Read Dead Man Running: Book Two - Supernatural Bounty Hunter Romance Novellas Online
Authors: E A Price
Dead Man Running: Book Two - Supernatural Bounty Hunter Romance Novellas
Dead Man Running
(Book Two, Supernatural Bounty Hunter Romance Novellas)
By E A Price
Copyright ©2014 by Elizabeth Ann Price
All rights reserved.
Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without express written permission from the author.
Disclaimer
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
Front cover
All images used to create the front cover have been deemed to be in the public domain, and available for reuse and modification. No offense is meant in the use of them.
The palm tree wallpaper was found at
http://wallpho.com/54428-palm-tree-sunset-id-32761.htm
The male figure was found on
Pinterest, it was uploaded by Roblyn AKA “B” at
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/335940453427856064/
(found on sixpax.com)
The handcuffs picture was authored by Evan-Amos, and was found on Wikimedia Commons at
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Handcuffs-Black.jpg
Big, big thank you to both Linda Garrison Gray and Kristin Burns for editing suggestions.
Table of Contents
20 years ago
Viktor the 350-year-old vampire thrashed at the bonds and snarled at his captors. The three witches eyed him dispassionately.
The evening had started out so well...
He’d spent over an hour sweet talking the big-
boobed brunette waitress at Snake Oil, a club owned by his friend and boa constrictor shifter, Marcus Blau.
After simpering at his numerous advances, she suggested they go out back into the alley; he was certain sex was on the cards, but he
also had high hopes he could persuade her into donating a little blood. Few said no. Done right, being fed on by a vampire during sex only enhances the orgasmic experience.
Viktor practically salivated;
he watched her curvaceous ass enticingly swinging to and fro as he followed her. The denim hot pants barely covered her cheeks.
Stepping out into the cool evening breeze, the minx engulfed his mouth in an energetic kiss. Damn, she had a hot little mouth.
It was like a freaking vacuum!
Drawing back, she gave him a wicked grin before dropping to her knees and pulling out his impressive erection.
Viktor chuckled as she gasped at the size of him. She told him he was her first vampire, and he replied that he was honored. The waitress giggled before playfully kissing and licking the sensitive head. He groaned in pleasure and closed his eyes focusing on her skilful ministrations.
After a few seconds, Viktor tensed and opened his eyes. He could sense something was wrong. The air grew chilly, and there was dead silence. His claws and fangs flexed as his eyes turned pitch black.
The waitress felt his manhood slowly deflate and she let go of him puzzled. Viktor told her to get back inside. She pouted and tried to object, but he silenced her with a furious glower. She soon scuttled away like a frightened crab.
Viktor gingerly sniffed the air. “I know you’re there!” he yelled. In truth he knew someone, or something, was there, he just wasn’t certain what. “Show yourself!”
A soft floral fragrance tickled his nose as the light laughter of two, no, three women floated toward him. Their silky voices flowed in perfect unison. “Hello, Viktor. It’s nice to meet you. We thought she’d never leave. We’d be grateful if you would come with us willingly.”
Witches
. Viktor automatically snarled. He’d never had a good experience with a witch. Not since two hundred years ago, back in Russia, when a coven tried to burn him at a stake.
Yes, witches actually tried to burn him at a stake.
“Oh, well,” t
hey chorused, walking his way.
Viktor howled as white hot pain seared through his mind. He dropped to the ground, clutching his head. His thoughts and feelings were being battered by the trio of witches. Trying to push aside the
unbearable throbbing, he crawled toward them. He made it to their feet before finally collapsing into darkness.
He had no idea how long he was passed out, but by the time he awoke it was daytime. He was now a prisoner. He was in a lavish study, dominated by a huge desk and wall to wall bookcases. At least it wasn’t a dungeon or a torture pit,
he’d seen more than enough of those during his long lifetime to know them by sight.
He was chained to a red wingback chair placed directly in front of the desk. Daylight poured through the bay windows. For now, he was placed in the shadows, but in another few hours, the sun would be shining directly on him.
