One pretty woman with blonde hair and keen brown eyes rose from her chair and walked toward him. She left absolutely no doubt what she had in mind when she stopped before him, and her gaze leisurely perused him. Dante was familiar with brazen women, but he’d never encountered someone quite like her before.
“Howdy, stranger,” she greeted with a hint of a Southwest accent.
“Hey,” Dante replied before turning away.
He hadn’t come here to find someone to spend the night with—or… maybe he had. His gaze returned to the stage as the last notes of the song faded away. The woman sipped a glass of water while she spoke with the piano player. The man nodded, and she set her drink on a stool beside the piano.
Dante recognized the haunting notes of the “Sounds of Silence” before the woman started singing again. He leaned an elbow against the bar and turned back to the stage as her version took on a deeper, harsher timbre more like the Disturbed version than the Simon and Garfunkel one. He hadn’t expected her soothing tones to be able to carry this edge, but she did so with ease.
He completely forgot about the woman in front of him as an unexpected lump formed in his throat. For the second time today, he was back in that truck with Maya, singing their hearts out to whatever shitty song she found on the radio.
Years ago, though he fought desperately against it happening, he forgot the sound of Maya’s laugh. Now, he heard it as clear as day in his head again. Loud and boisterous, it wasn’t the kind of laugh people found charming, but it was contagious, and it came from someone who truly loved life.
There were tough times; of course, as teens, everything was more difficult, but those times were rare. He’d only seen Maya cry a handful of times, and each time it drove a small dagger into his heart.
For as long as he could remember, he hated seeing his sister cry and would often do something stupid to get her to laugh again. Usually, a silly face or a bad joke would get her to smile, and often, he could have her laughing within five minutes of her tears.
There were so happy back then, so confident of the direction their lives would take and sure nothing could derail them from their dreams. They had the whole world at their feet, and nothing could stop them. They hadn’t realized that a loss so profound it would shatter the lives of those who remained, waited on the horizon.
Caught up in the memories and the song, Dante hadn’t realized the bartender returned until the glass hit the bar near his hand. Dante tore his attention away from the stage and back to the bartender.
Something flickered in the man’s eyes as they ran over him, and for a second, his features softened. Then the softness vanished, and he pushed the glass toward Dante.
Chapter Five
“That’s ten dollars,” the bartender said.
“I’ve got it, Kyle,” the woman intervened. “Put it on my tab.”
“No,” Dante said. “Thank you, but no.”
The woman gave him a sexy smile that he was sure worked on many men before. “It’s my way of saying welcome to the neighborhood.”
Dante didn’t tell her this wasn’t his neighborhood. “It’s appreciated, but I’ve got it.”
He suspected she was the type who would take an inch and try to turn it into a mile. Her bottom lip pushed out in a sexy little pout, and she fluttered her lashes before smiling again. “I like a man who takes care of himself.”
Dante pulled out his wallet and slid a twenty toward the bartender. Kyle took the cash and retreated to the cash register.
“What’s your name, stranger?” the woman asked.
“Dante,” he said.
He’d already revealed his real name to the woman on the stage; he couldn’t start using his alias now. He sipped his drink and felt the burn all the way to his stomach. Kyle may not want him here, but he made a good drink.
“I’m Tammy.”
“Nice to meet you,” he muttered as Kyle returned with his change and went to pour another drink.
“I think I recall seeing you in here a couple of weeks ago,” Tammy said.
“It’s possible.”
Dante didn’t want to be around her, and he doubted she’d seen Julie, but he couldn’t walk out of here without asking about the girl. Removing Julie’s photo from the inner pocket of his jacket, he flattened it on the bar and pushed it toward Tammy.
“Have you seen her?” he asked.
Her hair brushed against the bar as she leaned over to examine the photo. “No, who is she?”
“Someone I’m looking for.”
The woman’s eyes narrowed on him. “Why are you looking for her?”
