Till the Break of Dawn

by Tracey H. Kitts

  “Better,” he said, pouring himself another cup.

  Marcus sat at the table and stretched out his long legs, crossing his feet. “Other than paranoia, I’d say you’re holding up surprisingly well.” His comment wasn’t sarcastic, but David smiled nonetheless.

  “Asshole. I’ve been through a lot. I think I’m entitled to a little paranoia.” He took a sip of coffee and made a face. “Needs sugar. Anyway, I’m done falling to pieces. None of that will bring Mandy back. I intend to find out who is responsible and see that they suffer.”

  Marcus sighed. “Listen, I’m all for that, but you don’t want to be found in breach of contract. Not to mention the law is not kind to shifters. They’d most likely turn you over to the hunters rather than give you a trial.”

  “I don’t plan on getting caught.” Everyone was silent for a minute or so before David continued. “I woke up hungry early this morning and ran into that police lieutenant down at the doughnut shop. What’s his name? Kirkland. Yeah, Darrell Kirkland. Anyway, I asked him about the investigation. He said it was the damndest thing he’d ever seen. There were no fingerprints in the house except for Mandy’s and her brother’s and yours, Dawn, from where you came in behind him. He also said that the murder weapon was uncertain.”

  “Uncertain? What do you mean?” Marcus asked.

  “Well, he wouldn’t say at first. I think he was trying to be kind. But I asked him to tell me straight. He said that his first impression had been claws or teeth, but there was no DNA evidence found on her body. None.”

  “Could the weapon have been metal or something?” I asked.

  David shrugged. “Who knows? On a lighter note, Lt. Kirkland told me you had some sort of an incident at your hotel last night.” He laughed softly, waiting for Marcus’ response.

  Marcus’ smile was smooth as silk. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  David pretended to be concerned. “Oh yeah, some lady called the police. She was scared half to death, said a woman was being attacked.” David used the back of his hand to stifle a laugh. “Give it up, Marc, Kirkland spilled the whole story. Those two cops are flashing your Nightmare autograph everywhere they go.”

  “So, the cops from the next town have already spread the gossip here,” I said, laughing.

  “Shit.”

  “Well, maybe if you signed more autographs this wouldn’t happen. Oh, and stop having buck-wild sex when other people are right next door,” David said.

  Marcus flicked the small spoon I used to dip coffee creamer and nailed David right between the eyes. David didn’t stop laughing.

  “That’s good. Maybe you should add it to your act on Friday.”

  I paused with the coffee cup halfway to my lips. “You’ve got a show this Friday?”

  “It’s one of the preliminary matches leading up to the Mash,” Marcus explained.

  Despite its comical name, the annual Monster Mash was fierce. Ever since I met Marcus years ago, I hadn’t been able to watch another show. Knowing that the matches were real made it difficult if you cared about the fighters.

  “It’s a silver chains match,” David added.

  Great. I hated silver chains matches. In a silver chains match they gave both fighters a pair of leather gloves so they could touch the chains. After that they were stripped to the waist and left to pulverize each other, using the chains however was necessary to subdue their opponent. It was one of the few matches where it was possible for even an immortal to die.

  “I don’t know if I can watch it. I care too much about you to stand by while you purposely hurt yourself.”

  “Please, for me? It would do me good to have you there,” Marcus said. “I’ve been meaning to tell you about the match, but with everything going on I got distracted.”

  I sighed, resigning myself to the fact that I had little choice. If I stayed at home I’d only worry more.

  “Where is it?”

  “Orlando.”

  “Do I get a front row seat?”

  “Normally, yes. But this show has been sold out for months. You’ll have to sit in the V.I.P. box.”

  “That’s fine.”

  “With Nybras.”

  When I only stared at him in mute shock he explained, “You’ll be fine. If there’s one thing I’m certain of, it’s that Nybras protects his investments.”

  David nodded his agreement.

  “But I’m nothing to him.”

