All I Want for Christmas Is a Vampire - By Kerrelyn Sparks Page 0,58
all of them, but he didn't want to belittle Vanda's offer. "That would be great. Thanks."
She squeezed her eyes shut. "I want you to be happy, Ian. And safe." When she opened her eyes, anger flashed in them. "So help me, if that Jedrek bastard hurts--"
"Vanda, promise me ye'll do nothing about Jedrek Janow. Leave him to me and Connor."
She heaved a sigh. "Okay, but please be careful. He'll want answers, and you're the one who has them."
"I know." Ian realized Jedrek could be hunting for him right now. And the first place he'd search would be Roman's townhouse. "I need to use your computer."
He dashed down the stairs to Vanda's office and accessed the tracking device in Toni's handbag. She was back at the townhouse. All alone.
Ian's stomach clenched. Toni, he thought, just before he teleported away.
Chapter Thirteen
A hot shower helped take the chill out of Toni's bones and relieve the ache in her bruised hip. She leaned over to wrap a towel around her wet hair, and as she straightened, she accidentally brushed her hip against the counter.
"Ow!" She eyed the bruise. It had swollen to a lovely shade of purple that coordinated well with the red scars on her torso and breasts.
"Toni!"
She jumped at the sound of Ian's voice coming from her bedroom. Her hip knocked against the counter. "Ow! Dammit!" She grabbed on to the towel bar to keep from falling.
"Toni, are ye all right?" Ian pounded on the door. "Is someone hurting you? Should I teleport in?"
"No!" What was he doing out there? "I...I have the entire offensive line from the New York Giants in here. Oh yeah, I'm feeling good! Second down and eight to go."
There was a pause. "Ye're jesting, right?"
She snorted. "Brilliant, Sherlock."
"Come out now. We need to talk."
Not that again. "I don't have any clothes. Go away."
"I'll close my eyes."
Now it was her turn to pause. "I don't believe you."
"Brilliant, Sherlock."
Damn him. She wrapped a towel around herself. "Go away."
"No. I've come to rescue you."
"From what? Mildew?"
"I'll step into the hall so ye can get dressed. Please hurry."
She heard footsteps and a door click shut. She peeked out. The bedroom was empty.
She eased toward the dresser. "Why are you pestering me? I'm off duty now." She dropped her towel and quickly pulled on some panties.
"This canna wait," Ian spoke from the hallway. "We're in danger from a Malcontent assassin named Jedrek Janow. He's the new master of the Russian-American coven in Brooklyn, the bastards who attacked you before. Jedrek wants information about the drug I took in order to age, so he'll be searching for me."
Any irritation Toni had felt sifted away, only to be replaced by a twinge of fear. She reached behind her back to hook her bra. "How serious is this?"
"Verra serious. If he comes to the townhouse, he willna come alone. He'll bring other Malcontents with him, and everyone here, including you, will be attacked."
A chill prickled her skin with gooseflesh. "They know about this townhouse? I thought it was a secret." Damn, she had thought she was safe from them.
"Roman's home is a secret, but this place has always been known in the Vamp world. Every spring, Roman hosts a conference at Romatech, and coven masters come from around the world to attend. They always stay here, and Angus's company provides security. Are ye decent now?"
She could be attacked again? God, no. Memories of that night threatened to wash over her. No, not again.
A form appeared before her, and she gasped.
Ian's eyes widened. "Toni."
Her hands fluttered around her panties and bra. Damn! Her undies didn't cover up much. And her scars! She glanced at his face and saw his expression go from shock to horror.
"Go away!" She turned her back to him. Dammit, what was worse? Being caught almost naked or seeing a guy's horrified reaction to it?
"Toni, ye're covered with bite marks."
"I know. I was there when it happened." She rushed to the closet and yanked a pair of jeans off a hanger.
"And yer hip. It's bruised something terrible."
"Stop looking at me!" She pulled on the jeans. "I fell in a parking lot."
"At the Shady Oaks Psychiatric Hospital?"
She gasped, and the jeans slid down to her knees. "How--" She noticed his gaze drifting south, and she jerked the jeans back up. "How did you know?"
"I'm a verra good investigator."
Damn him. She zipped up her jeans. "You've been spying on me?"
He strode toward her. "Is that yer suitcase there?"