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Chapter 29

Midnight had passed and the cliental of Dusk to Dawn had shrunk to a few hard core jazz fans, the staff and the two couples seated at the back of the club. Laslo had taken Darla home an hour earlier and now Beth was feeling the lateness of the hour. She leaned back in her chair and tried to stifle a yawn.

"You've had a stressful day Beth, maybe Mick should take you home and go to bed," Kira suggested quietly. She could see how Beth struggled to keep her eyes open.

"And she means to sleep," Josef quipped an impish expression on his face.

"Enough teasing Josef," Kira chided in a low voice. "Our friends performed a great service for the community today and helped out your old friend. Our secret is safe because of them, we are very lucky."

"Well we had help," Mick added seriously. "And I really don't like having Beth in the middle of these problems. It's too dangerous."

"I'm not hiding at home, waiting and worrying," Beth protested and Mick recognized the stubborn gleam in her eyes.

"I know I can't lock you up for your own good but I don't like having you in the middle of vampire problems," Mick told her gently and put an arm around her shoulders. "I don't want to lose you. And Kira is right; you need some real sleep, not those catnaps you've been taking."

Beth blushed but shook her head.

"Ben gave me tomorrow off, I can sleep in," she argued.

"But you're falling asleep now Beth," Kira pointed out. "Mick, take her home. You can come back tomorrow….or should I say later tonight," she corrected herself with a light laugh.

"She's right Beth, let's go home now," Mick coaxed, hoping that Beth would not argue further.

"All right," Beth gave in, touched by the concern she saw in his eyes.

Mick got to his feet and then assisted Beth up. He immediately wrapped one arm around her waist and nodded to the two vampires.

"We will see you two later."

"Good night," Kira answered.

"Again…..good work you two," Josef told them as they turned away. Mick smiled and then guided a very tired Beth from the club.

Josef stretched in his seat and released an exaggerated sigh.

"I thought they would never leave," he said trying to look annoyed. Kira shot him a look of surprise but before she could speak he continued. "I…..have wanted to get you alone for at least an hour now." He grinned at her.

Kira smiled in spite of herself, it was so difficult to be annoyed with him when he gave her that little boy grin. She leaned close and stared into his eyes.

"What do you have in mind?" she asked huskily.

"Let Eli and Thomas close up the club. I want you to come home with me…now," he answered taking her left hand in his and bringing her fingers to his lips. He kissed them lightly.

"Now?" she asked with raised eyebrows.

"Immediately."

"I think I can arrange that," she said thoughtfully.

"Good," Josef said getting to his feet. He didn't release her hand. "Let's go," he insisted tugging on her hand.

Laughing, Kira went to make arrangements for Eli and Thomas to close the club. Afterwards they headed to Josef's house in the hills. Taking Kira's hand, Josef led her through the house to his private office and indicated she should take a seat on the leather couch. He opened a bottle of champagne that was chilling and poured two flutes, returning with them to sit beside her.

"Are we celebrating something?" Kira asked after accepting the flute.

"Yes, we are celebrating the conclusion of two of the most delightful weeks I have experienced in some time," he answered.

"Has it been two weeks?"

"More or less….whose counting exactly?" Josef replied leaning in to kiss her. He drew back and Kira sipped the sparkling wine.

"You certainly are in a romantic mood Josef my darling. Are you mellowing on me?"

"Perish the thought. But I have always known a good thing when I see it and you, my lovely, are a very good thing," Josef informed her. He gave her a long lingering kiss, then set his glass down and got to his feet. Going over to his desk and picked up an 8 x 10 box that was yellowed with age and returned to Kira, handing it to her.

Kira accepted the box, confusion on her beautiful face and she did nothing while Josef reseated himself next to her.

"What is this?" she asked.

"I was searching for something in storage the other day and found this. I should have given you this a long time ago," he answered. "Go ahead, open it."

