Remy came back in, phone in hand and a big grin on his face. “I hope you’re free tomorrow because my mom is not going to let you off the phone.”
“Then I guess we have to celebrate tonight.”
“Yes, yes we do. But for now, you soak. I’ll just go wait for you in the bedroom.”
“You’re not planning something romantic, are you?”
“Maybe. You’ll just have to wait and see.” He winked and sauntered out.
She sighed and closed her eyes again. I could get used to this.
SNEAK PEAK Phillipe Chapter 1
Phillipe could feel the pounding bass in his blood even after the music had been shut off for the night. He grabbed his valuables from his locker in the back room and shut the thin metal door again. “Got plans for the day?” he said.
Beside him Michael was digging around in his locker for his last pack of smokes. “Sleep,” he said. “And then spending some time with the kids when they get home from school. You?”
“Sleep sounds like the way to go. Might head over to Patrick’s for a bit.”
“Still grinding on that game?”
“Nah, got the upgrade we needed already. Haven’t been down in a few days though.”
“Have fun.”
“You too.”
“You boys still here?” Coraline asked. Like the two bouncers, the club’s new bartender, Coraline was dressed all in black. Her clothes were suggestively snug without being overly revealing, a look that made her extremely popular with club patrons. At least the male ones. It helped that she had one of those slender builds with curves everywhere a man liked to put his hands and an attitude that mixed confidence with flirty sass in equal parts.
“You didn’t call for help so it must have been a good night,” Michael said.
“I guess you two were doing your jobs, keeping the riffraff out.”
“I’m wiped,” Phillipe said. “See you two tomorrow night.”
“I got tomorrow off,” Coraline replied. “I’ll see you Friday.”
Michael punched his buddy’s shoulder. “Get out of here.”
His car was parked in the tiny staff lot around the back of the club between Michael’s minivan, which looked ridiculous parked behind a dance club, Coraline’s 2-door Civic, and the boss’s eight-year-old Lamborghini. Bastien loved to drive that little car round town, picking up girls, but everyone who worked at the club knew he’d bought it second hand with a rebuilt engine. Phillipe knew what real money looked like, he knew Brock Tandell after all, and having a successful club didn’t make a person rich, not truly rich.
The night sky was threatening rain but the pavement was still dry. The buildings and street lights blotted out the stars, if any had been able to shine through the clouds, but Phillipe didn’t need to see the sky to know that there was no moon tonight. He always knew where the moon was in its monthly cycle. All shifters could feel the coming and going of the moon.
He unlocked the car and reached for the door. Someone across the lot called his name and he stopped. There were three men there, two were his size, which meant broad in the shoulders and arms that could split a t-shirt just by flexing. The middle one was smaller but Phillipe had seen him in a fight before and knew his size was deceptive. The man’s muscles were made of steel cables.
“Bruno. Not a good evening for a talk. Could rain any minute and I’d hate to see your jacket get ruined. Looks expensive.”
“A bouncer with taste,” Bruno said. “I thought you were all big and dumb.”
“Not all of us.”
“Bastien said I might be able to catch you before you left for the night.”
“I guess Lady Luck is blowing you all kisses tonight then. What did you want?” He wanted to tell Bruno to go straight to hell but he knew that if he wanted to keep his job at the club he had to be polite to his boss’s business associates, like it or not.
“Can’t imagine you’re making enough cash here to support yourself with.”
“Bastien’s a generous employer.”
“I can be more generous.”
“Bastien is also a legal employer.”
“Careful,” Bruno said. The hired muscle on either side of him tensed. “People who know too much are a threat to people like me. You’re not a threat, are you?”
“I’ve got no proof, just rumors. Can’t really go to the cops with rumors, can I? And really, who wants the hassle of police everywhere? So you keep doing what you’re doing and I’ll keep working the door. That way we’re both happy.”
“I’m telling you, Phillipe, you’re turning down a fortune.”
“Thanks for thinking of me, Bruno, but I’m going to have to say no thanks. Been a long shift, I’m heading home to bed. Look, you come by this weekend and I’ll make sure you and whatever eye-candy you got hanging off your arm this week get in, no wait.”
“You’re a good man, Phillipe. If you ever change your mind-”
“Bastien’s got your number. I know. Good-night.”
He got in the car and shut the door. This wasn’t the first time Bruno had approached him with a job offer, and it likely wouldn’t be the last. All he could do was hope the exchanges remained civil. What he’d said about proof had been true enough, but he had more than just rumors. Whether he could prove it in a court of law or not, he knew beyond a doubt that Bruno dealt in drugs, girls, and guns. Only thing he wouldn’t buy or sell was children. Even low-life thugs had their lines it seemed.
* * *
The city was quiet. Traffic was light. Only the twenty-four-hour burger joints and coffee shops were still open. New Orleans was a popular town with a thriving nightlife, but it was no Las Vegas or New York. At least not in this corner of the city. And at three AM that meant quiet.
He didn’t really like living at this end of town, but it was closer to the clan, so here he stayed. For now. The up side to living here was the cheap rent which meant more money in the bank and less time before he could move somewhere else.
