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Sarah gave him a disgusted look.
You know, Raj continued, his amusement obvious, I get to
Buffalo every once in a while. Maybe we ll meet again.
Maybe not.
Ah, now. Stranger things have happened.
Not to me, she muttered. She flashed suddenly on her dreams of
tormented women and shuddered, knowing that wasn t quite true.
Raj frowned and moved closer, putting one of his huge hands on
her arm. Are you cold, sweetheart?
She felt inexplicable tears pressing against the back of her eyes
and lowered her head so he wouldn t see, focusing on the glass of
champagne she was still holding. I m fine, she lied. Just tired. I m
not usually up this late. I live a very boring life in Buffalo.
We ll have to change that then, won t we?
Sarah took another sip of her now warm champagne and wondered
what it was she really wanted. Back in Buffalo, all she d wanted was
for things to return to the way they were, the way they d been before
the dreams came back. But now . . . She heard Cyn and Raphael
returning from the dance floor, heard them laughing with each other as
they settled back onto the banquette. And she felt the solid presence of
Raj standing next to her, the comfort of having a protector, even for a
short time, someone who stood between her and the rest of the cold
world.
And suddenly she wasn t sure what she wanted at all.
* * * *
The next night, Sarah opened the door of the big SUV and jumped
out, walking around the back where one of Raphael s vamps was waiting
with her small rolling suitcase and the hanging bag with the new red
dress in it. She took the bag and draped it over her arm, running a hand
down the nylon cover as if stroking the dress beneath it. She glanced at
Cyn who was waiting to say good-bye. I ll probably never wear this
again, she said wistfully.
There s always the faculty Christmas party.
My colleagues would have apoplexy, and their wives would be
convinced I m trying to steal their pale, chubby husbands away from
them.
Cyn laughed. Sounds like a lovely bunch. I ll have to visit
sometime.
Sarah added her own laughter. You d die of boredom before you
ever got out of the airport. She looked up and met her friend s green
eyes. Thanks, Cyn. I had a great time.
Cyn studied her for a minute. You call me, Sarah. If you need
anything, you call me, okay? Even if it s just a friendly voice.
I will. She hugged Cyn, then grabbed the handle of her overnight
Rajmund 29
case. I gotta get going or I ll miss my flight.
Take care. Cyn kissed her cheek before walking back around
and sliding into the SUV. Sarah stopped to wave awkwardly around
her baggage and saw Raphael s arm circle Cyn s shoulder and pull her
close, as if even that few minutes apart had been too much.
She stood and watched until they were gone, then trudged into the
terminal as the automatic doors whisked open in front of her. She had
a life waiting for her back in Buffalo. Maybe not the one she would
have chosen, maybe not even the one she d planned when she took the
job there. But at least they didn t lock her up at night. Not yet, anyway.
Chapter Six
So what d he say?
Raj rested his elbows on the rooftop railing, ignoring the question to
gaze moodily at the busy Manhattan street thirty-five stories below. He
leaned forward and stared intently, thinking he d seen a woman in a
red dress. He laughed at himself. Sarah Stratton was long gone, back
to her books and her classrooms. She d been right about one thing.
He d probably never see her again. Which would be a shame, he decided
and immediately wondered why he d thought that.
Raj?
He turned a cool look on his persistent club manager. How s the
new club doing, Santos?
Great. We re picking up all the overflow from Chopin s, plus even
more with the new location. But we gotta talk about this other thing,
Raj.
You want to talk to someone, get a therapist.
Damnit, I thought Santos s next words were cut off as Raj
grabbed him by the throat and lifted him off his feet.
Do we have a problem, Santos?
Santos tried to answer but could only gurgle wordlessly. Raj opened
his hand and let him fall to the ground, where he remained, crouched on
all fours and coughing furiously.
Forgive me, Master, Santos finally choked out.
Raj gave him a dismissive glance. Get the fuck out of my sight.
Santos started to stand, but one look at Raj had him crawling the
several feet to the stairway door before dragging himself up to stumble
down the stairs.
Raj scowled, listening to the metallic racket of the vamp s footsteps
fade away. He returned to his perusal of the street below with a
disgusted curse. I hate that fucking vampire shit, he said.
But you do it so well. The woman s voice was laced with
amusement. She strolled out of the shadows to lean over the rail, joining
him in his contemplation of the faraway traffic. He was only asking
the question we all want answered, you know. It s been two nights
since Raphael left and you still haven t said a word. We re curious.
You too, Em?
Raj s lieutenant shrugged. Me especially.
Raj sighed. You re all so eager, maybe one of you should take on
Krystof instead.
Emelie laughed. It was a low, sensuous sound. He d eat me alive.
You re the only one, Raj, and we all know it. She glanced over and
away before reversing to brace her back against the cold metal.
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