Chapter Seven
Reeling from John’s story, Joann barely noticed the lovely natural stone house. It was large yet cozy. Rambling yet tidy. At any other time, she would have been dying to see inside or ready to tramp through the property. Under the night sky, she could make out darker shadows indicating a grove of trees framing one side of the home while the other end backed up against rolling hills. In the background, another line of trees curved along what she took to be, the banks of the Amber River.
She didn’t want to be here. While Jo tentatively accepted the concept that John might not harm her or Cody, it didn’t mean she was stoked about meeting another vampire. Not even the reclusive one who’d stepped in for his dreadful brother and treated John kindly.
Leaving her and Cody in the car, John went to the door and pressed the doorbell. Light spilled out as the door opened to reveal a tall male. This then, Joann thought as she eyed him with mistrust, must be Lustinus Stefka. Handsome in a stern looking sort of way, Joann doubted he was the type to impulsively open his home to a human woman and her rambunctious toddler.
Cody began to stir, rubbing his little fists against his eyelids, but she didn’t automatically release him from his seat. Just as well. He went back under with an adorable little snore while she kept her eyes on the vampires. Half of her was reasonably sure, even hopeful, that they’d be turned away.
She was sure they’d be going when John held out his hand. The other vampire only looked at it. Good, Joann thought and released a small sigh of relief. At that precise moment, Stefka’s intense dark gaze rose to fix unerringly on her through the glass of the car. But he couldn’t have possibly heard her—could he?
Without breaking eye contact with her, he said something to John. Which, of course, she couldn’t hear and then he pulled John into a bear hug.
After the bonding ritual ended, John gestured to the SUV. Lustinus nodded, and the vampires retraced John’s steps through the light skiff of snow to where Joann waited. Every instinct called for her to lock the door—would they even be safe inside a locked car—Joann didn’t know.
Catching the challenging look in Stefka’s eyes, her chin went up, and she stiffly stepped out into the wintry air. She’d more or less, managed to escape Sabriento on her own. She could and would handle this vampire too.
“Joann, this is my friend, Lustinus Stefka. And this is Joann Clarkson and her son, Cody.” John leaned down to look in at her boy and chuckled lightly. “Who is all tuckered out. Just wait until he wakes up, Lustinus. God, he’s a firecracker.”
“Welcome, Mrs. Clarkson.” Lustinus held out his hand with a glint in his eyes that softened when she unhesitantly put her palm against his. “Call me Justin. Lustinus is an old-fashioned mouthful.”
“And call her Joann,” John decreed while giving his old mentor a quick appraisal. “You always were a good-looking bastard, but gray?” Smirking, he indicated the new silver strands running along Justin’s temples.
Justin flashed a grin that lit up his entire face and instantly made him seem more approachable. “Happens to us all. Sooner or later.”
“Here,” John instructed.
Joann watched as, with admirable restraint, Justin obligingly accepted the tower of diaper boxes John shoved at him. His brows, however, lifted fractionally as plastic bag handles were then hooked over each of his fingers. Once his hands were covered, he courteously inclined his head and invited. “It's great to see you. Fill me in on how you've been doing.”
“I heard you noticed some suspicious activity out here?” John asked, after what he deemed the bare essentials had been unloaded, and the nicities had been finished. Including, to Joann’s dismay, the almost life- sized, brown and white pony with a blue handle coming out of its back and wheels under its hooves.
After the vampires had things stored, they all sat on comfortable twin couches angled to face the cheerfully burning fire in a massive stone hearth bracketed by towering windows. During a lull in the polite conversation, the muscles in Joann’s arms flexed around her sleeping son. She knew Justin was waiting to hear what had brought them to him.
John seemed to know it too since he said, “Joann was recently the, ah, guest of Vincent Sabriento. She was in the process of making her get away when Cody and I caught up to them. Since I was more worried about her and Cody’s safety than sticking around to find the bastard, we hightailed it out of there.”
Justin slanted his head as he regarded her with speculation, and she thought, a little sympathy. A moment later, he nodded. “I see. I’m sorry, Ms. Clarkson, more than I can say. Sabriento isn’t known for compassion, especially when dealing with humans.”
“I brought you here for two reasons.” John turned to place a hand on her arm.
