ara gasped when Jack materialized in front of her. He looked quickly around the room.

"What-" Her throat constricted. He'd just focused on her with eyes that gleamed golden hot.

A frisson of fear pinned her to the couch. Jack was a man of supernatural power. What was he truly capable of?

Nonsense. She mentally shook herself. This was Jack. He'd made love to her the night before.

Somehow Venice seemed so far away.

Still glowering at her, he snapped his cell phone shut and pocketed it. He pulled her belt from another pocket and dropped it on the coffee table. "Maybe I should spank you," he muttered.

"Excuse me?"

His jaw shifted. "Forget I said that."

Like that would ever happen. She turned off her phone and placed it on the coffee table. "I gather you're a little miffed about the situation." She paused when a low growl vibrated in his throat. "Look, I'm not going to be intimidated by the he-man tactics. We can discuss this calmly and rationally."

"There is nothing rational about this." His hands fisted at his sides. "Using yourself as bait is ridiculous, foolish, and crazy!"

She sucked in a breath. "Why don't you tell me what you really think?"

His eyes narrowed into two golden pins of light. "You're not doing it."

"It's not your decision, Jack. In fact, none of this Apollo stuff is your business."

"You are my business, and you're trying to get yourself killed."

She snorted. "This may come as a surprise to you, but I'm not suicidal. Every precaution will be taken to ensure my safety. I'll be wearing a tracking device-"

"Those can be lost."

She glared at him. "As soon as they have a fix on Apollo's resort-"

He leaned over suddenly and with a swipe of one hand, he pushed the coffee table across the room. She caught her breath when he moved directly in front of her.

"You are not doing it." Anger seethed in his low, sharply clipped words.

Dammit, he was trying to bully her. Lara rose to her feet, her face inches from his stubborn chin. "No one tells me what to do."

He grabbed her by the shoulders. "I could teleport you someplace so remote you'd never find your way out."

She shoved at his chest. "Then you would be a kidnapper just like Apollo."

"No. I would be saving your life." His grip tightened on her shoulders. "Stay away from Apollo. You have no idea what he's capable of."

"But you know?" She seethed with frustration. "What do you know that you're not telling me, Jack?"

He released her and stepped back. He dragged a hand through his hair and paced across the room. "When Apollo sees you, he's going to want you."

"We're counting on that. And with the tracer I'll be wearing, we'll be able to track him down."

Jack shook his head. "He'll teleport you someplace. He might teleport you several places in a row. You've seen how quickly it's done. By the time the police figure out where he is, he... Bloody hell, Lara, it will be too late!"

She swallowed hard. "I can buy some time. I won't be under his control like the other victims. That's why I'm the best choice for this job. I'm immune to mind control."

He scoffed. "You think that makes you safe? Lara, the instant he realizes he can't control you, he will kill you."

A shudder zipped down her back. He's just trying to scare you into quitting. Hell, maybe she should quit. What if she got in completely over her head? The special task force had already warned her that she couldn't take any weapons with her. It would blow her cover.

"You can't survive against Apollo," Jack continued quietly. He paced across the room, then turned to face her. His mouth twisted as if he found the words painful. "He'll feed on you."

Lara gasped and pressed her hand to her chest. "What?"

"He'll sink his teeth into you and take your blood."

She grimaced. "That's sick. You make him sound like a... a..."

"Vampire," Jack whispered.

She stared at him. My God, he was serious. "Jack, there's no such thing. Maybe he thinks he's a vampire. There are some crazy people out there who pretend they're vampires. But any guy who tries to bite my neck would get a knee in his groin faster than he could say Transylvania."

Jack scowled at her. "You don't believe me."

"I think you're trying to scare the hell out of me so I'll quit this assignment. I really should be pissed, but I realize you're worried about me 'cause you care so much."

"I'm in love with you."

Her heart squeezed in her chest. She would never get tired of hearing him say that. "I care deeply for you, too, but-"

"Lara." He stepped toward her.

"But" - she put up a hand to stop him-"I will not allow you to control me or manipulate me."

"Merda. I'm trying to keep you alive. He's a vicious vampire."

"There's no such thing!"

"That's what they want you to believe. They've used mind control to make everyone believe they don't really exist, that they're just make-believe monsters. But they feed on people, then erase their memories. It's been going on for centuries."

Her skin crawled with gooseflesh. "How can you know about vampires? How would you know that Apollo's one of them? Have you met him?"

"No, I haven't. But I recognize the signs. Apollo only appears at night. He can control people's minds and erase memories. He has super strength and speed. He can teleport."

