by Jana Denardo
“I need to think.”
“Okay, let’s call you that cab.” Arrigo couldn’t quite hide his disappointment.
“No, bad idea. Da would have too many questions about where I got the money. I could tell him I won it, but it would only be a fight about me wasting it on a cab. I’ll take the bus,” Luc argued.
Arrigo scowled. He should have thought of that, was embarrassed he hadn’t. “Fair enough. Do you want me to wait with you?”
“I need to be alone,” Luc said, sounding unconvinced.
“All right.” Arrigo hesitated, and then made the offer he’d wanted to almost since he’d met Luc. “I could help you get away from them, Luc, if that’s what you want.”
Luc turned horribly sad eyes on him. “I’m beginning to think you’re the devil put here to tempt me.”
“Sadly, that’s not the first time someone’s called me the devil.” Arrigo beamed. He couldn’t help it.
Luc let out an abortive laugh before turning and walking toward the nearest bus stop. Arrigo let him go, hating himself for doing this, when he could be putting Luc in danger. Discontent, Arrigo went to find something to distract him from his problems.
LUC LET the hot water, such as it was in their shitty house, pour over him. Kissing Arrigo had branded him a sinner. Father O’Brien, Luc’s childhood priest in New Orleans, always told the catechism kids that, said it in his sermons. Love and forgiveness, things Jesus said to practice, didn’t enter into Father O’Brien’s preaching, not where homosexuality was concerned.
Luc didn’t know if his father and brother believed what O’Brien taught. He doubted it. They just hated everything that disagreed with what they thought life should be. Gays were only part of it. Women ranked just as low. His mom had been smart to finally run off. Luc wished she’d taken him with her.
Sin or not, Arrigo’s kiss had made Luc so weak in the knees, he’d done the only thing he could: run before he lost himself entirely. Running was what he usually did when faced with his attraction to men. The furthest he’d ever gotten was a mutual hand job with Billy. Luc wondered what Arrigo had hidden under his clothes. It was another reason to escape when he had because he couldn’t let Arrigo see the bruises on his face didn’t even compare to the ones the sizes of countries cutting across his torso. What would Arrigo have thought of him had he seen? Would Luc never get to have another of Arrigo’s kisses? The feel of Arrigo’s tongue in his mouth, tasting him, the way Arrigo’s body flexed into his…. Luc trailed down his sore, bruised body to stop at his hardening flesh.
Technically masturbation was a sin, too, but Father O’Brien found that one barely forgivable. Somehow, Luc didn’t think God himself minded so much. Thinking of Arrigo’s dark eyes, wanting to run his fingers through Arrigo’s thick hair to see if it felt as silky as it looked, Luc stroked himself. Sinking to his knees so he wouldn’t lose his balance, Luc bowed his head against the lukewarm shower as he brought himself off. He knew the next time he and Arrigo were alone, he wouldn’t have to do this solo. He wasn’t strong enough to fight sin.
ELENI WANTED to murder whoever devised this horrible goth music. The ear-rending noise warranted a slow death. The Scarlet Kiss’s lighting perfectly suited vampire eyes. She’d sent George back out to track down a couple more of Arrigo’s friends while she tackled the vampire club. At least she could stroll about, fangs out.
She’d stalked Arrigo off and on ever since Dario was killed, either fighting it out or fleeing from him whenever he caught her at it. He didn’t fight fair, usually bringing more Chiaroscuro bastards with him, so she had fled more than she had fought. She’d never be done with him until she finally killed him, but she’d never understand him either. Why in the world would he be hanging out at a vampire club? He couldn’t possibly be hunting here, but he didn’t hunt like her. He left them alive. Maybe this would be a perfect hunting ground for him: idiots tossing themselves at him, begging to be bitten. Oh yes, Arrigo would get off on that. Eleni marveled that even with so many years going by in her quest to continually make Arrigo pay, he could still surprise her. She hated him all the more for it. His suffering would be exquisite. She didn’t know if his heart of stone could crack and bleed like hers still did for the lover he’d stolen from her—past evidence said it did not—but she’d still try.
