Craig's Heart

Chapter Five

Craig sat on the sofa next to Evie and waited for his friend to speak. Both he and Evie were clean and fresh from their shower. Sonia had loaned Evie a clean blouse and underwear that she wore with her own pants. Her hair was braided and she looked rested. Craig was wearing a silk shirt that belonged to Damek along with his own jeans. Like her, his feet were bare.

Damek hadn’t said anything about them obviously having sex in the bathroom, but Craig could see the unasked questions in Damek’s gaze.

Unfortunately, Craig had no answers.

Right now, he was operating on his gut and all his instincts were telling him to keep Evie close.

Fortunately, Damek was willing to let it go for now, but Craig knew he’d have to answer his friend’s questions sooner or later, probably sooner than he wanted.

“So you’re an artist?” Sonia asked Evie.

“Yes.” Evie picked at a thread on the knee of her jeans where the material was ripped. “I have some paintings in a few small galleries around the city.”

“I’d love to see your work.”

“Enough.” Damek gave his wife’s shoulder a squeeze. “We have no time for small talk. I expect Craig’s family to show up at any moment, and we have to make plans.”

Evie straightened and inched away from Craig. “I’m grateful for everything you’ve done, but I really should leave.”

Damek pinned her with a black glare. “That is not possible.”

“Sure it is. All you have to do is unlock that fancy elevator and let me go.” Craig admired the way Evie didn’t back down even if he disagreed with what she was saying. “I’m nothing to you,” she continued. “Why should you care what happens to me?”

“I don’t.” Damek’s blunt words earned him an elbow in the ribs from Sonia. He frowned at his wife. “Well, I don’t care, but she is important to Craig, therefore she must stay.”

“Really?” Sonia shook her head at her husband. “You’re really going to pull the I-am-lord-and-master-of-the-

universe routine?”

Craig rubbed his hand over his mouth to cover the fact he was grinning.

He was used to their byplay. Damek had lived for a thousand years and was used to everyone doing his bidding. Sonia had put an end to that and constantly challenged the vampire.

Evie on the other hand looked slightly appalled and yet fascinated by the exchange.

Damek leaned back against the supple leather sofa and sent his wife an intimate smile. “You weren’t complaining earlier this evening.” The low, sensual purr of Damek’s voice caused his wife to blush.

Evie jumped up from the sofa and started to walk toward the door. “Yeah.

Too much information there. I really have to go.”

Damek was in front of Evie before Craig could even think to move. “No, you really have to stay.”

Sonia rose and walked over to join her mate. “Please, stay and talk with us.

You really need help, and it’s not safe to be out there alone. Not only do you have to worry about the crazy vampire who made you, but there could be paranormal bounty hunters out there or even other young vampires made by the same one who made you. And trust me when I tell you that most newly made vampires have very little, if any, self-control.”

Evie hesitated and Craig took that as his cue to step in. He went to her and held out his hand. “Stay, Evie. Stay with me.”

Craig wasn’t fighting fair. After what they’d shared, she wanted to stay with him more than anything. And that was dangerous. The more she grew attached to him, the less focused she was on her goal of destroying Vladimir Drake. If he was still out there hunting, nothing would stop him from finding her. The last thing she wanted was for Craig to be caught up in her fight.

And then there was Sonia. Evie liked the other woman in spite of who her husband was. Sonia was open and giving and extremely kind. And the way she stood up to Damek was brave to the point of insanity.

Damek. Just thinking his name made her shiver. She might want to leave, but there was no way for her to get out of this fortress he called home without his permission. And it didn’t seem likely she’d get that anytime soon.

Well, she’d escaped from one vampire. She’d bide her time and escape from this one too. At least this one wasn’t obsessed with her and didn’t want to keep her chained to his side for eternity. No, Damek only wanted to kill her for what she’d done to Craig. She could live with that.

Evie ignored both men and answered Sonia. “I’d appreciate any information you could give me on vampires and how to kill one.” When the other woman appeared slightly horrified, Evie amended her statement. “I don’t want to kill your husband, just the bastard who did this to me.”

Craig slung his arm around her shoulders and guided her back to the sofa. “You’re lucky I don’t feel the same way.”

That stopped her in her tracks. He was right. She’d done to him what Vladimir had done to her. She hadn’t given him a choice either. Instead, she’d given in to the bloodlust and stolen his life from him.

Her shoulders drooped and shame filled her. “You’re right. I deserve to die.”

“No, you don’t.” Craig pulled her against his chest and hugged her. “You were running for your life and trying to do what was right. You didn’t want to hurt me. I know that.”

Evie was appalled to feel tears in her eyes and blinked them back, not even daring to sniff. The last thing she wanted to do was to appear weak in front of Damek. Sonia she didn’t mind so much.