Home was a basement apartment in a rental house that had been divided into three suites and a common kitchen. He’d gotten tired of his shit getting eaten though so he’d bought a small fridge to keep downstairs. It had put a dent in his savings but was saving him money every month on food so he figured it was paying for itself.
His housemates were home so he had to park on the street. The back door came in off the kitchen right at the top of the stairs. He locked the outside door behind him before unlocking the door to his flat. That he also locked behind him and then padded down the stairs.
It wasn’t a big place, just enough room for his bedroom furniture, a desk and chair, a love seat, and a television. It was a decent sized television and his computer was impressive, with two monitors and the latest gaming hardware, but the rest of the place had a run-down feel to it.
At least I haven’t gotten flooded yet. He kicked off his shoes and stripped. There was a door off to one side that led to the combination bathroom-laundry room and he headed there for a shower. He always left work smelling of alcohol, weed, and tobacco, and he didn’t even indulge in any of those vices. At least he didn’t have to wash any lipstick off his neck tonight.
He ran the water hot. One of the benefits of working late was never having to share the hot water. He dropped into bed in nothing but a towel and fell quickly asleep.
* * *
Patrick lived in a quiet suburban neighborhood in a decent sized house with his parents and two of his four siblings. The oldest two were married and living a few streets over, one North of Patrick’s place, the other, West. Phillipe pulled up around lunch time and parked in the driveway since Patrick’s parents, Christopher and Katherine, were at work and wouldn’t need access to the garage for a few hours.
This was a nice corner of town, not ritzy, but safe and clean. The kind of place parents liked to raise their kids in. The kind of place Phillipe had grown up in. He paused on his way up the walkway to straighten the gnome in the front flower bed and pu
ll a weed. He knocked as a courtesy to the girls since Patrick already knew he was on his way over.
The door opened and a slender, five-and-a-half foot brunette with natural ginger highlights in her hair smiled up at him. “Morning Phil.”
“Hey Bree. Patty home?”
“Downstairs. Need anything?”
“Nah, just finished breakfast.” He stepped in past her and put his shoes neatly in the closet. He didn’t do anything neatly at his home but he liked Katherine and she liked neat.
Bree was still hovering nearby when he straightened. “Don’t you have school today?”
She shook her head. “Prof’s at a conference so no labs today.”
“What are you studying again that you need labs?”
She rolled her eyes. “I’m not in a science lab. Labs are just work periods instead of lecture periods. Today I had a math lab.”
“Hey, I never went to some fancy university.”
“Obviously.”
They stood looking at each other for a moment. Finally he glanced away, saying, “Uh, I guess I should get downstairs and let you get back to whatever you were doing.”
“Sure. Yeah. Pat’s probably waiting for you.”
“Kay. See you round.”
“Yeah. Uh, Phil?” He paused and looked back. “It was nice seeing you, even if it was just a minute. You haven’t been around much lately.”
He shrugged. “Life gets busy. Do I need to come to dinner?”
“Yes. Uh, you know, so my mom doesn’t worry too much about you.”
“I’ll see when I have a day off.”
He padded down the stairs. Patrick was already set up on the couch killing time by killing aliens in firefight mode. “What’s up for today?”
“Online, eight versus eight. New challenges went up.”
“Any good prizes?”
Patrick shrugged. “Decent enough. But lots of competition.”
They spent a good part of the afternoon bouncing from match to match, racking up experience points until they both unlocked a free gun upgrade. Phillipe stood and stretched, his hands brushing the basement’s drop ceiling.
“What time is it?”
“Nearly three. Why?”
“I gotta do laundry and get groceries before work tonight. And your parents are going to want me out of the driveway.”
“Sure you don’t have time for another match?”
“Not today. We’re coming into the weekend which means long shifts and hard nights. What’s your schedule look like next week?”
“They’ve got me on evenings until the end of the month, so if you’re free, I’m free.”
“I like it when it works out like that. Might come by Monday but probably Tuesday.”
They rounded up their dirty dishes and headed upstairs. “Heard from a guy at work that there’s a new bartender down at the club.”
“Yeah. Coraline.”
“She hot?”
“The guys at the club the last week or so seem to think so.”
“Not your type?”
Phillipe shrugged. “Not really looking right now, and I don’t want to hook up with someone at work. Awkward.”
“To each their own. I was seeing this girl, she works cash, lasted a couple of weeks. Went our separate ways and things haven’t been weird at all.”
“Yeah, but you work in a store with like a hundred other employees. I work in a club, there are six of us.”
“I’m just saying. If you like her, don’t let a shared workplace get in your way.”
“I don’t like her, not like that. She’s cool to work with but I’m not interested in dating her. Or sleeping with her, or anything.”
“So you won’t mind me trying for her number next time I’m by?”
“You do whatever makes you happy. And when she complains I’ll gladly toss your ass on the curb.”
“Ouch. That’s harsh.”
They were grinning at each other.
“Still getting enough hours at work?” Phillipe asked.
“Yeah, thank God. You?”
