"No,” Raj commented. “You don't, do you? Well, maybe it's time you started. There must be someplace in this monstrosity we can speak undisturbed?” He looked around coolly.
"Yes,” Blackwood said, suddenly becoming aware of the potential embarrassment. “Of course. This way."
He led them down a hall and into a split-level library. Danny and Cervantes shut the double doors and stood blocking the exit, while Raj crossed to stand in front of the big desk Blackwood had interposed between them, as if it would do him any good. The HR founder had rediscovered his testicles on the journey to the library and was now puffed full of righteous anger. “I'd like to know the meaning of this, Gregor. The mayor and the police commissioner are among the guests here tonight, so don't think you can—"
"Silence,” Raj said quietly. Blackwood's voice stopped mid-sentence, his face reddening with effort as he struggled against Raj's command. The full import of what was happening seemed to hit him finally, and he sank into the leather desk chair, sweat popping out on his suddenly pale face.
"I was going to do this the nice way, Blackwood,” Raj said. “But seeing you here at this big party in your fancy tuxedo while Sarah Stratton is hiding out and wondering where she'll run to next . . . I find myself in the mood to inflict some pain. So . . . tag, Blackwood. You're it."
Raj eyed the puddle of quivering humanity dispassionately and hoped the stains on the rug would come out. It was a very nice rug, Afghani, he thought and probably expensive. Blackwood twitched, moaning when Raj toed him experimentally with one boot. The trip out here hadn't been a total waste. He'd taken some personal pleasure in causing the HR founder pain, especially after what he'd found in the man's narcissistic mind. He wasn't the one behind the kidnappings and didn't know anymore about it than what the newspapers could tell him. The entire affair had meant nothing more to him than a chance to curry favor with William Cowens. Finding Sarah mixed up in it had been pure chance, like finding a diamond lying on the street. Mostly, he disliked her and was glad for her troubles after the way she'd treated him at their lunch meeting. This last had enraged Raj so much he'd almost killed the man. But he hadn't wanted anyone to see a connection between Sarah's uncovering and Blackwood's sudden death.
He kicked the human again, harder this time. Blackwood's eyes opened and he scuttled across the floor, coming to rest against the back of the desk where he jiggled into a sitting position, his eyes watching Raj fearfully.
"You're leaving town tomorrow, Blackwood. And you won't be back. Not Buffalo, not New York. I don't want you setting foot in this part of the country ever again, you understand?"
Blackwood nodded rapidly.
"You'll forget Susan Siemanski ever existed. Sarah Stratton is someone you've never heard of. You or any of your people contact her or come anywhere near her ever again and I'll know about it. You believe me, don't you, Edward?"
Another spasmodic nod.
"Good. Then we're done here. Just one more thing.” He rested his gaze on Blackwood and blinked lazily. Blackwood's mouth opened and he tried to scream, but nothing came out.
Cervantes closed the doors behind them as they left the library, walking unhurriedly down the hall, their booted feet silent on the thick carpet. Raj snagged one of the waiters as they passed the kitchen, grabbing the man's arm and catching his gaze. “I think Mr. Blackwood might be having a heart attack,” he said, and then wiped the man's memory of himself and his people and walked out the door.
Chapter Thirty-six
She was in a car, the rough fabric of the seat abrading her na**d skin like steel wool. She groaned and tried to roll over, but she couldn't. She was weak, too weak. Something was wrong. There were voices, men talking, arguing briefly, and then the car swerved suddenly, crushing her against something metal. Her eyes cracked open to darkness and she realized she was not in a car, but in the trunk. Salty tears rolled down her cheeks, burning like acid.
The car stopped and the trunk lid opened, blinding her with the dim light. Someone was there, a big man reaching for her, picking her up like she weighed nothing. He walked a few steps, lifted his arms and . . . she was flying through the air, her scream of terror nothing more than a pitiful whine. Rocks bit into her flesh as she hit the ground and rolled down a hill, stiff weeds and brush tearing and scraping.
She lay still, unable to move, listening as the trunk lid slammed, as car doors closed and the engine faded into the distance. Shivering in the cold, nearly gagging with the stench of wherever they'd left her, she forced her eyes open and stared up at a moon that was little more than a curving slice of white in a clear sky. It was beautiful. Despite the overwhelming smell of rot, despite the freezing air biting into her bare skin, she smiled. And somewhere in her brain, a small voice told her what she already knew. She was dying. She quieted the voice, just turned it off. She gazed at the sickle moon, and at the brightly lit buildings much too far away to do her any good and then closed her eyes.
Sarah sat up in with a cry, reaching automatically for the switch next to her bed. She fell to the floor with a hard thump, yelping at the feel of cold linoleum where there should have been a warm rug. Her heart hammered as it all came back to her in a rush. The crowds of reporters, the warehouse . . . Regina!
She crawled on all fours, finally locating the table next to the bed where she'd left her watch. She checked the time on its illuminated dial. Nine o'clock, but was it morning or night? She scrambled to her feet and opened the door. A wave of sound, truck engines and shouted voices, greeted her. She stumbled outside and down the stairs, almost falling against Danny, the lady killer who'd been Raj's bartender at the club that night in Manhattan a hundred years ago.
"Whoa, beautiful,” Danny said playfully, standing her upright. “You okay?"
"She's alive,” Sarah croaked. The voices died and she was aware for the first time that she'd interrupted a meeting of some sort. Raj was standing there, and so was Em and a bunch of other vampires and humans. And they were all staring at her. She found Raj's face in the crowd. “She's alive. Regina Aiello. We have to find her."
The expression on his handsome face remained dark and cold.
"Please,” she begged him, tears of fear and frustration shielding her from the ice in his gaze. “You can hate me if you want, but please find her. Please, Raj. They never listened to me before, and they all died. But we can save Regina. Please. Please." She sat down on the stairs, sobbing, her heart breaking. This couldn't be happening again. Not again. Damnit! She wouldn't let it happen again!
Angrily rubbing away her useless tears, she grabbed the railing and stood. Raj was still staring at her. She thought there was a glimmer of compassion in his gaze, but she couldn't trust it. Not when Regina's life was at stake.
"I know where she is,” she told him, her voice growing stronger with every word. “And if you won't help me, I'll find her myself.” A small sob escaped her lips with the last word, and she swallowed hard.
"Get dressed,” he told her sharply. “Danny, you and Cervantes come with me,” he ordered, his eyes never leaving Sarah. “Em, send the teams out, but stay in touch."
Sarah was still zipping her jacket when the industrial-sized door rolled up and they sped into the night. Danny was driving, so she told him what they were looking for. All she had to go on was what she'd seen through Regina's eyes, but she'd recognized those buildings in the distance.
"Which way, beautiful?” Danny asked, stopping at the first big intersection they came to.
Sarah sat on the front bench seat of a huge SUV, with Danny on one side and Raj on the other, his arm slung over the seat behind her. He shot Danny a scowl at the endearment and let his big hand drop to her shoulder, pulling her slightly away from the other vampire. She cleared her throat, determined not to be cowed. They couldn't do this without her. “We're going to the university campus. You know where that is?"
"Sure thing,” Danny said, winking at her. “It's a big place, though. Anywhere special?"