Buzz & Blow

by Alex Carreras

  “Is he more than your boss?”

  “W–w–what?” Asher scoffed. “It’s purely platonic. I assure you.”

  “He looks like a tight ass. Always scowling from across the street.”

  “He abhors smoking.”

  “Then he should look the other way when I’m enjoying my cigarette break.” Niko shrugged. “And it’s not as if that little habit can kill me any longer.”

  “Jerrod’s persnickety, that’s all,” Asher said. “I’ve known him for centuries, and he’s always been there for me.”

  “Everyone needs a friend,” Niko said. “You know what else everyone needs?”

  Oh God. “What?” Asher managed to say.

  Niko claimed the already tight space that existed between them. “A lover. Do you have a lover?”

  “I don’t have time for one.”

  “How much time does it take?”

  “Are you hot?” Asher fanned himself with his hand in quick jerky movements. “I’m really hot. I think maybe I should go now.”

  “That’s a shame.”

  Smiling tightly, Asher turned to attempt to cut through the crowd that was multiplying by the minute. Niko’s hand landed on Asher’s shoulder before he could make his getaway. Asher turned and stared into eyes that made him weak. “See you tomorrow,” Niko said. “I’ll be watching you and thinking about all that time you don’t seem to have, while I’m enjoying my cigarette.”

  If truth be told, Asher would’ve killed for a cigarette right about then, but he’d kicked that nasty habit after his breakup with a sailor who had sailed away to Spain with Asher’s heart. They had shared Gauloises between bouts of furious and passionate lovemaking, and after his lover deserted him, the taste of a cigarette was never as sweet again.

  “Have one for me,” was the first thing that came to mind, so he said it. It was stupid, he knew, but Niko had a hold on him, and Asher’s usually sharp brain, full of witty comebacks, was feeling scrambled and silent. “See you.”

  * * * *

  “Do you think he followed us here?” Jerrod’s imploring eyes searched Asher’s face. “Or more accurately stated, followed you here?”

  “Doubtful, don’t you think?” Asher had thought the same but wasn’t admitting this to Jerrod. His boss didn’t like the vampire for whatever reason, and Asher didn’t feel like discussing it at the moment. He was exasperated, confused, wildly horny, and above all, tired as hell and just wanted to go home and crash in his newly acquired eight hundred count Egyptian cotton sheets. “How would he know we were coming here? I bet he frequents this place.” Asher shrugged. “Many of us do.”

  “I can see that,” Jerrod said, looking around. He indicated with a slight nod of his cleft chin at a recent convert who was hovering close by.

  “He’s attractive.” Asher checked out the stunning physique of the willowy blond, whose ice-blue eyes were boring a hole, straight into Jerrod. “Do you know him?”

  “He’s a client.” Jerrod’s dismissive tone said there was much more to the story than he cared to admit.

  “I don’t remember ever seeing him at the salon.”

  “He’s a private client who can afford house calls.”

  “Isn’t he lucky.”

  “I’d say the lucky one was me, not him.”

  Asher chuckled and shook his head. “Of course, you would.”

  Jerrod returned his gaze to Asher. “I know you’ve been around this great big world a few times, but heed my warning, Niko is not a decent member of our society. For starters, he’s too coarse for you.”

  “I like a bit of rough. It’s . . . sexy.”

  “Do you find morally bankrupt sexy?”

  “I’m too tired to play this cat and mouse game. Please tell me what you know.”

  “He drinks blood without consent. He’s no better than a wild animal.”

  “There are a lot of vampires who do.”

  “We don’t associate with those lowlifes. We hold ourselves to a different standard.”

  “And you know this for a fact?”

  “Word gets around.”

  “Sounds like idle salon gossip to me.”

  “I really don’t think it is. As a friend, I’m telling you to forget about him, to move on. I can see you have a thing for this one for whatever reason, but you could get hurt.”

  “You’re reading way too much into this, Jerrod. Yes, I find him attractive, but it won’t get any further than that. A polite wave from across the street, and nothing more.”

