The Madam's Lover

by Serenity Snow

  “I don’t know. Hello?” Tatiana pushed her curls out of her eyes.

  “Good morning, sweetie, sorry to wake you,” Melissa said. “Your grandfather wanted to know if Alexi was there.”

  “Why wouldn’t she be?” she asked coming fully awake.

  “Was she there all night?”

  “Yeah. We had dinner and then dessert. Alexi got called down to the club over a dispute, but she wasn’t gone that long. Why?”

  “The hospital security found Ewan dead in his car this morning.”

  Tatiana sat up. “Mom, are you serious?”

  “Unfortunately. His mother—I feel so bad for her. She lost Carrington and now Ewan.” She sighed. “I’ll be going to condole with her as a friend and part of the coven. You should send flowers.”

  “I will,” she said quickly. “I can’t believe it. Why would anyone kill him?”

  “I’m sure there were reasons,” Melissa said softly. “I want you to stay away from the hospital and stay in if you can.”

  “Do you think someone’s still after me?”

  “Someone’s after all of us as evidenced by what happened with April and now Ewan. Promise me you won’t take chances.”

  “I promise,” Tatiana replied. “I’m here if you need me.”

  “I know, sweetie,” she said. “Love you.”

  “Love you, too, Mom.” She ended the call and turned to Alexi. “Ewan was killed.”

  “He was the reason you and April were attacked. He said the hits on the family had been called off, but I don’t know for sure,” Alexi told her. “I think his mother knew what he was planning.”

  “Why would she encourage him? She wanted him to marry me. Our families were close.”

  “But your grandfather killed his father,” Alexi said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if she did magic on you and your family.”

  “Oh. No.” She grabbed her phone and input her mother’s number. “Mom. I—Aileen knew Ewan was behind the hits on us.”

  “Why would you—Ewan? Oh no,” she said softly. “Charles killed his father because he was going to talk to the Feds. Charles had been worried Carrington wouldn’t be able to hold up against them.”

  “Be careful when you go see her today.”

  “No doubt she’ll be fishing to see what I know about Ewan’s death,” Melissa replied, calculation in her tone. “Are you sure she knew?”

  “As sure as I can be. I wasn’t there.”

  “Did Alexi ask before she killed him?” Melissa demanded. “And why didn’t she just tell me, so I could let Charles take care of it?”

  “I can’t answer those questions, Mom.”

  “Can’t or won’t?”

  “Either.”

  “Okay,” Melissa said. “I’ll let Charles know everything. He’ll have her dealt with.”

  It was strange to be discussing someone’s death as if they were talking about the rain. Tatiana wondered how many of those conversations would she have with Alexi before Tatiana became as desensitized as her grandmother.

  “I’ll talk to you later, Mom. Is April okay?”

  “Yes. She’s surrounded by guards, but she’s fine. I need to go, honey. Bye.”

  Alexi sighed. “She’s going to think I’m here to help her family now. I’m not getting involved with Charles. He’s a cutthroat bastard.”

  “Just don’t create an impossible situation,” Tatiana commented quietly as Alexi climbed out of bed.

  “Right.” She stalked into the bathroom, and Tatiana leaned back against the pillows.

  Her grandfather and her lover, this was not going to end well.

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Ewan’s funeral was four days later, and Tatiana went but not with her family. Alexi took her, with Corri and Galli as their guards. She was starting to adjust to having someone with her at all times.

  All through the service she was uneasy, but Tatiana could tell Alexi was, too. She almost asked her to take her home instead of going to the burial, but her mother had said as a member of the coven, Tatiana had to be there for Aileen.

  When the body was lowered into the ground and dirt was thrown over the casket, people started to leave.

  “I have to go give my condolences,” Tatiana said, and Alexi took her hand, going with her.

  They followed the line leading to Aileen who stood with a man she’d said was her cousin at her side. When they reached her, Aileen gave her a faint smile.

  “I’m deeply sorry for your loss,” Tatiana said and started to reach out to touch her but stopped.

