"What did you expect me to do? Make love to a dead woman?"
She gasped, then drew back her hand and slapped him hard. "Can a dead woman do that?"
He tasted blood on his lip. Sheesh, he should have known not to insult a female vampire. Darcy was incredibly fast and strong. He wiped his mouth and saw the red streak on his hand.
She stiffened, staring at his hand.
"What's wrong, Darcy? Did you forget to eat before coming?"
Her eyes blazed with anger. "I've never bitten anyone. If you knew me at all, you would know I could never do that."
"But you have the urge, don't you?" He stepped toward her. "You can't help it. It's what you are."
"Stop it!" She shoved him back and strode from the kitchen. "I'm not like that. I'm not evil. And neither are my friends."
He followed her into the living room. "I've seen your kind in action. They attack people, rape and murder innocent women."
"Those are the Malcontents." She paced across the room. "The rest of us aren't like that."
"You have the same urges, the same thirst for human blood."
"Aagh!" She lifted both hands in frustration. "How can you be so blind? You've seen my friends on the show. You have to know there's nothing evil about them."
He was so damned frustrated, he had to lash out. "Your dear friends predate the invention of synthetic blood. So, they must have preyed on the innocent. That makes them evil."
"What gives you the right to judge what is evil?"
"I represent the innocent. The victims."
"You don't believe I was a victim?"
His heart stuttered. Of course she was a victim. And an innocent. Dammit, he wanted this to be simple. Either right or wrong. Not this murky mess that didn't make any sense.
She paced toward him. "I never lied to you about my name or my profession." She pointed at the videotapes. "I never investigated you behind your back. I never invaded your workplace, pretending I wanted to kiss you when all I wanted was information. I never invaded your head. I never put your best friends on a hit list. I never betrayed you or planned to stab you in the back. So tell me, Austin, which one of us is evil?"
He fell back onto the couch. Holy shit. He'd tried so hard to convince himself he was on the right side— the human side. But was he the one being inhuman?
He looked at the stack of videotapes. He'd fallen in love with the human Darcy. When he'd found out the truth about her, he'd thought he could simply turn off those feelings. Announce her dead, bury the feelings, and go on with the assignment. But he couldn't. Holy crap.
He was compromised.
And he was still in love. Even though he knew who she was.
"I have to go." She trudged toward the door. The last few steps, she closed her eyes and frowned with concentration.
She bumped into the door. "Damn," she muttered, then leaned her forehead against the door.
His sweet Darcy. "Not much of a vampire, are you?"
She shot an angry look at him over her shoulder. "I'm having trouble focusing." She flipped the first deadbolt lock.
She was leaving him. Leaving, feeling betrayed. He couldn't let her go like that. He watched her turn the second and third deadbolt lock. "You were all I ever wanted in a woman."
Her hand stilled. "Don't lie to me."
"The way I felt was never a lie. It was real."
She turned to face him. Her eyes glistened with tears.
He gestured toward the tapes. "At first, I was curious. I wanted to know what had happened to you.
But the more I got to know you, the more intrigued I became. The more fascinated and attracted.
The more I realized I was in love with you."
Her face crumbled. "And now, you can't bear to touch me. You think I'm repulsive."
He winced. God, he wished that was true. It would be easier if he couldn't stand to touch her. But now, even knowing who she was, he still wanted her. "Darcy." He stood. "You were the most beautiful woman I've ever known."
"Past tense." She closed her eyes and looked away. "You don't believe this can work, do you?"
"No. I don't."
"I told myself that so many times. I tried to resist you. But I wanted you so much."
Austin sighed. They were both suffering. Somehow, that knowledge didn't help much. "If you want Garrett and me off the show, I understand."
She drew in a shaky breath. "It would be hard to explain this mess to my boss. Sly's going to be mad enough that I let mortals on the show, but hiring two vampire slayers—"
"We never planned to hurt anyone. We were only gathering information."
"Which you planned to use against us."
He groaned inwardly. He couldn't deny that. "My boss is desperate to find his daughter."
"And murder his son-in-law?" Darcy shook her head. "Roman and Shanna are very happy. You should leave them alone."
"You don't think she's in any danger, married to a vampire?"
Darcy scoffed. "You don't understand how much they love each other. But then, I don't suppose you know much about love."
Ouch. He knew it hurt like hell.
Darcy sighed. "If you and Garrett can get yourselves eliminated in the next round, that would help.
Then, you'd both be gone, and I'd still have a job."
"Fine. We'll just keep all the spy stuff a secret."
She nodded. "That would be the best for both of us."
"How did you find out?"
With another sigh, she leaned against the door. "The show made its debut on DVN tonight. Shanna saw it and recognized you. She called Connor, and they told me who you are."
He winced. "We thought you'd finish recording everything before the first show aired."
A knock on the door startled her. "That's my ride. I–I'll see you at the penthouse Monday night?"
"Yes. Wait a minute." He strode toward the door and switched off the alarm system. "You can go now. Good night."
She looked at him, her face pale. "Good night."
She was only a few inches away, but it felt like a chasm stretched between them. Two different worlds.
"Such a shame," he whispered. How would he ever get over her?
She grimaced. "Yes, it is." She opened the door.
Austin tensed when he saw the kilted Scotsman in the hallway. The youthful-looking vampire shot Austin an irritated look, then took Darcy's arm and led her away.
Out of his life. Back to the world of vampires. Austin slowly closed the door.
What the hell was he going to do? Betray Darcy and her friends? Or betray his job at the CIA?
Either way, he couldn't escape the outcome. He would be a traitor.
Ian escorted her around the block to where he'd parked the car. "Connor just called. Gregori's been trying to find ye. He says yer boss wants to see you right away."
Darcy groaned. "Of course he does." Sly wanted to pitch a fit because of the mortals on the reality show. This was the conversation she'd dreaded. Great. Wasn't it enough that her heart was in shreds? She didn't want to lose her job, too. Besides, she still thought including mortals had been a great twist. How was she to know those mortals would be undercover spies? That little fact she would never admit to Sly. She was stuck in a weird position. She'd have to protect Austin and Garrett in order to protect herself.
Ian opened the car door for her. "I'll drive ye to DVN. Gregori's headed that way. He'll take ye home when ye're done."
"Thank you." Darcy climbed into the front passenger seat.
Ian zipped around to the driver's side and got in. "I have a cell phone if ye'd rather teleport. It would be faster."
Darcy fastened her seat belt. "I'd rather you drive, if you don't mind."
"All right." Ian started the engine and they drove off.
Darcy didn't want to try teleporting again. She was still too upset to concentrate properly. Her last attempt had been so embarrassing. Bouncing off the door? Sheesh. It had reminded her of a sci-fi show where the doors failed to swoosh open and the actors crashed into the door.