He turned on his laptop and split the screen between his surveillance applications--the tracking devices and the sound apps. He clicked a link, adjusting the sound.
“So, what should I wear?”
“We’re just going to the club, Nikki.”
“I know. Am I being stupid?”
“So, I guess you are a little excited about hearing Dylan play with the band tonight.”
“No, I’m not.”
“Nikki, you have never showed me so many different outfits in a day.”
“You’re no help. You say they all look good.”
“I’d be lying if I didn’t.”
“Really Bradley, which one?”
Steve’s attention shifted to the TV and he used the remote to raise the sound. “The hunter strikes again. Another unidentified woman’s body found stabbed to death in Lazy Mountain, Alaska. Steve grinned and took another sip of his beer. “Police are hard at work trying to find the one responsible for these heinous crimes.”
“Bla bla bla,” he mumbled, turning down the sound again so he could hear the bug.
“What time do you want to head out?”
“Around eight, the band doesn’t get started till nine. You can sit with me behind the bar. It really is the best seat in the house.”
Steve turned down Nicole’s bug, switching over to listen to Sarah. Sarah’s package would be arriving soon and he couldn’t wait to see how much she liked it. Looking at the tracking device, he realized she was at a boutique in Seattle. He turned the recording device on so he wouldn’t miss anything while he was gone.
“So Steve,” he closed the laptop, “it looks like we are going to a concert tonight.” He walked over to the spare room full of boxes and opened the door. “Whatever shall we wear?”
Chapter 48
“If you ever kissed me, Nicole, I don’t think I’d ever be able to stop.” ~Bradley
Obsession and Sacrifice
Tiffany Carmouché
*Bradley*
“Hey tonight I can teach you to bartend. You’ll have a perfect view of the stage. And it will keep you out of the crowd,” Brad offered, bringing Nikki into The Lodge.
“That sounds like fun. It looks pretty easy.”
“It takes skill and finesse.” He winked at her as he pulled her around the bar. Tonight was an exciting night for her. She had convinced Dylan to sing with Justin’s band and Brad could see how hopeful she was that a memory would resurface.
For some reason, watching her behind the bar, laughing as she made the terrible concoctions she tried to pass off as drinks, did something to him. Or when her eyes lit up because she finally got it right and reached over to touch his hand to say thank you—he got a chill. Dylan had told him to kiss her. Dylan basically gave Brad permission to finally be with her. Brad didn’t know why, but her playfulness tonight made him crazy. His heart raced like a high school boy trying to decide whether he should put his arm around a girl, but he didn’t.
Nicole looked up at the stage. “They are good.”
“They really are, and wait till Dylan gets here. He wrote most of their music and he’s amazing on stage.”
Every so often Nikki’s eyes would drift over to the door to see if Dylan had arrived yet. Hours passed and there was no sign of him.
“Where is he? He promised.” Nikki’s eyes saddened. There was only about a half hour of the set left. “Can you call him? Can you see what happened?”
Brad picked up the phone and dialed Dylan’s number. What was wrong with him? He couldn’t play a couple songs for her?
“Hey Brad. What’s up?”
“Dylan, you know exactly what’s up, where are you?”
“Listen, tell Justin I couldn’t make it.”
“Nikki’s been waiting to hear you all night.”
“Yeah, about that. I figured that wouldn’t be such a good idea.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Brad, it is too late now. There is no reason for her to have memories with me. If she remembers some kind of connection, what’s that going to do? And to tell you the truth, I don’t think I’ll be able to get through the song, seeing her out there. I’m sorry, I can’t do it. I gotta go.” He hung up the phone.
“He’s not coming?” She straightened the bottles on the back wall as if it helped her.
“No Nikki, I’m sorry.”
She looked down at the bar. “That’s fine. I don’t know why I thought he would.”
When they finished their set Justin walked over to the bar. “So Dylan decided not to show?”
“Yeah, he couldn’t make it.”
“Here, we’re playing in the French Quarter during Mardi Gras. Dylan’s dad does that bash down there every year. Tell him were playing on Frenchman Street. He loved playing there. I heard the Ball was going to be amazing this year. You really should come.”
“Wait his dad’s in New Orleans? They aren’t in Seattle?”
“Yeah, his family goes down every year during Mardi Gras, and they just renovated his hotel. It’s awesome; he lets friends of the family stay free. You’re minutes from all the excitement. You look like you need a vacation, Brad. Convince him to go. It’s going to be epic.” He handed Brad the flyer. “Oh and Nicole, I guess you can come too.” He handed her one as well.
“Tell Dylan the guys missed seeing him. I hope you can make it. Thanks for having us, it was fun. We’ll give you a call when we can play up here again.” Justin tried to remain in high spirits, but Brad could tell he was disappointed Dylan never showed. And Brad could tell it was bothering Nikki even more.
When the crowd of people left, Nikki turned to him. “I really thought he would come.” He tried to cheer her up and before he knew it the two of them were the only people in the bar.
“Why can’t he be more like you?” She had this sweetness in her eyes. Perhaps this was his chance. He took her hands in his and slowly pulled her toward him as she smiled bashfully.
