Blood of the Son (Book #1 in the Skye Morrison Vampire Series) (Skye Morrison Series)

by J. L. McCoy

  “Trust.”

  I looked back up at Archer. “Earned.”

  “Loyalty.”

  “Important.”

  “Secret.”

  “Silence.”

  Archer interlocked his fingers behind his head and relaxed even further into the chair. “Very good, Miss Morrison. Now, do you have any questions for me?”

  I took a sip of my Cappuccino, glad that the psychoanalyzation portion of the interview was over. “As a matter of fact, I do,” I said, with a curious grin. “What made you want to open a club here in Austin?”

  “Well, Austin is considered the live music capital of the world,” he replied swiveling in his chair a bit from side to side. “What better place to open a club? There are plenty of tourists and college students guaranteed to pass through here every year. And, my brother wanted to come here and try his hand at making it big in the music industry. So, I figured that I’d come along, too. Besides, the other clubs I own back home are doing well and I wanted to branch out a little.”

  “And, where is home, Archer? Ireland?” I guessed, based on his accent.

  “Aye! Good ear, Skye,” he said, with a wide grin. “Originally, I’m from a small town outside of Dublin. But, I moved to Boston a number of years ago.”

  “How exciting. I hear Ireland is beautiful. I’ve never been but it’s on my bucket list.”

  I thought about how the interview was going so far, and decided that it was going pretty well. I wanted the job so badly. My current salary didn’t stand a chance against my student loans. I knew I’d like working here with Archer as my boss, long hours or not. I wanted to ask him if he was going to hire me, but thought it was too forward. Screw it. Forward is practically my middle name. “So, Archer…what do you think? Am I Mausoleum material?” I asked, silently praying for good news.

  His face lit up and he laughed as he leaned forward in his chair and slapped his hand down on the desk. “I like you, Skye. You aren’t afraid to go after what you want. I think you’d fit in here great,” he said with a grin. “When can you start?”

  “When would you like me to start, Archer?” I inquired, ecstatic that I got the job, but trying to play it cool.

  “Well, I could use some help with staffing and paperwork,” he said, thinking hard and running his hand through his hair. “How about you start this week, on a part time basis, until we fully open. I know you are still working at the other bar, so I’ll work around their schedule for now. But, once we open, I’m going to need you to be open, okay?”

  This wasn’t the ideal situation, but it would have to work. Dan will understand me having to quit Drop Kick’s, won’t he? This was not a conversation I was ready to have with him tonight, but I guess I had to get it over with. “That sounds great to me, Archer,” I said happily. I didn’t feel the need to clue him in on my inner turmoil. “I work the late shift tonight, then the day shift, 11am-7pm, for the rest of this week.”

  “Come on over when you get off work tonight. I’ll give you a proper tour and you can help me with a couple of things,” he said, standing up and walking around the desk.

  “Of course,” I said, standing and grabbing my bag. “I’ll be here at about 2:00am. Are you sure that’s not too late for you?”

  He clapped, rubbed his hands together, and smiled a heart stopping smile. “Late is never late around here. I’m glad you came today, Miss Morrison. It was a pleasure, as always. Now, go on down back the way you came and Gunnar will see you out.”

  “Thank you, Archer,” I said, walking over to the door and opening it. “I’ll see you tonight.”

  “See you tonight, Skye,” Archer said as he closed the door behind me.

  I slowly descended the stairs and stopped when I reached the second floor door. I was too excited to take a step further. I had to jump up and down and do a little dance. I just got hired as an Executive Assistant at an awesome Goth/Industrial night club and I was being paid an insane amount of money to be at the beck and call of a gorgeous man. Did it get ANY cooler than this?! I righted my shirt, tucked what little of it came out of my pants back in, and fixed my hair. I opened the door and was met by a familiar husky figure.

  “This way, Miss Morrison,” Gunnar said, quickly turning and walking toward the stairs leading to the main floor.

  I hurried to follow him, wondering why he was suddenly using my name. I would have bet anyone $20.00 that he wouldn’t have remembered it. I followed Gunnar down the grand metal staircase to the first floor and across the room to the entrance. I could definitely tell that Gunnar wasn’t one for small talk.

  When we reached the door I thanked Gunnar and left. I walked out to the back parking lot and got into my car. As soon as I shut the door, I leaned my head back onto the headrest, closed my eyes, and sighed.

