Viper (19 page)

“What do you want, Cara?” Suzi asked, jerking her from her reverie.

“Can I come in?” Cara shifted her stance uneasily. It never occurred to her Suzi might not want to be her confidant. “I really need someone to talk to, and you’re the only one who might understand.”

Suzi shook her head, her mouth twisted in indecision, then stepped back. “Come in. I’ll make us a couple of ice coffees.”

Shutting the door, Cara followed Suzi to the kitchen. Suzi grabbed the half-filled carafe of cooled coffee from the coffee maker. After pulling two tall glasses from the cupboard and adding ice, she poured about a half cup of strong black coffee into each. Cream and a shot of caramel syrup followed the coffee. Sticking a straw into each, Suzi handed a tumbler to Cara.

She held up her glass, clicked it with Cara’s and said, “Cheers.”

Taking a sip, Cara savored the creamy goodness.

“This is delicious. I should stop by more often,” she said, earning her a chuckle.

Cara had hoped to break the ice as she wasn’t sure how Suzi would feel about her rendezvous with Kane last night since Suzi had all but dodged her questions about her relationship with Kane last time Cara had asked.

“So why did you stop by? Miss me?”

Cara suddenly felt the loss of the last ten years. “I do miss having you in my corner, having someone to talk to. I miss our friendship.”

Suzi propped her forearms on the countertop and leaned forward. “Yeah, I kind of miss that, too. So what’s eating you? I know that look too well not to know something is bothering you.”

“Am I that transparent?”

“Like rice paper. Spill it.”

“It’s Kane.”

Suzi scratched behind her ear, clearly uncomfortable talking about the man. “What about him?”

Cara hoped her intuition was correct and Kane hadn’t slept with Suzi. Nor did she think Suzi appeared head-over-heals with the man … scratch that … vampire. What the hell was he, anyway?

“Are they still human?”

Suzi laughed again. “Yeah, they’re still human. Don’t believe Hollywood’s version of vampires, Cara. They breath, eat, and sleep just like we do. Their hearts beat, which means they can be killed. Granted they’re harder to kill than we are.”

“How so?”

“Their blood regenerates at a very high rate of speed. Any injury they receive will heal … except one straight through the heart or a head wound that stops their heart from beating. Any other injury they’ll survive.”

Cara thought about the wound on her hand. “Can they heal others?”

She shrugged. “To a point. If you get cut, they can lick the wound and their saliva will speed up the healing process. Anything more life threatening is a bit more complicated. That, you’ll have to ask Kane about as I’ve probably already said too much.”

“I won’t tell anyone, Suzi. Surely, you know that.”

Suzi harrumphed. “Don’t push the shaky bridge we’re building here, Cara. I’m not real sure about anything where you’re concerned these days.”

“I’ve already apologized. What more can I do to make up for my running away?”

“Coming here again is a start.”

Cara smiled, tears welling in her eyes. “I was hoping you would say that.”

Suzi reached across the counter and gripped Cara’s fingers and squeezed. “You want to tell me about it?”

Her simple question opened the dam as tears made watery treks down Cara’s cheeks. Suzi let go of her hand, walked around the counter and pulled Cara into her embrace. Sobs shook her. Kane’s admission this morning had cut her straight to the heart. She had no doubt, that if need be, he’d make sure she kept his secret, even if it meant shutting her mouth permanently. The idea she meant so little to him, even though he had made her no promises, still stung.

Cara stepped back, wiping her cheeks. “I’m sorry, Suzi. I have no right involving you in the mess I’ve made of my life.”

Suzi pulled out a bar stool and sat, indicating Cara should do the same. “I don’t have anywhere to be. You want to tell me about it?”

“Maybe I should go.”

“Nonsense. We’re friends, right?”

A hiccough escaped her lips. “I’d like to think so.”

“Then tell me what’s plaguing you.”

“Are you and Kane … I mean, are the two of you…?”

“No.” Suzi sighed, then grabbed her drink and took a sip. “I may have wished otherwise, but Kane turned me down flat. He wants nothing more from me than the nourishment I offer. Are you two…?”

