Sexiest Vampire Alive

Chapter Four

“You look like shit.”

“Thanks, Whelan. It’s a pleasure working with you.” Gregori motioned for Sean Whelan to enter his office.

The sun had set five minutes earlier. After waking from his death-sleep, Gregori had guzzled down a warmed-up bottle of synthetic blood, then he’d dashed down the hall to use the men’s restroom. He’d been on his way back to his office when Sean had accosted him in the hallway.

He followed Sean into his office. “I guess you slept in one of the basement bedrooms?”

“Yes.” Sean glanced around, then stiffened. “What the hell is that?” He pointed at the couch.

“She’s a Vampire Artificial Nutritional Needs Appliance,” Gregori explained as he shut the door. “Otherwise known as VANNA. Phineas has VANNA Black somewhere. This one is VANNA White.”

Sean wrinkled his nose. “It’s disgusting.”

“Now don’t be rude. You’ll hurt her feelings.” Gregori adjusted the red bow around VANNA’s neck. “I was thinking she’d make a nice gift for the president.”

Sean’s mouth dropped open, and his complexion turned a mottled red. “You will do no such thing! You’d better—”

“Relax, dude. I was joking.” Gregori picked VANNA up and tossed her back into his closet. When he turned around, he found Sean scowling at him. “What?”

“You look like you slept in those clothes.”

“I did. I worked till dawn researching the president.”

Sean snorted. “Don’t bother. I’ll tell you everything you need to know.”

“Oh really?” Gregori wasn’t about to admit that he’d formulated his own set of plans for dealing with the president.

“Yes.” Sean crossed his arms over his chest. “This is how it will play out. We’ll teleport to the safe house precisely at nine P.M., then I’ll brief you for the meeting. The White House will send a car for us at nine-thirty. Our meeting with the president is at ten o’clock sharp.”

Gregori nodded. He’d questioned the need for a safe house at the meeting last night. Teleporting back and forth would be so much easier. Angus had explained why they needed to arrive at the White House in a car like normal people. They wanted to severely limit the number of mortals who knew about vampires. Only a few at the top should know.

Although Angus agreed they should arrive by car, he was opposed to Sean and his Stake-Out team being in charge of the safe house. The future of Vamps depended on the success of this mission, so Angus had a plan to make sure they remained safe.

Sean smirked, apparently pleased that Gregori was keeping his mouth shut and not questioning his authority. “For right now, you need to make yourself presentable.”

“Really? That would have never occurred to me.”

Sean scowled. “You can cut the sarcasm, especially when we’re with the president. In fact, just keep your mouth shut and let me handle everything.”

“The Coven Masters voted for me to represent Vamps. I intend to do my job, Whelan.”

Sean gave him a skeptical look. “From what I hear, you spend all your time schmoozing with vampire celebrities—”

“And it was great training for this gig. I know how to get what I want.”

Sean narrowed his eyes. “Your hair’s too long.”

Gregori grinned. Was that the worst he could come up with? Yeah, his hair was a little long for a businessman. The ends brushed his shoulders, but it was a good five inches shorter than the ponytails on the warrior Vamps.

He collected his tie, coat, and cuff links. “I’ll see you here at nine.”

“No. I want you here at a quarter till. We teleport precisely at nine.”

“Chillax, Whelan. It only takes a second to teleport.”

“A quarter till. I’m in charge of this—”

Before Sean could finish, Gregori teleported to his condo on the Upper West Side. Fifteen minutes later, he’d showered, shaved, and packed a suitcase. For the meeting, he decided to wear a gray Armani suit, crisp white shirt, and his favorite red power tie.

He paused in the middle of buttoning his shirt. Roman had been right when he said it all boiled down to presenting the right image. He was supposed to be the safe, harmless Vamp who picked flowers instead of victims. Instead of biting young women, he helped little old ladies across the street.

With a groan, he yanked his shirt over his head, then tossed it onto his bed.

“Safe and harmless,” he muttered as he selected a pale blue shirt. It would be a lot more fun to wear a tuxedo and vampire cape. And have a Hungarian accent like Zoltan. Instead, Gregori fastened his cuff links and put on a gray tie with thin blue stripes.

He removed his page of strategy plans from the pants pocket of his dirty clothes and studied the list, committing it to memory. He also had Angus’s security plans to follow.

At thirteen minutes till nine, he teleported with his suitcase to the side entrance at Romatech, since arriving inside the building would set off an alarm. He swiped his ID badge and entered. Halfway down the hall, he passed by the security office.

The door opened and half a dozen MacKay employees spilled out into the hallway.

“Ye understand the plan, lad?” Angus asked.

“Yes.”

“Yo, undercover brother.” Phineas gave him a knuckle pound. “I’ll see you soon.”

“Sean’s a little upset,” Emma warned him. “He claims you’re running late.”

Gregori’s mouth twitched. “By two minutes. Just to annoy him.”

“Aye, doona let the bastard get to you.” Robby patted him on the back. “We’ll be waiting for yer call.”

After a round of well wishes, Gregori excused himself and wheeled his suitcase down to his office. His heart swelled when he realized how much trust his fellow Vamps were placing in him. In spite of all the teasing, they really did respect him. He grinned to himself.

