CHAPTER 10
"Megan, this is Jack... Venezia." Lara realized she wasn't sure what Jack's last name was, which was a bit disturbing since she kept ending up in his arms, kissing him. "He's going to help us locate Vanessa."
"Okay." Megan's eyes widened at the sight of Jack standing at her door.
"How do you do?" He nodded politely. "May we come in?"
Megan stumbled back a few steps, still gawking at Jack. Lara knew how she felt. Jack had a way of taking over one's senses.
He closed the door. "Have a seat, please. This will just take a moment."
Megan retreated until she collided with her bed and fell onto her rear. Lara sat across from her on the other twin bed. She retrieved pen and paper from her handbag while she wondered what exactly Jack would do to this girl.
He leaned casually against the door. "So, Megan, you and Vanessa are good friends?"
"Oh yes. Vanessa's like the coolest friend I've ever had. I-I hope she's okay." Megan's bottom lip trembled and tears filled her eyes. "I'm so afraid for her."
"I'm sure you are," Jack spoke softly. "And where did you and Vanessa go last night?"
The change that swept over Megan's face was alarming. Lara's skin prickled with gooseflesh as she watched the young woman go from near tears to a totally blank expression in a matter of seconds.
"We were in our room, studying," Megan said with a dull, robotic voice.
An icy blast of air swirled around the room. With a shiver, Lara turned her attention to Jack. What kind of human brain could change the temperature? He was frowning, completely focused on Megan. The gold flecks in his eyes gleamed.
Lara swallowed hard. What did she really know about him?
He stepped toward Megan. "Where were you last night?"
"We were... in our room..." Megan swayed, her eyes closing.
A strange crackling static echoed in Lara's ears. Beneath the buzz, she thought she detected a low and masculine voice. It sounded like Jack, but she couldn't make out the words. Since his mouth wasn't moving, he must have been communicating telepathically.
"Yes," Megan whispered.
Yes, what? Yes, she would answer his questions truthfully, or yes, she would say whatever he mentally ordered her to say? Unease tickled the back of Lara's neck. Could LaToya be right? Was Jack programming Megan to lie for him?
He placed a hand on top of the girl's head and closed his eyes. "You will remember. Where did you go Saturday night?"
"We were in-" Megan grimaced. "We went to the Student Services building for a seminar. Vanessa wanted to go."
"Who was presenting the seminar?" Jack asked.
"He - " Megan slumped back.
Jack grasped her head, covering her temples. "Who was he?"
"Apollo," she whispered.
Lara wrote the name down on her pad of paper.
"Describe him," Jack ordered.
"Tall, blond, really good-looking." Megan wrinkled her nose. "Really pale."
Lara paused in the middle of taking notes. She'd always thought Jack was a little pale, too.
"What did Apollo tell you?" Jack asked.
"He showed us a PowerPoint presentation with pictures of a fancy resort and spa. We filled out a survey about our favorite spa treatments, and one lucky person was chosen to receive a deluxe spa package. One week, all expenses paid. Vanessa was the lucky one."
Lara shook her head. That kind of luck could get you killed.
"Did he say where the spa is located?" Jack asked.
"I don't know." Megan frowned. "It looked pretty. Classical Greek architecture. White marble buildings. It was in the country somewhere."
"Thank you, Megan. You will go to sleep now, and when you wake in the morning, you will have no memory of us being here. You will not remember answering my questions." Jack released her.
She fell sideways on the bed, and Jack pulled her up to where her head rested on the pillow. The cold air in the room dissipated.
Lara rushed across the room to remove Megan's flip-flops. "Why did you erase her memory of us?"
Jack covered her with a blanket. "As long as she sticks to the story that Apollo programmed her with, she'll be safe. If he ever suspects she's been talking about him, her life could be in danger."
Lara nodded. "I understand." She headed for the door. "I doubt Apollo is his real name."
"I agree." Jack turned off the lights as he exited the room. "He probably thinks it goes well with the Greek architecture of this supposed resort."
"A free spa package would be hard for any woman to resist." Lara motioned down the hall. "Do you want to see the other friends?"
