All I Want for Christmas is a Vampire (Love at Stake #5)

Toni woke slowly. She'd had trouble sleeping all night, for it felt like a heavy weight was pressing against her chest. Ian. She'd lost Ian. She rolled onto her back and realized she was not alone.

"Ian?" She sat up. He was there beside her. Relief swept through her. He couldn't be angry with her if he'd climbed into bed with her, right? Last night she'd feared their relationship was over. He'd looked so upset.

He looked perfectly peaceful now. He was lying on his back, his hands folded over his stomach. She checked the clock on the bedside table. Eight-forty-five? She'd set the alarm for six-thirty. He must have turned it off before climbing into bed with her.

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She turned back to him. For the first time since she'd known him, he wasn't wearing a kilt. He had on flannel pajama bottoms, although still a red and green plaid, which made her smile. He'd showered off all the blood and grime.

She leaned closer to examine the cuts on his face. They looked much better already. She lifted one of his hands. The gashes had closed and the scars were fading. By sunset he would be back to his usual gorgeous self.

She realized suddenly she was holding hands with a dead man. And she didn't flinch or let go. Why wasn't she freaked out? She glanced at his face. He was still the same brave warrior who had charged to Gregori's rescue, the same selfless hero who had insisted she go to safety while he stood there bleeding, the same sweet man who had kissed her passionately and then taken all the blame for it.

She climbed out of bed and went to the bathroom. There she found a note taped to the mirror.

Toni,

I want to help you rescue your friend. Please forgive me for being an arse.

Ian

With a laugh, she pressed the note against her chest. Ian understood. She could trust him. And Sabrina would be saved. She ran back into the bedroom. "Thank you, Ian. Thank you."

He just lay there.

She sat on the bed, smiling at him. "You're not an arse. You're a wonderful man."

And she was falling in love with him.

A thrill shot through her. How could she not love him? He was the dearest, sweetest, sexiest man she'd ever met.

She studied his face as love continued to swell inside her. This wasn't at all like her two past relationships. She'd thrown herself into those affairs with a desperation born from her mother's rejection. She'd needed to feel loved.

This was different. She hadn't meant to fall for Ian. For the first time, it wasn't about her and her need to be loved. It was all about Ian and the love she felt for him. It had become painfully clear to her when the explosions had gone off and she'd feared him dead.

She touched the dimple on his chin. She couldn't run away from him. She'd be running from her own heart.

She showered and dressed and left Ian locked safely in the silver room. When she stepped out of the elevator onto the ground floor, she was immediately surprised by all the people. Real people. They were bustling up and down the hall. Most of them were wearing white lab coats. They all had Romatech name tags clipped on their pockets.

On the way to the MacKay security office, she called Carlos on her cell phone. "Guess what? Ian agreed to help us rescue Sabrina."

"That's great!" Carlos lowered his voice. "So tell me, menina, what did you do to convince him?"

She snorted. "I talked to him."

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"Come now, you must have been...friendly." "Carlos, we need to rescue Bri as soon as possible. Do you think we can do it tonight?" "Yes." His voice grew more serious. "I'll draw up some plans and come see you this afternoon." "Good." Toni hung up and strode into the security office. Howard was sitting behind the desk, his

bandaged leg propped on a chair. "Sorry I overslept." She sat beside him. "No problem." He waved at the monitors. "Nothing much going on. Day security is getting the

mess cleaned up in the parking lot."

Toni gazed at the monitors that showed the parking lot. A wrecker was hauling the burned car away. "What did the police say about last night?" Howard munched on a doughnut. "They're used to Romatech getting bombed. I told the officer in

charge that we've been targeted by a group of psycho fanatics who are opposed to the synthetic

manufacture of blood. Which is pretty much the truth, actually." Yeah, you couldn't get any more psycho than the Malcontents. Toni scanned the other monitors. One showed a bedroom with several twin beds. Phineas and Dougal were stretched out in their death-sleep. The silver room was displayed on another monitor. Oh great. Had Howard seen her touching Ian's face? "Doesn't day security think it's strange that we're in here, watching dead people sleep?"

