Kerrelyn Sparks: Secret Life of a Vampire

Laszlo struggled to sit up. "This is terrible." Sweat beaded his brow. "I think I'm going to puke again."

"Hang in there," Jack whispered. "I'll get rid of the cops."

"I'll call the manager up here to open the door," the police officer yelled.

"I'm coming!" Jack cracked the door two inches and quickly assessed the uniformed patrolman. Young, nervous, easily handled with vampire mind control. His gaze swept to the second officer.

Santo cielo . He forgot to breathe for a moment. Not that lack of oxygen could actually hurt him. His first impression: she was stunning. His second impression: she was trying very hard to minimize her looks. Golden red hair pulled back severely in a tight French braid. Fresh, creamy skin, a few adorable freckles, and big blue eyes. She wore very little makeup. And she was still stunning.

Her eyes widened as she met his gaze. Her mouth opened slightly, drawing his attention to her pink, sweetly shaped lips.

" Bellissima ," he whispered.

She came to her senses with a heart-pounding jolt that Jack could actually hear. Her mouth closed with a frown. Her chin tilted up. Her hands gripped her belt. No doubt, she meant to intimidate him with her hands so close to her sidearm and baton, but he was more impressed by the way her belt accentuated her lovely hourglass figure.

She should be draped in the finest silks. She should be displaying her curves like a goddess. The fact that she was doing the opposite, covering herself from chin to toe in a mannish blue uniform, was intriguing.

The world had changed in two hundred years. If this lovely police officer had lived centuries ago in Italy, she would have been sought after by every artist who wished to immortalize feminine beauty on canvas. But here she was, trying to look tough and powerful. Didn't she realize she was already powerful? A woman like her could bring a man to his knees and make him grateful for being there.

The male officer cleared his throat. "Sir, we received a call from hotel security. You and your friends have been way too loud and rowdy."

"We were having a party," Jack explained. "A bachelor party."

"Hotel guests from three floors were calling to complain," the male officer continued.

"It was a very good party." Jack smiled at the female officer. "I'm sorry you missed it. Perhaps next time?"

She wrinkled her nose. "I can smell the whiskey from here."

"Your neighbors complained about a bagpipe," the male officer said. "And some loud clashing noises. Someone thought you might be having a sword fight."

"There's nothing to be concerned about, officer. Everyone has left." Jack raised his voice when Laszlo let out a low moan. "It's very quiet now."

"I think I heard someone," the female officer whispered to her partner. "He sounds injured."

"Thank you for stopping by." Jack started to shut the door, but the male officer wedged a booted foot in the way.

He pressed a hand against the door. "We'd like to take a look inside, if you don't mind."

"I do mind." Jack unfurled a wave of psychic energy. Both of you are under my control .

The male officer's arms dropped down by his sides, and a blank look stole over his face. The lovely woman stumbled backward. She grimaced and pressed a hand against her brow.

I am sorry to cause you pain , he said mentally. What is your name , bellissima?

"Harvey Crenshaw."

"Not you," he told the male officer.

Laszlo moaned again.

The female officer lowered her hand. "I knew it! There's someone in there. Step aside, sir."

Jack's mouth fell open. What the hell? She was supposed to be under his control. You will not enter .

"We will not enter," Harvey repeated.

"Of course we will." The woman shoved at the door.

Jack was so shocked, he stepped back as the woman barged in. Nine circles of hell ! "Wait. You can't come in here."

She spotted Laszlo on the floor and immediately clicked the transmitter on her shoulder. "We have a stabbing victim. I need an ambulance—"

"No! No ambulance," Jack protested, but she was already giving the suite number to the operator. Merda .

Now he'd have to erase more memories. And why the hell wasn't she obeying him?

He hurled a wave of psychic power at her. You are under my control .

She shivered as she knelt beside Laszlo. "Hang in there, sir. Medics are on their way."

"Oh God, no." Laszlo gave Jack a beseeching look. I can't go to a hospital! Make her go away I

I'm trying . Jack concentrated hard. You will leave this instant .

"I will leave this instant." Harvey stepped back into the hallway.

"Harvey!" The female officer jumped to her feet and jabbed a finger at Jack. "You stay put." She dashed into the hall and grabbed her partner's arm. "Harvey? What's wrong with you?"

He just stood there, his face blank.

She shook him. "Harvey! Snap out of it!"

With a sigh, Jack reeled back his power. Keeping Harvey under his control would only make the female officer more suspicious.

Harvey blinked. "What? What happened?".

The female officer pointed at Jack. "Cuff him."

" What !" Now Jack wished he hadn't let Harvey go. "I didn't do anything."

The woman glared at him as she marched back into the hotel room. "We have a stabbing victim, and you're the most likely suspect."

"I didn't stab him." Jack aimed psychic energy once again at male officer. You will not cuff me .

Harvey halted next to him, the blank look once more on his face. Jack clasped his hands behind his back so the female officer would think he was handcuffed. She hadn't noticed, for she was kneeling beside Laszlo, ripping his shirt open. "Where were you stabbed, sir?"

"He wasn't stabbed," Jack insisted. "He just threw up."

"A pint of blood? Do I look stupid to you?" She glowered at Jack. "Where did you stab him? In the back?"

"I didn't stab him!"

I've tried controlling her, but it doesn't work , Laszlo told him mentally.

I know , Jack answered. She was every Vamp's worst nightmare. A beautiful woman who could not be controlled.

Perhaps she has psychic power , Laszlo continued. Or she could suffer from some sort of mental defect that's blocking our power .

"Did your mother drop you on your head when you were a baby?" Jack asked.

Harvey sniffed. "Yes, she did."

"Not you," Jack muttered.

The woman studied him suspiciously as she rose to her feet. "Harvey, watch that guy. Harvey?"

The male officer flinched. "What?"

"Watch him." She pointed at Jack. "Don't let him move. I'm going to check the rest of this place."

Harvey nodded. "Up against the wall."

Jack backed up so the woman couldn't see that he wasn't cuffed.

She scanned the area next to the wall-mounted flat-screen TV. "Someone was stabbed here. This is blood splatter."

"It's not mine."

She narrowed her lovely eyes. "Whose blood is it?"

"A friend's. He… cut himself accidentally." After guzzling down an entire bottle of Blissky, Angus Mackay had decided to become a blood brother with every guy in the room. He'd taken his Highland dagger to nick his wrist, but accidentally punctured an artery and spurted blood in a wide arc across the wall. He'd promptly wrapped a towel around his wrist and replaced his lost dinner with another bottle of Blissky.

"Right. An accident." The female officer stopped beside the crossed swords on the carpet. "And these are your weapons."

"They're not mine," Jack protested.

"Right."

"They're Scottish claymores," he told her. "They belong to the groom. And there's no blood on them. The guys were using them to do a Highland sword dance."