Okay, so I deserve a good kicking. I've been working my fingers to the bone, finishing up the last edit on EH before it goes to the printer on July 1st...and in the interim I've totally neglected my blog. I know, I know. *hangs head in shame* But I'm here today with something very, very special. :)
Now, I have to tell you that what I'm about to share hasn't gone through the final proofread yet because that's done by someone else and not until the entire book has gone through a final edit by me, but I just couldn't wait any longer!!
Behold...Chapter One of Eternal Hearts:
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“Why are we standing on top of a building in the middle of February?”
Drake Black looked over at his friend, Odin Nelek, and laughed at what he was sure to anyone else would've been a crazy question. “We’re standing on top of a building because this is where Jake told me to meet him.”
Odin shook his head as he picked up a steaming slice of pizza from the open box setting on the ledge. “I take it you asked me to bring food and beer because you got another contract already?”
Drake nodded. “I was in the middle of killing the last member of Detroit’s Elder Council when the text came through to meet him here.” He twisted the cap off his beer and took a swig, enjoying the bitter taste of the ice cold liquid as it rolled across his tongue. “Thanks again for grabbing the food. I wasn’t sure I’d have time.” He cast a quick glance down at the empty, snow covered street twenty-five stories below them. “Usually the Folder Gopher isn’t this late.”
“No problem,” Odin offered between bites. “Do you know who you’re supposed to kill next?”
“Nope.” He set his beer on the ledge next to the pizza box then checked his watch. “All I know is my mark’s supposed to be at the building across the street in about an hour.” He grabbed a slice of pizza and folded it in half before he took a bite. “Maybe I’ll get lucky and he’ll be late, too.”
Odin chuckled. “Did you have any problems in Detroit?”
He waited until he finished chewing to answer. “Not really, aside from the usual when I’m taking out an entire Council at once.”
Odin grinned wide. “Let me guess.” He narrowed his blacked-out eyes and stared up at the night sky. “The last Councilor was a woman. I’m gonna go with…a Memory Guild sissy. She barricaded herself under the table, like they all do, then whined and blabbered about buying out your contract before she tried to seduce you. Am I right? Tell me I’m right.”
Drake couldn’t help but laugh. “She did crawl under the table, and she did offer triple my fee and her undying love if I let her go, but she wasn’t a Doll.” He picked up his beer and tipped it towards Odin. “She was an Elder Trump.”
Odin fisted a hand and scrunched up his face. “Damn! I was so close, so very, very close.” He grumbled something unintelligible then jumped and brandished a pointed finger. “Did she run? Did you get to do some kick ass ninja move and chop her head off?”
Drake nearly spit out his beer, but managed to keep the majority of it in his mouth. “Sorry, man, no ninja moves for her. The contract specifically requested that she eat a bullet.”
“Phosphorous rounds?” When he nodded in response, Odin blew out a low whistle. “Oh, damn. That makes for one hell of a painful exit. She must have really pissed in the Lord of Detroit’s Cheerios.”
“To put it mildly.” Drake snagged another piece of pizza. “According to the Intel Jake gave me, she was the one behind that last round of gang violence down on the mile roads. I guess she used all the conflict as a way to divert police attention while she moved, get this, almost a metric ton of cocaine through downtown. Can you believe that shit?”
“An Elder Trump, moving drugs?” Odin scrunched up his nose. “Really?”
Drake raised a hand while he finished his dinner. He didn’t understand it either, especially since Trumps were usually the politicians of vampiric society, not the back alley drug dealers. “Don’t ask me, I just pull the trigger.”
“Well, I sure as hell wouldn’t feel bad about offing her.” He grabbed a beer from the case and opened it. “If she was causing that much of a ruckus, she deserved whatever she got. She’s damn lucky she didn’t live here. I would’ve cut her arms…” He went quiet for a moment then gave Drake a hard look. “You don’t feel bad, do you?”
Drake shrugged. “Not this time. What I do is a lot easier to reconcile when I don’t agree with what my targets are doing.” He checked his watch then looked down at the street again. “Besides, working back to back contracts doesn’t leave me much time to think about it.”
Odin swallowed a mouthful of beer then sat down on the ledge. “It also doesn’t leave you much time to do anything else, like sleep.”
Drake tipped his head back and closed his eyes. “Ah, sleep. We used to be good friends, you know.” When he felt his eyes roll back and his body start to sway, he righted his head then worked a few circles with his shoulders. “Maybe after this one they’ll give me a break.”
“Maybe after this one they’ll give you a damn vacation.”
Drake opened his eyes and smiled. “Maybe, but I’m not counting on it.”
Odin shot him a serious, almost fatherly glare of disapproval. “They do realize you still need to sleep, right? How many contracts have you fulfilled in the last two weeks?”
“Aside from the one for your brother…I think this makes twelve.”
Odin groaned and shook his head again. “Jesus, Drake. Let me give you a little piece of advice. Learn to say no.”
Drake blew out a heavy breath. If it were only that easy. “That’s not really an option. Much like the one I’m waiting for, if Jake ever gets his ass up here, mine usually don’t come with a refusal option.”
“You need to renegotiate for better benefits.”
Drake kicked his head back and laughed. “Renegotiate for better benefits.” He smiled as wide as he possibly could. “I’ll call my union rep and have him get right on that.”
When the dull roar of an engine sounded on the street below, Drake leaned over the ledge hoping to see Jake’s fancy new Beamer. Unfortunately, what he saw instead was a classic Trans-Am pulling into the well-lit parking lot of the building across the way.
He turned and dropped his empty beer bottle into the case then pulled out another. “Do you think it’s too much to ask for them to actually show up at the same time they tell me to be here?”
“Nope,” Odin said as he spun around so his feet were hanging over the edge of the building. “Seems to me, considering what you do and all, timing would be of the utmost importance.” He arched a brow as he peered down at the street. “What do you suppose she’s doing? You think she’s gonna rob the place?”
Drake followed Odin’s line of sight down to the sidewalk in front of the building across from them, where a dark haired Spanish woman now stood, her shoulders somewhat slumped, hands balled into fists at her sides. From his vantage point, it looked as though she was staring through the glass frontage at something inside the lobby.
“I doubt she’s gonna rob the place. She’s too tense.”
“How do you know that?” Odin asked, sounding somewhat surprised.
Drake motioned towards the would-be robber. “She doesn’t have anything to break the glass with. If you’re gonna hit a building in downtown Chicago, you need tools. She’s also standing in one place and her head’s not moving. She’s not looking around to see if anyone’s watching, she’s just standing there…like she’s been there before or is waiting for something. Plus, any thief worth her blood doesn’t stand in front of the building she’s about to rip so everyone and their mother can get a look at her. The point of the job is to get what you came for then get out, not end up on the morning news.”
