by Jana Denardo
Chapter Twelve
WALKING TO where he had parked his ’60s-era Fastback Mustang, Arrigo jammed his dark sunglasses on. He might be able to be out in the day, but the sun stabbed his eyes, half blinding him. He tried to check his rear view a few times on the way home. Taabu wasn’t the only jumpy one, but daylight limited his vision in spite of his dark sunglasses. As always, traffic dominated the road once he got back on the Strip. How the hell could he tell if he was being tailed? Maybe he ought to go find a blander car to drive around in.
He parked in the open lot, knowing he might have to go out again soon, and checked his phone to see if he’d missed any messages. He walked toward the Veer entrance. At the sound of a car slowly cruising along behind him, Arrigo froze. He might not see well in the day, but he still possessed a predator’s senses. He turned to discover a nondescript silver Corolla rolling through the parking lot. Backlit by the sun, the driver was hard for Arrigo to see. All he could make out was a Pittsburgh Pirates ballcap over short dark hair and sunglasses.
Before Arrigo could say something, someone called his name. Hanako hustled over to him, but he held up a hand to her, his attention still on the car. His eyes watered a bit from the brightness of the noonday sun.
He indicated for the driver to put down his window. “Can I help you?”
“I was looking for the Aria,” he said.
Arrigo studied him, oddly wanting to drag him out of the car and pin him to the asphalt and question him, but was he being ridiculous? Lost tourists were an everyday occurrence. On the other hand, could he be the Renfield in disguise?
The stranger hadn’t done anything odd or threatening, and Hanako looked impatient so Arrigo pointed. “Across the way.”
“Thanks.” He drove off without Arrigo getting a decent look at him thanks to the sunlight and the distance between them.
Arrigo watched him go, as Hanako cleared her throat. “Why are you still here?”
“Your buddy doesn’t get in until tonight. Michael and I are going to check out a couple other places on your list instead.” She turned to look at the man he’d spoken to. “Who was that?”
“Lost tourist,” he replied, but he wondered if that was all the man was. Arrigo’s paranoia grew when his friends were at risk. “Was there anything else?”
Hanako shook her head. “Michael’s getting the car, and we’ll go watch Taabu’s place. Tonight when you or Siobhan take over, he’s driving me out to the desert, and I’m going to see if I can charge my energy stores using cactus and mesquite. I’ve done it before, but it’s not easy. My best bet is the trees they have around the casinos.”
“I’ll take your word on that. All right then, I’m going up and getting out of the sun.”
“Don’t blame you. It’s bright, even for me.”
Arrigo nodded and went inside, knowing Siobhan would already have his blackout curtains pulled. To his surprise, once he got upstairs, Siobhan wasn’t in the guest room. He found her curled up in his bed. Arrigo kicked off his shoes and pulled the tie out of his hair, letting it loose. He massaged his scalp for a few moments before stripping down and sliding under the soft sheets with her. He tugged the sheets back up against the arctic blast from the air conditioner. Arrigo draped an arm around Siobhan, who barely woke up. They snuggled together with all the comfort of people who had been lovers for centuries. He thought he’d stay awake worrying, but he fell asleep almost immediately.
THE NEXT day while he napped, Siobhan slipped out of bed and drove over to spend time with Taabu. He remembered her whispering it to him, not fully coming awake until the phone rang much later. He shooed Gaius off his pillow as he listened to the Chiaroscuro finally reporting back after he’d called them about Yelizaveta. Fadil was on assignment, rooting out a band of vampires making the most out of the attacks in the Middle East. He couldn’t be contacted, so they told Arrigo to talk to Anna Edaakie, a skilled Zuni magic user he’d met once in California. His stalker was Yelizaveta. He was sure of it. Thank Apollo for talented sketch artists and Taabu’s eye for detail, not to mention a true psychic’s ability to resist vampiric mind manipulation.
He had hoped someone ended Yelizaveta decades ago. He hadn’t heard from her since that Woodstock incident, and even then he had been shocked. She had never struck him as particularly smart, and he had no idea how she’d eluded being killed by the Chiaroscuro. She should have been dead long ago. He got out of bed and went to sit on the couch. Gaius immediately took possession of Arrigo’s lap. He sent the artist drawing to Anna, then called her, happy when she picked up.
