by Emma Shade
“Where are you Lily?” I whispered to the horizon.
Of course, the nightscape hadn’t given me an answer. As I took a swig of my beer, I’d wished it could’ve, though. My choices hadn’t kept things peaceful. The moment I left, a shit-storm emerged over my head and waited to strike everyone I love down. And to make matters worse, time wasn’t in our favor. Like a pendulum swinging inside a grandfather clock, it would only be a matter of time until the clock struck against Lily.
CHAPTER SEVEN
LILY
Paige decided to give Indigo Casino another try. She demanded that the person we were after had been here. Me? I thought the vampire never owned or operated Indigo, but when Paige wanted something, she got it.
Blake’s dream still plagued me. Obviously, I hadn’t given him the warmest welcome. Hell, I just wanted to get the hell out of there. Not because I hated the site of him, but because I’d break down and give in. Actually, I loved Blake in my own way. Something told me that Ashton, on the other hand, could break down my carefully built wall with just a look.
“Are you listening to me?” Paige asked with her arms crossed.
“Sorry. My mind can’t focus tonight.”
“It’s because of that damn dream. I knew we should’ve gotten you sleeping pills,” she grumbled.
“Paige, I’m fine. I’ll get over it.”
She shook her head. “Just remember, this whole thing was your decision. It’s not as simple as you think it is. Ashton’s not going to give up on finding you. You know that, right? Do you seriously understand that even if we keep moving, he could find you? What are you going to do when that happens? Let’s also not forget about Blake too.”
I blinked. Pushing back the ache in my chest, I shrugged. “He won’t find us. Plus, so what if he does?”
“Lily, you may think you’re made of ice right now. But the moment one of those guys walk into the room, you’ll melt faster than an ice cream cone on a hot summer day.”
I ignored Paige and strolled towards the entrance of Indigo. Even though I wasn’t too sure how I would react if I saw them, this conversation was over.
For a Friday night, Indigo packed people inside like sardines. Slot machines jingled, people laughed, bartenders called out for drink orders, and every so often you heard a lucky winner cry out in happiness.
My high heeled boots clicked on the marble tile in the rhythm of the music pounding from the band near the bar. Tonight, I dressed in tight skinny jeans tucked into boots, and a red midriff lace tank top. Paige wore a black miniskirt, a blue see through tee with a black bra, and what she called “hooker heels” in leopard print.
Our makeup painted on like we were gang banged by crayons, Paige figured the more attention the better. I fidgeted in the revealing outfit, uncomfortable, and Paige pinched my arm.
“Ow!” I cried, shooting her a dirty look.
Paige leaned in close to my ear, and whispered, “Quit being a pussy. You don’t look that bad. At least you’re wearing jeans. If the wind blows in the wrong direction, my crotch will be on display for anyone in our line of site. Everyone will know I’m a true redhead then.”
I snorted. “This is ridiculous. It’s bad enough you lined enough eye liner on my eyes to make a hooker jealous, but you made me wear a top that’s almost two inches below my breasts.”
She shrugged. “I could’ve made you wear the leopard print dress. Sue me. We’re not here to look like beauty queens. We’re here to make an unforgettable impression.”
I grabbed a beer from the waitress closest to me and chucked it back. I inhaled and held my breath for patience. The only impression we were going to make was looking like prostitutes. As I worked on my second beer, Alistair’s warning about dancing on the bar hadn’t sounded too farfetched.
*****
Once I had a good buzz, I played the closest slot machine to the blackjack tables. Paige flirted with the card dealer, leaning so far over the table that her breasts might spill out. I, on the other hand, tugged my shirt down trying to hide my exposed stomach. Pressing the button to watch the colorful diamonds spin around, I waived down the waitress. But before she noticed me, a beer was placed in my line of site.
“I thought you’d like this,” a deep southern drawl said directly behind me.
I jumped and spun the leather seat around. “Jamison! Good God, you scared the hell out of me.”
“Darlin’, I didn’t mean to scare you. I just thought you’d like a beer is all.” Jamison smiled, and those chocolate eyes gazed into mine.
