Chapter 1
The sound was coming from the dark alleyway.
Layna Castle stood at the opening of that self same dark alley, the street light above her playing in the thick blackness of her silky hair. She closed her pale blue eyes for just a moment; letting her other senses tell her what her eyes couldn't.
She heard three, one was breathing quickly, fear making him or her hyperventilate. The other two weren't breathing. Those were the two she concentrated upon. She stepped lightly into the alley, opening her eyes to let them guide her way now that she could see in the dimness of the shadows.
The victim, a frightened college student was huddled in a corner, her back pack pressed to her chest, doing her best to stay out of reach. The two vampires were playing with her. They weren't hungry. They were bored and hunting was something to do to take the edge off. Layna could see they weren't hungry, they eyes were clear, their fangs still hidden.
"Come on, babe, come out and play," one said, not hearing Layna as she stepped up behind him. It took little more than a second for her hands to come out, grabbing his chin with one hand and yanking hard. His neck broke with an ease that spoke of long practice. He fell to the ground, and she stepped on him, her three inch silver tipped spiked heel going cleanly into his heart.
The burst of flames and then ashes was his partner's first clue that his buddy wasn't playing anymore. He turned, seeing Layna and the small pile of sparks and ash that was all that was left of his friend. "You bitch," he growled, his face changing as his fangs grew. "Are you ready to die, bitch?" he growled, taking his first step toward him.
Layna calmly lifted the crossbow she held, letting loose the wooden bolt. It shot through the vampire, tearing through his heart and leaving a gaping hole. "I am a bitch," she said, reaching out and grabbing hold of his chin as he quickly burst into ash and sparks. For a single instant, she held his skull in her hand and then it too was gone, leaving her holding nothing more than a small pile of ash. She let it fall to the ground.
"A-are t-they dead?" the girl asked, startling Layna.
"Yeah, that's what happens when they burst into flames," she said sarcastically. "Usually they run," she said, turning to look down at the girl.
"W-who?" she said, her voice shaking as well as her body.
"The victims," Layna said. "Specifically ... you."
"I-I wanted to thank you."
Layna took a better look at the small girl. She wasn't as small as she seemed. "Don't you know how dangerous it is in this neighborhood?"
"There was a party," she said, shrugging.
"Well if you're going, shouldn't you go?"
"I don't think I'm up to a party now."
Layna glanced around, hearing the sound of an engine and seeing a long, low riding black Monte Carlo pull by the alley. She groaned, rolling her eyes and pushing her hair off of her forehead.
"Then you should go, girlie. I'll walk you out to where you can get a cab." She started down the alley, her long strides easily eating up the distance. She heard the girl squeak behind her and stopped, waiting for her to catch up.
Layna sighed. "Come on," she urged the girl. She yanked up the zipper of the form fitting black leather vest. Ducking her head, she grabbed the girl's arm and hurried her down the sidewalk, glancing back once and sighing with relief. The Monte Carlo was no where to be seen.
It took all of ten minutes to shove the girl in a cab and send her on her way despite her effusive amount of thanks. Layna sighed. Her feet hurt, her head was buzzing and she was so tired, she just wanted to go home and climb into bed. But she couldn't, not yet.
"Layna!"
Her shoulders lifted at the sound of her name shouted in that no nonsense voice. She turned, seeing the Monte Carlo pull up to the curb next to her. The window was down and Donovan's head was out the window.
"You look like a dog when you do that," she said, letting the sarcasm drip from her tongue.
"And you look like someone from a bad Vampire movie. Black leather? I always thought you had more taste."
"And I always thought you had a brain. What the fuck do you want, Donovan?" She lifted one foot, wiping the blood that was on the silver heel off with her fingers.
"You are supposed to be working for me," he grouched. "You haven't check in with me in two days."
"It would have been three if you hadn't found me," she said, cocking a hip and giving him a look that held little in the way of respect.
"Well we did. Now, are you taking the bodyguard job or not?"
Layna rubbed absently at the scar on her shoulder. "You need to know now?"
