She was leaving Gregori. After he nearly died to save your life. She pushed that thought aside.

He'd also screwed with her mind. Erased her memory. She might not have gone on the mission if she'd found something useful in his blood. When she thought about all they'd suffered through - Gregori's wounds and Howard's torture - more tears ran down her cheeks.

He refused to give her his blood. Refused to trust her. Refused to help her mother.

But he loves you. You love him. He almost died to save your life.

No. She wouldn't think about that. She couldn't.

He might have saved her life.

But he'd broken her heart.

Chapter Thirty

Gregori paced in his office at Romatech. Desperate times called for desperate measures. And he was desperate.

Time for Plan C.

He squeezed a stress ball. He'd devised the plans on the way back to New York. There'd been several layovers, while he, Angus, and Robby had waited for the sun to set at the next destination. He'd had plenty of time to figure out how to get Abby back. Angus and Robby had offered their advice - beg and grovel - but he hoped to avoid that. After all, he'd saved her life. He deserved some respect, dammit.

But it wasn't going well. Plan A had been a miserable failure. He'd based it on the premise that their squabble had been unimportant in the big scheme of things. They loved each other, so any minor disappointments could be easily smoothed over.

He called to see if she'd arrived home safely. She wouldn't pick up his calls. He left cheerful messages and sent flowers to her at the White House. Sent candy to her office. Sent more flowers and a fruit basket to her mother's room at the hospital. Left more cheerful messages with assurances that he loved her and had every confidence they could weather this minor storm.

He got an inkling that it wasn't working when the flowers were returned ground into mulch.

Undeterred, he moved swiftly on to Plan B - holding her plants hostage until she agreed to meet him. He sent more text messages, reminding her that her Tiger Paw plants were at Romatech. He was taking good care of them. And she could come pick them up some evening. Or he could deliver them to her personally at her lab.

No response.

He'd felt sure Plan B would work. Didn't she want the damned plants? Didn't she want to help her mother? He saw on the news that the first lady was failing fast.

Abigail felt betrayed. He realized that now. And his only hope at winning her back was Plan C.

He dropped the stress ball on his desk, picked up the small package he'd prepared for her, and slipped it inside a coat pocket. He'd waited till it was three in the morning, assuming the hospital would be quiet and free from visitors.

"Good luck," he murmured to himself, and teleported to Belinda Tucker's hospital room.

It was dark, except for the lights of the monitor screens. The first lady lay in her bed asleep, her face pale.

Across the private room, he saw Abigail sleeping on a couch. Dark circles smudged her eyes, and her nose looked red as if she'd been crying too much.

"I'm sorry, Abby," he whispered.

In the corner, a young man was sprawled on an easy chair, also sleeping. Gregori recognized him as Abby's brother, Lincoln.

Sleep. He directed a mental command at both Abby and her brother. He couldn't afford to have them wake up until Plan C was fully implemented.

The door opened and a male nurse walked in. He was a young man, dressed in white, with blond curly hair. He didn't look alarmed at the sight of Gregori.

He smiled. "How may I help you?"

Gregori shot a spurt of mind control at him, but wasn't sure he was getting through. "I want to give blood to her." He motioned to Belinda. "A direct transfusion. My blood type is the same as hers." He'd been drinking nothing but Type O for several nights to make sure he matched up.

The nurse inclined his head. "I will do as you ask."

"Good." He must have the nurse under his control after all. He took off his coat and laid it on the coffee table close to Abigail.

The nurse inserted a needle into Belinda's left arm, since her right arm was connected to an IV. "Bring a chair over here."

Gregori carried a lightweight plastic chair over to the other side of the bed. He sat and rolled up his sleeve.

The nurse rubbed alcohol on the crook of his elbow, then inserted a needle. Soon, blood was streaming through a tube into Belinda.

After about ten minutes, her face took on some color. She opened her eyes, saw the nurse, and smiled. "You came back."

"Yes." The nurse nodded, smiling back at her. "And someone else has come to help you."

Her eyes widened when she noticed Gregori. "What are you doing?"

"Trying to help."

Her gaze shifted to the tube inserted in her arm. "You're giving me vampire blood?" She stiffened. "I won't become a vampire, will I?"

"No," Gregori assured her. "It won't harm you in any way."

"You will be fine," the nurse said softly. "Trust me."

"I do," she replied.

The nurse smiled and motioned toward Gregori. "You can trust him, too."

Belinda gave him a curious look.

"This will be enough." The nurse disconnected them, then smoothed a bandage over Belinda's puncture. He stuck another bandage on Gregori's arm.

"Thank you." Gregori rolled down his sleeve.

Belinda looked over at Abigail asleep on the couch, then turned back to Gregori. "You broke her heart."

"I know. I'm . . . trying to mend it."

"By mending me?" She smiled. "I do feel much better."

"I'm glad." He sighed. "I should have helped you earlier. I'm sorry."

"Abby told me you were trying to protect your people, that you feared they would be hunted down for their blood."

He nodded. "I was afraid to trust her."

"I can understand that. I know from being close to my husband that it can be a heavy burden when the safety of so many people depends on your decisions. You must have felt torn between two worlds."

"Abigail is my world. I know that now." He glanced at her on the couch. "I would do anything for her."

Belinda took a deep breath and released it slowly. "I have to admit I wasn't thrilled when I realized she was in love with you. But the more she talked about you, the more I understood why she fell for you."

He felt a surge of hope. "She speaks well of me?"

Belinda smiled. "On and off. She's been very angry, but as much as she fusses about you, she defends you at the same time. She said you saved her life. You stepped in front of her and took two daggers in the back that were meant for her."

