Enemy Within (Vampire Born Trilogy, #2) (38 page)

We’ll land on private property when we get to Croatia to avoid customs there as well. That’s if I can get hold of the property owner and make sure it’s okay. I’ll have to remember his number, though, since I don’t store numbers in these mobile phones.

Memorize the number, or lose it.

I look at Kaitlynn and shake my head. Who doesn’t have a passport nowadays? And it’s not like I can leave her with Hawk as he drives the car back to Garwin’s. She’s our locater.

“Will you send Rorik over to Kaitlynn’s to use Sanjam on her parents?” I ask Garwin. “They need to think she’ll be staying with Brooke for a couple of days. Have him tell them not to call her. She’ll call them.”

“I’ll speak with him as soon as I get off the phone with you. You guys be careful. Watch over Brooke and Kaitlynn, please. I know you will, but I’m worried so I have to ask.”

“I won’t let anything happen to them.”

“And no funny business with Brooke.”

My lip turns down in a half-frown. “That won’t be an issue.”

A part of me wishes it were. There are some beautiful places in Zagreb I’d love to take Brooke for some “funny business.”

I need to quit thinking about her in that way. I have to accept the fact that I’ll never experience that with Brooke. In Croatia, or elsewhere.

But fuck me, I’ve never wanted anyone as badly as I do her. I’ve always been able to separate the heart from the physical before, but no matter how much my body still wants her, my betrayed heart can’t bear it.

The private landing strip in Oak Ridge is a small farm with a cleared, grass runway. It’s pretty narrow. Pavao is going to have to pay close attention to miss the trees on both sides of the strip. We’re lucky it hasn’t snowed much yet.

I park the Land Rover on the small service road next to the grass strip and get out to talk to the controls manager.

After verifying that Pavao has asked for clearance, I walk back outside and call the property owner in Croatia. I get the wrong number on the first attempt, but that’s because I haven’t spoken to him in probably ten years. His property is perfect because it’s not too far from a single-strip airport, so people won’t see a small plane that close to the ground as something out of the ordinary. This is all easier than risk using Sanjam out in the open on the customs officers.

By the time the landing is arranged, I see our small plane making its descent.

Ace, Brooke, and Kaitlynn get out of the car and stroll over to me while I hand the keys to Hawk. He claps my hand. “All right, man. You be careful. If those gangsta Zao Duhs realize you’re there, give ’em hell, man. Give ’em hell.”

“You know I will.” I pat him on the back and then follow Ace to the landing strip. Pavao opens the fold-down door with the steps and we climb aboard.

Brooke and Kaitlynn take the seats they did when we flew out to The Base, while Ace stands and takes stock of the space. “About damn time,” he says with a childlike smile.

I plop down on the couch and grab the iPod. “You better enjoy it because we’ll be on this thing for the next ten hours.” I search the menu for the on-board movies.

There is a lot I need to discuss with them, but I don’t feel like talking yet.

I use up nine hours of the flight watching the
Lord of the Rings
trilogy. We’re about forty minutes outside of Zagreb and our landing zone when I turn off the TV.

Kaitlynn and Brooke adjust in their seats when the silence fills the cabin.

“There’s a lot we need to go over before we land. The plan is to not get spotted by any Zao Duhs or Pijawikas. But if we do, Ace, Kaitlynn, and I are Brooke’s hired traveling entourage. We’ll spend enough money that the story could be true, but not so much to get noticed. If we do get spotted, Brooke will tell whoever spots us that she’s Pijawikan.

“We’ll split up tomorrow to search for Kresimira. Most Croats speak English, but Ace and I speak Croatian, so let us do most of the talking. We’ll be able to move under the radar much easier this way.”

“And what happens if a Zao Duh or a Pijawika realizes we’re not normal humans?” Brooke asks.

“Hopefully, it’s not the wrong Zao Duh or Pijawika. If it’s not, we’ll stick to the story, and you’re only passing through.”

“But what if it is?” Kaitlynn asks.

“Then we’re in trouble. Zao Duhs here organize themselves much like gangs do in the States. And they use weapons. They’re not like us Zao Duhs who adhere to mostly old traditions about honor. We’re all very territorial to begin with, but Croatia has seen a lot of unrest. Lots of people and countries trying to come in and take over, so the Zao Duhs here are especially fierce in protecting their territories.

“If we weren’t coming here illegally and looking for someone we don’t want to know we’re looking for, I would’ve made some calls in advance for clearance to travel in certain areas. So because we won’t have this clearance in the first place, they’ll kill us first and ask questions later.”

“How do you know where to start looking for her?” Kaitlynn asks.

“She moves around all over Croatia, but her main areas are Zagreb and Zadar. She most likely frequents Zadar in the warmer months, so we’ll start in Zagreb. You still don’t feel anything?”

“No. I know what Emerik feels like because I’ve felt him, but I’m not sure I know what to feel with her.”

“Focus on it like feeling out for Emerik, and hopefully she isn’t using her Ukinuti power.” If what Kaitlynn says is true, about finally being able to feel Emerik after Zladislov was arrested, then maybe Kresimira won’t have any reason to keep her guard up, either.

“But if she is,” Ace says, “we’ll have to do some asking around. And that’s where you let Mirko and I do all the talking.”

