Chapter 74

Temecula

Author's Note: As we approach the end of Book 1, I chose a couple of old standards for the songs for this chapter. The end song is a classic Metallica favorite of mine. If you've never heard the version I list I'd encourage you to look it up & take a listen. It's worth it.

Intro Song: Stand by Me, Ben E King

As the night turned into total darkness and the party grew more and more raucous, the host was conversing with guests when his vineyard master waved to him. Kostan could see that Adkins was flustered. He excused himself and walked over to the man.

"What's going on, Dave?"

"Well... Mr. Kostan... um... we have... I mean, there is a ... situation..."

Josef's brows knit. "Define 'situation'."

Dave cleared his throat as he wrestled to find the words, clearly uncomfortable. "It seems a few of the guests have wandered into your freezer room... the one Mr. St. John has been sleeping in... and... um... they are... engaging in... activities."

The vampire immediately understood and smiled reassuringly at his vineyard manager. "Dave, I appreciate your diligence, I do. But at a Kostan party... guests do what they want to do...short of trashing the place." Josef laughed. "At least they found the right room - but if any wander out and continue their party elsewhere, kindly inform them to take it to that freezer. Let me know if anyone fails to comply."

The stunned man did the only thing he could. "Yes, certainly." To himself, he thought, Boy, M really should have come with me! She will not believe me when I tell her about all this...

Josef patted Adkins approvingly on the shoulder. "Good man," he commented, before he moved back to rejoin his guests. He fleetingly thought of visiting the freezer room but cast the idea aside. After all, Mick was the guest of honor and he was much too guarded regarding Beth's exposure to vampire nature to consider indulging. And then there was Simone. It would be disrespectful to her and all her efforts to help save his friend if he were to participate. There had been a time when that wouldn't have prevented him from joining in but it appeared he was changing. Damn!

Josef sighed. The inaugural launch of his great orgy room - and he couldn't attend. Well, with only a handful of vamps in there, it was more of a group-grope than anything remotely approaching Caligula proportions... still, it was the principle that mattered. My house, my rules, my...orgy.

Far more disturbing to him was the twinge of guilt he had felt at the thought of engaging in such hedonistic indulgences. Had Simone, this slip of a woman, penetrated a part of him that he thought had died with Sara? If so, his life had just grown exponentially more complicated. He knew what he needed to do…

Simone was entrenched in conversation with one of the few humans in attendance when she felt a hand on her bare shoulder. Startled, she turned to stare into familiar, warm brown eyes.

"Hey, got a minute?" Josef's voice was soft - but it wasn't really a question.

The attorney nodded, concerned but curious. There was something about the vampire's demeanor that was different from normal. Then again, when dealing with Kostan, one always had to be careful of the application of the term 'normal'.

Without another word, Josef took Simone's hand, leading her through the doors of his study and traversing familiar hallways of the mansion, the din of the party fading to near-quiet when they finally reached the doors of her suite. He opened the doors, standing to the side to allow her to enter first before he followed her, closing the doors securely behind him.

Simone sat, unbidden, on the same sofa Beth had collapsed onto earlier in the day. With as much coolness as she could muster, she asked, "What's going on? What's wrong?"

Josef stood in front of her, leaning against his desk, hands jammed into his pant pockets. "There are some things I want to say to you, and tonight seemed appropriate for it." He glanced away for a moment as if collecting his thoughts. When he turned back, it was with the look of a man with a lot on his mind. "I want to thank you for everything you've done, Simone. I know I've asked - and expected - a lot from you and sometimes..." He sighed. "Well, let's just say that sometimes, I haven't been as grateful, or considerate, as I should have been."

She frowned. "Josef, I think you are being too hard on yourself. You always show it... in your own way. Maybe not in the same way other people do - but, then, I don't expect this relationship to be like any other. After all, you're not like anyone else, are you?" Simone smiled purposefully to lighten the mood in the room. She was met with that boyish grin that she was so attracted to.

Therein lay the danger of being involved with Josef Kostan. He could look and act, so very sweet and disarming... until you pissed him off. She hadn't disappointed him – not that she could recall, anyway, although, she did admit to concerns when she'd failed to secure bail for Emma Monaghan. The lawyer had hoped that she'd just be fired; it would be minor punishment compared to what she suspected sometimes happened to those who displeased the billionaire.

