by Susan Stec
I looked at Marcus. "She does have a point."
Paul got up off the couch. "If there is a cartel as powerful as she says, Dorius would certainly know about them."
Jeni cranked up the laptop sitting on the picnic table. "I think it's time to call Dorius, don't you, Marcus?"
Marcus sighed with resignation.
"What about Lily?" I asked. "He'll send out a car for her if he knows…"
"I think we should downplay Lily's powers," Paul cut in. "I believe with her help, we could catch the rogue team before they kill anymore humans."
Lily dressed her face out in a big smile. "I must say, I am feeling very peachy again. I do not wish to leave all of you, Cousin Jeni."
"Don't worry, sweetie," Jeni said, her fingers rapidly typing. "You don't have to."
"Do you know how we can find the rogues, Lily?" Gibbie asked in a high-pitched, screechy voice that made my ears ring.
Lily nodded her head. "As a matter of fact, I do." She turned to me. "You know, you didn't have to make that call to Grandmother, Auntie Susan. I tried to explain, but you stopped me." She smiled at Paul. "You see technically, there is only one rogue, Mr. Paul, and he is the same person who Grandmother plans to meet tomorrow evening."
~~~~
Chapter Twenty-Three
~~~~
"Remember, no one says anything to Dorius about Lily's powers," Paul said as he stepped up to the laptop where Jeni was about to hit the "send" key.
Resi waddled through the front door with a lot of noise and way too many shopping bags draped over her arms. She kicked the door shut and said, "I had such fun shopping, Lily! Wait until you see all the cute clothes I picked out for you."
I raised a brow. "You look like you emptied the whole damn mall."
"Well, our little girl needed everything," Resi said, swinging the bags in Lily's direction with a big smile. "Lily, sweetie, in our family, when we were kids and got new clothes, we had to model them for everyone. Come on, girlie. We're going to my room where you can try everything on and show everyone how cute you look in your new stuff."
"I think that's an excellent idea," Marcus said, smiling at Lily. "Go with your cousin, Lily." As he stared at Lily, he pushed, Susan, getting her away from the computer screen would be advantageous, since we never know what will come out of her mouth. Command her to go with Resi.
I agreed, but Marcus ordering me to do so gave me pause just long enough for the little demon to put up a rebuttal.
"I will speak only when spoken to, Uncle Marcus," Lily said, cozying up closer to Jeni. "You needn't worry about me."
I hooded my eyes, studying Lily. Her comment sounded like she heard Marcus' mental words. Maybe she was just reading his body language. I didn't think now was a good time to confront her, so I did as Marcus said. "Lily, I command you to go with Resi."
"As you wish," Lily said with a stiff smile. She slid off the bench, walked through the kitchen, and down the steps toward Resi's bedroom.
Resi looked pointedly at Marcus over her shoulder as she followed Lily. "I'll show her what I bought first. Call us when you're ready for her to model everything for you."
Marcus smiled a nod at Resi.
Can Resi still hear our thoughts? I pushed at Marcus.
Yes, but in this case, it's useful, he pushed back. She will keep the demon downstairs while we speak with my brother.
The computer screen filled with Dennis' face. His blonde hair hung softly on his shoulders and baby blues sparkled as he scanned the living room, stopping on Paul. "Hello, everyone. Paul, you're looking very manly this evening," Dennis said, tilting his head and batting his lashes theatrically. He stepped back from the camera lens and gave us a clear view of his attire. A colorful caftan floated about as he swung his arms. "To what do I owe the pleasure of your call?"
"Is Dorius around?" I asked. "We have some news on the rogue he's been tracking."
"Let me give him a ring," Dennis said as he hit a button on a receiver sitting on the desk beside the computer.
The ring was followed by Dorius' angry voice. "What is it, Dennis? I thought I expressed myself quite clearly when I said we did not wish to be disturbed."
"The Stech clan is on the computer," we heard Dennis say, along with a flurry of silk and a shitload of effeminate attitude. "The tall, dark, and very handsome wolf is with them, and they say they have news about the rogues."
