Page 10 of The Way You Bite
Chapter Three
“Come on, come on. Answer the fricking phone, wolf.” Vee slammed on the brakes at a stoplight and drummed her fingers on the steering wheel. Now fifteen minutes south of Charlotte, she still had another ten to fifteen minutes until she reached the wedding.
She disconnected and dialed again. Roman must be on shift tonight. Even so, he always had his phone on him. Always. Even in surgery.
Finally, on the sixth ring she got a hushed, “Hello?”
“Did you send someone my way tonight?”
Roman spoke in almost a whisper. “Why are you calling me? I was about to go into surgery.”
“I don’t care if it’s not a good time. If you’re going to send someone my way, especially your king, I need a head’s up.”
“What? Who? Hang on, let me go somewhere else.” There was a long pause. Then he spoke in a normal tone. “Okay, better. I haven’t sent anyone your way. After last month you said it was too dangerous for you to continue.”
“Your king, Aleksander Dimitrov, showed up to see me for gunshot wounds. He had one of his bodyguards with him, named Eric. Any comment?”
“I didn’t…I don’t know him. I’ve never met him. You met him? What was he like?”
“Roman! Seriously?”
“He’s like a mythological creature and probably as old as one. Maybe older. There are so many rumors. I’m just curious.”
“He’s not a myth, and he’s very much alive. He wants something but wouldn’t tell me what. He wanted to meet later but I said no. Do you know what he wants?
“No.”
“I don’t think he knew I helped you out from time to time. His visit wasn’t just about getting medical care. He targeted me. This isn’t good.”
“I can ask around. See what I can find out.”
“Thanks.” She disconnected the call.
Vee cornered onto the ostentatious driveway of the Scarpa estate, which sat in the middle of thousands of acres of reclaimed farmland. She braked before continuing to the gate, bringing the car to a halt. For the hundredth time, her mind reviewed Lexan driving by her. Of meeting his pale gaze, glowing in the ambient light from streetlamps. Had he tried to communicate something to her?
She’d detected mental vibrations from him. Maybe it’d been imagination only. Yet, for a brief moment, she’d been mesmerized with longing to drown in his gaze. To keep staring.
Maybe Roman was right. She should turn around. The instinct was so strong that she almost put the car in reverse.
This was her half-sister’s celebration. The event wasn’t about Vee. She could handle her father…unless he was angry. Dominic should be riding on a serious high tonight after brokering this marriage, which united him with the aristocratic families in Canada.
She opened her handbag and pulled out the emerald engagement ring, sliding it onto her ring finger. Showtime.
She rolled forward slowly until the unwelcoming Scarpa estate gate loomed ahead. At least eight guards dressed in standard issue black camos stepped toward her car. A burly guard stooped to her level, allowing his blond flattop to touch the top of the driver’s side window.
“Invitation, please,” he requested.
“It’s me. I’m running late.” Vee forced a smile. She put her left handle on the sill, allowing the emerald to sparkle in the ambient light. This particular vamp gate guard had the IQ of an onion and the bulky body of an anabolic steroid junky. Even vamps could dope.
The burly troglodyte flashed fang and held out an expectant hand. “You look nice tonight, my lady. But I have orders. Security is tight tonight.” He leered down her dress.Hello tittays,he thought.
“I don’t have the invitation.” Vee hid her revulsion at the guard’s fantasized sex-a-thon with him doing things to her breasts that involved biting and pumping.
“Then I’ll have to call up to the house to get an ‘okay’ to let you in.”
“I’m the bride’s sister. Do you think I’m a werewolf wearing a Vee-suit or something?”
“We’re not supposed to let anyone in without an invite tonight. It’s not like you’re a regular here.”
