Before Keller came back, I didn’t spend much time here. Now I’m wondering if I should upgrade to decent. He hasn’t officially moved in. That’s probably because I haven’t officially invited him. Nonetheless, this is where we spend all our fun time, so maybe a move is in order. But this is home, and has been for some time. The decision to leave won’t be an easy one.
Speaking of fun… “Hey, Irish?” I call. “Wanna join—” Before I can say another word, I feel Keller’s presence. His intensity cascades over my bare skin like an electrical current, pulsing, stimulating. I smile to myself and step into the shower. The terrible morning full of murks, demons, and drug-wielding pixies is finally looking up.
Chapter Eight
Keller
I clench my teeth, biting off the anger that nearly has me roaring as Josie closes the door and heads to Wolfie’s for the day shift. I listen to her retreating footsteps. Once I’m certain she has made it down the stairs safely, I throw myself on the bed to settle in for another day of waiting. Except today is different. Someone has intentionally harmed my woman—my mate. The monster inside me—the beast Josie has unknowingly quieted—stirs, stretching to life, seeking to lash out and kill.
Staring up at Josie’s cracked ceiling, I will it to part like the Red Sea so I can experience what it would feel like to walk in the day again, to have the sun warm my skin, to see the colors and reflections that can only be seen when the sun is at its highest. Energy zings along my nerves, popping and crackling, making me desperate for action. More than anything, I want to be able to escort Josie to work. How can I protect her when I can’t day walk? She certainly would never stay behind with me for her own safety. Josie isn’t made like that. The wood of the headboard creaks beneath my fingers.
The ceiling refuses to split open. It won’t retract or disappear, no matter how much I want it to. The only light comes from the lone bulb hanging from a thick black cord, and even that flickers like it’s two minutes from its last breath. Even if vampires slept, any form of slumber would elude me today. Again, someone harmed Josie. I need to make them pay.
I shove off the bed, land on my feet with cat-like precision, and walk to Josie’s dresser in three short strides. Yesterday’s garments, along with a set of blades and a couple of damp towels, are strewn across the top. After all these years, there are still no family pictures. No jewelry box. No feminine trinkets or mementos. Nothing that makes this a home—her home—though she’d fight tooth and nail swearing otherwise. One day I will give her the home she deserves. That plan is already in the works.
I look up and study my reflection in the cracked mirror. My hair is in need of a cut, but doing so means there will be less for Josie to cling to. I smile. Yes, I enjoy her nails digging into my scalp while she moans my name.
My dark eyes should be bright with the lingering aftermath of an explosive orgasm. To the contrary, they appear haunted and distant. I’ve seen a lot in my time and most of it was shitty. If the past is any indication, the future will prove every bit as challenging. Especially when the time comes to return to my sire again and do his bidding.
The call.
When will it come? I’ve already had to leave Josie more than once because of my sire. I push all thoughts of that maddening situation out of my mind. Maybe that makes me a coward. I’m not. When the moment comes, I will go. What I do once I’m in the presence of him again has yet to be determined.
I straighten the crooked mirror. Color stains my normally pale cheeks, an equal combination of anger and satisfaction. My hunger has been satiated for the time being, though will never be fully quenched. The taste of Josie, being with her, loving her, possessing her, consumes my thoughts. I’ll never get her out of my system. Her blood sings a duet with my blood, mixing perfectly, making me stronger and more vibrant with each passing second. That is part of the problem. I may as well be locked in a cell. Yes. I am a prisoner within these walls. A captive inside my own body.
Day by day, I die a slow and torturous death. Alone in the dim room, I force myself to stay busy, and therefore sane. The alternative, and one a lot of vampires suffer, is to become a mental case, a being that can never function in the real world, and ultimately walks into the path of the fiery orb. All because I have found the only person I can ever really be with—my mate, though Josie is exponentially more than that. It kills me that I can’t walk alongside her. Watch over her. Protect her. She would hate it. She’s driven that point home like a stake to my heart. Crystal clear.
I grab the towels from the dresser and launch them into the laundry basket. The action does nothing to squelch my frustration.