  I did it, I thought. I found a job! And, I did it in record time. I am so lucky to have come across Archer like I did. Maybe it’s fate, perhaps. I smiled at the thought, put my messenger bag on the front passenger’s seat, and headed over the few blocks to Drop Kick Dan’s. I didn’t know how I was going to tell Dan that I already found another job, but I had tonight’s entire shift to figure it out. At least Nikki would be there. She’d help me break the news to him.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  I pulled into the employee parking lot at Dan’s and got out of my car. I checked my hair in my car’s side mirror, and then walked the few steps to the back door. I hurried over to the employee restrooms and quickly changed into a short black skirt and a red lace, deep V-neck cap sleeved shirt. I threw on some perfume and freshened up my makeup. After a final check in the mirror, I grabbed my interview clothes and messenger bag and walked out the door towards Dan’s office.

  I was busy stuffing the clothes in my bag when I suddenly ran into something.

  “Jesus, Skye! Scare a girl much?!” Nikki said as she turned around, clutching her chest. She had dropped the armful of packaged napkins that she had just taken out of storage.

  “My bad, Nikki. I wasn’t paying any attention. Here, let me help you,” I said, bending down to pick up the napkins, feeling bad for scaring her.

  “Thanks, Cupcake,” she said, accepting the packages from me. “Hey, by the way, how did your interview go with Mr. Rich and Gorgeous?”

  I laughed at the nickname. “It went really well…perfect even. He asked me a bunch of questions, some a little weird, but he offered me the job.”

  “Shut up!” she said and started jumping up and down. “Skye, that’s so awesome! Congratulations!”

  “Thanks, Nik,” I said with a huge smile and gave her a little side shoulder bump since her arms were full. I would have hugged her if they hadn’t been.

  “So, like, when do you start?” she asked, excited, and then suddenly frowned. “Oh my god, Skye, how are you going to tell Dan? WHEN are you going to tell Dan?”

  I cringed. Dan…how WAS I going to tell him? “I haven’t quite figured that out yet, Nik. But, I was kind of hoping that when I did, you could maybe be there?” I asked, timidly, looking down at my hands.

  “If that’s what you want then, Skye, consider me there,” she said, reassuringly. “Just break it to him easy, okay? He really doesn’t want to lose you as an employee. You’ve worked here for four years; you’re like family to all of us.”

  “I know,” I said, feeling bad. I didn’t want to leave, but I had to make more money. I felt like I was betraying them and it was so hard for me. But I had to do what was best for me, and I knew that eventually Dan would understand. After all, we were friends, not just co-workers. “I’ve got to drop this stuff off,” I said, gesturing to my full messenger bag, “but I’ll be out on the floor in a few. Can we find time to talk later?”

  “Sure thing, Cupcake. I always have time for you,” she said, winking. She turned around and walked toward the floor door.

  I continued forward towards Dan’s office. I noticed that the door was closed and paused in front of it. Dan’s door was never closed. He only closed it wh
en he was firing someone, and that was rare. I hated to interrupt whatever it was that was going on in there, but I needed to drop my bag off and grab my bottle opener. I stepped up to the door and gave a quick three knocks. After a full minute, Dan answered the door looking disheveled. His shirt was buttoned up incorrectly and he had bright red lipstick smudged all over his mouth.

  “Oh, geez, sorry Dan,” I said, immediately looking at the floor in embarrassment. “I didn’t know you were, uh… entertaining. I’ll just…come back… later.”

  I turned to flee, but his laughter stopped me. “It’s okay, Skye. Lola here was just leaving,” he said, turning slightly and opening the door wider. “Weren’t you, babe?”

  I looked up and saw a woman seductively saunter out. She was tall, skinny, and blond with a cheap fake tan and an even faker smile. Her outfit, what little of it there was, was two sizes too small.

  “I’ll see you later, big boy,” she said as she ran her fingers through his hair and licked his top lip. “You had better call me when you get off. I wasn’t quite finished with you yet.”

  She smiled up at him and raked her fingernails down his chest. His eyes glazed over and he grinned. She turned to me and the smile on her face fell when she recognized me. “Skye Morrison,” she said, her face pinched up like she had just sucked on a lemon, her voice dripping with disdain. “I didn’t know you worked here.”

