by Dannika Dark
“Why do they stand in line if they never get in?” I asked Wheeler quietly.
He tucked his hands in his jean pockets. “The bouncer calls the shots on who gets in. The humans see others getting picked, so they think they have a shot. They don’t realize the selection process going on; I guess they just think they’re not cool enough.”
Denver emerged from the car with Maizy in his arms. She gripped his neck so tightly I thought he might feel embarrassed about it. But his eyes were slicing through the crowd like razors.
“How are we going to get in?” I asked, noticing we weren’t dressed like those on the sidewalk.
Wheeler chuckled. “I know a guy. I used to work for some of the deepest pockets around.”
When we reached the door, Wheeler and Austin approached the doorman and had a private conversation. Wheeler patted the guy’s shoulder and they looked as if they knew each other. Austin slipped the man a few bills and nodded respectfully when the man opened the door for us.
The music thumped a steady rhythm, making it difficult to hear. It was a lot darker inside than I’d expected—lots of blue with black accents. The carpet looked like a blanket of coal beneath our feet, and a colorful array of blue-green lights illuminated the sleek bar.
Maizy perked up with inquisitive eyes, looking over Denver’s shoulder at the different Breeds. She’d always been curious about them because some didn’t look like Shifters. A tall Chitah with pale hair grinned at her, his golden eyes wide and glittering. She looked away as if frightened, but Chitahs had that effect on people, even if it wasn’t intentional. We had respect for them because they were more similar to us than any other Breed, being that they had animal instincts like a cheetah. They didn’t shift as we did, but cohabitated with their animal in human form, making them deadly and unpredictable. But they revered women and protected the children of any Breed.
The bar stretched along our left with a generous seating area on the right, which included private booths with tall walls to separate them. Past the bar and to the left, a few people were moving around on the dance floor.
All eyes watched our group, especially me as I gripped my cane and used it to keep balance.
William shoved a Mage in the chest when he scorched me with his gaze and shouted, “Look at the cripple!” The Mage’s expression tightened, but he didn’t retaliate. He could have pushed an enormous amount of energy into William and knocked him out cold, but using his powers would have revoked his privileges to return to the Blue Door.
“Can we get some dinner?” Izzy asked, stopping ahead of us. “Jericho, I’m about to starve to death.”
“Come on, Sexybelle. We’ll order later.”
Not listening, she lifted her arm at the bartender. “Can I get a double cheeseburger, extra pickles, and onion rings delivered to our room?”
“What’ll you drink, sunshine?” he asked with a smile.
Jericho placed his hand on Izzy’s belly. “My mate will have a tall glass of sweet tea.”
“Hey, are you Jericho? The Jericho from the band Heat?” a blonde asked excitedly. She had silvery eyeliner rimming her top and lower lashes.
“Jesus, we don’t have time for this.” Wheeler nudged Jericho from behind.
“Sorry, honey. I get that a lot,” Jericho said. “But thanks!”
Confusion spread across her face as we headed toward the private rooms in the back. They were soundproof and offered privacy from the ears of curious Vampires.
The walls in the hallway were black and each door painted a brilliant blue with track lights shining on them from above. Austin opened the first door on the right and we all piled in.
Maizy dashed to the giant television mounted on the wall to our left. “Look, Mommy! Where’s the remote?”
“Wow, this is not at all what I expected,” I said in amazement. “It’s so elegant.”
The walls were a dark shade of grey and the furniture black leather. On the right side of the room, two long couches faced each other with a chair on each end. A glass coffee table ran down the middle. We also had our own wet bar directly in front of the door. The lights mounted on the walls were dim, but it looked like they could be adjusted. Maizy made herself at home in front of the television. Four oversized chairs with curved backs faced the wall, and Maizy climbed onto one and sat Indian style.
Lynn bent down and picked up Maizy’s white jacket from the floor, placing it on the back of one of the barstools. “We can probably push two of those chairs together for Maizy. Izzy can sleep on one couch and someone else on the other. I don’t mind sleeping on the floor with one of the blankets we brought.”
