Immortal Revenge (15 page)

“Don’t lose control, Riker.”

“Do you think this is a game?” A slight curl of his lip revealed a fang.

“Not at all. Lives are at risk.”

“Indeed.”

She held up her hands to him. “You don’t like me. Fine. I don’t like you either. The quicker we destroy this vampire, the sooner you can be on your way back to wherever you came from.”

His eyes returned to their normal color. “If only my job were that easy.”

“It can be if we work together.”

He returned to his seat. “You’re right. Do what I say and my job will be easy.”

Katie pressed her lips together. The incorrigible vampire set her anger blazing. Why? His motives confused her. She wished she could understand his logic instead of arguing with him.

“Let’s work on a plan.” She twisted to look on the clock on the nightstand. The red numbers showed the time half past nine. Bars were open and the after-dinner crowd would start to trickle into them. “Somewhere in town, the vampire–”

A buzzing sound from the bed claimed her and Riker’s attention. Hearing a second muffled buzz, she rushed for her purse.

Her heart sped as she wondered who the caller was. No one should be calling her except maybe Ben. She dug the phone from her bag and her breath hitched when she saw the name on the screen. For a brief second, she considered ignoring the call, but Riker would question her whether she answered or not.

“Jules?” she asked into the phone.

“Katie…” Her voice sounded shaky.

“What’s wrong?” She twisted to face Riker. Of course, the vampire had his eyes fixed on her and ears tuned in.

“I can’t reach Joe.” She paused and sniffled. “He left a message when I was in the shower. He said one of his coworkers, Ron, had drinks with another guy who bragged about torching a farm and killing someone. Ron didn’t believe the guy and thought he was some crazy drunk. But Ron was going back to the bar to see if the guy would show up again. Apparently, he bought drinks for everyone. Ron invited Joe to go, and Joe said he was going so he could check on the guy. Maybe see if he’s Kyle’s killer.” She paused, her breath shaky. “Oh God, Katie, I shouldn’t have forced him to watch CSI.”

The sound of Jules’s worried voice chilled Katie. Her best friend wouldn’t have called unless she truly feared for Joe’s life.

“I’ve tried to call him ten times in the last twenty minutes. I left urgent messages. He’s not responding.” There was no mistaking the panic in her voice.

Riker rose, his tight eyes glowing with fury as they pierced her. For a vampire who preached control of emotions he needed to learn it himself.

“Calm down, Jules.”

“I don’t know what else to do.”

“You did the right thing by calling me.”

Riker stepped closer.

“I’m scared, Katie.”

“Don’t go anywhere. I’m coming over.”

“I’m sorry. I hope–”

“I’m on my way. Be there in ten.”

Katie ended the call and dropped the phone on the bed next to her purse. She glanced at the dagger inches away on the comforter. From the corner of her eye, she saw Riker move closer. She quickly considered reaching for the weapon.

“You lied to me.” His unkind tone warned her she stood in dangerous territory with him.

“I’m sorry. Jules is my best friend, a sister to me.”

“I don’t give a fuck who she is. You lied.”

Heat rushed to her head as her temper ignited. “I lied because I can’t trust you. You want to clean up the mess as much as Kyle’s assassin does. Jules didn’t do anything to deserve a memory cleansing.”

“The existence of vampires must remain hidden.”

“Why? Because you’re afraid of an uprising?”

“We don’t need any more trouble. Our own kind is destroying us.” He growled, showing a bit of his fangs.

“I’m well aware there are bloodsuckers killing the off the good vampires. My boyfriend was one of the good guys. Remember?”

“He was one of the best. I will
never
forget him.”

His stern words impressed and calmed her a bit. Evident now, Riker respected Kyle even though Kyle no longer existed. Why did he honor and respect Kyle so much? She wanted to know Riker better, but first she needed to help her best friend.

“Jules is one person and she couldn’t hurt anyone.”

“One is all it takes to change our way of surviving.”

Katie stared at him and imagined shaking him uncontrollably to get some sense into him. What did he have to fear from a human? Vampires were far superior. A human couldn’t possibly change their way of survival. What was wrong with him?

“You’re placing judgment on someone you know nothing about. She knew what Kyle was for years. He let her live happily in peace. He trusted her because I asked him to and no harm came to anyone. If you’d stop being a rude asshole and give me and other humans a chance, you’d find out some of us are decent people who can be trusted.”

He passed her and headed for the open door connecting their rooms.

“Where are you going?” She followed him.

He grabbed his leather jacket and slid it on. “Where are your keys?”

“Answer my question first.”

“Your friend is in danger. If the assassin has this Joe person, which I’m assuming is her boyfriend, then he may be on his way to her house.” He walked by her again and stopped near the bed with his gaze aimed at her purse.

Katie snatched her bag. “I’ll give you the keys.” She retrieved them and handed the set to Riker.

“Your friend would have lived if you had told me about her. But since you didn’t and the vampire can now find her, you may have sealed her fate.”

“Now you’re saying you wouldn’t have erased her memories?”

He stepped toward the door. “I never said that. I said she would have lived.”

“Wait. I’m going with you.” She searched for her shoes near the bed.

“You’ll stay here and wait until we return.”