“It’s about time!” Sean yelled as he entered the room.

His smile faded. “Chillax, Whelan.” He grabbed his phone charger off the desk and stuffed it into an outside pocket on his suitcase. He noticed Sean was still glowering at him, so he slipped a few stress balls into the suitcase.

“How much longer are you going to take?” Sean growled. “It’s ten minutes till.”

“I’m ready.” Gregori picked up his Droid. “What’s the number for the safe house?”

“I’ll make the call.” Sean whipped out his cell phone. “I’m the one in charge. You’re just going along to show how safe and harmless you are.”

Gregori gritted his teeth as he pocketed his Droid.

Sean punched a number on his phone. “Garrett, we’re ready. Keep talking till we get there.” He sidled up close to Gregori. “Grab on to me.”

“You don’t know how to—”

“Shh.” Sean covered his phone with his hand. “I’ve been a . . . you-know-what for only a few nights, and we’ve been busy with one meeting after another. I haven’t had time to learn any of your damned tricks.”

Gregori nodded. And it looked like Sean had neglected to tell his fellow team members about his transformation. “Give me the phone.” He held out his hand.

Sean hesitated.

“I have to hear the guy’s voice to know where to go.” Gregori accepted the phone, then motioned toward Sean’s suitcase by the door. “Don’t you need to take that?”

“Oh, right.” Sean hurried to the door.

With a grin, Gregori grabbed his suitcase and teleported. He arrived in a living room that was sparsely furnished with what looked like rejects from a thrift store.

The other person in the room stopped talking in mid-sentence. His eyes grew wide. “What? Where’s Sean?”

Gregori parked his suitcase next to the sagging couch of burnt-orange velvet, then set Sean’s cell phone on the scarred coffee table. He extended a hand toward the other guy. Garrett Manning was a member of Sean’s Stake-Out team, and he’d participated undercover in a reality show that Gregori had hosted a few years back at the Digital Vampire Network.

“We’ve met before, remember? I’m Gregori Holstein.”

“Uh, yeah. I’m Garrett.” He backed away, refusing to shake hands, his expression growing more confused. “Weren’t you supposed to bring Sean with you?”

“Damn.” Gregori slapped his leg. “I knew I was forgetting something.”

Garrett winced. “Sean’s going to be really pissed.”

“What else is new?” Gregori pulled out his Droid and called Angus, who immediately put him on the speakerphone. “I’m at the safe house. Looks like Garrett is alone here. Is that true, Garrett? Are you alone?”

“Well . . . yeah, but—” Garrett gasped as four men materialized in the room. “What the—”

“This is Robby and Phil.” Gregori gestured toward the two Vamps and the shifters they’d brought with them. “I believe you’ve met Phineas before. And this is Howard. They’ll be in charge of security from now on.”

Garrett flinched. “But that’s my job! This is a CIA operation. You can’t just take over like that.”

“Dude.” Phineas gave him a pointed look. “Are you going to argue with a werewolf and a were-bear?”

Garrett gulped as he eyed Phil and Howard. Gregori bit his lip to keep from laughing. The shifters had both affected their steely-eyed, vicious looks.

Phineas rested an arm on Garrett’s shoulder. “Let me give you some advice, bro. Keep the kitchen well stocked. You do not want to share your house with a hungry bear.”

“I—I didn’t realize shifters were real,” Garrett whispered.

“Yeah, well, we’re gonna trust you to keep quiet about that, bro.” Phineas patted him on the back. “Or we’ll have to wipe your memory clean for a year or so.”

Garrett turned pale. “I can keep a secret.”

“Good lad.” Robby smiled at him. “I’m going back now to report to Angus. Good luck to ye all.” He disappeared.

“Got any donuts?” Howard lumbered toward the kitchen.

Garrett jumped out of his way. “There’s a box on the counter. Eat all you want.”

Gregori motioned toward the fridge. “Did you stock up on blood?”

“Yeah.” Garrett gave him a wary look. “Are you going to get Sean now?”

“Soon.” Gregori glanced at the large bay window. “Is there a safe place for Phineas and me to sleep?”

“Yeah, the basement. Sean told me to board up the windows and put two beds down there.” Garrett frowned at Phineas. “Did he know there would be two of you?”

“Dude, there’s gonna be three Vamps,” Phineas said. “Gregori, me, and Sean.”

Garrett’s mouth dropped open. “What?”

Gregori attempted to keep a straight face. “Hate to break it to you, dude, but your boss is a Vamp.”

“No.” Garrett shook his head. “You’re just messing with me. Sean hates vampires.”

“Then he’d better get a therapist to deal with his self-loathing.” Gregori glanced at his watch. “Time to go.” He teleported back to the side entrance at Romatech, swiped his card, and strode inside.

“You bastard!” Sean shouted as he charged down the hall, dragging his suitcase behind him. “I’m reporting you to your superiors.” He stopped in front of the MacKay security office and lifted a fist to pound on the door.

It opened and Angus filled the doorway.

Sean froze with his fist an inch from Angus’s chest.

