Blood Thief Box Set(29)

I turned to him and blinked. "How should I know?"

He frowned. "Because that one guy said you would. That tall, creepy one. What is his name, anyway?"

I sighed. "Simon Cruor."

"Sounds like a vampire's name." His eyes flickered back to me and a sly smile slipped onto his lips. "What about you? What's your handle?"

I snorted. "I just tried to drain you dry less than ten minutes ago, and now you act like you want my number?"

He shrugged. "Gotta get 'em while I've still got time. You never know when you'll hit a bad corner and take your last tumble. Anyway, where are we going?"

"The Park Place Avenue Penthouse, 30th floor," I told him.

Swift whistled. "That's a pretty snazzy place. Is it yours or your boyfriend's?"

I choked on my spittle and whipped my head to Swift. "He's not my boyfriend!"

Swift held up his hands in front of him which caused the car to swerve and bump onto the sidewalk. We hit a stop sign before he grabbed the wheel and pulled us back onto the road.

I glared at him and stabbed my finger in the direction of the windshield. "Are you trying to kill us!"

He grinned and winked at me. "That'd be something for a vampire and her apprentice, huh?"

I rolled my eyes. "I'm not dead yet, and you're not going to be a vampire."

He shrugged. "Ah well. I kind of like the idea of driving around at night, but I suppose that'd finish off most of my racing in the day, huh?"

"Yeah."

We reached the penthouse garage without any more incidents. The valet recognized me and let us in to park near Simon's spot. The limo was still gone. I led our 'guest' into the elevator and to the penthouse. That, however, wasn't so easy to get into.

I jiggled the handle and frowned. Locked. I turned to Swift. "You happen to know a quick locksmith?"

He smiled and pulled a hairpin from his pocket. "I've got something better."

"Terrible fashion sense?" I quipped.

He chuckled as he stepped up to the door and knelt in front of the lock. "It's actually from my-well, from a close friend." He turned the pin this way and that for a few seconds. I heard a click and he stood and turned the knob. The door swung open. He turned to me with a grin on his face. "After-"

"Get down!" I yelped.

I jumped him and slammed both of us to the floor. I'd seen a dark shadow in the doorway, and whatever it was lunged at Swift. The dark thing flew over us. I shivered as its shadow left a cold chill over my body. We climbed to our feet as the shadow thing stopped between us and the elevator. It turned and revealed a pair of white eyes.

"What the hell is that?" Swift asked me.

I shook my head and stepped back towards the open penthouse door. "I don't know, but I really don't think it likes what you did."

The elevator doors swung open to reveal Simon and Certus. I was never so relieved to see their two pale faces. Simon stepped out of the elevator and his eyes fell on the shadow.

"Recede," he called out.

The shadow floated backwards into the wall. I clutched my chest and glared at him. "What was that thing?"

Simon smiled and strode past us into the penthouse. "Merely a deterrent for thieves." Swift and I followed Certus and Simon into the living room. Simon gestured to the couch. "If you would please have a seat we can begin official negotiations for your contract with me."

Swift plopped himself into a chair and shrugged. "I don't know about working for vampires. I mean, she's nice when she's not chewing on me-" he jerked his thumb at me, "-but you-" he pointed at Simon. "I can see you're a different breed. And that 'dog' of yours kind of settles it."

Simon chuckled. "I have counted on your hesitation." He pulled out his phone and dialed a number.

A familiar voice picked up. "What news, dark and gruesome?" Swift jumped to his feet and his eyes widened.

"We have retrieved your brother," Simon told her.

Swift pointed a shaky finger at the phone. "Is that Rota?"

"Is he still in one piece?" Rota wondered.

Simon's eyes flickered to Swift and a sly smile curled onto his lips. "More or less, though Rufus's men were somewhat rough with him."

"Rufus!" she screamed. Swift cringed and shrank back into his chair. "What the hell was he doing with that asshole?"

"Perhaps he can explain," Simon suggested. He held the phone out to Swift. "Your sister wishes to speak with you."

Swift reluctantly took the phone and placed it against his ear. "Hey, Sis."

