Afterlife

by Dannika Dark

  Once inside, we walked straight toward the bar and seating area. On the right was a sunken billiard room with red felt pool tables and mosaic lights. Nothing fancy, but it had its charm. Heeding my warning about Vampires, Christian kept his black sunglasses on. He obviously knew the drill, but sometimes he just didn’t give a damn. We strolled toward the bathrooms, and then I lightly knocked on the door of the utility closet.

  Ren opened the door and gave Christian a cursory glance. “Where’s your old man?”

  “Ren, this is my partner, Christian Poe. Christian, this is Ren.”

  Christian took off his sunglasses.

  I’d known Ren a long time, and it suddenly dawned on me that I didn’t know his last name. Most of Crush’s friends went by one name, and I had never called anyone a Mr. or Mrs. Anything.

  Both men squared their shoulders and locked eyes like two caged animals about to fight. After a few seconds, Christian lowered his gaze, a submissive gesture among Vampires.

  Ren’s black hair had grey strands that blended flawlessly. He had an old-school look, like James Dean or bikers from that era. Tattoos covered his arms, not that you could see them beneath his leather jacket. Like all alphas, he exuded power. It rippled off him. Ren wasn’t a guy to mess with, but he was exactly the kind of man you wanted on your side.

  Ren stepped back to let us in. Unlike most private rooms I’d seen, this one reeked of stale cigarette smoke and looked more like someone’s living room. No contemporary wall lights, no wet bar, and no giant television. A round rattan coffee table with a wood top sat between two brown couches that had been collecting dust since 1976.

  Ren shucked off his leather coat and flung it onto the left-hand sofa. “I’ve only got orange soda. I thought Crush was coming.”

  I sat on the opposite sofa and noticed the cluster of unopened bottles on the table, nary a beer in sight. “Everything going okay with you?” I asked, trying to be social before we dove into business.

  He sat down, knees apart, fingers laced across his stomach. “Could be better. Could be worse.”

  Ren wasn’t much of a talker.

  He glanced up at Christian. “Sit down.”

  Christian tucked his sunglasses in the unbuttoned collar of his Henley. “When’s the last time that upholstery has seen a steam cleaner?”

  “Never. I don’t do business looking up to anyone, so take a seat or take a hike.”

  After examining a white stain on the seat cushion, Christian shot me one of those “you’re going to regret this” looks before sitting down.

  Ren reached inside his pocket, retrieved a silver lighter, and snapped it open with two fingers. “You’re my last resort.”

  “Well, that’s a vote of confidence,” Christian said, not hiding his contempt.

  Ren’s thumb rolled over the flint wheel, creating sparks. “A few Packmasters recently got together at a long-overdue peace party, and after everyone left, we got to talking. Some of us have had a few unexplained deaths. Obviously Shifters don’t live forever. Kids have accidents, and over the years, some people just drop dead for no apparent reason. It’s not common, but it happens.”

  “If that’s the case, what makes you think there’s something fishy going on?”

  “Well, it’s not just the wolf packs. One guy heard about a few rogues who bit the dust without explanation. Another heard stories about other animal groups. One of the Packmasters in our group happens to be a Councilman, so he hired two bounty hunters to look into it. One guy said he didn’t find anything, and the other’s an old buddy of mine from Austin. Unless there’s evidence, clues, or an assailant, there’s nothing he can do for us. He suggested we talk to a Relic.”

  I watched Ren light up a smoke. “What did the Relic say?”

  Ren took a long drag and then stretched his arm over the back of the sofa. “He works with some of the packs, so he already knew about a couple. He said we don’t hear about half the deaths that really go on, and it’s not out of the ordinary. He suggested we stop all the conspiracy theories before it leaks and starts a panic. I’m inclined to agree with him.” After taking another puff and exhaling through his nose, he continued. “That could do more harm than good, especially if it turns out to be nothing. We’re still keeping him in the loop, but it’s not really a position I want to put him in if it means ruining his reputation. People won’t trust him with their secrets anymore.”