Eleni checked the photo George had snapped, the phone’s glow blinding her. Two clubbers next to Eleni on the fringes of the dance floor growled at her. One of them flashed well-made fangs, so excellent in fact that if she couldn’t psychically sense that the guy was human, she’d believe he was a vampire.
“Sorry,” she mumbled, dropping the phone back into her purse. The photo had been of another male bartender. Maybe Arrigo had a new type, or maybe she was reading too much into it. Between Luc at the Alibi and the long purple-haired wannabe vampire at this club, it could be Arrigo wasn’t involved with either of them but merely flirted for free drinks. Of course, he could be fucking them both. Sodomites didn’t know how to keep it to just one partner.
Eleni shrugged. Even if this guy meant nothing to Arrigo, he could still help her. As much as she wanted to rub it in Arrigo’s face that she was back and robbing him of those he loved as he had done to her, she could do more damage if he didn’t realize anyone had him in their sights. There’d come a time when she could taunt him, but she wanted to do more to hurt him first. A random kill or two would hide her tracks.
She already regretted leaving his psychic friend alive, but it had seemed like a good idea, to make him wonder and worry. She’d have to pay the hospital a visit—or maybe send George—just to make him fearful someone could come back and finish the job.
As she pushed her way through the crowd toward the bar, a girl caught her wrists, pulling Eleni to a halt. She arched her long neck. “You have such beautiful teeth. Would you like a taste?”
Eleni grinned. “Of course, but first I want to add to our little party.” She mentally reached out, snaring the girl’s mind.
The girl bobbed her head. “Sounds fun.”
Of course it did. Eleni’s will made the girl more docile, ensuring that. It took a full minute standing at the bar to get the purple-haired gorgeous vamp’s attention.
“What can I get you lovely ladies?”
“A little bit of what’s hiding beneath your skin.” Eleni smiled, baring her fangs. She lashed out with her will, quieting any fear. Oddly there was none, but in this place, he probably heard it a hundred times. “Tell them you’re taking a break.”
Once he complied, Eleni led them outside and then asked the girl, “Where’s your car?”
Luckily it was in a secluded corner of the club’s cramped lot. Hopefully if anyone noticed them, they’d think them lovers making out in the car.
Eleni kept him quiet while she drank from the girl, saving the beautiful boy for the main attraction. Drinking her fill from him nearly made Eleni slip into a postprandial nap. She didn’t notice the car door open, not until the girl had stumbled halfway back to the curb, obviously slipping from Eleni’s lax control.
Swearing, Eleni slid out of the car, recapturing the girl’s will. She spotted a bus coming up the street. Waiting for a moment, Eleni forced the girl to step out in front of the bus. The shriek of brakes and human voices sounded like music. Cops would be there too soon. Eleni ducked back into the car and searched the bartender’s pockets. Like half the men she knew, he carried a pen knife. After flipping it open, she jabbed it into his neck, then walked off.
She’d have to put hunting in Goth clubs on her list of fun things to do.
Chapter Nine
“SO TELL me about Luc.” Siobhan yawned over her tea.
“Not much to tell yet. I’m just getting to know him. He’s trapped in a bad family life, working as a bartender.” Arrigo tipped some warmed blood against his lips; cow’s blood, not quite as tasty as human but filling just the same. “I wasn’t sure Luc’s gay but suspected he was and terrified for his father to find out. After you went
to bed last night, I went for ribs, and he and his brother were there with friends. They were harassing him because they thought I was his boyfriend. Luc’s been bullied his whole life, Siobhan.” Arrigo paused for a moment. “I worry about something worse, though. What if the attack on Taabu wasn’t random? You’re Chiaroscuro. You know we get targeted. Luc’s new in my life. What if this rogue is after me and finds out about him? I could be painting a target on Luc.”
“And if she does, you might be leaving him undefended if you stay away. I’ve never understood the staying-away-from-people-to-keep-them-safe thing. If your enemy has done thirty seconds worth of research, they already know who’s important to you, and all you’re doing is leaving them exposed.”
Arrigo shrugged. He knew all of this just as he was aware Siobhan was only reminding him to keep him from doing something impetuous.
