Duncan Read online

  “I wouldn’t want anything to happen to you, Emmaline,” he murmured, and brushed his lips against hers in a soft, too fleeting kiss.

  Emma stared up at him. “Why do you call me that?” she whispered.

  “Because it’s your name and I like it. It’s old-fashioned.”

  “You’re the only one who uses it.”

  “Good.” He kissed her again, longer this time, but not nearly long enough. “We’ll talk later.”

  And just like that he was gone. Emma stared after him in frustration. When he did stuff like that, she was sure he wanted her, just like she’d been sure in the gym when the heat sizzling between them had all but burned her skin. But then he’d step back or get called away, or who knew what else, and he’d disappear, leaving her hot and bothered and wondering.

  Or maybe she was putting too much into what was for him nothing more than a mild flirtation. Maybe he wasn’t looking for anything more than a few hours of sexual gratification. Several hot, sweaty, satisfying hours.

  Emma laughed quietly. Yeah, she could go for that. But then she sighed, knowing herself too well. What she felt for Duncan was more than simple lust. Maybe not a lifetime commitment, not yet anyway, and maybe not ever, but it was more than what a few hours of sweaty sex would satisfy. Of course, that didn’t mean she’d turn down the opportunity if he offered. Especially since she had a feeling they’d be the best few hours of her life.

  She shook herself out of the fantasies flashing across her brain and hurried back to the computer room. She couldn’t do anything about Duncan and his damnable appeal, but she could definitely make a difference in identifying some of the people on Victor’s list. She gripped her laptop more securely. She wasn’t a computer hacker like Louis and the other vampires, but she was a compulsive collector of information. And the information on her computer might be exactly what they needed.

  * * * *

  Duncan climbed the aged brick stairs of the private home where Senator Max Grafton was holding a fundraiser. Strictly speaking, of course, it wasn’t the senator holding the fundraiser, but one of his supporters. Someone wealthy enough to afford this Georgetown townhouse which made up for its tiny lot by climbing four stories above street level. Miguel walked beside him, and Ari would remain with the SUV. He’d ignored the valet service, but he probably wasn’t the only one. This kind of affair drew nothing but wealthy guests, people who could help the senator get reelected by writing a check and/or coaxing others to join them. Duncan also knew from personal experience that, despite official protestations to the contrary, money talked. If you donated enough money to the right politician, you bought that politician’s ear and often his vote as well. It had been that way for as long as some humans had been raised into positions of power, and it always would be.

  A discreetly colored awning had been stretched above the stoop in front of the townhouse, and two security types were stationed on the small square landing to screen guests. Their glances skated over Duncan, but lingered on Miguel who made no bones about what he was—a highly trained and motivated bodyguard. He was also armed, but that, too wasn’t unusual. At a gathering like this there would be other private security, and they would all be armed. They couldn’t do their job otherwise. The men guarding the door didn’t know it, but Miguel could probably have done his job just as well without the gun. For that matter, Duncan could do Miguel’s job. Until a few days ago, a great part of his job had been to protect Raphael. But that was before he’d become a vampire lord himself, and now his world had forever changed. He was not yet certain if he preferred it this way, but it was too late for regrets.

  Miguel sized the guards up as they did the same to him. None of them gave any indication of their thoughts, not even a twitch of a muscle. But Duncan knew the two human guards were both troubled and puzzled by Miguel, sensing there was something different about him, but not knowing what. They didn’t know yet that Miguel and Duncan were both Vampire. Not yet.

  Miguel handed over Duncan’s invitation—well, Victor’s invitation, but it was Duncan’s now. He smiled grimly at the thought, even as he watched the guard’s eyes widen when he read the name. The human stiffened, did a quick reappraisal of Miguel, then shot a glance at Duncan who met his gaze calmly.

  “Gentlemen,” Duncan said finally. He put a little punch of power into it, tired of being forced to wait on the porch like an unwelcome solicitor.

