"Raj offered me a choice that night. He would heal me, wipe my memories of the rape and send me back to my parents. Or freedom. A chance to be myself. The choice was easy."

"Have you ever regretted—"

"Never,” Emelie said immediately. “Never. Raj might say differently. As good a leader as he is, as powerful a vampire, he never asked to be turned. But I love my life, and I love Raj. Not as a lover. We were never that. I have no interest in men, and Raj would never, ever force himself on anyone. You were way off base on that. But I love him as my master and my friend, my true creator. He's the best man I've ever met, Sarah, vampire or not, and I've lived a long time.” She leaned forward intently, forcing Sarah to look at her. “And I will not tolerate anyone causing him pain."

Sarah sighed. “I really fucked up, didn't I?"

Emelie barked out a laugh. “Yeah, you really did. And he's not happy you lied to him about who you are, either."

"I lie to everyone about that,” Sarah said dismissively. “No one knew before today."

"What about your friends?"

"No one,” Sarah repeated.

Emelie cocked her head as if listening, then took two steps and crouched in front of Sarah. “Listen to me. Raj is almost here. I've never seen him care about a human the way he does you. This whole thing tonight? He wouldn't have done this for anyone else. But if you want him—and you're a fool if you don't—you've got to make him believe he's not a monster."

"He's not!” Sarah said, outraged at the very suggestion.

"No, but he sometimes thinks he is, and you pretty much told him you think so too."

"I—” Sarah remembered the things she'd said to Raj and blew out a long sigh. “Damn."

"That about sums it up,” Emelie agreed. She stood and began walking toward the exit. By the time she reached the door, it was opening and Raj was striding through.

"My lord,” Emelie said, her voice full of affectionate respect.

"Em,” he said, not even glancing at Sarah. “When you send someone back for the car, tell him to check inside and around the house. I want to make sure we didn't miss anyone."

Sarah sank deeper into the cushions and stared at him, brooding. Granted, she'd been way out of line the other night, and if he ever gave her a chance, she'd be happy to apologize profusely, but he didn't have to be such a dick about it. She'd never told anyone her real name, never trusted anyone that much, not even Cyn, so why would he think she'd spill her guts to him? She tried to build up some anger toward him, but it wasn't working. Of course, it didn't help that he looked so damn delicious standing there in his tight jeans, his t-shirt straining over his broad chest beneath the leather jacket. She remembered the smell of that jacket, the soft leather against her cheek, the zipper rubbing . . . Ah gods. She twisted around on the chair, turning her back on him and slouching down so she didn't have to look at him. He was probably relieved not to have to look at her anymore, too. Not that he'd been looking anyway. Son of a bitch.

Raj knew Sarah was watching him, knew she was waiting for some acknowledgment from him. He saw her flinch when he told Em to have one of the guys check the house and felt just a bit guilty. She'd been through a lot today and the worse was yet to come. She'd probably lose her job over this, and it would be difficult, if not impossible, to get a new one with all the publicity. That asshole Blackwood would no doubt be happy to give her a job at his phony institute, but Raj knew she wouldn't even consider that. He wondered if she had enough money to get by for a while, and then wondered why he cared. It wasn't like she'd been honest with him about anything at all.

Besides, he knew if he gave an inch, if he let himself care even a little, that inch would become a mile and she'd be right back in his gut, her presence gnawing away at him until he was forced to touch her, and then . . . Well, there was no doubt where that would end. He shook his head, disgusted with himself. Jesus, he was nearly two hundred years old. Maybe he should grow a pair and stop acting like a Goddamned love-struck teenager. He heard a little hitch in Sarah's breath from behind the sofa and wondered if she was crying. Damn. He had to get out of this fucking warehouse.

He switched his gaze to Em and found her fighting a smile. Great. Just fucking great. “I think it's time we paid Blackwood a call,” he said gruffly. “He's got the resources to back something like this, and I'm curious why he was so set on keeping Sarah to himself."

"Plus he's kind of an asshole."

"That too.” One of the bay doors rolled open suddenly to admit the two SUVs carrying Angel and the decoy team who'd whisked her away. The doors closed behind them and they piled out of the trucks, their excited post-op chatter falling quiet when they saw Raj standing there. “Problems, Yos?"

"None, my lord."

"Good. Simon, I need to know where Blackwood is right now, then you, Danny and Cervantes are with me. Everyone else, check your gear and take the rest of the night off. We'll meet first thing tomorrow night and see where we stand."

Emelie leaned in close, speaking low enough that only he could hear. “I'm not well-suited to the role of babysitter, boss. Yossi and Angel are here. They can take care of—” She stopped at the look on Raj's face. “Yeah, yeah.” She gave a long-suffering sigh. “You were a lot easier to work with before—"

"Don't say it, Em,” he warned.