Viktor struggled against the chains, and the trio of witches emerged from a door at the far side of the room. They watched him blankly. They were triplets, identical apart from their hair color. One was redheaded, one had black hair, and one had white hair. They all had violet eyes. He was naturally wary; three witches together were powerful, but three sister witches...
they could wreak havoc!
The sisters sighed in unison. “The chains are enchanted. You are wasting your time struggling against them.”
Viktor glared at them before resuming his furious struggles. Whatever these bitches had planned for him, he wanted no part in it.
The door opened again, and Viktor held still.
He scented death
. He snarled as a wheelchair was slowly pushed round to the other side of the desk.
The occupant of the wheelchair was a frail human, hooked up to an oxygen tank. He was clearly in pain, but too proud to let it show. He coul
dn’t have been more than about 30, but his illness aged him terribly.
The nurse wheeling him was a formidable looking seven foot polar bear shifter. He took off the oxygen mask. Stepping back from the chair, he folded a pair of colossal arms over his beefy chest. He looked as detached as the witches, who had unobtrusively arranged themselves behind the human.
The human scooted forward on his chair and rested his elbows on the desk, tenting his fingers. He gave Viktor a watery smile.
The vampire was reminded of a lizard
.
When the human finally spoke it was a raspy, scraping noise. “Well, Mr.
Kozlov, is that correct? Your last name was one of the many things I had difficulty finding out about you. Mr. Kozlov, or Viktor, if I may, I’m delighted you could join me in my humble home.”
Viktor snarled and jerked against the chains again; the chair scraped over the floor. The polar bear began to look nervous, but the witches and human seemed unconcerned.
“My name is Eric Van Dyne.”
Viktor stilled.
Eric chuckled. “Yes, I can see that caught your attention.”
The Van Dyne Corporation was an immense multi-billion dollar business, spanning all across the globe. It included everything from shipping to making bathing suits, and even owned a few zoos. The Corporation was also notorious for the fact that the owner Mr. Eric Van Dyne was a recluse who was never seen in public.
Apparently Viktor now knew why
.
“What do you want?” demanded Viktor, gruffly.
Eric’s lips twitched. “As you can no doubt see and scent, Viktor, I am dying. I have a rare genetic condition that, despite my pharmaceutical companies’ best efforts, cannot be cured, or at least, cannot be cured in my lifetime.” His pleasant facade slipped into bitterness for a few seconds.
“However, I have no heir to take over my business. When I die, the vultures on my Board will dissect my empire and sell it off like spare parts.”
Viktor snorted. “So the wealth gets redistributed, why the hell should I care? I ascribe to the view that no man should set himself so highly above others.”
Eric cocked his head on one side. “So money does not interest you?”
The vampire laughed mirthlessly. “If you’d lived as long as I have, you would see how unimportant it is. I have enough to live comfortably; I don’t need anymore.” He flashed a look in the direction of the unmoving witches. “Is that how you got the weird sisters over there to work for you, money?”
Eric waved a hand dismissively. “I wish I had the same laid back temperament, but, of course, I haven’t lived as long as you have. I’ve barely lived at all. I’ve been ill since I was a child; I’ve been robbed of so many of the natural joys of life. Do you know what it is to feel pain every second of every day? To desperately grasp at life?”
Viktor pursed his lips, not liking where this was going at all. “I am sorry to hear that.”
Eric nodded. “I suppose by now you have an idea of why I brought you here, I...”
“You want me to change you into a vampire,” interrupted Viktor, sharply.
“Yes, I do,”
replied Eric, bluntly.
Viktor shook his head. “So you thought that kidnapping me, and bringing me here was a good idea?”
Eric’s lips curled upwards. “I doubted you would have come by your own free will.”
The man wasn’t wrong
. “You know I can’t change you...”
Thirty years ago, vampires had ‘come out’ to the public, not long after shifters had. It had been difficult at first, but with the introduction of the Council of
Supernaturals to regulate supernatural creatures, things had become easier. Most people just accepted vampires now –
as long as they followed the law.
At first vampires hated having to assimilate with humans.
