Stefan's Salvation(34)

threatened, we are all threatened. When one is in need, we are all in need. Together, we

are strong." The long silk cape he wore fell off one shoulder, exposing the red satin

lining. Cristofor had always favored old-fashioned, dramatic clothing in keeping with

his heritage as a vampire. Stefan smiled slightly at his brother's predictability. Some

things never changed and the love and unity of his family was one of them.

"They have her." Stefan's anger and fear began to rise up within him, but he

pushed it back down. He would not give in to it.

"We will get your woman back." Cristofor's calm acceptance strengthened Stefan's

resolve.

He felt the slightest shimmer of energy on his right side, and without looking Stefan

knew his other brother was beside him. "Lucian," he nodded as he turned. His brother

was dressed impeccably in black silk pants and a silk shirt. A long black coat, made of

the finest wool, fell down around his legs. The coat was open and the long tails were

blowing in the wind behind him.

Lucian's smile gleamed through the dark as he fell into step beside them. "You

didn't think I would miss this, did you?" He sobered as he reached out and touched

Stefan on the shoulder. "We will get her back. I am looking forward to meeting my new

sister-in-law."

"Where are the women?" It was unthinkable that his brothers had brought their

wives with them into this dangerous situation.

"Johanna is in New York completing the details on our new partnership with a

hotel company." There was masculine pride in every word Cristofor spoke. "RW Hotels

is no longer a problem."

"Delight is with her?" Stefan looked to Lucian for confirmation.

"Of course. We suggested they stay and shop for a few days." Lucian smiled. "They

wanted to come, but we convinced them it was not safe."

"In other words, you didn't tell them you were coming here." Stefan knew his

strong-willed sisters-in-law would not be left behind if they knew their husbands were

traveling here.

Cristofor snorted. "We had Sam Cassidy drive us here after the women took the jet

to New York."

Stefan had to smile in spite of the seriousness of the situation. Sam Cassidy was a

New Orleans police detective who had come into their lives a few months ago and

become an unlikely family friend. "So Cassidy is here too."

"He's checking out the local situation for us," Lucian confirmed.

Side by side they strode down the road--three massive, imposing men joined by

blood and brotherhood. The dust whipped up from the sidewalk and leaves scurried

out of their way as they passed. Stefan shook his head. If the situation weren't so

serious and deadly, he'd have laughed. They must look like three desperados from an

old western movie, stalking into town to confront the bad sheriff--or in this case, the

corrupt mayor. The showdown was at hand.

His entire focus was on the large group that was still gathered outside city hall. As

they got closer, some people noticed them. One by one people stopped talking until

silence filled the street. Stefan kept walking and the crowd parted before him, no one

wanting to stand between him and his objective.

Mayor Cyril Jenkins took a step backward, almost tripping on the stairs behind

him. He righted himself and glanced around. Seeming to draw confidence from the

crowd, he confronted Stefan. "Can I help you with something?"

Stefan kept walking until the toes of his boots practically touched the mayor's

polished dress shoes. "Yes, you can."

The mayor took a step back and this time managed to gain the step behind him. The

added height still didn't bring him close to being able to look Stefan in the eye. "Well,

then," he blustered. "What can I do for you, Mr. Dalakis?"

Stefan wanted to squash the man like an insect, but he restrained himself, barely.

"You can tell me why you sent two men to try and kill me. You can tell me why you've

been causing trouble for Laurel Rose so she'd sell her land. And," Stefan glared at the

man in front of him as the crowd rumbled restlessly around them. "You can tell me

who has Laurel Rose."

"I have no idea what you're talking about." Cyril looked shocked as he turned to

the townspeople in appeal. "How dare you, a stranger, come into our town and accuse

me," he thumped his chest with his fist, "of harming Laurel Rose in some way. Why,

I'm one of the few folks in this town who even talks to her."

"Did I mention that I had a long chat with Aaron Higgins? He told me all about

your scheme to try and scare Laurel Rose into selling her property."