“Worth her blood?” Odin asked with a sneer.
Drake rolled his eyes. “She’s a vampire, you blind bastard.”
Odin gasped. “She is not.”
“Yes she is.” He pointed down at her. “Her shoulders rise and fall the way they should when someone breathes, but there’s no steam rising above her head at regular intervals. That tells me she’s the same temperature as the air around her. And if that ain’t enough to convince you, she’s standing outside, in Chicago, in the middle of February, while there’s snow everywhere, and all she’s wearing is a t-shirt, jeans and some boots. Normal people wear coats when they go outside in the winter.”
Odin knocked on his black metal chest plate. “I’m not wearing a coat.”
Drake turned and cast a glance over the expanse of the roof before he focused back on Odin. “You’re an Ancient vampire, Odin. You don’t count as normal people.”
His mouth gaped open. “What? What? The hell you say!” He chuckled for a few seconds then stopped rather abruptly. “So you can really see all those little details from twenty-five stories up?”
“Hell yes I can. Can’t you?”
He cracked a cheesy grin. “Of course I can, I just didn’t realize you could.” He rubbed his hands together then turned and bowed his head. “Most impressive, young but mighty grasshopper.”
Drake flipped him the bird. “I should push you off the damn ledge.”
“Go ahead.” He wiggled his fingers and flashed a taunting smile. “I can fly.”
Drake reached up and rubbed the back of his neck. He really needed to find better friends. He opened his mouth to express that exact thought, but snapped it shut when the door to the roof creaked open behind him.
“You better be up here already,” grumbled an irritated voice.
Drake turned around just in time to see the hem of Jake’s dark blue overcoat get stuck as a blast of cold wind slammed the door closed. He tried not to laugh as the kid was yanked backwards, lost his balance, and then nearly dropped the dozen or so manila folders clutched tightly in his hand.
“Serves you right,” Odin laughed. “Talk some more trash like that and see what blows off the roof next.” He shifted his gaze to Drake. “You think Folder Gophers can fly? I’m guessin’ not. I’m guessin’ they sink like lead balloons.”
Jake tugged his coat free from the door then shot Odin a nasty glare. “Do that shit with the wind one more time and I’ll make sure it’s your picture in the next folder I deliver to Drake.”
Odin completely ignored Jake’s threat. “Feel free to do your business, Drake. I’m just gonna sit here and watch the dead chick.”
Drake raised his hands when Jake’s angry glare landed on him. “What? I don’t know why you’re looking at me that way – you’re the one who’s late. If anyone on this roof should be pissed right now, it’s me. I’ve been here for almost an hour. Where the hell have you been?”
Jake flipped through the small stack of folders then pulled out one near the bottom. “Where the hell have I been?” He shook the folder in Drake’s general direction, a wild look in his eyes. “I’ve been delivering contracts for the last five hours straight, because it would appear that everyone in the free world suddenly wants some undead slut of the night or hairy shape shifter dead. That’s where the hell I’ve been.”
Odin snorted behind Drake, so loud, he was sure the people in the next state could hear it. “Undead slut of the night. That’s awesome. I’m so gonna use that the next time I see his mom.”
Jake closed his eyes and let out a sigh as a look of complete resignation washed over his face. “Are we gonna start with the mom jokes again? Because, seriously, like I told you the last time, my mom’s dead. She’s been dead for over three hundred years. You need to get some new material.”
Drake snapped his fingers then pointed at the folder he could only assume belonged to him. If he let the two of them go on any longer, he might never get off the roof. “How ‘bout you just tell me about my mark?”
Jake cocked his head, as if he didn’t appreciate the change of subject. “How ‘bout you tell your boyfriend over there to keep his mouth shut.”
When Odin started to speak, Drake raised a hand and motioned for him to stop. “No. Both of you need to knock it off.” He turned around and glared at Odin. “You, keep your comments to yourself and watch the dead girl.” He faced Jake again. “You, ignore the cranky vampire and tell me about the contract. The quicker you explain the details of the job, the sooner whoever it is dies, which means I can finally go home and sleep. So, please, just do me a favor and open the damn folder.”
Jake seemed almost amused as he flipped the folder around in his hand then flashed his signature shit-eating grin. “I hate to break it to you, but this little baby isn’t a kill contract, Drake.” If it was possible, the kid’s smile stretched even wider. “It’s an order for protection.”
And that would be why. Drake couldn’t do anything but stare at Jake while Odin burst out laughing. He’d fulfilled countless contracts over the years, but there was nothing he despised more than protecting someone who didn't deserve it. And based on his experience, anyone who actually paid for protection…usually didn’t.
He stood silent for a long moment before he shook his head. Maybe now was the perfect time to test out Odin’s advice. “No. Tell the Boss to get somebody else. I’m not interested.”
Jake immediately started laughing. “You’re trying to refuse?” He looked over at Odin. “He’s trying to refuse.” He waved the folder towards his face like a fan. “Oh, this is priceless. Try to listen to me, okay? You can’t refuse.”
Drake stared hard at him. “I hear you loud and clear. I just don’t give a damn this time. I’m not spending the next week or God knows how long taking bullets for someone who screwed up so bad they have to buy a shield. Tell them to phone a friend.”
“First of all,” Jake said as he opened the folder and scanned the first page, “she didn’t pay for protection. This order originated from the Boss, himself. Second, you’re only being assigned to her because he wants someone familiar with Chicago. If you didn’t live here, you probably wouldn’t get it. So do us both a favor and don’t take it personally.”
Drake narrowed his eyes. “She?” He ground his teeth together when Jake smiled in response. “Tell me that bastard doesn’t want me to play bodyguard to a blood-guzzling female. He knows damn well how I feel about them.”
Jake shrugged. “Considering she’s only been a vampire for about four years, you could probably treat it like you’re protecting a human.” He shifted between his feet when Drake continued to stare at him. “What? She’s only 22 years old, total. It’s not like she’s old enough to be some manipulative seductress. She’s just a kid.”
Drake cast a glance to Odin. “Are you hearing this shit?”
He nodded. “This is why I like my Evil Dictator better than yours.”
Drake couldn’t stop one corner of his mouth from rising. Odin’s Sire, Lord Stefan Nelek, was a hell of a lot more than a simple dictator. The man was a veritable Blood God, and he didn’t offer protection to any but his own. “Think he’d be open to adoption?”
Odin tipped his head back and laughed. “The grass is always greener, huh?”
Drake turned and glared at Jake again. “Right now it is.”
Jake rolled his eyes. “Whatever. Even if you get adopted by Lord Nelek tomorrow, the Boss ain’t letting you out of this one. Now, do you want the details or not? I don’t have all night to stand here and chat.”
