Blood Vengeance Read online

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  Cobblestone Press

  www.cobblestone-press.com

  Copyright ©2007 by Bronwyn Lee

  First published in 2007

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  NOTICE: This work is copyrighted. It is licensed only for use by the original purchaser. Making copies of this work or distributing it to any unauthorized person by any means, including without limit email, floppy disk, file transfer, paper print out, or any other method constitutes a violation of International copyright law and subjects the violator to severe fines or imprisonment.

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  CONTENTS

  Dedication

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Epilogue

  Author Bio

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  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  Blood Vengeance

  Copyright© 2007 Bronwyn Lee

  ISBN: 978-1-60088-183-1

  Cover Artist: CoverVan

  Editor: Leanne Salter

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.

  Cobblestone Press, LLC

  www.cobblestone-press.com

  Dedication

  To my partner, Kyle, who puts up with all my oddities.

  [Back to Table of Contents]

  Prologue

  She looked into his brown eyes. As his sharp teeth pierced her neck, she exultantly thought, So this is life, as it ebbed away, enveloping her in blackness.

  [Back to Table of Contents]

  Chapter One

  She moved gracefully through the night as she followed her target. He was a big man with silver hair and should have been slow due to his size, but appearances were deceiving. This man could move as lithe as a dancer when he so wished. Looking at him caused her heart to constrict with the pang of loss, as if it were yesterday instead of years ago.

  Mind on the job, Kayla. She clenched her jaw and sucked in her breath through her nose, unsure if she'd spoken out loud. Her target never stopped, and she let her breath ease out without a sound, shaking her head with disgust at her slip.

  Relieved, she moved along the rooftops, feeling the changes under her feet as they moved from the main part of Brisbane into Fortitude Valley. The roof styles aided in keeping her hidden, and the shadows were extra deep since the new moon would not appear for another night.

  Dan Givanni, her target, checked behind him at regular intervals, stopping his meandering route to listen, cocking his head doglike.

  He's good. She pursed her lips in reluctant appreciation. I'm better, though. She had the advantage of a hundred years of hunting practice, giving her an edge he'd never have.

  She knew never to deviate from being careful; being silent and patient. If she did, it could cost her life. She had first-hand experience of what happened when the rules were ignored.

  Givanni checked a little-used side street, looking behind the trash bins. Once satisfied no one was hiding anywhere, he stood on the path, waiting.

  Kayla hunkered down so there was no a chance of him seeing her silhouette. She listened and scanned the area. With her sharp eyesight, she examined the wall below her and saw an old fire escape on which she could perch. It would give a better view and provide more cover. Keeping silent, she made her way to the escape, then carefully pulled her camera out of her pocket, focused it on Givanni, and took a couple of quick pictures. She had to get this right and, after so many months of waiting for this meeting, she didn't want to mess it up. She wouldn't get a second chance.

  A few minutes later, she heard the quiet footsteps of another person arriving in the alley. She zoomed in the camera focus on the new arrival and started snapping photos in quick succession once he was in view, the night vision on the camera making the scene as clear as day. The second man checked the area just as thoroughly as Givanni had, scanning for intruders. Not once did they look up.

  She'd learned over the years that people rarely looked up. And if they did, they weren't really looking. They didn't believe someone would be above them. Still, she made sure she was well disguised. Her clothes were dark, selected so they would blend her in. Her dark hair wouldn't give her away, and she'd darkened her pale features to ensure they didn't stand out. She didn't want to risk anything.

  The men approached each other. Her enhanced senses allowed her to hear their hushed voices.

  "You got the money, Givanni?” The smaller man looked over his shoulder as he spoke. He was Aaron Jackson, second in command of a large cartel from overseas. It was more powerful than the Givanni family, and she knew Givanni was making a smart move. By getting in with the group, he would be able to maintain his control of what he saw as his turf.

  "Yes. You got the goods?” He gritted the words as if this transaction infuriated him.

  "Your position will be guaranteed once we start seeing results."

  They reminded Kayla of two dogs circling each other, wanting to fight but each wary of being hurt.

  Two briefcases changed hands as Kayla kept snapping photos. The exchanged finished, and she slipped the camera into her pocket. She pressed a button on her cell phone to send the okay to her backup who'd been tracking her. After making sure everything was tucked safely away, she jumped from the fire escape.

  She loved flying. Her blood raced through her, and heat flared in her core as the air swept past her body, caressing her like a lover as it skimmed over her breasts and face, tangling through her hair. She landed lightly behind the men and pulled out her badge. “Gentlemen, you are under arrest."

  Their bodies tensed as they swung toward her. Shock followed by anger chased across their faces. Their hands dipped into their pockets, dragging out guns, and they started to fire at her. She was already moving toward them. Her lithe body honed in its actions easily spun around their clumsy movements.

