I tugged on my earlobe and bit my tongue as suspicion crossed Steve’s face. “Jake?”
I sure as hell was not interested in another fight. “Sure, man. Someone needs to help me keep chica out of trouble.”
Steve laughed as Kayla glared. “More like to keep her from killing you.”
I gave her a lopsided smile and kissed the back of her hand. Despite the seriousness of the night and everything weighing on me, it was good to be with the both of them. Maybe that was why I wasn’t arguing more to keep them behind. It had been too long since the last time I had spent time with either one of them without sensing that I was still alone and that I couldn’t cross over the chasm to be with them.
“Let’s get this show on the road, kids,” Steve said, gesturing to the door. “I’d like to get back home before the guy we’re meeting with starts to get hungry.”
Chapter 4
“YOU’VE GOT to be kidding me. This place is run by a vampire?” Steve asked as he parked his used SUV in a little parking lot next to a row of brownstones. Across the street sat an old red stone church with stained-glass windows. A neon-blue sign emblazoned with Pooh Corner was the only indication this was a bar and pool hall, not what the building had originally been erected for. I shook my head as I clambered out. The nuns back home would have a fit if they saw this.
“Pooh Corner?” I couldn’t believe it. Oh, for chrissakes, I’d landed in a modern-day version of Wizard of Oz or maybe Alice in Wonderland, where reality met fantasy in a skewed and creepy way. A bar that used to be a church owned by a vampire and it was named Pooh fucking Corner.
“Deke’s got a twisted sense of humor. At least that’s what Kristair always said.” Kayla grinned at the two of us and I had a sneaking suspicion that she was enjoying our reactions.
“Ya think?” Steve muttered.
I dug my hands in my pockets, rethinking the wisdom of coming here with them. If something went wrong, Kayla and Steve could get hurt. The side of me that held Kristair’s memories told me to trust Ussier, but it was hard to think of doing that when the creature we were about to see face to face could kill us all in under a minute with his bare hands. Once again, I was conscious of the gun in my waistband. I doubted it would stop a vampire as powerful as Ghedi Ussier.
“You’ve been here before, haven’t you?” Steve asked as we crossed the street. More than a dozen bikes crowded the sidewalk in front of the establishment.
Kayla laughed. “Once, for my twenty-first birthday.” The smile slipped off her face. “Kristair hadn’t been too keen on the idea, but I talked him into it.”
“Oh, I’m sure he was thrilled.” I could imagine only too well the expression on my lover’s face. His lips pressed together with disapproval in that sometimes snooty way of his. It had probably taken her next to nothing to get him to agree though. Kristair would’ve denied it to the end, but Kayla had always had him right where she’d wanted him. He’d loved his daughter more than I had realized was possible. It made me understand more what my Ma had felt for me.
We climbed the steps and Steve opened the wooden door, gesturing for Kayla to precede us. The bar was about half-full, the pool tables to the left of the aisle and the place surprisingly well lit. I’d expected it to be dark, like something from a horror movie set. The right side of the aisle held a number of small tables, though the hard-looking men in leather and denim seemed to be more interested in the games than sitting and drinking. The few women who were with them didn’t look all that safe either.
Kayla didn’t pause, but walked right up the aisle to the bar with a little bounce in her step that had Steve rolling his eyes and me trying to hold back a snicker. If I ever met something that intimidated that girl, I’d probably run screaming in the other direction.
A tall, burly man stood on the dais where the altar used to be, replaced now with a bar. He watched us coming and didn’t say a word as he continued to pour beers. His hair was grizzled and iron-gray with a Harley cap stuffed over it. His face was craggy, unwelcoming, and very familiar. At the sight of him, everything that happened the night Kristair died etched even deeper in my mind. Yeah, I remembered Deke. He was one of the vamps that ran close with Ussier, helped back up his decisions.
Quite a few of the patrons watched our progress, their eyes unfriendly and curious; a dangerous combination. “How come I get the feeling she’s the only one of us who knows what the hell they’re doing?” Steve muttered under his breath to me.
“Because you’ve got very good instincts.”