"Callan Wolfe is a big man, kitten. When he looks for a body guard for his youngest daughter, you don't make him wait for an answer."
"Donovan, you call me kitten again and I'm going to take that ugly tie and string you up to a light post with it." She sighed. Freelancing by killing off the vamps she found at night didn't pay the bills. But the idea of pandering to a ditzy rich bitch didn't sound any better. "There's nothing else?"
"Sorry, kit ... Layna. Callan Wolfe wants the best.
"Fuck!" she growled. "She'll be in town starting when?"
"You got the weekend off, toots, and then they want you there on Monday. You'll go to the airport and pick her up off their private jet."
"Fine," she snapped, turning on her heel she started down the sidewalk. Donovan followed her, waving for his driver to keep up with her.
"Where are you going?" he called.
"Out to kill something so I don't kill you," she snarled back at him. "You've got your answer, leave the details on my voice mail."
She stomped off, ducking down an alley.
"Layna?" he called. "Dammit Layna," he shouted. "You don't use your voice mail!"
There was blood on her arms. She ignored the other people in the elevator, though she growled at the small orange dog that yipped at her feet. Getting off on the fourth floor, she dug her keys out of the small pocket sewn in her black leather pants. She stuck the key in her door, opening it slowly. When nothing jumped out at her, she reached in and flipped the switch, sending light through out the apartment.
Layna walked inside, closing the door behind her and locking the three heavy duty locks that Donovan teased her about every time he came to her apartment. They made her feel safe and she wasn't going to be made to feel stupid for it.
Dropping her keys on the hall table, she caught sight of herself in the small mirror hung by the door. "Oh shit," she whispered. Her hair was a mess, mussed by the last vamp. He'd thought he could take her and he almost had. Her reaction time was down and she was tired. It had been stupid for her to think she could go up against him.
Limping into the bathroom, she closed the door, unzipping her vest and letting it fall to the ground. Sighing, she reached into the shower and turned it on before sitting on the toilet and unzipping her boots.
Layna rubbed her feet, moaning in delight at the relief of having her boots off. She tugged at the button of her leather pants, pulling them off her legs and leaving them with the vest. Standing in only the socks she had on her feet and a pair of tiny, red silk panties she leaned against the sink to stare in the mirror. Dark circles were under the pale blue beauty of her eyes. Her cheeks were just as pale, though a slash of blood stained one cheek.
She slid her panties down and off her feet, pulling off the socks as well before she turned away from the mirror. Layna was leanly muscled, her body long and lithe. Her breasts were full, rounded with tight pink tips that always seemed to be hard. She had a slim waist and a flat stomach that flared out into round hips. Over her hip bone was another long scar, the flesh welted like only a burn could do. Her body was a mass of bruises and she forced herself to stand under the hot water, letting it burn life back into her sore body.
Her muscles loosened and she yawned, her own fangs showing. She was careful to keep them hidden, especially when she was hunting. A vampire hunting one of their own would not be a welcome thing even though she wasn't exactly a regular vampire.
She was almost asleep standing up, her eyes closed, her head taking the brunt of the water pressure. Arms came around her, hands reaching under her arms to cup her breasts. She went from half asleep to attack in less time than it took most vamps to blink. Her hand was on the intruder's throat and her knee was pressed against his balls. One false move and she'd take him down. Then she caught a glimpse of the intruder's face and groaned.
"Dominic, go home. How the fuck did you get in here anyway?"
Dominic motioned with his hands for her to let go of his throat so he could answer.
"Oh, yeah, sorry. You surprised me."
"I picked your locks," he said, his voice a mere croak.
"You did not," she said then smacked the wall next to his head. "Fuck! Now I have to get the locksmith out here again. I should drain his ass, he told me those locks were pick proof."
Dominic stared at her, waiting for her to get over being mad. They were lovers, or at least had been until Layna got mad at him for wanting too much with her. But he couldn't help it. Layna was ... perfect.