Drake sucked in a deep breath then slowly blew it out. Whether he liked it or not, the chances of him getting out of the new contract were slim to none. And the chances of him getting to sleep anytime soon…were even smaller.
He swallowed the last of his beer then tossed the bottle back into the box. “Make it quick. Stay point to point and keep the snide commentary to a minimum or I’ll let Odin flay you.”
Jake’s eyes immediately went back to scanning the pages. “Your new best friend was not only born here, but got fanged here about four years ago. Less than a year later she got exiled by Lord Locke.” He flipped the page over. “She got kicked out for a streak of violence that started in the club district and ended across the street, at The Rivers building. I don’t know exactly what happened or why, just that multiple shots were fired and six human security guards were dead when it was over. Not to mention, she almost killed another vampire during the fight.”
Drake groaned. Could his night get any worse? “So let me get this straight. Not only am I being charged with the safety of an immortal Gun Bunny, but one who couldn’t even follow the rules for a full year. Did I lose a bet?”
“Sounds like it,” Odin chimed in. “Maybe you pissed in someone’s Wheaties.”
Drake rubbed a hand down his face. There had to be someone else they could tap for this job. “Where the hell is her Sire? Shouldn’t they be the one wiping her nose now?”
“Dead,” Jake said rather flatly. “She’s a child of Alexander.”
“As in the former Head of Enforcement, Alexander?”
He nodded. “The same guy who died two years ago. Where he was when she busted out the guns, I don’t know. But what I do know is that she’s been in contact with 8-Ball and Brick for the last two weeks, working out plans to come back. And since Brick has Alexander’s old position, he should be able to get Locke’s approval. Now, he might not be able to secure it right away, but it shouldn’t take more than a night.”
Drake massaged small circles over his temples. There had to be more to the situation. His contracts were never that easy. “What else?”
“She’s supposed to be meeting Brick at The Rivers building at two,” he jumbled the folders then looked down at his expensive watch, “which gives you about an hour to prepare. We’ve already arranged for a situation that should force Brick to leave her with you, so all you need to do is react accordingly and keep her alive until she gets an official acceptance meeting with Lord Locke. Once she gets—”
“Don’t bother,” Drake interjected. “She’s already here.”
Jake’s eyes went wide. “What? Where?”
Drake stuck his arm out over the ledge and pointed at the street below. “Call it a hunch, but something tells me that’s probably her.”
“Oh, yeah, that’s gotta be her,” Odin mumbled between bites of pizza. “8-Ball’s walking up to her now. She’s turning to stare at his shiny bald head. And, OH! He shoots, he scores! They’re hugging. I think he likes her.”
Drake frowned as he turned and looked down at the sidewalk. Sure enough, the dead girl had her arms wrapped around 8-Ball’s neck. “When the hell did Baller get here?”
“While you were listening to Jake drone on and on and on about nothing.”
Jake rushed over to the edge of the roof and squinted until his eyes were nothing more than thin slits. “Shit! I can’t tell if that’s her or not. They both look like ants from up here.” He fumbled with the folder for a second then thrust a picture into Drake’s chest. “Here, look at that and tell me if it’s her.”
Before Drake even had a chance to look at the photo, Odin snatched it from his hand. He gave it a quick once over then stared down at the sidewalk again. “Sí. Esa es la chica muerta.” After throwing the picture back at Jake, he raised both hands in the air and snapped his fingers repeatedly. “Ella es muy caliente!”
Jake whirled around to face Drake. “Okay. Obviously she’s a little early, but that’s okay. Brick’s not here yet. So, yeah. Uh, all you need to do is go down there when Brick gets here and then play nice. When he gets called away, offer to stay with her then keep with her until she meets with Locke. It’ll be a piece of cake.”
Drake folded his arms over his chest. “A piece of cake?”
“Yeah, yeah.” He reached out and patted Drake’s arm. “Easy as pie.”
Drake nodded once towards the street. “That girl down there doesn’t know me from Adam. You act like I’m supposed to just walk up to her and instantly become her best friend.” He tried to remain as calm as possible as the absurdity of the situation fully kicked in. “Did you and the Boss forget I have a reputation when you decided to stick me on this? If that girl has even a shred of a survival instinct, she’s gonna know something’s up the minute she sees me.”
“He does have a point,” Odin added. “Most Fledglings know him by description alone. I mean, they don’t know exactly what he is, but they most definitely know who he is. You should see what happens when he walks down the street in New York.”
“Good God,” Jake groaned. “Would you two stop whining?” He took a few steps back. “I know you’ve been on back to back contracts for a while now, but think about what I already told you. She got kicked out of one of the most influential cities in the world, by a guy who’s better respected than even his Sire,” he said, motioning to Odin. “That kind of reputation, especially at her age, tends to stick with somebody. I know all you fanged bitches like to think the sun doesn’t set until you wake up, but something tells me she’s probably been a little more worried about staying alive for the last few years than she’s been about keeping up on the who’s who of vampiric society. I’m willing to bet she won’t have the slightest clue as to who you are, let alone what you are. Now, if that stings your whiney, semi-undead ego, I apologize…but in this case, I gotta call it like I see it.”
“I’m not whining,” Drake snapped. “I’m just tired, and really not in the mood to make fake friends with some bitchy vamp who’s probably gonna try to bite me…and not in a good way.”
Odin picked up the last slice of pizza and sheared off half of it in one bite. “Something tells me if you call her a vampy bitch to her face, she probably will bite you. And if she’s anything like my sisters, she’ll follow it up by breaking her foot off in your ass.”
Drake feigned a smile. “If she was one of your sisters, she wouldn’t need my protection. And if she was one of your sisters, she would’ve never started a gun battle in the middle of downtown that ended with her ass getting kicked out of Chicago!”
Odin rubbed his ear. “You make a loud, but very valid point.”
“For the record,” Jake said as he held the picture out for Drake, “and just so there’s absolutely no confusion, she’s not a Nelek. She’s of the Warrior or Thug lineage, whichever term you prefer, and her name is Toni Tutoro.”
Drake had no more than looked down at the photo when he sensed the unmistakable power of Nelek telepathy slice through the air around them. He cast a quick glance to Odin just in time to see his entire body jerk before he coughed, sputtered, and tried not to choke on his last bite of pizza.
It took a few seconds, but Odin finally slammed a fisted hand against his obsidian chest plate then forcefully cleared his throat. He pinned Jake with a menacing glare. “What’d you say?”
Jake took another step backwards. “I said her name is Toni Tutoro. What the hell is your problem? Do you know her or something?”
