Gaslight (Crossbreed Series Book 4)

by Dannika Dark

  Tipping forward, I delivered a two-fisted punch to his stomach before ramming into him with all my might. But instead of losing his balance, he pirouetted out of the way to keep from falling. Fletcher turned, fury stamped on his face. His blue eyes shrank to slivers as he charged at me like a bull.

  Using the chain to propel me, I ran out of his grasp and hurtled past him before kicking him in the back. When I hit the floor, I quickly got up and smacked his head several times with the chain.

  Fletcher was a powerful man but not skilled in fighting techniques. His only advantage was strength, so I did my best to put distance between us. My stomach ached, the pain in my nose blinding.

  He came at me slowly this time. With the chain stretched taut, I had nowhere to run but back to the wall. In a bold move, I threw myself at him as if I were giving him a hug.

  More like a kiss.

  My fangs punched into his neck and instantly retracted. Blood gushed from the wound, and I guzzled fast and hard until he made a plaintive sound.

  Vertigo lasted a split second as he body-slammed me against the floor and my mouth unlatched from his neck. Fletcher pinned my head to the ground with one hand and beat me with the other.

  In a quick motion, he ripped off my dress and tossed it across the room, snuffing out one of the candles.

  “Your privileges have been revoked,” he rasped, gripping my neck. “What was your father’s name again?”

  Chapter 21

  Niko ambled through the club, Gem guiding him with the skilled touch of a spooked horse.

  “Um, there’s a table on your left. This way!” She jerked his arm, and all he could do was trust she wouldn’t let him fall on top of anyone.

  Usually Blue knew how to describe a place he’d never been so he didn’t have to rely on others, but Blue hadn’t been in the mood to go out with the guys tonight. Gem had invited the team to join her at Nine Circles of Hell while she waited for Hooper to end his shift, but Niko and Shepherd were the only ones who’d taken her up on her offer.

  “We desperately need a diversion. Everyone’s so glum,” she said, jerking him to a stop. “You can sit here.”

  Niko reached out and felt the back of a chair. The sound bouncing off the surface to his left and in front led him to believe she’d chosen a corner table. He sat down in the wooden chair and felt the surface of the table, noting there wasn’t anything on it. Some places put condiments in the middle or menu stands for specialty drinks. Niko liked to know everything about his surroundings so nothing caught him by surprise.

  Force of habit.

  “I hope Shepherd can find us. It’s crowded tonight,” she said, sitting on the other side of the table. Shepherd stayed at the bar while Hooper fixed their drinks. “I think I like this room best. Everything’s pink.”

  Niko smiled. “Which sin is that supposed to be?”

  “Greed,” she said dramatically.

  Nine Circles had a running theme with deadly sins. Their specialty drinks were spiked by Sensors, and from what everyone told him, the rooms were different colors. Niko passed on alcohol and asked Hooper to set him up with a glass of sparkling water. He preferred drinking at home where he could disappear into his thoughts. It was challenging enough to navigate a public place blind, but alcohol impaired his senses and made it impossible.

  Gem’s light appeared dimmer than usual, and she was uncharacteristically quiet. Each of them had to process Raven’s absence in their own way, but it wasn’t productive to obsess over things they couldn’t change. They remained optimistic that a lead would eventually turn up, and Viktor had dedicated two weeks to her investigation. But when a separate Vampire trafficking case presented itself, they came together as a group and decided to accept the job. It didn’t mean they would stop searching for Raven, but it made no sense to sit idly by when others needed their help. Aside from that, Christian hadn’t stopped looking. In fact, his obsession concerned them all.

  Gem sighed. “I wonder where she is.”

  “Raven will find a way out of her situation,” Niko said, trying to offer Gem hope. “I’m sure she’s just waiting for the right moment.”

  In truth, Niko knew firsthand how slowly time passed for a man enslaved. The only way to survive was to take each moment as it came and not think ahead.

  “It’s been a month,” she said sullenly. “Maybe she got lucky and her buyer’s an Arabian prince in search of true love.”

