Page 9 of The Vampire's Vendetta

Minutes later, he gave up the twisty turns, and the sunlight came from the front of the car, landing on her lap. Based on the time of year—late summer—and the type of vehicle—a large SUV or truck by the climb into the seat—the clock either read around ten thirty in the morning or around three in the afternoon. She’d have a better idea when she could take off this damn blindfold. The mere idea of the fabric obscuring her vision threatened to distract her once more. Dammit. She was a professional and knew better than to allow a man to divert her attention from her situational assessment.

His voice broke into her mental ass-kicking. “What’s your real name? Not Karen.”

She debated on telling him. The truth seemed to be a better idea. Despite the equality Phillip appeared to promote, not many women would be recruited by a demon for his security forces. He might discover the truth from her former coworkers if she lied.

“Caro. Carolyn Kavenaugh.” Let’s see if he’d return the favor. “What’s yours?”

“Ryn.”

“No last name?”

“I don’t claim a last name any longer.”

She sucked in a breath with his sterile words. For a demon to forsake his family name meant bad blood. Could this be why he sought to help the innocents destroyed by his clan mates? He turned the vehicle, and she noted the warm sunlight fell across her shoulder. “Your decision or theirs?”

For a moment, he didn’t answer. In the silence, her senses sharpened once more, picking up his breathing, which he’d now evened, and the warm notes of his scent, which she responded to entirely too much.

“Mine.” From the careful way he enunciated the word, a story lay there. “You can take off the blindfold now.”

The curious feeling of not being ready to remove the soft silk invaded her, but she pushed past the idea and brought her hands to the back of her head. He’d tied the knot tighter than he needed to, and instead of using her shaky fingers to undo the tangle, she pushed the fabric from her eyes. The harsh light caused her to blink. Once her vision adjusted, she marveled at the lovely day with the clear blue sky. The transition to autumn in the San Francisco area could be beautiful when Mother Nature allowed.

By the skyline, they were still in the city proper. Lord Lequare had once centered his legitimate business affairs in a posh downtown building, and she knew the area well.

Ryn had been driving for about ten minutes. His building had a freight elevator. The car had probably been on the street level since they didn’t go up or down a ramp to her memory. The facility smelled old-building musty. With those few clues, she’d not likely locate where she’d been kept. She tucked away what she did know for future use and turned her gaze to the male driving the vehicle.

His left hand wrapped around the steering wheel, making the adjustments, applying the indicator as necessary, leaving his right arm on the console between them. Relaxed way to drive or easy way to block her should she attack? She bet on the latter.

“Thank you.”

“For what?” He turned his head and pinned her with a dark gaze, one which seemed to carry a hunger. For blood, most likely.

Damn libido. First thing she’d do? Head to the shower and rub one off. Her hormones were making her stupid. Gah. He waited for her answer. “Thank you for letting me take off the blindfold.”

He turned his attention back to the road with a tighter grip on the wheel and guided the SUV to a stop at a traffic light. His hand moved to his phone, which he’d situated in a holder. “What’s your street address?”

“I can direct you once you’re close.” Sure, he would probably remember, but electronically retained data in the wrong hands could bring death. Caro didn’t even trust her sister to know she still lived, let alone that she’d changed to a vampire. She’d already trusted Ryn far more than any other being in her adult life. Sure, she didn’t have a choice at the time, yet she still marveled at the unfamiliar sensation.

His slight grunt of acceptance when she denied him her address allowed her to breathe again. For two years she’d been reminded that demons were to be obeyed. She did everything she could to stay within those parameters, short of abusing humans, though she’d been the butt of snide remarks for her stance. Everything else, though, from killing her lord’s enemies to ensuring his safety, she carried out with a professionalism second to none. The more she’d appeared to be a good soldier, the easier she’d lulled the demons and vampires around her into a false sense of security. Now, being able to say yes or no with impunity—well, reasonable impunity—felt like a blessing. Goodness knew, she’d had little enough of that lately. If she’d chafed at government regulations, Sanguis rules brought big water blisters.

The next ten or so minutes flew by in silence until the surroundings demanded she guide him. “Turn right at the next light.”

Multiple turns later, he pulled up to the aging apartment building.

“Here?” His lip held the suggestion of a derisive curl.

She’d learned Clan Sanguis members were largely impressed with the trappings of wealth and power. This neighborhood on the edge of Hunters Point said lower-middle-class shabby, what many might call dangerous. “Rents are ridiculous in the Bay Area. Without a sponsoring family and their patronage, I choose to live simply.”

“Invested your government salary wisely?” The deadpan tone carried the slightest hint of sarcasm, no doubt from her earlier comment regarding her savings.

“No reason to waste money.” No reason for him to hang around, either, attracting attention with his new, expensive SUV when many other cars around had numerous years, tens of thousands of miles, countless paint jobs, and possibly faked titles under their belts.

She reached for the door’s handle and pulled, swinging open the heavy panel. “Call me when you need me. I’ve got a couple of things I might need to accomplish in the next week or so, but I’m flexible.” Anticipation streaked through her at the prospect of ruining another blood smuggler. She’d gotten a lead on the big fish. Maybe this time she could take him and his whole group out, rather than merely destroying product. They wouldn’t be able to prey on humans and HPs if they no longer lived.

“Be ready. I think I might have a use for you, Carolyn Kavenaugh.”

When her gaze returned to him, her blood-thirsty fantasies were replaced with sinful lust by the heat in his stare.

What she mumbled she didn’t know. She slipped from the seat, slammed the door, and didn’t look back while she completed what would most likely appear as a walk of shame. Escaping his presence topped her list, even if her refuge appeared in the guise of her dismal, rundown, safe apartment.

---