“He’s waiting for you in the back,” Deke rumbled, pointing to an unobtrusive door behind the bar with a thick finger.
I nodded and took a deep breath. “This won’t take long, guys. Stick by Deke.”
“Wait just a minute, hotshot. We’re going with you,” Kayla said, moving around the bar before I could stop her.
“I certainly didn’t drive your punk ass here to play a game of pool,” Steve added. “We’re all going together.”
I nodded, unhappy with the whole situation. I hadn’t thought keeping them out was going to work, but it had been worth a try. I followed Kayla to the back room, ignoring Deke’s stare and Steve’s glower. The room had once been the dressing area for priests and now it had been converted into an office. Empty storage crates supported a fax machine and printer. It was almost scary how normal it appeared, vampires as bartenders and librarians. Who would’ve thought it? Sure as hell not me; not ’til last year.
To my surprise Ussier was back there by himself, sitting on a rolling office chair, working on modifying some bullets lined up in a row on the table in front of him. When we entered he shut off the TV and rose to his feet. “Girl, you’re looking good,” he said, holding out his arms to Kayla.
“Uncle Ghedi.” She kissed him on the cheek. “Have you been keeping out of trouble?”
“No. Did you really expect me to?”
She laughed. “Nope. It’s good to see you again.”
I swear my eyebrows just about shot up into my hair when she called Ussier Uncle Ghedi. Whether she’d known the man since she was a child or not, this particular vampire didn’t seem like the uncle type for anyone. He should look friendly with his round, broad features, light gray eyes, and dimples. But more than any other vampire I’d met, this one carried all the grace and air of a dangerous, intelligent predator, which erased any hotness he might have had.
Steve caught my eyes and mouthed, “Uncle Ghedi?”
I shrugged and leaned in to whisper, “She adopted a vamp for a father when she was a kid. What else can you expect?”
“The cute ones carry all the weird baggage.”
I almost laughed it was so much like old times. Except for the fact we were in the back room of a biker vampire bar, having a private meeting with the head guy himself. “Amen, brother.”
“Boys, you’re being rude,” Kayla tsked, beckoning us in.
I came forward and shook Ussier’s hand. He was not the kind of man you disrespected by crossing him, no matter how much he gave you the creeps. There was power in his gaze, in the way he carried himself. Kristair stirred in my memories. “Sir.”
“Mr. Corvin.” He nodded and turned his attention to Steve. “Mr. Teasia, welcome. Would you like a beer? Deke’s got his own special brew. Don’t tell him I shared though.”
“No, I’m good.” I had no wish to try Deke’s “special brew.” I should have been more relaxed. These guys saved my ass six months ago, but their world was too different from mine and a constant reminder of everything I was trying to let go.
Steve and Kayla declined as well and Ussier gestured to a small table. “Let’s get down to business. What did you need to tell me, Mr. Corvin? Little Miss Trouble here said it was urgent.”
My mind whirled as I sat down at the table. Kristair made several suggestions of how to speak with Ussier about Tony without giving him away to the others. “The one you banished to Rome last spring has returned with information.” The ease with whi
ch the Latin came to my tongue surprised me despite how much I’d gotten used to having Kristair’s knowledge locked in my brain.
Kayla’s brows snapped together and Steve scowled, but if Ussier was surprised it didn’t show on his smooth brown face. “Has he, despite the consequences he faces? What makes him risk it?” he asked, responding in Latin as well.
“He wishes to meet with you.” The effort to appear calm and collected was wearing on me. It was like wearing a different skin, or someone speaking out of my mouth while I jumped and hollered in the background.
“Regarding the Syndicate?”
Kayla was staring at the table, a tiny frown between her brows. She appeared to be lost in thought. Steve’s scowl deepened and I was struck with another pang of guilt. With any luck I’d be able to tell him everything soon.
“Yes, he wanted to warn me they were looking to take me back to Rome, but I don’t think that’s the only thing he wanted to meet with you about. I’m sure there is another reason. He was too insistent about it.”
