by C. J. Pinard
“Well tell her to keep her fuckin’ voice down,” said a guy wearing a leather jacket and in need of a haircut. He was too pretty to try to be rocking the unkempt rough look.
Karina tapped the table with her hand twice. “Will do. We are leaving soon anyway.”
She headed back to our table and I looked at the group. I noticed they all wore leather jackets, actually. On the upper right arm of each jacket was some kind of patch with a symbol of a bird with its wings spread. I knew I was staring at this point, but they seemed to be in their own quiet conversation. I zoned in on the patch and could see Nighthawks written underneath the bird.
“Yes,” Evan said, staring at me, amused.
I cocked my head to the side. “Yes, what?”
“They are a vampire motorcycle... club. I wouldn’t call them a gang because they’re like vigilantes.”
I picked up my piece of garlic bread and used it to mop up the red sauce on my plate. “So, like us, except they have cool jackets, a name, and probably loud motorcycles?”
“I guess, in a way,” Karina answered. “But they only kill rogue vampires or ones who are out of control.”
“And that’s not what we do?”
She glanced at her husband, then to me. “Well, we’re branching out to other creatures.”
My eyes widened. “Really?”
The server came by and we stopped talking. “Any dessert?”
“No,” we answered collectively.
She set the bill down on the table with a thank-you, and walked away.
I looked again at the group and that patch. Something in my memory flashed quickly in my brain and I let out a gasp.
Turning wide-eyed to my mentors, I whisper-yelled, “You guys, Fiona was wearing that same patch on her jacket!”
Evan nodded. “I know. Who do you think paid us to go after her? They don’t usually have to discipline one of their own, so they contracted it out. That group, though”—he slightly inclined his head—“I’ve never seen before. I only dealt with their leader.”
“Well that little tidbit wasn’t in the text you sent me about her.”
He glanced quickly at Karina, then back to me. “We thought if you knew she also was a hunter, you would feel intimidated.”
I snorted. “Right. Have you met me?”
Evan chuckled and grabbed the bill. “Let’s go.”
I took the hint and followed him to the front, where he paid for the meal at the counter, and then we walked outside. The air was cool, but not cold, and all the stars were out. It was a beautiful Colorado night.
“Question,” I said. “So... those bikers might not even know Fiona’s dead or who did it?”
He chanced a glance and looked around before talking to me as we walked around the back of the building to the small parking lot. “Yeah, they probably know. They aren’t big on taking out one of their own, but I can assure you their leader told them—or will shortly. After your call earlier, I let him know, and I’m sure he disseminated the information to the club. They just, obviously, don’t know who did or how. It is always part of our agreement when we take jobs that we keep everything confidential. All we’re required is to provide proof of the kill. Unfortunately, we can’t do that, so we won’t get paid. But it’s okay.”
“Well you’re not going to pay me, then.” I shrugged and dug in my purse for some gum. When I found a piece, I unwrapped it and popped it into my mouth. “It was self-defense, anyway.”
“Still, we’ll pay you half the normal fee, so you can at least pay your bills.”
I lifted a shoulder. “Okay,” I agreed, only because I knew how loaded Karina’s brothers were and knew twenty-five hundred dollars probably wasn’t a big deal.
“Where’s your car?” Evan asked.
“Ubered here, because... wine.” I smiled.
He chuckled and disarmed the SUV. After opening the passenger side door, he helped Karina in and closed the door. Then he opened the back door and said, “Get in, silly.”
I wasn’t going to refuse a free ride, so I did.
Chapter 14
The smile reached her eyes when my best friend spotted me sitting at Moon Chasers’ outside rooftop bar, enjoying the band. She looked fierce in a short black skirt and a shiny red and gold cold-shoulder top. Her gold hoop earrings matched her bracelets and her strappy gold heels, and her eyes were shimmery, rimmed in gold eye-shadow. I set my glass down and walked over to greet her.
