by Carly Fall
“Welcome!” he chirped. “My name’s David, and I’m here to make sure you meet our dress requirements.”
Thankfully, Sami had noticed the dress code online and made sure she and Connor had followed it exactly. It wasn’t anything outrageous, and actually, quite modest. Women had to have their stomachs covered, men had to wear long-sleeve shirts. No shorts, which was an easy one to abide by since the rain never seemed to cease, and women were allowed tank tops, but nothing see-through.
Sami glanced down at her jeans, long-sleeved, black shirt, and black boots, then over at Connor. The blue shirt he’d bought when they were together in Los Angeles strained across his chest and back and tapered over his waist nicely. He also had on his Gucci boots she had insisted they buy with the jeans. He looked sexy as hell.
David walked around them as she and Connor glanced at each other. This was like any other nightclub she’d ever been in, and while hunting the rogue vampires in California, she’d been in a lot of them.
“Well, you passed.” David announced with a grin. “Our dress code is very important to us. We aim to make ourselves different than other clubs, and we do that by adhering to strict rules. Having said that, congratulations and welcome to Train.”
Just pet her head and tell her she’d been a good girl. For some reason, passing this stupid test really had her smiling.
She heard the back door open and looked over her shoulder. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Connor had turned in the same direction. It was as if she were having a Charlie and the Chocolate Factory moment. The accessible door led to something different, unique and amazing.
She moved toward the opening and felt Connor behind her.
As she stepped into the dimly-lit room, she couldn’t help but smile. Instead of the usual booths found in a nightclub, there were red, mini train cars ranging from two persons all the way up to twelve, each containing a table and bench seats. They surrounded a dance floor with a raised stage where a band dressed in suits played soft jazz. The lasers, flashing lights, and deafening beats of electronic music, which usually flooded the senses, weren’t to be found.
They picked a car against the far wall that offered them an excellent view of almost the whole place, except the bar itself.
Sami bent her head and stepped in, sliding into the seating area. Connor sat on the other side of the table.
“This place doesn’t seem like a nightclub,” Sami said.
Connor shook his head and looked around. “Yeah, and it makes me wonder what a twenty-something kid was doing in here.”
She’d considered the same thing. “Maybe he liked jazz.”
“I don’t know, Sami. This place seems a little high-end for some college kid.”
“I agree, but his parents are wealthy. They could have given him a large monthly allowance.”
She stared at Connor’s profile as he studied the club. His strong jaw worked as he gazed around, appearing to be deep in thought.
Finally, he met her eyes. “Yeah, you’re probably right.”
The male server appeared, wearing a conductor’s uniform consisting of black pants, a white, button-down shirt with a black vest, black, shiny shoes, and a hat.
“Welcome to Train. What can I get you?”
Sami opted for a glass of wine, while Connor asked for a beer. They sat in silence while they waited for their drinks, the music almost lulling her it sleep, but a bit of sadness gripped her heart.
“You look like you’re about to cry.”
She had never been good at hiding her emotions. “My mom and dad loved jazz. They’d always put on Miles Davis and dance around the living room. I’d watch for a bit, then my dad would come and take my hand and twirl me around a while. Looking back on it, I suppose it should have been an intimate moment for them, but I never felt as though I was the third wheel, you know?”
Connor sighed and rubbed the top of his head before meeting her gaze. “As you know, I never had parents, so I’m not sure what to say here, except that I’m really sorry you lost both of them within a year’s time.”
She smiled as their drinks were delivered, a little pang of guilt curling her stomach. “I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”
He took a sip of his beer. “You didn’t. I just don’t really know what to say about stuff like that, because I have nothing in my life that I can relate it to. I wish I did, but I don’t.”
Because her parents had been so wonderful, she couldn’t imagine a life without them, just as Connor couldn’t see a life with a mother and father. It was an interesting dynamic, and even though she’d basically joined Operation Underworld to escape the pain of their loss, she was happy for the memories she did have.
They sat in silence a while longer as she searched for something to say.
Finally, she asked, “Have you talked to any of your platoon members?”
She recalled him telling her that they’d all survived an explosion in the Guatemalan jungle, and each had been left with a unique supernatural ability.
“No, I haven’t had time. I’m hoping when this is over, I can meet up with them at some point.”
You’ve been too busy with Harper.
She sighed, hating the jealousy that seemed to rear its ugly head at every turn.
It was time to get her mind refocused on their assignment, and she leaned forward to make sure she wouldn’t be overheard.
“Do you see any vampires?”
He nodded. “A few, but they just seem like they’re out to enjoy the night. They aren’t doing anything that would make me think they were here for any other reason.”
She finished her wine and slipped out of the booth. “I’m going to walk around and find a restroom.”
Connor nodded. “When you get back, let’s think about moving on to the next place.”
It wasn’t a question, but a statement of what would happen when she returned to the table.
As she snaked her way through the crowds, she keep her eye out for anything suspicious-looking. Although the place was nice, she had begun to feel a bit antsy—like she had to get up and move. A walk to the restroom and back probably wouldn’t get rid of the discomfort.
