"Let's see," Jack said, admiring the silver knife. "You know nothing about Erica's death. You destroyed my rental car. You sent me on a wild goose chase, hoping the goose would kill me. Well, Rob, I can't think of one reason not to kill you."
He flung the chair aside and pinned Rob to the floor with a knee, holding the knife high over his head. Rob's eyes widened, and he held up his bloody arm to defend himself.
Jack stayed his hand.
His thoughts drifted to Marie Johnson, the mesmerizing werewolf. She was in trouble, and not only concerning her bar. Rob was watching her for an unknown reason, knew what she was. Something bad was going to happen to her.
That was of no concern to Jack's goal. Marie had nothing to do with Erica, besides being her former boss.
But Marie needed help.
Jack hated to admit it to himself, but he liked her. The first words out of her mouth, sarcasm mixed with an admission of what she was, snared him. She rejected the notion of curing her lycanthropy, and loved what she was. She ran without a pack, something unheard of in werewolf circles. Never had he seen another werewolf reverse the change.
He told her they'd never meet again, but he found himself not caring if that weren't true.
Also, leaving her to her fate, was not something Tiffany would do.
He frowned at the thought of his daughter, making him feel things. Silently and facetiously, he cursed the day she stumbled out of that alley, bumping into him and changing his life forever. He missed her terribly, and couldn't wait to see her again.
But things needed to get done first.
Rob still covered his eyes with his arm. Blood dripped on his face, staining his cheeks. Jack gave him a slap.
"Rob, wake up there. Come on, stop pissing your pants. Listen to me carefully. There's a very small chance you live from this. I'm going to ask some questions. You remember this game, right?"
"Y-Yeah, man," he said. "What do you wanna know?"
"Marie Johnson. What's her deal?"
"She's a werewolf."
He pressed the blade of Rob's prized silver knife to his cheek, drawing blood. Ron clenched every muscle and went perfectly still.
"I already know that. Try again."
"My brother's coming. He's coming with a team to kill her. My job's been to watch her, learn everything I can, find out where the rest of her pack is."
Jack shook his head in disgust. "Werewolf hunters."
"Not just hunters. This is big business, highly organized. I've been trying to get in forever. They're not just rednecks running around with a few silver bullets. The organization, it's all over the world. A lot of times, they get paid to kill werewolves. Wealthy investors, congressmen, shady back-room dealings. It's insane."
"Someone put a price on Marie's head?"
"No, man. She just got picked up on the radar, who the fuck knows how. A goofy news story, a slip in an identity change, I don't know. But my brother said if I watch her, gather everything I can, it would look good on my resume, and he could get me in. So that's what I've been doing, watching her and working for her at the same time. Then you come along and ruin everything."
Jack shook his head. "So you want to kill werewolves."
"You're damn right."
"Well, Rob, thank you very much for that information."
He twirled the knife in his hand.
"No! Wait!" Rob said, crying. "Look, I really don't know who killed Erica. I had nothing to do with that."
"I know."
"You said you'd let me live!"
"No. I said you had a small chance. And I was lying."
Jack slammed the knife into Rob's throat. The blade went all the way through, pinning him to the floor. He gurgled blood, his mouth moving like a fish out of water. Rob grabbed the handle of the knife as Jack stood up, but it was useless. Jack never looked away as Rob slowly stopped moving, his eyes staring up at him.
Jack's fingerprints didn't exist in any computerized system, but he took the time regardless to wipe the apartment clean.
A new plan formed in his mind. A simple but effective plan.
He just had to use the resources around him.
CHAPTER 24
Marie smelled the delicious meal even before she walked into the apartment building. Steak, potatoes, steamed broccoli. The delicious scents made her mouth water. The fact that it was two in the morning wrinkled her brow in curiosity, but the human world was a strange place. They watched TV whenever they wanted, had sex whenever they wanted, and apparently ate steak whenever they wanted.
