Dalakis Passion 4 - Eternal Brothers (33 page)

as his anger struck her full force. She closed her eyes and swallowed hard. As angry as
he was, his hands were gentle as they pulled her toward him. His strong arms came
around her, lifting her carefully.
Reaching out, she touched the hard planes of his face. "I have to call the police and
let them know about Spencer. I need to do this."
Red tinged his eyes and she could sense the maelstrom of emotion swirling within
him as he fought it back. "I don't like this."
"I know." She rubbed his chest, trying to calm him. She sensed Stefan and Laurel
Rose hovering quietly in the background. "You all have to leave."
Zane's arms tightened around her. "No."
"Yes," she whispered. "You can't be found here when the police arrive. There are
too many questions that you can't afford to have asked. Plus there's the whole deal
about being taken in for questioning. How would we even explain your presence here?
Besides, there are more members in this sick cult and they need to be stopped once and
for all." Sophia willed Zane to understand.
Laurel Rose tucked a lock of hair over her shoulder, winced and sighed. "I only
wish I'd thought of that when Stoner had
me
."
"My love. You were too near death to think about anything. And I was much too
angry." Stefan wrapped his arms tenderly around his wife and pulled her against him.
Laurel Rose's clothing was torn and her face was dirty, but already she was beginning
to heal.
Sophia blinked back tears. There was so much love between them it was almost
painful to watch. She owed Laurel Rose her life. If not for the other woman, she'd
probably have been dead before Zane arrived. "Okay. We need to get this done."
"I'm not leaving you." His voice was cool, his green eyes even colder. She knew
that he wasn't happy with her and he was about to get even angrier.
"You have to go now."
He shook his head. "I will wait until the police arrive and then I will go." She
started to protest, but he overrode her concerns. "They will not see me."
Sophia nodded and glanced toward Stefan and his wife. Laurel Rose offered her a
smile of encouragement. "We'll leave you two now, but we will see you again soon."
Stefan gave her a formal bow and then they were gone, leaving just her and Zane with
Spencer.
"You have to stay away until this is over. All of you do."
"That is unacceptable." There was no mistaking Zane's rage. The room went icy
cold and her shivering increased.
"You don't have a choice," she managed to get out in between the chattering of her
teeth. "You have to promise me that you'll keep the others away too. It's better that
way.
Safer for everyone."
Zane swore and let go of her long enough to strip off his coat and wrap it around
her. Then she was back in his arms. The warmth from his coat immediately made her
feel better, but she didn't know if she'd ever truly feel warm again. "It is you who
doesn't have a choice. This is not negotiable."
Sophia knew this was going to hurt Zane, but she didn't have a choice. She had to
protect him, no matter the cost to herself. "I don't want you here."
His arms were still around her, but she could sense his withdrawal. It was what she
wanted, but still it hurt her in ways that her physical pain never could. "I will still
watch out for you."
The man could teach stubborn to a mule. "I don't want you watching out for me. I
got along just fine before you came along." God, she wanted this over with before she
broke down and started bawling like a baby. "Look, the investigation will take weeks
even with Spencer dead. I'll be interviewed and examined, my life put under a
microscope until the justice system is satisfied I've told them everything I know. I don't
need you around for that. It would only put all of you in danger and make things
harder."
"Well, I wouldn't want to make things harder for you." He lowered her legs to the
ground. She wanted to crawl back into his arms, wrap her legs around him and never
let him go.
"Maybe when things settle down..." She didn't quite know how to ask him to come
back to her when this was over.
"No. You're right. It's better this way.
A quick break rather than a long drawn-out
affair."
Even though she'd been expecting it, his words beat at her. She glanced down at her
chest, surprised that her heart wasn't bleeding. She only wanted to protect him, not
drive him away. But if that's what it took, so be it. Although it was the hardest thing
she'd ever done, she slipped his jacket from her shoulders and held it out to him. She
didn't want any evidence here that might lead to more questions.
"What about DNA?" she blurted.
Zane shrugged. "Ours is slightly different from humans. If there is any found, they
will think it is a
mistake.
