A Vampire's Salvation Read online

  Francine looked as if she’d just gotten a whiff of something disgusting. Then she shot a look in his direction.

  “You understand why I couldn’t come, Cord. It was bad enough the family name had been dragged through the papers, but there were also some…irregularities on the clan accounts. If we’d continued our association with you, our clan’s reputation would have been utterly destroyed.”

  Olivia actually laughed and applauded. “Good one, Ms. Clark. That was quite a performance, although I doubt Cord enjoyed it as much as I did. After all, he’s the one you cut adrift for all those years.”

  Francine went on point. “Tell me, Chancellor, do you always take such a personal interest in your clients? Or was it just Cord? How often did you visit him in prison?”

  Okay, he’d been prepared to be civil, but he wasn’t going to let Francine sharpen her claws on Olivia. “Chancellor McCabe worked with Ambrose O’Brien to oversee my incarceration, Francine. You’d have known that if you’d ever bothered to ask.”

  He deliberately crowded her, letting her taste his fury. “Obviously, you were more concerned about the clan than you were me. But let’s just make this clear—The Kilpatrick Clan is my family name, not yours, and it never will be. Now, you need to leave.”

  She still wasn’t ready to give up. “But Cord, think of how things used to be between us.”

  Suddenly it was too much—the past tangling up with the present, all of it painful.

  He pinched the bridge of his nose, fighting a blinding headache. “Look, I’m sorry, but just go.”

  The walls were closing in on him, threatening to crush him. There wasn’t enough space to breathe and no air even if he could. He had to put some distance between himself and the rest of the world. Without waiting to see if Francine actually left, he headed for the kitchen.

  Damn it, Olivia was following him, the last thing he needed at the moment. He glanced back at her, hoping she’d take the hint. She’d already stopped, but tossed him a phone.

  “Here, take this with you. Ambrose is number one on speed dial, and I’m two. You know, just in case.”

  He snatched it out of the air. “Thanks.”

  Then he walked straight out the back door and into the night.

  Chapter 7

  It took every ounce of self-control Olivia could muster not to shackle Francine and drag her skinny ass back to New Eire in chains. Unfortunately, her rational mind knew that would only make a complicated situation even worse. Right now she didn’t have enough evidence to charge the vampire with anything more than being a total coldhearted bitch.

  But it was only a matter of time before the law came down hard on Francine, and Olivia would be there to make sure there were no loopholes, no mistakes. Once that cell door slammed shut, maybe Cord would finally really be free.

  To come after her. She couldn’t wait.

  Francine stared toward the kitchen, a calculating expression on her face. Without glancing in Olivia’s direction, she spoke.

  “I have no intentions of letting him go, Chancellor. I suggest you turn those hungry eyes in another direction. Cord Kilpatrick still belongs to me.”

  Olivia called on all her years of dealing with the dregs of society for control. “Sounds like Cord has a different opinion on the subject. He also said you should leave. Since this is his home now, I’d suggest you not give me an excuse to arrest you for trespassing.”

  The word haughty didn’t do Francine’s obnoxious attitude justice. “You wouldn’t dare.”

  No, she wouldn’t, but the vampire didn’t have to know that. Rather than argue the point, Olivia simply opened the door and waited for Francine to flounce her way out.

  “I’ll be back with my attorneys. You can tell Cord that I won’t give up without a fight. I’ve spent fifteen years of my life building up the Kilpatrick enterprises.”

  “And he spent fifteen years in hell.”

  Olivia followed her outside. “By the way, you might also want to tell your attorneys about who Cord has on his side, starting with me and Ambrose O’Brien, not mention Judge Willard, the senior most member of the judiciary. Now go.”

  Livi stood on the porch and watched Francine drive away gunning her engine to send up a spray of rocks and dust. Good. It meant that her control was shaky. As long as her emotions were in the driver seat, there was a greater chance the woman would make a mistake.