She gasped. "You're describing yourself."

Jack winced. His eyes glinted with a wary look.

Lara stumbled back and fell onto the couch. Oh God, he wasn't denying it. He was either crazy as a loon, or he was actually...

"No," she whispered. "No. Vampires aren't real."

He regarded her sadly. "Why would I lie about it? What can I possibly gain from this, other than your disgust?"

She dragged in a shaky breath and pressed her hands against her eyes. Memories flitted through her mind. She'd never seen him eat. She'd never been able to reach him during the day. There was no mirror in his bathroom. There were thick shutters on the windows. He was over two hundred years old. He worked at a factory that manufactured synthetic blood. Damn, it was a grocery store!

All the pieces of the puzzle had been there, but she'd never been able to fit them together 'cause she hadn't known what the final picture looked like. She'd expected a picture of a superhero. Not a monster.

Her stomach lurched. Oh God, she'd kissed him. She'd let him touch her, make love to her.

She covered her mouth as a moan escaped.

"Lara." He stepped toward her.

She pressed back against the couch.

His face paled. "Santo cielo. Do not fear me. I would never hurt you."

"I think you'd better go."

"We still need to talk."

"No." Her eyes stung with tears. What was there to talk about? She'd fallen for a monster. She'd been a fool.

He frowned. "You know the truth about Apollo now. This is a matter strictly for vampires. You will let me handle it."

Anger sizzled deep within her. "How dare you. This is not just about Apollo. All of his victims are human, so don't tell me to butt out. And don't expect me to believe that there are monsters who care."

He stiffened. "We're not all bad, Lara."

"I want you to leave."

He rubbed his brow. "You're in shock now. In a few days, we can talk."

"Go!"

He lowered his hand, and his eyes glimmered with pain and sadness. He wavered, then disappeared.

Jack materialized in the woods surrounding Romatech. He trudged toward the side entrance. If only he knew how to materialize without a heart. His chest ached so much, it hurt to breathe.

He propped a forearm against a thick tree trunk and leaned forward, resting his brow against his arm. He closed his eyes, and images flipped through his brain, the expressions on Lara's face. Shock, horror, disgust, anger. Just like the women from his past.

He'd lost Lara.

You must have faith, Giacomo. Father Giuseppe's words echoed softly in his mind.

How? He was a creature of darkness, trapped in a circle of hell. How could he possibly have faith? He was losing Lara just like he had the others. How many years had he suffered after losing them? And Beatrice-losing her had been sheer torment. He'd always wondered if she could have accepted him, but she'd died before he could tell her. She'd died all alone, believing he had abandoned her.

Merda! He punched the tree with his fist. He would not abandon Lara, even if she hated him. He would not let her die.

If Apollo kept to his usual schedule, he'd take another victim the last Saturday in June. That gave Jack plenty of time to locate the bastard and eliminate him. Then he could do a mind sweep on the police and FBI to clean up loose ends, find the whole ordeal would be over.

Lara would be saved. He just needed to have faith. And the help of a few good friends.

He pulled out his cell phone as he walked through the woods. Robby MacKay would help him. He'd first met Robby in 1820 at Jean-Luc's fencing academy in Paris, when they'd been paired as sparring partners. They'd become good friends when they weren't trying to skewer each other.

Robby was now working as Jean-Luc's bodyguard. Since Jean-Luc was hiding in Texas, Robby was there, too.

Robby answered the phone. "Hi, Jack. How's it going?"

"A problem's come up. Can you spare a few hours? I could use your help."

"Thank God. I'm bored out of my skull here. Last night Jean-Luc's daughter asked me to play dolls with her, and I nearly said yes. That's how desperate I'm getting."

"Then it's your lucky day," Jack said. "In fact, I may need you for a week or so. Phil, too, if he can come."

"I'll check with Jean-Luc, but I'm sure he willna object. See you soon." Robby rang off.

Jack pocketed his phone and strode toward the entrance.

"Hey, bro." Phineas zoomed up to him. "I was making a round when I heard your voice."

"I was on the phone. Did Connor arrive?"

"Yeah, he's in the office." Phineas cast a sidelong glance at Jack. "Are you all right, dude? You look kinda wasted."

Jack winced. "I want you and Carlos to live at Romatech for the next week or so. There are a few bedrooms in the basement, right?"

"Yeah. What's wrong? Are the Malcontents up to something?"

"No, but the police might come to the townhouse. We don't want to be caught there in our death-sleep."

"Damned po-po." Phineas halted. "Shit. Did you tell that cop lady about us?"

