Vampire Vendetta Read online

  He’d already consumed three packs of blood, but they’d barely taken the edge off his hunger, much less his anger. Right now, his craving for blood demanded more than sucking it out of plastic. No, far better to plunge his fangs into the soft flesh of someone’s neck and take a long, deep pull of life pulsing straight from the source—rich, vibrant and still warm. Somehow he doubted Rafferty would extend his hospitality that far.

  It had been decades since the blood hunger of his kind had shaken Seamus’s control. But right now his enemy was just down the hall, patiently waiting for Seamus to make an appearance. To make nice. To petition to be part of Rafferty’s new world vision. Instead Seamus wanted to stake the bastard, and that only after he found a way to destroy everything that meant anything to the older vampire.

  That was the problem with schemes based on sketchy intelligence—they fell apart at the first sign of an unexpected complication. Clearly his original plan had been shortsighted, not extending much past finding a way into the estate to study Rafferty O’Day from a distance. Instead, thanks to Megan Perez’s untimely arrival, Seamus was the hero of the hour, an honored guest in Rafferty’s own home.

  Wearing out the carpet was getting him nowhere. He stopped in front of the dresser and forced his reflection to appear in the mirror. Good thing he did, because he looked as over the edge as he felt with his hair standing up in ragged spikes and his clothes disheveled. He finger-combed his hair and tucked in his shirt as he concentrated on slowing his pulse. His host might be willing to give Seamus a free pass because of his service to Joss’s cousin, but that didn’t imply blind trust on his part. If Seamus appeared rattled or was acting guilty, the older vampire was bound to wonder why.

  After one last glance at the mirror, Seamus let his image fade and braced himself to face his host. Outside of his room, he paused to listen. A soft murmur of voices drifted down the hallway. He recognized both females and Rafferty himself. Great. He’d have preferred a private audience.

  When the voices went silent, he realized the others had heard his approach and were waiting for him to join them. Further delay would only make things more difficult. He carefully schooled his expression, going for reluctance to interrupt his hosts’ visit with Megan.

  Joss looked up and smiled as soon as he came into sight. “Come on in, Seamus. We were just making plans to give Megan a quick tour of the estate. We’d like you to join us.”

  Just what he needed—more time shut up in a transport with his enemies. “If you’re sure I won’t be in the way.”

  Rafferty answered that one. “Not at all. While we’re out, we can stop by the infirmary, so you can take a look around.”

  All of which would prevent Seamus from having free run of their home while they were out playing host to Megan. That last part went unsaid, but that didn’t make it any less true.

  “Then I’m sorry to have kept you waiting.”

  Megan had been awfully quiet, her eyes focused on her lap. Finally she looked up. “We were actually waiting for Phoebe to wake up from her nap.”

  Right on cue, the youngling in question announced her need for attention with a loud wail. Megan was immediately up and moving, barely giving Seamus time to step out of her way. He fought the urge to follow her, preferring to be with her and Phoebe than being left alone with the O’Days. He was also fighting a strong urge to take care of Phoebe’s needs himself and to find out how Megan was feeling.

  Joss moved up beside him, her hand coming to rest on his arm. He flinched, causing her to quickly withdraw her touch.

  “Sorry.” Keeping her voice low, she told him, “I just wanted to thank you again, Seamus. We would’ve lost her if you hadn’t been there.”

  The last thing he wanted was gratitude, especially hers. “No thanks are necessary. Besides, I couldn’t have done it if you hadn’t had the foresight to make sure Conlan had all the right supplies on hand.”

  Rafferty entered the conversation. “Which brings me back to the infirmary. First thing, go through the inventory and make a list of anything that’s missing because we only bought the basics. There’s bound to be more we need, especially now that we have a licensed medic on-site.”

  “I can do that.”

  The vampire looked as if he had more to say, but Megan was back. Joss held out her hand to take the baby’s bag.

  As Megan relinquished it, she said, “We’d better get moving. I’d like to get settled in the cottage tonight.”