  The guard nearest the inside door jumped at the reminder. Regardless of his feelings about vampires, Duncan was an invited guest at a party where only the most powerful were welcome. The guard pushed the door open and stepped aside, pressing himself against the wall to avoid accidentally brushing against Duncan as he went by. Duncan smiled in amusement, wondering what the man feared. Did he think vampirism was contagious? That if he touched Duncan, he’d turn into a slavering animal? But, no, the guard was broadcasting his emotions like a brass band. He was terrified, but not of catching a disease. He was afraid of Duncan himself, as if Duncan was a wild animal who could turn at any moment and rip out his throat for no reason. Duncan sighed inwardly. The man was a fool, but educating misinformed humans wasn’t his purpose here this evening.

  He entered the crowded townhouse, and immediately winced at the level of noise. Directly in front of him was a dark hallway, and to the right of that a narrow staircase that twisted up beneath the low ceiling. A few people lingered on the stairs, as if caught going up or down, but most of the guests he could see were in a drawing room to one side. A fireplace gave the room a welcome feel, but it was hardly necessary to add any heat. Not with all those people standing about and talking nonstop. There were more people upstairs; he could hear them talking and laughing. More oppressive than the noise, though, was the press of emotion from too many minds in a singularly confined space.

  Duncan kept his face carefully impassive, but it was an effort. This was a large home, as such things went, and perhaps with fewer people it would have seemed more spacious. But as it was, Duncan felt as if he was being squeezed from all sides by humans who maintained a steady stream of dialogue, but had very little to say.

  “Ambassador Milford?” A woman’s voice calling his last name drew him out of his thoughts. He looked up to see an elegantly dressed matron coming his way, her very high heels making tinny tapping noises on a checkered marble floor that reminded him of the courtyard in front of what used to be Alexandra’s house in Malibu. The human woman drew closer, her curious gaze never leaving his face. She was attractive for her age and fashionably thin, with the perfect smile of a professional hostess.

  “We received word you would be joining us, Ambassador.”

  Duncan inclined his head. “Madam . . .” he said leadingly.

  “Forgive me,” she said, and laughed as she drew close enough to extend a hand. “Margery Whitlow. I’m delighted to meet you.”

  Duncan took her hand and squeezed carefully, feeling the movement of fragile bones beneath his fingers. “Mrs. Whitlow, of course,” he said, remembering the name of the hosting couple from Victor’s invitation.

  “Oh, call me Margery,” she said, and laughed again. She had a refreshingly genuine laugh, not something one usually encountered at parties like this, Duncan thought.

  “Mrs. Whitlow is so stuffy,” she added. Her glance strayed to Miguel, but she didn’t say anything, clearly dismissing him as one more bodyguard. “Senator Grafton was most intrigued when I told him your staff had called. None of us knew Victor was leaving. It must have been quite sudden.”

  “It was,” Duncan said noncommittally.

  Margery paused for a moment, probably expecting him to offer an explanation. When none was forthcoming, however, she recovered deftly. “You have your work cut out for you, settling into a new post on such short notice. It was good of you to make time for us.”

  “On the contrary, Margery,” Duncan said. He deliberately laced his words with a touch of seduction, and sensed the little rush of excitement she felt when he said her name.
“There is a lot to do at the house, but houses can always wait,” he said smoothly. “I’m very pleased at this opportunity to meet Senator Grafton—and yourself, of course.”

  Margery flushed with pleasure, and Duncan smiled.

  “Margery!” An over-perfumed woman emerged from one of the side rooms, her arms held out in embrace. “I missed you when we came in.”

  Margery pulled away from Duncan with obvious reluctance, her gaze lingering on his face even as her body turned to greet the other woman. “Gloria,” she gushed with totally faked enthusiasm. “How long has it been, darling?”

  Duncan took advantage of the distraction to move in among the other guests. Miguel lingered near the doorway as Duncan glided from cluster to cluster of humans, picking up names and tidbits of gossip, introducing himself, and charming the locals. He was good at this sort of thing, much better than Raphael, and his Sire would be the first to admit it. Raphael at his most humble and charming was still massively intimidating. He couldn’t help it; it was simply who he was. Duncan, on the other hand, had the ability to lull the humans into forgetting what he was.