  “Do you have a list of names I can look at?”

  Putting the cigarette between his lips, Ren dragged his jacket toward him and retrieved an envelope from the inside pocket.

  I reached across the table and took it.

  “Don’t let anyone see that,” he warned with a shake of his finger. “We wrote down every single death we knew about in the past year, so maybe not all of them are connected. If the Relic’s right, it could come back to bite me in the ass. It doesn’t take much to start rumors, especially after all that bullshit that went down with the higher authority running cage fights.”

  “That’s not what happened,” I pointed out. “We busted some reps who work for them, but you can’t pin it on the entire organization.”

  “All the same.”

  I glanced over the list of names and ages. “Were any of them in your pack?”

  “One. Ruth died months ago, and the Relic said it was a defective heart. She didn’t have a mate or kids, but it was still hard on the pack. Ruth was only two hundred. She mated into the pack, but her mate died during a scuffle we had a few years back with some Vampires. They hadn’t been together but a few months. Damn shame.”

  “Was it a personal conflict with the Vampires? Do you think they might have come after her too?”

  “Nothing like that. It was a fluke run-in, and things got out of hand.” Ren flicked the ash from his cigarette into an ashtray. “Maybe it seems like I’m overreacting, but I don’t feel right not looking into it.”

  “Did they all die in the same way?”

  He shrugged. “No accidents. No injuries.”

  Christian clasped his hands together and sat forward. “You think it’s something more insidious, don’t you?”

  Ren took another long drag and steadied his eyes on Christian. He blew out a cloud of smoke. “You tell me.”

  I noticed children on the list, and as tragic as that was, it made sense. Kids were more vulnerable since they weren’t impervious to sickness or injuries. Adults could heal, so the idea of a mutation wiping them out was unsettling. Additional surnames were scribbled beside some of them—presumably their pack or other animal group. I turned to Christian and quietly said, “I think Blue needs to be in on this. If we have to talk to some of these people, they’ll trust her more than they will us.”

  “Aye. But do you think it’s worth the trouble? Viktor isn’t a fan of mysteries.”

  “I’ll make it worth his time,” Ren said, stubbing out his cigarette. “A few of my boys pooled money for the bounty hunters, but this one’s coming out of my pocket. Nobody knows we’re talking. I’ve already exhausted my resources for the year, so if it turns out to be nothing, I guess I’m the fool. But these are crazy times.”

  “I’ll talk to Viktor, but I can’t guarantee anything.” I tucked the paper back in the envelope. “If he accepts the job, I’ll have to bring on another teammate or two. I know you don’t like outsiders in your business, but we’re Keystone. We work with partners.”

  Ren stood. “I want you to know I respect what you did, busting that ring and saving my kind. We hear about raids all the time, but we don’t always get the details.”

  Rolling my eyes, I got up, and Christian followed my cue. “I’m sure Crush gave you more than enough details. He’s not supposed to talk about my business, but I guess he can’t help himself.”

  Ren chuckled. “He’s a good man. I’ve known him since we served together.”

  I tapped the envelope against my palm and tipped my head to the side. I was curious about Ren and what made him tick. “Why would a
Shifter serve in the military?”

  “In times of combat, you do what’s right. It’s good for alphas and betas to have experience as either a bounty hunter or a soldier. That’s the type of training you need to run a pack.”

  I snorted. “Yeah. I’ve seen how toddlers can get out of hand.”

  Ren lifted a bottle with two fingers and snapped off the lid. “How much have you learned about Shifters? We form groups for protection—not just from other Breeds but territorial disputes. People are land hungry. I’ve seen entire packs wiped out.” After guzzling down half the bottle, Ren swaggered toward the door. “I’ll call you after I talk to your boss. Crush gave me his number, but I wanted to talk to you first and make sure you were on board. Just so you know, if he wants to assign someone else to the case, I’ll back out. I want you in charge or no one at all.”

