With her spirit lifted and confidence rebuilt, she considered what to do. She’d acquired great abilities from Kyle. Why not use them? Could she sit on her ass, mourn and do nothing while the prick who ended her man’s eternal existence roamed freely? Hell no. She wasn’t that type of person. Her parents died in a car accident when she was fifteen and she took control of her life. She got up everyday, went to school and found a job to pay bills. Through high school and college, she struggled to survive, but she did it. She had strong determination. Kyle had known it well. He’d challenged her in every way possible and she met each one head on. Now, the mother of all tests lay before her. Could she handle it?
Puffy eyes stared back at her through the mirror. Rage boiled deep within her soul as she continued to think about the rogue vampire who destroyed Kyle. He didn’t deserve to walk the earth. Someone needed to send the fucker to hell.
After a deep breath, she thought about what Kyle would want. He’d probably tell her to walk away instead of avenging his death. He’d want her to enjoy life. Time would heal.
Screw time. It was no longer her friend since she couldn’t be with Kyle.
Katie grabbed her purse and slid the strap over her arm. Having made her decision, her mood brightened. She’d take advantage of everything Kyle had shared with her to ensure the fucker who destroyed him would perish. Retribution was worth every breath and drop of blood in her body. Let the battle begin.
2
Katie turned into the lot for the Tasmanian Devil and parked in a spot on the side of the building. The bar she worked at two nights a week appeared busy, as usual, judging from the abundance of idle cars. Her mood was far from sociable, but she needed a drink to help settle her nerves. After she’d stormed out of the police station, her emotions raced along roller coaster tracks. When her mood descended, she cried more. When she rose from her depression, she shouted profanity. She feared if she didn’t slow down on the ride soon, she would crash and burn. And she didn’t have time for that.
Purse in hand, she shoved open her door and stepped out of her car. A slight breeze brushed over her and carried the scent of steak from the Texan style restaurant down the street. Her stomach churned, still sensitive and ready to revolt again if she didn’t stay in control. Thankfully, she was at the moment. Laughter of male and female voices drifted from somewhere in the front while Katie strolled along the sidewalk on the side of the building. A group of six and another couple with their hands joined walked across the lot. After Katie turned the corner, she spotted several men and women heading toward a black van with its side door open. Maybe the hour was later than she’d thought and people were heading home.
Home. A place that didn’t exist for her, thanks to some rogue vampire.
Anger ascending, Katie swung open the door and stepped into the dimly lit tavern. She curved around empty tables and headed straight for the bar in the back. To her surprise, the Devil wasn’t as crowded as she’d first thought. A few patrons occupied some the booths. In the game rooms off to the side, men gathered around the pool tables. Standing behind the counter and handing a drink to a customer, Katie found Julie Mannis, her best friend and co-worker. Also known as Jules, she had her long hair tied up with a few strands of curls dangling on the sides and wore a form fitting short-sleeved shirt with disco writing on the front. The woman loved the 1970s and roller-skating. She was actually very good at the sport too.
Jules lifted her head. “Please tell me he didn’t call you to work too.”
Katie stopped at a stool several seats down from the male patron. She set her purse down and plopped her rear on the stool as Jules strolled toward her.
“Holy shit! What happened to you?”
Katie released a big sigh. “Love you too, best friend.” Her dry humor matched how she felt.
Jules snatched a shot glass, then set it on the counter with a clank. She twisted, grabbed a liquor bottle, then returned and poured brown fluid into the glass.
Katie dug inside her purse and grabbed a twenty-dollar bill. She slid it over the counter toward Jules. “Here.”
“Oh, hell no,” Jules said. “Drinks are on me.”
“Then use it as a tip.”
Katie tossed the liquid into her mouth and swallowed. The burning sensation warmed her body instantly. Before Jules set the bottle down, Katie shoved the empty glass in front of her friend and held it.
Jules acknowledged her wordless request and gave her a refill. “That bad, huh?”