Then it came to her. The reason why she had the jitters. This place was so nice, it almost seemed like she was on a date with Connor, and that just made her sad and mad, all at once. In a nutshell, she’d screwed it up with him, and internally, anger at the situation, at herself, boiled.
Was that why he seemed so anxious to leave, as well? Did he have nervous energy buzzing through his limbs, but couldn’t figure out why?
She located the restroom, also decorated in the train theme, and found an empty stall. After relieving herself and washing her hands, she headed back to the table. Yes, it was time for them to leave. The distraction of a regular nightclub would do her good and get her out of her own mind. Preferably one with filled with sweaty bodies, deafening music, with a bar that served a strong vodka and cranberry.
As she glanced over the crowd seated at the bar, she thought she recognized one of the patrons. Stopping in her tracks, she zeroed in on him.
In his forties, his black hair had grayed a little bit at the temples since the last time she’d seen him. He talked to a younger man she didn’t recognize, and both had their hands wrapped around the glasses in front of them. They leaned in so they were almost forehead to forehead, as if their conversation was important and not for anyone else’s ears.
Pedro Chavez. She’d met him three times in the past at police functions, and he was hard to forget. Handsome beyond words, he reminded her of Mark Consuelos in the looks department, but with the intense stare of Andy Garcia. He used to work under her father in the Los Angeles Police Department. The last time she had seen him had been the evening of her father’s funeral.
How odd to see him in Seattle, of all places.
She walked over to him and placed her hand on his shoulder. He turned, and a look of confusion crossed his face, as if he couldn’t q
uite place where he knew her.
“Pedro, I’m Sami Karim. You worked under my father,” she said with a smile.
His eyes widened in surprise, but then he grinned and turned on his stool to face her.
“Sami! Of course. It’s good to see you. How are things?”
“I’m fine, thanks.”
“How’s your mother?”
She knew he’d ask because he’d seen her the night they’d buried her father. There were no words for how distraught she had been.
Getting her answer out still caused bile to burn her throat.
“She died.”
He furrowed his brow and took her hand in his. “How horrible for you to lose your parents so close together.”
“Yes. It hasn’t been easy.”
“I’m so sorry, Sami. What are you doing in Seattle?” he asked.
She shrugged. “I came up with a friend. I’ve never been here, and I had to get away from Los Angeles for a while.”
“Yes, the memories can hurt sometimes, can’t they?”
They stared at each other a moment, and suddenly, goose bumps traveled over her skin, and the urge to flee overcame her. Although she wanted to run screaming from the club, she didn’t want to draw any unnecessary attention to herself.
“W-what are you doing here?” she asked, wishing she’d given more thought to approaching him.
“I’m here on business,” he said, his grasp around her hand tightening just a bit. Not enough to hurt her, but enough to make her very uncomfortable.
“With the police department?”
“Yes.”
He didn’t offer up any further explanation, and as she pulled her hand out of his, a chill ran down her spine. For a reason she couldn’t quite pinpoint, he’d gone from handsome to creepy in seconds. Was it the way he glared at her while he smiled? It was almost as if he was pretending to be happy to see her, but underneath it all, it infuriated him.
“Well, it was nice to see you,” she said, stepping away from him.
“You, as well, Sami. Enjoy the rest of your stay in Seattle.”
She nodded, and hurried back to Connor.
“Let’s go,” she said as she placed her hand on his shoulder.
“We have to wait to get my credit card back.”
She slid into the bench next to him, keeping her back to the bar.
“What are you doing?” he asked as he scooted over.
“I saw someone I know.”
Connor furrowed his brow and strained to look around her.
“What? Who?”
“He used to work under my dad. I haven’t seen him since my dad’s funeral, and I’m really, really uncomfortable right now. Something doesn’t seem right about him being here. Why would I see him in Seattle, of all places? He says he’s here on police business, but the whole thing just doesn’t sit right with me.”
The waiter appeared, and Connor scribbled his name on the check, leaving a nice tip.
“Maybe it’s some type of multi-city task force or something. I’m sure it’s nothing.”
They stood and walked toward the front door, and she felt the heat of someone’s stare on her back. She glanced once more over her shoulder at the bar, and Pedro was still deep in conversation. She couldn’t tell if he watched her. It seemed too big of a coincidence that she would see him now, in this bar, but Train was a hot tourist spot, so maybe Connor had been right. Maybe she was just overreacting.
They collected their phones and coats, then stepped outside and waited under the awning while Connor summoned an Uber car. Two minutes later, they were on to the next club.
Hot Sauce was more what she was used to. When they got in, nothing but skin, loud, pulsing music, and blinding strobe lights greeted them.
Connor took her hand as he maneuvered his way through the crowd and up the small flight of stairs. She scanned the area but didn’t see any empty tables, and she couldn’t get a look at the bar area for free stools. She’d have to trust that Connor spied something she couldn’t.
“Wait here,” he said, leaving her in a somewhat quiet corner by the stairs.
