Vampire Vendetta Read online

  He stopped in front of Megan. “Unfortunately, there was no attending physician anywhere in sight when you and little Phoebe arrived at the compound, so none of that could be done. However, if I were to suddenly stumble across a doctor, legally I might have to report the services I’ve rendered, as well as an accurate diagnosis.”

  With an enigmatic look on his face, he lifted Phoebe high against his chest and swayed gently, cupping the back of her head with his hand. “Personally, I don’t see that happening anytime soon, especially since Conlan mentioned that Rafferty had been searching for a medic to service the estate. I would take that to mean there are no physicians living there now.”

  Relief washed over her. “Thank you, Seamus.”

  He merely nodded, clearly uncomfortable with her gratitude. “Now, finish eating.”

  Eventually her pursuers would find her trail, but she was too tired to think about that. For the moment, she and Phoebe were safe; that’s all that mattered. After being on the run for weeks, the knowledge that she could relax enough to really sleep was a blessing. Once she recuperated enough of her normal energy, she’d be better able to make plans.

  If Seamus really did have his own secrets, that explained why he didn’t seem all that curious about her reasons for wanting to keep her daughter’s birth a secret. Odd that Conlan O’Shea, the chancellor in charge of security, had yet to ask her a single question about how she came to be at the gate. Maybe it was because she was Joss’s cousin. Once he’d verified that much, he’d left it up to Joss and Rafferty to decide what to do about her.

  Joss had promised another visit soon. Megan appreciated all the vampire medic and the security chief had done for her, but seeing her cousin had meant a lot, too. She just hoped her presence on the estate didn’t bring a heap of trouble down on everyone’s head.

  Seamus murmured something about a sleepy girl and gently settled Phoebe in her bed.

  “Thank you,” she whispered. “For everything.”

  “It’s not like I have anything else to do.” He straightened up but didn’t look in Megan’s direction. “Get some rest.”

  Megan stared at the closed door. She hoped she hadn’t offended him, especially since he knew the truth about her illness, if not the reasons behind it. She didn’t really know how far she could trust Seamus. Rather than worry about it, she took his advice and let herself drift off to sleep.

  His departure had been abrupt, bordering on rude. Maybe he should feel bad about it, but Seamus couldn’t muster up enough energy to care. Yes, the baby girl was a heartbreaker, and Megan herself was an attractive woman, or would be when she was back to full strength. But he needed to put some distance between them and soon, because he was fighting a powerful urge to protect her and the baby from whoever had sent Megan running. The strength of that impulse was a shocker. It had been a long time since he’d cared about anything but his own troubles. Now wasn’t the best time to start.

  He couldn’t risk getting any further involved in Megan’s predicament. That didn’t keep him from wanting to beat the asshole senseless who’d left that fear in her eyes and poison flowing in her bloodstream. Worse yet, he’d gone along with Megan’s request to protect Phoebe’s unregistered birth. If that came to light, he could lose his medic license.

  Granted, he didn’t much expect to live any longer than it took to bring down Rafferty O’Day, but he still needed to maintain his cover story. Would it look suspicious to the chancellor to find out that Seamus was willing to risk his future for a woman who was little better than a stranger?

  It was too late to worry about it. The damage was already done. If necessary, he’d deal with the fallout.

  He wandered toward Conlan’s office in need of something to eat—blood or food, it didn’t matter. Either would help him stabilize his volatile mood. The door to the security chief’s office was closed. Despite the thickness of the wood, Seamus’s vampire senses made it possible to hear Conlan talking to someone. From the tone, the conversation was definitely not a happy one. He hesitated, unsure of his welcome.

  Conlan solved the problem for him, calling out, “Seamus, if you’re going to eavesdrop, you might as well come in and sit down. At least you’ll be comfortable.”

  As soon as Seamus sat down, Conlan rolled his chair back toward the fridge and pulled out a pair of blood bags and tossed them across the desk. Even as he was playing host, he didn’t miss a beat in railing at the voice on the other end of the line.