“Hey, Anna, I have a big problem.”
“What’s up?”
“I just sent you a photo of a sketch artist’s rendition depicting the person who attacked my friend, Taabu.”
“I’ll look for it. What did Craig say about sending you some help?”
“Last we spoke he didn’t feel the need to call in more reinforcements. He said I could handle it, and maybe I should ask my local friends to help.”
“What kind of dickhole response is that?”
“I don’t know. I don’t think he likes me. We only talk at the quarterly meetings, and he goes out of his way to ignore me. I’m not sure he likes vampires.”
“Yes, because vampire haters are exactly what you want to head up a group of Supernaturals. Is your friend recovering?”
Arrigo relaxed a bit at Anna’s concern. “Taabu’s tough. She’s fine for now. I sent you the sketch artist drawing. Tell me I’m crazy. Is it Yelizaveta? There’s a file on her in the archives.”
“Hang on.” Anna disappeared for a while. When she came back, she was swearing up a storm. “Sure as hell looks like her. She goes by Eleni Lavrushka now. Ariel spotted her in France last year. She must have your scent again. It says here you are a favorite target of hers.”
“Why now? It’s been so long since I killed Pena.” Arrigo twirled his long hair around his finger, discomforted by memories of his murdered wife, Yelizaveta’s original revenge upon him for killing Pedro. She had killed other friends over the years.
“You know Eleni likes to hate on you. She ought to be smart enough to leave you the hell alone.”
“Maybe I should be better at killing her,” Arrigo countered bitterly. “Can you try to get Craig to give me and Siobhan a hand? Is there anything new in the file? I haven’t seen it in years.”
“Hmmm, outside of her being in France a year ago, not much. I’ll contact Ariel and have her email you some files. We both should contact Craig and tell him you have a priority capture-or-kill on your hands. If that doesn’t move him, I’ll go to his office and shake his tree,” Anna promised.
Arrigo sighed. “I’ll talk to Pearce—he runs Shifty’s, the local Crypt-Kicker—and see if I can get a few assistants here too. I want someone to help me keep tabs on Taabu and my friend Luc. With Michael, Hanako, and Siobhan, we can either watch over my friends or investigate, but we’re having trouble doing both.” Another wave of worry curled up his spine like a constrictor. He couldn’t keep all his friends safe by himself. Siobhan would help, but she didn’t know Vegas well. He could only hope Eleni didn’t either.
“Be careful, Arrigo. I know a vampire your age can take a younger one like Eleni in a fair fight, and she knows it, too, so the fight won’t be fair.”
“No, she’s already going for my tender bits. If she kills any of my friends, I’m going to kill her in inventive ways, fuck Chiaroscuro rules.”
“We don’t have too many rules when it comes to taking out long-standing rogues. Go nuts.”
“Thanks, Anna.” Arrigo pocketed his phone and dropped his head back on the couch. “Fuck it.” He briefly entertained the idea of crucifying Eleni out in the noonday desert sun or locking her in a tanning bed to see what happened, then laughed. No, he’d decapitate her, the surest way with vampires. No need to go all Batman villain on her. That had always made him laugh in the sixties. If Penguin or Catwoman had just shot Batman instead of trying some complica
ted killing machine, all their caped crusader worries would have been over.
Chapter Thirteen
TRYING TO relax after confirming he was dealing with Yelizaveta, Arrigo worked his way to Mandalay Bay. Being before noon, he knew Yelizaveta couldn’t be out. She wasn’t old enough to bear sunlight, and he had little to fear from a Renfield. As he told Siobhan, unless Yelizaveta had another vampire with her, he didn’t need help. He doubted she’d partner with anyone older or stronger than her. She preferred to be the dominant one. Regardless, if she had a daytime assistant like he thought she did, this might draw him out. He knew her Renfield had to have been using the cover of daylight to observe his friends at a time Yelizaveta would assume Arrigo wasn’t out and about much.