“Be cautious. Keep it on the down-low for now.”
“Down-low?” He snorted. Jupiter knows he tried to keep modern slang in his vocabulary, too, so he didn’t sound like he was decades out of time, but it sometimes sounded strange to hear from another vampire. “Fair enough.”
“From what you’re saying about his family, Luc has more to fear from them than he does a vampire. You already need to be circumspect.” Siobhan set her teacup aside, yawning again. “Too damn hot to sleep last night.”
“Turn down the AC.” He shrugged, still ranking that invention in his top twenty favorites of all time. “Just in case the rogue is after me, I’ll tell Luc she’s a psycho ex who’s stalking me and causing trouble for my friends and associates. If anyone comes around asking about me or saying I’m a friend, and I haven’t introduced him to her, avoid her at all costs.”
She sipped her tea. “Guess that works as well as anything, not that Luc could stop a vampire.”
He frowned, a tight knot forming in his chest. “I know. I’d hate for the rogue to think Luc’s my lover.”
“And he isn’t?” Siobhan’s green eyes burned into him.
“We’re not lovers.” Arrigo fidgeted under her stare. “What?”
“I know when you’re lying.” Siobhan grinned broadly.
Arrigo felt a flush race up his cheeks. “I’m not lying… but we kissed last night. The kid’s conflicted, probably been told all his life he was sick and going to hell. I may never go further than that kiss with him.”
“Sad. Want to introduce me to him now so he’ll know I’m safe in case the worst happens?”
Arrigo glanced out at the dying sun. “Actually, yeah. If his kin sees me with a woman, they’re less likely to think I’m there to see Luc. He took a beating from them already.”
She looked at him askance. “Because of you?”
“Yeah, probably because some drunk told his father Luc was in the alley with me.”
Siobhan made a face and slapped his arm. “Alley? Ew, Arrigo!”
“Siobhan! It wasn’t sex.” Arrigo wrinkled his nose. “I planned on making him dinner but then thought better of it. I could see bruises on his neck and realized he already had someone preying on him.”
“And you almost got caught.” She let out a disgusted noise. “Getting sloppy and lazy in your old age?”
His chin dipped down. “I suppose. I should have thought someone might take a piss in the alley behind a bar.”
“I’d tell you not to ravage the boy, Arrigo, but I know you.”
He flashed her an obscene gesture.
Siobhan rolled her eyes. “Nice, okay, Luc’s now off-limits, so tell me how did you meet Taabu?”
“At the slots. She sat next to me, talking about how she was spending a little of an inheritance, and she wanted to put the rest into a tarot card reading business. We started talking tarot and ghosts. Her sister, Shani, put her two cents in, two very good cents. She made a point as both female and African-American, Taabu could probably get some good grants, and she could keep her inheritance as a buffer until the shop got going. Technically, I’m her employee, not her partner, so that wouldn’t get screwed up. I bought the ghost-hunting equipment on my own dime.”
Siobhan snorted, shaking her head. “A vampire hunting ghosts. That is so silly.”
He shrugged. “I know. It’s all the rage again. If you recall, we had one hell of an adventure thanks to the occult movement in the Victorian era.”
“How could I forget?” She took another drink before changing the subject. “I wonder how the rogue chose Taabu to attack first.”
“She might have simply spotted me, which would be the best option. Alternatively, she could have gotten it from the Chiaroscuro, a spy, or someone who carelessly let something slip. I think she got the wrong idea about me and Taabu. We’ve never been lovers.”
“I’m almost surprised by that.” Her eyebrows rose.
Arrigo wrinkled his nose, finishing his breakfast. “I’m not her type.”
“I see. When I spoke to Craig about this, he said there’s still a fledgling in need of mentoring up in Tahoe and wondered if you’d be available. I filled him in on how terrible you think you are in raising up new vampires.” Siobhan smirked.
Arrigo was about to say something snide he’d probably regret but thought better of it. “I don’t know if I’m the target but I’m going to proceed as if I were. I’d like to keep an eye on Luc and Taabu but it’s not easy to do this all by myself.”