“But–”

“If the vampire shows up before I do, he won’t waste time with your friend. Trust me, you won’t want to see her when he’s finished.”

An arctic wave brushed over her. The thought of finding Jules tortured, mutilated and left for death terrified her.

“Let me go with you. If the vamp is there, we can end this tonight.”

“No.”

“No? You’re arguing with me?”

“You can’t fight like this. You’re not prepared and you are in
no
means in control of your emotions.”

Blood rushed to her head. “Fuck you!”

“My point exactly.”

“You don’t know where she lives. I have to go with you.”

He took a step back from the door. “The clock is ticking on your friend’s life. Tell me the address and I’ll bring her back safely if your assassin hasn’t shown up.”

Katie’s head throbbed while she quickly pondered what to do. If she didn’t give the address, Jules could die. If she did, Riker could erase her memories before bringing Jules to the hotel. Neither had a good outcome, but one did offer the hope of longer life.

“4212 Mulberry Drive.”

Riker jerked the door open without another second ticking by.

“Promise me you won’t take any memories from her.”

He stopped two feet past the door and met her gaze. “Promise me you will stay in the hotel and be quiet.”

Katie couldn’t refuse his bargain. All she had to do was stay alone in a hotel to ensure he didn’t toy with her best friend’s brain. What an easy deal to make. “I promise.”

The tiniest of smiles formed on his face. “You’ll have to trust me on this.”

“Riker!”

He dashed down the hall and disappeared from sight with a blink of an eye.

Her temper fumed. His words made her suspect he would do something. Damn it, she shouldn’t have agreed to his deal. Sweating and cursing, she stepped back into the room and let the door slam shut. She wanted to go after him, but he had her keys and car.

Katie sat on the edge of the king-size bed and considered what to do. Jules expected Katie to show up. She decided to warn Jules that Riker would arrive in her place. Spotting her phone close to her on the bed, she picked it up and dialed Jules’s number.

“Are you coming, Katie?”

“Riker is on the way. He wouldn’t let me come.”

“Oh God.” Jules cried into the phone.

“Just be calm and don’t say much. He’s bringing you back to the hotel. I want you to get one of the hand held guns and a box of the white tipped bullets and bring them with you.”

“Okay.” She squeaked.

“Hurry. He’ll be there soon.”

“Okay.”

“I’ll call you in ten minutes.”

“Don’t be late.”

Katie held her phone as she paced the room. Worry added beats to her racing heart. Would Riker manipulate Jules’s thoughts? Would he get to her house in time to save her? Where was Joe? Was he all right, or dead? She feared the worst.

Anger and anxiety battled for dominance within her. She wanted to go with Riker in case the vampire showed up or was already there. They could fight the assassin together. Why delay the inevitable? Riker’s quick response to leave without her didn’t make sense. She could’ve prepared with a few minutes, strapping sheaths to her body and carrying a few ring knives with her. As she thought about his promptness to act, Katie realized minutes mattered. Seconds counted. Jules wouldn’t have a chance of survival if the vamp showed up at her house before Riker.

Concern for Jules pressed upon Katie’s mind, heart and soul. Her plan to save Jules and Joe had backfired. Joe was probably dead and Jules could end up without memories of her and Kyle. Katie may have lost her best friend.

Katie’s phone vibrated, jarring her attention. The number belonged to the Tasmanian Devil.

“Hello?”

“Katie?”

She recognized the voice through the mixture of loud voices. “Amy?”

“Hey, Julie called earlier and she said if I saw a stranger with green–”

“Give me a description. Does he have dark hair?” Katie wanted to leap from her skin.

“Yeah, he does. He’s one of the guys from the other night. He’s tall and real good looking, especially with those gorgeous green eyes. You should check him out. He’s with the Asian chick, the same one from the other night. She has green eyes too. Anyway, he bought drinks for everyone.”

Katie’s heart pounded. This was the break she needed, the chance to acquire her revenge.

“Amy, don’t say anything more. Act normal. I’ll be there in ten.”

“Okay. See you soon.”

The crowd noise ended, indicating Amy had disconnected the line. Katie stared at her phone in her shaking hand. Amy’s words repeated in her head and she analyzed them quickly. Could there be two vampires in town?

10

Katie sat on the bed next to her purse, clutching the phone. Her thoughts were a whirlwind of activity. She had to decide what to do, and soon.

Two vampires? Was it possible?

The answer would satisfy one of Katie’s questions regarding Kyle’s demise. She’d questioned how a single vampire could behead such a valiant warrior. Kyle would’ve beaten one, but two would’ve been a challenge, especially if they were as skilled at fighting as he was.

Katie briefly wondered if Amy could’ve mistakenly informed her about humans with green eyes. The bar was close to the interstate and attracted many travelers. Some humans had green eyes too. There was a possibility the two customers Amy had mentioned were ordinary people passing through and stopped at the bar for a drink.

Katie recalled what Ben had told her about the person who visited the station. Could it be a coincidence the tall, dark-haired stranger he described also matched the description of the person at the bar? Not likely. Jules’s boyfriend, Joe, had left Jules a message that a coworker of his had a free drink from someone bragging they had burned a farmhouse and killed someone. Amy had said the person at the Devil was buying drinks for everyone and had previously, too. Another coincidence?