"Seriously, Josef, is there something wrong?"

Kostan studied Simone. She was very adept at controlling displays of emotion, but he could tell she was uneasy. He quipped, "Relax, nothing's wrong. I just wanted to talk. You know, like considerate men do…"

It was his turn to be rewarded with a smile that gave him the encouragement he needed to continue. "I didn't call you in here because I'm upset about anything, and I'm sorry as hell if I gave you that impression. It's… well, there are things I don't want the world to know. Things I only want you to hear."

"Hear as in as your attorney… or…"

He glared at her with an insulted look. "You know you're more to me than that. At least, I hope you know that."

Simone could feel her ire rise and her voice along with it. "Do I, Josef?! I mean, you like me, I get that - and we have a great time together. But let's be real. You're hardly monogamous, and –"

"I know you feel like you're in Sara's shadow."

She sat dumbfounded, blinking to hold back sudden, unwanted tears. Bastard! Just like him to completely knock the wind out of her! Simone jumped up abruptly, needing to get out of there, get some air... anything to get away from him! "If you'll excuse me, there are guests we should get back to." She averted her eyes and headed towards the door.

She never made it past Josef's desk.

With blinding speed, he grabbed her arm, his hand almost completely wrapping around her slender bicep. "They'll keep," he growled. Simone stood stock-still but refused to look at him.

Josef released his grip on her arm, and crooked one forefinger under her chin, tilting her head up. "Hey… just listen, Simone, would ya?"

She sighed. "Okay. I'm listening."

The vampire was familiar with her more tempestuous side – all women had that – but he had still been caught off guard by her reaction. He cautiously dropped his hand, and, when she showed no signs of storming off, he began again.

"You're one of the few people in this world I can count on. Everything you did to help with Mick - calls, making the arrangements for meds and supplies, getting the helicopter... all of it. And most importantly, when I lost it a time or two, you held me together. I guess, what I'm trying to get at is, all that's happened has made me re-evaluate my relationships and what they mean to me." He paused. "I love Mick like a brother – I don't know what I'd have done if I'd lost him. Beth has gone above and beyond to help him, and this community, and she's grown on me...kinda like a sister-in-law…" Josef smiled at the thought. "And you…" He reached out and pulled her to him, encircling her with his arms.

The attorney's expression softened and she wrapped her arms around his neck. She was still leery, however. "What about me?" she pressed.

"I'm still figuring that out." He gave her a squeeze. "When I met Sara, trust me, I wasn't looking for love. Didn't really want it, or need it - or so I'd told myself for the three hundred or so years before. Sara and I just… happened. So, here I am, fifty years later, not looking for anything…" Josef trailed off without completing his thought.

Simone felt a twinge of guilt for her earlier angry outburst. She should have given him a chance to speak his piece before assuming the worst. And truth be told, Josef didn't owe her anything. Though the mention of Sara had wounded her, the man had never made any intimate promises, or hinted at anything remotely approaching a serious relationship. No commitments. Don't ruin a good thing! Stop acting like a pathetic lovesick freshie and enjoy the ride while it lasts... however long that is.

She placed her hands flat against his chest, and began to knead the muscles under his shirt. "Let's… discuss this some other time, hmm? We've all been affected by what's happened, and there are some things we need to talk about, but… if I remember correctly, your mandate this evening was for everyone to enjoy themselves."

Suggestively, Simone licked her lips as she dipped one hand to the front of his trousers. She started stroking him, enjoying his soft moans and the feel of him hardening in her grasp, the warm brown gaze shifting to an azure hue that grew lighter as he became more aroused.

Josef kissed her hard and deeply, without warning. The hands that had previously held her now crept around to unzip her dress.

Unexpectedly, she pulled away, provoking a growl.

"Shhh!" Simone ordered. She held his vampire stare defiantly while she slowly, teasingly unbuckled his belt, and unzipped his pants.

"Bad girl," he breathed. "I love bad girls." Whatever issues and fears he'd had dissipated. He placed both hands through her hair, carefully guiding her. Josef was barely coherent as pleasure surged through him, save for one thought…FUCK, it's good to be me!

