Beyond The Sun Read online

  “SEE, MY PET? HE STILL MOURNS, OR MAYBE IT’S only a façade he’s putting on for the rest of the world.” A delicate hand came up to brush hair back from the young woman’s face, revealing perfect porcelain colored skin and dull blue eyes. “If he missed her, why hasn’t he been here before? Not even to see her put in the ground. Do his actions sound like a man who misses the love of his life? I should say not.”

  “But his tears, surely those were sincere. He must still love her. Love doesn’t just…die.”

  The woman whirled around on her, eyes blazing yellow in the dark. “See, there’s where you’re wrong, pet. Everything dies. She did. Their child did. So has his love. He just hasn’t accepted it yet. Once he does, he will move on, and poor little Giovanna will be forgotten forever.”

  “But that’s so sad.”

  The woman laughed. “Sad? I don’t think so. If I’m correct, he has already moved on. He vanished with another female tonight at the gala. They were gone for a long time.”

  The young woman curled her hands into fists at her side. Her fingernails bit into the flesh of her palms, creating little crescents of blood. “No. He would never do what you’re saying. I refuse to believe it.” She shook her head in denial. Blonde curls fell carelessly to cover her face. She didn’t bother to brush them back. “He loves her.”

  The woman began to tsk at her. “You are living in a fantasy world, pet. Love doesn’t survive death. Hell, love doesn’t survive life. It exists in your head. However, if you don’t believe me…” The woman held a DVD. “Go home and watch it. You’ll see I’m right. This whole mourning a lost love is a perfect phantasm.”

  Her hands shook when she took the disc from the woman’s gloved hand. “I’ll watch it, but I believe he loves her.”

  The woman gave her an icy glare. “We shall see, pet. We shall see.”

  Ten

  ALEX’S BUSINESS CARD TWIRLED THROUGH HIS fingers. Jared sat listening to the drone of the most recent member to rant about the newest generation of Conservators. Alfred had some valid points; Jared would give it to him. Contrary to the beliefs of the elder members, times were changing and what worked before didn’t work anymore in this millennium. He leaned back in his chair at the boardroom table and wished he was anywhere but stuck in this stuffy office, in downtown Manhattan.

  “They have no work ethic. You never see them on the streets. How can we assure the safety of both races if we have no presence? The citizen vampires rely on us to keep their secrets hidden. I can’t imagine what would happen if the general public was made aware of another race of beings living and working alongside of them. There would be pandemonium, I tell you.”

  Jared rolled his eyes and leaned back to stare at the ceiling. Alfred was the most vocal of the elders. Once he was on his soapbox, there was no telling when it would end. His best hope was he might make it home tonight to catch Nip/Tuck. Yeah, ok, not happening, but one could dream.

  “After your little mishap in Central Park a few years ago, I’m amazed we weren’t exposed. Imagine a carriage ride in the middle of the night. What were you thinking?” Alfred’s beady eyes glared in Jared’s direction over his bifocals.

  “Excuse me?” He stood up and leaned on the glass table top.

  “Don’t act like you didn’t know, boy. You exposed us, exposed the Dark Order. The King was not pleased. A reporter wrote a story on it. We were lucky one of our people was able to discredit the man and make him a laughing stock. Why do you think you were sent away for so long? It was to protect the rest of us.”

  Jared’s hands fisted. His eyes cast an eerie glow across the table, making the other members sit back. Alfred, however, continued to seethe across from him. Jared’s voice lowered, dangerously calm. “You sent me away for fifteen years. Fifteen years. Don’t you think exile was a little excessive? None of you considered what I lost?”

  His gaze swept the table. Most of the others glanced away nervously. “How many of you lost your family to a violent attack? How many of you never even got the chance to see those family members put to rest? I can honestly say none of you. Then why was I such a special case, Alfred? Why did you have to get rid of me as well?”

