I Hunger for You Read online

  A soft cackle of laughter issued from the speaker. Then the old man was silent for a while. “All right,” he said at last. “I’ll show you.”

  After that she’d been whisked off in a succession of limousines and airplanes, and finally into an SUV that took her up a mountain road to a mansion in the center of a walled compound. Once inside this luxurious fortress, she’d finally come face to face with the last vampire hunter in the family.

  Her great-grandfather was not a rush-up-and-

  give-him-a-big-hug-and-call-him-Grandpa kind of person, but Mia hadn’t expected him to be. What she hadn’t expected him to be was—kind of creepy. The time she’d spent with him had been instructive, but it hadn’t been particularly pleasant. In fact, he spent more time hunched over a laptop working on financial dealings than actually looking at her when they were together. The man was cold, abrupt, and there was a—hunger—in him for vampires.

  The fact that he wanted her to bring him a live one freaked her at first.

  But his explanation made sense. He reminded her that vampire hunting was almost a dead art. Times had changed, and it would be intelligent to find out what sorts of modern weaponry worked on the monsters.

  When he first brought the subject up, Mia was outraged at the idea of experimenting on a living creature. But her great-grandfather pointed out that that was exactly what vampires were—creatures, monsters, parasites.

  The Enemy.

  She’d signed on to fight a war. There couldn’t be any room for mercy when fighting the forces of evil.

  That sounds so melodramatic.

  Yet it was true. And she had promised to capture a vampire and bring it to her great-grandfather. He’d provided her with drugs that he promised rendered the monsters helpless.

  She’d figure out something. And she’d have to do it alone. Even with her new knowledge, Mia still felt unprepared for the challenge.

  Oh, no, you don’t, Caramia Luchese. I am as tough as nails, and I can do this.

  Only it would be so much better if she didn’t have to do it by herself. Her great-grandfather had promised her help in transporting the vampire once she’d caught it, but insisted that the capture was her duty alone.

  She didn’t get it.

  Maybe it was some sort of hunter tradition of going mano a mano against the forces of evil. Though if that was the way it was done, it was no wonder the hunter families had died out or gotten out of the business.

  Maybe it was a test.

  Maybe if she brought her great-grandfather the vampire, he would provide her with more information and resources. Well, she needed his help, so she’d do it his way for now.

  She just wished she could tell someone. Unreasonably, stupidly, the one person she wanted to tell was Colin Foxe.

  I can’t trust him on an emotional level—but damn, the man can kick ass.

  Damn, but the man also had a fine ass.

  Mia ran a hand through her short curls and wondered where that thought had come from. Probably because he’d shown up the other night and—she hated to admit it—saved her ass. She’d had a primal reaction to it then that she’d managed to cover with anger, but the effects still lingered. Only pride had kept her from dragging him down on the ground and giving herself to him. She’d felt his excitement after the fight, knew the cockiness he got from the victory. The sex would have been hard, fast, and sweet.

  She closed her eyes and tasted the man’s kisses, felt his hands on her. The memories alone were enough to stir instant, aching heat.

  She had good reasons to hate the man, but he made a hell of a sex toy.

  Which was another reason not to bring him into this. She couldn’t afford emotional involvement—not lust, not hate. It wouldn’t be good for her edge, or his. Besides, how could she get him to believe in vampires? He’d scoff until one was sucking the life out of him.

  This thought brought up lovely images of her rescuing him, his gratitude, and her cheerfully rebuffing the gorgeous bastard.

  “We’ll be landing in a few moments.”

  The flight attendant’s voice brought Mia out of her reverie. This is not a game, she reminded herself as she checked to make sure her seatbelt was fastened.

  “What do you mean, you can’t guard her if you can’t find her?” Colin demanded of his cousin over the cellular phone. “Why can’t you find her?” Why had he left Mia’s welfare to anyone else?

  He stepped out of the small office building of the Van Trier Executive Airport with his phone pressed to his ear, and sudden anger bursting inside him. Even though the sun was setting, he automatically put on sunglasses. His gaze was drawn across the parking lot toward a small jet making a landing on one of the airport’s two runways. He put a finger in his left ear to block out the engine noise.

  Alec Reynard’s voice sounded far too cheerful when he answered. “The best we can figure is that your girlfriend left home voluntarily.”

  “She’s not my girlfriend. And how do you figure that?” Colin shouted over the roar of airport noise.

  “Domini and I broke into her house. There was no scent or sign of any vampire having been in the place but you. There was a string of garlic on the back door, so maybe she suspects vampires exist.”

  “She’s Italian,” Colin answered, “and she likes to cook. The back door’s in the kitchen.”

  “That’s what Domini suggested. You’ve spent a lot of time over there, have you?”

  “You don’t believe the girl’s in danger, do you?”

  “I haven’t found any evidence of her being involved with our kind, except for you calling me every hour.”

  This was only the second time Colin had enquired about Mia, as he hadn’t had the time, but he let it go. He didn’t know why Alec was needling him and not taking the situation seriously. “Has Tony found—”

  “He found and lost the trail of the one you fought, but no evidence of a pack operating in the area yet. Let’s hope it was a lone Prime passing through who decided to have a little fun with you.”