She led him to Carmen and Ramya's room. Ramya was at the library studying, so Jack did his spooky mind tap on Carmen. Like Megan, Carmen reported that Apollo was tall, blond, and handsome, and that he'd chosen Vanessa to win the free spa package. They left Carmen asleep and walked across campus to the Student Services building. There was no record of Apollo filling out any forms to rent a room, and the manager had no memory of him.
As they neared the exit, Lara spotted a vending machine. "I need a drink. Would you like something?" She fumbled in her handbag for her billfold.
"No thanks." Jack whipped out his wallet and inserted a dollar into the machine before she could unsnap her billfold.
He sure was fast. "Thanks." She punched the button for a Diet Coke. Once again, he was refraining from drinking with her.
"Shall I drive you home now?"
"Yes, thank you." She unscrewed the top from the cola bottle and took a sip while he opened the door.
She strolled across campus with him, mentally reviewing what they'd learned so far. Kidnapping college-aged girls was uncommon enough, but using mind manipulation to pull it off was definitely different. Apollo covered his tracks just as well as Jack had at the Plaza hotel. How many people possessed these powers? How many crimes were being committed on a daily basis that were so well covered up, no one knew they had even happened? It was the perfect crime, if the victim didn't realize he'd been victimized.
Lara suppressed a shudder. This whole train of thought was very disturbing. There could be a crime syndicate of secret mind manipulators who were abusing, raping, and killing the innocent. And if no one knew about it, how would they ever be stopped?
She gulped down some cola. "Jack, we have to find this guy. He could be a serial killer."
"I agree."
As they approached the parking lot, she realized Jack had also been quiet. He was frowning, apparently deep in thought. How much did he know that he wasn't telling?
"So what do you want to do next?" she asked.
"I'll find out more information." He glanced at her with a lopsided smile. "I'm an investigator, remember?"
"A secretive one," she muttered.
"That's the best kind." He punched his keypad to unlock the Lexus.
"If we're going to work together, you should tell me everything you know."
A pained look crossed his face as he opened the passenger door for her. "I'll do what I can."
Which translated as "not much," Lara figured as she slid into the passenger seat. He closed the door behind her and circled the car. Once again, she was struck by how old-fashioned he was. She buckled up and inserted her Coke bottle into a cup holder.
He climbed in and started the car. "I want to thank you, Lara, for telling me about this case."
"You're welcome." She fiddled with her handbag, gathering up her courage as he pulled out of the parking lot. "You know, when I introduced you to Megan and Carmen, I realized I wasn't sure about your last name. Is it really Venezia?"
"Venice is my home." He glanced at her with a smile. "Would you like to see it?"
She blinked. "Well, sure. Of course." She'd always thought it would be wonderfully romantic to float along in a gondola with a handsome Italian man. Who wouldn't? And the rascal was changing the subject on her. He was good at manipulation without using any psychic power. "About your last name-"
"I shall take you."
"Excuse me?"
He turned south onto Henry Hudson Parkway. "I'll take you to Venezia."
She gave him a dubious look. "If you insist, but you might want to top off your tank first. And I seem to recall an ocean somewhere along the way that could be a problem."
He chuckled. "I'm not prepared to go tonight."
"Duh. I don't have a plane ticket. And I can't really afford one, so even though I appreciate the offer, I'll have to pass."
"You won't need any money, bellissima. You can stay at my palazzo."
"Is that like a palace?"
"We'll ride in a gondola under the moonlight," he continued. "And I'll show you my favorite places."
"How can a guy who works as an investigator afford a palazzo?"
He shrugged. "It's not a very big palazzo. It's been in my family for years. And I work because I want to do more than merely exist. I want do something meaningful, like rid the world of bad guys. We have that in common, yes?"
"Yes, but I don't have superpowers like you."
"You have power, bellissima. You can bring a man to his knees."
She snorted.
A corner of his mouth lifted in a half smile. "You might be surprised at what I can do on my knees."
Her cheeks grew warm. "So this palazzo of yours-do you have family living there?" she asked casually, hoping to get more personal information from him.
