by R K Close
“No, he’s at another bar,” Cole said.
Hmmm. For the first time, I wondered if Liam had a girlfriend. There was no way that I was asking Cole that question. Daisy had said she thought all the brothers were single. I did wonder why Liam was at another bar and Cole was here. They’d seemed close. Maybe they were but had different friend groups.
Just to defer any suggestion that I was interested in Liam, I asked about Seth. “Is Seth with him?” Daisy shot me a warning look like I was playing with her new toy or something.
“No, he’s at the hotel bar across the street,” Cole said, then looked like he’d said too much. Cole busied himself with tearing the label off his beer.
Daisy must have thought it was odd that they were all out at different bars as well because she gave me a strange look.
“Are they meeting up with you later?” I asked, not caring anymore if I sounded too interested or not. Cole seemed to be scanning the bar ever since he’d arrived. At first, I thought he was just nervous around Daisy and me. Now, I wondered what the brothers were up to.
I was about about to ask Cole when he stiffened. Cole’s usually friendly demeanor turned fierce, and his head whipped toward the door. I followed his gaze and found Lorenzo Romano entering the bar. He spotted us immediately and smiled wickedly.
The tension in the air was palpable, starting with Cole’s reaction, then mine, and then Daisy’s. She had slid off her stool to stand close to Cole. I hadn’t even shared with her that he may have come to my house, but she already knew about the fingerprints on the wine glass belonging to a dead guy. I guess that was enough for Daisy to freak out over.
Cole had his phone out and texted a quick message before Lorenzo reached us. I couldn’t help but wonder; was this Lorenzo Romano? Did he somehow fake his own death? And if he did, who the hell was his plastic surgeon? He didn’t look a day over thirty, but he’d have to be over fifty years old.
Whoever he was, he was walking right toward us, or me. The way his bright blue eyes bored into mine made me want to run screaming from the bar.
Cole stepped in his way, and the two men glared at one another. Kudos for Cole. The other guy towered over him by a foot, at least, but Cole didn’t seem intimidated. He just seemed angry as hell.
Ignoring Cole, the man turned his gaze to me, and suddenly, I wanted nothing more than to be with him. Like he was the only thing in the entire world that I needed.
16
Liam
I arrived at the bar just after sunset. The first thing I did was order a beer, then sat in a corner where I could see the front door as well as the rest of the bar. Sipping my beer, I nodded at locals that I knew and settled into people-watching until the vampire showed up.
I’d only finished half my beer when my phone buzzed. It was a group text.
Cole: Vamp’s here.
Tossing my beer back, I hurried out the door and drove a couple of miles to the Burning Moon. I knew Seth was just across the street and would arrive before me.
Seth was standing in front of the door to the Moon when I got out of my truck. He was peering into the window. “Is he still in there?” I asked.
“Yep. So is Jessica Parker,” Seth said, turning away from the window to look at me.
“Shit.” I pulled open the door and walked in. Seth followed.
The place was busy. I could see Cole and the vamp locked in a staring contest, maybe on the verge of a fight. Jessica looked odd and didn’t seem to notice me when I approached. Tonight, she only had eyes for him.
I came up behind the vampire just in time to hear Jessica say, “Let me go to him.” That was when I noticed that Cole had ahold of one of Jessica’s arms and Daisy had ahold of the other. Jessica stared longingly at the vampire, and I felt my blood begin to boil.
“What’s going on?” I almost growled to anyone who wanted to answer.
The vampire turned slowly around to face me. White sparks flickered within the irises of his eyes.
“You again,” said the vampire.
I wasn’t sure what was happening to Jessica, but something was definitely wrong with her. She weakly pushed toward the vampire, but Cole and Daisy held her firmly. Both wore worried expression.
“You need to leave town. We know what you are and what you’ve done,” I said, under my breath, so only he could hear.
The vampire smiled smugly. “And if I don’t leave?”
I leaned close to his face. “I’ll rip you to shreds.”
