They understood what she was saying.
Jolie had to be sure. “Flynn, are you sure you’re okay with this? If you want, you can stay at the house. You don’t have to attend.”
If his mates needed to be there, how could he not be by their side? “I’m good with your plan. You can count me in, baby.”
“Then let’s gather our family and head home. I’m wary, and I want to think about a few things.”
Specifically, the nightmares and what they meant.
Flynn and Jacques’s eyes met over Jolie’s head. Yeah, something else was definitely bothering her. It was only a matter of time until she would tell them what was going on. If she didn't come to them, they would force her hand, pulling it from her by using whatever methods they had in their arsenals.
‘I say we make her.’ Flynn stated.
‘Yes, in this case, I don’t believe we have a choice. Before we head into that council, we need to be focused.’
‘She’s miserable. Look at her.’
He agreed. ‘Tonight, we’ll get to the bottom of it, my friend. Have faith. Jolie loves us, so she’ll share it.’
‘Or we break her.’
Jacques grinned, his fangs clearly visible. ‘Exactly.’
Taking Flynn’s packages, the other mate focused on Jolie. “I’ll take these to the Mercedes and meet you there. Good luck wrangling the family, Flynn. You’re about to see why I hate shopping,” he admitted, whistling as he walked away.
Flynn gave him a dirty look, knowing that his undead mate had just screwed him over. He was now left to deal with all the female shopping drama.
Great.
He was going to get even for this one.
Jolie couldn’t blame Jacques for escaping to the car. It would be a challenge to pull the women from the shops. They would gather Mathew, Chloe, Clariel and Trina, and then swing by the book shop to find Mina. Hopefully, it would all go without incident.
When they finally reached Mathew, he was buried in packages and looked beyond frazzled. Apparently, he needed reinforcements, and fast.
“They’ve gone crazy, Mistress,” he muttered, teetering under the weight of all the packages. “Look at all these boxes! How can they wear all this stuff in the next century? You have to stop them. I’m strong, but even we have our limits.”
Jolie was amused.
Flynn patted the vampyre’s shoulder in sympathy. He understood what the man was saying. Women and shopping were a lethal combination. At least he was going to get rewarded later by the love of his life.
Poor Mathew was screwed on that one.
“A girl can never have too many pretty things, Mathew. It’s just how it is.”
Again, the man got the understanding look from the detective. Flynn’s life, before Jolie, was so much simpler. He had suits for work, jeans for lumping it, and funeral garb--just in case. Now every time he opened his closet, more clothes appeared as if they were multiplying like rabbits.
Jolie giggled wickedly, winking at her mate before entering the lingerie shop to claim the other women in her family. As far as she was concerned, there was nothing wrong with owning beautiful things. After living with nothing but pain and suffering, luxuries helped ease the past memories a bit.
Jolie forced herself to swallow the fear which was building as she tracked down her family. Inside, the two women were standing in front of a mirror, taking turns as they held up silk lingerie in front of their bodies to admire it.
“Oh, Mistress, look at how exquisite this is,” giggled Clariel, as she held up a black demi bra that looked like it would cover just about nothing. In fact, the panties were even more scandalous, if that was possible.
Jolie felt her spirits rising as she took in the thong and garters of blood red ribbons. Maybe retail therapy was starting to work after all. Here were broken creatures, just like herself, and they were trying to work through their painful past. She should take a lesson from them.
“Mistress, if you don’t mind me saying, this would look amazing on you,” whispered Trina, holding it up to Jolie’s body. “It would make Master Flynn swallow his tongue.”
Jolie grinned. She noticed that the one female vampyre was very drawn to her human mate. It was sweet that she had a crush on him. Something about Flynn offered her calm. It was very endearing that her human mate was being gentle with the broken vampyres, despite his wariness around their kind.
“Oh, yes,” added Clariel, winking at Jolie. “It might stop his heart. You should get it.”
