A Vampire for Christmas(63)

So is yours. I think I’m going to bruise.” The cameraman touched his arm where Daniel had shoved him. “I’ll sue.”

Yeah? And I’ll—”

Before he could reveal fangs, Daniel felt Olivia tug his arm again. “It’s not worth it.”

Is he your new boyfriend, Olivia? That was quick. You and Troy didn’t work out?” The cameraman shot a few clicks of Daniel. “Much ruder than the last one. Who are you? What’s your name? You a singer? An actor?”

His anger boiling, Daniel lunged toward the man. “Can’t the woman have a day or two to herself? It’s Christmas. Give her a break.”

Christmas with the new boyfriend,” the cameraman recited as he continued to click pictures of Daniel. “This one will make the cover of the Daily Tattle for sure. Pop singer’s angry boyfriend is a handful and wounds cameraman.”

Oh, bull crap.” Daniel fisted the guy about the collar and held him up until his feet dangled.

Think, Daniel,” Olivia said behind him. “You’re only giving him more ammunition.”

But he knows your secret hideaway now. You going to tell anyone where Olivia lives?”

Hell, yes,” the guy croaked. “And I’m suing your pants off. Let me down!”

Daniel glanced to Olivia, who stood with arms crossed over her chest and a frantic look pleading with him to stop. Right. He’d gone too far. He’d reacted. Exactly what these crazy reporters fed on. He’d failed her.

Sorry.” Daniel set the man down to stumble against the brick wall.

Without a word, Olivia walked around the corner.

I’m sorry, Olivia!” he called.

No reply.

The cameraman sank to a crouch, scrambling in the snow to retrieve the dropped camera. “I got your picture, buddy. I will find out who you are. This story is going front page, I promise you that.”

Daniel snatched the camera from the man’s grasp, flicked open the card holder and broke the digital storage card in two. The man protested and when he pulled a punch, Daniel caught the fist with his palm. He narrowed his eyes on the man’s gaze and peered into his soul. It was dark in there. The guy didn’t care who he trampled to earn a buck. He made a living by tracking down celebrity dirt and plastering it all over the tabloid rags without a care for the lives he was damaging and the secrets he exposed.

Daniel spoke slowly and deeply. “You dropped your camera and when you try to remember what happened, you’ll recall it was as you were crossing a busy intersection. You were not here. Yes?”

The man nodded, his gaze lost in Daniel’s vampiric thrall.

You have no desire to take a picture of Olivia Adorata again. You’re going to get in your car and drive away, and forget you were ever in this neighborhood. And me? Just a friendly guy who pointed you in the right direction. Now go.”

The cameraman blinked, and looked about as if he’d surfaced from a coma. He asked Daniel, “Which way?”

North.” Daniel pointed down the street.

Thanks, man.” He got in his Volkswagen and drove away.

Watching until the car was out of sight, Daniel decided the thrall was a handy tool that he didn’t use often enough. But could he use it every time he and Olivia were caught out by the paparazzi? Those bastards swarmed in hoards. He could only work his thrall on one person at a time.

Not like it should matter. He’d proven how unworthy he was of a relationship with the gorgeous singer who depended on the public’s interest to survive.

He hung his head. He’d come here to see if they stood a chance. The answer was all too obvious.

Daniel,” she whispered from the corner of the building.

He didn’t look at her. Couldn’t. Not when he’d shown her yet another dark side of the monster within him.

Thank you,” she said. “I don’t know what you did, but I think it worked.”

Vampire tricks,” he muttered. “I’m sorry.”

She plunged against his body and nuzzled her face alongside his neck.

Daniel, I need you. I love you. Parker means nothing to me. It was a stupid publicity stunt.”

I know that now. I made an assumption that was wrong. That’s why I had to come here today. Hadn’t expected to show you my inner * with the cameraman, though. Can you forgive me?”

She nodded and snuggled closer to him, and he opened his jacket and pulled her against his chest. God, that felt great. Like Christmas should feel. “There’s nothing to forgive,” she said. “We both have issues. Big ones.”