He studied me, weighing the truth of my threat. “I wanted to take Jessica to dinner, what if I leave after that?”
I growled, and Seth put a hand on my shoulder. We were drawing attention that we didn’t need. Seth was warning me to keep it cool in front of the humans. “Go near her again, and it’ll be the last thing you ever do. If you want to live another day, you’ll leave with us, now,” I said, leaving no room for discussion.
From behind me, Seth said, “I do have the sheriff on speed dial. I’m sure he’d love to know where you were a few nights ago.”
The vampire glared at Seth.
In a dull voice, Jessica said, “I need to go to him. Let me go with him.”
Daisy looked frightened as she held her friend back. “Jess, what’s wrong with you?” Jessica didn’t respond.
“Daisy, take Jessica home and stay with her,” I said, never looking away from the vampire. From my peripheral vision, I could see Daisy nodding. Cole helped Daisy guide Jessica around the tables and out the door. She seemed dazed and confused as she allowed them to lead her out of the bar with little resistance.
“A bit territorial, aren’t you, Liam?” the vampire taunted.
I ignored the comment. “Let’s go,” I said, and stepped back to allow him to follow Seth out of the bar.
Cole was waiting for us out front. He nodded at me, and I took that to mean that Daisy had left with Jessica.
“You don’t trust me to leave town on my own?” the vamp asked, seemingly amused.
“That’s right. We’ll drive you to the edge of town, and you can find your way from there,” I said, as I motioned toward my truck. It was illegally parked in front of the bar. When we reached the curb, Seth opened the passenger door and motioned for the vampire to get in.
The man stopped and looked at each of us in turn, before sliding into the truck. I was on edge because I had no idea if he’d put up a fight or if the threat of being exposed would be enough to garner his cooperation. So far, he seemed compliant, which made me nervous.
I walked around to the driver’s side, Seth slid in next to the vampire, and Cole jumped into the back of the truck. We drove north toward Nevada in silence.
The vampire stared ahead, and I wondered what he was thinking. I would have been concerned about three shifters, myself. When we reached the edge of the county line, I pulled off the road and drove a short distance down an unmarked forest service road.
When the truck came to a stop, the vampire spoke. “You will regret this, you know.”
“I regret that you ever showed up in our town,” I said, getting out of the truck.
“Don’t show your face again, or you’ll regret it,” Seth said, holding the door as the vampire exited the truck.
The vamp said nothing.
“Are we just going to let him go, after what he’s done?” Cole asked.
For the first time, the vampire looked wary, as if he were prepared to bolt if need be.
“This time. There will be no second chances,” I said, looking at the vampire. “Understand?”
The vampire bowed slightly. “Gentlemen. I hope you know this is not over. And there will be hell to pay—” The next second the vampire was moving faster than I could have imagined. He made it to the edge of the forest before he stopped and looked back at us, then disappeared.
“Well, that was creepy as hell. Do you think he’s going to cause more trouble for us?” Cole asked.
“He’s bluffing. Why would he have let us drive him all the
way out here if he were going to do anything about it?” Seth asked.
“I think you’re right, Seth. But I hope to never meet another vampire again,” I mumbled, getting into the truck. Seth and Cole climbed in beside me, and I pulled the truck around and headed back to town.
“You should check on Jessica. She didn’t seem herself. She kept wanting to go with that guy. I just followed Daisy’s lead. She wasn’t about to let Jessica go anywhere with him, even if she had to sit on her,” Cole said.
“Yeah, what was that all about? Can vampires do that mind control thing?” Seth asked.
“That would suck,” Cole added. “He didn’t do it to me.”
“Maybe he can’t do it to shifters, only humans,” Seth added.
“He did something to her. She told me that he came to her house, but she wasn’t sure if it was a dream or real,” I added.
“It kinda makes you wonder where Hollywood gets all their story ideas, doesn’t it?” Cole asked.
“Maybe more people know about supernatural stuff than they let on. It would sure make me feel less alone, and maybe less of a freak,” I said.
