It was called Roxy’s, as it turned out, and it was set back from the street with a large single-level car park laid out in front of it. The car park was only half full at the moment—either Roxy’s wasn’t that popular or it was too early in the evening for the cool clubbers to be out. Every now and then, as I approached, the automatic doors would slide open as someone entered, emitting a blast of sound into the car park, dominated by a deep bass beat. Two big, hulking guys stood at the door, one on each side, like sphinxes guarding the entrance to some pharaoh’s tomb. I threaded my way through the cars, checking them both out. The guy on the left had almost no neck. His head just seemed to float on top of his massive shoulders, which bulged under his tight shirt. The other guy was only slightly smaller, with a three-day growth on his face and dark rings under his eyes. If one of these was Lucas, I was putting my money on the stubbly guy. Werewolves always had trouble with excessive facial hair.
They both watched me approach across the car park. No-neck frowned. Guess I didn’t look like one of the usual clientele. I certainly hadn’t dressed for clubbing. I was wearing the same dark T-shirt and jeans I’d left Hades’ palace in—yesterday morning?—and they had seen a lot of dirt and swamp water since then. He moved forward, half blocking the door as I stopped in front of them.
“Is one of you lovely gentlemen Lucas Kincaid?” I asked.
“That’s me,” the stubbly guy said warily. “Who’s asking?”
“Hi.” Relief surged through me. Finding him hadn’t been too challenging. With a bit of luck, convincing him to help me would be just as easy. I gave him my best smile, wishing I had brushed my hair sometime in the last twenty-four hours, or even cleaned my teeth. “My name is Lexi Jardine. I’m a friend of Joe and Holly’s.”
A welcoming smile replaced the suspicious look. He was cute when he smiled, if a little young for me. There was definitely a family resemblance to his big brother, particularly around the eyes. “Lexi! It’s a pleasure to meet you. Joe told me all about what you did.” He seized my hand and shook it with such enthusiasm that the bones of my hand ground together. Damn werewolves never knew their own strength. “Thank you for saving Holly! Let me buy you a drink when my shift is over. What are you doing in town?”
“Long story. Can I talk to you privately for a minute?”
Lucas looked inquiringly at the other bouncer. “Cover for me, buddy?”
No-neck grunted and shrugged one massive shoulder, which seemed to indicate assent. Lucas draped a friendly arm around my shoulders and led me a little way away. I’d forgotten how touchy-feely werewolves could be. He politely ignored the stench of swamp and sulphur that clung to me, though it must have smelled even worse to his werewolf nose than it did to me.
“I get the feeling this long story may not be a happy one,” he said. “Do you need a place to stay?”
I shook my head. “No, I need a ride. I have to get back to Berkley’s Bay. I know it’s a big ask when you’ve only just met me, but could I borrow your car?”
“Sorry,” he said. “I don’t own one.”
My heart sank. I’d ask for money for a train ticket, but there’d be no train running until the morning, and that was too late. I had to make every minute count.
“But I do have a motorbike,” he added.
I sighed. “Unfortunately, I don’t know how to ride one.”
“That’s no problem. Joe’s been nagging me to come down and see the baby. I’ll give you a ride there when my shift’s over.”
“When is that?”
He glanced at his watch. “Another four hours.”
Dammit. Jake couldn’t afford a four-hour delay. I gave him a pleading look. “Not to sound like a drama queen or anything, but it really is a matter of life and death. I need to go right now.” I laid a hand on his arm. “Please.”
He glanced back at No-neck, who was watching the car park, his face completely expressionless. “I don’t know … My boss won’t be happy if I skip out early and leave Dylan on his own.”
“Please, Lucas. This is really important.”
His face softened as he gazed down at me. My puppy dog eyes must have been working. “Hell, I can’t say no to the woman who saved my baby niece. Let me just grab my stuff and tell the boss I’m going.”
He headed inside, stopping to speak to No-neck on the way past. The other bouncer scowled at me, but I ignored him. He looked big enough and ugly enough to handle any trouble that might arise at Roxy’s on his own. I turned my back on him and pretended to find the car park immensely interesting as I waited for Lucas to return.