Removing the lid and setting it aside, Kira's eyes widened in shock as she saw the contents. A small cry of surprise burst out of her as she reached in with trembling fingers to pick up a 5 x 7 picture frame. Carefully she lifted the antique, gold gilt frame that held a sepia toned photograph of a couple on their wedding day. Tears blurred as she saw herself and her human husband in their old fashioned finery.

"Oh…..Josef…..oh, it's my wedding photo," she gasped and then noticed the second photo in the box. The groom was pictured alone, pride shining out of his open, honest gaze. "Tyler….," she whispered and shakily pressed her fingers against the glass over his face. She looked at Josef in bewilderment. "How?"

"After I turned you and we ruined the Carrington family financially, I went to their house when they held a private sale of some of their artwork collection. I decided these belonged to you and I took them off the mantel when no one was looking," Josef explained. "I wanted to give them to you after things died down but then they got packed away and I forgot. I just found them again."

A choked laugh escaped Kira as her tears continued to fall. She clutched Tyler Carrington's picture to her chest and bent over as she sobbed. She was not prepared for the fresh wave of pain that swept over her at the sight of her long dead husband. Josef looked at her helplessly, not sure if he had done something wrong or not.

"Kira? My dear girl, are you all right? I didn't mean make you cry," he said reaching out to stroke her hair. He touched her arm lightly with his other hand. "Sweetheart, are you okay?"

"I'm okay, just overwhelmed," she whispered s she straightened up and gave him a weak smile. "I just wasn't prepared. I thought I had lost him forever. Thank you Josef…..I love you." The words were out of her mouth before she realized it and look of horror flooded her eyes.

Josef gathered her into his arms and rocked her gently.

"Don't cry my sweet," he soothed and kissed her forehead and then rested his cheek against her hair. "I love you too."

Kira pulled out of his arms, shaking her head in shock.

"You don't mean that," she said in a low voice.

"I do indeed," he cupping her face in his hands. He gazed frankly into her eyes. "I love you."

"But …..no….you love Sarah," the words spilled out of her.

"Oh my darling," he said kissing her lightly. "I loved Sarah….at least I have loved her memory. She's gone and I have refused to accept that for fifty years. I failed her, I can't change that." He paused and swallowed the lump in his throat. "What I feel or felt for Sarah has no bearing on what I feel for you. I am finally realizing just how deep my emotions run for you. I do love you my beautiful, loyal independent woman. You amaze me," Josef confessed.

They sat silently for a few moments, uncertain green eyes locked on warm brown ones. Doubt still lingered on Kira's lovely face, afraid to believe what she heard. Josef smiled encouragingly.

"Believe me Kira, I am telling you the truth," he said sincerely.

"I have….I have been in love with you since the beginning," she admitted in a whisper, lowering her gaze. "I want to believe you."

Josef chuckled as he drew her close again. He stroked her hair and held her gently. Even now she managed to surprise him. He had never suspected that she had loved him in the beginning and certainly not in the time since.

"I do think we are overdue for a nice long talk," he said with a rueful smile. "Shall we go upstairs and discuss it?"

"And just how much discussing will we get done?" Kira asked with a smile as they got to their feet. She set the pictures of her past aside and took Josef's hand.

"Enough to erase any doubt you still have," Josef promised with a wink. He led her out of the room.

*M*M*

Sitting in his office, Ben Talbot rubbed his forehead wearily and checked his watch. He was surprised to discover how very late it was, he had been lost in paperwork of the day's events. He had watched and re-watched the video confession of Calvin Simmons and there was no doubt they had their killer. And while he hated to admit it but the video also made it clear that St. John had no warning that Simmons was the killer until he confessed on camera. There was no way to revoke the PI's license and from his own observations it was also clear that St. John cared deeply for Beth. He had shielded Beth from the knife without regard for his own safety.

The phone ringing at that late hour startled him out of his thoughts.

"Talbot."

"Check your list," the voice he had heard only once before said. "Re-read those names. And do not consult anyone else." The line went dead, leaving Ben sitting in silent confusion. Just what was this list's meaning?

End chapter.

Thank you for reading. One more chapter to go.