“Such a Grinch.” She ruffled his dark curls, and he grinned, albeit while sighing on the inside. The Renaud family had given a Halloween charity benefit since way before Nox’s birth – it had been a special project of his beloved mother’s before the tragedy and, despite his solitary nature, Nox could not bear to dishonor his mother’s legacy.
His eyes flicked over to the framed picture of her and Teague, his adored elder brother, on the kitchen counter. Both of them dark and beautiful, laughing, hugging. Both of them gone so senselessly.
The tragedy of the Renaud family was known throughout Louisiana, and beyond. Tynan Renaud, a respected business man, adoring husband of the Italian born Gabriella, heroic father to his sons, Teague and Nox, had a psychotic break and gunned down his wife and eldest son one night before turning the gun on himself. Nox, away at college, had been destroyed. Dropping out of college and coming home to the huge plantation mansion out on the Bayou, he had struggled for years to understand what his father had done. Amber, and his other friends had tried to persuade him to sell the place where his mother and brother had been murdered, but Nox refused. He took over his brother’s business with his friend, Sandor, and together they had made a success of it, Nox pouring twenty hours a day into the work. Luxury food importing had never been his dream -was it anyone’s? - but he had found something he was good at and that was enough for him. His boyhood dreams of being a musician were pushed aside for something that would utterly distract him. The studio his mother had set aside for both of them work in had stood empty for almost twenty years now…as had Nox’s heart.
He realized he wasn’t listening to Amber now and apologized. She rolled her blue eyes. “Nox, I’m used to you spacing out on me, but listen, this is your party. I’m just saying, for a change, why can’t you be more gregarious? These people pay a lot of money to come here.”
“Mostly to see the murder house,” he mumbled and Amber made an annoyed click with her tongue.
“Maybe so, but the money we raise goes to a good cause, doesn’t it? Something good to come out of…damn it, Nox, you’re not the only one who lost someone.” To his horror, he saw tears in her eyes. He reached over and took her hand.
“Ambs, I’m sorry, I know. I miss Ariel too, every day.” He sighed. So much pain, so much death. Amber was right; he needed to get out of this self-pitying funk.
“All I ask is for you to do your part on the night. Mingle, talk to your guests.” Amber’s tone was calmer now and she smiled at him, her face soft, her eyes on his, holding them for a beat too long. Nox nodded, looking away finally.
“I promise.”
After Amber had gone, he wandered into his living room and flicked on the television. Local news station WDSU was doing a feature on Halloween New Orleans, the magical, manic mayhem of the festival the city threw every October. Nox sighed and waited for the inevitable mention of his party. “Wait for it,” he muttered to himself, “Will it be the Renaud Family Curse or the Mansion with The Dark Secrets, first?”
The anchor looked seriously. “Of course, before the festivities kick off on Halloween night, the New Orleans elite will gather at the Renaud mansion out on the Bayou. Regular viewers will know that the annual ‘Creepy Cocktails’ Gala Benefit is held every year at the place some locals call the mansion with a dark history. More on that after these messages.”
Nox clicked off the television with an annoyed flick of his hand. Same story, every year and now his guests who watched the news would be all the more curious about the only remaining Renaud. Damn it.
His cellphone rang and he answered it gratefully. “Sandor, man, you have impeccable timing.”
His friend laughed. “Any time. Listen, we may have a deal on the Laurent place out on Burgundy St.”
Nox sat up. “Really?” The Laurent mansion was worth twice what they offered, but had been on the market for two years with no interest. Nox knew if they got it cheaper and refurbished it, it could make them a fortune. He and Sandor had decided to branch out into property management as a new income stream – not that either of them needed it, but they both were bored with their business. They wanted to get their hands dirty and renovate something, something physical rather than just importing food for, well, people like them.
“Yep. Gustav Laurent is getting a divorce and he wants rid of the property quickly.”
Nox was astonished. “Gus is divorcing Kathryn?”
“Seems so. Seems like she was sleeping around on him.”