"They have their own office. They keep out of our business." Howard pushed a pastry box in her direction. "Want a doughnut?"

"Sure." She selected a plain one. "So what happened while I was sleeping?" "Connor took Roman and his family and Radinka into hiding about three in the morning. No one knows where. It's better that way when jerks like Jedrek can pick through your brain."

"Jedrek's the guy who attacked Gregori?" "Yep." Howard finished his doughnut and licked his fingers. And Jedrek had been the one who'd tried to capture Ian. Toni sighed. She doubted they'd seen the

last of him.

Howard slid a paper across the desk. "This is the list of stuff to do for the Christmas Ball. Shanna and Radinka were kinda upset that they wouldn't be here to help, but I told them not to worry." Toni gulped down the last of her doughnut. The list was a mile long. "And all this has to be done

before tomorrow night?" "Don't worry. It's covered. I gave a copy to Todd Spencer, the VP of production during the day.

He knows what to do. Shanna gives a Christmas party every year, and then there's the Vamp conference and Gala Ball every spring." "Todd must be a mortal. Does he know about Vamps?" Howard shifted in his chair. "Todd knows a lot of things. He's already got some workers setting

up chairs and tables."

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"Number one is decorate the big Christmas tree," Toni read aloud from the list. "I don't recall seeing a tree."

"It'll be delivered around noon." Howard drank from his coffee cup.

Toni glanced down the list. Item number ten was confirm the band. A phone number was listed. "I'll go ahead and call this band."

Howard chuckled. "Wait till tonight. The High Voltage Vamps couldn't light a lightbulb right now."

"It's a vampire band?"

"Yeah, they play all the big Vamp parties and weddings." Howard stood and limped toward the door. "Come on. I'll show you the ballroom."

Just to the right of the main foyer, there were a number of meeting rooms with partitions that could be folded back like giant accordions. Toni was surprised by how large the ballroom was. The back wall was mostly windows that overlooked a garden. In front of the windows, Todd Spencer was overseeing a group of workmen who were erecting a stage. Howard introduced her.

"Glad to meet you," Todd yelled over the noise as he shook her hand. "It's about time MacKay hired a woman."

Toni looked around the huge room, bustling with workers. "How many people work here during the day?"

"Over two hundred now, divided into four departments," Todd explained. "Research, production, packaging, and shipping."

"Can I do anything to help?" Toni asked.

"You can help decorate, if you like." Todd showed her the plastic bins filled with ornaments and greenery.

Howard limped back to the security office to watch the monitors, and Toni spent a few hours spreading tablecloths and draping garland. She grabbed a quick lunch in the Romatech cafeteria and called Shady Oaks.

"I'd like to talk to Sabrina Vanderwerth in Ward Three." She recited the ID number.

"I'm afraid we can't allow that," the receptionist answered. "Her doctor has left strict instructions that she's not to receive any visitors or outside calls."

Toni winced. Uncle Joe had discovered their visit. "Can't we get a second opinion on that? Surely it helps the patient to know there are people who care about them."

"The decision is final." The receptionist hung up.

"Damn." She went back to the ballroom and discovered the fifteen-foot Christmas tree had arrived. She helped decorate for a few hours, then wandered down to the MacKay office. "How's it going?"

Howard motioned toward the monitors. "They're still dead, but they should be up in about twenty minutes."

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The phone on the desk buzzed, and Howard picked it up. "Yes?" He listened, then covered the receiver with his big, beefy hand. "It's the guard at the entrance gate. Someone's come to see you. Drives a black Jaguar."

"That must be Carlos." Toni headed toward the door. "Carlos who?" Howard asked her. "Carlos Panterra." "She confirmed his name," Howard told the guard on the phone. "Let him in." Toni hurried to the front door and stepped outside just as Carlos was parking his car. It was chilly

with the sun going down, so she rubbed her arms as she walked to his parking place.

