Tariq nodded to him, welcoming him to the coming battle. He hoped there wouldn't be a fight right there, not with his lifemate and her friend so close, but now, the odds were stacked in their favor.
Fridrick hissed, his sharp teeth showing as he scowled at Charlotte, focusing his attention on her. "You should have come to me while I gave you the chance," he snarled, his voice low. "You will rue this night. You will learn to feel what being alone is truly like before I am finished with you. You will learn what it is to suffer . . ."
"Enough," Tariq snapped, his tone commanding. Still, beside him, Charlie had stiffened in alarm. She had a niece. He remembered that from the earlier conversation. Fridrick had killed her brother but left the niece alive to lure Charlie back to the States.
Charlotte took a step toward Fridrick, the color leeching from her face. Tariq caught her arm and actually had to shackle her wrist to keep her from moving toward the vampire. Fridrick had found her weakness. The vampire smiled, looking truly evil as he waved his hand at his companions. All of them faded into the shadows. Several of the hunters glided after them, silent and deadly with purpose no one could possibly mistake.
"Your niece." Tariq pulled Charlotte in front of him, needing to touch her, but also to distract her so she wouldn't pay attention to the hunters following their prey. Mostly he needed to get the information immediately because Fridrick was going to retaliate. For the first time, Tariq noted the disparity in their heights. She stood so straight that he hadn't really noticed how short she was. "I need to know where she is right now."
Charlie hesitated, and he couldn't blame her. She didn't know him. He gave her a little shake. "Look at me. Right now. Look at me."
Her gaze jumped to his. Clung there. He refused to relinquish control once he had her trapped. "You know who I am. You know my reputation." And it wasn't that good. Most people thought he was either a playboy or connected to organized crime. "I can keep you safe from him, but he is going after your niece. My people have to get there first. Where is she?" She hadn't been susceptible to Fridrick's compulsion, so he doubted if he could take her memories without a fight, and he wanted her to trust him.
Her eyes searched his for what seemed an eternity. He was aware of every passing second. Her every heartbeat. The two men behind him were waiting patiently, still as statues. She had the letter to her mentor in Paris to cling to as proof that he was a businessman and he'd made it more than clear that Fridrick and he were enemies.
He knew the exact moment when she decided to trust him. "Lorell Lane. On the ranch there. It's a dirt road and it only leads to one property. She's with a friend, Grace Parducci, her nanny. Grace isn't going to let anyone take her unless they say, 'The carousel spins in a continuous circle.' Lame, but that was all we could come up with. Her name is Lourdes, and she's only three."
Maksim, Dragomir and Siv had remained with Tariq when the others drifted out, after Fridrick and his crew. Fridrick knew the hunters wouldn't attack them as long as they remained in the vicinity of the club--there were too many witnesses. He had ordered the four human puppets and one vampire master to remain behind, showing themselves, keeping the hunters busy safeguarding the humans in the club. With the hunters watching those near the humans, Fridrick and one of the Malinov cousins could hunt for Charlie's niece.
Maksim moved fast, disappearing into the shadows before taking to the air, streaking toward the ranch in the form of molecules, a fast-moving comet determined to outrace Fridrick. Dragomir followed him, a silent, terrible, brutal specter, more savage than man. He was a throwback to the ancient Carpathians, the ones never touching society, humans or civilization. They existed to hunt. Most were long gone from the world; some had isolated themselves in a monastery high up in the Carpathian Mountains. It was impossible to tell if Dragomir was one of the monks, but if so, he was every bit as dangerous as he looked--and then some.
Siv followed, silent and deadly as he usually was, as determined as the other two hunters to keep Grace and Lourdes safe from Fridrick. In doing so, they were helping to save Tariq's lifemate, a sacred duty held by all Carpathian males.
"They'll get your niece," Tariq told Charlie with absolute confidence. Reluctantly he let go of her arm. She was warm and soft and it was amazing to touch her skin. He'd allowed the feeling to sink deep before he was even aware of it. "How did you get involved with Fridrick? He is a very dangerous man."
"I'm well aware of it. He admitted killing my brother."
"Let me take you and your friend to my home. I have several houses on my property, and you are welcome to stay there until the danger has passed." Still playing the role of a human nightclub owner, Tariq had to make the offer. "You can call the police and talk to them, tell them what Fridrick admitted to you. I have security at my home as well. There are a few families living on the property. Children for your niece to play with." Then he added the sweetener. "While you're there, perhaps you'd be willing to take a look at my carousel collection. If you're interested, you could work on it. In his letter, Monsieur Beaudet mentioned a Charlotte Vintage as his leading protege. He actually said you had surpassed the master."
Charlie stared up at him
in shock. "He said that?"
"I have the letter sitting on my desk. I kept telling myself I would ring him to find out what the delay was, but my work kept me so busy I continually put it off." He knew his explanation sounded plausible, because it was the truth. "Come home with me, at least for the remainder of the night, until both of you feel safe and you know your little niece and other friend are as well."
He stepped back, giving her room, letting her make up her mind. It was difficult to refrain from using a compulsion when normally it would be so easy, but he didn't want to risk making her uncomfortable. She was already leaning toward accepting his invitation.
"I think it's a great idea," Genevieve said. "Charlie, he has security. You saw his men. They totally intimidated that psycho. I haven't felt safe in months. And since we've been here, between those creepy men following us and Fridrick the murderer, I could use at least one night of really good sleep."
Tariq spun around. "What creepy men following you? Fridrick's men?" Daniel Forester, Vince Tidwell and Bruce Van Hues had been conspiring in his club, but he had to pretend he didn't know.
Genevieve shook her head. "No. As if it wasn't bad enough to have a serial killer on the loose--he admitted to being in Paris and killing Ricard Beaudet--and I'm certain he not only killed him but Grand-mere and Eugene Beaumont as well. I was dating Eugene and he died in the same way as Monsieur Beaudet, Grand-mere and Charlie's brother."
"What men are following you?" Tariq stared down into Charlie's eyes, forcing her to look at him. She had to tell him everything so it would appear as if he'd gotten all information from her and Genevieve.
Charlotte sighed and swept back stray tendrils of hair. He noted her hand was shaking. Just a little, but it was there. "Three men. They were in Paris as well, but I don't think they had anything to do with Fridrick. We went to a psychic testing center for fun. Just kind of a lark--you know, like getting our palms read."
Faint color swept up her neck into her face and her gaze shifted from his. Tariq realized she was afraid he would think she was crazy for believing in psychic abilities, and she was making excuses. He nodded, his expression somber to show her that he took her seriously. "Keep going."