Trevor tossed down our bags by the door. “Not bad,” he said, checking out the room.
“I’ll go back for the rest,” Reno said. “Asshole is by the door,” he muttered, leaving the room.
“What was that about?” Lexi said.
Trevor lightly kicked one of the bags. “Some dickhead knows me.”
“So?”
He gave her the look.
“Oh.”
“Yeah, that shit pisses me off. He needs to just let it go.”
“Break his heart?” April asked with a wink as she took a seat on the barstool.
“What heart?” he said with a snort. “That’s not what I was after.”
“Oh, I forgot. You’re Mr. I Don’t Get Serious With Anyone,” she said, lowering her voice to a baritone.
He raised an eyebrow. “Babe, I have yet to meet a loyal male in my world. No one lets things get serious for a reason. Most of these asshats aren’t ready to move into the twenty-first century. Anyhow, I’m not wasting my time with anyone who can’t support my habits.”
“That model-airplane thing is something you need to see a professional about,” she said playfully.
He shook his head and tried to look annoyed, but the corners of his mouth twitched and gave him away. April and Trevor had great banter between them, having been friends for a long time.
Ben had shifted in the parking lot to heal and put on a pair of pants from his bag. As he entered the room, he dragged his feet across the floor in a sluggish manner. Just as soon as he sat down, he shifted back to his wolf.
Wheeler walked over and ran his fingers through his fur, checking out his shoulder. “Looks like just a few nasty bites. He’ll live, but let’s let the big baby sleep for a few hours since he shifted twice already.”
Austin leaned against the bar and I caught Lexi checking him out with a secretive smile. “Here’s how it’s gonna go down,” he began. “There’s no back door in this hall, so there’s only one way in. I want Reno stationed at the front of the club, scoping out everyone who walks through that door. Wheeler, you sit near the entrance to the hall. Trevor, mingle and keep your ears alert. Assume there are Vampires on the floor, so if I have to call one of you, I’ll be indirect and speaking in code. I expect you to do the same. The rest of us will stay here. I’m taking position behind the door, and Jericho, you just keep an eye on that lovely lady of yours.”
“No problemo,” he said, running his hand down the back of Izzy’s hair. She had the kind of wavy red hair that looked amazingly soft.
Lynn sat behind the bar and propped a shotgun beside her that we’d concealed in one of our bags. She reached in the fridge and pulled out a small container of cranberry juice.
“What should I do?” I asked, feeling as useless as a winter coat on a beach.
“Get some rest, Ivy,” Austin said, brooking no argument. “Tired wolves make impulsive mistakes. We’ll sleep in rotating shifts for the night and figure out a new plan tomorrow. Fox’s men know what Reno looks like, so we’ll move him to the back hall tomorrow and switch things up. I don’t anticipate they’ll come here tonight. They’re probably trying to get a hold of Fox and figure out their next move.”
“What about bathroom breaks?” I asked.
Austin pointed to the right of the television. “We have our own. Wheeler, does the owner know why we’re here
?”
Wheeler pinched the short beard on his chin. “Yeah, he knows we’re seeking sanctuary.”
“Does he know that means there could be trouble in his bar?”
Wheeler arched his brows indifferently. “Marco’s never been a big fan of Shifters, but he owes me a favor. He’s probably looking for a reason to ban our kind from his club. Anyhow, he’s holding us liable for any damages—that’s a given.”
“I’m fine with that,” Austin said gruffly. “None of his staff know?”
Wheeler sniffed and lingered by the door, his hand on the knob. “No, but he gave them instructions not to kick us out under any circumstances. If they have an issue, they have to take it to Marco. I used to manage his money years ago, but he started behaving erratically so I cut ties. He’s a businessman, so he’ll stick to the arrangement. He’s giving us a week. Anything after that we’ll have to negotiate.”
