Forbidden Nights with a Vampire(11)

 

Howard grinned, then cast a curious look at Phil. "I think that's when he became an Alpha."

 

"Cool," Phineas whispered. "Are you still keeping that Alpha stuff a secret?"

 

"Yes." Phil took a deep breath. "So, where did Connor go?"

 

"Oh, that was smooth, bro. We would have never noticed you changing the subject." Phineas motioned toward the monitors. "Connor's making the rounds."

 

Phil scanned the monitors and noted a blur of movement through the trees west of the parking lot. Connor was moving at vampire speed. "He's fast."

 

"Like the Flash, man." Phineas cocked his head. "I think he's slowing down. He must have seen something."

 

"There." Howard pointed at another monitor. "Someone's just teleported onto the grounds."

 

All three guards tensed, ready to spring into action.

 

Phil relaxed. "It's Jack."

 

Phineas lounged back in his chair. "I guess he's just getting back from Venice."

 

Howard helped himself to another doughnut. "You two going to his engagement party on Friday?"

 

"I am." Phil watched the monitors. Connor had met up with Jack in the woods.

 

"Me, too," Phineas added. "Man, have you noticed how many of the guys are getting lucky? Roman, Angus, Jean-Luc, Ian, and now Jack—they're all hooking up with hot-looking babes."

 

Phil edged behind the desk to fill a cup of coffee from the pot Howard kept on a credenza. "I'm happy for them."

 

"So am I, but where the hell is my hot babe?" Phineas stood and planted his fists on his hips. "I'm the Love Doctor. The chicks should be climbing all over me."

 

Howard shoved a small canister toward Phil. "Sugar?"

 

Phil shook his head.

 

"Not for a long time, man." Phineas paced across the room. "It's been months since I had any sugar."

 

Howard offered Phil a canister of Coffee-mate.

 

Phil shook his head. "I like it black."

 

"I like 'em black, too." Phineas suddenly halted. "But I'm not prejudiced, you know. I have never failed to jump a woman's bones based on her color or religion. The Love Doctor never turns a lady away."

 

"That's real sporting of you, Phineas." Phil took a sip of coffee. He noticed on the monitor that Jack and Connor had reached the side entrance. Connor swiped his card, then activated the hand sensor.

 

Phineas's shoulders slumped. "I just don't get it."

 

"Get what?" Howard poured himself a cup of coffee, then dumped in a huge amount of sugar.

 

"All the married Vamps seem really happy." Phineas resumed his pacing. "With just one woman. When there are so many hot chicks in the world, how can you settle for just one?"

 

"She has to be really special." And of all the women Phil had met in his twenty-seven years, it was Vanda who came to his mind. She didn't wear the facade of indifferent superiority like most Vamp women. She was raw, passionate, and painfully honest. She was in your face. She'd intrigued him from the start.

 

"I think it's called love," Howard said.

 

Phil flinched. "I wouldn't call it that. Infatuation, maybe."

 

Howard gave him an incredulous look. "You don't think Jack loves Lara? Or Roman loves Shanna? Or—"

 

"Oh, yeah." Phil realized he'd lost the trail of the conversation. "That's definitely love. I–I was thinking about…someone else."

 

Howard eyed him curiously. "Like who?"

 

Phil was saved when the buzzer sounded at the door. Connor had activated the security measures outside, causing the door to unlock. Connor and Jack walked in.

 

Jack smiled and shook hands as he greeted everyone. "You're all coming to the engagement party, yes? I want Lara to feel welcomed in the Vamp world."

 

"We're coming," Howard said.

 

"Where is Lara?" Phil asked.

 

"At her apartment," Jack answered. "I teleported her there first, so she could get some sleep. She's worn-out from sightseeing all day in Venezia."

 

"I'm glad ye're back." Connor stood next to the desk and folded his arms across his chest. "Phil just arrived tonight, too, so I'd like to catch everyone up to date."

 

"Good." Jack perched on the far corner of the desk.

 

Howard sat behind the desk, while Phineas and Phil took the chairs in front. When everyone was focused on Connor, he began.

 

"The latest information we have indicates that Casimir has moved to North America. We have no idea where he's setting up his base of operations, but we do know that he liked to visit his friend Apollo, in Maine. We're assuming he doesna know that Apollo and Athena have been killed."