  Alfred removed his glasses and leaned forward. “Because, Jared, you became the biggest liability to our way of life by attempting to bring her into this world. Did you think she could remain clueless of what we did, and what we stand for? How long ‘till she started asking questions you were not at liberty to answer? Could you honestly keep up a double life forever?” His voice lost a little of its hard edge. “You were targeted by the Rebellion because of her. They knew someday she could be the one to expose us all to the world.”

  Jared threw his hands up and stalked away from the table. “Giovanna would never have...”

  “How do you know, Jared?”

  He faced the old man. “I know.”

  A gavel hit the wooden base. Jared’s father, the chairman, glared at the two men. “Enough, gentlemen. We will dismiss for twenty minutes so everyone can cool their jets. When we return, there will be a new order of business. This issue will be dead in the water, over. Do I make myself clear?” Julian Bonatelli glanced between the two of them when neither budged. “Do I?

  “Perfectly clear, Julian. Consider the matter dropped.” Alfred replaced his glasses on his nose and began gathering his papers into the folder before him. He shoved the whole bundle in his briefcase and pushed away from the table. Grabbing his cane, the Elder made his way from the room without acknowledging any another member.

  Jared stared after the man. What the hell brought all of that on?

  “Jared?” His father’s deep voice resonated behind him.

  “Yeah, Dad?”

  “Are we clear?”

  “Crystal.”

  “Fine then.” He hit the gavel one more time. “Meeting adjourned for twenty minutes.” Julian Bonatelli stood and rounded the table. He sat on the edge with his arms crossed, regarding his son in silence until the rest of the members filed from the room.

  “Son, I don’t want you to think he speaks for all of us. The organization, as a whole, understands the pain you went through. We know how hard it was for you to leave, but what’s done is done. As you said, it’s been fifteen years. Don’t you think it’s finally time for you to move on? Wouldn’t Giovanna want you to? I can’t imagine she would want your life to be empty.” His father leaned forward and placed a hand on his shoulder. “We only want what’s best for you, Jared. It’s one of the reasons I insisted it was time to bring you home. We’re all here for you.”

  Jared shrugged off his father’s hand and stepped away to put some distance between them. Opening his fist, he studied the crumpled business card. Maybe his father was right. It was time for him to get on with his life. He had been holding on to all the would’ve, should’ve and could have’s for so long, he forgot how to live. Maybe calling Alex was the first step. Who the hell knew what might happen if he did? It wasn’t like he was forgetting about Giovanna. That simply would never happen, not in his lifetime. It was just time to stop letting a ghost dictate his every move.

  He reached into his pocket to retrieve his cell. “You know, you might be right, Dad. I’ll be back; I need to make a call.”

  Jared didn’t spare a glance to the other board members on his way to the elevator. He didn’t need to wallow in their pity. His father told him long ago to follow his heart on important decisions. Little did the man know how right he had been. Jared came to the same conclusion after meeting Alex. So what if she was a reporter? Something about her intrigued him. It was something like how he could sense a vampire’s presence, only different.

  “Jared! You’re going to make me chase you all the way down the hall, aren’t you? Hold up already.” The Cajun drawl behind him made Jared wince. The guy didn’t know when to leave well enough alone. It was what nearly got him killed in a tree house before the two of them left for New Orleans. Lance was one of his best friends growing up, but he wasn’
t the best person for the board to pair him up with.

  Lance was supposed to keep Jared out of trouble and ease him back into the land of the living after Giovanna’s death. What actually happened was another story. As it wound up, Jared was constantly pulling Lance out of the fire. The guy had an insatiable death wish, and every time he had a chance, he went for it. There were times it got so bad that Jared was tempted to ask for additional danger pay from the Conservatorship.

  Pausing at the elevator, Jared hit the button. He faced Lance. “I have a call to make, Lance. Can’t this wait until I come back up?” Jared rubbed a hand over his face to dispel his aggravation. “Sorry. Albert got under my skin. You know how he can be. What's up?”

  The elevator opened, and the two of them stepped inside. “Well, Bro, it’s come to my attention since you and I have returned, you’ve been doing a pretty good impression of a hermit, especially after the other night at Final Resting Place. I aim to remedy your reluctance to socialize.”