Jack gave him an irritated look. "Didn't you just advise me to?"

"Well, yeah, but since when does anyone take my advice? So I guess it didn't go well, huh?"

Jack shook his head.

"Damn," Phineas muttered. "I thought women were into vampires. I thought she'd be cool with it, man."

A jab of pain sliced through Jack's chest. "She wasn't."

"Shit. Do you think she's gonna tell her police buddies about us?"

"I don't know. She might. So grab whatever you need from the townhouse and bring Carlos here, okay?"

"Okay. Sorry, dude." Phineas teleported away.

Jack reached the side entrance, swiped his card, and used the hand sensor. He was halfway down the hallway when the security door opened and Connor leaned out.

"I saw Phineas teleport away," Connor said. "Where did ye send him?"

"To the townhouse to fetch Carlos. They're going to stay here for the next week or so."

Connor's eyes narrowed. "And why is the townhouse no longer safe?"

"It may be perfectly safe. This is just a precaution." Jack strode past the Scotsman into the office. He heard the door shut behind him.

"Bugger," Connor whispered softly.

Jack turned to face him.

"Ye told her."

Jack widened his stance and folded his arms across his chest. "I did what I had to do."

Connor snorted. "I gather it dinna go well."

Jack shrugged one shoulder.

"Ye told a police officer about vampires," Connor muttered. "Did ye really expect it to go well?"

"She knows I love her."

"Och, and that is supposed to make a difference?" Anger flashed in Connor's blue eyes. "Do ye seriously believe that rubbish about love conquering all? How many mortals have we loved, only to watch them succumb to death. All the love in the world canna stop them from dying."

"I know that." He'd lost Beatrice when an outbreak of typhoid had swept through Venice. "Love is fleeting. That doesn't make it worthless. It just makes it more special."

Connor glowered at him. "It makes it more painful. Ye must know that. I can see the pain in yer face."

Jack swallowed hard. He couldn't deny that.

"Have ye even considered what this great love of yers will do to her?" Connor asked. "Ye'll be dragging her into a world that she may no' want any part of."

Jack winced. He had to admit Lara had not reacted well. Still, other mortal women had adjusted to the vampire world. "Shanna is happy. And Emma and Heather."

"Ye canna expect every woman to want to live with the Undead," Connor grumbled. "I brought Darcy Newhart into our world, and she hated me for it. Ye wouldna want to live with that kind of guilt."

Jack wondered if Connor had felt more than just guilt. "Darcy's very happy now. And she still works with us."

Connor waved a dismissive hand as he strode toward the desk. "Let's get back to this friend of yers. Is she going to tell her superiors about us?"

"I don't know. Maybe not." Lara wouldn't want them thinking she was crazy.

Connor took a seat, still scowling at Jack. "I'm sorely tempted to put a dent in yer skull, but ye look so miserable 'twould be like kicking a dog."

"Gee, thanks."

"Did she make any threats? I could teleport her someplace where she couldna tell anyone about us."

"No." Jack gritted his teeth. "You will leave her alone."

Connor snorted. "I wouldna harm her. 'Tis better than having the New York Police Department hunting us down."

"I don't think she's a threat to us. She's more of a threat to herself. She leaked all of my information on Apollo to her superiors."

"Bugger," Connor muttered.

"The police and FBI have formed a special task force, and they've asked Lara to go under cover. On the fourth Saturday in June, Apollo will be trolling universities, giving his seminar, and looking for the perfect victim. If the police have their way, that victim will be Lara."

"Bloody hell." Connor looked appalled. "We have to stop it. Apollo could kill her."

"That's why I told her the truth," Jack said. "I was trying to scare her into quitting the assignment."

Connor nodded. "All right. I can understand that."

"We're in a race for time," Jack continued. "We have one month to find Apollo and kill him. I've asked Robby to help."

"We have plenty of time." Connor motioned to one of the surveillance monitors on the wall. "Robby has arrived. And he's no' alone."

Jack peered at the monitor. Robby had teleported onto the grounds, and he'd brought Phil with him. As a day guard, Phil wasn't able to teleport. But as a shape shifter, he had other talents that made him valuable.

"There's Phineas and Carlos." Connor pointed at another monitor.

Jack spotted Phineas materializing outside the side entrance with the day guard Carlos. They were joined by Robby and Phil, and the four men entered the building.

Jack smiled grimly. He'd assembled his own special task force. Counting himself and Connor, he had four vampires plus a werewolf and a were-panther. Lara should be safe now.

Apollo wouldn't live long enough to hurt her.