“Hey, everyone! Come into the living room! Rico’s on his way over with some news! He was able to see the queen of the damned!” Jenna was all excited as she ran into the living room and took a seat on the sofa.
“Did he give you an indication if it was good or bad news?” Adalaide came running in from the kitchen. They had taken to staying with us. It was much easier this way, if we received word about their sister. Plus, I think they felt Acadia’s absence in their apartment too much.
“No, he didn’t. But the fact he is coming here to deliver the news is good. Right? It means he has a lot to say. Or at least, that’s how I’m taking it until he says otherwise.” Jenna nodded her head and wrung her hands in her lap.
Walking into the room, Kat flopped down on the overstuffed chair next to the TV. “Yeah, I think I’m with Jenna on this one. Better to be optimistic than pessimistic.”
The living room was full of us, just waiting for Rico to arrive. No one else said anything, it was a bit eerie. I think we all were too stuck in our own minds to converse. I know I was running through various possibilities which I didn’t want to voice aloud.
All heads turned to the door when we heard a firm knock. I got up to answer it, since I was the closest to the door. “Rico! Thank goodness. Come on in. We’re all here just waiting for your update.”
“Thanks, Indie.” Rico walked in and looked for Jenna. He nodded in her direction before saying hi to the rest of us.
“Well, do you know where she is?” Amaline asked after a few uncomfortable moments of silence.
“Not exactly.” He held his hands up when most of us broke out into tears. Or at least I did. I looked to Adalaide who seemed like she might have been crying as well.
“Now hold on. Before you go getting all upset, hear me out. It could be a good thing.” Rico ran a hand through his thick, black hair.
He really was a good looking guy. I’m not sure what Jenna was holding out on. Maybe she wasn’t into wolves?
“Ladies, please, take a seat.” Rico moved to stand next to Jenna.
We all sat back down, and I heard a few sniffles. I wiped the tears from my face before looking up to Rico.
When he had our attention, he began, “I spoke to the vampire queen, finally. She said she doesn’t know where Lukas is, that’s the bloodsucker’s name. She last saw Lukas around the time Acadia went missing.”
“What does that mean?” Adalaide was looking intently at Rico. Every eye in the room was focused on the man.
“It means one of two things. Either he really has gone rogue, or the queen has allowed him to kidnap a human and keep her against her will. It also means I have the right to hunt him down.” Rico looked between Amaline and Adalaide.
“Since it’s most likely a vampire abduction, this is pack business now, which we never charge for. If the local vamps are breaking the rules, we want in. It’s our job to bring them to justice, since the local law isn’t equipped to do it.” Rico sat down on the arm of the chair Jenna was sitting in.
“Now I can turn over every stone looking for Lukas and Acadia. The only thing I can’t do is search the local coven’s facility. Since the queen has stated Lukas isn’t there, I’m honor-bound to believe her. Unless we find evidence to the contrary.” Rico squeezed Jenna’s shoulder.
Interesting. They were getting closer and closer. She refused to tell us what he required of her for payment when she first hired him. I gathered she hadn’t “paid” him yet. What did he ask of her? Maybe Kat knew. She was the oldest and kinda took a motherly role with us. If anyone knew, it would be her.
“I have my guys checking all of the local vamp hangouts, including the bars. Stay away from them. If you have a gig, let me know, and I’ll arrange protection for you. I don’t trust the queen. She has never been on the up and up with us. However, she has never been caught doing anything like this before.”
“What kind of stuff does she normally get away with?” Kat walked into the kitchen and came back with a bunch of cold water bottles.
“Thanks, it’s a really sticky night, isn’t it?” Rico grabbed a bottle of water and ran it across his forehead.
Kat passed out water to everyone. “Yes, it’s unseasonably humid right now.” Kat had put up her long, dark hair in a ponytail. She had electric blue streaks all throughout her tresses.
