by Mary Abshire
I stepped from the shower and donned the white cotton robe the hotel supplied. It was soft and thick, reminding me of the clouds in the sky I'd seen from the plane. Feeling a bit sullen, I sat on the sofa in the living room. My phone sat on the armrest where I'd left it. I checked it again for missed calls and found none. The urge to talk to someone who could help me make heads or tails of what was going on with Drake and my dream nagged me. Not only did I need a compassionate ear, I needed good advice and support. There was one person in my life who fit the bill. Finding the number, I hit the talk button.
"Jessie, is that you?" Sean asked. He sounded happy to hear from me.
Hearing his George Clooney voice improved my mood instantly. "Yours truly."
"This is a pleasant surprise. I was thinking about you the other day. I'm glad you called."
"How's my favorite warlord these days?" I chuckled, knowing he didn't like me exchanging the ck in warlock with an rd.
"I wish you wouldn't call me that," he complained politely.
"All right," I said. "So you were thinking of me and didn't call?"
"You will never believe who I ran into at the courthouse. I couldn't believe it myself."
"Who?" I asked.
"Christopher. He practices criminal law and moved to Pittsburgh a few months ago. Can you believe it?"
"Christopher? My Christopher?" I asked, shocked.
"The one and only," he said.
My head started spinning with the memory of our relationship. I almost married him—my college sweetheart and the last boyfriend before Drake. Christopher and I had great times together, great sex, and great laughs. His family even liked me. Then I told him what I was. Our wedding plans died in a flash and our relationship was never the same.
"I thought he was going to work for his father in New York," I said.
"He told me he worked for his dad for two months then he quit. He went back to college and obtained a law degree."
"That must have ticked off his dad," I said, recalling how Christopher's father always bragged about his son taking over the family business.
"I didn't ask. Of course, he asked about you."
"Really?" Amazing, considering he blew me off once he found out what I was.
"He asked how you were doing. I told him you were fine and living in Indiana. He wished you well and gave me his number if you wanted to talk to him sometime."
"I think I'll pass for now," I said in a soft voice. Taking a trip down memory lane was not a good idea.
"It's your choice, and if you change your mind, just let me know."
"Thanks, Sean."
"I'm here for you, should you need me."
Speaking of which…
"Sean, I do need you, and that's why I'm calling. I'm sitting in a hotel in Phoenix, Arizona." I leaned back on the sofa and kicked my legs up on the coffee table.
"What are you doing in Phoenix?"
"I'm helping a werewolf with a problem."
"A werewolf, Jessie? Why?" Trepidation laced his tone.
"It's a long story," I said with a sigh.
"Who is the werewolf?"
"Alan Vandett. Have you heard of him?"
"Sure, I've heard of him. He owns the trucking company. How are you helping him?"
"He's been challenged by this murderer who wants to take over the company. He wants me to send the guy's soul to Hell."
"Jessie, you're putting yourself in a dangerous position," he said in a fatherly tone.
"I know what I'm doing. I'll be fine. I'm here with Jeremy," I explained, hoping the knowledge I wasn't here alone would ease his mind. "He's watching my back." Among other things.
"Jeremy is the demon, right?"
"Yes."
"And you trust him?"
"I'm learning to trust," I said. "I know he wouldn't hurt me."
"Be careful, Jessie." He sounded just like Drake.
"I will. And since I have you on the line, I have a question for you. Do you know anything about demons having visions or premonitions in their dreams?"
"I'm afraid I don't," he replied. "My knowledge is limited concerning most supernatural creatures. I do my best to avoid them."
I understood his reasoning all too well. The more of them that knew about us, the more they wanted to use us. Like Sean, I wanted to live a normal life. I wanted to live long, love, and grow old happy.
"Do you think you had a vision or premonition?" he asked.
I hesitated to respond. If I said too much about my dream, it might tip him off. Then he'd want to jump on a plane here. I didn't want him to panic.