  “If Viktor gives us the green light, set up a meeting with the Relic. I want to pick his brain and see what he thinks about this whole thing.”

  “You’ll have to be discreet.”

  “Didn’t Crush tell you that was my middle name?”

  He gave me a tight-lipped grin. “Mind if we chat in private?”

  Christian inclined his head before leaving the room.

  Ren looked me up and down but not in a lewd way. “You grew up, Raven. We haven’t really had a chance to talk since you reappeared.”

  I’d shared a few words with Ren during a party at Crush’s house, but he clearly had questions he didn’t want to ask in front of his pack.

  He tipped his head toward the door. “They’re soundproof, so your friend can’t hear us.” Ren swaggered back to the sofa and took a seat. “Crush mentioned you’re dating that Vamp. You and Crush have always been family, so what I’m going to say to you is what I’d say to anyone in my own pack.” Ren coolly rotated the silver lighter between his fingers. “If the Irishman ever lays a finger on you, come see me. If you need to make him disappear, I’ll take care of it. No questions asked.”

  Ren would have said that to me whether I was human or Breed. My father and his friends didn’t show their love the way most people did. Actions always spoke louder than words.

  “Thanks, Ren. I appreciate the offer, but I’m a girl who takes care of her own problems. For what it’s worth, Christian’s good to me. I used to hate Vamps. I still mostly do. But I trust him with my life. He also knows not to cross me. If you have any concerns about his involvement in this case, don’t. He may be the biggest fanghole in Cognito, but he gets the job done.”

  “I won’t lie—he makes me nervous. All that power they have. Wouldn’t take much to crush your skull if things got heated between you two. Maybe you should settle down with another Mage—someone with equal power.”

  I gave him an oblique smile. “I have more power than you give me credit for.”

  “That I don’t doubt.”

  Chapter 6

  “I bought something for you,” I said, handing Christian a wedge of watermelon.

  He smiled up at me from his grassy spot on the hill overlooking Keystone estates. “You remembered.”

  I sat down beside him. “You told me about how much you love watermelon, but we never have any in the house. They’re in season, so I bought a few. I was going to leave one on your bed as a surprise, but I didn’t think you’d eat it.”

  He took a bite while staring at Matteo’s campfire in the distance. “And exactly what do you think I might do with a large melon?”

  “Toss it out the window?”

  “’Twould be a shame if it struck you in the head,” he mused before taking another juicy bite. “We’d have to bury you in a watermelon patch.”

  “My ghost would be a hideous sight. Like the headless horseman, only a watermelon for a head instead of a pumpkin.”

  He chortled. “I’d pay good money to see the look on Spooky’s face.” After finishing his melon, he stared at the rind. “Half the fun was choking on the black seeds.”

  “They’re genetically modified now.”

  “Like you.” Christian hurled the melon into the darkness.

  I jerked my head back. “Are you possessed?”

  He wiped his fingers on his pants. “Why do you ask?”

  “I’ve never seen you litter a day in your life.” I reached out and held my hand to his forehead. “No fever. Are you the real Christian Poe?”

  He leaned back on his elbows. “Blue’s suitor keeps himself busy. He’ll have it tidied up before dawn. Have you noticed he’s clearing out the property? Felled two dead trees just today. Gem ran out to stop him from cutting down the one she burned up. I guess that dead thing has a special place in her heart.”

  “I know how she feels.” I mirrored his position, and we both gazed down at the distant campfire. “Does he really think pulling every weed is going to impress a woman like Blue? Would you do that for me? Clean acres and acres of—”

  “Have you gone stark raving mad?”

  I planted a kiss on his mouth, and his lips tasted sweet. “I’m with a Vampire. I must be mad.”

  He growled sexily and leaned in for another peck. “Climb astride me and I’ll change your mind.”

  I slid my hand down his body and cupped his growing erection. He hissed at the contact and lost that cool facade. I loved watching him crumble beneath my touch.

  He pinched my chin. “Later, Precious.”

