by Jana Denardo
“I’m afraid of the level of surveillance she must have you under, Arrigo. I’ve brought Washington and Daughtery up to date as well,” Shani said.
“Did she attack Rebecca like she did your sister?” Arrigo knew the answer, but he had to be sure.
“We can’t talk about an open investigation.”
He gave his ponytail a nervous tug. “I forgot. Sorry. Weren’t there two people attacked outside the Scarlet Kiss? Was that similar to Rebecca and Taabu’s attacks?” He pretended not to know. “I’ve been at the Kiss many times. I’m worried, Shani. How am I supposed to protect all my friends?”
“You don’t. That’s our job.” Shani touched his shoulder, making Jesus give her a strange look.
“I thought about leaving, but she might get mad, and that would make it worse. Besides, we know she’s here. If I leave, she might follow me or she might simply disappear again, and you won’t be able to find her.”
“I agree. I’d prefer for you to stay,” Shani said.
“I’ll do whatever I can to help you all, but I don’t know what to expect.” That was a bold lie. Arrigo knew exactly what Eleni was likely to do, and she had the advantage. She knew where to find him, and he had to filter through a city of millions to figure out where she was.
“That’s all we can ask.”
No, there was plenty more they could ask, but there were more questions than answers. That was something he needed to change. Slamming his sunglasses on, he braced himself for the afternoon sun as he left the building and headed to his bike. He called Siobhan, needing to hear her voice, needing to plan.
“Arrigo, did you hear there was another killing, this time at the bookstore?”
“Shani called me in for more questioning. We need to put in another call to Craig and see if we can get more people here. Rebecca, the clerk from the bookstore, wasn’t my friend any more than the bartender at the Kiss was. She seems to be going after literally anyone I talk to. I think she observed me just long enough to get pictures or whatever of the places I go and who interacts with me.”
“But not long enough to know who your friends are.” She finished his thought.
Arrigo swung onto his Harley but didn’t start it. “Yeah. We can’t possibly watch everyone. We’re barely getting sleep as it is just trying to watch Taabu and Luc.”
“You get back here, and I’ll call Craig. He seems to hate me less. What the hell did you do to the guy?”
“I have no clue. I usually avoid him. Get Hanako and Michael back there too. We need to plan our attack.”
“Consider it done.”
“Thanks.” Before heading home, he put in another call to Shifty’s to see if they could scare up a few more people willing to help. They were going to need every scrap they could get.
Chapter Seventeen
“I THINK we should swing by Luc’s bar since he should be there by now. I need him to tell me where he lives so we can watch over him better,” Arrigo said. He and Hanako had crapped out looking at the Las Vegas Academy Theater, part of the search agenda. He’d been investigating the theater as part of the ghost book and had gotten friendly with one of the teachers. The last damn thing he wanted was for Eleni to go after a bunch of kids to get back at him. At Hanako’s raised eyebrow, he added, “We know Eleni’s stalking my friends. She sent me a picture of Luc. I sent the number to the Chiaroscuro, but she’s using a burner phone.”
“Of course, and like you said, this city is too big for us to cover.”
“I sent Michael and Siobhan to Shifty’s. It’s my usual bar, and they might be able to convince a few people there to help us.” Arrigo shrugged. “But since it’s a Supernatural bar, I doubt Eleni would risk the off chance of meeting a member of the Chiaroscuro. Nanda, a local witch, agreed to watch over Taabu tonight, but she can’t do it often.” He straddled his motorcycle as he spoke.
“Good point,” Hanako said, climbing on behind him. She wrapped her arms around his waist. “Drive on.” Hanako’s outfit went well with it, leather jacket and halter and jeans. She was dressed perfectly for a biker bar. Of course, when he parked his vintage Harley in the Alibi’s lot, Arrigo knew it might be a mistake. It was too rich for this place. With any luck, he’d be in and out before Luc’s relatives or the bar’s patrons realized the expensive bike was there.