Nox made a half-amused, half-scornful noise. “Like Gustav hasn’t been fucking around on her for years.”
“You know Gus.”
“Sadly, yes. Listen, I can be there in a half hour.”
“Good,” Sandor said, “And, afterward, I’ll spot you lunch. Deal?”
Nox smiled down the phone. “Deal. See you then.”
Livia Chatelaine balanced three plates expertly along her left arm and carried them to the table. The two women and the child smiled gratefully at her as she laid their food in front of them and gave them a grin. “Enjoy, folks. Let me know if you need anything else.”
She skirted back to another table waiting for their check and dealt with it efficiently and with her innate friendliness. She had been working at the La Chat Noir café in the French Quarter for three months now, ever since she had packed her whole life into her battered old Gremlin and driven across the country from San Diego. Moriko, her best friend from college, had been in New Orleans for a year and had gotten her the job at the café – it didn’t hurt that the owner, a handsome, dark-haired Frenchman called Marcel, had a huge crush on Moriko and would have hired anyone she recommended. Thankfully, though, Livia and Marcel had become good friends and Livia showed up early, stayed late and worked her ass off for him. In return, he gave her the shifts that fit best with her studies and paid her enough that she could afford the tiny apartment she shared with Moriko.
Livia had decided, as she left San Diego, that she wouldn’t return to her hometown again. It held no interest for her now, and no family that she cared about. An only child, her mother had died when she was young and Livia had brought herself up, worked hard at school and at various jobs to put food on the table while her father drank himself into a stupor every night and screamed at her if she disturbed him. Livia had stopped caring years ago about the man. As far as she was concerned, he was merely the sperm donor. What she remembered of her mother were warm, happy memories. Cancer was a fucker and it stole her happiness away when she was five. Her last memory of her mother was her kissing Livia goodbye one day before she went to school and that was the last time she had seen her. Her father hadn’t let her see her after she died.
Livia had put herself through college on a scholarship and working three jobs and it had become second nature to always fight and scrape for everything. It gave her energy, reason and when she graduated top of her class, it had all been worth it. Her tutors had been loath to let her go and had championed her to apply for post-graduate research scholarships but it had taken Livia four years to finally secure an offer from the University of New Orleans.
“Hey, dreamer.” Moriko nudged Livia out of her reverie and her friend smiled at her. Moriko, a tiny Japanese-American, exquisitely beautiful and knew it, hoisted herself up onto the counter. “Marcel needs a favor.”
Livia hid a grin. When Marcel sent Moriko to do his dirty work, it meant that whatever the favor was, it would be a big, and probably an inconvenient, one. “What is it?”
“Well, he’s been asked to cater for the Renaud party on Saturday. You know which one I mean?”
Livia shook her head. “Nope.”
Moriko rolled her eyes. “It’s an annual thing Nox Renaud does. He throws a ‘Creepy Cocktails’ party and gives a ton of money to charity.”
“Never heard of him, or it. So, what’s the favor?” Livia thought she could guess. Marcel needed wait staff and a moment later, Moriko confirmed her suspicions.
“He was going to hire in silve
r service staff, but apparently they don’t want anything but canapes and cocktails. Silver service staff would cost him more than he’s making so…”
Livia smiled at her. “It’s no problem. Usually uniform?” She pulled down on her too-tight white shirt and tucked it back into the black mini she wore to serve. It barely contained her lush curves, her full breasts and softly curved belly. Her legs, long and slender were encased in black tights and she wore flat pumps, absolutely refusing to wear heels to wait on tables. Livia wasn’t the tallest but her long legs made her look taller than her five-five, and her long tawny waves were her crowning glory. Almost waist length, she had pulled her hair into a bun, but it was forever escaping the clips. Moriko grabbed it now and twisted it up for her. Livia shot her a grateful smile. “Thanks, boo. I really should cut it all off.”
“No way,” Moriko said, her own shiny black hair falling in a straight curtain down her back. “I’d kill for your curls.”
“So, Saturday night, waitressing for the rich mukety-mucks?”
