"Any word on your house?” Cyn asked, trying to remember how Holly had managed to guilt her yet again into staying here. It seemed every time her sister needed a break, Cyn's condo on the beach became the local motel. She didn't mind helping out, but she really didn't want a roommate either. And the last time Holly had come for a visit—

"Really, Cyndi,” Holly called her back to the present with the nickname Cynthia hated, which was probably why Holly used it. “Could you make me feel any less welcome? It's not like you don't—Oh!” Holly's cheeks pinkened attractively as Nick came down the stairs into the kitchen, exuding a dark, masculine energy that seemed to fill the room. His wavy brown hair was still wet from the shower, his shirt unbuttoned over low-riding blue jeans that showed his slim hips to great advantage. He was over six feet of well-toned muscle with broad shoulders, long, lean legs, and just enough silky dark hair on his chest to prove he was a fully adult male. While not enough to worry that one had crossed some invisible species boundary. Cynthia enjoyed the view, then walked over and stroked a hand over his bare waist, raising her face for a kiss.

She glanced over her shoulder. “You remember Nick, don't you, Holly?"

"Yes,” Holly said shortly, giving them both a disgusted look.

Nick smiled and began buttoning his shirt. “I've got a flight to catch, babe,” he said to Cynthia as he tucked it in. He walked over to the couch and picked up his leather jacket, pulling keys out of the pocket. “Walk me out?"

Cynthia followed him down the stairs to the garage on the ground floor of her three-story beach condo. Nick threw his jacket onto the seat of a Ferrari convertible, then leaned against the door, pulling her between his legs. “You know, it's hard to believe you two are sisters. It's like you were raised on separate planets."

"Half sisters, actually. Same mother, different father. And we never lived together. My parents divorced when I was three and I lived with my father. My mother didn't bother to stay in touch; I barely knew Holly before high school."

"I guess it's good your dad cared,” Nick said with obvious awkwardness. They never discussed personal things. Theirs was strictly a relationship of mutual lust.

"Yeah, well, don't get sentimental. I was just too low on the list of possessions for anyone to fight over.” She stood back, giving her ragged dark hair a nervous fluff and tucking her hands into the pockets of her slacks. “Have a good flight, Nicky."

"Will do. I'll give you a call when I'm in town."

"I'll be around,” she agreed.

He stood, gave her a hard, quick kiss, then slid into the car with a grin and was gone, taking all that energy with him and leaving an empty feeling behind.

Cynthia watched the racy car as it accelerated up the small hill behind her condo and turned onto the highway, then she climbed back upstairs with a sigh.

"I saw the car when I went to the store this morning,” Holly commented as Cyn returned to the kitchen. “I didn't realize Nick had that kind of money. Like draws like, I suppose. Although he is awfully good looking. I wouldn't mind having a go at him myself if you're not interested.” She twisted a lock of blond hair between her fingers and gave Cynthia an appraising look.

Cynthia tried to imagine Nick and her sister together. Maybe not. “Nick's just ... Nick,” she said instead. “He calls when he's in town and we have a good time.” She shrugged. “It works for both of us. No complications."

"Complications,” her sister repeated sourly, dropping both perfectly manicured hands to the tile counter. “As in actually requiring you to take someone other than yourself into account once in awhile?"

Cynthia swallowed the sharp retort that leapt to mind, opened the refrigerator door and stared blindly at Holly's yogurt stash, counting first to ten, then to twenty, before turning to face her sister. “Nick's a friend, Holly. We enjoy each other's company and that's it. Not everyone is looking for a husband, you know."

"Easy for you to say. Not everyone was gifted with a trust fund on her twenty-first birthday either. Some of us have to worry about our future."

Cyn sighed. Money. It always came down to money with Holly. And the fact that Cyn's father had it and Holly's didn't. Like it was Cynthia's fault, like she'd somehow stolen what should have been Holly's. Of course, Holly never wanted to hear the other side of it. About what it was like to be raised by the best nannies money could buy, and about being the only child at school whose parents never came to visit. About holidays with a pile of presents and no one to watch her open them, about all those little milestones of life—graduations, first day on the job, the first dollar she'd earned on her own—all those moments she'd celebrated alone because no one else cared enough to be there. No, Holly didn't want to know about that part. “Actually, I do worry about my future,” Cyn said finally. “Which is why I have no intention of getting married."

"Oh, get over yourself, Cyndi. See a therapist, for God's sake."