  Back inside, Olivia debated about what to do next. Her first instinct was to go after Cord, just to make sure he was all right.

  But she had a feeling he’d been crowded enough for a while. She’d give him a few more minutes and then go after him. She understood that he’d had a lot thrown at him in not very much time. But any long delays would only give Francine that much more time at the helm of his business interests. Even now, the woman was probably trying to siphon off even more of the clan’s funds into her private accounts.

  Of course, Francine didn’t know that Ambrose had the Chancellor’s cyber squad watching for the first sign that she was going take the money and run. The woman wouldn’t know what hit her. That thought had Olivia smiling again.

  To keep herself busy, she cleaned up the kitchen. By the time she was done wiping down the counter, there was still no sign of Cord. She pushed the chair they’d been sitting in back up to the counter, savoring the memory of the kiss they’d shared and the way his hands had felt on her body.

  Most men found her too intimidating, thanks in part to her job, but also because of her athletic build and that she was as tall or taller than most of the male species. Not so with Cord. He treated her as if she were fragile, something to be cherished.

  That was okay. She had some pretty strong protective instincts when it came to him. Without letting herself think too hard about what she was doing, she tossed the dish towel on the counter and stepped out on the back steps.

  Where would he have gone? Not far, she was betting. Maybe someplace out of his past when he roamed these woods as a boy. She could almost picture him running through the night, playing under the stars and moon.

  Closing her eyes, she breathed deeply, trying to catch his scent. There, off to the left, just the faintest hint of Cord mixed with the damp smell of water. If she remembered correctly from the map she’d studied of the estate, there was a small lake or pond near the cabin.

  It didn’t take her long to spot an overgrown trail into the woods. Her chancellor night vision wasn’t quite as highly developed as a vampire’s would be, but it was good enough to get her where she was going.

  She slowed down when the trees started thinning out, stopping completely when she reached the clearing surrounding the pond. Her heart pounded at the stark loneliness in the silhouette of the man standing at the edge of the water. She had no doubt that he’d heard her coming. Most likely he was also aware of the way her pulse raced at the sight of him.

  “Is she gone?”

  “For now, but she’ll be back. On her way out, she made sure I knew that you still belong to her.”

  “She’s wrong about that, but it’s really the money she wants, not me.”

  “Then she’s a fool.”

  Cord finally turned toward her, smiling at her in the darkness. “Ah, Livi, you’re good for my soul.”

  She took that as invitation to come closer. As soon as she was within reach, he gave her hand a quick squeeze and then let go. She wanted so much more from him, but the simple touch would do for now.

  “This is where I used to come to do all my hard thinking when I was a kid.” He picked up a stone and sent it skipping across the shiny black surface of the water.

  “My grandmother didn’t like me wandering too far, so this was the compromise we made. I was far enough to be out of sight, close enough for her to keep track of me from the kitchen door.”

  “You two were close.”

  “Yeah, well, she was always there for me when no one else was. You would have liked her.” He looked at her out of the corner of his eye. “You remin
d me of her.”

  Livi had to laugh. “You’re such a smooth talker, Cord. For future reference, most women don’t like to be told they remind a guy of their grandmother.”

  His own chuckle was rough, but sounded genuine. “Well, I am a little out of practice in these things. Most things, in fact.”

  Just that quickly, all the humor drained out of his expression. “I’ve made a decision, Livi, and it’s not going to make you happy.”

  “What kind of trouble could you have gotten into out here?” She’d thought he was joking, but now she suspected that wasn’t the case.

  “I called Ambrose and asked him for another chancellor to take over the case. He’s coming himself.”

  “But why? Is it because of what happened last night?”

  He stared out at the water. “Yes.”

  “I know I’ve crossed the line. I’ll get my things packed and be ready to leave when he gets here.”

  She should have known that a man like Cord wouldn’t have wanted her; she was just the first female he’d been near in fifteen years. Before she’d gone three steps, Cord caught her by the arm and spun her around to face him.