When they walked into the bar, Hanako slipped her jacket off. Twin rows of rings pierced her back with laces running through them in a faux corset, a striking effect but impractical. It would hurt like hell if someone grabbed it in a fight. Arrigo assumed as a witch, Hanako felt her magic would keep attackers at bay. Maybe he was old-fashioned—Pluto, he was simply old—but he didn’t like multiple piercings or a body covered in tattoos, not that she needed his approval. In his day slaves were tattooed. Otherwise tattoos were handed out as punishment. He tried to keep modern, but sometimes he failed.
“Nice place,” Hanako hissed, thinning her lips as they went inside.
“It’s lovely,” he agreed, looking past the various patrons, trying to spot Luc. He manned the bar. After putting a hand on Hanako’s arm, Arrigo led the way. Luc’s father worked beside him. His teeth ached with the need to rip out the man’s throat and drink him dry. From what little he knew about the man, he deserved a vicious end. He tore his gaze away before the man wondered why he was staring. Arrigo tightened his grip on Hanako’s arm, peripherally aware someone watched them.
Luc looked up at that moment. He widened his eyes slightly before glancing toward his father. What did Luc expect Arrigo would do? Out him? Mince around flapping his wrists like a queen? Or was he being hypersensitive? The wide eyes could as easily be for Hanako who was lovely and kinky, or so her outfit suggested. Luc had said he liked women too.
Hanako cleared a path to the bar more easily than Arrigo managed so far. One glassy-eyed guy, hugging the brass rail, clocked a look at Hanako’s back.
“Do you have a minute?” Arrigo asked Luc, once Luc’s father had turned to help another patron.
“Yeah. What’s up?”
“Have you seen—”
A loud banging cut into the question. Arrigo looked over as a man pounded his mug on the bar.
“I’m dying of thirst, pipsqueak.”
Arrigo recognized the idiot from the night of karaoke, Travis or something like that. Arrigo liked him even less at the moment, and he hadn’t thought that possible.
Luc shot Arrigo an apologetic look before fetching the beer for the man. Henri, in the meantime, spotted Arrigo, moving in like a jackal.
“Did your boyfriend not serve you?” Henri’s lip twisted into a sick sneer.
Arrigo’s fangs peeked out slightly. He really wanted to bury them right where he could see Henri’s pulse throbbing in his neck. “I’m standing here with one of my women.” He tried not to wince at how misogynistic that sounded but suspect it was something Henri would respond to. “Do you think that is called for?”
Henri shrugged. “Like I care. Who you gonna complain to in this dump?”
“Point taken.”
“Henri, are you being rude?” Luc hurried back over. “Don’t answer. I know you are.”
“Just making sure lover boy has everything he needs.” Henri made an obscene motion with his hands, making one of the barflies sneer.
“Pic kee toi, Henri.” Luc shoved him, and Henri would have shoved back—no doubt much harder—but a glare from their father quelled them.
“Besides, if anyone is lover boy, it’s you, right, doll baby?” Hanako leaned over the counter to stroke Luc’s cheek. “I came here hoping he’d come play with me tonight.”
“You and him? Cut me a break.” Henri snorted.
“Yeah, me and her,” Luc mumbled, not meeting his brother’s eye. Arrigo grinned, pleased Luc played along.
“He likes playing with piercings.” Hanako spun around, arching her back at the brothers. Arrigo raised an eyebrow at her.
Luc looked panicked for a moment, and then he rallied. “I really
love those. Didn’t ever know girls had them there.” Even though he was blushing, Arrigo could see Luc loved putting the screws to his brother.
“I thought she was your girl.” Henri eyed Arrigo.
“I said she was one of my girls. I don’t mind if she has other play toys.” Arrigo shrugged.
Hanako ran her finger along the line of Arrigo’s jaw. “So understanding.”
Henri and their father had stunned expressions.
“Always, my dear. Maybe Luc can take a break and play with you,” Arrigo said.
“He works until two in the morning,” Luc’s father snarled. “No breaks and definitely no play time.” He eyed Hanako as if she were something bad he stepped in, then shrugged. “If you still want him after that, he’s yours.” He slapped Luc’s shoulder.
“Pity. Guess we should get a drink and wait until after two,” Arrigo said. “By then Siobhan will be back, and we can all play.”
Luc went redder. Arrigo knew they’d probably pushed too far. Henri looked ready to explode.
