Chapter 12
An hour later, Marty opened my bedroom door without knocking. He’d changed out of the torn, bloody clothes and had taken a shower, from the damp look to his hair. I was sitting cross-legged in bed, trying without success to pretend I’d misunderstood the image I’d glimpsed. Yeah, right. Because Vlad had been between my legs looking for a set of keys he’d lost.
“Frankie?” Marty said gruffly. “I don’t wanna bother you, but I don’t have long to talk.”
“Why? What’s going on?” I asked at once, leaping up.
Marty shut the door behind him, scratching one of his long, bushy black sideburns. “I’m leaving for a scouting mission.”
I didn’t ask, Scouting for what? “Vlad might not even be right,” I muttered. “Maybe no one told Jackal and the others to snatch me up. Maybe they thought of it all by themselves.”
“They didn’t,” Marty replied, grimness clear in each syllable. “That vampire from the hotel, Shrapnel, spent the whole plane ride grilling the redhead who took you—and he was creative. But that was nothing compared to what Vlad did once we got here. Next to that, I got off easy. They didn’t act alone. They were sent after you, but they didn’t know by whom. All they had was a phone number and a big deposit in their bank account with promises of more if you gave them the goods on Vlad.”
I sighed. I hadn’t really thought this would be over so quickly, but I’d hoped. “I’m so sorry, Marty.” I gestured at his chest, wanting to cry at what he’d been through. “He shouldn’t have hurt you.”
Marty snorted. “I’m happy to be alive. You probably guessed that I tailed you from Gibsonton, waiting until there were fewer vampires guarding you. When I realized it was Vlad I attacked, I thought I was done for. The only reason I’m not toes-up is because you made him promise not to kill me. I’d heard that he holds to his word. Never thought to find out personally.”
I managed a limp smile. “Since I’ll be spending time with him looking for this mysterious puppet master, is there anything else I should know about Vlad?”
“Yeah.” Marty’s expression became hard. “What you saw in that last vision . . . don’t let it happen.”
I closed my eyes, feeling my cheeks warm again. So Marty had figured out what I’d glimpsed, too. Not a shock; he was a vampire, and I’d been anything but suave in my reaction.
“Marty,” I began.
“I wouldn’t care if it was someone else,” he cut me off. “This isn’t about your inexperience with men.”
“Announce that to everyone, why don’t you!” I hissed, my eyes flying open. With how well vampires could hear, he may as well have tattooed a big V onto my forehead.
He waved a hand impatiently. “You’re missing the point. Vlad isn’t your typical vampire. We’re all ruthless at one time or another, but he’s in a class by himself. You let yourself get involved with him, he’ll rip your heart out and destroy your life, and if I didn’t love you like the daughter I used to have, I wouldn’t say this when I know damn well that he’s listening.”
The raw pain in his voice took away my embarrassment.
“Don’t worry.” I forced myself to sound nonchalant. “I know how dangerous he is and I don’t want to get involved with him. I must’ve had a case of temporary insanity because he’s immune to the electricity in my touch.” A shrug. “I’ll get over it.”
Marty chucked me on the hip. “That’s my girl. I don’t know how long I’ll be gone, but you watch your back.”
“I will,” I promised Marty. “When do you leave?”
Marty sighed. “Now. Give me a hug, kid. Love you.”
I knelt down and wrapped my arms around him, careful not to touch him with my right hand.
“Love you,” I whispered. “You watch your back, too, Marty. Don’t you dare let yourself get killed.”
He laughed a trifle grimly. “I’ll try not to.”