  It would be a relief to think that the Tribe was long out of town. “Tony’s still checking, though, right?”

  “Of course. And how’s your assignment coming along?”

  “Slowly,” Colin answered. “My team spent most of the last few days on that bank robbery situation that was all over the news. Then we had to do a debrief, and a training sim to see how we could handle it better.”

  The rest of his team had gone home wrung out and ragged. Colin wasn’t tired the way his mortal teammates were, but he was glad for the days off they’d been given. For some reason, he’d found that he was slightly envious of the wives and families the rest of the team had to go home to.

  “Now I finally have some time off to work on the Patron info I’m supposed to check out.”

  “And?” Alec prompted.

  “I’m at the airport now. I persuaded a beautiful young woman to look through all the confidential client files, but it’s going to take her a while.”

  “Do you think you’ve finally run down a lead on this Patron?”

  Impatience clawed at Colin. When he’d helped shut down the Patron’s immortality research facility in Arizona, he and the others had made their escape on a stolen Gulfstream jet. Tracing the ownership information of the airplane should have quickly led to the identity of the Patron.

  Instead it had led to plowing slowly through layers and layers of financial camouflage. The man hid his identity well. After all this time, they still didn’t know who the plane belonged to, but some maintenance records had finally been tracked down. That paper trail led to this small, private airport. Now all Colin could do was wait while the mortal female he’d flirted with and hypnotized into helping him looked through confidential files.

  He tried to put his mind on how good-looking the office worker was, to stop thinking about Mia, but heard himself say, “Why couldn’t the woman stay home so she can be protected?”

  “Maybe the woman thinks she can take care o
f herself,” Reynard said.

  Colin had forgotten that he was on the phone. “Mortals need taking care of, especially females.”

  The wave of awareness hit him even before he stopped speaking. If Reynard answered, Colin didn’t hear him. All he was aware of was Mia stepping off the plane that had just landed. He was waiting by the gate by the time she reached it. Her gaze was on the ground, a frown of concentration on her face.

  “What are you doing here?” he asked.

  Her head jerked up, and their gazes met. For a moment there was a light of welcome in her eyes that took Colin’s breath away. He almost took her in his arms, but her expression changed to guarded suspicion that warned him to keep his distance.

  “What are you doing here?” she questioned him.

  “Business,” was his answer. He moved to let her through the gate and kept pace with her as she walked across the parking lot. “Where have you been?”

  “Out of town.”

  “I know. Why?”

  She stopped, and glared at him. “How did you know? Why do you want to know?”

  “You were attacked. I wanted to make sure you were safe.”

  “So you tracked me down here?”

  “No. I told you I’m on business.”

  She took a deep breath, and Colin felt her pull her emotions in and get herself under control. “Thank you for your concern, Officer Foxe.”

  If she could attempt to be reasonable, so could he. He put his hand on her arm. He was aware of the muscles beneath the warm softness of her skin. That was Mia, steel and velvet. She trembled ever so slightly at his touch, wanting him, and fighting that wanting. He felt the same way. The need was always instant between them.

  “Come on, let me drive you home.”

  She didn’t answer, but she did let him lead her toward his car.

  But as they passed the small airport office, the office manager stepped out of the doorway. “Officer Foxe!” she called, and hurried up to him.

  Standing too close to him, she tilted her head provocatively and said, “I found those records you asked for.” She smiled, and the look she gave him was both pleased and hopeful.

  Mia stiffened, emotions going cold as ice, and stepped away from Colin. “I have a ride.”

  Colin moved toward Mia, but the other woman put herself between them. She touched his shoulder. “Come into my office, and I’ll show you what I’ve found.”

  Damn! Damn! Damn! The woman was beautiful, and he had come on to her. But he hadn’t expected Mia to be here!

  Now Mia was walking away, and she was likely reminding herself that he’d broken up with her because he’d told her he wasn’t interested in being involved with only one woman. Which was the truth, but he still felt as if he’d somehow been caught cheating on her.

  Which didn’t change the fact that he did need the information the woman had found for him. He’d stop by Mia’s place later to check on her.

  “Good work,” he said, turning a smile on the waiting woman. He put his arm around her slender shoulders, turning her back toward the building. “Let’s have a look at what you’ve found.”

  Chapter Five

  Laurent slept with women. He drank their blood. He took their money. It was a good life. And most important, this low-key lifestyle let him live in choice territory claimed by the Clans without them being any the wiser. He’d been dwelling safely and happily in the warm California nights until his sire showed up with a pack of Primes and all their emotional baggage, and demanded Laurent do his bidding.

  He wished he hadn’t been lured back into the machinations of Tribe Manticore.

  Being an exile had its advantages.

  Besides, he only might be my sire. It’s not likely he’ll say so one way or the other. He uses the truth to keep me in line. If I’m a good little slave, someday he might tell me. Typical tribal behavior.

  “But I’m only really in it for the money.”

  Justinian had said something about their finding out what the Clans knew about Laurent’s quarry, but Laurent hadn’t heard any news after two nights of hunting. And this was after he’d gone to the trouble of providing the pack with cell phones and teaching them how to use them—after convincing Justinian that this modern method of communicating was safer around Clan boys than using telepathy, since mental activity was more likely to be looked for.