“More than enough. What do you think? I’ve heard good things about Montana.”
“You really want to put up with the snow?” Patrick asked.
“Look, I’m in my mid-thirties. I’ve been trying to leave here since I was eighteen. I’ll put up with snow if it means leaving all the bad memories behind.”
“Was it really so bad?”
“Dude, you have no idea,” Phillipe said with a deep sigh.
“Well, if you still want to do this, I’m happy to go with you. I’m thirty-two and still living at home. I’ll put up with snow if it means a good roommate and a little freedom. Hey, who let you in?”
“Brigid, why?”
“Just that I haven’t seen Michelle all day.”
“Maybe she’s getting lucky.”
“Dude, that’s my sister. I don’t even want to think about that.”
“Just saying.”
“Well don’t.”
“Okay, I won’t. I’ll see you next week. If I’m free one morning before then we can online it for an hour or two.”
“Deal. You know where the door is.”
The house was quiet as Phillipe let himself out and he was glad for it. He’d been friends with Patrick for a long time. Most of the clan didn’t know that Phillipe had actually grown up next to Patrick’s family when the girls were still quite small. Then Phillipe’s family had moved across town and Patrick’s family had moved here to a bigger house. Still, they’d kept in touch through various chat rooms and social media, seeing each other when they could.
People thought it was odd. A bear and a wolf. Like something out of a Disney movie. But for Phillipe this friendship was really the only good thing he had going in his life, and if people found their friendship odd it was only because Patrick was so good at hiding how messed up his life was.
He was two steps from his car when he heard her voice from the other side of the fence.
“That’s not what you said last time. No, I understand that, but if the price keeps going up I won’t have enough. But I need it. Okay, okay, I’ll figure something out. Fine. Yeah, thanks. Bye.”
He jogged over to the gate and peered over. Though it was early October the weather was mild, sitting in the high seventies, and Brigid was sitting on a lawn chair with a book and a glass of iced-tea.
“Just on my way out,” he said.
She jumped a little and turned to look at him. “Oh, hey. Didn’t hear you come out. Still planning to come to dinner?”
“Yeah, but it’ll have to wait until next week at least.”
“Exams are early December so I’ll have more time then.”
“December gets busy. People like to drink around the holidays.”
“We’ll sort something out.” She flashed him a big smile. “It’s not like you’re never around, right?”
“Right. Have a good one.”
“You too.”
He went back to the car. Methodically he started it, buckled in, and backed out. You have a plan. Stick to the fucking plan.
The plan was simple. Save up the money and get out of dodge. Get away from the side-long glances and the whispers that were never quite quiet enough. Get away from dirty dance clubs and gangs and friends who were willing to step all over the trust they’d built at the drop of a hat.
The plan did not include falling in love first. So why are you going out of your way to make plans to see Brigid again? You’re just asking for trouble.
SNEAK PEAK Phillipe Chapter 2
Unfortunately, between everyone’s work schedules, Patrick’s family having a mid-month pack meeting, and Phillipe having to attend a surprise engagement party for Remy and Tara, Phillipe wasn’t able to have dinner at Patrick’s house before the full moon.
Probably for the best, he thought as he drove to the warehouse. I need the hours at work and I don’t need the distraction. Maybe if I don’t have any more car troubles or rent hi
kes I might be out of here in the new year. I hope Remy won’t have any issues with me transferring. With Tara transferring in and all the weddings and kids the clan is set to grow, with or without me here.
His phone rang and the hands free said, “Ginette calling.”
“Hang up,” he said.
His mother was nothing if not predictable. She had called him every full moon since he had moved out on his own just months before his eighteenth birthday. He had quickly learned that he didn’t want to take that phone call.
He was the last one at the warehouse and he glanced at his phone as he grabbed it from the hands-free mount. It was still early. Shit, I hope I didn’t miss a meeting or something.
“-and of course, her mother and my mother get along like they’ve been friends since school. I’m doomed.” Jules was lamenting again but as Phillipe came up to the group, he could see the man was grinning like a fool.
“Aside from mother and mother-in-law troubles, everything is on schedule?” Remy said.
“Oh yeah. Those two have us all running with military precision. The wedding should go off without a major hitch, as scheduled.”
“I’m not wearing a dress,” Jane said.
“But the couples’ photos will look unbalanced,” Jules complained.
“Then tell Bryce to wear a dress,” she shot back.
“Hmm. You think he’d look good in mauve?” Jules wondered as Brock and Remy chuckled.
“What the hell is mauve?” Phillipe asked.
“Hell if I know,” Jules answered. “But apparently it’s the color of my tie for the wedding.”
“Well, it sounds like you’re in good spirits and everything is under control. Brock, how’s Gia doing?”
“You saw her at the party, all smiles and rosy cheeks,” he sighed. “That’ll last another week or two and then it’s going to be nothing but complaining. Swollen ankles, can’t see if her shoes match her outfit, shoes not fitting, nothing fitting.”
“And this is why I don’t want kids,” Jane said.
“How does Bryce feel about that?” Jules asked.
Remy Page 17