In fact, we all had different colors in our hair. I’m the blonde with pink streaks. Sam and Jenna are both brunettes. Sam has cherry red streaks and Jenna has deep purple in her hair. We chose our favorite colors back in high school and have kept the color schemes.
“What was your question? Oh, yes. The queen is good at subterfuge and deception, but she has not sat by and allowed any vampire who was caught breaking the law get away with it. I witnessed her staking a vamp to the ground one time, right before sunrise. She and her entire coven watched as the vampire screamed and turned to dust as the sun rose. It’s an extremely painful way to go. It’s also an effective tool to make sure her vamps stay in line.” Rico took a drink from his bottle.
“Does this mean she’ll kill the vamp if he has harmed my sister?” Adalaide asked.
“Yes, as long as we have the proof. However, she will protect her coven and won’t oust one of her own unless they get caught. I’d probably do the same thing with my pack. If I found out any of them broke the rules, I would punish them myself. I would not turn them over to the council or anyone else.”
“As long as we police ourselves, the council stays out of local problems. Unless, the humans get wind of anything. Then they come in with an iron fist and deal very harshly with the rule breakers.” Rico stood up and walked around the living room.
“So what do we do now? You and your men have been looking and haven’t found anything yet.” Jenna stood up and walked to Rico.
Rico squeezed Jenna’s hand. “We’re going to watch the coven. Lukas won’t stay indoors long. He’ll get bored or think he’s gotten one past us. That’s when he’ll slip up, and we will catch him.”
“How long does our sister have? Can’t we just get everyone together and attack them during the day?” Amaline looked from Rico to Kat.
“No. That won’t work. They stay below ground during the day. Plus, they have their own set of security who can walk in the daylight. The coven is never unprotected,” Rico stated.
It sounded like we had to keep waiting. I just hoped they kept Acadia alive. Things would get very ugly if she turned up dead before we could rescue her. I wondered if I could use my voodoo doll skills to create a vampire queen doll and give her migraines. Can vampires get migraines?
“Would it help if I created a vampire queen or even a Lukas voodoo doll? I just need a picture to make a basic one. Hair or nail clippings would help me to inflict serious damage, but not necessary.” I needed to do something.
All of this sitting around was driving me bonkers! I never wanted to learn to play guitar. Never would anything come between me and my drums. It was just something to do with Sam while we wasted our free time sitting around twiddling our thumbs.
“I thought you ladies didn’t have real magic?” Rico raised an eyebrow.
“They don’t. I, however, have always been able to create the best voodoo dolls in town. Just a few months ago I caused my ex-boyfriend, who was cheating on me, to have appendicitis and need an emergency appendectomy.” I stood up, proud of my accomplishment.
“Indie, he was sick before you created the doll. It was just a coincidence.” Jenna shook her head.
She never believed in my mad voodoo skills.
“What about your migraine? You can’t tell me it was a coincidence too.” I stared her down with my hands on my hips.
“Fine, believe what you want. I’m not going to argue with you on this one.” Jenna rolled her eyes.
“Ladies, it wouldn’t work anyway. She has some sort of charm that protects her from magical harm. If you wanted to create a Lukas doll, knock yourself out. It can’t hurt to try.” Rico smiled at me.
“If you’re bored, you can help with surveillance. We have some cameras set-up which need to be monitored in real time. Our resident tech guru hacked into the CCTV feeds. You could do that. Then call me if you see anything fishy.” Rico scratched his jaw.
“Actually, we could all take turns monitoring the video feed you have. Set us up here, and we can make sure to have someone on it at all times.” Kat was in leader mode now. Nothing was going to stop her.
She got this look in her eyes, like she left all emotion behind and was uber focused on the task at hand. It was great for a band manager trying to get us new bookings, but in this case, I think it might mean trouble for us.
“Great. I’ll get my tech guy to bring over his extra computers. I want my team to keep monitoring, but two sets of eyes are much better than one. Thanks, ladies. This could really help us out.” Rico walked to the kitchen, and I watched as he pulled his cell phone from his back pocket.
