Becky was already pulling up satellite imagery of Bradley’s Head. I could see why she picked it; the lighthouse was on a pier out from the end of the point. The point itself was a park with a walking trail and a parking lot; it would be closed at night, making it easy to verify if Alessandro was alone. “I don’t like it,” I said.
“We don’t have a choice,” Vicki replied. “Alessandro has to end this tonight, and Traci needs her baby back.” She looked at the image, zooming back before going back in. “I’ve got an idea, but we’ll need help.”
“What are you thinking?”
“Caroline is thinking like a vampire or a werewolf; she’s picked an area where her sight and smell can detect anyone approaching on land, and it’s remote enough for vampires to fight without attracting the attention of humans. She’s not thinking of our allies or considering Nicholas,” she said.
Alessandro raised an eyebrow. “How?”
“She looks at the harbor as a barrier, not an opportunity,” Vicki said. “Who is here in Sydney right now who fucking LOVES the water?”
“Me, and the mermaids,” I answered.
“Exactly. We can surround the lighthouse with mermaids and put you in dive gear. Hell, your Coven could hide under the water too. It’s not like the undead can drown,” she said with a laugh. “We can put people in place and move in when I give the signal.”
“I like it,” I said. “We should get going.”
“I need to restrain Vicki and bring her there alone,” Traci said. “For all I know, Caroline is already there waiting for us. You’re going to have to trust me.”
That was going to be the hardest thing for me to do tonight.
*********
Vicki Corcoran’s POV
I didn’t like being in the back of the Range Rover, but that was how we had to play it.
Nicholas and the others left after I laid out my plan, while Traci and I had to time things a little closer to arrival time. To make things realistic, she demanded Alessandro bring five million dollars Australian for Nicholas and Vicki’s ransom. After all, Alessandro wasn’t supposed to know that Nicholas was dead.
I looked out the window as we crossed the Sydney Harbour Bridge to the northern suburbs. It was a glorious summer night, warm and humid, and the clouds combined with the waning moon meant the Lighthouse area would have little light. The Harbor was full of boats, and the many points and inlets allowed lots of people to own property on the water. It was too busy for me, but I could see its attraction.
We crossed the bridge and headed for the Military Road exit. “Put the cuffs on and get on the floor,” Traci told me. From this point on, I’d just have to trust her. I knew the route we were taking and could sense when we reached the roundabout that took us around to Bradley Head Road. She pulled over eventually and put the car in park. “Don’t move. We’re at the park entrance.”
She pulled a set of lock picks out of her purse, then got out of the car. A few minutes later, we were through the gate, and she got out to lock up behind us again. “Can’t have the police wondering if kids are having a party at the beach,” she said.
I reached out to my mate. “How is it going?”
“We’re headed across the bay now,” he sent back. “One hour to the meeting. Alessandro has the money, and we’ve got the rest of his people with us.”
“Good. We’re in the park now; I should be out on the walkway in plenty of time,” I said.
“How are you feeling?”
“Tired,” I replied. “What are we doing with the bodies? Are you dumping them in deep water?”
“We came up with a better idea,” Nicholas sent back. “Becky is driving the car over and will park a few miles away from the meeting site until we call her in.”
I feel the car stop. “We’re here. I’ll talk to you later.” Traci gets out and opens the back door; she’s been crying and can’t stop. Her mate is dead, and her pain and loss familiar to me. I wanted to feel sorry for her, but it was the same aching emptiness I had after she stole my mate. She had no one to blame but herself, especially now. They were exiled with money and could have gone somewhere and made a decent life for themselves. Instead, they tried to take what was mine and that I could not forgive.
I was out of energy by the time Traci walked me away from the parking area. The path led to a metal dock, extending to where the short lighthouse stuck up from the bay. I saw a chainlink gate with barbed wire across it at the end to prevent kids from getting onto the lighthouse; she sat me down and handcuffed my right hand to the metal post. “It’s beautiful out here,” I told her.
“We have a deal,” she whispered back. “Don’t do anything until I have my baby safe in my arms.”
“Keep up your end of the deal, and your son will carry on your family line,” I promised.