Odin frowned then shook his head. “Nope. Don’t know her.” He snatched up the empty box of pizza and folded it under his arm. “I gotta go.” He picked up the half full case of beer then nodded at Drake. “Give me a call when this whole contract thing is over.” He’d barely finished the sentence when an icy blast of wind cut across the rooftop, taking Odin with it.
Jake stared wide eyed at the empty space where Odin had been. “What the hell is his deal? Does he always disappear like that?”
Drake slowly nodded. “His whole family does that shit.”
“Do they usually leave all pissy and abrupt like that?”
“Sometimes. It depends on what’s going on. I sensed telepathy go off right before he choked. He probably got called home.”
Jake didn’t look convinced. “I say her name and he disappears? Doesn’t that strike you as a little strange?”
Drake shook his head. He knew better than to question the behavior of someone as old as Odin, and even more, someone who claimed the Nelek name as their own. “If his Sire calls, he goes. It doesn’t matter what he’s in the middle of doing. Sometimes he doesn’t even have control over it, which is exactly why he doesn’t drive. Can you imagine him cruising down the Dan Ryan when it happens?”
Jake wrinkled his nose. “I don’t even wanna think about that. Everything about him and his damn family is freaky. Who the hell wears plate armor in this day and age anyway? I mean, come on.” He shook out his hands as if some slimy substance suddenly coated his fingers. “Anyway, did you see Toni’s picture? She’s kinda cute.”
Without Odin there to interrupt him, Drake finally took a minute to check out her photo. Although it wasn’t the best quality, he had to admit, for once, Jake was right. The girl was cute. Seated on a couch at Grey’s Coffeehouse, she smiled softly at someone or something, appearing very young and innocent.
Then again, even more for vampires, looks could be deceiving.
He handed the photo back to Jake. From what he’d seen of her so far, he would’ve never guessed her as the violent type. But if he had to be stuck with her, big brown eyes and a pretty face didn’t hurt.
At least he’d have something to look at.
“So what else do I need to know? Aside from Brick and Baller, does she have any other friends here? Any family? What kind of interference am I looking at?”
“Well, her human family’s deceased, and from what I could tell she doesn’t have any contact with Alexander’s other kids, so she’s pretty much alone in the world when it comes to direct family. However, as you’ve probably already figured out, she’s on friendly terms with most of the Enforcement Team, as well as Clint. From what I was told, he took her under his wing back when Alexander was too busy running around the city to teach her properly.”
Drake tipped his head back and closed his eyes. “Tell me I’m not being assigned to protect one of Clint’s concubines.” When Jake didn’t answer right away, he ground his teeth together. “I know he’s friends with the Boss and all, but this is fucking ridiculous.”
“According to the Boss, Clint spent a lot of time with her, but not for his normal woman chasing reasons. He supposedly taught her about her lineage and how society works, all without using body paints or whipped cream.” He paused to laugh at his own joke. “Anyhow, I’m not sure how well he really did though. I mean, she was only about ten months old when she got the boot from Lord Locke, and we both know that’s barely enough time to learn even the basics of being a vamp.”
Drake wouldn’t argue with that point. He’d been around long enough to know it took at least ten years for a Fledgling to get their bearings as a newly created vampire. Between learning the rules, a little bit of history and how to eat without causing a panic, the first decade of existence wasn’t all that pleasant.
And that was with training.
If this girl hadn’t even had a full “childhood”, she was lucky she’d lived long enough to come back. Maybe Jake was right for the second time tonight. Maybe she’d been so busy fighting to stay alive that she wouldn’t recognize him or his reputation.
Maybe – but he wasn’t counting on it.
Drake opened his eyes and refocused on Jake. “Have you already confirmed someone’s out to get her? Is that why I’m on this?”
“The Boss didn’t give me much info on why he opened the contract. All he said was that she’s fair game until Lord Locke officially accepts her as a resident again, and that it’s imperative she completes whatever tasks or conditions he sets forth for her. To be honest, if someone is after her, I have no idea who it is. But all you have to do is get her to that meeting. Once you do, you can mark this one as yet another fulfilled contract and go on your merry way.”
Drake raked a hand through his hair and tried to stave off the urge to yawn. “I hate it when you guys throw contracts like this at me. Not only do I not have enough time to watch her first, but you either don’t have or won’t part with all the necessary information about her.”
Jake tucked Toni’s photo back into the proper folder then moved it to the bottom of the stack. “I gave you everything I could find on short notice, Drake.” He turned his back then headed for the door. “Your contract got dropped in my lap about two hours ago, so don’t feel like you’re the only one who didn’t get decent prep time. If I could’ve gotten more info out of the Boss, I would have. But he wasn’t saying anything that wasn’t already in the report.” He opened the door and stepped inside, but turned around before it closed. “If I come across any new information about her, you’ll be the first to know.”
Drake nodded as Jake pulled the door closed. “I’d appreciate that.”
Once the Folder Gopher was gone, Drake focused his full attention back on the sidewalk below. Even now, standing next to 8-Ball with her shoulders just as slumped as when he’d first seen her, Toni Tutoro’s fine Spanish features mirrored that innocent quality so obvious in the contract photo. But the longer he looked at her, the more he realized there was something else about her, something about the worn, almost apologetic way she held herself that just didn’t mesh with the information in her bio.
He studied her for another few minutes, watching the way 8-Ball reached out every so often to rub her arm or shoulder as she spoke. At one point, when she shook her head then buried her face in her hands, he even leaned in close and kissed her forehead. Either they were extremely good friends, or maybe she was a little better with the manipulation than Jake had given her credit for. He’d never judge her for attempting to kill another vampire, but it took a special kind of person to look that sweet and defenseless one minute, then turn around and slaughter a handful of human security guards the next.
Drake narrowed his eyes and tried to sharpen his senses enough to pick up the conversation between her and 8-Ball, but the constant drone of the wind rushing through the buildings in the Business District easily drowned out their words. He rolled his eyes. It figured, the one time he could’ve used Odin’s powers for good instead of evil – the bastard was nowhere to be seen.
Then again, keeping Odin quiet long enough to actually hear someone else talk was a lot easier said than done.
The flash of headlights a few hundred yards down the street pulled Drake’s attention back to the matter at hand. If he wasn’t mistaken, that was Brick’s SUV heading towards The Rivers building, which meant it was almost time to make fake friends with the dead girl.
He leaned back and stretched out the tight muscles in his arms. If he was lucky and she played just as nice as he intended to, he’d be rid of her by sunset tomorrow. If he wasn’t so lucky, well, it certainly wouldn’t be the first time he ended up on the wrong side of a female vampire. He’d only been there once before, but when all was said and done, she’d left him nursing a lot more than a nasty bite wound.