  Aileen put her hand on Tatiana’s arm. “If you hadn’t been such a slut, this wouldn’t have happened,” she said. “My son would still be alive, and you’d be planning your wedding to him, but instead you’ve chosen to shack up with a madam.”

  Tatiana tried to jerk back, but magic had her bound to Aileen, who took a step toward her. Alexi put up a hand and was back-handed by the cousin. She stumbled away, and Aileen brought up a red hand and Tatiana’s eyes widened.

  Tatiana immediately grabbed her hand to prevent the certain death from the hand of fire spell.

  “Aileen, this isn’t my fault,” Tatiana said frantically.

  “Of course, it is, but not yours alone. It’s your mother’s for not being able to control you. She knew you belonged to my family.”

  She wrestled with Aileen as her hand came close again.

  “Aileen, stop it,” Tatiana snapped. “Listen to yourself. I wasn’t yours or your son’s property.”

  Shots were fired, and screams lit the air. Tatiana pushed at Aileen, but she held on.

  “I’m not going to allow your mother to have what should be mine,” she said coldly.

  Tatiana drew in a deep breath and let her power out in a wave that slammed into the older woman. Aileen stumbled but didn’t fall and leveled a spell at her.

  “Black ball.”

  Tatiana brought her hands up and stopped the ball of dark swirling energy. It hovered between them moving an inch toward her and then back toward Aileen. Tatiana didn’t want to hurt the other woman, but she wouldn’t allow Aileen to hurt her either.

  The ball edged closer to her, and Tatiana felt her grip slipping. She’d have to decide now to kill her or—she jerked the ball up with her will and it hit a man running toward them with a gun.

  He fell and writhed on the ground in agony.

  “Bitch.” Aileen hurled another spell at her.

  This one clamped Tatiana in place on the ground. She struggled to move her legs, and Aileen hit her with an immobilizing spell.

  Aileen smiled darkly at her as she walked over to look down at Tatiana. “Charles will be dead by night’s end, and so will your mother. I don’t really care about April or your father,” Aileen said.

  Tatiana made a sound.

  “Charles dragged Carrington into this mess and then abandoned him when the Feds started closing in. He’d been taking more than his share for years anyway, and he was going to make sure Trevor got promoted to a low-level position of power instead of Ewan.”

  Tatiana made another pleading sound.

  Aileen waved her hand. “Who killed my son? Tell me, and I’ll make this quick and painless as possible but make no mistake it will hurt just like your family hurt mine.”

  “I did.”

  Aileen’s gaze jerked left, and a dull sound broke the air from behind her. Aileen threw the spell, and a bullet hit her right between the eyes. She drew in a last breath and fell backward.

  The spell faded away, and Tatiana let out a shaky breath. The wail of sirens filled the air now, and Alexi helped Tatiana to her feet, even as she slipped the small blue weapon into its holster at her back.

  Tatiana hugged her tight. “Thank you for saving my life.”

  Alexi looked down at her. “The jaguar will never allow anyone to take her mate, Tia.”

  “Mate?” she asked softly.

  “I know you didn’t want to hear that,” Alexi told her. “And I won’t pressure
you into anything.”

  “Honey.” Melissa pulled her from Alexi to hug her.

  Tatiana felt as if she was going to shake apart as she recalled what Aileen had tried to do to her.

  The woman’s rage had been nearly touchable, and it still left her cold.

  The witch alliance, the possibility of more notice in the witch world, had turned out to be as deadly as that in the human one, and that left her shaken. However, her eyes were opened wide to the dangers being from an old bloodline could create.

  “Thank God, you’re okay. Charles has been shot, and so have your father and grandmother. Come. I need your energy.”

  Tatiana gave Alexi a look. They’d have to talk about this later. Alexi gave her a little smile but was hard on her heels.

  Tatiana wasn’t a healer. Her mother as a high priestess was trained in healing arts but had the gift of energetic healing through the laying on of hands. She would need energy to stabilize the wounded.

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Alexi waited with Tatiana in the waiting room. The police were still there questioning Corri and Galli.

