Valentino's Kiss Read online

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  Valentino’s Kiss

  New Immortals

  Copyright 2018 Tia Didmon

  All rights reserved.

  All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may

  not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without

  the express written consent of the publisher except for the

  use of brief quotations in a book review.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses,

  places, events and incidents are either the products

  of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner.

  Any resemblance to actual persons, living or deceased,

  or actual events, is purely a coincidence.

  I love hearing from my readers so feel free to email me:

  [email protected]

  All books By Tia Didmon

  https://www.amazon.com/author/tiadidmon

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Epilogue

  Chapter 1

  Los Angeles Moretti Mansion

  Present Day

  Valentino watched in silence as the bullet hit Rico in the forehead.

  Rico staggered before straightening his immaculate pinstriped suit. “When will they learn that bullets have no effect on...” He twitched then fell to the marble floor. His eyes rolled back in his head as his body seized before going slack.

  Valentino rushed down the curved staircase to his brother’s side. “Rico.” He studied the perfect dark features that were similar to his own. Nothing. He reached out to his remaining brother. Dante get in here. Rico is dead.

  Dante strode into the entrance as Rico’s blood spread across the white marble. “Rico get up. You have not played a prank in decades.”

  Valentino stood. “He is dead.” He wanted to feel the loss of his youngest brother. To feel anything.

  Dante knelt. “Impossible. Bullets have no effect on us.”

  “I have tried to connect with him. There is nothing. He is gone.” He remembered everything about his brother. The one that had given them so much joy growing up. His sense of humor his caring nature. While Rico had held some remnants of emotion for his family, Valen felt nothing.

  Dante stood. “Do you feel his loss?”

  “No. You?”

  “No. My demon began his decline before yours did.”

  Valen looked at the widening pool of blood. “Our time on this earth draws nigh but we will find Rico’s murderer before we seek our death.”

  Dante inclined his head. “Agreed. How should we proceed?”

  “I will call the Paranormal Intelligence Agency. They may have heard of this new weapon and who is wielding it.”

  Dante glanced out the intricate French doors. “Do you think the PIA will help us?”

  “Their agenda is unclear but your contact there can get us the information we need,” Valen said.

  Dante nodded. “This is the first sign of open aggression against us. This will come to the human’s attention.”

  “That is the reason the PIA will help us. They seem intent in keeping our existence hidden. At least for now.” It was a decision he agreed with.

  Dante pulled his cell phone from his suit pocket. “I will inform the council before reaching out to our contact there.” Dante moved away to make his calls.

  Valen walked to the large bay window that overlooked the manicured grounds. There was a time he would have found his surroundings beautiful. He touched the intricate pattern in the glass, wishing he could feel the cold texture against his skin. So, this is the end. He thought there would be some semblance of sorrow. Regret. Something. But after hundreds of years of not finding a bride, there was only a black void that he could never escape.

  Dante approached him. “The PIA is on their way. So are LAPD.”

  “You phoned the local authorities?”

  “No. Our contact at the PIA informed me they were en route.”

  “How did they find out?” Valen asked.

  “Unclear. The PIA was about to call us.”

  “Is it possible someone wants the demon race exposed?”

  “Perhaps, but there are so few blood demons left. Why bother with us now?”

  “A valid question. We will find out.” Valen wanted to feel shame. Fear. Even resentment that the Moretti line would fall. That his species would cease to exist. Nothing. He felt nothing.

  Laura felt like a fraud. She caressed the ridges of her new PIA badge. The lettering tickled her fingers as the sensation made her stomach lurch.

  “Laura, you okay?” Jenner asked while keeping his eyes on the road.

  She turned away from the squad car window as the blur from the road faded away. “Sure.”

  He frowned. “Are you upset about the move?”

  Laura shook her head. “No. You needed your space.”

  “Come on Lala. You know it’s not like that,” Jenner said.

  She flinched, secretly hating the nickname he had given her when they’d met. He used it when he wanted to smooth things over between them. “I’m twenty-two and a member of your team. I think you’re going to have to retire that nick name.”

  Jenner nodded curtly. “Sure.”

  Laura fiddled with her badge. “You’ve done a lot for me. I appreciate it. I really do.” She hated feeling like an obligation. “I’m sure it’s just nerves. You know, my first case and all.”

  Jenner frowned. “You’ve consulted on dozens of cases.”

  She shrugged. “I know, but not officially.”

  He turned onto the freeway, speeding up as he eased into mainstream traffic. “There’s no need to be nervous. You’ve got this. It’s your specialty.”

  She watched the stream of cars pass them. “We both know if it wasn’t for my talent I wouldn’t be here. I wouldn’t have met you.”

  “C’mon Laura not that again. It isn’t the only reason you’re an agent. You did well on most of your academy sections.”

  Bitterness seeped from her voice. “Yeah. I just failed the section that is essential to every other recruit.”

  Jenner’s face hardened. “No-one can do what you do.”