She thought the other woman would understand. She seemed more modern than Damek did, who was a throwback to a bygone era—the Stone Age.

She sat on the sofa next to Craig, trying not to lean too heavily against him when all she really wanted to do was curl up in his arms and stay there.

They’d showered and dressed in a hurry, leaving no time for post-sex snuggling.

And she really could use some first-

class snuggling right about now.

The other couple settled onto the sofa across from them. Evie studied Damek and asked the question that had haunted her since she’d first set eyes on him. “Just how old are you?”

“That is of no matter.” He waved aside her question. “Tell me about Vladimir Drake.”

Evie took a deep breath and sighed.

“That’s what he called himself. He said he was born Richard Locke, and that he was born in Kent, England two hundred years ago. And for some reason he seems obsessed with me and my art.”

And Damek had read her memories so he knew all this. Was this for his wife’s benefit or was he simply talking to help her feel more relaxed?

“Got a computer?” Craig asked.

Damek smiled and Evie was struck hard by the depth of love and friendship she saw in his gaze. “Ah, my friend. I knew you’d want your laptop and sent one of my people to pick up a few things from your apartment. I gave them your keys.”

Craig patted his jeans pocket and laughed. “I’m not going to ask how or when you got them.”

“Probably for the best,” Damek agreed.

Evie felt her cheeks heating. It had to have been while they were in the shower together. That was the only time Craig hadn’t been wearing his jeans. Had Damek seen them naked in the shower?

How embarrassing.

She wondered why she even cared.

She didn’t, not really. It didn’t matter what any of them thought of her. She had a mission and she couldn’t forget it.

She’d inadvertently turned Craig into a vampire. Now she had to protect him from her maker. She couldn’t forget for one second that Vladimir was obsessed with her and would probably destroy Craig out of sheer jealousy. There was no telling what the crazy vampire might do if he found out about Craig.

A phone rang and Damek pulled his phone out of his pocket. “Yes.”

Since they were all vampires, they could all easily hear the conversation.

“Hey, boss.”

“Yes, Byron.”

“Byron is the head bouncer at Damek’s club,” Craig whispered in her ear.

“I got what you asked for, but I’ve also got some company. I swear I didn’t know they were following me until I reached your building.”

Damek sighed. “I expected that might happen. It’s not your fault. Give them the items I asked you to retrieve and return to the club.”

“Sure thing.”

Damek rose in one fluid motion and walked to the intercom by the door.

“Your family is here.” He pushed a button and an aggressive male voice spoke. “Let us in, bloodsucker. I know my brother is with you.”

“Come up, wolf, but mind your manners.”

Evie looked at Craig. “Wolf? Is that his name or just a nickname?”

For a moment, she wasn’t sure Craig was going to answer her. And it hurt, unbearably so, to think he was going to keep a secret from her. The walls she’d begun to lower went back up again with a resounding thud.

She’d briefly forgotten that they weren’t really a couple, weren’t really anything at all. They’d come together through circumstance, but nothing else bound them together, certainly not the sex they’d shared earlier. Sure it was great sex, but what did they really know about one another or have in common other than the fact they had both been turned into vampires against their will?

Craig dragged his fingers through his sandy-brown hair and gave a deep sigh.

“It’s not his name. It’s what he is. What both my siblings are.”

She frowned. “I don’t understand.”

He took one of her hands in his and closed his fingers around it. “Well, vampires exist and so do other creatures.”

“Other creatures?” she parroted.

This was getting to be a little much for her to take in. Damek had called Craig’s brother wolf. “Do you mean he’s a werewolf?” Surely not, but Craig was nodding.

“Not pureblood, but a half-breed.

Both my brother and sister are half-

breed werewolves.” He gave an unapologetic shrug. “Same mother, different fathers. I’m totally human, or was.” Now he frowned and released her hand to stare at the door. “I’m not sure how they’re going to take the news I’m now a vampire.”

Craig turned away from her, all his attention on the front door. Damek flipped open the locks. “They’re here.”

He opened the door and two couples walked in.

Craig took a deep breath and slowly released it to calm his nerves. He wanted to reach out to his sister and brother and hug them, but wasn’t sure how they’d react. Evie slipped her hand into his and squeeze. He immediately felt more grounded and centered. This was his family and they loved him. That wouldn’t change, no matter what.

He gave Evie’s fingers a returning squeeze before releasing them to step forward. “Chrissten. Quinn.” His sister flew to him, throwing her arms around his neck. He returned the embrace even as he was very aware of the beating of her heart and the sound of her blood rushing through her veins. Hunger pierced him, but he ignored it, needing his family more than he needed to feed.