  “Maybe not, but you’re something to me.”

  “And Marcus is big money to Nybras,” David said.

  “Big money,” Marcus agreed.

  I still didn’t share their opinion about my safety. I turned to Marcus. “I thought Nybras was and I quote, the ‘scariest motherfucker’ you’ve ever met.”

  The vampire shrugged. “He is. And he happens to owe me for twenty-six years of loyal service.”

  “Best seat in the house,” David added.

  “All right, fine. But I’m wearing my silver cross necklace. If Nybras so much as looks funny at me—”

  “He won’t. I promise.”

  I sighed again. It was hard enough watching Marcus fight. But being trapped in a booth with someone like Nybras? I crossed my arms as I studied the both of them. They looked so sincere. They really thought I’d be safe with their boss.

  “I’ll tuck the cross into my shirt for your benefit, but I’m still wearing it.”

  Holy objects were not allowed into the arena during a P.F.C. match. Same goes for silver. Fans were always checked at the gate. I was hoping that being the special guest of Nightmare would mean I didn’t get searched.

  Thunder rumbled again outside and lightning cracked like a whip. For a moment the light coming from the small kitchen window was blinding. It took only a second to realize that the lightning flash was our only light.

  “Shit. I’ll go get the candles.”

  The storm made it dark enough that inside with the curtains closed, you couldn’t see a thing. I made a move for the door, then remembered I was the only one who couldn’t see in the dark.

  “I’ll get a candle,” Marcus said. “I saw some upstairs.”

  Marcus had just left the room when David turned to me and said softly, “Thank you.”

  “For what?”

  “For all your help. For everything you tried to do for Mandy. I really appreciate it. It means a lot to me to know that she had you and Jamie to talk to.”

  My throat tightened with emotion. Finally I managed to say, “You’re welcome.”

  His somber mood seemed to brighten as he asked, “You do know why she wanted to get married here?”

  “It’s her hometown.”

  David waved off my reply while he took another sip of coffee. “She wanted to hook you up with Marcus.”

  “What?”

  “They’ve been friends for the last four years. Did you think he never mentioned you? From the moment he found out she knew you, that’s all he could talk about. Of course, he didn’t know that’s what she was up to, but I did.”

  “I thought he could read your mind?”

  “Only when he wants to. Why would he want to know all our wedding plans? She seemed to think that if you two just saw each other again, that was all it would take.” He laughed softly. “I guess she was right.”

  Even with the limited amount of light streaming in through the kitchen window, the emotion on David’s face was plain to see. I wanted to help him any way I could. But, I didn’t know what to say. Mandy had still gotten us back together. It was just at her funeral instead of her wedding. How awful. I was glad when David turned back to the sink, because I didn’t think I could look him in the eye without crying.

  If it wasn’t for me, Mandy wouldn’t have been here. Was her death my fault?

  “Besides, Marcus needed help. The best he could come up with was that fake lottery.”

  David’s words brought me back from my dark reverie.

  “Fake what?”

  His eyes grew w
ide. “Mandy didn’t tell you?”

  I shook my head.

  “The lottery you and Jamie won, Marcus arranged it. It was totally fake.”

  “And highly illegal and lots of hard work. Wizards aren’t easy to bribe,” Marcus said. He put a large white candle on the table and lit a match. “David, can’t I leave you alone for a minute?”

  Marcus’ irritation was obvious and for the second time in the last few minutes I wasn’t sure how to react.

  “Please, don’t be mad at me, Dawn. I knew you wouldn’t take the money if I offered and that you had to win a believable amount or you’d get suspicious.” Marcus paused and sat back down at the table. “I also knew you were in a bad way and I wanted to help.”

  I assumed Mandy had told him how broke I was. Otherwise I had no idea how he could have known I needed help.

  “I’m not mad.”

  It was true. Marcus had found a way to help me when I needed it most. How could I be upset about that? Not only had he gotten me out of debt and helped me to start a business, but he had helped my best friend too.

