“Hi Delilah, hope I’m not disturbing,” he greeted Samson’s wife.

“Not at all. Come in. I haven’t seen you in a while. How was the party for Haven?” She motioned him into the living room and he followed her.

“They should have really held it where you and Nina could have joined. And Ursula too.”

Delilah made a dismissive hand movement. “Don’t worry about me. I’m not one for parties.

Besides, I would have had to find a sitter for Isabelle.”

Eddie smiled at the baby. She was a cute little girl, and he was sure that one day she’d break a guy’s heart when she rejected him. “I don’t think you’d have any problems finding a sitter.

She’s one of the most well-behaved babies I’ve ever met.”

Delilah chuckled. “And how many babies have you met?”

“Well, a few,” he lied.

She rolled her eyes. “Anyway, my problem is that I need a vampire or a hybrid babysitting her. She’ll drive any human crazy as soon as she realizes she’s stronger than them. Won’t you?”

She gave her daughter a conspiratorial look.

Eddie laughed. “It’s all a matter of discipline.”

“If you’re ever a father, I’ll remind you of that, shall I?” Then she and her daughter locked eyes for a long moment, and Eddie realized that they were communicating telepathically.

Isabelle had a special gift that allowed her to tell her mother what she wanted, even though she couldn’t speak more than a few syllables yet.

“Excuse me, Eddie, but Isabelle wants her bottle now.”

“No worries. I’m here to see Samson anyway. Is he here?”

She nodded. “In his office. Why don’t you take Isabelle to him while I heat up the bottle?”

Without waiting for his reply, she handed the girl to him.

Isabelle gave him an assessing look, then she smiled and threw her tiny arms around him.

“She likes you.”

“I like her too.” He stroked his hand over her soft hair. “Come, let’s see what your daddy is doing.”

“Dada,” she said.

“That’s right: Dada.” He carried her along the dark wood-paneled corridor to the back of the house.

When he reached the door to Samson’s study, he rapped on it briefly, and immediately heard Samson’s voice.

“Come.”

He opened the door and entered. On seeing them, Samson rose from his chair behind his massive desk and walked around it.

“Hey, Eddie.” Then his voice changed, becoming softer and more playful. “And what pretty little lady did you bring me today?”

Something sounding like a chuckle came from Isabelle’s lips as she stretched toward Samson, reaching her arms out as far as she could. “Dada!”

“Hey sweet cheeks!” he cooed and took her from Eddie’s arms, pressing a soft kiss on her forehead while he rocked her in his arms.

“She’s grown a lot,” Eddie commented, feeling somewhat awkward at witnessing the tender exchange between the most powerful vampire in San Francisco and his daughter.

Samson looked up and smiled. “Faster than I would like. At this rate she’ll be grown up and dating before I can blink.”

“And she’ll be a heartbreaker,” Eddie speculated.

“Don’t I know it? I’m going to have to fend them off with a stick.”

Eddie winked. “Not all of them. There’ll be at least one who you’ll have to let get close.”

“He’d better be a good man.” He gave his daughter a mock-stern look. “You hear me, sweet cheeks? You’d better fall in love with a good guy or we’re going to have a problem.”

Isabelle turned her head into the crook of Samson’s neck and Eddie heard her smacking her lips.

Samson laughed. “And if you think you can appease me with a kiss, you’re wrong.” Then he looked back at Eddie. “So, what’s up? You wanted to see me?”

Eddie nodded. “It’s about Luther.”

Samson’s expression instantly hardened. “Luther?”

“My sire.”

“Oh, I know whom you’re talking about. What is this about?” Samson asked tightly.

“I need to see him.”

“Luther is incarcerated.”

“I know that. But I still need to see him.” Only Luther could answer the questions he had.

Questions he needed answered as soon as possible. He couldn’t wait.