He wasn’t long. He came out juggling two motorbike helmets from arm to arm as he shrugged into a black leather jacket.
“I hope it didn’t cause any trouble with your boss,” I said. In fact, I really didn’t care. A hundred people could lose their jobs, and I would still think Jake’s life was more important, but it seemed polite to at least pretend to be concerned.
“It’ll be cool,” he said. “He wasn’t exactly thrilled, but he owes me a favour or two. I’ve done a lot of overtime in the last few weeks.”
That probably explained the tired shadows under his eyes. We headed across the car park to where a gutsy-looking motorbike was parked against the fence.
“Lucky I brought the spare helmet tonight,” he said. “I don’t always carry it, but I was planning on hitting the town after work. You never know when you might need another helmet.”
He didn’t exactly wink, but I got his drift. Joe’s little brother sounded like a bit of a party animal. No wonder Joe was always trying to match him up with someone. Having found happiness in his second marriage, Joe was like a reformed smoker, full of evangelical zeal. He was so happily married that he wanted everyone else to get married, too. Watching his brother flit from girl to girl must have driven him nuts.
“You might want to braid your hair back out of the way before you put it on—your ponytail will be one big knot by the time we get there otherwise.”
Hastily, I plaited my hair, then Lucas helped me get the helmet settled comfortably on my head and adjusted the strap. The bike gave a throaty growl as Lucas kicked it into life, and I threw my leg over the back of it. My seat felt a little precarious, but at least it was more comfortable than sitting astride Cerberus’s broad back. Lucas had better know what he was doing. I didn’t fancy getting acquainted with the road surface on this trip.
He turned to grin at me. “You all comfy back there?”
I nodded.
“Good. Hang on tight. I wouldn’t want to lose you on the way.”
I took a firm grip on his leather-clad waist. I wouldn’t want to lose me either. It was a three-hour drive to Berkley’s Bay, and I couldn’t afford any hiccups.
Lucas revved the engine, and we roared out of the car park as if the hounds of hell were on our tail. I couldn’t help a squeak of surprise as we leaned into the first curve, and I took a much tighter grip on Lucas’s waist, practically plastering myself against his back. I felt him chuckle, though I couldn’t hear anything over the noise of the bike and the wind rushing past us.
Maybe it wouldn’t take three hours to get to Berkley’s Bay after all.
13
Lucas pulled into the curb right outside the bookshop. It felt good to be home again, even if we weren’t staying long. The door up to my apartment was right in front of us. If only I had time to stop for a shower. With a groan, I released my death grip on Lucas’s waist as he cut the engine. I eased my helmet off as its throaty roar died away. It was going to take a bit longer to unclench my thigh muscles, though.
“Home sweet home,” Lucas said, removing his own helmet. “So, what was the rush? What was so important that you needed to get to Berkley’s Bay at—” he glanced at his watch “—ten minutes after midnight? You going to tell me that long story now?”
I handed him the helmet and stared across the street at the pub. Someone came out as I watched, followed by the faintest wisp of music and just a hint o
f light. Looked like the door protocol was fully functioning again. This pub was famous in the area for being owned by a vampire, and there was a second set of doors just inside the first to make sure that no daylight entered to put its owner at risk. Nor were there any windows.
“Let’s go in.” I started across the street and Lucas laughed.
“I told you,” he said. “I would have bought you a drink back at Roxy’s. You didn’t have to drag me all the way down here just to go to the pub.”
I smiled at him over my shoulder. “I’d tell you what’s going on, but then I’d have to kill you.”
“Ah. Just as I suspected—you’re a secret agent. I always wanted to meet one of those.” He really was very good-natured. He must be tired after the long ride, but he didn’t complain at being kept in the dark.
“Maybe we’ll see your brother inside.” I pushed open the outer door and motioned him in.
Lucas laughed. “In the pub at this hour, with a newborn baby at home? I reckon Holly would have his balls.”