  “I thought we came here to forget our troubles?”

  “I know, but it’s hard to forget. I miss her banter at the table. And sometimes late at night I think I hear her walking the halls, but when I peek through the door, it’s just Claude coming back from the kitchen. Do you think it’s wrong that I sometimes wish she were dead? Death can be a gift when your life is nothing but pain and misery.”

  Niko gripped the edges of his hood, wondering how Gem could know such a thing.

  Shepherd’s light flashed into view, and the sound of a tray hit the table. “Cut me off at three beers.”

  “Drink all you want. I can drive,” Gem said, resurrecting an argument they’d had on the way over.

  “No, honey. Not my Jeep. You’ll put a scratch on it.”

  “Moi?”

  “Yeah, you. Remember that fire hydrant you backed into?”

  “That wasn’t my fault. Wyatt drives a stick, and I got confused. Can you watch my drink? I have to go powder my nose.”

  When her light glimmered away, Shepherd’s voice grew quiet. “Do you think they really powder their nose in there?”

  “I think half a woman’s allure is her mystery.”

  “I’ll drink to that.”

  Niko wrapped his hands around his glass and hesitated. “What did Gem order?”

  “Same thing as you. Pussy water. Except she didn’t want the lemon wedge.”

  When Shepherd wasn’t playing darts or pool, he usually put his wallet on the table so he didn’t have to keep reaching in his pocket to tip the waitresses.

  With a casual swipe of his arm, Niko knocked it onto the floor. “Apologies. Was that something of yours?”

  Shepherd’s bottle tapped against the table. “Huh?” His chair creaked. “Yep. It’s just my wallet. One sec.”

  When his light briefly disappeared, Niko reached across the table for Gem’s glass and switched it out with his own. He quickly grabbed the lemon wedge and then sat back, hoping Shepherd hadn’t noticed.

  The table thumped.

  “Dammit,” Shepherd grumbled. “Hit my damn head. This place must be a jinx. Last time I was here, I lost my keys.”

  Niko dipped his finger in the glass of sparkling water and then licked the tip. His emotional shift was subtle but noticeable. He felt a sense of longing, and his mood brightened just enough that a smile touched his lips.

  “Where do you think Christian is?” he asked.

  Shepherd swallowed his drink audibly and set down the bottle. “I never thought I’d see the day they’d become a real duo. I thought those two were going to kill each other in the beginning.”

  “They seem to have settled their differences.”

  “I’ll say. Guess he likes having a partner after all with all the searching he’s doing. Either that or he feels embarrassed about her being taken from right under his nose. I mean, the man has sonic hearing. How did he miss that?”

  “They used an interference device. Christian wouldn’t lie about such a thing. It could have happened to any of us. We’re all part of this group because we have no aversion to danger.”

  “Speaking of danger, what the hell do Patrick’s men want with you?”

  Confused, Niko leaned in closer. “Apologies. I misheard the question.”

  “I don’t think you did. Wyatt described the men you had a skirmish with in the alleyway outside Club Nine. Sounds a lot like Patrick’s bodyguards. You want to talk about what happened after our conversation in the alley?”

  Cyrus and his men working for Patrick Bane? It wouldn’t be ben
eath them. Cyrus was crafty and not one to accept menial jobs—especially not ones working for a white man. He was up to something, but there was no way to know without confronting him.

  “I don’t know who you saw with Patrick. The men I fought in the alleyway are old enemies who won’t let the past go.”

  “Yeah,” Shepherd said with a chuckle. “They can join the club.”

  “Needn’t worry. You can trust me,” he said, reminding Shepherd that he hadn’t and wouldn’t divulge his secret to anyone.

  “I believe you, brother. Maybe I shouldn’t have opened my big mouth in a public place. That wasn’t the reason you fought them, was it?”

  “Put it out of your mind.”

  “You let me know if something’s up. I mean it.”

  “Where’s Gem?” Hooper asked from behind Shepherd. Niko didn’t recognize his light, only his voice.

  “Powdering her nose,” Shepherd informed him, amusement in his voice. “Have a seat. You off duty?”

