“Hey,” said the man sitting beside her. “Hey, gorgeous. You want some?”
He’s wasn’t handsome, but his clothing and watch were exquisite. He had five lines of cocaine lined up on the bar. He seemed familiar.
“No, thanks.”
He grabbed her arm. “Come on. I insist.”
“No, thanks,” she said, plucking his fingers away.
“Nobody tells me no, lady.” He grabbed at her. She backed into Smoke. Two large bouncers appeared and locked their arms around her accoster. They picked him up off the floor. “No, no, I’m sorry guys,” the man pleaded. “I was just flirting with the lady!” They escorted him out of sight.
“Interesting,” Sid said, watching the bartender wipe the cocaine off the counter. She turned her attention back to the dance floor. Hips and shoulders swaying, Night Bird had her hungry eyes fastened on Smoke. One of her goons on the edge of the dance floor approached.
The bulldog of a man was bald and wore heavy rings on his fingers. “Night Bird wants to dance with you, fella,” he said in a thick accent.
“I’m with someone,” Smoke said, “and I’m not the best dancer.”
The man, broader than Smoke but not quite as tall, cracked his neck from side to side and said, “Get out there now, before I put all those pretty teeth out.”
“I—”
“Bub,” the goon said, “she ain’t a patient lady, and I’m not a patient man.”
“Sure,” Smoke said, setting his bottle on the bar. “I’m going.” He eased his way around the thug, headed to the dance floor, and took Night Bird’s extended hand in his.
Sidney felt flames shoot through her as the woman’s hand caressed his back and went over his butt and down the backs of his legs. Damn Dirty Bird!
CHAPTER 25
After about two minutes of bumping and grinding, the music changed to something slower and more seductive. Ears red underneath her dark locks, Sidney was impressed with how Smoke handled himself. He’s a decent dancer. I’ll give him that. The strapping man towered over the men and women on the starlit dancefloor, except for Night Bird. In her heels, she was almost as tall as he. As the music slowed, the exotic woman wrapped her arms around his waist and drew him in close.
Can’t wait to see you in your bird cage, whore.
As Sid finished her thoughts, she found Night Bird’s eyes on hers. The woman’s mysterious gaze was inviting as she nestled her head against Smoke’s muscular chest. Like a flash of the camera, she winked. Sidney’s head spun a little, and she bumped back into the bar. She felt those icy spiders crawling over the goosebumps on her arms.
What was that?
It was that same seductive power that AV had over her, paralyzing her reason and opening the gates to her lusts. She took a long draw from her beer and looked away.
Get it together, Sid. Butterflies and Pancakes!
It didn’t help that Smoke seemed to be enjoying himself. He smiled as his lips moved in conversation. Sidney wanted to know what he was saying to her and what she was saying to him. She realized she needed to distract herself. She started counting. The guests. The entertainers. The staff, bouncers, and most importantly, Night Bird’s bodyguards.
Eight thugs. Great.
Extracting their mark wouldn’t be easy. All of the men were armed with pistols or possibly small Uzis. A single elevator, the one they had taken, led up and out. By it was posted a guard who was almost as wide as the elevator itself. She turned and motioned to the bartender.
“Another beer from the lakes, my lady friend?”
“No thanks. Um,” she smiled and wiggled up to him. “I was kinda curious. What happened to that guy snorting all of those lines? I feel bad for him.”
“Don’t feel bad for that guy. He’s a real jerk, a good tipper, but a jerk. He should have known better.”
“I just don’t want to see anyone get hurt. I’m a peacemaker. He’ll be all right, won’t he?”
The bartender’s eyes drifted toward the kitchen doors. “Lady, don’t ask questions that you don’t want the answers to, especially in a place like this.” He leaned closer. His tone became grim. “You’re new, so I’m going to cut you a break and pretend you didn’t ask me anything. Do you understand?’
Sidney swallowed and widened her eyes. “Sure.” You’ve given me all I need. “Uh, where’s the powder room?”
He pointed. “That way.”
“Thanks.”
