by Vivi Dumas
“Hey, glad to see everyone made it back.” Jacque placed Angel on the sofa next to Marie. “How many did we lose?”
“It’s hard to tell. I’m not sure exactly who was with us or against us. I fought anyone who fought me.” Etienne tilted the bottle to his lips, grimacing as it poured down his throat.
“Yeah, everyone was fighting, even the hotel staff. Which apparently wasn’t the staff. I knew they weren’t human. I thought it was something special for the meeting.” Laurent liberated the bottle from Etienne.
“It was Xavier,” Angel piped up.
He sat on the arm of the sofa, drawing her into him, waiting to absorb the impact of the news. “Marie told us. But we got another problem.”
“What kind of problem?”
“Can you call your friends?”
She rotated, breaking his hold on her. “They aren’t here?”
“They never made it back,” Marie uttered.
“Gimme a phone!” Angel straightened in the seat. Damon tossed her his cell. She dialed number after number with no success, tears streamed down her face. “He took everything! First my sister and now my friends and my mother.”
“We’ll find them Ang,” Laurent promised.
Bell went to the bar to fix another drink. “Jacque, your brother has always been a pain in the ass.”
“I’ve lost enough shit in my life. I’m getting my friends back. I even want my mother back. I don’t care how fucked up she is.” The anger boiled inside of her. The intensity of her emotions played every muscle in Jacque’s body like the tense strings of a guitar.
“We got to find out where Xavier is hiding them and what he wants.” Jacque massaged her back, his muscles loosening as she relaxed.
Angel stiffened. “Simple. He wants me.”
“You’re not his only target. He could’ve just taken you if he wanted to.”
“Maybe I actually hit him and he’s hurt.”
Jacque pressed his fingers deep into Angel’s shoulders. “I don’t think he’s hurt. If he’s hurt, it’s not bad enough for him to leave his target behind. We would’ve found his body back at the hotel. He wants something else.”
“Angel and I will work a locate spell and see if we can find the girls.” Marie’s dress fell in a rustle of taffeta as she rose to her feet, the beautiful royal-blue marred by the crimson of Faith’s blood.
“I’ll go round up anyone left from the meeting.” Etienne hit the bottle one more time.
“Can we be of assistance?” a voice called from the doorway.
Jacque was elated to see his parents. His father was a great strategist and his mother gave him reassurance. Her confidence was contagious. “We need to find out where Xavier might be hiding out.”
“I hear your brother’s behind this?” Jacque’s father inquired.
“Luc contracted him.” He kissed his mother on both cheeks. “Things don’t make sense. He could’ve taken Angel at the hotel. He didn’t.”
“He’s here for us, not Angel. He wants to hurt the family.” His mother’s hand rested in the bend of his elbow. “He’s waited a long time for a way to take us without retribution. As long as we side with Angel, he has every right to hunt us.”
“I don’t care. I’m with Angel. You two don’t have to get involved. I don’t want to give him a reason to hurt you.”
“I wouldn’t expect anything different from my son. You would never desert the one you love. As such, we would never desert you.” She honored him with a rare smile. There wasn’t a lot of warm and fuzzies growing up with a goddess.
Jacque seemed to be the only one in the family affected by Xavier’s hatred. His mother thought Xavier’s mother beneath her, therefore he fell into the same category. Jacque’s father wrote Xavier off when he put his hands on Isis. As children, Xavier used every opportunity to make Jacque’s life miserable, always getting the best of him. This time would be different.
Jacque wasn’t a rash teenager, trying to protect his mommy. He was a seasoned soldier, a veteran of many battles. Jacque refused to let Xavier hurt any more people he loved. He vowed to take him down.
Chapter Thirty-One
Overwhelming envy choked her each time she witness Jacque and his mother together. One couldn’t call Angel’s mother a nurturer. Shit, you could barely call her a mother. With Faith killed and Marie technically dead, too, her mother was the only family Angel had left. Since she didn’t know her father, he didn’t count. No matter how bad the relationship, Angel was determined to get her mother back.
