to say, but she could feel the old barrier between them, one that had been destroyed in a fit of passion the night before. She had hoped that it was gone for good, but Michael’s demeanor and tone was too businesslike. Once again he was holding her at a distance.

“Tell that to my father,” she said.

“He knows how strong you are becoming, but strength is not everything.”

“Give me a break. I took out three vamps last night and two vanilla goons, I survived two car chases, and even had time to nullify an infected succubus. When exactly will I be
ready
?”

“All right, all right,” said Michael with a laugh. “We’ll bring you in on the next big mission.”

“You’re awesome,” said Gabby, suddenly hugging him.

He returned the hug, although Gabby could feel some hesitance—there was no sign of the passion of the night before.

Gabby released him, feeling awkward.

“Would you like a drink?” he asked, moving to the not-so-mini bar across the living room.

“Can you make a mimosa?”

“Coming right up.”

“How do you know her?” Gabby asked, joining him at the bar and sitting at one of the stools.

That gave him pause, and he seemed to be considering how to answer. “Valentine is an old associate of mine. She is interested in buying the club you were in last night.”

Gabby averted her eyes from Michael’s knowing gaze. Then a thought occurred to her.

“Do you think the vampires attacked her because of me?”

“I believe so.”

“But that would mean they…they saw us together.”

“Yes,” said Michael, looking disturbed by the idea of vamps in his nightclub. “They must have somehow infiltrated the club. It is being looked into. My men are studying the security videos to see what they can find.”

“You have cameras…
inside
the club?” said Gabby, mortified.

Michael nodded as he put her drink in front of her. “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure that sensitive footage is destroyed when the investigation is through.”

Gabby felt her face flush and her ears began to burn with embarrassment. She took a long drink of her mimosa, watching Michael’s eyes from over the glass. “Look,” she said, putting it down. “Michael, about last night.”

He waved her off and offered her a small smile. “You needn’t explain yourself to me. Valentine has a powerful allure. Few can resist her.”

“I wasn’t talking about her and me.”

Michael sipped his beer, eyes locked on hers. Again he seemed to be searching for his words. “Gabby,” he said, and she knew by the friendly tone what he would say. “What happened to you last night was my fault. I shouldn’t have taken advantage of you in your…state.”

State?
Gabby was infuriated that he would cheapen their moment of passion with such a misogynistic allusion.

“I wasn’t in a ‘state,’” said Gabby haughtily.

“Of course you were. You had just gone through something very traumatic. You weren’t yourself.”

“You don’t know me that well, do you?”

“Gabby, I…” Michael looked tormented. “I think that we should keep our relationship professional.”

What are you afraid of?
she wanted to ask, but she already knew the answer. Michael had been in love with Maggy, and he hadn’t been able to save her.

“Fine,” she said, wanting to change the subject before she got teary-eyed.

Michael made her another drink in silence, and she took a moment to dab her eyes with a napkin.

“What are we going to do?” said Gabby after pulling herself together. “They’re not going to stop. We’ve got to hit back.”

“I know. We’re working on locating the vamps behind this.”

“Do you think it’s Victor’s maker?”

“Most likely,” said Michael. “But so far we’ve had no luck locating him.”

“Then we need to get him to come to us. We can lure him out.”

“I know what you’re thinking,” said Michael with a disapproving scowl. “But we’re not using you as bait.”

“Why not? I’m already bait, and so is everyone around me. We’ve got to put a stop to this once and for all.”

“Alright, alright,” said Michael. “I’ll call the group together once your father returns with Mickey from their current mission. He’ll want to have a say in this.”

“My father? Really? I’m a grown woman, I don’t need a frigging permission slip.”

“Be patient, Gabby. This will have to be a joint operation. Until we figure out what to do, you should lie low.”

Gabby sighed. She was tired of being treated like a newbie. “How is Quip? Can I see him yet?”

“Yes, of course. Follow me.”

Michael led her to the infirmary and asked her to wait in the waiting room. A few minutes later he returned with Quip, who wore his arm in a sling.

“Hey girl,” said Quip as he approached.

Gabby gave him a big hug. “I was worried about you. I’m so sorry I got you into—”

“You didn’t get me into nothing, child. That was just another day in the Otherworld. You saved my ass last night, Gabs. I owe you one.”

“Until we’ve decided what to do, my men will be watching your back,” said Michael. “Don’t lose them this time.”

Gabby nodded.

Michael studied her for a moment. Gabby thought, or hoped, that she saw regret in his eyes. “Alright then,” he said, averting Gabby’s eyes and looking to Quip. “I’ve had both your cars replaced until they’re out of the shop. Your new rides are down in the garage. I’ll see you both soon. Try and stay out of trouble.”

As Michael walked away, Quip turned to Gabby with an arched brow. “What’s up with you two? The tension between you is thick as Georgian humidity.”

“We kind of almost had sex in an elevator last night after they brought you in.”

Quip laughed. “Glad to hear you were so worried about me.”

“You know I was,” said Gabby, not appreciating his teasing.

They made their way to the parking garage, and Gabby filled him in on what had happened after he passed out from blood loss, including this morning’s nullification of Valentine.

“Shit, the vamps infiltrated the nightclub? That ain’t good,” said Quip.

“No, it isn’t. I told Michael we’ve got to hit back. We’ve got to draw out the vamps.”

They entered the parking garage and found Bob and a team of weres waiting for them. Two armored cars were parked by the elevator as well, presumably their new rides.

“I’m assuming that we won’t have any problem keeping up with you,” said Bob with a raised brow.

“Oh, she’ll be a good girl,” said Quip. “Promise.”

“Keys are inside,” said Bob, eyeing Quip with subtle disdain.

“Fucking weres, think they’re so badass,” Quip mumbled when Bob walked to his car.

“You heading back to your place?” Gabby asked.

“Yeah, I gotta take care of some things, but I’ll be over later today. You need all the backup you can get right now.”

“Thanks, Quip. See you then.”

Gabby drove out of the parking garage and rolled down the window, wanting to feel the fresh air on her face. She came to the street entrance and looked left and right, and was about to turn when something caught her eye.

Shit!

Detective Riggs was sitting in his sedan across the street, looking right at her. She slumped in her seat, rolled up the window, and hurriedly pulled out.

“Ms. Cross,” came a voice through the speakers that made her jump. It was Bob. “The windows are bulletproof and tinted for a reason. Use them.”

“Uh, sorry,” said Gabby loudly, not knowing if there was a camera and a mic inside.

She made her way home without incident, followed all the while by two armored SUVs.