"What the hell were you doing messing with Rufus?" she screamed.

He winced. "I was just supposed to test-drive that car of his. How was I supposed to know he'd go back on his deal and wouldn't let me leave with my money?"

"Because you can't trust him as far as you can throw his fat body, that's why!" she snapped at him.

Swift's face drooped. "Come on, Sis, give me some credit. They haven't found out yet."

A growl reverberated through the phone. "Give me back to Simon before I reach through this phone and bitch-slap you like you deserve."

Swift tossed the hot potato back to its own who deftly caught the phone and held it against his ear. "What're you going to do with him now, gruesome?"

"There is a small errand I wish for him to perform, and then I will hand him into your care," Simon told her.

Rota snorted. "Oh hell no, he's not coming here. If those thugs find out we're related this'll be the first place they'll come looking for him. You keep him."

"Sis!" Swift whined.

"Don't 'Sis' me! You got yourself into this mess, and you're stuck in it!" Rota snapped. She took a deep breath and lowered her volume a couple decibels. "Take care of him for me, will ya, gruesome? He's an idiot, but he's the best driver there is."

Simon chuckled. "I will be certain to treat him with a careful hand."

"And don't get him killed, permanently or otherwise," she insisted.

"I will try my best." Simon hung up the phone and glanced at our new comrade. "It appears you have two choices."

Swift frowned. "What are they?"

"You can either help us in our endeavor, or-" Simon swept his hand towards the door, "-you may leave."

Swift arched an eyebrow. "You'd just let me go? Just like that?"

Simon bowed his head. "Just like that."

Swift stood and glanced around us. "Well, it was nice knowing you guys. Well, some of you guys, but I really need to get going." He walked backwards towards the door. "Me and the Shadow need to go make some trouble and shit like that."

"Did I forget to mention the car remains with me?" Simon spoke up.

Swift stopped dead in his tracks and narrowed his eyes. "What the hell is this? You said I could go."

Simon chuckled. "And you may, but the vehicle remains in my possession. Think of it as payment for saving your life."

"I'm not leaving without my car," Swift insisted.

"Then you must remain here, and in order to remain here you must accept the position I offer you," Simon told him.

Swift frowned. "So that's how this works, is it?"

"Yes."

Swift crossed his arms and glared at Simon. "You're a real fucker, you know that?"

A sly smile graced Simon's lips. "I have been told that several times."

"Well, it still sticks," Swift told him.

"Then you will accept my invitation?"

Swift dropped his arms and pursed his lips. "Like I have a choice."

Simon bowed his head. "Excellent. Then we need only gather our other resources and prepare for the coming evening."

I glanced at Simon. "Other resources?"

"We have one more companion with whom to speak, and if he agrees we rest for the heist."

My shoulders sank and I sighed. "Perfect. So what strange and rare creature are we getting now? Nessy? A leprechaun? An honest politician?"

Simon chuckled. "No. He is rather a plain sort of creature, and one who will be familiar to you."





CHAPTER 8





We left Swift in the care of Certus and drove Simon's smaller black car to the house Simon owned at the edge of town. I stepped out and glanced over the roof at Simon.

"So we're getting Specter?" I guessed.

Simon looked in the direction of the graveyard. His lips were pursed, and he nodded. "Yes."

I followed his gaze and arched an eyebrow. "Why's he always here?"

Simon shut his door and strode towards the path that led to the house. "He is buried here."

I hurried to catch up and settled into his stride at his side. "In that old graveyard? He doesn't dress like he was buried under one of those headstones."

The corners of Simon's lips twitched. "His burial was rather an informal affair. If you wish to know more of the matter you might ask him the details."

I frowned and turned away from him. "Typical. . ."

We reached the cemetery and walked past the headstone where we found Maeve and Specter the other night. In front of us between the trees the river glistened in the bright moonlight. The silhouettes of the gravestones stood out like round white rocks against the dark waters. One of the graves had a transparent form seated atop the headstone. Specter sat atop the stone with his hands nestled on the top and his legs crossed. He gazed out across the river at the bright lights of the city.