The Vampire Jonah Page 2

  Nodding gratefully, she followed him down a long hall that ran the depth of his home. Midway, he stopped and pointed to the door at their left. “The light switch is to your right. You should find everything you need inside.”

  Back in the living room, he sat in one of the massive velvet chairs and waited for his visitor to return. Moments later, she took a seat on the sofa across from him. He waited a few seconds before he asked the question uppermost in his mind. “So, how’s my brother Jerome?”

  While Angela proceeded to tell him as much about his brother as she’d observed on her short visit, as well as his relationship with her friend Dottie, who Jerome called Thea, he settled back in the chair and observed the woman who had gone out of her way to do him a tremendous favor.

  He gauged her to be in her mid-thirties, very close to the human age at which he and his brothers had stopped getting older. She was slender, but healthy-looking. He let his gaze linger on her face. High cheekbones, soft brown eyes, and red hair like his own, although hers was much darker.

  He leaned forward in the chair. “Does my brother appear to be happy?”

  Her gaze never wavered from his. “He seemed very happy. As did my friend, Dottie.”

  Hearing that Jerome’s transition from vampire to human had been so successful gave Jonah hope. Many times during his life, he’d wondered what his future would be like when he, too, became human. It appeared he would soon find out. Julian had undergone the change several months ago, and now that Jerome was also human, Jonah was the only one left. But his time was drawing near.

  Angela broke into his thoughts. “If you don’t mind my asking, why would you think he would be anything but happy? I would think being human would be a much better condition than being a . . . a vampire.”

  Judging from the way she lowered her eyes, he imagined Angela Martin felt some embarrassment at pointing out his less than favorable existence. He hastened to lessen her discomfort. “It’s all a matter of experience. On our eighteenth birthday, when the transformation began, my brothers and I started preparing for the life of a vampire. By the time we were thirty and our transformation was complete, we were part of both the mortal and immortal worlds. Until recently, that is, when Julian and Jerome regained their humanity.”

  “I assume you, too, will become human again?”

  “Yes, according to the prophecy, someday I will.”

  A quizzical look crossed her face. “But you don’t know when?”

  “No. That’s up to Lilith.” When Angela continued to look puzzled he added, “Has anyone told you about the goddess Lilith?”

  Angela leaned forward, her puzzled look replaced by one of interest. “Dottie mentioned something about a goddess being responsible for Julian and Jerome becoming human again. But I’ve never heard the whole story.”

  Jonah cocked his head to the side. “I think Scott just pulled up in the driveway. Why don’t I entertain you with the tale of the goddess Lilith while you have your meal?”

  “I’d like to hear it,” Angela said.

  He rose from the chair. “Follow me to the dining room, and we’ll get you settled. Then I’ll tell you a story as fanciful as any fairy tale.”

  JONAH TOOK A seat across the table from Angela. He took a sip from the Double B and waited for her to take a few mouthfuls of the food Scott had set before her earlier. “The emergence of the goddess Lilith goes back many centuries,” he said. “There was a time when gods, goddesses, and demons populated another world,” he added.

  Angela set her fork aside and listened intently to her host. “As the story goes,” Jonah continued, “Lilith was Adam’s first wife. She refused to be submissive to him, so she fled to the demon Asmodeus, and had many daughters with him. Several years later, another demon, Malmorte, kidnapped a few of Lilith’s daughters and took them to a dark cave deep in the bowels of the earth where he enslaved them.”

  Before Jonah could finish his story, Scott entered the room. “Forgive the interruption,” he said, addressing the statement to her before turning to Jonah. “I’m leaving for the club to be sure the repair work is finished.”

  “Fine. Let me know when you return.” Jonah turned to Angela. “I own a jazz nightclub a few minutes from here. We’re closed on Wednesdays, so we’re having some work done in one of the restrooms.”

  She remembered the trumpet playing. “Do you play the trumpet there?”

  “As a matter of fact, I do.”

  “I heard you when I pulled up this evening. You’re good. My father played the trumpet.”

  “Professionally?”

  “Yes.” She named several well-known bands from the last decade with which he’d played. “He played right up until he died four years ago.”

  “Then you grew up around music.”

  “Yes.”

  “Are you a musician?”

  “No. I never studied music. I enjoy fooling around on the piano now and then. But it never occurred to me to choose music as a career like my father had.”

  “And just what career did you choose?”

  “The law.”

  “Ah. The law. A noble profession.”

  “I’m afraid most people don’t share that view today.”

  “What kind of law do you practice?”

  “I specialize in family advocacy.”

  “Certainly no one can argue that specialty is not noble work.”

  “You’d be surprised,” she countered, lifting her glass for a swallow of tea. She knew at least one person who wouldn’t agree with Jonah. Matthew Brady, her ex-fiancé, thought anyone who spent as many years and as much money as she had to get a law degree was a fool not using that degree to make as much money as humanly possible—the way he was doing as a very successful investment broker.

  Jonah glanced at her plate. “Why don’t you finish your meal, and then I’ll continue the story.”