“Thank you,” I said, and took the beer from his hand. “What’re you doing out again?”
He took a seat next to me, slid a hundred dollar bill in the machine, and chuckled. “I was lookin’ for you. Hoped you’d be out again tonight.”
“Oh.” My cheeks flamed in embarrassment.
“Now, don’t go gettin’ all embarrassed on me. Last night was a good time, and my friends heard me talkin’ about you. I’d like em’ to finally catch up with you.”
I glanced around. Not seeing anyone, I pinned my eyes on Jamison. “I don’t see them.”
He waived his hand around like it wasn’t a big deal. “They’ll be here soon enough. I’m sure they’re caught up doin’ somethin’ crazy. Like chasin’ some ladies. You know how men can be.”
“I guess,” I said, and wrinkled my brow in suspicion. “I’m starting to believe you don’t have any friends here.”
Jamison laughed. “Now why would you think that? I told you, they’d not give up finally seein’ a pretty thang like you.”
I shook my head in exasperation. Jamison was a puzzling man.
From in between the slot machines, a man with an eight-pointed star tattoo underneath his eye caught my attention. He sat as though playing slots, but a shiver ran through me when his eyes penetrated mine. My skin crawled as we stared each other, and when the man smirked, I stiffened.
“What’s wrong?” Jamison asked.
“Nothing, I thought I saw somebody I knew.”
Jamison followed my line of sight in between the slot machines. His jaw hardened and his hand clamped down on my arm. “Whataya we get outta here for a bit?”
“Why? What’s going on?”
“Nothin’, I just thought a nice drink at the bar would be good is all. Maybe Blaze could join us?” he asked, and shrugged his shoulders.
I blinked and it took me a minute to understand who he was talking about. Then it occurred to me that I’d rarely used Paige’s fake name. Besides, when it came to the stranger, Jamison wasn’t fooling me. The guy on the other side of the slots had something to do with his reaction as well as mine. I stole a look in between the machines again, but the man was gone.
“Did you know that guy?” I asked.
“What guy?”
I narrowed my eyes at Jamison. “The one on the other side of the slots.”
His eyes darted around us he skimmed the casino. Jamison was a filthy liar if he hadn’t known that creep on the other side of the isle. When those coffee spheres met mine again, they reflected my frowning face back at me.
“I thought I did, but I must have been mistaken, darlin’,” he crooned and pointed towards Paige. “How about we get ya’ll that drink now. My treat.”
“Okay. Was that guy following you?”
Jamison shook his head. “Me? No. He wasn’t followin’ me.”
I shrugged it off. Maybe it was a thief who waited on unsuspecting victims. However, the guy would get a rude awakening if he’d attacked me or Paige.
Jamison stared down at me, waiting on me to follow him.
“Fine,” I said and held a hand to the side, “lead the way. We’ll stop and get her on the way to the bar.”
Jamison nodded and headed towards the blackjack table as I followed behind him.
As soon as I spotted the stranger with the weird tattoo, he triggered shivers to run up and down my spine. Whoever he was meant trouble. That much I knew.
Paige g
limpsed up from her cards and eyed me with a frown. “What’s going on?”
I opened my mouth to speak, but Jamison’s southern accent beat me to it. “I thought you girls would like to get a few drinks at the bar. I’m buyin’.”
“Well, in that case, what are we waiting for?” Paige perked up, folded her cards, and cashed in her chips. “If somebody’s offering to buy me a drink, I’m not going to screw around.”
“Just no dancing on bars or removing your top,” I joked.
She laughed. “You know how hard it is to not do that out of spite?”
I shook my head with a smirk and headed towards the closest bar. Jamison pulled the stool out for me like a true gentleman and I thanked him with a smile. Paige sat on my left, and Jamison on my right.
“Alright, ladies. Whataya want to drink first?” he asked, wrapping an arm around my shoulder.
