Dangerous Retaliation (The Harcourte Vampyre Society Book 4) Page 2

  Releasing the man, she let him drop to the ground beside her as her laughter filled the night air. “Thank you for being an idiot, Detective. I’ve now made the first move in this very bloody and ugly game.”

  Tommy Gress didn't respond.

  Standing, Zola stared up at the heavens. “Come to me, Jolie Harcourte. Now begins the end of you and your family. It’s time for my revenge. I will have your death by my hands!”

  Her sick, shrill laughter proved one thing.

  Zola was deep within the madness.

  Picking the limp detective up from the ground, she was pleased when he lolled around in her arms like a broken doll. Carrying him toward the back of the house, she would plan the next step.

  It was time.

  She would be victorious.

  And before it was all over, Jolie Harcourte’s heart would be destroyed.

  ∞ Chapter One ∞

  Monday Evening

  Mistress Jolie Harcourte stood in the family room, pacing back and forth. Most of her family was gathered as they watched her move restlessly across the priceless Oriental rug.

  She wasn’t happy--at all.

  In fact, she was ready to do something incredibly rash.

  Just a few short hours before, she’d been unpacking the rest of her things as they enjoyed being home from France. That peace was interrupted by one more unnecessary problem.

  In all honesty, it was beyond frustrating.

  Jolie wanted to scream and rage at the mess that had fallen into their laps. Was it so difficult to have a peaceful night with the men she loved?

  Obviously, the universe hated her. That could be the only answer.

  When Jacques entered the room, the look on his face said it all. Their other mate had safely landed in Philadelphia--without them.

  For now, Jolie could begin breathing again. It didn't please her, but out of the three of them, Flynn wouldn’t be detected in the city.

  Being human had its advantages, and since the council believed him to be dead, he was the only shot Detective Tommy Gress had. There was no doubt that if they went there, the shit storm would bury them all.

  “My love, he’s safe. I just spoke to him. Flynn touched down, and he’s en route to the location.”

  She didn't look any less stressed.

  In fact, she looked worse.

  “He’ll arrive at our other hidden home, and soon. You need to stop worrying. Flynn is a damn good detective, and he’s blessed with our gifts. He can keep himself safe.”

  Jacques knew he was lying. He wanted to be there with their mate. Sending him alone didn't sit well with him, but going meant risking their lives. After all, they had been banned from returning to the city.

  If anything happened to Flynn, they’d never be the same again.

  Pulling Jolie into his arms, he tried to offer her some sort of calm. He had to stop the pacing. With each path across the room, death and electricity flowed from her.

  The family was getting freaked out. They’d already backed into the corners, trying to disappear into their surroundings.

  “Jacques, we should be there with him!” Jolie pulled away, not calmed by his touch.

  Again, she began nervously pacing.

  Just hours before, her human mate, Flynn Brogan, found out that his old partner had been abducted. When they heard who he was interviewing at the time, they knew.

  This was a trap.

  Of course her brave, sweet detective would insist on going to Tommy’s rescue. Why was she shocked?

  While she understood, Jolie also wanted to keep him safe. This was nothing more than a ploy to get to him. Jolie knew it in her heart, and now she was scared shitless.

  Then, add to it the danger the family faced if they even attempted to return. They had been forced to leave months ago, when they had taken justice in their own hands. Because they had slayed two of their own, without council’s permission, they were marked.

  That kind of betrayal was taken very seriously.

  There was no question that if they went with him, the second they crossed city lines, council would be alerted. Oh, she knew Zola. After all, she wasn’t new at this kind of game.

  Betrayal was an old enemy, and they’d crossed paths a few times.

  “Damn it!”

  Jacques moved toward her, taking her hand. “Jolie, my love, have faith in our Flynn. The society won’t know he’s there.”

  “We can’t let him do this alone, Jacques. He’s going to need us. After being there in daylight, Flynn’s going to be weaker. We’re of no help to him this far away. He’s going to have the blood lust, and then what?”