"No. I'm not there very often. I'm usually on assignment."
"Do you have any family at all?"
"I have a... distant cousin who runs the family business. I'm a major investor."
"And what is the family business?"
"Shipping." He slanted an amused look at her. "I am somewhat aware of the oceans out there."
"Good. I feel so much safer now."
He snorted softly. "Cara mia, you are never entirely safe with me."
Her skin tingled. "Are you threatening me?"
He gave her a wry smile. "Nothing painful. If I pounced on you, it would only be to give you pleasure."
"Oh." Her face burned as she turned to look out the window.
As the minutes ticked by, the tension in the car grew. Lights flashed and horns blared, but it all seemed distant, as if they were alone in the world, as if nothing could touch them in their private cocoon. It was only him and her and this strange magnetic energy that was pulling them together.
An odd sense of destiny overwhelmed her thoughts, making her feel as if her whole life had zoomed by for the express purpose of reaching this moment in time. This moment with Jack.
She thought remaining silent would help, but it didn't. Heavy desire surrounded her, swathing her in heat. It felt so dense, she would have sworn there was a physical connection between her and Jack. If he hadn't been driving, she'd be climbing all over him by now.
He turned onto Canal Street, going east.
She cleared her throat. "Jack?"
"Yes?" His voice sounded strained. Was he feeling it, too?
"If we ever... I mean, if I go to bed with you, I want it to be entirely my own decision." She turned to him. "Promise me you won't use any of your manipulative powers to sway me one way or the other."
"I promise." He gave her a sad look. "I would not have it any other way."
"Thank you." She took a deep breath. "What is your last name, Jack?"
"Good question. I go by the name Giacomo di Venezia, since my last name has always been debatable." His eyes twinkled with humor. "I'm a bastard, but I'm sure you've already noticed that."
She smiled. "Yes, it was painfully clear from the start."
He chuckled. "According to my birth certificate, I'm Henrik Giacomo Sokolov."
"You're kidding. You're... German?"
"Half Bohemian, from my mother. Her husband's name was Sokolov. I've never used the name since I'm not related to that cuckold, who refused to allow me in his house."
"Your mother's husband rejected you as a baby?"
Jack shrugged. "Why not? I was evidence of his wife's infidelity. He sent her back to her family in disgrace, and she died a few years later. I never really knew her."
"That's terrible!" Lara leaned toward him. Poor Jack. "What happened to you?"
"I was sent to the... place where my father was working. An old nurse raised me." Jack headed across the Manhattan Bridge. "It wasn't that bad, really. Nana Helga was a kind woman, and I saw my father whenever I could. He taught me Italian. I spoke Czech with everyone else."
"So your father's Italian?"
"He was. He died when I was seven."
"Oh my gosh, Jack." Lara touched his arm. "I'm so sorry."
"It's all right. My father was seventy-three when he died. He had a full life. A very full life."
"What happened to you then?"
"I was sent to Venice to live with an uncle and some cousins." He squeezed her hand. "I fell in love with Venice. I'd love to show it to you."
"Well, maybe. That would be nice." Lara realized he still hadn't claimed a last name. And something about his story seemed oddly familiar. "Your father was Italian, but he was working in Bohemia, where he met your mother?"
"He lived in many places, but he had a way of burning his bridges behind him." Jack approached her street in Brooklyn. "Can I see you tomorrow night? We can work some more on this case."
"You mean the kidnapping?" She'd become so intrigued with Jack's story that she'd almost forgotten about Apollo.
"How about eight-forty-five?" He turned onto her street. "Your place?"
"Okay." She gathered up her belongings. "Thank you for helping me."
"Lara." He stopped the car in front of her apartment building. "I want Apollo stopped. I pray the girls are still alive. But most of all, I am determined to keep you safe."
"I'll be fine." She unbuckled her seat belt.
He touched her cheek. Her heart stuttered in her chest.
"I want to kiss you," he said softly. "Is that all right?"
"Yes." Oh God, yes. She skimmed her fingers along his high cheekbone, then across the hollow of his cheek and the dark whiskers on his jaw.
