All I Want for Christmas is a Vampire(83)

 

He climbed from his car, looking like a spy all dressed in black. He motioned toward the blackened area surrounded with orange cones. "What happened there?"

 

"Some vampires came by last night. Blew up a car and caused some injuries. Nothing major."

 

Carlos glanced at the burned area, frowning. "Are you saying your vampires don't play well with other vampires?"

 

"Mine are the good guys who drink from bottles. The bad ones are called Malcontents. They're the ones who attacked me and Sabrina. They hate the guys I work for."

 

Carlos gave her a worried look. "Toni, you've stepped into a war."

 

She shivered. "I know."

 

"You're cold. Let's get inside." He opened his trunk and removed a laptop and a long roll of white paper. "I brought the plans, so we can go over everything. We're doing it tonight, right?"

 

"Yes." At least she hoped Ian would agree to do it tonight.

 

Carlos motioned toward a duffel bag. "I packed some clothes and shoes for Sabrina. And some rope and duct tape, just in case."

 

"Good." She wondered once again if Carlos was more than an anthropology student.

 

He shut the trunk and walked with her to the front door. "Are you safe here?"

 

"I think so. The Vamps feel secure enough that they're having their big Christmas Ball tomorrow night."

 

"Partying in the face of danger? I think I like your Vamps." Carlos grinned as he opened the door. He entered, and his smile immediately faded. He sniffed, and a wary look crossed his face. "Careful." He held out an arm to block her entrance.

 

"What's wrong?"

 

"Danger," he whispered.

 

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER 18

 

 

 

 

"Carlos." Toni peeked around his broad shoulders. "There's nothing wrong."

 

"Who is that?" he whispered, motioning with his head toward the large man at the far end of the foyer.

 

"That's my supervisor, Howard," Toni whispered back.

 

Howard suddenly stiffened and turned to face them. His nostrils flared as his gaze riveted on Carlos. He limped forward. "You are Carlos?"

 

"Yes." Carlos watched Howard carefully.

 

"I'm Howard Barr. Can we have a word in private, please?" He motioned toward the security office.

 

Carlos nodded and strode down the hall with him.

 

What the hell? Toni inched forward so she could see the two men disappear into the security office. Was Howard gay? Though she could have sworn their reaction to each other had been one of suspicion, not attraction.

 

She wandered down the hall toward the security office. Sheesh, she didn't dare barge in on them. Her attention was momentarily snagged by the mysterious locked room across from the nursery. She tried the doorknob, but no luck.

 

She waited awhile, then the security office door opened. Carlos exited with a perplexed look on his face.

 

"Are you okay?" she asked.

 

"Yes." He strode toward her, carrying his laptop and roll of paper. "Something very strange just happened."

 

Toni winced. "You don't have to tell me."

 

"Howard just offered me a job."

 

"What? You would work as a day guard like me?"

 

Carlos nodded. "I happen to have some…skills that are highly valued at MacKay Security and Investigation."

 

"Like martial arts?"

 

"That, too." Carlos ran a hand through his long black hair. "I warned Howard that I've always been a wanderer, but he said they had clients all over the world who needed guarding, and I could transfer from one place to another."

 

"Did he tell you about the Vamps?" Toni whispered.

 

"No, he called them clients. I'm going to consider it. The pay is excellent, and I have a lot of expenses."

 

"That's true." Toni knew Carlos was supporting a few orphans in Brazil. It was one of the things that had first attracted her and Sabrina to him. He was also paying for his education and research trips to South America and Malaysia. "Howard's a nice boss. He used to be a defensive lineman for the NFL, but he's as sweet as a teddy bear."

 

Carlos gave her a sharp look. "Yeah, I noticed. So where can we discuss the plans for Sabrina?"

 

Toni led him down the hall till she spotted a room labeled Conference. She peeked inside and flipped on the light. "This will do."

 

Carlos strode into the room and went straight to work, setting up his laptop, then spreading out the roll of white paper. "I drew the layout for Shady Oaks, so Ian will know exactly where to teleport." He tapped his finger on a rectangle labeled Ward Three.