All I Want for Christmas is a Vampire

CHAPTER 23

"You look very handsome." Toni adjusted Ian's black tie. He'd just materialized in the alley behind the Proctors' house in Westchester.

"I'm supposed to look scary," he muttered.

More like sexy. Toni ran her fingers over his elegant black tuxedo. His black satin cape was lined in red, and his black hair curled inside the stand-up collar. "If I was making a vampire movie, I'd hire you in a second."

Carlos cleared his throat. "If you two are finished admiring each other, we'll get on with this." He approached the back kitchen door and knocked lightly.

The maid peered out the window and smiled when Carlos waved. She opened the door and spoke to him softly in Spanish. He motioned to Toni and Ian, and the maid nodded.

"Maria's letting me sneak up the back stairs," Carlos told them. "I'll collect Bri's stuff and meet you downstairs. She says the doctor's in the library at the front of the house."

"I'll go around." Ian disappeared into the shadows.

Carlos slipped up the back stairs, while Maria escorted Toni to the library.

Dr. Joe Proctor was pacing behind his desk, talking on his cell phone. "Look, Jenkins, you're supposed to be the best PI in the business. Don't tell me you can't find one lousy girl." He paused, rubbing a hand over his balding head. "Yeah, I realize she must be getting help. It's—" He spotted Toni at the library entrance. "I'll call you back."

He dropped his phone on the desk as he approached Toni. "Who are you?"

"I'm Toni Davis, Sabrina's roommate."

He hesitated, then broke into a big grin. "Toni, how wonderful to meet you. You must be terribly worried about Sabrina. Let me assure you, I am sparing no expense to find her. You wouldn't happen to know anything about her disappearance, would you?"

"You'll never find her."

His smile morphed into a snarl. "You helped her escape, didn't you?" He strode back to his desk and grabbed his phone. "I'm handing you over to the police. Of course, you could avoid being arrested if you just tell me where Sabrina is."

"Go ahead. Call the police. I'd like to report some crimes. Let's see, there's medical malpractice for claiming Bri was delusional when she wasn't."

He lifted his chin. "Any psychiatrist would agree with my diagnosis."

"Then there's the embezzlement of her trust fund and holding her prisoner so you could steal more of her money."

He snapped his phone shut. "You can't prove any of that."

Toni strolled toward him. "Once the police investigate your financial records, it'll be very clear. You imprisoned Sabrina. You poisoned her mind. You tried to steal her entire life from her."

"No, no." He waved a hand in the air. "I wouldn't have kept her locked up forever. I just needed a little money to pay off a few gambling debts."

"And then there would have been more gambling debts."

Proctor's eyes narrowed. "Those guys would have killed me. I didn't have any choice."

"Those guys are the least of your problems. Have you wondered how Bri escaped?"

He watched her warily. "Of course I wondered."

"You locked her away because she said vampires are real. But only a vampire could have helped her escape."

"You're as crazy as she is." Proctor's eyes lit up. "I'll lock you both up."

Toni smiled. "You can try. But first let me introduce you to someone." She lifted a hand to cue Ian, who was waiting outside by the window.

His body materialized in the middle of the room.

Proctor gasped and stepped back. "What? This—this is some kind of trick."

Ian raised his arms, spreading his cape wide. "You doona believe in the existence of the Undead?"

Toni bit her lip to keep from laughing. Ian's fake Transylvanian accent still had a touch of Scottish in it.

"Im-impossible," Proctor breathed.

Ian zoomed toward the desk at vampire speed. Proctor stumbled back and knocked against the bookcase.

"Ye will believe." Ian levitated into the air.

Toni winced as his head almost bumped the ceiling. At least Proctor looked truly terrified as he cowered behind his desk. She just thought Ian looked incredibly cute.

He dropped onto the desk, and with a flash, his eyes glowed a brighter blue and his fangs sprang out. Toni flinched. That wasn't very cute.

Proctor huddled on the floor, lifting his arms in a defensive posture. "Don't hurt me. Please."

With a hiss, Ian flipped his cape back over his broad shoulders. Toni wobbled as her knees grew weak. Good grief, he was in full monster mode, and all she could think of was Bite me. How strange that the Malcontent attack had left her terrified and disgusted, while the thought of Ian biting her made her skin tingle with anticipation.

Her face heated up, and she flushed all over, feeling the rush of blood through her veins. Rushing faster and faster as if it needed to escape, as if it were calling to him.

Ian turned to look at her, and a surge of lust nearly knocked her off her feet. She gasped as the blue glow of his eyes turned red hot. Oh God, he knew she was turned on.

She stepped back, lifting a hand to her throat. Her heart beat wildly. Her thighs squeezed together with sudden, hot need. Good grief, no wonder women had offered him blood over the centuries.

