Wicked After Dark: 20 Steamy Paranormal Tales of Dragons, Vampires, Werewolves, Shifters, Witches, Angels, Demons, Fey, and More

by Mina Carter

  Matt looked at her and grinned. "Thanks, Jane."

  She glanced at her husband, who was staring down at his plate. He was not amused. She decided to try another attempt at making conversation. "How long are you going to be visiting, Matt?" she asked.

  "Well, I'm going to crash at our mom's house for a few days." He hesitated. "I have been thinking about moving closer to the area, though."

  Jack's head snapped up. "You didn't tell me you were thinking of moving here."

  "Well, there's a house in foreclosure just a few miles from here. It's on five acres of land. Prime real estate."

  "So you've been looking at houses already?"

  "I looked online at a few places, yeah. I thought while I was in town I would check them out."

  Jack's lips were pinched in a tight line. He set down his fork and stared across the table at his brother. "What about your job in Philly?"

  "Well, I thought about putting a transfer to the Bedford Valley Police Department." He shifted in his seat uncomfortably under Jack's stern gaze. "The house would be an investment. And the cost of living is so much cheaper here." Matt glared back at his brother. "Something wrong with me living near you, Jack?"

  After a long pause, Jack said, "No, not at all. I just didn't expect you to be moving anytime soon."

  Jane stared at both of them. Jack was not acting like himself, and she knew Matt was the cause of that. "How about dessert?" she asked in an attempt to break the tension.

  Matt murmured, "Sounds great."

  Jane stood and walked to the fridge where a store bought cake was inside. She cut three pieces and took them back to the table. Everyone ate in silence as the tension once again overwhelmingly grew in the dining room.

  After he finished the dessert, Matt leaned back in his chair. "Everything was absolutely delicious." He glanced at the clock on the wall. "I should be heading over to mom's place."

  Jane stood and cleared the plates. Matt and Jack walked to the door, and Jane followed them. "Thank you for visiting, Matt," she said. "You're always welcome here."

  Matt smiled. "Thank you so much, Jane." He gave her a quick hug. Then he turned to his brother. "Jack. I'll call you."

  "Sounds good. See ya, Matt."

  Once Matt left, Jack sighed deeply, running his hands through his hair. Jane watched him carefully. "What was all that about?" she asked.

  He shook his head slowly. "Matt can just be so competitive sometimes. He's been like that since we were kids. When we were in college together before he dropped out, he insisted on stealing every single girl I ever tried to date. He did that all through high school too. He has always wanted everything I've had."

  Jane snaked her hands around his back and hugged him tightly. "So you think he'll try to steal me away from you." She smiled against his chest. She had never seen Jack so jealous before.

  Jack held her and rested his chin against the top of her head. "I just don't want to lose you," he whispered.

  "You'll never lose me." She pulled back from him and stared into his eyes. "I love you."

  "I love you more." He leaned down and kissed her deeply.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  MONTHS PASSED, AND Matt made the transfer from Philadelphia to Bedford Valley. Jack vowed to work through their differences and mend the relationship between him and his brother. Week by week he felt like they were growing closer and closer, as they had been when they were kids before girls came into the picture. He found that Matt was very protective over Jane, and he gradually began to realize he could count on Matt if anything bad were to ever happen to him.

  Jack fished his BlackBerry out of his pocket. He fumbled to juggle his briefcase, the phone and a bouquet of roses that he had bought for Jane moments ago for their one-year wedding anniversary. He glanced at the time on the BlackBerry and cringed. He was running late for the dinner that Jane was preparing. His appointment with the travel agent had run a little long.

  He pushed a button to speed dial the house phone. Little did Jane know of the vacation he had planned --- two weeks with just the two of them vacationing in Hawaii. The plane tickets were nestled safely in his briefcase.

  Jane picked up on the second ring. "Hey, sweetheart," Jack said.

  "Hi, Jack. Where are you?" Her voice was laced with concern.

