Blood Wager (Blood Destiny 1)

"I intend to go to the bookstore when I get a little time," I said. "I haven't gotten anything good to read in weeks."

"What do you read?" he asked. Gavin's beautiful, deep brown eyes showed the first signs of interest since I'd met him.

"All sorts of things. Politics, history, humor, fiction, mystery, science fiction, even a little religion and new age from time to time." I also intended to visit Don's grave but I wasn't about to divulge that information. I might have to be careful, too. Ed and Serge could have it staked out, no pun intended, which gave me a new set of worries. What about crosses, stakes, holy water and churches? Damn. Where was that f**king manual? The only two vampires I'd recognize for sure were the ones I was doing my best to stay away from. Maybe there were others out there, but would they help me if I found out whom they were, or had Serge and Ed ruined everything for me? I had no way of knowing. Gavin turned away, lost in his thoughts just as I was.

I followed the van in front of me as we caravanned to Nichols hills, pulling through yet another gated wall and parking near an enormous house. Many were the times I'd driven through Nichols Hills, just to look at the grand mansions lining the streets. The grounds around this one weren't as expansive as the house in Denton, so I'd have a shorter walk every night. Gavin and I were given the two-bed apartment over the four-car garage and moved our things in. Once upon a time, I'd have huffed and puffed, lugging my belongings up those stairs. Now I could run up them carrying a Mini Cooper if I wanted. Not that it would fit through the door or anything.

"Which bedroom do you want?" Gavin asked, dumping his luggage in the entryway.

"I don't care," I said, and I didn't. It wasn't like I'd spend much time awake in it anyway.

"They both have a bath and are nearly the same size, so I'll take the one closest to the door," Gavin decided for both of us.

"Good enough," I made an expansive gesture with my arms and then added, "While I realize that many women might have a tape measure out, calculating the square footage of both just to make sure they got the better deal, well, I truly do not care." I picked up my bags and carried them into the second bedroom down the hall. Gavin's laugh followed me the entire way.

After hanging my small wardrobe inside the walk-in closet and setting out my three pairs of shoes, I sighed and decided I really needed to go shoe shopping. The one pair of dress shoes that Davis had bought for me was fine, but I needed other things. The other two pairs were athletic shoes, one pair white, one black, but I was wearing them out quickly, walking all night. I knew where the New Balance store was in Edmond, not far from the Nichols Hills mansion. Maybe I could borrow a van and drive there. Surely, vampires didn't hang around New Balance stores. There was also a mall not far away, where other shoes could be purchased. I had two paychecks already that I hadn't cashed, so finding a bank with late hours was a necessity. There were at least two branches in town that stayed open until eight, I'd just have to find the right day to do it. No way was I opening a checking account; that would surely be a catastrophe of epic proportions.

* * *

"Honored One," the e-mail read, "we are now in Oklahoma City. Secondary has decided to work from here. Am keeping primary under observation. Primary seems completely ignorant, which is most unfortunate. I cannot fault her in her eating habits, however. She is quite careful in that respect. Have learned that secondary is nearing 60% completion. Will keep you advised.

G."

Wlodek sighed as he read the message. The girl was an unfortunate victim; he'd already questioned Sergio and Edward. He was only waiting until the situation was resolved and she was properly disposed of before he brought the two before the Council for final questioning and sentencing. Gavin would be present for that and would give his views on the entire affair before final decisions were made. Only Nyles Abernathy, Edward's sire, was still alive. Sergio's had walked into the sun nearly a hundred years before. Nyles would be notified at the proper time and Edward and Sergio's assets would be liquidated and added to the Council's coffers. That was standard procedure when a vampire was sentenced as a rogue.

* * *

Gavin knew Lissa had gone out to feed. He felt a bit of guilt over that; he had plenty of blood stocked inside his small refrigerator while she was forced to find a donor. Gavin used the extra time to do research and the more online reports he read on her disappearance, the greater his rage grew. He should never have allowed Edward and Sergio to leave intact. He should have killed them where they stood. Wlodek must deal with the situation, now. Gavin sighed and shut his laptop when he heard Lissa's steps on the stairs.

* * *

Davis asked Gavin and me to come into the house once we were on duty. Phil and Glen were up still, both of them wearing grim expressions. "Winkler is in his bedroom," James whispered as we walked inside the large kitchen.

"We received death threats today from an unidentified source," Glen said right away. "We came here at the right time; part of the wall around the house in Denton was blasted down and then two letters were delivered, one saying that if Winkler completes the software program and offers it for sale, they'll kill him."

"What does the other one say?" I asked.

"The other one says he's a dead man," Phil answered my question. "They're not waiting. They want him dead now."

"Crime families or terrorists?" I asked. "I know, nobody's told me what it is he's working on and truthfully I can't say I want to know, but even I've figured out it must be important. And since he's in the security business, it has to be bad for them, doesn't it?"

"She's smarter than she looks," Phil elbowed Glen.

"Thanks. Don't think I haven't heard every dumb blonde joke in the book, either," I muttered sarcastically.

James snorted and I felt like elbowing him. Yeah. I got offended every time somebody at the courthouse decided to tell me, yet again, the latest dumb blonde joke. Plenty of dumb blondes started out with dark hair and a bottle of peroxide. Davis must have noticed my anger and discomfort. "They were only teasing, Lissa."

"Now might not be a good time for it," I grumbled.

"Settle down," Gavin placed a hand on my arm. I caught myself before I hissed at him, jerking my arm out of his grasp instead.

Phil cleared his throat. "We have to be proactive about this," he said. "Winkler wants to wire the fence with extra monitors and sensors so a crew is coming up from Dallas to do that. They'll be here for three days and additional security is coming up as well. We also asked for a few handpicked guards that will help us out with this. Bear in mind if you see, hear or suspect anything or anyone, get on the phone right away." He lifted a box from the granite island and tossed it to me. "Winkler said you should start using this immediately." The box held a cell phone and a charger. I wasn't about to say thanks.