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Only I’m not in Dr. Abraham Van Helsing’s house in Malibu. Instead, it’s the next night and I’m back at The Emerald Room, finishing “Body and Soul,” which of course reminds me of what Valtu said about Callahan. That he had me heart, body, and soul.

But Callahan isn’t here tonight. I spent the last two sets performing while scanning the crowd for him, expecting him to pop by. Marco is, of course, sitting in his usual spot with a couple of his pals, drinking and discussing business while I’m singing, as per usual. But Callahan is nowhere to be seen.

I’m a little disappointed. Maybe a lot disappointed. And I shouldn’t be. Abe was absolutely right in that I shouldn’t be getting involved with Callahan, no matter how much my body wants it (not my heart, nor my soul, sorry Valtu). I really have been sheltered from vampires by focusing on my singing career, which naturally puts me around humans all day and night long. Who knows, maybe Valtu is right in that sex with a human is subpar compared to a vampire. Maybe I oughta broaden my horizons a little bit and look beyond Marco.

And beyond Callahan.

The fact that he’s not here makes it easier. Yes, I felt close to him last night, yes I was forward with him over breakfast (must be the vampire in me), yes I feel there’s a connection with him I’ve never felt with anyone else before.

But going forward, all of that must remain in the past.

I must stay focused on finding Betty’s killer.

I must keep Callahan at arm’s length, for the sake of everything.

With this new resolve, I gather up the roses at my feet and make my way backstage, accepting compliments as I go.

Once I’m in my dressing room, I feel I can finally breathe. I close the door, place the roses on the dresser, and reach behind me to try and unzip my gown. I’ve just got my fingernails on the pull when suddenly the door swings open.

For a moment I think it’s Marco, being pushy as always, but instead it’s Callahan who stands in the doorway. He’s dressed in a spiffy black suit, his hair perfectly combed, but there’s a wildness in his eyes that can’t be contained and he’s breathing hard, like he just ran here.

“Callahan?” I say, my nerves dancing. “What are you doing here?”

He comes inside, slamming the door shut behind him, his head low and his blue gaze locked on mine like a predator.

“Why are you with him?” he says in a low, strained voice.

I swallow hard, unsure what’s happening. “With Marco?”

“Leave him, now,” he says, grinding out the words as he comes over to me, grabbing both my arms with bruising strength. “Leave him for me.”

His words are both demanding and desperate and I would be lying if they didn’t make my heart skip several beats. Still, I look him over carefully, trying to figure him out. Is he drunk? I’ve never seen him so uncomposed before.

“What’s gotten into you?” I ask.

He gives me a caustic laugh, the kind that borders on insane. “That’s the thing,” he says with a shake of his head. “That’s the thing, kitten. I don’t know what’s gotten into me. I don’t even know who I am anymore. I just know that you don’t belong with a thug like that.”

“And so I belong with you?”

“Yeah. You belong with me. All of you.”

Heart, body, and soul…

But there’s a part of me that still wants to rebel, that doesn’t like being told what to do. “It doesn’t work like that. You can’t just demand me.”

“I’m not demanding,” he growls. “I’m taking.”

My heart is now hammering against my ribs, heat pooling between my thighs. “You can’t just take me.”

“You were offering it up the other day.”

“And maybe I had a change of heart. Maybe I realized fucking you would be a mistake,” I say, though my words sound harsher than I meant.

“And fucking him isn’t?”

I narrow my eyes at him, anger and desire swirling together until I’m burning up all over.

“You know why I’m with Marco? He’s good in bed and has a big dick. That answer satisfy you? Did you think, maybe hope, I was more complicated than that? Sorry to disappoint you, sorry that?—”