Ian turned back to the trembling doctor, huddled on the floor. He reached out his right arm, and Proctor flinched as if an invisible force had struck him.

"Ye are under my control." Ian's eyes glowed an intense blue, and Toni realized he was using mind control. "Ye are lowly, and I am yer master."

"You are lowly, and I am your master," Proctor whispered, his eyes wide and glazed.

Ian grimaced. "Nay. I am the master."

"You are the master," Proctor said.

Toni stifled a grin. Ian wasn't very good at being an evil monster. No wonder she adored him.

"Listen and obey," Ian ordered. "Ye'll never steal from Sabrina again. Ye'll never interfere in her life. Ye'll be an honorable uncle to her. Do ye understand?"

"Yes, Master."

Ian turned to Toni. "Anything else?"

"Call off the police," she whispered.

Ian extended his arm again. "Ye'll cease yer search for Sabrina and Teddy. Ye'll tell the police it was all a mistake. Ye'll fill out the proper release forms. Ye'll never gamble again. And ye'll pay off yer debts, using yer own resources."

Proctor nodded. "Yes, Master."

Ian jumped down from the desk to stand beside the doctor. "Ye'll tell no one about this night. I know how to find you, Joseph Proctor."

"Yes, Master."

"Are you done?" Carlos asked at the entrance, his arms full of Bri's belongings.

The maid looked curiously at Ian.

"One more thing." Ian turned to Proctor. "Ye will treat yer maid with respect." He laid his hand on Proctor's head, and the doctor slumped into a deep sleep.

"Thank you, señor." Maria crossed herself, then led them to the back door. "Is Sabrina okay?"

"Yes," Toni told her. "Thank you for your help."

"Gracias." Carlos kissed the maid's cheek.

Maria giggled as she shut the door.

"You were wonderful!" Toni hugged Ian. "Thank you."

He smiled and kissed her brow.

"Get a room," Carlos muttered as he strode to his car. He dumped Bri's stuff in the trunk.

Ian held Toni's hand as they walked back to Carlos's car. "Zoltan and Jack will be arriving before dawn. There's no' enough room for everyone at Romatech, so we'll go back to the townhouse for our death-sleep."

"Are you sure it'll be safe there?" Toni asked.

"It'll be safe during the day," Ian answered. "The Malcontents will be as dead as we are. And Howard will spend the day there. Carlos, too."

"All right." Toni stopped next to Carlos's Jaguar. "Coming with us, Dracula?"

"I'll see you later, sweetheart." He vanished.

But she didn't see him later. After Carlos drove her back to Romatech, and they told Sabrina and Teddy the good news, Bri immediately wanted to go home and see Vanderkitty. Then, with everyone at Toni's and Bri's apartment, they ordered in Chinese food and celebrated.

Howard had asked Carlos to start his security job right away, so Carlos packed some clothes to take to the townhouse. Toni packed some more of hers. She was nervous about leaving Bri alone, so Teddy offered to stay overnight at the apartment.

It was ten P.M. by the time Carlos and Toni arrived at Roman Draganesti's townhouse on the Upper East Side, and it took thirty more minutes for Carlos to inspect and admire each room. He chose the bedroom next to Toni's for his own.

"This is perfect for me, menina." He ran his hand appreciatively over the bed's wood and wrought-iron footboard. "I love this Spanish decor."

"I believe the room belonged to a medieval Spanish lady named Maria Consuela," Toni said.

"What happened to her?" Carlos hefted his suitcase onto the red velvet bedspread.

Toni tried to remember what Dougal had told her about the former harem when she'd moved in more than a week ago. She'd been so insulted by the idea of a harem that she'd tuned out half of what he'd said. "My room belonged to some medieval chick called Princess Joanna. She and Maria Consuela weren't too thrilled about being co-owners of the Horny Devils, so they sold their shares to Vanda and moved back to Europe. London, I think."

Carlos unzipped his suitcase and began removing clothes. "I have to thank you, girlfriend. This is the best possible job for me. Howard said they'll work around my remaining classes so I can finish my master's."

"That's great." Toni eyed the pile of bikini underwear Carlos had piled up. One was spotted like a leopard, and another was striped like a tiger.

"And they'll work around my research trips, too. I would never find another employer that understanding."

"Well, the Vamps know how much they need mortals they can trust." Not that Carlos was entirely mortal. Carlos Panterra. Toni mentally slapped herself on the brow. She should have known. She winced when he set another item on the bed. Good grief. Those were the biggest nail clippers she'd ever seen.

"It's just so wonderful, menina. I've always had to keep my secret…well, secret, you know. But with this job, I am free to be myself. In fact, being a shape shifter actually adds to my value. And I've found a home for my orphans."

Toni smiled. "I'm very happy for them. And you."

