All I Want for Christmas is a Vampire

CHAPTER 13

A hot shower helped take the chill out of Toni's bones and relieve the ache in her bruised hip. She leaned over to wrap a towel around her wet hair, and as she straightened, she accidentally brushed her hip against the counter.

"Ow!" She eyed the bruise. It had swollen to a lovely shade of purple that coordinated well with the red scars on her torso and breasts.

"Toni!"

She jumped at the sound of Ian's voice coming from her bedroom. Her hip knocked against the counter. "Ow! Dammit!" She grabbed on to the towel bar to keep from falling.

"Toni, are ye all right?" Ian pounded on the door. "Is someone hurting you? Should I teleport in?"

"No!" What was he doing out there? "I…I have the entire offensive line from the New York Giants in here. Oh yeah, I'm feeling good! Second down and eight to go."

There was a pause. "Ye're jesting, right?"

She snorted. "Brilliant, Sherlock."

"Come out now. We need to talk."

Not that again. "I don't have any clothes. Go away."

"I'll close my eyes."

Now it was her turn to pause. "I don't believe you."

"Brilliant, Sherlock."

Damn him. She wrapped a towel around herself. "Go away."

"No. I've come to rescue you."

"From what? Mildew?"

"I'll step into the hall so ye can get dressed. Please hurry."

She heard footsteps and a door click shut. She peeked out. The bedroom was empty.

She eased toward the dresser. "Why are you pestering me? I'm off duty now." She dropped her towel and quickly pulled on some panties.

"This canna wait," Ian spoke from the hallway. "We're in danger from a Malcontent assassin named Jedrek Janow. He's the new master of the Russian-American coven in Brooklyn, the bastards who attacked you before. Jedrek wants information about the drug I took in order to age, so he'll be searching for me."

Any irritation Toni had felt sifted away, only to be replaced by a twinge of fear. She reached behind her back to hook her bra. "How serious is this?"

"Verra serious. If he comes to the townhouse, he willna come alone. He'll bring other Malcontents with him, and everyone here, including you, will be attacked."

A chill prickled her skin with gooseflesh. "They know about this townhouse? I thought it was a secret." Damn, she had thought she was safe from them.

"Roman's home is a secret, but this place has always been known in the Vamp world. Every spring, Roman hosts a conference at Romatech, and coven masters come from around the world to attend. They always stay here, and Angus's company provides security. Are ye decent now?"

She could be attacked again? God, no. Memories of that night threatened to wash over her. No, not again.

A form appeared before her, and she gasped.

Ian's eyes widened. "Toni."

Her hands fluttered around her panties and bra. Damn! Her undies didn't cover up much. And her scars! She glanced at his face and saw his expression go from shock to horror.

"Go away!" She turned her back to him. Dammit, what was worse? Being caught almost naked or seeing a guy's horrified reaction to it?

"Toni, ye're covered with bite marks."

"I know. I was there when it happened." She rushed to the closet and yanked a pair of jeans off a hanger.

"And yer hip. It's bruised something terrible."

"Stop looking at me!" She pulled on the jeans. "I fell in a parking lot."

"At the Shady Oaks Psychiatric Hospital?"

She gasped, and the jeans slid down to her knees. "How—" She noticed his gaze drifting south, and she jerked the jeans back up. "How did you know?"

"I'm a verra good investigator."

Damn him. She zipped up her jeans. "You've been spying on me?"

He strode toward her. "Is that yer suitcase there?"

She jumped aside to keep some distance between them. "What are you doing?"

He opened the suitcase on her dresser and started filling it with her clothes. "Finish getting dressed now."

She didn't care for his authoritarian tone. Or that he'd been spying on her. She jerked a T-shirt off a hanger and pulled it on. "Fine. I'll get dressed. Then you won't have to look so horrified at the sight of my body."

He paused with a handful of her panties in his fist. "I was angry when I saw how those bastards punctured you with holes. I wasna horrified. Yer body is beautiful."

How could she stay angry when he said that?

He dropped the panties in her suitcase. "Please hurry. We need to go."

"Where are we going?" She ran into the bathroom, grabbed her hairbrush, toothbrush, cosmetic bag, and contacts, then tossed them into the suitcase.

"I'll take you to Romatech. Security is much tighter there. Then the lads and I can return here to fight the bastards if they come."

