How To Marry A Millionaire Vampire (25 page)

“This is good,” he whispered. He grabbed some finished pages from the printer and studied them. “This is really good.”

“What?”

He dropped the papers on a black-topped table. “This.” He picked up a beaker filled with greenish liquid. “I think I did it.” A grin spread across his face. “I think I really did it.”

He looked so young and happy. As if the cares of several centuries had suddenly lifted from his shoulders.

Shanna couldn’t help but smile. This was the way Roman should be. A healer, hard at work in his lab, delighting in his discoveries.

She approached him. “What is it? A new toilet bowl cleanser?”

With a laugh, he set the beaker down. “It’s a formula that will enable vampires to stay awake during the day.”

Shanna halted in mid-stride. “You’re kidding.”

“No. I wouldn’t kid about something like this. This is…”

“Revolutionary,” she whispered. “You could change the world for vampires.”

He nodded, a look of wonder crossing his face. “It hasn’t been tested, of course, so I can’t be sure. But it would be the biggest step forward since the successful manufacture of blood.”

And his synthetic blood was saving thousands of lives. She was in the presence of a genius. And he claimed to love her.

He crossed his arms, studying the greenish liquid. “You know, if this formula successfully invigorates a vampire who is clinically dead, it could possibly have applications for certain mortal conditions, like comas or catatonic states.”

“Oh my gosh. You’re such a genius, Roman.”

He winced. “I’ve had a lot more years to study than most scientists. Or nerds, as you call us.” He smiled.

“Hey, nerds rule. Congratulations.” She reached out to hug him, then reconsidered and patted his arm before stepping back.

His smile waned. “Are you afraid of me?”

“No. I just think it’s better for us not to…”

“Touch? Or make love?” His eyes darkened with a glint of hunger. “You know we have unfinished business between us.”

She gulped and moved back. It was not a problem of trusting him. She knew he’d do anything to protect her from harm. The truth was, she couldn’t trust herself. When he looked at her like that, her resistance melted. Twice she’d let him make love to her, and twice she should have refused. Logically, she knew a relationship with a vampire could never work. Unfortunately, knowing that fact did little to ease the longing in her heart. It sure didn’t stop the physical attraction that flooded her senses and made her body ache for him.

She attempted to change the subject. “What is that music you’re listening to?”

“Gregorian chants. They help me concentrate.” He went to a small fridge and removed a bottle of blood. “We’ll make sure I’m not hungry.” He unscrewed the top and started drinking it cold.

Whoa. Did this mean he intended to seduce her? Surely not. The sun would be rising soon. Another fifteen minutes or so and he would be out cold. Of course, vampires could move really fast when they wanted to. She wandered about his lab while he stood there, drinking and following her every move. “This looks old.” She examined an old stone mortar and pestle.

“It is old. I rescued it from the ruins of the monastery where I grew up. That and the cross you’re wearing are all I have left of that life.”

Shanna touched the crucifix. “Once I’m safe, I need to give this back. It must be precious to you.”

“It is yours. And nothing is more precious to me than you.”

She had no idea how to respond to that. I like you, too, seemed a little lame. “Radinka said she was doing some research for you and I should discuss it with you.”

“Radinka talks too much.” He took another sip of blood. “The red folder.” He pointed to the lab table nearest her.

Shanna approached the folder slowly, wondering what on earth this research could be. She opened it and found herself staring at an eight-by-ten glossy of a golden retriever. “Oh. It’s a… dog.” She turned to the next photo and the next. A black Labrador, a German shepherd. “Why am I looking at dogs?”

“You said you wanted a big dog.”

“Not now. I’m on the run.” She lifted a photo of an Alaskan malamute and gasped. Underneath it lay a picture of a house. A large, two-story, white-framed house with a big front porch and a white picket fence. Prominently displayed in the front yard was a For Sale sign. Her dream house.

