by Dannika Dark
“They’ll be working inside for a while and making a lot of noise. You can either let them know you’re here or hide all day under the covers, but they’ll stay out. Wizard gave me his word.”
“Tell them to go home.”
I pushed the door open and stepped in the doorway. “They’re here doing you a favor. Plus the lights are off, so unless you want to live in the dark for the rest of your life, you’ll have to put up with them until they finish up repairs. If you don’t want them nosing in your business, just tell them you fell down the front steps. Don’t be such a pussy.”
“Give me my sunglasses.”
I jerked my head back. “What for?”
“Just do as I say.”
I went down the hall and grabbed his shades off the kitchen table. Once I returned, I flung them onto the bed. “Any other odd requests?”
He looked himself over. “Put the blanket over me.”
I sighed and slowly dragged a dark blanket over his legs. I had a feeling Crush was preparing for the off chance of running into Wizard and didn’t want him to see the extent of his injuries. The shades would cover up his black eye, but nothing could mask his split lip, even with the glue that he’d put on it this morning.
“Would you also like a face mask and your gun?” I asked sweetly.
“Don’t give me your sass. Just make sure they know to stay out of here.”
“I won’t be gone more than an hour. It depends on traffic and how busy the restaurant is.”
“Take your time. If I have to take a piss, there’s a plastic cup.”
I rolled my eyes and shut the door behind me before grabbing my keys and heading out. When I reached the bottom of the steps, Wizard met up with me.
“Is Crush sick?” he asked quietly. “Is that why you want us to stay out of the bedroom?”
“Please don’t go in there. And don’t let him know that you know he’s in there.”
“What’s wrong with him?”
“He’s obstinate.”
“Anything I can do?”
I spied Switch riding up on his motorcycle. “Just keep your ears open for a loud thud, like the sound of a grown man’s body hitting the floor. I’ll be back with the grub in a little bit. If you get thirsty, help yourself to whatever’s in the kitchen. Just stay away from the juice and electrolyte drinks.”
“Will do.”
I jingled my keys and waltzed up to Switch, who was dismounting from his bike. “What are you doing here?”
“Just came to check on him. How’s he feeling?”
“He’s seen better days.”
“You look like shit.”
“Thanks.”
“Did you get any sleep last night?”
“Not really. I had a lot on my mind. Plus it took me forever just to get him to the bathroom and back. He couldn’t even sit up by himself.”
“Yep. Sounds like broken ribs,” Switch said. “I broke one as a kid when I fell off a bike. It was before I went through my first change. Sometimes it hurts when you breathe deep or turn a certain way. Hell, it hurt when I laughed.”
“Well, at least I won’t have to worry about that. Crush isn’t in a laughing mood. He took off that rib-brace thing this morning.”
“Good idea. He just needs to take it easy for a while. Make sure he takes deep breaths so he doesn’t get something like pneumonia.”
“Thanks for giving me something else to worry about.”
His eyes flicked down to my keys. “Where are you headed?”
“Barbecue run.”
“Need a hand?”
“Hop in.”
“RAVEN, WAKE UP.”
I raised my head from the table and looked up at Switch. Bleary-eyed, I sat back and yawned while he set our plates on the wood table. After he finished, he stacked the trays in the empty booth behind us and sat down.
My mouth watered when I caught a whiff of the pulled-pork sandwich, coleslaw, and beans.
Switch buttered a roll. “I know you’re looking after your old man, but don’t forget to take care of yourself.”
After I bit into the sandwich, I wiped the barbecue sauce from my mouth with a napkin. “Easier said than done.”
“Emotional stress takes more of a toll than all the physical stuff. Take it from someone who knows.”
I sipped my soda and nodded.
“Our to-go order should be ready by the time we leave. Do you want me to drive so you can take a nap?”
“Sorry,” I said, rubbing my eyes. “I’m not usually this tired. Once the meal kicks in, I’ll be good to go.” Switch’s plate was identical to mine, and I wondered how much our lunch had tacked onto the total cost. “Did the manager give you an estimate of the bill?”
“Zero dollars.”
I scooped coleslaw onto my fork. “Seriously.”
“The owner asked a lot of questions. When he found out you were Crush’s little girl, he said this one’s on the house.”
I peered over the wood divider at the men in the kitchen. One of them looked at me and nodded, so I waved a hand appreciatively to thank him.
I washed down a few bites of slaw with soda, my energy returning.
Switch licked sauce off his thumb. “I think we should swing by the drugstore on the way back and get Crush a walker.”
Soda sailed right into my windpipe. I bent over in a coughing fit, struggling to breathe. Once I regained my composure, I sat up and cleared my throat. “If you do that, he’ll put you on his hit list. When I offered to buy him crutches, I thought he was going to set the trailer ablaze from all that fire he was breathing. He thinks it makes him look weak and old, and I guess he’s starting to feel his age around his buddies.”
“He wouldn’t have a complex if he hung out with more humans. Then he’d have someone to commiserate with.”
“I can’t do anything about that. He’s getting old while all his friends stay the same, so I understand where he’s coming from. I just want him to accept that he’s getting older so he takes better care of himself.”