  Joss looked both surprised and hurt. “Surely there’s no rush, Megan. You just got here.”

  “I know, but I don’t want to be an imposition.”

  “You won’t be. Besides, you need time to recuperate.” Joss turned to Seamus for support. “Doesn’t she?”

  Talk about awkward. The physician in him agreed with his hostess. Those dark circles under Megan’s eyes and her bone-thin appearance demanded more rest, more care. But he recognized a kindred spirit as well, one whose entire world had been gutted and bled out by the selfish act of another. Trust would be a long time returning in Megan’s life even if she felt guilty for doubting the very people she’d turned to for help.

  He compromised, knowing neither woman would be happy, but it really wasn’t his problem.

  Rather than see the disappointment in Megan’s eyes, he focused his attention on Joss. “She needs another twenty-four hours to make sure there aren’t any lasting side effects from the medication I gave her. But barring complications, there’s no reason she shouldn’t set up housekeeping by herself.”

  Megan stepped in front him, forcing Seamus to acknowledge her presence. “In case you didn’t notice, Mr. Fitzhugh, she is right here, and she can and will speak for herself. I’m not an idiot nor an invalid. If I didn’t think I could take care of myself and my daughter, I’d say so.”

  He had to admire her courage, facing down a vampire who outweighed her by a good eighty pounds. Males of any of the three species didn’t take well to someone getting right in their face, but vampires were especially prone to attacking if provoked. He ignored the faint pain of his fangs running out and his body’s predictable reaction to an attractive female’s challenge.

  “Don’t put words in my mouth, Megan.” He fought for control. “I didn’t say you were an idiot or incompetent. I said, medically it would be better if you took it easy one more day. That’s all.”

  She stared up at him for several seconds, her own fangs slipping down far enough to show. Finally, she nodded. “Okay. Twenty-four hours.”

  Then, remembering they had an audience, she pasted a bright smile on her face. “Joss, Rafferty. I don’t mean to sound ungrateful, but I’ve been on the move for a while now. It will be a relief to begin to build a stable home again.”

  An hour later, Rafferty pulled up in front of a squat building, obviously designed for function rather than style.

  “Here’s your new place of business.” He tossed Seamus a set of keys. “Check it out, and let me know what you think.”

  “You’re not coming in?” Which would be a relief.

  Rafferty shook his head but kept his eyes trained on the building. “I’m going to catch up with Joss and Megan. Despite what she said earlier, I’m thinking both Megan and her daughter will be ready for some rest.”

  Then he turned to face Seamus, his green eyes hard as jade. “I’m willing to cut you some slack for a couple of reasons. One, you saved the life of someone who is important to my wife. And two, we need a medic on-site.

  “Having said that, I will be keeping a close eye on you myself until Conlan gives you a clean bill of health. He’s an obnoxious jerk, but he is thorough. If there’s something that’s likely to bite you on the ass, you’d be better off telling me now, especially when it comes to your ability to take care of my people.”

  Seamus should tell the bastard to take his job and shove it, but that would be counterproductive. He settled for righteous indignation. “I’m qualified, with primary emphasis on our species, but with enough experie
nce with the other two to do the job.”

  “That’s more than I had hoped for in a medic.” Rafferty gave Seamus a short nod. “Go ahead and look the place over, especially the supplies we stocked. Make a detailed list of what you’ll need to set up shop. Divide it up by what you have to have and what you’d like to have. When you’re ready, we’ll talk budget and set up an inventory system to automatically replace what you use.”

  “I’ll work on it tonight.” Seamus reached for the door handle, needing more than ever to get away from his new employer.

  But the vampire wasn’t done with him. “One more thing. There’s an attached apartment for your use. It was stocked with only the basics, too, but I’ve set up an account for you at the supply depot.”

  Rafferty looked away again, his eyes focused on the distant horizon. “You’re not the first one to show up on my doorstep with little more than the clothes on your back. Don’t let pride keep you from taking what you need.”