“To keep us safe.” Joann remembered what he’d told her in the car.
John nodded. “That was the main reason. I do want you and Cody secured until Sabriento is taken care of once and for all.” Suddenly looking tired, he ran a hand over his head. “After thinking about what he said to you, I suspect he’ll soon be back in Amber Heights and looking for you. So that’s the main thing. My other purpose is to give you the option of being mesmerized”—he gave her a lopsided half smile—“once you’re out of danger. And since Justin has more skill at it than me, if you choose that option, I want him to do the adjustment.”
“What does that mean?” Totally at a loss, Joann looked from one to the other vampire.
John hesitated before answering, “It eradicates memory and will wipe the existence of vampires from your mind. You won’t remember being snatched or fed on. Consequently, you won’t suffer panic attacks or nightmares caused by the ordeal. Bad memories are replaced with something mundane. Like you got busy at work before finishing your shift and going home.”
“It’s painless,” Justin said mildly. Although she frankly examined their expressions, Joann was unable to read either vampire’s opinion on the matter.
John stretched his legs out in front of him. “Better make that you’ll remember going home late,” he amended. “The same memory will be given to your nutty neighbor.”
To never remember or have to think about Vincent Sabriento—to stop replaying the paralyzing horror of being bitten. She’d also forget she currently worked for a vampire. Dr. Blautsauger would go back to simply being a rather cold and exacting boss.
It sounded like Heaven. Then Joann caught sight of the sad little quirk lingering in the corner of John’s mouth. It sounded like hell. “Can…can I think about it?”
“Until tomorrow evening.” Justin’s tone was gentle as if he suspected what might be holding her back. How could he understand, though, what she didn’t? But for some reason, the thought of forgetting John didn’t feel right. Actually? It felt totally and absolutely wrong.
Smiling a little, their too observant host seemed to let her off the emotional hook. Turning to his old student, he addressed his assertion that someone had trespassed on his land. “I got a sensation of being watched.” Justin stood to toss a few more logs on the fire. “I’ve looked around, but didn’t find anything. Still it bothered me enough, I called Leto to see what was in the wind. He told me about Osvaldo’s escape. After that, I went over the place with a fine-tooth comb. I found an empty blood bag in one of the caves. Whoever it was, I think they left.”
“Doesn’t mean they won’t come back,” John said flatly. He stood and joined the other vampire next to the large, bay window flanking the fireplace.
Stefka rumbled his agreement as together they looked out over the broad expanse of snow covered lawn. From where she sat, Joann was also looking. “We’re not that far from the Nature Center,” she commented out loud. “Are we?”
Justin nodded and pointed. “It’s about a mile or so upstream and abuts my property.”
He’d mentioned caves. Joann knew the rocky and tree covered cliffs, making up a good portion of the Nature Center, were riddled with openings. Most were tiny, but a few were known for going on for miles. Supposedly off limits to the center’s visitors, the stay on the trail signs proved pointless.
Having grown up in Amber Heights, Joann knew the park like the back of her hand. The upper pathways provided a bit of challenge for more hardy hikers. The views alone were worth the effort of traversing the steep inclines. High on the cliff top looking down below, the intrepid found their reward in a panoramic view of pastures filled with contented cows and graceful horses.
Later, during her pregnancy, Joann had been limited to the more tranquil pathways that meandered between the base of the cliffs and the river embankment. It was peaceful and shady with an occasional bench for sitting and contemplating the water. After Cody’s birth, the walkway proved stroller accessible and essential for a new mom with cabin fever.
John’s thoughts seemed to align with hers as he turned his head and stared out in the direction of the nature park. “Get many trespassers from the center?”
“More than I like. Fewer than you’d expect.” Justin’s shrug seemed to say he was able to take any uninvited intruders in stride. “I’m familiar with most of the townsfolk, and I rarely, if ever, get any troublemakers out here.”
Cody roused. After owlishly staring around, he seemed to realize who was holding him. With a happy cry, he wrapped his arms around her neck and snuggled into her. Joann’s throat tightened as she pressed little kisses on the top of his head. Soon though, he fussed to get down, but she held onto his squirming body.
She knew he wanted to explore, but she didn’t want him moving an inch away. Not only did she feel a natural maternal concern about letting a busy toddler loose in a non childproof house, but she also was experiencing something less common. She didn’t trust her host.
