Promise Me Anthology (14 page)

The door opened. To Angelica’s utter horror,
it was a vampire she’d never seen before, followed by a short man
in black that looked Mexican. Angelica let out a screech and jabbed
her silent alarm.

Geo came out of Tony’s office, guns
drawn...to stop cold, staring at the man in black who’d smoothly
stepped in front of the vampire.

“Put them away,” the man in black said in a
lisping voice.

Geo put away his guns, missing the left hand
holster in his haste. Angelica shrank back in her chair, ready to
bolt.
The man in black hadn’t even drawn his own gun.

“We’re here to see Tony and Thane,” the
vampire said politely. “We’re expected.”

“Sorry,” Geo said contritely. “We’re on edge.
There was an attack yesterday and now Angelica's been
threatened—”

“That was a misunderstanding entirely,” the
vampire said. “Would you let Tony know we’re here? Devlin Dalcon,
to see him.”

Geo nodded, then went back into Tony’s
office. The vampire’s attention turned to Angelica, who made
herself even smaller under that inspective gaze.

“And you are?”

“Angelica.”

Devlin stared at the black haired beauty,
drinking in her large blue eyes. Suddenly a solution to the entire
problem of what to do about Garrett, Jordan, and the young woman
before him fell into place.
Danial. He can fix everything...if
properly maneuvered. And the girl’s terrified. That will take a
deft hand, also...and immediate action.

“Good to meet you,” Devlin said pleasantly,
striding over to her. Angelica opened her mouth to scream...then
left it open as Devlin gently took her hand in his, then bent
slightly at the waist to brush it with his lips. He let her hand
fall, then straightened. “I understand that you’ve had the
misfortune to only acquaint yourself with the clods of my kind.
Please know you have nothing to fear from me.”

Angelica closed her mouth, then swallowed,
wariness not leaving her expression. “Thank you.”

“Come in, Devlin,” Tony said from his office
doorway.

Devlin gave Angelica a respectful incline of
his head, then went into Tony’s office, the man in black following.
The door closed behind him.

Angelica sat in her chair, still afraid but
also excited.
That Devlin had to be one of the powerful
vampires, the kind of vampire I’d wanted to meet!
But would he
let her become a donor in exchange for turning her into a
vampire?

* * * *

“Shall we get right to business?” Tony said
gruffly, sitting down behind his desk.

“Why didn’t we meet at Thane’s place?” the
man in black asked.

“Because I wanted Devlin to meet Angelica,”
Tony said meaningfully, looking at Devlin. “Once he did, he’d know
she was just a mixed up kid, not someone who was a threat.”

“I already know the lacking nature of those
two brothers at the hospital,” Devlin said with a dismissive wave
of his hand. “And they will both be dealt with. But threatening
exposure is serious, Tony. You know that.”

“I know,” Tony agreed. “This is why I called
Garrett as soon as I knew that Angelica wasn’t making up the wild
story at the hospital. I thought he might be able to put some fear
into Jonas and Jordan, so they wouldn’t bother her anymore. But he
hasn’t gotten back to me.” He leaned back in his chair, hands
behind his head. “Just why you let so many local vampires work
there, I don’t know, Devlin. With that much blood disappearing,
it’s a wonder no one had discovered them already.”

Devlin’s mind worked furiously.
I thought
there were only three vampires working there. But he makes it sound
like closer to twenty.

“It’s not your place to question,” the man in
black warned. “So shut the fuck up.”

“We are all here to find a peaceful solution,
Lash,” Thane said firmly, casting a look. “Tony and I don’t want
trouble. But Angelica’s a good kid, Devlin. We don’t want her
killed just because she’s got a teenage thing for vampires.”

“But I also can’t have her exposing us, or
following us,” Devlin retorted. “She obviously recognized what I
was here in your office before I said a word, which is already too
much knowledge for her to remain out of the game.” He looked at
Tony. “She’s way too young to turn, and she can’t be one of my
donors, either.” He paused. “I propose a third solution: replacing
Garrett with an old acquaintance, Danial Racklan.”

“Can he be trusted?” Tony asked. “Other than
that, I’ve got no issues. This isn’t the first time I’ve had a
vampire-related problem and Garrett’s been unavailable.”