She nodded and handed me a bottle of water, then turned and walked off the dock and up to her car. She leaned against it, waiting for Alessandro to show up with the money.
I spent time watching the harbor as we waited. The waters were busy with boats, from sixteen-foot fishing boats to megayachts. I could see the anchor lights of the sailboats and yachts at anchor and the running lights of those still moving across the bay. Despite the late hour, a few parties continued on their decks.
About twenty minutes later, a fishing boat rounded the point with its nets rolled and ready on the fantail. I watched it pass about a hundred yards out and was a little shocked when Nicholas’ send came to me. “We’re deploying the mermaids from the fishing boat now,” he told me. “They’ll wait for my signal to go.”
“What time is it?”
“Fifteen minutes until Alessandro arrives. Becky is monitoring the police frequencies and has the surveillance cameras in the park on a loop. I need you to stay safe while Alessandro does his business. We figure Caroline will let him get down to you before springing her trap, wanting the remote location.”
I felt better knowing our friends were here. “I’ve just about reached my limit on drama,” I told my mate. “I want to get back to modeling, diving, and making love with my man on the deck overlooking the Southern Ocean.”
I could feel the love and lust over the bond. “Don’t get me excited now, baby. I don’t want to go into battle with a hard-on.”
“Where are you?”
“I’m just off the Memorial Mast, but don’t look. We’ve got mermaids in place around the point, just below the surface and waiting for my signal.”
“Nicholas… if things go south, know that I loved you with all that I had. Live for me, and lead our Pack. I’ll talk to Luna and send you another mate.”
“I want the same for you if I fall, Vicki. All I want is for you to be happy.” I wiped away a tear with my free hand. “When this is over, I’m locking you in our bedroom for days.”
“Promise?” By Luna, that sounded good right now.
“I promise.” We talked some more about our dream home, which I knew was his way of taking my mind off the shitstorm that was coming our way. I heard a motorboat approaching, heading right for us. It slowed as it got closer, and I recognized the operator.
“You made it,” I told Alessandro as he stopped the boat next to the dock.
“You never said you were arriving by water,” Traci said as she walked down onto the dock.
“You told me to be here, and I’m here,” Alessandro said as he tossed her a line. She tied the boat off fore and aft, and he climbed up onto the dock. He was wearing a backpack that was stuffed full of money. “Vicki, are you all right?”
“I’m fine,” she said.
“She’ll remain fine when I get my money. My mate has her in his rifle scope. One false move from you, or he sees anyone else, and he blows her head off. Understand?”
“I understand,” Alessandro replied.
“Good. Walk up to the car in the parking lot.” I watched as they went up the hill. Traci had him dump the money into the back seat, not trusting his bag. Once satisfied, she tossed him the keys to the handcuffs. “Our business is concluded. I have no ill will against your Coven, but you need to understand Vicki’s situation. I have a video of Vicki executing a Federal Police Officer in cold blood. If anything happens to us, Vicki will spend the rest of her life in prison. We’re going to form a Pack north of Brisbane; I don’t want you or Vicki’s pack anywhere north of the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. Make sure her Pack understands.” She handed him the handcuff key. “Take her and go.”
Alessandro started to walk back with the empty bag. He was almost to the dock when he stopped, sniffing the air before dropping the bag and spinning around. “You treacherous BITCH,” he said as his talons and fangs grew out. I looked up to see Master Caroline had flashed in and was now standing next to Traci Lords.
It was Caroline who started laughing. “This is too perfect,” she said as she matched Alessandro’s vampire form. “Done in by the dogs you wanted to trust.”
“My baby? I’ve done all you asked,” Traci said.
“A deal is a deal,” Caroline answered. “Look, there he is.” One of her vampires was walking along the rocks down by the HMAS Sydney Memorial Mast. Without warning, she plunged the nails of her right hand into Traci’s back, causing her to scream in agony. “Dogs shouldn’t mess with our kind, Traci. The poison flooding into your body right now will make it a challenge, but maybe you’re strong enough to deal with the pain long enough to save that child of yours.”