  "Don't worry. I'm just running behind. I had to stop and pick up…something." He didn't want to ruin the surprise.

  "Well, dinner is going to be done in a few minutes."

  "Great. I'll be there as soon as I can."

  "I love you," Jane said.

  Jack closed his eyes. Would he ever get tired of hearing that? "I love you more," he said before ending the call. He put his BlackBerry into his jacket pocket.

  As he cut through an alley to the parking garage, rain spit down from the dark clouds in the night sky. His feet moved a little faster as he made his way to the car. He put his briefcase on the roof and reached into his pocket for the keys.

  Suddenly, he was pushed from behind and crammed into the driver's side door. He felt a sharp object jutting into his side.

  "Your wallet!" the man behind him said through gritted teeth.

  "Back pocket," Jack said. "There's money in it. Take it!"

  The thief kept one of his elbows jammed into Jack's spine as he searched his back pockets. His fingers grabbed the wallet, and he stepped back, examining the contents.

  Jack stayed in place, afraid to move. "You have all my money. Now please take it and go."

  The man moved closer to him. "I haven't taken everything yet."

  Jack watched in the reflection of the car window as the man raised the knife. Jack moved quickly out of the way, and the man thrust the knife into the side of the vehicle. Jack stumbled and fell, dropping the bouquet of flowers beside him. The thief was on top of him in an instant.

  With all of his might, Jack tried to fight his attacker off. The man was tall, husky and had a long scar that ran from his forehead to the corner of his top lip.

  With one free hand, the thief hit Jack in the mouth. As Jack attempted to recover from the strike, he felt the blade of the knife sink into his side. He cried out in pain. The man stabbed him again and again.

  Then as suddenly as the attack had begun, it ended. The thief was gone, and Jack was left alone bleeding on the concrete of the parking garage. He coughed and felt the blood sputtering out of his mouth. He knew he was mortally wounded and needed help as soon as possible if he wanted to live. His fingers reached into his pocket. He tried to grasp his phone, but his fingers were too numb and weak to get a good grip.

  He collapsed onto the concrete. The roses he had bought for Jane were strewn around him. He struggled to keep awake, and all of his thoughts were of Jane. He couldn't leave her alone. She needed him too much.

  In the distance, he saw people running towards him.

  "We're going to call for help," a voice said.

  "Hang in there," another said.

  Jack tried to talk, but blood was gurgling in his throat. He took one last gasp for air before closing his eyes.

  * * *

  Jane glanced at the clock. Jack had called her exactly one hour ago. The ride home should have only been fifteen minutes. She picked up the phone and dialed his cell. The call went straight to voicemail. She frowned and pushed the off button on the phone.

  She glanced at the immaculately set dinner table before her. It had taken her all afternoon to get ready for their romantic dinner together. The rack of lamb was warming in the oven, but she knew it would be dried out and ruined if he didn't return home soon.

  She stood and folded her arms across her chest. For the first time that she could remember, she was really mad at her husband.

  A car pulled in the driveway, and she walked to the front door. She opened it and saw Jack walking up the sidewalk. His head was down. He had nothing in his hands, and she wondered where the something that he picked up was. "There you are," she said. "I was getting really worried."

 
Jack looked up at her, and his eyes were brimming with tears. "Jane," he said.

  She cocked an eyebrow and stared at him scrupulously. The scar above his eye caught her attention. Jack was not home. It was Matt who was standing before her.

  "Matt," she confirmed. "What's wrong?"

  "It's Jack."

  She felt her heart hammering against her ribcage. Horrible images flooded her mind. Was he in a car accident? Was he hurt? "What happened?" she asked, her voice just above a whisper.

  Matt grasped her and pulled her into his arms. She swallowed hard. The news was bad. "Is he hurt?" she managed to ask.

  "He's…He's gone, Jane. Jack's dead."

  Jane's worst fear had come to fruition. She could literally feel her entire world around her come to a crashing halt. "No," she said, incredulously. She wouldn't believe it. She couldn't believe it. As she tried to push him away, he held her tighter. "No!" she cried. Tears sprang in her eyes and flowed down over her cheeks freely.

