Chapter 12
12
A block away from the entrance to the Scanguards underground garage, Vanessa’s car sputtered, and the engine finally cut out. She managed to steer the vehicle toward the curb, when it stopped fully. She tried to start the car again, but the engine didn’t respond to her attempts. She hit both hands against the steering wheel.
“Crap!”
She pulled her cell phone from her handbag, scrolled through her contact list, and tapped on one. It rang once, before the call was answered.
“Hey, Nessie.”
“Hey, Sebastian. Are you at HQ?”
“Yeah, but just for another fifteen minutes. Why?”
“My car broke down.”
“So the old rust bucket finally bit it? I’ve never understood why you don’t buy yourself a decent car. I mean, you’ve got the money.”
“You know how long it would take before somebody broke into a new car in the Tenderloin? Like five minutes. At least nobody breaks into the Jetta or steals it.”
Sebastian chuckled. “Yeah, ‘cause it doesn’t run anymore.”
“Very funny.”
Sebastian cleared his throat. “Where are you?”
“Only a block north of HQ. Can you please see if you can get it to start again? Can you meet me in the lobby, and I’ll hand you the keys? I’ve got to see Thomas and Eddie.”
“Sure, I’ll see you there in a sec.”
Vanessa shoved her cell phone back into her handbag and exited the car. She locked it and crossed the street. By the time she entered the lobby, Sebastian was already waiting for her.
The twenty-six-year-old half-Asian vampire hybrid was one of her favorites among the Scanguards family. Sebastian was a practical guy, who always had a way of getting impossible things done. He also loved to tinker and invent and redesign everything that could be useful to anyone of his kind. A year earlier, he’d started producing Blood Splatter , carbonated bottled human blood for consumption by vampires and vampire hybrids. The beverage was now served at the V Lounge, the bar within the Scanguards headquarters building where vampires and hybrids could relax after work or in between their shifts.
“Hey, Nessie.”
“Hey, Sebastian, thanks for doing this.” Vanessa handed him her car keys.
“I might have to tow it to the garage, so don’t count on getting it back tonight,” he advised. “I’m supposed to be patrolling shortly.”
“No problem. Just let me know if it’s salvageable.” She headed toward the elevators. “Thanks, see you later.”
Vanessa rode the elevator to the executive floor on the top floor of the building, where Thomas and Eddie’s office was located. The blood-bonded gay couple jointly ran the IT department at Scanguards, and Vanessa couldn’t really say which one of the two was more talented. As a team, they were unbeatable.
At the door to their office, Vanessa knocked before entering. It appeared the two lovebirds hadn’t heard her. Eddie was standing behind Thomas, who was sitting in front of his computer, his arms around Thomas. Eddie’s face was buried in the crook of Thomas’s neck, though what exactly he was doing was hidden from her.
“Sorry,” she said quickly and turned her back to them. “Didn’t mean to interrupt.”
A chuckle came from Thomas. “Come in, Nessie.”
Vanessa turned around and closed the door, before she stopped in front of Thomas. Involuntarily, her gaze drifted to his neck.
“I didn’t bite him,” Eddie said, grinning, “if that’s what you’re wondering.”
Thomas smirked and winked at her, before he addressed Eddie, “But you were about to.”
“As if you didn’t want it…”
The loving looks the two men exchanged warmed her heart. They’d been together since before her birth, and she couldn’t imagine them not being together.
“So, I heard you’ve got something for us,” Thomas finally said, looking up at her.
Vanessa dug into her handbag. “The wallet, cell phone, and a set of keys from the rogue I killed earlier. I already looked at the photo on the driver’s license. Name’s Robert Nealy. He was only twenty-four according to his ID, though I don’t know if it’s a fake.”
“We can figure that out,” Eddie assured her and reached for the wallet. He glanced at Thomas. “I’ll do the background. You wanna crack the cell phone?”
Thomas nodded. “That’s hardly a challenge.”
Eddie rolled his eyes and looked back at Vanessa. “We’ll send everything we find down to the command center so Benjamin can centralize all information we’re getting on the rogues.”
“Thanks, guys, appreciate it.”
Vanessa entered the command center a few minutes later. Besides Benjamin who was in charge again tonight, Patrick and Ethan were present.
“Hey, guys.”
“Hey.”
Benjamin looked over his shoulder. “Hey, Nessie. Are Thomas and Eddie working on IDing the vampire you killed?”
She nodded. “I just gave them the guy’s wallet, cell, and keys. If his ID is genuine than he was only 24 years old.”
“Did you have to kill him?” Patrick asked, inserting himself into the conversation.
“Yeah, I did.” Vanessa felt her jaw tightening. This had been her first kill, and while she knew it had been necessary, she still felt shaken by it. She’d ended a life.
“Couldn’t you just have wounded him and brought him in? Now we can’t interrogate him. How are we supposed to find out who’s behind this when you kill the best lead we had?”