“Did I ever kiss you?” She looked into his eyes and he couldn’t escape her glance.
“No, if you ever kissed me, Nicole,” he sighed, “I don’t think I’d ever be able to stop.” He swallowed--admitting way too much. He stepped in to put his hands around her waist.
The silence seemed to echo. Why did she have to be so beautiful? His gaze fell upon her lips, so plump, so red, so delicious looking. Her hair fell into her eyes so he brushed it aside, revealing her innocent stare. She gently bit her lip.
A thunder pounded in his chest—he hoped she couldn’t hear his excitement. I love you, Nikki, he silently admitted. He wanted to tell her. He needed to tell her. Her lashes blanketed her eyes.
“Hello. I’m sorry. Are you closed?” Someone cleared his throat. “The door was open.” Both of their heads snapped to the voice invading their intimacy. Brad ran his hand down her arm and gave her hand a slight squeeze as they collected themselves.
The heavy-set man’s dark complexion stood out from his beige fatigues. He was a soldier.
“Can I have a cup of coffee before I go home? It is so cold outside.”
“We are closed, sir.” Brad couldn’t believe he hadn’t locked the door. She had been so distracting.
“Just one cup of coffee, please?” Brad glanced at the coffee pot. It hadn’t been dumped out yet. He looked around, realizing he had let everyone one go prematurely. The desire to kiss her consumed him and he didn’t remember Pete telling the employees they could leave.
“We’re closed sir,” he replied.
“It is so cold and the heat in my car isn’t working well. Just one cup and I’ll be on my way. I promise.”
“Do you want cream or sugar?” Her sweet voice rang out, inviting him before Brad could say no.
Brad look
ed closely at the skin color of the military man, and his six two stature. It wasn’t make-up. It couldn’t be Steve. Brad picked up the pot and poured him a cup, bringing it over to the table to allow him to warm himself for a few minutes.
“Thank you,” the soldier reached in his pocket to pay.
“It’s on the house.”
He held the cup with both hands. “Thank you, it’s so warm.”
Brad looked over at the bar. The light caught the red in Nicole’s hair as she smiled back at him. Why did I let this intruder in? I almost had the courage to hold her, to kiss her. But now he had time to allow Dylan to haunt him.
He wished their lips had met before his conscience convinced him Dylan still loved her. Dylan loved her and she was so good for him. Brad had never seen Dylan like this with anyone. He had never seen him with a girl for more than a few days. But it wasn’t just that. She was helping him become the man he was meant to be, Brad watched him grow around her. How could he not?
Brad flashed back to high school.
Cornered, the four of them closed in as Brad’s eyes darted around to find an escape route. He could handle Ralph, but knew the others would soon pound him to the ground.
“What were you doing, talking to my girlfriend?” Ralph knew Brad hadn’t touched her, but for some reason, today Brad appeared to be the target again. Ralph wanted to make an example of him in front of the crowd of people gathering, eager to see blood.
“I was just helping her with her homework,” Brad spit out, but knew it wouldn’t change the situation and began to squirm as he prepared himself to be beat up pretty bad. Ralph’s hands pounded flat against Brad’s chest, pushing him backwards and he lost his footing, stumbling back. I needed to anchor myself better and spread my stance. He thought about what Dylan had told him the last time an ass tried to overpower him.
Dylan had been kicked out of most of the fancy schools his parents had sent him to and despite their money, he was finally sent to Northwestern to slum it with the rest of the public school kids. The day he walked through the doors he became the most popular kid in school—athletic, good looking, the list went on.
Brad, however, had been there for an eternity and most of the kids didn’t know his name. Dylan’s mom didn’t like Brad much—his family wasn’t rich enough for her--but Dylan and Brad became good friends. Brad helped him with his grades and Dylan helped Brad with just about everything else—especially survival.
Brad knew what he had to do. Dylan would warn, if you let someone take the first punch you will constantly be fighting in defense. I needed to take control.
As Ralph gritted his teeth, Brad saw him clench his fist. Brad’s eyes focused on Ralph’s jaw as he replayed the boxing combination Dylan taught him after the last time he had been attacked. His upper cut sliced against Ralph’s chin and he followed with a left hook. Ralph’s eyes rolled back and Brad watched him double over in pain. As Ralph staggered back to his feet and shook himself off, Brad felt the punches coming at him in every direction, pounding his body. He blocked what he could and made a failed attempt at fighting off the other four maniacs who had joined in the fight. He looked at the hard pavement, knowing he would soon be lying there- – bloody with a few broken bones.
Pain stabbed him with every jab that cut into his ribs. He could feel the pulsation of pain on his face and knew he would have a black eye, and maybe even a broken nose.
Suddenly one of the attackers disappeared. Dylan pried him off Brad and tossed him to the ground. With Dylan as his wingman, Brad’s confidence grew and he struck Ralph with everything he had. His body fell to join the pile of guys Dylan had dropped to the pavement.