As Drake checked his watch one last time, he couldn’t help but wonder how long it would be before Toni tried to bite him. No doubt, he’d probably get his answer the second she laid eyes on him.
Now, I have to tell you that what I'm about to share hasn't gone through the final proofread yet because that's done by someone else and not until the entire book has gone through a final edit by me, but I just couldn't wait any longer!!
Behold...Chapter One of Eternal Hearts:
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“Why are we standing on top of a building in the middle of February?”
Drake Black looked over at his friend, Odin Nelek, and laughed at what he was sure to anyone else would've been a crazy question. “We’re standing on top of a building because this is where Jake told me to meet him.”
Odin shook his head as he picked up a steaming slice of pizza from the open box setting on the ledge. “I take it you asked me to bring food and beer because you got another contract already?”
Drake nodded. “I was in the middle of killing the last member of Detroit’s Elder Council when the text came through to meet him here.” He twisted the cap off his beer and took a swig, enjoying the bitter taste of the ice cold liquid as it rolled across his tongue. “Thanks again for grabbing the food. I wasn’t sure I’d have time.” He cast a quick glance down at the empty, snow covered street twenty-five stories below them. “Usually the Folder Gopher isn’t this late.”
“No problem,” Odin offered between bites. “Do you know who you’re supposed to kill next?”
“Nope.” He set his beer on the ledge next to the pizza box then checked his watch. “All I know is my mark’s supposed to be at the building across the street in about an hour.” He grabbed a slice of pizza and folded it in half before he took a bite. “Maybe I’ll get lucky and he’ll be late, too.”
Odin chuckled. “Did you have any problems in Detroit?”
He waited until he finished chewing to answer. “Not really, aside from the usual when I’m taking out an entire Council at once.”
Odin grinned wide. “Let me guess.” He narrowed his blacked-out eyes and stared up at the night sky. “The last Councilor was a woman. I’m gonna go with…a Memory Guild sissy. She barricaded herself under the table, like they all do, then whined and blabbered about buying out your contract before she tried to seduce you. Am I right? Tell me I’m right.”
Drake couldn’t help but laugh. “She did crawl under the table, and she did offer triple my fee and her undying love if I let her go, but she wasn’t a Doll.” He picked up his beer and tipped it towards Odin. “She was an Elder Trump.”
Odin fisted a hand and scrunched up his face. “Damn! I was so close, so very, very close.” He grumbled something unintelligible then jumped and brandished a pointed finger. “Did she run? Did you get to do some kick ass ninja move and chop her head off?”
Drake nearly spit out his beer, but managed to keep the majority of it in his mouth. “Sorry, man, no ninja moves for her. The contract specifically requested that she eat a bullet.”
“Phosphorous rounds?” When he nodded in response, Odin blew out a low whistle. “Oh, damn. That makes for one hell of a painful exit. She must have really pissed in the Lord of Detroit’s Cheerios.”
“To put it mildly.” Drake snagged another piece of pizza. “According to the Intel Jake gave me, she was the one behind that last round of gang violence down on the mile roads. I guess she used all the conflict as a way to divert police attention while she moved, get this, almost a metric ton of cocaine through downtown. Can you believe that shit?”
“An Elder Trump, moving drugs?” Odin scrunched up his nose. “Really?”
Drake raised a hand while he finished his dinner. He didn’t understand it either, especially since Trumps were usually the politicians of vampiric society, not the back alley drug dealers. “Don’t ask me, I just pull the trigger.”
“Well, I sure as hell wouldn’t feel bad about offing her.” He grabbed a beer from the case and opened it. “If she was causing that much of a ruckus, she deserved whatever she got. She’s damn lucky she didn’t live here. I would’ve cut her arms…” He went quiet for a moment then gave Drake a hard look. “You don’t feel bad, do you?”
Drake shrugged. “Not this time. What I do is a lot easier to reconcile when I don’t agree with what my targets are doing.” He checked his watch then looked down at the street again. “Besides, working back to back contracts doesn’t leave me much time to think about it.”
Odin swallowed a mouthful of beer then sat down on the ledge. “It also doesn’t leave you much time to do anything else, like sleep.”
Drake tipped his head back and closed his eyes. “Ah, sleep. We used to be good friends, you know.” When he felt his eyes roll back and his body start to sway, he righted his head then worked a few circles with his shoulders. “Maybe after this one they’ll give me a break.”
“Maybe after this one they’ll give you a damn vacation.”
Drake opened his eyes and smiled. “Maybe, but I’m not counting on it.”
Odin shot him a serious, almost fatherly glare of disapproval. “They do realize you still need to sleep, right? How many contracts have you fulfilled in the last two weeks?”
“Aside from the one for your brother…I think this makes twelve.”
Odin groaned and shook his head again. “Jesus, Drake. Let me give you a little piece of advice. Learn to say no.”
Drake blew out a heavy breath. If it were only that easy. “That’s not really an option. Much like the one I’m waiting for, if Jake ever gets his ass up here, mine usually don’t come with a refusal option.”
“You need to renegotiate for better benefits.”
Drake kicked his head back and laughed. “Renegotiate for better benefits.” He smiled as wide as he possibly could. “I’ll call my union rep and have him get right on that.”
When the dull roar of an engine sounded on the street below, Drake leaned over the ledge hoping to see Jake’s fancy new Beamer. Unfortunately, what he saw instead was a classic Trans-Am pulling into the well-lit parking lot of the building across the way.
He turned and dropped his empty beer bottle into the case then pulled out another. “Do you think it’s too much to ask for them to actually show up at the same time they tell me to be here?”
“Nope,” Odin said as he spun around so his feet were hanging over the edge of the building. “Seems to me, considering what you do and all, timing would be of the utmost importance.” He arched a brow as he peered down at the street. “What do you suppose she’s doing? You think she’s gonna rob the place?”
Drake followed Odin’s line of sight down to the sidewalk in front of the building across from them, where a dark haired Spanish woman now stood, her shoulders somewhat slumped, hands balled into fists at her sides. From his vantage point, it looked as though she was staring through the glass frontage at something inside the lobby.
“I doubt she’s gonna rob the place. She’s too tense.”
“How do you know that?” Odin asked, sounding somewhat surprised.
Drake motioned towards the would-be robber. “She doesn’t have anything to break the glass with. If you’re gonna hit a building in downtown Chicago, you need tools. She’s also standing in one place and her head’s not moving. She’s not looking around to see if anyone’s watching, she’s just standing there…like she’s been there before or is waiting for something. Plus, any thief worth her blood doesn’t stand in front of the building she’s about to rip so everyone and their mother can get a look at her. The point of the job is to get what you came for then get out, not end up on the morning news.”
“Worth her blood?” Odin asked with a sneer.