Cara tucked one side of her hair behind her ear. “It wasn’t supposed to happen. I hadn’t meant to allow Kane within ten feet of me. Are you mad?”

“For screwing Kane? Why would I be? Although I’m curious how he relates to his brother,” she said with a chuckle.

“You slept with Kaleb?”

“Once. A long time ago. Before you left town.”

“Wow, I certainly was blind to what was going on.”

Suzi shrugged.  “I wasn’t exactly forthcoming.”

“If you slept with Kaleb, then why go after his twin?”

“Because I hate Kaleb. I’d do anything to get under his skin and piss him off.”

“What did he do to you?”

Suzi grimaced. “Long story. But the short of it: I was young and dumb. Kaleb started using me frequently as a donor about six months before you left town. I fancied myself in love with him. I wanted to give him everything, including my heart. In fact, I did. But once we slept together, he walked away without a backward glance. He didn’t speak to me, never fed from me, acted as though we were complete strangers. I was crushed. So I started hanging with another of the Sons, Ion. We were friends, but Kaleb thought there was more to it. Anyway, when everything went south, I no longer had Ion either. Shortly thereafter, you were gone. I had no one to talk to. I was devastated. I would have left the donor society then and there if I could have.”

This time Cara gripped Suzi’s fingers. “I’m sorry. I was so selfish.”

“It’s okay.” Suzi offered a weak smile. “That was ten years ago. I don’t even know why I tried to sleep with Kane, other than to make Kaleb jealous. He lost his latest donor, so I knew he’d be in the market. I thought maybe if I could get Kane to pay attention to me, I’d be able to get back at Kaleb. There was a problem with my theory, though.”

“What’s that?”

“Kane didn’t want me either. But enough about me, tell me about you. What happened between you and Kane?”

“You’ve heard about these murders in Pleasant?”

Suzi nodded.

“The three dead girls, all pale blonde hair and blue eyes.”

“And because you have the same look, Kane feels the need to protect you?”

“Not exactly. We have no suspects, well, other than Kane.”

“Kane didn’t kill those women.”

“He’s our only suspect because we don’t have any others. I really don’t think he’s responsible either. I feel like we’re chasing our tails. Now that Tab’s been murdered, her big-shot father is coming down on us to find a suspect. It won’t be long before the State Police come in and take over our case. We aren’t any closer to finding this perp than when the first victim was found. Then there’s the break-in.”

“What break-in?”

“Someone ransacked my house, didn’t take anything, just messed up the place and threatened my life. The night before last, someone stood over my bed while I slept. My carpet had dirt on it and the window sill had smudges.”

“You think Kane?”

“No.” Cara quickly cut her off with a shake of her head. “The night of the break-in, he was with you. You were his alibi and I had witnessed as much.”

“What does Kane say about all of this?”

“He thinks it’s an ancient vampire. Said he could smell him on my property, in my room. That’s why I stayed at the clubhouse last night. For some reason, Kane feels the need to protect me.”

“Ancient vampire?”

“Kane called him a primordial.”

Suzi nodded. “I’ve heard the term, know they’re from Italy. But I wasn’t aware any of them ever came to the US.”

“Apparently one has and he wants me dead.”

Her breath hitched. “You can’t be serious. What are you going to do?”

Cara shrugged. “I don’t know. Since Kane’s appointed himself guardian, he’s demanded I stay at the clubhouse at night where he can keep an eye on me. That’s why I spent last night there.”

“In his bed.”

“I spent the night alone in his bed.”

“I thought you and Kane—”

“We did. But it was in the connecting bathroom. I was getting around for bed. I had just showered and was finishing up shaving when he walked in. I thought the door was locked. Besides, they’d all gone to bed. I didn’t even think about the second door until Kane walked through it.

“There I sat, without a stitch of clothes. He startled me and I nicked myself shaving. The next thing I know, Kane was drinking from the small wound. I can’t tell you what a turn-on that was.”

One of Suzi’s eyebrows rose. “Kane fed from you?”

“I guess that’s what you call it. I could feel my heart beat right where Kane suckled. It was so erotic. I don’t think I’ve ever wanted a man as much as I wanted him at that moment.”