  “Why not now?”

  Christian eased to a sitting position, forcing me away. “We have company.”

  I heard the footsteps in the grass before I recognized Blue in the darkness.

  When she reached us, she put her hands on her hips and stared at the orange glow across the open field. “I swear to the fates, I’m going to castrate him before he’s done with this courtship business.”

  Christian twirled a leaf between his fingers. “Why not just throw all the trash into the field? That’ll keep him busy.”

  Blue grinned. “Sounds like a man after your own heart.”

  I wiped the grass off my hands. “I say we give him a riding mower and a pair of shears.”

  Blue shook her head. “If this is how Chitahs court each other, count me out.”

  “Aye,” Christian agreed. “If he can’t bring you the head of your enemy, he’s not worth having.”

  I gave Christian a long look. He was serious.

  Blue captured a lightning bug in her hand. “Viktor has a new assignment for us. He’s looking for you, Raven.”

  “I already know about it.”

  A faint glow appeared between her fingers. “I thought so. I guess I owe you.”

  “For what?”

  “For putting my name in the hat.”

  I snorted and stood up. “I don’t know what hat you’re talking about. I may have grown up around Shifters, but conducting an investigation with them is another matter. I need someone with finesse in that department. You’re not a wolf, but you know more about Shifters than I ever will.” I glanced up at the dark sky. “I don’t know if it’s a case worth taking, but I owe Ren for looking after my dad all these years. He’s done a lot of good things for us. He helped Crush get clean, and he made sure that I had someone looking out for me while my dad was in rehab. I don’t remember much about it, but when my dad got home, Ren popped in every night to visit. I guess he didn’t want Crush going through it alone. Anyhow, memories like that linger, and it wouldn’t be right to turn him away.”

  Blue opened her hand and released the lightning bug. “You’re more like us than you realize. When I met your loner ass, I wouldn’t have pegged you for a girl who grew up around wolves.”

  “And I wouldn’t have pegged you for a girl who went around kissing strange Chitahs.”

  She glanced back at Matteo’s campsite. “Strange indeed.”

  I offered Christian my hand. “Coming?”

  “I already spoke to Viktor about the job. I think I’ll enjoy the fresh air for a while.”

  I retracted my hand. “You knew we had the ass
ignment and didn’t tell me?”

  “Before you get your knickers in a twist, Viktor asked me to keep it private until he spoke with Blue. Thanks for the melon.”

  “Hope you enjoyed it,” I said, heading back to the house. “You won’t be getting the other two I’d planned on giving you tonight.”

  When we were out of Vampire earshot, Blue glanced back. “What made you want to get in a serious relationship in the first place? This job doesn’t give us that luxury, and besides, you’re always at each other’s throats.”

  “We’re Vampires. Of course we’re at each other’s throats. That’s just our way. People who try too hard to please the other are just faking it. You have to do what feels natural.”

  “So you like sleeping with one eye open?”

  “That’s what keeps things interesting.”

  We reached the mansion and entered through the side door, which Blue had left unlocked. Blue didn’t know how tender Christian was in private, how he would softly stroke my eyelashes and tell me about his world travels. Sometimes he just bored me to tears with facts about hippos while rubbing my feet, but those were the things I loved about him. Yet as close as we were, he was still a mystery. But I could see into the depths of his heart. Others didn’t understand our complicated relationship, but outside opinions didn’t matter. Christian gave me everything I needed: companionship, privacy, laughter, friendship, and one hell of a sex life.

  Blue rounded the corner and gave me a quick glance. “What’s that grin about?”

  “I was just wondering how long that Chitah plans to camp on our property. He might win your heart after all.”

  “When pigs fly.”

  “He might be your soul mate.”

  She traced her finger along the wall. “I have no need for a mate. Keystone is my life.”

  Hunter suddenly flew down the stairs and past us, a long string flapping from his mouth.

  Wyatt appeared at the landing, fists anchored on his hips. “That’s it. I’m not going after him.”