Drake rolled his eyes. “She’s a vampire, you blind bastard.”
Odin gasped. “She is not.”
“Yes she is.” He pointed down at her. “Her shoulders rise and fall the way they should when someone breathes, but there’s no steam rising above her head at regular intervals. That tells me she’s the same temperature as the air around her. And if that ain’t enough to convince you, she’s standing outside, in Chicago, in the middle of February, while there’s snow everywhere, and all she’s wearing is a t-shirt, jeans and some boots. Normal people wear coats when they go outside in the winter.”
Odin knocked on his black metal chest plate. “I’m not wearing a coat.”
Drake turned and cast a glance over the expanse of the roof before he focused back on Odin. “You’re an Ancient vampire, Odin. You don’t count as normal people.”
His mouth gaped open. “What? What? The hell you say!” He chuckled for a few seconds then stopped rather abruptly. “So you can really see all those little details from twenty-five stories up?”
“Hell yes I can. Can’t you?”
He cracked a cheesy grin. “Of course I can, I just didn’t realize you could.” He rubbed his hands together then turned and bowed his head. “Most impressive, young but mighty grasshopper.”
Drake flipped him the bird. “I should push you off the damn ledge.”
“Go ahead.” He wiggled his fingers and flashed a taunting smile. “I can fly.”
Drake reached up and rubbed the back of his neck. He really needed to find better friends. He opened his mouth to express that exact thought, but snapped it shut when the door to the roof creaked open behind him.
“You better be up here already,” grumbled an irritated voice.
Drake turned around just in time to see the hem of Jake’s dark blue overcoat get stuck as a blast of cold wind slammed the door closed. He tried not to laugh as the kid was yanked backwards, lost his balance, and then nearly dropped the dozen or so manila folders clutched tightly in his hand.
“Serves you right,” Odin laughed. “Talk some more trash like that and see what blows off the roof next.” He shifted his gaze to Drake. “You think Folder Gophers can fly? I’m guessin’ not. I’m guessin’ they sink like lead balloons.”
Jake tugged his coat free from the door then shot Odin a nasty glare. “Do that shit with the wind one more time and I’ll make sure it’s your picture in the next folder I deliver to Drake.”
Odin completely ignored Jake’s threat. “Feel free to do your business, Drake. I’m just gonna sit here and watch the dead chick.”
Drake raised his hands when Jake’s angry glare landed on him. “What? I don’t know why you’re looking at me that way – you’re the one who’s late. If anyone on this roof should be pissed right now, it’s me. I’ve been here for almost an hour. Where the hell have you been?”
Jake flipped through the small stack of folders then pulled out one near the bottom. “Where the hell have I been?” He shook the folder in Drake’s general direction, a wild look in his eyes. “I’ve been delivering contracts for the last five hours straight, because it would appear that everyone in the free world suddenly wants some undead slut of the night or hairy shape shifter dead. That’s where the hell I’ve been.”
Odin snorted behind Drake, so loud, he was sure the people in the next state could hear it. “Undead slut of the night. That’s awesome. I’m so gonna use that the next time I see his mom.”
Jake closed his eyes and let out a sigh as a look of complete resignation washed over his face. “Are we gonna start with the mom jokes again? Because, seriously, like I told you the last time, my mom’s dead. She’s been dead for over three hundred years. You need to get some new material.”
Drake snapped his fingers then pointed at the folder he could only assume belonged to him. If he let the two of them go on any longer, he might never get off the roof. “How ‘bout you just tell me about my mark?”
Jake cocked his head, as if he didn’t appreciate the change of subject. “How ‘bout you tell your boyfriend over there to keep his mouth shut.”
When Odin started to speak, Drake raised a hand and motioned for him to stop. “No. Both of you need to knock it off.” He turned around and glared at Odin. “You, keep your comments to yourself and watch the dead girl.” He faced Jake again. “You, ignore the cranky vampire and tell me about the contract. The quicker you explain the details of the job, the sooner whoever it is dies, which means I can finally go home and sleep. So, please, just do me a favor and open the damn folder.”
Jake seemed almost amused as he flipped the folder around in his hand then flashed his signature shit-eating grin. “I hate to break it to you, but this little baby isn’t a kill contract, Drake.” If it was possible, the kid’s smile stretched even wider. “It’s an order for protection.”
And that would be why. Drake couldn’t do anything but stare at Jake while Odin burst out laughing. He’d fulfilled countless contracts over the years, but there was nothing he despised more than protecting someone who didn't deserve it. And based on his experience, anyone who actually paid for protection…usually didn’t.
He stood silent for a long moment before he shook his head. Maybe now was the perfect time to test out Odin’s advice. “No. Tell the Boss to get somebody else. I’m not interested.”
Jake immediately started laughing. “You’re trying to refuse?” He looked over at Odin. “He’s trying to refuse.” He waved the folder towards his face like a fan. “Oh, this is priceless. Try to listen to me, okay? You can’t refuse.”
Drake stared hard at him. “I hear you loud and clear. I just don’t give a damn this time. I’m not spending the next week or God knows how long taking bullets for someone who screwed up so bad they have to buy a shield. Tell them to phone a friend.”
“First of all,” Jake said as he opened the folder and scanned the first page, “she didn’t pay for protection. This order originated from the Boss, himself. Second, you’re only being assigned to her because he wants someone familiar with Chicago. If you didn’t live here, you probably wouldn’t get it. So do us both a favor and don’t take it personally.”
Drake narrowed his eyes. “She?” He ground his teeth together when Jake smiled in response. “Tell me that bastard doesn’t want me to play bodyguard to a blood-guzzling female. He knows damn well how I feel about them.”
Jake shrugged. “Considering she’s only been a vampire for about four years, you could probably treat it like you’re protecting a human.” He shifted between his feet when Drake continued to stare at him. “What? She’s only 22 years old, total. It’s not like she’s old enough to be some manipulative seductress. She’s just a kid.”
Drake cast a glance to Odin. “Are you hearing this shit?”
He nodded. “This is why I like my Evil Dictator better than yours.”
Drake couldn’t stop one corner of his mouth from rising. Odin’s Sire, Lord Stefan Nelek, was a hell of a lot more than a simple dictator. The man was a veritable Blood God, and he didn’t offer protection to any but his own. “Think he’d be open to adoption?”
Odin tipped his head back and laughed. “The grass is always greener, huh?”
Drake turned and glared at Jake again. “Right now it is.”
Jake rolled his eyes. “Whatever. Even if you get adopted by Lord Nelek tomorrow, the Boss ain’t letting you out of this one. Now, do you want the details or not? I don’t have all night to stand here and chat.”
