Not a chance, Gabriel mused.
Exactly, Maya responded, sending her thoughts directly to his mind.
***
“Listen, Samson,” Quinn insisted, pacing in his boss’ study, “if I knew where he was, I’d tell you.”
“Portia’s father will be here in less than twelve hours. What do you want me to tell him?”
“Tell him the truth?”
“And what is the truth, Quinn?”
“The truth?” Quinn exhaled, collecting his thoughts. “I baited Zane to come back. I dangled in front of him what he wants most.”
“Explain.”
“I left him a voicemail and sent an email with information he’s been looking for for years.”
“You made something up? He might have smelled a rat.”
“He probably did smell a rat, but I didn’t make it up. I found what he was looking for.”
“Does this have anything to do with your visit to Thomas or was that a social call?”
Surprised, Quinn stood still. “It doesn’t matter. Don’t pry any further. I can’t tell you anything without breaking Zane’s confidence.”
Samson nodded his understanding. “And still he won’t come out of hiding? Why do you think that is?”
Quinn let himself fall onto the couch, more weary than tired all of a sudden. He rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Do I really have to spell it out for you?”
“Don’t make me guess. You know how I hate that.”
“He isn’t coming out of hiding because he’d rather be with Portia. Isn’t that telling you enough?”
“You can’t possible think that Zane … No, he’s not capable of …” Samson shook his head in slow motion.
“And why not? He’s a man just like any of us. Just because he’s never shown any feelings doesn’t mean he doesn’t have any. Maybe she triggered something in him. Maybe she’s exactly what he needs.”
Samson jaw dropped. “An innocent? You can’t be serious.”
“I bet she’s not that innocent anymore.”
“What do you think he’s planning to do with her?”
Fuck her, mate her, Quinn wanted to say, but held his tongue. Samson could figure that out for himself. “How long until her twenty-first birthday?”
Samson dropped his head to the file in front of him, his eyes scanning the paper. “Four and a half weeks.”
“You asked me what I think he’ll do. Here’s my best guess: he’ll keep her hidden until she’s of age.”
“To keep her away from her father?”
Quinn nodded even though he knew it wasn’t the complete answer. If Zane had really fallen for Portia, then he would want something more from her. He’d have to wait until her twenty-first birthday before she was old enough to give her consent to mate her. Her father would never give it; that much was clear already. If he didn’t want his daughter to lose her virginity, he didn’t want her to mate the meanest vampire out there.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Zane turned his back to the computer and smiled at Portia. He hadn’t smiled as much in over sixty years as he’d smiled in the last twenty-four hours.
“Your pizza is on its way. Just explain one thing to me: the fridge is chock-full with human food, and you want take-out food?”
“It’s not any different from you wanting one particular type of blood. Don’t you ever have cravings?” she teased.
Zane rose and went for her, but she ran toward the door and swung it open. Z instantly came running from his place in front of the fireplace, wagging his tail.
“Oh, I have cravings, baby girl.” And right now he had a very particular one. Ever since he’d tasted her blood and confessed his love to her, something had changed. A carefree atmosphere suddenly filled the cabin, and his heart. They both laughed and joked more freely. Yet whenever their gazes met, the heat was instantly there, the fire between them burning brighter than before.
Portia giggled and snatched her jacket off the hook next to the door. “Then you understand.” She cast a look over her shoulder and winked mischievously. “And if you want me to satisfy your particular craving later, I’d better get my pizza to get my strength back.”
A rumble from deep in his chest left his lips as a suppressed moan. “I ordered you an extra large one.”
Portia crouched down and stroked the excited pup’s fur. “Come, let’s go outside and play in the snow.”
“May I join in the fun?” Zane asked and reached for his own jacket, not waiting for a reply.