We heard mumbles and then Betty's loud voice. "Go ahead, darlin', I got nothin' but time. Ya want I should get dressed and leave?"
"That won't be necessary. I'll just be a minute, and you did wish me to tell my brother of our wedding plans, did you not?"
"You got it, 'cause ya ain't milkin' this heifer bone dry without a bindin' contract," Betty answered to the sound of rumpling sheets.
Dorius' face reddened. He said, "Must you be so crude?"
Betty guffawed. "Patch ‘em through, Dennis."
"No problem, Oh-Glorious-Bovine," Dennis said. "After all, I did arise from the dead just to serve you." He flamboyantly hit the button on the receiver with his pinky, and rolled his eyes at the camera lens on the computer. "Have you met the bimbo he's about to wed?" he uttered in a conspiratorial whisper with way too many hand gestures. His fingers went to his mouth and fanned out an exasperated sigh. "Ohmygod, the woman is in bad need of… well, hell… just about everything!" He splayed one hand on the desk and the other hand began waving around in front of him, head wagging as he rolled his eyes again. "Her clothes have a trailer park, trashy ambiance. Hair?—Dolly Parton, seventy-ish—nuff said! And the makeup! Oh honey, she looks like an aging, drag-queen wannabe. No one, and I mean no one, would be caught dead in that sparkly, blue eye shadow she probably bought at the Dollar Store. Come on! Well, let me just tell you, Dorius' work is certainly cut out for him because if he thinks I'm going to…"
"Could you just patch him through, Dennis?" Paul interrupted.
Jeni was back to giggling. "I just love you, Dennis. And you look marvelous in that caftan."
"Thank you, sweetie. And just between you and me, if he asks me to take her shopping, I'm just saying, NO!" Dennis fanned his index finger at Jeni before he pushed a button on the computer and Dorius appeared.
"What have you got for me, wolf?" Dorius asked, searching for Paul's face as he tied the belt of a black, silk robe snugly around his waist.
Paul turned to Marcus and nodded toward the laptop. "Why don't you give him the good news?"
"Somebody give me the good news, immediately," Dorius said, hinting a smile over his shoulder. "And then I will give you mine."
I couldn't wait to hear how Marcus handled this. I put my hands on my hips and shot him a saucy smile. At least somebody is getting some, I pushed.
Marcus cleared his throat. "Chick and Christopher took it upon themselves to leave town on a mission that was supposed to lead them to a demon that might be able to get JoAnn back. But we have reason to believe the immortal they are meeting is the very one that is killing humans. It seems Chick met him on the Internet while searching a website for a specific immortal. I believe it is how he finds his victims."
"And just how did you come by this information?" Dorius wanted to know.
Paul interrupted, "Gibbie, Jake and I have been following a lead that led us to New Orleans and the approximate location where Chick said she's meeting this immortal."
He was lying, but damn, if it didn't sound good to me. I shot him a smile.
"And why is Chick going after another demon?" Dorius asked, "when I presume we have one of our own right there in the house with you?"
I stepped up to the plate. "Because Raphael has called in the troops since we snagged his kid; and he put JoAnn in a cage for safekeeping. We can't send Lily back to fight that battle alone. And you know we can't just summon JoAnn. If we don't find another demon more powerful than Raphael and his boss, someone will need to go get her; hopefully, when she's alone."
Dorius studied all of our faces for a minute before
answering, "And why am I hearing a singular rogue? The victims were both drained and mauled. Not the work of a lone vampire. He has a shifter with him. How sure are you that this is the rogue we seek, wolf?"
"Pretty damn sure," Paul answered, "because Chick said he mentioned he was bringing along a were-panther."
"I will immediately dispatch Zaire with two immortals to assist," Dorius said. "All of you will meet them in New Orleans by tomorrow evening."
"I'll be one o' those immortals, honey," we heard Betty say.
Dorius whipped around, and with his back to us, shouted, "You will be nothing of the sort! No mate of mine will be out fighting rogues. Do I make myself clear?"