Drake sucked in a deep breath then slowly blew it out. Whether he liked it or not, the chances of him getting out of the new contract were slim to none. And the chances of him getting to sleep anytime soon…were even smaller.
He swallowed the last of his beer then tossed the bottle back into the box. “Make it quick. Stay point to point and keep the snide commentary to a minimum or I’ll let Odin flay you.”
Jake’s eyes immediately went back to scanning the pages. “Your new best friend was not only born here, but got fanged here about four years ago. Less than a year later she got exiled by Lord Locke.” He flipped the page over. “She got kicked out for a streak of violence that started in the club district and ended across the street, at The Rivers building. I don’t know exactly what happened or why, just that multiple shots were fired and six human security guards were dead when it was over. Not to mention, she almost killed another vampire during the fight.”
Drake groaned. Could his night get any worse? “So let me get this straight. Not only am I being charged with the safety of an immortal Gun Bunny, but one who couldn’t even follow the rules for a full year. Did I lose a bet?”
“Sounds like it,” Odin chimed in. “Maybe you pissed in someone’s Wheaties.”
Drake rubbed a hand down his face. There had to be someone else they could tap for this job. “Where the hell is her Sire? Shouldn’t they be the one wiping her nose now?”
“Dead,” Jake said rather flatly. “She’s a child of Alexander.”
“As in the former Head of Enforcement, Alexander?”
He nodded. “The same guy who died two years ago. Where he was when she busted out the guns, I don’t know. But what I do know is that she’s been in contact with 8-Ball and Brick for the last two weeks, working out plans to come back. And since Brick has Alexander’s old position, he should be able to get Locke’s approval. Now, he might not be able to secure it right away, but it shouldn’t take more than a night.”
Drake massaged small circles over his temples. There had to be more to the situation. His contracts were never that easy. “What else?”
“She’s supposed to be meeting Brick at The Rivers building at two,” he jumbled the folders then looked down at his expensive watch, “which gives you about an hour to prepare. We’ve already arranged for a situation that should force Brick to leave her with you, so all you need to do is react accordingly and keep her alive until she gets an official acceptance meeting with Lord Locke. Once she gets—”
“Don’t bother,” Drake interjected. “She’s already here.”
Jake’s eyes went wide. “What? Where?”
Drake stuck his arm out over the ledge and pointed at the street below. “Call it a hunch, but something tells me that’s probably her.”
“Oh, yeah, that’s gotta be her,” Odin mumbled between bites of pizza. “8-Ball’s walking up to her now. She’s turning to stare at his shiny bald head. And, OH! He shoots, he scores! They’re hugging. I think he likes her.”
Drake frowned as he turned and looked down at the sidewalk. Sure enough, the dead girl had her arms wrapped around 8-Ball’s neck. “When the hell did Baller get here?”
“While you were listening to Jake drone on and on and on about nothing.”
Jake rushed over to the edge of the roof and squinted until his eyes were nothing more than thin slits. “Shit! I can’t tell if that’s her or not. They both look like ants from up here.” He fumbled with the folder for a second then thrust a picture into Drake’s chest. “Here, look at that and tell me if it’s her.”
Before Drake even had a chance to look at the photo, Odin snatched it from his hand. He gave it a quick once over then stared down at the sidewalk again. “Sí. Esa es la chica muerta.” After throwing the picture back at Jake, he raised both hands in the air and snapped his fingers repeatedly. “Ella es muy caliente!”
Jake whirled around to face Drake. “Okay. Obviously she’s a little early, but that’s okay. Brick’s not here yet. So, yeah. Uh, all you need to do is go down there when Brick gets here and then play nice. When he gets called away, offer to stay with her then keep with her until she meets with Locke. It’ll be a piece of cake.”
Drake folded his arms over his chest. “A piece of cake?”
“Yeah, yeah.” He reached out and patted Drake’s arm. “Easy as pie.”
Drake nodded once towards the street. “That girl down there doesn’t know me from Adam. You act like I’m supposed to just walk up to her and instantly become her best friend.” He tried to remain as calm as possible as the absurdity of the situation fully kicked in. “Did you and the Boss forget I have a reputation when you decided to stick me on this? If that girl has even a shred of a survival instinct, she’s gonna know something’s up the minute she sees me.”
“He does have a point,” Odin added. “Most Fledglings know him by description alone. I mean, they don’t know exactly what he is, but they most definitely know who he is. You should see what happens when he walks down the street in New York.”
“Good God,” Jake groaned. “Would you two stop whining?” He took a few steps back. “I know you’ve been on back to back contracts for a while now, but think about what I already told you. She got kicked out of one of the most influential cities in the world, by a guy who’s better respected than even his Sire,” he said, motioning to Odin. “That kind of reputation, especially at her age, tends to stick with somebody. I know all you fanged bitches like to think the sun doesn’t set until you wake up, but something tells me she’s probably been a little more worried about staying alive for the last few years than she’s been about keeping up on the who’s who of vampiric society. I’m willing to bet she won’t have the slightest clue as to who you are, let alone what you are. Now, if that stings your whiney, semi-undead ego, I apologize…but in this case, I gotta call it like I see it.”
“I’m not whining,” Drake snapped. “I’m just tired, and really not in the mood to make fake friends with some bitchy vamp who’s probably gonna try to bite me…and not in a good way.”
Odin picked up the last slice of pizza and sheared off half of it in one bite. “Something tells me if you call her a vampy bitch to her face, she probably will bite you. And if she’s anything like my sisters, she’ll follow it up by breaking her foot off in your ass.”
Drake feigned a smile. “If she was one of your sisters, she wouldn’t need my protection. And if she was one of your sisters, she would’ve never started a gun battle in the middle of downtown that ended with her ass getting kicked out of Chicago!”
Odin rubbed his ear. “You make a loud, but very valid point.”
“For the record,” Jake said as he held the picture out for Drake, “and just so there’s absolutely no confusion, she’s not a Nelek. She’s of the Warrior or Thug lineage, whichever term you prefer, and her name is Toni Tutoro.”
Drake had no more than looked down at the photo when he sensed the unmistakable power of Nelek telepathy slice through the air around them. He cast a quick glance to Odin just in time to see his entire body jerk before he coughed, sputtered, and tried not to choke on his last bite of pizza.
It took a few seconds, but Odin finally slammed a fisted hand against his obsidian chest plate then forcefully cleared his throat. He pinned Jake with a menacing glare. “What’d you say?”
Jake took another step backwards. “I said her name is Toni Tutoro. What the hell is your problem? Do you know her or something?”
Odin frowned then shook his head. “Nope. Don’t know her.” He snatched up the empty box of pizza and folded it under his arm. “I gotta go.” He picked up the half full case of beer then nodded at Drake. “Give me a call when this whole contract thing is over.” He’d barely finished the sentence when an icy blast of wind cut across the rooftop, taking Odin with it.