Quinn was quickly beside them, wrapping his arms around them both.

Family. It was everything to them.

“Where the hell have you been?” Quinn growled.

Craig eased back and managed a shaky laugh while keeping his head ducked down in case his eyes were red.

“It’s a long story.” He gave Quinn’s wife, Bethany, and Chrissten’s husband, Hank, a quick wave. They both looked worried.

“Why don’t we all sit down.”

Coming from Damek, that was more an order than a suggestion and, predictably, Quinn bristled at the tone.

“I think we should be going.” Quinn grabbed his arm and tried to pull him toward the elevator. Craig dug in his heels and didn’t move. And for the first time in his life, his brother wasn’t strong enough to make him follow.

Quinn pulled up short and turned back, his expression a combination of surprise and anger. “What’s going on?

And where the hell are your glasses?”

“Ah, I don’t need glasses anymore.”

Craig raked a hand through his hair.

“Something’s happened. You need to sit down.”

Hank came forward and handed him a bag. The half-breed werewolf was a tall, imposing figure with his buzz-cut and piercing blue eyes. But he’d always been kind to Craig. “The guy we followed had this with him. It’s some of your stuff.”

“Thanks, Hank.”

Bethany stepped forward and gave him a hug. “We’re all so glad you’re safe,” she whispered.

“Thanks.” His brother was lucky to have a mate like Bethany. She was sweet and feminine, but beneath it was a core of courage that had to be respected.

Craig went to introduce Evie to everyone and frowned when he realized she wasn’t right beside him. She was standing in a dark corner of the room, not moving, barely visible.

He set down the bag Hank had given him and went to her. “Evie?” He held out his hand, willing her to take it. He didn’t like seeing her so isolated and alone from everyone else. She wasn’t alone. She had him. He knew it was crazy to think that way, but it didn’t change how he felt about her.

Was she feeling the bloodlust the same as he was? He hadn’t thought about how hard this might be for her. He loved his family, but they were strangers to her. He didn’t think she would attack them, but it was a concern.

“You sure you want to do this?” she asked. “I can wait in the next room or something.” She fiddled with the end of her braid. “Or I could just leave.”

“No, you can’t. You know that’s not possible. It’s too dangerous for you to be out on your own.”

She glanced at his family, her eyes lightly tinged. “It’s dangerous for me to be here too.”

“I trust you.” Crazy as it was, he trusted Evie not to harm his family because hurting them would be like hurting him.

The redness bled out of her eyes and they went back to the familiar green.

“You’re nuts, you know that don’t you?”

Her exasperation made him smile.

“I’ve been told that on numerous occasions.”

“Will someone tell me what the hell is going on?” Quinn’s words were clipped and Craig knew his brother was at the end of his tether.

Craig grabbed Evie’s hand and practically dragged her into the light.

“This is Evie,” he told his family. Then he turned to her, ignoring the fear in her face. “This is my brother Quinn and his wife, Bethany, and my sister Chrissten and her husband, Hank. They’re all half-

breed werewolves.”

The four he’d just introduced all gasped. Their emotions bombarded him.

Quinn was furious while his sister was hurt. Craig glanced toward Damek. No help there. The vampire looked damn amused. Sonia, on the other hand, looked concerned.

“How could you tell our secrets to a complete stranger?” Quinn took an aggressive step toward him. “What has that bloodsucker done to you?”

The accusation rolled right off Damek, but Evie surprised him by jumping in front of him. She held her hands out, stopping Quinn in his tracks.

“That bloodsucker didn’t do anything.

This one did.”

Evie was surrounded by werewolves and vampires. How had her life come to this? Two weeks ago, she was happy spending all her time painting, occasionally meeting her friends at an art opening or at a coffee shop. She would have laughed at anyone who suggested such creatures existed.

She wasn’t laughing now.

Quinn and Chrissten were both tall and blond. Even Craig’s sister was slightly taller than him. But she could see the resemblance in their features and their pale-blue eyes. They might be related, but something inside Evie had kicked in the moment she’d felt Craig was being threatened. She wasn’t having it. None of this was his fault.

Quinn’s scowl grew darker and his brows drew down in a frown. “What are you saying?”

Craig gently pushed her behind him.

Evie blinked at Craig’s back, unable to believe what he’d just done. He was protecting her from his own brother.

“What she means,” Craig began, “is that there’s more than one vampire in the room.” Craig’s shoulder’s tensed and Evie stepped out to stand beside him.

Evie couldn’t stand the tension. “I’m a vampire and I accidentally turned Craig into one too.” She let the bloodlust have partial reign inside her. It was difficult to control but necessary. With her eyes tinged red and her fangs showing, there could be no doubts as to what she really was. Vampire.