  Finally, the chancellor disconnected the call and slammed the phone down on the desk.

  “God, save me from idiots!”

  While Seamus fed, Conlan shuffled through a stack of papers. From appearances, all he accomplished was moving the pile from the right side of his desk to the left and back again. When he cursed and started back through it a third time, Seamus had to stifle a laugh.

  Conlan heard it anyway. “You think this is funny? I hope not, because I can tell you right now that I’m in no mood to be laughed at.”

  Seamus managed to maintain a straight face. “Sorry. I think perhaps I choked a bit on this excellent blood, and you may have mistaken that for a laugh.”

  “Yeah, right. I must have.”

  Conlan gave up on the paperwork altogether and leaned back in his chair, as usual propping his feet on the desktop. “So, how are your patients?”

  “Fine. When I left the room, they were both falling asleep, which is normal for a baby and the best thing for the mother.”

  Not to mention him. And at least while they were sleeping, they weren’t looking at him with those huge lavender eyes that drew him like a moth to a flame.

  Conlan nodded. “Makes sense. How soon can they be moved?”

  “It depends on how they’d be traveling and how far.”

  “About half an hour’s ride. Joss and Rafferty are anxious to get Megan and her daughter settled into a house on the estate right away.”

  “I’d say late tomorrow should be all right. If either Megan or her daughter are going to develop any complications, we should know by then.”

  “Sounds good. Be packed up and ready at dusk tomorrow. Someone will be here to drive all of you into the estate.” He rolled his shoulders to loosen up tight muscles. “I wouldn’t be surprised if Rafferty comes for you himself.”

  Seamus’s surprise verged on the edge of shock. “I thought there was a waiting period before I’d find out if I was accepted.”

  Resentment glittered in the chancellor’s eyes. “Yeah, well, the rules are supposed to apply to everyone who walks through that gate. However, since Rafferty elected himself God around here, when he says break a rule, we stomp it into little pieces. He wants you close by for Megan and her baby, so you get a free pass on the waiting period.”

  “And you’re not happy about that?”

  “Don’t take it personally. I don’t trust anybody. Besides, that free pass only extends to the waiting period. I’ll still have my shovel in hand digging into your background even as you drive out of the gate.”

  “Shouldn’t take you long. Medical school doesn’t leave much room for a social life.”

  Then he injected what he hoped was just the right note of mild concern in his voice. “But there’s one thing I should probably tell you. Coalition law requires all newborns be registered. Megan Perez never registered Phoebe, and I agreed to keep it that way.”

  The chancellor’s sole reaction was a slight narrowing of his eyes. Seamus bet he’d been an intimidating interrogator at some point in his life. That steely-eyed stare and blank expression would’ve broken a harder man than Seamus.

  “So, why risk your license for a woman you’ve only barely met?”

  Good question, one that Seamus had no real answer for, none that made any sense under his own precarious circumstances. If Conlan O’Shea was a stickler for the law, as most chancellors were by nature, Seamus might have just screwed up his only chance to get inside the estate. He gave the only explanation that made any sense at all—the
truth.

  “Someone had her running sick and scared. I wasn’t going to be the one to lead the bastard straight to her.”

  Conlan nodded. “Good decision. I’ll let Rafferty know in case it blows up in our face at some point. We try to maintain a low profile, but we also protect our own people.”

  Seamus was unsure if he was now included in that group, but he wasn’t going to press for that information. It was enough that Rafferty was willing to let him onto the estate proper.

  One step closer to bringing the vampire down.

  “Well, I’m going to go for a walk. If you need me for anything, give a holler.”

  Conlan turned back to his computer. “Will do.”

  As soon as Seamus was out of sight, Conlan opened the file he’d started on the young vampire. The information was pretty thin, although the lack of it wasn’t a concern in and of itself. It was early in his investigation, and as the kid had said, medical school was a tough discipline that left students little time for getting into trouble.