But more than a dream house. It was a proposal of a dream life that Roman wanted to share with her. Shanna’s throat constricted, leaving her speechless and short of air. She’d been wrong. Her tolerance level for shock was not nearly as tough as she thought. Her eyes filled with tears. Her hand trembled as she turned the photo over. There was another house with another picket fence. This one was an old Victorian with an adorable tower. It was also for sale.

She’d told him what she wanted most in life, and he was trying to give it to her. By the time she reached the eighth and last picture, she could hardly see. Her vision was blurred with tears.

“We could see them at night.” Roman set down his empty bottle and walked toward her. “You can pick out which one you like. If you don’t like any of them, we’ll keep looking.”

“Roman.” Her hands shook when she closed the folder. “You are the dearest man. But—“

“You don’t have to answer right away. The sun will be up soon, so we need to be going. We could teleport back to my bedroom. Will you come with me?”

And be alone with him. Even if he attempted a seduction, once the sun came up, he would have to stop. He wouldn’t be able to raise a finger, much less his…

The door burst open and a huge Scotsman entered. He was breathing heavily. His green eyes glittered with unshed tears.

“Angus?” Roman turned toward him. “What happened?”

“Yer wee chemist is gone. The bastards have kidnapped him.”

“Oh no.” Shanna covered her mouth. Poor little Laszlo.

“The phone in his lab was off the hook,” Angus continued. “We traced the call to Petrovsky’s house in Brooklyn.”

“I see.” Roman’s face paled.

“And Ewan. Ewan Grant was guarding him.” Angus’s expression hardened. “They killed him.”

Roman stepped back with a stunned look. “Are you sure? They might have kidnapped him.”

“No.” Angus shook his head. “We found his dust. The bloody bastards staked him.”

“God’s blood.” Roman grabbed the edge of a table. “Ewan. He was so strong. How could he… ?”

Angus’s breath hissed between his gritted teeth. He clenched his fists. “We believe they may have used nightshade on him like the guard in the restroom. He… he would have been defenseless.”

“Goddammit!” Roman hit the table with his fist. “Those bastards.” He paced across the room. “When does the sun rise? Do we have enough time to retaliate?”

“Nay. The bastards timed it this way on purpose. The sun is rising in about five minutes, so it is too late.”

Roman muttered another curse. “You were right, Angus. We should have attacked tonight.”

“Doona blame yerself.” Angus looked at Shanna and frowned.

My God. Goose bumps spread across her skin. He thought she was at fault. Petrovsky wouldn’t have targeted Laszlo if he hadn’t helped her escape. And without Laszlo as a target, their Scottish friend would still exist.

Roman continued to pace. “At least they won’t be able to torture him for long.”

“Aye, the sun will put a stop to their evildoings.” Angus paused with a hand on the doorknob. “Then ye agree. Tomorrow night, we go to war.”

Roman nodded, his eyes blazing with anger. “Yes.”

Shanna gulped. Then more Vamps would die. Maybe even Roman.

“The lads and I are taking refuge in the cellar. We’ll be making our plans till the sun rises. Ye should find a place to sleep while ye still can.”

“I understand.” Roman stopped at a table.

As Angus closed the door, Roman propped his forehead onto his hand and closed his eyes. Shanna wasn’t sure if it was grief or fatigue. Probably both. He must have known the dead Highlander for a long time.

“Roman? Maybe we should go the silver room.”

“It’s my fault,” he whispered.

Ah, so he was feeling guilt, too. Her eyes welled with tears. She knew all about feeling guilty for a friend’s death. “It’s not your fault. It’s mine.”

“No.” He looked surprised. “I was the one who made the decision to protect you. I called Laszlo on the phone and told him to come back. He was following my orders. How can you be at fault? You were unconscious at the time.”

“But if it wasn’t for me—“

“No. The trouble between Petrovsky and myself goes way back.” Roman swayed on his feet.

She grabbed his arm. “You’re worn out. Let’s go to the silver room.”

