Sorry for the long hiatus, folks. The muse took a vacation and now the story's taken a little different twist. Hope you enjoy!

Chapter 20

Mick and Beth left Josef's mansion after the last interview with the assassin vampire. Both their husbands could tell Beth and Simone were tired, and Mick got no argument for an early night.

They were driving in their new black SUV and Mick reached for Beth's hand. The only thing he didn't love about this car was the seats were so far apart he couldn't pull Beth close to him while he was driving.

She looked over at him with a small smile. Knowing he was worried about her, she said, "I'm fine, Mick."

"I know, sweetheart, but we've been on the run since we got you back and I think it's time to wind down a little."

"Hmmm, what did you have in mind?"

"I thought a drive up north to that deserted coastline would be fun. There are a couple of blankets in the back."

"That sounds good," Beth responded. "But couldn't we go up to the house and use the pool?" She wanted to see the progress on the suburban house they were remodeling.

Mick looked guilty and embarrassed, and Beth asked, "What's wrong?"

"Um, well Sofia texted me a couple of days ago to update us on the house. We'd just gotten back from Mexico and I forgot to mention it."

"What did she say?"

"Maureen is still working on the place, but there were some electrical problems and the landscapers are still doing the backyard, and the pool had to be redone."

Beth was a little alarmed. "Mick, that sounds expensive. Maybe we shouldn't have bought the place. Can we afford all these renovations?"

Her husband smirked. "Of course we can, sweetheart. I've had Josef looking after my finances for the last 60 years. If anything, the remodeling will increase the equity in the property. But, we can't go swimming until the pool's done."

With a sigh, Beth leaned back. "All right, then the beach it is." She thought about Mick naked in the water under the moonlight and decided that was exactly what she needed.

They stopped at a parking area overlooking the rocks and beach. It was deserted and few cars were on the road nearby. Humans could only park and take pictures, but Mick and Beth jumped over the wall, down thirty feet to land on an overhanging cliff. From there it was a short hop to the sand. They walked up the beach, away from view and Mick spread the blanket. He turned to see his wife pulling off her shirt and wriggling out of her jeans.

"Last one in…" she laughed, running toward the dark surf. As a human it would have been scary, but her vampire vision allowed her to dive into a crashing wave and swim out.

With a growl, Mick quickly stripped off and followed Beth into the freezing water. Loving the cold, he surfaced only to find his wife behind him, pulling him down into the water again.

He turned and as she swam away, he grabbed her ankle and hauled her back. They continued to swim around, their vampire strength allowing them to contend with any riptides and waves.

Finally, Mick decided he'd had enough and caught up with Beth, kissing her as they sunk under the surf. They resurfaced then retreated to the shore.

Stretched out on the blankets, Mick pulled Beth to him. Beth snuggled up and he held her close, her scent calming him like nothing else could. Away from the city, the stars were bright in the cloudless sky. His temper darkened as he thought that he might have lost her again.

Next to him, Beth felt his mood change and hugged him. "I'm fine, Mick. We're both okay and we're going to stay that way." She let her fangs lengthen and scrape across his upper chest.

"You're just trying to distract me," he replied in a husky voice.

"Is it working?"

"Yeah." Mick rolled over, kissing her. They could have this conversation later. Right now, he more lustful things on his mind.

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Coraline relaxed in her stylish apartment in Paris. She was expecting her friend Cynthia, who had just returned from scouting real estate in South America. Since their discovery of a supplement that allowed vampires to stay in the sun, they decided to invest in a resort that catered to wealthy vamps.

Checking again to make sure the fresh blood she had was sufficiently cool, her mobile phone rang. She didn't recognize the number, but curious, answered it anyway.

"Oui?"

"Coraline Duvall?"

"Oui, who is this?"

"My name is Vincent. I'm sure you remember from when you hired me to kidnap Simone Kostan and Beth St. John."

Coraline gasped. She remembered the assassin she hired, but how had he found out she was his employer? She had no contact with the killers since they emailed Luc's computer of the success of their plan.

Fear drove her anger to take over. "I have no idea who you are or what you are talking about."

"I think you do, madam. What I don't think you know is that the women were rescued and now my identity is compromised. At our meeting, you guaranteed that our safety would be assured. What are you going to do about it?"

Coraline didn't answer. She knew the man they hired, but she couldn't be sure it was him on the telephone. Her brother had informed her the women had escaped, but how did the hired mercenary know? It sounded like a trap. She responded with distain.

"I don't know what you want, but—"

The vampire on the other end growled, "There are others I can talk to, I won't be responsible for your crimes." With that, Vincent hung up.

Coraline saw the disconnect and was plunged into dread. If it was the actual assassin, how did he know how to find her?

Just then, the doorbell rang and Coraline let Cynthia enter. Her friend took one look and said, "Cheri, what is the matter?"

