Eternal Hearts (31 page)

He stared down the street, watching all the people move about. The only thing he could do now was hope that none of his enemies learned about her.

“What, you’re not even going to try to kill us? I mean, after all, it really is the only thing you’ve ever been good at.”
Drake shook his head as
Klesa’s
words echoed in his mind. They’d hurt then, but they hurt even more now because she’d been right all along. No matter what he did, he’d never be anything more than a killer. No matter how hard he tried, nothing would ever change that fact.

As he stepped into a bar on the west side of town, Drake knew that as much as it stung, his heart belonged to Toni…and always would. And in all honesty, he couldn’t really blame her for not wanting him.

Right now, he didn’t even want him.

Chapter 14

When Toni stepped into the elevator leading up to Christian’s office, she leaned back against the wall and wished she’d spent more time playing with dolls and having tea parties when she was little instead of trying to be like her big brother. Because if she’d had more practice walking in heels – she could have taken the stairs.

Stupid elevators.
She inhaled a deep breath and tried to remain calm. She’d managed to shower and dress without crying, but when she’d gotten into the elevator at the hotel her streak came to an abrupt end. The stupid metal box held nothing but memories of Drake, and just being inside it made her hurt.

It made her ache for him and hate him, all at the same time.

Fortunately, this elevator was remarkably different. Instead of being decorated in rich burgundies and dark woods, this one was a cold shade of blue with silver and glass accents that made it feel impersonal, uncaring.

As the floors slowly passed, Toni couldn’t stop her thoughts from wandering back to Drake, or finding even more questions. Was she just a conquest? She ground her teeth together as a vision of Drake and Oktober laughing flashed in her mind. She could almost see them sitting at a table in The Underground, tallying up their scores on a damp paper napkin.

She aimed a bitter smile at the floor. How did the points work? Did Oktober only get one for killing her family, or did he get three? Did Drake get one for getting her to sleep with him, or one for every time she did? How many would Oktober earn for the bathroom incident? How many would Drake get for making her fall in love with an illusion?

She glared up at the floor marker when the bell chimed. Although this elevator ride was quite a bit longer, when the doors opened…this time she wasn’t crying.

This time – she was angry.

She was pissed at Drake for lying. Furious that he’d acted like he cared, and even more enraged at herself for believing something that was obviously too good to be true.

As Toni stepped into the foyer outside Christian’s office, she pushed Drake out of her mind. She absolutely refused to let him distract her from this meeting. This was what she came back to Chicago for. This was what she’d wanted more than anything else.

Chicago was
her
home.

She straightened and squared her shoulders. She wasn’t about to let wayward thoughts of him interfere with the very meeting that would decide her fate. If she could get through losing her family…she could get over Drake.

She turned and looked when she heard the high pitched sound of someone whistling. And that someone happened to be Robert. He stood in front of the large French doors leading to Christian’s office with a weird smile plastered on his face.

He greeted her with a slight bow. “You look absolutely stunning, Miss Tutoro. I hope you don’t mind if an old man gawks.”

No matter how bad she might have felt at the moment, how could she not smile at that? She accepted his hand when he extended it and let him turn her around. “I don’t mind, but you have to promise you won’t get used to it. If I’m lucky, you’ll never see me in a dress again.”

“That would be a shame, my dear. You look very beautiful.”

She patted his shoulder. “Thanks, Rob. I needed that.”

He winked as he opened the door.
“Anytime, dear.
Anytime.”

Toni kept her eyes focused forward and her back straight as she stepped through the door into Christian’s office. If Clint was right and the dress represented more than just fabric, she wanted to do it justice. She carefully made her way across the large meeting room to Christian’s desk, trying to focus, yet not focus, on keeping her ankles steady. The last thing she needed was to do an elegant face plant on the ivory carpet before she even opened her mouth.

She grinned wide as she neared his desk. First, because not only had she made the journey without tripping or toppling over, but because she’d managed not to show him her ass through the slit.
And two, because the Lord of Chicago, the most powerful vampire in the city – was staring at her.

She watched as his eyes met hers then slowly slid down her body, lingering briefly on her hips before inching down to her feet.

Maybe Clint had been right, maybe the dress was a good idea.

Stopping roughly a foot in front of his desk, Toni patiently waited for Christian to raise his eyes. He looked
very
handsome in his dark gray suit. And while her eyes, no doubt, showed her appreciation of his appearance, her mind revolted by flashing vibrant images of someone else.

She bit the inside of her bottom lip, attempting to stop the stinging tears before they started. Christian was gorgeous, his advanced age made that fact undeniable, but she didn’t want to touch any part of his body. There was only one body she wanted, and only one heart that went with it.

Toni returned her attention to Christian when he finally smiled. “Miss Tutoro, how are you this evening?”

“I’m good, Lord Locke. How are you?” She tried her best not to smile when his face went slack at her use of his proper title.