“Yeah, that bad.” Katie downed the liquor fast. The toxic fluid set her on fire. At least the minor discomfort quieted the pain in her heart.
She set her empty glass on the counter and waited for another refill. Following a two second hesitation, Jules did. After seven years of friendship, she knew Katie seldom drank liquor. The quality made her a perfect waitress in a bar and was one reason why Jules had recommended she should learn how to mix drinks. Not long after Katie had moved in with Kyle, she needed a job to keep her busy and put a little money into her bank account. Since she stayed up all hours of the night anyway to spend time with Kyle, the hours of a cocktail waitress fit into her schedule. Within a month of finishing Bartending School, Andy hired her. From then on, Katie never drank unless something in her life gave her stress, which was rare. Today her entire world had fell in the crapper. The strain on her heart and mind registered off the charts. Thus, drinking was appropriate.
“Do you want to talk about it?” Jules asked as Katie wiped the perspiration from above her brow with the back of her hand.
“No,” Katie replied flatly, then downed her third shot. She swallowed the liquor as if it were water. Again, she placed her empty glass in front of her friend and held it.
Jules didn’t say a word this time. She tilted the bottle.
“That’s enough,” Andy said, stopping Jules before a drop of liquor reached the glass.
They both turned as Andy strode behind the counter, heading their way. He wore a thin, black sweater with the sleeves pushed up to his mid arm. His short, bleached-blond hair stood out more with dark colors and gave him a suave look. He took the bottle from Julie’s hand. “I think she’s had enough.”
When the bar owner said enough, he meant it. Only stupid drunks would argue for more. Katie wasn’t stupid. A bit tipsy and enjoying it, but not dumb.
“It was just a few,” Jules said, and placed her hand on her hip. “She needs it.”
“Nobody needs it.” He twisted the cap on the top.
Katie grinned. If he knew her situation, maybe he’d hand over the whole bottle to her.
“Why don’t you go help Amy in the back?” he said.
“Someone needs to watch the front.”
“I’ll handle it.” He picked up a towel and handed it to her. “The tables need wiped down too.”
Jules snatched the towel from his hand and then faced Katie. “Do you think he’s trying to get rid of me, or what?”
“I’m not paying you to stand around and chit-chat, Julie.” All friendliness had left his tone. “I want to close on time.”
“All right. All right.” Jules passed him and a few steps later, she quietly spun. Facing his back, she flipped him off.
The priceless look of Jules’s lifted middle finger and wrinkled nose prompted a grin from Katie. Andy must have seen her expression. He twisted to look behind him. Jules jerked back around and continued on her way. He missed her rebellious behavior by mere seconds.
Katie shook her head gently. The three drinks had calmed her nerves and eased the worries from her mind. No more anger. No more pain. No more gloom and doom. She could use another for a longer effect.
“What are you doing here?” Andy asked, stretching his arms out along the bar. The man wasn’t a body builder, but he did have a nice torso and solid muscles.
“Visiting and drinking. I can pay.”
“You don’t drink.”
“I was thirsty.”
“I’ll get you a cola.”
&
nbsp; “Never mind.” She twisted on the stool to give him the cold shoulder. Her momentary peace shifted into annoyance. What the fuck was wrong with her boss? He normally was a fun guy to talk to and had an uncanny sense of humor. Now, he seemed down right rude and a pain in the ass. She didn’t need any more problems to deal with.
Katie surveyed the dimly lit bar and took a deep breath. The Devil had an unusual feel. Tension. Darkness. Hatred. She rubbed her temple as she tried to figure out the reason for such odd sensations. She wasn’t psychic by any means, but after consuming enough vampire blood over the years, she’d noticed little changes, most to her senses. She had heightened eyesight, hearing and sense of smell, but they weren’t as keen as a vampire’s was.
Hearing the soft taps of movement from her side, she turned. Andy came to a stop too close for her comfort. Fortunately, the liquor made her not care.