I’d rather not have to do that, though. I hate to admit it, but Brooke should be able to get in and out with the evidence we need without being seen. We only have to find Kresimira first. Without being spotted. Neither of which will be easy.

Brooke glances between Ace and me. Her gaze rests on me a second longer before she looks back to Ace. “So who’s going with whom if we have to split up?”

“Kaitlynn will go with Ace.” I don’t tell Brooke she’ll be going with me, even though that’s what will happen. A part of me doesn’t want to spend all day alone with Brooke, but at the same time, I won’t have her go with anyone else. No matter how much I trust the person.

She bites her lip nervously and nods. She hoped she’d be with me, but not like this.

Yeah, well, I hoped for things too.

CHAPTER THIRT
Y-FIVE

Brooke

We’re staying at Hotel Dubrovnik in the center of Zagreb because it’s easy access to the tram and anywhere we need to go to look for Kresimira.

Mirko is set on not using any Sanjam unless there is no possibility of bystanders witnessing it, so he books two rooms.

I attempted to talk him into letting Kaitlynn and I have our own room.

“I don’t care how nice the hotel is, we’re staying together through the night,” Mirko says. He’s grumpy and things are weird between us. And unless he lets me explain things and try to fix it, nothing is going to change. He’s virtually unapproachable about it. I’d rather not have to sleep in the same room with him. Especially since he won’t be holding me as I sleep.

Kaitlynn and I move to share the bed closest to the window and Mirko takes the other one. “You can have that side,” Mirko says to Ace and points to the spot near the wall, “but you better not try to cuddle.”

“How about you and Brooke share that bed, and I’ll share this one with Kaitlynn, then?” Ace grins.

Kaitlynn glares at Ace. “Not gonna happen.”

Ace has always had a soft spot for Kaitlynn, but his razzing quit for the week after David died. I guess he figures that was long enough. I don’t think it is. Neither does Kaitlynn, apparently.

Mirko locks eyes with me. “What Kaitlynn said.”

I drop my gaze, turning away from him and step toward the window. He doesn’t have to be a jerk. It’s one thing for him to avoid me and only speak to me when it’s business, but he doesn’t have to keep rubbing it in how mad he is at me.

Ace laughs. “Then, nah. Hand me that pillow and blanket and I’ll be fine over here.”

I hear the clap of the pillow as Ace catches it, followed by the rustle as he lies down and adjusts next to the desk along the wall.

The room is somewhat small, but the furniture is nice and so is the color scheme. What I think allows the hotel to charge as much as it does is the view.

From the sixth floor, a large portion of the city spreads out before me. Almost all the rooftops are cloaked in the same faded coral tiles. It’s beautiful in the moonlight, accented by the sparkling city lights. It’s so foreign from the States.

And right outside is Ban Jelacic Square. Croatia is six hours ahead of Virginia time, so it’s three in the morning, but there’s some kind of event or festival going on down there. The muffled music makes its way into our room, even though the window’s shut.

December in Croatia feels similar to how it does in Virginia, so it’s cold tonight. Regardless, the square is filled with people.

The lampposts are intricate in design, painted the same shade of white. They stretch high above the cobblestone streets. I’m excited we get to see more of the city tomorrow.

Mirko says we’ll be doing a lot of walking and where we can’t walk, we’ll take the tram, which goes through the square. Everything is so different and wondrous here. I’d like to be visiting under different circumstances and be able to stay longer.

I imagine Mirko and me down in the square, surrounded by people, bundled in our coats, dancing to Lady Gaga through the speakers, just like everyone else. He holds my hand, touches my waist, and smiles at me like he used to—with his lips and his eyes. The bright lights from the streetlamps would make his chestnut eyes sparkle.

I shake the thought away and stare at my feet as I walk back to the bed and climb in. I turn to face the window.

Kaitlynn squeezes my shoulder reassuringly.

I close my eyes. I don’t want to think about Mirko anymore tonight.

***

After the delicious breakfast service, Kaitlynn and Ace separate from Mirko and me. Kaitlynn still can
’t locate Kresimira, so we have to go out and search for her.

Mirko switches out American money for kuna and I follow him out to the square. I’m pretty sure he’s spending all of his own money. “I’ll have Garwin reimburse you when we get home.”

Mirko nods but doesn’t say anything.

Maybe I should’ve requested to go with Ace. I was hoping an opportunity would arise that would allow some of the tension to ease between us, but it won’t if he’s going to act like this the whole time.

Normally, whenever I’ve talked about money with him, he’s told me not to worry about it. I’m not sad he’s no longer willing to pay my way, but more because of the reason behind it; I’m not his anymore.

Mirko and I walk the city for hours. The narrow streets and cobblestone pathways are like a fairy tale come to life. We pass a Romanesque-style museum and Gothic cathedral after Gothic cathedral. I love it all.

We stop occasionally while Mirko asks in Croatian for directions, or if people have seen this person or that person, who hopefully could lead us to Kresimira, and then we’re walking again.

I try to carry on conversations with him, but he’s short in his responses. Eventually, I give up and focus on enjoying the city.

Zagreb has a welcoming feel to it. It is foreign, but I embrace it. The people have all been nice, and overall most of them seem happy here.

The tram runs everywhere and shares lanes with the cars. Mirko doesn’t want to take the tram yet, though. “It’s harder to spot someone when you’re not on the street,” he says.