Dangerous Retaliation (The Harcourte Vampyre Society Book 4)

by Kelley, Morgan

  Camille looked back at the table. “It’s your tea, Mistress. I shouldn’t be drinking it. You are the Mistress. I’m merely an underling.”

  Jolie took her hand and slid the cup back across and into her palm. “I want you to think of this as your home, Camille. Please feel free to take what you wish, and you may have as much tea as you desire,” said Jolie. “I want us to be friends. You’re not my slave or servant. I’ll pay you for your nanny services, and I’ll provide for Cari too.”

  “Why?” she asked softly. “You don’t owe me anything.”

  “Because I like you and your daughter, and you’re now part of our family. I hope that if I have daughters, they’ll be friends with Cari.”

  Camille looked up with tears in her eyes. She squeezed Jolie's hand as she took a long sip of her new friend’s truly excellent tea.

  She never thought this was possible, but finally, she was home.

  * * * H a r c o u r t e * * *

  Flynn was amused as his friend kept nervously pacing the solarium. With each pass by the doorway, he peeked out, looking for Camille.

  “She isn’t beating her,” he offered, taking a bite of the apple Jacques brought from the kitchen. Lately, they were super focused on feeding him. At least the apple didn't make him want to toss his cookies.

  “How do you know?”

  “She isn’t like that,” he added, as he chewed. The look on Tommy’s face was entertaining.

  “I’m just worried,” he admitted, noticing that Jacques was sitting at the piano, playing with the keys. “I hope I didn’t get her in trouble.”

  Flynn laughed. “Wow! You have it bad.”

  Gress gave him a dirty look before closing his eyes. He was trying to convince himself that his friend had no idea what he was talking about. “I don’t know what you mean.”

  This time it was Mathew who laughed. “Detective, I barely know you, and I can tell you that you’re screwed.”

  “Oh yeah? How so, Mr. Undead?” he asked.

  Mathew shrugged off the hostility in his voice. He couldn’t blame him. Before coming here, he didn't like vampyres all that much either.

  “You watch her whenever she comes into the room. The only two people I’ve seen do that are Master Flynn and Master Jacques. They have it bad, ergo you have it bad.”

  “Ergo?” Tommy said, looking at his old partner. “What the hell does that mean?”

  “Therefore,” Flynn and Jacques said together.

  “Then why didn't he just say that?”

  Flynn shrugged. “Mathew is a girl. He likes to talk all pretty. I’m trying to break him of that, but it has to be a vampyre thing.”

  “Hey!” Mathew and Jacques said together.

  Flynn snorted.

  Those were fighting words to a guardian and one in training. Mathew struck first, whipping a pillow across the room. It clocked his master in the head.

  Flynn stared open mouthed. “Seriously? Now you start a pillow fight? You’re such a girl. Let’s get our nails painted next, ladies.” He stared down at the goth-y black paint on Mathew’s nails. “Oops. My bad. It looks like we’re too late.”

  Mathew tossed another pillow at his head in retaliation.

  Flynn snorted and threw one back, and before the four men knew it, a mêlée had begun. There were pillows flying and bodies rolling on the floor like they were kids.

  Tommy whipped a pillow at Jacques, hitting him in the face. Immediately, Flynn came to his mate’s defense. Distracting Tommy, he clipped him in the legs, taking him to the floor. He laughed at the look on the man’s face.

  “No fair! I’m the only human here!” he demanded in outrage.

  Mathew whipped a pillow at Jacques and snorted. “Flynn’s a human. He only wishes he had vamp DNA,” he taunted. Before he could finish he found himself on his back, with Flynn staring down at him.

  “Keep thinking that, and you may convince yourself,” he said, grunting as Jacques leapt at him, flipping him onto the couch and off Mathew’s trapped body.

  “Hey! You’re supposed to have my back,” he muttered, catching Mathew from the corner of his eye and alerting his mate, before the young vampyre could strike. “See! Like that.”

  Jacques stepped out of the way and managed to trip Mathew, so he ended up landing on top of Tommy. He offered Flynn his hand, pulling him to his feet.