“You know it’s against their rules for Kane to feed from you. Right?”

“They have rules about who they can feed from? The donor thing.”

“I know it sounds crazy, but it’s the only way for them to protect themselves. They are to feed from donors only. Do the others know?”

Cara thought about the conversation she had walked in on earlier this morning. She had overheard Kaleb asking Kane if he had bitten her and he had denied doing so. At the time she had wondered about his denial. Now it made sense.

“No. I think the argument I walked in on this morning had to do with them overhearing us having sex. I thought we were being quiet. Apparently not.”

Suzi smiled. “They have very acute hearing.”

Cara’s face heated as she groaned. “Nice to know. That’s certainly embarrassing.”

“Living under the same roof as those three do, I doubt it’s nothing they haven’t heard before.”

The Blood ‘n’ Rave came to mind. No wonder Kane preferred to use Draven’s inner office.

“That may be true, but they were certainly unhappy about the fact it was me. When I walked out of the bedroom, they were arguing with Kane, telling him he’d have to take care of me, ensuring I kept my mouth shut, or they would. Which of course, he agreed to.

“That’s another reason I’m here, Suzi. I can’t go home with this primordial wanting to kill me and I can’t go back to the clubhouse either. I didn’t know where else to go.”

Chapter 17

Kane pulled into the darkened driveway, one lone security lamp lighting the way. He wouldn’t have needed it but was thankful Cara’s house had the small security. This far from town on a cloudy night, her surrounding yard and woods would be pitch black without it. He glanced at his watch. Three-fifteen. Turning the key, he cut the rumble of his bike short. Silence greeted him, other than the sound of crickets and critters scurrying close by through the dense woods. Kane didn’t detect any other sounds, no heartbeat, no breaking twigs, nothing to indicate he wasn’t alone. The air hung heavy with early morning dew, not to mention the promise of oncoming rain.

Thankfully, the Knights’ gun run had gone off without a hitch and the rain held off, allowing him to check on Cara. Kane pulled off his skull cap and dangled it from the handlebar before stepping over the seat of his motorcycle, glancing at the dark house before him. If Cara was here, then she had parked the car in the garage and lowered the door, since her Charger was nowhere in sight. Maybe she hoped to fool the primordial into thinking she wasn’t in residence.

The ancient vampire wouldn’t need to see her car, though. He’d be able to detect the beating of her heart from anywhere near the house, whereas Kane would have to be within. The dark windows yawned before him. Either she was fast asleep or not home. Kane needed to find out, to see for himself that she was safe. The entire evening he hadn’t been able to get his mind off her well-being and hoped like hell the primordial hadn’t found her. Jesus, he didn’t even want to think about the alternative.

Bile soured his stomach.

If anything happened to her, he’d never forgive himself for making her walk out, rightfully pissed, the previous morning. His temper had ruled his mouth. And once voiced, he couldn’t take it back. Cara probably thought him the worst of bastards and he couldn’t blame her. Kane and taken communion from her, fucked her, then threatened to take her life, as if she had meant nothing at all to him. He’d screwed up. Plain and simple. His only hope lay in Cara not believing the condemning words leaving his lips.

Fat chance.

Kane had never given her any reason to trust him. He rubbed a hand down his days’ stubble of beard. Dwelling on her opinion of him wasn’t finding Cara. Pushing off the bike, he headed for the back of the house and stopped just short of the door, trying to detect any movement. The house seemed deathly still.

A hollow ache gripped his chest. Dread washed over him. Reaching for the knob, Kane found the lock held fast. He could have easily twisted the knob, and snapped off the cylinder. But instead of further damaging her door, he used the palm of his hand to break away the plywood nailed over the broken pane, sending the wood skittering across the floor inside. Kane reached through the missing window and turned the lock.

The door creaked inward. Kane stepped into the back room, the soft soles of his boots striking the wooden flooring. By now he should have been staring down the barrel of Cara’s gun. Any good cop would have heard the intrusion the minute he struck the wood covering the broken window. He’d bet his life she wasn’t within.