It was out in the open. No more secrets. She was more than willing to shoulder the blame for what had happened to Craig if it helped his family accept what he now was. She hated the thought of him losing his siblings because of what she’d inadvertently done.

Nobody moved for the longest second and then Quinn attacked. Evie had been expecting it and braced for it.

His head partially morphed into a wolf’s head and his two hands became claw-

tipped weapons. Quinn’s strength was enormous, but so was hers. She shoved back and ducked under his arm, barely avoiding being cut by those sharp claws.

Evie could hear everyone else yelling and Bethany screamed at her mate.

Craig yelled, grabbed his brother’s arm and held it immobile. “Stop it, Quinn. Stop.” He held on until Quinn’s features went back to normal. “Everyone needs to calm the fuck down.”

“As usual, my friend is right.”

Damek stepped forward, and this time he allowed his power to expand until it filled the space. “I won’t have this kind of violence around my wife.” The threat was clear. If they didn’t all cool down, the vampire might easily kill them all and dispose of their bodies. Well, all but Craig’s. Evie really didn’t think Damek would harm him.

The short hairs on Evie’s arms all stood on end and she swallowed hard, feeling a heavy pressure on her mind and body. How much power did this guy have?

“This is my home and you will behave yourselves or you will leave.”

Damek motioned toward the two sofas.

No one contradicted the vampire and all of them sat. All but the tall werewolf with the buzz cut. He stood behind Chrissten like a protective warrior.

The tension was so thick it was difficult to breathe. Not that she really needed to breathe, or at least she didn’t think she did. She still had a lot to learn about being a vampire. There were things she needed to know and, unfortunately, only one person who could teach them to her.

Evie moved as far away from the group as she could without bringing Damek’s attention to her. Even with Damek’s warning, she wasn’t sure if any of the werewolves would attack her if given the opportunity. It’s what she would do in their shoes.

She liked the fact they were willing to fight on their brother’s behalf, even if it was her they wanted to kill. She perched on the arm of the sofa farthest away from the rest of them but stayed ready to move if need be.

Quinn shot her a murderous glare before turning his attention to Craig. “I think you’d better tell us everything.”

Craig leaned his head back against the leather headrest and talked, starting with the night he’d found her. He left out the details of how sick he’d been. She wasn’t sure if it was to spare his siblings, to keep them from attacking her or simply because he didn’t remember.

Either way she was grateful.

She hadn’t known the entire story of how he’d come upon her that night and eagerly soaked up the details. There was so much about Craig she didn’t know.

What she did know was that he was incredibly kind and good without being a pushover. He was strong and loyal.

Determined. Independent. And intelligent.

“Damek brought us here and he’s been helping both of us learn how to deal with our new reality.” Craig was pale when he finished. He sat forward, linked his hands together, resting his elbows on his knees. “Now you know everything.”

Chrissten shook her head. “No, not everything.” There was genuine pain in her voice, pain Evie could feel. “Why didn’t you call us instead of Damek?”

Craig rose, went to his sister and crouched down in front of her. Her husband stirred behind her but didn’t move to stop Craig. Which was good, because if he tried to do anything like that, Evie would have to stop him.

She stilled and frowned. What went on between Craig and his family was none of her business. Intellectually, she knew that. But emotionally it was quite a different matter.

“I didn’t mean to hurt you,” Craig told his sister. He touched her cheek, rubbing his thumb lightly over it. “I didn’t know how you’d react.” He gave her a lopsided smile. “I know historically speaking vampires and werewolves aren’t always the best of friends.”

Chrissten captured his face in her hands. “You’re my brother and I love you. Nothing will ever change that.” She kissed his forehead and the loving gesture brought tears to Evie’s eyes.

She’d never had that. She’d been given up at birth by her drug-addict mother and had no idea who the hell her father was. She was probably better off not knowing. Her childhood had been spent in a series of foster homes. While some of the homes had been good, none had been permanent. Evie had left the last one as soon as she’d turned eighteen and had never looked back.

But this, this was how family was supposed to be. Hunger beat at every cell in her body, but for the first time since her life had been changed, it wasn’t for blood. No, she hungered for something much more basic—love, acceptance, family.

Quinn rose and went to his brother.

Craig slowly stood and faced him. Quinn swore and yanked his brother into his arms, hugging him tight. Then he turned his attention to her.

She shivered. Quinn might accept Craig, but he sure as hell wanted to see Evie pay for what she’d done. So be it.

They didn’t have to be friends, but they did have one thing in common—their desire for Craig’s safety.

She could use that. “You need to take Craig far away and keep him safe. The creature that made me is insane and will stop at nothing to get me back. Being with me puts Craig in danger.”