Angus arched a brow. “Is there a problem?”

“Yes!” Sean gestured wildly toward Gregori. “That asshole left without me! He’s impossible to work with. You should fire him!”

“Now why would I do that?” Angus’s eyes twinkled with humor. “I believe he followed my orders perfectly.”

“What the— I’m in charge here!” Sean jabbed a finger in Gregori’s direction. “That idiot was supposed to take me!”

“Chillax, Whelan,” Gregori said. “It wouldn’t have been safe to take you and all our luggage at the same time.”

“And he had other matters to take care of first,” Angus added. “My men are now providing security for the safe house.”

Sean flinched. “But they don’t know where—” He turned to Gregori. “You bastard, what have you done?”

“I provided us the best security possible.” He glanced at his watch. “Would you look at that? It’s precisely nine o’clock, the exact time you wanted to go.”

“Don’t act like a smart-ass with me!” Sean growled. “I’m the one in charge of this operation.”

“Then teleport yourself. I’ll see you there.” Gregori no longer needed a beacon. The location of the safe house was imbedded in his psychic memory.

“Wait!” Sean stepped closer and lowered his voice. “You have to take me. The president knows me. And all the other men at the meeting. They trust me. You need me there.”

Angus folded his arms over his chest. “Do the president and his cronies know ye’re a Vamp?”

“Of course not! It just barely happened.” Sean shifted his weight. “I don’t want them to know. It would destroy their trust in me.”

Gregori nodded. He’d never seen Sean look so uptight and miserable. “Okay, I’ll play along with that. But it’s too late for Garrett. We already spilled the beans.”

“What? Dammit, Holstein. It should be my decision when to tell people.” Sean scowled as Gregori grabbed his arm. “You’d better remember from now on that I’m in charge. I’m getting fed up with your—”

Gregori teleported to the safe house, taking Sean with him.

“—sorry ass!” Sean completed his sentence.

“Are you talking to me?” Phineas asked.

“What?” Sean looked around. “Dammit! How many MacKay employees are here?”

“Three,” Garrett muttered. “Phineas and those two shifters in the kitchen, eating all our food.” He gave Sean an annoyed look. “You should have told me about shifters.”

Sean shrugged. “Need-to-know basis.”

Garrett scowled. “Is it true what they said? Are you a vampire now?”

Sean sighed and his shoulders drooped. “It’s a long, painful story. It would probably take hours—”

“He nearly died in battle, so Roman transformed him to save his life,” Gregori explained, then smirked at Sean. “End of story.”

Garrett eyed his boss. “But he looks the same.”

“And he acts the same,” Phineas muttered.

Sean snorted. “I am the same.”

Frowning, Garrett ran a hand through his hair. “How can you stay the head of the Stake-Out team? Isn’t that a conflict of interest?”

“You expect me to stake myself?” Sean growled.

“I’ve got a nice, big one you can borrow,” Gregori suggested.

Sean scoffed. “I think my new situation will actually help me in my fight against the bad vampires.”

“But you said all vampires are bad,” Garrett insisted.

Sean waved a hand in dismissal. “I was a bit premature in my observation. I know a lot more about it now.”

Gregori and Phineas snorted.

Sean glared at them, then at Garrett. “No one in the government is to know about my new status. Understood?”

Garrett gave him a dubious look. “Aren’t they going to notice that you’re dead during the day?”

“That may be normal for a government worker,” Gregori muttered.

Phineas snickered.

Sean waved that aside. “We’ve always done our work at night. That won’t change.” He took a seat on the couch. “We need to start the briefing.”

Gregori sat and listened to Sean explain once again how he was supposed to keep his mouth shut during the meeting and prove just how safe, harmless, and boring he truly was.

At nine-thirty, the limo from the White House arrived.

As Gregori strode toward the door, he chanted softly, “I’m too sexy for my cape, too sexy for my fangs—”

“What the hell are you talking about?” Sean scowled at him.

“Just a little positive thinking, dude. To get psyched up. You should try it sometime.”

Sean snorted, then paused at the door. “I’ve heard about you. You’re . . . well, to be blunt, a womanizer.”

Gregori gritted his teeth. His dear mother must have told Sean that. “What of it?”

“I know how you Vamps are around women,” Sean muttered. “And for some weird reason, women tend to find vampires really attractive.”

“Hoping to get lucky, Whelan?”

He shot Gregori an annoyed look as they stepped outside. “I’m warning you. You had better act safe, harmless, and boring.”

“I’ll attempt to smother my naturally charming personality.”

“Just stay away from the president’s daughter.” Sean hurried down the steps to the waiting car.

“You mean if I ravish her it might put a little hitch in our negotiations?”

“Cut the sarcasm and stay away from her.” Sean opened the car door, then climbed into the limo, followed by Gregori.

He gazed out the window as the limo turned onto a busy avenue. No doubt Sean was referring to pretty Madison who regularly graced magazine covers. But what about the older daughter, Abigail? How come he hadn’t been able to locate one good photo of her? Why was she hiding from the world?

He smiled to himself. The evening wouldn’t be entirely safe, harmless, and boring. He had a mystery to solve.