  “Not a minute too soon. A group of thirsty Vamps just walked in.”

  Niko couldn’t help but notice Hooper used what many considered a derogatory word. “You don’t get along with Vampires?”

  “Not these assholes. They come in once a month, order all the expensive alcohol, and then start shit with any and everyone. I can’t blacklist them because they compensate the manager for allowing them in. Rich guys get away with everything. You know how that goes.”

  Niko’s fingers touched the edge of his glass. “Shepherd, why don’t you see if Gem is all right? I think, given the circumstances with Raven, we can’t be too careful.”

  Shepherd’s light flickered, and he stood up. “Are you trying to make us all paranoid? Be right back.”

  When he was a good distance away, Niko shifted in his seat to face Hooper, who’d taken the chair to his left. An awkward silence fell between them, and Niko sensed by the delicate flutters of orange in his light that Hooper wasn’t comfortable in his presence.

  “Does my blindness bother you, or is it something else?”

  Hooper cleared his throat. “Neither. You’re Gem’s friend, so you’re cool with me.”

  Niko hooked his arm on the back of his chair. “Speaking of Gem, did you know she doesn’t drink?”

  “Of course I know that.”

  “Then would you care to explain why you’re spiking her drinks?”

  Hooper’s light crackled black and red—a dead giveaway that he was hiding something. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  Niko slid his glass forward. “How rude of me. Can I offer you my drink?”

  “I don’t know what you’re thinking, but—”

  Niko leaned forward, his voice low and dangerous. “I first thought nothing of her obsessive behavior when she spoke of you, but something seemed off when we met.” Niko didn’t explain his gift to Hooper, and he was certain Gem wouldn’t have divulged that about him. “I’m a perceptive man, and I’ve been around long enough to spot when someone’s drunk with sensory magic.”

  “It’s not alcohol,” Hooper argued. “Look, don’t make me out to be the bad guy. I really like Gem, but sometimes women have a hard time getting to know the real me because of how I look.”

  “Are you trying to convince me that you’re too ugly to date women?”

  Hooper snorted. “Gem marches to the beat of her own drum, but she’s also one of those intellectuals. It only took a conversation to figure that out. Ever hear her go on about Sanskrit? I just want her to get to know me.”

  Niko bristled. Hooper wasn’t spiking her drinks with courage or lack of inhibitions—he was spiking them with false feelings of adoration. Just that one little taste had softened Niko’s mood, steering his thoughts immediately to Gem. Perhaps the spell connected you to the one nearest in your thoughts.

  Good thing he hadn’t been thinking about Wyatt.

  “Do me a solid and don’t mention this to her,” Hooper said. “You’re blowing it out of proportion.”

  Niko pulled the pommel of his katana out just enough to show metal. “You seem like a nice man, but people aren’t always what they seem. If you continue spiking her drinks, you’ll experience a level of fear you’ve never felt in all of your sensory exchanges.”

  “Spiking isn’t illegal,” Hooper said tersely. “Why don’t you ask your friend when he gets back? We do it all the time, just like you use your magic whenever you like. Don’t judge me on something you don’t understand. Sensor magic is one of the greatest gifts there is. It’s almost spiritual. We help people lose their fears, forget their pain, and relive the greatest feelings of their life.”

  Niko let go of his sword and drew back his hood. “Put your finger in her drink again, and I’ll cut it off.”

  “I’ll stop if you insist, but maybe you shouldn’t be so concerned where my finger spends its time.”

  “Did I keep you boys waiting?” Gem asked, taking a seat across from Niko. “Sorry I took so long. There was a line.”

  Hooper laughed. “That sounds about right. Come here, baby.”

  Gem was a bright creature, but sometimes her emotions blinded her. It wasn’t Niko’s place to meddle in her personal affairs, but if Hooper continued tampering with her drinks, he’d have no choice.

  A knot formed in the pit of Niko’s stomach as he sat back in his chair.

  Shepherd pulled his chair out, and the table wobbled for a moment as he sat down. “Did I miss anything?”