Chapter 16
Shortly after everyone had ordered from the menu and we’d stuffed ourselves with dinner, Austin turned the lights down and the room quieted. Reno, Wheeler, and Trevor had taken their posts outside. Ben’s wolf slept near the bar close to Lynn, who had refused to sleep in one of the chairs even though there were enough. My guess was she wanted to have the first shot if someone barged in the room. She was a loving mother and a gentle woman, but there was nothing she wouldn’t do to protect her family. Especially after having lost her oldest child, Wes, in what she later discovered was not a senseless accident but a murder.
After Maizy brushed her teeth and changed into her nightgown, Lynn put on an old musical and lowered the volume. Denver had scooted a chair in front of Maizy to create a bed, and once she’d fallen asleep watching the movie, he draped a small blanket over her. He chose a spot behind her chair, knees up, facing the door.
“Is she still asleep?” I whispered to Jericho, tucking a pillow beneath my right arm. Izzy and Jericho were on the couch opposite me—Izzy lying on her side and facing away with her head in his lap. Her hormones were all over the place, and she’d flung the blanket onto the floor earlier, complaining it was too hot.
Jericho continued stroking her hair, his head reclined back and legs stretched forward. “Out like a light. Why aren’t you sleeping?”
I didn’t have my dreamcatcher, that’s why. But I couldn’t tell Jericho that. My grandfather believed that if you allowed bad spirits to return to your dreams, you’d bring them into your waking life.
“I’m not sleepy,” I finally replied. “It’s nice and quiet in here. I thought we’d be able to hear all that music outside.”
“Places like this drop a lot of cash to soundproof the hell out of these walls,” he said. “High-tech shit. I’ve worked a few gigs in upscale clubs, but it’s not my scene. They’re not into live bands anyhow.”
He reached up and held the bear claw that hung from his necklace, turning it between his fingers. It’s something he wore almost all the time—a token from his enemy.
“So what was it like in Lorenzo’s pack? Does he sit in that chair all day like a king in a court?” Jericho asked, still looking at his necklace.
“He’s a headstrong Packmaster, but not entirely unbending.”
Jericho swept his long hair back. “Yeah, I’m sure he rules with a velvet glove. He once killed two of his packmates for disobedience and placed them on our doorstep. One of them had only chased Lexi up a tree, so you can save the song and dance about how he’s got a heart of gold.”
“Perhaps there is more to the story than you know.”
“No, I’m pretty sure that’s it. Lorenzo is a tyrant who gets what he wants. He doesn’t care about his pack; he just craves power.”
“Lorenzo cares more about his pack than he lets on. Sometimes you have to rule with a tight rein or else the men will run wild.”
He cocked his head to the side. “You’re defending him?”
“No, I just—”
“I’m glad he had the good sense to take you in and heal you up, although I’m sure he had an ulterior motive. We make nice because that’s what we’re ordered to do, but that man is incapable of love or compassion. His pack will turn on him one of these days, if not one of those bitches he takes to bed. I hear he’s got a revolving door in his bedroom. Don’t even think about warming up to him, Ivy. You have more sense than that. Austin would put his life on the line for any one of us. Lorenzo? That asshole will throw anyone under the bus to save his ass.”
I pulled my braid out from beneath my shirt and hung it over my left shoulder. Jericho yawned and closed his eyes, so I stood up with the help of my cane and decided not to argue the issue further.
Austin sleepily rubbed his eyes and leaned against the wall. We both lingered by the door, facing each other.
“I can’t just sit here,” I whispered. “I need to get in touch with Fox. I’m worried about what he’ll do.”
“Let’s wait for Reno’s contact to get back with him. Once we find out the location of the boy, we’ll make our next move. If Fox has him, then attacking him would put your son in danger. Let’s keep a cool head.”
“Then let me go talk to Reno and see if he has news. We need to speed this up or else I’m going to have to make a decision I don’t want to.”
He reached up and unlocked the door. “Keep in sight and don’t leave the club. You’re safe as long as you’re inside.”
“I might be young, but I’m not foolish. Is there anything you want me to bring back from the bar?”