  He snorted, and concentrated on the area below his roof perch, where he had a clear view of the entrance of the building across the street. Tonight would be the night.

  This was the third night he’d staked out the fitness center where the Garrison woman worked out. This had seemed a safer place to wait for her than her house, where the Clan Prime might be lurking—waiting for Laurent. She was an exercise fanatic, and bound to show up sometime.

  “And there she is,” he murmured as he spotted the dark-haired young mortal turn the corner and come striding toward the glass doors of the gym. Energy, purpose, and righteous anger crackled through her aura like flashes of lightning.

  It was too bad she was Justinian’s prey, because Laurent would quite enjoy a taste of this gifted mortal woman. He shrugged. Maybe after the pack leader was done with her—not that she’d have much spirit left then.

  He let himself fantasize while she went into the building. When she left the gym, he could follow her back to her car and take her there. It was a simple, neat plan.

  And foiled within a few seconds when the Clan vampire he’d fought for her came walking around the same corner, and followed the woman into the fitness center.

  Laurent drew all his mental shielding tightly around himself and kept his swearing silent and on the surface of his mind.

  Why couldn’t this go easily?

  He sighed. After he was sure the Clan vampire had no awareness of him, Laurent took out his cellular telephone.

  Maybe, just maybe, he could get someone in the Manticore pack to answer, and give him a little backup.

  “Oh, for crying out loud, what are you doing here?” Mia demanded when Colin Foxe walked into the martial arts room.

  Bare-chested, he wore a pair of loose-fitting gray sweatpants. There was no one else in this small area but the two of them, so she couldn’t just ignore him in the crowd.

  He smiled in that infuriatingly charming way of his, and his sultry dark eyes glinted beneath the heavy arch of his brows. “I have a membership.”

  “But you haven’t been here since we broke up.”

  His smile widened. “You’ve noticed.”

  Mia was tempted to keep her claws out and continue snarling at the man, but what good would it do? It would only let him know that she still hurt. It wasn’t likely that he was here to explain about the bimbo at the airport, or to apologize for his continuing existence. He certainly wasn’t here to beg her to take him back. She knew she should wrap herself in pride and dignity and simply ignore his presence, but curiosity got the better of her.

  “You followed me here, didn’t you?”

  “Yes.”

  “Because you’re feeling protective, Officer Foxe?”

  “Yep.”

  While she rather admired this trait in him, she wished he was feeling protective toward somebody else. “It was a random act of violence that you came upon by accident. Having done the Good Samaritan thing, you can go back to forgetting about me now.”

  “I take ‘serve and protect’ seriously.”

  “Which is about all you take seriously.” Damn! There she went being bitter and sarcastic again. “Never mind my whining,” she added. “It’s late. I’m tired. I want to get in a workout and go home.”

  She’d wanted to go to bed the minute she got home, but a hunter needed to be disciplined. She hadn’t expected Colin to be part of her workout regime.

  Colin looked around the empty room and gestured her toward a mat. “Come on. Try to beat me up. You’ll feel better.”

  “I don’t want to try.”

  He laughed. “I know.” His gaze flicked over he
r, all hot and arrogant. “You are so sexy when you’re pissed off.”

  It was such a blatant come-on that Mia laughed. After three months of callous abandonment, he thought that she still couldn’t resist him.

  “You are so—”

  “A pig. I know.” He spun around and did a backflip onto the sparring mat. He was lithe, lean, wiry as Jet Li.

  “I’m impressed,” she told him.

  Mia crossed to a punching bag set up on a heavy floor stand and proceeded to take out her aggression with some kickboxing moves. She could feel him watching her, which made her clumsy. Which did nothing for her temper. She was used to practicing with a group. She’d been doing this for ye—

  “You don’t look like you’ve been doing this for years.”

  She turned in puzzlement at Colin’s sarcastic comment. He was closer than she thought, and he lunged toward her. Though she was off balance, Mia reacted to defend herself.

  For the next few minutes they punched, blocked, feinted, and kicked their way around the practice room. There was nothing formal about what they did; it was the closest thing to street fighting Mia’d ever experienced.

  It was intense, exciting, punctuated by adrenaline and rising lust.

  Becoming aware of where this dance was leading, Mia came to a stop. She put up her hands, and Colin backed away. He looked bright and fresh, like he could go on like this all night. She was sweaty and breathing hard.

  “You did good,” he told her. He bounced on the balls of his feet, grinning. “More?”

  It was tempting to continue going at it with Colin, but she knew that come-and-get-me look in his eyes was also an I’m-gonna-have-you promise. And she wanted him, just like she always wanted him, especially at times like this when his hands had been on her, and hers on him. She wanted at the same time to hurt him and to fall on the mat with him and go at it like bunnies.

  So for his safety, and her self-respect, Mia said, “No.”

  He tilted his head to one side, and looked up from under dark, thick eyelashes. “You sure?”

  Now he was being cute. She didn’t need that. She picked up a towel and wiped off her face. “I need a shower. And don’t take that as an invitation to join me.”