All I Want for Christmas is a Vampire(77)

 

"I'm sorry I was rude to you," he said. "I really doona want to date anyone else."

 

"That's good." Tears filled her eyes. "I'm afraid I'm becoming very…selfish where you're concerned."

 

His smile looked a bit gruesome with all the blood on his face. "Can ye help the wounded get back inside?"

 

She looked around and saw that most of the Vamps had risen to their feet and were grabbing their weapons.

 

Wincing, Ian leaned over to retrieve his sword. "I need to check the grounds. They could still be here."

 

"You're not in any shape to fight."

 

"They're only flesh wounds." He flexed his bloody hand around the hilt of his sword. "Dougal, Phineas, come with me!"

 

The three bloodied warriors dashed toward the woods.

 

Connor lifted Gregori in his arms and strode back to Romatech, Radinka jogging alongside them. Roman helped Howard Barr to his feet.

 

"I can walk." Howard limped toward the front door with a slash in one leg.

 

Shanna ran to Roman, still holding Constantine in her arms. Other than a few scrapes, Roman looked fine.

 

"Hurry back inside," Roman warned them. "There could be more explosions."

 

In the distance, sirens wailed.

 

Toni wondered how they would explain this to the police. She glanced around the parking lot. It wouldn't do to have swords or wooden stakes lying about. She spotted a black garbage bag on the ground next to a black Lexus.

 

She peeked inside. Video games? Had Gregori brought these to work? They were all brand-new and unopened.

 

"I'll take that." Dougal grabbed the bag and zoomed to the front door.

 

"But—" Toni jumped when Ian suddenly appeared beside her. "What's the deal with the sack of toys?"

 

"A secret Santa thing." Ian ushered her toward the front door. "The woods are clear, but we could tell where they'd been hiding."

 

"Yeah, man." Phineas dashed up to them. "The freakin' cowards teleported away."

 

Toni winced at the blood on Phineas's face. "You two need some medical attention."

 

"Roman and Laszlo can patch us up," Ian said.

 

They entered the foyer and found everyone headed to a waiting room. Toni glanced down the hall and spotted Dougal with the garbage sack of video games. He was opening the locked door across from the nursery.

 

"Come." Ian ushered her into the waiting room.

 

Father Andrew was praying with Radinka. Others were sitting silently as if the full force of shock had finally overcome them.

 

Connor was pacing back and forth, with Constantine following him, mimicking Connor's gait. When the little boy spotted Toni, he ran up to her with his arms raised. She picked him up and gave him a hug.

 

"Roman and Shanna are in the operating room with Gregori," Connor explained. "He was hit the worst."

 

"Will he be all right?" Toni realized Constantine had closed his eyes and was falling asleep on her shoulder.

 

"He has some major cuts and burns," Connor said, "but if he makes it till sunrise, he'll be able to heal during his death-sleep."

 

The operating room door opened, and Roman and Shanna stepped out.

 

"Gregori will be fine," Roman announced, and everyone sighed with relief.

 

Radinka rushed forward. "Can I see him?"

 

Roman nodded. "He's conscious. Laszlo's giving him a blood transfusion."

 

After Radinka went into the operating room, Roman moved toward Connor and Ian and lowered his voice. "Some bad news. Gregori said a Malcontent did a Vulcan mind meld on him, whatever that is, and the Malcontents now know about the Stay-Awake drug."

 

"Then they'll know ye're the inventor," Connor said. "I want to take you and yer family into hiding tonight."

 

Roman frowned. "Very well. But I want to tend the wounded first and deal with the police."

 

"Howard can deal with the police. We're leaving as soon as possible," Connor ordered. He turned to Ian. "Ye'll be in charge here."

 

"But what about the Christmas Ball?" Shanna asked.

 

Connor shrugged. "'Tis no' important."

 

"Of course it is," Shanna protested. "Everyone's coming. We have to do it, Roman."

 

"I'm more concerned about your safety—"

 

"We'll be safe," Shanna interrupted. "Angus and Emma are coming. And Jean-Luc, Zoltan, Giacomo—they'll all be here. You can't get any safer than that."

 

Roman exchanged a glance with Connor. "She makes a good point. We'll have a small army here."