  She grabbed Jackson and twisted her leg behind his, causing him to lose balance, and he tumbled to the ground. He tried to roll away, so she thumped her knee into his back.

  "Fucking slut” he spat as she jerked his arm up behind him. Pulling his gun out of his grasp, she slapped a handcuff on and yanked his other arm behind him, securing it as well. “You'll regret this, you whore. Do you know who you're dealing with?"

  She ignored him; his words meant nothing to her, and she'd heard worse.

  She sprang up to face the man she'd been tracking for years. He had her lined up in his sights. She ducked and rolled onto the hard ground as he shot. The bullet whistled near her head, the heat from it warming her face where it flashed past. She came up under his arm, knocking the gun out of his hand. He was faster than she expected, and he was able to grab her round the neck with his other hand. Squeezing the breath from her, he brought her face close to his.

  He frowned as his dark eyes bored into hers. “What are you going to do now, bitch?” His lip curled up, exposing his teeth “You're no match for me."

  She smiled, and his brow furrowed further. His gaze moved from her eyes to her mouth, and she smiled a little wider, allowing her teeth to show. As he watched, she let them lengthen and sharpen into fangs.

  He looked b
ack up into her eyes, his complexion paled, and he dropped his hand from her throat as he backed away from her. She moved toward him, and he stumbled backward. His gaze never left hers.

  "Nu uh, Mr. Givanni.” She raised one eyebrow, her tone low and threatening. “You can't run from me. I am your world now."

  It gratified her to see him jerk at her uttered words. Words he'd used on people just before he dealt with them. He ruled his group with iron control, telling them he was their world when they joined. He also used it just before he killed someone.

  He backed into a wall, his gaze transfixed on hers. She leaned in close and breathed on him. “I have you now.” Leaning in a little closer, she opened her mouth further, exposing her sharp fangs.

  He moaned a sound full of fear, for he knew exactly what she was. The stuff of nightmares. A vampire.

  She reached for his hand, pushing his sleeve back as she pulled it up closer to her face and traced along the blue veins on his wrist. He didn't struggle. They never did. The lethargy that would be filling his bones trapped him. Inside he might be screaming in terror, but it wouldn't matter. He couldn't deny her. He was hers.

  She could smell his terror in his sweat, hear it in his blood as it pounded through his veins. She licked her lips, eliciting another guttural sound from him. Slapping a handcuff on the hand she held, she turned him into the wall, shoving his face against it, and then cuffed his other hand.

  As she dragged him back to the other man, she whispered, “I wouldn't taint myself with your blood. You'll not be able to tell what you know about me, but you will remember. You will remember that I'm to be feared."

  She read them their rights as her backup arrived, then stepped back to let the others take over. Handing her camera over into evidence, she answered a few questions and accepted their congratulations. She wanted to run into the night, to shed her police persona, and go wild. But she wouldn't do that. She would go back to the office to write her report, and she would speak to her sergeant, all the while holding onto her veneer of civilisation.

  It sometimes took effort, but she'd learned that humans could do as much damage as a vampire, and often showed less self control while doing it.

  Far from being the soulless undead in books and movies, vampires were just as they were when they were alive. Their personalities remained the same as when they were human. If one was a bitch as a human, then they were a bitch as a vampire.

  Some of the myths were true, some weren't. They drank blood and could change people into their kind, but didn't do it often. They could survive off animal plasma, but needed that of humans to survive, and most vampires didn't kill those they fed from. They could be killed with a stake to the heart, but not with a knife or bullet

  No one knew why a stake killed, but she'd seen it. It had been the defining moment of her life, when she knew she would fight evil. She'd learned all she could in order to be able to hunt down the killer who'd ripped her life, her love, from her.

  "Why so quiet?” one of the constables, Nash, asked. “You just busted one of the big guys. If it were me, I'd be bouncing off the walls with joy."

  She gave a wan smile. “I know, but there are so many more out there. I don't know whether taking this guy off the streets will even hurt. Someone will step in where he left off. That is, if it even gets to court. He may even get bail and be out again in a matter of days. If that doesn't work, he'll cop a plea and could be released under protection just to disappear."

  Nash nodded. “It's possible, but you never know. Depending on your camera and what the other guy says, he may not get bail."

  She grimaced, her voice soft. “Here's hoping.” She glanced at her watch and sighed. “I need to get to the station so I can put in my report."

  He pointed to a patrol car “Hop in. I'll drive you. I'm not needed here, so let's go."

  She smiled her thanks and climbed in the car. Dawn was still a few hours off; she had time before the sun would cause discomfort. She didn't like direct sunlight; it weakened her, made her sick to her stomach when she was in it for too long. Her sensitive eyes were better adapted to nighttime, and the brightness gave her a headache. It had been a long while since she had enjoyed the sunlight—not since Damien. But Brisbane was alive at night, so no one looked twice at people wandering round, enjoying the city late.