Vanessa turned to Patrick, making a step toward him. “You weren’t there,” she ground out, narrowing her eyes. “The situation required that I kill him. It was the only way to save the human he was attacking. Next time you’re confronted with a rogue, maybe you can catch him alive. So, butt out. I’m not in the mood for your Monday-morning-quarterbacking.”
“What the—”
“Patrick, you heard her!” Ethan demanded.
“Chill, all of you. We’ve got work to do,” Benjamin said with a calm voice.
“What do you need?” Vanessa asked, turning back to Benjamin. “Do you want me to meet with Lydia to patrol? Then Quinn can do a different route.”
“No, let’s keep them patrolling together. I need somebody to get Scarlet. She offered to work on the suspect profile, and now that we have info on the guy you dusted, she’s got something to work with.”
“Why does somebody need to get her?” Ethan asked. “She’s got a car.”
Benjamin grimaced. “Guess you don’t know your brother that well. He ordered that Scarlet can’t go outside at night without protection while the rogues are roaming the city. Besides, somebody needs to babysit the twins. Both Ryder and Scarlet’s father are on patrol.” Benjamin grinned. “Which leaves you three. So, who wants to volunteer?”
“To babysit? You’re joking, bro,” Patrick protested with a shake of his head. “Count me out.” Then he pointed to her and Ethan. “They are your nephews. Have fun.” Patrick headed for the door.
Ethan smirked. “Hate to say it, sis, but I think it’s your turn. I babysat them last weekend.”
“That’s just what I need. Two rambunctious boys who don’t know the meaning of sleep.” Vanessa let out a sigh. Just thinking of it made her feel exhausted.
“They weren’t that bad last week,” Ethan claimed, putting his hand on her shoulder. “Besides, they love you.”
She rolled her eyes. “Fine. But I need a ride. My car crapped out a block from here.”
“Hallelujah, the rust bucket is dead,” Benjamin joked. “I hope you’ll buy yourself a decent car now.”
“And have it stolen the moment I park it in the Tenderloin?” Vanessa shook her head.
“Come on, sis, I’ll drop you at Scarlet’s and bring her back here,” Ethan offered.
“Thanks, both of you. Check in with me later,” Benjamin said and turned back to his desk.
In the Scanguards garage, Ethan led her to a red Lamborghini instead of his SUV. Vanessa furrowed her brows.
“You bought a Lamborghini?”
He grinned and unlocked the car. “Not yet. I’m test-driving it this week. Get in. Let’s take it for a spin.”
Moments later, they were shooting out of the garage, and Ethan merged into traffic, the engine roaring like a lion in the jungle.
Vanessa laughed. “You can’t be serious about buying this car. It’s not practical in San Francisco. You’re gonna lose your transmission when you hit a dip or a bump.”
Ethan chuckled. “But it’s a total babe magnet. Even you must admit that. Not everything needs to be practical.”
They hit a bump, and Vanessa nearly hit the ceiling. Laughing, she shook her head.
“I didn’t even feel that,” he claimed.
“Hopeless case.”
“So how are you feeling, sis, hmm?”
She let out an exasperated breath. “Not you too. First Mom, then Dad, and now you. For the umpteenth time: yes, I went into heat out of the blue, and I took care of it. End of story.”
Ethan cast her a sideways glance. “You went into heat again?”
“You didn’t know?”
“Now I do.”
“Oh. But if you didn’t know then why did you ask me how I was feeling?”
“I asked you because you had to kill a vampire tonight. I know that’s not easy for anybody. And Patrick giving you a hard time because of it wasn’t cool.”
She sighed, putting her hand on his forearm. “Thanks for shutting him up. I wasn’t in the mood to start a big argument with him.”
“I could tell. You look a little drained.”
She forced a smile. Too much was going on inside her, and the inappropriate reprimand by Patrick hadn’t helped. “What’s wrong with him anyway? Since when is he so argumentative?”
“Since he’s practically the only Woodford heir left. Since Grayson is now running New Orleans with Monique, and Isabelle is taking a leave of absence because she wants more time with the baby—and with Orlando and the club—, I think he feels that he has to step up and show some leadership qualities. Even if he doesn’t like it.”
“He doesn’t wanna lead?”
“No, of course not. He preferred it when the limelight wasn’t on him but his siblings.”
“I had no idea.”
“And why would you? You’ve got plenty of stuff to deal with on a daily basis. Trust me, I wouldn’t want your job. I’d much rather be on bodyguard assignment. Can’t wait until we’ve caught the rogues and put a stop to what they’re doing.”
“Same here. None of the sex workers and the homeless are safe while they’re on the loose. I’m worried for them.”
And not just for them. Anybody out at night was at risk of being attacked. And Scanguards couldn’t be everywhere. Even their resources weren’t unlimited.