Page 23 of Vampires and Violas (A Vampire’s Guide to Gardening #2)

22

I give Cassian an incredulous look. Sophia is his top choice?

Seriously?

“Uh, hi, Sophia,” I say while Cassian smiles like he’s brilliant. “Come on in?”

She rolls the suitcase inside. “This is so cute—kind of farmhouse chic. Did you ever watch that couple from Texas who had that remodel show? I can’t remember their names. Do they still do all that? Oh, look at that cute hall tree! And I love your floors. Are they original?”

She continues into the living room, and I turn on Cassian and whisper, “Have you lost your mind? She’s five-foot-one and probably weighs a hundred ten pounds soaking wet.”

“Sophia isn’t your bodyguard.” He looks amused at the idea, pondering the ridiculousness of that for several seconds before he gestures through the open door.

Somehow, I missed that Sophia came in Larissa’s car. The posh vampire assistant walks up the steps, pulling her own suitcase.

“Good evening,” she says when she meets us. Whatever her opinions are on the situation, they’re locked behind her dark eyes.

“Welcome,” Cassian says, doing that pesky thing again where he acts like this is his house. Then he turns to me. “Piper, Larissa will be your bodyguard.”

My mouth opens because I know I’m supposed to respond, but I have nothing.

“She’s more than qualified,” he adds.

“I worked as an assassin for Archduke Nicolau for sixty-seven years,” she explains, her scarlet lips tipping in a smile like my surprise is humorous. “Until Duncan took the throne.”

“You were a…what now?”

“A hunter,” Cassian clarifies. “We don’t call them assassins anymore—has a negative connotation, don’t you think?” He turns his smile on Larissa. “Perhaps you missed the memo?”

She shrugs like she couldn’t care less what Cassian wants to call her.

“Okay, well. That’s cool.” I step out of the doorway so she can come into the house, even though I don’t like this one little bit. “How did you meet Sophia?”

“We have a mutual acquaintance.”

“This fireplace is gorgeous,” Sophia says when we join her. “Did you paint the brick? Or is that some sort of plaster?”

“I’m not sure.” I eye her, nervous. She’s a hummingbird in my space—a venomous hummingbird. “My grandfather remodeled it about ten years ago.”

“It’s darling.” Then she brightly asks, “So, where’s my room?”

Before I can come up with an answer, I hear Noah on the stairs. Halfway down, he spots the two vampire women and stops dead in his tracks. It’s apparent from the look on his face that Cassian didn’t share his idea with him either.

“Hello, Noah,” Sophia says. “May I call you Noah? I noticed that’s how Cassian and Piper refer to you. If you’d prefer, I’ll call you Montgomery. Though—forgive me—that seems a bit stuffy for you.” Her smile grows. “Which is probably why you chose to go by a different name, isn’t it?”

“What are you doing here?” he asks, coming down the rest of the stairs and stopping beside me.

“Cassian asked us to stay with Piper,” Larissa answers. “He said we would all find the situation mutually beneficial.”

Noah shoots Cassian a look. “Did he now?”

Oh, Cassian’s in trouble.

“Larissa was an assassin in Nicolau’s employ,” Cassian explains. “Excluding you, I cannot think of anyone more qualified to watch over Piper.”

Noah looks slightly taken aback, making me think this assassin business is a big deal. I mean, she’s obviously old. Cassian said Duncan, the Scottish archduke, had the throne for a hundred years before he stepped down. If she served the archduke before him, she must be close to Cassian’s age.

“Are you the head of your line?” I ask her.

“No,” she answers. “I’m a black sheep of House Sorin.”

“What do you get out of this?” Noah asks Sophia.

She gives him a knowing look. “You know what I want. But I’m eager to hear what you and Cassian have decided to offer.”

Noah studies her, looking torn. After several long seconds of deliberation, he finally says, “If you keep an eye on Piper, and you give me the name of the family who hired you, and Cassian agrees to give you a house pardon, I’ll keep your name anonymous in the NIHA records.”

A huge smile dawns on Sophia’s face. “ And you’ll turn a blind eye when it comes to my patrons?”