In any case, I have to remove the body from the morgue later
tonight for permanent disposal, preferably before they even begin the autopsy, and
destroy any damning evidence. He is at least part vampire and we cannot allow
ourselves to be exposure in such a way." His voice was cold and flat as he continued.
"I'll make it appear as if members of the cult he belonged to are responsible. Don't
worry. I'll take care of it."
Of course he would. She didn't even know why she was concerned. She shivered
without the warmth of his jacket around her.
Zane cocked his ear. "The police are coming. Stefan must have made an anonymous
call." He released her so suddenly that she staggered before straightening her legs and
willing them to hold.
"So brave.
So independent."
He took the jacket from her
outstretched hands and then reached out and touched her cheek. "Goodbye, Sophia
Daring." Then he was gone, leaving the door wide open behind him.
She cried out, falling to her knees, her hand reaching out to him. Focusing on the
task at hand, she grasped the handle of the door, so her fingerprints would be on it.
None of the family had touched the door to open it, so that wasn't a concern.
But she still had one more thing to do. Crawling across the floor, she made herself
touch the knife handle buried in Spencer's chest, wrapping her fingers tight around the
hilt. If they could get any prints off this weapon with all the blood coating it, she
wanted them to be hers and hers alone. No matter what Zane believed, the cops would
need some forensic evidence or they'd be suspicious. She was sure Zane would weed
out the dangerous data and leave them something they wouldn't question. By the time
she released the hilt of the knife, she was shaking so hard, she couldn't stand, so she
dragged herself toward the door on the crypt. "Help," she cried. "I'm in here." She
curled her body into a tight ball of misery and waited.
The first officer came through the door, gun drawn and was quickly followed by
others. Controlled chaos ensued more officers arrived, along with a team of forensics
experts. Sophia was bundled into a blanket and carried to a waiting ambulance.
Zane stood in the shadows, his heart stone cold as he watched them take Sophia
away. The urge to kill them all and to grab her and run was overwhelming. He sensed a
presence behind him but didn't turn around.
"She is protecting you. Your presence here would cause complications. You know
that you cannot afford to be held for questioning or have your background investigated
too vigorously."
He hadn't expected his cousin to return after taking his wife home. Stefan's words
couldn't penetrate the layer of ice that encased him. Even if they were true, they were
unacceptable. She was his. It was his place to protect her, not the other way around.
"She loves you."
He whirled around and glared at Stefan. "Don't mock me,
Dalakis
."
Stefan shook his head and sighed. "I would not do that, Zane. You are my cousin,
my brother in blood, my family. She is the woman for you, the only one you will ever
love."
Zane closed his eyes and swallowed hard. He could hear the ambulance pulling
away, taking her farther from him. He could feel her absence beating at his heart, his
body and his mind. "I do love her." He hadn't meant to say the words aloud, but they'd
been pulled from the depths of his wounded soul.
"And she loves you." Stefan clasped Zane's shoulder, squeezing it tight. "Women
are strange and wonderful creatures, my friend. Even after all the years I have lived, all
the places I have seen, I cannot say that I truly understand them. But a woman in love
will protect her man whether he wants it or not. If you do not believe me, then search
her mind."
Therein was the problem. He was too much of a coward to see what was in her
mind. He was afraid if he invaded her thoughts that he would find out that she truly
didn't want him in her life--plus, he would not do so unnecessarily and without her
consent.
Sighing, Zane raked his fingers through his hair. "I have to go." He'd follow her to
the hospital and watch out for her until this was over. After that, he'd have to see.
Although he could not envision a life without her in it.
He didn't want to. If she had
made her choice, he would have to respect it. But he would protect her for the rest of
her life no matter what. She was his.
Now and forever.
Swallowing his anger and his grief, he left the cemetery behind and headed toward
the hospital, toward Sophia.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Cassidy drove as fast as he could, but still it wasn't fast enough. The last thing he
needed was to get stopped by the cops. For once he wished he were like the
Dalakis
family. Lucian and Delight would be there long before he was. He hated the feeling of
helplessness that engulfed him. It reminded him too much of his childhood when
everything was out of his control.