“We’re going to go see what we can find out.” She looped her arm in Marie’s. “It was nice seeing you again, Goddess.”
Isis’s expression softened, showing compassion. “We’ll be seeing a lot of each other. I also bring a message from your sister. She said do not forget what she told you.”
Angel halted mid-stride, shocked at the news of her sister. “You saw her?”
“Yes. The deities can walk in all worlds. It’s one of the perks.”
Angel’s heart raced. “Can you take a message back to her?”
“She can hear you if you speak to her. They can see into this world.”
Angel ran to her and threw her arms around Isis, causing her to go rigid. “Thank you.”
Slowly, Isis brought her arms around Angel and the warmth of the goddess’s embrace engulfed her in happiness. She expected a more standoffish reaction. Jacque’s mother held her close, ending with a tight squeeze. Her own mother’s touch never met her with such enthusiasm.
***
Angel and Marie scanned through the books, searching for the right spell. They originally tried the conjure spell, figuring it was safer to bring the girls to them instead of going to fight Xavier on his home court. It would’ve been a great idea if it worked. All it got them was one smoky room.
Jacque’s face weighed heavy with concern. “Any luck yet?”
“Yeah. We used a locator spell. They’re somewhere on St. John Bayou. It’s an old white and green Creole colonial house. Sorry we couldn’t get more.” Angel rubbed her temples, trying to circumvent the forming headache.
“Better than nothing. How many green and white colonial houses could there be on the St. John? I’ll have Laurent look online to see if he can narrow it down some more.”
“Where’re all the others?”
“Etienne is gathering everyone out at Le Fleur. Once you’re done, we’ll head out to meet the others.”
“Let me change, grab my weapons, and I’ll be down.” She and Marie blew out the candles and swept up the powders.
***
The ballroom was packed with strangers. It was both a surprised and relief to see the amount of people willing to fight with them. Jacque shifted his eyes through the crowd, ready to pounce. The taut line of his lips and the tick in his jaw drew attention to his alarm. Angel sensed his distress as she clung to his arm, weaving through the crowd. Jacque’s brother threw him off balance, making him question himself. The confident male she learned to love over the past few weeks was crumbling and it concerned her.
Laurent met them in the middle of the room, dragging them to the side.
“Hey, I found a place. The Ranier House fits the description. It’s used as a museum now.”
Jacque pushed through the crowd, holding Angel close behind him.
“Great, let’s find the others.”
Etienne and Damon chatted with several devastatingly beautiful women, the kind that would make Naomi Campbell jealous. The guys held on to their every word as if under a spell.
“How are you ladies tonight?” Angel flashed a smile at them, which they returned. Their smiles were like heaven.
“Much better than you, we fear. Sorry to hear about your loss,” the one closest to Etienne answered. Her bronze skin and raven hair glistened in the candlelight.
“Thank you. I’m sorry. I don’t know your names.”
“I’m Arielle. And these are my sisters. We’re the sirens.”
&
nbsp; “Oh, I didn’t realize. Never mind. It doesn’t matter. It’s nice to meet you. We need to steal Etienne and Damon.” She stood in front of the guys to get their attention. “If I can break them from your spell.”
“Of course.” Arielle turned her attention to Jacque. “It’s good to see you again, Jacque. It’s been a long time.” Her words escaped like lyrical notes played by a saxophone, low and sexy.
He quickly diverted his gaze from the dark beauty when Angel flashed him a disapproving glare. Jacque seemed to be acquainted with every woman in the Underworld. She pushed the air from her lungs slowly and steered him away from Arielle.
Etienne’s trance faded as they walked away from the sirens. “Do we have any more information about the girls?”
“The girls are at the Ranier House. I downloaded the floor plan from the Internet. Is there somewhere we can talk?” Laurent asked Etienne.
“Yes, we can use the small meeting room in the back.”