Noah’s face goes stony. “No deal. You’re done spreading the virus like a wayward fairy sprinkling pixie dust.”

She frowns, her small nose wrinkling ever so slightly. “Fine. The laws may change soon anyway.”

“What does that mean?” Cassian demands.

“We’re about to have a new archduke. Everything could be turned on its head.” The pretty vampire shrugs, but she knows something she’s not telling us.

“Sophia…” Cassian warns.

“We’ve already been over this—I’m not talking until you swear the Chevalier line will protect me.” She narrows her eyes like she doesn’t trust him. “And I want it in writing, Cas.”

“I didn’t think illegal contracts were binding,” I whisper to Noah while Cassian bickers with Sophia.

“The type she’s talking about is legal. She’s asking for an official house pardon, grantable only by the archduke or the prince of the house the vampire belongs to. The only one who could revoke it would be the archduke himself, and we have found ourselves temporarily bereft of one.”

“What if the new archduke revokes it when he takes the throne?”

“He won’t be able to revoke a pardon made before he claimed his place.”

I lower my voice. “That’s handy for her. Are we sure she didn’t assassinate the archduke?”

“I heard that,” Sophia says with a laugh. “And no—I didn’t.”

“And what about the regular human government?” I ask, this time directing the question to everyone present. “The police. The sheriff’s department.”

“They won’t get involved,” Cassian answers. “Not with this.”

“Okay…next question.” I look at Larissa, nervous. “What’s going to keep the two of them from killing me while I sleep?”

Larissa rolls her eyes, but Sophia laughs. “Goodness, Piper. I’m not in the business of murdering people. I’ve found keeping them alive is far more rewarding.”

“And lucrative,” Cassian adds wryly.

“Well, yes.” She presses her lips together to hide her smile. “That too.”

“I guess it’s okay if they stay here,” I reluctantly tell Noah. “Unless you’ve changed your mind?”

Please say you changed your mind.

He wants to stay—I can tell he does.

“Let’s talk for a minute,” he says.

We leave Cassian, Sophia, and Larissa in the living room. I follow Noah down the hall, past the mudroom, and into the covered back porch. Grandpa took out the screen panels when I was young and replaced them with actual windows, but the room tends to be cold in the winter and hot in the summer. And even though it’s cooling down outside now that the sun has set, it’s still hot in here.

I don’t use the space often, but I might have to put a cot in here for one of my new house guests. Either that or give up my growing room (not happening) or my office.

“I’m not leaving you alone with them,” Noah says. “I know Cassian trusts them, but I don’t.”

I like where the conversation is going.

“He can’t trust Sophia all that much,” I point out. “He almost staked her the other day.”

Noah shoves his hand into his hair. “Your father is going to kill me.”

“This might work out in our favor. If you’re here, I don’t mind if they stay. And I don’t think my parents will care as much if we’re not alone together.”

A grim smile plays over his lips. “I’ll mind.”

“I guess we could just get married,” I joke. “Then there’s not a lot they could say.”

His eyes latch on mine. “An intriguing option.”

I smile. “You can’t marry a woman just because her parents are difficult.”

“What are you talking about? Haven’t you ever heard of a shotgun wedding?”

“One small problem—I’m not pregnant.”

He makes a “meh” face, like that’s a tiny detail.

I laugh to myself, shaking my head. “For the time being, this is the best solution we have.”

“Where are you going to put them?” he asks.

I look around. “They’re going to have to bunk in here, I guess. I’ll see if I can borrow a couple of Max’s camping cots.” When I notice his concerned frown, I ask, “ Now what’s wrong?”

“I feel bad making them sleep on cots while I’m in a bed.”

“You need to suppress this chivalrous streak—it’s becoming inconvenient.”

He laughs like I’m the ridiculous one, and then he hugs me. “It’s going to be okay.”

I cuddle against his chest. “If you say so.”

I have to admit, it’s feeling pretty okay right now. Unfortunately, we can’t hide in here forever.

I reluctantly pull out of his arms. “All right. Let’s go tell them they can stay.”