Again, Justin seemed to read her. “Come into the kitchen,” he suggested. “There’s not too much for him to get into in there. Besides, I would think you both need something to eat and drink. I can make you some coffee, and there’s some human food in the freezer.” A slight smile twitched as he took in her surprise. “I do, upon occasion, have human company.”
She felt the heat flame in her face. At the same time Cody slipped out of her grasp and toddled straight for John as fast as his stubby little legs could carry him.
“Hey, buddy.” As he smoothly assisted Cody’s attempt to climb him like a tree, John sniffed. “Need a change? Let’s go get a clean diaper. Are you hungry little guy? Let’s get you changed and then we’ll heat up some chow.” So saying, he tucked Cody under his arm like a sack of potatoes and carried the giggling child out of the room.
And Cody went—happily—just like that. Leaving Joann amazed and unsure of how it made her feel. Periodically she’d hear the deep timbre of John’s voice thoughtfully responding to her son’s high-pitched and garbled speech. It made something pinch in the vicinity of her heart.
Jo got to her feet, wanting to go after them but too darn polite—make that cowardly—to rudely leave her host standing there. Especially not after said host offered the safety and hospitality of his home and larder to her and her son.
“There’s no reason to fear. I don’t prey on guests in my home or on someone under a friend’s protection.” Justin’s dry tone had Joann’s hackles rising.
Chin up in the air, she countered, “I don’t take chances with my child.”
“And so you shouldn’t,” Justin readily agreed. “However, I’ve given you my word that both you and Cody are safe here. Believe me, if John didn’t trust me he wouldn’t have left your side. Not for an instant.”
Joann felt her shoulders sag. “How can I be sure?”
“Did he tell you how we came to meet? Justin looked into her eyes and nodded at what he must have seen there. “He’s told you some, but I think it likely he left out a lot too. Did he tell you that when he arrived, he was starving and so weak he could barely walk?”
“No. He didn’t tell me that,” she whispered, stricken by the idea.
“Do you want to know why he was in such bad shape?” The question must have been rhetorical as Justin didn’t wait for a response. “It was because he couldn’t bring himself to bite a living human. While he’d stayed close to the battlefield, he’d been able to subsist on blood taken from dead soldiers. That supply ran out as he traveled from there to me. He was forced to live off animal blood, which isn’t rich enough to sustain us.”
With that, he turned and walked into the kitchen. Joann was so interested in learning more that she went after him without thinking. Inside the large and airy kitchen, she found him putting water and a brown paper liner into the coffee maker. Without looking around, he continued as if he never doubted she’d follow.
As he measured coffee grounds into the filter, Justin said, “John was a good human. He was raised with morals and values and still retains them. Despite my brother’s treatment of him.” He grew still for a moment before clearing his throat. “John never lost his sense of honor and decency. He is truly the best person I’ve ever known.”
A sudden thump had Joann halfway to the door. Before she reached it, however, Justin raised a hand and smilingly suggested, “Stop and listen.”
Sure enough Cody started laughing. “More. More,” he shouted between infectious fits of baby giggles.
“Cody seems to like him,” Joann cautiously admitted, unsure of how she felt about her son giving his affection to a vampire.
“I saw that.” Justin’s smile widened.” Of course Alden’s nothing but a softy at heart.”
Joann thought about the massive amount of toys he’d bought for Cody. There was that, she thought, but only as proof of his generosity. Those things were nothing, however, compared to how it made her feel when he changed her baby’s diaper or made him laugh.
Another sort of warmth suffused her as she also remembered how attentively and carefully he’d treated her too. The tightly closed heart that Bobby had left her with ceased to ache, and she got a strange mental image of her emotions as petals unfurling to bring the flower to bloom.
Flicking the switch to brew, Justin crossed over to the refrigerator and took out a selection of frozen pizzas and freezer meals for her to choose between. “Don’t tell him I said he was soft. When the situation warrants, he’s as tough as they come.” Justin snorted with humor. “After all, we wouldn’t want to hurt his feelings.”