He left Siobhan attempting to track down anything online about Eleni’s recent whereabouts, and Michael had gone to watch over Taabu. The scent trail had been a complete waste of time. Bloodhounds might have forty times the scent receptors compared to humans, but werewolves, even in wolf form, were still mostly human. Their sense of smell was better, of course, but his and Taabu’s offices reeked of incense and candles mingled with all of Taabu’s clientele. Michael had no real starting point, and the few scents he tried to trace generally ended at the road, lost in car exhaust. Hanako trailed Arrigo just in case someone could get the drop on him. Personally, he’d rather she had gone to watch over some of his other friends, but he couldn’t argue the logic that if he was acting as bait, he could use backup.
Unlike many locals who avoided the Strip, Arrigo couldn’t get enough of the throngs of life surging through. It was why he chose to live in Veer Towers, right on the Strip. He also enjoyed some of the wildlife exhibits the casinos offered. In a way he felt sorry for the tigers and birds, but he knew all of them were part of conservation efforts, and it was probably worth the captivity of some to make sure those in the wild remained healthy and strong.
Oddly enough he didn’t feel that way about the fish in Mandalay Bay’s aquarium. Maybe because fish weren’t cuddly—though he once had a saltwater tank with an octopus who had tons of personality—or maybe it was because he enjoyed watching the hypnotic patterns of their swimming that he didn’t mind their captivity as much as he did the tigers’. Arrigo came to the aquarium often.
He spotted something he hadn’t expected, given the entrance fee. Luc stood at the glass watching the lazy path of jellyfish swimming by. Arrigo contemplated not going over to him. He didn’t want Luc to think he was stalking him, but that was ridiculous. He had already taken their relationship to a physical level. He couldn’t duck and run. Besides if Yelizaveta… no, Eleni—he needed to get her new name down—knew about Taabu, it was possible she already knew about Luc too. He texted Michael to let him know he’d found Luc and would keep an eye on him. Michael had tried to pick up Luc’s trail earlier, but Luc wasn’t at work. Arrigo would have to find out where the hell Luc lived.
Arrigo sidled up to Luc, who was far more fixated on the glass than he was on his surroundings. “Hi, Luc. Didn’t expect to see you here.”
Luc jumped, almost bumping into the glass. “Oh, hey. Yeah, didn’t know you liked fish.”
“There’s something peaceful about watching them,” Arrigo replied.
“Yeah. It’s neat. Some of them are so pretty. Don’t tell them.” Luc jerked a thumb at the glass. “I’d probably rather be fishing for them in Lake Mead than watching, but this is kinda nice. I used to go to the aquarium sometimes back home, when I could save up the money. I guess this makes me feel like I’m home.”
“You miss Louisiana.”
He nodded. “A lot. Ever been there?”
“Actually, I lived there in the Pontalba Apartments for a little while.”
Luc’s jaw dropped a little. “Wow, that had to be cool.”
Sweaty would have been the word Arrigo used. Roman at heart, he was used to hot southern climes, though he now prayed to air conditioners to save him. His old patron, Mars, did jack for cooling Arrigo off.
“New Orleans’s a great town. It reminds me a lot of here, the same sort of over-the-top partying.”
Luc snorted. “Yeah.”
“I haven’t been fishing in forever.” Arrigo remembered his youth when fishing had been mandatory for many. He’d never really enjoyed it. He still liked calamari with garlic, olive oil, and lemon, though.
Luc eyed him up as if maybe that was the biggest lie he’d ever heard. “You fish?”
“Not so much anymore.” Arrigo shrugged. “I’m not the most patient man, so I’m not a natural at it.”
Luc smirked. “Now that I believe. Can I tell you something stupid?”
“I don’t see why not.”
“I mean stupider than me wasting forty dollars on an annual pass to this.” Luc’s shoulders heaved as a sigh bubbled out of him. “Praying Da and Henri never find out.”
“It’s none of their business, but I’m betting they think everything you do is their business.” Arrigo wanted to put a hand on Luc’s shoulder, let him absorb a little comfort, but he didn’t think Luc would like that out in the open where someone could see.
“Hell yeah. Anyhow, did you know they let you buy a ticket to feed the sharks? I want to do that. Ain’t that the dumbest thing you’ve ever heard of?” Luc dropped his gaze to the floor.
This time Arrigo did clamp a hand on Luc’s shoulder, giving it a little shake. “Not at all. It could be fun.”
