Steal the Day (Thieves #2)(18)

“And I’m here,” I said soothingly. Daniel was no longer fighting but rather trying to bend me to his will with persuasion. I certainly preferred seduction to force. I didn’t break eye contact but held out my hand. “Give me the bag, please.”

Neil let up just enough to pass me the bag I’d seen in Daniel’s fridge earlier.

Daniel shook his head, his hand covering mine. “I don’t want that. I want you. Let me have you and it’ll be good. It’ll be so f*cking good. Baby, you know how it feels when we’re together.”

I felt him try to assert his will, but I was better at ignoring the effects now. I held the blood above his mouth. “You’ve already had me, baby. You had too much of me. This is all you’re going to get. Now take your medicine like a big boy or I’ll leave. I’ll get in the car and drive away and leave you alone.”

It wasn’t the nicest thing to do, but I knew if he was this out of control, there was an edge of fear. He wouldn’t want me to leave. He needed me close.

I put the bag to his lips and watched him sullenly concede. His fangs punctured the bag and he began to suck. I held his head in my lap and stroked his hair until I watched the beast finally leave, and he was Daniel again. I motioned to Michael and Neil to leave us, and they got up to go. Even my father put his crossbow down.

“It’s all right now, Danny,” I said, quietly satisfied that he was going to survive.

Danny drained the last drop and tossed away the package. He twisted until he could get his arms around my waist, holding me tightly. He just sat there breathing in and out and letting me rock back and forth. It was the way I held him when we were children, after his father died. That first night he’d been so bereft. He’d cried because he was worried no one would take care of him. He’d been thirteen at the time so it was a reasonable fear. Now I felt him trying not to cry, and I wondered why. It wasn’t the first time he’d come close to death, and now his wounds were visibly healing. Pain wouldn’t make Danny cry. Pain just pissed him off. This was something else.

“What is it, baby?” I asked, falling easily back into endearment.

His eyes opened, a brilliant blue that kicked me in the gut every time I looked at him. “That was an angel, wasn’t it, Z?”

“Oh, yeah, that was an * angel.”

“I burned, Zoey,” he said quietly. “I stood in front of an angel of God and I burned like I was nothing. I wasn’t worthy to stand in the light.”

My heart ached for him. “Danny?”

“I don’t have a soul anymore.”

There was such sadness in those six words that tears came to my eyes, and I held him tighter.

“That’s not true.” I knew he had a soul. I’d seen it. Soulless creatures didn’t care about the people around them, didn’t sacrifice for them.

His grip loosened, and he went limp as he settled his head on my lap. “I think Heaven would disagree with you, baby. I’m tired. So f*cking tired.”

“Then sleep,” I urged him, trying to keep control of my emotions. He needed to rest. He didn’t need to deal with my angst.

“I love you, Z. Soul or no, I love you.” His voice was quiet and sleep overtook him.

“The doctor’s here, darlin’.” My father leaned down and kissed my forehead. “He’s got a soul, Zoey. Don’t let him forget it. Now let the doctor have a look at our boy, and then he can take care of you.”

“My, is this my patient?” a cultured British accent asked from the doorway. Alexander Sharpe looked down on us with a superior smile. His body was lean and elegant, reminding me of a predatory insect, all arms and legs and black as night eyes. He carried an antique doctor’s kit. I really hoped it wasn’t fully stocked with leeches. Alexander was that old.

“Not a chance,” I said because the vampire always made my skin crawl. “Get another doctor.”

Alexander scoffed, his shoulders shrugging negligently. “I’d like to see you try, Mrs. Donovan. There isn’t another doctor in three states who knows as much about vampire physiology as I do. I believe the nearest with any competence at all is located in Los Angeles. I’m afraid I’ll have to do. Trust me, the Council would insist. Can’t have our prodigal son passing away now, could we?”

“It’ll be fine, Zoey,” Michael said. “He really is an excellent physician.”

“Would you let Jack the Ripper examine you?” I shot back.

Alexander smiled, not even attempting to hide his fangs. “I find that accusation offensive, Mrs. Donovan. No one has ever proven that allegation. At least no one who lived.”

Neil came over and helped me up. Alexander examined the now unconscious Daniel. He looked at Neil and me with a curious gleam. “If I hadn’t seen him earlier tonight, I would accuse the two of you of all manner of crime. He looks like he was staked out to meet the sun.”

“It was an angel,” Neil explained.

The doctor’s eyebrows raised in surprise. “You don’t say? You’re keeping curious company. How did he manage to survive? No, don’t tell me. The wayward companion did her duty and fed her master. It looks like you fed him well, too. Your lips are blue. I’m surprised you’re still standing.”

“I’m tough,” I replied, though I found myself leaning against Neil.