They spent the rest of the evening in front of a cozy fire playing with Cody while fat snowflakes drifted down outside, creating a scene worthy of a snowglobe. Joann thought she could almost feel the tension flowing out of her body. Worry held at bay by a tummy full of pizza, she smiled inwardly. To further assist her mellowing mood, she sipped from a long-stemmed glass of sweet white wine.
Fed and bathed, Cody wore new snuggly footedjammies. His cowboy hat sat askew over freshly washed curls as he happily played with all his new toys. His favorite by far was the pony. Sitting in its tiny saddle, he took great pride in bouncing along while yelling at intervals, “See, Mama? See me, Thon? See me, Us-tin?”
And each time the called-on adult assured him that they were, indeed, watching. That he was doing great, looking good, real cool kid, and they were amazed by his horsemanship.
As night faded and well into the next afternoon, John and Joann made do with quick and separate catnaps. Otherwise their time was spent playing with Cody or discussing security strategies. Since it concerned her and her son, Joann was pleased that John included her and asked her opinion. When they finally concluded that if Sabriento were to come it would probably be that night, Joann’s nerves came back full force.
When nature called, she reluctantly left Cody under John’s supervision while she visited the bathroom connected to the guest bedroom. When she came out, it was to find them there in the room, on the floor, and partially hidden by the bed. Her throat clogged on a silent scream as she lurched forward.
Only to find the broad-shouldered vampire in the process of changing her son’s diaper—again. Leaning weakly against the wall, she worked to normalize her breathing. This was John. Yes, he was a vampire, but she felt as if she could believe in him. She…trusted him.
Just look at the bond the vampire and her son had developed. Cody was kicking his legs and squealing while John threatened him with all sorts of murder and mayhem if he didn’t hold still. But he did so in a high-pitched voice that was making both of them laugh.
Once the expertly secured diaper was in place, John rolled onto his back, lifting Cody into the air. Repeatedly, he brought him down for a smacking kiss to his bare, little belly before lifting him up again. “Thon. Thon,” Cody yelled with apparent hero worship.
When John carefully rolled back over and placed Cody on the floor to finish dressing him, Joann noticed he was tucking those chubby legs into another new sleeper.
“What happened to the pajamas he had on yesterday morning?” She asked while he was snapping the clean sleeper into place.
John glanced over at her with a sheepish grin at having been caught acting like a fool. “Another blowout,” he informed her as he sat up, and Cody promptly climbed into his lap.
She studied him quizzically while trying to decide why saying that gross phrase made him look so smug and yet traumatized at the same time.
“He’s the pooping champ all right,” Joann settled for saying. Then chuckling, she held out a hand for the soiled clothing. “Is that what happened to the jammies he had on this morning? Give that here, and I’ll take care of it. Oh, and where is the other one? I’ll rinse them out in the sink.”
“Justin has a full laundry room.” John rolled his eyes at her and she got the message. He thought she was being ridiculous. “We’re vampires, honey, not animals. We wash our clothes, shower, and eat. We live almost exactly like humans.”
“It’s the almost that makes me uncomfortable.” Joann flung up her arms before dropping them back to her sides in confusion.
Reaching out, John lightly touched the back of her hand and mildly reminded her, “Just as there are good and bad humans, Jo, there are also good and bad vampires.”
“I supposed that’s true. Just as I understand the bad ones aren’t your fault.” Joann knew it was true even as she couldn’t forget the way Sabriento had bitten her. “I get it. I do. At least the logical part of my brain knows you’re right. It’s my emotions that can’t catch up.”
“Totally understandable,” John agreed. His face so kind and his voice so gentle Joann wanted to join Cody in his arms.
Before she could do anything so rash, he got to his feet while holding Cody with a smooth and effortless ease that had her brows lifting. She was so busy watching his biceps flex that she almost missed what he said next. “I can’t tell you how sorry I am that your introduction to vampires was the worst possible.”
“Me too,” Joann murmured. Sensing his mother was upset, Cody reached for her. Enfolding him in her arms, she buried her face in his shampoo-scented hair.
She was unable to stop the watery chuckle when John muttered, “After that first blowout—of volcanic proportions—let’s just say all his clothes and most of mine are in the trash bins behind the supercenter.”