Jake stared wide eyed at the empty space where Odin had been. “What the hell is his deal? Does he always disappear like that?”
Drake slowly nodded. “His whole family does that shit.”
“Do they usually leave all pissy and abrupt like that?”
“Sometimes. It depends on what’s going on. I sensed telepathy go off right before he choked. He probably got called home.”
Jake didn’t look convinced. “I say her name and he disappears? Doesn’t that strike you as a little strange?”
Drake shook his head. He knew better than to question the behavior of someone as old as Odin, and even more, someone who claimed the Nelek name as their own. “If his Sire calls, he goes. It doesn’t matter what he’s in the middle of doing. Sometimes he doesn’t even have control over it, which is exactly why he doesn’t drive. Can you imagine him cruising down the Dan Ryan when it happens?”
Jake wrinkled his nose. “I don’t even wanna think about that. Everything about him and his damn family is freaky. Who the hell wears plate armor in this day and age anyway? I mean, come on.” He shook out his hands as if some slimy substance suddenly coated his fingers. “Anyway, did you see Toni’s picture? She’s kinda cute.”
Without Odin there to interrupt him, Drake finally took a minute to check out her photo. Although it wasn’t the best quality, he had to admit, for once, Jake was right. The girl was cute. Seated on a couch at Grey’s Coffeehouse, she smiled softly at someone or something, appearing very young and innocent.
Then again, even more for vampires, looks could be deceiving.
He handed the photo back to Jake. From what he’d seen of her so far, he would’ve never guessed her as the violent type. But if he had to be stuck with her, big brown eyes and a pretty face didn’t hurt.
At least he’d have something to look at.
“So what else do I need to know? Aside from Brick and Baller, does she have any other friends here? Any family? What kind of interference am I looking at?”
“Well, her human family’s deceased, and from what I could tell she doesn’t have any contact with Alexander’s other kids, so she’s pretty much alone in the world when it comes to direct family. However, as you’ve probably already figured out, she’s on friendly terms with most of the Enforcement Team, as well as Clint. From what I was told, he took her under his wing back when Alexander was too busy running around the city to teach her properly.”
Drake tipped his head back and closed his eyes. “Tell me I’m not being assigned to protect one of Clint’s concubines.” When Jake didn’t answer right away, he ground his teeth together. “I know he’s friends with the Boss and all, but this is fucking ridiculous.”
“According to the Boss, Clint spent a lot of time with her, but not for his normal woman chasing reasons. He supposedly taught her about her lineage and how society works, all without using body paints or whipped cream.” He paused to laugh at his own joke. “Anyhow, I’m not sure how well he really did though. I mean, she was only about ten months old when she got the boot from Lord Locke, and we both know that’s barely enough time to learn even the basics of being a vamp.”
Drake wouldn’t argue with that point. He’d been around long enough to know it took at least ten years for a Fledgling to get their bearings as a newly created vampire. Between learning the rules, a little bit of history and how to eat without causing a panic, the first decade of existence wasn’t all that pleasant.
And that was with training.
If this girl hadn’t even had a full “childhood”, she was lucky she’d lived long enough to come back. Maybe Jake was right for the second time tonight. Maybe she’d been so busy fighting to stay alive that she wouldn’t recognize him or his reputation.
Maybe – but he wasn’t counting on it.
Drake opened his eyes and refocused on Jake. “Have you already confirmed someone’s out to get her? Is that why I’m on this?”
“The Boss didn’t give me much info on why he opened the contract. All he said was that she’s fair game until Lord Locke officially accepts her as a resident again, and that it’s imperative she completes whatever tasks or conditions he sets forth for her. To be honest, if someone is after her, I have no idea who it is. But all you have to do is get her to that meeting. Once you do, you can mark this one as yet another fulfilled contract and go on your merry way.”
Drake raked a hand through his hair and tried to stave off the urge to yawn. “I hate it when you guys throw contracts like this at me. Not only do I not have enough time to watch her first, but you either don’t have or won’t part with all the necessary information about her.”
Jake tucked Toni’s photo back into the proper folder then moved it to the bottom of the stack. “I gave you everything I could find on short notice, Drake.” He turned his back then headed for the door. “Your contract got dropped in my lap about two hours ago, so don’t feel like you’re the only one who didn’t get decent prep time. If I could’ve gotten more info out of the Boss, I would have. But he wasn’t saying anything that wasn’t already in the report.” He opened the door and stepped inside, but turned around before it closed. “If I come across any new information about her, you’ll be the first to know.”
Drake nodded as Jake pulled the door closed. “I’d appreciate that.”
Once the Folder Gopher was gone, Drake focused his full attention back on the sidewalk below. Even now, standing next to 8-Ball with her shoulders just as slumped as when he’d first seen her, Toni Tutoro’s fine Spanish features mirrored that innocent quality so obvious in the contract photo. But the longer he looked at her, the more he realized there was something else about her, something about the worn, almost apologetic way she held herself that just didn’t mesh with the information in her bio.
He studied her for another few minutes, watching the way 8-Ball reached out every so often to rub her arm or shoulder as she spoke. At one point, when she shook her head then buried her face in her hands, he even leaned in close and kissed her forehead. Either they were extremely good friends, or maybe she was a little better with the manipulation than Jake had given her credit for. He’d never judge her for attempting to kill another vampire, but it took a special kind of person to look that sweet and defenseless one minute, then turn around and slaughter a handful of human security guards the next.
Drake narrowed his eyes and tried to sharpen his senses enough to pick up the conversation between her and 8-Ball, but the constant drone of the wind rushing through the buildings in the Business District easily drowned out their words. He rolled his eyes. It figured, the one time he could’ve used Odin’s powers for good instead of evil – the bastard was nowhere to be seen.
Then again, keeping Odin quiet long enough to actually hear someone else talk was a lot easier said than done.
The flash of headlights a few hundred yards down the street pulled Drake’s attention back to the matter at hand. If he wasn’t mistaken, that was Brick’s SUV heading towards The Rivers building, which meant it was almost time to make fake friends with the dead girl.
He leaned back and stretched out the tight muscles in his arms. If he was lucky and she played just as nice as he intended to, he’d be rid of her by sunset tomorrow. If he wasn’t so lucky, well, it certainly wouldn’t be the first time he ended up on the wrong side of a female vampire. He’d only been there once before, but when all was said and done, she’d left him nursing a lot more than a nasty bite wound.
As Drake checked his watch one last time, he couldn’t help but wonder how long it would be before Toni tried to bite him. No doubt, he’d probably get his answer the second she laid eyes on him.