"No. Jeremy said he had visions. I was just checking to see if what he was telling me was accurate. He also said his soul is really old. Like, BC old."
"Before Christ?" He sounded as surprised as I was.
"Yep."
"Well… I believe I read somewhere once that demon spirits come back. I can do some research if you think it will help you."
"Sure. That would be great." If he was offering, I was accepting.
"Is there anything else?"
The incident at the airport with the Native Americans popped into my mind. I wondered if Sean knew anything about my mother's family or Indians in general. I might have asked him about my mom when I was a teen, but I couldn't remember.
"Actually, there is something else on my mind."
"Tell me all about it," he said in that fatherly tone again.
"It's more of a question."
"That's fine. I won't charge for the answer." He sounded very much like the lawyer he was right then.
"Did my mother ever talk about my family with you?"
"Katrina never spoke of her family. If you recall, I didn't know her well myself. I helped her a few times with spells and that was it. The day she brought you to me changed my life."
"Yeah, mine too." The day we met was the day dear old mom committed suicide in front of us. I'd never forget seeing her run in front of traffic or the sight of cars hitting her.
"If I knew more, I would tell you. I'd never keep anything from you," he said, sincerity in his voice.
I heard those exact words growing up in his house. From my mother's death until the time I attended college, Sean took good care of me. I had no reason to doubt him.
"Do you know much about Native Americans?"
"Nothing more than what's in history books," he said. "Why do you ask?"
"When I arrived at the airport, I felt a strange surge of energy. There was an older Native American couple following me. They said I looked like someone named Nina. The old lady shocked my cheek when she touched me."
"That is very unusual."
"Yeah, I wasn't sure if there was a possible connection to my mother or if it was something else."
"I can do some research and let you know."
I smiled. Having a lawyer as a dear friend had its benefits. "That would be great. I'd appreciate any information you can find out."
"Now I have one for you," he said. "Since you said Jeremy was with you, what happened to Drake?"
I hit my head on the back of the sofa. Of course he would ask. "He's still in Europe."
"Is something wrong, Jessie?"
I drew a deep breath. Sean knew me too well. He could probably tell by my tone how upset I was over this subject.
"Drake said he would be gone a few weeks. It's been six. I think something's wrong, but he isn't talking."
"And you miss him," Sean said.
"Yeah, I do. Everything was working out between us. He had plans to find a home in Indy. Now…I don't know what to think."
"All I can say is, if he truly cares for you, he will return."
Tears formed in my eyes. Drake cared for me. In my heart, I knew he did. What damn complications were keeping him from me?
"Can I call you in a day or two?" Sean asked.
"Please. And let me know what you find."
"Take care of yourself, Jessie, and be careful around werewolves. They are just as de
adly as vampires."
"Thanks for the warning." I snickered, then ended our conversation.
Talking to Sean comforted me. So he didn't have answers, but he did have my best interest at heart and gave good advice. Sometime in the future, I needed to drive to Pittsburg to visit him again.
The hour was getting late and I had a dinner date to attend. I rushed around the suite to get ready. I dried my hair, then threw on a touch of makeup. I donned a white tank top and a short black skirt. The combo would help keep me from sweating to death. Jeremy assured me I didn't need to dress fancy. For a change, I was going to trust him.
I was in the midst of smoothing on a thin layer of strawberry lip-gloss when a knock from the door connecting my room with Jeremy's captured my attention. I stepped outside the bathroom door and yelled, "Come in."
I returned to the bathroom as the door clicked open. I gave my reflection a final check. Teeth looked clean. Makeup wasn't thick. Hair wasn't frizzed out beyond control. And lastly, my clothes weren't stained. I gave myself a nod of approval.
"Jessie? Are you ready?" Jeremy peeked around the corner.
"Yep," I strolled out of the bathroom. "Just need to get my shoes."
I stopped at my suitcase and searched for the right shoes to wear. Black sandals seemed appropriate. I found what I had been looking for, then slid my feet into them.
"New skirt?" he asked.
