A Vampire's Vindication

  A Vampire’s Vindication

  Alexis Morgan

  Keelie Bronson and Griff Tyler have been adversaries for years, locked in legal battles and enmity over Keelie’s belief that Griff was responsible for her father’s death. But when Griff’s control over his vampire clan comes under attack, Keelie may be the key to clearing his name.

  When Griff and Keelie finally meet face-to-face, neither of them are prepared for their fierce attraction. Soon, a moment of weakness unleashes a passion that cannot be denied. But Keelie still wonders: is Griff a good man, or is he the monster she always believed him to be?

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 1

  “The daughter’s already on her way home?”

  “Yes, sir. Keelie started back as soon as she heard.”

  To buy himself some thinking time, Griff refilled his glass from the carafe of blood on his desk. Well aware of the half-blood chancellor watching his every move from the video screen, he sipped the O neg with a calm he wasn’t feeling. The blood gave him an excuse for his fangs to show other than sheer temper.

  From the day she’d left the clan to work for Lydia Bronson, his cousin Dorothy had been ordered to maintain silence about their family connection. So far, she’d held to their bargain.

  “Are you sure Lydia will tell her?” He flashed his canines at the screen. “And, cousin, I will know if you’re lying.”

  Dorothy’s shoulders slumped in defeat. “Lydia has been refusing all of her medications to keep her head clear, and she’s quit confiding in me. Even so, I think her intent is to tell her daughter everything.”

  “Keep me posted.”

  Griff disconnected the call, deciding he’d showed amazing restraint by not bashing the computer against the wall. Son of a bitch, the timing couldn’t have been worse, but then Lydia had never been concerned about the devastation her rash actions had caused others.

  He pinched the bridge of his nose and prayed for patience. He was already under attack on another front. All he could do was hope that Lydia managed to quietly pass into the next world without adding to his problems.

  But knowing her, that was probably too much to wish for. Stubborn didn’t come close to describing that chancellor when it came to her own agenda. Hell, her arrogance would have done a pureblooded vamp proud. Lydia Bronson would hold off the specter of death with nothing but sheer willpower until she was damn well ready to go.

  He considered his options. If he were to show up at her house uninvited, maybe he could stave off the impending disaster that would ensue if she broke silence after all these years. Damage control was everything.

  With Lydia about to die, that left him the only other person who knew the truth behind the events of twenty-five years ago. Maybe the past could be laid to rest for good. Then again, perhaps not.

  Griff studied the file he’d spread out on the desk, his eyes once again drawn to the pictures of Lydia’s daughter, Keelie. Her looks favored her late father Kenneth more than her harpy of a mother except for that distinctive eye color: not quite amber and not quite brown, but somewhere in between, like the color of fresh caramel, rich and sweet.

  Not that Bronson women of either generation were either of those two things. Lydia worked, but her part-time teaching job at a small college didn’t pay enough to maintain her lifestyle. To make up the difference, she’d been feeding off his finances for years.

  Then there was the daughter, an environmental scientist and a born crusader. She’d scrutinized every enterprise his clan was involved in since she’d finished college. Keelie had kept Griff on his toes, knowing that she was waiting to pounce at the first hint that any of his clan’s actions threatened the native flora and fauna.

  Although it certainly pissed him off, he admired her persistence. It was her way of striking back at the vampire she held responsible for her father’s death. Oh, yes, if Lydia opened her mouth, his world wouldn’t be the only one to be turned upside down. Keelie Bronson was in for a major shock.

  Rather than watch his life unravel from a distance, he’d confront Lydia and try to talk some sense into her. Soon the sun would set, and he’d be on his way.

  Keelie slammed her transport into Park and ran for the house. She hadn’t slept more than a handful of hours in three days as she’d hiked, flown and then driven like a madwoman to get back home. Exhaustion burned like acid in her brain, leaving room for only two questions.

  Had she made it in time? And how would ever she forgive herself if she hadn’t?

  The front door swung open before she was halfway to the porch. Dorothy, the family housekeeper, stood framed in the doorway. There was no need to ask if the past few days had been hard on her. It was written there in the slump of her shoulders and the sorrow in her eyes. Even so, she answered the question that Keelie couldn’t find the words or the courage to ask.

  “She’s waiting for you.”

  Relief tasted sweet. Keelie slowed to a stop after reaching the porch, reluctant to enter the house. Once she crossed that threshold, brutal reality would have to be faced, acknowledging her mother was dying.

  Leaning back against the railing, she struggled to compose herself. It wouldn’t do to go charging into her mother’s bedside in a full-out panic.

  “Tell me what happened.”

  Dorothy glanced back over her shoulder before joining Keelie outside, pulling the door closed behind her.

  “Saturday she worked in the garden. She always says digging in the dirt soothes her spirit after a week full of dealing with fools.”

  Dorothy and Keelie exchanged smiles. They both knew Lydia had zero tolerance for idiots or incompetence. It was one of the things that Keelie shared with her maternal parent.

  “When I looked out, she’d collapsed. The doctor had warned her to take it easy because the lymphoma had progressed to the point that this could happen at any time.”