  “I don’t like charity.” Especially Rafferty’s.

  “Then consider it an advance against your wages.” Rafferty’s mouth quirked up in a small smile. “And believe me, as the only medic on the place, you’ll earn every dime I’m paying you—and then some.”

  It was all he could do to nod. This time, when he started to open the door, Rafferty let him escape but rolled down the window.

  “When you’re done, call the house. The number’s by the phone in the office. One of us will come for you.”

  “Sounds like a plan.”

  Seamus waited for Rafferty to pull away in a cloud of dust before unlocking the door of the clinic. Once inside, he leaned against the wall and closed his eyes. Maintaining control around his enemy was a bitch, but then he hadn’t planned on having so much direct contact with the vampire.

  Of course, if he convinced Rafferty he could be trusted, it would make it that much sweeter when he finally carried out his plan. But there was one other thing he hadn’t counted on—actually liking the older vampire or at least respecting what he was trying to do here on his estate. Their impromptu tour of the grounds had revealed a well-run, burgeoning enterprise.

  Most of the humans who made up the majority of the workforce had retired to their homes for the night. Many had waved and smiled as Rafferty’s transport had passed by. Odder yet, both Joss and Rafferty had waved back, often calling to people by name. Seamus was pretty sure his late father would’ve been hard-pressed to name more than a handful of humans by name. It was probably only a ploy to make the cattle work harder for less pay, but it obviously worked.

  Speaking of working, he’d better get started himself. He flipped on the lights and got his first clear look at his new temporary place of employment.

  Megan looked around the cottage; there had to be something that demanded her attention—a dirty dish that needed washing, a towel that needed folding—anything at all. She and Phoebe had been living in the place for only just over a week, not enough time to make much of a mess. Besides, she’d cleaned the place thoroughly the day before. And the day before that.

  Now that her energy levels were improving, she needed something to keep her busy. Anything to keep from thinking too hard about the mess her life had become. Cut off from friends and family, she was now surrounded by nameless strangers.

  Well, except for Joss and her husband, but she couldn’t claim to really know either of them. It had been years since she’d spent much time with Joss, and she’d only just met Rafferty. Of course, there was Conlan, the gruff chancellor security officer, but he was some distance away at the gate. And finally, Seamus Fitzhugh, new to the estate himself. She wanted to trust someone, anyone, but for Phoebe’s sake she had to be careful. Her daughter’s life depended on it.

  Rather than think about that or the troublesome circumstances surrounding her new job, she double-checked the supplies she’d put together for Phoebe. Right now her daughter was sound asleep in her crib, so peaceful, so pretty, so blissfully unaware of the dangers that inhabited their world. If it were up to Megan, Phoebe would remain innocent and unscarred by life for as long as possible.

  To that end, she fully intended to stay within the electrified fences and walls of Rafferty’s family estate, no matter who showed up at the gate demanding that she surrender her daughter to their care. Both of the O’Days had been remarkably supportive during the time she’d been there, not to mention patient. She knew she should share the truth of her situation with them, but she’d grown too accustomed to living a secret to make confiding in someone easy.

  For Phoebe’s sake, eventually she’d confess all to Joss in order to take legal action naming her cousin and Rafferty as Phoebe’s guardians, just in case something happened to her—say, like being poisoned. Once again, the medic came to mind. She owed him her life. If only he weren’t a vampire—but he was, and she’d never risk involvement with another one.

  There was nothing left to do but stare at the clock until the sun went down. Once it did, she’d be on her way to her new job. And her new boss—Seamus Fitzhugh.

  The soft purr of a well-tuned engine caught her attention. She turned on the outside lights and slid open the peephole as a transport slowed to a stop in front of the cottage. As soon as she recognized Joss climbing out of the driver’s side, she leaned down and gave her daughter a quick kiss.

  “Okay, little girl. Here’s where the whole trust thing gets started.”