  Yet, according to Seamus’s own confession, he’d managed to get entangled in a situation that had resulted in him losing his scholarship and being forced to leave school, all over a woman. At first Conlan had a hard time believing that, but this latest confession gave some credence to his story. If Seamus was willing to risk his professional career for Megan Perez so soon after meeting her, what would he have been willing to do for someone he knew far better? Especially if that someone and Seamus had a more intimate relationship.

  Conlan updated his notes with both his impressions and the facts about the registration irregularity. As a former investigator for the North American Coalition, he knew how to build a case, block by block until the whole took shape and stood on its own. Seamus might be exactly what he seemed—a well-intentioned, competent medic who’d screwed up big-time.

  But Conlan’s gut twitched when he read over the scant details. Something was missing. And although Conlan realized he liked the vampire, he wouldn’t rest until all of the blanks were filled in.

  By the next evening Megan was getting tired of the same four walls and of lying in bed. It was a relief when Conlan stopped in to tell her to get packed up because Joss was coming to take Phoebe and her to their new home. It hadn’t taken long to get their meager belongings organized. The only downside of moving out was they were taking Seamus Fitzhugh with them.

  The jerk! Despite his compassionate attention when she’d been so sick and afterward with Phoebe, he’d quickly grown cold and distant. Had she offended him somehow by asking him not to register Phoebe? He could’ve insisted on following the law, and she would have understood. At best it was only a delay tactic. Eventually Banan and his family would figure out where she’d gone to ground.

  She stuffed the last of her things in the box and sealed it. Before she could look around for something else to keep her hands busy, there was a soft knock at the door.

  “Yes?” she called in a soft voice.

  “It’s Seamus, Ms. Perez. May I come in?”

  Ms. Perez? What happened to calling her Megan?

  “Yes, of course.” She opened the door and stood back to let him in. She was surprised to see him wearing a lab coat and his stethoscope around his neck. His hand held his med kit in a white-knuckled grip.

  His eyes instantly went to where Phoebe lay sucking on her fist in her sleep. For a brief second, his expression softened. But when he turned in Megan’s direction, the chilly distance was back in full force.

  “Is there something you needed? I’m trying to finish packing before Joss gets here.”

  He looked decidedly uncomfortable, which meant she wasn’t going to like what he had to say. Rather than ask, she waited him out.

  Suddenly, his eyes focused somewhere over her shoulder, as if he couldn’t stand to look her straight in the eye. “Medical protocol dictates that I do one last examination before we risk your traveling any distance, Ms. Perez. You know, to ensure there aren’t any complications that would put you at risk.”

  Despite his naturally pale vampire complexion there was a definite hint of pink in his cheeks. For that matter, she suspected she blushed, too.

  “Are you sure this is absolutely necessary?”

  His eyes flashed dark with anger. “I assure you, Ms. Perez, I’m not in the habit of putting patients through unnecessary examinations. It is standard procedure before anyone is released from a medical facility. I’d be considered derelict in my duty if I failed to offer my services.”

  Her stomach churned, and she felt cornered. But he was right. If she’d been in a hospital, she wouldn’t have questioned the need for the exam.

  “I apologize, Mr. Fitzhugh. I didn’t mean to insult you.”

  He nodded. “Shall we get started, then?”

  The awkwardness didn’t go away as he listened to her heart and lungs. The rest of the exam was quick and thorough, the touch of his gloved hands gentle.

  “Any more nausea or cramping?”

  “No. The infection is gone.”

  He gave her a hard look. “So we’re back to that again. I repeat—there was no infection, Ms. Perez. You were poisoned. Ignoring the truth is not only foolish, but dangerous.”

  Why did he insist on confirming her worst nightmare? “I knew I’d been losing weight, but that was because I hadn’t been eating right. I picked up an infection. That’s all it was.”

  “Fine, lie to yourself if you want to, but someone had been feeding you an iron supplement meant for vampires. In large enough doses, it’s toxic for both humans and chancellors.”

  She doubled up in pain, but this time the cause was emotional, not physical. “He said I needed it for her.”