He crossed his arms. “You should go home.”
She looked away from him. “I would if I had one.”
“So it’s true. Your boyfriend’s house burnt down.”
Boyfriend. She should’ve married Kyle when he’d asked. Instead she’d told him she wanted to wait until she was at least thirty. In three years, she would’ve been Mrs. Kyle Brown. The last name sounded cheesy. She’d asked him once why he selected Brown as a fake surname. Kyle had told her it was better than common names such as Smith, Jones, or Williams, ones many vampires used.
“How did you–”
“I have a police scanner in the back.”
“Ah.”
“Katie…” He lowered his arms and placed his hand on her shoulder. “I heard some other things. I’m not going to ask if they’re true or not, but drinking is not going to make you feel any better.”
Katie slid his hand off her. “Thanks, boss, for your concern.”
While his show of affection was kind, the simple touch made her want to punch him. What did he know? He’d never lost a lover, never had his world yanked out from underneath him, never spent nine years with someone only to see them headless and burning on a cross. Damn it, he didn’t know shit. If a few shots took her mind off the pain of loosing the one person dearest to her heart, then let her have some fucking drinks.
“I was an alcoholic for many years. I learned the hard way that booze only makes matters worse.”
She stared at him, unsure what to say. They’d spent years working together and he never mentioned he was an alcoholic. Why did he choose now to tell her? Did he think his confession would make her feel better, or make her think about the consequences of drinking? She appreciated his sympathy, but she already knew turning to the bottle to solve problems wouldn’t help her. She needed to be clear and focused to face her enemy. But for one night, just one, she needed something to help her swim through her misery before she drowned.
“Are you bothering the customers?” Jules said as she strolled up to them.
“Andy?” Amy called out as she stepped from the game room carrying a tray loaded with beer bottles. He twisted, then dashed to help her.
“So, what’s going on?” Jules asked softly.
“Nothing.”
“Bullshit. I saw the look in your red eyes when you took those shots. It was as if nothing else in the world mattered to you. I want to know what’s wrong.”
Jules was dead on with her assessment of Katie. The only thing Katie cared about at the moment was destroying the vampire who ended Kyle’s existence.
“I had a rough night.”
Jules chuckled and threw her arm around Katie’s shoulder. She pulled Katie into a sisterly embrace. “Honey, I’ve never seen you like this. If you don’t tell me what’s wrong, I’ll find a way to get it out of you. As you know, I can be very determined when I want to be.”
Katie couldn’t stop the grin from spreading on her face. The extent of her best friend’s resolve nearly matched that of Katie’s. Perhaps it was one reason why they got along so well. Months into their friendship, Jules had suspected something different with Katie. She’d followed Katie around town like a bloodhound for several days. One time, she snuck into Kyle’s barn and found an assortment of knives, blades, swords and guns. She’d even located spots of blood on the ground. With her curiosity piqued, she threatened to notify the police if Katie didn’t provide answers. Katie sat down with her and told the truth. Jules had actually taken the news about vampires well and vowed to keep Kyle’s existence a secret. Thank God, else he would’ve erased a sizeable portion of her memory. Jules was a good person–caring, generous, open-minded and always willing to listen. Katie gained a dear friend after she’d shared the truth and learned two valuable lessons about Jules. One, she’d never leave doors unlocked again. Two, Jules had the determination of a ram.
“I–”
“Julie,” Andy said, interrupting Katie. They both turned to face him as he approached. “Why don’t you take the rest of the night off?”
Amy came to stand next to him. She tossed her long dark hair over the back of her shoulder. “Hi, Katie. You missed the crowd tonight.”
“Yeah, you should’ve seen it,” Jules said excitedly. “This hunky guy bought two rounds of drinks for everyone and paid cash. Gave us a healthy tip too.”
“He was hot,” Amy added with a playful grin.
Jules chuckled. “Yeah, but did you see his friend? I think they might be gay.”