I hadn’t considered that, but he was probably right. Holly was small but fierce. He made to open the inner door and I stopped him. “Make sure the outside door’s shut properly first.”
“What’s with the two doors?” he asked.
“The publican’s a vampire. He’s got all the regulars trained—only one set of doors to be open at a time. Keeps the light out and the vampire happy.”
“Keeping vampires happy is always a good option,” he said.
“You can say that again.” Alberto was the only vampire I had ever known, which I guess wasn’t really a fair sampling of the vampire population, since he wasn’t, in fact, a vampire at all. Not that I could explain all that to Lucas.
Inside, the pub was more than half deserted. Only a few of the diehard regulars still clustered at the tables underneath the big wall-mounted TV, which was playing some football game. There was always a game of football somewhere in the world, and a great many of them were followed by the residents of Berkley’s Bay. Shifters got surprisingly excited about human sporting competitions. Maybe all that running appealed to the predator in them. Needless to say, they weren’t allowed to participate, due to their superior strength and speed, though there was at least one all-shifter comp that I knew of. Joe watched it religiously.
Lucas’s gaze drifted in the direction of the TV. “We going to be here long?” he asked, his attention more than half on the game already.
“Not sure,” I said. “I need to ask some questions. Why don’t you sit down and I’ll grab you a drink while you wait? You want a beer, or something stronger?”
“Beer’s fine, thanks.”
“Coming right up.”
I headed over to the bar. Jeremy was behind it tonight, though he didn’t have much to do. Most of the regulars were engrossed in the game, and he was stacking a tray of clean glasses from the kitchen back into the racks.
“A beer for my friend.” I nodded in Lucas’s direction. “And one for me.”
“Sure thing. Haven’t seen you around for a while. You been on holidays?”
“Kind of. I didn’t expect to see you here—don’t you normally work the day shift? Where’s Alberto?” It would have been too easy to find Alberto here, polishing glasses on the other side of the bar, but I’d still hoped for a miracle. It was surprising how quickly I’d come to depend on the fake vampire. Having the Lord of the Underworld at your back was a good feeling.
Jeremy called Lisa, who was sweeping at the other end of the bar, to deliver Lucas’s beer to him, then began pouring one for me. He didn’t answer until he had pushed the foaming glass across the bar toward me.
He leaned closer and dropped his voice confidentially. “I wish I knew. I’ve been pulling double shifts—came in tonight to give Lisa a hand. Frankly, I’m worried. No one’s seen him in days.”
I took an appreciative sip of my beer. God, but that felt good. I hadn’t realised how thirsty I was. The whole world might be going to shit, but a girl still had to eat and drink, right? I drained the whole thing and set it back on the bar with a sigh of relief. “Have you checked the cellar?”
He looked horrified. “You can’t be serious. Me—go down there?” His gaze slid toward the door marked Private and he shuddered. “Not a chance.”
“But if something’s happened to him—”
He started shaking his head before I’d even finished speaking. “If something’s happened to him, it didn’t happen in the cellar. He told Lisa on Tuesday night that he had to meet someone, but he never came back.”
“Maybe he sneaked in.” There were all sorts of rumours about vampires’ abilities to pass undetected, and even more about Alberto than any other vampires. Hades hadn’t always been careful enough in his roleplaying. “He could be hurt. Someone should go down there to check.”
He snorted. “You volunteering?”
“Sure.” That gave me a plausible reason for trespassing on the vampire’s private domain.
“Well, you’re braver than I am, that’s for sure. Wild horses wouldn’t get me down there. But I can’t let you do it. Mr Alinari’s instructions are very clear: no one but him is to pass through that door.”
Damn. Why did Jeremy have to be so law-abiding? Harry would have let me do it for sure. In fact, he would have been right beside me, egging me on. But Harry wasn’t working tonight, and I couldn’t afford to wait until the morning.
“But he might need help.”
Jeremy looked unconvinced. “He’s a vampire. What could possibly hurt him? No, I’m afraid he’s either stayed out too late and got fried by the sun, or someone’s staked him, though I don’t know anyone around here who’d do a thing like that.”
