She answered their questions as civilly as her headache allowed, wishing all the while everyone would just leave her alone. They 'tutted' over the window, gouged the knife from the mahogany sideboard and eventually said they'd get back to her.
Not that she expected to hear from them anytime soon. Knife attacks, it seemed, weren't big news.
Especially when nobody was missing or dead.
By that time, Jake was back with her painkillers. She climbed wearily to her feet and gave him a tired smile. 'Thanks.'
'I've arranged for you to be put into the next suite. We have to get the window here fixed anyway.'
She nodded, though she had a suspicion changing location wasn't going to make a great deal of difference to whoever was after her. She collected her bag and followed him into the next suite. It was almost identical to the original one.
'I've already told Mark it'll be this afternoon before we can try to find Dale. Go get some sleep, Nik.
You look like shit.'
'Gee, thanks, Boss. It's nice to know you're always there with an encouraging word.'
He grinned and handed her the keycard. 'I'll head downstairs and keep an eye out for Michael.'
She glanced at her watch. 'It's barely even seven.'
'Yeah, but your boyfriend has a habit of turning up when he's least expected. I'd hate for him to walk in and find you like this. He can get pretty temperamental when it comes to your safety.'
She grinned. 'Anyone would think you were scared of him.'
The sudden seriousness in Jake's expression surprised her. 'Look, I know he would never hurt you, and probably not me—but I've seen what he can do, Nik. And part of me still does fear him.' He hesitated, then shrugged. 'It's not just the vampire factor, either.'
She touched his arm, squeezing gently. 'I know what you mean.' Because she did. She loved Michael, and she trusted him. But there had been a few times in the past when his reactions, his anger, had frightened her. He may have controlled his dark half, but it was still a part of him, and none of them could really afford to forget that.
Certainly Michael never did.
'Henry's stationed near your door, and there's another guard near the elevator.' Jake wagged a warning finger in front of her nose. 'No arguments, missy. They'll stay until Michael gets here.'
'Fine,' she muttered, too tired to argue any more. 'Wake me at twelve, and I'll try finding Dale.'
'You wake when you wake. Just get reception to page me when you do. Sleep tight.'
She watched him disappear out the door before heading into the bedroom. She grabbed a glass of water from the bathroom and took a couple of painkillers, then stripped and climbed into the party-sized bed.
Dreams that warned of death striking down someone close to her.
Someone she loved.
Chapter Four
Michael climbed out of the cab and glanced up at the sky. It was close to ten, but the fog had hung around, muting the full force of the sun. Even so, he could feel it itching across his skin.
He collected his bag and strode toward the hotel. He'd barely entered the lobby when the feeling that something was wrong hit him.
A feeling not helped when he saw Jake striding towards him.
'Michael,' Jake said, holding out his hand. 'Nice to see you again.'
He restrained the urge to read Jake's thoughts and shook his hand impatiently. 'What's wrong?'
Jake sighed. 'You're almost as bad as Nikki. There's no hiding a problem from either—' 'Is she okay?' he said sharply.
'She's fine. I'll take you there now.' Jake motioned Michael toward the elevator. Once the doors were closed, he continued, 'She was attacked this morning by a vampire. She took care of him, but he managed to nick her arm with a knife, and I think she overextended her abilities.'
Relief ran through him. At least that explained the haze of pain he'd been getting from her all morning. 'I gather it wasn't a random attack?'
Jake shook his head. 'He knew her name.'
'Did she get anything else from him?'
'No. He jumped through the window and fried rather than tell her anything.'
He frowned. That sounded more a compulsion than fear. If Nikki had overstretched her abilities, she certainly wouldn't have been much of a threat to the vampire—psychically, anyway. He could have escaped if he'd wanted to.
If it was a compulsion, it could mean real trouble. There weren't many vampires strong enough to force their will upon another brother of the night. Elizabeth had been capable of it. So was he. He knew of maybe three or four others, but none of them were currently in America. All of them were what he termed 'master' vampires —vampires who had lived long enough to fully understand and control all the gifts vampirism endowed.
And he had no doubt that this attack was somehow connected to the vampires who'd snatched the three women. It was too much of a coincidence, otherwise.
'How many people know she's staying here?'
'Besides me and Mary, only Mark. Nik's helping me find his wife.'
'Yes, I know all about that.' The elevator came to a halt, and the door opened, revealing a burly security guard. Michael glanced at Jake. 'Thanks for taking extra precautions.'
Jake smiled. 'I love her, too, you know.'
Michael nodded and tried to curb the growing need to see her. To take her in his arms and breathe in the sweet, warm scent of her. 'Has she tried to track Dale Wainwright yet?'
'No. But only because of the attack.'
At least he had something to thank the attacker for. He had no doubt she would have tried it otherwise— despite the dangers involved. Sometimes, she could be incredibly blind to her own safety.
Jake swiped the card through the lock. 'How did you know it was Dale Wainwright we're looking for?'
Michael waited until they were in the suite and the door closed to answer. 'The Circle sent me here to sort it out. We think a gang of vampires are behind the kidnappings.'
He dropped his bag on the sofa and walked over to the bedroom, pausing in the doorway to breathe deep. She smelled of cinnamon and vanilla. Of life and love, and everything he'd ever longed for.
She was asleep, facing away from him, shoulders bare and one arm exposed. His body stirred at the thought of holding her close, caressing the warm silk of her skin—something he could not do just yet. She was here, she was safe and, for now, that was all he needed to know.
'Oh great,' Jake said behind him. 'So Dale could be dead right now, for all we know?'
'Not necessarily. The first victim lasted almost two weeks before they killed her.' Two weeks that had surely been hell, but there was no need to tell Jake that. 'You want to show me where the attack against Nikki happened?'
Jake led him into the other suite, and he walked across to the window. The glass had yet to be replaced, and soot still dusted the balcony below them. 'What time did the attack happen?'
Jake frowned. 'A little before seven. Why?'
He shrugged. 'Just curious.' At that hour, the rising sun had little strength. The only way it could have killed Nikki's attacker was if the vampire was fairly new to his condition. If that were the case, even the sunrise would have been deadly. So how did he get into the hotel, if not via the streets?
'Has the Circle given you any idea what we're up against?' Jake continued.
Michael glanced toward him. 'We're?'
Jake's expression was resolute. 'You're not getting rid of either of us on this one.'
