Read Online 9781936653027BorntobeWildArsuaga by Cynthia Arsuaga - Free Book Online
Authors: Cynthia Arsuaga
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know, probably amassing a fortune over the years. She wasn’t jealous ¾ well , maybe
just a scant ¾ of what he possessed. Longevity didn’t explain it all. Sacrifice and good business
decisions entered the picture somewhere along the way. Still, he drank blood to
survive. Not exactly a total life of luxury in her opinion.
Maybe he didn’t have anything worthy of her
jealousy, after all.
Turning to go inside, a tripod with a camera
attached and set up on the far end of the balcony caught her eye. She walked
over to inspect it. Odd. Why would a camera be here exposed to the
elements?
Alex peered through the viewfinder. The horizon? Nothing there, only ocean and
sky. Darkness. As she extended her index finger to press the shutter, a hand covered hers and
stopped the movement from pressing the button.
“Do you always mess with other people’s belongings
without asking first?” He stood in front of the camera gripping her hand.
His touch startled her. “Where did you come from?
You scared me.”
“ This is my home and know everything happening. You had no business touching personal items without
permission.”
“Cool your jets. I didn’t mess anything up. I only
peeked through the viewfinder.” She held a hand over her chest for a few
seconds. “You know, you could announce your presence when you come back in a
room and not scare the shit out of me. You could give me a heart attack.”
“Unlikely. You’re healthy.” He paused for a
second, gazing intensely into her eyes. “Let’s go in. The computer is on.”
“Great, let’s get to work.”
He led her back through the living room and down
the hallway to the study. The room was small, although large enough to include
the necessary equipment and furniture for a functional workspace ¾ a desk, chair, credenza, and two
bookcases. There were two upholstered chairs in front of the desk which Stefan
moved one around to the backside for her to sit and view the computer. The only
light in the room came from the monitor screen.
“Where do you wish to begin?” he asked.
“Is there a way to cross-reference any of the
Masters of the Families in the Syndicate with their outside business
connections?”
“I’ll call up the Masters and the businesses they
run. I’m not sure if we can source any other businesses they manage.”
“Let’s see the dealings. I’ll run them against any
list we keep.”
“ Who’s we?”
“The Bounty Hunters Society. We keep an up-to-date data base of known vamps with their histories, locations,
and business dealings. Maybe I’ll do a split screen and check them
simultaneously to save us some time.”
Stefan gave her a fierce squint and fell back in
his chair with his arms crossed over his chest.
“What? You think we don’t watch you vamps and
network, Stefan? How do you think we do our job so well? You never figured out
our secrets before now?”
“I didn’t think you were…sophisticated, no.”
“Welcome to the world of technology. Now show me
you what you have. I don’t have the entire night you know.”
“Are you always this demanding?”
“No. I’m anxious about finding out if our
suspicions are right. I’m kidding about the entire night thing. I can stay
awake just as long as you can.”
“Are you challenging me prinţesa ?”
“Me? Of course not. Now, how about the list?” But if I were, I’d beat you,
for sure.
They faced off with similar taunting grins.
With a few keyed entries on the keyboard, a list
of vamps and their respective businesses came up on the monitor. Two hours
later and faintly blurry-eyed, Alex stretched her arms over her head and stood.
“Do you have anything to eat? I’m just a bit
hungry and thirsty. This late night work has thrown my diet out of whack.”
“No, I don’t entertain humans here and have no
need for your kind of food. Sorry.”
“Great. Not even any soda or coffee?”
He laughed. “Alexandra? I’m a vampire, why would I
have soda or
just a scant ¾ of what he possessed. Longevity didn’t explain it all. Sacrifice and good business
decisions entered the picture somewhere along the way. Still, he drank blood to
survive. Not exactly a total life of luxury in her opinion.
Maybe he didn’t have anything worthy of her
jealousy, after all.
Turning to go inside, a tripod with a camera
attached and set up on the far end of the balcony caught her eye. She walked
over to inspect it. Odd. Why would a camera be here exposed to the
elements?
Alex peered through the viewfinder. The horizon? Nothing there, only ocean and
sky. Darkness. As she extended her index finger to press the shutter, a hand covered hers and
stopped the movement from pressing the button.
“Do you always mess with other people’s belongings
without asking first?” He stood in front of the camera gripping her hand.
His touch startled her. “Where did you come from?
You scared me.”
“ This is my home and know everything happening. You had no business touching personal items without
permission.”
“Cool your jets. I didn’t mess anything up. I only
peeked through the viewfinder.” She held a hand over her chest for a few
seconds. “You know, you could announce your presence when you come back in a
room and not scare the shit out of me. You could give me a heart attack.”
“Unlikely. You’re healthy.” He paused for a
second, gazing intensely into her eyes. “Let’s go in. The computer is on.”
“Great, let’s get to work.”
He led her back through the living room and down
the hallway to the study. The room was small, although large enough to include
the necessary equipment and furniture for a functional workspace ¾ a desk, chair, credenza, and two
bookcases. There were two upholstered chairs in front of the desk which Stefan
moved one around to the backside for her to sit and view the computer. The only
light in the room came from the monitor screen.
“Where do you wish to begin?” he asked.
“Is there a way to cross-reference any of the
Masters of the Families in the Syndicate with their outside business
connections?”
“I’ll call up the Masters and the businesses they
run. I’m not sure if we can source any other businesses they manage.”
“Let’s see the dealings. I’ll run them against any
list we keep.”
“ Who’s we?”
“The Bounty Hunters Society. We keep an up-to-date data base of known vamps with their histories, locations,
and business dealings. Maybe I’ll do a split screen and check them
simultaneously to save us some time.”
Stefan gave her a fierce squint and fell back in
his chair with his arms crossed over his chest.
“What? You think we don’t watch you vamps and
network, Stefan? How do you think we do our job so well? You never figured out
our secrets before now?”
“I didn’t think you were…sophisticated, no.”
“Welcome to the world of technology. Now show me
you what you have. I don’t have the entire night you know.”
“Are you always this demanding?”
“No. I’m anxious about finding out if our
suspicions are right. I’m kidding about the entire night thing. I can stay
awake just as long as you can.”
“Are you challenging me prinţesa ?”
“Me? Of course not. Now, how about the list?” But if I were, I’d beat you,
for sure.
They faced off with similar taunting grins.
With a few keyed entries on the keyboard, a list
of vamps and their respective businesses came up on the monitor. Two hours
later and faintly blurry-eyed, Alex stretched her arms over her head and stood.
“Do you have anything to eat? I’m just a bit
hungry and thirsty. This late night work has thrown my diet out of whack.”
“No, I don’t entertain humans here and have no
need for your kind of food. Sorry.”
“Great. Not even any soda or coffee?”
He laughed. “Alexandra? I’m a vampire, why would I
have soda or
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