I contemplated the door. It was solid timber, not one of those hollow jobs that were usually used for interior doors. I’d heard it slam shut enough times to tell. As far as I knew, there was only one key, and Alberto usually wore that on a chain around his neck. Even if I could persuade Jeremy to let me, getting through would be a challenge.
“You want another drink?” Jeremy asked.
“Not right now, thanks.” I wandered over and sat down next to Lucas instead.
He smiled at me. “Secret agent business all done?”
I sighed. “Sadly, no. Do you reckon Joe’s got an axe?”
He blinked in surprise. “I doubt it. But Dad would, for sure.” Lucas and Joe’s father was the alpha of the local werewolf pack. He lived just down the road from Jake’s magnificent clifftop mansion. “What do you need an axe for? You’re not planning to murder someone, are you?”
I slumped down in the chair, tapping my fingers on the table top. “Not right now.” What I needed was a diversion. Something to keep Jeremy occupied long enough for me to get through that door. Explanations could come later. It was always easier to ask forgiveness than permission. “Could we go get that axe now?”
“Seriously?” He frowned, looking more like Joe than ever. “I’m always happy to help a friend of Joe’s, but I have to ask—what’s the axe for? Am I going to spend the rest of the night in jail?”
I blew out a sigh. The urge to be up, to be moving, was making me twitchy. As close as I could figure it, it was nearly five hours since Jake had made his bargain with Styx, which meant he only had seven hours left. I clasped my hands in my lap to stop my fingers from fidgeting. “Are you a religious man, Lucas?”
He looked surprised by the turn in the conversation. “Depends what you mean by religious, I suppose. I observe the festivals, make an offering at the shrine a couple of times a year, but I’m not much for praying to the gods about every little thing, so if that’s what you mean by religious, I guess I’m not.” He shrugged his broad shoulders. “I think you’ll find that most shifters are the same.”
I nodded. Someone could probably write a book on the reasons for that, but it tied in with what I knew of shifters. Most of them seemed too self-reliant to lean much on a belief in higher powers. “What would you say if I told y
ou the gods were real?”
“Define ‘real’.”
“As in, flesh and blood, walking around here on Earth just like you and me.”
He sipped at his beer, dark eyes watching me over the rim of his glass. “I’d probably wonder what you were trying to sell me.”
I snorted. “Not so long ago, I would have had the same reaction as you. But it turns out they’re as real as we are, and I’ve managed to get mixed up in their affairs. Quite frankly, I’m in way over my head and people are depending on me.” People like Syl and Apollo, whose dilemma had started this whole quest, and Jake, of course, whose very life depended on me getting him back to the underworld before time ran out. And there was still so much to do before then. And even Hades was in some kind of trouble. Where had he gone, and why hadn’t he returned?
“Suppose I believed you,” Lucas said. “That still doesn’t explain why we need an axe. And don’t tell me again that it’s a long story.”
“Well, it is,” I said, trying not to sound too defensive, “but the relevant part is that I need to get through that door.” I jerked my head at the door marked Private. “My friend’s life depends on it and I don’t have time to mess around.”
Lucas eyed the door, sizing it up. “Shouldn’t need an axe. A couple of good kicks, maybe a shoulder charge if it’s really solid, and bang—you’re in business.”
“Maybe you missed it, but I’m not built like one of those guys.” I indicated the front row forwards currently mowing down everything in their path on the TV.
He smiled, showing the wolf below the surface. “Maybe not, but I am.”
I returned his rather feral grin with one of my own. “Are you volunteering?”
He shrugged, rolling those massive shoulders. “Just tell me I don’t have to do it in front of all these guys.” It was possible they wouldn’t even notice, too engrossed in the football game, but it seemed a poor thank you for his help to get him into trouble the moment he arrived in town.
I looked around the room. Eleven guys watching the football. Jeremy behind the bar. Lisa somewhere in the kitchen. From the clattering, it sounded like she was unpacking the dishwasher.
Rivers of Hell (Shadows of the Immortals Book 3) Page 14