“Don’t you think this is overkill?” I ask Cassian as we watch Noah construct the two new queen-sized bedframes the prince just bought.

Since the sunroom is twice the size of the guest bedroom, and Larissa and Sophia don’t fancy sharing a bed, they decided they’d stay down here. Noah will remain upstairs.

I like this arrangement better anyway.

“Overkill would have been paying for the addition of two new guest suites,” Cassian answers.

“Are you going to help him?” I gesture toward Noah, who’s currently doing all the work.

“I’m not really a handy sort of guy, but I suppose I could take a stab at it. Say, Noah, do you have a spare Gary wrench?”

“Allen wrench, and you just stay there,” Noah warns. “Last time you attempted to help me, I ended up a vampire.”

Cassian turns back to me and shrugs. “I tried.”

“So, you actually think it’s a good idea to invite Sophia and Larissa to stay here?” I ask.

My newest houseguests are currently at the store. Apparently, Sophia didn’t like the sheets Cassian picked out when he bought the frames and mattresses. She has specific thread count needs.

“I trust them to keep you safe, yes,” he says. “And I’d like to keep an eye on them as well. I don’t want Sophia disappearing again.”

“Because you’re in love with her?”

He rolls his eyes. “Because she has information.”

“Didn’t she already give you the name of the house who hired her?”

“Not yet. I figured we’d get everyone settled before we sat down for a chat.”

“But you signed Sophia’s pardon,” I point out.

After Noah and I finished our conversation, we all promptly headed into the dining room and drew up the paperwork.

“Yes,” he answers.

“What incentive does she have to tell you now?”

“Your stalkers have made you jaded, bunny.”

“Okay, but even if she does tell you…what if the house she worked for sent her to spy on you? Did you think of that?”

“I hope they did.” He gives me a grim smile. “Then I can send her back as a spy for me, and they won’t question the time we spent together.”

“You want to turn her into a double agent?”

“Naturally.”

“Vampires,” I mutter. “What makes you think she’ll transfer her loyalty to you? You’ve tried to kill her twice.”

“But I didn’t. ”

“Yeah, okay. That makes it better.”

Noah stands, admiring his work. “Finished. Let’s go get the mattresses.”

“Am I allowed to help with that?” Cassian asks Noah as we walk down the hall. “I wouldn’t want to accidentally turn you into a vampire again.”

Noah rolls his eyes and then looks at me. “Did you call your parents yet?”

“No.”

At first, this seemed like the perfect solution, but I realized as Noah set up the bedframes that my parents probably won’t be excited that I invited two more vampires into my house, even if they are women.

But it’s too late now. What’s done is done.

“How long do you think we’ll have to make this arrangement work?” I ask.

“Only until we figure out who’s been watching the house and take care of them,” Noah answers.

“Larissa went out before they left and patrolled the area,” Cassian tells us. “She didn’t see anyone.”

“We’ll keep watching,” Noah says. “Eventually, we’ll catch them.”

My mind wanders to the night we found Ethan’s thugs waiting for us. I shiver at the memory, not eager to scrub any more blood off the porch.

Cassian gets a text. After he reads it, he sighs. “Piper, may I borrow your truck? Sophia says she bought too much, and they can’t fit it all in Larissa’s car.”

“I thought they were getting sheets?”

“Apparently, she decided the room was a little sparse and bought some furniture as well.” He pockets his phone. “I don’t know.”

There’s only one store open this time of night, and I can’t imagine it’s up to Sophia’s standards. But whatever.

“Yeah, let me get the keys,” I say. “Do you know how to drive a stick shift?”

“I was alive when they invented the stick shift.”

“Ah…right.” I grab the keys off the side table. “I’ll walk out with you. I need to get the mail.”

“The check still hasn’t shown up?” Noah asks.

I shake my head. “I’m afraid someone swiped it, but Beth claims no one has tried to cash it yet.”

“You should get one of the mailboxes with a lock. The carrier can slide the mail in, but you can’t access it without a key.”

“That’s a good idea. Maybe we can look for one this weekend?”