“Well, I guess now we’ll know as soon as Rico does if there’s any news worth reporting, right?” Adalaide had a gleam in her eye.
I think the sisters were as bored as we were. Or at the very least, they were very fidgety and needed a project. This just might be what they needed.
Chapter 5
Jenna
“Rico, are you sure I can’t pay you for your help? Or maybe do some work for you? I don’t think this is really a form of payment for helping us to find our friend who’s been forcibly taken by vampires. This is dangerous.” I was chatting with Rico in our back yard.
“Jenna, this is the best way you can help me. Besides, most of the work is truly pack business anyway. Now that we know the vampire did something wrong, I have to go after him. I should be paying you for the tip, not the other way around.” Rico smiled at me and reached out for my hand.
He had been doing that a lot lately. We met just over a month ago, and he has paid me much more attention than my sisters. They think he’s attracted to me, but I think we just developed some strange bond over a life or death situation. He was the one who saved my life from a vampire who had kidnapped me after trying to kill me with a death curse.
His idea of payment I could afford was owing him an event. Since he is the Alpha of the largest pack in Louisiana, he occasionally has fancy dinners. He usually takes the sister of his beta, but he doesn’t really care much for her. She’s boring, or something. Whatever, if being his plus one is what he needs, I’m happy to help.
I sighed. “Rico, we’re friends. If you ever need someone to attend an event with you, I would be happy to go. You don’t need to bribe me to help you out. Shoot, I actually still owe you for coming to rescue me. I would have died if you hadn’t put your life on the line for me last month.”
“What do you say we agree that you don’t owe me anything for that? Not to make light of it, but I would have done it for anyone who needed my help. It’s my job. I appreciate your thanking me. I also appreciate the many times you have invited me over to dinner with you and your sisters.” Rico looked at the ground and took a deep breath.
“I’m going to ask you something, and it isn’t because you owe me or I owe you. This is something I have wanted to ask you since we first met. I was hoping for a time when it wasn’t so crazy but I’ve realized this is New Orleans. It’s always going to be crazy.” He chuckled and shook his head.
“Rico, what is it?” I wondered what had him so nervous.
“Jenna, would you have dinner with me?” Rico looked into my eyes and squeezed my hand.
“Rico, you’re always welcome here for dinner, anytime.” I smiled at him.
“No, I meant just you and me... Like a date.” He took in a breath and held it.
Oh, wow! Were the dolls right? Is he really attracted to me? Am I attracted to him? I mean, he’s good looking. What red-blooded woman wouldn’t think Rico was hot?
“Rico, I’m very flattered. Um, now isn’t the best time to consider a date. If this didn’t work out between us, it would break my heart to lose you as a friend. Your friendship is extremely important to me.” I was really messing this up, big time.
“Jenna, don’t you feel something more than friendship? This, between us, it’s more than platonic, I don’t know what it is yet, but I want to explore these emotions. Don’t you?”
I sighed. “Of course there’s more. What we went through has bonded us like nothing else could. That doesn’t mean it has to be romantic feelings, does it?”
I pulled my hand out of his and walked back a couple steps.
Rico ran his hand through his hair. “I have saved many beautiful women from certain death. None of them have had this effect on me before.”
“Look, I’m not good with guys. I always mess things up, so I don’t date much. Trusting men is really difficult for me.” How was I going to explain this to him?
“Is that what this is about? You don’t trust me?” Rico stared at his hands.
“With my life? I totally trust you. In fact, more than anyone else alive. But, my heart is another story. Guys haven’t been very good to me. I know not all men are bad. My head tells me that you would be totally awesome. My heart, however, tells me that I would mess this up.” I was already messing this up.