“I’ve missed you!” Sanja said, putting her arms around me, and I felt that strange psychic sensation buzz through me like every time she touched me. I guessed it would probably never go away.
“You too, girl. When are you gonna be done with school?” I indicated for her to sit on the patio sofa. I took a seat in the chair so we could talk. A fancy fire pit was ablaze and the music was thumping, but not obscenely loud like it was downstairs in the main part of the club.
She must have gotten herself a drink from the bar downstairs before coming up, because she set down a glass filled with something blue and icy. “I’m actually done! I can’t walk until the spring for the official graduation, but I don’t have any more classes I need, so I’m free!”
My heart was so happy for my friend. “That’s amazing, Sanj. You worked your ass off, and now it’s all going to be worth it.”
She nodded and picked up her drink. “Thanks to you. You convinced me to change my major back to Paranormal Studies and I got done much faster. Not so much math and science.”
I lifted my drink, leaned over, and clinked it with hers. “Congrats, my friend. What’s next for you?”
She smiled and pushed some black hair behind her ear and then dragged the whole mass of it over her left shoulder where it cascaded down her chest and over her left breast. It was so straight and shiny, it shimmered from the white lights strung around the perimeter of the roof.
“My mom and I are going to open up a magic shop downtown here.”
“Wow,” I breathed. “That is amazing! So she’s going to leave Texas and come here?”
She nodded. “Yep. She’s ready for a change. She said maybe the men in Colorado are nicer and hotter than the losers in Texas she’s been dating.”
We both laughed and it felt so good. “They are, trust me. So are you still working at Magik’s Books & Coffee, or did you quit yet?”
“Yep, still there for now. Learning all I can about running a magic shop. And since that one’s in Boulder, I don’t feel bad about opening up my own here in lo-do. It’s not like we’ll be competitors. It’s cool to watch what they do, and learn from their mistakes, like over-ordering certain things, what sells, what doesn’t, and of course the type of clientele comes in.”
“You always were the smartest person I knew,” I said with a wink. “So when is your mom coming here?”
She took a sip of her drink and set it down. “As soon as she sells the house.”
“I’m so excited for you,” I said, meaning it. “I’m gonna visit your shop all the time. I bet my parents will, too.”
“I can’t wait. They are great people. How are they doing?”
“Good.” My smile faltered a little, and I looked at the fire pit. “Today’s Austyn’s birthday so I had to check on them earlier, but they are okay.”
When I looked back to her, she was frowning, and her eyes glistened. “Oh, girl. I’m sorry. It’s gotta be tough.”
“I’m all right, really. I haven’t found that prick Linden yet, but I will. In the meantime, I have managed to take care of my other target.” I picked up my drink and smiled at her over the rim of the glass.
Her eyes widened. “Really? Oh, my God. Give me every detail. Don’t leave anything out.”
So I did. I even told her about Kellan and me, and the visit from Ryder. I was finishing up about my meeting with Evan and Karina from earlier, and the Nighthawks motorcycle club, when a voice interrupted us.
“Helloooo, ladies. Looking gorgeous this evening.”
Both
our heads swiveled and looked up at two college-age guys standing close by, smiling with beers clutched in their fists.
“Thank you,” I said, crossing one leg over the other, the black leather making a whispering sound. “What’s up?”
His gaze traveled from the tips of my high-heeled boots, to the rim of the low-cut red tank I wore under my zippered black jacket.
“Hey, jackass, my eyes are up here.” I pointed to my face with a knowing grin on my face.
“I know, sweetheart,” he replied, “but the view below your neck is so nice. And what’s with the big-ass knife? You expecting to get mugged?” He pointed to my Dagestan dagger in its thigh strap.
I grinned. “Mugged? No. Murdered, yes.”
His eyes widened momentarily, then his smug expression returned as his gaze traveled down to the area between my legs. “I bet you got something I can murder with this.” He reached down and gripped his crotch, shaking it a couple of times for emphasis.
I was about to pop off a smartass retort about its size, but Sanja cut me off as she rolled her eyes.
