by Jana Denardo
“Or it means there was never any God in the first place.”
Arrigo sighed. “I can’t answer that. No one can. That’s the thing about faith and religion, it’s intangible, unprovable. I’ve seen unshatterable faith, and I’ve seen faith crack like glass. I see no harm in you keeping your faith.”
Luc leaned against him. “Do you really mean that?”
“Faith can be a wonderful thing, Luc. The only caveat I would add is I see no harm so long as you don’t allow anyone to twist your beliefs to make you feel horrible about who and what you are. That priest of yours perverted the meaning of faith, if you ask me.”
“Thanks.” Luc smiled, fingering the cross under his T-shirt. “You’re probably right.”
“Tell you what, I’ll ask around and see if I can find some vampires who have held to their faith. It might not necessarily be Catholicism, but it might help you to talk to people who are more religious than me.”
“I appreciate that.” Luc reached down and squeezed Arrigo’s hand.
“I don’t know if it helps or makes things worse, but I remember when the cult of Christ first appeared in Rome.”
“I… don’t know what to say to that.”
Arrigo smiled wryly. “I’m older than Jesus. I remember the terrible things people of my faith did to them and then, in turn the terrible things the Christians did to the pagans. I’m not sure I’m the one to talk to you about this. Siobhan either. That’s why I said I’d find you someone.”
Luc shook his head. “You could have met Jesus. I can barely believe that.”
“I certainly could have but I wasn’t in that part of the world at that time. I almost wished I were in a way. It might have been something to see. Of course there are a ton of vampires who claim they were there when Jesus was crucified, but most of them are full of crap.” Arrigo snorted. “I can tell you I wasn’t, not my friend Fadil either. But the two of us have lived long enough to see our religions die and our gods become fodder for fantasy novels.”
“Sad.” Luc leaned in and rested his head against Arrigo’s shoulder. “Totally new topic, but I have to ask. Did you whammy me back before I knew better?”
“No. Almost,” Arrigo admitted. Siobhan knew about it. He couldn’t be sure she hadn’t told Luc, and this was a test of his morality, which he suspected he was flunking in Luc’s eyes.
“Really?” Luc sat back with eyes wide and horrified. “What stopped you?”
“You had bruises all over your neck. That’s how I knew you were being hurt. It’s when I decided I wanted to help you. I couldn’t prey on you after seeing that. It felt like crossing a line even though I wouldn’t have hurt you any more than any other meal I take.” He stroked Luc’s neck.
Luc flinched away. “So I was a charity case, like I said?”
“When did charity become such a dirty word?” Arrigo huffed, rapping his knuckles against the bench. “Yes, if you want to put it that way, yes. It doesn’t make my desire to help any less true.”
“Yeah, I know. I said I wanted to talk about something happier, and look what I did with that.” Luc turned his attention back to the sky. “Winter’s coming soon enough. It’ll be darker earlier. Maybe we could go fishing then. No worrying about how we get meals, no damned Eleni. Just me boring you to death with fishing rods.” Luc’s smile seemed happier this time.
Arrigo snorted. “I haven’t fished in ages. I’ll probably hook you.”
“I will be pissed if you do.” Luc chuckled. “Am I gonna have to bait your hook?”
“I’m sure I’ll manage.” Arrigo hit him with massive stink eye.
“Do you bowl?”
Arrigo blinked. That was a change of topics he couldn’t have anticipated. “No. I mean I’ve done it a time or two, but no.”
“I’ll take you to the Red Rock Lanes. On weekends they’re open twenty-four hours a day. We had a crappy alley back home. Mostly we went there to drink and smoke and pretend we weren’t scamming on girls.” Luc shrugged. “I can bowl. We can go to that KISS Monsters of Rock mini golf thing, give you the whole redneck experience.”
Arrigo laughed. “Really?”
“Hey, I don’t want to hang out in the condo all night, and bars get old. Casinos require money I ain’t got, and it gets boring too, watching the slots whirl. I can’t take Lily and her kids out anymore, but you and Siobhan are different. Oh. Hey, I do kinda have money from Shifty’s now. Want to go zip-lining on Fremont? I know it’s touristy and stupid, but I’ve always wanted to zip-line, and it’s open after dark.”