"'Bout as clear as piss," Betty said. "We ain't married yet, an' even when we are, I ain't no lap dog. I'm goin'. Now that's clearer 'n piss."
Dorius' body became rigid. "We will discuss this later."
"You can discuss all ya want," Betty said, "but just soze ya know, I made up my mind—I'm goin'".
Dorius turned around to face the screen. "Betty is not going! We will be wed in…"
"Ya wanna do this mate thing?" Betty asked.
With a puffed out chest and fists balled at his hips, Dorius said, "I said we will discuss…"
"'Cause if ya do, this bullshit ain't gonna cut it," we heard Betty say. "What part about yer not the boss o’ me do ya not understand?"
Dorius rolled his head and shoulders, slowing turning back to face us. "If I can't dissuade her from going—and I assure you, we will be discussing it—and anything happens to her, I will hold you all responsible. Do you understand?"
Marcus laughed with a glance in my direction. "Indubitably, brother dear. It seems the gods have blessed both of us with mates who have minds of their own."
Dorius reached for the laptop with an angry growl and the screen went black.
I tossed my head from side-to-side with a grin for Paul. "I think Betty saved our asses from anymore talk about Lily… this time."
"Indeed," Marcus said, his stare raking over my body. "Shall we all go make ready for the trip?"
"Who's staying with Lily?" I asked, ignoring his hungry eyes.
"I say we take her," Gibbie piped up from the ceiling fan, where I'd forgotten he was sitting.
"You don't have to. I can keep an eye on her," Jeni offered.
"I think you should come along," I suggested, "keeping the communications going between us and the compound."
"Lily can stay in the van with you," Marcus stated.
"And you should be close, in case we need the demon," Paul added.
Jake walked through the sliding glass doors. "Mort is on his way." He took one look at our anxious faces and tendrils of smoke wafted from his nostrils. "What did I miss?"
"Road trip," Gibbie squeaked as he buzzed out the sliding glass door. "Going out to the rock garden to pack; be back in an hour."
"All of us?" Jake whimpered.
"Yep, and we're joining up with my mother and Christopher," I told him.
Jake exhaled a four-foot trail of sooty smoke, then turned and headed back out the sliding glass door.
Resi appeared, hands clapping. We all looked in her direction. "Drum roll, please!"
I raised a brow.
Resi shot me a look that made me suck in a breath and yell, "Alright. We're ready to see the new Lily! Come on up, sweetie!" Resi clapped her hands and jumped up and down, squealing.
Lily walked into the kitchen, dressed in a pair of washed out jeans and a pink Hannah Montana t-shirt. "Well, this apparel certainly affords freedom of movement." She kicked up a foot, which was clad in pink. "This is a Lelli Kelly, beaded Fiordaliso, double Velcro tennis shoe. And not only are these quite lovely, but so easy to fasten. Cousin Resi says they are durable for striding and running on hot pavement as well." She flipped her head forward. "And that," she pointed to her hair, "is called a ponytail." Lily flipped her head back and smiled at us. "Imagine that—so silly—the tail of a pony," she laughed. "I do believe Mother is going to be very angry because I tore my old garments to shreds." Behind Lily, Resi mouthed, 'Scary'. "I will not be wearing them again. I adore my new clothing. And that makes me feel just peachy."
Jeni smiled at Lily. "Well, you look just darling. The embroidery on your tennis shoes is exquisite. And don't worry about your mother; I'm sure she'll understand."
Lily returned the smile and said, "And I get to stay with you, Cousin Jeni, when we all go to New Orleans." Lily jumped up and down, clapping her little hands. "I am going to pack all my new clothes immediately."
Okay, so now was the time to address her little wandering mind. "How the hell do you know that, young lady? You're not supposed to be in our goddamned heads!"
"Mother! Watch your language!" Jeni warned.
I snarled at her and shot Lily a look that said, "Answer the damn question."
About as cute as a baby raccoon with rabies, Lily said, "But I did as you commanded. I did not read anyone's mind that you asked me not to. I read Resi's mind, and since she was not in the room when you made your command, I was not disobeying you, Auntie Susan."