  Tatiana was clearly worn out, but her father and grandfather were still in surgery, along with her grandmother.

  “Why would his boss do this?”

  “I don’t think it was them,” Alexi told her as Tatiana moved closer to her. She pulled her into her arms.

  “Then, who?” Tatiana demanded.

  “The people Ewan was working for,” Alexi told her. “Which means if your grandfather doesn’t die, the party’s just begun.”

  “I don’t know if I can live like this.” She clenched her hand in Alexi’s jacket.

  “It’s all about business right now. Your grandfather and those who work for him went after those guys. They’re just looking for payback. Your grandfather’s boss will look into it, and things will go from there.”

  “You make it sound like a regular business.” Tatiana’s fear-laced eyes were large in her dirty, smudged face.

  “Honey, that’s all it is, it’s just deadlier,” Alexi told her softly. “They won’t come after you directly. That was Ewan,” Alexi assured her. “Charles would have to go into hiding before they went after you.”

  Tatiana pushed out a shaky breath, and Alexi squeezed her tight.

  “What do you know about Ewan Beals’s death?” Detective Cruse demanded as he came to stand next to them.

  “Nothing,” Alexi said, keeping her eyes on him despite Tatiana moving so she stood next to her rather than being in her arms.

  Now, would be a telling moment. Tatiana knew enough to get her investigated. Could she stand by her? Not every woman was cut out for this life, no matter how they felt about someone.

  “Where were you four nights ago?” Cruse demanded.

  He hadn’t been able to question her four days ago because Alexi had gone out of town to deal with one of her clubs in Arkansas.

  She’d left Tia behind, certain exposing her to too many aspects of her life at once wasn’t a good idea.

  “I was at the club,” Alexi told him.

  “Doing what?” he demanded.

  “Having dinner,” Alexi retorted.

  “What was the lucky lady’s name or was she just a woman of the night?” he asked with a smirk.

  “I’m a woman of the night,” Tatiana said. “We had dinner in the club’s restaurant, took a walk in the garden, and then went up to Alexi’s room for a quiet evening in.”

  Cruse turned a curious eye on her. “You don’t have to lie for her,” he said gently. “We can protect you.”

  “From my girlfriend?” Tatiana asked with a frown. “I don’t need any protection from Alexi.” She wrapped her arm around Alexi’s waist. “Did you ever find out anything about who attacked me?”

  “No. We’re still looking into that,” he said with a puzzled look. “Did you see anything today? The shooters?”

  “I saw Aileen Beals attack me and a guy going after Alexi, but beyond that, no.”

  “Why did she attack you?” Cruse asked with a frown.

  “She blamed me because I broke up with her son, but I suspect my grandfather will tell you all about it when he comes out of surgery,” Tatiana replied. “You seem to know him.”

  Cruse’s eyes turned stormy, but he said, “He did use to be a public servant. I worked with him then.”

  She nodded. “I don’t have anything else to say.” She looked around him. “I think there might be news.” Tatiana headed toward her mother.

  “She’s right,” Alexi said. “Rayne might know more than we do.”

  “Beals just attacked?” Cruse asked curiously. “No provocation.”

  “No, but I suspect Five by Five was behind it, so watch your ass,” Alexi said in a low tone. “They might be gunning for you next depending on what you and your buddy Rayne did to them.”

  He gave her a cool stare. “I’ll let you know if I have more questions.”

  Alexi started for Tia but was waylaid but the agent from her office. Malone. This time he wasn’t alone. A brunette clad in a black suit was with him, her shoulder length hair neatly styled.

  “Ms. Russo,” she said. “I’m SSA Howard,” she said. “You remember Agent Malone.”

  “What do you want?” Alexi asked, glancing at Tia who was with her mother.

  “To ask you a few questions about Naomi.”

  She sighed. “We’ve done this song and dance.”

  “And we’ll do until we’re satisfied,” SSA Howard said in a chilly tone.

  Alexi cocked a brow at her. “Then, by all means ask away.”