“What can I get you?” Luc looked like he desperately wanted to shoo his relatives away but didn’t dare.
“Anything in a bottle?”
“Hey, Henri,” someone called, and both father and son turned at the sound of their shared name. “You need to check out the vintage Harley in the lot. Who the hell is the lucky bastard who owns that?” A tall block of muscle asked the question.
“It’s mine.”
“You?” Muscle-Block’s lip pulled up in a sneer. “Figures it takes a RUB to own that.”
At Hanako’s confused look, Arrigo whispered, “Rich urban biker.”
“I think I’ve had just about enough insults for today,” Hanako said. “Maybe we should go.”
Arrigo nodded. “Luc, can I ask a question before I go?”
“He doesn’t have time for questions.” Henri shoved Luc toward the end of the bar. Arrigo balled his fists, his fangs aching to descend. He wanted to yank Henri over the bar and end him, but that would make him little better than Eleni. He tried to press his will onto Henri to at least make him nicer to Luc for the night. It wouldn’t last, but it was worth a try. Henri’d been drinking so Arrigo wasn’t sure how well the suggestion took. “You can ask during play time,” he sneered. “Either order or go.”
“Have it your way.” Arrigo took Hanako’s hand, pulling her close so he could whisper in her ear. “Tell Luc to meet us in the alley behind the bar.”
Smiling, Hanako leaned over the bar, dragging Luc to her. She put her lips to his ear, whispering, then kissed his cheek. She linked arms with Arrigo, who strode out of the bar before a fight could break. On his way out, Arrigo couldn’t help letting the vampire peek out from behind the shield as he walked past Muscle-Block. The man didn’t know what he was seeing, but he sensed the superior dominance. For a moment Arrigo thought the man might piss himself, and he wanted to see it happen. Not a shining moment for him, but deep down, he remained a predator.
“That was a bust,” Hanako said.
“Yeah, I’m going to swing by Taabu’s place next just in case Eleni comes back around, and see if Nanda needs to go home,” he said. “But first, let’s see if Luc shows up.”
Hanako had no protest as Arrigo led her around the building into the nose-assaulting alley. Luc appeared a minute later, carrying a bag of garbage.
“I don’t have long. They know it don’t take time to whip this in the dumpster.” Luc tossed the bag in.
“Here, take this.” Arrigo pulled the folded pictures of Eleni and the guy they thought might be her Renfield out of his pocket. He wasn’t sure Siobhan’s sketch of Taabu’s weird client would be much help. Taabu had trouble describing him beyond his beard, which could be gone by now, but it was all they had. He’d brought them since Luc’s ancient cell phone couldn’t receive picture texts. “This is a picture of that crazy ex I was telling you about and this drawing is her new boyfriend who seems to be helping her hurt my friends. That’s really why Hanako and I came here tonight, to give you that.”
Luc took it, slipping them into his own threadbare pocket without trying to look at them in the barely lit alley. “Okay, thanks. You really think she’d come here? Ain’t the sort of place women come unless they’re with a biker group.”
“She might if she knows I’ve been here,” Arrigo said.
“And we’re pretty sure she does,” Hanako added.
Luc took a step back toward the door. “Yeah. I gotta get back in there. Jesus help me if Da has to come looking for me.”
“I understand. Just be careful. If she shows up, Luc, don’t be alone with her. Call me the first moment you can, and I’ll come, no matter the time of day. Trust me when I say she is more than capable of hurting you.”
“Got it. Thanks. I’ll do that.”
“And tell me where you live.”
Luc narrowed his eyes. “Why? It’s the shit side of town and you can’t come there. Henri might kill us both.”
“I’m not going to visit, but I need to be sure she doesn’t try to get at you there.”
Luc scowled but told him before disappearing back inside the bar. Arrigo sighed heavily.
“You did what you could.” Hanako laid a hand on his arm.
Arrigo stared at the battered door. “But is it enough?” He feared it wasn’t but at least Luc had been warned. He could have Michael check out Luc’s neighborhood. As for himself, he’d go into the office and keep an eye on Taabu. He’d catch up on sleep in his office chair if he had to, but at least he’d be within shouting distance.
