His mind drifted back to the last time he’d seen her almost five years ago. She’d been fresh out of university and she and a few of her sorority sisters wanted to get together in New Orleans for Mardi Gras. Travis hadn’t wanted her to go.
“You worry too much,”she had teased, giving her head a little exasperated shake.“I swear, you’re more like an overprotective parent than Mom and Dad ever were. I’ll be with a group the whole time, perfectly safe, you’ll see.”
Against his better judgment, he’d relented. She’d texted him a few times, sent images of the sights they’d gone to see, and then nothing. Silence. Sophia St. John had disappeared from her hotel room on the final night of her stay. There had been no sign of forced entry, no signs of struggle, no body, no suspects, no clues.
Travis was sure Rodolfo was responsible for her disappearance and most probably her death, and like the hothead he was, he’d left Washington for Louisiana immediately to confront the Born. In a spectacular failure, he’d been promptly escorted off the property without ever clapping eyes on his intended target and hadn’t been able to get back in since, not even with the help of a hard-earned badge. Without due cause, he was stuck in a holding pattern waiting for the Born to make a mistake. He may never be able to prove Rodolfo’s involvement in Sophia’s disappearance, but he knew that male was dirty. If he could just manage to get the slippery Born on something,anything, not only would his sister be avenged, but other young women could sleep soundly knowing they would not share her fate.
Morgan Rhys might prove to be his best hope. She was staying under Rodolfo’s roof, and if she could provide Travis with even the smallest hint of wrongdoing that would see the Born taken out of power, he needed to explore that option. For Sophia. It also didn’t hurt that he was incredibly attracted to the vampire. He just hoped his gut wasn’t wrong about her.
They arrived at the agreed-upon meeting place practically simultaneously and the smile Morgan Rhys shot him in greeting as she engaged the locks on her black SUV nearly bowled him over. Her hair was down, the smooth, shiny waterfall of sable locks falling to just below her shoulders only served to frame the exquisite symmetry of her face that the Born were known for. So entranced was he by the perfection of her looks that it took him a full minute before he realized that he ought to say something rather than standing there like an idiot, staring, and most likely making her feel uncomfortable under such intense regard. Clearing his throat, he blurted, “Hey, hi. How are you?” the words all running together.
And the award for best opening lines goes to… anyone but him.Letting out a self-deprecating noise, he shook his head and tried again. “I’m glad you decided to come.”
If she was feeling discomfort caused by his proximity, she didn’t let on and he was reminded once more of how incredibly strong this female was. Her eyes were shining with happiness, her posture relaxed as she proceeded him through the door, and her tone was light as she announced, “Miss a chance to experience New Orleans with one of its own? No way.”
The bar and grill he had chosen for their date was one of his favorites. The atmosphere was warm, the food was incredible, the entertainment provided by local musicians was always lively, and since it was a relatively slow time of year, a conversation could be easily shared. Ushering her into a green upholstered booth near the stained-glass window emblazoned with the restaurant’s name, Travis took the seat across from her. “I hope you’re hungry.”
“Starved.” Picking up the menus that stood between a napkin dispenser and an assortment of condiments, she handed him one. “What’s good here?”
He’d barely listed off a couple of recommendations when a waitress greeted them with a smile and the night’s specials before taking their drink order and leaving them once more in privacy. He and Morgan exchanged the usual small talk, a bit of ‘get to know you’ conversation where she informed him that she and her friends were a team of private investigators currently on a mini-vacation. It was a cover story, he was sure, but considering what she, and most likely, her friends were, secrets were a part of their way of life.
That said, her eyes had been direct, the pale blue shining with a wisdom beyond the years her physical appearance proclaimed her. Morgan Rhys was no fledgling Born fresh out of the schoolroom. He’d guess her to be well over a century old and at that moment, Travis decided to put aside as much of the subterfuge as he safely could and be frank.
“I’ve looked into the man that owns that house where you’re staying. Olivier Rodolfo? He’s not a good person. In fact, he’s linked to several open investigations.”
Her lips pinched slightly, but before she could say anything, the waitress returned with their drinks and asked them if they were ready to order. Their meal requests placed, Travis fully expected Morgan to change the subject. To his surprised delight, she picked up as if they hadn’t been interrupted.
“He’s not a good man,” she readily agreed.
He gave her a moment to elaborate. When she failed to offer more than that succinct opinion, he prompted, “Morgan, if you know anything about him, something we can use…”
The flash of red in her eyes was only there for a second before it was gone, but it cut Travis’s words off midstream. He’d pissed her off – royally. Her words that followed only confirmed that suspicion as she narrowed her eyes and quietly hissed, “Is that what this date is about? You want information.”
Shit. He’d insulted her, implied that he was with her tonight only for what he could get out of her and a guilty flush crawled up his neck. Hewasguilty, but not to the extreme she assumed. He liked her, at least what he’d learned of her so far and he was incredibly attracted to her – perhaps a bit too much considering what she was and whom she was currently staying with.
“I’m sorry,” he said sincerely. “I didn’t mean to give you that idea. Truly. I worry about you staying under that man’s roof is all.”
The smile she shot him was rife with condescension, and her eyes, while still blue rather than demonic red, sparkled with indignation. “I’m a big girl. I can take care of myself.”
He’d really stuck his foot in it. In fact, if she didn’t toss her drink in his face and storm out at any second he would consider himself lucky. Angry at himself, he blurted, “My sister thought the same thing.”
Her face immediately changed to a mixture of concern and curiosity. “Your sister?”
He hadn’t intended to tell Morgan about Sophia, not until he was one-hundred percent sure of the woman’s allegiance, but the words were out there now. Deciding to take the plunge rather than attempt to backpedal, Travis told her, “She disappeared five years ago.”
“Rodolfo?”
He nodded sharply. “I can’t prove it, but I know he had something to do with it.”
In an unexpected show of sympathy – a trait the Born weren’t supposed to possess – Morgan reached across the table and took his hand in her own despite what the contact must have done to her senses. “I’m sorry.”
Once again he admired her impressive strength. He continued to be surprised by her. She was of the Born, but unlike any he’d ever come across before, and nothing like the stories he’d heard growing up. Travis mentally shook himself. If he wasn’t careful, he could lose his heart to this vampire before he even knew what hit him.
The waitress, bearing a tray of food, interrupted the moment but Morgan didn’t let go of Travis St. John’s hand, continuing to hold his calloused fingers with her own as plates were set before them. Her system must be becoming used to his proximity now, her body adjusting out of necessity. She still felt the heated rush of blood and the prickle over her flesh, but the sensations were now muted, tolerable, letting her focus on the heat of his skin and how such a simple act of compassion felt so incredibly satisfying.
The man’s sister had gone missing and she wasn’t surprised he’d been unable to pin anything on Rodolfo. The Born had enough spies seeded through his territory, most likely within the police force as well, to stay ahead of any crimes they might try to charge him with. Precisely why the leader of the Order of Witches had decided against involving law enforcement. Was his sister’s disappearance related? It may have been five years ago, but that didn’t mean that Rodolfo hadn’t quietly been removing witches – or anyone that got in his way – the entire time and had only recently decided to up the game, leaving bodies in the streets.
Clearing her throat, she asked carefully, “Was your sister a friend of Destin Jourdain?”