  “Hello, Lola,” I said, matching her tone. “I never expected to see you here either. I thought you were still pining after Jason Todd.”

  She rolled her eyes and flipped her hair over her left shoulder. “Jason’s old news, honey. He bored me so, I dumped him. I’ve moved on to a real man now.”

  “Funny,” I said, looking bored. “Jason said he dumped you after he caught you blowing Tommy Green under the table at Chez LeDare’s last month. Did that suddenly slip your mind?”

  “Fuck you, Skye!” she shouted, enraged.

  “Right back at you, slut,” I said with a wicked grin. I was enjoying embarrassing her in front of Dan. He deserved to know what kind of person Lola was.

  “Easy there, girls,” Dan said, stepping in between us and putting one hand on each of our shoulders. “It’s getting a little real. Why don’t you head home and I’ll call you later,” he said, looking at Lola.

  “Why do I have to leave?” she asked in a whine, stomping her foot, and gesturing wildly in my direction. “This bitch started it.”

  “And I’m finishing It,” he said, quietly. Dan grabbed her by the arm and dragged her toward the back door.

  I shrugged my shoulders and walked into the office. I put my messenger bag on the hook and grabbed the bottle opener from my cubby. I put it in my back pocket and quickly turned to walk out the door, hoping I didn’t run into Dan.

  Too late. Dan’s muscular figure filled the doorway right before I had reached it. “What the hell was all that about, Skye?” he asked, angrily, crossing his arms over his chest and walking in.

  I walked backward a few feet until I ran into his desk. I looked down at my feet and sighed, ashamed. “I’m sorry, D. Really I am. I just can’t stand that bitch,” I said. Then, suddenly, I remembered what had set me off and I quickly looked up at him, meeting his eyes. “What the hell are you doing with Lola Finch, anyway, D.? Do you know who she is?”

  Dan walked around the desk to his chair and took a seat. He ran his fingers through his hair and sighed. “I met Lola about two weeks ago at The Velvet Elvis. She was dancing tables.”

  I turned to him and smirked. “She’s as classy as ever, I see. Well, let me fill you in, D.,” I said gruffly, folding my arms across my chest. “Lola Finch is Jesse Prescott’s half-sister, and a true bitch, at that. She called me up drunk and screaming one night, spouting about how I was a cold hearted bitch and what not, for dumping Jesse. She had a few choice words about my sexuality and implied that I was a…how did she put it…an ‘evil, carpet munching, bitch-bot’.”

  Dan turned his face to the side and tried to stifle his laughter.

  “The shit isn’t funny, D. She’s annoying, entitled, fake as hell, AND she’s a super slut. She broke poor Jason’s heart by blowing his new drummer. How messed up is that, D.? She BLEW HIS DRUMMER!” I said, mad as all get out. I threw my hands up and continued. “So, THIS is the hot date you had this past weekend? Lola Finch?! Jesus, D…Lola Finch?!” I asked, completely exasperated.

  “Skye,” Dan started, but I stopped him.

  “Whatever, Dan. I’m not your mother. Fuck who you want, but don’t throw it in everyone’s faces. Do that shit on your own time,” I said, almost starting to feel bad about my temper. After all, it wasn’t Dan’s fault that Lola and I hated each other. I had been dealing with her bitchy ‘better than thou’ attitude the entire time I was dating Jesse. She and I were like oil and water. Nothing could make us go together.

  “Skye,” Dan attempted again, but I cut him off.

  “Forget it. I’ve got to get to work,” I said, holding up my hand to stop any further conversation. “We’ll talk after. I’ve got something important I need to tell you anyway.” I started to walk out of the office but stopped short and turned around to face my boss. “You might want to have a look in the mirror, Dan, before you go out on the floor. You’re a fucking mess,” I said, then turned back around and left the office, shutting the door.

  I stomped my way over to the floor door and pushed my way through. I was in a seriously bad mood now and the last thing I wanted to do was put on a fake smile and wait tables. I needed a few minutes to cool down. I walked over to the bar and lifted the hinged employee entrance. I fixed myself a double shot of Johnny Walker Black, straight up, and walked into the bar stockroom. I plopped down on an overturned crate, crossed my legs, and took a long drink. I enjoyed the burning sensation as it left its tingling trial down my esophagus. I put my head back against the wall, closed my eyes, and sighed.