  Matt held her fast. "I'm here," he whispered. "I'm here. It's okay."

  After a few moments, she stopped trying to fight him. Her fingers slowly grasped his shirt, and she held onto him for dear life. She needed him more than he would ever know. She buried her face against his shirt as she sobbed.

  * * *

  Jane sat in a chair beside the hospital bed. Her hands were wrapped around Jack's lifeless hand. His skin was cold, and it made her shiver. The doctor had explained that they did everything they could to try to keep him alive, but that he had died on the operating table.

  She closed her eyes and whispered, "You're all that I have. What am I going to do without you now?" she asked, her voice quivering as she broke down into a sob.

  She heard footsteps behind her. "Jane," Matt said softly. He placed his hand on her shoulder.

  She opened her eyes. She knew what Matt was going to say. It was time for them to go, but she didn't want to leave him. She soothingly rubbed the back of Jack's hand. She didn't want to leave him alone. She didn't want to say goodbye.

  Matt squeezed her shoulder reassuringly. "I'm sorry I have to tell you…but we have to…" his voice trailed off.

  Jane reluctantly released Jack's hand and stood. She leaned over him and stared at his handsome face. The right side was covered in blood, and she looked away quickly. She focused on his mouth instead. His soft lips that had kissed her more times than she would be able to count. She yearned to hear him tell her that he loved her one more time.

  Tears fell from her eyes and landed on his cheek. She wiped them away gently. "I love you, Jack," she whispered to him. "I'll never stop loving you." She swallowed hard around the lump forming in her throat. "And I love you more. I love you more than you'll ever know."

  She leaned over and kissed his forehead. Then with all of her strength, she turned and allowed Matt to wrap his arm around her and lead her out of the hospital room.

  * * *

  "Jane," Matt said softly. He reached over and touched her hand, and she jumped. "I'm sorry," he said quickly. "I didn't mean to scare you."

  She shook her head. "It's okay." She looked up at the detective sitting behind the desk. He was the same police officer who had visited her in the hospital and had taken her fingerprints. That was at a time in her life when she had nothing and no one. That seemed so long ago, and yet she felt as if her world was coming full circle once again. "Did you ask me a question?"

  Detective Robbins nodded. "Yes, ma'am. I asked if your husband had any enemies?"

  Jane thought for a moment, but her mind was cloudy. "None that I know of," she said quietly.

  The detective scribbled some notes down on the paper in front of him. "We are gathering the security cam footage from the parking garage as we speak. Witnesses said that the attacker had a long scar on the side of his face. We might be able to pick up this perp by tomorrow if we can ID him." He looked up at Jane. "I'm sorry for your loss, ma'am."

  Jane's eyes dropped down at the hands in her lap and gave a slight nod.

  Robbins glanced at Matt. "And I'm sorry you lost your brother, Officer Walker."

  Matt grimly said, "If you find out anything, I want to be the first to know."

  "Yes, of course," the detective said. "I'm sorry that I can't be of more help right now."

  Matt stood and turned to Jane. "We'll do everything in our power to find out who did this, Jane." He helped her to stand and led her out of the police station and to the car.

  Jane stared out the window as Matt drove. She felt drained and mentally exhausted. As Matt pulled the vehicle into her driveway, Jane went on autopilot and climbed out of the car. She unlocked the door and walked in the house.

  Matt followed her inside and shut the door behind him.

  Jane stood in the kitchen, wringing her hands nervously. It was late, but the thought of going upstairs to an empty bed terrified her. "I'm going to make some coffee. Would you like a cup?" she asked.

  "Sure."

  She reached up into the cupboard and retrieved two coffee mugs. Her hands trembled as she fumbled with the cups and tried to close the cupboard door. One of the mugs fell and crashed to the laminate floor, shattering upon impact. "Damn," she muttered. She kneeled down and began to pick the pieces up.

