Immortal Heat (The Guardians of Dacia Book 1) (24 page)

If it wasn't for the knowledge she had on him already, Marilyn would have a difficult time finding fault with the man. He was debonair and smooth with classic blond European features that could be mistaken for a gorgeous soccer star or model for GQ.

"Yes well, truthfully I'd been looking forward to working with you, also. That is until your vampires decided to use me for their main course."

"They wouldn't have taken much. We only need a bit to tide us over. I had sent them out to escort you safely here. But Draylon appeared to have other plans."

She didn't want to egg him on. Something about him couldn't be trusted, and the less he knew for certain, the better.

"Let's dispense with the bullshit, Mr. Vamier. I want to know what you've done with my mother."

"I beg your pardon? Your mother?" He crossed his arms over his chest. "What has led you to believe that I have your mother?"

"She came looking for me when I was in Romania. She knew I would be working with you this semester. As far as she knew, I was still here and under your care."

"And you haven't been in touch with her since?"

Marilyn remembered how Draylon confiscated her phone upon their escape from the airport and how he'd tossed it out the window of their car as they were being chased. "I misplaced my phone and wasn't able to contact her while I was in Romania."

"I see. And because I'm your last known destination she would have looked to me, assuming I had knowledge of
your
whereabouts."

"Yes."

"And how long has your mother been missing?"

"About a month."

"My dear, I can assure you that I have not been in contact with your mother, or anyone's mother for that matter. What is your mother's name?"

"Diane Reddlin."

He mulled the name over in his head. "Why does that name sound familiar? Diane Reddlin…Diane Reddlin…"

Gerlich, who stood silently nearby as if waiting for his "boss" to issue him a decree to breathe, stepped forward. "She's the chief financial officer of Livedel, my lord."

"Really."

Marilyn held her laugh at the shocked expression on his face.

"I have heard much about your mother. Is it true that she likes to eat the male genitalia of the men she deals with? Rumor has it she has them served up on a silver platter every morning when she is breaking her fast."

Aiden appeared almost innocent and naïve in his knowledge of the euphuism. "It's just a saying but yes, she is a dominating presence in the board room. Nine times out of ten, my mother gets what she's after. She refuses to let anyone bully her, and she has a penchant for getting her way in very strategic, sometimes aggressive ways. It's why she's so good at what she does. It's her strength."

"I see." Aiden smiled. "She sounds like a woman after my own heart. I wish I could meet her."

"So you don't know where she is? She hasn't contacted you at all?"

"No. I'm afraid I haven't had the pleasure." He slid off the corner of his desk and walked towards her.

He was tall and slender. Damn, did he have to be so sexy? It would have been difficult to work in his presence if he'd been a normal, Joe-Schmoe professor. She wondered idly if he would be the type of guy who'd have an affair with a student.

His lips quirked in a smile, making his blue eyes twinkle devilishly. Could he read her mind? If he was immortal there was the possibility.

"I do have connections within Romania in which I can try to locate your mother for you, but it might take me a few days." He looked to Gerlich. "See what you can find out on Ms. Diane Reddlin through our connections."

"Right away, my lord." Gerlich snapped his heels together and turned, marching out the door to do Aiden's bidding.

"While we wait to hear, I offer my home to you, Miss Reddlin. You will not be harmed or harassed. In fact, I would like very much to have the chance we never had to discuss your paper in length and perhaps share our knowledge."

Marilyn didn't know what to expect or accept. This all sounded much too easy, too casual. What was that saying—keep your friends close and your enemies closer? Right now though, she still didn't know which was which. She would have to tread lightly and keep her guard up.

"That sounds like a wonderful offer, Professor Vamier. I would like that, thank you."

"Good. Good. I'll have a suite prepared for you right away." He walked to his desk and made contact with his staff to have a room prepared for a "special guest." "I assume you know of my nocturnal habits by now, so I will not burden you with the details. I do have to abide by my habits for survival."

"Of course." Marilyn nodded. "I can adjust my schedule to work around yours for a few hours each night if not more."

"I appreciate your flexibility." Aiden's brow furrowed. "I must admit I was not prepared for a woman like you, Miss Reddlin. You're very accommodating, but I sense a wilder creature beneath your personal façade. I do not mean that in a negative way, actually, I find it quite refreshing and unique. You will definitely keep me on my toes for the next few days."

"I'm glad you see things that way, professor." She hoped to keep him on his toes as much as she needed to be on hers. If that were a mutual acceptance, then neither one had anything to fear from the other. With any luck, all would work out well.

"You have traveled far these past few days, and I would like for you to settle in before I ask you to join me." He peered at his expensive Cartier watch. "It's early morning here in Cluj. Perhaps a rest to set you on schedule after a morning meal might be on order. My staff is at your disposal. They can prepare you a menu of your choosing and have it sent to your suite."

"Thank you. That would be wonderful."

Now she only hoped she wouldn't be drugged and left for a potential vampire meal in the meantime.

#

Aiden wondered if his dear brother knew that his CFO was MIA. Not that he gave a shit, but if his brother was going through serious difficulties then he'd love to lord it over him. Not only that, but it would cause chaos in the Delvante clan and make it easier for Aiden to send his people out on their missions without having to deal with Rick's "avengers" in the way.

"Rick Delvante please," Aiden said into the phone to the receptionist at the Dacian compound. "No, you may not ask who is calling. But if he needs to know, just tell him his long lost brother." Aiden studied his well manicured fingers as he waited. Would Rick pick up?

"What do you want, Aiden?"