“I know, I know,” Devlin said, holding up his
palm. “I will deal with it, Tony.” He looked at Thane. “What about
you?”

“I’ve heard of him, that he runs a detective
business out west somewhere,” Thane mused. “The associate who used
him spoke highly of him.” He paused. “But will he be amenable to
doing a little work for us? You know I trust coworkers more who
play well with me and mine. Garrett never did.”

“Danial will need donors, and I know for a
fact that Angelica will please him,” Devlin assured. “He will also
be respectful of her, until she reaches the age of consent to turn.
He also does not have that power, so he’ll have to come to me when
that future day comes.”

“Good, Angelica needs a little kindness,”
Tony said, relieved.

“Tony has a soft spot for the girl,” Thane
said coldly. “I just want things to go smoothly, Devlin. Will
Danial be a team player or not?”

“I’ll see that he does,” Devlin stated. “If
you supply him with donors, he’ll stay out of your way. And he’ll
also do a little side work for you as part of the deal, provided
you make sure anyone you want him to eliminate is evil to the core.
He has an overdeveloped sense of decency, I’m afraid.”

“That can be arranged,” Tony said with a
nod.

“No one asked me about Danny Boy,” Lash
hissed, baring one snake fang. “I think he’s an asshole and I hate
his guts. But sure, have him come on back to the north, Dev. Just
don’t be surprised if he and I get into it.”

“But you think he can do the job?” Tony asked
Lash.

“He can do the job,” Lash assented. “But he’s
a prick to women. Be warned. Don’t be surprised if he breaks your
sweet little Angelica’s heart.”

Devlin shot Lash a look to kill. “Danial will
not be romantic with Angelica, Lash. He never is with donors. But
when she is of age, if she chooses to pursue a relationship with
him beyond the donor relationship...that’s his business and
hers.”

“But it’s then also your business, right?”
Tony said darkly, staring at Devlin. “I heard that you tend to kill
those women Danial loves.”

“Seduce them,” Devlin corrected. He held up
one finger, the nail grown to an inch long talon. “I have never
killed any of Danial’s loves. But Angelica must follow the rules,
especially if she turns
. If that happens, she’ll be provided
with a copy of the handbook, and she must adhere to it. I make no
assurance for her safety if she does not. That must be clear
utterly, Tony. Once someone becomes a vampire, they answer to me
for all their actions
.
Angelica will not get special
treatment if she betrays my rules as a vampire...or even as a
donor.”

Tony let out a long breath. “Agreed.
Angelica’s a good girl, Devlin. She’s always done good for me.
She’ll do good for you, too.”

“Then let us hope she does the same for
Danial,” Devlin said, standing. “Can you arrange for her to be sent
to my house in a few weeks’ time? I’ll want her to meet Danial and
also have him meet her, so we can see if it’s going to work.”

“Of course,” Tony said, holding out his
hand.

Devlin shook it. “Good seeing you, Tony.”

Thane also offered his hand. “I’ll look into
additional donors for Danial, Devlin.”

“Thank you,” Devlin said, shaking his hand.
“It’s a pleasure to work with you both.”

Lash and Devlin walked out. Angelica was not
at her desk.

“Think she ran off because of me?” Lash asked
with evil hilarity as they headed out the door. He snickered.

“We’re ready for pickup, Titus,” Devlin said
into his cell phone. He hung up and looked over at Lash. “I
wouldn’t be surprised if she did, Lash. But Danial can finesse
her.”

“You really think that this is going to
work?” Lash said sarcastically. “Bringing Danial back here? You’ll
be at each other’s throats. And why would he go along with any of
this?”

“He has his reasons,” Devlin said
cryptically. “This is just business to all of us. And let’s hope it
does work out. Or you’ll have more work than you know what to do
with.”

Lash shook his head, then smiled. “Fair
enough.”

