Page 12 of Addicted in Blood
“Devon modified the house to provide your own living space while keeping you hidden from society.”
She nodded.“Yes.He thought I’d recover quicker if I was around family.I don’t think anyone could argue for a sanitarium over being at home, even if my activities had to be curtailed.In actuality, those first years were the quiet times.I never spoke and rarely ate.Devon made me drink blood each month to maintain my body, only allowing a reprieve if I’d eaten well since the last feeding.When I began coming out of my initial break, my actions became more volatile.Devon still refused to send me away.He searched for a healer that could treat me at home.Dozens were interviewed by Devon and Sergi before Madame Saldano came along.Not many practice the psychic arts, and those that do keep it to themselves.I think Uncle Decker found her.”
I’d chosen an inappropriate time to sip tea when her last words hit me, and I almost spit the liquid across my lap.Uncle Decker?He didn’t look like uncle material to me, but I’d only met him as a shifter and a friend of Devon’s.
“Over the decades, the improvements were slow but steady.Most of the bad dreams went away, replaced with…” again, she struggled with the right word, “…better dreams.”
I wasn’t convinced she’d vocalized her preferred word, and I wondered if she’d modified it for my benefit.Either way, she had opened the door for my reason for coming here, but I decided to let her finish her story.
“I still have a few bad dreams.”She set down her cup, which had begun to shake.“I think he’s blocking them.”The last words were whispered so low I barely heard them.
I leaned forward to ask a question when the door to her suite opened.
“Lyra?Simone would like to see you now.”Sergi came from around the entryway and stopped.“What are you doing here?”
It seemed the third floor was still off-limits.And damn if that man didn’t have the worst sense of timing.
“She’s visiting me.”Lyra stood and brushed out the soft wrinkles in her tunic.She turned to me as I stood and held out her hand, which I grasped.She pulled me close, and I could feel the strength of her grip.Not just human strong—but vampire strong.I had to remember this slight woman could mop the floor with me without breaking a sweat.
Her lips brushed my ear as she leaned in.“I know you want to talk about the dreams.But you need to visit New Orleans first.Then we can talk.”She kissed my temple then turned around, clapping her hands together.“Let’s see what Simone has in store for me.”She hooked her arm around Sergi’s and led him toward the door.
It took me a second to remember to follow, but I didn’t need to worry.
“Stop visiting the household and get your bags ready,” Sergi barked over his shoulder.“We leave in fifteen minutes.”
Killjoy.
ChapterEight
Jacques droveus to the private airport just south of town.I swayed in time with Sergi as the sedan took the corners at breakneck speed.We were running late, and I had to make an effort not to gloat that the delay hadn’t been my fault.I’d been ready, bag packed, and waiting on the front porch within the fifteen minutes Sergi had given me.I wasn’t going to start the trip with him pissed at me.
First, something went wrong with the limo, so they had to bring out one of the sedans.Then Simone needed Sergi for something, and soon the fifteen minutes had grown to an hour.Sunset wasn’t far away when Sergi sprang from the front door, grabbed my arm, and raced us down the steps.
I wanted to ask about the wait, but the look on his face suggested it was safer if I didn’t.So, I hid my grin and watched the buildings whiz by.
“Yes.I understand.”Jacques tapped the headset he always wore and glanced in the rearview mirror.“I’m sorry to bother you, but Simone called.They found Devon and have him pinned down in an alley in the Hollows.She would like us to stop by.”
Sergi tugged his shirt sleeves, spending time to straighten his cuff links before he answered.“Tell her we’ll stop, then call the pilot and let them know we’ll be another hour.”
Fear gripped me.This was good news—or I had assumed it was.But Sergi’s expression was grim, and my stomach twisted at what we’d find.When I replayed Jacques’s words, the only ones that kept repeating were “they have him pinned down.”The sedan accelerated, which didn’t seem possible with our earlier speed, and soon I recognized the streets of the Hollows.
I was expecting cop cars with flashing lights and barricades, throngs of nosy people, and a crush of media vans.Instead, the streets were quiet.Two vans were parked in an alley, and men dressed in black with matching knit caps were splitting up, some running to doorways along the street, others climbing fire escapes.They all carried rifles, and I involuntarily reached for Sergi’s arm.He scooted close to look out my side window.
“What’s wrong?”
“The men with rifles.”
He sat back and patted my hand, which somehow made the situation worse.“They’re part of Devon’s assault team.The bullets are silver and only meant to slow him down, assuming they can get close enough.”
“Why so few people?I was expecting…I don’t know.More.”
“We want this done quickly and quietly so the Eliminators aren’t informed.This is Decker’s doing.”
That made sense.If the vamp authorities didn’t know where he was, it would slow them down if the time came for them to step in.But if Devon couldn’t control his bloodlust, someone could end up dead.The last thing they needed was the human cops getting involved.
Jacques parked across the street from the vans.When Sergi got out, I didn’t wait and jumped out my side.And ran right into his chest.Damn, he moved fast.
“It would be better if you waited in the car.”His gaze was stony.It was the death stare he gave me during workouts.It was scary.But I’d seen it dozens of times, and the effect didn’t have the same bite anymore.