Gregori nodded. "I love her."

Belinda reached over and patted his hand. "If you can win her back, you will have my blessing."

"Thank you." He squeezed her hand, then stood. "I have something for Abby. Can you make sure she gets it?" He removed the package from his coat pocket and handed it to Belinda.

"Thank you, Gregori. Thank you for bringing her home safely."

He nodded. "Good night." He put on his coat and noticed the nurse was still there, standing by the door. "Thank you for your help." He started to release him from mind control, then realized it wasn't there.

The nurse inclined his head. "God be with you."

"You too." He glanced at the nurse's name tag. Buniel. He stepped back, inhaling sharply. "You - you - "

Buniel's eyes twinkled with humor. "Yes?"

"You're Marielle's friend. She told us about you." Gregori ran a hand through his hair. "Shit - I mean, sorry." Damn, he'd just cursed in front of an angel. "Aren't you a healing angel?"

"A Healer, yes."

"Well . . . darn." He motioned toward Belinda, who had fallen asleep. "Why haven't you healed her? She was close to death when I got here."

Buniel arched a brow. "I am aware of her condition. I've been keeping her alive."

"But you could have healed her. And then I wouldn't have needed to give my blood."

"But you did need to give it. You needed to learn how to trust." The angel motioned to Abigail. "And she needs to learn how to forgive. It is better this way, don't you think?"

"Well . . . maybe." Gregori looked at Abigail. "You mean she'll forgive me now?" He glanced back at the angel, but he was gone.

Gregori sighed. "Say hello to Father Andrew for me."

Abigail woke at the sound of her mother calling her.

"Mom?" She scrambled off the couch and rushed to the hospital bed. "What's wrong? Shall I call for the nurse? Is it time for more medication?" She glanced at her watch. It was four in the morning.

"Abby, look at me."

She blinked when she realized her mother was sitting up. And her cheeks were rosy. "Mom, what happened?"

Belinda's eyes twinkled. "An angel came to see me."

Oh God, her mom was hallucinating. "It's probably the medication."

"The angel told me everything would be all right, and then, your Gregori came."

"He's not my Gregori, Mom. I don't want to ever see him again."

"But he saw you, dear. He told me he loved you and would do anything for you. And he gave me some of his blood."

"What?" Abigail's heart lurched.

Belinda touched the bandage on her arm. "I feel so much better."

Abigail ripped off the bandage and saw the puncture mark on her mother's arm. "When did this happen?"

"When the angel gave me a transfusion from Gregori. He was such a handsome man. The angel, not Gregori. Although Gregori is quite handsome, too."

"Gregori was here?"

"Yes. With an angel. He told me his name is Buniel."

Abigail shook her head. She didn't know what to make of this, but one thing was for sure, her mother was looking a hundred percent better. "We'll have to run some tests."

"Later." Belinda waved a dismissive hand. "What's important now is that you find your Gregori before the sun rises. He loves you very much."

"Mom - "

"And he left this for you." Belinda pulled a package out from under her blanket. "It's small. I think it might be an engagement ring."

"Oh my God." This was proof that Gregori had really been here. Her name was scrawled on the package in his handwriting.

"Well, open it! I want to see if it's a ring."

"Mom, are you saying you would approve of me and Gregori?"

"Sweetie, he saved your life. I know that he's . . . different, but he's a good man. He gave us his word that he would protect you on your trip, and he nearly died to keep his word. You don't let a man like that get away."

"He - he messed with my mind."

Belinda snorted. "All men mess with our minds, one way or another. But Gregori is a good man. Even the angel said we should trust him. Will you please open the package?"

"Oh, right." She ripped open one end and pulled out the contents. Underneath a layer of thermal wrap, she found a vial of blood. It was labeled "Gregori Holstein."

Belinda wrinkled her nose. "He gave you blood? That's not very romantic."

Tears came to her eyes. "Oh, it is. It means he trusts me."

"Well, you'd better hurry up and meet him."

Abigail blinked away her tears. "Yes, Mother. Thank you."

She dropped the vial of blood inside her handbag and retrieved her cell phone. After a moment's hesitation, she punched in the number for Angus.

"Miss Tucker?" he answered. "What can I do for you?"

"Could you possibly teleport me to Romatech?"

In one minute she was standing by the side entrance to Romatech. Angus swiped his card, then opened the door for her.

"Thank you." She walked inside.

"Any time, lass." He walked beside her, his kilt swishing around his knees. "I gather Plan C worked."

"Excuse me?"

He chuckled. "Go easy on the lad. He's been lost without you." He opened the door to the security office and went inside.

She took out her phone and sent Gregori a text message. I would like to pick up my plants. I'll meet you in the foyer at Romatech.

A message came instantly back. When?

She grinned and texted back. About ten seconds.

She stepped into the foyer, and in about five seconds, Gregori zoomed in at vampire speed.

He halted abruptly. "Hello."

"Hello." She bit her lip to keep from laughing. He looked so darned nervous. "I came to get my plants."

"Of course. This way."

She walked beside him down a hall.

"How have you been?" he asked.

She shrugged. "Busy."

He nodded and slanted a look her way. "How is your mother?"

"Not bad. She seems a bit better."

"Oh." He frowned. "That's good." He opened a door. "Your plants are in here."

She walked in and looked around. "What a beautiful lab."

"It's yours."

"What?" She spun to face him.

"It's yours, if you want it. Roman wants to hire you. And you can work on whatever you like."

"Like this?" She removed his vial of blood from her handbag.

"Yes." He shifted his weight. "But that is yours to keep, no matter where you work. I trust you."