Carlos skirted the bed and hugged her. "Thank you so much."

"Thank you, Carlos. You've always been a great friend." She resisted the urge to pet him behind the ears. The guy was practically purring. "I'll let you settle in. We have to be up before sunrise, you know." She moved toward the door.

He grabbed a stack of clothes and headed for the dark, ornately carved wooden dresser. "What are you going to do, menina? Will you stay with Ian or go back to Sabrina?"

That was the question of the day. Toni fingered the heart pendant on her chest. "I'm hoping that it won't be an either/or situation. That Sabrina will come around in time."

Carlos nodded. "Sometimes you must dare to believe."

Toni went to her bedroom, repeating those words to herself. Dare to believe. She loved Bri, and she loved Ian. She had to believe it would all work out.

She overslept in the morning, and didn't wake until she heard Carlos banging on her door.

"I'll be right down," she called out. Damn, damn, damn. She hated these early mornings. She rushed through her shower and threw on her uniform. She was hurrying down the stairs, pulling her damp ponytail through a scrunchie, when she spotted Zoltan Czakvar and Giacomo di Venezia, aka Jack, coming up the stairs.

"Bellissima, you are as lovely as ever." Jack bowed.

Boy was he full of it. Toni appreciated the compliment, but she knew her male uniform was baggy and ugly, and she was wearing very little makeup. "You guys retiring for the night—I mean, day?"

"Yes. We'll be in guest rooms on the fourth floor," Zoltan said. Between his yawn and his Hungarian accent, he was hard to understand.

"Bellissima, will you check on me personally?" Jack's brown eyes twinkled.

"If you like. Sure."

"Molto bene. Ciao, bellissima." Jack started up another flight of stairs.

Zoltan trudged behind him. "You're planning to sleep in the nude, aren't you?"

Jack chuckled.

Toni rolled her eyes, then ran down the stairs. Hopefully, Ian was still awake. In the foyer, she met Dougal and Phineas heading down to the basement.

Phineas yawned. "Good night, sweetness."

"Good night. Or morning." These guys were confusing her. "Have you seen Ian?"

"Already gone to bed." Dougal shut the cellar door behind him.

Too late. Dammit. It was hard having a boyfriend on the graveyard shift. She trudged into the kitchen.

"Good morning." Howard sat smiling at the kitchen table, munching on a bear claw.

Doughnuts, again? If she kept eating those, she'd be as big as a bear. She noticed Carlos was spooning something from a bowl into his mouth. It looked a bit healthier. "What are you eating? Meow Mix?"

Howard snorted with laughter, while Carlos gave her a bland look.

Toni smiled sweetly. "I hear they have a new anti-hairball formula."

"It's cereal." Carlos showed her the box.

"Hmm, Special K for kitties? Can I have some?" She fetched a bowl.

"If you'll stop being catty," Carlos grumbled.

"Sorry." She patted him on the head. She knew she was being ornery. She was just so disappointed about not seeing Ian. It would be a long, long time till sundown.

After breakfast, she offered to go check on him. "Is he on the fifth floor?"

"Yes." Howard finished his cup of tea. With extra honey, no doubt. "What do you say, Carlos? Are you up to a martial arts session? I want to see how well you can fight."

"You're on." Carlos and Howard headed down the basement stairs, while Toni started the long climb to the fifth floor.

She was breathing a bit heavily by the time she reached the fifth-floor office. The room was dark, the aluminum shutters closed. An empty blood bottle sat in the sink at the wet bar. Ian must have had a snack before going to bed.

She opened the double doors leading into the bedroom. Light spilled from the partially closed bathroom.

"You left the light on. Shame on you." She approached the left side of the bed.

Ian was lying there in his white T-shirt and plaid flannel pajama bottoms. He'd folded back the tan suede comforter to lie on the cool cotton sheets. His black hair was loose from its leather thong and made a dramatic contrast to the white pillowcase.

He was in the usual position he assumed for his death-sleep. Flat on his back, big feet pointed to the ceiling, hands clasped neatly over his flat stomach. He'd probably learned this position from centuries of sleeping in a coffin.

Toni did a double take to the area below his clasped hands. There was a definite bulge in his pajama bottoms. She leaned over for a closer look. Good grief, he'd fallen into his death-sleep with a hard-on. Was it possible for a stiff to be that stiff?

She straightened with a deep breath. "Naughty boy," she whispered and glanced at his handsome face. A shadow of dark whiskers lined his strong jaw. His black eyelashes were so thick. She would hate him if she didn't love him so much. She reached out to touch the cute dimple in his chin.

His eyes suddenly opened. She jumped. A hand locked around her wrist in a tight grip. She gasped.

"Surprise." He seized her by the arms and rolled her onto the bed.