Viper (Nighthawks MC Book 1)

by C. J. Pinard

  “Once she, well, at least her friends, are good and drunk, we’re going to ask them to leave. Then you and Kovah will be out back to end her.”

  “Judge, jury, and executioner, huh?” He chuckled.

  I nodded. “Something like that.” I turned to look into his grayish-colored eyes. “You know I don’t usually get down like this, but succubae are a hard no for me. She may seem innocent, but anyone whose soul she takes turns into that feral thing we killed last night. No poor, unsuspecting human deserves that. I know she can’t help what she is, but a lot of these redheads choose to be turned, knowing the consequences. So… she needs to go. I got ninety-nine problems and this bitch ain’t gonna be one.”

  He laughed.

  Face came to stand next to us. “What’s the good word?”

  I stared into his Hollywood-ready mug, his blue eyes, square jaw, long eyelashes, and perfectly coiffed hair bordering on annoying, and said, “Go over there and tell them you’re the manager and ask if everything is up to their standards.”

  “You got it, boss,” he replied.

  He straightened his spine and put a little swing into his swagger as he wandered over to them. With my enhanced hearing, I could hear that he was doing exactly as I asked. Half the table sat there with their jaws hanging open as he spoke. The other half fidgeted with their hair and stuck their chests out while batting their eyelashes at him.

  “Fuckin’ pretty boy,” Shadow said with a scoff.

  “That’s why I sent him over there.” I folded my arms across my cut.

  “Are you in a motorcycle gang?” I heard one ask, pointing at his cut. “Is your name really Face?” she continued without waiting for an answer.

  He threw them a charming grin. “The Nighthawks keep the peace, ladies. Nothing more.”

  The succubus’s smile dropped. She turned around and scanned the club until her gaze landed on us. She eyed our patches and then narrowed her eyes at us.

  Just then, Kovah showed up and stood next to me. Her gaze moved to his name patch and then she flipped him off. She even mouthed a “fuck you” to really drive the point home.

  Shadow and I looked at the hybrid. “You know her?” I asked.

  Kovah chuckled and blew the redhead a kiss. “My succubus-killing reputation precedes me.”

  “Well, she’s all yours. Though, I would get out of here if I were you. Go hide out back. We’ll wait a bit and then ask them to leave once they try to order more drinks. Say we’re ‘cutting them off.’”

  “Good one.” Kovah grinned and headed back to the office where there was a door leading to the alley behind the club.

  Seemed our plan wasn’t needed. Shortly after the succubus spotted Kovah, she asked for the bill, and once the server delivered it, she paid in cash and she and her friends made their way to the front door.

  On her way out, she looked me up and down with disgust. “Girls, this place sucks,” she drawled, looking at her friends. “Never coming here again.” She threw me her best mean mug, and with her chin held high, she walked out the front door.

  I pulled my phone from my pocket and texted Kovah.

  Me: Succubus leaving out the front door now

  Kovah: On it

  Me: Face and I got your back

  I watched as the group headed down the street, their high heels clacking on the pavement. As they passed the first building, Kovah popped out from the alley separating it from the next one, and snatched the redhead by the waist. They disappeared from sight. Face and I used vampire speed to catch up to the five young ladies standing around wondering what had just happened. I grabbed three, Face grabbed two, pulling them into the alley.

  “Ladies, look at me.” I stared intently at all of them. Once I had them locked, I began, “What’s your red-haired friend’s name?”

  “Renee,” they answered in unison.

  “Well, Renee ran off with a guy she met at the bar. They fell madly in love, are getting married, and moving to Spain. She’s never coming back. You’ll never see her again.”

  They just stared at me, confused.

  “Repeat what I just told you.”

  “Renee is never coming back, getting married, moving to Spain,” they all said in unison.

  “Good girls.”

  For whatever reason, maybe to make them feel comforted, and because using that compelling shit always made me feel guilty, I kissed each one on the forehead before commanding them to go back onto the street and continue to enjoy their evening out.

  Face met up with me shortly after. “Make up a good story?” he asked.