“I’ll be there too. Hey at least we get to snoop around the rich guy’s house.”
Livia sighed to herself. She honestly didn’t mind helping Marcel out but she had very little time for rich boys with too much money. She’d had to wait on them enough in her time.
She went back out to the café and grimaced. Two regulars had just come into the restaurant. Talking of rich mukety-mucks, she thought, and plastered a fake smile on her face. The woman, an icy looking blonde with bright red lipstick and icy-blue eyes looked at her dismissively. “Shaved turkey salad and a mango-tini.” She didn’t look at the menu once. Her companion, a suave looking man who at least smiled at Livia and said please and thank you when he came in, nodded.
“Same for me please, Liv, good to see you again.”
Livia smiled at him. She judged him for the company he kept, but if she was fair, he was always polite to her. She knew his companion was called Odelle, and her father was one of the richest men in the state. It didn’t impress Livia. “You too, sir. Sure I can’t interest either of you in some French fries to go with your salad?”
Odelle looked horrified, but her companion grinned. “Why not?”
Livia grinned and disappeared into the kitchen. Marcel slunk in and smiled at her. “Thanks for Saturday, Livvy. I’ll pay you double.”
She kissed his cheek. “No problem, pal.”
Marcel, his eyes so dark you couldn’t see the pupils, nodded to the restaurant. “I see Elsa and Lumiere are in the restaurant.”
Livia laughed. “You’re getting your Disney’s all mixed up, and anyway, he’s okay. But, yeah, she is the Ice Queen.”
“Don’t let their wealth get to you. It was all inherited, not earned.”
“Oh, I know, and it doesn’t both me. Money can’t buy breeding,” Livia shrugged off the woman’s rudeness. “I can honestly say these people and their ways don’t keep me up at night, Marcel.”
“I’m just saying because I know the man, Roan Saintmarc is Nox Renaud’s best friend so more than likely, they’ll be at the party on Saturday.” Marcel grinned at Livia, who rolled her eyes. “Just promise me you won’t tip their meals into their laps.”
Livia snorted. “I promise, honey.”
“Good girl.”
Livia finished out her shift, then walked home through the busy streets of the French Quarter. She had fallen in love with this city, the slow, sensual heat, the sultry laid-back nature of the people. Strangely, for a city known for its voodoo and black magic, she had never felt uneasy walking the night streets here.
Moriko was still at work when Livia got back to their apartment and so Livia took a long hot shower then made herself a bowl of soup, grabbing some saltines from the pack in the kitchen. As she ate, she flicked through the television channels, but soon got bored. Dumping her bowl in the sink, she washed it out then decided to go to bed to read. She had a piano recital coming up and she wanted to go through the score again, miming her key strokes in the air. She fell asleep with Moriko’s cat cuddling in next to her, and didn’t hear her roommate come home.
Out on the bayou, Nox too had fallen into a deep sleep but his was not so peaceful. Almost instantly the nightmares had returned. A woman, a beautiful young woman he knew but one whose face he could not see, was calling to him, begging him to save her. There was blood, so much blood, and he ran through the darkened mansion, wading through blood it seemed, to get to her. A dark, malevolent force overcame everything, stopping Nox from reaching the girl. He heard her scream cut off abruptly and knew he was too late. He sank to his knees.
He felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up. His mother, smiling at him. “Don’t you know you’ll never save them?” she said, softly, “Everyone you love will die, my beloved son. I died, your father, your brother…Ariel. You’ll always be alone.”
Nox awoke, gasping for air and sweating, the certainty of his dream mother’s words screaming around his mind. Don’t fall in love. Don’t risk it.
Don’t let anyone else get hurt.
Chapter Two
Odelle Griffongy lit another cigarette and stood out on the balcony of her bedroom. She hated this holiday, hated this party, and yet Roan, of course, wanted to support his best friend Nox and so now they were getting dressed to attend. Thank fuck Nox never stated fancy dress at the cocktail party – Odelle would have feigned a headache otherwise.