“No, you’ll always be a freak,” Seth teased, leaning forward to see me.
I smiled but kept my eyes on the dark road ahead. I thought about the campers who died by the vampire’s hand. Maybe we should have handed down the only justice they’ll ever see.
If Zoey is to be believed, a prison cell wouldn’t have held him, so waiting for human justice was a joke. Did that make us the judge, jury, and executioner? And was I wrong to let him go?
I DROPPED SETH AND Cole off in front of the Burning Moon. They were going in to see Zoey and have a celebratory beer. After all, we’d just chased a vampire out of Flagstaff, and maybe saved some lives. This thought went a long way toward relieving my concerns that we’d handled it all wrong.
Because I wanted to check on Jessica, I didn’t join my brothers. Instead, I drove straight to her house. Daisy’s car was still there, and the house was ablaze with light. I waited a few minutes then drove home.
I’d already concluded that I had no willpower to stay away from Jessica Parker. Confiding in Jessica would expose me, as well as Seth and Cole. If it went badly, we’d all have to disappear again and start over someplace new. Maybe she didn’t have to know about me. But she’d made it clear that secrets wouldn’t work. If I wanted a chance with Jessica, I’d have to come clean. I just didn’t know if I could or should do that.
Either way, it wasn’t a decision I could make alone.
WHEN I PULLED UP TO my partially finished cabin, I parked the truck but didn’t go in right away. Instead, I sat there for a long time, thinking about the past and the future—all the limits I’d put in place to keep our secret safe. It was a lonely life. I was thankful for my brothers and the life we had carved out for ourselves, but I had to wonder if it would ever be anything more than what it was.
Finally, I stepped out of the truck and gazed up at the moon. Clouds floated around its glow. I peeled off my jacket and tossed it over the bed of the truck. I unbuttoned my shirt as I kicked off my boots, one by one.
The cold air stung my warm chest, but then it felt good, like a cold cloth to a fevered brow. I unbuttoned my jeans and pushed them down until I stood naked under the moon and stars. A blissful feeling of freedom washed over me and then I began to run until my wolf burst free, and then I kept running.
The forest was alive. I was hunting, tracking something or someone. I had their scent, and it was sweet and floral like springtime.
I came to an opening in the trees, and there she was. Not prey. My mate. A beautiful white wolf stood in the meadow bathed in moonlight, and she was all mine, only mine. She turned to look at me, and I somehow knew her name. The sound of it floating on air like a whisper. Jessica.
I’m overjoyed because she’s my kind, but then a troubled thought creeps in, trying to steal my happiness. Is she like me because of something I did? Is she happy that we’re the same?
I slow my approach, feeling uncertain. She sees my hesitation and comes to me. She rubs my neck with her muzzle. She radiates love and acceptance. We begin to run through the woods. Tonight, my queen is by my side.
Tonight, we hunt together.
I WOKE NAKED IN MY bed, the dream still fresh. I couldn’t help but look around to confirm that I was indeed alone. Jessica was not with me and never would be.
17
Jessica
I find myself in the forest at night. This should frighten me, but it doesn’t. I’m home.
I see him running out from the trees. My great tan beast. His eyes glow amber in the light of the moon and his soft tan fur ruffles as he approaches. He’s magnificent and powerful. He’s my alpha. His name is a whisper on the air. Liam is what he’s called. He sees me but hesitates. Why doesn’t he come to me? I go to him, show him he’s mine. I know the wolf from my dreams has come for me. And I want to run with him. And we do because we’re free.
My alarm wakes me. Smiling, I stretch luxuriously, feeling more alive than I have in a long time. What a great dream. I’d been dreaming of wolves ever since I could remember but this time, I was the wolf, and it was incredible.
A noise directly next to me made me jump. A mumbling Daisy smacked her lips. She was laying on top of the covers, fully dressed. I looked down and realized that I was still wearing the clothes from yesterday. What the hell happened last night?
