Immortal Unchained(54)

"Si, but the hunters who returned were all piloting the boats. In each case they said they were skimming through the water, glanced around to say something to their partner, and they were gone. They did not hear or see anything to suggest a struggle. And whatever happened was quick. In two cases the missing man was holding a conversation with the pilot when it happened. They said something, the pilot responded, glanced back to them, and they were not there."

"Oh, that's just spooky," Sarita declared after a moment.

"Si," Domitian murmured.

"None of them were related to you this time, were they?" she asked with concern.

Domitian nodded slowly. "My uncle Victor, and Lucern, another cousin, were among those taken. My sister, Drina, was on one of the teams, but fortunately, she was piloting the boat. She returned, but the man partnered with her, a man named Santo Notte, did not." 

"Your sister is here in Venezuela?"

"Si. Uncle Lucian called in all the Rogue Hunters in North America after my aunt and cousins went missing. There are several civilians down here now too trying to help, which has Uncle Lucian furious," he added wryly.

"Why would that upset him?" Sarita asked with surprise.

"Because he's lost so many hunters who are skilled and trained for situations like this. He considers it far too dangerous to have nonhunters here and fears they will just be cannon fodder."

"But he let you help," she pointed out.

"Actually, he refused my help when I first offered it," Domitian admitted with a crooked smile, and explained, "When I learned he and the others had flown in, I went directly to the villas they'd rented and offered to help, but he said no, it was too dangerous and I was not a hunter." He shrugged. "So I returned to my restaurant and helped the only way I could."

"Food?" she guessed at once.

Domitian nodded. "I cooked large batches of food four or five times a day and sent it to the villa."

"I'm sure they appreciated that," she assured him.

He shrugged, and continued, "I offered my assistance again when my aunt and cousins went missing, but again was refused."

Sarita reached out and covered his hand sympathetically. He seemed perfectly calm about it all, but she could sense the frustration and anger simmering under the surface at not being allowed to help search for his missing family members.

Domitian stared at her hand briefly, then turned his own over and clasped her fingers gently, his shoulders relaxing somewhat.

"So," she said, clearing her throat, "what changed? Why did he let you help in the end?"

"You," Domitian said squeezing her fingers lightly.

"Me?" she asked with surprise.

"Si," he said solemnly. "Dressler has been a regular in my restaurant for at least two years and has offered me a job as his personal chef every couple of months during that time. But two days ago, he called and offered it again. This time, though, he mentioned that Sarita, the granddaughter of one of his employees, was coming for a visit and he wished to offer her more than the slop his regular cook served."

"Aleta doesn't serve slop," Sarita said, snatching her hand away and scowling at him for the insult to the woman.

"He said it, not me," Domitian assured her solemnly. "And now that I know he knew all along that you are my life mate, I am sure it was just an excuse to mention your name and let me know you were here."

"Oh . . . yeah, it probably was," she said, relaxing.

"Anyway," Domitian continued, "I could hardly refuse the offer this time, not when I knew you were on the island and quite possibly in danger. So I accepted the job-as Dressler no doubt expected-and then I went straight to the villa to give Lucian the news." He smiled wryly. "I expected him to be pleased. After all, Dressler had no idea I was an immortal so I would not be in danger, and my uncle could have my phone tracked and find out where the island was."

"I gather he didn't see things that way?"

"Hell no. According to him I was throwing myself in harm's way. Dressler probably did know I was an immortal, and this was just a trap to add another one to his collection, and Dressler would incapacitate my phone and myself quickly to prevent their following. Which he was right about as it turns out," Domitian said on a sigh.

"And yet he let you come," she said.




 

 

Domitian snorted. "He had no choice. This is South America, the North American council has no power here or over me. Once I pointed that out, he had no choice and started making plans on how best to track me and keep me safe and so on."

Sarita nodded, but was now frowning as she considered what he'd said and then asked, "I'm surprised that wasn't a problem."