She liked the idea of being safe, and she really hated the idea of seeing the Malcontents again, but something about Ian's plan annoyed her. She didn't like being a weak damsel in distress. She sat on the bed to pull on her socks. "I'm not going to hide and leave all the fighting to you guys. I was hired to fight."

Ian smiled as he grabbed clothes from her closet and dumped them in her suitcase. "Ye're a brave lass, and I commend ye for it, but this is no' yer fight."

Normally she would agree. Why risk her life over a vampire dispute? But the night the Malcontents attacked her, it became personal. As much as she hated seeing them again, she had to do it. She jerked on her boots. "This is my fight. I won't cower in fear. I'll do what I was hired to do."

Ian zipped her suitcase shut. "Sweetheart, ye were hired as a day guard. That means ye're supposed to fight daytime enemies, namely mortals. Ye're off duty at night for a reason. Ye canna survive against a vampire foe."

"I pinned Phineas down the other night."

"A lucky break."

"Look, sweetheart." She marched toward him. "I'm good. I'm damned good. Do you need a demonstration?"

"Perhaps ye do." He vanished, and a second later he was behind her, pulling her against his chest.

She reacted quickly, ramming her elbows into his chest. It was like hitting a brick wall.

His hands moved to her neck and face, and his voice was soft against her ear. "The next sound ye would hear is the snapping of yer neck."

Rage swept through her. Dammit to hell, was there no winning against them? The memory of her attack flooded back and sucked her under, drowning her in horror. She shook her head, trying to dislodge the memories, but they filled her mind, playing back every excruciating detail. A shudder almost doubled her over.

"Toni, it will be all right," Ian whispered.

"No!" She fought back the tears, but the more she struggled, the more her emotions swelled. She broke free from Ian and staggered back. "I—I hate your kind!"

His face paled. She pressed a hand to her mouth, startled by the intensity of her outburst.

His mouth thinned, and pain glinted in his eyes. "At least ye're being honest now."

She splayed her hands across her scarred rib cage. "They chewed on me like I was food. Like I wasn't human. I was just a piece of meat." Tears rolled down her face, and she wiped her cheeks. "I couldn't fight them. They took over my mind, and it was like my soul was squashed."

He pulled her into his arms. She stiffened, but he held her tight. "Lass, I would never harm you. Ye can trust me."

She took a slow, shuddering breath, and let it out. "I know." She burrowed her face in his thick sweater and let his scent fill her nostrils. He smelled clean, but earthy. Sweet, but manly.

He rubbed a hand up and down her back. "I hope I do see those bastards tonight. I'd love to skewer them for what they did to you."

She rested her cheek against his shoulder. He still didn't quite understand. She appreciated his desire to protect her, but she didn't really want a protector against evil vampires. What she wanted was a way to protect herself. And given their superior abilities, she didn't think such a way existed. And that's what bothered her the most—the inequality and injustice of it all.

"I wish I could whip your ass," she whispered.

Ian chuckled. "That's my girl."

She nestled her cheek deeper into his thick sweater. He was surprisingly warm and wonderfully solid. When he released her and stepped back, she wanted to throw herself back into his arms.

"We need to go, lass." He dragged her suitcase off the dresser.

She pulled on her coat and grabbed her handbag. "Are you driving?"

"Teleporting. It's faster." He grasped the handle of her suitcase with one hand and extended the other toward her. "Ye'll need to hold on to me."

"Oh." Not a problem. She slid her arms around his neck.

"Closer." His arm tightened around her waist.

She pressed against his solid chest. "Like this?"

He closed his eyes briefly. "Aye."

Her breath caught when his eyes opened. "What's the deal with your eyes? They keep turning red."

"It's a normal reaction for a vampire."

"I don't think so." She studied the red, glowing irises. "None of the other Vamps do that."

"Good. I wouldna want to fight any of my friends."

"What are you talking about?"

He gave her a wry smile. "Toni, when my eyes turn red, it's because I'm wanting you verra badly."

She swallowed hard. "But it's been happening for days."

"Aye, since I first met you. But doona let it worry you. I know ye hate our kind."

"I don't hate you, Ian. I don't hate any of the good Vamps. Maybe I did at first, but now…"

He watched her carefully. "How do ye feel now?"

A flood of emotions brought tears to her eyes. "I–I have a lot on my mind. Not just you, but my friend Sabrina. I'm so very worried…and confused." She shouldn't feel so damned attracted to a vampire.