  He was deep in conversation with the wife of a famous French author, modestly accepting her compliments on his impeccable accent, when Margery touched his elbow.

  “Ambassador,” she said eagerly. “I’ve been neglecting you. Come. You must meet Senator Grafton. He’s in the main room upstairs.”

  She laced her arm through his and pulled him toward the stairway. Miguel stiffened, but Duncan caught his eye and waved him off. With some vampires, her familiarity could have been fatal, but Duncan was too used to humans to be offended. Besides, Margery wasn’t a bad person as far as he could tell. Her strongest feelings toward him were curiosity laced with lust, which was partly his own fault.

  She released his arm when they reached the stairs, which were simply too narrow for such intimacy. Duncan followed her at a discreet distance, Miguel ghosting behind him like a shadow. He had reached the twist in the staircase when another man came into view, heading the opposite direction. He had a ruddy face that spoke of too much booze on too many nights, and he was carrying a crystal tumbler of amber liquid that sloshed recklessly as he started downward. Duncan could smell the peaty scent of Scotch beneath the stink of sweat. The man looked up and saw Duncan coming towards him. He nearly stumbled in such obviously shocked recognition that there was no doubt he knew who Duncan was. Duncan studied his face in return, noting the crude features and scarred visage of an athlete whose best years were behind him.

  “Miguel?” He queried his lieutenant on a narrow telepathic thread. Miguel was his child. This close the other vampire was like an extension of Duncan himself.

  “Congressman Dean Kerwin, my lord.”

  Interesting, Duncan thought. And the man was nervous at seeing Duncan. He nodded at the Congressman, as if he knew who he was, more for the pleasure of seeing the man’s nervous jerk of surprise than anything else.

  “There you are,” Margery caroled as he stepped onto the second floor. “I keep losing you.” She hooked her arm through his again and drew him over to one corner of yet another narrow room, this one with thankfully far fewer people in it.

  “Max,” she said, closing in on a pair of men deep in conversation. “This is Ambassador Milford.”

  Max Grafton was a small, compact man with a sharp-featured face and intelligent eyes. And unlike Congressman Kerwin, Grafton was completely sober. The champagne flute in his left hand was artfully drained to half-full, but there was not a hint of alcohol scent about him. He turned away from his companion and extended his right hand to Duncan in greeting.

  “Ambassador,” he said smoothly, his voice surprisingly deep for a man his size.

  “Senator,” Duncan replied, giving him the requisite hardy handshake.

  “Thank you, Margery,” Grafton said in obvious dismissal of their hostess.

  Margery made a slight sound of protest that no one but a vampire would have heard, then smiled brightly and turned to Duncan. “I hope we’ll speak again later, Ambassador.”

  On a whim of gentility, Duncan took her fingers and lifted them to his lips, lightly kissing the back of her hand. “It would be my pleasure, Margery,” he said letting the slow honey of his Southern upbringing flavor the words.

  Margery raised the hand he’d kissed to her flushed cheek. “Oh, my,” she said. “You’re one of those charming Southern boys. I’ll have to warn the ladies.” She laughed again in that delighted way, then hurried off on her high heels.

  Duncan turned in time to see a sour look flash across Grafton’s face, before it was quickly erased. “Brad,” Grafton said to his companion. “Give us a moment, will you?”

  “Of course,” the man said and wandered across the hall to yet another drawing room filled with people.

  “So,” Grafton said, drawing Duncan’s attention. “Duncan Milford, is it? I don’t think Victor ever used a last name.”

  Duncan couldn’t think of anything to say to that rather inane comment, so he remained silent, studying the human in front of him and wondering at the hostility he could feel rolling off the good senator. He decided on a frontal assault. “Victor spoke highly of you, Senator,” he said. It was a lie, of course. Victor hadn’t spoken to Duncan about anyone, nor would he ever again, but Duncan was curious to see what Grafton’s reaction would be.

  The senator grew very still, those intelligent eyes searching Duncan’s face as if hoping for a clue of some sort. Not that he’d find one.