Caught off-guard, Coraline broke down with sobs and recounted all she had done to trap the two women vampires and leave them in the wilds of the forest.

Horrified, Cynthia accused, "You did all this without telling me?"

"I'm sorry, I thought it was foolproof," Coraline sobbed.

Shaking her head in disbelief, Cynthia could feel the fear and anguish rolling off her friend. She knew Coraline had never been able to control herself when it came to Mick St. John. Recently, Coraline had started to see that her obsession with Mick was doomed, so it didn't surprise her that she wanted to take revenge on St. John's mate.

Guiding her to a nearby sofa, Cynthia gave her friend a hug. "Calm yourself, cher." She went to the refrigerator and poured them both half and half blood and vodka. Giving Coraline the glass she asked, "Now is there any way this person could have found you out?"

After a long gulp, Coraline shook her head. "There was no way. We used Luc's computer and I've not turned it on since he died." Coraline shrugged her shoulders in despair. She knew next to nothing about computers. Luc had some experience and she relied on him to make sure they were safe. Now he was gone and she was unsure about what to do next.

Cynthia took a drink, thinking furiously how to help her friend. Coraline operated on emotions, and she needed to stop and think before reacting. "Come; let us go through what we know."

Coraline smiled wanly, and said, "Oui, you are right."

Seeing her friend restored, Cynthia said, "Very well, tell me everything you said and did with these mercenaries, and how you communicated." She knew it would be a long night, but she was willing to do anything to help her closest friend.

xxxxxxxxxxx

Thousands of miles away, the captive assassin Vincent put down the disposable burn telephone. "Was that acceptable, Mr. Kostan?"

"Yes, you did well," Josef replied. He was alone in his study with Vincent. Security was outside the door, but Josef could handle the younger vampire by himself if necessary.

Vincent knew he couldn't escape from Kostan's compound. Kostan had him brought to the study and at first Vincent thought he was going to die, as no one else was in the room. Then Kostan explained his plan. Vincent was to call this Coraline Duvall and accuse her of a plot to kidnap his wife and Beth St. john. He was skeptical that a woman had masterminded the plan, but knew that the two fledglings were actually the targets of the scheme, which he kept concealed.

The assassin noted that Kostan looked pleased and was hopeful he could bargain for his life.

Josef went to the bar and poured himself a drink, but did not offer one to the captive vampire. He sat back down and looked at Vincent speculatively. "In my long life, I've learned many things. One of which is to make hard decisions." He leaned forward. "I'd like nothing more to kill you slowly and with great pain for what you did to my wife and my friend."

Vincent went on guard, but remained stoic. He knew if the older vampire wanted him dead, there was nothing he could do.

Taking a sip from his glass, Josef said, "We've both been around a while and know how things work." Josef fixed him with a stare. "I need you to do a job for me."

The assassin didn't show a flicker of surprise. He knew what Kostan meant. "Yes? Who is the target?"

In a cold tone, Josef replied, "The woman you spoke with tonight. Coraline Duvall. I want her to meet the true death."

Vincent was not shocked, but was curious. "You said you didn't know if she was the one who hired us."

With a grimace, Josef got up to refill his glass. "It doesn't matter. She's caused more problems in the last fifty years than I care to count and is nothing but trouble to me and my friends." Josef turned away, aware he had revealed his thoughts.

Vincent's face gave away nothing, but he continued to be encouraged that he might live through this. "So, you want this woman truly dead. What are the terms?"

Josef looked at the assassin with a smirk. "I don't imagine if I open the door you will walk out and do my bidding. So this is what will happen—you will have a GPS implant so I can track your whereabouts. If you try to remove it, I will know and I will have you hunted by every Cleaner on this planet. Once you have completed your assignment, and have fulfilled your obligation. You may live your life as you please."

Weighing the choices, Vincent knew he had to agree. If the woman wasn't the one who hired them it didn't matter. Kostan would allow him to live and that was all that was important at the moment. He stood up without permission and poured himself a shot of liquor. With confidence, he said, "I'm sure I can satisfy your request."

Nodding, Josef replied, "I'm sure you can. However, I'll need proof."

"Yes?"

"Send me one of her hands. The police here have her fingerprints on file. That should be sufficient."

"Agreed," Vincent responded. He had provided that kind of confirmation to other clients before. Now he decided to push the envelope. "I'll need expense money. I'm happy to take care of your problem but there might be some significant costs involved."

Smiling to himself, Josef said, "Of course. I'll have an account set up at Bank Suisse before you leave. Along with a disposable mobile phone so you can keep in contact." Then, letting his power out, he focused on the vampire opposite him. "I expect results," he said, fangs apparent. "Don't try to bullshit me or there won't be enough left of you to fill a thimble."

