Sheridan ran a hand through her long hair, panic bubbling up inside. "Someone’s been in here, Marco. My stuff is all moved around."

Marco lounged on the bed, obviously unconcerned. "Well, that’s what the cleaning staff does—comes in, cleans, goes back out."

She shot him a scowl. "So they come in and take all the shoes out of the closet and leave them in the corner?"

"Probably not if they’re doing their job well. I’m sure they were vacuuming and forgot to put the shoes back in. Just let Hunter know, he’ll put the fear of Satan in 'em."

Sheridan shook her head. The cleaning staff was impeccable. "No, someone was rifling through my stuff."

"Is anything missing?" Marco still didn’t sound very concerned, but he gave a long sigh .

"Not that I can tell," Sheridan answered, digging through the closet.

"Then why would someone be in here? You came with nothing, everything that’s here is what the hotel’s provided for you—and that’s what, some clothes? A little makeup?"

Sheridan barely heard him as she stared at the safe on the closet shelf. The front had been gouged, long grooves and chips in the surface and around the keypad. "They ran out of time," she murmured to herself.

"What?" Marco called from the bathroom.

"Nothing," Sheridan said, relief flooding her. Thank God she’d managed to get the chest secreted in the mausoleum that sat nearby on the hotel property.

Marco leaned into the closet, looking at her with curiosity. "Everything okay?"

She turned from the safe, plastering on a phony smile. "I guess I’m being paranoid. I’ve just been through a lot in the last couple weeks, you know?"

**

Hunter stood and looked at his staff—the vampire portion anyway. All eyes turned to him, and he took a deep breath. He didn’t like this, but there was no other way. Everyone’s safety depended on it.

"I’ve spoken to the Council," he began, leaning against the concrete wall of the underground room. "They’ve given us approval to go after Colette and get the chest back. They’ve also given the okay to use any means necessary to recover it."

There was an audible gasp, followed by murmurs throughout the room.

Soraya spoke up. "You mean…?"

"Yes. Anything necessary. No restrictions." He looked at each vampire in turn. "If any of you want to back out, now is the time to do it. There will be no repercussions."

He strode up and down the wall like a general addressing his troops. "You need to understand that if you do this, there is a good chance some of you won’t survive. There’s no shame in backing out, but once we leave here tonight, you’re in—no matter what."

More murmurs echoed around the bunker-like space. Soraya stepped closer, pitching her voice so only Hunter and those closest to them could hear her. "I’m sorry, master. I’ve only been made for a few decades, and I’m the happiest I’ve ever been in either of my lives. I don’t want to die today—or tomorrow."

Hunter nodded. "It’s fine, I can use you to watch over the business while we’re gone, and help out with communications."

A look of sheer relief passed over Soraya’s face.

"I’m with her," a male vampire with deep pink hair said.

Hunter nodded and watched as they left the room, shutting the heavy metal door behind them.

He turned to look at the remaining staff. "Anyone else?"

"We’re with you," Marco said confidently, arms crossed.

"Good, listen up then, here’s the plan."

**

"So how come you’re the only one back from the meeting?" Kenzy asked as Soraya measured out flour for a gravy in the kitchen.

"They’re planning something that doesn’t include me," Soraya answered briskly.

"That’s kind of rude. How come you don’t get to do it with the rest of them?"

Soraya leaned closer to Kenzy as she sprinkled the flour into the bubbling liquid in a pan. "Can you keep a secret?"

Kenzy nodded, her heart beating double-time with excitement as the beautiful vampire’s perfume wafted over her.

"They’re going after those vampires who had you."

Kenzy gasped in shock.

"It’s going to be really dangerous, and…" Soraya shrugged dismissively. "I’m a chicken."

"No way," Kenzy said, shaking her head emphatically. "I was with those vampires. They’re scary as hell. I’m really glad you’re not going. The rest of them are nuts."

"Speaking of nuts," Soraya said, crossing to the pantry. "Chocolate chip cookies—with walnuts or without?"

"No nuts," Kenzy said decisively. "It’s kind of my motto,” she added, winking.

**

It was late in the afternoon when Hunter finally came back to his office. He swung the door open and Sheridan gave him a cold look from his chair where she lounged behind his desk.

"What exactly are you doing in my office without an invitation?" He asked, stalking toward her.

"What exactly were you doing having my room searched?" she countered.

"I have no idea what you’re talking about."

She stood and made her way around the desk slowly. "You’re a liar. You didn’t like it when I wouldn’t answer your questions so you decided to take matters into your own hands. But the room search wasn’t the worst of it, was it?"

She reached him, staring up into his dark eyes. She could smell him, a combination of cedar and hot skin.

Her voice dropped, quiet and husky. "You have a security camera in my room. Explain your way out of that one."

"I don’t have to explain anything," he answered coldly. "I’ve already warned Marco and now I’ll warn you—stay away from vampires. You’ll have to work your wiles on human men."

Sheridan gasped in disgust. "How dare you! You can’t dictate who I see. "

"No. Vampires," he repeated hoarsely.

Sheridan saw something cross his face, and suddenly she suspected there was more to his dictates.

She flattened her hand against his chest, taking a moment to soak up the heat that transferred through the thin silk of his shirt. "No vampires, huh?" She slid her tongue along her lips and he watched every movement hungrily. "Does that include you?"