Bound by Blood (Vampire Romance) by Tara Manderino Read Free Book Online Page B

hidden in the shadows and as far from the music as they could get.
    “What was the purpose of dragging her into this?” Louis asked abruptly.
    Alex shrugged. He could only be referring to Lisa. “I wanted to know what you thought; if she could be of any use.”
    Louis chuckled. “You know my thoughts there, Alessandro. They haven’t changed. Even very beautiful women are best used for feeding of one kind or another.”
    Alex gripped his glass of bourbon tighter. He had known Louis’s thinking. It had always been the same over the years. Why had he thought or believed it would be any different with Lisa? Because he saw her differently, he thought to himself. He took a swallow of the liquor.
    It was Louis’s turn to shrug. “That bothers you, I see.” He reached out and clasped Alex’s wrist, grabbing the other’s attention. “Watch what you are about. She is beautiful in an earthy way, and I can see you are attracted. Don’t let her see it too.”
    Alex shook off the other vampire’s grip. “I merely wanted to know if it helped that she was able to identify Carlos. Do you think he’s capable of this?” He ran a hand down his face. “In the years I have known of him, I have never known him to resort to taking a child.”
    “This is different,” Louis agreed. “One has to wonder at the significance.”
    “I do wonder -- which is why I came to you. I can hardly ask the people at headquarters what I need to know.
    “Why do you persist in going the mortal route, Alessandro? You know we can find him much faster. And we will.”
    “I do know it. In this case, I’m counting on it.” Alex gave a shrug and a tight smile. “You play with numbers. I, too, have to do something and this is better than many.”
    Louis nodded in understanding. “There is still that justice streak in you, I see.”
    “’Fraid so.” Alex took another swallow of his drink and put the glass on the table. “Probably more so now than in the past.”
    “What is it about this that bothers you so much? A child harmed is always a waste, but others have disappeared and there has not been this sense of outrage in you before.”
    Alex leaned across the table. “She’s mine.” His tone brooked no argument. “I have followed that lineage, Louis. You know that,” he practically hissed the words.
    “Then go carefully. It could very well be because of you she was taken.”
    Alex’s eyes narrowed as he looked at the other vampire. “What aren’t you telling me?”
    “Me? Nothing. But be aware no one ever knows everything. I would say let the mortals worry about finding the child  -- for the child and the parents’ sake. The child is nothing. For you, I think you need to look at why someone would want to attack you.”
    Alex struggled not to bristle at his friend’s words. “So you do think it’s personal?”
    Louis held up his hands, palm outward. “I have no idea at this point, Alessandro. Know that I am on your side, whatever it seems to be. All I am saying is for you to be careful.”
    Alex nodded in acknowledgement. “So, my first task is to find where Carlos may be hiding.” He twirled the near empty glass between his hands. “You know, Louis, it must be something important, why else would Carlos come by in the middle of the day and make his appearance known, brief though it was.”
    Louis gave him a tight smile. “That does seem to be the question.”
    Pushing away from the table, Alex stood. “I’m on duty soon.”

 
     
    Chapter 6
     
    “Where the hell have you been?” Nick barked at him when he walked into the room. His partner was shrugging into his jacket and in the process of leaving the office. “Hey, slow down. Sorry about that, but I had a lead. Where are you headed?”
    Nick stopped, but didn’t drop the scowl. “What lead? I just got a call from Morgan’s.”
    “I had all calls re-routed to come through my cell phone, I got no call.”
     “Not a call,” Nick said. “This was a personal