  “I wouldn’t even do that.” Jerrod’s sharp features softened. “You know that I’m only looking out for you because I care for you. We’ve been friends for a long time.”

  “Centuries,” Asher said. “And I care for you too.” He paused to think of what to say next, choosing his words carefully. “But I’m a good judge of character. I chose you as a friend, didn’t I?”

  Jerrod responded with a tight-lipped smile.

  Asher continued, “Nothing is going to happen anyway. It’s been a while since I’ve had sex and I’m horny. Deep down, I’m not interested in that guy, and he’s not interested in me other than for sex.”

  “You both looked pretty interested from where I was standing.”

  “Pheromones,” Asher deadpanned. “The room is filled with them. You’re reading it wrong.”

  Jerrod made a noise at the back of his throat that Asher understood to mean the equivalent of the word bullshit.

  Asher brushed it off. “Let’s get out of here. It’s been a long night, and we’re busy tomorrow.”

  “You go ahead. I’m going to have a word with Eirek.”

  “Who?”

  “My private client.”

  Asher shot his friend a sly glance. “Good night and good luck.”

  “Luck?” Jerrod arched a sculpted brow. “I don’t need luck.”

  “Oh brother,” Asher mumbled under his breath. He waved a quick goodbye and headed for the club’s exit that still had a line of humans snaking around the block, waiting to get in.

  Before sliding through the massive double doors heading out to the street, Asher risked a quick look in the hopes of seeing Niko one last time. Squinting against the dance floor light show, Asher spotted the caramel-skinned vampire dancing with Eirek. It appeared as if Asher wasn’t the only one with the preference for rough around the edges; the handsome blond was grinding his slim hips to the beat of the music against Niko, who didn’t appear to mind the suggestive movements, the brawny vampire grinding along too.

  Although disappointed, Asher couldn’t wait for Jerrod to see the sultry spectacle on the dance floor. Asher also figured that his boss’s private client was going to get a substantial price hike on his next haircut.

  CHAPTER THREE

  Niko Torres watched Asher slip out of the door of the club. He was tired of watching him, night after night, from across the street. He wanted to hold him instead. Niko sensed that Asher wanted him too, and that was no vampire super power thing. It was an attraction thing, plain and simple. But why was Asher showing so much resistance to his charms? Was he in a bonded and committed relationship with another vampire, and wore no ring? Niko couldn’t draw any conclusion and was having a hard time reading the handsome vampire.

  “Who are you looking at?” Eirek said over the thumping music, gazing in the same direction as Niko. “Whoever it is, forget about him. You should only be focused on me.”

  Niko groaned inwardly. He hated high maintenance. He wasn’t good at stroking the egos of pretty boys made even prettier by the eternal glow of immortality. “Checking out the crowd,” Niko answered in a casual tone.

  Eirek shimmied closer. “Let’s say we leave this place and go to yours? I want to reserve my energy for a more intimate dance.”

  If he didn’t have thoughts of Asher spinning around in his brain, he would’ve taken the slutty vampire up on his offer. “I’m leaving, but alone.”

  “One more drink then?” Eirek suggested. He ran his poi
nted tongue over his top lip. “They offer the best in synthetic blood here.”

  “I’ll pass.” Looking over Eirek’s shoulder, he saw Jerrod approaching, a look of disgust etched across his haughty features. “But maybe he’ll be up for it.”

  Jerrod’s explosive energy arrived before he did. He was a strong and ancient vampire, Niko noted, as he stumbled back ever so slightly.

  “Some other time,” Jerrod answered Eirek before he could offer an invitation. The blond twink vamp made a quick retreat somewhere toward the bar.

  Niko eyed Jerrod, waiting to hear what his particular beef was, because it was obvious he had one.

  “Stay away from Asher.”

  “Why would I do that?”

  “Because I told you to.”

  “I realize we don’t know each other very well but let me tell you a little something about myself. I don’t listen very well. I follow my gut, and my gut says to keep after Asher.”

