“She’s just an irritation I’m babysitting until Victoria can figure out how to put her up for adoption.”
“She seems … off.”
“Tell me about it. She tried to climb in my bed last night, thank me.” He nudged her playfully. “Jealous?”
“I don’t get jealous,” she said, laughing.
He nodded toward the house.
“Let’s go inside. There’s work to do.”
Marie had no intention to do work, but would relax a bit. She went to move past Jack, but he stopped her with an arm, barring her way. His eyes took on a dark, serious nature. Darker than usual.
“Listen,” he said. “A warning. If you walk through this door, there is no turning back. You’re going to step into a world you might not survive.”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“That mortal girl. She’s unlike anyone you’ve ever met. She’s … Tiffany.”
“Jack, please,” she said, crossing her arms. “I’m eighty years old. I’ve seen my share of—”
The inside door swung open.
“What are you both doing out there?” Tiffany asked. “The delivery people will be here any minute. Dad, come on. Me and Skye are hungry. Let’s eat. Marie, are you eating? Do you like pizza?”
“Skye and I,” Jack corrected. “Are hungry.”
She rolled her eyes and grabbed them both by the wrist.
“Fine! We’re starving! Let’s go!”
The little girl’s strength and tenacity caught Marie by surprise. She almost stumbled over the threshold as Tiffany yanked her. Jack caught her, giving her a playful wink, before closing the door behind them.
She’d never been inside Jack’s home before.
His luscious scent was all over the place, and his daughter’s. There were other scents, much weaker. She recognized Kevin, and that of another woman. Her mouth twitched, and the hair stood on the back of her neck, as she picked up the stench of Kevin’s cat, Oscar.
There was the smell of vegetables, no doubt from the garden he always bragged about. The house was clean, tidy. There were no walls, only supports spread throughout the space, giving the house an open feel. Her gaze fell on a row of pictures on a shelf. They were all of Jack and Tiffany, giving glimpses into their lives. Tiffany holding a violin, with Jack behind her with an actual, genuine smile. Tiffany stood with a group of girls, probably her school friends, while Jack scowled off to the side. Some included Kevin, and a beautiful redhead that could only be Victoria.
More noise interrupted Marie’s tour. She turned to see that not only was Tiffany blasting music, but had turned the television on. She had pulled Skye to her feet and was trying to teach her how to dance. Skye watched in silence a moment, before unleashing dance moves that were definitely inappropriate for Tiffany. The woman twitched her hips, running her hands along her sides seductively.
Jack called from the kitchen. He stood near the open refrigerator, holding a glass of water.
“Oh, wow,” he said. “Damn, Fido, I didn’t know you had that in you. But we don’t hand out dollar-bills here. You want to stop that?”
Skye didn’t. Marie made her way across the room, mesmerized. Tiffany laughed and tried to grab Marie’s hand, pull her in to all the fun.
“Oh, no,” she said. “My dancing days are all but done. Except for special occasions.”
Tiffany dismissed her with a wave.
“You’re no fun. You sound like an old woman.”
“I am an old woman.”
“Skye!” Jack said, his voice climbing. “I said stop! Stop shaking your ass!”
She did so, looking confused, embarrassed, almost ashamed. Like a scolded dog. She meekly sat on the couch. Marie almost felt bad for her.
Jack pointed his smartphone at Tiffany.
“You will never dance like that.”
“I might. When I get older.”
“No. Never. Not happening.”
“I just won’t tell you.”
“Don’t make me come over there.”
She put her hands on her hips, standing almost protectively near Skye. Her jaw poked out in defiance.
“Order us food.”
“Okay, okay.”
Jack shook his head as he poked at his phone. He eyed Marie as she approached.
“You like subs?” he asked.
“I do. But I didn’t plan on eating.”
“Plans change.”
She decided she wouldn’t argue, and motioned to Tiffany and Skye. Tiffany was showing Skye a website on her tablet.
“Is it always so … loud here?”