  Two more pillows went flying at them, and both men stepped out of the way. They cringed when the pillows knocked a vase and clock to the floor.

  “Oh crap,” muttered Flynn. “I hope that wasn’t an heirloom or you two are screwed,” he grinned wickedly.

  Jacques began laughing and dropped his arm over his mate’s shoulder. “I do believe we won this one.”

  Flynn was about to comment when he sensed her near. “Uhhh…”

  Unfortunately, Tommy was only a human, and he couldn’t feel them approaching. As he flung the pillow projectile, Jolie walked into the room, taking it right to the head.

  Everyone froze.

  She brushed her hair from her face.

  “Oh, hey, baby,” said Flynn, trying to cover for him and Jacques. “I told Mathew and Tommy to behave. Poor Jacques and I were getting beat on by them.”

  Jacques laughed, covering it with a cough.

  Both men on the floor looked horrified.

  “I am afraid to ask,” she said, trying not to laugh. “Flynn, did you call the police and ask about any killings like I asked?”

  “On my way, baby,” he said, walking past her. When she looked away, he slapped her firmly on the ass.

  “FLYNN!”

  He simply left the room whistling.

  Jolie tried not to giggle at his silliness. “I wouldn’t try that if I were any of the rest of you. I let him get away with it, but you may not be so lucky.”

  Then her attention went to her other mate. “Jacques Degaul! What has gotten into you? This isn’t like you at all,” she stated, enjoying the boyish grin on his face. It brought her back to when they were young.

  Jacques tucked his hair behind his ears and pointed at the only human in the room. “Would you believe it was all Detective Gress’s fault?” he replied.

  Mathew snorted, and then cleared his face trying to look innocent.

  “Not you too, blaming the human.” Jolie’s heels clicked on the tile, as she crossed to him. “Come here,” she ordered, crooking her finger.

  Leaning down, he accepted the slow sensual kiss. If this was his reward for a pillow fight, he’d do it more often.

  When she set his mouth free, Jolie stared into his eyes. “Now pick up the pillows and clean up the broken glass.”

  “Yes, my love,” he answered, winking at Mathew.

  Jolie pointed at her guardian in training. “Don’t encourage them. They’ll only get you into trouble, especially Flynn! He’s incorrigible.”

  Her mate’s laughter flittered through her mind.

  “Yes, Mistress,” he answered cautiously. Part of him expected punishment, since that was what his previous existence was like.

  Then she winked at him, and Mathew knew their friendship was intact.

  “Now help him clean up,” Jolie insisted. She could tell that Mathew was incredibly happy to be included in a family, even if it was while they were getting in trouble.

  “Tommy, did you help do this?” questioned Camille.

  He looked guilty. “Ummm…”

  “I think you need to help them straighten this mess, don’t you think so?” she asked, placing her hands on her hips.

  “Yes, ma’am,” he replied, beginning to pick up the pillows and broken glass.

  Jolie and Camille sat on the couch as the men got to work. It was entertaining to see them sulk around like scolded children.

  They were laughing when Flynn returned.

  “What’s so funny?” he inquired.

  “Nothing,” they said at the same time.

  When the men had finally finished cleaning up their mess, they took their seats
. Immediately, Jolie scooted into Jacques’s lap.

  “Well, Flynn, what did you learn?”

  “There’ve been two suspicious murders. The victims were male and their throats were ripped out. Same MO as in Philadelphia.”

  “Really?” asked Gress. “How’s that possible?”

  They hated to break it to him, but Zola, and the serial killer he was tracking were one in the same.

  “I called Philly to confirm. It seems the killer has vanished and there are no more victims. The commissioner sends his regards,” he stated.

  “Philly, huh,” said Tommy quietly. It looked like it was time to make a decision. After all, his life had been altered by the events in that town.

  “What’s bothering you?” inquired Jolie, as Chloe brought in drinks for everyone.

  “I don’t think I can go back there,” he mumbled softly, his gaze flickering up to Jolie’s.

  “You can share anything with us, Tommy. We’ll help you with anything we can in our power.” Jolie’s eyes met and stayed on Flynn’s. She could see the hope on his face. If the man stayed, here was a little piece of his humanity.

