Free The Vampyre Legal Chronicles - James by CC MacKenzie

the mere thought made him shudder. He knew he'd never recover. He'd be broken in ways he daren't even contemplate.
    His vampyre's protective instincts rose within him.
    No matter what it took, he'd always ensure her safety, her security.
    The key would be to manage it in such a way that wouldn't offend her perceived right to self-determination, to make her own decisions. At the moment she was in no fit state to make any decisions. These days the only place they truly became one was in bed. And right now Marcus figured bed was the best place for make-up sex.
     
    His plan to make wild and passionate love to his wife was rudely interrupted by the ringtone of his cell phone.
    With a reluctance that made his wife press a kiss to his neck, Marcus reached for his cell and listened to his brother James' disjointed words. He listened with mounting horror at what had happened to Charlotte.
    He released Anais, fired questions and found his heart in his throat.
    Dear heaven.
    "What is it?" asked his wife, her dark eyes glued to his face.
    He ended his call and simply stared at her.
    "It's Charlotte. James took her vein. And something has gone terribly, terribly wrong. She's in theatre and fighting for her life in a specialist vampyre hospital in San Francisco. I must go to him."
    Anais had a lot of time for James Gillespie.
    She hadn't met Charlotte yet, but she'd heard plenty of good things about her.
    "I'm coming with you."
    Rushing into her closet, she dragged on black jeans, a matching sweater, black leather boots and jacket. As she quickly tied up her hair, she turned to Marcus and realized he hadn't moved.
    The worry and anxiety was clear to see in his eyes.
    Oh God, he loved his brother so much.
    Stepping into him, Anais wrapped her arms around the man she loved and gave him the only thing she could, comfort, as she hugged him tight.
    "Poor James, he was so conflicted about what to do about Charlotte, Marcus. And now this."
    Marcus placed a finger under her chin and tilted her head back to look deep into her eyes.
    "It might be a very long haul with a bad outcome. Are you sure you are up to this?"
    "Of course. James is family. At times like this families stick together."

Chapter Seven
    This was hell.
    James Gillespie had lived for over two hundred years. He’d seen the worst of humankind and he’d seen the best of it. Human beings never ceased to amaze him with their capacity for pure love and their capacity for pure evil.
    But this was pure torture of another variety altogether.
    Charlotte was in surgery in the special medical wing built for their kind deep in the catacombs under the headquarters of Gillespie, Pattullo and Hindmarch, in San Francisco.
    The journey from their home in the private ambulance had been a living nightmare.
    Charlotte's heart had stopped beating twice.
    He’d always thought Saira Pattullo was an arrogant pain in the ass. But the medic had fought a bloody battle for dominion with the ‘Angel of Death’ (whisper his name) himself to bring Charlotte back from the brink time and again. By the time they arrived at the hospital James wanted to adopt Saira as an honorary sister. She’d been fucking amazing.
    When a person has the potential to live for hundreds of years, the passing of time takes on a new meaning. In many ways time becomes less important. However, now James felt like punching his fist through the loud tick, tick, tick of the black and white clock on the wall. Five minutes felt like five weeks. And Charlotte had been in theatre for almost eight hours.
    His throat closing with the need to sob like a fucking baby, James closed his eyes tight and sent up a fervent prayer for patience as he started yet another round of bargaining with God.
    The sound of footsteps approaching fast had him open his eyes.
    Marcus and Anais came through the door.
    And hot on their heels was Ezekiel.
    The memory of his last conversation with the witch brought him to his feet.
    Ezekiel was just the person he needed