  Shadowed eyes danced, dark and flickering. “He’s too good for you. You know it. I know it.”

  “You know nothing about me.”

  “I know you work at the barbershop that’s full of the likes of you. No decent human or vampire would ever step foot in that place.”

  “I’m a barber. If my clients are paying with cold hard cash, I don’t ask questions about their personal lives.”

  “You might want to start.”

  “You do business your way, and I will do it my way.”

  “Why did you come to Sangre? Who, or what, are you running from?”

  “I didn’t come here to be interrogated by some ponce hairdresser.” Niko turned to leave, but a firm grip on his bicep stopped him. He jerked his arm hard but didn’t loosen Jerrod’s viselike grip.

  Jerrod pulled Niko in so close that Niko could feel his heated breath race across his face. “I’m warning you,” he said through gritted teeth. “And I only give one before you feel the wrath I can bring down on you.”

  “What are you going to do, dye my hair purple?” This time Niko managed to break free. “I’m going to walk off this dance floor and out of this club and forget that we ever had this unpleasant conversation. If you were smart, you’d do the same.”

  “It’s good for us here. We’re allowed to live without being hunted and persecuted. Do you remember what that was like?” Niko heard the ice in Jerrod’s voice. “I do, and I don’t want to return to a life of fear. It’s bad enough that my biggest predator is my own kind, and I don’t intend to add the good people of Sangre who have opened their city to us for whatever reason, to that list.”

  “Why are you telling me something I already know?” Niko angled his head to be able to hear Jerrod’s response.

  “Who’s been doing the killing in our neighborhood?”

  Niko shrugged. “It has nothing to do with me.”

  Jerrod scoffed. “I think it does.”

  “Well, you’re wrong,” Niko spat back. “I don’t kill for blood or for sport. I did once, like we all did in the early days, but that was long ago.”

  “I don’t believe you.”

  “You don’t have to.”

  “Then you know who is. I can see it written all over your half-breed features.”

  “We’re all half-breeds, you racist prick.” It took all of Niko’s will not to wipe the sneer off Jerrod’s face. “Mine is just more apparent because of the color of my skin.”

  “It’s not solely that. Look at you.” Spittle spattered across Niko’s face. “The way you carry yourself, the way you dress. Every fiber of your being tells me you’re trash. A heap of vampire garbage.”

  “Fuck you.”

  “You know it’s true, I can see it in those callous eyes.”

  Niko pointed a finger of warning into Jerrod’s face. “You stay out of my business, and I’ll stay out of yours. Do we have a fucking deal?”

  The room spun, and the music built to an ear-piercing crescendo as the dancers jerked around them in a wild frenzy. Niko waited but heard no response from the ancient vampire. He didn’t want to make enemies. He didn’t move to Sangre for that. Niko wanted peace. But it looked like he wasn’t going to get it. He headed for the street unable to withstand the club that felt like it was closing in on him.

  * * * *

  “What the fuck was that about?”

  Niko recognized his cousin’s voice but was too pissed to turn around. The less than pleasant altercation with Jerrod topping off the already shitty night he’d been having. He kept walking.

  “I’m talking to you.”

  Niko decided to stop, hands shoved deep into the front pockets of his jeans. “I can hear you.”

  “What’s up your ass?”

  “Not a damn thing, unfortunately.”

  “Even in a foul mood, you manage to crack a good one.”

  “What do you want?”

  “That jerk back there?”

  Niko turned to look at Mario. His cousin’s eyes danced in the moonlight. Niko didn’t like what he saw. “Yeah?”

  “You should’ve ripped his throat out.”

  “And you should pay more attention to your life and less to mine.”

  “You’re my family. He fucks with you, I fuck with him.”

  “Don’t fight my battles. I can handle it myself.” Niko started to walk again, wishing that his cousin would grow tired of his prickly attitude and take off.

  “Let’s head out to the beach,” Mario suggested, now walking and matching Niko’s purposeful stride. “Some of the guys have lined up a few sexy donors willing to share their blood. Good drink. Good sex. It’ll loosen you up and put you in a better mood.”