"Tell me what's going on. I might be able to help you."

She studied his handsome face and saw genuine concern and compassion. She wanted to trust him. Dear God, she wanted to stay in his arms forever. "I'll think about it."

"Good. Hang on, sweetheart." He pulled her tight, and everything went black.

As soon as Ian was assured that Toni was safely ensconced in the silver room at Romatech, he teleported back to the townhouse with Dougal and Phineas.

When they materialized on the back porch, they heard the high-pitched buzz of the alarm inside the townhouse. They instantly drew their swords. There were only two explanations for the alarm—either a mortal had broken into the townhouse and didn't hear the alarm, or a vampire had teleported inside and didn't know the proper combination required to turn the alarm off.

Dougal quietly unlocked the back door and let it swing open. They waited, swords ready, for someone to poke his head out the door and look. If it was a Malcontent, his head wouldn't stay attached for long.

No one fell for the bait. Ian moved to enter, but Phineas pulled him back.

"It's you they want, bro. Stay between us." Phineas entered first.

The kitchen was a mess. Cabinets and drawers hung open, and the contents were scattered on the countertops.

"They must be looking for the drug." Dougal started to punch in the combination to turn off the alarm.

"Nay." Ian stopped him. "If we turn it off, we'll be announcing our arrival."

Dougal grimaced. "Ye're right, but the noise is bloody annoying."

"Yeah, sounds like a cat on crack," Phineas muttered. He positioned himself by the swinging door. "Ready?"

Ian nodded, and the three Vamps zoomed into the foyer. A quick glance assured them that the intruders were not on the first floor. Books were tumbled onto the floor in the library, and the parlor had been ransacked.

They zipped downstairs to the cellar. Phineas's bed had been slashed, and the coffins ripped apart.

"Shit." Phineas studied the broken picture frame of his family. "We're too late."

"We should check Roman's office," Ian suggested. "I'm sure they've realized that he invented the drug."

"We go together," Dougal said. "Aim for the fifth-floor landing."

The trio teleported to the landing outside Roman's office and bedroom. The two doors were open, and inside, voices were speaking in Russian.

Ian eased toward the office door and spied Jedrek Janow at Roman's desk, fiddling with the computer. The Malcontent cursed and pounded a fist on the keyboard. Then he started rifling through the desk drawers.

Dougal peeked into Roman's bedroom, then raised two fingers to indicate two men. Ian lifted one finger. It was three against three. He gave Dougal and Phineas a questioning look, and they both nodded.

Ian charged into the office, headed straight for Jedrek. The assassin glanced up and reached for the sword he'd left on the desk. Ian was already swinging his sword down for a killing blow when Jedrek teleported away.

Ian's sword ripped through an empty office chair. "Bloody hell." He spun to see if Jedrek had materialized behind him.

He hadn't. The Russian coven master reappeared in the bedroom next to his two followers.

Ian moved toward them while Dougal and Phineas flanked him.

"Just the man I was looking for," Jedrek sneered. "Stasio, Yuri, take the man in the middle."

The two Malcontents lunged toward Ian, but Dougal and Phineas jumped in front, and each engaged in battle. Ian cursed inwardly at being treated like a helpless pup. He headed for Jedrek, but the coward vanished once again.

Ian whirled just as Jedrek's hand gripped his arm from behind. A dizzying sensation stole over him, and he realized Jedrek was attempting to teleport away with him. He slashed his sword down onto Jedrek's arm, and the man yelped in pain just before disappearing completely.

"You coward!" Ian shouted at the now empty space.

A cry of pain drew Ian's attention back to the sword fights. Phineas had sliced his opponent's torso. The Russian stumbled back, and Phineas stabbed him in the chest. The Russian turned gray, then crumbled into a pile of dust on the floor.

The second Russian shouted in anger, then teleported away, leaving Dougal cursing in his wake.

"I did it!" Phineas lifted his sword in the air. "Did you see that? I was a killing machine!"

Dougal slapped him on the back. "Yer first kill. Congratulations."

Phineas raised his hand to give them both a high five. "Oh yeah, Dr. Phang strikes again!"

Ian smiled wearily. After a few centuries of killing Malcontents, he no longer felt the thrill. He strode back to the desk and turned off the alarm. "Jedrek was injured. I doona think he'll try anything else tonight. Let's go back to Romatech."

