The Winged Dare [COMPLETED]

Chapter Six

February Fourth, 2014

2:00 AM

"Yes, I know it's not ideal. But that doesn't change the fact that I need the money," Laura said, pressing the phone down even harder against her ear. 

Vladimir Dracula sighed. "What for?" he asked. The thickness of his Transylvanian accent paired with the roughness of his deep voice made him difficult to understand, and it made every W sound like a V.

"Dad, that's my business. It's... it's just important, okay?" she asked. 

"It is my money. Thus, it is also my business."

"I need it for Caleb. He's been taken," Laura admitted. 

Vladimir sighed. "Jesus Christ, Laura."

"I know! Trust me, I know. But I need to help him," she said. 

There was a long silence before Vladimir sighed again. "I cannot believe that I am doing this. How much?" he asked.

"Five million."

"Laura!"

"I know!"

"I am not discussing this on the phone. I will be over in an hour. Will you be home in an hour?" he asked. 

"Yeah, Daddy... I'll be home," she said. 

"Call your boss. Let him know that you will be busy most of the day," he said. Without allowing her the chance to say much else, he hung up. She let out a long breath as she dialed Lucas's number.

"Where in God's name have you been, Laura?" he asked after the third ring.

"I've been busy. Caleb and I played victim-killer. I passed out a few times, had a huge headache. And now my father is suggesting that I stay home so he can come see me."

Lucas sighed. "Fine. What about Caleb? I've called the little shït more than once. It's going straight to voicemail," he said. 

Laura's breathing picked up. "I don't know. He went out last night, claimed he had to do something for work. I assumed he was with you," she said, her eyes staring down the sticky note on the counter, the one he had left for her just before leaving the house. 

"Want me to sent out a patrol?" Lucas asked. 

"No!" Laura exclaimed. She cleared her throat. "No. He's fine. You know Caleb. He's done this more than once. He'll be back in a day or so," she said. 

"Right. Call me if something changes." There was a pause, as if he was going to hang up, then changed his mind. "We ID'd the second victim, Laura," he said. 

"Who is she?" she asked. 

"Linda Horseroot. She's a teenager, sixteen. She just got her driver's license a week ago," Lucas said. 

"Damn." She drew in a long breath and pushed a hand through her black hair. "No other victims, correct?"

"Correct."

"Nothing on the third victim?" she asked. 

"That vampire? No. Nothing yet. I would expect something tomorrow. I'll call you as soon as we have it. If anything changes, I'll call today," Lucas said. 

"Thank you." Laura ended the call and dropped her phone to the counter. Today was just not her day.

3:10 AM

"Five million is a pretty big number," Vladimir said. "I need to know what is going on before I just hand over my money."

"You know that... thing Caleb does? The deals? Deliveries?" she asked. He folded his arms over the top of the table. "It's gotten him into some pretty big trouble," she said. 

"What kind of trouble?" he asked. 

"He was taken. I told you that."

"By?"

"An opposing gang," she said. 

"Jesus Christ, Laura," he repeated, his tone even more annoyed than when they were on the phone. "Maybe we just let him slide. He is not good for you, not good for Kaylee. Let us let him make stupid choices on his own damn time," he said. 

"It doesn't work that way, Daddy. I love Caleb. Kaylee loves Caleb. And..." Laura shook her head. "It doesn't matter. But I need him back."

"Five million," Vladimir repeated.

"I know it's a lot, Dad. Believe me, I know. Money doesn't grow on trees, and five million is more than what most people have lying around. But that doesn't change the fact that I love him. It doesn't change the fact that I will do anything to have him back. And if that thing happens to be forking over five million dollars, I'll do it. Because all I want is to hold him in my arms one more time."

He let out a long sigh. "Fine. You have the bank account that it needs to be wired into?" he asked. 

Laura nodded and slid a small piece of paper over to him. "That has all the information on it," she said. 

Vladimir slid his reading glasses onto his face as he stared at the paper. He ran a hand over his thick black hair before shaking his head. "Why did you not run this number through the system? Find this man? Arrest him?" he asked. 

"It's not that simple, Daddy. He said no cops. Which... is almost ironic, because I'm a cop." She faked a chuckle. "It's hard to explain, Daddy. But I don't want to put him at risk. I can't risk him being at risk," she said. 

"You know, I was in love once. And love causes us to do stupid things. Stupid things are reckless, dangerous. If he puts you or my granddaughter at risk ever again, I will kill him myself. Especially since I do not have five million dollars to hand over every single time that he fücks up," he said.

"I know, Daddy. I'm sorry," she whispered. 

"I will have this wired within the hour. Expect to have your idiot of a husband back here soon," he said. He stood up and sighed. "Watch who you decide to love, Princess. Stupid love never ends well. Stupid love..." He shook his head. "Stupid love killed your mother. I would hate for the same thing to happen to you, to Kaylee."

"Caleb doesn't do this to hurt us. His dad got him into it. That's not his fault," she said. 

"I did not say anything that needed defending. I am simply warning my daughter."

"You don't need to," she retorted.

"No, I do. I need to warn you because I love you. And that is not stupid love. Watch your back, Laura." And with that, Vladimir left the house.