  He’d already worried about that. In Paris, Flynn wasn’t able to go very long without drinking from one of them. There, in Philly, he was without energy or blood. It was funny, but in truth he was like a child, and they were compelled to protect him.

  “Once Zola finds out he’s there, she’s going to take him to get us there anyway. He’s going to be bait too. Whether we go now, or later, it doesn’t matter. I’m her end game.”

  She had a point.

  As she stared at him, Jacques knew they had no choice. He wasn’t willing to risk the man they both loved.

  “Okay, we’ll go. I’ll get working on the plan. We can’t just rush into the city. Let me deal with the details.”

  She loved him so much. Going back into his arms, Jolie laid gentle kisses across his lips. “Thank you, my love.”

  “Don’t thank me, Jolie. He needs us.” Deep down, Jacques loved their mate too. They were a family, and he’d made a vow to keep both of them safe.

  Jolie, for the first time in hours, relaxed. After the mess they’d just lived through in Paris, they were supposed to take this week to regroup and heal.

  Flynn was still recovering from the attack that nearly took his life.

  “Mistress, you should have executed her while you had the chance,” stated Balzac from his chair in the corner.

  Ah yes, some things never changed.

  Even after returning, Balzac was still the thorn in her side. Jolie slowly turned to face the vampyre who was habitually pointing out her shortcomings.

  “Balzac, have we been gone for so long that you’ve forgotten your manners?” she asked, calling the darkness from deep within her body. The blackness ebbed from her, rolling across the room and toward the man.

  He looked panicked.

  There was the laughter of her mistress as she begged to be fed. Jolie simply observed in quiet enjoyment as the tendrils slid over Balzac’s body, caressing his flesh like a perverse lover.

  “Mistress, please,” he begged in fear, as the darkness tried to suffocate the life from him. “I apologize and meant no insult.”

  Jolie reached for control, pulling the inky darkness back to her. Once she slammed the exit closed, Jolie could actually hear the screams of frustration and hunger.

  “Don’t tell me what I should or shouldn’t have done, Balzac. Many of our family have commented on your uselessness to me, and I don’t listen to them, so be grateful for my sensibility and incredible compassion to those who piss me off.”

  “Yes, Mistress,” he said, bowing his blonde head. There was palpable tension in his voice and anger that he’d failed to cover.

  Jolie moved toward the family, glancing at the members sitting before her. It pained her that they were scared. Jolie knew she needed to calm down.

  Then she saw the baby.

  While she had been away with her mates, one of their family had given birth. Jolie loved children. They were a gift to her people.

  Kneeling in front of the woman, she saw the fear. “She’s beautiful, Mariana. What’s her name?”

  The young woman saw nothing but peace in her mistress’s eyes. It helped alleviate her fear. “My mate and I decided on Ariel. Would you like to hold her, Mistress?”

  Jolie sat back on the floor in delight. “Would you allow me the honor?”

  “Oh, Mistress, certainly! Ariel is the most
wonderful baby. She loves to be cuddled.” Mariana handed the infant to Jolie. Even though she feared her mistress when she was angry, she knew that having the most powerful vampyre in the house holding her child was an honor.

  Jolie lovingly gazed down at the baby and couldn’t help but relax as she cuddled her. The little, pink swaddled bundle of child was soothing. Jolie would have forgotten of all her troubles if it had only been her and the baby in the room.

  Jacques reached for her mind, and immediately, she opened for him.

  ‘You’re a natural, my love,’ he whispered, as his heart skipped a beat.

  ‘She’s beautiful, Jacques. I have this overwhelming desire to eat her up.’

  ‘I wouldn’t say that to her mother,’ he teased.

  As Jolie cuddled the baby, Jacques wondered what it would feel like to be a father, but then he pushed it away. It was something he simply wouldn’t know in his life. The male of their species was sterile for a reason. If they were to somehow have children through Jolie and Flynn, none would carry his likeness or genetics.

  It was simply a fact of his life.