“Dude, seriously? You need to work on your lines.”
His lustful gaze lazily moved from my body to Sanja’s. He then scanned her from head to toe, and grinned at her. “Is that so, Jasmine?”
“Oh, God,” she groaned. “An Aladdin reference, really?”
“She’s way prettier than Jasmine,” I replied, defending my friend. True, she did resemble the cartoon heroine because of her Indian blood, but I didn’t care for this idiot’s drunken comments.
The guy nodded and said, “Yes, she is. Can we sit?”
In unison, Sanja and I both replied, “No.”
“Geez,” the other guy said. “Leave the bitter bitches alone. There’s fresher meat here somewhere.”
I snorted and put my hand on the hilt of the dagger. “Meat. Seriously? Get the fuck outta here, you losers.”
The first guy flipped us off and they disappeared into the crowd. I did a double-take when I saw a mass of bodies at the edge of the roof. It was right where I had fallen off the night I’d met Beckett. They all seemed to be looking down and murmuring to themselves. I flicked my gaze at Sanja, and her expression matched mine as she saw the crowd.
“What the hell?” she whispered, setting her glass down.
I did the same, and we both got up and went over to see. I pushed my way through the throng of bodies and peered over the edge of the roof. There, on the sidewalk, lay a young woman, not moving. Her wavy black hair was splayed out on the pavement, her eyes were closed, and a river of blood ran from the gaping gash in her neck. I quickly scanned the area to see someone walking quickly into an alley set between two buildings across the street. With my excellent eyesight, I could see it was a dark-skinned male wearing blue jeans and a dark-colored shirt. Blood dripped from his fingertips as he moved quickly, but I couldn’t see his face as he skirted around a dumpster, his back to me.
“Fuck,” I murmured. I turned to Sanja. “Got any memory-erasing spells up your sleeve?”
She dragged her stare away from the body on the sidewalk and turned to me, confusing coloring her face. “What? Why?”
“Because you’re going to need one.” Without another word, I jumped off the roof and landed on my feet, letting my legs absorb the impact. A chorus of gasps and screams echoed from above me, but I ignored them. The second I was upright, I blitzed across the street to the alley, snatching the dagger from my thigh as I ran.
He turned around at the mouth of other end of the alley, hearing me approach a split-second before I lunged for his legs and tackled him. We both went down with a thud right outside a twenty-four-hour laundromat. The three patrons inside whipped their heads in our direction, but I paid them no mind. Within seconds, I had the vampire pinned to the ground. He used his supernatural strength to try to buck me off, but I had his arms restrained below my thighs. My dagger was poised over his chest, its shiny metal glinting off the lights from the laundromat.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing, biting a human like that?” I asked, staring down into his face.
He tried to be brave, but I could see fear in his coffee-colored eyes. He had long eyelashes and high cheekbones. His full lips were pursed together as if he was trying to formulate a response. When he said nothing, I used my free hand to reach down and slap him hard across his cheek. “Answer me!”
Murderous rage burned behind his gaze and he finally gritted out, “Get off me, bitch.”
I made a tsk-tsk sound with my tongue, and smiled down at him. “Do you actually think calling me names will get you anywhere? You are stupider than you look.”
He made a noise in the back of his throat, and before I could blink, he hocked a wad of spit at my face, hitting me on the left cheek.
It instantly made me angry—enraged, as I could feel my blood begin to boil.
I didn’t even bother to wipe off the slimy wad before plunging my dagger down into his shoulder.
He screamed in agony and rage. “You fucking bitch!”
Arming away the spit with my shoulder, I grinned down at him and said through gritted teeth, “There you go again with the name-calling. What is wrong with you? Answer the motherfuckin’ question. Why did you attack that girl outside the bar back there?” I jerked my thumb over my shoulder.
Sanja appeared at the opposite end of the alleyway I’d just chased him through, distracting us both. The vampire bucked his hips again, and this time, he succeeded in getting me off him.