“It’s my job.”
She perked up as she rose away from the photo. “Oh, really? Are you a cop?”
“No.”
“Then why—”
“Hey, Tammy!” one of the other women called and pointed frantically at a phone on the bar. “Your kid’s calling.”
Tammy forgot all about him as she set her drink on the bar. She hurried back to her vacated seat as the bartender walked down to stand across from Dante again.
“You got lucky,” Kyle said.
“Why is that?” Dante asked.
“Because once Tammy decides to sink her claws into someone, she doesn’t let go.”
Dante pretended to examine himself. “I don’t see any claw marks.”
Kyle’s mouth quirked in amusement before he swiftly buried it. Dante would bet that, under normal circumstances, the guy was probably a lot of fun, but he didn’t like having another vamp in his bar, and Dante couldn’t say he blamed him.
They didn’t know if they were standing across from someone who would happily tear the throats out of every person in this place. Dante didn’t think Kyle, or the singer, were killers; if they were, they would probably be choosing their victims from here as it was the easiest thing to do. If that were the case, the police force and the media would have heard about people going missing from Adler’s.
However, Kyle didn’t know if he was here to start killing people. And if Kyle and the singer weren’t using this place as hunting grounds for victims, that meant they were here because they liked it and it was their place. They would protect it.
“Who’s the girl in the photo?” Kyle asked.
Dante pushed the photo toward him. “Julie Abbott. Have you seen her?”
Kyle rested his fingers against the bottom of the photo and pulled it toward him. He stared at it before pushing it back toward Dante. “No. She’s young.”
“Only sixteen.”
Kyle’s eyes shone with hostility when they returned to Dante. “What do you want with a sixteen-year-old?”
“Her mother hired me to find her.”
“The mother hired you to find her?”
“That’s what I said.”
Kyle’s brow furrowed, but before he could say anything more, Tammy waved frantically at him. “Kyle! I have to go.”
Kyle gave him a suspicious glance before pushing away from the bar and walking toward Tammy. She was biting her bottom lip as she frantically searched her purse.
“Is everything okay?” Kyle asked her.
“Yeah, yeah,” Tammy said distractedly. “My kid’s sick. My ex is flipping out, and I gotta get home.”
Dante was about to lift his drink when he felt another presence at his side, the scent of cherry filled his nose, and he realized the music had stopped. He turned to discover the woman standing nearby and leaning forward to peer at the picture.
When she lifted her head, those beautiful midnight blue eyes met his. “She’s not the same woman who was in the last photo you showed me.”
Dante had replayed the last time they spoke a thousand different times in his mind. It was only a brief exchange, and there had been something panicked in her eyes, but they were also openly curious. He’d detected the increased beat of her heart and watched as her eyes fell to his lips before flitting away.
Now, when she lifted her eyes to his, he saw curiosity mingled with h
er uncertainty.
“I found her and brought her home. She’s doing good.” Dante couldn’t keep the hint of pride from his voice, but he was proud that she was in rehab and sticking it out this time. On occasion, he would look up those he found in the past; most of them were still doing well.
“That’s good,” the woman murmured, and like before, her eyes fell to his lips before darting toward the bartender as he returned.
“What did you do to her after you found her?” Kyle asked as he set a glass of water in front of the woman.
“Kyle,” the woman said in a low, warning voice.
Kyle barely glanced at her before focusing on Dante again.
“I returned her to her family,” Dante said as he tapped Julie’s picture and focused on the woman. “Have you seen her?”
The woman bit her lip as she studied the picture. “I’m sorry, but no.”
Cassidy tucked a wayward strand of hair behind her ear as she restrained herself from leaning closer to inhale the tantalizing scent of leather Dante emitted. Her reaction to him wasn’t normal; nothing had been normal since he walked into the bar two weeks ago.