“You should see it when Tiffany’s minions come over.”
Marie laughed and regarded Jack as he pulled up a menu on his phone. They owned a bar together, had killed together. But there was still so much she didn’t know about him.
“How in the world did you end up adopting her?”
“Now, that is a funny story. And I’ll tell you all about it over dinner. Just the two of us, not this mass feeding that’s about to happen. Are you in town long? There’s this great Italian place right on the boardwalk. We can watch the beach, the waves rolling in. I know you like pissing on trees and eating squirrels, but you can’t beat the food and the view.”
“Wow. That almost sounds like you’re asking me out on a date.”
“Hmmm. Well, we can’t have that. We’ll talk about the bar for a minute. Then we can call it a working dinner.”
She nudged his shoulder.
“I’ll think about it.”
“That means yes. We’ll figure out a day later. Skye here can babysit.”
Marie knew Tiffany and Skye all of five minutes, and somehow, that didn’t sound like a good idea.
“Uh, I don’t know—”
“Yeah!” Tiffany interrupted. She didn’t hear the entire conversation, but heard the words Skye and babysit. “We can give Andee the night off. We’ll invite all my friends over.”
“No,” Jack said. “We can’t.”
“Yeah! It’ll be great.”
“What do you want on your sub?”
Tiffany scowled.
“Sub? We just had cheese steak subs for breakfast. I want a pizza.”
“Fine. What do you want on your pizza?”
“Everything!”
Jack shook his head and tapped at his phone.
“Okay, everything for her.” He gave her a wink. “A meat-lovers for me and you. Skye, what do you want?”
Skye’s eyes grew large. Her shoulders stiffened as she turned to glance behind her, surprised she was being addressed.
“Me?”
“Yes. You. What do you want on your pizza?”
More awkward silence. Marie watched with fascination. Where did she come from?
“I … can pick?”
“Oh, for shit’s sake,” Jack said, his patience slipping. “Yes. I am going to order us food. And a magical food fairy is going to come, wave a little wand, and pizza is going to fall out of the sky. Now, what do you want on that pizza?”
“Cheese. Only cheese.”
“A cheese pizza,” he repeated. “Plain, dull, and boring. That’s great.”
“Food fairy,” Tiffany said, laughing at the phrase.
Marie inhaled deeply, trying to press through the various distractions and pluck out more details regarding Skye. She was an experienced werewolf, and her nose was sharp and well-tuned. But witches were unique, as she’d learned when dealing with Kevin and the coven of witches out to kill him. Skye’s clothes were new, hours old with no history besides sitting in a salty boardwalk shop. She was a blank slate, a mystery. If she was curious about that mystery, and she wasn’t sure about that, she’d have to endure a dinner with Jack.
She wasn’t sure about a dinner with Jack, either.
She’d only seen a few sides of him. Most of them were bad. He was arrogant, rude, had an incredible darkness to him. He had no issue declaring his dislike of mortals, thought he was better
than them.
Yet, he cared deeply for a young girl. Thought of her as his daughter.
He’d saved lives before, even Marie’s own. She wasn’t sure his motivation was in the right place, but there were glimpses of something more to him.
She had her own darkness, and as simple as it was, enjoyed being with him.
Marie didn’t know what they were. At a minimum, business partners. She wasn’t naïve enough to think they were dating, a couple. They enjoyed each other physically. Neither of them was looking for anything more.
“Do you guys want to watch a movie?” Tiffany asked.
“Tiff, relax,” Jack said. “The furniture will be here any minute.”
“So? We can watch a movie until they get here.”
Jack shook his head. Marie leaned close.
“Do you always have cheese steak subs for breakfast?”
“Ah, now you’re jealous?”
“Actually, yeah.”
“I can’t make any promises,” he said. “But skip that hotel breakfast, come over here. We’ll see what we can come up with.”
“Maybe I will. And then we can talk about payment.”
He frowned as he surveyed Tiffany and Skye, still on the couch.