Passing the kitchen on her way to the bathroom, she slowed and cracked open the windowless door. About ten people were busy at work in white outfits and red aprons. A waitress in a feathered cocktail dress bustled by. Making a quick scan of the area, Sidney noticed a service elevator in the rear. Perfect. A man was seated by it in a metal folding chair. His suit jacket was draped over the back, and he had two pistols strapped under his heavy shoulders. A shotgun rested in his lap. Not perfect.
She headed for the restroom and glanced at Smoke, who still danced comfortably in Angi’s clutches. Horndog. The restroom was long, with many stalls crafted in white marble stone that rose from the floor to the ceiling. Sidney walked by a half dozen sinks in front of a huge vanity mirror trimmed in cherry wood. Beside them sat a small lithely built woman in a feathered mask. A basket of toiletries, same as those on the sinks, sat on her lap.
Weird. Too weird.
Sidney took the faucet farthest from the woman in the bird mask and turned the water on.
“Ow!”
The water was steaming hot. She glanced at the woman, who had her head cocked to the side. The black bird eyes faced her.
Get used to it. Ignore it.
She checked her face. Her make-up was a far cry from what she’d observed on the other women. Her clothes were far from up to snuff either.
How out of place must we be?
She washed her hands and had begun to rinse them off when the moaning started.
“Uh, uh, uh …”
A man and woman were cavorting in one of the stalls. Their moans got louder, the rollicking more pronounced. Sidney took a deep breath and adjusted her hair. The little attendant appeared with a steaming cloth on a plate. Sidney plucked it up with her fingers.
“Thanks.”
She wiped her neck down. I think it’s going to take more than this to get the filth off of me. She dropped it on the plate, and the little attendant walked away and put the washcloth in a bin then returned with a basket of toiletries. Sidney took a closer look at them. Geez! Some of this stuff is a hundred dollars an ounce. She picked out two tiny perfumes and a small shampoo bottle and crammed them in her pocket. The attendant’s bird eyes were glued on her.
“Aw, you won’t tell.”
Sidney felt a strange compulsion overcome her, staring at the tiny woman in the mask. Something was not right. It creeped down her spine. Looking deep into the eyes, she stretched out her fingers toward the mask. The figure didn’t move away. She glanced at the tiny fingers holding the basket. They reminded her of her niece, Megan. No. Not another child. She started to pull the mask up.
Wham!
The attendant jerked away at the sound of a stall door banging open. A giggling woman and a man with devilish good looks staggered by. Tucking his shirt in and buckling his belt, he winked at Sid and said, “Good evening.”
The stall woman adjusted her skintight dress, slung her bra over her shoulder, and added as they strutted out, “Maybe next time you can join us?”
Sidney stood alongside the sinks shaking her head, thinking, Ew, they didn’t even wash up after that. Now I know why they’re called the filthy rich. Giving the little attendant no more thought, she headed back out into the club. Making her way back to the bar and spying the dance floor, she noticed something out of place. Smoke and Night Bird were gone.
CHAPTER 26
Smoke and Night Bird weren’t the only ones gone from the dance floor. The bodyguards had vanished too. Those oxen shouldn’t be too easy to hide. She cut through the tables and patrons unt
il she found herself on the other side of the room. Several well-concealed alcoves dotted the back. The heavy curtains were drawn on most of them. Sidney got a peek inside the closest one. Girls. Men. Sex. Drugs. She moved down the row.
Ah, follow the goons.
A pair of body guards stood on either side of the alcove at the end. The other guards were spread out nearby.
Play along, Sid. Play along.
She weaved her way toward them showing a dreamy look in her eye. She said to the nearest bodyguard, “Have you seen my friend? Tall guy. Kind of handsome?” She added a hiccup. “He was just dancing with that gorgeous lady. I want to party with them.”
“Just move along,” the man said. “If Night Bird wants you, she’ll let you know, and I ain’t heard nothing about her wanting you. Consider it a good thing. So move along now, prissy.”
I am so gonna take you out first, you nose-pierced jerk.
“But,” she said, batting her eyelashes, “can I at least go in and say hi?”
“No.” he looked her up and down. “But, maybe on my break, if you do me a favor, I can work something out.” He patted her ass.
I hate this guy. I hate this place.