  “She met a guy, got married, moved to Spain,” I deadpanned as we walked back to the Cobalt Room.

  He laughed. “Same. Except Paris, not Spain.”

  “Well, I’m sure they’ll be arguing about that until the end of time whenever Renee’s name is mentioned.”

  “True,” he replied, with another laugh.

  We found Kovah nursing a drink at the bar, chatting with Dash. He grinned when he saw us.

  “How did it go?” I asked.

  He held his hands up. “Didn’t even get my hands dirty.”

  “And the body?” I asked, knowing succubae didn’t turn to ash. They turned into hideous shriveled corpses like from an Indiana Jones movie. Just less juicy.

  He jutted a thumb behind him. “In the dumpster, lit it on fire, along with her purse and phone. Hopefully that’ll get rid of most of it.”

  I shuddered at his indifferent attitude but had to understand what he’d been through. Killing bad things was his therapy—especially a succubus. This had to have been like a treat for him.

  He downed the rest of his drink and stood. “Well, boys. I left Manta tied to the bed, so I better get back.”

  I lifted an eyebrow. Ever since my horrible ordeal after my turning all those years ago, I had yet to tie a woman or anyone to a bed since. “You do realize she can break those restraints easily, being a vampire herself.”

  He mock-punched me in the arm and lifted his glasses. His eyes, completely white with no pupil at all, he winked at me. “She wouldn’t dare.” He made a spanking motion with his hand, slammed the glasses back into place, and left the bar.

  “Fuckin’ freak,” Shadow said, shaking his head.

  “Brave freak,” I corrected him.

  “You never did give me a report on those wolves,” I said when our conversation lulled.

  “It was a dead end.” He signaled the server over, a prospect named Ally. She would be our third female Nighthawk if she passed the initiation. “Whiskey, honey. Something local.”

  “Yes, Shadow.” She walked back to the bar and we were both quiet as we appreciated the swing of her hips and the curve of her ass and small waist.

  “Why do you waste my good whiskey?” I asked, looking up at him. Tall bastard.

  “I’ll pay full price. The taste alone is worth it.” He chuckled.

  “It’s your dough,” I replied with a shrug.

  We watched more humans pour into the bar as the night wore on. Ally brought him his bourbon and he groaned as it slid down his throat. “God, that’s good shit.”

  I’d watched Dash pour his drink. “That’s Sazerac. Rye whiskey. Glad you like it. I think it tastes like crap.”

  “Suit yourself,” he replied with a shrug.

  “Continue about the wolves,” I prompted.

  He swallowed the rest of his drink and set it on Ally’s tray as she passed by. “Like I said, dead end. I found one wolf. He wouldn’t talk or tell us shit. I put a bullet in his head.”

  I raised my eyebrows. “That’s it? Is the art of torture lost on you? We have cells at the clubhouse for a reason.” I gritted my teeth as my jaw ticked, and looked out at the bar. “Don’t do that again.”

  He turned to me. “Listen, man, it wasn’t about torture. The asshole was feral. Just like that vamp y’all killed last night. Never seen nothin’ like it. Foaming at the mouth like he got rabies or somethin’. Wouldn’t talk. Obvious d
anger. Decided he couldn’t and shouldn’t be let loose.”

  I turned to look at my friend. “Should have tranq’d him and brought him in.”

  He sighed and blew out a breath. “Duly noted. But… I got his ID. Maybe we can have Face run him.”

  “Where’s the ID?” I asked, my curiosity now piqued.

  He pulled a Louisiana driver’s license from his pocket and handed it to me. Read James Lawson. Lived in the West End district according to his listed address. I handed the license back to Shadow. “Have him run a full background.”

  “On it,” he replied, disappearing into thin air.

  I wished he’d stop fucking doing that.

  Chapter 9

  Bad Wolves

  It wasn’t like I set out to kill wolves. Only the bad ones. Were there good ones? I wasn’t sure. All I knew was that it was time to get my shit together and find these bastards.

  The following night, I wandered into one of the offices and saw Face on the computer.

  He looked up when I walked in. “I got all the info on James Lawson. Well, the legal stuff, anyway.”