  “Then just accept it,” he said, before I could say anything else. “I wanted to help you, whether I ever saw you again or not. It wasn’t some sort of scheme to get you back.”

  “But—”

  “It’s a gift.”

  What more could I say? I was grateful, so I shut up.

  *****

  The power came back on after a few hours and I used the rest of the afternoon to catch up on some sleep. When I woke up I could hear David laughing. Not something I expected so soon after Mandy’s death, but it was pleasant nonetheless. I pulled on a pair of jeans and gave my hair the once-over before going downstairs.

  “He keeps apologizing like he did something wrong,” David said. “What’s even more bizarre is he refuses to question me. Not that I’ve done anything to be questioned about, but aren’t they supposed to go for the boyfriend in cases like this?”

  David was dressed again and looking surprisingly good under the circumstances. Marcus was in another pair of black dress pants and another of those muscles shirts I loved so much. When I entered the living room and saw him, I smiled.

  “Who are you talking about?” I asked.

  “Darrell,” Marcus said. He reached for me and I hugged him, breathing in his familiar scent. “Don’t you think it’s strange that he won’t question David?” He winked down at me and I snickered.

  “Why do I feel like I’m not in on the joke here?” David asked.

  I remembered the way Marcus had threatened Darrell in the bar and my smile widened.

  “It’s nothing,” I said. “We were just making fun of Darrell.”

  Fortunately, David let it go at that. I don’t think either of us wanted to explain why Marcus had hypnotized the police lieutenant or that he’d threatened to kill him if he drug David through the mud.

  “It’s about time for me to go down to Our Place. You guys coming? I’m closing up tonight. You’re welcome to stick around.”

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Jamie looked exhausted, and the bar was swarming with customers. She volunteered to stay for a little longer, even though I insisted we had it covered. Marcus sat at the bar, I assumed to keep an eye on me. He didn’t bother with a coat or anything else over the undershirt he was wearing. It showed off his tattoos. Every time I passed him I ran my hand over them, admiringly. I was shocked that he wasn’t bombarded by fans, especially since he hadn’t even tried to conceal his identity. Then I realized that David and I were the only ones talking to him.

  I handed a beer to the customer to his right before turning to Marcus. “You’ve hypnotized the entire room again, haven’t you?”

  “Sometimes it’s the only way I ever get any peace. It’s not good for my on-camera persona for me to be seen hanging out in bars like a normal person. If I break character too often I could be in serious shit.”

  Well, that made sense. “But you gave your real name at the hotel. Won’t people find out who you are eventually?”

  “They’ll never remember it.”

  I wasn’t going to ask how that was possible, but I believed him. David came over and propped against the bar on Marcus’ other side.

  “How come you don’t have a dance floor?” he asked. “Not that I want to dance, but it seems strange.”

  “Because I hate bars.”

  He and Marcus exchanged a look before David asked, “Then why did you open one?”

  “Because it’s a profitable business to be in around here. I like to watch sports and the people around here like to drink. So, I opened a sports bar, not a dance hall. That’s what I hate about most bars. You can’t sit and have a quiet drink without blaring music and some drunken idiot trying to get you to dance.”

  David laughed at my answer. I must admit I am unusually passionate in my hatred of dance space in a bar. Having some drunken asshole trying to brush up on you while you’re just trying to relax is beyond annoying. And I despise loud music.

  “Marcus said you love to dance.”

  I smiled and handed David a beer to shut him up. “I do, just not with drunks. I also hate to have to yell above the music to have a conversation. That’s why I opened a sports bar.”

  David accepted the beer. “Is this to shut me up?”

  “Yes, drink it.”

  He smiled and sat down in the seat that had just opened up on Marcus’ right side. When I looked up I saw Jesse coming through the door. Our eyes met and my heart went crazy. Surely he hadn’t come here to start some shit? That was just all I needed.

