"Are you sure this is where she is?"
The private detective Chambliss had hired shook his head as they sat in the limousine, staring at the huge mansion with its imposing dark windows. "My source says that the cameraman, Leon Antonidas, bought some maternity clothes and had them delivered here."
"That doesn't necessarily mean that she's here."
The detective tossed a manila folder into his lap and Chambliss extracted a sheaf of photos. The subjects were enjoying a picnic on the side of the mansion, feeding each other what looked like salmon and crackers. The blood rushed to his face as he gazed at Mary accepting a mouthful from the cameraman, her joy evident.
Bitch.
"These were taken earlier today. She's so big that it's hard to miss her."
Chambliss nodded, tucking the photos back into the envelope. He extracted an envelope from her breast pocket and handed it to the man. "Thanks for your help, Rich."
The man grinned, chewing on the unlit cigar that perched at the corner of his mouth. "Never a problem for you, Mayor."
The detective left the car and scuttled away in his own vehicle. Chambliss leaned forward and knocked lightly on the separating glass, watching as it hissed downward. "She's inside. Take her alive."
* * * * *
Thorne crouched on the corner of the roof, watching Sammi and Leon filming a story down below and his nerves were buzzing and tingling with the anticipation of the arrival of the 'Crimson King'. He knew something was going to happen because his hackles had been on end since the filming started and that always signaled a problem. And he never ignored his hackles.
A thick wad of clouds coasted across the dark sky, partially obscuring the half moon and plunging the area into temporary gloom and bathing Sammi in nothing but the harsh camera's light. He saw something out of the corner of his eye but when he whirled around, nothing occupied the roof save himself. The longer he stared, the more uneasy he felt. Something was here.
Something ...
The first blow took him by complete surprise. A solid fist connected with the side of his head, throwing him off-balance and propelling him sideways. Before he could adequately react, he received another strike, this time to the stomach, driving the breath from his lungs and leaving him gasping, crawling toward the parapet. When he turned to face his assailant, the moonlight-spotted roof was empty.
What the hell?
Thorne stood, rotating his jaw joint and wiping his slightly bleeding nose. He glanced over the side and saw that Sammi and Leon had wrapped the story. Just as he turned, a heavy body bowled him over the side and only by his quick wits did he manage to catch himself and swoop to a standing position. His attacker landed across from him, eyes twin flames, boring into him.
"Jacob?" Jacob Whiting stretched upward, his black cloak swirling in the breeze. The front of his button-down shirt was black with coagulating blood and his chin was slick with the dark liquid. "We thought you were dead."
"That was the idea." The being known as Jacob Whiting rasped, throwing its head back and laughing hysterically. In that instant, Thorne knew that the news director was in the throes of bloodlust. "I ate the rest of the roast, by the way. The extra bloody one. Pieter cooks as good as he fucks."
"He thinks you're dead, Jacob. He was crying."
"Crying? That old queen?" He laughed again, licking his lips and enjoying the taste of the clumpy blood. "What the fuck would he be crying about? We only met yesterday."
"Something happened between the two of you last night and you know it. Even I felt it. You and Pieter had a connection in the midst of your fucking. Something that transcended the sex. Why are you so quick to dismiss it?"
"There was nothing there. It was just fucking. Good, hard, hot fucking. Him nutting in my mouth or in my ass. That's all it was."
"Sounds like you're trying to convince yourself."
"Fuck you, Halsbury. I don't need to convince myself because I don't need anyone."
"Everyone needs someone, Jacob."
"Not me."
Thorne watched as Jacob started circling him, his fangs bared and glistening. "Why not you, Jacob?" He said softly. Jacob charged him, shoving him backwards into the brick-and-cement parapet. Chunks of masonry rained down on the parking lot below, just missing Sammi and Leon. Thorne grimaced as he stood, unable to dodge the next belt that sent him somersaulting across the rooftop.
"I don't need anyone." Jacob growled, advancing on Thorne and tossing large pieces of brick aside. "Now shut the fuck up and die."
His fist caught him squarely in the stomach, catapulting him over the edge. Tentacles of pain snaked through him and he crashed onto the ground below, six stories down, his back and legs screaming. Thorne rolled to his knees, only to find himself flying through the air, compliments of Jacob's foot. The side of the building buckled and sparkling shards of glass rained onto his back.
Sammi crept from her hiding spot in the shadows, her eyes focusing on the man fighting Thorne. "Jake? Is that you?"
"Get back, Sammi! He's dangerous!"
Jacob picked up Thorne as if he was a toy and tossed him onto the roof of a parked sedan. The windshield fractured, splintering under his weight and Thorne groaned, blood trickling from a corner of his mouth.
"Jake, what are you doing? Why are you fighting with Thorne?" She strode forward, moving closer to Jacob.
"Don't you get it, Sammi?" Thorne wheezed, painfully rolling onto his feet. "Jacob is the 'Crimson King'."
"What?" She couldn't help but laugh. "Jacob's the King? Oh, that's funny!"
"Quit laughing." Jacob snarled, turning his back on a limping Thorne. "I
am
the 'Crimson King'."
"Oh, give it up, Jake. You're no more the King than I am. Now quit fighting and explain why you did that this morning."
"Sammi ... " Thorne gasped, standing behind him.
"Pieter's worried sick about you. He thinks you're dead!" Sammi was too close when she realized that Thorne had been telling the truth. The elongated canines couldn't be ignored. Jacob was definitely a vampire. That in itself was a shock. She sensed great power emanating from him and the clumped blood on his shirt nearly made her vomit. "Jacob?"
His hand easily enclosed her bird-like neck and he lifted her from the ground, his flaming eyes locked onto hers. "I'm all powerful, Sammi. I don't need anyone."
"Oh, thank God you're still here!" Jacob released Sammi at the sound of Pieter's voice. The older man landed near Thorne, news on his lips until his eyes fell upon Jacob. "Jacob?"
"What's wrong, Pieter?"
"Chambliss has Mary."
"What?" Leon shrieked, nearly falling out of the van. "How did that happen?"