Mick and Beth wandered back to the party, arms around one another, making no pretense of the fact that they had been off in the vineyard together. They'd stopped briefly to hose off their feet and step back into their shoes but Beth hadn't bothered to pick up her ruined underwear. As they drew near the wide veranda, they could hear the music and laughter. The party had definitely grown even louder and more boisterous while they'd been gone as the guests felt the effects of blood and alcohol.

Just as they were about to ascend the broad slate steps to the veranda, Mick paused to flick a leaf out of her hair. He brushed off the back of her dress - and who could blame him for perhaps taking more time dusting her rear than was necessary. He adjusted the one-shoulder clasp and stepped back, eyeing her up and down.

"Do I pass inspection?" Beth giggled, twirling to allow him to see her from all angles.

"You look... perfect. Just don't forget you're minus your underwear!" With a crooked smile, the vampire offered her his arm and they rejoined the festivities. As they approached the bar to refresh their drinks, Logan Griffin stomped up and snagged a beer.

"Hey Logan, what's up?"

"Well, I've had it!"

"What's wrong?" Mick frowned, handing a glass of champagne to Beth and tossing back one himself. The last thing he wanted to do tonight was referee an argument between some drunk vampires - or, worse yet, a drunken vampire and an inebriated human.

"Ryder has been mooning over Gabby all night and he hasn't gotten anywhere! I'm tired of seeing that lovesick look on his face."

Beth burst out laughing, sputtering, "What are you going to do, Logan? Kidnap her until she comes to her senses?"

Mick grinned at the thought of anyone trying to force Gabrielle Sinclair to do anything she didn't want to do. "I wouldn't recommend that," he advised solemnly, keeping a straight face. I'd love to kidnap Beth, though…He put one hand on her rear and squeezed, reminding both of them that she was naked under the short dress. Draping his arm around her shoulders, they started to move toward a secluded corner of the terrace, far from the action at the bar.

"Hey!"

Startled, the couple pivoted as one to find their host watching them, hands in his pockets. "Don't wander off this time, you two," he commanded as he strolled over. Seeing them exchange guilty looks, he barked, "Yeah, I know you snuck off. The whole party knows you did. Hell, I could smell it on you! Eau de Beth. Lovely." He rocked back on his heels, snickering at Beth's obvious mortification. "Far be it from me to remind you that our zipper friend here is on restrictions. I just want you both around for the little surprise I have coming."

"Say no more, Josef." Mick responded. As his friend grinned and opened his mouth, he said, "Really, Josef. I mean it. Don't say any more." Nuzzling Beth's hair, he turned back around and determinedly pulled her toward the isolated corner he'd staked out.

They sat in their secluded spot, content in one another's company, until Mick started to feel guilty for withdrawing from the party. Then, they worked their way through the guests hand-in-hand, talking to them, drinking, laughing, kissing...and finally making their way back to the secluded corner of the terrace. Now they shared a large upholstered lounge chair, Beth sipping coffee laced with Bailey's, Mick drinking from a large glass of blood. Their heads were close together as they talked quietly and laughed frequently. The rest of the crowd kindly left the lovers alone, allowing them some measure of privacy.

The first explosion caught the couple off-guard.

Mick tensed, his arm involuntarily tightening around Beth, protectively drawing her closer as the loud bang startled them both.

This must be Josef's surprise, Beth thought, as fireworks filled the sky, showering the vineyard with glittering silver sparks that disappeared as they approached the earth. Worriedly, she huddled closer to Mick, wishing the billionaire had warned them of what was coming. As the next shell shot into the air, she carefully laid her hand on the vampire's chest, cautious about his still-healing wounds but wanting to provide reassurance. Beth could feel his shuddering breath beneath her fingertips. "Do you want to go inside?" she asked quietly, her eyes filled with compassion and concern.

Mick shook his head. "No, I'm fine," in a tone that suggested he was anything but. His hand groped for hers, grasping it tightly as another muffled bang sounded and a shell arched into the air, the trajectory almost impossible for human eyes to track in the dark sky. His vampire eyesight, however, followed it easily as it rose higher and higher, finally bursting, sending a rainbow of colors arcing down toward earth. "It's just fireworks." He seemed to be trying to convince himself.

With each subsequent explosion, Mick found himself holding his breath, growing more and more jittery. Dammit, Josef! It wasn't Kostan he was really mad at, though - it was himself. What the hell was wrong with him? He lowered his face to Beth's and concentrated on breathing in her sweet scent, his lips pressed against her hair.