  Survival of the fittest had claimed another victim. His kind couldn’t overtake the human population with their sterility.

  Jolie sighed before placing a delicate kiss on the vampyre infant’s forehead. It pained her to give her back. Mariana had been right. This baby was so very good.

  “She’s amazing, Mariana. I’m so pleased that she’s part of our family. If you need anything for her, or yourself, just inform Chloe or Clariel, and they’ll get it for you.”

  “Thank you, Mistress,” she answered, as she took her baby back from Jolie.

  “What will you do now, Mistress?” asked Balzac, looking somewhat nervous. He was definitely afraid to make her angry.

  Jolie returned to Jacques’s side before she glanced back at the family. This was a slippery slope. Was it a trap to get her into the city or was it a trick to get her to leave the family unprotected?

  This was a tough one.

  “If I go, I’m not worried about the council. I have Death on my side to keep me safe, but what worries me the most is leaving all of you here unprotected. This might be a trap to lure me away.”

  Jacques held her hand while she thought it through. He was well aware that this had to be her choice. Jolie was the head of the family, and despite what he and Flynn thought, it rested on her shoulders.

  “It’s not an easy decision,” replied Percy, one of the older vampyres. “If you do go, Mistress, we can keep everyone safe and defend our home. We know Zola’s plans, and we’ll be ready for anything.”

  She thought about it.

  “We can divide up and have the stronger vampyres and humans stay awake during the day to watch over us.”

  She took it all in.

  “We’ll be fine,” Balzac stated.

  Jolie had no doubt that the man would love to run the family. She could see it in the glint in his eyes.

  Yet, that wasn’t her biggest worry.

  Jolie knew the family could hold together for a short period of time. There was no doubt they were strong enough to fight off anything Zola might toss at them. She had to go with her instinct. It told her to head to Philadelphia.

  ‘Jolie, my love, we’ll go. They’ll be fine.’

  She was glad to have Jacques as her voice of reason. For so many centuries, she’d relied on his quiet reassurance. He was her backbone when the tough decisions needed to be made.

  ‘Thank you, Jacques. I needed to hear that from you. When I’m scared, you and Flynn are the only two I really trust.’

  He touched her back. ‘You’re my mate, but my allegiance is still with you in battle, Jolie. If this were a big mistake, I’d warn you.’

  She believed him.

  ‘We can’t leave Flynn out there alone. He’s going to suffer if he can’t feed from you daily. In two days, he’ll be an edgy mess, and that means Zola could get to him. I don’t want to leave him out there to fend for himself.’

  Her heart pounded.

  ‘We need to leave immediately, Jacques. I won’t let him get hurt. I love him as much as I love you. I wouldn’t let either of my mates risk this alone.’

  He was well aware.

  ‘I’ll contact the chief of police in Philadelphia. I can guarantee that he’s going to want our assistance with this. It’ll give us all the inside information, and all the files Tommy was working on.’

  She agreed. ‘Thank you, Jacques. As always, you’re what I need to pull it all together.’

  ‘We’re a team, my love. Flynn needs us. We’re going to him. It’s as simple as that.’

  ‘Is it wrong that I’d risk the family for one man?’

  He stared at her. ‘Never. I’d do the exact same thing.’

  And he would--especially this man. Flynn was very important to them.

  Jolie turned to her family, her mind made up. “Balzac, I’m leaving you and Percy in charge of the family. I need you to sleep at opposite times. That way, all of the family can rest in peace.”

  They nodded.

  “No one leaves alone, especially the weaker family members. Make sure that they’re escorted at all times. Balzac, you will stay awake during the day with Mina. You’re older than Percy and stronger. Percy will handle the night shift with the remaining male vampyres. You have my permission to kill first, and then ask questions. If either of you fail, and there is bloodshed, someone won’t be happy when I return.”

  The men didn't flinch. They knew she wasn’t kidding, and they were up to the task.

  Jolie looked around the room and noticed Clariel and Mathew in the back of the group. “Clariel, I need you to remain with Mina and help her. If possible, I’d like you to remain awake during the day with her.”