  “Did he?” he said finally. “I wouldn’t have expected my name to come up at all.”

  Duncan smiled knowingly, as if amused. “Come, Max, we both know—” Grafton’s emotions shot into something very close to panic before Duncan finished his sentence. “—that Victor was a supporter of yours. A whale I believe you call someone like that, a person who is capable of delivering bundled donations of considerable sums.”

  Grafton’s breathing slowly settled into a normal rhythm and he smiled. “Ah, that, of course. Victor was very generous.” Grafton took a long sip of his champagne, though it had to be quite warm by now. When he lowered his glass, the mask was firmly back in place. “So, Milford, you’re from the South?”

  “Originally,” Duncan agreed. He nodded at a server who appeared with a tray of fresh champagne and took one of the glasses. Grafton’s eyes watched carefully as he took a tasting sip.

  “I didn’t think you pe—that is, vampires ate regular food.”

  “We don’t. But we do drink.” Duncan didn’t bother explaining that while some vampires enjoyed the taste of alcohol, and others the burn, it had no effect whatsoever on their minds.

  “Victor doesn’t. At least not that I’ve ever seen.”

  “No? I’m surprised.”

  “What happened to Victor, anyway?” Grafton demanded. “I saw him less than two weeks ago and he said nothing about leaving. I do hope he’s well,” he added, as if to soften the demand in his earlier words.

  Duncan met the senator’s gaze evenly. “Perhaps he didn’t want to trouble you.”

  Grafton studied him a bit longer, then drew closer, as if in confidence. Miguel tensed slightly where he stood near the room’s open archway, but Duncan shot him a quick glance of reassurance. Max Grafton was no danger to Duncan, at least not in the middle of this civilized gathering. Max struck him as more the type to lie in wait with a big gun. Or rather to hire someone else to do it, while Max himself established a credible alibi.

  “Tell me, Milford. Will you be assuming . . . all of Victor’s responsibilities?”

  “You mean the parties,” Duncan said negligently. “Of course. I have all of Victor’s files.”

  Grafton froze and his heart rate soared once again. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

  Duncan nearly laughed out loud, but settled for a grin that made his amusement plain. “Grafton, please. A man of your sophistication and . . . tastes? You must have known Victor was taping everything that we
nt on at that house. You preferred blondes, didn’t you? You and the drunken Congressman Kerwin, both. In fact, I believe you shared one or two.”

  Grafton stared at Duncan, his face pale and his breathing so rapid that Duncan feared the man would pass out. He swallowed hard once, twice, and then his lips tightened in anger and he snarled, “I don’t know what you’re pulling, Milford. But I will not be harassed in this—”

  “Harassed,” Duncan hissed, leaning right into the good senator’s space. “You’re confusing me with Victor, Grafton, and that would be a mistake. I don’t harass my enemies. I eliminate them. Remember that.”

  Duncan stepped back and signaled to Miguel, who waited until Duncan had walked past and then followed him. The stairs were empty as they headed straight for the door, their mission, such as it was, accomplished for the evening. He heard Miguel calling Ari on the radio, telling him to bring the SUV around, and by the time they were once again out of that claustrophobic house, the familiar vehicle was rolling up to the curb. Ari powered down the window so they could see him, but remained behind the wheel as Miguel opened the back door for Duncan, then followed him inside.

  Duncan had felt Miguel’s anger growing all the way out of that house and onto the street, and he suspected it was directed at him. Once they got underway, he placed a casual arm over the back of the seat and glanced at his lieutenant sitting next to him.

  “What is it, Miguel?”

  Miguel shot him an angry look. “You all but invited him to come after you, Sire. You’ve set yourself up as bait.”

  Duncan shrugged. “Perhaps. But it seemed the fastest way to flush them out. Kerwin looked familiar, didn’t he? He certainly knew who I was. And I’d lay good money that Kerwin and Grafton were conferring before I showed up and ruined their party. Emma needs to see Lacey’s murder avenged, Miguel, and I want this matter done with. It isn’t what we came to this city to accomplish.”