Ussier frowned in thought. “Why all the cloak-and-dagger melodrama? He doesn’t wish your other friends to know he’s survived?”
I didn’t look at Steve, but I sure felt the weight of his presence. The tension in the room was so strong I could almost taste it, just like another predator. “He wouldn’t want to get his hopes up, especially if it ended badly.”
Ice cracked down my spine every time I thought about what Tony was risking. Ussier was more than capable of carrying through his threat and executing Tony for returning, warning or no warning. In fact, the only vampire who had shown some humanity that night was Artemise, now the eldest in the city after Kristair. Maybe that was what happened when a vampire became an Ancient; they received back some of the mercy and compassion they had lost. They had reached the top so they now had room in their hearts and minds for something other than survival.
“There’s more, sir,” I said, switching to English though it didn’t appease Steve any, his glare remaining as it had been. Hell, it might even be worse. Quickly, I sketched in the details of the attack earlier in the evening, leaving out Tony’s involvement. The way Ussier’s light gray eyes studied me, I’m sure he guessed what I was not saying.
The room was silent when I finished. Kayla was shaking her head with an air of disbelief and Steve looked ready to throttle me. I swear his hands actually twitched. “You’re right, Jake. I didn’t want to know the details.”
Ussier remained quiet, mulling it over and studying the three of us. “It’s clear you know many of the old man’s secrets. How much do you know?”
I hesitated and Kayla’s head jerked up, her eyes darkening to blue. She guarded Kristair’s secrets as closely as my lover had and I’m sure that extended to me. I smiled and reached over to squeeze her hand, once again having the urge to protect her and comfort her. I had to stop myself from tucking back her hair for her. It was so hard tonight to hold onto my own sense of self.
She gave me a barely perceptible nod and then I met Ussier’s gaze. “All of it, sir. I have Kristair’s memories, his knowledge, his experience.” In fact, thinking about it, I wondered if I’d be able to manipulate my body the way my lover had, not that I wanted to. I wanted to be normal, but the possibility was there, wasn’t it? It could be used if I needed it.
Ussier’s sudden intent gaze pushed those dangerous thoughts out of my head as a whisper of foreboding slithered through me. Was Kristair wrong about trusting him? Kayla too? The stillness in him reminded me of a water moccasin hidden among the reeds of a bank in a bayou, waiting to strike. God help me, if he chose to do so I’d have better luck with the water moccasin.
“That is something we definitely do not want the Syndicate to have. Do you understand me, Mr. Corvin?”
“Hey, wait a minute,” Steve broke in, his anger now directed at Ussier. “He came to you to warn you. What’s with all the threats?”
“It’s okay, Steve…,” I began and he turned back to me, his expression indignant and oddly afraid. Did that mean he still cared more than he let on, that he was ready to let me back in, or was I grasping at futility? The hope was almost painful.
“No, it’s not okay, man.”
“Steve,” Kayla said softly. He turned and met her eyes. I’m not sure what passed between them, but he quieted, the corners of his mouth turning down.
I sighed and leaned forward, trying to will Ussier to see how much I meant what I was saying. “I understand, sir, and I’m willing to do whatever it takes to keep it from happening. I have my own score to settle with them.” Whatever it took. Ussier must’ve caught the underlying message because some of his tension eased. I grinned. “But, I do intend on coming out of this with my skin whole.”
“You’d better.” Kayla poked me in the side.
“Not funny, Jake.” Steve stood up. “You’d better do anything this man says ’cause I’ll be damned if I lose another friend.” He looked away and then headed for the door. “I’m going to go play a game of pool. You don’t need me to finish this up.” The room fell silent again as he left and Kayla stared after him, half-rising to follow before turning to glare at me.
Kayla shoved her finger in my side. “I know Latin too, ass. You tell me why I shouldn’t go tell Steve that Tony’s alive.”
Jesus fucking Christ, I should’ve known. “Because you want me to stay in one piece?”
“Stop joking. It’s not funny. Why would you keep something like that from him?”
