by Pamela Labud
“Can she do that?”
“If anyone can, it’s Holly. Plus, she’d just come from a big Guild meeting and is in full reaper mode—black robe and scythe. I doubt either one of them would want to get on her bad side.”
“Right. The hits just keep on coming. Let me grab my phone.”
Tasha Reynolds was a petite, vampire and she loved to be the center of attention. Though barely five feet two inches tall, she was loud and had a huge personality. She literally filled the room and though she’d not been in Matty’s life for decades, she was a complication, he’d rather not be dealing with right at this moment.
It had not been serious between them. She’d come into his life like a bolt of lightning riding a summer storm and had left a path of destruction a mile wide when she’d left.
Ten minutes later, they pulled up to the cafe door. Just inside he could see the three women. The ball of dread in his gut was the size of a basketball.
“Well, hello ladies…” he started. But when the three women turned to look up at him. Their expressions cut him to the quick and knocked the breath right out of him.
“Talk about taking a hit,” Max said behind him. “Nothing like the ex and ex-ex getting together to compare notes, eh?”
Chapter Nine
“I’m so glad you came to your senses and agreed to meet with me,” Tasha said, sipping her double caramel latte, her perfect tongue lapping up the whipped cream from her mouth. A hybrid were-cat, she was every bit a cross between a sweet little tabby and saber-toothed tiger, that was also a vampire. But now, she looked like a pristine feline, enjoying the cream as if it were laced with catnip. When she finished, she looked up and patted her mouth daintily with her napkin.
The mouth that Fiona wanted to rip off of her face. The last time they’d been in the same room together, it was all the were-woman could do to keep from punching that mouth repeatedly. Still, she’d shown great restraint. It was a matter of her pride, after all.
She sent a glance to Holly, who gave her a wide-eyed expression and the slightest shake of her head.
“I thought about it and decided it’s best to know what your enemy wants before you engage them in battle.”
“Seriously? You think that’s what this is?”
They were sitting, practically nose to nose in the small café, both poised to jump to their feet. While the seconds passed and neither one of them moved, Fi could hear the other patrons quickly rising from their chairs, back against the walls and sliding quietly, and as inconspicuous as possible and exiting out the door.
Fiona didn’t blame them, really. If furniture was going to fly and bodies going to smash into the walls, then she was glad that no one would be there to get in the way.
“I know exactly what it is,” Fiona told her. “You’re going to try and steal my guy, like last time.”
The other woman’s mouth fell open. “Steal your guy? You mean that gorgeous Immortal guy? Yeah, well he is tasty, but not what I’m really looking for right now. Never mind that. There are more important issues here.”
“Like what?”
It was at that moment that the cafe door burst open and a breathless Holly came through it. “Wait,” she called out, gasping for air and waving her arms. “Please, whatever you two are upset about, it’s not worth fighting.”
Fiona exchanged a quick glance with Tasha and the other woman shrugged.
The truth was that the petite redhead wearing the black Reaper’s robe and carrying a death scythe twice her size was a rather comical thing on its own. That she was going to charge in and try to break up a fight between two larger, immensely powerful magical beings, was down-right entertaining.
Of course, Fiona remembered at the last second how much danger they were in, because the little dynamo actually did have the immense power to toss anyone she chose into the river Styx, so to speak. Talk about being up a creek without a paddle.
“It’s all good,” Fiona said at last. “We’re just talking.” She turned to Tasha. “Right?”
The werecat nodded. “Well, that’s what I came here for. And my yummy coffee.”
“Oh, thank the magics. I was afraid I was going to be working overtime. Between the committee meetings and my regular workload…”
She stopped, and Fiona realized it was the distressed expression that she and Tasha must be wearing.
“Okay,” Tasha said, sending Fiona a curt nod. “Sorry?”
Holly waved her free hand. “My bad. I forget how the subject of death makes people uncomfortable.”
Fiona grinned. “Not to worry. For the record, we’re not going to be engaging in any, disagreements. Right, Tasha?”
“No violence here. Besides, I’m pretty crazy, but I even know better than to tempt fate when a Reaper enters the room.”
“Oh, right.” Holly said. “Glad to hear it. So, what are we doing here?”
Fiona looked from one woman to the other. “I was brought here by her. I guess us passing Max on our way out of the hotel must have made him panic and call you.”
“Well,” Tasha said, “You did look pretty furious when you stormed after me. If I hadn’t had the ability to go into hyper mode, who knows what would have happened, Fi.”
“Nothing,” Fiona said. “Well, not a lot, anyway.”
“So, you two are good?”
Fiona nodded and turned back to Tasha. “So, what’s got you all stirred up?”
Tasha motioned for them to sit down. The other customers waiting outside, slowly began to file back into the cafe, still walking a wide berth around their table.
“You haven’t heard? There’s some bad magic going around. Law enforcement is on high alert. There’s been two casualties.”
“We’ve heard about the disturbances.” Holly said, motioning for the waitress. After she ordered tea, she turned back to Tasha. “What do you know?”