However, he quickly recovered, his face changing back to the cold stone she knew best. “I’m well, thank you.” He motioned to the large rectangular table in the center of the room. “Please, have a seat and we’ll discuss the conditions of your permanent acceptance back into my city.”

Toni moved to a seat at the side of the table. She watched intently as Christian picked up a thick manila folder from his desk then moved to sit in the chair across from her.

He dropped the folder on the table then rested a hand on top of it. “After much deliberation, I’ve decided that since you were exiled for causing a disturbance, to regain permanent residence again, you’ll need to end a disturbance. I think that’s fair. Don’t you?”

She arched a brow. “End a disturbance?”

“Yes. It would appear there are members of the city who want to stir things up a bit.” He narrowed his eyes and smiled in a way that made her nervous. “I’d like
you
to take their stick away.”

She shifted in the chair, not exactly sure how to take that comment. “Okay…um…are you saying you want me to strap my guns back on and go looking for trouble?”

“No. I’d like for you to use your mind this time, not your brawn. I’m asking that you study the leads I’ve gathered for you, and then use them to locate the individuals causing the trouble. My Enforcement Team is currently engaged in other matters, and I find myself in need of an investigator. I thought it only fitting that you fill the position. If you can identify the person or persons responsible, without breaking any of my rules, you may stay in Chicago.”

“But what happens if I can’t find them…or if I break the rules?”

“If you’re unable to locate the individual because after exhausting the leads the trail has grown cold, you may stay. If you break the rules, you’ll be afforded two nights in which to gather your things and exit the city.”

Toni chewed at the inside of her bottom lip. This wasn’t at all what she’d expected. She’d hoped he’d give her a curfew or maybe make her stay in a certain area of town for awhile, but leading an investigation was more than she was prepared for. Scouring the city for someone causing trouble really wasn’t her forte. Of course, she’d been the one causing the trouble before. But forte or not, the unforgiving line of Christian’s mouth told her she didn’t have a choice in the matter.

She shifted again, the dark leather chair growing more uncomfortable by the minute. “So where do I start?”

When Christian pushed the folder across the table then flipped it open, she stared down at the small collection of wolf photos setting atop a stack of white paper.
Wildlife pictures?
She was supposed to start the investigation in the park?

Toni looked up when she heard Christian chuckle. “I don’t get it, Christian.”

One corner of his mouth rose slightly. “I didn’t think you would at first glance. You’re still very young.”

Yeah, tell me something I don’t know.
She half smiled at the thought, but when Christian frowned, she panicked. Had she said it out loud? Oh God, was he reading her mind?

“The pictures you’re currently looking at aren’t of normal wolves, Miss Tutoro. They’re werewolves. I’m going to make this brief, so please pay attention. I do have other business to attend to this evening.” The authority in his voice sent tingles surging through her body.

She sat up a little straighter. “I’m listening.”

“These pictures were taken by a web camera at the Chicago Zoo. Three days ago we received a transfer from the Toledo Zoo. To truncate a very long story, the Toledo Zoo said they never sent a transfer to Chicago, and has no knowledge of such a request. You’ll see from the two pages directly underneath the pictures that the transfer documents for these wolves were forged. This pack of werewolves consists of three men, each extremely dangerous in their own right. Below the transfer papers you’ll find descriptions of what these men are believed to look like when they wear their human forms. And should you actually see them, Miss Tutoro, do
not
engage them. If the information I have is correct, their physical capabilities are far more advanced than yours. Furthermore, below the descriptions you’ll find a map denoting where the most recent rash of dog bites and animal attacks has occurred.”

Toni opened her mouth, but before she could ask her question, Christian raised his hand. “Whenever an aggressive pack of werewolves moves into a populated area, many household pets become aggressive as well. You’ll notice one area of town, aside from the zoo, where this is true.”

She took a moment to study the report. The concentration of red dots reflected exactly what Christian had said, but what really caught her eye was the specific area of town. She silently recited the list of street names just to be sure.

It can’t be…
She stared up at Christian, hoping she was wrong. “Isn’t this the neighborhood where Stryker used to live?”

“She still resides there.”

Toni squirmed as a shiver crawled across her shoulders. “But why would she bring werewolves into the city? Wouldn’t they attack her just like they’d attack any other vampire?”

“I will not
say
that Miss Stryker is the guilty party in this particular matter, as I have no proof of her involvement. However, I do believe she may know something about it.”

“Why do you think that?”

He flashed a smile as cold as she felt. “I was visited by a young man early this morning, who confided in me that he’s been very concerned about Miss Stryker’s actions as of late. According to him, she is not at all amused by your return, and believes you’ll interfere with some plans she currently has in progress.”

Toni rolled her eyes. She’d barely been in the city for 48 hours. She hadn’t had time to cause trouble for anyone but herself. “Why would she just assume I’d be out to ruin her plans?”

The frost burned off Christian’s lips as his smile spread from ear to ear. “Gee, I couldn’t possibly imagine.”