  “We know Naomi was working your club,” the woman began. “And we know she had found something that would prove you’re running a brothel.”

  “Am I under arrest?”

  “You know we don’t have the proof,” SSA Howard said sharply. “But we do have proof that she had something on Trevor and his grandfather, Charles Rayne. Trevor was a regular at your club.”

  “He was, and he was with her the night she died as far as I know.”

  “At your club?”

  Alexi just held her stare. “What else do you want?”

  “I want your cooperation in bringing down Rayne and Breakers.”

  Alexi blinked. “Uh? What?”

  “You heard me,” SSA Howard said. “If you don’t help us, we can make your life hell.”

  “I’m sure,” Alexi replied. “But I have nothing to give you. I don’t know anything about what that agent was up to or had on them.”

  “But you can find out,” SA Malone said, giving her a cold grin. “Especially if you want to stay in business.”

  She laughed. “Go for it, cowboy,” she said and started to walk away, but SSA Howard grabbed her arm.

  “Don’t make us go after you,” she said. “I have a feeling we can take you down before we get to Rayne.”

  She shrugged, the jaguar silent growling in her mind as she pulled out of the agent’s hold. “Do what you have to do, agent.” She went to join Tatiana and her mother and uncle.

  The uncle was a politician with his own security.

  “My dad’s out of surgery,” Tatiana told her as Melissa chatted with her in-law. “He’s going to be okay, but my grandmother is in a coma.”

  “Your grandfather?”

  “No word yet,” she said.

  “He’s strong,” Alexi said. “He won’t die just to piss people off.”

  Tatiana laughed, and Melissa turned to face them, but her uncle walked a few steps away to take a call.

  “How are you holding up, honey?” She put a hand on Tatiana’s arm but didn’t attempt to draw her away from Alexi when Tatiana leaned against her.

  “I’ll be okay,” she said. “What about you?”

  “I’m a trooper,” Melissa replied and pulled Tatiana into a hug. “You did good today, but I didn’t expect you to hold up so well. Your energy was incredible.”

  “I think I drew on Alexi,” she said looking up at her. �
��Do you feel tired?”

  “No.” Alexi shook her head. “You look a little pale though.”

  “I’m a little tired,” Tatiana admitted. “Mom, do you mind if I leave?”

  “No. I was going to suggest it,” Melissa said. “I’m not alone.”

  “I can leave one of my guards behind,” Alexi told her.

  “Thank you, but not necessary for me. Just take care of Tatiana,” Melissa said.

  “Is April still under guard?” Alexi asked.

  “Yes.” Melissa nodded. “Once my husband is out of the hospital, you and I will have to talk,” Melissa said. “I’ve heard enough about you to have concerns.”

  “You’re welcome to come by the club anytime,” Alexi said.

  “Don’t think I won’t,” Melissa replied. “I want to make sure your intentions toward my daughter are honorable.”

  “Mom,” Tatiana admonished.

  Alexi held her stare, seeing in those eyes the steely resolve of a woman determined to make sure her daughter wasn’t mistreated.

  “It’s okay,” Alexi said. “Your mother is just looking out for you.”

  “I’m glad you understand,” Melissa said. “Now, take her home.”

  Melissa wasn’t fooling her. She would take her measure and pronounce her judgment and expect it to be followed. She was a woman of power, too, magical power, and Alexi sensed Melissa would be a strong adversary should she find Alexi lacking.

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  The ride back to the club was a quiet one. Tatiana used the time to think. There was no way she could effectively distance herself from her family. Even if she did, her magical lineage might present another problem of deadly proportions.

  So, she was staying put, and Alexi was a part of her life her family could accept or not.

  Alexi had assured her things wouldn’t always be this way, and Tatiana believed her. She hoped that trust wasn’t misplaced.

  She noticed they weren’t heading for No Dice but didn’t say anything. Alexi obviously had a reason for not going straight to the club. They pulled up to an old Victorian on the edge of the Victorian District, and Corri pulled into the driveway.

  “Where are we?” Tatiana asked when Alexi released her seatbelt.