*****
True to his word, Jamison bought fruity drinks, beers, and shots galore. Paige and I drank enough for a lightweight to pass out hours ago. Paige leaned up against the bar, trying to seduce the bartender. Although she just toyed with him for her own amusement, her painted fingernail stroked down his chest as she smiled.
Jamison, even though he kept up with us in the alcohol department, wasn’t the least bit affected. Without the two of us thinking of repercussions, he’d been snapping pictures of Paige and me throughout the night. Several of me standing by the bar, one near the statue of a Pegasus, and another by a slot machine.
His bedroom eyes glittering with humor at my drunkenness as he said, “You might wanna slow down there, darlin’”
I flailed a clumsy hand around, almost smacking him with it, and slurred, “Nah. I’m great. Where are you friends? I think they should be here to enjoy this with us.”
“They’ll be here soon enough,” he murmured, a secret smile playing on his lips.
“I like your smile. It reminds me of someone,” I said, trying to place a finger close to my lips, but I missed and hit my nose instead. “But shhhh, I can’t think about them anymore.”
Jamison’s eyebrows went skyward. “Oh? Why not?”
“Cause,” I replied, rotating on my seat so fast that I almost slipped off. I grappled the bar to keep my ass seated. “I left. But that’s okay. Everyone’s better off this way.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Pfft. It doesn’t matter. I’m not supposed to talk or think about them at all. Shhh,” I mock whispered, situating a clumsy finger over his lips this time. “Let’s not talk about this anymore. We’re having a good time. Don’t ruin it.”
His lips edged into a knowing grin. “Okay, if you say so. Whataya want to drink now?”
I placed another drink order and nudged Paige. “Hey. Are you having fun?”
“Yes!” she squealed and hugged me. I liked drunk Paige. She’s nice.
We both laughed at each other, Jamison chiming in a few times to make conversation. As Paige and Jamison joked about some famed celebrity, I squinted to see the clock above the bar. You know when you’re three sheets to the wind and nothing focused right? That was me. I constantly blinked to clear my vision. Everything tingled, I couldn’t feel my lips, and my eyesight resembled a blurry, shaken home video. Sure, I’d wanted to be buzzed before we went back to the hotel, but this was extreme. I was sloshed.
“Guys, I’m drunk,” I said, as though noticing it for the first time.
“Am I gonna have to carry you out of here?” Jamison asked with a grin.
“No. No.” I shook my head. I didn’t want anybody to intimately touch me. Especially another man. “I think we better head back to the hotel though. Otherwise I might pass out right here.”
“I think that’s a great idea.” He stood, and helped me stand on my two feet as I stumbled like baby learning to walk for the first time. “I’ll ride in the cab with you just to make sure you get back safely.” I opened my mouth to argue, but he cut me off. “Don’t worry, I’ll head home as soon as you’re safely through the doors of your hotel.”
Jamison, the gentleman he is, stayed true to that statement. After we’d loaded into a taxi, he’d walked us up to the doors of the casino we currently called home. Paige rummaged around in her small leather purse, staggering in her leopard print heels.
“What’re you doing?” I asked, my words slurred.
Paige glanced back at me and rifled around in her purse again. “I’m going to make a wish.”
“In the fountain? What are you? Ten?”
Jamison chuckled. “Don’t judge. Every so often you’re allowed to wish for something better in your life. What would you wish for, Lily?”
I bit my lip in thought. “I don’t know.”
He tucked a strand of my dyed hair behind my ear, and said softly, “I think you do. It’s never too late to change what you believe in.”
Staring back up at Jamison, I swallowed nervously. “I need to head in. Goodnight, Jamison.”
Once I stood next to Paige and the fountain, Jamison called out before getting in the taxi, “Night, Lily. I hope to see you around soon.”
Paige chuckled. “I think he likes you.”
“It doesn’t matter. I don’t have time for men in my life.”
The minute we’d entered our floor and halfway down the hallway, Paige stopped dead in her tracks. Her wide brown eyes swung in my direction. “Oh, fuck.”
“What?”
She lurched as though the hallway tilted on its axis. “You didn’t tell Jamison your real name, right?”