  "Let me help," Matt said, kneeling beside her.

  Tears blurred her vision as she retrieved the broken pieces. A sob escaped her lips, and she couldn't control her emotions any longer.

  "Jane," he said, putting his hand on her shoulder.

  She looked up at him. For a moment, she just wanted to pretend that Jack wasn't gone. She threw herself into Matt's arms. She fit perfectly just as she had with Jack.

  He slowly wrapped his arms around her and held her as she cried. "It'll be all right," he whispered in her hair. "I'm here. I'm not going anywhere," he promised.

  ONE YEAR LATER

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  THE PHONE ON the nightstand rang six times before Jane could wake herself enough to find it and answer it. She glanced at the clock. It was 8:45, which was late for her to be waking up even for a Saturday, although she had every reason for not wanting to face the world that morning. The day marked exactly one year since Jack had died. She put the receiver up to her ear and asked, "Hello?"

  "Jane, it's Margaret."

  Jane closed her eyes. She had kept a tight-knit relationship with Jack's family since he passed. Margaret, his mother, regularly called, and they had gone on several lunch dates over the past year. After all, she had something in common with Margaret --- they both had lost their husbands. "Hi, Margaret." She hesitated and tried to think of something to say. "How are you?" she asked.

  "As good as can be expected on a day like today," she answered softly. "I was wondering if you would like to go with Matthew and I to Jack's grave today. Matt said he could pick you up at ten."

  Jane threw her legs over the side of the bed and let her feet dangle above her slippers. She didn't know whether she wanted to accept the offer. She hadn't been able to force herself to visit Jack's grave since the day of the funeral. "Margaret, I ---" she started, but Margaret didn't let her finish.

  "I just think it would be really nice for us to all go together. Jack would have wanted that."

  Jane closed her eyes. Margaret was right. Jack would have wanted that. She inhaled deeply and then said, "Okay. Tell Matt ten is fine."

  "I'll see you soon, dear."

  "Bye, Margaret." She ended the call.

  Jane released a long sigh. Her feet slid into the slippers as she stood and walked to the other side of the room. She went through her daily ritual of opening the curtains to the three windows in the bedroom. She pried the fabric open and stared out at the gloomy, overcast sky that matched her mood and did little to brighten the room.

  She made her way into the bathroom and showered. The warm water did little to calm her nerves. After the shower, she wrapped her long hair into a towel around the top of her head. She stared at herself in the mirror as she applied m
akeup. Her ever-present frown had been her only expression for the past year. She felt empty on the inside, and it was a constant reminder on her face.

  Turning from the mirror, she stripped the towel off her head and proceeded to blow-dry her hair upside down. The heat felt good as she ran her fingers through her long tresses. Then she used a flat iron quickly on her hair to smooth it completely.

  When she was finished, she retreated back into the bedroom and opened the doors to the walk-in closet. She stared at her side of the closet on the right. Then she glanced at Jack's side of the closet where his clothes still hung just how he had left them. Her fingertips grazed against one of his favorite ties. She closed her eyes and felt her heart constrict. She hadn't been able to donate his clothes as she had promised herself months ago. His belongings were the only things she had left of Jack, and to throw them out felt wrong.

  Jane turned away from the tie and quickly pulled out an outfit comprising of gray dress pants, a white cami and a gray blazer. She dressed and slipped her feet into a pair of gray pumps.

  Glancing at herself in the full-length mirror, she stared down at the wedding ring on her left hand. She had worn the ring every day since their wedding. In time, she knew that when she was ready, she would be able to take the ring off and put it away for good. She just didn't know when or if that day would come.

  The doorbell rang disrupting her daydream. "Perfect timing, Matt," she said out loud as she grabbed her purse from on top of the dresser and made her way down the stairs.

  She opened the door, and Matt flashed a big smile. "Hey," he said. He pulled her in close for a hug, as he always did.

  The closeness of him was almost too much for her to bear. It wasn't just the fact that he and Jack looked identical. Everything about Matt reminded her of Jack.