  “Hit me,” I said, sitting down in a chair next to the computer.

  “Twenty-nine years old, born and raised in the area. Parents died when he was sixteen”—he turned to look at me—“probably wolves. Went to live with an aunt and uncle.”

  “Last known address?” I asked.

  “The one on his license. The one he’s lived at since he was sixteen.”

  I looked at him. “And he’s twenty-nine?”

  Face chuckled. “Well, he was twenty-nine, but yeah.”

  “Pack’s den,” I said. “Jackpot.”

  “Exactly,” he agreed.

  I put my finger to my lips. “If he was as feral as Shadow said, how could he maintain the same residence for thirteen years without being kicked out? Seems shady.”

  Face lifted a shoulder and let it fall. “Dunno. Maybe he just used the address for his license. Maybe he’s normal and calm when he’s not shifted into the wolf.”

  “Or maybe Shadow just hates wolves,” I said under my breath.

  Face, of course, heard me. “He tolerates Venom, though.”

  I stood. “Text me that address and his phone number. Then go get Kovah, Shadow, and Venom. Oh, and grab Dash, too. Teach the rookie how to kill a wolf.”

  Face left the room as I went out back to where our bikes were parked. I hopped on mine and started the engine. It was less than a minute before the rest of the guys came out and we headed toward the west end to find this wolf den.

  I had no intention of sneaking up on them. The five of us rumbled to a stop in front of the two-story house. It was set out by itself behind a large field. Its brown and white exterior could use some paint and upkeep, but it wasn’t what I would call “rundown” or anything of the sort.

  I plucked my phone from my pocket and dialed James’s phone.

  I was surprised when someone answered it. A female voice. “Hello?”

  “Hello, with whom am I speaking?”

  “Well, who is this? You’ve called my dead nephew’s phone.”

  The aunt. Well, that worked. “Ma’am, may I please speak to the pack leader?” I laid the politeness on thick. It was either that or just bust down the door, guns blazing.

  “Pack leader?” she asked, but I could tell she was walking somewhere, as the music that had been in the background was fading.

  “Yes, the wolf pack leader. Put him on the phone. Please.”

  She hesitated and then said, “Who is this?”

  “Viper,” I replied.

  “What kind of name is—”

  “Who the fuck is this?” a gruff male voice asked.

  “Sir, please step outside your residence so we can have a talk.”

  “Answer the fuckin’ question, asshole,” he replied.

  I bit back a smile at his crankiness. “Viper. I’m the head of the Nighthawks, and I wish to have a civil conversation with you. Now please, step out. We’re outside your house now.”

  I heard a shotgun rack and the call ended.

  Dammit.

  I looked at my men. “He’s got a shotgun. I’m not sure if he’s going to come out shooting, but be ready. Don’t turn your bikes off.”

  They nodded their reply. Dash looked the most concerned of them all.

  A tall, scruffy, overweight man wearing a dirty white wife-beater tank and jeans stepped onto the porch holding said shotgun. He had it pointed right at us.

  I put my hands up in surrender. “No, guns here, see?”

  “The fuck do you want?” he asked.

  “Like I said, to talk. I’m Viper.”

  “Who the hell’re the Nighthawks?” he asked.

  “Put the fucking gun down and I’ll tell you,” I replied, slowly lowering my hands to the handlebars of my bike.

  The man—the werewolf—eventually lowered the gun and stepped down off his porch. “What do you want?”

  “Like I said, to talk.” I killed the engine of my bike and put the kickstand down. I stood next to the bike as the man slowly approached, shotgun at his side, his finger hovering near the trigger. I looked up and saw several faces watching through various windows. One pale face on the second story caught my attention. I stared at her a bit too long before she flicked the curtain back into place.

  “Talk about what? I don’t even know you”—suddenly he wrinkled his nose and his lip curled into a snarl. “Fucking leeches.” He raised the gun once more.

  “We’re here about James,” I said quickly. “We know he’s dead. Are you the pack leader?”

  He growled. “Yeah, he’s dead. No thanks to one of you pieces of shit.”