  My first thought was to distract Marcus, but he’d already noticed the other man. Jesse came straight to me.

  “Can I have a word?” he asked.

  To my surprise Marcus put his hand on my shoulder. I hadn’t seen him move, let alone come around the bar.

  “I’ve got this. Go see what he has to say.” He bent down close to my ear and whispered, “I don’t think he’s come here to start a fight. Too many witnesses.”

  “You can bartend?”

  His smile was so sexy. “I can do a lot of things.”

  Apparently he could do all of this and still keep people from recognizing him too. I was impressed. I took Jesse back to the office and closed the door.

  “After the way you showed your ass today, this had better be really good.”

  Jesse looked like a whipped dog and I felt guilty for my words, even after the way he had behaved earlier.

  “You’re right. There’s no excuse for the way I acted. That’s why I’m here. I came to apologize. I won’t be in town for much longer and I didn’t want to leave things this way.”

  “You mean your business here is almost finished?”

  “Yes.”

  Jesse was still one of the best looking men I’d ever met, even if he could be a total asshole. His words that afternoon weren’t only rude, they’d hurt my feelings. I suppose that’s why I hesitated.

  “He’s the ex you mentioned, isn’t he?” he asked.

  “Yes.”

  Jesse sighed and ran a hand through his dusty blond hair. “I could tell you still loved him the moment you started talking about him. Even though you never mentioned his name, that picture in the paper said it all. It was in your eyes. The camera doesn’t lie.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be. You were honest with me and I acted like a jerk.”

  I smiled. “Yeah, you did.”

  Jesse laughed. “Hey, don’t rub it in.” He took a step toward me and opened his arms in invitation. “Are we cool?”

  I hugged him. “We’re cool. How did you know his name though?”

  He seemed taken aback by my question. “What do you mean?”

  “When you came by the house you called him Marcus. I didn’t exactly introduce you. How did you know his name?”

  He shrugged. “I’m a bounty hunter. It’s what I do. You give me a picture and I can find out who’s in it.”

&nbs
p; The bar was still packed when we came back out front. Earl was waiting tables tonight and as Jesse walked around the bar, they bumped into each other. Earl put his hand against Jesse’s chest to steady himself and drew back as if he’d touched fire.

  Both men seemed equally surprised by his response.

  “Sorry about that, are you all right?” Jesse asked.

  “Fine.”

  Earl went straight to the kitchen and I followed. He put his hand underneath the faucet and turned on the cold water.

  “Son of a bitch,” he growled.

  I approached him cautiously. It was obvious by his body language that Earl was in a good bit of pain.

  “What’s wrong?”

  Earl moved a little and I saw the burn on the palm of his hand.

  “What the fuck?”

  “He’s a werewolf,” Marcus said, entering the kitchen. “And I’m betting your ex-friend out there was wearing a silver necklace.”

  I remembered the wolf necklace Jesse had worn on our first date. “Give me your hand,” I said, reaching for Earl.

  He hesitated a second before doing as I’d asked. The shape of the wolf was clearly imprinted in his palm.

  “Son of a bitch.”

  “That’s what I’ve been saying,” Earl agreed. “And how the fuck did you know what I am?”

  Marcus smiled, but not like he was really amused. He took a step forward and looked down at the mark on Earl’s hand. “Did you really think a vampire couldn’t smell a werewolf?”

  “Oh, so now I stink?”

  “You know what I mean,” Marcus said. “We can sense each other by one means or another. You knew what I was the minute I walked in, right?”

  Earl nodded.

  To say I was shocked was an understatement. I rested against the sink and just stared at both of them for a minute or so.

  “Why didn’t you ever say anything?” I finally asked.

  “Because there aren’t a lot of people who’d let a werewolf work in their kitchen.”

  His reasoning made sense, but still I was surprised. “Earl, you know I would never fire you over something you can’t control. Besides, werewolves aren’t contagious when in their human form. Isn’t that right?”