“It looks like you’ve worn me down. I’ll get it.” Jolie wandered around the quaint shop and found some other fascinating pieces of lingerie that would make both mates go crazy.
Why leave Jacques out of the fun?
“I think I’ll get these too,” she said, holding up a few more items as she grinned evilly. Jolie kept picking out different items and tossing them on the counter. All three women laughed as the girl assisting them looked amazed at the quantity of things they were purchasing.
“This is much lingerie,” she said in broken English, “especially for one woman.”
“Yes, I guess it is. I hope you get a commission,” said Jolie, checking out a leather bustier. “I definitely want this one too. Does it come in red?”
“Oui, Mademoiselle. That color is very popular.”
Jolie finished throwing all the bras, panties, and thigh highs on the counter before turning to Clariel and Trina. “Thank you for this. I was feeling a little low, and this was just what I needed.”
Both women smiled as they wrapped their arms around Jolie. They were glad that they were able to give back to the generous woman who had taken them into her home.
“Thank you for all you do for us, Mistress. I can’t imagine not being part of this family. This is really a dream come true,” admitted Clariel.
Jolie turned her attention to the sales girl as she rang up the purchases. Jolie handed her a platinum card and smiled when she was told the damages. She didn't even flinch. The look on the woman’s face made her want to laugh.
“Mademoiselle, merci. Come see us again.”
With that, they carried the bags out to the men. When they stared at them in shock and mock horror, it made Jolie break down in a fit of giggles.
“It figures, Mathew. They were shopping again,” Flynn flashed Jolie his boyish grin before taking the parcels.
“Do you mind, my love?” she asked, going up on her toes to kiss him on the cheek.
“That depends.”
“On?” she asked.
“On how sexy the things are that you just bought. Can I take a look?” he asked, peeking into a bag.
“I purchased lots and lots of lingerie,” she replied, smiling sweetly--almost innocently.
“Oh…” His heart skipped a beat. “Then I’ll carry that for you, but I get first dibs on seeing you in them, since Jacques bailed on me.”
Jolie could give him that little concession. After all, he’d earned it. She was just about to say something lecherous and perverted, when she felt it.
There was a disturbance surrounding her.
“Flynn!” she hissed, reaching for his mind. Simultaneously, she sent a warning to the family with them.
Everyone tensed.
‘We have company and the energy feels very wrong.’
‘Where, baby? Point it out to me.’
‘It’s the men heading this way.’
‘I see them, and whatever happens, I want you stay behind me, Jolie.’ He reached for the family and issued the same warning.
She knew that wasn’t going to happen. If their lives were in danger, she was going to make sure her mate was safe. Obviously, Flynn had forgotten who he was talking to.
Jolie moved closer to her mate, placing the rest of the family behind them. The defensive position ensured that they would be able to shield them from any attack. She could feel the weaker vampyres huddle closer to each other.
Flynn weighed his options. The way the men watched t
hem, it made the hairs on his arms stand at attention. Something was most definitely off balance.
“Bonjour,” said the older of the two strangers.
“Bonjour,” replied Flynn, taking Jolie’s hand possessively in his as he pulled her against his side. The way the first man leered at Jolie, it made him want to rip his head off his shoulders. He prepared to call Jacques if need be, but for now, he’d wait. The last thing they needed was a scene. Any alert sent to the other vampyre would mean him rushing to them like a bat out of hell. There was no doubt that would make one giant scene.
‘Please wait,’ she whispered into his mind.
“We’re sorry to bother you, but we recognized you while we were across the street. We wanted to welcome you to our city.”
Jolie must have looked confused because he continued on, trying to explain.
“Aren’t you Doctor Jolie Harcourte?”
“Yes, I am.”
Jolie went very still against her mate. Something was very wrong. This man shouldn’t know her. In fact, this made her want to retreat with her family.
“I thought so! I’ve read your papers on deviant behaviors and found them incredibly fascinating.”
When neither acknowledged his comments, he continued, “I’m sorry! I’m going about this the wrong way. Let me start again. You must think I’m insane to approach you like this.”