“All right you two.” Andy snatched the towel from Julie’s hand. “I don’t need both of you to close. Amy said she’d stay, so why don’t you head on home.”
Jules shifted her gaze to Katie.
“I’ll give you a ride,” Katie said with a grin.
Although Jules owned a car, her boyfriend, Joe, often dropped her off at the bar and took her sedan to his second job since his hours ended later. Joe was a butcher at night and a construction man during the day when the weather was nice. Needless to say, Jules never had to worry about home repairs or having enough meat in the house.
“I’ll drive. Just let me get my purse.” Jules dashed away a second later.
“I think you should stay with Julie for the night,” Andy said. “Maybe talk to her.”
“You planned this, didn’t you?”
Katie glared at him suspiciously. The sneaky bastard. He might have been an alcoholic, but the booze hadn’t killed many of his brain cells.
“If you want to come in and work tomorrow, give me a call.”
“Maybe those two guys will come back in again and you can see them.” Amy took the towel from Andy and wiped her hands on it. “I really don’t think they’re gay. Some Asian looking woman was with them.”
Andy crossed his arms. “I don’t care if they’re transvestites. As long as they’re paying customers, that’s all I care about.”
“Okay, let’s go,” Julie said loudly as she walked toward them with her purse hanging from her shoulder.
Katie snatched her bag from the bar. She twisted around and Andy stepped in front of her.
“If you need anything, don’t hesitate to call.”
“Sure. Thanks.” Katie stepped around him and headed for the exit with Jules.
Outside and several feet from the door, Jules asked, “What was that about?”
“He’s concerned.”
“Why is he concerned about you?” After they turned the corner, Jules grabbed Katie’s arm and stopped her. “Please tell me you’re not quitting.”
The look in Jules’s eye reminded her of a sad puppy. They’d been friends for years. They’d come to know each other’s deepest, darkest secrets and shared some great times too. If Katie ever moved, she’d sorely miss her best friend.
“No, I didn’t quit. Come on…” Katie jerked her head toward her car. “I’ll tell you about it at your place.”
Once Jules slid her hand away, they proceeded to Katie’s vehicle. Katie stopped at her door and dug her keys from her purse. Jules snatched them before Katie had a chance to unlock the doors.
“I’m driving. Remember?”
“Whatever.” Three shots made Katie woozy, but double vision had yet to be a problem. Still, if her friend insisted on driving, Katie wouldn’t complain. She walked around the back of the car, then slid into the passenger seat.
“Should we stop at the liquor store and pick up some vodka?” Jules asked as she backed out of the parking spot.
“Sure. I’ll pay for it.”
A slight grin spread across her face. Andy wanted her to stay sober, but he’d actually given her the perfect opportunity to get totally wasted. Leaving with Julie was his best plan yet. Maybe those days of his addiction to the bottle had killed a few brain cells after all.
Julie glanced over her shoulder at Katie while she navigated the car down the empty street. “Are you going to tell me what’s going on?”
Katie fished her wallet from her purse and withdrew a twenty-dollar bill. “Yes, but can you run in the liquor store and buy us something first?” She handed her the cash.
Jules snatched the money from her hand. “You’re going to make me wait that long?”
Katie laughed. “It’s five minutes in and out of the store, then seven to your place.”
“Why can’t you just tell me now? It can’t be that bad. Can it?”
This was Jules’s typical routine. Question, question, question until the person she was interrogating couldn’t handle it anymore. Katie often wondered why she was a bartender instead of a detective. She had the perfect skills for police work.
“Just get me something to drink and I’ll tell you everything at your house.”
“Is this worse than the time Kyle bit you on–”
“Just drive.”
Katie had told her numerous times that his little love bites gave her pleasure unlike any she’d ever known. Did Julie believe her? No. Jules didn’t think Kyle was evil, but any creature big or small with sharp teeth couldn’t deliver a pleasant bite, so she’d said.
Immortal Revenge Page 2