“Not enough time.” He looked around the lab. “I’ll be all right in the closet.”

“No. I don’t want you sleeping on the floor.”

He gave her a tired smile. “Sweetness, I won’t notice any discomfort.”

“I’ll have the daytime staff move you to the bed in the silver room.”

“No. They don’t know about me. I’ll be fine.” He stumbled toward the closet. “Close the blinds, please.”

She rushed to the window. The sky was lightening to gray with a pink tint in the east. Just as she closed the blinds, a ray of golden sun shot over the rooftop of Romatech.

Roman had made it to the closet and was opening the door.

Suddenly a loud blast deafened her. The ground shook. She grabbed at the blinds to steady herself, but they swayed, causing her to stumble. Alarms rang out. And another sound that Shanna realized was people screaming.

“Oh my God.” She peeked out the window. In the glare of the morning sun, she spotted a plume of smoke.

“An explosion?” Roman whispered. “Where?”

“I’m not sure. All I see is smoke.” Shanna glanced back. He was sagging against the closet door, deathly pale.

“They timed it this way, so I couldn’t do anything.”

Shanna peered through the blinds again. “It’s the wing across from us. The cafeteria! Radinka was there.” She ran to the phone and dialed 911.

“There… will be many people there.” Roman pushed away from the door, stumbled forward a few steps, and fell to his knees.

When an operator answered, Shanna yelled into the phone, “There’s been an explosion at Romatech Industries.”

“What is the nature of your emergency?” the woman asked.

“It’s an explosion! We need ambulances and a fire truck.”

“Calm down. And your name is?”

“Will you hurry it up? There are injured people here!” She hung up and rushed toward Roman. The poor man was crawling across the floor. “There’s nothing you can do. Go and rest.”

“No. I have to help them.”

“I called the paramedics. And I’ll go over there myself, just as soon as I know you’re all right.” She pointed to the closet and tried to look authoritative. “Go to your room.”

“I can’t bear to be helpless when people need me.”

With tears in her eyes, she knelt beside him. “I understand. Believe me. I’ve been there. But there’s nothing you can do.”

“Yes, there is.” He grabbed the lab table and pulled himself to his feet. He reached for the beaker of greenish liquid.

“You can’t! It hasn’t been tested yet.”

He gave her a wry look. “What could it do to me? Kill me?”

“That’s not funny. Roman, please. Don’t.”

His hand shook as he raised the beaker to his mouth. He swallowed down several large gulps before setting the beaker back down.

Shanna curled her fingers around the crucifix he’d given her. “Do you even know what a normal dose is?”

“No.” He stepped back and swayed on his feet. “I feel… strange.” He collapsed on the floor.

Shanna fell to her knees beside him. “Roman?” She touched his cheek. He was cold. Lifeless. Was this his normal deadish behavior for daytime, or had he actually killed himself with an experimental drug?

“What have you done?” She laid her head against his chest, listening for a heartbeat. Nothing. But then normally he only had a heartbeat at night. What if it never started up again? What if he was gone forever?

“Don’t leave me,” she whispered. She sat back, pressing her fingers to her face. She’d tried so hard to convince herself their relationship wouldn’t work. But now he looked so… dead. And it was killing her.

“Roman.” His name seemed to wrench itself from her soul. She bent over, strained with emotion. She couldn’t bear to lose him.

There were people in the cafeteria who needed her help. She needed to go. Now. But she couldn’t budge. She couldn’t leave him. It had been so hard to lose Karen, but this—this was like her own heart was being crushed. And with the pain came a searing realization.

She could no longer pretend that a relationship with Roman was impossible. It already existed. She was in love with him. She’d trusted him with her life. She’d allowed him inside her head. She’d fought her fear of blood for him. She’d always believed he was a good and honorable man. Because she loved him.

