Page 29 of Rescued By the Vampire Assassin

She reached out with her preternatural hearing, filtering through the cacophony of city noise until she locked onto the voice she sought. Pluto Germaine's nasal tones drifted down to her as clearly as if he were sitting in the car with them.

"...assure you, Mr. Dalca, that the next shipment will be even larger. My employees are quite enthusiastic about our new 'health initiative.'"

Keri's eyes snapped open. "Chrissy, upper left window. We've got company."

Chrissy swung her camera up, capturing rapid-fire shots of the two men visible in Germaine's office. "Got it. Oh my, who's the tall, dark, and deadly type?"

"That would be Constantin Dalca," Keri replied, her brow furrowing. "Looks like the Dalca clan is expanding their operation."

"Dalca, huh?" Chrissy mused. "He's certainly easy on the eyes."

Keri raised an eyebrow. "Really? I don't see it. Now Joshua, on the other hand..."

"Oh please," Chrissy groaned dramatically. "Spare me the 'my mate is the hottest vampire alive' speech. Some of us are still enjoying the single unlife, you know."

Their banter was cut short as Keri held up a hand for silence. Her eyes widened as she focused on the conversation above.

"Mr. Dalca, I hope you understand the risks I'm taking," Germaine was saying, his voice oily with false concern. "If certain parties were to discover the true nature of our arrangement – or indeed, the true nature of your kind – well, let's just say the consequences could be... explosive."

Keri's fists clenched. "That rat bastard is blackmailing them," she hissed. "Chrissy, tell me you got that."

"Every word," Chrissy confirmed, her camera clicking rapidly. "Along with some very incriminating body language. Victor's going to love this."

No sooner had the words left her mouth than a commotion erupted in the building's lobby. Security guards poured out, their eyes scanning the street.

"Time to go," Keri said, adrenaline surging through her.

They abandoned the car, melting into the shadows with inhuman speed. She and Chrissy scaled the side of a building in seconds, leaping from rooftop to rooftop with exhilarating ease.

Behind them, shouts of confusion rose from the streets below. Keri allowed herself a small, satisfied smirk. Six months ago, such a chase would have terrified her. Now, it was little more than an invigorating warm-up.

They didn't slow their pace until the glittering lights of the Nicolau estate came into view. As they approached the wrought-iron gates, familiar scents washed over Keri – the earthy musk of the gardens, the subtle chemical tang of the indoor pool, and underneath it all, the comforting blend of scents she'd come to associate with home.

The gates swung open silently, and Keri felt the tension in her shoulders ease. Vampires lounged on the manicured lawn or strolled along winding paths, calling out greetings as Keri and Chrissy passed.

"Nice work tonight, ladies," a tall, elegant vampire named Elara said, falling into step beside them. "Victor's waiting for you in the war room."

Keri nodded her thanks, exchanging a quick glance with Chrissy. They'd barely set foot inside the mansion when a familiar scent hit Keri like a physical force. Her head snapped up, eyes locking onto the figure descending the grand staircase.

Joshua.

He looked as breathtaking as ever, his dark hair slightly mussed, clothes bearing the faint signs of recent exertion. Their eyes met, and Keri felt that same jolt of electricity she'd experienced the first time they'd kissed.

"Ladies," Joshua said, his voice a low purr that sent shivers down Keri's spine. "Successful hunt?"

"Very," Keri replied, unable to keep the pride from her voice. "You?"

A dangerous smile played at the corners of Joshua's mouth. "Let's just say a certain problem won't be troubling us again."

He closed the distance between them in two long strides, pulling Keri into a kiss that made her toes curl. She melted against him, savoring the taste of him, the solid strength of his arms around her.

"Get a room, you two," Chrissy teased, but her tone was affectionate.

Keri reluctantly pulled away, though she kept her hand entwined with Joshua's. "Later," she promised, her voice husky. "Right now, we've got a debrief to attend."

The war room was already crowded when they entered. Victor Nicolau, the clan's patriarch, sat at the head of a long table, his ageless face betraying nothing but polite interest as Keri and Chrissy made their report.

As Chrissy's photos flashed across the room's state-of-the-art display screens, Keri felt a swell of pride. This was what she'd been born to do – uncover the truth and protect the innocent, whether human or vampire. The fact that she now had the strength and speed to back up her investigations was just icing on the cake.

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