  “Damn it, Livi, I knew you’d take it wrong. The last thing I want is to send you away. You’re the only thing that’s keeping me anchored right now.”

  His voice was little better than a growl, but it still sent shivers up and down her body. “Then why?”

  “I don’t want you stuck in the middle of this mess.”

  “It’s my job, Cord. I’m here to see justice done. I’d do the same for anyone.”

  Well, not exactly the same, and they both knew it. Especially when he pulled her close for another one of those incredible kisses, the kind where she melted right into him. They shouldn’t be doing this, but she suspected he needed her touch as much as she craved his. It was a promise of what the future might hold for them.

  “We’d better go inside. I want to show you what I’ve been following on your family’s finances.”

  Cord stopped to stare out at the water again. “Truth is, I’m not sure I want to take over again. Don’t know that I can. I’ve lost so much.”

  He threw another rock, sending it pinging off a rock just offshore. “I can still feel the chains around my ankles. I even walk as if they’re still there.”

  She rested her hand on his shoulder. “Give yourself some time, Cord. You’ve only had your life back for two days.”

  He glared at her, although she sensed the anger wasn’t directed at her. “I’m never going to get that life back. I’m never going to be that naive fool again. He’s gone, dead and buried just like Dwayne.”

  “Tell me about your friend.”

  “He was human, not vamp or chancellor, but we were born on the same day. His parents were killed in an accident, so he grew up with an aunt who used to live right down the road. We spent our childhoods living in each other’s back pockets. We did everything together.”

  The words kept pouring out. Maybe he had just needed someone to listen.

  “We went to different colleges, but kept in touch. On breaks we’d get together and hang out. We planned all along to go into business together. Heck, he even introduced me to Francine.”

  “Really.” Now that hadn’t been in the files. “How well had they known each other?”

  Cord’s eyes narrowed. “Looking back, I’m guessing a hell of lot better than I had thought. They had to have been in on this together somehow. What I can’t figure out is what he got out of faking his death and making it look like I did it.”

  “I can answer that.”

  Olivia spun around to face Francine. How had the woman managed to sneak up on a chancellor and a vampire without either of them noticing? The answer was obvious. They were too focused on other things. Cord was lost in the past. She was lost in him.

  Cord didn’t seem to be at all worried about the gun she had pointed at the two of them. “Do tell, Francine. I’d really like to know.”

  “He loved me, and I suppose I loved him as much as I can love anyone. If he’d been a vampire or even a chancellor, there might have been a future for us, but I couldn’t settle for a human mate. My clan would’ve never allowed that to happen even if I were stupid enough to contemplate the idea. When he introduced me to you, we both saw the possibilities. You were too busy trying to stabilize your new company and pour some money back to the Kilpatrick coffers to notice that your fiancée and your business partner spent so much time together.”

  She came closer, stepping out of the shadows. “I have to admit, you might have been a whiz with money, but between sheets Dwayne had you beat hands down. Unfortunately, once you and I got engaged, he became unhappy. Seems he didn’t want to spend his short life settling for… How did he put it? Oh, yes, table scraps.”

  Her lips curled up in disgust. “And you, Cord, kept postponing the wedding. I have to wonder if on some level you knew something was wrong. Anyway, when I started pushing you to set the date, Dwayne threatened to tell you about us. I offered him a onetime deal, and he took it. He’d fake his death and make sure you were blamed. I gave him enough money to live on until the dust settled.”

  She laughed. “The idiot really thought I’d give up all of this to live with him. When he came back demanding more money, I had to eliminate the problem.”

  The whole scene became almost surreal. At least he was learning the truth that he’d been searching for. He never expected to be standing in the darkness with the two women in his life, both his past and hopefully his future. If he and Livi managed to survive the night.

  To keep the conversation going, he said, “So you did kill him?”

  He couldn’t bring himself to say his friend’s name. In a lot of ways, Dwayne’s betrayal was the worst.

