He scoffed. "You think that makes you safe? Lara, the instant he realizes he can't control you, he will kill you."
A shudder zipped down her back. He's just trying to scare you into quitting. Hell, maybe she should quit. What if she got in completely over her head? The special task force had already warned her that she couldn't take any weapons with her. It would blow her cover.
"You can't survive against Apollo," Jack continued quietly. He paced across the room, then turned to face her. His mouth twisted as if he found the words painful. "He'll feed on you."
Lara gasped and pressed her hand to her chest. "What?"
"He'll sink his teeth into you and take your blood."
She grimaced. "That's sick. You make him sound like a... a..."
"Vampire," Jack whispered.
She stared at him. My God, he was serious. "Jack, there's no such thing. Maybe he thinks he's a vampire. There are some crazy people out there who pretend they're vampires. But any guy who tries to bite my neck would get a knee in his groin faster than he could say Transylvania."
Jack scowled at her. "You don't believe me."
"I think you're trying to scare the hell out of me so I'll quit this assignment. I really should be pissed, but I realize you're worried about me 'cause you care so much."
"I'm in love with you."
Her heart squeezed in her chest. She would never get tired of hearing him say that. "I care deeply for you, too, but-"
"Lara." He stepped toward her.
"But" - she put up a hand to stop him-"I will not allow you to control me or manipulate me."
"Merda. I'm trying to keep you alive. He's a vicious vampire."
"There's no such thing!"
"That's what they want you to believe. They've used mind control to make everyone believe they don't really exist, that they're just make-believe monsters. But they feed on people, then erase their memories. It's been going on for centuries."
Her skin crawled with gooseflesh. "How can you know about vampires? How would you know that Apollo's one of them? Have you met him?"
"No, I haven't. But I recognize the signs. Apollo only appears at night. He can control people's minds and erase memories. He has super strength and speed. He can teleport."
She gasped. "You're describing yourself."
Jack winced. His eyes glinted with a wary look.
Lara stumbled back and fell onto the couch. Oh God, he wasn't denying it. He was either crazy as a loon, or he was actually...
"No," she whispered. "No. Vampires aren't real."
He regarded her sadly. "Why would I lie about it? What can I possibly gain from this, other than your disgust?"
She dragged in a shaky breath and pressed her hands against her eyes. Memories flitted through her mind. She'd never seen him eat. She'd never been able to reach him during the day. There was no mirror in his bathroom. There were thick shutters on the windows. He was over two hundred years old. He worked at a factory that manufactured synthetic blood. Damn, it was a grocery store!
All the pieces of the puzzle had been there, but she'd never been able to fit them together 'cause she hadn't known what the final picture looked like. She'd expected a picture of a superhero. Not a monster.
Her stomach lurched. Oh God, she'd kissed him. She'd let him touch her, make love to her.
She covered her mouth as a moan escaped.
"Lara." He stepped toward her.
She pressed back against the couch.
His face paled. "Santo cielo. Do not fear me. I would never hurt you."
"I think you'd better go."
"We still need to talk."
"No." Her eyes stung with tears. What was there to talk about? She'd fallen for a monster. She'd been a fool.
He frowned. "You know the truth about Apollo now. This is a matter strictly for vampires. You will let me handle it."
Anger sizzled deep within her. "How dare you. This is not just about Apollo. All of his victims are human, so don't tell me to butt out. And don't expect me to believe that there are monsters who care."
He stiffened. "We're not all bad, Lara."
"I want you to leave."
He rubbed his brow. "You're in shock now. In a few days, we can talk."
"Go!"
He lowered his hand, and his eyes glimmered with pain and sadness. He wavered, then disappeared.
Jack materialized in the woods surrounding Romatech. He trudged toward the side entrance. If only he knew how to materialize without a heart. His chest ached so much, it hurt to breathe.
He propped a forearm against a thick tree trunk and leaned forward, resting his brow against his arm. He closed his eyes, and images flipped through his brain, the expressions on Lara's face. Shock, horror, disgust, anger. Just like the women from his past.
He'd lost Lara.
You must have faith, Giacomo. Father Giuseppe's words echoed softly in his mind.
How? He was a creature of darkness, trapped in a circle of hell. How could he possibly have faith? He was losing Lara just like he had the others. How many years had he suffered after losing them? And Beatrice-losing her had been sheer torment. He'd always wondered if she could have accepted him, but she'd died before he could tell her. She'd died all alone, believing he had abandoned her.
Merda! He punched the tree with his fist. He would not abandon Lara, even if she hated him. He would not let her die.
If Apollo kept to his usual schedule, he'd take another victim the last Saturday in June. That gave Jack plenty of time to locate the bastard and eliminate him. Then he could do a mind sweep on the police and FBI to clean up loose ends, find the whole ordeal would be over.
Lara would be saved. He just needed to have faith. And the help of a few good friends.
He pulled out his cell phone as he walked through the woods. Robby MacKay would help him. He'd first met Robby in 1820 at Jean-Luc's fencing academy in Paris, when they'd been paired as sparring partners. They'd become good friends when they weren't trying to skewer each other.
Robby was now working as Jean-Luc's bodyguard. Since Jean-Luc was hiding in Texas, Robby was there, too.
Robby answered the phone. "Hi, Jack. How's it going?"
"A problem's come up. Can you spare a few hours? I could use your help."
"Thank God. I'm bored out of my skull here. Last night Jean-Luc's daughter asked me to play dolls with her, and I nearly said yes. That's how desperate I'm getting."
"Then it's your lucky day," Jack said. "In fact, I may need you for a week or so. Phil, too, if he can come."
"I'll check with Jean-Luc, but I'm sure he willna object. See you soon." Robby rang off.
Jack pocketed his phone and strode toward the entrance.
"Hey, bro." Phineas zoomed up to him. "I was making a round when I heard your voice."
"I was on the phone. Did Connor arrive?"
"Yeah, he's in the office." Phineas cast a sidelong glance at Jack. "Are you all right, dude? You look kinda wasted."
Jack winced. "I want you and Carlos to live at Romatech for the next week or so. There are a few bedrooms in the basement, right?"
"Yeah. What's wrong? Are the Malcontents up to something?"
"No, but the police might come to the townhouse. We don't want to be caught there in our death-sleep."
"Damned po-po." Phineas halted. "Shit. Did you tell that cop lady about us?"
Jack gave him an irritated look. "Didn't you just advise me to?"
"Well, yeah, but since when does anyone take my advice? So I guess it didn't go well, huh?"
Jack shook his head.
"Damn," Phineas muttered. "I thought women were into vampires. I thought she'd be cool with it, man."
A jab of pain sliced through Jack's chest. "She wasn't."
"Shit. Do you think she's gonna tell her police buddies about us?"
"I don't know. She might. So grab whatever you need from the townhouse and bring Carlos here, okay?"
"Okay. Sorry, dude." Phineas teleported away.
Jack reached the side entrance, swiped his card, and used the hand sensor. He was halfway down the hallway when the security door opened and Connor leaned out.
"I saw Phineas teleport away," Connor said. "Where did ye send him?"
"To the townhouse to fetch Carlos. They're going to stay here for the next week or so."
Connor's eyes narrowed. "And why is the townhouse no longer safe?"