And he was right. She understood his guilt and remorse like no one else. They were connected emotionally and mentally. Cruel twists of fate had hurt them in the past, but now they could rise above the pain and despair by facing the world together.

Something grabbed her wrist.

He was alive! His chest suddenly heaved with an intake of air. His eyes opened. Bright red.

Shanna gasped. She tried to move back, but his grip tightened. Oh God, what if he’d turned into a Mr. Hyde?

He turned his head to look at her. He blinked once, twice, then his eyes slowly returned to their normal golden-brown.

“Roman? Are you okay?”

“I believe so.” He released her and sat up. “How long was I out?”

“I—I don’t know. It seemed like forever.”

He glanced at the clock on the wall. “It’s only been a few minutes.” He looked at her. “I scared you. I’m sorry.”

She scrambled to her feet. “I was afraid you’d done yourself serious harm. That was a crazy thing to do.”

“Yes, but it worked. I’m awake with the sun.” He stood and headed for the closet. “There should be a medical kit in here.” He grabbed a white plastic box. “Let’s go.”

They rushed down the hallway. The alarm was still blaring. People scurried about with frightened faces. Some stared at Roman, while others did a double-take.

“Do they know who you are?” Shanna asked.

“I guess. My picture’s in the employee handbook.” Roman looked about curiously. “I’ve never seen the place so crowded.”

They rounded the corner to the corridor that connected the laboratory wing to the cafeteria. It was jammed with people and bright with sunlight from three east-facing windows. As Shanna passed by the first window, she heard Roman wince. An angry, red burn mark had sliced a path across his cheek.

She grabbed his arm. “The sun’s burning you.”

“Only my face burned. You must have blocked the sun from the rest of me. Stay by my side.”

As they rushed through the second shaft of sunlight, Roman lifted the medical kit to the side of his injured face. The sun burned a red streak across his exposed hand.

“Damn.” He flexed his burned fingers.

“Let me hold the box.” Shanna took the medical kit and perched it on top of her head to give her added height. People looked at them strangely, but they made it through the last shaft of sunlight without Roman receiving more burns.

As they entered the cafeteria, Roman gestured toward a man. “That’s Todd Spencer. Vice president of production.”

Shanna hardly noticed. She was too shocked by the scene before her. Injured people were lying on the floor. People rushed about. Some were sweeping away debris. Others hunched over the injured, wrapping them with gauze bandages.

A large hole gaped in the wall where concrete columns and glass windows had once stood. Overturned tables, mangled chairs, and food trays were scattered about. The hissing spray of fire extinguishers masked the moans of the injured. And Radinka was nowhere in sight.

“Spencer.” Roman approached the vice president. “What’s the situation?”

Todd Spencer’s eyes widened. “Mr. Draganesti, I didn’t know you were here. Uh, we have the fires under control. We’re seeing to the injured. Paramedics are on their way. But I don’t understand this. Who would do such a thing?”

Roman surveyed the scene. “Is everyone alive?”

Spencer grimaced. “I don’t know. We haven’t found everyone.”

Roman headed to a spot where the walls and ceiling had caved in. “There could be someone under there.”

Spencer accompanied him. “We tried lifting that mess, but it’s too heavy. I sent for some special equipment.”

A concrete column had fallen and crushed a table beneath it. Roman seized a huge hunk of concrete, lifted it over his head, and heaved it into the garden.

“Oh my God,” Spencer whispered. “How could he—?”

Shanna winced. Roman wasn’t bothering to conceal his super vampire strength. “Maybe it’s trauma-induced. I’ve heard of people lifting cars after an accident.”

“Maybe so.” Spencer frowned. “Are you all right, sir?”

Roman was bent over. Slowly he straightened and turned.

Shanna gasped. His proximity to the garden had exposed him to more sunlight. His shirt was smoldering, black and scorched. Smoke drifted from his wounded chest, carrying the smell of roasted flesh.

Spencer winced. “Sir, I didn’t realize you were injured, too. You shouldn’t be doing this.”