“There’s a pack of Goblins who’ve sworn a vendetta against another gang in Underworld.”
Fiona shook her head. “That’s pretty routine down there. Certainly not a garden party. Goblins, organized crime, and all sorts of bad magics call Underworld their home.”
The werecat wrinkled her nose as if she’d just opened a jar of spoiled eggs. “Which is why I make it a point to never go there.”
Fiona shrugged. It was her home, after all. “So, they’re sliming people. Best to let them work it out.”
“Wait,” Holly said. “Unsanctioned expirations are a tricky thing. If left unchecked, those idiots will take down half of Underworld City, and who knows if it’ll come this way.”
Tasha drew back. “They wouldn’t dare come here, would they? It would be illegal for them to cross the border between dimensions.”
Fiona let out a breath. “That’s the thing with Gobs. They don’t care for the law. Until now, they’re prohibited from leaving Underworld thanks to the detention spell that surrounds it. If they’ve got powers strong enough to get past that, well, that’s some serious bad news.”
Just then, they heard yelling from outside the cafe, and before any one of them could react, the door crashed open once again. Matty and Max came rushing in and stopped just short of the table where Fiona and her companions sat.
“Wait, what’s going on?” Matty demanded, his voice an octave higher than normal.
Max pushed his brother aside. “Things here look very…calm. I take it whatever ah, differences you have are no longer a problem?”
Fiona just stared at them, open mouthed. She knew that Tasha and Holly were doing the same.
How much should she say? That Goblins were threatening them all, that his old girlfriend had never been that into him? That his current girlfriend would sell her soul rather than let him go?
Wow, Fiona thought. Where did that come from?
Just then, Tasha nudged her foot under the table. When Fiona looked back at her with a questioning expression. What now?
The other woman gave he
r a quick nod.
Fiona cleared her throat. “Listen, Matty. I need to run get some ‘lady’ things done. I’ll call you later.” Suddenly, Fiona felt like such a dredge. If she was ever going to set things right, she needed time away from him. She’d get her head straight, somehow.
“That was awkward,” Tasha said, slurping the last of her coffee once the men had turned to leave.
It wasn’t until they were out the door completely, that the three women let out a collective breath.
Fiona felt as if her heart were made of glass that was about to shatter into a million pieces. “So, what’s to be done about the goblins?”
“Nothing at the moment,” Holly said. “I’m glad you gave us the heads up, Tasha. Since law enforcement is handling things for now, there’s nothing for us to do.” She looked to where Max and Matty were standing outside the coffee shop. “I don’t want either one of them in the middle of it.”
Fiona sat back. “I don’t like it. Not here. Not in this town.”
Tasha scoffed. “Well, the criminal element being what it is, they likely won’t try anything in this zip code. What I’m worried about is Matty. At least he has you to keep watch over him.”
“Um, about that…” She let her voice trail off for a moment. “We’re not technically together anymore.”
“Oh.” Holly said.
Tasha dropped her cup. “You’re kidding? You two aren’t hitched?”
Fiona felt her face burn. “No.”
“Yikes. Sorry about that. Well, I hope things work out.” Her watch buzzed. “Oh, I’ve got an appointment. Meeting a new client.”
“Real estate?” Fiona asked, a little off kilter. She’d thought the woman was either a model or a movie star.
The woman grinned. “I’m a party planner, silly. I’ve got three going on next week and we are positively slammed.”
Once Tasha had left them, Fiona sat quiet for a moment.
“I’m so sorry,” Holly said. “Are you really sure the two of you are done?”
Fiona did not want to cry anymore. Rip down a sheet of drywall, maybe, but no tears. But now, sitting with Holly, there was no way to hold back.
“I don’t know what to think. Except, my heart can’t take it. I love him but I’m not enough for him. All these other things in his life keep us from being together.”
“Oh, honey. I’m so sorry for you.”
Fiona shrugged. “It’s okay.”
“No, it’s not. I know he loves you. Matty says that you’ve been the only one in his life for a long time.”
“And I’m crazy about him, but it’s not enough, Holly.”
Holly took her hands. “Give it some time. Things might yet work out.”
Fi had no energy left to argue. “Thanks.”
#
It felt like a punch in the gut. Matty stood for a moment, staring. He was sure his mouth was hanging open. Seeing Fiona like that, no claws out, no red-hot fury as she faced off with the one woman who’d once vied for his affections cut right through him. Was it true? That she didn’t care anymore?
“Hey,” Fiona said. “If you don’t mind…”
Matty let out a breath. “Sure. I get it. Um, I’ll catch you back at the hotel,” he said. He turned away, and it took all of his will not to go running back and throw himself down at her feet.
“Tough break, hombre,” Max said, suddenly beside him. “Want to tell big brother all about it?”
Matty looked at his brother. “Really? That’s all you’ve got?”
“Okay. What, do you want to do? Hang out? Shoot some hoops?” He shrugged. “Just trying to be supportive.”
“Well don’t be. I don’t deserve it. Let’s face it. You and I have never really been friends.”
