Stakeout (Aurora Sky

by Nikki Jefford

  I scrunched my nose. I don’t know, the words “dealer” and “books” sounded unnatural together.

  “It’s like a scavenger hunt across the world wide web. I search for long lost treasures, make offers then resell them for more.”

  Joss should talk more. I liked listening to his accent.

  Joss wrapped his slim fingers around his porcelain mug. “I still attend the occasional estate sale.”

  “What about garage sales?”

  He nodded. “I’ve made some of my biggest profits from those. People don’t know what they’ve got. They toss items of value on the curb like rubbish.”

  I stopped chewing. “You don’t think too highly of people, do you?”

  Joss looked at me. His hand didn’t move, nor his eyes, or mouth. I could almost swear he wasn’t even breathing, and vampires breathed, at the least as far as I knew.

  I shrugged. “It’s okay, I don’t either.”

  Shortly after breakfast, I stepped outside to call Agent Melcher and tell him my father had found me; I needed a new place to live. Melcher was the only person outside my family who knew I’d slit my wrists. He’d never chastised me or made me feel like a weakling. Melcher had helped me find a place to room after recruiting me so I wouldn’t have to go back home. He told me everything that had happened had been for the greater good, that I shouldn’t be too hard on myself. If I hadn’t picked up that knife, we wouldn’t have met, and I wouldn’t have been handed the greatest opportunity on earth—to rid the world of evil forces. Melcher saw it as holy work. I viewed it more as police work, but on a much darker, secretive, and glamorous scale.

  Melcher also made it clear that if I ever tried to off myself again I was out of the program and his good graces for life.

  There was a short pause after I explained the situation over the phone to Melcher, minus staying the night with Fane Donado.

  Melcher heaved a sigh. “Did you try making contact with your brother, Noel?”

  Great, so he thought that somehow I’d brought this situation on myself?

  “No!” I said defensively. “I haven’t seen Chris in eight months.” Not since I sliced open my wrists. I might not disclose everything I should to Melcher, but I always followed his instructions—even the most painful ones.

  “Did you go anywhere near your parents’ house recently?”

  “No,” I said again.

  Melcher could believe me or not. I had stayed as far away as I could from that insane asylum.

  “I’ll see what I can do. Where are you now?”

  “At a friend’s.”

  Yeah, let’s leave it at that.

  11

  The Fane Fan Club

  A little after two, I began eyeing the front door. School had ended. It probably would be good if I at least made an attempt to call in sick. Maybe tomorrow.

  I didn’t know if Fane planned to come straight home or go do whatever it was he planned to do to Clive.

  My heart beat out an erratic rhythm, and I’d broken into a cold sweat as though I were the one about to confront my father. Like Joss, I trusted Fane. I didn’t know what he had planned, only that I had full faith in him. Waiting to hear the plan was pure torture, though.

  At two forty-five, I was sure Fane had gone straight to the hospital, but a couple minutes later, a car pulled into the driveway. Fane walked in after that, kicking snow off his shoes against the door frame before stepping inside.

  He shrugged out of his long leather jacket, draping it over the armchair.

  “How was school?” Joss asked. He’d resumed his spot on the couch with a book after lunch, which he’d also served me: some kind of potato soup, salad, and an orange. My body hardly knew what to make of actual nourishment.

  “Keeps me young,” Fane answered with a crooked grin. “Not to mention it’s the perfect place to round up reinforcements.”

  Reinforcements? Was he planning on taking the hospital by siege?

  Joss set his book on the coffee table, got up slowly, and went to the adjacent kitchen. The microwave started. A minute later he brought a mug half-full of blood to Fane.

  What a thoughtful vamp wife.

  Fane thanked Joss as he took the mug and had a sip.

  When Joss caught me watching Fane, he said defensively, “He needs it to stay healthy.”

  Fane chuckled. “Yeah, and so does he, but Joss refuses. Poor guy’s practically skin and bone. No color in his face. He’s the poster child for all vampires about what happens if you don’t drink enough blood.”

  Joss glowered at Fane. “I’m still alive, aren’t I?”