"Are you lying to me? Resi was not in the room when we made these plans." I turned to Resi. "You didn't hear us talking, did you?"
"No," Resi said softly while keeping her eyes on Lily.
"Lily," I said, my foot tapping the oak floor, "I command you to tell me how you were able to listen in on our conversation through Resi."
Lily tugged at her new t-shirt and rocked up and down on the toes of her new shoes. "She is family, Auntie Susan. I can go into her mind and search out anyone she is connected with. I just let my mind travel to someone that she has a mental image of locked in her brain, and then I am connected to them, and can see through their eyes and hear through their ears. I can do it with all of you who are related to me by blood."
"Holy Tinkerballs," Gibbie said.
"Holy shit," I said.
~~~~
Chapter Twenty-Four
~~~~
"Will you be slipping away from me if I do not concede to your request?" Dorius asked with a snarl.
Betty patted the black satin sheets, suggesting he join her. "Darlin', I have a way o’ slipping into things."
"Well, if it's a gentleman you want, love, you've picked the wrong coffin," Dorius said, one corner of his mouth twitching. "My request is that you do not join the team this time. You're not ready, Elizabeth. It's dangerous fighting rogues, especially when you do not know what you are going to find when we get there."
"How bad can it be? I'm already dead," Betty said, pushing the sheets down, exposing her body. She ran long red nails over her bare stomach and plucked at one of her nipples. "When ya said ya loved me, did ya mean it?"
Dorius untied his robe and let it fall to the floor. He knelt on the bed and jerked Betty beneath him, spreading her legs with his knees. He grabbed her hips and pulled her to him, driving himself deep inside her. "I have a way of slipping into things… too quickly."
"How fuckin' ironic," Betty said, reaching up and grabbing him by the hair. She pulled his lips inches from hers, smiled, reared back, and savagely sunk her fangs into his throat.
Dorius groaned, hammering his body into hers.
* * * *
"What the fuck's up?" Warren asked, taking a seat at the conference table across from Zaire.
"Hell if I know," Zaire said. "Dorius just called and said to meet him here in ten."
"Probably gonna give us some shit about the way we handled things in the gym," Warren said, taking off his cap and running fingers through his hair."
"Hey, when they called it, I backed off," Zaire said. "You're the asshole that pulled it back on the floor."
"You asked for it, bitch."
"When my fuckin' heart starts beating again, that'll be the day I ask for any goddamned thing from you," Zaire snarled.
"Why you gotta be such a bitch?"
"Why you gotta be a friggin' redneck, bigoted asshole?"
"
In my family, women know their place," Warren said.
"Yeah, they do in my family, too," Zaire countered.
The door to the conference room opened and Dorius strutted in, followed by Betty.
Zaire took one look at Betty's hair, which was reaching in every direction, and a big smile spread across her face. "Guess you two mated?"
Betty shook her head from side-to-side. "He can suck on any damn thing he wants… but my neck, until he puts a ring on my finger. Gonna be right an' proper."
Zaire looked over at Dorius' neck. "Looks like you been suckin' on his."
"Damn right," Betty said, sliding into a chair next to Zaire.
"That's enough, ladies, and I use that term loosely," Dorius remarked, taking his usual seat at the head of the table.
"No shit," Warren snickered.
Dorius shot him a set of nasty eyes. "I suggest you start treating Elizabeth with the respect she will soon command. We will be wed in the morning, and both of you will attend as witnesses."
"It's Betty when we're in public, darlin'. Remember?" Betty turned from Dorius to Zaire. "He's ordered me an American Express card with my own name on it, 'cause I agreed ta wearin' his mother's weddin' band, but he said I can pick out my own diamond ta go with it. Card should be in the morning mail. Will ya come with me after the weddin' ta pick it out?"
Zaire smiled. "Sure, there's a place in Bal Harbour mall that has handmade jewelry—really nice shit. But it'll cost a bundle. We can hit Mayors in Dadeland Mall too. I went all out when I bought a ring for Resi last summer."