  Shock sent a painful jolt straight through Keelie. “When did he tell her that? Why hadn’t she told me?”

  In fact, why hadn’t Dorothy?

  “Your mother doesn’t tolerate weakness in anyone, least of all herself. I would’ve told you myself, but she threatened to fire me if I did.”

  Dorothy’s eyes filled with tears. “Seriously, Keelie, the way she was acting, I’ve been afraid she’d actually throw me out in the streets.”

  “She wouldn’t have.” Maybe. One of the symptoms of the disease was erratic behavior bordering on paranoia.

  Dorothy stared out toward where the sun was slipping down beyond the horizon. “There’s nothing to do now except keep her comfortable. She’s been refusing any pain medication, claiming she needed to keep her wits about her until she talks to you.”

  The housekeeper gave Keelie a considering look. “Whatever she wants to talk to you about must be powerfully important.”

  Each word stabbed like a dagger into Keelie’s heart. It was bad enough that she’d been off playing when her mother’s illness took a turn for the worse.

  “I don’t have any idea what it’s about. Do you?”

  “No, she quit confiding in me months ago.” The hurt in Dorothy’s voice was obvious. “We used to be friends.”

  Keelie threw her arms around Dorothy and gave her a fierce hug. “You’re still her friend, Dorothy. It’s the disease talking, not Mom.”

  Dorothy stood back, her hands on Keelie’s shoulders. “How did you grow up to be so smart?”

  “I had the good fortune to have two terrific r
ole models, Dorothy. You and Mom.”

  It was time. Facing what was waiting for her inside wasn’t going to get any easier.

  “Is she in bed?”

  Dorothy nodded. “She’s too weak to sit up more than a half an hour at a time, but maybe seeing you might perk her up some.”

  Keelie braced herself. “Look, I’ll sit with her for a while. Why don’t you take a break?”

  Dorothy led the way back inside. “I do have errands to run. I won’t stay gone long, though, and I’ll bring dinner back with me.”

  “Dorothy, you’re a godsend. Go run your errands and then relax awhile.”

  The older woman still hesitated. “Are you sure?”

  Keelie forced herself to nod. “We’ll be fine.”

  That was a lie, and they both knew it. Nothing would ever be fine again.

  Chapter 2

  Keelie stood over her mother’s bed in the gathering darkness, her heart breaking. The strong, vibrant person she’d always known was gone, replaced by a frail ghost of the woman Lydia Bronson used to be. Her life could now be measured out in hours and minutes, and the clock was ticking. Soon Keelie would be alone. Yes, she loved Dorothy, but it wasn’t the same. She and her mom had been close and for good reason.

  After her father’s brutal murder, they’d turned to each other for comfort. His killer had never even been brought up on charges for her father’s death. Because Griffon Tyler was a member of a wealthy vampire clan, no one had questioned his claim that the death had been accidental. For Keelie’s father there had been no justice, no vengeance, no retribution. She closed her eyes and fought against the familiar burn of hatred.

  Because of that vampire, Keelie had grown up without a father, and her mother had grown colder as the years had gone by. Maybe it had been the disease that destroyed her mother’s smile, but more likely it had been grief and bitterness.

  “Mom.”

  No response. Keelie would’ve been scared, but she could sense the faint flutter of her mother’s pulse. The only question was if her mother was asleep or if she’d slipped into a coma. Did she really want to know which it was? No, but walking away wasn’t an option.

  Touching her mother’s shoulder, Keelie gave it a light shake. “Mom, I’m back. Dorothy said you wanted to talk to me.”

  This time her mother stirred, her eyes fluttered, then opened wide to stare up at Keelie. At first there was nothing but confusion reflected in their amber depths. Keelie gave her mother a few seconds to gather herself.

  Finally, there was a glimmer of recognition and her mother’s mouth offered a hint of a smile. “You’re back.”

  She gathered her mother’s frail hand in her own. “Sorry it took me so long to get here.”

  “Dorothy?”

  “She’s out running errands. She won’t be gone long, but she just left.”

  “Good.” Lydia struggled to sit up. “Must talk.”

  Keelie lifted her mother up enough to tuck another pillow behind her. Even that much effort left the older woman struggling to breathe.

  “Take it easy and rest, Mom. We can talk later after dinner.”

  Her mother grew more frantic, more insistent. She squeezed Keelie’s hand with a chancellor’s strength. “No! Now. Before she’s back. Dorothy will tell him. I know she will. She doesn’t know I heard her talking to him.”

  Him? She must mean her doctor. He’d warned them that the natural progression of the lymphoma could bring on paranoia and unexplained agitation. Keelie fought to present a calm façade to her mother, hoping to soothe her fears.

  “Mom, please, Dorothy is your friend. She’d never do anything to hurt either one of us.”

  Lydia’s head jerked back and forth, adamant in her denial. “She works for him. I know she’s been lying to us. You need to know the truth about everything. Before it’s too late. I’m so sorry. My fault. Should have said something before now.”

  “Said something about what?”

  Tears trickled down her mother’s papery cheek. “That night. Back then…seemed right. But the lie spun out of control.”