She adjusted her clothes, having just put them on after a run in the woods. She didn't bother stepping into her shoes, content to carry them over her shoulder. It was such a short walk from the woods to her apartment building. Her hunt of a rabbit didn't go as planned, and she simply wasn't in the mood to kill. Still, the scent of that steak dinner reminded her how empty her fridge was.
The scent grew stronger as she approached her front door. A new smell blended in.
Chocolate.
Shaking her head, she didn't even bother fishing for the key. She slowly opened the door, and the wonderful scents smacked her in the face.
From the front door she could see half of Jack, working in the kitchen. He dressed similar to the night before. Nice clothes, his sleeves rolled up, collar open. He looked very good. She wondered if whatever curse he talked about affected his appearance, just as vampires and werewolves naturally were attractive.
Jack moved through the kitchen gracefully. He shifted a steamer full of broccoli to a cold burner. Marie didn't even own a steamer. He squatted down to check the potatoes in the oven. One steak was already cooked, sitting on a plate on the counter. He had another steak ready to cook when his shoulders stiffened, finally realizing he was being watched. He turned and gave Marie a polite nod, which she imagined was a substitute for a smile.
"You almost have perfect timing," he said.
"What exactly is going on here?" She closed the door behind her.
"Dinner. What's it look like? I hope you haven't eaten."
"Dinner at two a.m. is a little weird, but no, I haven't."
"Good. Because some raw, bloody deer meat is nothing compared to some of the miracles I can perform in a kitchen."
"How would you know? Have you tried raw, bloody deer meat?"
"Can't say I have."
Marie dropped her shoes to the floor. She adjusted her shirt, conscious that it was still crooked.
"So, breaking into people's apartments…is that like a hobby for you?"
"Those are strong words." He pointed to the patio door. "The bar holding the door in place, all you have to do is shake the door a little, and it pops out. Is that really breaking in?"
"Yes, it is."
He shrugged. "Eh, whatever."
Marie lowered her eyes, only for a moment.
"I guess I should apologize for trying to kill you last night. I lost my temper. But you did burn my bar down. So, I'll keep my apology to myself."
"That's okay. I should apologize for wrecking your bar. But I really don't care. And I'm not good at pretending to feel things I don't. So, no apology."
"Wow. You really have a way with words."
"I've been told that before. I'm guessing you like your steak rare? Do you even like it cooked?"
"Rare? Hell, no. Cook that thing. Well done."
"Hmmm. I always thought werewolves—?"
"Do you see a wolf here?" She stood in the dining room and held out her arms, turning in place.
Jack's lip curled. "I don't know. Do that spin thing again, real slow. Maybe hold your shirt up, just a little. Pop the hips, lick your lips. Then I can give you an answer."
He was flirting. Marie was shocked. This wasn't a case of a tipsy patron at the bar catching a glimpse of her cleavage. Jack had seen her at her worst. She tried to kill him, tore at him with her claws and teeth, threw him from tree to tree. He'd seen her in mid change.
Yet, Jack still flirted
with her, and she liked it. She was almost tempted to do as he asked.
Marie was thankful when he turned back to the stove. He dropped the steak on the pan. She knew she was smiling like a fifteen-year-old schoolgirl, but managed to regain her composure.
"I'll pass, thank you," she said. "Look, Jack, are you trying to seduce me? Because believe me, nothing gets me hotter than breaking and entering."
A timer went off, and Jack pulled two potatoes from the oven. They were wrapped in foil. He set them aside on another plate and returned his attention to the steak.
"Seduction, no. That would be another meal entirely, and I wouldn't use this kitchen as my tool. I'm not sure if I've ever seen a worse kitchen in my life. You have dirt for spices. I had to run and spend a small fortune just to cook this meal here. No steamer, had to get that. You've got everything unorganized, completely in the wrong cabinets. The stove's not level. I couldn't seduce a whore with a thousand-dollar bill in here."
"It's a one-bedroom apartment."