In the back room, Laurent laid out the plans on the small conference table. The house was two stories with six rooms on the second floor and eight on the main level.
“He probably has them in the back servant rooms on the main level,” Damon offered as studied the drawings.
“Makes sense. It’s the most secure place,” Laurent chimed in.
Jacque’s hold on Angel’s hand crushed her like a vise grip. “Xavier isn’t predictable. We have to watch our every move. If something doesn’t feel right, get the hell out.” Jacque’s voice came out weak. The others watched him, questioningly, as he spoke.
“How many do you think he has guarding them?” Angel twisted her hand, trying to loosen his grip.
“There’s no telling. He can’t fit too many into the house with us seeing them. We’ll have to case the house to see what we can find out first,” Jacque answered.
“Me and my brothers can go. It shouldn’t take us more than a couple of hours to get back,” Damon offered.
Jacque ran a hand through his dark curls, his green eyes focused on the drawing. “Thanks, while you’re gone, we can determine who’ll be the best people to take with us.”
Angel walked around the table to gaze out the window as the guys discussed the rest of the layout and best lookout points from the bayou. Damon touched her arm, causing her to jump. “Oh, sorry, Damon. I zoned for a minute.”
“You’ve had a hard day.” He embraced her. His familiar smell comforted her. “I wanted to say sorry about your sister. I know she was important to you.”
“Thanks, it’s going to be hard not to have her close to me anymore.” The stars twinkled in the sky, and Angel wondered if Faith was watching her.
“She’ll always be close to you.”
It was too soon, the wound too fresh. All Angel felt was empty. “Everyone keeps saying the same thing. I’ll be glad when I start feeling it.”
“I know it’s probably ruined. I hope you liked my gift.”
“What gift?”
“The dress. I sent you a dress.” He inched closer, his body creating a shadow over her, shielding her from the others.
“Oh. You sent the dress?”
“Yes, I hope you don’t mind. I knew you weren’t happy with the one you bought when we were out. I found the one I sent and thought it was made for you.”
“Thank you, Damon. The dress was beautiful. I loved it.”
His smile beamed brighter than rays of sunlight. “All I need to know then.”
“Damon. I have to be honest with you. I really like you. You’re a nice guy. But I love Jacque. I’m sorry if I gave you the wrong impression.” She cringed from the disappointment in Damon’s face.
“I understand. Demons make bad mates. One day he’ll mess up, and I’ll be waiting. If you give me a chance, I’ll make you happy.”
“I’m sure you’ll make some girl very happy. Right now, my heart belongs to Jacque. It’s not fair to you to let you think anything else.”
“If you change your mind, you know where to find me.”
Angel kissed him lightly on the cheek. “Thanks, Damon.”
Jacque cocked his head and gave her a look. She winked at him, walked back to his side, and laid her head on his arm. He brought his arm across her shoulder and planted a kiss on the top of her head. Angel’s heart went out to Damon as he walked out the room.
***
Damon and his brothers returned as promised. They counted about fifty guards. Jacque created five teams, consisting of mostly vamps, shifters, and demons. All of them male.
“I’m with you, right?” Angel asked.
“No, you’re staying here,” Jacque ordered.
“Wrong answer.”
“Angel, this is not debatable. I can’t risk anything happening to you.”
She poked a finger in his chest, his pecs flexing as his anger grew. Angel didn’t care. She poked him again. “I don’t give a shit what you say. Those are my friends and my mother. I’m going.”
“You don’t know what Xavier will do if he catches you. He knows you’re important to me.”
“I guess I’ll have to not get caught then.” Angel grabbed her extra clips and the sword off the table. She was amazed at the amount of weapons they amassed in such a short time.
His eyes pleaded with her as he clutched her hand. She refused to bend. It was time she defended herself for a change. She spent weeks learning how to fight and it was time for her to use it. In addition, she needed to be near Jacque. There was a void in him tonight. He needed her strength.
“It’s going to be all right. You can beat him.” She trailed a finger down his cheek.