She feckin’ scared at least a century off my immortal life today. The pixie—Esmeralda, Josie had called her—will pay for what she has done. I should have stopped it. Should have seen it coming. Josie isn’t fragile, but she isn’t immortal either. Something happened to her while she was drugged, a hallucination that struck a bad chord. I will find out what it was, and I will make sure it never comes to fruition.
I might not be able to be with Josie right now, but I’m sure as feck not going to lie around and wallow in self-pity. I grab my cell off the kitchen counter and thumb in a text to four of my contacts: SOMETHING BAD IS GOING DOWN.
ALEX: SUP?
MATTHEW: ALWAYS BRO
LUCIAN: HOPE IT’S A FEMALE
GRANT: WHAT DO U NEED?
LUCIAN: HE NEEDS 2 GET LAID
ALEX: LUC IS JEALOUS
GRANT: LET K GIVE THE DEETS
I shake my head as the texts continue to fly in. All predictable responses considering the mixed personalities of my friends. I give them a very brief rundown of the events from the last few hours, excluding the shower scene.
The comedic responses die the moment I mention Josie was assaulted. She’s won them over with her eccentric, one-of-a-kind charm and sarcastic wit. They’ll fight for her. They willingly fight beside her. I couldn’t have chosen a better Team. They are more than that, tighter than duty.
Maybe I should have waited to tell them until later, after sunset when they can actually prowl the streets. As it is, they’ll be prisoners held captive by the clock, searching for an escape route that won’t come for several more hours. But prisoners have contacts, and that is what I’m betting on. The five of us have work to do.
KELLER: I’M ON MY WAY.
My phone rings and Grant’s face flashes across the screen. I slide my thumb across the screen to accept the call. “Yeah.”
“You all right, man?”
“I’m good and pissed,” I respond. Closing my eyes, I pinch the bridge of my nose. “Other than that, I’m fine. I’ll be there shortly.”
“I feel you. Later, we need to get some rehearsal time in. There’s that new tune we’ve been talking about. This might be a good time to incorporate it into our repertoire.”
My brow creases. “What song would that be, G?”
Grant laughs. “Dead Pixies. It’s an original.”
I smiled despite myself. My friends are solid. Pounding the drums will do me good. I sure as hell need to blow off some steam before I self-combust. Josie’s place is already trashed enough without my innards decorating the walls.
“Brilliant,” I say. “Can’t wait to hear this.” I disconnect and toss my phone on the bed.
Teleporting during the day is dangerous, and most vampires never even attempt it. No matter how hard I concentrate on the destination, there are always those half-seconds where I am exposed. Any mental interruption and I can kiss my life goodbye. Some days, need outweighs the risk. Today is one of those days.
I grab a clean t-shirt and a bag of sticks, focus on the safe house, and teleport my ass out of here.
The vampire lair shimmers in front of me. I feel the heat grabbing at my skin. I push harder until I am inside and clear of the sun’s deadly bite.
The lair, which was originally a factory, has been converted to suit the needs of five vampires. More, if need be. As it is, I haven’t spe
nt more than one or two nights here since just before the Spring Equinox. I’m not complaining. Lying in bed against Josie’s lush curves trumps hanging with the boys at the factory any day of the week.
I find Grant, Luc, Alex, and Matthew waiting for me in the gym. This is as good a place as any to hold a meeting. The gym is well equipped, better than any franchise out there. Vampires have a lot of hours to kill, and from the looks of it, the four of them have been burning calories right along with time.
“What happened, man?” Alex asks, cutting off the music with a click of the remote. He tosses the remote on the bench.
“Feckin’ pixie drugged Josie.”
Luc’s eyes flash red. “’She all right?”
“Yes,” I say. I snag a chair, swing it around and drop into it, crossing my arms over the back. The others follow suit, forming a semi-circle around me. “She tripped hard, though. I’m guessing they were some pretty ugly hallucinations, though she’s not giving me a lot of information.”
Matthew laughs under his breath. “Sounds like Josie.” He rubs his neck. “What do the pixies have against her?”