Arrigo pulled Luc against his shoulder. “So for you, happy talk is let’s go dangle way up in the air and rocket our way down a stupid wire?”
Luc rolled his eyes. “Please, like a fall from there would kill us, right? Does Siobhan know you’re kinda chicken about some things?”
Arrigo kissed Luc’s cheek, then brushed his fangs over Luc’s lips and nipped him. Luc jumped in surprise. “I’m not a chicken. I’m not an adrenaline junkie. There’s a difference.”
“Are you sure?” Luc teased.
“Mostly.”
“Arrigo, I’m afraid if I stop talking, all the crappy parts of today are going to drown me,” Luc said suddenly.
Arrigo’s heart ached. “I understand.”
“Let’s walk some more.” Luc stood. “Just talk, walk, and not think about nothing much.”
Arrigo nodded, getting to his feet. “I’d like that.”
He knew it wouldn’t solve their problems, but for a few hours, they could forget them.
Chapter Thirty-Three
THE NOONDAY sun in Vegas during late summer always made Arrigo rethink his sanity in living here. The fantastic nightlife offset the misery of the brutal sunlight. Thank the gods for air-conditioning. Arrigo never forgot how enamored of it he’d been when it was first available in homes. He still swore it was colder in the seventies before they realized the danger of Freon. Normally he wouldn’t venture out in the middle of the afternoon, especially when he’d been happily curled around Luc, but today was an important day. The celebration couldn’t be at night, or at least not all night. Luc would be safe enough in the Veer with all its security and floor-specific keys to reach the resident levels, all of which came with video surveillance. The elevators to the penthouse wouldn’t move without those keys, and vampires couldn’t fly. It had been two days since Eleni had texted him the picture, and the Chiaroscuro had pulled some of the reinforcements in Vegas to send them to Reno after her. Shani’s partner, Jesus, had gone to Reno as a task force representative, given how close that murder mirrored the ones Eleni had committed here.
Siobhan met him, coming from her new place, having moved out so Luc could have the second bedroom. Luc was just getting comfortable with sharing a bed so Siobhan had moved out a few weeks back. With her was Cheryl, a newcomer to town but not to the Chiaroscuro. Tall, middle-aged, and Rubenesque, the witch had a cheery attitude, and her magic packed a wallop. Arrigo hoped Taabu would hit it off with her because he’d requested Cheryl come and keep an eye on Taabu during the day, just in case Eleni had more than one Renfield, who might have stayed behind. Marina Gonzales had been glad to send Cheryl to Vegas, now in command of the southwestern branch of the Chiaroscuro. Craig had been temporarily suspended, pending investigation of his handling of everything to do with Eleni. That had brought a smile to Arrigo’s face. He hoped they could sell Taabu on the idea of Cheryl staying at her apartment as well if she wouldn’t stay with him or Shani.
Together they drove to the psychic shop. Given how many cars were parked around the shop, Arrigo was surprised his own spot was free. The noise of Taabu’s welcome-back party could be heard from outside the building. A few dozen people packed their lobby and Taabu’s office, happy to have their psychic back. Arrigo ogled the setting, a bit overwhelmed. He knew people loved Taabu. He hadn’t realized she had been missed by this many.
A half-eaten cake rested on the coffee table in the front lobby, surrounded by little
paper plates. On one stand perched a punchbowl swimming with some red fruit concoction. Arrigo smelled the sweet fruit from where he stood.
“Arri!” Taabu threw her hands up in the air at seeing him. She flew across the room to give him a big hug and kiss. He held her close, the scent of sandalwood incense clinging to her hair. “You came. I didn’t think I could get you out of bed this early in the day.”
He snorted. “It was tough.”
“Especially with the sweet warm body you have next to you in it.” Siobhan nudged him.
Taabu’s dark eyes lit up. “Lucky him.”
“Taabu, you remember my friend, Siobhan, and this is Cheryl. I wanted to talk to you and Shani about something when you get a minute,” he said.
“Of course. Have some cake.”
“Thanks. This is a nice place you two have here,” Cheryl said, weaving between two old men to get some cake. She flirted with them a little when they did the same with her.