  Dan and Lola Finch, I thought. What a match. I was angry that Dan was dating her. He deserved so much better than trash like her. What does he see in her, anyway? I mean, aside from the obvious blond hair and perky body. She was a freaking menace to good men. It’s like she’s able to sniff out all the good ones and ruin their lives with her slut ways. She left a path of dating destruction wherever she went. And on top of all of that, she was Jesse’s sister. There wasn’t anything I could possibly like about this girl. And now she was moving in on my boss, my friend, MY Dan.

  I sighed angrily and took another long sip from my glass. I had to stop thinking about this…about them. I had a job to do, and damn it, I was going to do it like I always did. My customers deserved it. Enough of this pity party for one. I set my glass down and reached up to pull the pins out of my bun. I undid my hair, shook it out, and used a shiny steel canister as a mirror to quickly fix it with my fingers. It was wavy from the bun I had it in, and it looked pretty. I walked over to my glass, picked it up and downed the rest of the Johnny Walker Black. I took a deep breath, pasted a smile on my face and walked back into the bar area.

  “I didn’t know you were back there,” Nikki said, looking up from the drink she was pouring in surprise.

  “Yeah, I needed a time out. Talk about it later,” I said, as I slapped a ten dollar bill down on the bar, put my glass in the bar sink, and walked out.

  I hit up my first table with a bright smile. Sitting there was two of my favorite regulars, Johnny Kilgore and Jackson Ewing. They worked over at the power plant and had come in at least twice a week for the past four years. They were in their mid-thirties and happily married to their high school sweethearts. They were two of the most down-to-earth people I had ever had the pleasure of meeting.

  “How’s it going, fellas? Can I get you the usual?” I asked, smiling at them.

  “Hey there, Skye. Doing well. Just got off a double shift. We’ll have the usual, but we can’t stay long. Jackson here has an anniversary tonight,” Johnny said, lightly punching his buddy in the arm.

  “My, my,” I s
aid, playfully, winking at Jackson. “How long have you and Mrs. Ewing been married now?”

  “Sixteen years today,” he replied with a proud smile. “Best thing I ever did.”

  “Aw, that’s so sweet, Jackson,” I cooed. “I’ll bring your pitcher of Budweiser and a little something extra to celebrate, on me of course.” I gave them both a big smile and turned to my next table. I took the table’s orders and went over to the bar to fill them.

  “Nik, I need a pitcher of Budweiser, two shots of Crown Royal Black, straight up, a Top Shelf margarita, rocks, with salt, a double of Patron Reposado with two limes, and a Heineken,” I said, leaning over the bar, and grabbing a cherry from the garnish tray.

  “You got it, Cupcake,” she said as she started filling my orders. “Are you feeling any better?” she asked me warily.

  I popped the cherry in my mouth. “I’m good. Nothing a little Johnny Walker couldn’t fix,” I said with a weak smile. I saw Dan come through the floor door and turned back to the bar. “I’m going to go take another order while you get those ready,” I said quickly and bolted back to my section. I didn’t want to see Dan so soon after our blow-up.

  I walked up to my next booth and chatted a little with the customers. I took their order and another table’s and made my way back over to the bar. Nikki had my first order ready on a tray. Dan was busy at the other end helping customers, so I grabbed the tray, called out my next orders to Nik, and went back to Johnny and Jackson.

  “Here you go, boys,” I said, with a big smile, depositing the beer and shots. “Hope you like Crown Royal Black. I’ll be back to check up on you in a bit. Congratulations again, Jackson,” I said and sauntered over to the next table. I dropped off the margarita, tequila, and Heineken and turned back to another table.

  I started to walk toward my awaiting customers when I suddenly felt light headed. I wobbled a bit on my five inch peep toed pumps and put my hand to my forehead. I was feeling really dizzy and suddenly remembered that I hadn’t had anything but a cup of tea, most of a cappuccino, 2 shots of Johnny Walker, and a cherry all day. It probably wasn’t a good idea to drink on an empty stomach. I turned and started walking toward the bar, but didn’t get very far. I stumbled and fell hard, twisting my ankle and knee, and hitting my head on the hard polished cement floor.