Part 12 (1/2)
I have to go, but I'll get help.
Where?
I don't know where. You just hold them off for as long as you can.
Isn't this what you wanted?
You know you tore my heart out when you left me for that human wh.o.r.e, but this is not what I wanted.
She felt his remorse. I never wanted to hurt you, but I couldn't help that you weren't my bloodl.u.s.t. You know I had no choice. I either pursued her or risk losing my mind, but I never wanted you hurt.
To her surprise, tears stung her eyes because she knew he spoke from the heart. And she understood. One had to pursue one's bloodl.u.s.t, as she had pursued him. For the first time, she looked at him and saw not a male who had broken her heart, but one who no longer held power over her. If she could manage to somehow get them both out of this mess alive, she could finally get on with the new phase of her life.
This is not what I intended. I'll get help. Hold on!
He inclined his head.
She flung Lina across the room and then flashed past the four vampires in a blur. She fled at full speed until she was several miles from the cellar. Only then did she slow down and pull out her cell phone. Breathing deeply, she dialed a familiar number in Boston. She paused, her finger hovering over the b.u.t.ton that would connect the call.
If she called Palea Dumont, she might be signing her or her remaining sisters' death warrants. Mikhel's mother would surely be furious when she realized that Deoctra had set the plan in motion that had resulted in Mikhel's being kidnapped, tortured and raped. And then there was the question of what was happening to Serge in Africa. Although she didn't think Bellamonte would physically harm Serge, she couldn't swear to it.
She shook her head, holding the phone against her chest. No. She couldn't call Palea Dumont. She glanced back the way she had come. She couldn't call Palea, but she couldn't leave Mikhel to be raped either.
This was a h.e.l.l of a time for Falcone to disappear.
What could she do? Who could she call to help save Mikhel who would understand that she had never intended to put him in the position he was now in? Aleksei was out of state and couldn't arrive in time to help Mikhel. She feared Tatiana's reaction. That left Vladimir. Although she knew from Vitali that he felt no particular affection for Mikhel, he surely wouldn't allow Lover and the others to rape him. And he, of all Palea' s children, would be more inclined to understand how easily hastily made plans could go wrong.
She punched out his number and placed the phone against her ear.
”Are you going to tell Tatiana and the others?”
Vlad stopped pacing the length of the living room he shared with his bloodl.u.s.t Adam Cady. He looked at the handsome blond whose love had begun the mental healing process for him. ”No.”
Adam, seated on the loveseat with the Keddi, Slayer, perched on his shoulder, frowned. ”You're going after him by yourself?”
”Who says I'm going after him at all? How do I know she isn't lying? She's had it in for Mikhel ever since he dumped her for Erica. And she has reason to hate me. I nearly killed her. If she thinks I'm going to walk into a trap, she's sadly mistaken.”
Adam exploded off the loveseat. ”I heard the urgency in her voice, Vladimir. She wasn't lying. You have to get to him-and you have to get to him before they rape him.”
Vlad bared his incisors. ”What makes you think that thought bothers me? His tight a.s.s could use a f.u.c.king.”
Adam crossed the room and stared at him, his blue eyes blazing. ”I don't believe you just said that. You take your jealous a.s.s out of here and you rescue him, Vladimir, or I swear, I'll never forgive you.”
Slayer, a sentient shape-s.h.i.+fter who had pledged allegiance to Vlad's son, Etienne, and was currently s.h.i.+fted into the shape of a miniature Vladimir, flew off Adam's shoulder. He hovered in the air in front of Vladimir's face, his tiny chest puffed out. ”Slayer go with Father to protect little brother.”
”Later, Slayer,” he said and turned his attention back to Adam. ”What? Are you threatening me?”
”Call it what you like. If you think I'll stay with you, knowing you turned your back on your own brother when he needed you most, you're an ignorant a.s.s fool.”
Vlad glared at Adam. ”Don't threaten me.”
Adam's hand shot out, his palm stinging his cheek. ”It's not a threat, you ignorant b.a.s.t.a.r.d. You take your sorry a.s.s out of here and you rescue him or I'll never speak to you again.”
Adam lifted his hand to slap him again. This time Vlad caught Adam's wrist before his palm could connect with his face. ”Slap me again and-”
Slayer, clearly agitated and uncertain whose side he wanted to be on in the dispute, resumed his natural form, that of a tiny, majestic gray wolf, and flew across the room to the mantel to watch.