He climbed from his car, looking like a spy all dressed in black. He motioned toward the blackened area surrounded with orange cones. "What happened there?" "Some vampires came by last night. Blew up a car and caused some injuries. Nothing major." Carlos glanced at the burned area, frowning. "Are you saying your vampires don't play well with

other vampires?"

"Mine are the good guys who drink from bottles. The bad ones are called Malcontents. They're the ones who attacked me and Sabrina. They hate the guys I work for." Carlos gave her a worried look. "Toni, you've stepped into a war." She shivered. "I know." "You're cold. Let's get inside." He opened his trunk and removed a laptop and a long roll of white

paper. "I brought the plans, so we can go over everything. We're doing it tonight, right?" "Yes." At least she hoped Ian would agree to do it tonight. Carlos motioned toward a duffel bag. "I packed some clothes and shoes for Sabrina. And some

rope and duct tape, just in case." "Good." She wondered once again if Carlos was more than an anthropology student. He shut the trunk and walked with her to the front door. "Are you safe here?" "I think so. The Vamps feel secure enough that they're having their big Christmas Ball tomorrow

night." "Partying in the face of danger? I think I like your Vamps." Carlos grinned as he opened the door.

He entered, and his smile immediately faded. He sniffed, and a wary look crossed his face. "Careful." He held out an arm to block her entrance. "What's wrong?" "Danger," he whispered.

Chapter Eighteen

"Carlos." Toni peeked around his broad shoulders. "There's nothing wrong."

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"Who is that?" he whispered, motioning with his head toward the large man at the far end of the foyer.

"That's my supervisor, Howard," Toni whispered back. Howard suddenly stiffened and turned to face them. His nostrils flared as his gaze riveted on Carlos. He limped forward. "You are Carlos?"

"Yes." Carlos watched Howard carefully.

"I'm Howard Barr. Can we have a word in private, please?" He motioned toward the security office. Carlos nodded and strode down the hall with him. What the hell? Toni inched forward so she could see the two men disappear into the security

office. Was Howard gay? Though she could have sworn their reaction to each other had been one

of suspicion, not attraction. She wandered down the hall toward the security office. Sheesh, she didn't dare barge in on them. Her attention was momentarily snagged by the mysterious locked room across from the nursery. She tried the doorknob, but no luck.

She waited awhile, then the security office door opened. Carlos exited with a perplexed look on his face.

"Are you okay?" she asked. "Yes." He strode toward her, carrying his laptop and roll of paper. "Something very strange just happened."

Toni winced. "You don't have to tell me." "Howard just offered me a job." "What? You would work as a day guard like me?" Carlos nodded. "I happen to have some...skills that are highly valued at MacKay Security and

Investigation." "Like martial arts?" "That, too." Carlos ran a hand through his long black hair. "I warned Howard that I've always

been a wanderer, but he said they had clients all over the world who needed guarding, and I could transfer from one place to another."

"Did he tell you about the Vamps?" Toni whispered. "No, he called them clients. I'm going to consider it. The pay is excellent, and I have a lot of expenses."

"That's true." Toni knew Carlos was supporting a few orphans in Brazil. It was one of the things that had first attracted her and Sabrina to him. He was also paying for his education and research trips to South America and Malaysia. "Howard's a nice boss. He used to be a defensive lineman for the NFL, but he's as sweet as a teddy bear."

Carlos gave her a sharp look. "Yeah, I noticed. So where can we discuss the plans for Sabrina?"

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Toni led him down the hall till she spotted a room labeled Conference. She peeked inside and

flipped on the light. "This will do." Carlos strode into the room and went straight to work, setting up his laptop, then spreading out the roll of white paper. "I drew the layout for Shady Oaks, so Ian will know exactly where to teleport." He tapped his finger on a rectangle labeled Ward Three.