Bound by Blood (Vampire Romance) by Tara Manderino

delivery.”
    If it had been possible, Alex was sure this was the part where he would have felt his blood drain from his body. In all of his years seeking justice, as Louis put it, working for law enforcement as he stated it, there had been many such deliveries. If Sandy had been harmed in any way he would tear Carlos’ throat out. Not that he didn’t intend to do so anyway.
    “Earth to Alex. Are you in or not?” Nick asked when he had Alex’s attention.
    “Oh, I’m definitely in,” he said and followed his partner out the door.
    As they slid into Nick’s car, the detective filled him in. “Someone delivered a note, attached to a very large rock, to the Morgan house.”
    Alex let out a slight sound that could have been anything, but was his relief. A personal message could have been anything from a body part to the body. It had happened before.
    His partner gave him a quick look then focused back on the road. “This case is really getting to you. I have never seen you react to anything like this.”
    “There is something different when very innocent children are involved.”
    “Damn straight there,” Nick agreed. “But all children are innocent. That was a funny way to say it.”
    Alex let the comment slide. Perhaps in his years on the force and as detective, Nick had not seen a truly evil child. Alex knew they existed. They terrified him more than anything on this earth, even more than a rogue vampire, but that was not the case here, he reminded himself.
    Once inside the house, they found Barbara Morgan seated on the sofa, crying softly into a tissue. Alex resisted raising his eyebrows. Mrs. Morgan was not the type to do anything softly if it wasn’t to her benefit. Just then, one of the officers came back into the room and stooped down beside the distraught woman, handing her a glass of water and aspirin.
    Alex scanned the room for Jason Morgan, and found the man standing by a table, studying something lying there. The letter?
    Quickly he made his way to his side. “What does it say?” he asked before leaning in to read the message himself.
    Morgan turned to look at him. It took a moment for his eyes to focus; to come back to the present.
    “It doesn’t make sense. Look,” he pointed to the missive.
    Alex had glanced over the contents. He was right, to the casual observer, it made no sense. To him, it was chilling. Proof, in his opinion, the child was missing because of him. If she had not been of his linage, there would be no reason to abduct her. But to what purpose?
    Roses are red, Violets are blue, I have the child, because of you. The child will complete the circle .
    “What in the hell does that mean? Not exactly a ransom note, is it?”
     “Were the officers able to find any prints? Anything?” He kept his voice even, careful not to betray his suspicion they would find nothing.
    “Not a damn thing. I’m beginning to think my wife is right. It has to be the nanny. She’s not here now, but she could have hidden Sandy away and then come back and delivered this message. She would have known not to use the phone because she was here when the tap was set up.”
    Alex had to admit it sounded plausible, and damming, but he didn’t believe it. “Does your wife have a reason to suspect anything?”
“Not that I know of,” he admitted, “but she hadn’t been fond of Lisa from the beginning.”
    “Have you looked in her room for anything to support her suspicion? Is everything where it should be?”
    “No, she was here. I had no reason to look no matter what Barbara said. I can show you the room now, if you like.” He started toward the stairs and Alex followed. He turned to see Nick watching him, so beckoned the man over. He certainly didn’t need his help, didn’t want it, but working as a partner it was necessary to share once in awhile. Quickly he brought the other detective up to date as they headed upstairs.
    The room was at the top floor of the house. While the Morgan house was