  Bracing herself for separation anxiety, she opened the door and stepped outside. “Joss, come in. Are you sure you don’t mind watching Phoebe for a couple of hours?”

  “Not at all. I live to spoil her rotten.” Her cousin grinned. “In fact, Rafferty will be along in a minute to help with that.”

  “You didn’t come together?”

  “Nope. We wanted to leave one of the transports here for you to use, so we drove separately. There he is now.”

  Joss held out the keys. “So here, and don’t protest. We keep a fleet of vehicles for everyone to use. It’s part of the whole package.”

  Megan wasn’t sure she believed that, but she was willing to accept the small lie. “I appreciate all of your help.”

  “You’d do the same for me. Now trade me my favorite little girl for these keys. You don’t want to be late for your first night on the job.”

  It hurt to hand off her daughter, but she did her best to hide it. “Mr. Fitzhugh said he’d only need me for a couple of hours tonight.”

  “I know, but anytime you need a break, all you have to do is ask.” Joss’s expression turned fierce. “And Phoebe will be safe with me and Rafferty.”

  Tears burned her eyes. “That means a lot, Joss.”

  “We’ll handle whatever comes, Megan, up to and including toxic diapers.” Rafferty joined them. He smiled down at Phoebe before meeting Megan’s gaze. “You know if there’s anything else we can help you with, all you have to do is ask.”

  She’d been expecting the offer. She forced herself to face the vampire. “I know. I’ll think about it.”

  “Do.” He softened the order with a wink. “I promise you and your child will be safe here.”

  “Thank you, Rafferty.” Her eyes burned, but she was done crying. “Now, I’d better get to work. Wouldn’t want to anger my new boss on the first day.”

  “Good luck!”

  She drove away while she had the strength to do so. Starting from the minute she’d found out she was pregnant, it had been just her and Phoebe. Now, being separated from her daughter was ripping a hole in her heart. Even if she’d only be gone a short time to go over her new duties with Seamus, it was still hard. Once she knew more what the job entailed, she’d have to make arrangements for Phoebe’s care.

  She absolutely hated that, but she couldn’t live on Joss’s charity, either.

  The infirmary was only a short distance from her cottage, close enough that she could’ve walked. She was just as glad to get there and get this first encounter over with. She still wasn’t sure how, out of al
l the people on Rafferty’s estate, she came to be working with Seamus Fitzhugh. It wasn’t as if she had a medical background, but evidently he needed her computer skills. Time to get moving.

  A transport pulled up out front. Seamus set down the list he’d been staring at for the past fifteen minutes as he waited for his new coworker to arrive. Technically he supposed he was her boss since Rafferty had put him in charge of the clinic. Since he had no desire to be in charge of anything, much less Megan Perez, he’d show her what needed to be done and then concentrate on his own duties. Maybe their paths wouldn’t cross all that often.

  Megan was going to build the database for the estate’s medical records. When he and Rafferty had gone over the inventory, the discussion had turned to the logistics of providing adequate care for the various inhabitants of the estate. It came as no surprise that Megan Perez wasn’t the only one who would prefer not to update her official records with the North American Coalition anytime soon.

  At Rafferty’s suggestion, Seamus was to see the patients as needed and make note of any treatment rendered. At some point in the future, should they ever get a licensed physician, then they’d decide what to do about the regulations that demanded that all doctors report to the Coalition Medical Department.

  It was splitting hairs when it came to compliance with the law. At best, the North American Coalition was a loosely organized governing body whose main function was to oversee any interactions where the three races crossed paths. As long as no one complained about their records being incomplete, the Coalition wasn’t likely to care one way or the other.

  But in any case, Rafferty would be the one to take the heat, provided the vampire lived that long.

  With that happy thought, Seamus opened the door for Megan just as she was reaching out to ring the bell, startling her. For the space of a heartbeat, the two of them stood frozen, her hand reaching out, his eyes locked on hers. Finally, she jerked her arm back. He retreated a step. Both of them drew a deep breath.