  Fane stiffened. “That’s right; you are. Maybe you should start appreciating that fact.” Fane set his mug on the coffee table and scooped up his jacket. “I need a smoke.”

  I looked at Joss then quickly put on my shoes and coat and hurried after Fane. He already had a cigarette lit and was puffing on it on the front stoop. Fane smiled when I stepped out. “Want one?”

  “Sure.” I didn’t consider myself a smoker, but I did light up on occasion with Whitney and Hope. Having a drag with Fane seemed like the right thing to do at the moment.

  I took a cigarette from him, stuck it in my mouth, and let him light it up.

  I glanced at the door. “What’s with your roommate? Has he always been this gloomy?”

  Fane snorted. “Every day for the last 167 years—ever since I found him.”

  Wow, that was a long time to be stuck with Eeyore. “Where did you find him?” I asked.

  “Small village in England. He dug himself out of a mass grave.”

  I flinched.

  Fane nodded solemnly. “Not the most romantic tale of vampirism.”

  “I hope you didn’t have to dig yourself out of a grave.”

  “No, I did not.”

  Fane didn’t elaborate, so I respected his privacy by not prodding further.

  We stood in silence for several minutes watching our smoke clouds rise through the frosty air into wispy white vapor.

  “Cigarettes don’t do anything for me,” Fane said suddenly. “Don’t feel a buzz. But I love watching the smoke.” This he said while watching his last white billow of smoke disperse into the atmosphere.

  I felt a kind of peace settle over me. There was something poetic about that.

  “I’m limiting myself, though,” Fane said. “I don’t want to end up with yellow teeth for all eternity. Not a big turn on for the ladies.” He grinned.

  Thinking about yellow teeth made me want to stub out my cigarette. Not a pretty combination with my ivory skin. I pinched the cigarette butt between my fingers and slowly let it burn out.

  I’d reached that moment where I had to ask a question, similar to the one I’d asked Joss. I crossed one arm over the other, careful not to get ash on my skirt. “Why are you helping me? I work for a unit of the government that kills vampires.”

  Fane took a drag on his cigarette, blew smoke in the air above us, and smiled as though keeping a secret all to himself. “Tell me, Noel, how did you find yourself in the position you’re in now?”

  I squinted at him. “As an undercover informant?”

  Fane lifted his brows.

  “I was recruited.”

  I waited for his next question, but it never came. Silence was just as effective, if not more.

  I threw my cigarette across the porch into the snow-covered yard.

  “Fine, I tried to kill myself.” I turned my arms over. My black wrist warmers covered the scars, but I told him. “I slit my wrists, bled out, and nearly died. Somehow this agent found out and saved me.”

  Fane’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Why would he do that?”

  “Because I have AB positive blood.”

  Now Fane nodded. “We all have some form of AB blood.”

  He was so cool and smooth. Not to mention frustrating. I’d asked the question, and he’d answered with his own question—one I answered with something very personal. Something I never discussed with anyon
e.

  “You didn’t answer my question. Why are you helping me?” I prodded.

  Fane’s lips twisted into a smile. He glanced toward the road. Following his gaze, I noticed two juniors from Denali High—Reece and Daren—coming up the driveway.

  “We came as soon as we could,” Reece said.

  “Right on time,” Fane answered.

  Right on time, my ass. I’d shared my personal shit with Fane Donado, received no answers in return, and now, how convenient, a couple of Fane’s followers came traipsing up the walkway. Okay, I had to admit, it made me smile to see Reece and Daren again.

  I waved. “Hey, guys.”

  “Noel, long time no see.”

  Daren stepped over and gave me a hug. I couldn’t remember the last time someone hugged me. I caught Fane grinning behind Daren’s shoulder. He had cool groupies, no doubt about it. I wondered if Daren and Reece knew how lucky they were to have Fane as their vamp idol. I could think of a lot worse choices.

  The guys were dressed all in black... like Fane... like me. We looked like we belonged to a secret club.

  “Why don’t you two catch up with Noel while I change?” Fane said.

  “Yeah, sounds good.”