Cassidy had spent every night of the past two weeks dreaming about him, and now he was here again. She’d yearned for his return, but she was torn between running and leaning closer to learn if he felt as good as he smelled. The idea of doing it caused her nipples to harden and her mouth watered.
Before he could sense her reaction to him, she tore her attention away and took a sip of water as she reined in her turbulent emotions. Now was not the time.
“We’re supposed to believe you returned her to her family?” Kyle asked.
“Kyle!” Cassidy hissed. “Don’t you have customers to attend to?”
Kyle glanced down the bar at all the nearly full drinks. “Nope.”
“I’m sure you have coolers to restock.”
“Already done.”
Dante didn’t know what these two were to each other, but it was more than a working relationship. But that was obvious the first time he saw them. Kyle hadn’t liked him talking to her, and neither had the other male with them.
A ball of jealousy knotted in his stomach. Were the two of them a couple? Normally, he’d walk away from that kind of situation; he wouldn’t break up a home, even an unhappy one, but Dante couldn’t walk away from her until he was certain she was taken.
“I don’t care what you believe,” Dante said. “It’s the truth, and I’d like to find this girl so I can bring her home too.”
Cassidy glared at Kyle before turning her attention back to Dante. “Is that what you do? You find missing women?”
“Not just women; I locate missing men too.”
Kyle snorted. “Or he makes them go missing.”
“Kyle!” Cassidy slapped her hand on the bar. “I think it’s time you get back to work.”
“I don’t have any work to do.”
“Find some, or I’m going to dump a bucket of rats on your head while you’re sleeping.”
They live together, Dante realized with a sinking sensation in his stomach.
She was only being polite by talking with him, but they were together. And they had one very screwed-up relationship if threats of rats were involved. Dante finished his drink and set the empty glass on the bar. The burn wasn’t enough to sear away his disappointment.
“You wouldn’t,” Kyle said.
“You know I would,” Cassidy said.
Kyle gave her a disgruntled look before storming away from them. Cassidy rolled her eyes, but her attention returned to Dante when he shifted beside her.
“I’m sorry about my brother.”
Dante buried a rush of joy. “Your brother?”
“Twin. He’s ten minutes older. Please don’t hold him against me.”
He chuckled but didn’t know if it was because of the amused gleam in her eyes or his inexplicable relief. She wasn’t with Kyle. That still didn’t mean she was single; he was sure a lot of men chased after her, but at least he didn’t have to worry about the vamp at the end of the bar.
“He can be a little overprotective,” Cassidy said.
“Do you often threaten to dump rats on his head?” Dante asked.
She loved the sound of his Boston accent. It wasn’t thick like some people she’d encountered, but more subtle and flowing. “Only when he’s stepping over the line. And I don’t threaten; I’ve done it before.” Cassidy laughed when Dante’s eyebrows shot into his hairline. “My siblings and I like torturing each other; it’s part of the fun.”
Dante chuckled and pushed his glass toward the edge of the bar. He’d only planned to have one, but he’d keep drinking if she kept talking. “That it is.”
Cassidy tilted her head to study him. “You and your siblings tortured each other too?”
“On occasion.”
“I’m sure it was only on occasion. I know how brothers work.” She held her hand out to him. “I never got the chance to tell you my name last time. I’m Cassidy Byrne.”
Dante studied her fine-boned hand for a second before taking it. The contact with her skin sent a jolt of electricity through him, and his hand closed around hers. Lifting his head, he met her gaze as her lips parted on a small breath.
Judging by her reaction, he wasn’t the only one who felt it. He resisted pulling her closer as the wild flutter of her heart pounded in his ears. And then, he realized his heart matched the beat of hers.
He only introduced himself as Dante to her last time. Usually, he wouldn’t have given someone his real name while working a case, but he hadn’t been able to lie to her. “Dante Alvarez,” he said. “It’s nice to meet you.”
Chapter Six
A small smile tugged at the corners of her red, rosebud mouth. “You too, Dante. Are you going to tell me why you’re searching for these women?”
