My pharmacist and boss kept sneaking glances over at me, sensing the rising tension. While she knew I could handle myself and the customers, I didn’t want her coming over. I looked back at him.
“You need to leave.”
“No, pchelka.”
“Yes, bud.” I gripped the end of the counter to anchor myself.
Why did he drive me nuts? I should have been angry because he posed a threat to my best friend, which was definitely why I wanted him to leave. But more than that, his mere presence was enough to get me riled up. The way those unnaturally beautiful eyes trailed over my body like he was allowed to even though I was wearing a horribly unflattering uniform, coupled with how he demanded answers without giving any.
“Why are you here?” I asked, suspicious of his motives again, trying hard to ignore the beeping drive-thru bell and the shrill ring of the phone. I really needed to get back to my job while I still had one.
“Tell me who did that, pchelka. Then, I may tell you why I am here.”
I rolled my eyes. “You came for a reason. Certainly, it wasn’t just to distract me from work.”
“Sixx?” Gillian called my name from her station, giving me the do-you-need-me look. I turned and smiled at her reassuringly.
“I’m good; this fella was just leaving.”
Z’s lips peeled back from his teeth, and he snarled. I choked back a laugh.
“My name, pchelka, is Olezka.”
I waved my hand dismissively. “Okay, well bye-bye, Olezka.” I tested his name on my tongue, trying to smother the thrill that coursed through me when his lips upturned at my brutal Americanizing of his name, no doubt butchering it.
“This is not goodbye, Sixx. Not by a long shot,” Z promised.
I picked up the phone as it started to ring again and gave Z a scathing glare, daring him to continue interrupting my day. He backed away from the drop-off counter with his hands raised in the universal signal for surrender. Once he was out of sight, I breathed a little easier. But long after I finished up the phone call, my mind kept wandering back to him.
Worrying my bottom lip, I debated whether I should call Ana. She would want to know about my visitor. But so far, Z didn’t seem dangerous; not to me, anyway. If anything, he seemed to want to exact revenge on the druggie who gave me the black eye. Ana and I had discussed that at great lengths afterward.
That man was purely human, according to Ana. She said it was hard to explain, but she could sense the different energies that paras emitted. I didn’t question her claim since she was the one who saved me from going on a date with a troll in glamour. I shuddered as I remembered that almost-disastrous date.
The rest of my shift passed by as normal. People blamed me for their crappy insurance plans while Gillian peppered me with questions in a running joke as she tried to figure out who Z was to me. It was only as my shift neared its end that I remembered his threat that this wouldn’t be the last time I saw him.
Surely, he wouldn’t be waiting for me to get off my shift, right? That was hours ago. I shook off the insane idea. He probably just came there to frighten me into telling Ana so she would come in halfcocked, trying to find him. No, she didn’t need to know about Z’s random visit. Tucking my wallet and keys into my hoodie, I tugged up my hood and headed outside.
I texted Ana that I was on my way home and I’d pick up dinner. Distracted as I scrolled through my social media threads, I didn’t notice the giant body blocking my car door until it was too late. Pausing in my tracks, I twisted on the ball of my foot with the intention of running, seconds before a strong but gentle grip wrapped around my bicep. Unfortunately, unknown to him, he gripped the bruised part of my arm.
“Ouch!” I jerked away from his hold, but I was closer to the curb than I thought. Just as I started to fall backward, wind milling my arms, he wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me flush against his body.
Z’s fiery eyes glared down at me, his mesmerizing heat penetrating through my thick layers. Gods help me, I swooned a little at the feel of his body pressed against mine. No man should be allowed to feel so hard and delicious.
It took me a moment to realize that he was growling in a steady rhythm, almost purring, but when I did, terrified goosebumps replaced the warmth I felt just moments earlier. How could I be so stupid to forget that he was a predator? That I didn’t know him? Panic overrode my calm. I don’t know him. The first time he saw me, he literally threw me over his shoulder and started to walk away with me. And now I was…in his arms.