"Ah, so you did pick up."

"It's better to know than to wonder where you are concerned," Rick said.

"Yes well, I will have you know that this has nothing to do with me, but I thought you might be interested…"

"Get on with it. What's so important that you would deem it worthy to tell me?"

Aiden didn't care for his brother's short-handed tone. They might share their father's blood, but Rick had been the bastard child. "Did you know your Chief Financial Officer is missing?"

"Diane?" There was a momentary shock to Rick's voice. "What do you mean, missing?"

"She's been out searching for her daughter for nearly a month."

"And how do you know this?"

Aiden didn't question Rick's thoughts. More than once had he tried to get to him on various levels using tactics of cunning and conning. It was a favorite pastime for him. But this time, for some reason, he had the upper hand.

"I know this because her daughter told me."

"Marilyn?"

"Yes. She's quite beautiful, witty, intelligent…a true delight." Aiden toyed to get another rise out of Rick.

"Where is she? Leave her alone."

"She is perfectly safe, dear brother—why so protective? What do you have for these simple human beings anyway? I never understood your fascination. They are born, live maybe a century if they are unlucky enough, and die. They're inferior to our kind, like cattle to humans—good for food but not much more."

"Where. Is. Marilyn?"

Intrigued by his enemy's curiosity he decided to play along. "She's with me. We had originally planned to meet and work together over a month ago, but it seems she was detoured by your beastly lackey. Really Rick, why are you trying to keep her away from me? We were only going to discuss her research project on Dacian folklore and antiquities. I found her thesis quite remarkable for an American university history student."

There was silence for awhile on the other end of the line. "What do you want, Aiden?"

"Want? Why nothing, dear brother. I was only concerned for the welfare of your CFO and trying to help her daughter locate her. I thought perhaps you knew of her whereabouts."

"I'll look into it on my end. In the meantime…"

"…yes?"

"I'll have one of my men come for Marilyn and take her somewhere safe."

"Like you did last time? Oh, I don't think so. I think I'm going to enjoy Miss Reddlin's company for awhile. I've been lonely without female companionship. We shall have a time talking history and literature, discussing worldly topics for a good thirty or forty years at least, unless she decides to become my beloved."

"When hell freezes over, Aiden. You will not harm a single hair on her head, and there will not be a drop of her blood shed to feed your gnarly hide." Rick's voice was so level, so calm, but the underlying tone of panic was definitely there.

"Did I say anything about harming her? Not a word. I intend to take very good care of her. I've never been so enthralled with a woman of auburn hair."

"You're a sick bastard, Aiden. I swear if any harm befalls her I will have your ass nailed to my wall as a trophy."

Aiden laughed. Oh, this was too much fun! He'd found a weak link in his brother's holier than thou armor. "Just make sure when you do that my ass faces up…so you can kiss it whenever the mood strikes."

He hung up the phone receiver because he loved having the last word. Now, on to some real fun.

#

Nonni tilled her garden, pushing her mule hard to get the plow edge to cut into the frozen ground. It was still early spring but it wouldn't be long before she could plant a new harvest. She wished her boys were here to do this labor, but they were busy elsewhere.

Looking up at the murky gray sky she muttered, "I hope you know what you are doing. I am only your humble daughter."

A large, long black car pulled up outside of her fence line. Her old eyes peered at the ominous automobile. "I was only joking, father. I am not ready for death to take me."

The driver's door opened and a man wearing a black suit and cap got out, walked around to the passenger's side and ushered out a familiar looking man…one she hadn't seen face to face in many years, but she still knew him. He hadn't changed at all, except for his modern attire.

Tying the reigns around the yoke of the plow, she patted her old mule and walked to meet the man.

"Nonni." He nodded at her.

"I know who you are. I believe you go by the name, Rick Delvante now." She narrowed her gaze at him. "What do you want? Make it quick, I have work to do."

"I need your help."

"Oh, ho-ho! You need my help now, do ye?" She spit on the ground and waved him off. "I have no need for you—"

"Nonni, please. I'm begging you…"

"Begging? Begging? The great Delvante begs for my help? Wouldn't Zamolxis be proud…begging, indeed." She walked away, back to her work.

"It's not me I'm asking for—it's Marilyn Reddlin."

Nonni stopped and turned. Glancing up at the sky she gave a prayer. "What is wrong with her?"

"Aiden has her. He's keeping her prisoner and gods only know what else." He sighed, raking a nervous hand through his neatly kept hair.

"Why has she gone back to him? I thought Draylon protects her?"

"She somehow managed to turn herself over to Aiden."

"Why would she do such a foolish thing?"

"She was looking for her mother, Diane Reddlin, my chief financial officer. Aiden called to inform me that Marilyn came to him, looking for her after she'd been missing for nearly a month."

Nonni hung her head. "She is not missing. She is with Therron and Kurren."

"Where?"

"She went looking for Marilyn in the Hoia Forest, the last place her husband was when they lost touch with him years ago. She thought Marilyn might have gone in search of his remains."

The tic in Rick's jaw didn't bode well. But he had no room to be angry with her. This was all his fault. "Where is she now?" The deadly calm of his question didn't even linger on the air. The air wanted no part of his wrath.

"She is safe with Therron and Kurren. I told you that—"

"Where!" His voice raised in tenor, a vein popped out of his forehead.

Nonni swallowed hard, her hand went to her chest and a cold wave of nausea settled over her. "She is in Dacia."

If the man had the power of the gods, the earth would be trembling and quaking beneath her slippered feet. His silence spoke volumes.