The Immortal Hunter(89)

Nicholas grunted. "That makes sense. They were out of my sight then too. He apparently picked a vehicle with an older woman in it. He must have taken control of her and then watched when your men arrived." Nicholas continued, "As soon as the enforcers left, Stephanie and the security guard walked to a car. I saw the girl get in the passenger side. The guard walked around to the driver's side and then he bent out of sight. A moment later the car backed out... There were three people inside, and I thought it was the girl, the guard, and Six, and knew he'd pulled a fast one. I started my engine to follow and saw the guard lying on the ground as I drove by.

"I followed them to the hotel in the city. He was three cars ahead of me when he turned in. He didn't bother to park, just left the car at the entrance. By the time I pulled in he was out and was ushering Stephanie and an older woman inside. When I hurried into the lobby he and the women were already on a packed elevator and the doors were closing." The frustration in his voice was palpable. "The damned thing stopped on eight floors. I couldn't search any of them without risking their being on one floor and slipping away while I searched another, so I've sat in the damned lobby watching that elevator ever since."

"Without blood?" Lucian asked.

"Oh, heck no, Uncle, I've been biting every mortal who's walked past," Nicholas said sarcastically. "That's what we rogues do for fun."

"You should have called me, I would have brought blood over for you," Decker said silkily.

"I just bet you would have, cousin." There was a dry chuckle, and then Nicholas said, "I was about to give up on watching this morning and try searching the floors the elevator had stopped at when the sixth rogue walked right past me and got on the elevator."

"He got past you to get out and then returned?" Lucian asked.

"Yeah. Though I don't know how. I didn't take my eyes off the damned elevator," Nicholas muttered with obvious irritation. "He had to have slipped out using the stairs."

All four men grunted at this suggestion.

"Fortunately there weren't many hotel guests around at that hour and there was only one person on the elevator with him and they went to the same floor; fourteen. I took the same elevator up when it came down. There was a maid setting up for the day in the hall. She'd seen him come up, and I managed to read her mind to get what room they're in."

"1413," Dani said, the number burned on her brain.

"Yes. He's probably down for the day. But I'd still hurry. He wasn't alone when he came back. He had a blond with him," Nicholas announced.

"You haven't approached the room?" Decker asked sharply.

"I haven't eaten in two days chasing this bastard, cousin. I've done the hard work. Now you get to do the cleanup... Are you downtown yet? You should be. I imagine you took the Gardiner Expressway. Where are you?"

Dani quickly blurted the intersection ahead, gaining a glare from Lucian. She ignored him.

"Turn right, Decker," Nicholas said quickly.

Decker cursed and cranked the wheel, tires squealing as he took the corner at the very last possible second. Teeth grinding together, he said, "You're not at the Four Seasons, are you? You're at a different hotel."

"Very good, cousin. Nice to see you're as sharp as ever. You should see the correct hotel up ahead. I realize you probably have a small army of men already circling the Four Seasons, but you didn't really think I'd stand here waiting to be captured by one of the enforcer teams, did you?"

There was a grim silence in the van.

Nicholas continued, "I wouldn't wait for the men to make their way from the Four Seasons to here. I suggest you hit the room at once."

"Why?" Decker asked sharply.

"I told you, he had a blond with him, and judging by his pissed expression, she's not in for a good time."

"Then perhaps you should go in there right now," Lucian suggested.

"I'm too weak, I need blood," Nicholas growled. "I've been standing at the end of the hall listening ever since I found the room. There have been no sounds to suggest he's started in on her yet." He paused and then added, "By my guess you're pulling up to the hotel now."

"Yes," Dani said, glancing out the window to see they were pulling in.

"Good. It shouldn't take you long to get up here. I guess I'll head out." There was a brief pause and then he added, "And Decker?"

"Yeah?" he asked as he pulled up to the doors.

"If you don't save this girl after all the trouble I've gone to, I'm going to kick your ass."

"Anytime, cousin," Decker said grimly as he threw the van into park and shut off the engine. He was out of the van with Dani and the rest of the men following before the click sounded, ending the call.

She slid the phone into her pocket and then jogged the few steps to catch up to Decker and took the hand he was holding out behind him. The moment her fingers slid into his, he glanced back and said, "I. think you should wait in the lobby."

"She's my sister," Dani said grimly. "Besides, I'm an immortal now too, right?"

Decker's mouth compressed, but he didn't try to argue with her.

"Do you want Mortimer and me to look for Nicholas while you and Decker go after the sixth rogue?" Justin asked the question of Lucian, but it was Decker who answered.