  “I’m well aware,” I replied. “Answer the question.”

  “I am the pack leader, ever since my brother died. James was his kid. He was next in line. I ain’t got no sons.”

  Tough break.

  “Was James feral?” I asked. “My resources tell me that’s why he was put down.”

  “Put down… he wasn’t no fuckin’ mutt, you asshole.” His finger twitched over the trigger.

  “Lower your gun and tell me your name already.” My patience was wearing thin.

  “Just kill his fucker,” Shadow said, appearing next to me suddenly, whispering in my ear.

  “What the fuck…” the wolf said, backing up, shotgun still raised.

  Finally, something to frighten him with.

  “This is Shadow,” I said. “What. Is. Your. Name.”

  He glanced at Shadow, then me. “John,” he replied.

  “John, this is your one and only warning. Keep your wolves out of New Orleans. Stay to the unpopulated areas. We know one of your pack is responsible for those deaths behind the cathedral the other night. It’s hard enough to keep our kind a secret. We don’t need the humans thinking there are wild animals roaming their precious city. They have enough superstitions as it is.”

  “You mean, you don’t want them to know there are wild animals roaming around?” Shadow spat back in disgust.

  “Fuck you, bloodsucker,” John said, narrowing his eyes.

  “Okay, that’s enough,” Venom said, killing the engine to his bike and coming to stand next to us.

  John sniffed the air and his eyes got big. “You fucking traitor. Hanging out with these leeches? The hell is your problem?”

  “Packs like yours,” Venom replied, narrowing his eyes. “The Nighthawks don’t go around killing for no reason. Unlike wolves. Get a fucking handle on your pack or I’ll personally make sure you watch us end every last one of you before we kill you last.”

  Under the light of the half moon, I could see John’s face get red. He aimed the gun at Venom and took a shot, missing him by inches.

  I dove, hitting the ground. Face and Dash took off on their bikes but quickly returned on foot with guns blazing. Every male from that house was now out shooting at us. We had our weapons out by now and were in a full-blown gun battle.

  Sh
adow blitzed over to John and quickly disarmed him. He hit him in the face with the butt of the weapon and knocked him unconscious. Like us, shooting them would not kill them but would incapacitate them. I did have a small revolver full of silver bullets in my boot, along with my silver knife, but I wasn’t ready for murder just yet.

  A few wolves went down with a groan. I turned my head when I heard a moan behind me to see Dash had gone down, a gunshot in his thigh. “Get to cover and use your belt as a tourniquet until it heals,” I yelled back at him before continuing to fire.

  When all the wolves were on the ground, either unconscious or too hurt to stand, we stopped firing. I looked at Face. “You stay here, shoot anyone who tries to get up.” I looked at Shadow. “You, come with me.”

  “Yep,” he replied with a nod.

  We entered the house, guns drawn, and saw five females huddled on the sofas in the living room.

  “Please don’t kill us,” an older woman said, staring at me with frightened eyes.

  “Shoot me, I dare you,” came a voice from the kitchen doorway.

  I looked up to see a huge woman standing there with her hands on her hips.

  I chuckled. “I didn’t come here to shoot anyone.”

  “I’ll do it,” Shadow replied with a shrug, raising his gun.

  I put my hand on his pistol to lower it. “No.”

  “Party pooper,” he murmured before walking down the hallway.

  “Who else is in here?” I asked her.

  She lifted her chin and then flipped me off with both hands.

  “Okay, then.”

  I climbed the stairs and cautiously cleared every room. As I was about to leave the last bedroom, a slight motion caught my eye. The bifold doors of the closet had moved and I could hear labored breathing coming from behind them.

  With vampire speed, I blitzed across the room and pulled the door off the hinges before tossing it to the floor.

  A small female standing there let out a squeal and then squeezed her eyes shut. I quickly covered her mouth with my hand. “Shh. I’m not gonna hurt you.”

  She slowly opened her eyes and stared up at me. Big, soulful brown eyes stared back at me. She looked half terrified and half defiant. Long, black hair framed her face, and she was dressed in a dirty white V-neck tee, jeans, and black Chucks on her feet.