Read A Night with a Vampire for Free Online

this?”
    â€œMaybe he didn’t want you involved.” He started walking forward again, walking away from her.
    â€œIf he didn’t want me involved then why did he call me and tell me to meet him at that warehouse?”
    He spun on her, red fury burning in his eyes. “No, the question you should be asking, is where the hell is he, and why did he leave you with me?”
    She shuddered again but this time from fear. She clenched the stake still glued to the palm of her hand, but knew after what she’d just seen it would be of little use to her. “What are you going to do?” she asked again. “With me?”
    â€œI haven’t decided,” he said, and she realized he was being completely honest. In fact, he’d been honest with her from the start.
    â€œI’ll help you,” she blurted, without thinking.
    He didn’t say anything, just stared at her, his face expressionless.
    â€œNot only do I need to find Cayman, but I need to know what he was in to,” she said.
    â€œOkay, where do you want to start?” he said, finally speaking.
    â€œLet’s go back to Cayman’s house and see what we can find.”
    â€œAll right.” He stepped back and gestured for her to precede him.
    She shivered as she watched him. The monster was suddenly a gentleman.

Chapter Four
    Xana couldn’t help the hope expanding within her as they turned down Cayman’s street. She hoped he would be home, that his lights would be on and that he’d have a damned good explanation for where he’d been and what all this Alliance business was about. Marius parked the Jaguar along the curb beneath a large oak across from the well-kept bungalow, which had been built in the forties. But Cayman’s house sat in darkness.
    â€œMaybe he’s asleep. Or hurt,” she said, though she didn’t expect Marius to answer. He hadn’t said a word on the drive back across the bay. They slipped from the car and hurried toward the house. Sodium vapor lamps spaced few and far between cast long shadows on the large bushes of blooming hydrangeas flanking the front walk on either side of Cayman’s small porch. They bypassed the walk, soundlessly skirting around the side of the house toward the back.
    The gate in the tall fence opened easily. They followed a serpentine brick walkway, entered a small backyard and glanced in the windows as they passed but saw nothing. Xana approached the back door, took out her keys and opened it.
    They entered a small dark kitchen. Anxiety had her nerves jumping as they quickly checked the house. There was no sign of Cayman anywhere, nor any sign that he’d been there recently. Xana sighed and flipped on a few of the lights. “He’s not hiding or hurt. He’s just not here.”
    Without uttering a sound, Marius opened cupboards and drawers and flipped through papers and envelopes on the counter.
    â€œWhat are you looking for?” she asked, not bothering to hide her annoyance.
    â€œAnything that can tell me about the Alliance.”
    Could this Alliance be so bad that Cayman wanted to protect her from it? Was that why he’d kept her in the dark? He should have known better. She could take care of herself, she would have thought the last two years they’d spent hunting vampires together would have proved that. And besides, working in the dark put her at risk. Obviously.
    She searched the living room but found nothing. She started to move into the bedroom when she heard a movement by the back door. She stilled, then turned to Marius, lifting her finger to her lips, giving him the quiet signal. She gestured toward the bedroom.
    Marius raised his eyebrows, an amused grin tilting his lips. She stopped for a second. She’d never seen him smile, really smile. It changed his whole face, turning him from someone who gave her the willies to someone she might be interested in knowing. The effect was disconcerting to say