“Thank you. Go on, Arrigo, Siobhan, have some. It’s delicious. It has strawberry filling.” Taabu smacked her lips.
“I’m not much on cake,” Arrigo said.
“That’s probably why you didn’t grow so very tall.” Taabu patted his shoulder. She had at least an inch on him.
Arrigo scowled. He’d been a big man back in his original era. It wasn’t his fault humanity kept inching up like weeds while his body was stuck in the BCs. “You’re thinking of protein. Cake makes you grow out, not up.”
“So it does,” Cheryl said, closing her eyes as she savored a bit of cake. “So worth it.”
In the end Arrigo took his cake and opened up his own office. He and Siobhan sat down while Cheryl floated around with Taabu’s customers, starting up conversations as if she’d known those people her entire life. Arrigo rocked his chair back and put his feet up on the desk. Maybe he could get a nap while he waited for Taabu to find time to talk to him.
“Too bad you couldn’t bring Luc,” Siobhan said.
So much for a nap. “Not really his scene even if he could come out in the day. He’s not tremendously comfortable with crowds at the best of time. I’m not sure if he’s an introvert per se but he has a definite lack of self-confidence.”
“Which is why bringing him might have helped.” Siobhan glanced toward the open door. “Maybe after dark. Isn’t she going to do readings after the party?”
He nodded, swinging back out of his chair. He lay down on the couch and put the cake plate on his chest. He was worn out from a night of impatiently trying to teach Luc the finer points of telling a Supernatural from a Normal. He simply wasn’t a natural mentor. “For anyone willing to stay, she’s doing half-price readings. I’m sure she’ll be here till midnight. I might bring Luc by then. We’ll see.”
“Who comes to a party and sleeps?” Shani asked, poking her head into his office.
“That boy of his must be keeping him up nights,” Taabu said, sailing past her sister.
“Maybe.” Arrigo smiled as he sat up. Siobhan left his office, presumably to get Cheryl.
“Everybody’s got cake and are talking, so I have a minute,” Taabu said, sitting in the chair by his desk. “What’s up?”
Arrigo held up a finger. A few moments later Siobhan returned with Cheryl and closed the door. “You know Shani and I wanted someone here with you for a while, Taabu, just in case.”
She narrowed her eyes. “I’m painfully aware of that.”
“Cheryl will be here working with my notes. For all anyone knows, she’s helping me write my book.”
Taabu stood and eyed Cheryl. She crossed the room and stuck out her hand. She smiled, relaxing as they shook hands. “You have power, such a warm strong aura.”
“Thank you. You do as well.”
“Okay, I guess being alone here gets lonely anyhow. Sure, why not? We could have fun,” Taabu said.
Cheryl smiled. “I hope so.”
“Arrigo and I also think you could stay with him and Luc for a little while at the apartment. He has a second bedroom,” Shani said, and Taabu made a face.
“Is that necessary?”
“With my crazy ex, probably.” Arrigo hoped Shani could talk Taabu into it. Eleni was much more of an after-hours threat.
Since you won’t stay with me, it’s either you move in with Arrigo for a little while, or Cheryl’s staying with you,” Shani said.
Taabu sighed. “Won’t you be uncomfortable, Cheryl?”
“New roommates are always tough,” Cheryl replied with a shrug. “It will only be for a few weeks. I’m game if you are.”
“Too bad you couldn’t convince that cutie you had watching over me before to move in,” Taabu said, holding up her hands. “No offense, Cheryl.”
Arrigo squinted at her.
“Michael,” Siobhan clarified.
He snorted. “Michael’s more prickly than cute. You’re better off with Cheryl, less of a pain in the ass.”
“To you I’m sure he is a pain, two alpha males. Might have been different with me.” Taabu sighed.
“He lost his girlfriend to the person who attacked you,” Arrigo said. “That’s why Shani was so insistent that you leave.”
Taabu covered her mouth. “I didn’t know. All right, we can try it. Are we done, Arrigo? I don’t want to keep my guests waiting on the other side of a closed door.”
“That’s all.”
