Read Online Embrace the Darkness (Darkness Series) by Lilly Gayle - Free Book Online
Authors: Lilly Gayle
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irritation.
“We want to pass for human. Reporting a stolen vampire vaccine wouldn’t accomplish that goal. And Tina wasn’t the primary target. Megan was.”
“What about Richard? And Axle? How do they fit into your scenario?” Even if he was right on all counts, she couldn’t investigate. Who’d believe her?
Gerard shrugged. “Richard’s death was a reward for Weldon’s rogue vampire friend—or a way to send the cops scurrying in a hundred different directions while Vincent and I sit around with our thumbs up or asses, too afraid to do anything for fear of discovery. But Axle’s disappearance frightens me. I think Weldon took him—maybe to test the vaccine after turning him into a vampire.” He shrugged again before his shoulders sagged on a defeated sigh. “It would explain why he hasn’t surfaced.”
“So would a drug connection.” She told him Reid’s theory. Gerard didn’t buy it.
“Axle had nothing to do with the murders. He’s a victim.”
“Until we find him, we can’t be sure.” As if she was sure of anything. And since when were she and Gerard a team? Reid was her partner—even if she couldn’t share what she’d learned tonight. He’d think she was crazy.
There had to be another angle—a way she could approach the investigation without acknowledging the existence of vampires. A way she could keep Reid in the loop.
Vampires needed an invitation to enter a building. Didn’t they? She’d more or less invited Gerard into her home. Hadn’t she? Or was he just being polite when he’d suggested she invite him inside?
Regardless, someone had let Dr. Weldon and his vampire inside Lifeblood Labs the night Tina and Richard were murdered. It might even have been Axel Travers.
“Who let Weldon and his—accomplice—inside the facility that night?” she asked.
Gerard arched a brow. “The vampire let him in.”
Irritation scraped her nerves. “How did the vampire get in? Can they materialize wherever they want?”
“It can appear that way to mortals because of the speed at which we travel. But we also have the ability to move small, inanimate objects with our minds. So, unlocking a door that requires security access isn’t a problem.”
Tension tightened the muscles in her neck. Her shoulders bunched. “So, how do I know you didn’t kill your employees? You have a security code.”
Gerard met her gaze. And then his straight white teeth changed. His incisors grew, stretching into long, lethal fangs.
She nearly peed her pants.
Pushing to her feet, she knocked over her chair. “What the fu—”
“I didn’t kill her. I loved her. But you can see how easily I could have. I’m a vampire. Even if I didn’t work there, I wouldn’t need a code to get in.” He rose to his feet and came around the table.
She took a staggering step back, her hand automatically going to her holster, drawing her Glock.
“Get out of my house.” She aimed for his forehead. Gerard stood stone still. He didn’t even flinch.
“Are you really going to shoot me? Again?” He crossed his arms.
Could she? Even if it didn’t kill him, could she intentionally inflict pain when he wasn’t posing an immediate threat? Her pulse jumped. “Second time’s the charm.”
“If I wanted to hurt you, I would have done so already—without warning. Just like the vampire who attacked you in Germany.”
She felt the color leach from her face. Her hands shook. Gerard stepped forward and wrapped his hands around hers, gently forcing her to lower the gun. She didn’t resist despite the fact that he’d made no effort to exert his influence over her. When her arm dropped limply to her side, he slipped the gun from her cold fingers and laid the weapon on the table. Amber stood weak and silent, her body shaking.
“I didn’t think it was real,” she whispered. “The doctors convinced me it was post-traumatic stress.”
Gerard led her from the kitchen and into the living room. He circled the coffee table
“We want to pass for human. Reporting a stolen vampire vaccine wouldn’t accomplish that goal. And Tina wasn’t the primary target. Megan was.”
“What about Richard? And Axle? How do they fit into your scenario?” Even if he was right on all counts, she couldn’t investigate. Who’d believe her?
Gerard shrugged. “Richard’s death was a reward for Weldon’s rogue vampire friend—or a way to send the cops scurrying in a hundred different directions while Vincent and I sit around with our thumbs up or asses, too afraid to do anything for fear of discovery. But Axle’s disappearance frightens me. I think Weldon took him—maybe to test the vaccine after turning him into a vampire.” He shrugged again before his shoulders sagged on a defeated sigh. “It would explain why he hasn’t surfaced.”
“So would a drug connection.” She told him Reid’s theory. Gerard didn’t buy it.
“Axle had nothing to do with the murders. He’s a victim.”
“Until we find him, we can’t be sure.” As if she was sure of anything. And since when were she and Gerard a team? Reid was her partner—even if she couldn’t share what she’d learned tonight. He’d think she was crazy.
There had to be another angle—a way she could approach the investigation without acknowledging the existence of vampires. A way she could keep Reid in the loop.
Vampires needed an invitation to enter a building. Didn’t they? She’d more or less invited Gerard into her home. Hadn’t she? Or was he just being polite when he’d suggested she invite him inside?
Regardless, someone had let Dr. Weldon and his vampire inside Lifeblood Labs the night Tina and Richard were murdered. It might even have been Axel Travers.
“Who let Weldon and his—accomplice—inside the facility that night?” she asked.
Gerard arched a brow. “The vampire let him in.”
Irritation scraped her nerves. “How did the vampire get in? Can they materialize wherever they want?”
“It can appear that way to mortals because of the speed at which we travel. But we also have the ability to move small, inanimate objects with our minds. So, unlocking a door that requires security access isn’t a problem.”
Tension tightened the muscles in her neck. Her shoulders bunched. “So, how do I know you didn’t kill your employees? You have a security code.”
Gerard met her gaze. And then his straight white teeth changed. His incisors grew, stretching into long, lethal fangs.
She nearly peed her pants.
Pushing to her feet, she knocked over her chair. “What the fu—”
“I didn’t kill her. I loved her. But you can see how easily I could have. I’m a vampire. Even if I didn’t work there, I wouldn’t need a code to get in.” He rose to his feet and came around the table.
She took a staggering step back, her hand automatically going to her holster, drawing her Glock.
“Get out of my house.” She aimed for his forehead. Gerard stood stone still. He didn’t even flinch.
“Are you really going to shoot me? Again?” He crossed his arms.
Could she? Even if it didn’t kill him, could she intentionally inflict pain when he wasn’t posing an immediate threat? Her pulse jumped. “Second time’s the charm.”
“If I wanted to hurt you, I would have done so already—without warning. Just like the vampire who attacked you in Germany.”
She felt the color leach from her face. Her hands shook. Gerard stepped forward and wrapped his hands around hers, gently forcing her to lower the gun. She didn’t resist despite the fact that he’d made no effort to exert his influence over her. When her arm dropped limply to her side, he slipped the gun from her cold fingers and laid the weapon on the table. Amber stood weak and silent, her body shaking.
“I didn’t think it was real,” she whispered. “The doctors convinced me it was post-traumatic stress.”
Gerard led her from the kitchen and into the living room. He circled the coffee table
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