His fingers gripped the steering wheel tight. He'd get Blythe back and when she
was safe and sound, they were going to have a long talk about both their pasts. No
matter what had happened, he had to deal with it. He really had no choice. He loved
her.
There. He'd admitted it to himself. For the first time in his life, he was in love with a
woman. He knew she had issues from her past that were affecting her, but they could
work through whatever it was.
Together.
He'd do whatever it took to keep her. If that
meant leaving New Orleans, then so be it. If she couldn't accept the
Dalakis
family, he'd
quit his job and get another one. That last thought left a hole in the pit of his belly, but
he ignored it. Blythe was all that mattered.
He took the corners hard and quick, concentrating on the ribbon of black in front of
him. The streets were fairly crowded as he neared The Club, so he pulled onto a side
street and parked, making the rest of the way on foot.
Lucian and Delight were waiting just outside the door for him as he strode up the
sidewalk. "What do you know?"
"The place is full tonight. It's the grand reopening." Cassidy could hear the music
blaring,
feel the vibrations under his feet as Lucian continued. "Adrian has taken over
his brother's office. Follow me."
"What about Blythe?"
"She's alive." Cassidy could hear the strain in Delight's voice and knew that this
place held terrible memories for her.
"You don't have to go inside." Delight was a very special lady and Cassidy didn't
want her hurt in all this.
"I'm fine." She squared her shoulders. "Let's go."
With Lucian leading the way, they walked right past the bouncers who didn't even
bat an eyelash. It was good to be with a being with supernatural powers. The noise hit
them as they passed through a small corridor and opened the inside door. The stench of
sweat, booze, sex and perfume enveloped them as they walked inside. Cassidy scoped
the room, quickly noting the heavy presence of men in suits around the perimeter.
Good. Prince wasn't as secure as he pretended to be.
"This way."
He heard Lucian easily above the din and nodded, following behind
him. They kept Delight between them, but no one approached them.
There were two armed men at the bottom of a set of stairs. Cassidy's muscles
tensed, but he rolled his shoulders, forcing himself to relax, readying himself to fight.
His fingers itched to draw his weapon, but it was too soon. Like a gunfighter, he
narrowed his eyes on his target. He was armed and ready.
Lucian stopped in front of the men. "You want to go to the bar for a drink." They
stared at him, blank expressions on their faces. "Go," he added softly. Both men
stumbled toward the bar without speaking a word.
"You're one scary bastard, you know that?" As many times as he'd witnessed
Lucian's power, he couldn't get used to it. "You ever pull that shit on me?" He hoped
not, but he couldn't be sure.
Lucian shot him a wicked grin. "No. Your head is much too hard to penetrate."
Cassidy relaxed, but just slightly. It didn't pay to let his guard down around the
Dalakis
brothers. Not for a second. Not that he'd thought they'd hurt him, but he didn't
put it past them to try to make him do something stupid, like quack like a duck, just for
kicks.
Lucian laughed as if he'd heard Cassidy's thoughts, but said nothing as they
climbed the stairs. Delight reached out and squeezed his arm. "We'll get her back."
He nodded, focusing all his attention on what lay ahead. "I'm going in first." It was
still his job to protect the
Dalakis
family and he intended to do it.
Lucian narrowed his eyes, staring at Cassidy thoughtfully for a few seconds before
taking a step backward. He waved his hand toward the door with a flourish.
"After
you."
Knowing that Lucian would cover his back, he opened the door and stepped inside.
His sweeping gaze took in the entire room in one glance. It was a large room with
hardwood floors scattered with opulent rugs. The same large desk still dominated the
far end as the last time Cassidy was in this room. A comfortable sitting area with plush
sofas and chairs was off to one side. The furniture was different, as was the artwork
covering the walls.
"Ah, Mr. Cassidy.
Come in." The pleasant voice came from the man seated in the
large chair situated behind the desk. A tall man in a suit stood just behind him. Cassidy