He pushed his way through the crowd, circling the bar, and flagged down a bartender. Others glared at him, obviously not happy that he didn’t want to wait his turn, but he ignored them. He returned with a beer and vodka and cranberry juice. It touched her that he would remember her favorite drink, and she sipped it greedily.
“So, what does your x-ray vision see here?” she asked, only half-kidding. It annoyed her that she couldn’t pick out her own race, while Connor could.
He leaned in close, and she smelled his scent—something like a forest after a rain—that caused a low ache of desire in her belly. “A few vampires, not a lot. Not like we used to see in Los Angeles.”
They stared at the crowd for a few moments in silence as the vodka calmed her nerves, then Connor asked, “So who OD’d here?”
“Candy Rease,” she answered. “She lived to tell about it, though.”
“I think tomorrow, we should go talk to her. I feel like scoping out these clubs is becoming a waste of time.”
She recalled how many nights she had spent in Los Angeles club-hopping and waiting to see the vampires that had killed her father. Most of the time, she went home with nothing but a good dose of frustration. Her anger and need to avenge her father’s death had fueled her, but as she looked back now, she realized just how silly she had been thinking she could take them on by herself. Trying to be the hero had wasted a lot of time, but her father had also told her that a good portion of police work was sitting, watching, and waiting for whatever, or whomever, you happened to be after.
A moment later, Connor nudged her and pointed toward the door, then whispered in her ear. “Check out those two vampires. That guy looks a bit like Andy Garcia.”
She turned and almost fell over.
Pedro Chavez strolled in with the same guy he’d been sitting with at Train.
“That guy in black there?” she asked.
“Yeah. With that other guy. They’re coming this way.”
How in the world had she not known that Pedro was a vampire?
She turned and looked up at Connor. “Are you certain he’s one?”
He furrowed his brow. “Of course I’m sure, Sami. What kind of question is that?”
Swiveling her stare back to Pedro, she tried to think of all the places she’d met him. The bowling tournament for charity the precinct had held. The spaghetti feed for the homeless where her dad and some other policemen had volunteered. The night of her father’s funeral when he and some of the officers had dropped by … all of the events had been at night.
Her head swam as she tried to put it all together, but she couldn’t concentrate.
“Connor, let’s leave.”
“Why?”
“Because that’s the guy from Train that I told you about. He worked under my father, and now, you’re telling me he’s a vampire. I didn’t know that. We’re in Seattle looking for a vampire connection to drugs and we see him at not one, but two bars where people OD’d—”
“You’re right. Let’s get out of here.”
He took her hand again and moved through the crowd, pushing people who didn’t get out of his way, then glaring at them when they cursed him.
She kept her head down, fearing that they’d run into Pedro. If he did see her and tried to approach her, she didn’t think she could act like nothing was wrong. Seeing him had her stomach in knots, and the puzzle of how he fit into their case made her dizzy with confusion.
Thankfully, Connor had steered them clear of him, and as she stepped outside, she inhaled deeply, the cool air calming her a bit.
They stood together, their arms touching as Connor summoned Uber, her whole body trembling. How did Pedro fit into the scenario? Or was she looking too much into it? Could it all be a huge coincidence?
“Jesus, Sami, you’re shaking. Are you okay?”
She nodded as he put his arm around
her. The touch warmed her as she sank into his side, tucking herself right up next to him.
“We’ll get home and figure this all out, okay?”
“Yes.”
They rode in silence back to the apartment, and just as the car pulled up to the curb, the rain started up again. She’d be waterlogged before she left Seattle.
Once inside the apartment, she peeled off her coat and tossed it over a dining room chair. After kicking off her shoes, she went to the refrigerator and pulled out a bottle of wine. She’d most likely hate herself for mixing alcohol and drinking this late at night, but she had become so rattled seeing Pedro, she just needed the relaxation alcohol offered her.
As she sipped the wine, she stared out into the night, raindrops pelting the window.
Why couldn’t things be simple? Why couldn’t people just be who they said they were? Why did this case seem so complicated? Who was Pedro?
She longed just to be held and soothed by someone, but the only person available was dating a computer genius and had made it very clear that, as far as he was concerned, his relationship with Sami was ‘all business.’
It would be so much easier if she could just tell Connor why she’d acted the way she had, but they seemed to have found some sort of groove working together, and she didn’t want to upset that, so she kept her mouth shut.
The more she considered it, the less she believed that seeing Pedro had been a coincidence. How did he fit into their case? Was he a bad cop? Or maybe he was on some sort of drug task force … she didn’t even know if he still worked for the city of Los Angeles. He’d said he did, but people lied all the time. She was a perfect example of that.
Connor sat down on the couch behind her. “Tell me what you know about your friend.”
She shrugged and met his gaze in the window’s reflection. “I’ve already told you. He worked under my dad at the police station. I’ve met him three times, and I had no idea that he was a vampire.”
Connor sighed and ran his hand over his head. “Well, I think we should call Harper and—”
“No.”
He looked at her, his brow furrowed in confusion. “What do you mean, ‘no’?”