“Sure.” Noah steps outside with Cassian and me. “I’ll walk down with you since it’s dark.”

When I reach inside to flip on the porch light, nothing happens.

“I just changed that lightbulb.” Noah frowns at the fixture.

“Weird,” I say. “So much for them lasting two years.”

“Why don’t you wait here? I’ll grab the mail and be back. Lock the door, okay?”

“All right.” A little spooked because Noah’s tone is off, I close the door behind him and Cassian. A few minutes later, I hear the truck rumble out of the drive.

Just when I start to worry Noah is taking longer than he should be, he texts me.

Noah: Can you get the door? I forgot my keys.

I hurry to open it. “Did you see anyone?—”

I gasp, stumbling back.

The man on the other side is dressed head-to-toe in black, from his hat, to the mask over his eyes, to his long-sleeved shirt, and his very black boots.

And one thing is immediately apparent—he’s not Noah.

I try to shove the door closed, but the man blocks it with his foot and forces himself inside.

I grab the basket from the side table and heave it at him, sending magazines flying. He knocks it away and comes after me.

Going straight into panic mode, I scream and run into the living room. Which way do I go? If I run out the back, there might be vampires waiting for me in the dark. And only stupid girls in horror movies run upstairs.

The intruder makes the decision for me. Before I can get very far, he catches my arm and yanks me back.

I flail and kick, wishing Noah and I had carved out some time for those self-defense lessons.

He turns me around so I’m facing away from him, holding me against his chest. He pins my arms, working so quickly and deftly I briefly wonder how many times he’s done this.

I scream again when he pries my arm up, fighting even harder when I realize he’s bringing my wrist to his mouth.

“Hold still,” he commands, his voice forced lower than sounds natural. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

As hard as I can, I smack the back of my head into his jaw.

Swearing, he releases me. I stumble forward, almost falling on my knees, quickly realizing I didn’t fight him off myself.

The man faces Noah now, and the two are engaged like martial arts fighters in a movie.

I crawl back until I hit one of the couches, horrified.

The man ducks a punch and then pulls a gun. But before he can use it, Noah knocks the weapon out of his hand, sending it flying toward me.

I scramble forward and snatch it off the floor, not having the slightest idea how to use it.

But the man in black doesn’t need to know that.

“Freeze!” I yell as I lift the weapon, my voice shaking, feeling like a child pretending she’s a cop.

The man goes still, holding up his hands and edging away from Noah.

And then he bolts out the open front door.

Noah swears and takes off after him, running as far as the porch.

“Why’d you stop?” I ask, gasping, gun still in my hand. “I’m glad you did, but I expected you to keep going.”

Noah frowns as he scans the dark night, relieving me of the gun. “He and his men ambushed me on the way to the mailbox right after Cassian left. I’m not sure how many of them are still out there.”

“They must have taken your phone. I answered the door because you texted.”

Noah feels for it in his back pocket and then swears when he finds it missing. He then nudges me back inside, closes the door, and sets the lock. “I need to warn Cassian.”

I hand him my phone. “And Sophia and Larissa.”

He nods as he pulls up Cassian in my contacts. Sharing the news with the vampire prince only takes a few minutes, and then he returns the cell. “You need to leave our circle. Now that they have my phone, they can track you.”

“How did they get past your passcode?”

“They must have been watching me.”

“How?”

“Videos, photos. I’m assuming they’ve been watching us for a while.”

“Who are they? What do they want?”

But I know what they want.

“He tried to bite me,” I say, remembering, and then I look down at my wrist and gasp.

The man didn’t try to bite me. He accomplished it…sort of. It’s more like an angry red scratch.

Noah takes my arm, rotating my wrist to see the shallow wound better.

“His fang must have caught me when he was turning away,” I say. “Is it deep enough to spread the virus?”

“It’s not bleeding,” Noah murmurs, prodding the skin around the scratch. “But…that doesn’t necessarily mean anything.”

“What are you saying?”

He drops my arm and meets my eyes. “We’ll need to get you in for a blood test.”