  She had just taken the last bite when a phone rang. Jonah reached into his pocket and pulled out his cell. She could tell from the first part of the conversation that it was Scott reporting on the repair work at the nightclub. And when the rest of the conversation turned to a piano that had been tuned a day earlier than expected, with Jonah promising to come by later that night and check it out, she smiled to herself. So, she was right—he did play the piano. When Jonah ended the call, he turned his attention back to her.

  “How long do you expect to be in the area?”

  “Probably through tomorrow. I’d like to do a little sightseeing while I’m here.”

  “I’m afraid you didn’t pick the best time of year for that. It’s supposed to rain for the rest of the week.”

  “If the weather gets too bad, then I guess I’ll head out earlier.”

  “I hope you stay at least through tomorrow. I still don’t feel I’ve repaid you enough for your kindness. I’d be honored if you’d come to the club tomorrow night.”

  “I don’t know. If the weather is as bad as you think it will be, it might be best if I got on the road early.”

  Jonah leaned forward. “Please stay. I’ll have Scott pick you up, bring you to the club, and drive you back.”

  She was about to offer another excuse when he asked, “How can a music lover like you turn down the chance to hear one of the best trumpet players ever?” He gave her a playful smile. “Aside from your father, of course.”

  She wasn’t the type to change plans on the spur of the moment. But maybe she needed to lighten up a bit. It had been a long time since she’d been invited out for the evening by a man. And a very sexy man at that. “Okay. You’ve convinced me. I’d love to hear you play.”

  “I promise you won’t regret it.”

  She hoped not. She pushed her plate away. “I hate to eat and run, but I should check into my hotel before it gets too late. And you have
business to attend to.”

  “I have time to finish the story of Lilith.”

  “I definitely want to hear it, but I’m awfully tired. Could we do it tomorrow?”

  Jonah rose. “It’s a promise.” He came to her side of the table. “I’ll see you to your car.”

  Moments later, Angela started the engine and waved goodbye to Jonah, who stood in the driveway, seemingly unaffected by the falling rain.

  Later that night in the hotel, after watching an hour of the devastation in San Francisco on the news, she almost called Jonah to tell him she had changed her mind about staying. But she didn’t.

  She didn’t want to leave. Not just yet.

  AFTER SAYING goodbye to Angela, Jonah went back in the house and got ready to go to the club. But he couldn’t shake the restless, unsettled feeling in his chest. What had gotten into him, inviting her out tomorrow night? Sure, he was indebted to her for delivering the much-needed Chemi-Plas, but she had seemed quite satisfied with dinner and a few minutes of conversation as payment for her trouble.

  Be honest with yourself. You want to see her again. Something about her called out to you.

  He pulled up to the front of the club and sat in the car for a few seconds, chastising himself for the dangerous turn his thoughts were taking. Angela was off-limits to him. She was not the type of woman who would gladly sate his blood lust when The Need, the overwhelming desire for human blood, became overpowering.

  He opened the front door of the club and went immediately to the bar, unlocked the private refrigerator where a supply of Double B was kept, and poured himself a glass. He downed the last of the drink as Scott came from the back of the building. “Was the work done satisfactorily?”

  Scott nodded. “It looks great. I take it you haven’t tried the piano yet.”

  “I’m heading there now.”

  “Did Ms. Martin enjoy the meal?”

  “Yes, I think so.”

  “Good.” Scott took a bottle of water from the refrigerator. “I’m heading back. Or do you want me to wait for you?”

  Jonah shook his head and came out from behind the bar. “I may not go directly home.”

  Scott gave him an understanding nod, but said nothing and headed toward the door.

  “Scott.”

  Scott turned around. “Yes?”

  “I made plans for you tomorrow night.”

  “What kind of plans?”

  “I invited Angela Martin to visit the club. I told her you’d escort her.”

  “Do you think that was wise?”

  “Probably not. But it’s done.”

  “You could call and cancel.”

  “I’ll think about it. For now, I have other concerns.”

  Scott uncapped the bottle of water, took a long swallow, and walked to the front door. “Be careful,” he called out over his shoulder.

  Be careful. Wasn’t he always careful? Even when he wanted to throw caution to the wind, he always reined himself in before he went too far.

  After Scott left, Jonah went straight to the piano. He flexed his fingers and ran through a few chords and the first few lines of a popular love song. After spitting out a curse, he sat quietly for a few moments, his fingers motionless on the keys. Finally, he replayed the chords, ending on a resounding note. Damn it all if he would let Scott’s worry get to him.

  To get himself in the mood for a night of fun, he played Trace Adkins’s rowdy hit, Honky Tonk Badonkadonk. He smiled. Badonkadonk. Definitely a twenty-first-century word. And he was definitely a twenty-first-century vampire.

  Wasting no time, he abruptly left the club, got behind the wheel of his Audi, and headed to the part of town where he was known only to the ladies of the night.

  Hours later, with the sun already on the rise, he stumbled into his quarters, tore at his shirt, and fell into his copper-lined coffin. Within seconds, he had given himself up to his death sleep.