  “So, the PIA director overlooked my most obvious flaw because of it.”

  “Laura.”

  “Be honest Jenner. Have you ever dated a girl who wasn’t a size two, beautiful, and had a perfect body?”

  “That isn’t relevant. You are beautiful. Kiki is always commenting how gorgeous your hair and... you know are.”

  “You can’t even say breasts to me?”

  Jenner’s face scrunched. “Hell no. Not to you. It drives me mental when Kiki says that shit.”

  “Kiki is barely a size two and can’t grow her hair past her shoulders. I guess women always want what they can’t have. Besides, she’s my best friend, she probably does it to annoy you.” She ran her hands through her long blonde locks. “I do have nice hair.”

  “I’m still her superior... and yours.”

  “We both know you’re the boss... at work.”

  “Doesn’t feel like it. I’m still kicking myself for introducing you two.”

  “You didn’t. We met in basic training.”

  Jenner huffed. “I should have failed her.”

  Laura rolled her eyes. “Ha! Unlike me, she is the perfect PIA agent. Now tell me what the case is.”

  Jenner mumbled something about insubordination. “Well?”

  “Rico Moretti was murdered.”

  “What? How?”

  “We’re not sure,” he said.

  “Fire?” she asked.

  “No.”

  “Decapitation?”

  Jenner shook his head. “No.”

  “I thought the Moretti’s were demons.”

  “We believed they were but...”

  “But?”

  “He died of a bullet wound to the head.”

  Laura shook her head. “Then he was human.”

  Jenner rubbed his chin. “That’s what you need to find out.”

  Laura turned to look at him. “I can’t read the dead.”

  “I know. You will be interviewing his brothers.”

  “I’ve only interviewed one demon, and he was difficult to read. His natural barriers were stronger than any human psychic I’ve met.”

  Jenner shrugged his shoulders. “We’ll see.” He pulled the car into a private driveway and waited for the mansion’s gates to open.

  The greenery was perfection with pink mimosa trees and assorted shrubbery lining the driveway. The white roman columns sat like sentries at the large arched entrance. They were met by Kiki and Greg as they exited the vehicle.

  “Hey Jen. Laura.” Kiki motioned the door. “Locals are on scene. You need to take charge.”

  Jenner nodded. “Stop calling me Jen.” He turned to Laura. “The Morettis are powerful. They have influential friends in the government. We have just walked into a political shit storm. I need you to do your thing. Eliminate or incriminate. Let’s get this done.” He entered the mansion, motioning Greg
to follow.

  Kiki crossed her arms. “So?”

  “I moved the rest of my stuff last night,” Laura said.

  “You okay?”

  “It was time.”

  “You wanna grab drinks later?” The concern in her voice evident.

  “I still have some organizing to do. Soon though.” Laura forced a smile which caused Kiki to frown.

  Kiki motioned towards the elaborate doors. “Come on, let’s introduce you to the surviving Moretti brothers.”

  Laura looked at the mansion “This place should be on the Hollywood Hills tour.” She followed Kiki to the intricate white door. “Is it really a bullet wound?”

  Kiki shook her head. “Yup. The PIA really screwed the pooch on this one. There’s no way Rico was a demon.”

  Laura entered the entrance hall after Kiki. Jenner was examining the handsome corpse. The morning light filtered softly through the elaborate stained glass of the bay window. Two tall attractive men in dark blue suits stood facing Jenner as he spoke. “Tell me what happened.”

  Laura approached the Morettis and Jenner. All three men turned to her as two LAPD officers approached.

  The older officer looked her up and down. “No way you’re a PIA agent.”

  The younger of the two swatted his partner. “My apologies miss. I’m officer Tom Granger this is Hal Smythe. We were first on scene.”

  Laura pulled her gloves up, so they covered her hand before extending in. “I’m Laura Whitney, this is my first day on the job.” She noticed Hal back up when she introduced herself.

  Tom smiled warmly. “Well if you need...”

  Jenner cleared his throat. “Laura this isn’t the dating game. Get over here.”

  Laura rushed over to his side, noticing Jenner’s irritation. “Sorry.”

  “Whatever. Mr. Moretti was just about to tell us what happened here.”

  Valentino incline his head. “As I told the officers. I was descending the stair case when Rico was shot in the head. He fell to the floor, and we called you.” He pointed to the large stained-glass window. “If you look in the corner of the window, you can see the bullet hole in the glass.”

  Jenner looked at the window.

  Laura was looking at Mr. Moretti. He was tall with dark eyes and hair, and perfect angular features. His black suit was immaculate. Everything appeared normal, perfect on the outside. It wasn’t. She felt nothing.

  Valentino shifted his weight as he surveyed the room. He gave the impression of a jungle cat about to attack its prey. His movements were subtle and smooth. When his eyes came to rest on Laura, she swore she saw a flash of red in his dark eyes. “We have not been formally introduced. My name is Valentino Moretti. This is my brother Dante.”