  Francine rolled her eyes. “Of course I did—I had to. It was a simple business decision. He would have kept draining the money I’d worked so hard to earn.”

  “Well, it’s nice to know that you had the clan’s interests at heart.”

  As he spoke he shifted slightly, putting himself in front of Olivia. Stubborn woman that she was, she immediately moved back beside him. He liked the symbolism of having her at his side, but wanted her out of danger. However, now wasn’t the time for a shoving contest.

  “So, Francine, what’s next on your agenda?”

  “Well, you both have to die. I would have thought that was obvious.” Her smile was a little sad. “I’m actually sorry about you, Cord. You gave me the opportunity that made me what I am today. Even if you were willing to honor our betrothal, I really don’t think an ex-convict is the appropriate mate for the CEO of the Kilpatrick clan. Once the world knows you died at the hands of an obsessed chancellor, all the sympathy will be on my side.”

  Francine shot Livi a nasty look. “You first, bitch. I told you Cord was mine, but you were out here kissing him anyway even after I warned you. You shouldn’t have thrown yourself at him. Do you really think he’d settle for someone like you?”

  With no warning, she pulled the trigger. Cord screamed Livi’s name as he threw himself forward.

  Burning pain in his upper arm didn’t stop him from reaching Francine before she could get off another shot. His hands, powerful from years of hard work, fit around her neck perfectly. She fought with every ounce of her vampire strength, but she was no match for a male vampire in his prime.

  Within seconds, Francine’s movements weakened, her eyes bulging out as she struggled for the breath he wasn’t about to let her have. The bitch had to die. She’d killed his friend, stolen Cord’s heritage and fifteen years of his life. But her ultimate sin was threatening Livi, his mate.

  Someone was pulling on his arm. “Cord, let go of her. We don’t want her dead.”

  Yes, he did.

  “Cord, we need this done right. She needs to stand trial. Let justice finally have its day. Don’t let her steal any more of your soul. She’s not worth it.”

  Slowly, the words began to make sense. �
��Francine will be tried and convicted. Let Ambrose and his people do their jobs.”

  Olivia, his Livi, managed to get in his face, her pale eyes sparking hot with emotion. “Please, Cord. For me. For us.”

  His fingers unclenched, leaving Francine gasping on the ground like a fish out of water. He tossed her gun out of reach and then flipped her over on her back to yank her arms behind her, taking a bit of mean pleasure in her small gasp of pain.

  “Here.”

  Livi dangled a pair of cuffs in front of him, the kind strong enough to hold the strongest vampires and chancellors. He should know. He’d worn them often enough himself. When Francine was trussed up, he rose to his feet, turning his back on the furious woman on the ground.

  As soon as he did, his arms wwere full of Livi, and all was well.

  Cord threw the dead bolt in total disgust. “Damn, I thought they’d never leave.”

  Livi didn’t answer. In fact, she was no longer in the living room. Maybe she was in the kitchen fixing yet another fresh pot of coffee. Between Ambrose and his people and Cord’s own family, there’d been a steady stream of visitors wandering in and out for hours.

  As frustrating as things were, at least they’d accomplished a lot. Ambrose had staged a raid on Francine’s corporate headquarters back in New Eire and followed that up with another on her home here on the estate. Between the financial records and Olivia’s newly recorded testimony and report regarding Francine’s confession, it was unlikely that Cord would have to take the stand during Francine’s trial. He didn’t want to think about what would happen to her if they convicted her of Dwayne’s murder, but then he didn’t really care, either.

  She was dead to him, one way or the other.

  The handful of family members who’d showed up had been a mixed bag. A couple seemed genuinely glad to see him. A few were nervous about what was to come next. It seemed Ambrose had frozen a great deal of the family assets until it could all be sorted out. Cord had spent a lot of time and effort reassuring his blood kin that he wasn’t out to ruin the clan for having abandoned him fifteen years ago. Finally, they’d left. He doubted they were convinced, but only time would prove his intentions were honest.