Partners

(This is an
extended version of the tale previously published in Midnight
Thirsts 2)

A tall, dark-haired man crouched in the cab
of a parked crane. The light of the full moon illuminated the many
stacks of plywood and two-by-fours that surrounded the machine,
casting long steady shadows. Far to the left, a mansion-in-progress
stood, its bare wood bones already bleached slightly by the hot
summer sun. Close by, to the right, a rough building stood dark,
with a port-a-john next to it. No sound stirred the unnatural quiet
of the deserted construction site.

Someone or something was causing that
stillness
, Danial thought to himself, shifting slightly to
check his left view from his vantage point. Construction workers
rarely were the neatest employees, especially in midsummer. At the
very least, the resident rodents should’ve been fighting over the
remnants of discarded sandwich ends or the lone left-behind
Cheeto.

From beside the port-a-john came the sudden
rustle of cloth. A moment later, one of the garbage can lids was
lifted.

That was no hungry rat. That was what he’d
been hired for. Danial slipped out on the opposite side of the cab,
balancing his weight on the crane’s large treads.

The noises stopped. Danial froze,
waiting.

There was a stealthy footstep toward him,
then another. Danial tensed, his hand going to his semiautomatic at
his waist as he prepared show himself.

Here we go...

A loud ring shattered the quiet.

A metallic bang rang out, then a trashcan
flew through the air towards him. Danial ducked, the can sailing
over his head to smash into the building’s side, showering the
smelly contents all over him. Cursing, he stood and fired blindly
toward the sound of rapidly retreating footsteps. After squeezing
off two rounds, he threw down his gun in disgust.

“Goddamn it!”

His cell phone continued to ring, the
signature tone telling him exactly who’d ruined his well-planned
trap.

Danial wiped the garbage off his face as best
he could with his handkerchief, and then wiped his hands, grimacing
at remaining smears of rotten meat. Gingerly, he plucked his phone
from his cell pocket and answered it.

“This better be good, Dev.”

“It’s not Dev,” a hissing, self-satisfied
voice said. “And it’s not good either, Vampire.”

Danial grated his teeth together, trying to
control his fangs from growing in his anger. “What do you want,
Lash?”

“It’s not what I want. It’s what your brother
wants, Danny—”

Danial hung up, then picked up his gun from
the ground. Wiping it off, he holstered it, and strode back to his
car, thinking.

There was one thief involved so far: amateur
level, to have run without a fight. The throw could have been a
diversion by a startled male; the industrial metal was much too
heavy to be thrown at that velocity and height by a female, even a
non-human one. There had been an odd scent around, possibly some
type of werecreature. After four hundred years, he trusted his nose
more than his eyes.

He might as well get to his campsite. Dawn
was only a few hours away.

* * * *

Blearily, Danial awakened. Daylight could be
seen as a dim glow through the dense fabric of the tent.

The damn phone was ringing again. Worse, it
was the same tone.

He pushed dark hair out of his eyes, wincing
at the still present smell of stale nachos, and answered it.

“What?”

“Danial,” a smooth masculine voice purred.
“Are you enjoying your little excursion in the great outdoors?”

“I was until you called. What is it you want,
Dev?”

“I’ve got a problem that could use your
expertise.”

“Then why have Lash call? You know I hate
him.”

“Then you should’ve bought your own camping
equipment and not borrowed his. He only lent that to you as a favor
to me. The least you could do is be civil to him—”

If only there was some other scent that
covered the smell of vampire better than weresnake and was just as
off-putting to nonhumans. Alas, that five star protection came at a
high price. “I’m always polite to him, when it doesn’t mean risking
my life. Now get to the point.”

Dev sighed dramatically. “It’s the usual
problem with young adults. There was a girl dating one of the newly
turned; you know, one of the groupies who think it’s all
everlasting love and romance. She knew what he was and wanted that
for herself. He knew I’d kill him if he gave her what she wanted,
so he broke it off like a good little vampire.”

“So what’s the trouble? Your minion was
towing the line.”

“The girl,” Dev retorted, exasperated. “She
was upset and went looking for another vampire, hoping to make him
jealous.” He paused. “She found Jonas.”

Someone was rapidly approaching the tent’s
location. Danial transferred the phone to his other ear as he
hurriedly pulled on his shoes and socks. “So what’s the problem?
Didn’t he dispose of her? He was never squeamish about who he drank
from.”