  Fane slipped back inside. Reece pulled a pack of American Spirits, the same brand Fane smoked, from his leather jacket.

  “Want a smoke?”

  “No thanks, I already had one.”

  Reece handed one to Daren, along with his plastic lighter once he’d fired up his own.

  “What exactly did Fane recruit you for?” I asked.

  That’s the other burning question I’d wanted to ask Fane: what exactly was the plan? But then he was even better at evading questions than I was.

  Reece and Daren exchanged glances.

  “What?” I demanded. It was a whole heck of a lot easier to act snappy with these two dudes than Joe Cool Vampire.

  Daren flicked ash off the tip of his cigarette over the edge of the porch. “Um, Fane didn’t want us discussing the details with anyone.”

  I placed a hand on my hip. “I’m not anyone. This is my dad.”

  “Yeah, he sounds like a real jerk,” Daren said.

  I shrugged.

  Reece blew out a cloud of smoke. “Do you think we should go in and see if Fane’s ready?”

  Daren nodded. They stubbed their cigarettes out on the concrete stair before depositing them in an ashtray on the window’s ledge. Hadn’t noticed that before. I’d pick up my cigarette butt later.

  The guys waited for me to go in first. Joss and his book were no longer in the living room.

  “So, you’re crashing here for now?” Daren asked. “That’s cool.”

  “Just until I find a new place.”

  There was an awkward silence as the guys looked around. I felt like I should offer them something, but it wasn’t my place. It was a relief when I heard a door open and close down the hall. It wasn’t until Fane stepped into the glow of the living room that I got a good look at what he was wearing.

  Oh my God!

  Where to start? He had on a translucent black, netted T-shirt with nothing underneath but a solid six-pack that was guaranteed to yield appreciation for centuries to come. Beneath the shirt, Fane wore a pair of black cargo pants and a studded belt. His combat boots were pulled over his pants, just above his ankles, laces untied.

  Realizing that my jaw had been hanging open way too long, I snapped my mouth shut.

  Hot damn!

  Did wanting to jump a guy’s bones after seeing his abs make me a shallow whore?

  “Rock on. You look killer, man,” Reece said, eyes bugging out nearly as much as mine.

  Fane’s hair was all messy hotness on top. He made Gavin and Henry look like choir boys. I guessed the next time Aurora was pining after Fane, I’d have more sympathy. A lot more sympathy.

  “All right, gang, let’s go,” Fane said, throwing his keys in the air and catching them one-handed. Fane stepped in front of me when I started toward the door with Reece and Daren. “Not you.”

  “What are you going to do?” I asked.

  “I’m going to have a chat with the good doctor.” Fane’s lips curled into a smile.

  “And them?” I asked nodding at Daren and Reece.

  Fane’s lips extended further. “They’re extras.”

  “Extras?” What was this? A movie set?

  Fane grabbed his leather jacket and breezed past the boys. “Come on, the others will be waiting.”

  “Wait. What others?”

  Daren and Reece hustled after him with expressions that looked like kids on their way to the carnival. Reece turned around quickly at the door and said, “There’s going to be about twenty of us, including your friends Whitney and Hope. It’s going to be killer. Later!”

  I stared at the door for several minutes, my heart doing some heavy thumping. I wondered how long before I could call Whitney. I didn’t want to interrupt any part of Fane’s plan, but waiting around to hear what happened was torture.

  I needed a distraction. Reading proved useless, but wearing out the rug pacing back and forth was a great use of my time. Joss remained in his room the entire time I was going out of my mind. An hour and forty minutes later, Fane returned alone.

  He walked in without a word wearing black lipstick in addition to the ensemble I’d seen earlier. His expression gave nothing away. As he shucked off his coat I said, “Well? What happened?”

  Finally, Fane showed some teeth. He leaned onto the armchair lazily and said, “I wouldn’t worry about your father bothering you anymore.”

  “What did you do?”

  Fane smirked. “I delivered a warning.”

  “That’s all? A warning?” Clive didn’t listen to warnings, he issued them. Why did I let Fane go? Clive was going to be even more unreasonable than before now that he knew I’d gotten friends involved and worse, told them where he worked.