Vincent nodded solemnly. "I'm aware of that, Mr. Kostan. We are both professionals and I will treat this assignment with the highest priority."

Satisfied, Josef relaxed back into his chair. "All the information I have about Coraline Duvall will be ready for you tomorrow evening when you leave."

"When I've completed the mission, I presume I can remove the tracking device," Vincent said.

Now Josef's demeanor changed a bit, and Vincent was on alert again.

"We'll see. We can discuss it when the woman is dead. In case you're wondering, neither the St. John's nor my wife know about your assignment. All of them are young and don't like violence so I'm going to tell them I've released you with the GPS to keep track of your whereabouts. Make sure they don't know anything different."

For the first time, Vincent smiled. "I'm as silent as the grave."

xxxxxxxxxxx

Coraline rose from her freezer and enjoyed an ice-cold shower. She had plans to meet Cynthia and go to one of the vampire clubs for a fresh meal, then possibly some dancing.

It had been two days since the threatening phone call from the assassin. She found Luc's laptop and Cynthia had taken it to a human computer expert who was discrete and expensive. He took it apart and made sure no one could trace its location.

With the assurance of their privacy, Coraline relaxed. No one could prove she was behind the abduction of the vampire women. She didn't know how the mercenary knew she was his employer, but there was no way he could prove anything.

Donning a stylish red dress, she was almost ready to meet Cynthia when someone knocked at her door. Scenting her brother Henri, she pulled open the door with a faint look of surprise.

"Henri, what are you doing here?" she asked, ascertaining her brother was upset.

He brushed past her, entering her opulent lounge. He had only been to Coraline's flat once before to warn her about peddling unknown drugs to the vampire community.

Turning, he fumed, "I've just spent an hour with the English le cochon running our Council." Henri noted that Coraline seemed astonished.

"Why? What did he want?" she asked.

Henri seated himself on a silk-covered loveseat. "Why, dear sister? Because they have discovered you are behind the drugs being sold to vampires to allow them to be in the sun."

Coraline gave a small shrug. "So? It's not illegal, and it's none of their business."

He stood up and went to her well-stocked bar. Pouring some expensive brandy, he downed it in a gulp and said, "They're making it their business. You are ordered to stop selling the drug and shut down your website."

"WHAT?" Coraline screeched. "I'm not going to do that."

Her brother shook his head. "You will do it, otherwise you will be in contempt of a Council edict and there will be repercussions."

Coraline shook her beautiful head. "Ha! What can those English do to stop me?"

Henri expected a scene from his sister, and was prepared. "If you don't cooperate, the Council has the right to punish you, up to and including confinement."

She stared at him. "You would let these usurpers threaten me?"

Henri shrugged. "Ma sœur, we have power but it is no longer what it was. Our sire is dead, along with Lance. Gaston was judged a traitor and serves the current Council as punishment. The family is tainted in their eyes. We have financial security, but not the influence we once had."

He stood up, fixing her with a searing gaze. "If you disregard their edict, I cannot protect you. They will take steps you may not like. Do you understand? If not, I can put you in the dungeons as Lance did. I don't want to, but our family's survival is at stake."

Coraline lowered her eyes, letting him see she had grasped the warning. "Yes, Henri." She reigned in her emotions so he could not feel her total rage and defiance. "I wouldn't want to cause any problems for the family." She made herself sit calmly, waiting for his reaction.

Pleased, Henri gave her a smile. "I'm sure you will find some other venture and you will excel. I have been impressed at your business acumen. I will let the Council know you will quit your operations."

Now Coraline looked up at her brother, still hiding her churning emotions. "It might take a week or two to shut everything down." She spent a few moments pretending to consider. "I will have to go and deal with my managers at the factory and other details."

Confident that Coraline was compliant; he gave her a kiss on the cheek. "Come to the mansion to visit when you return. It's very quiet without you."

She managed a smile, and graciously saw him to her door. Once it closed behind Henri and she was sure he was gone, she screamed into the empty room, her eyes changing and her claws growing. After a few minutes she gained control and went to the hidden safe in her boudoir and opened it. There were half a dozen passports and other identification papers, along with her financial information. A vampire must always be ready to move at any moment. It seemed like this was the time.

Coraline sat on her chaise longue and looked around the beautiful apartment she had created. Stifling a sniff, she told herself she didn't have time for sentiment. The apartment would be waiting for her when she returned to Paris—whenever that might be.

The doorbell rang, and Coraline scented Cynthia. She sighed. She had to tell her friend all that had happened and was sorry it was more bad news. Opening the door, she smiled sadly. "Come in, mon ami, we have much to discuss."

TBC

It looks like Coraline has finally worn down Josef's patience, but can the assassin find her? My grateful thanks to all of you who are still reading. I hope to finish the story soon, and continue with the Moonlight universe.