  “I thought I’d be okay going back, picking up where I left off, but it makes me…”

  “Lost?” offered Flynn, placing his hand on his friend’s shoulder.

  Tommy nodded. “And scared. At least here, I can put a face to the vampyres. In Philly, I don’t know who to trust. This has changed everything. Finding out that there are vamps is a game changer.”

  “Preaching to the choir,” stated Flynn. “I’ve been there. It’s like you found out everything you ever knew is a lie, and it just doesn’t fit your life anymore. If vampyres are real, then what else is out there that you’re oblivious to?” Flynn remembered the internal dialog well.

  Jolie made the decision. She could feel Camille’s nervous glances from beside her, Flynn’s worry, and then the reassuring stroking of Jacques’s hand down her back.

  “If you’d like, you can remain here, Tommy, and for as long as you want. We always welcome friends and family,” she said smiling gently.

  “The New Orleans PD is looking for another detective to replace my last partner. I can put in a good word for you. I have an appointment with the department shrink to clear me for duty soon. They’re worried I’m still torn up over my partner disappearing. Little do they know I just don’t give a fu…”

  “Flynn,” Jolie admonished, laughing.

  He grinned salaciously. “Anyway, I’ll be back full time, and I can get you a job there if you’re interested.”

  “I just can’t go back to Philly. I’ll need to call my mother and sister, and somehow explain all this.”

  “We can help,” offered Jacques. “If you’d like, we can make them forget you.”

  That made him look up.

  “You can do that?”

  All the vampyres in the room nodded.

  “Let me think about it.”

  They knew not to push. This was a huge step for anyone, let alone someone who was still skittish.

  “I’ll have to call Dena and tell her it’s over. I don’t think she’s going to really care,” he stated. “She’s going to be heartbroken, but not because I’m not returning.”

  Jacques made preparations to hide the truth from the police in Philly. He’d start on it immediately. They had to erase a serial killer, an abducted detective, and their involvement. This might call for the council’s help.

  Flynn shook his head. “I probably don’t want to hear that conversation.”

  “No, you probably don’t,” said Tommy. It wasn’t lost on him that Jolie had moved into Flynn’s lap and was lovingly stroking his cheek.

  He laughed.

  “What?” Flynn asked.

  “I remember sitting with you outside the ‘Sanguivore’ when we saw Jacques and Jolie leaving that club that first night of stakeout. Do you remember the talk we had?”

  He though back to it. “Yeah, I do,” he said, grinning when Jolie and Jacques looked at them curiously.

  “Was it worth it?”

  Flynn took her face in his palms, and gently kissed Jolie on the lips. “Yeah, it was worth the chance,” he added, never looking away. When she smiled at him, his heart started to pound. “Trust me and take your own advice.”

  Tommy glanced over at Camille, and his own heart started to pound. “Yeah, I think I’ll definitely make New Orleans my home.”

  ∞ Chapter Twenty-Four ∞

  Sitting in the solarium, the group of humans and vampyres continued drinking their beverages. When Chloe’s heels sounded her approach, again, Jolie waited for whatever it was she needed to discuss with them.

  “Is something wrong?” she asked.

  “No, Mistress. The house is quiet, but you have a call,” she stated, handing her the phone. “It’s Master Nathaniel,” she said politely. “He wishes to speak with you.”

  Jolie took the phone from Chloe. “Good evening, Nathaniel.”

  “Jolie, are you and Mathew well this evening?” he inquired.

  Jolie was well aware this was formality, and that the vampyre really didn't care. “Mathew and I are fine, thank you. We’ve healed well. I assume you’re calling with some news?”

  “Yes, I believe we have a name and place for you.”

  Jolie felt excitement bubble up in her that they might actually find Ariel alive after all, and then they could return her to the family and her father. “What do you have?”

  “There’s a male vampyre who turned up with a baby two days ago. He passed the child off to a different vampyre. His name is Patrick, and he frequents the biker dens. He fancies himself a badass.”

  Jolie was surprised. “A biker bar?”