I shook my head and confusion stretched my lips into a frown. The hallway swam, the alcohol consumption getting the best of me.
Her hands gripped my arms, desperation and terror etched on her drunken face. “I swear he called you Lily.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
ASHTON
Not to beat a dead horse, or a dead vampire in this case, but Con royally screwed us. His damn letter had spread like a forest fire, igniting a blaze from people all over supernatural realm in a matter of days.
The woman I loved was out there somewhere, and with the panic about her lineage coming to a head, there was no way to warn her. Not unless we located her first. We cleared up the image just enough to decipher that she was sitting at a casino table. The only narrowed it down to roughly 1500 casinos, give or take. I’d stalked our club email for days as I waited on Jamison to send us another clue. Carlotta and Jeffery headed straight to Reno. Gary, off to Atlantic City. Blake, constantly on his phone arguing with somebody, stayed close to the club and edited the picture thinking it would give him more clues.
Sam, on the other hand, begged me to let him travel to Las Vegas. He stared me down over the island in the kitchen, hands on his hips like Peter Pan. I argued, “Sam, you’re not ready to travel alone yet.”
His blue eyes narrowed on me, fangs peeking in between his lips. “I’m a lot stronger than you give me credit for. Besides, there’s no way I’d be able to take an unsuspecting victim and make them a human Capri Sun. For fuck’s sake, I’m barely capable of choking down the concoctions you give me.”
I sighed and tried reason. “Sam, you’re barely able to keep your fangs from popping out when you get angry at me. How are you going to keep them hidden in public?”
“I’ll keep my mouth shut.”
“You? Keep your mouth shut? Ha!” I replied, and Sam rolled his eyes. “Besides, do you think this is the best idea? Send a baby vamp to a huge tourist town with thousands of people tempting you at every corner?”
Sending Sam to Vegas on his own screamed disaster. Although, maybe he’s right that I was being overprotective.
He scoffed. “Please. You treat me like I’m a toddler after the cookie jar. If I’m tempted to chew on somebody’s neck, I’ll hide in a hotel room and you can come get me. We don’t have somebody there and we can’t wait around forever. If Lily’s in Vegas, she might be gone before we wait days to send somebody.”
Blake barged into the room, cutting of my re
tort to Sam’s protest.
I’d never finished my explanation of Jamison that day. He’d been too pissed to be reasonable. Although, I’m sure we’d speak of it soon. But by the expression on Blake’s face, I jumped up in excitement.
“We got another email, Ashton,” Blake announced and handed me a few pieces of paper.
“I didn’t hear my phone chirp an incoming email. Damn it.” I snatched the paper from his hands.
Several pictures were printed along with an email. I glanced at the pictures first and my throat caught. Jamison smiled into the camera with his arm around the woman I loved. I growled on instinct with another man touching her. The next one had Paige and Liliana at a bar, alcoholic beverages stacked in front of them. In the final one, the two girls hugged and held up yet another glass of liquor. And just like the last ones, everything around them in the photos were blurred.
“Ashton, are you listening to me?” Blake asked.
I shook my head and forced the pictures away from my eyes. “No. What?”
He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “This came from the same email address as the first. Still untraceable right now. But the message is terrifying.”
I noted Blake’s panicked face for the first time. Flipping to the email, I read what it said. My hands shook and my blood ran cold.
Ashton,
I saw an Enforcer today. Don’t worry. They’re safe.
Jamison
“Holy shit,” I whispered, fangs threatening to cut my lip.
Blake snatched the papers from my shaking hands, and said, “Yeah. We’ve got to find them. And fast. Are you sure you trust this Jamison guy?”
“Yes, and no. Do I trust him to keep them safe? Yes. Do I trust him to not make a move on her? No.”
Sam strolled over and ripped the papers from Blake’s hands. “What are Enforcers?”
Blake exhaled noisily. “Conjurer assassins.”
“What?! Why are we standing around here doing nothing when my best friend’s life is in danger? I don’t care what you say, I’m getting on the first plane out of here to search for her!” Sam cried.