“Good left hook man.” Dylan slapped Brad’s back and they walked away triumphant. “What do Alexander the Great, Julius Cesar, Napoleon, Michalangelo, Leonardo Da Vinci, Beethoven, Benjamin Franklin, Mark Twain, Albert Einstein, Paul McCartney, Bruce Jenner, John McEnroe,” Dylan took a deep exaggerated breathe, “and former U.S. President Bill Clinton all have in common?” he would remind Brad as if they were somehow connected in spirit. “They are all southpaws.”
Throughout high school, Brad knew he could always count on Dylan. His teenage years would have been much worse if he had had to survive on his own.
“Where’s your bathroom?” The man broke Brad’s thoughts.
He blinked, realizing Nicole waited patiently behind the bar and he still stood beside the stranger they had let in after hours.
He pointed in the direction of the door. “Over there. We are going to have to be leaving soon. Okay?”
“That’s fine. I’m almost done.”
Brad walked back to the bar. The scent of her perfume filled his nose as she staggered over to him, taking his hands. Her touch sent chills up his spin, but he knew he had to control himself. Dylan still loved her. He would have played with the band tonight if he didn’t.
He took a breath. He couldn’t kiss her. He had to help her remember she was in love with his best friend, even if he was an ass sometimes.
They spent more than an hour talking, and laughing in the half-lit bar. “If it weren’t for Dylan I never would have been able to buy this place. Some family members were trying to cheat me out of my inheritance but Dylan got one of his parents’ fancy lawyers to help me. I was just seventeen and didn’t realize what they were trying to take from me. He’s always had my back.”
“Thank you.” The man’s voice pulled them out of their conversation. They had forgotten about their audience and didn’t even realize the man had come out of the bathroom and was sitting at the table to finish his coffee.
“Just be patient with him, Nikki. I know he loves you. I’ve known him since highschool and I’ve never seen him like this. He is trying to act like he doesn’t care, but the truth is, you are all he cares about. Give him time. You’ll see, you are meant to be together.” It was so hard to say.
“Goodnight.” The door closed behind the man, interrupting them again. Brad looked at his watch and he walked around the bar, going to the table to grab the coffee. He noticed that the man had left his map. He picked it up off the table and staggered back.
“Shit.” A carnation. A fuckin’ yellow carnation! He ran to the front door, but the man was already gone. “Shit! Steve!…Shit!” I let him in here. He could have… “Shit!” Brad locked the door. He looked at Nicole. He couldn’t worry her. He grabbed the carnation. There was no way that was Steve. No way that could have been him!
Was he waiting for us? Was he waiting outside to ambush us in case there were security cameras in here?
The lights suddenly went out. Pitch black!
“Shit!” He rushed to the bar. Where was she? She was gone! A sudden panic filled him as he frantically searched for her. Did Steve take her? Did he distract me so he could take her?
“Bradley?” Her voice broke his panic. Where was she? “Bradley?” He dodged the tables toward the faint cries and took her into his arms. Suddenly the lights went back on. His breath was heavy. The smell of her filled him, intoxicated him. He held her for a moment. Her body so… he backed away.
“I thought he…” He looked at the map he had clutched in his hand. “Are you okay?”
“Just a little freaked out. I figured I’d go to the bathroom while I waited for you then the lights went out.” He was toying with us. Where was he? What was he doing?
The cup of coffee. DNA. Could they get the DNA from the coffee cup?
“You okay?” he repeated, looking into her eyes.
“I’m fine.” He rushed to the table. Chris would be in town soon. He could give him the map, the coffee cup and anything else he found. The local police weren’t getting any closer to solving the case. He knew Chris would have a better chance at helping them finally catch the monster. Maybe Steve left some other clues, too. He spotted a crumpled napkin on the fl
oor, and leaned over to pick it up. Opening it up, he silently read it.
“Why don’t you kiss her Brad? Why don’t you kiss her before it’s too late?” What the hell?
He bent over, picking up another one. “You don’t really believe that Brad, now do you? Why should he claim her? Don’t you want her? Don’t you want her, Brad?” He staggered back again, the note striking an uneasiness inside of him. As he moved back he noticed the floor, the floor- – littered with white napkins under the table. Do I dare? Do I dare look at another?
“I bet she is moist Brad, stop talking about him, get some balls. I see the way you look at her. She makes you hard doesn’t she? Do something about it Brad. Get rid of Dylan. Get rid of him and you can have her all to yourself.” He picked up another--almost consumed by Steve’s morbid thoughts. How could he know? How could he know I wanted her so bad? How did he know sometimes I wished Dylan would just disappear so she would be mine?
“Why are you such a pussy Brad? Do you think he really loves her? Are you really that stupid? You are the only one who really loves her.” He opened another, not even acknowledging the questions coming from Nicole in the background. Her questions were muffled. All he could hear were the words that were popping off the page as counsel.
He grabbed another off the ground. “She is waiting for you to be a man. Do you watch her Brad? I bet you want to touch her skin. Dylan’s just in the way. Get rid of him and she will be all yours.”
“What are you looking at?” Her voice finally broke through his conscience as she made her way over to him.
“Nothing, nothing. I’ll be right there. He just left a mess.” He spit out.
Obsession and Sacrifice (Alaska #2) Page 19