“I’ll go to the hospital and help keep an eye on Taabu. You go warn Luc just in case.”
He nodded. “Since all we know is Taabu’s attacker was a woman, I can tell him to be wary of any woman looking around for me.”
“That should cover it. Here, take a picture of me so you can show him what I look like and tell him I’m safe in case this drags on and we switch off who we’re looking out for.”
“Thanks, Siobhan.” He took her photo.
She paused before heading toward the door, long enough to grab one of the hats she’d brought to help ward off the noonday sun.
While grateful for Siobhan going to take care of Taabu, Arrigo didn’t know if Luc ever worked an early shift. He usually worked nights, but knowing what little he did of Luc’s father, Arrigo bet Luc worked long shifts.
He contemplated for a moment driving his Mustang to the bar, but if the rogue did show—as he had no idea if the rogue could withstand sunlight—he didn’t want to be hampered. Being in a car in Vegas usually meant being stuck in traffic. Instead, he peeled off his clothing and yanked on his oldest jeans and a Harley T-shirt he’d picked up at Boot Hill Saloon in Daytona Beach during Biketoberfest.
Satisfied he’d attract less attention this way, Arrigo got on his Harley, which would be more maneuverable than a car. He drove to the bar, pretty much negating the whole “attract less attention” idea given the classic vintage of his bike. Just in case, he parked a block away, hoping the damned thing would still be there when he came out. As he approached the bar, a noise alerted him to someone behind the building. Arrigo checked it out, in case the rogue made use of a rear entrance if she did in fact know about Luc. Instead he found Luc taking out the trash. The young man jumped when at Arrigo’s footfalls.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.”
Luc ducked his head, turning back to the trash. “That’s okay. I didn’t expect to see you.”
“I needed to talk to you.”
“Not here.” Luc shot a furtive look around. “Not about that.”
“Not that, but it’s important.” Arrigo held up a hand. “It won’t take long.”
Luc opened the back door and peered down the hall toward the main part of the bar. “Da, I’m going into the back room to do the inventory,” he bellowed.
“About time, damn tortue” came his brother’s answer.
“Henri, enough of that. Let your brother be.”
Luc waved Arrigo to follow him. Adjacent to the back door was a narrow short dark hallway separated from the rest of the building by a wooden door. No one from the front of the bar could see them where they sto
od. The door creaked loudly as Luc shut it behind him, then led the way down the hall. A dry musty smell assaulted them. Arrigo took stock of the fat, battered metal kegs, which fed beer back the way they came. The boxes around the place all bore some garish alcohol logo on them. Arrigo got the feeling maybe he should say nothing at all about the kiss. It could put Luc in a dangerous position with his family.
“I….” Luc sighed, sitting down on a box of Wild Turkey. “I don’t know what to say about last night.”
“You don’t have to say anything, Luc,” Arrigo reassured him, taking a step closer.
Luc ran his fingers through his hair. “You said you had something you wanted to talk about.”
Arrigo let Luc sidetrack him, thinking it for the best. He considered the lie he was going to tell his Normal friends. Telling them this rogue was a stalker ex seemed to be the most believable. “Have you seen a strange woman around here who doesn’t seem to fit in or has been asking about me?”
Luc shook his head. “Everyone is strange here, but no one’s been looking for you. Who is she?”
“A crazy ex of mine. She’s been causing trouble for my friends. Sorry to dump this on you.”
Luc glanced up at him. “We’re friends?”
“I’d like us to be,” Arrigo replied.
Luc stood up, roaming over to the kegs. “Don’t know if we can be.” His face tipped toward the unfinished ceiling and its collection of cobwebbed pipes. “I ain’t got a life outside of my family. I work for Da.”
“There are other choices.” Arrigo wished it didn’t sound so lame. He meant it, but it might be the wrong thing to say.
Luc’s gaze dropped. Arrigo heard his ragged gasp. “Not for me.”
Arrigo went to him. “Luc, life’s too short to live it in fear.”
“You have no idea how good you make it sound.” Luc turned his face to the ceiling again. He shook himself like a wet dog. “So, this woman, she’s a problem?”