Knowing he’d look foolish if he continued to stand there, holding her hand, he reluctantly released it. “It’s what I do. It’s what I’ve always done.”
“You’re a police officer?”
“In another life. But weren’t we all something else in another life?”
“Not me; I was born this way.”
Dante did a double take as his jaw almost dropped. Somehow, he managed to stop himself from gawking at her like an idiot, but he wouldn’t have been any more shocked if she told him she was the reincarnation of Cleopatra.
“Wait… what?” he asked.
Cassidy chuckled and, before she could think about the action, rested her fingers on his arm. She never would have touched anyone else she’d just met, but the gesture felt so right it frightened her little.
She wasn’t an idiot; she grew up around mated vampires and had been around plenty of men who did nothing for her, so she knew her reaction to Dante was far from normal. She wasn’t ready for this.
Or, at least, that’s what she believed before he walked into Adler’s, or Addy’s as the employees and regulars called it, two weeks ago. Then all she experienced was panic and confusion. Now she was glad he’d returned, and she would deal with everything else later.
Besides, she was getting way ahead of herself. Just because she found him attractive, wanted to learn more about him, thought about kissing him far too often throughout the day, and dreamt about him every night, didn’t mean she was staring at her mate.
Cassidy glanced at the women sitting at the bar, but most of them were focused on Kyle as he flipped and spun bottles while pouring their drinks. Even though the customers were distracted, she leaned closer to Dante. Cassidy told herself she got closer so no one overheard them, but as she inhaled his scent and basked in his warmth, she knew she did it to get closer.
“I take it someone turned you,” she said as she pulled her hand away from his arm.
“You weren’t?”
“Nope. Like I said, I was born this way. My parents are both vampires, and I’m a purebred.”
Dante couldn’t find the words to respond. He believed he
knew everything about vamps, but apparently, he was wrong. After Clora turned him, she told him the rules for survival. If you kill humans, you become a monster. You can still walk around in the daytime if you don’t kill; don’t let humans know you exist, or they’ll kill you, and if they don’t kill you, the vamps will. But she’d never revealed that vampires could have children.
The idea was utterly insane, yet it gave him a measure of hope. He’d given up on the idea of having kids, not only because he believed it was impossible, but also because of what the loss of a child did to his parents.
But now… now… well, he didn’t know. The idea of having a child and losing it still scared him, but if it wasn’t impossible to have a child, then maybe one day, in the far distant future, it wouldn’t be such a terrifying prospect.
He’d sensed Kyle and Cassidy were strong, but he assumed it was because they were older vamps. Now, he wasn’t so sure.
“How old are you?” he asked as Kyle returned.
“How old are you?” Kyle demanded.
Dante turned to face him. He’d prefer not to piss off Cassidy’s brother, and he completely understood the protective thing. He was younger than Maya, but he’d chased more than a few losers away. Unfortunately, losers were Maya’s type, and some of them refused to go away, and she insisted on keeping them.
The only guy he’d ever liked was Lewis Guthrie, but because he seemed like a good guy, Maya kept turning him down. After she vanished, Lewis became the main suspect as he disappeared the same day. But then, the police finally hunted him down and cleared him.
When Kyle and Dante continued to stare at each other, Cassidy pushed her glass across the bar toward her brother. Kyle ignored her until she lifted the glass and tapped him on the arm with it; he finally shifted his attention to her.
“I’d like some water, please,” she said.
Kyle took her glass but didn’t move.
Cassidy huffed out a breath and focused on Dante again. “We’re both twenty-one, and you?”
Dante glanced around the crowded bar to make sure no one could overhear him before he shifted his attention back to Cassidy. They were both a lot younger than he would have guessed given the aura of power they emitted and the wisdom in Cassidy’s eyes. She was young, but she knew a lot more about this world than many others her age.
Relentless (Vampire Awakenings Book 11) Page 3