  Jared cringed. This wouldn’t end well for him.

  Shaking his head, Jared said. “Not true, Lance. The other night I was at the Museum Gala. Don’t you remember? Oh yeah…” He snapped his fingers and let out a short laugh. “Oh right. You bailed on us.”

  The Cajun grimaced. “You know black tie is not my scene. Let’s not go there. But back to the point, you will be at the club tonight, and you will get drunk and hopefully laid. If ever there was a guy who needed it, it’s you.”

  Jared stared at his friend in disbelief. He had to be kidding. No, he’s fucking serious. Jared glanced away before he laughed. His gaze fell on the card in his hand. He smoothed it out, so the numbers were a little more legible. At least he hadn’t done any permanent damage to it, no thanks to Albert’s rant.

  The elevator doors parted. They hit the lobby, and Jared dialed the first digits of Alex’s number. “Lance, I don’t need to get drunk to find a woman, thank you very much. None of the regulars there would spark my interest. The collective IQ of your harem hovers at about the same number as their shoe size. Besides, I’m not in the mood to deal with that right now.”

  “Come on, Jared. You know you want to. It won’t kill you to have a little fun.” Lance noticed the business card. He snatched it from Jared’s hand and dodged his attempts to retrieve it. “Hey, what’s this? Oh, lookie here. Jared, you’ve been holding out on me again, haven’t you? Alexandra Toscano. Who is she? A new friend?” He wagged his brows.

  Jared smacked him in the back of the head. When Lance reached up to rub it, Jared took advantage of the distraction and snatched back the card. He finished dialing the number and slipped the card into his coat pocket. “She’s someone I met at the Gala. Really nice too, not your kind of female, for sure. We talked for a while. I was going to ask her out for coffee, not that it’s any of your business.”

  “Talking, right.”

  Jared ignored his friend’s sarcasm. He punched the call button on his phone.

  Lance’s eyes lit up. “See, you’re half there. All you need is a drink or two, and you’ll be all ready to hit the horizontal dance floor. Why don’t you ask her to come with us tonight? She may have fun. I promise I’ll be on my best behavior.”

  Jared was skeptical. “Why don’t I believe you?” The phone rang for a third time. “Anyway, why would I subject her to you and the women hanging around you? I don’t see Alex wanting to go to the club with us.” The phone clicked. Alex picked up the call. “Alex?”

  “Mr. Bonatelli, I wasn’t expecting you to call so soon. Was there something I can do for you?”

  “Uh, yeah. Please call me Jared. I told you that I was going to call, and I’m a man of my word.” Real smooth, you dolt.

  “I can see. Just so I can make sure I heard right, where exactly wouldn’t I want to go?”

  Damn it. She heard. “A friend of mine was trying to get me to go out for drinks tonight and said I should ask you to join us. You wouldn’t be interested in coming, would you? It’s a club called The Final Resting Place. If you don’t want to, I’ll understand.” God, he sounded like a teenager who never dated in his life.

  Lance gave him a thumbs-up. Jared took a swing at the guy’s shoulder with his free arm. Lance ducked out of the way.

  “Sure, sounds like fun. What time should I meet you there?”

  Jared groaned and closed his eyes. Of course she would have to say yes. He was sure she had no idea what the club was. But thanks to Lance, he might as well buck up and invite her after going this far.

  “Okay, if you’re sure. We’ll be in a meeting for the next few hours, let’s say around eleven. Is it alright with you?”

  “Sounds like a plan. I’ll see you there.” Jared gave her the address and they said their good-byes.

  Alex typed the club name into the search engine on her computer and clicked on the first link she found. The site was vague. She sat back and stared at the computer screen. What had she gotten herself into? She had no idea what this place was, other than a night club. It seemed innocent enough on the surface but the web site was password encrypted. She would love to know why. Unfortunately, she didn’t have the patience or know-how to break the codes. This is insane.

  Her stomach back flipped at the idea of seeing him again. It wasn’t like her to easily agree to a date with guy she just met. Whoa. When did this turn into a date? It most definitely wasn’t a date.