"What?" I asked. "No. Why?"
He stared at my legs with a gleam in his eyes. "I like it." His gaze slowly traveled up my body.
The impish grin on his face tempted me to smack him.
"Let's go," I said, then strolled past him for the door. "Have you got your keycard?"
He tapped his pocket. "Card, phone, money."
"I'm not going to bring my purse and I don't have pockets. I trust you can let me cut through your room when we get back."
"This is a change. What did I miss?"
"Nothing much." I shrugged. "I took a nap."
We strode out of the room. The door swung shut behind us. Jeremy walked at my side, gazing at me with curious eyes.
"I had an unusual dream," I said as we walked down the hall.
"Oh?" His gaze jumped from below my waist back up to my face.
"I think it might have been a premonition."
He gripped my arm and stopped me in the middle of the hall. "What happened?"
"I think I was at a truck stop. I smelled diesel fumes and trucks were on both sides of me. I heard growls. I turned, and a large brown wolf attacked me."
He threaded his fingers through his hair. "Fuck, Jessie."
"Yeah, it's a bit freaky. That's why I'm telling you." I continued down the hall. "I'm not willing to risk that it's not a premonition. I hope you don't mind, but I'm not wandering far from you." Like I thought he would mind. The horny demon would love the attention.
"We should tell Ryan. If someone is after you, it's possible they're after Alan also. Maybe there is a traitor in the pack."
A traitor? My anxiety rose a notch. What was I walking into? Maybe Drake was right and I was in over my head. But it was too late now—not that I wanted to renege on my deal with Jeremy. So far, the risks were still worth the rewards.
Jeremy slid his arm around my waist and rested his hand on my hip. "Don't worry. Between Ryan and me, we'll have you guarded."
The warmth from his hand and the devotion in his voice made me feel secure. Maybe I'd been too hard on the guy. Besides, if Drake couldn't be around to help me, I could lean on the one man who wanted me more than he wanted air to breathe. I just had to find a way to keep him out of my bed.
"Jeremy, I'm going to trust you, as you asked. Please don't let me down."
A wide grin spread across his face. "Darling, your trust means the world to me. I won't let you down, ever."
Chapter Eleven
I sat in the back of Ryan's vehicle staring out the window at the various cacti. They grew in many shapes and sizes. Some looked like fingers pointing to heaven. Ryan and Jeremy laughed while they reminisced over something they’d done in college. The drive from the hotel had taken us out of the city and up a hill overlooking the valley. A mountain in the shape of a camel's back stole my attention. The wild beauty and landscape were a sight to see and completely different compared to the Midwest.
Ryan steered the car into a parking lot connected to a light beige stucco building. Nice cars—way nicer than my ancient Honda—filled the lot. Worry crept into my mind as I glanced at my casual attire. I hoped the clientele wouldn't frown upon me.
"Does your Alpha travel alone?" I asked as Ryan pulled into one of the few empty parking spots two rows away from the building.
"No, not usually." He cut the engine.
Anxiety replaced the bit of worry I'd had. Soon, a bunch of werewolves and a demon would surround me. Mom would roll over in her grave.
Squinting my eyes from the bright sun, we headed for the entrance of the restaurant. Jeremy walked on one side of me and Ryan was on the other. The two overly large men made me feel puny, yet safer than a Washington politician.
Jeremy opened the door when we reached it. I stepped inside the dimly lit restaurant and instantly smelled the aroma of bread baking. My stomach growled and I looked to my two guards to see if they'd heard it.
Ryan smiled. "Hungry?"
No surprise his werewolf ears had heard. "Just a little. My last meal was on the plane."
"Get as much as you want here. There's plenty," Ryan said.
A hostess dressed in a black shirt and a long skirt greeted us. Ryan provided her with our reservation information.
"You okay?" Jeremy asked softly.
"Yeah. I'm good," I said. "You?"
A wide grin spread across his face. "I'm more than good. I'm with you."
