Dear, Sinfully Mine

CHAPTER 1

I’d never left the United States before. I never thought my first trip away would be with a thousand year older master vampire either. I was Lucas’ connection to the living and his storage box for powers too intense and seasoned to remain inside his own body. Leaving the country, he needed every bit of his power with him, so I didn’t really have a choice in coming along, even when he pretended I did for months prior.

I was sitting now in a tinted black limo with Lucas on our way to the hotel housing all the undead guests for this special meeting of supernaturals. The top ranking in all the races got together once a year to reinforce peace treaties and get updated on any problems threatening their existence, in house or otherwise.

You’re unusually quiet. Lucas spoke from his side of the long stretch limo.

I couldn’t see outside the tinted windows but that didn’t stop me from looking and using the glass as a focal point to avoid my traveling companion. Nothing really to say. He always had me on edge but even so, I would always find a way to be in control by being rude to the guy in order hide my real emotions. Tonight I didn’t have any strength to try any of my old tricks to annoy Lucas. I was numb and there was nothing that would change that.

Gavin was dead. He was killed by a demon before we could sit down and work past our issues, before I could tell him I forgave him for his lies and that I did love him. I never told Gavin that I loved him. We dated and lived together for a year and I never mustered up the confidence to look past my fears and say those very complicated words. That would always be my biggest regret.

My first love, Alec, was now an amnesic vampire. My second and last, Gavin, was killed by a demon. My love life was nightmare inducing.

I’m sorry. He said the words so gently with touches of tenderness. It was a side of him I’d never seen before, one I didn’t want to know.

Don’t. I wasn’t comfortable with him showing me tenderness. I know you can probably feel what’s inside my chest but that doesn’t mean you have to try and make it better. I’m here as your employee and that’s all I am.

With a gush of wind Lucas moved from his seat across the limo to sit right next to me. I kept my eyes glued to the window as he spoke. You know that’s not true. I’ve already put into words how I care what happens to you and how special I find you.

I swallowed back a lump of sadness and fear. I’m just the resident freak you want to have control over and I’ve learned to accept it and how it has to be. So just leave me alone.

The limo came to a stop and whatever Lucas was going to say died around a sigh of frustration. The bellboy of the lavish hotel opened the door and greeted Lucas with a pleasant French manner. The driver and the bellboy unloaded our bags while I stood back feeling useless. I never had people wait on me before and I was quickly learning I didn’t like it. I was an employee just like them, here because of circumstance, not as some tart on Lucas’ arm. I grabbed my bag before it could be placed on a cart and strapped it quickly over my chest. I had some very choice weapons inside the bag and didn’t want anyone to notice or get too curious.

Lucas explained to me this meeting was conducted in peace but that didn’t mean something couldn’t go wrong. If it did, I wanted to be locked and loaded.

I followed behind Lucas inside the hotel and watched with silent interest as the receptionist gave him some papers to sign on our way to the elevator. She thanked him with a smile before scurrying away with a deep blush on her cheeks. From the hotel workers to the guests, they all noticed Lucas and stared at the beautiful mysterious man. I wondered if the vampire exposure had reached this far yet and they knew the immortal was amongst them. I noted a lot of interest and admiration but no one looked scared, so I highly doubted they knew what Lucas was capable of. I was here as the guy’s companion and I was scared. It was an unwritten rule; around a master vampire you should carry a healthy dose of fear.

We rode the elevator to the top floor with the bellboy beside us rolling the luggage along the way. I wasn’t surprised when we reached the penthouse floor and got out. Every step of the trip Lucas was going the high end route. I suspected he wouldn’t settle for anything less.

The bellboy unloaded the luggage and left with a big smile from the tip Lucas gave him. Do they know what you are? I asked after we were finally alone in the room. I’d rather focus on my curiosity than the fact I had to share this room with him. Another perk of this trip I had to swallow.

I do not know but yes our identity is known all around the world now. I’ve given many of speeches outside of the states on behalf of the immortal race.

I was looking around the room and knew everything I was seeing cost more than my yearly salary. Those speeches must be pricey.

My stocks also do very well in the market. None of my business is illegal, if that’s what you’re asking detective.

I wasn’t pointing any fingers. I knew walking into this I would have to overlook any illegal activities. I wasn’t here as a cop and it wouldn’t help matters if I got anyone antsy. Lucas might be on the right side of the law but I knew for a fact many people I’d have to meet during this week couldn’t say the same. What happens now?

We’re to meet and greet at midnight.

