Page 16 of Shift in the Blood
When was the last time I wanted a woman? Even without the heartbeat, it had been some time. This matter would take finesse, mainly, me keeping myself together so I didn’t leap upon her at the first opportunity and slake all my desires.
Those days were over. You asked permission, and only moved forward if it was granted. While some of my brethren complained, I liked it. There were no misunderstandings.
Well, generally. Sometimes misunderstandings were inevitable. But I’d managed to avoid that for decades.
Three hours later, I leaned back from my desk, feeling immensely satisfied. Maxim Popov didn’t hide as much as he thought. While he’d hidden Clara very cleverly, he wasn’t as careful with a number of his business aspects.
And that left him vulnerable. Regardless of the decision Clara made, I was going to insure that he never bothered her again. I’d also freed up her accounts, which the bastard had frozen. That small fact came up in a financial sweep on Maxim himself. He’d added himself to the accounts at her bank. Not only the one he deposited money into but the other four she had as well. I doubted she even knew it.
Which made me curse at myself. Had we done a more thorough check into Popov, these five accounts would have shown up, and forced me to ask questions. I would have discovered his connection to Clara sooner.
There was nothing to be gained by beating myself up, but it was a lesson learned. So much for the impressive vampire, I thought. Pride goeth before a fall and all that.
There was a knock on the door and then Neville popped his head in without waiting for a response. “I’m going to bring her something to eat.”
“She hasn’t come out or asked for anything?”
He shook his head. “No. I’ll go to her. Don’t worry, boss. If she’s looking for you, I’ll make sure I send for you immediately.” He grinned at my expression and his head withdrew from the door.
“You’d better.” The door was already closing.
I could hear Neville laughing as he walked away. I was lucky to have someone like him who was willing to work with me. Vampire history is littered with tales of vampires betrayed by humans. We’re seen as these all powerful beings, and we are powerful—but we’re also vulnerable.
Neville was a good man. I considered him my friend. Which made me lucky.
My mind returned to Clara. I wished she’d yell my name, or ask to meet, or… or anything.
The silence was going to end me. Slowly, and more effectively than any stake to the heart.
I stared at the wall. Perhaps this was not a good choice. Maybe I should ignore my heart and send her on her way. If she agreed to stay, it would make me vulnerable in ways I’d never been vulnerable before.
Suddenly, I laughed out loud at all my musings. “You sound like an old man.” Talking to myself often helped me to clarify matters. “I am an old man.”
But I didn’t look it. I looked the same as I’d looked four hundred years ago when I was turned. Young, in my twenties. Twenty-eight, to be exact. I’d already been married and widowed when Marcelo found me on the road that night. My poor wife, Cecile, had died during childbirth, with what was our first child. In my grief at her passing, I’d come back to live with my parents for a time, unable to stand the quiet of the house I’d shared with Cecile. Even after all this time, I felt a pang at her loss. She’d been a good woman, and a good wife. I’d loved her. She deserved better than her end.
The same end—death—would come to Clara, as it did for all humans. If she didn’t accept my offer of patronage, I didn’t know what I’d do next. I’d never been interested in offering patronage before, nor had my heart been part of the conversation.
This was new territory.
While it was unnerving, and not a little frightening, it was also exhilarating. It was new. Unknown. Open to possibility.
All of which were in short supply when you’d lived as long as I had.
“Boss.” Neville’s head appeared again.
I hadn’t heard him, or rather, I hadn’t noticed his approach. Sweet Jesu. Clara needed to make a decision so that I could try and gather the remnants of my focus around me once more, a focus that seemed to have disappeared from the moment I smelled the heady scent of her blood and my heart took its first stumbling beat.
Because otherwise, I might get us both killed.
“What?”
“She wants to see you.” He waggled his eyebrows.”
“Did she eat?”
“Like a starving person. She’s determined, that one.” He nodded his approval.
“All right. Thank you.”