  Fane’s eyes locked on mine. “It was a very persuasive warning. It’s all about finding a person’s weak points and using them to your advantage. Your father values his reputation at work. If he doesn’t do as I say, I will scare off every last patient, and he knows it. Dr. Harper would be ruined, and that scares him more than physical harm ever could.”

  What Fane said made sense. Damage to his reputation would freak my dad out far more than anything else. It might be the only thing in the entire world that could shake him up.

  As I was getting ready to thank Fane, my phone rang. Before I could say “hello,” Whitney started talking into my ear.

  “Is it true you’re staying with Fane Donado... at his house? If I didn’t love you so much I’d hate you.”

  “Hi, Whit.”

  “Don’t “Hi, Whit” me. Why didn’t you tell me your dick dad had found you when you called earlier?”

  “It sounded like you had your own problems.”

  “No kidding, mind lending Fane to me?” Whitney giggled. “So, did he tell you everything?”

  I glanced at Fane. “He was just beginning to.”

  “No way! I want to tell you.”

  “And me!” I heard Hope yell in the background.

  “And Hope, too,” Whitney said. “Should we meet somewhere... or come over there?”

  “Let’s meet at Tastee Freez,” I said quickly. I already felt like I was encroaching on Fane’s personal space as it was and getting out sounded good. Being stuck inside the same place all day was getting under my skin real fast.

  “On our way.”

  “See you soon.”

  Fane nodded at my phone after I ended the call. “You’ve got a couple of loyal friends there.”

  “You as well.” Guys like Daren and Reece were warriors, honored and willing to answer the call to action at any second. Fane seemed to inspire that kind of loyalty in people. Well, not Valerie, but she was in a class of her own and only loyal to one person—herself.

  I slipped on my purple coat and leaned against the wall to put on my combat boo
ts. At the door, I paused. “My boss is working on finding me a place to live.”

  “Stay as long as you need to.” Fane looked sincere. Ultimately, he was a nice guy. Badass, sure. I could understand why his friends would do anything for him and why Joss trusted him above all others.

  “Thank you, Fane.”

  Fane grinned with his black lips. “Anything for a friend.”

  I felt a flutter in my heart. Not the romantic kind, but the grateful, touched sort of sensation that he considered me a friend despite who I was. Lost for words, I nodded and walked out the door.

  It felt good to hit the roads. Freedom was sitting behind the wheel of a car. Left here. Right there. The ultimate control. There were no cliques or “in” crowds on the road. Everyone in movement, anonymous.

  Whitney and Hope were already in line at Tastee Freez when I arrived. I joined them and asked for a burger, fries, and a shake when it was our turn to order. We took our numbers and grabbed our usual booth around the corner in the very back.

  “What did Fane tell you?” Whitney asked as soon as we’d tossed our coats on the bench and sat down.

  “Only that he’d delivered a warning. What were the rest of you doing there? Daren and Reece showed up right before Fane left,” I added.

  “Those guys are wicked,” Hope said.

  Whitney cleared her throat and glared at Hope. “Not as wicked as Fane.”

  “Well, obviously,” Hope replied.

  Whitney leaned across the table, lips curving up.

  “If only you could have seen Fane in action, Noel. He waltzed into your dad’s waiting room like he owned the joint, the rest of us following right behind.”

  “Did you tell her about the black lipstick?” Hope asked.

  Whitney’s eyes lit up. “Oh my God, before we walked in, Fane put on black lipstick. I never wanted to kiss him so much.” She fanned her face, which was more than a gesture. The hussy’s cheeks were actually turning red.

  “So, what happened?” I asked. The idea of a waiting room full of Goths at Clive’s office painted a comical picture inside my head.

  “The receptionist asked if any of us had an appointment and Fane said “no,” but that he was there to have a word with Dr. Harper. When she asked us to leave Fane refused. When he recruited us at school, he told us to all bring board and card games, coloring books if we wanted, so we started spreading out on the floor, taking over the entire room.”