I looked down at my watch and saw it was nearly eleven. Not much time.

No. he agreed and motioned for me to follow him up three stairs into the bedroom area of the large suite. He stopped at the closets, there were two, and the one he opened contained women’s clothing, lots of it. There is a certain dress code to these events and anything you find in here fits the bill. Not only were the sleeping corridors high end, so were the guests, and anyone with them had to fit the bill.

Good thing I packed light.

It looked like Lucas was expecting more of a fight from me but he didn’t say anything as he turned and went back down those three stairs. I stepped inside the large closet and took a look around. There were dresses and gowns in every possible style but they all had one thing in common; they were all in simple dark colors with nothing flashy. Lucas did know something about me after all.

There was a dark wine colored one and before I could stop myself, I thought about Matthew and the dress he picked for me during an undercover mission. I was trying with everything inside my soul to forget about Matthew Stevens. I had come to trust him and regard him as a friend but that was all shattered when all his lies came out and Gavin died. I didn’t want anything to do with Matthew and the race he was part of.

I kept fingering through the dresses before settling on one. It was black halter evening gown with baby soft material and floor length to hide my weapons. The closet was also a changing room with a full mirror and a counter with makeup. I closed the door and started to get ready. As always I left my hair down, one it was easier and two I wanted my neck covered. Lucas wouldn’t be the only vampire at this meeting. I pulled my weapons from my bag and strapped two knifes to my left thigh and a gun to my right one. Lastly, I pulled a pair of black pumps out and slipped them on. They would be the only shoes I wore for this trip because the heels doubled as stakes.

It was eleven thirty when I met back up with Lucas in the living room. The master vampire was always dressed to the nines in a suit that probably cost more than my rent, and they were always tailored to perfection to his tall frame, making now no different.

I spoke up. You told me why you have this meeting every year and what the purpose is but you never told me who to expect, which supernatural races? I don't like surprises. I moved over to the couch and sat across from him.

There are two representatives per race; Anthony and I are representing the immortals this year. Tristan Black and Christopher Thornton are elders who sit for all the werewolf population. Paul and Kendall Morganelli for all other shifter races. Lorena Yu for the witches and Jim Farrell for wizards.

That sounds like an eclectic group. The thought of being in a room with so many different and powerful creatures made me nervous. I didn’t know half of that existed but at least no demons or angels. I really had no clue there were werewolf elders and I made a mental note to ask Jake about it.

No, they each have their own realm to reside in. The purpose of this meeting is for the races on earth.

Thankfully. I felt better knowing something about the people I was expected to meet with and decided to use tonight, and the rest of the week, to help me forget about the problems waiting for me back home and all the people I never wanted to see again.

CHAPTER 2

I walked arm in arm with Lucas into the big ballroom where tonight’s gathering was being held. He explained in the car no two meetings were held in the same space. That it helped against anyone watching to do them harm, from rivals of their own race to government officials wanting to keep an eye on them.

I was there as his confidant and had to be on his side a hundred percent, united against everyone and anything during this trip. Being in a foreign land with no allies it was easy to accept Lucas’ terms, he was the only person I knew here and I wouldn’t go against him for some stranger. It was a classic case of sticking with the evil you knew.

On the car ride over Lucas had explained more of this meeting to me, at least after I nagged with endless questions. There were two representatives for each race and each representative had a staff of three with them. For the vampires one of the three were normally human or in my case, human enough to walk through the sun. It would be foolish for a vamp to travel without a daywalker. I was one staff member and until now, I hadn’t known who the other two Lucas brought along were. I didn’t have enough time in the car to ask who they were and why we all hadn’t traveled together.

I wasn’t surprised to see Ryan. He was a master vampire in his own right in his 200s and Lucas’ first turned progeny. They were like father and son who looked more like brothers. Ryan was turned early in his human years at twenty and Lucas wasn’t turned much later than that. The master vampire didn’t go around telling me too many details but if I had to guess Lucas was no more than thirty when he was killed and turned into an immortal.

I was however shocked shitless to see Alec, my ex boyfriend suffering from amnesia since his forced turning. He hadn’t decided to enter this life willingly like Ryan had explained to me he did. Alec was only five years old in vampire years and that was still considered a baby, baby vampires were unpredictable and still green around the gills at controlling their tempers and gaining their independence away from their sire. Lucky for Alec his sire was dead, truly dead to never rise again.

I looked up at Lucas to find his aqua eyes attempting to gage my reaction. Do you want to hurt me or is there a good reason that you would have him here at such an important event? the question was pretty condescending on my part.