  At that precise moment, the bane of her existence, boss man extraordinaire, decided to make a stop at her cubicle. He leaned his arms on the top of the short wall in front of her. She nervously tapped a pencil on her keyboard under his scrutiny.

  “Something wrong?”

  Alex leaned back and frowned up at him. “Yes and no.”

  “Well, which is it? Yes, or no?”

  “No, I’m doing exactly what you wanted me to do and getting the story on Bonatelli. He doesn’t open up easily, but he seems to trust me for some reason. I think I’ll have the answer you need soon.”

  Gene nodded. “And yes, because?”

  “He invited me to a club called The Final Resting Place. I tried the website, but all I come up with is a generic site with a private section with too many passwords for me to get through.” She raised a brow at him. “You wouldn’t happen to know anything about it, would you?”

  Gene laughed. “Remember what I told you about meeting things nightmares are made of?” Alex nodded hesitantly, not liking where this train was headed. “Well, you’re about to get a crash course on them. You, my dear, are going to what could be considered the premiere supernatural playground in New York. This is one place, if they let you in, where you can believe everything you see. Vampires, demons and werewolves. Oh my. In this club, they are allowed to be themselves and no one cares.”

  “You are kidding me, right?” Alex massaged her aching head with her fingertips. “I am trying to keep an open mind about everything, Gene. Every time I think I have a grasp on it, something new pops up to prove it’s not a legend or fairytale.”

  Gene didn’t argue. “I think we should continue this discussion where others won’t hear and think we are insane.”

  “Why? I’m positive I boarded the crazy train somewhere and it’s only picking up speed.” She laughed.

  He let the comment slide. “Meet me in my office in five minutes, Toscano. Then you’ll have all the answers you need about The Final Resting Place.” Gene spun on his heel, heading off toward his little fishbowl.

  Alex stared at the website a few more moments before saving her research and shutting down her computer. She had a long night ahead of her, apparently, and it wasn’t going to be easy. Well, you didn’t want a puff piece, remember? Now she had information in spades. Would anyone believe it when she was done or would they think she lost had her mind?

  On that happy note, Alex gathered her paperwork and shoved it in her briefcase. She followed Gene into his office. This was one meeting sure to leave her head spinning.

  Eleven

  AL
FRED NEVER RETURNED TO THE COUNCIL meeting. Not unexpected by the rest of the board. He had overstepped his bounds, and he knew it, but apparently he didn’t care. The man tried to attack Jared on a personal level and use it for his agenda. Unfortunately for Alfred, it didn’t quite work the way he wanted. His outburst made him appear a raving lunatic.

  The rest of the meeting was uneventful. Discussions of how best to handle the rising reports of human deaths filled most of the time. They exhausted every possible way to cover them up and finally settled on allowing their top-of-the-field medical staff to do what they do best. When they were done with the victims, there would be no way to know it was a vampire-related death.

  Keep the politicians happy and the general public in the dark. Same old crap: different day, different situation. What else was new?

  Julian Bonatelli stood at the end of the table and set his gavel on the wooden rest. “Now, for the last order of business. As you all know, I was the one to request Jared’s return from New Orleans. Regardless of the opinions of a select few, he has never put the work we do under the microscope of the public. On the contrary, he has gone out of his way to ensure we are the best kept secret in the world.” He came around the table and placed a heavy hand on Jared’s shoulder.

  “My son worked with our security specialists to encrypt our computer systems and others belonging to businesses catering to the supernatural. It’s been extremely successful in keeping the hackers, reporters and other hapless humans from discovering the existence of The Dark Order. For this, I wish to commend both he and Lance on a job well done. Thank you for all your hard work, and Jared, for being so patient in waiting for this move back home.”

  Jared kept his eyes focused on his glass of water during the round of applause. Out of the corner of his eye he could see Lance eating up the attention. He snorted and shot a look in Lance’s direction. His father’s praise made him uncomfortable. It wasn’t like Julian to publicly thank him for anything, let alone something as insignificant as computer encryption.