Or prey as most thought of them
. But eventually, most realized it was necessary for their survival. There were a lot more humans than there were vampires after all. Vampires couldn’t feed on someone without permission, and they were never permitted to change another person into a vampire unless they had prior permission from the Council.
The only exception: being a vampire’s true mate
.
Eric watched him testily. “I know the law, vampire, but I also know that, with enough money, there are those at the Council who are willing to look the other way.”
Viktor snorted. “I take it you already tried applying for a license the legal way, and you were turned down.”
Eric banged his fist down on the desk. “It’s ridiculous! I’m rich and ill - I deserve a chance at a longer life! If not someone like me, who the hell does get to be a vampire? No one deserves it more than me!” He was almost spitting and started wheezing frantically. The polar bear rushed forwards and forced an oxygen mask on the man. He took a couple of drags before impatiently batting the bear away.
Viktor raised an eyebrow. “I believe they look for a little humility,” he said drolly. The power that went with being a vampire was not bestowed lightly.
The last thing the vampire community wanted was another Vlad the Impaler.
Eric sneered. “I gather you won’t be swayed by the vast amount of money I can give you, nor the fact that I’m a sick man who just wants a chance to live.”
“I’m not going to risk prison to turn you into a vampire. I’m sorry you’re ill, but eternal life isn’t the answer.”
Eric became self-righteous. “But, what about my company? I own pharmaceutical companies that are helping people, which are saving people’s life...”
Viktor huffed. “You own pharmaceutical companies that charge extra to developing countries for medication they need to live. You don’t care about people; you care about money. That’s how you got so rich in the first place. If your companies are sold off after you die, hopefully, it will be to people who are actually more generous than you, although I doubt that’s possible. Besides, if you did have an heir, my guess is you’d still want to be a vampire. You don’t care about your company living on; you only care about yourself and power.”
Eric shot the vampire a murderous look. Viktor chuckled. “You think I haven’t met other men like you? You’re nothing special.”
Eric started wheezing again. The bear came forward and began struggling to get the human to wear the oxygen mask. “You’re wrong, corpse. I am special. I deserve eternal life more than anyone else does, and certainly more than you. Do you think I don’t know where you came from? You were nothing, the wastrel son of a nobody who went around seducing innocent girls for fun. Pah! You were nothing, and you’re only somebody now because a vampire took it into their thick head to change you. You don’t deserve the gift that has been bestowed on you; you’re fucking wasting it. You think you can turn me down? I can buy and sell you. I could kill you now, and nobody would even know or care. You’re nothing compared to me!”
Eric started going into convulsions as the polar bear finally forced the mask on his face. The sisters crowded round and began chanting a soothing spell.
Taking advantage of the distraction, Viktor began rocking in his chair.
The chains were magical, but the chair sure as hell wasn’t.
He began moving violently, until with a resounding crash the chair fell over and smashed. The chains loosened, and he leapt out of them.
“No!” screamed Eric.
The witches turned their violet gazes on him. Their eyes shone brightly, and they opened their mouths, but Viktor, with lightning speed, started forcefully throwing the shards of the chair at them. One hit the red head, piercing her heart. She whimpered and fell to the ground, her sisters running to her aid.
With an almighty roar, the polar bear charged at Viktor, shredding his clothes and shifting to his enormous beast. Viktor tensed himself and grabbed the polar bear’s snapping jaws as the animal slammed into him. Viktor took one step back but otherwise held his ground.
The vampire, although slender, was both faster and stronger. Slowly, he began pushing the bear backwards. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the witches were still whining over their sis
ter, quickly trying to heal her. They were no threat –
for the moment
.
Viktor looked the bear in the eye. “If you back off now, I won’t kill you.”
The polar bear answered by swiping a massive paw at him. Viktor sidestepped him and brutally tore apart the animals jaw.
A look of surprise shot into the dark eyes of the bear before he slumped to the ground, dead. Viktor stepped over the body and leaned over the desk; he was panting heavily from the bloodlust awakened by the kill. Eric was breathing manically.