I have no reason or desire to hurt you.

Sometimes I really don’t believe that.

We can discuss it farther if you’d like, later.

Fine. I knew this was the last place we should be arguing and for the greater good I shut my mouth and pushed my anger away for later.

Still arm in arm, we walked forward and joined Ryan and Alec at the table they sat waiting. There were a number of empty chairs and we sat. I busied myself by glancing around and noting there were several tables all with eight chairs. Two representatives, three employees each. Huh, didn’t that make perfect sense?

Have you heard from Anthony? Lucas directed the question to Ryan.

Crap, the mention of the first vampire left me antsy. I didn’t know the guy and I wanted to keep it like that but this meeting was screwing me from all sides. At the CPD a lot of us knew the name Anthony Casstiano, not because he was a part of the newly exposed vampire race, but because he was a notorious crime lord with his fingers in just about every illegal aspect you can think of. Only a few cops suspected the crime lord was a vampire. He was very smart at remaining hidden; we didn’t even have a picture of the guy in our files. I only made the connection when Lucas entered my life and started mentioning the guy as his superior.

Ryan was sipping on something that looked like white wine. He set the glass down and shrugged. We made sure he was on the last flight out of Celestin but a raid at the office slowed down progress. He should be here shortly.

I’m glad I never worked narcotics.

We’re not the only ones running late. Alec spoke.

I was trying very hard not to look at him and to forget he was even here. It was a hard feat and always had been since we met as teenagers. Alec was beautiful, every man I was sitting with was attractive in their own special intoxicating way, but unlike Lucas and Ryan, Alec had my heart and I hadn’t figured out how to take it back.

Who is he traveling with? asked Lucas, still on the subject of the tardy Anthony.

Ryan answered. He left Max in charge, opting to bring Wyatt and Faith.

Lucas tensed at the woman’s name. That’s two.

Since when have I been big on rules? The top master vampire finally arrived, smooth enough that none of us had noticed until he was there at the table with his companions.

In my earlier need to avoid Alec and keep as much distance between us as possible I left myself wide open for Anthony to take the empty chair at my right. Holy crap, I was sandwiched between the two most powerful male vampires in the world! I nearly fainted at how terrifying it was. I was trying to very hard to hide my feelings and be invisible but of course it wasn’t working.

And who do we have here? Anthony asked, trailing his finger down my cheek. I jumped back and would’ve fallen on Lucas’ lap had he not gripped my shoulders. Of all the tales I’ve heard about Zoe Langston no one ever called you skittish. His hair was blonde and his eyes were striking shades of blue, even his pupils were blue. With eyes like that it was no surprise he was careful not to be photographed, as his eyes gave his true supernatural influence away.

I chuckled weakly. You’ve heard about me? it wasn’t a comforting thought and no matter how hard I tried I couldn’t shut down the fear gripping me. If Anthony wanted to he could kill me without even getting up from that chair. I subconsciously kept etching back closer to Lucas because I knew he didn’t want to have me for a dinner snack.

The woman, Faith, leaned over Anthony’s shoulder and laughed. Do you think Lucas would let us have a taste? she batted her long eyelashes at the vampire gripping my shoulders. You used to like to share your pets. Her dark eyes were accusing and not friendly at all.

Ryan stood and in seconds was at my side grabbing my hand. We haven’t had a chance to catch up lately. Let’s go for a walk. He didn’t want for a reply and pulled me away from the table and the terrifying bloodsuckers.

Away from the table I was able to catch my breath. Oh my god, thank you so much.

Don’t worry about them. You’re extremely valuable to Lucas and he isn’t going to let anyone touch you.

Like his other pets?

You’re not a pet, you’re a lifeline and equal to Lucas not submissive to his command. Faith will try to get under your skin but she wouldn’t risk hurting you and facing punishment.

And Anthony? I wasn’t worried too much about Faith; from what my sixth sense picked up on she wasn’t the oldest thing at the table or the most powerful.

That’s just his personality. He and Lucas go back centuries and he cares too much about Lucas to harm him and harming you would harm him.

I nodded and felt my heartbeat calm back down into my chest and out of my throat. Both Faith and Wyatt are vampires. Where is Anthony’s confidant? I was kind of looking forward to another living person but instead I was stuck at a table full of vampires for the next six nights, seven including this one. At least I could have my days to myself all alone.

He doesn’t have one. I can explain it to you better later, right now we should be back. He took my hand again. "Relax, this