“Because I gave my word to Tony.” I glared back at her, somehow managing to keep from shouting as my frustration boiled up. “I don’t like it either, Kayla. Okay? It fucking sucks. But I promised him and how could I say no? After what I did to him and then he comes back and saves my ass!” I took a deep breath and rubbed my aching temples, fighting to get control again, cursing the fact that Ussier had witnessed that little outburst.
“Look, sir, I know he’s on the level. Just let Tony meet with you, guarantee his safety in and out of the city for at least that long. Listen to what he has to say. Please.” I hated sounding like I was begging, but if that was what it took I’d get down on my knees that very second.
As Ussier considered it, Kayla rose as well. “I’m going to go check on Steve.”
I caught her hand and searched her face. Lord please, she couldn’t go to Steve. Not now. “Kayla?” I gave her my best little-boy eyes, which always worked on my Ma. God help me if she said anything.
Her eyes softened slightly and she squeezed my hand. “I won’t say a word… for now.”
I grinned and brought her fingers to my lips. “Thank you, beautiful lady.”
“Whatever, Jake. Figure it out quick.”
“Wait a moment, girl.” Ussier got up and went over to a backpack lying on the floor next to the couch. “I have something for you.” Kayla watched him, her eyes wary as he retrieved a white envelope and brought it to her. Reluctance flickered over her elfin features as he held it out. “Please. He asked me to.”
There was no need to say who and I was both grateful that Kristair had not left me some final words, yet envious that he had for Kayla. Her lips tightened and she took the envelope and stuffed it in her back pocket, then excused herself.
I watched her go, my conscience nagging at me. She shouldn’t be alone when she read that, but damn, I didn’t want to share it with her either. “That girl is more than a handful,” Ussier said with a wolfish smile of appreciation that made his dimples flash. “She would make one dangerous vampire.”
I sat up straight, bristling with protective outrage. “You wouldn’t dare, Ussier,” I growled, forgetting just who and what I was talking to. To my surprise he started laughing as he sat back at the table.
“No, I wouldn’t. I made a promise and I keep them. Seems like that might be something we have in common. This is what I’m going to do. Tony can meet with me tomorrow night, here, at eleven. I’ll make sure my people know he’s not to be touched either coming or going and
I promise to hear him out. But I’m not going to agree to lift the bounty on him until after I hear what he has to say.”
“Fair enough,” I said, letting out a long breath. It was both more than I had expected and less than I had hoped. “I want to be here as well.”
“Don’t you trust me?” Once again, he smiled and I got the feeling Ussier was at his most dangerous when those dimples appeared.
I thought about it long and hard before I answered. “Kayla calls you Uncle and Kristair trusted you. That’s good enough for me, but I want to be here. Whatever Tony has to say concerns me too.”
“That’s not the real reason.” Ussier’s gaze was penetrating. “Let’s have it. Why do you really want to be here?”
“No, it’s not,” I agreed, trying to ignore the little stabs of shame and remorse without much success. At least now I could do something about my guilt instead of wallowing in it. “I didn’t stand up for Tony before and I should’ve. I know he’d never intentionally betray me.”
“Let it go.” The flash of kindness in Ussier’s eyes was disconcerting. “Even if you had spoken up, it wouldn’t have changed what happened to him. He’s one of us now, not one of you. He still would’ve been sent to Rome as a warning. This isn’t a kid’s game and it sounds to me like he’s learned the hard way how to survive. You don’t last long as a vampire if you’re soft.”
I stared at my hands, wondering just what I was: not quite human, not quite vampire either. Where did I fall? “I know. Deep down I know all that. Doesn’t make it any better.”
“Listen, the truth is you’re letting your guilt fuck with you. This guy, be he friend or enemy, is going to use that guilt. Whatever Kristair left you up there in that skull of yours, you’d better tap into it, boy. Because he knew that sentimentality is for victims. If you loved that man, protect what he left you. Fight for that motherfucker.”
I closed my eyes. Ussier’s words struck deep and hard. “You sure don’t hold back, do you?” He was right though; I could see it too. Tony was manipulating me with my guilt, but it still didn’t absolve me from trying to help him.
Triquetra Page 33