“Ahhh!” I screamed as I landed on my side, the dagger clattering to the ground. I snatched it up quickly.
The vampire tried to blitz away, but he didn’t get far, though. He had clearly underestimated Sanja, thinking he could plow right over her to make his escape.
“Ignis!” she yelled, throwing her hands in the air.
The vampire erupted into flames, halting his escape as he fell to his knees and screamed.
I quickly got to my feet, snatched my weapon up, and rushed over to him. He was rolling around, yelling. I looked at my friend. “Put it out. Please.”
She nodded and raised her hands once more. “Extinctus.”
The fire immediately snuffed out as if it had been doused with water, and the dark-skinned man lay on the ground, clothes and skin singed. Bright, angry, pink patches of exposed flesh were dotted all over him. He groaned in pain with smoke rising off his body.
I crouched down and poked him in the shoulder. “Are you done fucking with me, leech?”
He gasped out loud, then looked up at me, anger in his gaze, breathing heavily. “You reek like a wolf, but you move like a night child. What are you?”
The way he spoke led me to believe he was a lot older than he looked. Yet... the careless attack of the young woman outside the crowded bar, with no regard for discrepancy or discreetness, confused me. “I’m both wolf and vampire. Thanks to one of your night children attacking me. Now, I’m their worst nightmare.” I narrowed my eyes at him.
His wounds had healed and smoke no longer drifted from his skin, and the bloody hole in his shirt was the only evidence left of his shoulder wound.
With an evil grin, and still lying on his back, he flicked his gaze at Sanja, then back to me. “Smart dog. You got yourself a witch. But you are still a fool, wolf. I don’t care who sees me, and I don’t care what happens to humans. And let me also add that I don’t care what happens to filthy wolves or whore witches either.”
I heard Sanja swear under her breath.
He smiled smugly at me, and then to Sanja. “Now, I’ve got things to take care of, so go find someone else to harass.”
He jumped up and blitzed past Sanja.
Well, two could play this game.
I also blitzed and caught up with him. My dagger was in his back before he even stopped running, and he fell to the ground, yet again.
He grasped for the weapon, trying to pull it out of his back, rolling around like a wounded animal. I halted his escape by si
tting on him again—this time he was on his side and I was straddling his waist.
“You’re a fool.” I shook my head as he looked at me sideways. “All you had to do was answer my questions back there,” I said, shoving my thumb over my shoulder. “But you didn’t. You just mocked me and ran. You’re not smart, are you?”
“Fuck off, you mangy wolf,” he replied.
“What’s your name, dummy?” I asked as I pinned his head onto the concrete.
Sanja appeared again, but this time I was ready for her. I kept my grip on the vampire under me and flicked the handle of my dagger sticking out of his back. “Answer the question.”
He howled in pain and then said, “Tyrone,” breathily.
I looked a Sanja, and she stood there all sexy in her short skirt with her arms crossed over her chest. She shook her head and mouthed the word “no” at me, and then, “Liar.”
I grinned and nodded at her in understanding. I reached down and twisted hard on the dagger protruding from his back. His flesh made a tearing sound. “Why you gotta lie to me, Tyrone?”
He screamed and arched his back, wriggling to get out from under me.
“What’s. Your. Name? It’s not a hard question, suck-bag,” I demanded.
He appeared to be breathing hard now, and I knew he was fading fast. Vampires didn’t necessarily need to breathe air—didn’t really need the oxygen—but he was probably in panic mode.
I flicked my gaze at Sanja, then down to him.
She nodded as she crouched down and put one hand on his head, “Veritas.” She stood up. “He can’t lie now.”
“One last time, first and last name, please,” I said, my patience just about gone.
“Zeke Bolaji,”came a voice from behind us.
We both turned to see Evan standing there with his hands in his pockets, and a smile on his face. He walked toward us, bent down, and used one hand to pull the dagger out of Zeke. Evan then rolled him onto his back.
