Hot Vampire Seduction (Vampire Wardens 2)

Aiden’s voice softened. “What is it, Kelly?”

She swallowed against the sudden dryness in her throat, willing herself to use the same methodical thinking that

got her through her often gruesome job. “He’s the one who told me about the bar,” she said, her gaze lifting to his. “He’s…Oh God Aiden. I think he knew I’d show up because, well, I tend to get involved with my cases, and he knew how badly I wanted a sample of the drug.”

“I told you, Aiden,” Troy said. “She’s the perfect bait. She can give us Wright, and Wright can give us Andres.”

She didn’t look at Troy. She watched Aiden’s unchanging face., trying not to think about the implications of the word ‘bait’. “Who’s Andres?”

“Wright’s supplier,” Aiden said. “Without him, there is no drug.”

“There’s always another source,” she said.

“This is a unique situation,” he explained, sitting down on the arm of a leather chair that matched the one his brother was sitting in, his gaze now closer to level with hers. “We have reasons to believe that this particular cocktail has limited distribution and it doesn’t reach beyond Andres.”

“How can you know that?” she asked, still watching him closely. “When you came to my lab you acted like you didn’t even know what the drug was.”

“New information from reliable sources,” Aiden said.

“What this drug is doesn’t matter at this point,” Troy added. “Destroying the supply, by way of the supplier, is. And tonight you made yourself the bait that can bring him down.”

“Look. I want to help,” she said, looking between them. “I do. I went to the club tonight because I don’t want anyone else to die, but I’m not sure I understand exactly how I’ve become the target. He called me there tonight. He told me he was undercover. If I go back to work and pretend that I believe that, then he’ll think I believe that.”

“Kelly,” Aiden said gently. “I don’t believe he meant to let you leave tonight.”

“You can’t know that,” she said, feeling a little desperate. Somehow putting herself in danger by choice, and being there without option felt very different.

“No,” Aiden agreed, his eyes capturing hers, gentle and soothing. “But based on what I saw tonight, it’s what I believe, and the only way to keep you safe, is to assume the worst.” He was right. She knew he was right. “How?”

“We set a trap for him,” Troy said, “And we kill him before he ever gets to you.” There was none of the gentleness of Aiden’s words in his brothers, just cold hearted business, and anger, she thought.

Kelly cut her gaze to Troy, curious at the tone. His face was strong and sculpted like Aiden’s, but his eyes were different, missing the gentleness she’d read in Aiden’s. Troy’s were cold as ice, hard as steel, and she read between the lines. “This is personal to you. Why?” Shock slid across Troy’s face and he laughed without humor. “Nothing is personal to me, sweetheart. So are you in or out? Make a decision.”

“I have a right to know what is motivating you when my life is on the line,” she pushed.

He stood up, towering over her, his blue eyes glinting with warning. “You’re life isn’t on the line because we don’t have any intention of letting you die.”

“Even the best plans sometimes go wrong,” she said, “Especially, when personal agendas are involved.” He stared at her for several terse moments and then glanced at his brother. “I’ll be outside when you’re ready to leave.” He turned and strode away.

“I’m sorry,” she said to Aiden. “I just…I need to know what I’m dealing with.”

“You didn’t say anything I haven’t said to him myself. The amazing part is that you read his story without knowing it. But one thing I can promise you is that Troy is damn good at his job. He’ll protect you with his life.” His voice softened. “As will I.”

She believed him. She trusted him. She barely knew him but she wanted to. “Tell me what you need me to do.”

Chapter Six

An hour after waking up in Aiden’s safe house, Kelly had, at his direction, gotten into a cab and had it drop her at her car at the bar. Now, after a short drive just west of downtown to her quaint little Tarrytown house, she could barely keep her hand from shaking as she unlocked her front door. She wondered at the sanity of her agreement with this plan to act like she believed Detective Wright was undercover as he’d claimed. Going back to her normal life and waiting for him, or some of his followers to attack her. Aiden and his brother would be there when it happened and they were sure it would. The plan had seemed easy enough, until she actually put it into action. Now, not so much.

She stepped inside the foyer of her house and flipped on the light, not sure what she wanted more – to dart inside before someone grabbed her, or run back to her car. She inhaled and reminded herself she trusted Aiden, she believed he could keep her safe. And she clearly, believed she was in danger, and in need of his protection, or she wouldn’t be this freaked out.

The wind gusted, a storm passing by, and it unnerved her. Kelly darted inside and shoved the door shut, leaning against the wooden surface. She then gasped when she realized that Aiden had been behind the door, perched in the corner.

“Damn it,” she said, turning to face him, ready to hit him. “Don’t do that. You scared the crap out of me.” He pulled her against him, until her thighs were aligned with his now jean clad legs, his leather discarded back at the other house. “Easy sweetheart,” he murmured, his strong arms surrounding her. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“You had to have known sneaking up on me would scare me.”

“I was trying to let you know the house is secure. And since I’m here and Troy is covering the exterior, that isn’t going to change.”