"Follow me," the hostess said before I could respond to Jeremy. Perhaps it was better that I didn't respond.
The hostess guided us through a maze of tables in an open dining room setting. Native American artwork decorated the walls that were painted a deep orange. The color went well with the wood furniture and adornments. Chattering voices drowned out the soft music playing. I glanced at plates of food, wondering what I might order. Then the view of the mountains outside the restaurant's back wall of windows stole my attention. It was such a beautiful sight.
Our hostess stopped at a round table close to the windows. I selected a seat where I could view the mountains. Jeremy sat to my left and Ryan next to him, which left the seat next to me vacant.
A waitress appeared at my side. "Can I get you a drink?" She had a soft voice and wore the same black attire as the hostess.
"Three scotches, please," Jeremy said.
"We're waiting on a few more guests to arrive," Ryan said.
"I'll get your drinks and be right back," she said.
Ryan took out his cell phone and stared at the screen. "They just pulled into the lot." He slid the phone back in his pocket.
My nerves jumped in anticipation of meeting Mr. Alpha. I didn't know what to expect from a pack leader. Arrogance? Probably. Big and strong? Definitely. In control and dominating? A given. And why had I agreed to this? I took a deep breath to calm myself. Attempting to appear relaxed, I leaned against the chair and held my hands in my lap as if I were at church.
Jeremy leaned toward me. "Everything will be fine."
I gave him a nod and opened my mouth to say something. Then the hairs on the back of my neck twitched. Alerted to a new presence, I chose to keep silent. I reached around and rubbed the area to ease the sensation. Company was on the way.
"Here he comes," Ryan said, gazing beyond me.
I glanced over my shoulder and spotted two very large men approaching. One wore jeans and a blue polo shirt. The other had wavy, light brown hair and bangs that hung slightly over his brows. He wore jeans and a white button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled mid-arm. Ryan rose from his seat. Jeremy and I stood, too, as it seemed like the proper thing to do.
/> "You must be Jessie," the man with the jacket said as he reached for my hand. He had green eyes and a warm smile. Did I mention he oozed with charm and charisma?
Hypnotized by his beautiful eyes, I stood frozen as a mummy until someone made a noise, clearing his throat.
I snapped back to reality. "Oh! Yes." Heat rushed to my cheeks. "Jessie Garrett."
A tattoo on his neck captured my attention. Black lines peeked from inside the collar of his polo shirt.
"Alan Vandett. It is a pleasure to meet you." He shook my hand with a firm, yet sensitive grip. Strong energy zinged up my arm and vibrated within me. "This is my assistant, Gabe Maxwell." Alan gestured to the man on his right.
"Pleasure to meet you," Gabe said as we shook hands.
"Hi." Gabe's touch was mild compared to Alan's. It was clear to me who the stronger, more powerful man was.
"And you must be Jeremy." Alan stepped behind me.
"Jeremy Ward." He shook Alan's hand. "Pleased to meet you."
"Ryan, good to see you again." Alan patted his arm while Gabe and Jeremy greeted each other.
"Please, sit down." Alan gestured to the chairs.
The waitress appeared with our drinks. As she set them on the table, she had a fearful look in her eye. I couldn't blame her for being nervous around the four large men. Hell, they intimidated me a little.
"Can we get two more, please?" Alan asked the waitress as he took the seat next to me. Gabe stayed at Alan's side, acting very much like a bodyguard.
"Certainly. I'll be right back." She rushed off in the direction of the bar.
I glimpsed at Jeremy as I opened the menu in front of me. His steel eyes locked on Alan. Whatever the demon was thinking, I doubted it was good.
"Is this your first time in Phoenix?" Alan asked, leaning toward me.
I stared into his inviting eyes. I couldn't recall ever meeting someone with such a vibrant color. Usually green was dark, almost faded. But his were leafy green that appeared exciting and full of life.
"Yes, and thank you for the hotel accommodations."
"They're staying at the Biltmore," Ryan said, voice slightly elevated.