  Back at the station, she filled in her report at her desk, wanting to go home. Her sergeant, John McCall, knew what she was, as did a few others. But the less people who knew, the safer she would be from discrimination, fear, and the hatred the word vampire instilled.

  She went to place the report on John's desk, and he waved her in to close the frosted glass door.

  He eyed her report. “Nice nab tonight. Hopefully bail will be refused, so he won't be back on the streets anytime soon."

  "I hope so, too."

  Her boss pursed his lips stared at her report.

  "What's up?” she asked.

  He steepled his fingers and peered over them, his blue eyes sober. “You're getting a new partner."

  A gamut of emotions, mostly alarm, raced through her system, but she allowed nothing to show on her face, not even an eyelid flicker. “Why?"

  "Well, in this day and age, with lawsuits pending left, right and center, they've decided it's in their best interests to always have a partner present. I've put it off as long as possible due to your...” He shrugged. “...special circumstances, but it can't be delayed any longer."

  "Oh.” A surge of affection flowed through her for him. Realizing her boss had been protecting her, she wasn't about to cause difficulties for him.

  John rubbed his temples where gray hair showed. When she first came to the precinct, he'd had a full head of black hair. She hadn't changed at all over time, and the idea of her boss growing old bothered her.

  "He will start next shift with you. He's supposed to be an excellent detective, so you should be able to work with him with no problems. I'll leave it up to you whether you tell him about your talents or not."

  She nodded. Her voice low, she said, “Thanks."

  "Will you be able to make it in earlier than normal? Just so we can get everything out of the way?"

  Inwardly she shuddered at what the exposure to light meant but shrugged. “Sure."

  John motioned to the door. “Go home and get some rest. You need it after the night you've had."

  As he spoke, heaviness filled her limbs, and she stifled a yawn. “See you tomorrow, Sarge."

  He was already reading papers on his desk and waved his hand in dismissal.

  [Back to Table of Contents]

  Chapter Two

  She headed down to the basement garage where she kept her motorcycle during work hours. After slipping on her helmet, she threw her leg over her bike and started it, feeling the power roar through her body and vibrate between her legs.

  She laughed to herself as she remembered an old movie where a female police rookie sat astride her bike, revving the machine till she orgasmed. Kayla thought about it for a moment, tempted by the idea, but decided it might be difficult to explain if she got caught. Instead, she kicked it into gear and made her way home through the dark, pre-dawn hour.

  Her apartment was a ten-minute ride, and she made it well before the sun rose above the horizon. After parking her bike in the garage under the building, she made her way to her second floor apartment.

  She felt closest to Damien here, in her cozy home, surrounded by antiques that had been new when they purchased them together.

  She showered then lay in her bed, pondering what a new partner would mean to her. Her shoulders tightened as she remembered her last experience with a partner. She'd only had one in her career; when she was a rookie. After he found out she was a vampire, he requested a transfer and wouldn't talk to her any longer. She hated the fact she needed to hide what she was, and she didn't want the hassle.

  She sighed. On the flip side, if he did find out and accepted her, it would make work easier. They would be ab
le to utilize her abilities to the fullest. She'd have to play it by ear with this one.

  When she finally slept, she dreamed of Damien—the vampire who'd rescued her from the streets.

  At twelve, a terrible flu stole her parents from her, leaving her with nowhere to go but an orphanage. They were kind to her, but there were so many more needy children, she was ignored—pushed to the side. She was too old to be placed in a new home, and was forced to watch younger, cuter, children find new families while she left all alone. She railed against God for the taking her parents, and she refused to socialize. Finally, devastated and hurting worse than any child should, she ran away.

  Damien found her hungry and huddled near a trash bin where she'd been searching for a morsel of food. When she looked into those fathomless brown eyes, she lost her heart in a way she wouldn't understand for another few years.

  He whisked her away to his home, a place of safety and security. Instilling his love of learning in her, he helped her finish her education. He took her travelling the world over. She adored seeing new things, just as she adored him.

  As she aged, her feelings for him changed from adoration to love, and she was jealous of anyone he might be seeing on his regular outings, even though he told her there was no other and she need not worry.

  One night, hearing him arrive home, she eased from her room and headed toward his, determined he would no longer treat her as a child. Her love for him was strong and knew no bounds, so she slipped into his room as silent as a mouse and approached his bed. He lay there, looking peaceful, his fair hair tousled, brushing his brow. Then his eyes opened, and he reached out to her, offering his hand palm up.

  "I've been waiting for you,” was all he said, and he drew her into bed with him. As they lay together, he told her what he was.

  She took his hand and pressed it to her lips. “I don't care. I love you.” That was all it had taken, and he rolled her underneath him and taught her what it was to be a woman.