“We’re going to need to be alone for that.”
“I’m talking about the bar. The TVs, and my office.”
“What about dinner?”
She touched his shoulder. They both knew there would be clothes missing in their future. But the journey was just as fun as the destination.
“Patience.”
“I’m almost two-hundred years old,” he muttered under his breath. “And she wants to talk about patience.”
She stood on her toes to whisper in his ear. He put a hand on her back, to help her keep balance. Not that she needed it.
“I’ve packed a suitcase full of fun things to wear,” she said. “You tell me your favorite.”
They locked eyes briefly before Tiffany shouted.
“Jack! The Internet isn’t working! We can’t watch a movie.”
He smiled slightly.
“Never a dull moment as a father. Hold that thought.” He took a step forward to approach his daughter. “Didn’t I just say the furniture jockeys would be here any minute?”
“Just five minutes,” she said, holding up her fingers. “Please? Skye has never seen Frozen. Can you believe that?”
“Then she’s still pure. Don’t screw her up now.”
“Should I call Kevin? Maybe he can come and fix it?”
“We don’t need that dick-stain to reboot a router.”
Marie stifled a laugh as father and daughter argued. It was amazing to watch two people not related by blood show such similar qualities. Both were strong, stubborn. Both loved each other very much. Marie had met Jack when he came to her town, determined to kill anyone and everyone that had anything to do with his ex-girlfriend’s murder.
What would he do for Tiffany?
In the middle of their light-hearted argument, there was a knock at the door. Skye jumped, drawing a few laughs. As if there weren’t enough chaos, the furniture that Jack was expecting had arrived. Jack was in the middle of signing papers and giving direction when more company arrived in the form of pizza.
“Food is here!” Tiffany announced. “I’ll pour drinks!”
Marie was used to chaos. Every weekend night at the bar was an adventure. But she hadn’t gotten close to many during her life. Unlike other werewolves, she was not a pack animal. To see such wildness in a home was new to her. Two men marched back and forth, moving a bed and dresser upstairs. Tiffany was running through the house, handing everyone a slice of pizza, while barking directions on where to set the bed. She offered the delivery men food, and Marie thought Jack’s face would catch fire. Sharing was not one of his strengths.
But Tiffany insisted, so the delivery men thanked her as they accepted their cheese pizza.
Lost in the whirlwind of the Kursed home was Skye. The witch stood near the end of the hall upstairs, by the bathroom, as everyone worked on her guest room. She had finished a slice of pizza and was starting a second slice at Tiffany’s insistence. She didn’t talk to anyone, kept to the corners. Marie drifted in her direction as Jack and Tiffany argued over room decor. It was difficult not to wrinkle her nose at the scent, but she managed.
Skye eyed her with guarded curiosity, leaning away.
“Hey,” Marie said. “We never really were introduced.”
“You’re Marie. I’m Skye.”
Marie laughed at her simplicity.
“True, true. Nice to meet you.”
“Nice.”
Marie extended her hand. Skye hesitated a moment, almost surprised, before reaching out and shaking it. Her grip was delicate, soft.
“Are you okay? You seem a little … tense.”
“No. This is too much.”
She laughed.
“Yeah. Which part?”
“All of it.”
“I hear you. Jack isn’t one to do something small, is he?”
“Are you and Jack … ?”
She left the question open, but Marie understood.
“Sometimes.”
“I join you?”
Her laugh almost turned into a cough.
“Uh, no. That’s not really my thing.”
Skye sighed as her attention drifted back to the guest room. The delivery men were at a standstill while Jack and Tiffany debated. Marie empathized with the witch, the lost, overwhelmed expression on her face. Marie could have used any friendly words at all when she was turned into a werewolf, so long ago. Instead, she was alone, and had to adjust to her new life alone.
“Listen,” she said. “Maybe tomorrow sometime, when all this settles, you and I will go out. Get away from everything. Just us girls.”
“Tiffany, too?”