“Fine. We can work the details out tomorrow. Shani is staying over tonight anyhow. I’ll be fine,” Taabu said. “And you, Arrigo, go socialize.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He grinned at her, and she rolled her eyes before opening the door and rejoining her party. “That was easier than I expected.”
“That’s because she’s more frightened than she wanted to let on,” Shani replied, giving him a knowing look.
Arrigo didn’t doubt it. At least now Taabu would be a little safer and he could rest easier than he had in a while.
LUC PULLED the laundry out of the dryer. The condo had been lightproofed enough he could get into most places other than the big living room. It was late afternoon and he could hear Arrigo in the living room. He’d been out at Taabu’s welcome-back party. Now Arrigo seemed to be yelling at the History Channel about how inaccurate their program on Rome was. Well, he’d be in the position to know.
Luc put Arrigo’s shirts in the closet while Gaius eyed him from the bed. The lazy cat sauntered over, gave him a sniff, then headed out the door. Luc turned back to his task. Arrigo’s other shirts and slacks were neatly hung, almost perfectly spaced. He rolled his eyes. His boyfriend could be such a fusspot. There was no way he was going to hang shirts using a ruler. Luc jammed them onto the rack. Arrigo could finish redoing it however he pleased later.
At stubbing his toe on something, Luc looked down at a large plastic storage container on the closet floor. He hated boxes because they tempted him. He knew he shouldn’t look, but he wanted to know what was in it.
“Luc, you didn’t have to put my clothes away.”
Luc turned to see Arrigo standing in the doorway. He shrugged. “You let me stay in your home. Helping with the chores is the least I could do.”
“You don’t stay here. You’re living with me.”
Luc bit his bottom lip. He wasn’t used to being in anything remotely like a relationship. “All right, point taken, but I still need to do my share of the work. I don’t mind doing laundry.”
“Thank you.” Arrigo cast a critical eye over the lump of shirts hanging higgledy-piggledy. He started straightening them. “You want to know what’s in the box, don’t you?”
Luc flushed. “I stubbed my toe, that’s all.”
“It’s all right. I’ll show you.” The smile that crossed Arrigo’s face made Luc’s pulse jump. As Arrigo knelt down, his dark ponytail obscured half his face, turning the jump to full-on mambo. Luc widened his eyes, seeing an ancient sword, some dark brown metal coins, and something that looked like a cock and balls with wings. Arrigo lifted the sword almost reverentl
y. “It’s a gladius, my gladius that I used when I was with the Roman army.” Arrigo stood up and handed it to Luc.
Luc couldn’t believe he was touching something that old. Ancient Roman stuff was what you saw in museums, or slept with if you happened to be him. “Wow, that’s amazing.”
“I have a lot of stuff from over the centuries, most of it in storage, but a few things I always keep with me, like my gladius.”
“And that winged dick thing.” Luc grinned, handing the sword back.
Arrigo laughed as he exchanged the sword for the cock. “It’s a fascinus.”
Luc turned it over in his hands. The wings were only on one side. On the other there was a fist wrapped around the balls. “You carried a bronze dick around?”
“Yes! Fascinus, the divine phallus, was one of our gods. His symbol you’re holding was considered protective against the evil eye and other witchcraft. Most of the soldiers had a fascinus.”
Luc tried not to laugh. “You worshipped a big dick?”
“Not quite, but it was important.” Arrigo plucked the phallus out of Luc’s hand. “I think by now you’re realized I enjoy worshipping cock.”
“I have.” He put his arms around Arrigo’s neck and kissed him. Arrigo thrust his tongue into Luc’s mouth with his usual greediness as he slid his strong hands down Luc’s back. Luc ground his hips against Arrigo’s. He didn’t know what it was about Arrigo that made him let go of all the shit beliefs he’d had most his life. It was like he’d been given a new life, all gift-wrapped and shiny.
The light, playful kiss heated and burned away Luc’s worries. Warmth pooled in his belly, working its way lower. Looping his arms around Arrigo, Luc pressed against him, trying to touch as much of him as possible. Images danced in his mind, clear as the sea on a cloudless day. He knew what he wanted. It was time. He trusted Arrigo like no one he’d ever known.
“I want you to make love to me,” Luc whispered, guiding Arrigo back toward the bed.