“I’m fine.” Roman leaned over to grasp another chunk of concrete. “Help me clear this.”

Spencer tackled some smaller chunks of concrete. Shanna gathered up ceiling tiles and tossed them in a heap. Soon the crushed table was exposed. Luckily, chairs beneath the table had kept it from being completely flattened. There was a small pocket of air beneath the table. And a body.

Radinka.

Roman seized the table and flipped it over. He shoved the mangled chairs out of the way. “Radinka, can you hear me?”

Her eyelids flickered.

“She’s alive,” Shanna whispered.

Roman knelt beside Radinka. “We’ll need more bandages.”

“I’ll see to it.” Spencer rushed off.

Shanna opened the small medical kit and passed Roman a bandage.

“Radinka, can you hear me?” He pressed the bandage against a cut on her temple.

She moaned and opened her eyes. “Hurts,” she whispered.

“I know,” Roman replied. “An ambulance is on its way.”

“How can you be here? I must be dreaming.”

“You’re going to be fine. You’re too young to die.”

She gave a weak snort. “Everyone is young to you.”

“Oh God.” Shanna’s stomach rippled with queasiness.

“What’s wrong?” Roman asked.

She pointed. There, stabbed into Radinka’s side was a dinner knife. A pool of blood was forming. Shanna covered her mouth and swallowed hard at the bile in her throat.

Roman glanced at her. “You’ll be all right. You can do this.”

She took a few deep breaths. She had to do this. She would not fail another friend.

A young man came toward them with an armload of linen strips cut from tablecloths. “Mr. Spencer said you needed these.”

“Yes.” With trembling hands, Shanna set the bandages in her lap. She folded one into a thick pad.

“Ready?” Roman grasped the knife. “As soon as this comes out, press hard.” He pulled the knife out.

She pressed the pad against the wound. Blood seeped onto her fingers. Her stomach churned.

Roman grabbed a bandage and made a pad. “My turn.” He pressed against the wound. “You’re doing fine, Shanna.”

She dropped her bloodied pad to the side and folded up a new one. “Are you helping me? Mentally, I mean.”

“No. You’re on your own.”

“Good.” She pressed the new pad against the wound. “I can do this.”

Paramedics rushed in, pushing gurneys.

“Over here!” Roman yelled.

Two paramedics wheeled a gurney over. “We’ll take it from here,” one of them said.

Roman helped them lift Radinka onto the gurney.

Shanna walked alongside her, holding her hand. “We’ll tell Gregori. He’ll come see you tonight.”

Radinka nodded, her face pale. “Roman, will there be a war? Don’t let Gregori fight, please. He’s not trained for it.”

“She’s delirious,” a paramedic muttered.

“Don’t worry.” Roman touched Radinka’s shoulder. “I won’t let anything happen to him.”

“You’re a good man, Roman,” she whispered. She squeezed Shanna’s hand. “Don’t let him get away. He needs you.”

The paramedics wheeled her away. Police officers arrived. Flashes lit the room as the crime scene investigators snapped pictures.

“Damn.” Roman moved back. “I have to leave.”

“Why?” Shanna asked.

“I don’t think those are digital cameras.” Roman grabbed Shanna’s hand and headed for the door.

A paramedic stopped beside him. “Sir, you have severe burns. You should come with us.”

“No, I’m fine.”

“We’ll take you in an ambulance. This way.”

“I’m not going.”

“I’m Dr. Whelan.” Shanna smiled at the paramedic. “This man is my patient. I’ll look after him. Thank you.”

“Fine. Suit yourself.” The paramedic rushed off to join the others.

“Thank you.” Roman led her out of the cafeteria. “We’ll go to the silver room.” He opened a door to the stairwell, and they descended the steps. “This is so aggravating. I really want to see what kind of evidence the police uncover, but I don’t dare stick around with all those cameras.”

“You don’t show up in a regular camera?”

