"That's what I thought. He stabbed one of the vampires with his sword, and it turned to dust. The other ones released me, so they could fight him. And that's when I realized my mind was free. So I joined in on the fight."
"Oh, good for you, girl."
"Then the two bad guys vanished, and--"
"Vanished?"
"Yeah. It's another vampire thing. Then the Scotsman grabbed me, and we vanished, too."
Carlos gasped. "Merda! Where did you go?" His eyes narrowed. "Are you saying the Scotsman is a vampire, too?"
"Yes, but he's a good one. His name is Connor, and he took me to Romatech Industries."
Carlos nodded slowly. "I've heard of that place. It's run by that famous scientist who invented synthetic blood."
"Roman Draganesti. I met him. He's the leader of the good Vamps."
"Good Vamps?"
"Yeah. Roman gave me a blood transfusion. Then Connor offered to erase my memory of the whole ordeal. They really don't want people to know that they exist."
Carlos gave her a wry look. "I can believe that."
"But I couldn't let them erase my memory, 'cause I needed to tell Sabrina that she was right."
"Claro."
"Luckily, there was another option. Connor knew I could fight, so he offered me a job, guarding the Vamps during the day. You see, they're totally helpless then. And they're in desperate need of mortals they can trust."
"So that's where you've been during the day?" Carlos asked. "You're guarding vampires?"
"Yes. Today was my second day. It's a fairly easy job. They're basically dead during the day, so there's not much going on. But I do have to stay there. I'd be in big trouble if I left them unguarded."
Carlos snorted. "If they're dead, how could they know if you left?"
"I have to call in reports to my mortal supervisor, Howard. And he's watching me on monitors.
He's been very understanding. He's taking over for me Friday so I can take my final. And he let me use the answering machine today when every ditzy female in the city was calling for...him."
"Him?"
"I don't want to talk about him. I've got enough problems without...him."
"Ah." The corners of Carlos's mouth tilted up. "So is this him one of them?"
"He's a Vamp, yes. A very annoying one." Of all the Vamps, Ian was the only one who suspected her of a hidden agenda. The fact that he was correct just made it more aggravating.
The man was driving her crazy. Since her attack, she had every reason to hate vampires. The damned monsters deserved to be hated. It was like they'd stripped her humanity by reducing her to nothing but a food source. And when they'd taken over her mind, it had felt like her soul was being squashed. So how the hell could she find Ian so attractive?
For a second, she'd thought he must be controlling her mind. But she'd never felt the jab of cold air on her brow. Nor had she heard his voice in her head. No, her attraction was real. Crazy, but real.
Any man would be blessed and honored to receive yer love. Her heart had almost stopped when he'd said that. It was the loveliest thing anyone had ever told her. It made her feel attractive and... worthy. I am worthy to be loved.
The way he had looked at her, like he was reaching deep inside her, had made her painfully aware of an emptiness in her soul. He was dangerous. And beautiful.
"Menina, it seems to me you have a conflict of interest."
"I'm not going to let him get to me."
Carlos smiled. "I wasn't referring to him. Though I suppose he does explain that mushy look on your face."
"Excuse me?"
Carlos chuckled. "I was referring to this new job of yours. You're paid to protect the Vamps, yes?"
"Yes. I took a vow to protect them."
"But at the same time, you want to prove Sabrina's telling the truth about vampires. Seems to me, if you expose the secret about vampires, you will be breaking your vow to protect them."
"I thought about that. You see, if we just let a lawyer or a psychiatrist know the truth, then they'll be bound by client confidentiality. So they'll know Bri isn't crazy, but at the same time, they won't be able to expose the Vamps and hurt them."
"Ah." Carlos nodded. "A tricky plan, but a good one."
"The problem is finding actual proof of their existence. I thought about taking photos of them in their death-sleep, but they look totally normal."
"Like they're asleep?" Carlos asked.
"Exactly. Well, Dougal looks kinda dead, 'cause he sleeps in a coffin, but even so, it would just look like a photo of a dead guy. And people die all the time. It's hardly revolutionary. I looked in their library--"
"They have a library? They're not in a dark, gloomy crypt somewhere in a graveyard?"
"No, they have a luxurious townhouse. Five floors of beautiful antiques and artwork. You wouldn't believe the canopy bed I'm sleeping in."
"Oh God." Carlos pressed a hand against his broad chest. "It sounds fabulous. When can I see it?"
"I can't sneak you in past the surveillance cameras."
He scoffed. "Don't bet on it, girlfriend. So what's the story with Sabrina?"
"Her aunt and uncle checked her out of the hospital and took her to their house in Westchester. Uncle Joe's a psychiatrist, and he says she's suffering from severe psychosis. He won't let me talk to her."
Carlos frowned. "What do you know about this aunt and uncle?"
"Not much. They never showed much interest in Bri before now."
"Yes, but she stands to inherit a lot of money once she graduates, yes?"
"Yep. Eighty-five million."
Carlos's eyes widened. "I had no idea it was so much!"
"Well, she doesn't advertise it, for obvious reasons. Her parents didn't want her to become a useless trust fund baby, so they stipulated in their will that she had to graduate from college before she could inherit the whole amount. She's been getting a yearly allowance since she was fourteen."
"And when does she graduate?"
"Next spring. Well, actually, it'll be longer than that 'cause she's getting incompletes this semester."
Carlos stood and paced across the floor. "She could be in serious trouble."
Toni swallowed hard. "I was afraid of that."
"I need all the information you have on the aunt and uncle."
"This is it." Toni handed him the pink fuzzy address book. "Their last name is Proctor."
He ripped out the page, then folded it. "I'll check them out, especially their financial records."
"How will you do that?"
He slipped the paper into a pocket of his tight leather pants. "I have a computer."
"So do I, but I wouldn't know how to check on someone."
"No offense, love, but it took you months to learn how to download e-mail."
Toni sighed. It was true. She was totally inept when it came to modern technology. She'd lived her first thirteen years at her grandmother's house in rural Alabama, where their one phone had a rotary dial and their one television had four channels and no remote control.
"That reminds me." She dug through her handbag and handed him her cell. "I need a different ringtone."
He grinned. "You don't want to rock the boys?"
"No, I'll leave that to you. I need something less...loud, please."
"No problem." He jammed the phone into his pocket. "How long were you planning to stay here?"
"About half an hour. I need to pack some more clothes to take back with me."
"Fine. I'll be right back." Carlos slipped out the kitchen window.
Toni looked in the refrigerator for something to drink, but everything there had caffeine. Not good when she needed to be asleep by ten every night so she could rise early in the morning. She poured herself a glass of ice water, then headed to her bedroom to pack.
Monday night, after she'd survived the attack and accepted employment, she'd been stuffed in the backseat of a sedan, and Dougal had driven her here to pick up some clothes. She'd been in such a state of shock, she'd only grabbed a few things from her bedroom while Dougal had waited in the living room. Then he'd driven her straight to the townhouse, and she'd been there ever since.
She realized now that the Vamps hadn't wanted her to get loose with the knowledge she possessed. The fact that she'd been allowed to go out tonight must mean that they had decided to trust her. How long would she have to live with them? It was hard to say. How could she help Sabrina if she couldn't even talk to her?