"And a shitty one, at that." His eyes traveled the dining room and hallway. "Why don't you put some crayon drawings up? Something, anything at all. At least make it not so obvious that you just started a new identity. The only interesting thing in this place is your panty drawer, and I'm guessing you don't show that off much to company."
Marie turned red from embarrassment. Jack had already seen her naked and all her underwear.
"So much for seduction," she said, forcing a smile. "I'd hate to see you when you really turn on the charm."
"You don't think I'm being charming now?" He laughed, and left the kitchen to take in more of the apartment. His frown said it all, but he shook his head in disgust to drive the point home. "This place is a nightmare."
She took his place at the stove, poking at the sides of the steak with a spatula. Jack's eyes went wide when he turned and saw her.
"Just what are you doing?"
"You're not paying attention. You'll burn the steak."
Jack leaned in the kitchen archway and lowered his head, putting a hand to his chest in a fake display of pain. Marie watched the act with an amused smile. It was hard to believe he was the same man who destroyed her dream. But then she remembered the ease in which he violently dealt with three humans.
"Sorry, I thought my heart just stopped for a second," he said. "I'll let that slide, since we just met and everything. I know you're still forming an opinion about me, trying to figure me out. But just know this. I don't burn food. Not even in a shack like this. It's just not something that happens."
"I apologize very much for offending you."
"It's okay. Now hand over the spatula, before you hurt yourself, and march your pretty little wolf ass to the table. All you have to do is sit over there and be hot. I'll handle the rest."
More compliments, more flirting, even if Jack's delivery was unusual. Marie was quiet, resting her head on her hands, watching Jack work. It was obvious when she walked in, but he definitely knew his way around a kitchen. He moved with confidence, putting the finishing touches on the broccoli and potatoes. She tried not to be curious, but couldn't help but wonder about him. Did he cook for a family? At one time, did he prepare meals for Erica?
"What's with your hair?" he asked.
She unconsciously reached out and ran it through her fingers. "What about it?"
"It was dark last night, now it's not. Don't get me wrong, I like it, but I doubt you dyed it just for me."
"I thought you killed so many of us that you knew all about us?"
"Hey, you can teach an old dog new tricks."
She laughed. "Werewolves have complete control over their hair. The color and the length. It takes a bit of practice, but…" She willed her hair to change color. Blond, red, even white, until assuming her favorite strawberry. She didn't change the length, as she didn't feel like brushing it. "It's not so hard when you get used to it. I don't even have to shave."
Jack nodded, impressed. "I'll bet that's real nice with bikini season."
"I'm afraid that's something you'll never get to see."
He smiled and started setting the table. Marie tried to remember the last time someone set food in front of her without requiring a tip. Sadly, the answer was never. Even her one night stands didn't normally consist of dinner at a restaurant.
She knew Jack wanted something. She was still learning about him. But he wasn't cooking her a wonderful dinner out of the kindness of his heart. She'd play the game a little longer, if for no other reason than to enjoy a delicious steak.
There was also the small fact that she enjoyed his company, as twisted as that was.
He set two plates of food on the table and opened the fridge.
"I would have picked up wine, but I can't get drunk."
"Me, neither."
"Damn," he joked. "There goes my plans. I got soda."
"Soda is fine."
He joined her and flashed a smile before grabbing a knife and fork.
"Okay, I apologize if my cooking makes your clothes melt. It's happened before."
"Well, you've already seen me naked."
They ate in silence for several minutes. Despite the oddness and the late hour, Marie was having fun. Jack smiled at her, and she found herself smiling back. She waited patiently for the true nature of his visit to be revealed, but would indulge herself as well. She caught Jack eying her several times, and returned the favor when he wasn't looking.
The meal was also great.
"So, tell me about yourself," Jack said.
"What do you want to know?"
"Whatever you want to tell me. I picked up on a few things. You're probably a month or so into your new identity, aged out of the old one. I know exactly what that's like, when you start getting those stares when someone checks your ID and notices your birthday. I know you're a woods girl. What else are you in to? Any family?"