“Fudgers,” I whispered as I debated on the best course of action. Plan Pineapple was on the table, but as I remembered the last place I bit him, a fierce blush seared my cheeks. If I could just maneuver my leg in such a fashion, I could do a sharp upward motion and hit him right…
“If you wish to bite me again, pchelka, I will bite back.” When he tightened his arms around me, I tried to lean farther away from him, eliciting another low growl. Leaning forward, he pressed his nose against my neck and inhaled.
A shiver climbed up my spine. This was a wholly different feeling from my previous neck-sniffing encounter with the druggie. Still, it stirred emotions in me that I couldn’t push away.
Z suddenly released me and took two steps back. “You fear me?” He seemed honestly offended.
“Look – what do you want from me? I already texted my friend, and she’s expecting me in ten minutes, so you better make it snappy.”
“Answer me.”
I wished I could say that my desire to answer him was only because I wanted to get out of the situation. That I didn’t need any more reason to have Ana worry. To emphasize the point, my phone picked that moment to buzz once, indicating an answering text from her. But in truth, it was the earnest plea in his voice.
“No.” Why was that true? I should have been scared of him. If it were anyone else, I would have been. But even after he took a step back, allowing my brain time to catch back up, only the feeling of safety remained.
“Then, tell me why fear soiled your scent?”
“Okay, fine,” I huffed. “Has anyone ever told you that you’re persistent? I had an encounter with a guy over the weekend, but my friend and a bouncer took care of it before it got out of hand.”
“Tell me of this male.”
“Ohhh, no, bud. We’re done talking about that. And we’re done here. I’m leaving. I just worked a long shift, and I’m starving.”
“Do you wish to know why I sought you out?”
I had to admit that my curiosity was piqued. I did want to know why, but my more pressing concern was the persistent buzz of my phone, which meant Ana was trying to call me. I shook my head.
“I need to go,” I huffed, ready to be done with this day and whatever this encounter with Z was.
Z watched me as I moved around the car. When he didn’t try to stop me, a feeling of unease swirled through me. Would he try to follow me back home? How did he find out where I worked? I probably should have stayed to speak with him and learn the answers to these burning questions, but my desire to put distance between us was greater. If I was late getting home, Ana would be suspicious, and I wouldn’t be able to hold her off for long. Then, she would go all protective-best-friend on me.
After I left the parking lot, I called Ana back. It was easy to lie to her over the phone and tell her that I got called back into work for a few questions about something I’d worked on earlier in the day. She bought it, but I hated the swirling feeling of dread that lingered in my stomach.
I lied to my best friend about someone in her world. Because as much as I tried to help her and knew some of the sordid details, this world belonged to them.
Chapter 5
A week passed with no incident. Thankfully after my run-in with Z, I didn’t see or hear from him, and Ana didn’t question my strange behavior when I got home that night with our dinner. The rest of the week passed in a blur, and finally, the weekend came. My bruise had gone down considerably and was now a l
ovely shade of yellow.
When I got home from work, thankful to put another work week behind me, I found Ana pacing the apartment. We didn’t live in a super spacious place, so when she made it to me, she turned quickly back around and marched the other way.
“What’s going on?” I asked as I set down my wallet and turned to the fridge. She didn’t seem inclined to start dinner any time soon, which meant I would have to. I didn’t mind. I liked to cook, but it didn’t necessarily mean I was very talented at it. I had my regulars that I could make well enough. And tonight, a tried and true meal seemed necessary for both of us.
Ana continued to pace and bite her thumbnail like she did when an idea was starting to form. As I worked on dinner, she continued to move around the apartment anxiously.
“What’s got your gears going?” I asked.
Her eyes snapped to mine. “That drunk. He hasn’t been the only one in Sea Creature acting like that. Last night, a scrawny, greasy addict came in and clocked Todd.”
That made me blink a couple of times as I tried to process that image. Todd wasn’t a small guy, by any means. Over six feet tall and built like a truck, he had the classic bouncer build.
“But he didn’t smell like he had been drinking,” I argued, remembering how close his face was to mine. While his breath certainly wasn’t minty fresh, it didn’t reek of alcohol.