Why the hell hadn’t he insisted the Sons do the run without him, hunted down Cara and insisted she take his offered protection? Instead, he had allowed her to walk out of the clubhouse and take her chances with the ancient vampire. An encounter she had no hope in surviving. Only his loyalty to the Sons had kept him from chasing her down and shaking her senseless until she saw reason.

“Cara?” he called out.

Eerie silence greeted him. Kane quickly moved through the kitchen to the living area, then took the stairs to her bedroom three at a time. On the landing, his gaze did a quick sweep of the area, her made bed, the opening to the bathroom. He was completely alone.

Where the hell had she gone?

Detective Hernandez came to mind, though he had no idea how to get in touch with him. Pulling his cell from his jeans’ pocket, he scanned his contact list for the only person who might know how to get a hold of Cara. He touched the number next to Sheriff Ducat’s name. Several rings later came a groggy, “Hello?”

“Tell me Cara’s with you.”

“Who the hell? Kane?” Rustling of bedcovers traveled through the cell’s speaker. “I thought she was staying with you?”

“If she were, I wouldn’t be calling, now would I?”

“Damn it, Kane. You check her house?”

“I’m standing in the middle of it. Trust me, she’s not here. You have any other ideas? Her partner?”

“She wouldn’t go there.”

“Why?”

“Because he has little ones. Whatever danger she’s gotten herself into, she wouldn’t want to place Joe’s family at risk.”

“You sure about that?”

“Positive. She wouldn’t even take my offered help.”

“Friends? Family?”

“She has no family other than her grandfather. He’s in a nursing home here in Pleasant. She wouldn’t be able to stay there. And other than her fellow deputies, I’m not aware of any other friends. At least none that she speaks of.”

“Any other ideas of where she might go?”

“You call her?”

Kane ran a hand through his messed hair and blew out an unsteady stream of air, quickly losing any patience he’d had. “If I had her number, would I be calling you?”

He’d sure as hell change that fact once he found her.

“I’ll call her,” the sheriff said. “Give me a few minutes, then I’ll call you back.”

“Thanks,” Kane said ending the call.

Kane paced to the window and looked out, his thoughts turning to the primordial who had stood over Cara while she slept two nights prior. Anger welled in his gut. The son of a bitch stood within a hair’s breadth of taking her out and easily could have, which told Kane she wasn’t his true target. He was using Cara to flush him out and doing a damn good job of it. He took in a deep breath, hoping to tamp down his rising ire. Getting pissed now would help no one.

Cara’s scent stamped the room, bringing to mind their assignation the night before. If anything happened and this primordial was responsible for hurting her, Kane wouldn’t stop until he hunted the vampire down and severed his head from his shoulders. He’d face the originals for his actions later and not make excuses. This fuck better pray he didn’t touch one hair on Cara’s head.

Her closet doors stood open. Kane peered inside, flipping through several of the garments. Several hangers hung empty at the center of the rod, tempting Kane to believe maybe she had hastily packed a few things hours earlier, although it could have been for her stay at the clubhouse. He slammed the closet doors closed, frustration clawing at him.

He needed to find Cara like yesterday.

Kane walked back to the window and brushed aside the sheer curtains, staring into the night. The primordial was out there somewhere. Kane could feel it in his bones. If he could figure out what the hell he wanted and what his weakness was, he might stand a better chance at catching this vamp.

Kaleb or Gypsy had yet to check in, but he’d lay odds the ride to the Washington border had been without incident. The Knights had shown up on schedule with a commercial van filled with wooden crates carrying illegal firearms. Kane opened the rear doors, peered at the crates, then waved them on. He wanted nothing to do with the deal the Knights had made or who they dealt with. The Sons were in it for the profit and to keep their town free of violence … period. After following the Knights through town, Kane allowed his men to finish the job so he could track Cara before anything untoward happened to her.

The Knights’ timing had sucked.

When Kane slammed his palm against the frame of the window in frustration, the wood split beneath the force. His jaw ached and his ears rang. He hoped to hell his promise to the Knights hadn’t cost him Cara.

The phone vibrated in his hand. Kane turned it over, slid the lock on the face of the smart phone and said, “Where is she?”

“She’s fine, Kane. Mad as a hornet for being tracked down, though.”

“That’s too damn bad.”