"What the hell are you doing here anyway?" Layna asked, leaning back in her shower so that she could wash her hair.
"You used to like it when I would come over and help you get clean, then you'd help me get clean and then we'd go see about getting each other sweaty again, remember?" he asked.
"Dom, you know damn well we aren't doing that anymore. It was fun, but it's over. Get used to it and go find another girl's locks to pick, okay?"
She ducked under the water again after soaping her hair, feeling the suds slide through the sleek black length of it, and missed what he said. But when she opened her eyes, she could see his feelings in the puppy brown of his eyes, so sad, so trusting.
"God dammit, why do you make me feel like I kicked a dog? I don't have anything to be guilty about. I told you at the beginning that I didn't want serious, just someone to get rid of the rest of my pent up energy. That's what we had until you had to fall for me. Dammit Dom, that's it."
She grabbed him by the back of the neck and pushed him out of the shower, reaching out and grabbing a towel to hold against her body. Pushing him in front of her, she gathered his clothes and handed them to him without giving him a chance to put them on, then she went to the door of her apartment, unlocked all three locks and pushed him out the door. "Go home and leave my locks alone. Next time I won't be so nice," she told him with narrowed eyes.
"But ... Layna," he said, his clothes falling to the floor as he held his hands out to here. "I can't help how I feel."
"And I won't be able to help ripping out your throat in another minute," she said, feeling the water that was dripping off her soak the carpet in front of her door. "Go home and leave me alone."
"Am I interrupting something?"
The words came from a tall, well built man whose eyes dropped to where her haphazard hold of the towel let him see almost anything he wanted. Layna saw his eyes drop and cursed succinctly, quickly pulling up the towel and wrapping it more securely around her. "Who are you and what do you want?" she asked, stepping further away from her door.
She reached out and grabbed Dom as he tried to go back into her apartment, her grip on his throat a tight one until he squealed "okay" and then grabbed his clothes and ran.
The stranger chuckled, watching Dom's naked ass running down the hallway to where his own apartment was just down and across the hall from her. "Boyfriend troubles?"
"More like puppy dog troubles, he has a crush."
"He has good taste," the man said, his eyes roaming over her barely covered skin.
"I could say the same," Layna said, her eyes widening at the sight of him. He wore a long leather duster, one she was drooling over. What was under it was well worth drooling over as well. He stood probably a good head and a half taller than she, which was something she'd never experienced in a man. It made her feel tiny, another strange sensation. His hair was golden curls that fell well past his shoulders, silky strands that had her hands itching to touch. His eyes, now that he'd let the sunglasses he wore drop down his nose, were green, the color of spring leaves as they first opened on the trees. His body was muscular, wide shoulders and a narrow waist that slid into a pair of well-worn denim jeans she'd love to run her hands over.
"Well, now that we have the mutual admiration out of the way, did you want something or can I go back to my shower?"
"What if I wanted to go back to your shower with you?" he asked.
"Then I'd have to ask you your name. I don't shower with strangers," she said, enjoying the husky sound of his laughter.
"I'm Tynan Stavaros and I know you have to be Layna Castle. I was told to look for a beautiful woman who knew how to take care of herself." He held out his hand, and she put hers into it, amazed once more just by the size of him.
"Told by who?" she asked.
"Your manager, Donovan. He told me where I could find you. We'll be working together for the next few weeks."
"Aww, now that is too damn bad, gorgeous. I don't shower with people I work with or for."
"Can't you make an exception?" he grinned, his green eyes darkening as he moved a bit closer.
"Nope, I went that route once and I almost ended up dead. Sorry. I guess we'll have to wait until the job is done," she shrugged her shoulders, causing one side of her towel to begin to droop again. Layna smiled as he watched it slide before she grabbed it just before it would leave her exposed. "So was there a reason for this meeting? I mean, I left my water running when I yanked stalker boy out of there."
"Well, heaven forbid you run out of hot water. Here, I'll just come in with you. We can talk while you shower." Tynan grinned winningly, waving for her to precede him.