“I’ve been thinking about that, and you’re right. But something about him was off. Everything about him screamed more junkie than boozer, and I didn’t sense anything para about him, but Sixx…” Ana looked up at me with uncertainty in her eyes. “He was almost stronger than me. Something wasn’t right about that guy.” Ana stopped her pacing and gave me that look. The look she got when she thought she’d come up with the most brilliant plan ever.
I narrowed my eyes suspiciously. “Okay, there’s no reason you would be coming up with a plan and these conclusions unless… Oh my gosh! Have you been keeping things from me?” I asked indignantly, slapping my spoon down, knowing full well I had my own secret.
Ana had the grace to look sheepish. “Not a whole lot, but there have been a couple more incidents in the bar. Nothing serious, but enough where I know something’s not quite right about those humans. Something tells me it revolves around the bar, and I need to find out what’s going on. I think we should go wander for a while tonight.”
Nerves twisted my stomach into knots. Going out with Ana had always felt like second nature. She was Batman, and I was her Alfred, which I was fine with, but tonight would be different. I already knew something wasn’t right about that guy and had proven myself fairly useless against him. That was why the thought of Ana getting cornered with no one around as back-up was terrifying. I couldn’t do that to her. Not now, not ever. After all, she didn’t leave me when the wolf pack attacked us in high school, and she had ample opportunity to do so.
“Okay, but dinner first, young lady.” I picked up my spoon and shook it at her scoldingly. She smiled back at me, light filling her eyes. Ana had an innate sense of right and wrong that I wished I felt. For me, I fought for her. If she wanted this, I’d do it.
“Deal. Like I would pass up your world-famous spaghetti anyway,” Ana said, coming around the counter to hug me before moving to the cabinets and pulling out two plates. She ate way more than any girl her size should, but she blamed it on her para side. I blamed it on the crazy workout schedule she kept for herself. Why anyone considered running a fun pastime, I would never understand.
****
Dinner was a quick affair since Ana was eager to start our detective work. Admittedly, after I got over my initial concerns, I wanted to get out of the house. Our last weekend was ruined by the druggie, so it would be good to get out. Plus, it was recon only; we weren’t going to engage. At least, that was what Ana promised.
The night was cool and comfortable, so I wore jeans and a flirty top that I usually reserved for the rare nights I went to a club. Ana wore her best don’t-fuck-with-me outfit, consisting of dark jeans that made her butt pop, a black tank, and a well-worn black leather jacket. She told me the leather jacket was a necessity in case we got into more trouble than we bargained for. Blood didn’t show up on black clothing. I cringed at the imagery of blood splattering onto her or from her.
We walked downtown and ended up near her bar. After discussing it over dinner, we agreed it only made sense that someone was dealing something in this area.
A year after we moved out here, we discovered that various paras fluids, including blood, tears, and even saliva was being trafficked and sold as drugs to a more than willing human populace. This type of drug was understandably hard for humans to get their hands on, often costing way more than human drugs. The other challenge was that most humans didn’t know paras existed. Knowing put people at risk.
Ana’s steps were almost bounce-like, and I shook my head. She might claim to be a homebody, but she thrived on this kind of energy. The darkened streets were alive with activity, bursting with people making the most of their Friday night. As we walked closer to the bar and the myriad of alleyways and nooks surrounding it where illicit deals were made in the dark, I started to wish we’d just decided to hang out at the bar and wait for someone to come in. Trouble always seemed to find us. Or rather Ana.
Suddenly, Ana tensed next to me and grabbed my arm. “I heard something.” She crept forward, tugging me behind her as we inched around a corner.
Down a dingy alleyway stood three men. They were speaking quietly, huddled close together. Something about one of the backs facing me looked oddly familiar. My stomach stirred uneasily, but I pushed it away, blaming it on adrenaline.
“What are they saying?” I hissed, trying to peek around Ana to get a better look. She pushed me back.
“They’re talking prices right now. One of the guys sounds familiar. He has an accent.”