Fear welled in the emerald-green pools of his eyes. “I’m not sure I can.”
“I’m sure. I know you’ll never let him hurt me. You’re better than him.”
“Why do you believe in me?”
She paused before answering. “Because I love you.”
“I love you, too.” He folded her in his embrace and slanted his lips over hers. She ran her tongue along his lips, inviting him to let her in. She explored his mouth with an intense hunger, hoping to release his doubt. She would lend him her strength tonight, giving him the power to do what needed to be done.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Angel’s newfound confidence provided Jacque assurance and pause. She exuded a strength he never sensed in her before. He gave up on the idea of talking her out of going with him. He had to figure out another way to keep her out of trouble. The thought of Angel in Xavier’s hands caused his stomach to burn. He would die a second time before letting his brother touch her.
“Look, make sure you stay close to me when we get in there.” Jacque held her hand as she sat on the edge of the seat in the SUV, the door open and her feet resting on the running board.
She patted the hilt of the sword strapped to her back. “I’m always close to you. I’ll be fine. Don’t worry about me.” She also packed a Smith and Wesson M&P .9mm fitted with specially made silver bullets, essentially silver hollow points.
“I don’t like you being here. If anything happens, I want you to haul ass outta there. Don’t worry about me. Just get out.”
“Nothing’s gonna happen. We’re going to be fine.”
“Still, if anything goes wrong, I want you to get out. If you need help, find Etienne or Laurent. Laurent will come through the back of the house through the garden doors.”
Angel adjusted the sword to the front to sit more comfortably. “I promise if I can’t handle things, I’ll find help.”
“I can’t lose you.” He shifted his body between her legs, her arms encircled him, and she laid her head on his chest. He prayed for the first time, not knowing if God listened. He closed his eyes, combing his fingers through her hair, and pleaded for her safety regardless.
“You won’t lose me. We’ve been through too much.”
Jacque pulled her out the car and stood her up, covering her lips in a slow, lingering kiss. Not wanting to let her go, he held her tight, breat
hing her in. Her arms wrapped around his neck and the weight of her body felt good against his.
She reached up and her lips grazed his ear. “You can beat him,” she whispered.
Thought of fighting his brother caused a flash of heat and his hands to sweat. He kissed her once more and placed her on the ground. The rest of the group tried to ignore the intimate scene. The soldier in him returned and he addressed his team.
“We’re going through the front. From what the Boudreauxs saw, there are five guards out front. Etienne, you stay with Angel. If anything goes wrong, get her the hell outta here. If we get separated, meet back at the vehicles. Any questions?”
No one spoke or moved.
His sword jostled against his leg as they moved towards the house. “Okay, let’s go kick some ass.”
***
The team crouched behind two large magnolia trees in front of the house. Jacque pressed Angel into the trunk of the tree as one of Xavier’s guards passed near them. He signaled to Jean, who hid behind the other magnolia, to take the guard. Before the guard noticed, Jean materialized behind him and ran a silver dagger through his heart.
“Make sure no one uses guns until we’re outted. We need as much advantage as we can get,” Jacque whispered.
They could easily pick off the guards outside, but getting into the house quietly was a different story. They had two options. They could break down the door or crash through the windows. Doubtful the front door would be unlocked for them to waltz through. Jacque dragged Angel behind him as he sprinted for the side of the house. The rest of the team followed.
“I’ma kick down the door. Jean and Pierre y’all are behind me. Take down anyone you see unless it’s the girls. Everyone else, you kill first and ask questions later. Understand?”
“Yes,” they answered in unison.
“Etienne, you and Angel bring up the rear. We’re going straight through the house to the servant quarters behind the kitchen.”
Voices behind them interrupted the conversation. Two guards rounded the side of the house. Etienne clothes-lined the first one and ran his sword into his chest. While Etienne pinned him to the ground, Angel unsheathed her sword and took his head. Jacque caught the second guard and twisted his head until it came free from the body.