  The cadence in Hooper’s voice changed from what it had been moments ago. Slower with more fluctuation. “We were just discussing Sanskrit, weren’t we, Niko?”

  Gem’s violet light rippled with pink waves. “Oh, really? Or are you just teasing me because I went on about it for an hour the other night?”

  “I like listening to you talk,” he said.

  “Oh, Jesus,” Shepherd muttered. “If you two are like this all the time, I’m going to need a whole pitcher.”

  “No, you don’t,” Gem snapped.

  Niko could tell there was something physical going on—perhaps she was grabbing his wrist to keep him from getting up. Niko missed so many little things, and despite his advanced perception, those moments always made him feel like an outsider.

  Gem’s light dimmed. “I wish Christian had come with us. I feel so bad for him. Just when they start to get along, Raven goes missing.”

  “Maybe she’ll turn up,” Hooper said, ignorant to the details about Raven’s disappearance. He didn’t know Gem’s true profession outside of language translation. “Do you want to dance?”

  Gem sighed. “I’m not in the mood. Maybe we can just sit here and talk.”

  Hooper’s light dimmed. He was undoubtedly annoyed that Gem wasn’t showering him with her usual adoration. “Is there anything I can do to cheer you up?” he asked. “Maybe fix you a love spell? You like those.”

  “I think we’re good on drinks,” Niko cut in. “Gem, would you lead me to the facilities while Shepherd and Hooper catch up?”

  “Oh, sure. Be right back.”

  “Hey, can I have a kiss?” Hooper asked.

  Niko stood up and branched away from the table. Gem finally joined his side and hooked her arm in his. While they walked through the crowd, she rested her head against his arm.

  “There’s a table on your right,” she said, her voice sullen. “I thought coming here would be good for us. Hooper always cheers me up, but I just don’t feel like my usual self.”

  “You’re missing your friend. We all are. Raven isn’t the most social creature, but I’ve noticed how you two bonded. She likes you.”

  “Do you think we’ll ever find her?”

  “I don’t know, Gem. Only the fates decide.”

  She nuzzled against his arm and then tilted her head upward. “I liked that story you told me once. About the bird caught in a thunderstorm.”

  He followed her lead, moving left. “What brought that up?”

  “I think about it sometimes when
I’m feeling blue. It always makes me smile. Will you tell it to me again sometime?”

  The energy around him faded away to nothing, all except for the brilliant color next to him that radiated hues of deep amethyst and silver. Gem was about eight inches shorter than him, but with her tall shoes, she reached his shoulder.

  He dipped his head down and caught the sweet scent of her shampoo. “As you wish.”

  Chapter 22

  Christian parked his beat-up Ducati Scrambler in front of the double-wide mobile home. He had no aversion to riding in winter—nothing like a little frosty air on his face. Because of the increased temperatures, the last wave of snow had melted off the streets, making it easier to steer. There were also fewer people out at night. He loved the ride. Wind in his hair, moonlight frosting the treetops and glazing the roads, rabbits scurrying for cover at the sound of his engine. Occasionally in the summer, he’d go off-road, following the trails he’d made on previous excursions. His Vampire eyes soaked in the night, seeing everything in detail without the pain that sunlight brought, which hindered his enjoyment of the outdoors.

  He hiked up the steps of the porch, making a racket as he kicked the wood to knock the sludge off his boots.

  The door jerked open, and a man whose picture was next to the word biker in the dictionary stared daggers at him. “Why don’t you wake up the dead while you’re at it?” he said in a gritty voice that rivaled any motorbike.

  A month ago, Christian had forcibly moved Raven’s father to a safe place. This wasn’t as tiny as Crush’s trailer; no sense in insulting the man with shabby accommodations. As long as Raven was missing, her father’s life was in potential danger. If she wasn’t cooperating, Fletcher might use her father as motivation. Christian couldn’t be certain if her Creator knew about her father, but he wasn’t taking any chances. Aside from that, Crush still had his memory intact, and it would have only been a matter of time before he realized his baby girl was missing.