Her dad closed his mouth, looked about to elaborate on her disobedience, but resumed with a professional air. “When we turned up at Garrett’s garden house, we got word from Jessica that everyone was safe and sound. By the way, Andrew, welcome to The Circle. I’m sure my daughter has already filled you in on everything.”
“She has indeed,” Andrew said, “and I thank you, sir, for allowing me to assist you. As a matter of fact, Tracy told me all about your abduction last year as well as your traveling machinery. I must say I am in complete awe of your extraordinary accomplishments and adventures. I am honored to meet you.”
God, not Andrew as well! Having Garrett drooling over her father’s twisted brain was bad enough, but if his young brother also got into his head to worship him, the whole situation would become pretty insufferable. What the heck was wrong with those men? Why did they need to view her dad as a demigod, and how come she couldn’t grasp the obvious appeal they experienced?
Her father acknowledged the compliment. “Thanks Andrew, I appreciate your opinion.”
“You’re most welcome, sir.”
Her eyes widened when she noticed her dad’s rosy cheeks. Praised by a stranger more than half his age, he blushed like a maiden wooed by her first knight. Unbelievable.
She glanced at Andrew who was watching the gunslinger and the vampire huntress with the same dreamy, wonder-struck expression on his features. Unlike his older brother, he suddenly looked like a teenager fantasizing about mystifying worlds, wild quests, and dangerous adventures.
At first, she thought Andrew felt attracted to Jessica, but now she sensed his desire should be attributed elsewhere. The young man simply wished to lead a different kind of life. Being accepted in The Circle must be so thrilling for him.
Probably figuring they were going to congratulate each other for the next ten minutes, Jake cut the praise short. “Okay, so what’s the deal? What are we up against this time?”
“Vampires. Hundreds of them,” Jessica replied before recounting for all what she’d discovered the previous evening. She soon came to a conclusion.
“It’s bad enough there are so many of them, but to make matters worse, a master vampire is supposed to arrive in London tomorrow night. The way I see it, we’re well outnumbered, we can’t fight them in the open and we’re running out of time. What do you think we ought to do? Any suggestions?”
Jake threw one of his legs over the arm of the seat and moved his hand to touch his Colt. “Where are they?”
Jessica rubbed the side of her nose. “During the day, they gather in an old building by the docks.”
An idea forming in her mind, Tracy sat up straighter. Her spontaneous gesture caused Garrett to utter a quick, harsh sigh. Pleasure warming her belly, she observed the group. “What if we waited for sunrise to set the building on fire? In or out, they’ll all fry like roast chickens.”
Jessica grinned at the mention of fried poultry. In her line of work, jokes about vampires must be scarce.
“Unfortunately, Tracy, that won’t be possible. The river backs the building then it’s open ground all around, and our nearest lookout station is about one hundred feet away. Believe me, I studied their comings and goings from that point last night.”
The huntress paused, looked at the five pair of eyes riveted to her face and slightly shook her shoulders. “We can try to make a run for it,” Jessica continued, “but I’m afraid it would be suicide. Even when they sleep, some of them stand watch by the windows to surveil the perimeter. They have guns, they’d shoot us before we got halfway across.”
Andrew suddenly raised a finger, features lit with youthful hope, eyes sparkling from anticipation. “We can approach by boat.”
He wanted to be included in The Circle and his suggestion sounded sensible.
But Jessica shook her head. “I can’t be positive, but I’m fairly certain the riverside is also watched. No, Andrew, the risk is too high.”
“Let’s steal a fighter aircraft,” Tracy butted in, “and drop a bomb on the lot.”
Had she spoken aloud? She had, given the total lack of understanding painted on her companions’ faces.
Before she had the chance to tell them about her anachronistic josh, her father guffawed. “Actually, that would be handy. A pity I can’t fit one into my telepod.”
Was he really making a joke? With a don’t-listen-to-me motion of his hand, her dad waved away his bout of fun. “Come on, children, we must come up with a solid plan.”
Andrew began fidgeting on the couch, very much like a young stallion. Whether tensing with expectancy, impatience or a keen desire to act, his fretting pushed her hard against Garrett’s body.
She flung her arm forward as much on impulse as to avoid tumbling onto his lap. Her hand landed on his thigh. When she touched him, Garrett sprang to his feet.
He stood before the group, straight-faced in spite of his gut response to her touch. He adjusted his jacket while observing the gunslinger, the vampire huntress, his brother, and his mentor with utmost seriousness.
“We must work from the inside,” Garrett said. “To obtain a victory, infiltrating their ranks shall prove to be a necessity.”
As though boosted or inflamed by his declaration of war, Jake swung his leg over and also stood. “The man is absolutely right. That’s the only way to get information and to strike a deadly blow.”
“I shall do it.” Andrew jumped up, eyes alight with excitement, and caught himself before tripping over his own feet. “I know I can do it.”
Apart from her father, the men were all up, ready for action, ready for war. Some things never changed. Across the coffee table, Jessica sighed and shook her head as if their companions had turned into half-baked teenagers.