She looked back into the bedroom where Roan was dressing, his dark grey suit spectacular with his coloring – mid brown hair, bright blue eyes. Ripped to the max, his hard body and his huge cock made him a machine in bed. Roan Saintmarc was, with the exception of Nox, the handsomest man in New Orleans, probably the state and he was hers.
Odelle might have been brought up in the upper echelons of New Orleans society but she knew her brittle beauty would only last so long, that her cool, aloof nature wouldn’t make her many friends. That’s why she was staggered when Roan, known as the fun-loving one in his group of Harvard grad friends, made a play for her. He could have had anyone.
Odelle turned back to see the crowds on the streets of the city. New Orleans went crazy for Halloween, parties everywhere, people haunting the streets, the locals playing up the myths and legends to sell more drink, food and tourist crap. The normally serene street where Odelle and her cohorts lived were no different: pumpkins and Jack O’ Lanterns, trees bedecked with twinkle lights and fake cobwebs, and Odelle’s least favorite thing, kids trick or treating at every house.
Her doorbell rang now and although Odelle knew her staff would answer it, she couldn’t help an irritated “Oh, fuck off.” Her voice carried down to the street and behind her, she heard Roan’s throaty laugh.
“Don’t be a bitch, Delly. It’s a rite of passage, trick or treating.”
Odelle made a disgusted noise. “I never did that.”
Roan smiled at her, sliding his arms around her waist. “No, you were too busy casting spells and mixing potions.”
Odelle studied him coolly. “You think I’m a witch?”
“Cue cheesy line from me about you casting a spell on me. No, baby, I don’t think you’re a witch, and, mostly, not even a bitch. You just have a warmth deficiency.” He said it with a grin, and although Odelle knew he meant it as a joke, it still stung.
Because it’s true, she told herself. What is wrong with me? Why can’t I be more like Roan? Or Nox, whose heart was so big it actually scared Odelle? Or even Amber, her frenemy, who had once had a thing with Roan. No, Odelle told herself, don’t go there. Not tonight. She attempted a smile as Roan brushed his lips against hers.
“You’re right. It’s just one night.”
“That’s my girl.” Roan looked her up and down in her tight black dress and when his gaze met hers, Odelle saw the desire in his eyes. “Nox won’t mind if we’re a little late.”
Odelle smiled, and turning, she bent over the balcony and hitched her skirt up to her waist. She heard Roan chuckle.
“Out here
? What will the neighbors think?” But then, with a grunt, she felt him thrust into her from behind, his massive cock reaming her cunt as he gripped the metal balustrade with both hands. Odelle closed her eyes, reveling in the feeling of him filling her so entire. Her hand drift down and stroked her clit as he fucked her and soon she was moaning and shivering through one orgasm after another, not caring who heard her. Roan was a brutal lover, especially when he came, and Odelle winced as he thrust harder and harder until he blew his load inside of her and withdrew, panting for air and cursing softly with release. He spun her around and ground his mouth down on hers. “God, woman, you drive me fucking crazy.”
Odelle smiled and squeezed his diminishing cock in her hands. “Do that to me once more and then we can go to the party.”
And they began again.
Livia and Moriko helped Marcel and his sous-chef Caterina – Cat – load the trays of canapes into the restaurant’s van and then Liv and Moriko rode in the back as they drove to the Renaud Mansion. Livia was trying to keep the trays from tipping and tie her thick mane up into a chignon at the same time, but the weight of it would not stay clipped. Moriko grinned at her.
“Just pull it back. You’ll never get it all up.”
“I refuse to be beaten,” Livia muttered and eventually, Moriko pushed her hands away from her mane.
“Let me.”
As Livia held the trays of food, Moriko deftly worked Liv’s hair into a messy bun at the nape of her neck. “That’s the best you’re going to get, girl, so live with it.”
Livia tentatively patted it. “You’re a miracle worker. From now on, I’ll pay you to be my hair wrangler.”
Moriko laughed. “You couldn’t afford me.”
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