“It’s eighty freaking dollars.” Luc’s face colored. “It’s a lot of money to waste.”
“Luc, life’s meant to be enjoyed, not just suffered through. I know sometimes it’s all we can do to keep this side of the grave, but if you want to do something completely fun and impractical every once in a while, why not?”
Luc smiled. “Merci. I thought you might laugh.”
“It would be cruel to laugh at someone’s desires.” Arrigo didn’t doubt Luc had been laughed at a lot in his life. “I will ask, though, why sharks?”
Luc turned back to the glass, watching the sea life cruising endlessly. “They are cool. Top of their food chain. You have to respect that.”
Being at the top of any food chain anyone cared to name, Arrigo surely did. “Point taken.”
“I need about twenty more dollars. I know I could use a million other things.” He wiggled a foot in its beat-up shoe for emphasis. “But hell, if I have to put up with my brother in that shitty bar, I deserve to have fun.”
“Absolutely. I learned early on to pay myself. I mean, just set a tiny bit aside every month, and before long you have enough for an indulgence.”
“Yeah that’s what I’m doing, even if it’s just a dollar.” Luc glanced over at Arrigo. “What I really want to do is the dive with the shark, but that’s insanely expensive.”
Arrigo widened his eyes. Luc possessed a dangerous streak he hadn’t anticipated. He’d underestimated him, seeing only the beaten-down man afraid of his kin. Luc had more to him than that, which thrilled Arrigo.
“You think I’m nuts.” Luc nudged him.
“Maybe a little, but that could be pretty fun. How do you not get bitten?”
“Special suits. But come on, I used to hunt gators for living. I’m used to things with huge teeth coming for me.” Luc chuckled.
If he only knew how big the teeth and how bad the predator on his trail was. He’d have to protect Luc the best he could because Luc seemed to have stunted survival instincts. “Luc, remember me telling you my partner at the shop was attacked by my ex? She could probably use a little help at the office because she’s insisting she start back in a day or two. What I’m proposing, if you’re game, is you helping Taabu out. You’re the handy sort, I think.”
Luc narrowed his eyes as if catching a whiff of charity. “Yeah. I mean, what would you want me to do?”
“I’ll let Taabu figure that out.” Arrigo pulled out his wallet and handed Luc a twenty. Luc didn’t take it. “Just a couple hours work. This will cover it.”
Luc
stared at the bill. “You’re giving me money?”
“No, I’m trading you money for an hour or so of work.” Arrigo shook the bill. “Take it, Luc. Go get your ticket to have fun.”
“You don’t need me to do anything, do you?” Luc still didn’t grab the money.
“I do. Eleni stabbed Taabu in the neck so she can’t do too much right now,” Arrigo said. Well, it wasn’t a lie, not exactly. And having Taabu and Luc in the same place would make it easier to keep them both safe.
Luc’s jaw dropped. “Hell, you weren’t kidding about the crazy.”
“Not one bit. She’s still recovering and could use some help. I want you to have the shark experience, but giving you the money for no reason is even more awkward than this is.”
Luc nodded and took the money. “Yeah, it would be. Ain’t your fault you got more than me. Thanks. I’ll be happy to help your friend.”
“Did I give you my card?”
“I think so… maybe.” Luc wrinkled his nose. “Not sure where I put it, though.”
Arrigo pulled one out of his wallet. “You can call that number or stop by and talk to Taabu. And maybe, if you want some company feeding sharks, I could join you.”
Luc tilted his head. “Like a date?”
Arrigo smiled. “Not like a date. An actual date.” He hoped it wouldn’t panic Luc.
Luc reflected Arrigo’s smile. “I’d like that.”
“So, how much is the shark diving?”
“Not in date price range. It’s like six hundred and fifty dollars.” Luc shook his head. “I ain’t taking that kind of gift.”
“Holy Hades, no, I’d think not. You’re right. We’d better be a couple for a good long time before I start shelling out over a grand for a couple of tickets to swim with sharks.” Arrigo laughed.
“Especially since we could go back to New Orleans, and I can take you swimming with gators for free.” Luc’s eyes twinkled. “Might end up getting nicknamed Stumpy, though, afterward.”