I stare at the floor, gathering my thoughts. “Nothing that I’m aware of. It doesn’t make sense,” I say, shaking my head. “This particular pixie’s name is Esmeralda. She acted like this was a game.” I rub my palm against the back of my other hand, then look up as an idea formulates.
Grant angles his head. “I see those wheels spinning. What’s up, Keller? What are you thinking?”
“I need one of you to check on Cross.” They all know who Cross is. Each of us played a part in extracting the powerful drug-lord vampire from Nashville. Maybe I’m wrong. Just because Josie was drugged doesn’t mean Cross played a part in Esmeralda’s game. A slight possibility is still a possibility. When it comes to Josie’s safety, I won’t take a chance. “There won’t be much time between sunset and the gig.” I nod at Lucian. Luc is by far the fastest. “You go. Make sure your mental walls are in place. I don’t want him to know you’re there. A quick in and out. You understand?”
“Of course,” Lucian acknowledges. “I’ll be nothing but eyes, ears, and wind. A ghost.”
“Good,” I say. “I don’t care what it takes to protect Josie…” I trail off. There is no need to say more. Everyone knows how I feel. Josie comes first. “The rest of you should be on the lookout for pixies as well as dealers. Esmeralda got the drugs from somewhere. We need to find out who and where. Make some calls. Do whatever you need to do to get some answers.”
Chapter Nine
Josie
I was right. No surprise there. Keller had said I’d been out a “couple of hours”. By my calculations, it was a lot closer to six. It’s already noon and the streets are full of tourists. They mill around, laughing, shopping, and snapping pictures with their cell phones and tablets. Nashville is chock-full of interesting people and things. From the Elvis impersonators outside every other shop, to the oversized guitar statue a couple blocks up on a corner in the heart of Music Row. While country music is the main course, the residents of this city offer a variety of appetizers and desserts.
Needing a few more minutes to gather my thoughts—still wonky from my excitement-filled morning—I stop by one of my favorite shops and peruse their new stock of cowboy hats and boots. A girl can never have too many. A pair of red boots, with black threading call to me from the far corner. They have my name written all over them. I scoop them up and pay the steep bill. Definitely a splurge, but I’ve got the perfect outfit to go with them. Gothabilly all the way.
The remaining short walk to Wolfie’s is uneventful, except for the scenarios playing out in my mind. For the life of me, I can’t figure out why Esmeralda targeted me. What game is she playing? I hate to be a tattletale, but I might have to rat her out to her mother—or the equivalent of. Esmeralda is in serious need of a time out and I know just the being to give her one—right after I kick her little sparkling ass to Mars and back.
Arranna is the pixie queen and has stayed on the up and up, for the most part, in spite of the bad rap her following creates. She’s also the most beautiful pixie I have ever seen. She uses that beauty to her advantage on every possible occasion, flaunting and flirting her way into many a man’s bed. The fact that she’s vertically challenged doesn’t deter her—or her bedmates—in the least. Not that I blame the men. Arranna’s long hair falls past her waist in glimmering midnight waves. Her wings fade from deep purple to a pale shade of green, and her skin sparkles like diamond dust. I make a mental note to schedule a meeting with her Highness. And to make sure I look my best when I do it. While I can’t compare to her beauty, I don’t want to go in looking like a ragamuffin either.
I stop outside Wolfie’s and add another item to my to-do list. The sign is dated and in desperate need of repair. It’s hanging crooked. The white paint is chipping in several spots, and the gray on the wolf’s snout has faded, leaving no definition between his nose and his eyes. The scroll letters were never really right for the atmosphere. A strong and fierce font would be a much better choice. It’s well past time to commission a new one. I’ll talk to Sage about it tonight. We need something hip, but she’s the number cruncher and will know if it’s in the budget.
Co-owning a bar with Sage works out for both of us. I take the day shift and she takes the nights, which allows me ample time to be in the streets. It’s a win-win situation all around. She looks after the patrons inside Wolfie’s and I look after everyone else. Keller’s sister and I have been best friends a long time. Our history is rich and strong. I worried going into business with her would be a strain on our friendship. Quite the opposite. We’re tighter than ever.