Adam jerked his wrist away and slapped Vlad again. ”And what? What will you do? Beat me? Go ahead. It's not like you have anything better to do-like save your little brother. What do you think Aleksei is going to say when he finds out you allowed Mikhel to be hurt when you could have saved him?”
Vlad bared his incisors. ”Don't you throw Aleksei in my face!”
”No. I shouldn't. I mean, it's not as if you're half the vampire or big brother he is. It's an insult to him to even mention his name in the same breath as yours.”
Vlad clenched a hand into a fist and swung it up toward Adam's face.
Adam lifted his chin and stared at him, his blue eyes filled with what looked like hatred. ”Go ahead. Hit me. It's not as if you haven't done it before. It's what I've come to expect from you.”
Adam's reference to the time a year earlier when Vlad had lost his temper and knocked him out sent a chill of remorse through Vlad. He dropped his hand to his side and stepped back. ”Why are you doing this? Why are you trying to push my b.u.t.tons?”
Adam shook his head. ”I'm trying to reach you, Vladimir. You can't stand by and not help him. I've called Katie and Palea, but I can't reach them. You're the only family member who knows where he is. Please help him.”
”No.””For me?”Vlad stiffened and narrowed his gaze. ”Why should you care about him?””I care about him because Katie is my best friend and she loves him. He's her big brother. And I care about him because he has some of the same blood running through his veins as you do. G.o.d knows why, but I love you. Help him, Vladimir.” Adam touched his cheek. ”For me?”
”f.u.c.k you.” He flashed out of the room. Slayer s.h.i.+fted back to a miniature of Vlad- complete with long, silky dreadlocks and blue eyes-and flew after him. At the front door, he turned and took a deep breath. He glanced back toward the living room where he could hear Adam pacing. He stroked a finger down Slayer's cheek. ”Go back and protect him,” he said softly.
Slayer shook his head. ”Go with Father. Slayer warrior cla.s.s Keddi... strong and fierce. Protect Father's back.”
Having the diminutive creature call him father always gave Vlad a secret thrill. He smiled. ”Stay here and protect Father's interest.”
”Want to help,” he protested.
”I know. If something happened to Adam... ”
Slayer expanded his chest. ”Will stay and protect.” He leered at Vlad. ”Maybe f.u.c.k tight a.s.s too.”
Vlad laughed. Slayer had been in l.u.s.t since meeting Adam, as Vlad himself had been. ”In your dreams,” he said and left the house.
Hurt and angry at Adam's words, Vlad sat in the darkened cab of his SUV. d.a.m.n Adam and everyone else who expected him to go charging to the rescue like Aleksei. He was not Aleksei. Why the h.e.l.l did everyone keep telling him what Aleksei would do?
Aleksei could risk his life to save the worthless Mikhel, but d.a.m.n if he would. Recalling his enigmatic conversation with Vitali, he realized the other vampire had probably approved Mikhel's kidnapping. If Vlad attempted to interfere with the Brotherhood's plans, he'd have to face them down by himself. Although he normally didn't fear death, he had begun lately to think life just might be worth living after all. Not only did he have a bloodl.u.s.t, he had a son he was fiercely proud of and a sister-in-law who happily welcomed him into her bed and arms whenever he felt a need for love with a woman.
There was no way in h.e.l.l he was going up against a bunch of crazy vampires to save Mikhel. The dumba.s.s baby vamp had gotten himself into his present s.h.i.+t, he could get out the same way.
Vlad slammed his foot on the gas pedal and sent his SUV speeding down the road in the opposite direction from where Deoctra had said Mikhel was being held. Held and tortured. Possibly gang raped by centuries-old vampires.
He swallowed slowly. The vampires involved knew Vlad and knew Mikhel was his brother. Although Mikhel was a brother Vlad didn't give a d.a.m.n about, he was a brother nonetheless. Many vampires felt no affection for their relatives. Everyone who knew Vlad knew he and his siblings would gladly die to protect each other. The vampires holding Mikhel knew he was Vlad's brother... his little brother. Knowing that, they still dared to touch him?
Without conscious thought, Vlad took the first off-ramp he came to, turned his SUV around, got back on the interstate and sped down the highway. G.o.d help any state trooper foolish enough to try to stop him. An hour later, he stopped outside a dilapidated motel. Leaving the engine running and the keys in the ignition, he jumped out of the SUV and rushed inside the dark building.