Hope and Vengeance (Saa Thalarr, book 1): Saa Thalarr, book 1 (12 page)

"It's a short flight from here to Dallas," Anna said as Daniel walked up beside us, a duffle draped over a shoulder.

"You coming with us?" Joey asked.

Stop staring at his ass
, I ordered sternly.

I can't help it
, Joey whined back.

"Stopping in Dallas to speak with the Packmaster, then likely heading back to Corpus to quell a rebellion within the ranks."

"Why don't you go for Packmaster?" Joey asked.

"Corpus isn't my desired destination," Daniel said. "I like it better farther north, with cooler temperatures. I can stay as long as I'm stationed there, but that could change, too."

"Seconds aren't held to such stringent rules," Anna offered quietly.

"I'll consider that," Daniel grinned. "Thanks for adding me to the reservation list," he told her. "Saved me the trouble."

"My pleasure," Anna replied.

The trip to Dallas was understandably turbulent, in a smaller plane that barely held Joey's laptop case in the overhead bin. We said good-bye to Daniel at the Dallas airport and took the tram to another terminal, where a much larger plane waited for us. We'd arrive in Las Vegas shortly after midnight, local time, which meant a longer night for Joey and me.

"Can you sleep on the plane?" I asked as I pulled Anna's seat belt around her and buckled it.

"It's not easy, but I can try," she said. "I really am tired, but I'd like to track down Cheek and company before I go to bed in Vegas."

"I just got information from the UK—there's a place waiting for us in Las Vegas," I said. Charles had sent the combinations to get into a safe house in the area.

"Good. I didn't know where you wanted to stay, so I didn't make reservations," Anna covered a yawn.

"I want you with me, that's what I want," I nuzzled her ear. "Want me to order anything from the flight attendant for you?"

"Tomato juice, no ice," she mumbled, leaning her head on my shoulder. She had the window seat; I had the aisle, while Joey sat on the aisle across from me. I preferred it this way—anyone would have to go through me to get to her. I knew she could likely take care of herself, but I felt protective, and I couldn't begin to explain that.

"Close your eyes, sweetheart. I've got this," I murmured against her hair.

Adam and Anna, sitting in a tree, k-i-s-s-i-n-g
, Joey sang in my head.

Adam and Joey, running through the dell. Joey better run fast, or Adam will give him hell
, I shot back.

Gonna be quiet now
, Joey promised.

For your own good.

True
. I allowed a small smile—I'd smiled frequently after meeting Joey, and smiled more since meeting Anna. Before I'd met Joey, I'd have said I was busy purging everything human from myself. That no longer held true. Joey's youth had affected me in a positive way and that, I felt, helped a great deal in my relationship with Anna.

Many of the older vamps I knew had very little human about them. Gavin, Wlodek's Chief Assassin, was one of those. I had a reputation among the vampires, but Gavin's was much more pronounced. I seldom spoke to him unless it was absolutely necessary, as he could quell almost any other vamp with just a look.

Anna was already asleep when the plane taxied for takeoff, so I soothed her during a bump on our way through the clouds over Dallas.

* * *

"Better than the last one," Joey nodded, looking about the safe house basement. He was right; this was a vast improvement over the two-bedroom in Corpus Christi. This one was completely updated, with granite countertops in the kitchen, stainless-steel appliances and en-suite bathrooms to go with the three bedrooms.

"This is nice," Anna agreed, blinking in the soft light of the kitchen.

"Off to bed for you," I attempted to scoot her toward the largest bedroom.

"No, we have to find Roy," she countered. "We have to check on Manuelo. If he goes through the change, then the tourists won't be safe."

"Let us find him," Joey coaxed. "You really do need sleep—you look exhausted."

"I'll sleep better after I've seen him," she argued.

"Come on, then. Let's find the bastard, then put Anna in bed." I lifted her in my arms before she could protest and ran up the narrow steps leading to the ground floor of the home.

We finally found the bugger—and his entourage—at the Emperor's Palace. Cheek was throwing money around in the poker room as if he only had a week to live. As always, Kirby Lee and Manuelo were outside, waiting patiently. Manuelo scratched often at his neck, making Anna frown.

"If he holds out until the tournament is over, it'll be a record," she whispered.

"Is there some way they can delay the change?" Joey asked quietly beside her.

"If there is, I don't know about it. That doesn't mean it can't happen," she added quickly. "The enemy likes to confuse us as often as possible."

"Joey, stay here and watch, I'll take Anna back to the house," I said. "Call if anything changes."

"Okay. Uh, Anna," Joey began.

"Play this one over here," Anna gave him a weary smile. "You have money?"

"I have money."

"Good. Invest what you win in Apple stock," she said and allowed me to steer her toward the door.

Las Vegas in August is hot—even after midnight. I considered that I was used to cooler European temperatures, and the tourists didn't seem to mind. They still wandered up and down the strip with little regard to the time of day—or night. The town was a mecca for vampires, as it was open round the clock. It likely explained the reason our safe house was as modern as it was—there were several in the area and Charles had given us the best available.

I considered that as I drove our rental toward the safe house—the fact that other vampires were in the area, occupying other safe houses. Somehow, that troubled me, but I put it out of my mind and concentrated on my driving. Anna slept in the passenger seat while I negotiated highways that hadn't been on the drawing board the last time I was in the area.

* * *

"Sleep, sweetheart," I murmured against Anna's ear before placing a kiss. "You smell so good," I added. She did. Her blood, too, sang to me in a way I'd never experienced. So much so, at times, I was dizzy with it. I'd never been this close to a shifter before—perhaps they were all like that.