Then the vampire huntress rose slowly, arms stretched in a gesture of peace. “Guys, guys, calm down, will you? I hate to dampen your spirits, but what you’re contemplating can’t be done.”
They shut up to stare at her. Although still worked up, disillusion and resentment appeared on their faces. Brow furrowed, fists on hips, Jake looked like his favorite gun had been confiscated.
With a wince, he cocked his head toward Jessica. “What are you saying, darling?”
“Look, Jake, I’ve been hunting those damn creatures my whole life and I know my trade. Vampires smell humans as plain as the nose on your face. They’d see us coming a mile off, any of us.”
After so much exhilaration, the sudden silence that followed Jessica’s statement seemed to weigh on them all like a ton of bricks. Or like a brick wall had crashed down on their heads.
The men’s expressions reminded Tracy of moping tenth graders with their shoulders slumped and long faces. They also looked like wannabe G.I. Joes being shipped home by headquarters because their rifles misfired.
She burst out laughing, unable to stifle the forceful feeling swelling in her. Alone on the couch now, hands on her ribs and stomach to ease irrepressible convulsions, she totally cracked up. Willing herself to cool down felt like pissing into the wind. Worst of all, the sight of the men looking dejected and confused added to her hilarity each time she happened to glance at them.
She needed to get a grip on herself. Now. The whole scene wasn’t even that funny, yet she couldn’t control her reaction anymore. Although unaware of what she had in mind, Jessica grinned, carried away by her genuine glee.
At last rising from his armchair, her father took a step toward the couch. “What is it, Tracy? Do you think it’s funny?”
She shook her head again and again, incapable of uttering a single word, spasms raking her, peals of laughter ripping out of her throat. She knew she had to quench her uncontrollable giggles because the men were by then watching her like an insane woman. Yet she couldn’t, her insides hurting like hell, tears streaming down her cheeks.
“Tracy, are you okay?” Jessica asked, her concerned tone finally taking the edge of her exuberance.
Pushing herself up, Tracy ran out of the room. She went right for the front door, fresh air blowing in her face when she stepped out onto the porch. Breathing in fits and starts, coughing, swallowing to soothe her raw throat, she wiped fat tears from her cheeks.
To take her mind off this uncanny outburst, she focused on the activity in the street, a few steps below. People walked past, wearing expensive suits, top hats, and long, wonderful dresses. They talked to each other with animation or just strolled by, enjoying the mildness of the afternoon.
She gazed at pedestrians, carriages, stray dogs sniffing difficult to identify bundles, all the while taking deep and relieving breaths. As the fit of laughter receded, her pulse slowed down, allowing her to clear her mind as well.
Then her heart jumped.
Whipped with a powerful longing, she didn’t turn her head when two hands settled on her shoulders. She didn’t need to, her body already hungry for the presence behind her.
“How fare you, my lady?”
Why, oh why did Garrett have to speak that way at this precise instant? Why couldn’t he say ‘How are you, Tracy’ like everybody else? Even calling her Miss Richardson would have been fine with her.
But ‘my lady’ instantly transported her back to the unforgettable nights when they’d made love, to the night this out-of-her-reach man had confessed his undying love for her. She repressed a shudder of desire and willed her heart and body to behave.
Focused on his fingers on her shoulders, she licked her lips. “I’m okay, Garrett. Did I worry you?”
He turned her around with little pressure. Her legs wobbled when he cupped her face to look at her, his gaze burning her soul. With the tip of his thumbs, he briefly caressed her cheekbones.
“I admit your sudden irrational behavior puzzled me,” he replied. “Would you care to go inside at present?”
Did that mean he thought of her as a rational woman? Whatever, she’d hold on to that for the time being.
“Sure,” she said, “let’s beard the lion in his den.”
His lips curved into one of his rare smiles. Riveted to his sensual mouth, she had to fight the urge to lean against him, to flatten her breasts against his chest and to let herself be devoured by his maleness. Dear God, how she craved his kiss. But he was already moving aside, grasping her elbow to lead her inside.
And there they were. Jessica, Jake, Andrew, her father, all watching her entrance with questioning looks. Taking comfort from Garrett’s hand on her arm, she came up to them, prepared to crush down all opposition.
Andrew circled the couch and smiled before halting in front of her. “Are you feeling better?”
“Fit as a fiddle, don’t worry about me. I’m sorry I cracked up, guys, it won’t happen again. At least, I hope so.”
Her father expelled a sigh, probably fed up with what he considered a huge waste of time. Blatant reproach oozing from his eyes, he nevertheless took it upon himself to address her in a civilized manner.
“Tell me,” he said with a reproachful tone, “was there a point in imposing this ridiculous scene on us?”
Not so civilized after all.
“Oh, Daddy, never a dull moment with you. Do you really want to hear what I find so funny? Okay, but remember you asked for it. You didn’t want me here because you assumed I wouldn’t be able to help and I’d only be a hindrance. Now I think we’ve reached a dead end. You need a spy to root out your band of vampires, and you won’t find one. One way or the other, you’re screwed. Gosh, it must be so frustrating.”