Max crossed his arms. “No. We’re family. I haven’t forgotten, you almost died because of me.”
“No worries, brah. We’re good.”
“I know what it’s like to fall in love and then lose it. Believe me, you’re not the only one…”
“Who’s ever been dumped? Well, she didn’t do any worse than I deserve. She deserves better than me.”
A deafening silence fell between them. His brother’s silent agreement only went more to proving his point.
“So, that’s it? You’re just giving up?”
Matty let out a breath. “She doesn’t want me.”
There, he said it and it burned his throat to say it, the truth of it hitting him square in the chest.
“It’s not like you to lay down. What’s going on?”
“Did you not hear there is a bounty on my head? I’ve screwed up so many times, even if I get out of this one, it’s only a matter of time before my past catches up with me and I let her down again. It’s best I just end it now and let her go.”
“So, the easy way out?”
Never in his very long life had he ever wanted to punch his brother so much as in that moment.
“Let it go,” he growled.
“What?”
“You know what. Just step away.”
“And let you wallow in self-loathing and pity? I don’t think so brother.”
“Back off,” Matty warned.
Of course, one would think they’d be evenly matched, but Matty knew better. He was a mean, street fighter himself and had won quite a lot whenever he’d gone to fists.
But Max, was different. He was sophisticated. When it came to fighting, his older brother was calculating, cunning, and quickly measured up his opponents’ weaknesses. Matty had seen him in a few matches over the years, and Max was so fast, that he practically let the other fighter beat himself.
“No way, Matty. If you let her go without even putting up a fight, then you’re right, you don’t deserve her.”
“You thick headed, blighter, that’s what I said.”
“Well, I don’t believe it. Not for one minute. I’ve said from the beginning, the two of you are right for each other. My god, man, she’s waited years for you to grow up. You’ll never find another woman like Fiona.”
“You’re right about that,” Matty said at last. He started to turn away, but Max grabbed his sleeve and started to spin him back around.
“Don’t do this…” Max started.
Matty didn’t let him finish. Fury swept through him and without even thinking he answered his brother’s insistence with a swinging fist. It no longer mattered that he would likely get a beating. He would welcome it.
Max was smarter and quicker and received the intended blow in his open hand. The air reverberated with the loud slap.
Matty howled in frustration. Before he could draw back, he was pulled into his brother’s arms. “It’s okay, Matty. You’ll figure this out.”
Gasping, he let his anger die down, “I don’t know.” He said at last, pulling away. “I just don’t know.”
“I do. I have faith in you. Come back to the house with me. You need a break from all this.” He waved his hand around.
“What about Holly?”
“She’s got a meeting to attend this afternoon. It’ll be just us guys.”
Max pointed to his car and Matty nodded. It was as if all the fight had gone out of him. “What about the bounty hunter?”
His brother laughed. “Let him find his own bloody way. If he’s any good at his job, he’ll know where to look for you.”
Glancing back, he saw Fiona still at the table with Holly and Tasha. The three of them were in some sort of serious discussion. He was surprised to see Hawke leaning against the door, watching them with serious intent.
Matty touched the restraint on his neck. He was bound by magic, so he couldn’t really get away from the guy. Still, that didn’t mean he had to keep company with him.
Getting into Max’s car he sank into the seat, and in a few minutes, they were driving toward his brother’s funeral home. He’d been there on more than one occasion, so he knew the lay of the land. He barely noticed the
landscape as they went.
“Come on,” Max said beside him. “We’re here.”
Matty opened his eyes and realized that he’d dozed off. “What’s wrong with me?”
“Probably the residual effects of the bounty hunters spell. Come on. You need to eat and take some time to sort things out.”
Matty laughed. “Really? This is my life, brother, not the laundry.”
“That’s not what I mean. You need to plan on how to get her back.”
“You say that as if she wants me back.”
There it was. The silence had returned. There simply was nothing else to say about it.
Chapter Ten
It had been a long day and Fiona was starting to wear down. After the meeting with Tasha, she and Holly had sat down, Fi just wanted some quiet time to think. She should go back to the Branson House. Something kept her walking. She’d thought of calling a Ryde but it felt good to be out in the night air.
She should have gone back to Underworld, but somehow, that place didn’t seem right for her anymore. Nocturne Falls had begun to grow on her. Not just because of Max and Holly, though having them for friends had meant a lot.
This was a place where good people go. Where they start a business, fall in love, get married and raise a family.
“Hey,” a familiar voice said behind her. “Funny seeing you out here.”
Fiona turned and looked it the bounty hunters face. “I thought you’d be hanging around with Matty.”
He shrugged. “I’m in no hurry.”
“Of course, not.”
“I’ve still got my job to do.”
“And why haven’t you done it? Turn Matty in?”
He looked down a moment. “Because there’s been a complication. My boss, as you call him, has hit a snag.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, I’m thinking somebody’s put a bounty on him.”
“Wow. How often does that happen? Oh, wait. I forgot. He’s sort of a gangster, too.”
“How about a cup of coffee.”
Fiona crossed her arms. “Why aren’t you asking about Matty?”