"Nice try, stud. It isn't going to work though. Tell you what, I have some beer in my fridge, you give me a couple minutes to get cleaned up and then we can discuss anything you want over one of them."
Tynan considered for a moment and then grinned. "Sure thing."
Layna gave him a cautious look and her eyes narrowed in warning. "Just remember, slugger, my manager made a point of telling you that I know how to take care of myself."
"I'm the perfect gentleman," he said, holding his hands up in surrender.
"Yeah," she laughed, but she turned back and went into her apartment. "Through there, the beers in the fridge." She started to drop the towel as she closed the door in his face, letting him get a glimpse of her before it clicked shut. A moan from the other side of the door made her laugh and she slipped back into the shower, finishing cleaning up. Instead of the usual odorless soap she usually used, she splurged, opening the bottle of expensive bath soap that had been a gift from Donovan. She'd never thought she'd use it, but the scent that came from the thick suds was soft and exotic, pleasing to her senses.
Finishing her shower, she grabbed a dry towel, picking up her leather clothes and putting it in the bag she kept in the bathroom for work clothes. Her robe was on the back of the door, so she wrapped her hair up in a towel and threw on the short, terry cloth robe.
Tynan was sitting at her small table, a bottle of beer in his hand. He stood as she walked in, making her smile.
"I guess you are a gentleman," she said, taking the beer from his hand. He'd opened it for her and she brought it up to her lips, savoring the taste of the cold brew. "Thank you."
"You're welcome," he said, smiling. "Mr. Wolfe will be pleased."
"Oh, is that why you're here, to make sure I'm good enough for the vaunted Wolfes?" She sat down in the other end of the table.
"Well, he is concerned since his daughters were both kidnapped before and held in some kind of mad scientist's lab."
"You're kidding, right?" She tipped her beer at him when he just held her gaze. "You're not kidding?"
"No, I'm not." He shook his head. "That's why I'm here. Tallie is very delicate."
"Delicate?"
"She was injured during the time she was there, and I don't think she's actually ever really recovered."
Tynan was having trouble keeping his attention on what he'd been sent here to do. Layna Castle was an enigma. He was having problems figuring her out. The scent of whatever she'd used on her skin was making it hard for him to concentrate.
Her kitchen had been a surprise. He didn't know what he expected but everything was neat as a pin and even her refrigerator had been organized. He just couldn't quite place where she fit.
"Tallie is young and she needs someone who'll understand her as well as protect her."
"Sounds to me like you don't think I'll be able to do the job."
"Well, she's a quiet young woman who's been through a hell of a lot. You seem more like the forward type."
Layna sat up, the towel tumbling from her head and falling to the floor. She picked it up, staring at him as his eyes went to the vee of her robe.
"So you think I'm fast and loose and not good enough for your precious Tallie, huh?" She stood, drinking down the rest of her beer. Slamming the bottle on the table, she started out of the room, stopping and turning to look back at him. "Tell your Mr. Wolfe that I'm too good to take his money. Tell him that I'm not right for the job, fuck I don't care what you tell him, but you need to get out of my apartment, now."
"Wait, Layna, wait just a minute."
"No, you wait. Get the fuck out and get out now."
She turned, waiting for him to pass her. He stopped, his hand out, almost touching her before he heard the growl that came from her throat.
At the door, he tried one last time, but she was having none of it. "Out," she said softly, her voice sounding even more threatening now then when she'd yelled.
Tynan turned and left.
Layna turned the locks and then grumbled as she thought of Dom, pulled the chain across and fastened it. She kicked the towel on the floor, disgusted with herself for her quick temper and with him for being so damned good looking that it almost fooled her into relaxing with him. "Men!" she growled. She pushed open her bedroom, pulling down the spread and shedding her robe. Falling face down in the bed, she beat her pillow, picturing Tynan's face.
Rolling onto her back, she stared up at her ceiling as the sky outside her black blinds and heavy drapes lightened to dawn. It took a few minutes but her eyes closed and she fell asleep, still angry.