“No.” Roman opened the door to the basement. They walked down the hallway to the entrance of the silver room.

“I tell you what,” Shanna suggested as he punched a number into the keypad. “I’ll help clean up your wounds. Then I’ll go back upstairs, see what I can find out, and report back to you.”

“Okay.” He peered into the retinal scanner. “I don’t like to leave you unguarded, but I suppose you’d be safe up there with the police.” He opened the door and ushered her inside.

She suddenly felt irritated. He was worried about her safety when he totally disregarded his own? “Look, I’m fine. The question is, how are you doing? You’re the one with a strange, untested drug in your system.”

“It’s not untested anymore.” He looked around for something to insulate his hands from the silver door.

“I’ll get it.” She shoved the door shut, flipped the silver locks, and scraped the bar into place. “We still don’t know if that formula is completely safe. It sure isn’t safe for you to be out during the day. You look awful.”

“Why, thank you.”

She frowned at the burn on his chest. “You’re injured. You’d better have some blood.” She marched over to the fridge and pulled out a bottle.

He lifted his eyebrows. “Are you ordering me around?”

“Yes.” She put the bottle into the microwave. “Someone has to look after you. You take too many risks.”

“People needed my help. Radinka needed us.”

Shanna nodded, her eyes misting at the memory. “You’re a heroic man,” she whispered. And she loved him so much.

“You were very brave, too.” Roman stepped toward her.

Her eyes met his. She wanted to wrap her arms around him and never let go.

The microwave dinged, startling her. She removed the bottle of blood. “I don’t know if this is warm enough for you.”

“It’ll be fine.” He took a long gulp. “There’s other food here in the cabinets if you’re hungry.”

“I’m all right. We need to take care of your wounds. Finish up that drink, and then take off your clothes.”

He smiled. “I’m beginning to like bossy women.”

“And get in the shower. We need to clean you up.” She strode into the bathroom. No mirrored medicine chest.. That figured. She dug through drawers until she found some antibiotic cream. “Here. Once you’re cleaned up, we’ll put this on.” She straightened and turned.

“Aagh!” She jumped and dropped the tube of ointment.

“You told me to undress.” He stood naked in the doorway, sipping from his bottle of blood.

She bent over to retrieve the tube of medicine. Her cheeks flamed with heat. “I didn’t expect you to do it so fast. Or to stand in front of me.” She approached the doorway. He didn’t move. “Excuse me.”

He turned slightly to the side so she could squeeze through. Barely. Her cheeks were now on fire. She was all too aware of what her hip was brushing against.

“Shanna?”

“Enjoy your shower.” She strode to the kitchen and began opening cabinets. “I’m hungry.”

“So am I.” He closed the bathroom door partway.

Soon she could hear the sound of rushing water. Poor guy. Those burns were going to sting. She poured herself a glass of water and drank. She wasn’t really hungry, just stressed out. Roman had said she was brave, and she was overcoming her fear of blood. But what about her other fear—the fear that their relationship couldn’t work.

She paced across the floor. How many relationships did work? About half? There was never any guarantee. Was she just afraid of losing him? She’d lost Karen. She’d lost her family. Should she ruin her chance for happiness today because she was afraid Roman might leave her years from now? Should she let doubt destroy this beautiful, overpowering feeling inside her?

She loved him with all her heart. And he loved her. The fact that they’d found each other was a miracle. Roman needed her. He’d suffered for hundreds of years. How could she deny him a taste at happiness? She should be delighted to bring him joy, even if it couldn’t last forever.

She stopped in the middle of the room, her heart pounding. If she was truly brave, as he believed, she would march right in there and show him how much she loved him.

She went to the kitchen counter and gulped down some water. Well, she had guts. She could do this. She kicked off her shoes. She glanced toward the bed. The comforter was thick and boasted an Oriental design in red and gold. The sheets looked like gold silk, very fancy for a hiding place.