28

Thomas rang the doorbell at Samson’s Nob Hill home and was surprised that it was opened almost instantly.

Samson, holding his nine-month-old baby daughter Isabelle in his arms, greeted him and motioned him to enter. “Hey Thomas, you’re just the man I need.”

“What’s happening?” Thomas asked and stepped inside, closing the door behind him.

“Maya and Delilah are upstairs weeding out Isabelle’s toys and clothes to give to Yvette.”

Thomas grinned. “Looks like they’ve got it in hand then. Leaves us to sit back and sip a glass or two.”

“I wish! They’ve roped me into it.” He waved toward the hallway. “I’ve gotta get something from the storage downstairs.”

“I’ll come with you.”

As they walked down the stairs into the basement where the garage, a storage area, a weapons arsenal, and a safe room were located, Thomas noticed Samson exchanging a brief look with Isabelle. Could they both sense his unease?

“Something wrong?” Samson asked him as he opened the storage room and switched on the light.

“Zane and I were following a lead on who’s purchased Al’s place. We found the lawyer who filed the papers for the company that bought Al out. He’s dead.”

Samson froze. “Foul play?”

“Somebody cut his tongue out. Looked like a message.”

Samson shuddered visibly. “Is the body still there?”

“Zane is sending a cleanup crew as we speak. But we found something else. An address for the people who are behind the company.”

“Let’s check them out.”

“I already did. They’re the same vampires who killed Sergio and his wife.”

“Let’s put a team together and go in to take them out. Good work finding them, Thomas.”

“I’m afraid it won’t be that easy. There’s something else.”

Samson raised an eyebrow in inquiry. “What is it?”

“We need to talk, in private.” Thomas motioned to Isabelle.

A frown spread over Isabelle’s face. Samson’s baby daughter seemed to understand way too much. Her telepathic skills also meant that if she heard something she wasn’t meant to hear, she would be able to communicate it to her mother. And what Thomas wanted to tell Samson was not meant for anybody else’s ears.

“Why don’t you grab the buggy here and bring it up? I’ll bring Isabelle back to Delilah.”

Samson didn’t wait for Thomas to acknowledge his request, and walked to the stairs.

Thomas took in a deep breath, inhaling the dusty air in the basement. He hoped he wasn’t making a big mistake, but he really didn’t think there was any other way. The power Xander had displayed had made him reconsider going it alone without Scanguards’ backing. He’d thought it would be easy to destroy Xander and his followers by himself, but his opponent had proven him wrong. He needed Scanguards’ help.

Thomas grabbed the buggy Samson had pointed out and carried it upstairs to the foyer where he set it down and waited. It took only moments until Samson descended from the upper floor again.

“My office,” he instructed and marched down the long corridor.

After Thomas entered his study and closed the door behind him, Samson turned to him, remaining standing.

“What’s bothering you?”

Thomas let his gaze wander over his old friend and boss. “As you and some of the others know, I have special mind control skills.”

Samson nodded. “You proved that when fighting your maker not too long ago. I wasn’t there, but Quinn told me everything.”

“I’m not the only one with those skills.”

Samson leaned back against his desk. “It’s clear your sire had the same skills.”

He acknowledged Samson’s words with a quick nod. “What I’ll tell you now can’t leave this room. Nobody can ever find out, not even Delilah. Can you promise me that?”

“This sounds serious.”

“It is. I need your word.”

“You have it.”

Thomas trailed a hand through his hair and felt the perspiration that had built on his nape.

He’d never told anybody about his dark power, and revealing this now was a risk. But he had to in order to keep everybody at Scanguards safe.

“My skill comes at a price. Every day and every night I fight against the evil that’s inside me.

It’s a dark power that fuels my skill, an evil power that makes me strong and able to destroy others with my thoughts alone. If I don’t continuously beat it back down, it will rise and demand its due.” He searched his friend’s wide eyes. “If I allow it, it will take over and turn me into a cruel, violent, heartless man. A man who will destroy those he loves.”