She shrugged. She didn't have to say the words. Sarah Stratton had gotten under his skin good, and if he didn't get away soon, he never would. It was probably too late already, but he wasn't ready to admit that, fool that he was.

Sarah heard Raj leave. Not so much that he was noisy as that his vamps all became very quiet when he was around. The bay door slammed down and the noise level rose as his minions went about their usual activities. Several were heading in her direction and she wiped her eyes quickly, not wanting anyone to see she'd been weeping like a big baby. She dried her face on her t-shirt and glanced around, trying to remember where she'd dropped her duffle bag. Or if she'd even brought it in from the car.

"Your bag's back by the sleeping quarters.” Sarah jumped at the sound of Em's voice right behind her. She sat up and looked around to find Raj's lieutenant regarding her with a carefully blank expression. “Why don't I show you where you'll be sleeping?” Em asked.

Sarah nodded her agreement. She had to think about what she was going to do next, but she was too tired right now. Tomorrow she would drive . . . Wait a minute. “My car?” she asked Em.

"We'll send one of the human guards over in the morning. He'll check out the house and pick up your car then. Why? You in a hurry to go somewhere?"

"No,” Sarah said quickly. “I just feel better, you know, having my own transportation."

Em gave her a skeptical look. “Sure. Well, it'll probably be back here by the time you wake up. Come on, I'll show you around. You'll probably be with us a few days either way."

Don't count on it, Sarah thought privately. She'd be gone way before that.

Chapter Thirty-five

Raj and his team arrived well after midnight. It was a sprawling house on a quiet street full of sprawling houses. This one was a two-story redwood spread out over a lush two acres with a turquoise pool glimmering in the party lights. A big white tent had been set up and crowds of partygoers mingled inside and out, wearing full black tie regalia.

"This it, Simon?” Raj asked.

"Yep. He's still there. Several people are Tweeting from the party.

"Wait here. Danny, Cervantes . . . let's go."

Raj paused on the front steps, scanning the partygoers’ minds, looking for Blackwood. He winced at the overload of anger, jealousy and greed he associated with a gathering of this sort, but eventually zeroed in on the HR founder and planted a suggestion that would take him into the house and away from the crowds. Telepathy was Raj's particular strength—but the fewer humans he had to deal with the better.

"No need to knock,” he said, walking up to the door. “Mr. Blackwood is about to let us in."

True to his prediction, the door opened and Blackwood stood there, staring at them in confusion. “Gregor?” he asked. “What—” His eyes widened as he took in the two bulky vampires flanking Raj.

"Let's talk, Blackwood,” Raj said pleasantly.

"Really, I don't think—"

"No,” Raj commented. “You don't, do you? Well, maybe it's time you started. There must be someplace in this monstrosity we can speak undisturbed?” He looked around coolly.

"Yes,” Blackwood said, suddenly becoming aware of the potential embarrassment. “Of course. This way."

He led them down a hall and into a split-level library. Danny and Cervantes shut the double doors and stood blocking the exit, while Raj crossed to stand in front of the big desk Blackwood had interposed between them, as if it would do him any good. The HR founder had rediscovered his testicles on the journey to the library and was now puffed full of righteous anger. “I'd like to know the meaning of this, Gregor. The mayor and the police commissioner are among the guests here tonight, so don't think you can—"

"Silence,” Raj said quietly. Blackwood's voice stopped mid-sentence, his face reddening with effort as he struggled against Raj's command. The full import of what was happening seemed to hit him finally, and he sank into the leather desk chair, sweat popping out on his suddenly pale face.

"I was going to do this the nice way, Blackwood,” Raj said. “But seeing you here at this big party in your fancy tuxedo while Sarah Stratton is hiding out and wondering where she'll run to next . . . I find myself in the mood to inflict some pain. So . . . tag, Blackwood. You're it."

Raj eyed the puddle of quivering humanity dispassionately and hoped the stains on the rug would come out. It was a very nice rug, Afghani, he thought and probably expensive. Blackwood twitched, moaning when Raj toed him experimentally with one boot. The trip out here hadn't been a total waste. He'd taken some personal pleasure in causing the HR founder pain, especially after what he'd found in the man's narcissistic mind. He wasn't the one behind the kidnappings and didn't know anymore about it than what the newspapers could tell him. The entire affair had meant nothing more to him than a chance to curry favor with William Cowens. Finding Sarah mixed up in it had been pure chance, like finding a diamond lying on the street. Mostly, he disliked her and was glad for her troubles after the way she'd treated him at their lunch meeting. This last had enraged Raj so much he'd almost killed the man. But he hadn't wanted anyone to see a connection between Sarah's uncovering and Blackwood's sudden death.