"Aaron Higgins, I'm sorry to say, is little more than a small-town crook." The

mayor shook his head. "Unfortunately, every town has them, but you can't believe

anything he says." As if sensing the crowd's support shifting to his side, he added, "But

you wouldn't know that, being an outsider and all. I'm a respected member of this

community and I will not stand here and be slandered by you."

"That's not all." Cristofor stepped up next to Stefan. "I heard you all but promised

to deliver the McCaffey land to RW Hotels if they'd make you the new manager of their

resort."

That announcement sent ripples of unease through crowd. "Where did you hear

that?" The mayor was starting to look pale as he wiped the sweat from his brow. "And

just who are you, sir?"

Cristofor gave a slight bow. "I am Cristofor Dalakis and I am now a major

shareholder of RW Hotels." He paused and faced the crowd. "And if one hair is harmed

on Laurel Rose's head, the resort development will be cancelled." His green-eyed glare

swept the crowd. "And then, I will make sure that every single industry in this town

fails until Salvation is nothing but a memory."

"You can't do this," the mayor blustered. "Sure, I helped them obtain some of the

land they need. All I'm trying to do is bring industry to the area." He held out his

hands, appealing to the crowd for their understanding. "That's my job as mayor of this

town." The crowd murmured and some people nodded in agreement with him while

others turned back toward Cristofor.

Cristofor swept back toward him. "It is already done. And if you do not trust me,

then call Richard Webster." Cristofor rattled off a phone number.

Stefan watched the change sweep over Cyril Jenkins as the other man witnessed all

his ambition for money and power slipping from his grasp. Gone was the mild-

mannered mayor, and in his place was a man gone mad. "You can't do this to me. I

worked for two years to lure that development here. I managed to convince and cajole

most of the folks to sell their land. So what if I got a finder's fee each time I got someone

to sign on the dotted line? That's only fair. I'm the one who did all the work." He was

practically foaming at the mouth now, his face beet red as he continued to scream.

"Laurel Rose was the last holdout. If I could get her to sell, I'd be sitting pretty for the

rest of my life and so would this town. That stupid bitch was keeping me from it."

As if suddenly realizing that he was screaming, Cyril swiped the back of his hand

across his mouth and took a calming breath. "Don't you all see?" He scanned the crowd

searching for support. "Laurel Rose was holding all of us back. The whole town of

Salvation needs this development." He straightened his jacket and drew himself up.

"You all know I'm right."

"He sent Aaron and Clem out to kill her chickens and frighten her a little." The

crowd all turned as one and stared at the blonde woman who stepped forward.

Everyone recognized her immediately. As a waitress at the town's only diner, Karen

was well known by all the locals.

Cyril was staring at her in disbelief, but Karen wasn't finished. "When you're a

waitress, people seem to think you're invisible." She pointedly glared at the mayor

before turning back to the crowd that was now shuffling with unease. They were good,

honest folks and while many of them thought Laurel Rose should sell her land, none of

them would condone hurting either her or her property.

"Why didn't you say anything sooner?" someone from the crowd yelled.

Karen nodded as the crowd murmured. "That's a fair question. I didn't say

anything because I really didn't know this woman and I depended on that diner for my

living. The mayor could have gotten me fired. His cousin owns the diner. But I'm

leaving town and I really don't care any longer. And Laurel Rose seems like a nice

woman and she doesn't deserve to have them harassing her." Karen drew her coat

tighter around her and tilted her chin up as if daring anyone to disagree. "I know a lot

of secrets about this town." Her gaze panned the crowd, silencing it. "And I know that

Aaron and Clem were heading out to the McCaffey place tonight to hurt someone.

Those two can't keep their mouths shut." She turned to Stefan and his brothers. "I'm

sorry I didn't say anything sooner."

Stefan nodded at Karen, now more thankful than ever that he'd met her that first

night in Salvation. Leaning down, he brushed her cheek with a kiss. "Thank you."

Turning away from her, Stefan growled as he advanced toward Cyril, but the man

was beyond all common sense and fear. "So what if I sent Aaron and Clem out to kill