But that wasn’t the point. Even if Gabriel didn’t participate, it didn’t change anything about the fact that she’d caught him getting a blowjob from some woman.
“I suppose he’s just more secretive about it. Doesn’t change anything about the facts,” Maya insisted.
“Which are?” Yvette prompted.
“There was a woman at the house when I left.” That was all she would say. Yvette could draw her own conclusions. And by the looks of it she was a very smart woman. She would put two and two together and make sure it added up.
“The witch? You’re talking about the witch?” Then she had the audacity to chuckle. “You honestly think he has something going with a witch?”
“She was in his room,” Maya hissed under her breath, careful not to raise her voice in case the rogue was near.
“And I’m sure there’s an explanation for that.”
Maya crossed her arms over her chest. She’d already heard his explanation: it’s not what it looks like. As if that explained why he’d had his pants down his thighs with the woman’s head in his crotch. He was just the same kind of philanderer as the vampires Yvette was referring to, the only difference being that Gabriel liked to conduct his debauchery in private. And Maya wanted no part of it.
“I -“
Yvette put a finger on her lips. “Shh.”
Maya’s ears perked up. She stopped breathing and listened for any sound from the corridor outside. In the distance she could hear footsteps. Somebody was coming. She exchanged a look with Yvette who nodded. She was trying to make out what direction the footsteps were coming from when she realized that there was more than one person approaching.
Maya ignored the chill that settled on her skin and tightened like a glove around her neck. She could sense him – he was near. Her grip tightened on the stake she still held in her hand. She wanted to sink back deeper into the closet, but in the next instant the door was ripped open.
Light flooded the room and for a millisecond she felt blinded.
“Thank God it’s you,” Yvette exclaimed and stepped out into the corridor. Maya caught a glimpse of red hair before Yvette blocked the person out with her body. Then another set of heavy footsteps rushed closer.
“Where is she?” Gabriel’s frantic voice echoed in the hallway.
A moment later, he’d pushed Yvette and the other vampire she now recognized as Ricky aside. He pulled her into his arms.
Maya had no time to protest before he took her mouth and kissed her. This wasn’t the tender kiss he’d bestowed on her earlier: it was fierce, demanding, desperate. She was too stunned to do anything but react to him. Her body melted into his and allowed him to invade her mouth with his seeking tongue.
Vaguely, she heard others arrive behind him, but everything was a blur. Gabriel demanded her full attention. It took her a full minute to gain control over herself and to remember what he’d done to her. Just because she was safe now didn’t mean she’d forgive him for betraying her.
She shoved against his chest and swung her hand back to slap him.
But her action was cut short – he’d caught her wrist just before her palm connected with his face.
There was a flash of red in his eyes, but when he spoke his voice was calm. “You might think I deserve that, but I don’t. You and I have some talking to do.” He released her wrist.
And just then, Maya’s stomach growled. Damn, she was starving, and Gabriel’s taste on her lips reminded her all too much of what his blood tasted like. She pushed the hunger away. Somebody else was more important than herself. “I need to find Barbara.”
The silence that followed her statement was eerie. Maya looked at the assembled vampires: Thomas, Zane, Ricky, Yvette, and another one she hadn’t met before. He was as broad and as big as a football player, and his hair was raven black and reached to his shoulders. Her perusal of him was cut short when Gabriel put his hand on her arm. She tossed him an annoyed glare, but he ignored it.
“Barbara is dead. I’m sorry,” Gabriel said.
Had he not reached for her and wrapped his strong arms around her instantly, Maya would have fallen when her knees buckled at the horrific news. Dead?
“Oh, God, no!” Her voice broke.
“I’m taking her home,” Gabriel informed his colleagues as he lifted Maya into his arms. “Zane, Amaury, you get access to the security tapes and see if the murder was captured on camera.” They nodded.
Maya felt far away while Gabriel issued his orders. All she could think about was her two friends: dead. And all because of her.
“Yvette, Ricky, stay together and see what you can find on the seventh floor. Thomas, get Eddie here. I want you to work in pairs only.
Nobody stays on their own. Is that understood?”
“Eddie’s already on his way,” Thomas confirmed. “Don’t you want one of us to come to the house with you?”
Gabriel snarled. “Existing evidence to the contrary, I’m more than capable of protecting Maya myself. Now go, all of you. You know what to do. Let’s get this bastard.”
Twenty-four
Gabriel parked Samson’s Audi in the garage and killed the engine.
He glanced toward the passenger seat and cringed. Maya hadn’t said a single word since they’d left the hospital. When she opened the door and stepped out of the car, her movements were robotic, as if she was sleepwalking.
Gabriel followed her upstairs. In the hallway he took her hand and led her into the living room. Carl appeared instantly. “Can I get you anything?” His voice was quiet as if he sensed Maya wasn’t well.
Gabriel shook his head. “Thanks, Carl. Just make sure we aren’t disturbed.”
Carl nodded and closed the door behind him, leaving him alone with Maya who had turned away from him and stared into the fire.
“It’s all my fault.”
Gabriel crossed the distance between them and stopped behind her.
“No.
