All I Want for Christmas is a Vampire(67)

 

The cold air slapped Toni's face, bringing her a sense of urgency. "We have to get her out," she whispered.

 

"I know," Carlos replied. "I've been trying to come up with a plan all evening."

 

"Her uncle will never release her." Toni's voice rose in panic. "We'll have to—"

 

"Shhh," Carlos warned her. He motioned to the oak tree and its massive branch that extended over the wall. "I could try to get her up that tree, but there's still the problem of getting her out of the ward. The damned place is locked up tighter than a nun in a chastity belt."

 

"We have to do something."

 

"I can't see a way out of here."

 

She grabbed Carlos's arm. "Don't say that! There's got to be a way." They just needed to get past the guards and the locked doors. "Oh my gosh, I know how to do it."

 

"How?" Carlos asked.

 

"We teleport her out."

 

"We can't do that."

 

"But we know someone who can."

 

"You're going to ask that vampire, Ian?" Carlos asked. "Are you sure he can be trusted?"

 

"I think so. I hope so." He'd offered to help her. And the more Toni thought about it, the more she knew it was the only way.

 

Toni insisted Carlos drive her straight back to Romatech. It was dark by the time they arrived. The guard at the entrance gate recognized her and waved them through.

 

Carlos stopped the car by the front door. "I know you want to talk to Ian alone, but leave me in the loop. This will require some planning."

 

"Okay." She pulled her knit cap off and fluffed up her hair. She wanted to look decent for her talk with Ian.

 

"Once Bri is out, we'll need a safe place to keep her. We can't just take her back to her apartment."

 

"Why not?" Toni snapped her eyeglasses into their case, then dropped them in her handbag. Her eyesight was a little fuzzy from a distance, but it would be fine for a close-up conversation. She pulled the visor down to check herself in the mirror.

 

"Toni, her uncle might suspect we're behind her disappearance and charge us with kidnapping."

 

That made her pause. She flipped the visor back up. "But Bri would come willingly with us."

 

"Are you sure? After all she's been through, do you expect her to trust the next vampire who comes along?"

 

"Well, I did." Toni winced. "But I had strong motivation. I was trying to help Bri." Tears threatened her once again. "We have to get her out of there."

 

"I agree. I don't like what those meds are doing to her. She's lost all her fight. She's not herself anymore."

 

"I know." Toni dragged in a shaky breath. She was barely retaining control over her emotions.

 

Carlos patted her arm. "It'll be all right, menina." He glanced in the rearview mirror. "What the hell is that?"

 

Toni glanced over her shoulder. The parking lot was well lit, and she spotted a short man, bundled up against the cold, trudging toward the front door of Romatech. He had a large black garbage bag slung over one shoulder. "He's carrying something kinda bulky."

 

"He?" Carlos glanced back, then shifted his gaze back to the mirror. "He doesn't show up in the mirror. All I see is a bag floating along in the air."

 

"Really?" Toni snapped down the visor to look in the mirror. Sure enough, the garbage bag was moving on its own. "That looks so weird. He must be a Vamp."

 

They sat in the car and watched the short man go through the front door.

 

"I wonder what he's got in the bag," Toni murmured.

 

Carlos snorted. "A dead body?"

 

Toni swatted him. "These Vamps aren't like that."

 

"You've known them for a week, Toni. How can you be sure what they're capable of?"

 

"They saved me when I was in trouble. Let's just hope they can save Sabrina." She opened the car door to get out. "I'll call you tomorrow."

 

Carlos waved, then drove back to the entrance gate.

 

Toni entered the large foyer with its gleaming marble floors and huge potted plants that concealed surveillance cameras and metal detectors. She turned down the hallway on the left, headed for the MacKay security office.

 

The short Vamp with the stuffed garbage bag was halfway down the hall. He stopped at a door and punched in a number on the keypad.

 

The door across the hall opened, and Shanna hurried out. She stopped. "Laszlo! How good to see you."

 

"Mrs. Draganesti." The short man bowed slightly. "How do you do?"