“She told me to tell you to go fuck yourself.”

Kane chuckled. “I’m sure she did. Where is she?”

“She spent the night with a friend.”

“Who?” Kane’s ire rose. He didn’t have time to play twenty questions with Ducat.

“Do you know Suzi Stevens?”

“Fuck.”

“I take it that’s a yes.”

“Goodnight, Sheriff.”

Kane stabbed END on the screen, then pocketed his phone. This was about to get ugly.

* * *

“Open the damn door, Suzi.”

Cara bolted upright, startled from a deep sleep. Following the sheriff’s call, she must have been tired enough to fall right back to sleep. After all, given Kane’s history with Suzi, she hadn’t thought that the arrogant jerk would show up here. She should have known better.

“Open the damn door, or I swear to whoever you pray to, you’ll be calling a carpenter to replace your fucking door.”

Nope. Not a nightmare. Crap!

More clamorous pounding came from down the short hall to the foyer. Cara struggled with the knitted quilt wrapping her feet as she tried like hell to wrestle herself free and make herself scarce before Kane came busting through the door. The last thing she wanted to encounter at four in the morning was a pissed-off vampire.

And, boy, did he sound pissed.

Just as she managed to flop from the couch with a thump, banging her knee in the process on the steel and granite coffee table, the sound of splintering wood followed her into the half bath.

“Jesus, Kane,” came from a shocked-sounding Suzi making her way to whatever was left of the door.

Cara had just gotten the restroom door closed before the imposing force made it fully into the apartment with a resounding growl.

“Look what you did to my door!”

“I’ll buy you a new one. Where is she?”

“Who?” Suzi feigned ignorance. “Do you even know what time it is?”

“You know damn well who. The sheriff told me I’d find Cara here. Now go retrieve her before I start breaking down more doors.”

“I highly doubt she’s going to want to see you. Have you completely lost it? Just look at the damage you’ve already done! Damn it, Kane, even I don’t want to see you right now.”

“I’ll fix the door. Now, I’m not leaving here without Cara, so you might as well go get her. She’s not safe with you.” He paused and Cara bet his facial expression was murderous. “I think I’ve just proven that point.”

“Of course, it’s not now, you big oaf! You just made firewood out of my door. Don’t even think to start on the bathroom door!”

Cara leaned her ear against the bathroom door, trying to better hear their conversation. Something bounced off the wood, jarring her head. She quickly backed up, fearing Kane might just make good with his promise and start with the door separating them next.

“If you two think that door was any kind of a barrier between you and a vampire hell bent on getting in, then you’re both seriously delusional.”

“Obviously.”

Cara couldn’t allow Suzi to take any more of Kane’s ill temper, not when it should’ve been focused on her. She had been the coward, the one to run.

Opening the half bath’s door, Cara stalked into the room, shoulders squared. She’d take the bull by both horns and not give him the satisfaction of seeing her cower. Cara gripped the afghan tightly about her breasts, although Kane had already seen all there was to see beneath the thin tee she wore as a nightshirt.

“What do you want, Kane?”

“Get your things, Detective.” His anger rose from him like waves off hot asphalt in July. No doubt he was plenty angry he had to come looking for her. “You aren’t staying here.”

“I was perfectly safe until you came traipsing in, making kindling of Suzi’s door.”

Kane raised one brow. “Exactly the reason I needed to come retrieve you. You two need your heads examined if you think that Suzi is a better match for this primordial than I.”

“I’m safe, or at least I was, because no one knew I was here.”

“I found you easy enough.”

“Because you talked the sheriff into helping you.”

Kane shrugged, not feeling guilty in the least for his cavemen antics.

“Really, Kane. What were you thinking? If this ancient vampire didn’t know where I was before, he probably does now. You led him straight to Suzi’s door.”

“He’s not after Suzi.”

“No, but now my association with Suzi puts her in danger as well.”

His brows met over the bridge of his nose, clearly perplexed at Cara implying this was his fault. “Don’t blame me for involving her. That was your decision. You chose to come here over my protection.”

Kane glanced from Cara to Suzi, grumbling beneath his breath, something sounding darn close to boneheads.

How dare he?