Free Vampires Are Forever by Lynsay Sands Page A

lot going on. He promoted you, but sent you back to England without doing the rest of it. Wyatt was supposed to keep you from any jobs or information that might give us away until Bastien could fly to England and take care of you. If you can’t accept us and our explanations, Wyatt will wipe everything from your memory, including your promotion.”
     
    Thomas let that sink in and then said, “So what is it going to be? Are you going to fly to Amsterdam with me and allow me to explain? Or do we wait for Wyatt, let him wipe your memory and return you to whatever job you had before the promotion?” He waited a beat, and then added, “At least until they find another job for you and remove you from the company altogether.”
     
    Inez didn’t have to think long. Her career had become her life. She wouldn’t give it up easily. In fact, they’d have to take the key to the vice president’s office from her dead, clutching fingers before she’d give it up. Still, she hesitated, her eyes on the doorknob, but her fingers refusing to reach for it.
     
    Finally, she raised her hand to her throat. A golden cross hung from a fine gold chain around her neck. It had been blessed by the pope during a trip to Italy. It should have double power, but had been tucked inside her blouse when Thomas had bit her. Now, she pulled it out and held it up before her like a shield with her left hand as she unlocked the door and tugged it open with her right.
     
    “Back up, Nosferatu!” Inez snapped, covering her fear with anger as she glared at Thomas. Much to her relief, he backed up at once.
     
    His hands were raised—the cell phone in one—in a gesture that might be used to soothe a wild horse, but a smile tugged at his lips.
     
    “I knew you’d come out,” Thomas said, and much to her amazement he sounded proud, as if she’d done something praiseworthy instead of incredibly stupid.
     
    “Tell Bastien not to send Wyatt. We’re on our way to the airport,” she ordered, holding the cross higher.
     
    Nodding, he raised the phone to his ear. “We’re on our way. Make sure there are tickets waiting for both of us.”
     
    Thomas didn’t wait for Bastien to respond, but then snapped the phone closed and turned away to head through the dining room.
     
    Inez hesitated, and then moved quickly back into the bedroom to snatch up her purse before moving more slowly—and cautiously—back through the hall and into the dining room, holding the cross out in front of her as she walked into the living room. Spotting him by the love seat, she positioned herself by the door of the suite and silently watched as he gathered his knapsack and shoved his binder and pen into a side pocket, then moved to join her. The moment he headed in her direction, she skittered backward, reaching behind her with her free hand to open the door. She then preceded him out into the hall, never turning her back to him.
     
    “You can stop flashing that at me,” Thomas said calmly. “You’re kind of drawing attention holding it up like that.”
     
    Inez quickly glanced in both directions to see that there was a maid and two couples in the hall, all staring at them curiously, and did lower the cross closer to her chest. She didn’t release it, however, but held it tightly in her sweaty hand in case he suddenly pounced.
     
    Heaving out a sigh, Thomas gestured for her to precede him down the hall. “After you.”
     
    “No,” Inez said, and then cleared her throat and said more firmly, “After you.”
     
    Thomas shrugged and led the way to the elevator. She followed at a safe distance, watching narrow-eyed as he nodded at the first couple they passed in the hall. Inez hardly even glanced toward them herself, her attention wholly focused on Thomas as he led her to join the older couple waiting by the elevator.
     
    “That’s a lovely cross, dear.”
     
    Inez glanced nervously to the older woman who had spoken. She managed a weak smile and then glanced