Not long after, her worn out little boy drifted off in the king-sized guest bed where Joann would join him later. Lightly brushing soft strands of baby-fine hair off his forehead, she smiled in relief. Somehow her child had gotten through this mess without being traumatized. Her mouth twisted a little ruefully. Again she had John to thank for that miracle.
He was the key to their salvation. Without him, she would still be Sabriento’s prisoner and chew toy while on her way to an even worse fate with the Toltecs. Everyone would think she’d abandoned Cody. God, wasn’t that an unbearable thought? What if the authorities couldn’t find Bobby? She swallowed at the thought of them making her baby a ward of the state.
Stop making yourself crazy, she sternly told herself. She and Cody were in a well-appointed home, well fed, and would sleep in a clean bed. Admiringly, she ran a hand over the expensively soft linens and tried not to contrast them with the stiff and scratchy sheets currently on her bed at home.
How could she ever thank John for upending his life to rescue her while keeping her baby safe and happy at the same time? No matter how dangerous he looked, the big vampire did turn into a pile of goo where her boy was concerned. Gently stroking Cody’s back, she wished she could settle as well as her son. The plush bed called to her, and she felt drained beyond measure. Her body ached to lay down, but she couldn’t seem to remain still for any length of time.
Worry forced her to get up and pace even though her calf muscles trembled weakly. The first leg of each circuit took her through the sitting area where John and Justin were talking. She’d head to the windows overlooking the broad sweep of land, checking the virgin snow cover for any blemishing footprints. After that, she checked each door lock before returning to the bedroom where her son snoozed contently.
She lost track of how many of the weary loops she made until she entered the living room to find it dark and empty. Even without the lamp on, her feet knew the way, and she trudged over to the window. One day she’d like to stand there when the only thing on her mind was an appreciation for the beauty of moonlight glistening like tiny diamonds off the freshly fallen snow.
Instead, she searched the flawless white cover for a dark, sinister shadow. How long until Sabriento found them here?
“How can I help?”
The quiet voice coming out of the dark startled her already shredded nerves. With a muffled cry, Jo whirled around. Knocking her funny bone against the pane of glass in the process, she grabbed her elbow to rub the sore spot. Since it had been John’s voice, she weakly said, “Ouch.”
He turned the table lamp on low. Then rising, he approached cautiously with his empty hands held palms forward. Outwardly his demeanor was relaxed, his tone reassuring, but she didn’t think he was either.
“Justin went out to look around and get more wood. It’s just me.”
“I see that now.” Her heart, which had seemed to stop, began beating again with painfully hard strokes. “You scared me.”
“I got that.” John’s smile was reassuring. “I’m sorry.”
“Why were you sitting in the dark?” Joann accused as he reached her side. “I’m sorry. I’m just tense.”
“I know. I’ve been watching, and you’re wound tighter than a spring. But there was a longer than usual space between your last trip up and down the hall.” He shrugged “I hoped you’d finally worn yourself out enough to sleep.”
“Oh.” She’d paused for another potty break. “I can’t seem to stop.” The quavering admission spilled out before she could stop herself. She hated the pity in his expression.
“How can I help?” He repeated.
“I don’t know,” she whispered. “I can’t stop thinking—”
“That the other shoe is about to drop,” John finished, proving he did understand what was messing with her head. When he held out his arms, Joann found herself going into them.
“Listen. Justin and I are taking turns keeping watch. You and Cody are as safe as we can make you.”
“I know,” she mumbled into the front of his shirt. “Thank you.”
“I swear as long as I live, he won’t touch you again.” The fervor in John’s voice shook and calmed her at the same time.
“I don’t understand why you’re doing all of this for us.”
“I’ll tell you all about it later.” Touching his lips to the top of her head, he murmured against her hair, “Right now you need sleep. Cody is going to wake up fresh and raring to go.”
That was true. “Maybe if you bash me in the head I can shut down for a little bit.”
“Let’s try something a little less brutal.” Taking her by the hand, John drew her down the hall and into the guest room where Cody slept. Pulling back the covers, he placed a hand on her back to guide her onto the bed, and she slid into the middle of the mattress. Curving her front to Cody’s back, John mimicked the position behind her.
At first, her body stayed rigid, but he did nothing more than slide the flat of his warm palm up and down her arm. Soothing her with that slow motion until her muscles relaxed one by one.
And, before she knew it, she slept.