"Not," Anna mumbled.

"Stop reading my mind and go to sleep," I ordered.

"Not reading your mind," she blinked at me. "You're broadcasting your thoughts."

"What's the difference? Aren't you supposed to be asleep?" I arched an eyebrow at her.

"Adam, just don't take my blood unless I give permission, okay?"

"I won't," I promised. "I was going to ask, but that's down the road a ways. I won't hurt you, either. I guarantee it."

"I know. It still scares me."

"You're afraid of me?" I gripped her chin carefully between a thumb and forefinger.

"Uh, I'm really tired."

"Don't be afraid of me. Ever."

"I'll work on that."

* * *

Adam, he moved from the Emperor's Palace to the Amalfi
, Joey sent.
That's where I am, now.

On my way to pick you up—he won't get far. Looks as if he's spreading himself around so he won't win too much from one casino
, I returned, rounding a corner and heading back to the strip.
Anna will likely keep track of him, come daylight
.

She's really good at this, isn't she?

Better than I could ever imagine.

I never thought we'd get cooperation like this from any of the daywalkers, let alone a shifter. Plus, she's awesome. I won twenty-two thousand dollars on that machine.

Is that the only reason you like her?

No. Hell no. She's just, I can't explain it. I've upset her and she still treats me like I'm somebody special. I was thinking about investing in Apple stock, but after she said that, I think we can guarantee it's a good thing.

Invest a hundred thousand for me, too, while you're at it.

Really? You think the information is that reliable?

I think it's gold, Joey. She hasn't steered you wrong once on those machines, has she?

No.

You know where that account is—the one I said you could use in emergencies? Use money from that one.

All right. I'll make my investment at the same time. Thanks, Adam.

Pulling into the parking garage now. I'll be there shortly.

* * *

"I heard a gambler say that Cheek is up by a lot," Joey reported when I sat beside him at a slot machine.

"Then he should quit soon," I said. "Do we know how long he was at the Emperor's Palace?"

"I heard four hours. He's been here for two, but these are bigger bettors."

"He'll probably work his way up and down the strip, then," I sighed. "Do you know where he's staying?"

"I placed compulsion on the desk clerk at the Emperor's Palace—he has rooms there—at least for now."

"Kirby Lee and Manuelo?" I could see them from where I was sitting. Manuelo was sitting still and not scratching—at least for the moment.

"She went to the bathroom and ordered a bottle of water from the cocktail waitress, but that's it. I heard her asking if she could get a sandwich, but the woman said they can't serve food out on the gambling floor. I can't believe she hasn't noticed you or Anna the whole time we've been following Cheek."

"It's as if she looks right past us," I agreed. We'd stayed back whenever we watched, but if Kirby Lee were halfway intelligent, she might have seen us by now.

"Adam, look. He's leaving." Cheek walked out of the poker room with several racks of chips in his hands. All the chips were black, orange or red. He'd done some heavy betting.

"Want to follow him, or go home?" I asked. "We've had a long day, although it's still three hours before daylight, local time."

"Let's go home. I want to do research on my laptop and drink half a bag of blood."

"Feeling it?" I offered him a smile.

"Yeah. All this worry and trying to keep my thoughts to myself whenever I talk to Anna? I'm wiped."

"I'm worried that she'll be sick when she finds the refrigerator filled with bagged blood."

"She saw the stuff in the fridge in Corpus Christi. Didn't say a word."

"What was she looking for?"

"A bottle of water. Said what was coming out of the sink looked rusty."

"Because the kitchen plumbing hasn't been updated in fifty years," I growled. Parking the rental in the safe house garage, I let the door down before tapping in the code to get through the kitchen door.

The upper floor may have been used a time or two for lavish evening parties, but apart from that, it barely looked to have ever been inhabited. Joey and I walked straight past all of it, heading toward the master bedroom and the door in the closet floor.

Another keypad waited there, and I punched in a second code to lift the door. I wanted to slide into bed with Anna. I didn't intend to wake her—at least not yet.

* * *

Joey
, Merrill's e-mail began,
what do you mean they're threatening the life of a shapeshifter? Call me. Immediately
.

"I had to sneak away to the top floor, and it's nearly daylight," Joey mumbled into his cell after dialing Merrill's number.

"This shapeshifter—what is she—exactly?"

"A white horse."

"Nothing else? Have you seen her fight?"

"I can't explain how she fights. She moves faster than any warmblood I've ever seen, including werewolves. She kicks hard, but if anything gets close to her head, it dies. Spawn—have you heard of them? They just explode."

"Joey, listen carefully. Don't allow anyone on the Council near her, understand me? Especially Saxom. Call immediately if things start to go wrong."

"Xavier has already been appointed to attempt the turn. They want to bring her back to England soon and do it there."

"Let me handle that."

"All right. I have to go. Now." Joey ended the call and raced for the trap door.

* * *

I'd heard Joey go out a few moments earlier, but he was back before I could worry about him. Anna murmured in my arms, so I settled her closer against me and closed my eyes against the rising sun.

* * *

"This is a bigger game than either of us," Merrill leaned against the wall in Wlodek's study two hours after nightfall, his arms crossed tightly and a hooded, angry expression on his face. Seldom had he allowed his sire to see any emotion in the past fifteen hundred years. He was showing temper now.

"You're asking me to let this go? To let her go?"