Fire Within

Page 24

“Um, I guess.” She really didn’t want to talk about the past tonight. “Samuel, it was nice to meet you.” She turned to Andreas. “It’s late. I should be going. I still have patrol.”
“Have you looked outside recently? No self-respecting evil doer is out in this weather. And you have not met the rest of my staff and housemates. In light of the situation, they’ll need to know who you are.”
What situation? Ari wondered. Yesterday’s attack or their dating?
She glanced at the window. The rain was coming down in sheets, and lightning flashed now and then; a typical Midwest summer storm brought on by the excessive heat earlier in the day. “Looks like Mother Nature’s on your side.” Actually, he was right about meeting his staff, and she had to admit she was happy to have an excuse to prolong the evening. She’d never before spent so much time in harmony with Andreas. She flashed him a smile. “At least for now, lead on.”
In the next room, four vampires and three weretigers jumped to their feet when Andreas opened the door. Ari got the impression their boss didn’t often make unannounced visits.
When Andreas had introduced Ari, a vampire he’d identified as Cedric came over to them.
“We haven’t met before, but I’ve heard your name.” Cedric said to Ari. “Are you working on the murders? Jules was a friend.”
“Yes, we’re working with the PD. I’m sorry about your friend. Were you close?”
“Close enough to miss him.”
“My regrets also,” Andreas said. “I was not aware of your friendship. It there anything you can tell us that might identify his killer?”
“Not that I can think of. He spent most of his time with Lorraine. Griped about the counseling she insisted on, and her family, but nothing else I remember.”
“What did he say about the counseling?” Ari asked, curious to hear Jules’s side of the story, even if second hand.
“Something made him uncomfortable, reluctant to go back. Something ‘weird’ I think he said. They quit going after the bonding, and Jules was happy about that.”
Weird, huh? Ari quirked her lips. Wasn’t that the definition of counseling?
After they spent a brief time talking with the others vampires and weretigers, Andreas and Ari left. Once they were back in the hallway, Ari asked him about the weretigers.
“Is there a reason you chose that lycanthrope group?”
“There was a reason two hundred years ago. Members of this same family have been with me that long.”
“Really? That’s tremendous loyalty.” She smiled to herself when he caught her hand as they walked toward the stairs. “Tell me the story behind it.” She loved listening to him talk; the whisper of Italian in his voice would sound good reading the tax code. Hearing pieces of his fascinating history was an added bonus.
“Their human grandfather worked in our vineyards. He was infected while defending my uncle from a weretiger attack. At that period in history, werecreatures were thought to be evil.” Andreas pulled her to him and slipped his arm around her waist as they started down the staircase. “They were hunted and executed. My family sheltered him, kept his secret. When I returned from England as a vampire, I recruited him for my personal staff. His children and their children have remained in my service.”
Ari was impressed with his beautiful home and his loyal, competent staff. No security worries here. The club was his only vulnerable spot, and she intended to keep working on it.
“I’d love to hear the rest of your history,” she said, tipping her head to look up at him, “but not tonight. It’s time I went home. Raining or not.”
“You could stay here.”
Ari shook her head. “Not a good idea.”
“There are three guest suites,” he said, as if he hadn’t heard her. “You would like Chantilly.”
“I’m not staying.” She pulled a step ahead.
Reaching the second floor, Andreas turned south, grabbed her hand again, and opened a door at the end. “Tell me what you think.”
White with blue trim. Crisp and feminine. A four-poster bed with a lace canopy dominated the room. 18th or 19th century, whenever they made the furniture with the fancy bowed legs.
“Chantilly Suite,” he said simply.
The floors gleamed of cherry wood, but the doors, framing, and wainscoting were white. A soft white rug under the bed, a snowy canopy and matching lace swags contrasted with the blue drapes at the windows. The bed covering was icy blue; several dark blue pillows were tossed on top. On the left was a small private lounge; a private bath and spa on the right.
“It’s beautiful.” She looked at him. “Did you choose the decor?”
His voice lit with pleasure. “I did. It is mostly Queen Anne.”
“A man of many talents. You know women even better than I thought you did.”
“I am glad you like it,” he said smoothly, ignoring the other implications.
Who had inspired this room? How many women had he entertained here? Disturbing to think about, but Ari knew he hadn’t been a monk. She’d drive herself crazy if she delved into that part of his past.