Marie shifted uncomfortably. Never in her life did she have the opportunity to genuinely talk with someone. Every friendship she ever had was cursory, fleeting. Jack already knew her biggest secret, and he wanted to know more.
As tempting as it was, she wasn't ready to come out of her shell.
"Let's talk about something else."
"Sure."
"How about what you're really doing here."
Jack laughed and took a drink of soda.
"Right down to business. I like that."
She sighed. "No, I didn't mean it like that—" She forced herself to take a breath. She had trouble reconciling the fact that she was almost getting cordial with the man that burned down her bar. She forced her emotions aside. "Thank you very much for dinner. But you said you're not here to seduce me. You even said my body didn't impress you. So, why are you here?"
"You're right, I'm here on business. I found out some information you might be interested in. From your old bartender Rob, right before he died."
Marie nearly choked on her soda. "Rob? Rob's dead?"
"Yeah. I killed him."
She locked eyes with Jack. He ate as if he didn't have a care in the world, finishing off his broccoli. She thought about the last time she saw Rob. In her office, before the bar burned down. He was always so full of energy, a smile on his face.
"Don't look so sad," Jack said. "I don't think you'll feel quite so bad after what I have to say."
Jack told her a story that was difficult to believe. Rob was not the person she thought he was. Stalking her, watching her every move, all with the endgame of pumping her full of silver.
Rob was working with werewolf hunters, mainly his brother, in the hopes of becoming one. They were on their way to Sandy Cliffs to kill her.
Marie held her head in her hands as Jack finished the story. Werewolf hunters. She'd fought them before, little two to three man teams. Only once did she fight one that hadn't yet made up his mind. Most were convinced werewolves were evil incarnate.
"I can't believe this," she said. "Rob…I never even dreamed…."
; "Sometimes the best place to hide is right under the nose."
"Wonderful," she said, taking another bite of steak. "Oh, well. I guess I need some more excitement in my life."
Jack finished his meal and pushed the plate away. Marie kept an eye on him as she felt her appetite waning.
"Why did you tell me that?" she asked.
"The way I see it, I just gave you some important information. I might have even saved your life. I'm hoping you'd be grateful, and give me a hand." He paused for a moment, discomfort spreading across his face. "I…need your help."
The words were obviously difficult to say, and Marie couldn't stop the smile. "With what?"
"You know I'm here to find whoever killed Erica. Well, I…seemed to have hit a wall. I was hoping you could use those senses of yours, maybe point me in a direction to go."
"Ah. So, this is a butter-me-up dinner?"
Jack nodded, returning her smile. "Yes."
She laughed and crossed her legs. Her bare foot brushed against Jack's leg, and she pushed back to give them space. She didn't realize they were sitting so close.
"I'm sorry, Jack. I appreciate the warning, I really do. But that and a nice dinner doesn't exactly make us even. I don't care how good you smell. You destr—"
"Ruined your bar. Yes, I know. You've reminded me often."
"I've got to get a real job now. I've got to put a little cleanup into the bar, so I can—" Her voice cracked. "Sell it. And I have to get ready for some wolf hunters. I liked Erica a lot. But I'm no cop."
"I'll pay for your services."
"Money?"
"No, sexual favors," he said, rolling his eyes. "Of course, money. Unless you want it in milk bones. Let's talk price."
"Yes, let's." She folded her hands on the table. "How much is closure for Erica's death worth to you?"
Jack stiffened in surprise at the forwardness. He watched Marie, his lips hinting at a small smile. Marie had negotiated price on many strange deals in the past.
"You've done this before," he said.
Marie said nothing, leaving the ball in Jack's hands. The truth was she didn't know much of anything. She knew at one time, Jack cared about Erica. That was it. She didn't know how much money he had, what he did for a living. There were also supernatural elements in play. How old was he? What was he capable of?
Damned and Cursed (Book 2): Witch's Kurse Page 26