Roman and his family would be safe for the time being. And so would Toni.

As soon as Jedrek Janow materialized in his Brooklyn office, he felt the pain of his slashed arm. He dropped his sword on the floor and clasped a hand over the wound. Blood seeped through his fingers and dripped onto the expensive Turkish rug. "Damn."

"Sir, you're bleeding," the guard at his door said.

"Brilliant observation, moron," Jedrek growled. "Get Nadia in here now."

"Yes, Master." The guard zoomed away.

Jedrek pulled his ripped and bloody sweater off and tossed it in the litter bin.

The guard returned with Nadia in tow. She hovered by the doorway, refusing to look at him.

He knew she was angry. She hadn't enjoyed killing the blonde. "Bring bandages. You will bind my wound."

She lifted her chin defiantly. "Your wound will heal during your death-sleep."

"That's five hours from now, bitch. Bring the bandages now."

She trudged off. Still too much spirit, but he would break her soon.

"You." He glared at the guard. The guy's name was Stanislav, but Jedrek didn't like to call people by their names. It made them think that somehow you liked them. "Give me your shirt."

"Yes, Master." Stanislav unbuttoned his white shirt.

Meanwhile, a form wavered, then solidified by the desk. It was Yuri. He sheathed his sword and avoided looking at Jedrek.

"Where's Stasio?" Jedrek demanded.

"He—he's dead," Yuri whispered.

"Then he should have fought better." Jedrek grabbed the shirt Stanislav offered and wrapped it around the cut on his forearm. The white cotton turned red with blood. "Who killed him? Was it one of those damned Scotsmen?"

"No," Yuri replied. "It was the black vampire."

"Black?" Stanislav asked. "I wonder…"

"Out with it," Jedrek growled.

"There was a black guy in our coven for a while," Stanislav explained. "Phineas McKinney. Alek transformed him because he was a drug dealer, and Katya needed his help to make Nightshade."

Unfortunately, the now-deceased Katya had used up all the Nightshade in her failed attempt to deliver Angus MacKay to Casimir. Jedrek had hoped to find some of the drug here in the office, but no such luck. "Where is this Phineas? If I'd had some Nightshade tonight, I could have paralyzed Ian MacPhie and brought him back."

"I haven't seen Phineas in over a year." Stanislav tilted his head, concentrating. "Last time I saw him, he was here in the office. Said he was looking for Katya, but she and Galina had already gone to the Ukraine."

Jedrek narrowed his eyes. He'd debugged this office when Katya was master, then again when he'd become coven master. Someone in the coven had been playing both sides. "Look through the photos on my desk. There's a picture of a black Vamp who works for MacKay."

Stanislav shuffled through the photos, then stopped. "This is him. Phineas McKinney."

Jedrek gritted his teeth. "And when Phineas was here in the office, did you tell him where Katya was?"

Stanislav opened his mouth to answer, then snapped it shut when realization struck. He gulped audibly.

"What did I say about incompetence?" Jedrek growled.

Yuri drew his sword and awaited the order.

Stanislav stepped back, his face pale. "I thought he was on our side. He helped us make the Nightshade."

Jedrek inhaled deeply. Fear radiated from Stanislav like the sweetest of perfumes. "You will have one chance to redeem yourself. You will kill Phineas McKinney."

"Of course." Stanislav nodded enthusiastically. "It'll be my pleasure."

Yuri sheathed his sword with a disappointed look.

"First you will find me a snack," Jedrek told Stanislav. "This wound has left me famished."

"Yes, Master. Right away." Stanislav left just as Nadia arrived, her hands filled with bandages and tape. She approached him with a wary look.

"You took too long." Jedrek perched on the edge of his desk and lifted his wounded arm. "Wrap it up tight."

"Yes, Master." She began rolling the gauze around his forearm.

He noted the bruises on her arms where he'd dug his fingers into her earlier. "I enjoy hurting you."

Her hands shook as she bandaged his arm. Good, she was showing the proper amount of fear. He loved instilling fear in others. It gave him power over them. People bowed in fear before gods.

"What about the drug?" Yuri asked. "And Ian MacPhie?"

"I need to heal first." Jedrek flexed his hand. "Tomorrow we will strike again. We'll get our answers. And Vamps will die."