“It’s perfect,” she said. “Who wouldn’t like it? But I’m still going home.” No way was she staying in the same house with Andreas. Not ready for that. There was too much chemistry between them for a simple sleepover.
“Then I will drive you,” he said, accepting her decision. “No need for you to get soaking wet.” He pointed down the staircase. At the bottom, they exited into a four-car garage with two black vans, a silver Lexus SUV, and a sleek, black Ferrari. Andreas opened the passenger door of the Ferrari, and Ari slid onto the luxurious seat.
The car purred its way through the wet city streets, putting an end to the evening. When Andreas pulled over in front of her apartment building, she leaned over with a quick kiss. She wasn’t quick enough. He caught her and pulled her against him, deepening the kiss. When he ran his tongue over her lips, she opened for him. By the time the kiss ended, Ari thought the windows must be steaming.
Andreas gave her a wry grin. “Sweet dreams, cara mia.”
Stifling a reluctant sigh, Ari jumped out into the rain without waiting for him to get wet too, and sprinted for the building. She closed her apartment door and leaned against it. Andreas’s kiss lingered on her mouth. She had a lot to think about. Until those last moments, he’d been on his best behavior tonight, the perfect gentleman, asking nothing of her. And he had let her into his private life. A big step for both of them, but no matter what her racing pulse thought, she didn’t want to rush the other steps. No hurry, she thought, a warmth growing inside. All the best wines took time.
Chapter Ten
By morning the rain had become intermittent, providing a low canopy of clouds. Despite the threatening skies, Ari completed her morning run and took a quick swing through Goshen Park. Everything there appeared to be in order. She sprinted the rest of the way home and jumped in the shower. The first of two office appointments rescheduled from yesterday were due in less than an hour. Before then, she intended to check in with Ryan as promised.
On her way out the door, Eddie West called her cell.
“You sound cheerful,” Ari said. She closed the door behind her and hurried toward the Magic Hall.
“You bet! Any day out of jail is a good one.” His voice had a grin in it. “But I heard about the latest shooting. Was Andreas hurt?”
“He’s fine. No one was hurt.”
“Is this connected to the other shootings?”
“Who’s asking? Eddie the concerned friend or Eddie the crime reporter?”
“We’re inseparable. But most of the facts were in the police report. I’ve already read it. I’ll only print what’s public info,” he coaxed. “Isn’t my time of incarceration worth something?”
“Actually, it’s a good reason not to discuss the case with you. But off the record, we haven’t ruled out anything. The shots at Andreas were from a drive-by. The earlier incidents were up close and personal.”
“But the victims are all vampires. And the perp was someone with a gun. A human’s choice of weapon. Got a vamp stalker, don’t we?” His voice held suppressed excitement.
“Whoa! That sounds like a headline-in-the-making to me. Exactly the kind of speculation we don’t want tossed about. There’s no proof for that theory, Eddie. The cause of death in both murders is undetermined.”
“Wait a minute. Undetermined? The two victims weren’t shot? When was that decided?”
“No comment. And that’s official. So drop it. You’ve got all you’re getting. And don’t you dare print any unsubstantiated speculation.”
“OK, guess I owe you one.” Eddie sighed. “Can we at least talk about what happened at the club? That was a gun, right? The police report said Andreas specified a handgun.”
“Yes, it was a drive-by.”
“So are you thinking this is different than the murders? A copycat, basing his actions on the earlier press accounts? Or was this personal? Andreas must have enemies.”
“Good questions, but I don’t have the answers yet. Give it a rest, Eddie. Take off your reporter hat, and tell me how you’re doing. And how Lorraine’s doing.”
“Oh, well, it’s amazing how sweet life can look after being locked up for days.” He laughed, the sound a little forced. “And my sister? She’s getting by. I still don’t understand how my gentle sister could fall in love with a vampire, but I’m trying to be supportive. Mother’s no help, not now that Lorraine knows how much she hated Jules. But don’t try to change the subject. How’s this trouble at Shale’s agency fit it with the murders? Or does it?”
“What trouble do you mean?” she asked cautiously.
“You haven’t heard? Saw it coming to work. Somebody spray painted their building in big red letters, HOUSE OF MONSTERS.”