Flynn was thinking more suicidal. He was struggling to keep his fangs hidden. Everything in him was screaming to protect his mate. There was this incredible need to drive his fist through the man’s heart.
“Please, go on,” Jolie offered, her voice remaining neutral. Against Flynn’s back, she gently ran her hand over his shirt. If he lost it, they were screwed.
He took that as his opening. “I’m a detective with the local police.”
Jolie marginally relaxed.
“We’ve heard of how you’ve worked extensively in the States, finding criminals for other police departments.”
Okay, that explained how he knew her, but not why she still felt off.
“Oh, it is a pleasure to meet you.” Jolie offered her hand, even as Flynn relaxed. Facing the other man, she offered him the same courtesy. “Please, your names?”
“I’m Marcus Montclair, and this is my partner, William Bevier. We were walking to the police precinct from our dinner break and saw you. I was pretty sure that I knew who you were. I had to take the opportunity to meet the illustrious Doctor Harcourte.”
Brogan cleared his throat, staring down at the hand that still held Jolie’s firmly. “If you don’t mind.”
Immediately, the older man stepped back, aware of his lapse. It was apparent that Marcus Montclair only had eyes for Jolie.
Yeah, that pissed him off.
“This is my fiancé, Detective Flynn Brogan,” she offered, before motioning to the others. “Also this is some of my extended family.” She purposely did not introduce them by name. Jolie could feel them moving toward each other in a protective stance, with Mina in the center. It was a vampyre trick to help them hide in public. When the man didn't acknowledge them, Jolie relaxed.
“Oh, you’re a police detective?” Montclair asked, lifting his one eyebrow as he measured up the competition. He certainly didn’t look like the typical standard of detective in Paris. His raven hair fell to his shoulders--definitely too long--and not even neatly pulled back. While he was well dressed, maybe even more so than acceptable for a civil servant, his appearance spoke pampered or kept man--not detective.
“I work homicide, but today I’m relegated to be a pack mule for my fiancée.” He pulled Jolie toward him to kiss her gently, uncaring what the man thought. He wasn’t thrilled with the way Montclair was leering at Jolie’s body, like she would be a tasty snack for him. If the man only knew how lucky he was that their other mate, Jacques, was occupied elsewhere.
“Ahhh...then you must benefit from her vast knowledge every day at work,” said Montclair, staring intently at Jolie. “From everything I’ve read, she’s quite brilliant. I think it’s the way she gets into the mind of a killer.”
“Yes, I’m one hell of a lucky bastard,” Flynn stated. He didn't tell the man that he could hold his own in the detecting arena. He didn't like him--not one bit.
He started to pull Jolie past them as he recalled when he first met her in his commander’s office. She had taken his breath away, and like the man before him, he doubted that Jolie’s mind was the first thing that either of these detectives had noticed. “Now, if you don’t mind, we’re on a tight schedule. We have a dinner engagement shortly, and we can’t be late.”
Montclair didn't look happy.
He whispered into Jolie’s mind, ‘Should we call Jacques?’
‘No, my love. He’s quite harmless.’
‘Are you sure?’
She wasn’t in the least. Jolie still felt off, but she wasn’t aware why. For now, she’d just let him get them out of there. If her mate had the same feeling she did…well, that meant something. Flynn was, after all, very astute.
‘I wouldn’t worry.’
Montclair angrily sized up the detective who was dragging away the beautiful doctor. There was a flash of animosity in his eyes. No one in the group missed the hate filled glare thrown at Flynn. It was as if Montclair was laying out a silent challenge for Jolie, and somehow daring the other man to stop him from acquiring his goal.
Flynn felt his temper flare, and he swallowed the need to slam his fangs deep into Montclair’s body to drink him dry. He was new at all this control, and the man was pushing his luck.
Drink!
Hurt!
Protect!
It all rushed through him. The predator deep within, silently dared him to do just that. It was Jolie’s calming hand on his arm that kept the violence from breaking free.