Switch smiled and took a big bite of his sandwich. Then he mumbled something I couldn’t understand.
“Swallow first,” I said.
He winked.
I shook my head and savored a bite of my own.
Switch wiped his mouth with a napkin. “I was just asking if you wanna go out sometime.”
“We’re out.”
“I mean a date.”
I flicked my eyes up. Shifters didn’t usually date outside their Breed. Fool around, yes. But most of them didn’t get serious with other Breeds. Did that mean he wanted to fool around? “What for?”
He shook his glass, the ice tumbling together. “Because you’re pretty, you take good care of your old man, you throw a mean punch, and you’re not afraid to eat in front of a man.”
“You must be dating those salad-eating girls.”
“Come on, Raven. I’m serious. I don’t care what people think about interbreeding.” He stroked his circle beard. “It doesn’t look like that Vamp is taking you seriously.”
“Maybe I don’t want anyone taking me seriously.”
He waggled his brows.
“I know how you Shifters love a good challenge, but that’s not an invitation. Please don’t put any added pressure on me right now. I seriously don’t know how much more I can take. Plus I’ll probably be a dead girl in a week if I can’t get General his money.”
“Who said I wanted a long-term relationship?”
I smiled and poked at my beans. “You’re funny.”
He resumed eating his pork sandwich. “Did you get the cash?”
“Is that why you really came by today? To see if General was going to browbeat me for his money?”
“There was nothing on TV.”
“You’re a barrel of laughs,” I said flatly. “No need to worry. I have a plan.”
He finished his last bite and wiped his face with the napkin. “But do you have the money?”
I swallowed another bite of my sandwich. “Not yet. But I’ll have it today. Well, some of it. Enough to tide him over until I get the rest.”
He pushed his plate aside. “I’ve got thirty grand saved up. I just bought a new bike this year, so it’s not as much as it could have been.”
I slowly lifted my head, stunned that Switch would hand over his entire life savings. Lenore was right about borrowing from friends. If I couldn’t pay Switch back the full amount, I’d never forgive myself. He didn’t have a pack to support him. It was a thoughtful gesture, but still not nearly what I needed.
“I’m not taking your money. Keep your nest egg.”
He swirled the straw around in his red plastic cup. “If I had a pack, I’d have more money saved up. But as it stands, I have rent and bills and all the bullshit that goes with living as a rogue.”
“Don’t beat yourself up. Someone will come along and realize what an asset you are to a pack. But if they find out you gave all your money to a Mage in debt, they might change their mind. I appreciate the offer though.”
He shrugged and scratched his ear. “You’re right, but I just wanna help.”
“You’re here, keeping me sane. That’s all the help I could hope for.”
Despite the recent chaos, these past weeks had been blissfully normal. Stepping away from murder and mayhem to do ordinary things was just what the doctor ordered. Even sitting across from Switch, talking about my family and problems, restored a piece of my sanity. Until General jumped into the picture, I hadn’t done a whole lot. Sleeping, sitting around, walking the property…
“What are you thinking about?” he asked.
“I’m debating which mortal sin I like best.”
“At the moment, I’m guessing gluttony.”
“Sloth has a lot to offer. A comfy sofa, doing lots of nothing…”
“What about wrath?”
“That’s my day job.”
He leaned across the table and gave me a smoldering look. “What about lust?”
I ate a single bean off my fork. “Looks like envy is on your plate today.”
“And pride is on yours.”
I pushed my empty plate aside and finished my soda.
“What do you see in that Vampire?” he asked.
As much as I wanted to elaborate on how I could relate to Christian on a level I couldn’t with others—that we were woven from the same cloth—I wasn’t ready for Switch to learn that I was half Vampire.
“Christian is blunt and honest.”
“Crass.”
“His remarks aren’t out of stupidity so much as he doesn’t own a filter. Trust me, Christian was on his best behavior around you. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him so… restrained.”
“So you like assholes?”
I scratched my neck. “Like attracts like.”
“You’re not an asshole. You were always a sweet girl. Mouthy, but sweet.”
I propped my elbows on the table. “That was the old me. Just like you’re a different man than the boy you were, I’m a different woman. In fact, I’m drastically different. I’ve killed people, Switch. A lot of people. On purpose.”
His gaze lowered.
I threaded my fingers through a tangle of hair, ashamed to admit the truth. “I’m a killer for hire. Keystone works all kinds of assignments, but I was hired specifically for my hunting skills, not my brains.”
“Then how are we so different? I’m a killer.”
“It’s different, Switch. You did it because it was personal. Your emotions took over, but deep down, you know it’s not who you are. I can still see your soul when I look in your eyes. I don’t think I’ve seen mine since the day I was made.”
He sat back, his broad shoulders resting against the vinyl booth. The owl tattoo caught my attention, the top of its head obscured by his shirtsleeve.
“Did you choose a Vampire because you don’t think you deserve a good man?”
“What makes you think he’s not a good man?”
Switch answered like he was ticking off checkboxes next to answers. “He works for Keystone, he’s a bloodsucking Vampire, he’s an asshole, and I’m willing to bet he hasn’t called you once.”
