“Lena, I don’t know—”
“Who is Carmen?” Baojia asked, keeping his distance from the distraught child.
“My sister!” she sobbed. “Carmen is my sister!”
Father Andrade said, “Both Lena and Carmen have been in my church since their parents died. They support themselves.” He patted her shoulder. “They are very hard workers. Carmen went to Bar El Ruso to take a job. We both told her it was a bad idea, but she ignored us. She’s been working there for two months now. She keeps to herself and hasn’t had any problems, but Lena has been checking on her every night. Every night, they meet each other. To be safe.”
“But she wasn’t there. I snuck in the club. The other girls said she didn’t show up tonight, but I know she went to work.” The girl was sobbing, fat tears running down her face.
“Has the truck been there?”
“I don’t see it.”
Carwyn asked, “What truck?”
“There is a truck that shows up sometimes,” Father Andrade explained. “It doesn’t deliver anything, just sits outside the club for a time, then is gone again. There are no markings on it.”
Baojia and Carwyn exchanged worried looks.
“How long?” Baojia asked. “How long does the truck stay behind the club before it leaves?”
“Sometimes one or two nights. Never more than that.”
“We need you to call us, Father.” Baojia stepped closer. “As soon as a truck shows up, you will call this number. Do you understand?”
“Yes.” The old priest nodded, gathering the crying girl under his stooped shoulder. “I can do that.”
If there was a delivery truck behind Ivan’s club, then another hunt was likely only two or three nights away.
“We have to get back to Los Angeles,” Carwyn said.
Baojia headed for the car. A truck could show up even as they left the city. Could they make it out to Ivan’s hunting grounds in time?
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Natalie woke in the dark room to the feel of soft lips against her neck and steady arms turning her over in bed. She was drawn to a hard, familiar chest and the smell of the ocean. Her eyes were still closed and part of her wondered whether she was still dreaming.
“Natalie?”
“Hmm?” she murmured as she burrowed toward his scent. The bed was warm and her arms felt too heavy for her body.
“I’m back.”
“Hey.” Her eyes fluttered open. “What time is it?”
Baojia kissed her forehead. “Don’t wake up. It’s almost dawn. Sleep more. I’m going to rest “Ho soon, too.”
“Okay.” She sighed and closed her eyes again, feeling herself drift as she was tucked into his chest. “Goodnight. Or… day. Whatever.”
She felt him playing with a lock of her hair, twisting it around his finger as he liked to do. His voice came as if in a dream.
“If I were human… would you want to marry me? Have children with me?”
Was he serious? She’d never met anyone more devoted to family, even one that didn’t appreciate him.
“Course, silly.” She sighed and snuggled closer. “You’d be an amazing father.”
The heavy press of sleep bore down on her, and she couldn’t seem to fight it off. Baojia’s hands ran up and down her arms, soothing her. Protecting… always protecting. Natalie hadn’t felt so safe or loved since her world came crashing down when her mother died. It didn’t matter if he gave her the words or not—she’d known it after the first time they’d made love—he’d give her everything else.
When she woke again, it was still dark, but the clock on the phone by her bed told her it was four in the afternoon. She blinked and untangled herself from Baojia’s limp arms. His complete stillness no longer seemed inhuman or frightening. It was just how he slept. The solid weight of him behind her was comforting, not strange. Again, she shook her head at how quickly and drastically her life had changed. It was only a matter of weeks, but everything she had planned for the future had been thrown in the air by the startling, unexpected man who lay before her.
Would you want to marry me? Have children with me?
Had she been dreaming? She really didn’t know. Natalie showered and dressed, locking the room carefully behind her before she walked upstairs. She stopped by the kitchen and made a sandwich before following the low voices into the den. Ben was there, along with Carwyn. The vampire looked groggy, but was still fairly awake. She smiled and plopped down next to him.
“Hey, stranger.”
He grinned. They’d flirted shamelessly the few times they’d met when Beatrice was in school, but Natalie had known it was just for fun.
“If it isn’t my other favorite redhead.” He tugged on her hair. “How are you, Nat?”
“Good. Feeling a little more rested finally.” She took a bite of her sandwich. “You were holding out on me, mister. A priest?”
His low laugh rumbled across the room. “As if that was the worst of it. It was up to B to decide who knew what. Don’t blame me. Is your man still sleeping? He’s a young one, eh?”
“Young? Riiiight. How are you awake?”
Ben piped up. “Because he’s old. Really, really old.”
“I can still beat your ass at Mario Kart, boy.” But Carwyn winked at her. “It’s true though. Brigid’s a young one, too. She has to have a full day’s rest.”