  Jenner turned back from the window. “Bullets don’t kill your kind.”

  “My kind?”

  “Demons,” Jenner snapped.

  “Apparently the rules have changed,” Valen said calmly.

  Laura looked at Jenner with surprise. She had never seen him display this kind of animosity in five years she had known him. Was it the Morettis themselves or the fact they were demons?

  Valentino returned his gaze to Laura. “And you, Beauty. Are you as biased as your partner?”

  Laura shook her head. “No. I’m not biased as to your race but if you are involved in your brother’s murder you will go to jail.”

  Valentino inclined his head. “Of course.” He glanced to his brother who looked at him intently. When Dante’s gaze fell on Laura, there was an interest in his eyes that hadn’t been there before.

  Valentino motioned to his brother’s body. “What do you need from me?”

  Jenner stepped forward. “Laura doesn’t need anything from you. I am the lead investigator on this case.”

  Laura placed her hand on Jenner’s arm, careful not to touch his skin. He pulled it back slightly. No one should have noticed yet Valentino’s eyes narrowed. She immediately dropped her gaze to the floor, pretending to look over Rico’s body more closely.

  Laura kept her eyes on the floor. “I still have to conduct the interview,” she said in her most capitulating voice.

  Jenner folded his arms. “Do it now.”

  Laura met Valentino’s steady look. “I apologize Mr. Moretti. I’m new to the team.” Her smile was fake but well practiced.

  “You have nothing to apologize for Laura. You may proceed with your questions but please call me Valen.” His smile was slight as if it was something he hadn’t done in a long time.

  Laura removed her gloves. This was the tricky part. “I want you to think about the shooting. Every detail you noticed from the time you entered this room. Again, thank you for your cooperation.”

  She extended her hand preparing for the onslaught of emotion that accompanied a death. She categorized her thoughts to look for the events leading up to Rico’s murder.

  Valen’s hand clasped hers. She lowered her mental shields, waiting for the images to assail her. She saw nothing.

  She thought her talent had failed her. Her consciousness seemed to be pulled into a void. No feeling. No light. No emotion. The blackness squeezed her psyche until she couldn’t breathe. The room spun. She didn’t feel her body fall as the blackness took her.

  Chapter 2

  Valen stood like a statue, holding the woman he had waited hundreds of years for. She was human. She shouldn’t exist.

  His demon stretched within his skin, waking from its forced hibernation. He watched the muted colors of the room brighten. The smell of iron in Rico’s blood permeated his nostrils. He heard the steady beat of Laura’s heart as he reveled in the softness of her body pressed against him.

  His demon roared in his head when Jenner tried to take her from him. He walked over to the decorative couch keeping Laura close to his body before gently laying her down, resting her head on a gold pillow.

  “Move,” Jenner commanded.

  Valen stepped back. His demon growled.

  Dante shimmered in his mind. Valen are you awakening?

  Yes

  How?

  The woman. He wants her.

  She is human. How can this be?

  She possesses psychic ability beyond any human I have come across.

  All PIA agents have some level of psychic ability. Their minds are shielded from us.

  Yes. I could not read her mind yet she pulled me into her essence.

  You are talking about binding. Does your demon feel it can be bound to her?

  Valen connected with his beast for the first time in two hundred years. It was looking over its bride, taking in the long blonde locks and lush curvy body. It shared images of holding the hair in his hands as he took her from behind. Valen sucked in a breath as his body reacted to the vivid images. He is enamored with her.

  This is unexpected. If you are able to bond with this human...

  I know.

  Valen watched in silence as Jenner knelt beside Laura putting his gloves on before gently shaking her. “Laura honey, wake up.”

  Laura moved her head but didn’t open her eyes.

  Tom knelt down beside Jenner. “Does this happen often? Is she going to be alright?”

  Jenner gave Valen a dirty look. “This has never happened before but I’m sure she’s fine.”

  Laura made a low moaning sound before opening her eyes. She tried to focus on her surroundings.

  Tom touched her arm gently. “Hey gorgeous. You ready to rejoin the land of the living,” he teased.

  Laura smiled wanly. “What happened?”

  Jenner glanced at Valen. “I was hoping you could tell us.”

  She pushed herself up to a sitting position. “Honestly, I don’t know.”

  “Did you see anything?” Jenner pushed.

  “No. Nothing. I was sucked into a sea of darkness.”

  “I think we should get you home.”

  Tom stood. “I can take her, Agent Davidson. You’re lead here. I’ll drop Agent Whitney off and be right back.”

  Valen’s mind raced. “Davidson as in Senator Davidson’s son.”

  Hal stepped between Jenner and Valen. “You got a problem demon?”

  Jenner put a hand on Hal’s shoulder. “It’s okay Hal. You and Tom take Laura home.”

  Tom leaned down to help Laura.

  Valen felt the animosity from Jenner and Hal. His demon didn’t care. It was accessing the real threat in the room.