The last thing I recalled was seeing Cole, and...Lorenzo? No matter how hard I concentrated, it was all blank after that. Oh no! Did I black out again?
I started shaking Daisy. “Daisy! Wake up. Wake up.”
Daisy muttered something unintelligible and tried to roll away from me. “Daisy!” I yelled, and she sat straight up in bed, looking around like she didn’t understand where she was. She blinked at me and relaxed back against the pillow.
“What time is it?” she asked, yawning.
“Six. Now tell me what happened last night. Did I pass out?”
Daisy must have recognized the concern in my voice. She sat up and looked at me with tired, worried eyes. “No, but you were acting really weird when that dead mafia guy showed up. Don’t you remember?”
My shoulders slumped. “No, not a thing past Lorenzo walking into the bar.” Daisy’s eyebrows knitted together. “Please tell me everything,” I begged.
“Well, he wanted you to go somewhere with him, and you were going to go. Cole and I held you back until Seth and Liam arrived—”
“Wait. Liam was there?” I asked, alarmed.
“Yeah, he told me to take you home and stay with you. He didn’t look very happy. I thought he’d beat the crap out of that guy when he saw how you were acting. It was weird. You were like...in a trance. That’s the only way I know to describe it. Cole and I had to physically restrain you from going with him.” Daisy shook her head, and my mouth dropped open.
“You had to restrain me?” I asked, and Daisy nodded. “What happened after that?”
“I took you home, and the McKenzie boys were going to see Creepy Dude out of town. Seth threatened to call the sheriff if he didn’t go quietly.”
“Why didn’t they call the sheriff? He’s obviously involved with those deaths,” I said.
“He’s obviously a creature of the night, Jess. Haven’t you been paying attention?” I rolled my eyes at her, but it was getting harder to deny. “His fingerprints match a dead Italian gangster whose body went missing. The missing body shows up in a bar, sipping wine and starting trouble shortly after two people are drained of blood. And we both know that the missing blood is how that guy doesn’t look a day over twenty-something, even though he should be over fifty!”
“I guessed thirty-something,” I grumbled. Daisy was getting really fired up. I could hear her fear through the sarcasm.
“Not a day over twenty-seven,” Daisy scoffed, crossing her arms. She saw my smile. “This is serious, Jess.” She looked annoyed and then looked away.
“I’m sorry. I know something strange is going on, but there has to be a logical explanation. We just need to figure it out before anyone else,” I said.
“No, we need to get as far away from this whole situation as possible. I just hope Liam was able to convince him to stay away.” Daisy threw her legs over the edge of the bed and stood up. “I’m making coffee. I can’t think without coffee.” I smiled as she left the room.
“I’ll take a quick shower and join you,” I yelled after her.
TWENTY MINUTES LATER, I joined Daisy at the kitchen table. She had English muffins, jelly, butter, and two steaming cups of coffee sitting on the table. Daisy was slicing an apple to add to the selection.
I sipped the coffee reverently, closing my eyes and sighing long and slow. I noticed a bud vase on the table with a single white lily. It was beautiful, but it made me feel anxious.
“Where did that come from?” I asked, motioning toward the flower.
“That was lying on your porch when we got home,” she said, wiggling her eyebrows at me. “Someone has a crush on you,” she said in a sing-song voice.
I ignored her comment and stared at the rose. A feeling of dread filled me. “Do you know who left it?” I asked.
“I assume it was Liam. How many other admirers do you have?” she said, laughing.
I just stared at the rose. Daisy reached over and put her hand over mine. “Jess, what aren’t you telling me? Who would it be from?”
“I don’t know, but I don’t think it’s from Liam. That guy from last night came to my house after we first saw him. Before I knew about the fingerprints,” I confessed.
Daisy’s mouth hung open, and I felt guilty for not telling her sooner. She had become my closest friend and had supported me from the first day we’d met. Daisy should have been the first person I told.
“I’m sorry that I didn’t tell you, Daisy. I was worried that I was having blackouts or something terrible like that,” I said.