Cyn sucked in a breath. It wouldn't serve anyone's purposes for her and Holly to argue yet again. Nick hadn't been far from right; they might as well be from different planets. She and Holly were sisters, but genetics was the only thing they had in common and there wasn't even much evidence of that.

"I like my life the way it is,” she said quietly. “Speaking of which, I've got to run. Be sure to lock up if you go out."

Chapter Five

Raphael stood behind his desk, staring out through a wall of arched windows to the wide ocean beyond. A full moon rode the sky; the gently rolling waves shimmered silver in its light. It was a pale cousin to the glory of sunlight, but the only celestial light he would ever see again. The vampire paused, puzzled by his own musings. He rarely thought of such things and wondered why it came to mind now. The door opened behind him to admit Duncan.

"Lonnie has arrived, my lord."

Raphael remained silent a moment longer, then turned to take the seat behind his desk. “Show him in."

"My lord.” Duncan bowed his head briefly, slipping out of the room to return a few moments later, Lonnie Mater in tow.

Normally the picture of good cheer, tonight Lonnie was uncharacteristically silent, subdued, like a small animal remaining quiet beneath the gaze of a predator, hoping to escape notice. An apt comparison. He was an unremarkable man of medium height, pleasant looking, but nothing too dramatic. He'd been a movie producer when Raphael found him, a man with little success, but many contacts, the perfect vehicle for the vampire lord's insertion into Hollywood society.

The former producer bowed from the waist, a surprisingly elegant gesture from an American who'd never had to learn the skill. “Sire,” he said quietly. “I am yours to command."

In spite of the grim circumstances, Raphael regarded him with some amusement. For all the man's extravagant ways, he was no fool. Lonnie might not know exactly what was going on, but he was smart enough to recognize something deadly serious was in the air and to maximize his chances of surviving whatever it was.

"Have a seat, Lonnie."

Lonnie glanced up, a glimmer of his true personality lighting his expression for the first time. “Thank you, my lord."

Raphael studied him somberly. Hollywood was an ideal place for vampires. There were gatherings of one sort of another almost every night and the greater city of Los Angeles was enormous and still growing, with millions of people spread out over what would have been an unthinkable distance only a few decades ago. Lonnie managed a house for Raphael right on the beach in Malibu, hosting night after night of parties and providing a steady source of blood for Raphael's staff, including Lonnie. Raphael himself rarely attended, and then only if his presence was required for some other purpose, like genuine business involving his Hollywood investments. Otherwise, a careful selection of donors was ferried here to the estate and returned before dawn to wake up back where they started. They were all perfectly willing participants, and none of them ever remembered a thing, except a great party, great sex, and a particularly bad hangover. One of Lonnie's jobs was seeing that none of the other vampires ... overindulged.

Although they maintained a low profile, the existence of vampires was discreetly acknowledged by those in government and business, even courted by some with an ax to grind or a project to fund. And Hollywood loved nothing more than that little hint of danger, that slight whiff of daring vampires represented in human society. They were the ultimate bad boys—and girls—in a town that pretended to be rebels while driving their solid SUVs home to their safe neighborhoods behind sturdy gates.

Lonnie crossed his legs nervously and Raphael gestured for Duncan to pour some wine.

"You had dealings with a private investigator some time back, Lonnie. A woman."

Lonnie uncrossed his legs and sat up, startled at the unexpected subject. “I did, Sire. Cynthia Leighton. Former LAPD. Her father's Harold Leighton. He's got some real bucks, mostly financial investments. She, uh ... she saved my life."

Raphael leaned forward. “And how was that?"

"There was a bust at a club downtown. The owner was dealing drugs in the back room. Cops came in and swept up everybody. Cynthia was with the task force. They dragged all of us down to the station ... mostly for appearances, I think. Sort of a “look at us, we're arresting rich people” thing. Election year and all. The cops didn't even book most of us. They released almost everyone except the owners and a couple of customers unlucky enough to be in on the deal when the cops broke in. Me, I had nothing to do with it. Don't do drugs, never have. A nice scotch, a glass of wine, that's something else, but no drugs. Not for me. Uh, anyway..."

He cleared his throat anxiously, hurrying on when Raphael gave him a bored look. “One of the cops was a son of a bitch. Took one look at me and decided he was going to earn his next star. Planted me in a holding cell right beneath a skylight, figured to leave me there for the sun.” Lonnie shook his head in disgust. “Cynthia saw what he was doing and hauled me outta there. Got in a real stand-up with the asshole. It wasn't long after that she quit and went into business for herself. I've sent quite a few customers her way. Figure I owe her, plus she gives good value."