Beth could hear the others in their small group cheering and applauding in the dark, enjoying the elaborate pyrotechnic display. She ignored them - and the fireworks overhead - concentrating on the increasingly agitated vampire beside her. With each explosion, he tensed further, clutching her tighter and tighter.

As had been the case so often of late, she seemed able to sense what he needed. She reached up to run her fingers through his hair, massaging his head gently, then allowing her hand to make its way down to his neck, kneading the tense muscles there. Her lips against his cheek, she whispered, "I'm right here. I love you."

Mick nodded and tried to relax against her, the sounds of laughter and conversation from the group on the terrace, washing over them during a lull in the show. He could pick out the murmured moment of closeness between Josef and Simone, Gabrielle teasing Logan and Ryder, Guilia sloshing more wine into a glass, spilling some over the side as she was distracted by another burst of fireworks. Desperately, he held onto that reality. I'm here with friends. I'm with Beth.

The sky lit up with a barrage of light and sound, signaling the climax of the display. The ignited fireworks sent their distinctive sulfuric scent wafting on the gentle breeze toward the couple. That smell, combined with the deafening crack and boom of the discharging explosives thrust Mick into a nightmare.

He was no longer on the terrace of the beautiful vineyard; instead, the barren landscape of the Campo desert surrounded him. Mick could feel the pain of the bullet wound in his shoulder...the sensation of his fangs cutting into his lip as he snarled with rage...the dead weight of the shooter he had just killed with a violent blow to the neck, crushing the man's windpipe.

As he dropped the body unrepentantly to the sand at his feet, a red sniper light caught his attention and he instantly tracked it to its destination. Carl! His quick mind told him he couldn't reach the shooter in time, but he might make it to the detective…

Sprinting across the sand as fast as he'd ever run, he frantically tried to reach the doomed man. The vampire's acute hearing picked up the sound of the rifle discharging and he propelled himself forward, launching his body through the air in a last-ditch attempt to intercept the bullets.

Mick had braced himself for the momentary pain of being shot. He'd experienced that dozens of times since he became a vampire. Nothing, however, had prepared him for the agony caused by these bullets tearing through his body, exploding as they made contact with his flesh. The moment he was hit, he knew he was in trouble… Silver! There was no mistaking the burning torment that accompanied exposure to that element. Oh, fuck! He hit the ground hard, rocks cutting into his cheek as he curled his body into a ball, and clutched at his shredded abdomen, desperately seeking relief from the agony that enveloped him. He tried unsuccessfully to get up, but collapsed face down, paralyzed by the poison and the excruciating pain that accompanied it.

I'm going to die.

The thought hammered at him as his pulse pounded in his ears, keeping time with the rivulets of blood that flowed over the hands he had pressed to his stomach. He could feel his intestines slipping through his fingers. The agony that caused was indescribable... unbearable... His vision darkened.

No! Not now! Not now that I have Beth. I'm not ready!

Carl dropped down beside him, reaching out to carefully roll him over. Mick saw concern change to horror on the detective's face as he took in the extent of the injuries. There were no issues about explaining unnaturally rapid healing to anyone - he knew he wasn't healing. Must be the silver. Had he said that out loud? He couldn't be sure - the poison was already preventing him from thinking clearly.

As Davis cradled him, the grievously injured vampire heard him say, "Mick, goddammit! Nobody told you to go all cowboy out here!"

Believe me, I didn't plan on it… He tried to laugh but choked on a mouthful of blood as he struggled to push out the words, "Bad idea... silver..." In the dim recesses of his mind, he realized that it was probably ill-advised to mention silver to a police detective, but the fiery anguish swallowing him made it impossible to focus, to think. He could feel himself vamping, his fangs elongating as his life ebbed away. He didn't care – and couldn't have stopped it if he did. Too weak to even lift his head, he was no danger to Davis - and he was no longer worried about preserving his identity.

I'm dying.

"Mick, what? What about silver?" Carl's frantic voice broke through the fog caused by the poison.

Before he could summon the strength to try to answer, he heard the detective scream at someone. "Thompson! Get help, NOW!" Strong hands pressed down over his, trying to help hold him together. It wasn't working.

I'm dying.

"Help's coming, Mick! Just hang on. It'll be alright!"

He didn't believe it for a second.