Her father tipped his glasses up his nose with an irritated gesture. “And? What’s this got to do with you anyway? Or are you going to impart on us some magical insights?”
“Only one, Dad.”
With five influential people around her hanging upon her every word, she allowed herself a brief, affected smirk. “I know someone who can do the job.”
Chapter 9
A whistle came from the left at the same time someone else gasped. Garrett released her arm.
Open mouthed, yet still frowning, her father glared at her. “What did you say?”
“I know someone who can be our spy.”
Frisky and impatient like a stupefied puppy, Andrew squeezed her hand too hard. “Tracy, you’re unbelievable. Who is it?”
Bright, vibrant recollections invaded her mind. Raphael waiting for her perched on the windowsill, dark and cold as night. Raphael ripping throats to rescue her. Raphael holding her in his arms while she cried her heart out over Garrett. Raphael, her guardian vampire who already killed for her.
Sure, she could have told the group a lot about him, including his status as undead citizen, but would they understand? Even if they did, she hadn’t digested her father’s lack of confidence in her. She’d saved his life once, yet he still didn’t trust her, lied to her every chance he got and never included her in his plans.
Guess what, Dad? It’s payback time.
“It doesn’t matter who he is, Andrew,” she said. “I’ll take care of it.”
Her father shook his head before straightening up his glasses in an I’m-the-leader-of-the-group gesture. “Tracy, I’m afraid we’re going to need more information than that. I won’t let you run around God knows where to look for God knows who. It’s far too dangerous.”
“I said I’d take care of it, Dad. I’ll do it my way, no option.”
“Surely you don’t mean that. What if something happens to you and we don’t know where you are?”
She cocked her head in a confident manner, her tone of voice halfway between coldness and mordancy. “Do you want your spy or not?”
“Certainly not like this,” her father replied. “This is a risky business and—”
“Sir?”
Jake Cooper interrupted him, probably thinking that she wouldn’t be swayed and her dad was about to blow a fantastic opportunity.
“With all due respect,” Jake said, “your daughter is giving us the vampire heads on a platter. I believe we should at least discuss the matter.”
“I’m perfectly aware of her intention. I’m not saying Tracy’s wrong, I’m saying it’s too dangerous to be considered.”
They all started talking at the same time as soon as he closed his mouth. Jake, Jessica and Andrew formed a tacit coalition against her father as voices grew louder and fierceness enveloped the animated group. While not really listening to their heated debate, Tracy enjoyed the warm feeling rising in her.
Of course they wanted to accept her hazardous proposition in order to get rid of their enemies, but somewhere along the line their attitude showed they had faith in her. Well, some of them had. To top it all, her dad really seemed to care about her safety. She felt like sighing with contentment.
Beside her, Garrett watched them without participating. She almost shuddered when his lips brushed her ear. “Miss Richardson, we must turn the situation round before it gets out of hand. Would you be willing to agree with me?”
Since when did he ask for her opinion? What got into him to view her as a member of The Circle, as an actual important pawn in the game? And who the hell cared about that? Because she’d agree to anything for him, to feel his warm breath on her ear, to keep his lips so close to her mouth.
“Sure,” she said, “no problem.”
Garrett left her side to move closer to the group and place a hand on her father’s shoulder.
“Should you give me permission, sir, I shall accompany your daughter. I swear I’ll keep her secure from harm.”
Her dad glanced at her, his mildly surprised look making her want to grin.
As she nodded her assent, he turned back to Garrett. “In that case, my boy, you have my permis
sion. Both of you. When will you go . . . wherever you’re going?”
She heard two relieved and thankful sighs from Jake and Jessica. Features bright, Andrew came out with a more enthusiastic ‘hooray.’
Not wishing to dwell on their spontaneous feedback, Tracy answered the question. “Tonight.”
They all seemed to agree with her. Having caught their full attention, she took advantage of the situation to announce her requirement. “There’s one condition, though.”
“Go on,” her father prompted her.
“When it’s all over,” she said, “the person I have in mind is to leave this place safe and sound.”
She observed them all in turn, taking her time before focusing her gaze on the only person she needed to convince. “Do you hear me loud and clear, Jessica? Whatever the outcome, he is to be left unharmed. I mean it.”
The vampire huntress’ smile vanished. A look of understanding darkening her eyes, she hissed between tight lips. “He’s a blood sucker.”
Ignoring Andrew’s overexcited ‘Good Heavens, a real vampire,’ Tracy walked to the beautiful woman and grabbed both her hands. “I want your word, Jess.”
Jake stepped forward to put his arm around Jessica’s shoulder and sink his blue gaze into her eyes. “As far as I’m concerned, if that person helps us he’s free to go, whoever he is. Are you with me, darling?”
His ‘darling’ was still watching Tracy intently. With a deep breath, Jessica let go of her hands before she pulled a funny but sincere face. “I am. Tracy, you have my word I will not harm him in any way.”
While clasping her in his arms, Jake drew Jessica closer to drop a soft kiss on the corner of her mouth. “That’s how I love my woman.”