“Just us adult girls.”
“I … okay.”
Marie laughed and smacked her on the shoulder.
“Don’t worry. It’ll be fun.”
Jack’s voice rose above the others.
“Why are we even fighting about this? Even though I’m right, it’s not up to me.” He searched down the hallway. “Skye, where the hell do you want the shit in your room?”
“You can do this,” Marie said, urging her forward.
*****
Marie sat outside on the front steps. It was midnight. The sounds of the Kursed home were growing quiet behind her. The delivery men were long gone. Skye had since fallen sleep, exhausted from the day. Tiffany was in her bed, although not yet asleep. With her sensitive ears, Marie could hear Jack tucking her in, sharing a few laughs.
The neighborhood was mostly quiet. A beach town never went to sleep, not completely. A group of young women in jean shorts and bikini tops walked on the sidewalk across the street. They goofed with each other, winding their way between cars, taking random selfies. One came close to bumping Jack’s truck, and Marie almost spoke up, to warn them. Luck was on their side, as they made it away from his home without touching his property.
The door opened behind her. The scent of chocolate filled her nose.
“Ah, man, what a fun night,” Jack said. “I just can’t wait to do it again. You want another slice of pizza?”
She turned to face him. He stood in the doorway, holding the box in his hand.
“No, thanks. If I eat another bite, I won’t be able to run tonight.”
“Well, I’m having one.” He pulled out a slice and set the pizza on the porch. “Finally, some quiet.”
She laughed.
“Yeah, finally.”
He joined her, an enormous smile on his face. Eagerly, he took a bite of his late-night snack. Kicking off his shoes, he let out a relaxed breath as their knees touched.
“So,” he said, gesturing toward the house. “What do you think of her? She’s great, isn’t she?”
“Who? Skye?”
“No, not Skye. What the hell is the ma
tter with you? Tiffany, my damn daughter.”
Marie wasn’t sure what she thought. She wasn’t sure a few hours was enough to form a complete opinion. Tiffany was sharp-tongued, head strong. She was compassionate, friendly. She certainly had an appetite. Her protective demeanor with Skye was fascinating.
She was Jack’s equal, and opposite, at the same time.
“She’s definitely something. You two make quite the pair.”
“She drives me absolutely crazy.”
“And you love her.”
He sighed, and she couldn’t decipher the emotion behind it, which amused her.
“Yeah, I do.”
Marie gestured to the house.
“What’s up with Skye? It looks like she’s settling in for the long haul.”
“Long haul, my ass.”
Marie giggled, and Jack’s lip twitched. He’d never admit it, but she could tell he liked her laugh.
“Well, then what’s the plan?”
He took another bite of pizza.
“Victoria and I talked about it when she dropped her off. Tossed some ideas around, put our heads together. And we both came to the conclusion that I don’t care.”
“Wow. Still so tender.”
“Hey. I’m feeding her, and she has a place to stay while Victoria figures everything out. She can’t ask for much more.”
“She has My Little Pony bed sheets.”
“She’s lucky she didn’t end up with Spongebob.” Jack shivered. “Or Frozen.”
“So,” Marie said. “Trafficking?”
“That’s my guess. Who knows if the mortals even knew what they had.”
“Poor woman.”
“Yeah,” Jack said.
Marie eyed him. There was no sarcasm, no darkness behind his gaze. His concern, at least for a moment, was genuine.
“Anyway, I don’t want to talk about Fido anymore.”
“What do you want to talk about?”
He gently moved her as he spoke. Shifting closer, he lifted her leg and turned her toward him. Marie followed his meaning, and straddled him, grinding ever so slightly, as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
“Let’s talk about what positions we’re going to try next. We haven’t done it outside in a long time. And I don’t see anyone around, except for Ms. Beaty across the street, watching us through her bedroom window. But I figure her heart has a few more years left in it. Let’s give her a show.”
Damned and Cursed | Book 10 | Fallen Skye Page 19