He leaned forward and pressed his lips against hers. His mouth moved slowly, sweetly, molding her till she ached to open up to him. She slipped her hand around the back of his neck and ran her fingers into his soft dark hair. He was so delicious, so tempting.
He broke the kiss and settled back in his seat. "Good night, Lara."
The rascal. He had to know he was leaving her hot and bothered. The red tinge in his eyes let her know he was as turned on as she was. "Good night, Jack."
She climbed out of the car and hurried up the three flights of stairs to her apartment.
"So how did it go?" LaToya lounged against her bedroom doorway, wearing her pajamas.
Lara booted up the computer at her desk. "It was great. We now have a description of the perp. Tall, blond, and goes by the name Apollo."
"Cool." LaToya yawned. "And Jack behaved himself?"
"Yes." Lara connected to the Internet and Googled Giacomo Casanova. "You look tired. Go on to bed. I'll fill you in on the details tomorrow."
"Okay. Good night." LaToya closed her bedroom door.
When Jack had told her about his childhood, certain things had bothered Lara, and it had taken her a while to figure out why. Jack's father had lived such a naughty life that the old priest who tutored Jack had worried that he would follow in his father's footsteps. The man had been a womanizer who lived in many places. His last job had been in Bohemia, where he'd seduced Jack's mother. He'd died there at the age of seventy-three.
As Lara scanned Casanova's biography, her chest tightened. Her heart raced. Giacomo Casanova. Famous womanizer. He'd lived in many places until some sort of scandal forced him to move on. His last job was librarian at Castle Dux in Bohemia, where he died at the age of seventy-three. In 1798.
Lara's stomach roiled, and she pressed a hand to her mouth as bile rose in her throat.
No, it was some kind of strange coincidence. People didn't live to be more than two hundred years old. She was imagining things. But had she imagined Jack's super speed and hearing? His ability to teleport or control minds?
She jumped to her feet and paced across the living room. Who was he? What was he?
He had to be human. He had a beating heart. She'd felt it before. She'd felt his breath against her face when he kissed her. And she'd felt his erection under the zipper of his jeans.
She paced back and forth, but nothing was making sense. She collapsed on the couch and grabbed a legal pad off the coffee table. She could figure this out, dammit. If she was going to be a detective, she had to be smart enough to solve things.
She scrawled a title at the top of the page. You Don't Know Jack. Then she began a list of his characteristics. Intelligent. Strong. Handsome. Witty. Sexy. Sweet. Gorgeous. Protective. Supportive. Generous. Naughty. Great kisser. She frowned at the list, then marked a big X through it. It looked like a wish list for the perfect boyfriend, not clues to reveal his true identity.
Her gaze drifted over the list once more. Damn, he would be the perfect boyfriend if there wasn't something weird about him. What she needed was a list of his stranger characteristics. She began writing. Teleportation; mind reading and manipulation; super speed, strength, and hearing. These were the obvious ones. She needed to dig deeper. The truth could be hiding in the obscure.
Secretive. He definitely had something to be secretive about.
Hardworking. Motivated. She'd gotten the impression he didn't need to earn a living. He was fighting what he called the bad guys.
Has enemies. He'd mentioned enemies several times. And his friends and enemies all had the same ability to control minds.
What else? Old-fashioned. That made her cringe. He'd said he was seven years old when his father died. What if his father died in 1798?
Never drinks with me. Come to think of it, she'd never seen him eat, either.
Pale. Megan had said that Apollo was pale, too.
Eyes that can glow red.
Lara stared at the list. Her mind ticked off the possibilities LaToya had mentioned that night over dinner. Her ideas had seemed silly then, but not anymore. Superhero. Mutant. Alien. Bionic man.
Could Jack's secret have something to do with Romatech Industries? If Roman Draganesti had managed to clone blood, what other strange things had he accomplished?
Lara tossed the list on the coffee table and lounged back against the sofa. She rubbed her temples. Whatever Jack was, he was giving her one doozy of a headache. If she had any sense, she'd avoid him. But she knew she wouldn't. When it came to Jack, she was hopelessly intrigued. And falling fast.