I shove open the door and wait for my eyes to adjust to the dark interior. Wolfie’s is half-packed. And hot as the desert plains on the west side of Hades. Jason Aldean’s latest hit filters in from the overhead speakers. The song, the sound of laughter, and clinking glasses is music to my ears. The ringing of the cash register would make it even better.
I shrug out of my cardigan and toss it behind the bar, which has been left unattended. No bartender equals empty glasses and zero money. The green stuff is the great big fat ass point of owning a business. Okay, I also do it for first dibs on the karaoke mic on Karaoke Wednesdays, but that’s considered a perk, and one Sage threatens to take from me if I don’t get better at managing our employees. I’m not that bad. I’m not that good either. Managing, that is. I’ve got mad lyrical skills, though.
Since Sage can’t come out during the day, that task is left to me. I watch a waitress make her way through the small crowd. She’s wearing a black Wolfie’s t-shirt, a tiny pair of jean shorts that leave little to the imagination, and a rock-star-worthy pair of red cowboy boots. Her dark hair is pulled back into a high ponytail and her lips are painted bright red. She stops to chat at a table filled with a family of four. She’s friendly and seemingly interested in answering the tourists’ questions. Take that, Sagey Sage, I think to myself. I hired Cassy and she looks to be a keeper. She’s also a witch. That tidbit of information is on the down low in a big way. I’ve warned Cassy about casting during work hours. Not allowed. So far, we haven’t had any issues.
I hop behind the bar and grab the clipboard from under the counter. I scroll through the list of dates and names until I come to today. I’ve scheduled one bartender for this shift, and after seeing his name, I’m not surprised he’s MIA.
Wes is a pain in my backside. Dealing with him is like sitting on nails and then shifting in your seat until they’re embedded deep in your ass. He needs to be fired, but Sage won’t let me. I don’t know why she continues to protect him, but I’ll get to the bottom of it. I like mysteries. Call me Sherlock Watson, or something like that. I’m eccentric.
“Hey, Josie!”
I turn toward the cheery voice. Cassy is at the far end of the bar. I wave, toss the clipboard back on the shelf, and make my way to her. “How’s it going?”
Cassy sits her empty d
rink tray on the bar, grabs a napkin, and wipes the sweat off her forehead. “Good. We’re busy today.” She pitches the napkin into the trash, then picks up another and wipes down her tray. “But some of the customers have left because of this heat. It’s terrible.”
I can’t blame them. Another ten minutes and I’ll need to shower again. It must be over ninety degrees in here. While another shower with Keller is deliciously appealing, I’m needed here. “Sure the hell is. Why is it so hot?”
Cassy shrugs. “Don’t know. It’s been like this since I got here at ten. Wes was trying to fix it, but then something started smoking and I think he made it worse.” She gives me a look and I know she’s thinking the same thing I am.
Deep breath. “Where is Wes?”
“He left, mumbling something about the hardware store. I could have fixed it, but rules are rules.”
Meaning she’d have had to cast a spell. I smile. Cassy made the right call. If I let her use magick, I’m opening a can full of trouble.
Wes should have called me. I admire his attempt to fix the issue, but that doesn’t excuse him from leaving Wolfie’s without a bartender. “How long has he been gone?”
“Maybe an hour? I’m not sure. I’ve been managing okay, but I’m glad you’re here.”
“Tell me what you need.” I take the black elastic band off my wrist and pull my hair into a low pony. “I’ll get your drinks ready.”
Cassy rambles off her short list and I immediately pour a draft beer, holding the glass at the precise angle needed for the perfect beer to head ratio. The thing about Nashville is anytime is a good time for beer. Though I suppose it’s the same with any bar on this planet and the next. “Do me a favor and prop the front door open, please.” I wipe my forehead with my arm. “It’s got to be at least twenty degrees cooler outside right now.” That will change quickly enough. Even in May, Nashville can be hot and humid.
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