"I know. If I can just find more of our kind, then they won't have to feel so alone. And if I can find a mate, then they'll have a mother. Someone who can give them...comfort."
"I think they need you, Carlos."
He frowned as the throbbing in his temples increased. How could he help them get over something that he couldn't get over? "I called Fernando. He's much better with them than I am. He agreed to visit them at school while I go on this trip. I was hoping you'd let him live in the dorm."
"He's the one who was taking care of the kids while you were at NYU?"
"Yes. In Rio."
"Hmm. I'm wondering if there's anything he can teach, so we can hire him," Toni murmured. "Is he a were-panther?"
"No. He's a geek. Knows everything about computers and modern technology. He taught me everything I know."
"That sounds promising," Toni said. "We could use a computer specialist. And if he can help the kids feel better, then I'm all for it."
"Great. Thank you." Carlos checked off one of the major concerns on his to-do list. With the children taken care of, he was free to leave on his trip.
"When are you leaving?" Toni asked.
"Tomorrow, I hope." He just needed to get Angus to okay it. "I'll call Fernando again, and he'll catch the next available flight."
"All right. Good luck, Carlos. I hope you find your mate."
"So do I." Carlos hung up. He rubbed his temples, trying to relieve the pain. Think positive. He'd soon be trekking through the mountains of northern Thailand, hunting for were-panthers. And this time he'd find them. He'd find his mate, and she would be all he'd ever hoped for. Everything he'd ever imagined.
The vision that filled his mind was Caitlyn Whelan.
"No!" He jumped to his feet and paced across the office. No, no, no. She wasn't the one.
The alarm sounded on the desk. He always set it to go off at sunset. Down in the basement, Angus and Emma would be wakening. Phineas, too. Other Vamps, like Jack and Robby, had opted to stay at the townhouse on the Upper East Side. Their mortal wives were with them, guarding them during the day.
Carlos strode to the desk to turn off the alarm. He straightened the papers that described his travel plans. He paced back to the wall of surveillance monitors. Soon, he would see the Vamps exiting their rooms in the basement.
His attention was snagged by a monitor that showed the front gate and driveway. A car was arriving. That was unusual. It was too early for the Vamp employees at Romatech to show up for the night shift.
The phone rang, the sound grating against his headache. He rushed to the desk to answer it.
"Front gate," the guard identified himself. "Caitlyn Whelan has arrived."
Carlos's heart lurched in his chest. "All right. Thanks." He hung up.
He strode back to the monitors and spotted her pulling into the parking lot. The front door at Romatech was locked. The last of the mortal employees had left an hour ago. He'd have to let Caitlyn in. He'd have to see her.
He noted Angus and Emma on another monitor. They were entering the elevator. Phineas ran to join them.
Meanwhile, Caitlyn had parked her car. The front door opened and a pair of long bare legs stretched out. He sucked in a deep breath. Holy Mary, Mother of God. How short was her skirt? He leaned closer and his breath fogged up the monitor.
"Damn." He pulled the hem of his polo shirt up to his chest to wipe the monitor.
On another monitor, Angus, Emma, and Phineas exited the elevator. Carlos dashed over to the desk phone and called Phineas on his cell.
"Yo, Catman, what's up?" Phineas asked.
"Caitlyn Whelan is approaching the front door," Carlos reported.
"Shanna's sister? Man, I missed meeting her last night." There was a pause, then Phineas continued, "Emma says she'll let her in."
"Good." Carlos exhaled in relief as he hung up the phone. He would avoid seeing her tonight, then he would leave for Thailand tomorrow. The throbbing in his head eased.
He opened the door to let Angus and Phineas inside.
"Anything happen during the day?" Angus asked.
"No." Carlos grabbed his report off the desk. "I was able to complete an itinerary for the trip. As you can see, there's a flight tomorrow night."
Angus shook his head, frowning. "I'm sorry, lad, but we canna let ye leave just yet."
Carlos swallowed hard. "I thought we agreed that I could go as soon as possible."
"Aye, we did. But there are a few matters we have to take care of first. We need to find a replacement for you, and we - "
"Man, that chick is hot!" Phineas stood in front of the monitors, watching Caitlyn and Emma in the foyer.
Carlos's hands fisted around his papers.
Angus glanced at the young vampire from the Bronx. "I hope ye're no' referring to my wife."
Phineas snorted. "I don't have a death wish. No, I'm talking about the blonde. She's bootie-licious. Grade A smoking hot female."
Carlos felt a strange compulsion to rip Phineas's throat out. Which was odd, 'cause he really liked Phineas.
Angus chuckled. "Och, I'm sure Shanna will be pleased to hear yer description of her sister." He turned to Carlos. "Back to business."
Carlos glanced down at his papers. Merda! They were scored with slashes, half shredded. He thought he'd only clenched his fists, but somehow his claws were extended. Normally, they only did that if he was in danger. Or if someone he loved was in danger.
Dammit, no. He didn't want to think about that. He mentally forced his claws back in and slipped the mangled papers into a folder.
"We may have an assignment for you to complete before you go," Angus continued, watching him curiously. "A new employee who will require training in self-defense. You're the best we have in martial arts, so we'd like you to teach her."
Her? Carlos's headache returned full force. He glanced at the monitor that showed Emma and Caitlyn walking toward the security office. "You want me to teach her?"
"Aye." Angus nodded. "If we can convince Caitlyn Whelan to work for us, ye'll be her trainer."
Chapter Six
In the parking lot at Romatech Industries, Caitlyn climbed out of her rental car and winced when she saw how far her skirt had ridden up during the drive from Manhattan. She tugged the hem down to its proper length just above the knees, then buttoned her jacket. She checked the interior of her leather portfolio again to make sure her resume and referrals were inside.
She'd decided a few hours ago to take the job at MacKay Security & Investigation. An interview with her father had helped her make up her mind. Sean had asked her to meet him at the Federal Building, and there in his office, he'd revealed the shocking news. Vampires were real, and by joining his Stake-Out team, she could help him wipe the hideous bloodsuckers off the planet.
At first she pretended to be shocked, but there'd been no need to feign a reaction. Her dad seemed to forget she was in the room. He paced about, waving his arms wildly, shouting and cursing. In the end her shock had been real. Sean was so consumed with hatred for vampires, she feared he was no longer rational. He clearly wanted them dead. All of them.
Her chest had tightened with a terrible fear that somehow he would convince himself that Shanna's beautiful children were spawned by the devil and therefore needed to be destroyed. After ten minutes of listening to her father's virulent rant, she stood up and announced her regret that she couldn't accept his job offer.
"What?" he shouted. "You can't refuse. You have a moral obligation to help me fight these monsters."
"I - I can't. I'm sorry."
He muttered another curse as he paced across the room. "I don't blame you if you're scared. Those damned parasites are scary."
So are you. "I'm sorry, Dad." She'd left in a hurry and taken a taxi to Central Park. She'd walked down the paths, barely noticing the bright patches of daffodils as she wrestled with all the recent twists and turns in her life. She'd grown up trusting her father and believing Shanna had abandoned her. Now everything was upside down. Vampires. Shape shifters. Malcontents. A father obsessed with killing them all.
And in the midst of all the confusion, the innocent faces of Constantine and Sofia invaded her mind and filled her heart with warmth. She remembered the tearful joy of being reunited with her sister. She recalled the feel of Carlos's arms around her, the touch of his lips against hers. And she remembered the way Coco and Raquel had needed her. She had felt such a strong sense of purpose and completion, as if she'd been given a sacred mission to protect them.