  “Well, whoever he is, he lied. Phoebe’s needs are the same as any other youngling until she hits puberty. I’m sure Conlan or Rafferty O’Day will help you bring charges against him for attempted murder.”

  She didn’t have to think twice. “No! That’s the last thing I want to do.”

  Seamus was looking at her as if she’d grown a second head. “The bastard tries to kill you, and you still want to protect him?”

  “No, I want to protect my daughter.”

  “Very well, but you know he’ll try again. Don’t wait until it’s too late to seek help.”

  As he peeled off the gloves, he met her gaze. “You should be fine for the duration of the trip. Continue to rest as much as possible. Light exercise is fine, but nothing more strenuous than walking. Concentrate on eating lots of fresh vegetables and protein.”

  “I will.”

  “If you change your mind or if you need me for anything…uh, medical, that is, please don’t hesitate to ask.”

  Then he was gone without another word, leaving her alone to get dressed again. Somehow she thought the thirty-minute drive to Joss’s home with Seamus in the same vehicle was going to be the longest half hour of her life.

  Because of their mixed blood, Megan and Joss could travel in daylight, but that wasn’t true for Seamus or Rafferty. The hours dragged by until finally there was a knock at her door. Joss poked her head in and smiled.

  “Hey, are my two favorite cousins ready to hit the road?”

  The friendly welcome in Joss’s voice was all it took to have Megan’s eyes burning. She blinked back the tears as she embraced her cousin. “It’s so good to see you.”

  Joss held her at arm’s length for a few seconds. “Megan, I’m so glad you came to us. Rafferty and I won’t press for details, but we’re here for you. You’ll spend tonight at our house, and tomorrow you and I will look at the cottage we thought you’d like. There are other choices if it’s not what you have in mind.”

  Megan managed to smile through her tears. “I’m sure it will be perfect, Joss.”

  “I’ll get Rafferty and Conlan to load the transport. After we grab your medic, we’ll head home.”

  Megan bit back the protest that Seamus wasn’t her anything. She was in no position to fault someone for wanting to mainta
in some distance, and she certainly didn’t want to make things awkward for him with Joss and Rafferty. Once she and Phoebe were settled in their new home, it was doubtful that she and Seamus would have to see each other except when Phoebe needed a checkup.

  The men made quick work of stowing her luggage as well as Seamus’s. Finally, the four adults and Phoebe were settled in the transport. Megan rolled her window down to say goodbye to Conlan.

  “Thank you for everything. I don’t know what Phoebe and I would have done without your help.”

  The chancellor looked uncomfortable with her gratitude. “Take care of that pretty daughter of yours.”

  “I will. Once I’m settled in, I’d love to have you over for dinner to show my thanks.”

  He jerked back as if she’d just insulted him. “That’s not necessary.”

  She watched in confusion as he stalked away. “Did I say something wrong?”

  Joss shook her head. “Don’t take it personally, Megan. Conlan—”

  Rafferty finished the sentence for his wife. “Is a jerk most of the time.”

  Joss punched her husband on the arm. “Rafferty, cut the man some slack. Conlan’s had his problems, but then who hasn’t?” Joss smiled down at Phoebe in her arms. “Except this little lady. She has all of us wrapped around all her adorable little fingers. Isn’t that true, Seamus?”

  The medic, riding up front with Rafferty, had been silent since getting in the car. If her cousin or her husband thought his withdrawn attitude odd, neither gave any indication of it. That he finally answered surprised her.

  “Phoebe is and will always be a heartbreaker.”

  Then he turned his head to stare out the window into the night. An odd thought crossed Megan’s mind as she watched him from the backseat. Despite there being four other people in the enclosed space of the car, she’d never seen anyone look quite so alone.

  Chapter 4

  Seamus paced the length of the room and back. If the sun didn’t set soon, he’d go into a total meltdown. Feeling caged, he started another useless trip across the carpet and counted off the minutes until he could escape the confines of Rafferty O’Day’s home.