“Sometimes people aren’t everything they seem. He’s a cocky guy with a morose personality, but that’s not all there is to him.”
Switch dipped his head and held a pensive look.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“Maybe I’m jealous.”
“Why should you care about a fanghole like Christian?”
He wadded up his napkin and tossed it onto his plate. “Because you wouldn’t be defending him if you didn’t love him.”
CHAPTER 17
We didn’t tarry for long at the barbecue joint. After all, I had to wait around the trailer in case General showed up. I hadn’t received the call from Lenore confirming she was on her way to Keystone with the money, and I didn’t think General would prove himself a patient man. At least Wizard was on the property in case trouble came knocking while we were picking up lunch.
And trouble always came knocking at the Graves house.
Once home, I set up chairs outside for Wizard and his crew. Crush had an old round table he used for parties, so while the men rinsed off their hands with the garden hose, I laid out the containers and wrapped-up sandwiches. To thank them for all their work, I’d also pitched in for beer and cigarettes. We talked about music and bikes, but I distractedly kept checking my phone and looking over my shoulder at the turnoff. The only car that drove by Crush’s flame-painted mailbox was the mailman.
Shortly before dusk, Wizard packed up and headed out. Now that the lights were restored, I adjusted the heater to a comfortable temperature for the night. I wondered how long Switch would hang around, but when I received a message from Lenore, he didn’t budge from the table as I grabbed my keys and explained that I was heading to Keystone. He just kept laying down cards in a game of solitaire, eyes downcast and no questions asked.
I took every shortcut I knew to get to Keystone as quickly as possible, but it just didn’t seem fast enough. Not with rush hour traffic.
I made a quick phone call.
“This is—”
“Viktor, is Lenore there?”
“She is here waiting for you. What is this about?”
“Girl stuff.” I wasn’t sure how else to answer. “Where in the house are you?”
“You can find her in the downstairs study by the stairs. She wanted to meet with you alone. We are, ah… busy at the moment.”
That piqued my curiosity, but I didn’t ask for details. After hanging up, I gunned it.
When I reached the twenty-foot-high iron gate surrounding the Keystone estate, I swiped my card and waited impatiently for the gate to open.
“Come on, come on, come on,” I chanted.
Once through, I decided not to raise any suspicion in my team by barreling toward the house and screeching the brakes. So I casually parked in front of the main door and got out.
The sun was cresting the horizon, butterscotch light gilding the treetops.
I flattened my hair as I walked up to the front door, my heart pounding. Would she have the money? What if she’d had second thoughts or decided on a lower figure? I took a deep breath and entered the mansion.
Persistent barking in the kitchen grabbed my attention, but despite my curiosity about all the chatter, I continued my path to the study. It was one of Viktor’s favorite rooms. He conducted private meetings or phone calls in there since it was conveniently located next to the stairs.
I knocked first, and when I opened the door, my breath caught.
Lenore stood in the center of the room in nothing more than a black thong and heels. Christian was in her arms, his face buried in the other side of her neck. Her salacious expression made it that much worse. Was he drinking her blood? She had his shirt looped around the back of his neck, their bodies pressed tightly together.
When Lenore slid her gaz
e my way, she didn’t look at me with surprise. She lowered her arms as Christian jolted back and caught sight of me.
I couldn’t speak.
I couldn’t even move.
Much to my chagrin, I stood there like a third wheel on a bicycle, my shoulders tightening as I looked between them.
Lenore unabashedly strutted to the small table against the right wall and lifted her sparkly bag, which was next to an uncorked wine bottle. “When Viktor said you were away, I wasn’t expecting you to arrive so soon. I have what you came for.”
Christian stood motionless with a look of bemusement. Even in candlelight, I could see the flush in his cheeks as he slowly pulled the shirt away from his shoulders and let it fall next to her dress.
Lenore approached me and obscured my view of Christian. It was hard not to notice that her nipples were taut. Probably from where he’d sucked on them. Rage began to culminate as she opened her purse and retrieved two stacks of bills neatly taped in a bundle. The denomination was one I’d never seen before.
“This is what you came for,” she said. “It’s all there. I’ll be in touch with you regarding our other arrangement.” Lenore grinned, her fangs prominent.
Two things naturally brought out a Vampire’s fangs: blood and lust.
I hefted the money in my hand, uncertain what to say. Did I expect anything less from Christian? Especially after our argument, my leaving Keystone, and the awkward conversation at Lenore’s party? Apparently that was all the incentive he needed to do as he pleased.
I took a deep breath and turned away, feeling the weight of deception crushing down on me with every step. I couldn’t afford to let this sink me, but building a wall around my heart didn’t take away the sting.
Christian caught up with me and seized my arm. “Raven, it’s not what you think.”
I turned my head, my gaze landing on his bare chest. Of all the cliché lines he could choose to say to me…
When I noticed a lipstick smudge on his neck, I wrenched my arm free. “I can’t even look at you. Get away from me. Don’t even speak to me.”
With $100,000 in one hand and my heart in the other, I closed the doors of Keystone and left Christian behind.