"Beth..."

I'm dying.

He longed to see her one more time, inhale her scent, feel her fingers running through his hair, taste her, kiss her... He didn't deserve it, he hadn't kept his promise to come back to her, but he wanted to die in her arms just the same.

"What... what, Mick?" Davis leaned down, putting his ear close to his mouth. Mick fought the relentless, burning torture overwhelming him with all the strength he had left. He desperately wanted Beth to know that his last thoughts were of her. She deserved that much. The mortally-wounded vampire drew in what air he could around a throat closing off with blood and whispered, "...Tell Beth... I'm sorry."

"Mick. Mick! What's wrong? What is it?! Where do you hurt?!"

Beth's terrified voice broke through his nightmare, bringing him back to the present. He realized that he was hunched over, clutching at his stomach, just as he had been that horrible night. He was panting. Sweat, mingled with tears of agony, rolled down his face. Her hand was over his, their fingers still intertwined. Slowly, Mick straightened and leaned back against the lounge chair he had been relaxing on just a few short minutes before. He desperately sucked in air, but it didn't feel like enough. With a supreme effort, he summoned a smile for Beth, hating the frightened look on her face, hating that he'd put it there.

"It's– I'm fine. It was nothing."

Beth's expression showed that she didn't believe him. Worriedly, she brushed the hair back off his face where it had fallen when he had lunged forward, grabbing at his midsection. "Mick, you are not fine. This is not fine - and that was most certainly not nothing!" She raised her head, looking around for Dr. Spector.

Mick squeezed the hand still holding his, drawing her attention back to him. "Beth, I'm okay. I just had another flashback to when I was shot. The noise from the fireworks must have triggered it. Spector told me that might happen - he told you that too. It's over now. I'm fine."

When he saw her hesitate, he added, pleadingly, "Please let it go. I don't want to spoil things for everyone. They are all having such a good time." He nodded toward the group, still huddled around the bar after the fireworks finale. "We are having a good time." Then he pulled out what he hoped was his most compelling argument. "Besides... what if Spector says I have to stay here?! I want to go home... with you."

Beth reluctantly capitulated. "As long as you don't have any more episodes like that. That was frightening, Mick. You were back there, weren't you? Back when you were shot." Her blue eyes bored into his.

He nodded, swallowing hard. "Yeah. I won't lie, it wasn't fun. But there's nothing physically wrong with me. I had PTSD after I came back from the war, although we didn't know to call it that back then. It was a lot like this. It'll pass. I just need time…and I need you. Okay?"

She nodded hesitantly. "Okay. For now. But if you do have any more episodes like that, I'm telling Dr. Spector. Deal?"

What is it with everyone wanting to cut deals with me today? "Deal. Thank you." Mick leaned over to kiss her, his fingers brushing her neck, stroking her. Why did he have this sudden vision of sinking his fangs into the pale skin over her carotid artery? This wasn't a flashback, it was a... hunger. You're hungry for her. Disturbed, he pushed the vision away and concentrated on the feel of her mouth on his. The fangs that had begun to descend involuntarily, retracted again. He prayed that she hadn't noticed.

One final rocket streaked into the air, the huge solo shell exploding in a halo of white light that surrounded the red outline of a vampire's mouth - the stylized logo of Kostan Vineyards. The group on the terrace broke into laughter and applause.

Josef glanced over toward the dark corner where Mick and Beth had retreated, to gauge his friend's reaction to the entertainment. Kostan's eyes widened and he broke into a run when he saw Mick stiffen and sit bolt upright, Beth falling away from him at the sudden movement. His friend's face was stark white, his eyes wide and unseeing.

Josef reached his side and, exchanging worried looks with Beth, touched his arm. "Mick," he said gently, "it's okay, you're here with us. Beth and I are here. We're all here."

Mick turned his head slowly toward the billionaire, his hair, wet with sweat, hanging in his face. He was so tense that the tendons in his neck creaked with the movement. For the first time, he seemed to focus on Kostan.

"McGowan," Mick whispered.

Josef squatted down next to his friend, his forehead creased in a frown. "Mick, you aren't making any sense. What about the guy?"

"Josef, I remember now. The man who shot me - it was Detective McGowan."

End Song: Nothing Else Matters, Miley Cyrus, Elton John, YoYo Ma, WATT