That uneasy feeling in my stomach twisted to dread. I peeked over Ana’s shoulder once more. The men were tall. Two had their backs to us, and the one facing us wore a cap with the bill tipped down to block his face.
“What kind of accent?” I asked. We both continued to watch as one of the men with his back to us pulled out a huge wad of cash. My eyes bugged at the sight. “Holy cash.”
The man with the hat pulled out a small baggie that switched hands so quickly I could barely keep track. Ana twisted, grabbed my shoulders, and pushed me backward. We stumbled back a couple of steps and ducked our heads together, pretending to rummage through my purse. I leaned forward slightly so I could see who came out of the alleyway.
The man with the hat came out first, looking both directions before tucking his hands into his pockets and strolling toward us. He passed us without a second glance, but I poked Ana to get her attention and jerked my chin subtly in his direction. She looked up while I kept my eyes peeled for the other two. When the first guy stepped out, I saw he was insanely tall and stupid-pretty.
It always felt odd when I heard people call a guy pretty, but this one could only be described that way. His bright blond hair shone in the moonlight, making it glow with a silver hue. He boasted high cheekbones that would make a model cry, and something about him rang familiar to me. But surely, I would have remembered a dude that pretty.
My thoughts were diverted when the next man stepped out. Butterflies erupted in my stomach, and my blood heated in my veins. “Fucking fudgers.”
“You’re going to owe the jar a dollar.”
“I think I deserve a pass,” I muttered as the ruggedly handsome man that had been haunting me for the last couple of weeks stepped out. Long legs and thick, muscular thighs followed by broad shoulders. Fudge, why was he so ripped?
He looked like he hadn’t shaved all week, and the scruff that was merely alluring when I first met him was now a full, untrimmed, wild man beard. His lips were turned down in an angry snarl. Was this how he normally looked? Shaking my head, I tugged on Ana’s sleeve and looked pointedly at the guys as they started to head in
the opposite direction.
Her eyes went wide, and she frowned, her brows bunching together. “That’s Kallan, the one I told you about who came by after our little incident a couple of weeks back,” Ana whispered.
“I thought you told me he seemed like a good guy, trying to help out?” I certainly didn’t remember him looking so utterly gorgeous the last time I saw him. Ana gripped my arm and tugged me after the pair. “What are you doing?” I tried to slow her down, but she wasn’t having it.
“Come on! We’re going to lose them.”
“Maybe that’s a good thing!”
To my wimpy human eyes, it seemed like they were buying drugs even if it wasn’t the type we were on the lookout for. With them being paras, any type of drug seemed like a bad combo. Plus, any attraction I may have once had for Z fizzled down to almost nothing after seeing that.
In my job, it was hard to deal with the constant proof of drug abuse. Pharmaceuticals could change a person’s life for the better, or, unfortunately in our country, for the worse. The opioid crisis was at an all-time peak, and those addicted blamed “everyone else” for their problems. It was one thing that made my job infinitely harder. Not only were they forced to give in to their desires and continue fueling the flames but also to be constantly yelled at for messing up their lives because of it.
My stomach soured and my heart felt heavy. The desire to follow this enigmatic man who had dominated my dreams and unfortunately some of my waking thoughts vanished in a blink. Ana still wanted to seek justice. Whereas I wanted to seek the solace of a poorly made whiskey sour from home.
“Ana…”
“No, Sixx. If we catch them using, and if this is the drug that’s been circulating around the bar, then we have a lead. We can bring them to justice. I think they were trying to get us off their trail before. Why else would they have stopped us from tracking that guy in the alley? And when Kallan came and talked to me, he probably just wanted to seem like a good guy so I wouldn’t suspect him.”
I thought back to my interaction with Z, realizing he was probably trying to sniff out what I knew. It was no secret that paras didn’t love when humans knew their secrets. Following with hurried steps, we kept far enough away that I could barely see them ahead of us. After a couple more blocks, Ana pulled me back and we waited.
Sixx and the Hellhound: The Sidekick Chronicles Page 3