  “Yes, Mistress,” she answered, still in mourning over the loss of her mate.

  Jolie noticed that she appeared to be a little calmer. Giving her a duty and responsibility might be cathartic and distracting.

  Jolie’s focus then went to Mathew. The vampyre was trying to remain as expressionless as possible, and she knew he was practically pleading to join them on their trip. Slipping effortlessly into his mind, she could hear him begging much like an excited child.

  “Yes, Mathew, you’ll be joining us. It’ll be good experience for someone training to be a guardian.”

  “Thank you, Mistress,” he replied, standing a little taller.

  Jolie couldn’t help but notice the look of satisfaction on Balzac’s face at the mention of her new guardian.

  Great.

  She’d made him happy.

  Hell had apparently frozen over.

  “Chloe, Mathew, we need to go pack.”

  She took one last look at the trusting faces around her. Jolie could only hope she didn't just cost each and every one of them their lives.

  That was a lot of guilt to carry on her shoulders.

  * * * H a r c o u r t e * * *

  Philadelphia

  Monday Night

  He felt out of place.

  As Detective Flynn Brogan walked through the silent home that he, Jacques, and Jolie owned, he was uneasy. Maybe it was because of what was happening in Philadelphia, but mostly he was pretty sure it was because he missed his mates.

  No, that wasn’t exactly true.

  He desperately wanted to be with them.

  Philly drudged up old memories. Add in the blood lust he was beginning to suffer from, it was making his whole body tense.

  Flynn needed them, but he couldn’t risk their lives. Being undead, the other vamps in the city would know they were there. His only hope of getting Tommy Gress back alive was to skate under the council’s radar.

  Yeah, unless that bitch Zola ratted his ass out. That was why he was wary and packing silver bullets in all his guns. It was a sad testament to his life when he’d gone from one sidearm to sometimes four.

  It was like Rambo meets the undead.

  He would have laughed if i
t wasn’t his life.

  Now he was forced to wander their backup hidey-hole all alone.

  Well, it sucked.

  He missed Jolie, the way she laughed, felt, and tasted. This trip was going to be pure torture. Why he thought that he could survive without them was beyond him.

  Already, Flynn could feel the blood lust rising up as it threatened to strangle him. It wanted to control him, and he couldn’t let it. There were no options other than carrying on. He wasn’t feeding from anyone but his mates, and that was all that there was to say about it. The idea of grabbing a blood snack from a stranger made him want to freak out.

  Until he could get back, he was going to have to go blood free. At the mere thought, his stomach grumbled. It was funny. Just last year, a sandwich did the same thing. Now?

  Food wasn’t his friend.

  As he continued to think about his mates’ blood, his body ached, and his fangs wanted to descend into his mouth. Flynn blamed that on their lingering scent in the quiet house. It was going to be incredibly hard to focus while they were apart.

  Once inside their quarters, Flynn found the giant bed they had once shared, and he was bereft. Dropping his bag on the floor, he sat there for a minute until the uneasiness settled.

  He could feel her around him.

  How? He didn't know.

  “Okay, Flynn, get it together. You’re a cop and there isn’t anyone here but you,” he muttered out loud, startling himself with the sound of his voice through the empty room.

  This wasn’t going to be easy.

  It was better if he handled the basics, pushing his mates from his mind.

  Pulling out his guns, Flynn checked to make sure each and every one was filled with silver bullets. When he was satisfied that the three Glocks were ready to go, only then did he breathe a little easier.

  Thankfully, the house was stocked with his weapons. While Jacques would only need a knife and could easily trick the TSA’s to get it on a plane, he wasn’t that skilled.

  Yet.

  A gun set off alarms.

  Here, in their backup house, he had what he needed, and Flynn was grateful.

  “Okay, Flynn. You need to get to the scene of the abduction,” he stated to himself. Even now his pulse jumped. It was dark out, and he was going to wander to the spot where a vamp took his friend.