  Chapter Three

  WHEN DUSK FELL and Jonah awoke the next evening, the bloodstained shirt still in his hands, scenes from his night on the town came rushing back to him. He had really done it up big, visiting not two, but three of his favorite ladies.

  The last woman had nearly done him in, demanding more than a nip on the neck and a quick tumble in the sheets. The blood lust and the sex had continued for hours. By the time he finally staggered to his car, he was physically and emotionally drained.

  Scott would not be happy with the risks he had taken last night. But Scott was his guardian, not his keeper. He was not bound by the restrictions imposed upon vampires.

  And besides, Jonah reminded himself, he hadn’t crossed the line, although he’d come close. All three women were alive and well when he left them, even if one of them might find herself in need of a few days off before she resumed work.

  He stepped into the shower and, with the first cleansing spray of water, the faces of the women he’d visited last night were replaced by that of Angela Martin’s. With a curse, he scrubbed at his flesh with the soaped rag as if it could clear those thoughts from his mind, but it was no use. Try as he might, he couldn’t wash away the memory of her face or the reason he had spent the night trying to appease the beast within him.

  And he’d been so exhausted when he’d returned home that he’d forgotten to leave Scott a note asking him to cancel Angela’s visit. But was his lapse of memory really due to the lateness of his return? Or something else?

  He shortened his shower and dressed quickly. As he raced down the hall to the main living quarters of the house, he tried to sort out his thoughts, to make some sense of what was going on inside him.

  Perhaps Scott was aware of his late return and had taken matters into his own hands. Perhaps he had contacted Angela and cancelled the visit on his own. But what if he hadn’t? Jonah’s steps took him directly to the place where he knew he would find out if luck was on his side.As expected, there was a note on the dining room table. With trembling hands, he picked up the paper, dreading what he already knew he would see. Ms. Martin and I should be at the club around nine. I’ve contacted Bobby. He’ll be in charge until I get there. Bobby was Scott’s assistant, and having him in charge of the club was the least of Jonah’s worries. Uttering a loud oath, he crumpled the note, stuffed it into his pocket, and headed upstairs.

  In his room, he practiced the night’s prearranged selections on his trumpet until he could no longer put off leaving for the club. Immersed in the music, he was able to harness his thoughts. But now, as he drove, he could no longer shut out the mixture of excitement and fear that overtook him when he thought of seeing Angela Martin again.

  ANGELA HAD SPENT most of the day inside the hotel with the exception of a two-hour trip in the afternoon to a nearby art museum, Two hours that had not provided the much-hoped-for results. As hard as she tried to focus her attention on the beautiful works in front of her, her thoughts returned over and over to Jonah, to how much she was looking forward to seeing him again. Finally, when everything in front of her became a blur of color, she left the museum and hailed a taxi back to the hotel.

  She had only been back in her room a couple of hours when Scott called. He would pick her up at six o’clock for dinner and they’d go to the nightclub afterward.

  They were on their way to the club when her cell phone rang. Hoping that it might be Dottie, she dug frantically in the bottom of her purse to find her phone. Her heartbeat picked up when she heard her friend’s voice.

  “I’ll make this short, Angela, because I don’t know how long I can keep this connection. I just wanted to let you know we’re still okay. So don’t worry. Now, how are you?”

  “I’m fine. I’ve decided to stay a day or so to do a little sightseeing. And I’m going to Jonah’s club tonight.”

  “That’s great. I’ll let Jerome know. And—”
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  The connection broke. With a muttered, “damn,” Angela slipped the phone back in her purse and turned toward Scott. “That was Dottie.”

  Scott nodded. “I assumed as much. They’re all okay?”

  “Yes.”

  “She’ll get back to you again.”

  “I know.”

  “We were lucky you were with your friend and Jerome last week at the right time and willingly went out of your way to bring the Chemi-Plas to Jonah.”

  “I guess some things do work out for the best.”

  After they drove in silence for a few minutes, her curiosity got the best of her. “Do you live nearby?”

  “Actually, I live with Jonah.”

  “Oh?”

  “I have my own quarters upstairs.”

  A car pulled out in front of them suddenly, causing Scott to hit the brakes hard. She jerked forward.

  “Sorry about that. Are you okay?” Scott’s voice was filled with concern.

  “I’m fine.” She made a slight adjustment to her seat belt and settled back in her seat. “So, how long have you been with Jonah?”

  He appeared to weigh his words before he answered. “Since he first went out on his own.”

  “You mean when he first bought his nightclub?”

  “Not exactly.”

  They stopped for a red light and Scott shifted in his seat to look at her.

  “Did you meet Gordon when you were in San Francisco?”

  “Only long enough to exchange introductions.”

  “Do you know who . . . what he is?”

  The question jogged her memory, making her think of a conversation she’d had with Dottie when Gordon’s name had come up. “He’s a . . . I think Dottie called him a Changer.” Her friend had told her that a Changer was someone who could take the form of another human. Or an animal. The shift in form was to protect the vampire he guarded.

  “Did Dottie tell you how long he’s been with Jerome?”

  “Most of his adult life.”