“But of course. I hope you’ll excuse my rudeness of keeping you, Doctor Harcourte. If you’re interested in assisting the police, we’d very much appreciate your help.”
The creepiness in his eyes spoke volumes.
An ominous chill swept across her body as her attention was pulled from the men before them to what was now standing just beyond. There stood Jolie’s little warning from Death. The tiny little girl, with Jacques’s green eyes, stood watching the detective as if warning her of something brewing on the horizon. Since leaving New Orleans, she hadn’t had the occasion to see her little ‘gift’ pop up, but now, her skin prickled. If Jolie suspected it before, now she had proof that the men before her were going to be a definite problem.
Chloe moved closer to the back of Jolie, peeking around her shoulder at the vision standing before them. Her hand rested on Jolie’s lower back and a pulse of energy passed between them.
Brogan felt the rush of power, and his attention was pulled from the one detective to the apparition beside him.
The little girl was standing near, pointing at Montclair. When she turned her head, it was to gaze into Flynn’s eyes. She was issuing a warning.
Yeah, Paris was going to be a bad idea.
A wave of chills ran through him.
Jolie forced herself to look back at the detectives. “Thank you, Detective Montclair, but I’m here to shop and relax. I’m on an extended holiday to take a break from police work. Helping, I’m afraid, will be impossible.”
Detective Montclair looked like he wished to say more, but to Jolie’s relief, he was pulled away by the younger man. Once away from the two strangers, Jolie couldn’t help but shiver as she felt incredibly anxious.
“Baby, that was just plain disturbing,” whispered Flynn into her ear. To passersby, it would seem like two lovers whispering secrets and nothing more.
“Yes, I happen to agree.”
Flynn glanced over his shoulder to make sure that they weren’t being followed. The last thing they needed was some creepy tail from the local police.
“Chloe, what was that energy? Did you feel it?” asked Jolie, as she stared at Chloe.
“Mi
stress, I felt it when I touched your arm, but I don’t know why it happened. I think it might be another message, of sorts, from the little girl. You know how Death likes to be an enigma. I think it is up to us to put the meaning together.”
“Well, I called for Jacques. He needs to be here for this,” said Flynn, scanning for his other mate. He’d pulled Jolie into his personal space. Any closer and she’d be inside him.
Yeah, that’s how freaked out he was.
Then, they felt him scanning.
When Jacques broke the crowd, making his way toward them, Jolie immediately felt better. Even Flynn relaxed marginally. Jacques had a very calming effect on both of his mates.
“What’s wrong? I heard you call for me,” he inquired, glancing at the nervous looks between his two mates.
Jolie immediately filled him in on the two detectives and then the reappearance of the little girl they encountered in Mambo’s shop.
“Yeah, that can’t be good. We need to get home and discuss what’s going on here. I don’t think that they randomly picked you out on the street, Jolie. What do you think, Flynn?” he asked his mate.
“I don’t buy that bullshit story for one second.”
It was decided. They were getting out of there, and fast. Jacques was getting nervous from the look his mate was giving him. Their detective wasn’t thrilled to be out in the open. He’d learned to trust the man’s gut instinct.
“Plus, you toss in that little girl, and that seems to be a mess waiting to happen,” Jacques offered. “What could Death be warning us about? The last time we saw her, Flynn was in danger,” Jacques stated.
Jolie wasn’t sure. “I suddenly feel very unsettled, my loves. First, we hear from Jasmine of the vampyre hunters, and now we get Death’s message,” stated Jolie, as she led them back to where the vehicles were parked.
“I’d like to say that I’m shocked about all this,” muttered Flynn, holding Jolie’s hand, “but I’m willing to bet the usual suspects are behind all this.”
No one had to say a word, there was no doubt. This wasn’t going to be a peaceful vacation, after all.
This time, trouble had found them abroad.
Dangerous Misery (The Harcourte Vampyre Society Book 3) Page 4