"Apparently, Casimir knows about Jedrek's attempts to kill Vanda in the past," Phil said. "He's trying to finish the job, perhaps to honor his friend's memory."
Vanda clenched her hands together. Casimir had thousands of followers. Thousands of vampires who were eager to do his bidding. Panic bubbled inside her, growing and threatening to overwhelm her completely. She'd been hunted before. Jedrek and his wolves had hounded her for over a year. It had been terrifying, but at least there had only been a half dozen of them. Now there could be thousands…and no place to run. No place to hide.
Phil touched her shoulder, and she jumped.
"It's okay." He rubbed her shoulder. "They'll think you were killed in the explosion. We'll just keep you hidden—"
"I can't hide for centuries!" Vanda jumped to her feet and paced across the room.
"Oh dear." Pamela stood and dug a cell phone from her pants' pocket. "This is horrid, simply horrid."
"Are you calling for help?" Cora Lee asked.
"I'm seeing if Princess Joanna is still awake in London." Pamela punched in a number. "I'm feeling a little homesick for jolly ol' England."
Vanda strode toward her. "You're running out on me?"
"No offense, dear, but you're not the safest person to hang out with—Oh, Joanna! How are you? Would you mind terribly if I came for a visit?"
"I want to go, too." Cora Lee rose to her feet. "I've always had a hankerin' to see England."
"Did you hear that, Joanna?" Pamela asked. "Yes, there'll be two of us…Oh, I quite agree. It'll be a lovely holiday."
"I can't believe you're abandoning me!" Vanda yelled.
"One moment, please." Pamela pressed the cell phone to her chest. "Vanda, you know we love you, but there's simply no point in our staying. We'll just get in the way."
"That's true, actually," Phil said. "It's easier for me to protect one than three. And you wouldn't want your friends to be in danger."
Vanda glared at him. Dammit, he was right. She didn't want Pamela or Cora Lee in danger. But this hurt. She'd expected a little more loyalty from her friends.
"The club is gone, too," Cora Lee added. "You don't need us now."
Vanda's heart squeezed in her chest. Yes, her club was gone, but Cora Lee mentioned it like it was no more important than losing a broken plate. Didn't they realize it was her life? It was her great accomplishment. It was her freedom, her independence, her worth, her security. And she'd lost it. "Go ahead, then, and go! Who needs you?"
Pamela winced. "I'm afraid we're not as brave as you."
Cora Lee's bottom lip quivered. "I always wanted to be brave, but I'm too scared."
Vanda turned away to keep them from seeing the tears in her eyes. She'd lost the club. She was losing her friends.
"Phil," Pamela whispered. "Promise us you'll take care of her."
"I will. You have my word."
"God be with you, Vanda," Pamela said.
She glanced back just in time to see both Cora Lee and Pamela lean toward the cell phone to concentrate on Joanna's voice. Then they vanished.
She collapsed on the couch. Her club gone. Her friends gone. The nightmare had started again. The nightmare where she lost everyone she loved, and the bad guys hunted her down to kill her.
A clattering noise drew her attention. Phil had taken all the cups and saucers to the kitchen. A sudden realization hit her. She wasn't alone. Phil was with her. He'd sworn to protect her. Her heart expanded with tenderness and warmth.
Then another realization struck her, and her chest clenched tight. Karl had protected her, too, and it had cost him his life.
She couldn't do this to Phil. With a pang that reverberated through her entire body, she knew for certain that she loved him. And she couldn't let anything happen to him.
"You—" She cleared her throat. "You don't have to clean up after us."
"Actually, I do." He loaded the rinsed dishes into the dishwasher. "We can't leave any signs that you were here. And we need to leave soon. If they decide to verify your death, they'll come here first."
She needed a place to hide. But where? She'd spent most of her time in America safely sequestered in a harem in New York City. She couldn't hide in London with her ex-harem friends without putting them at risk. She couldn't hide in Texas with Maggie without endangering her and her family. "You don't think the townhouse is safe?"
"No." Phil walked toward her. "The Malcontents know about it. It has a good alarm system, but that doesn't stop them from invading."