  Feeling shaky herself, Keelie sank down to the floor next to her mother’s bed. She brushed her mother’s hair back from her face, buying herself a few seconds. Dread settled in her stomach, sending cold shivers of fear scattering along her nerves.

  “What night, Mom?”

  Although she knew. There was only one night that could carry such dread weight in her mother’s voice.

  “You know. That night. When I…when Kenneth…death and blood. So much blood.” As the words faded away, her mother licked her lips and her eyes lost their focus, perhaps seeing the past so much more clearly than the present. Just as quickly she was back, looking at Keelie with burning intensity.

  “I left a letter. It explains everything. Tell him…sorry, so sorry.”

  Her mother paused to catch her breath. When she didn’t continue, Keelie prompted her, knowing her mother wouldn’t rest easily until she got it all out.

  She couldn’t mean Keelie’s father. Surely she wasn’t that confused. “Tell who you’re sorry, Mom?”

  Lydia started to speak and then her eyes widened in horror as a deep voice answered the question for her.

  “I suspect she means me.”

  Keelie lurched to her feet, planting herself firmly between her mother and the vampire standing in the doorway. Her fangs dropped down as she stood ready to defend them both if he took one more step into the room.

  Griff didn’t know whether to laugh or applaud Keelie Bronson’s determination to protect her mother from him. Not that he’d make the mistake of underestimating her. The North American Coalition employed chancellors to police both humans and vampires for good reason. She might just be able to take him in a fair fight, but then he never fought fair.

  Right now Keelie hovered on the brink of attack, those caramel-colored eyes boring straight into his in full challenge. His own predatory instincts bubbled to the surface. Under other circumstances, he might’ve tried to coax her into channeling all that high-octane emotion into a different, more pleasurable direction.

  Right now, if he even so much as hinted how aroused he was by her display of temper, she’d be on him, no holds barred. He eased back half a step, forcing his shoulders to drop and his hands to dangle at his side, hoping she’d accept that he posed them no immediate threat. Slowly the tension sizzling in the air between them settled down to a more manageable level. Barely.

  “Who the hell are you?” she snarled.

  He arched an eyebrow and offered her a small shrug. “Don’t play games, Keelie. Even if we’ve never spoken in person, Lydia’s reaction should tell you who I am.”

  He let a hint of his own fangs show when he spoke. “Besides, considering all the injunctions you’ve filed against me over the past few years, I can’t believe you don’t recognize me.”

  “Griffon Tyler.”

  Lydia whispered his name, the words so faint that only those with vampire DNA would’ve been able to hear them. Her daughter certainly had. Keelie flinched and stepped back closer to her mother.

  “Don’t worry, Mom. Mr. Tyler is leaving.”

  Griff leaned against the doorframe and crossed his arms. “No, actually I’m not.”

  He hated to ramp up the tension again, but he wasn’t going anywhere before they settled a few things. Damn Lydia for putting Keelie through all of this. If the woman had dealt with their mutual problem sooner, Keelie wouldn’t be the one stuck in the middle.

  Keelie glanced at her mother before turning her angry gaze back in his direction. “You will leave and leave now. Can’t you see that she’s sick?”

  Damn, he hated the pain in Keelie’s voice, the one innocent in all of this. “We’ll compromise. I’ll go as far as the living room.”

  Before he did, though, he had one more thing to say. “Lydia, she’s going to find out. Wouldn’t you rather she hear the truth from you?”

  As he spoke, his hand reached out toward t
he daughter in a futile attempt to offer her some kind of comfort. She clearly wasn’t interested. He couldn’t blame her.

  On his way out, he gave her his parting shot. “Come talk to me when you’re ready.”

  Then he walked away before Keelie could argue the point any further.

  Chapter 3

  Griff Tyler was no longer in sight, but Keelie could still feel the power of his presence echoing throughout the house. She’d actually taken a couple of steps as if to follow him before catching herself. Staring at the empty doorway, she wondered at her strong reaction to the vampire. He certainly wasn’t what she’d expected. In the past, they’d dueled via legal documents, never over the phone or in person.

  Certainly, his arrogance had come across quite clearly in their correspondence, but that hadn’t prepared her for the impact he’d have on her senses. Her own temper had heightened her awareness of him as he’d filled the doorway with his tall frame and broad shoulders. He wasn’t the pretty-boy spoiled heir she’d pictured. Instead, he had those predator’s eyes that saw too much and a nose that had been broken once too often, making his face rugged rather than handsome.

  She doubted he smiled often. But when he did, she bet it was devastating, especially with that impressive set of canines he was sporting. She shivered.

  Her mother drew Keelie’s attention back to her. “Keelie.”

  Lydia’s hands worked the edge of the blanket, clearly agitated.

  “Mom, what is it?”

  Although she didn’t want to know. Once again she knelt at her mother’s side, wishing all of this would just go away.

  A strange calm settled over her mother’s expression, erasing years off Lydia’s face. Her eyes dropped to half-mast, her hands still at last. When she spoke, there was a resurgence of strength in her voice.

  “I’m sorry, Keelie. I was a coward then, and I’m a coward now. I loved your father, and I love you. I see so much of him in you.”