“What did you have in mind?” she said.
“Well,” his eyes widened. He touched his finger to his ear and cocked his head. He looked back at Sidney. “Huh, seems you have the okay to go in.” He leaned in closer and whispered in her ear. His breath was heavy with cigarettes, but his soft words were perfectly clear. “That’s too bad. I was doing you a favor.” He pulled the heavy maroon curtain back and stepped aside. “Nice meeting you, lady.”
Doing me a favor? I don’t see how.
Sidney gave the man a funny look and drifted inside. Smoke sat back in a comfortable booth looking as innocent as a Boy Scout. A small round table offered drugs and drinks. Night Bird was beside him, glued to his hip. One long leg was draped over his, while her free hand toyed with the hair around his ears.
“Is this your little friend, John?” Angi said, offering a playful smile. “She’s tall for a woman. Finely crafted. I like that. What is your name, dearie?”
“Sidney.”
“Hmph,” Night Bird said, “fitting. So, why don’t you come and join us.” She fanned her free arm out toward the other three people in the room. Two women’s hard bodies were only clad in feathery lingerie. A chiseled man with long brown locks and the looks of a Chippendale dancer sat drinking a bottled beer in only cutoff sequined trousers.
I think I’ve seen enough.
“I think it’s time to go, John,” Sidney said, lifting her brows.
“Oh, dearie,” Night Bird said, squeezing Smoke’s thigh, “he’s not going anywhere. But maybe you can have him back tomorrow. He’s such a fine drink of water. I can’t wait to bathe with him.”
Sidney’s chest tightened. “John, it’s time to go.”
Smoke didn’t reply. Instead, he sat in a daze.
Aw, crap! She’s done something to him.
“You’re starting to bother me, dearie,” Night Bird said. “I think it’s time you moved along.” She glanced at the scantily clad man. “Be a dear, Bulldog, and escort our lady friend out.”
The well-defined man’s bulging muscles flexed as he stood up.
Sidney laughed. He was maybe five and a half feet tall, and she towered over him. “He’s cute, but really,” she said, staying him with her hand. “Please, I’ll show myself out. I don’t want you to hurt yourself”—she glanced at his pants—“Bulldog.” She backed up toward the door. “John, it’s time to go. Pancakes and Butterflies.”
“Pancakes and Butterflies?” the woman said. “My dear, what on earth are you talking abou—”
Night Bird slumped forward and crashed through the table.
Bulldog growled at Sidney and closed in with clutching fingers.
In a flash, Sidney put everything she had into a roundhouse kick that broke Bulldog’s jaw. He collapsed on the floor and didn’t move. The two women in the room started giggling, and one lit up a joint for the other.
“I take it you have a plan to get out of here,” Smoke said. He had Night Bird draped over his shoulder.
“You drugged her?”
“It’s an unethical method, but effective,” Smoke said, staring at the curtains. “Every situation is different. So, did you disable all the bodyguards?”
“What? Disable them? Exactly how would I do that? I don’t even have a gun.”
“You take one of theirs.”
Sidney stood by the curtain, felt the material, and listened. It was amazing how quiet the room was on account of the heavy fabric. She could barely make out the music. “I have an exit plan at least. That’s more than you have, John.”
One of the girls started clapping. She said, “I like this game. What is it?”
“Hey,” the other girl said, taking a toke. “What happened to Bulldog? And why do you have Night Bird over your shoulder, new guy?”
“Where’s the other exit?” Smoke said. His eyes flashed, and his tone was urgent.
“Why? What are you going to do?”
Suddenly, one of the girls let out an ear-splitting shriek.
Smoke shrugged his shoulders at Sid. “Run for it!”
CHAPTER 27
One of the bodyguards stepped inside the curtains. Smoke plowed over the man and kept going. Sidney didn’t stick around. She burst through the curtains just as the second bodyguard lowered his gun on Smoke’s back. She chopped him in the neck and twisted the weapon free of his grip. She turned.
Aw, crap!
The other four bodyguards were up, weapons drawn and moving. Alert men. Formidable. They didn’t see her coming. She squeezed the trigger.
Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop!