ONCE BACK behind the bar, Luc unfolded the picture he had put in his pocket, leaving the sketch of the man where it was. He figured Arrigo hadn’t made this up just to have an excuse to drop by the bar. Luc studied her picture, thinking she was kind of pretty, somehow familiar, but he hadn’t seen any blondes around lately, at least none that looked like her. Suddenly the picture was jerked from his fingers before he could be sure he’d memorized it.
Travis danced the paper up and down. “What do we have here? You can’t be reading, didn’t see your lips moving.”
Standing next to him, Henri laughed. “It has a picture on it. Put some jalapeno poppers in for us.” He cuffed Luc on the arm. “Let’s see it.”
“Lookee here, it’s a lady. Now what were you doing with this? Jerking off?” Travis handed the picture to Henri.
Luc tried to grab it, but Travis caught his fingers, bending them back. Luc jerked away. “Don’t be stupid. Like I’d be doing that here. The picture is mine. Give it back.” He didn’t want to tell them Arrigo gave it to him. They’d spin that to make it something it wasn’t. Okay, it actually was what they’d think, but he didn’t need them thinking at all.
“Where did you download this?” his brother asked.
“Ain’t none of your business. Give it to me.”
“What’s taking so long?” Carrie groused from the table his brother had been sitting at.
“We’re admiring Luc’s new imaginary girlfriend.” Henri laughed, taking the picture over to the table. “He’s trying to convince us he ain’t a candi barre.”
“Hey! And didn’t you just see that hot woman I would have gone home with tonight if I wasn’t stuck here!” Luc started after Henri, but Travis stepped into his path.
“Add some wings to that order.” Travis slapped Luc’s arm before joining Henri and Carrie.
Ignoring their food requests, Luc abandoned the bar, stalking to their table. “Come on, Henri. Give it back to me.”
Henri crumpled the photo. “Oops. Guess you can straighten it out.”
“What are you? Ten?” Luc growled.
“Think fast!” Henri pumped his arm as if to throw the ball of paper. Luc tensed. Those two words usually preceded a baseball being drilled into his face or his crotch. Instead, Henri dropped it into the pitcher of beer, and his friends howled with laughter.
Carrie flicked a finger against the plastic. “Better get us a new one.”
Luc snatched the pitcher off the table and fished the photo out. By the time he could straighten it out against the bar, the ink had run. There would be no identifying her now. He dumped the beer and went to wait on someone else first. Fuck his brother and his idiot friends. Luc would have to find Arrigo and get another photo. Somehow that took the sting out of it.
Chapter Eighteen
LUC HAD never been to a psychic. It struck him as an odd lapse, growing up as he had outside of New Orleans. Of course, they were very expensive, all things considered. He’d always had more important things to spend his money on. The storefront of Taabu and Giancarlo’s Psychic Advisement and Paranormal Investigations didn’t look like much. How could Arrigo afford a high-rise that Luc knew cost millions if he worked there?
A nervous tremor ran up Luc’s spine. Living with his family had given him a well-developed sense of mistrust. Arrigo probably had been fronting, saying he lived in Veer Towers. The pass Arrigo had made at Luc was genuine. The blowjob was proof. Maybe he needed Luc to think he had money or, worse, needed to feel superior to him. Well, he was here now, so Luc decided he might as well go in and tell Arrigo about the destroyed photo, just in case the crazy ex was more real than his Veer Towers suite. He should have told Arrigo about the photo at the aquarium, but he’d been so rattled to see Arrigo there, it slipped his mind.
Two other people waited in the lobby, an older woman and a young Hispanic girl. He wondered what kind of fortunes people wanted told in Vegas. Soft music played, and incense tickled his nose. There was a wooden door to the left, and the door to the right was mere beads dangling down in a colorful curtain.
“You have to sit and wait if you want to see Taabu,” the older lady said, eyeing him like he was going to line jump her.
“I’m here for her partner, Arrigo.”
“Knock on the door and hope he’s in there.” The Hispanic girl smiled, pointing to the wooden door. The old lady still kept a wary eye on him. “He isn’t often in the office.”