  “I’m in a great mood,” Niko shot back. “Freakin’ fantastic one.”

  “So we’re on?”

  “The only place I’m going is home.”

  “You’re really no fun these days.”

  “Who are these other guys?” Niko was genuinely interested. This was the first he’d heard his cousin ever mention them.

  “You’d recognize them.”

  “How’d you meet?”

  “Out.”

  “Do you plan on killing these humans? There’ve been killings reported at the beach. Even one in the neighborhood before I caught wind of those. Throats torn to pieces, chests ripped open and hearts missing. You have anything to do with these murders?”

  “What?” Mario scoffed. “I can’t believe you’d think that I was involved in any way.”

  “And the company you’ve been keeping?”

  “Look, it’s just a bit of fun. And with human consent.”

  “That’s the farthest thing from fun, and vampires like us don’t do that anymore. We’ve assimilated as much as we can in recent history, and vampire killings are against the law here.”

  “I’m not worried about some cop who has a vampire vendetta.”

  “If you’re involved in any way, you’d better be worried.”

  “Why? If I am, will you turn me in? Don’t forget I’m family.”

  In an instant, Niko grabbed Mario by the neck and lifted him into the air. “Don’t disappoint me,” he growled. “If you jeopardize my life here in Sangre, I’ll do what it takes to silence you.”

  “O–o–okay,” Mario choked, feet thrashing above the pavement. “Just put me the fuck down.”

  Niko dropped his cousin. Mario stumbled and fell onto his back. Niko shoved his foot on Mario’s chest pinning him down. “Look me in the eye and tell me the truth.”

  There was a moment of hesitation in Mario’s black granite eyes. “I haven’t killed anyone since I arrived here. You have my word.”

  Niko removed his foot and proffered a hand. “I don’t want to know anything else. If your friends are . . . they’ll have to suffer the consequences when they’re caught, because they will be, eventually. It’s only a matter of time.”

  Mario took Niko’s hand and stood. Brushing off his clothes, he eyed his cousin. “I’m out for a good time. You know me, cuz. I keep my no
se clean.”

  “You’d better, because I’m not going to clean up your messes. Got that?” Niko meant every word, but his demeanor softened toward his cousin. Mario had always hit Niko in his soft spot. Mario had lost both parents at a young age, leaving Niko’s parents to raise him. Mario was the younger brother he’d never had, and the second son his mother and father had never been able to have until that one fateful and horrific night. Out of bad comes good, darkness comes light. “Would you please skip the beach tonight? For me”

  “You always worried too much.” Mario said the words kindly.

  Niko began to walk, making his move. “Someone has to,” he tossed over his shoulder. “’Night.”

  * * * *

  Niko knew when Mario was lying, and he was lying now. Anxiety tugged at his chest as he sensed impending doom closing in on him. The proverbial shit was going to hit the fan; that, Niko was certain of. But he didn’t know when.

  This time of night was his favorite time, the creeping darkness coloring everything around him before the explosion of dawn made his kind scramble for cover. Even before he turned, Niko had preferred the solitude of night to the frenetic pace of day. He remembered sitting on his hometown beach in Cuba sprawled on the soft, cool sand under a full moon, dreaming of his future. Little had he known then that his future was going to be seemingly never-ending. That was before vehicles were driven by the endless drone of gas-fueled motors, and light pollution left the night sky a milky gray instead of the midnight blue of Niko’s youth. A part of him longed for that simplicity again, but another part loved the luxuries of modern conveniences. Niko wondered if he’d be around for the next two hundred years and if Mario would be there to share it with him. Something told Niko there was a great chance that Mario’s propensity for the more dangerous side of life might end his run in the afterlife and send him to suffer in a limbo Niko had only heard whispers of. Niko had tried his damndest to take care of Mario, but the task was getting harder with each passing year. Niko’s attempts at telling himself he wasn’t responsible for his cousin’s fate had failed miserably, and it was only a matter of time before the two would be knee deep in Mario’s muck.