Why couldn’t I trust as easily as Indie or Sam? They never seemed to have problems trusting men. It’s not like my experiences were all bad. It’s just whenever I went out with a guy, they almost always cheated on me. The last one didn’t cheat, he dumped me because I wouldn’t sleep with him by the fourth date. This is real life, not Sex and the City.
“I doubt it.” Rico was interrupted when Sam came outside.
“Hey guys, sorry to interrupt, but your tech guy is here. He wants to set up in our living room, and we need help moving a few things around.” Sam turned around and went back inside without waiting for us to respond.
“Looks like you’re needed inside. I hope we can still be friends?” I squinted and sighed.
I felt awful. He was a totally nice guy, who just happens to be hot. If given time, I might like him. However, we just met via one of the most intense moments of my life. How could I be certain whatever this bond between us is, isn’t just because we survived a life and death situation together?
Rico turned and walked away without saying a word. I rubbed my face with my hand and realized I had already messed this up. I swear I had the worst luck, ever. I watched Rico as he walked up the stairs.
He was ripped. I mean the muscle-bound, hard body kind of ripped. He could easily compete in a Mr. Universe contest and win. Rico had thick, black hair that went to his shoulders. The kind any woman would love to run her hands through.
Rico must have had some Native Indian in him, or something, because he had a natural tan complexion. Hmm, maybe he’s part Cajun? The guy had to be at least six feet four inches. I would be lying if I said my pulse didn’t race any time I checked him out.
Physical attraction wasn’t what made a relationship work. Friendship and trust. Those are the hallmarks of a true, lasting relationship. Maybe, after we get this issue with Acadia all settled, I could sit down and explain this all to Rico. Surely he would understand, right?
“Son of a biscuit eater!” I mumbled before heading back inside to help with the monitoring.
Chapter 6
Rico
Well, I screwed that up. There is something between us, and it isn’t because I saved her life. I was attracted to her from the moment I first met her. No scratch that. The moment I first saw her.
She’s the woman who fronts their band, The Voodoo Dolls. Their band name is perfect! All four of them are gorgeous, but Jenna has something about her. Maybe it’s her innocence? I can’t be sure. Every time I look at her, my heart skips a beat.
We met last month when they were performing for our celebration. Not only am I the local pack Alpha, but I also run a private investig
ative firm. It’s sorta like Halliburton for the paranormal community. We only take cases that involve supernatural or paranormal creatures.
You have an issue with a witch? We can help. Rogue wolf-shifters hassling you? Give us a call. That vampire your sister was dating turned out to be evil? Yup, happens all of the time. We even get the occasional call about werewolves.
Werewolves aren’t wolf-shifters. As a wolf shifter, I can shift on the fly. Werewolves don’t control their shift at all. They are forced to shift on every full moon and have no control over what they do while in that form. Most don’t even remember what happened the next day. On occasion, I have had to put them down. It’s not my favorite job.
So when I say the experiences of last month are not what is causing me to feel this way for Jenna, I know what I’m talking about. Shoot, it’s not like I asked her to marry me or anything. I want to get to know her better, see if there is something real. Something that might lead to marriage down the road.
I don’t just date women to date. My life is complicated. Jenna is the first regular human who I could see fitting into my pack and world. I want to take it slow. Maybe, just maybe, she’s the type who needs to be wooed. If I can prove to her I’m not the typical jerk of a guy, maybe then she will recognize her feelings.
There is no way those looks she gives me, when she thinks I’m not looking, are those of just a friend. She has feelings for me. Now I just need to help her open her eyes.
“Kyrie, thanks for coming so fast. I think the ladies could really help us out with watching the cams. Plus, the two sisters could really benefit from doing something to help. They seem to be going stir crazy. If we don’t keep them in line, they might end up doing something crazy.” I shook hands with my tech genius.
I really do mean genius. He can turn anything into a computer, and hack anything I ask of him without getting detected. Once, he actually hacked into the Vatican’s systems.
New Orleans Magic: Urban Fantasy Series (The Voodoo Dolls Book 1) Page 4