He patted down his dark hair and stretched. “We need some snacks in here. Have the bartender give us a box of peanuts or something. He can put it on my tab. I don’t want food constantly running back here. We need to keep visitors to a minimum and the door closed.”
“I’ll take care of it.”
“Bring me some Jell-O,” Denver said from his spot on the floor. “Trust me, they always have Jell-O.”
“Would you like it in a navel or a cup?”
He snorted and shook his head. “Ivy, you’re a real gem.” Something flickered in his expression and his indigo eyes bored into mine. “I mean that.”
I smiled warmly at him before leaving. Like most men, Denver wasn’t big on sharing his feelings. I hadn’t been sure until that moment where we stood; he had been aloof after finding out why Fox was hanging around our land. Maybe he blamed me for bringing trouble to our doorstep and putting Maizy in danger, but whatever resentment he might have held was now gone.
I rolled up the sleeves on my flannel shirt to my elbows as I walked down the hall. The club had a musty smell of stale cigarettes, spilled beer, and perfume. Wheeler was relaxing at a round table near the dance floor, holding a shot of whiskey to his lips. He froze when he saw me, so I nodded to let him know everything was fine.
“Pocahontas, you want to have a dance?” a man asked.
I turned around when someone tugged on my shirtsleeve. I surmised him to be a Vampire by his liquid black eyes—a striking contrast against his short hair. It looked bleached, similar to the way April used to dye hers.
“I have a thing for exotic girls,” he said with a mischievous smile.
I lowered my eyes to the cross on his neck, avoiding eye contact. With a single glance, Vampires could plant suggestions and charm a person into doing things they wouldn’t normally do. They could also erase memories and make a person talk, so that made them a dangerous Breed to tangle with.
“I’m afraid I don’t dance, but thank you.”
A smile spread across his face as if he were the Cheshire cat. “You are a polite little thing, aren’t you?”
“Are impolite women all you are accustomed to spending your time with?”
His smile waned. “I only wanted a dance.”
I gently pulled my arm free from his grasp. “Then don’t mock a woman when asking her to spend time with you. It shows your indifference to her feelings. Perhaps your clever remarks are meant to show you have a sense of humor, but how would you feel if I called you Dracula?
”
He moved his mouth slightly to the side, giving my words some thought. “My apologies. Perhaps I’ll ask you again later and we’ll see how I do.”
Admittedly, he was forgivable. I’d never spent much time with other Breeds, so it was nice to see they didn’t all fit the stereotype.
“We’ll see.”
Satisfied by my answer, he pushed up the sleeves of his grey sweater and bowed. “Until we meet again, fair lady.”
Why is a Vampire interested in someone like me? I thought, walking away. I couldn’t help but find everyone’s motives suspect. People didn’t date outside their Breed where I came from. Reno and April had always seemed like the exception.
I spotted Reno and waved.
He didn’t wave back. In fact, a little vein pulsed in his forehead as I approached. “What the hell are you doing out here? Alone?” he growled.
“Austin sent me on a food run, but I also wanted to speak with you. Can I sit?”
He pushed his short glass away and I sat beside him, turning my chair to face him. I set my cane against the table and smoothed down a few flyaway hairs. “How soon will you have information on the birthday party?”
His eyes lit with amusement. “I’m still waiting for my girl to call me with the details. Should be soon. You don’t need to worry about a thing; we’ll get the cake in time.”
“Tomorrow morning, Reno. That’s all I can wait. Something needs to change, or I won’t be able to attend the party.”
Reno leaned in tight. “Dammit, Ivy. Don’t put me in this situation. My hands are tied, and I can only do so much. It takes time to organize a party.”
For the second time, Reno’s eyes flicked behind me, scanning the room.
“I don’t want to distract you, but I’m hanging on by a thread. Please do whatever you can—whatever it takes.”
I left the table and reached the bar, signaling for the bartender. He had a silly black mustache that curled at the ends, and it made me laugh. “Hi. We have a private party going in the back, and I was wondering if you have any snacks—something that won’t go bad. Peanuts?”