Two men collapsed, clutching at their legs and crying out in pain. Sidney jumped over them and sprinted after Smoke and his assailants, out into the larger room of the club. That was when the music stopped and the screaming started. A sea of bodies came to life and moved in a wave of panic. A heavyset woman in a sparkly tube top crashed into Sidney, knocking her to the floor.
Hell’s bells!
She scrambled to her feet and shoved her way through the throng of sweaty bodies toward the kitchen door. Two bodyguards disappeared inside. She was almost there when another woman grabbed her, yelling, “Help me! Help me!”
Sidney slapped her in the face, widening the woman’s eyes. “Help yourself, halfwit!” She stormed toward the kitchen door and heard gunshots crack out on the other side.
Blaat-at-at! Blaat-at-at! Blaat-at-at!
The kitchen help dashed out as machine-gun fire ripped through the metal pots and stainless cabinets. Sid went in low, spied a man blasting away with his back to her, and fired.
Pop! Pop!
He collapsed bleeding on the floor.
Blaat-at-at! Blaat-at-at! Blaat-at-at!
She dove behind a rolling counter and peeked underneath. Feet, feet, where are you? She saw a pair of filthy sneakered feet shuffling over the floor tiles and took aim.
Pop!
“Ow! Sonuvabitch! My foot!” His shooting became wild.
Blaat-at-at! Blaat-at-at! Blaat-at-at! Blaat-at-at! Blaat-at-at! Blaat-at-at! Blaat-at-at! Blaat-at-at! Blaat-at-at!
“I’m gonna kill you! I’m gonna kill you good!” said the bodyguard, spraying the room with bullets. “Where are you! Where the hell are you!”
Blaat-at-at! Blaat-at-at! Blaat-at-at! Blaat-at-at! Blaat-at-at! Blaat-at-at! Blaat-at-at! Click. “Aw, hell.”
Whop! Thud!
From under the counter, Sidney saw the man fall flat on the floor. Whew!
“Sid? Come on!” Smoke yelled out.
She popped up and saw him. “What about the guy at the elevator?”
Ka-Blam! Ka-Blam!
“You talking about me?” said a hard voice. “Come on. Take my elevator.”
Ka-Blam! Ka-Blam!
“Shoot him, Sid!”
“Yeah! Go ahead! Try a
nd shoot me!” The man started clearing the kitchen aisles, one shotgun blast at a time.
Ka-Blam! Ka-Blam! Ka-Blam!
Sidney scurried from one side of the aisle to the other and got a bead on the man. She took a knee and fired center mass.
Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop! Click.
The big fella teetered backward into the counter, jostling the shot-up pots and pans. “Oof,” he said. “That stung. Good thing I’m best friends with Kevlar.” He snarled and pulled his two pistols out. Lowered the barrels on her. “Your elevator’s going down, lady!”
Sidney dove down the aisle.
Blam! Blam! Blam! Blam!
“Where’d you go, little rabbit?”
BLam! Blam! Blam!
Pinned down with nowhere to go, she crouched behind the counter. Think of something, Sid. Think!
“Last call, you squirrely little bitch!” A hail of bullets ripped through the counter.
Blam! Blam! Blam! Blam! Blam!
Bong!
The gunshots stopped.
Bong?
“Sid, are you coming?”
She glanced over the counter. Smoke was standing in the elevator, Night Bird still in tow. A huge frying pan was in his hand. He tossed it out on the floor with a clatter. She got up and ambled over. A bullet grazed her ankle.
Inside the elevator, Smoke said, “You all right?”
She pressed the button going up and glared at him.
More bodyguards spilled into the room and rushed the door, which hadn’t yet started to close. Smoke filled the doorway, cradling Night Bird in his arms. “I wouldn’t shoot if I were you.”
The men’s itchy trigger fingers froze. A few eternal seconds went by, and finally the doors closed.
“You’re an idiot,” Sidney said.
“Me, what did I do?”
“You started a date in the middle of a mission.”
“I just went with the flow. Sometimes the best plan is to let things happen and strike when there’s an opening.”
The Supernatural Bounty Hunter Files Collector's Set: Books 1-10: Urban Fantasy Shifter Series Page 24