  None of them saw that one coming.

  “Please tell me that you know where it is, Nathaniel.”

  “Oh, I know where it’s located,” he said, giving her the address and Patrick’s description. “That’s his regular hangout. Generally, he goes there out of boredom or to find donors. It’s a very dangerous place. The vampyres, who have no society or allegiance, hang out there.” That was his obligatory warning to her.

  “I’ll locate him tomorrow night. Thank you, Nathaniel. I appreciate it.”

  “You earned it, Jolie. You killed Isis and defeated her challenge,” he replied, hanging up the phone.

  Jolie tossed the phone back to Chloe, and then turned back to her family. “We’ll be going out tomorrow evening,” said Jolie, grinning at Jacques.

  “A biker bar, huh?” he said unable to help his curiosity.

  Flynn had to admit that he didn’t like the idea of his pregnant mate parading herself around bars, let alone in front of bikers.

  “You look pissed, my friend,” Jacques stated.

  “Yeah, well, I am. For the record, bikers just love cops wandering in and out of their bars.” He was aware that they were going to be strapping on a bull’s-eye.

  Jolie started laughing. “You’d think that a bar with some rogue vampyres was the worst mess we’ve gotten into the last few months. This is going to be nothing new, Flynn.”

  Yeah, he doubted that.

  “I’m going,” Gress stated, adamantly.

  Flynn glanced over. “Don’t bet on that, Tommy.”

  He didn't back down. “I’m nearly healed, and the more help, the better. If I’m staying, I want to be a proactive part of this family!”

  What the man didn't realize was that ‘being proactive’ in this family generally meant getting your ass handed to you--repeatedly.

  “Hell no, you aren’t!” countered his friend. Flynn knew what they were going to face, and it wasn’t going to be a walk in the park.

  Jolie and Jacques watched the argument beginning to brew. She found it interesting that for a change, it wasn’t her being ordered around like a child.

  Tommy was outraged. “Why the hell not?”

  Everyone in the room stared at the detective.

  “First of all, you’re still healing
. You have a little limp yet from your last vampyre love fest. Remember that? It was a bunch of fun times.”

  No one spoke.

  “Secondly, a den of vampyre bikers just screams dangerous, and that will likely get you killed.”

  Camille tensed, her eyes flickered to the man she had an attachment toward.

  Tommy stood, ready to defend his rights. “Let me get this straight. You’re letting your pregnant mate go, but not your partner--a man who’s had your back in a lot of bad situations in the past.”

  It wasn’t the same thing, and he wished he got that.

  “Tommy, it’s too dangerous.”

  Now he was pissed.

  “Oh, but it’s not too dangerous for her?” he practically shouted, pointing at Jolie.

  Flynn’s eyes met hers, and Jolie braced, fully expecting to be told she wasn’t joining him and Jacques. Then the real battle would be brewing.

  “Tommy, it’s harder to kill us,” he said, including himself. “You’re human, and a lot more fragile than Jolie. It’s her nature to kill. You’re not like that.”

  What Tommy also wasn’t aware of was that at that moment, death was living in Jolie. It made her hard to stop.

  “I’ll be safe, Jolie will be protected, and Jacques, well hell, he’s a force to reckon with.”

  “Thank you, my friend,” Jacques said, lifting his wine glass in salute. There was nothing but truth in Flynn’s words.

  Jolie was surprised.

  She could feel what this was costing him.

  “You’re human too, Flynn. Just because you have fangs and are fast, it doesn’t negate the truth. You’re just like me!” Gress argued. “You can pretend you’re like them, but you’re not. You’re a human male. You’re fallible too.”

  Enough was enough.

  Apparently, Tommy needed a visual.

  Standing, he glanced over at Jacques. “I need your help proving something.”

  “Of course, Flynn,” he offered.

  The vampyre stood, pretty sure what was about to go down. He once remembered Jolie having to do something similar to scare some sense into him.

  Flynn slipped a clip from his back pocket, discharging the current magazine holding silver bullets from his gun. Sliding the new magazine of normal bullets into place, he turned the gun and handed it to Jacques, butt first.