by J. L. McCoy
“Come on, guys,” Quinn said quietly, “let’s give her some peace.”
I heard the room clear out and I sighed in relief. I crossed my arms on the table and roughly put my head down on them. This day can’t possibly get any worse.
“Careful,” Archer said gently. “The day isn’t over yet.”
I groaned and lifted my head to see him standing in the kitchen doorway, his arms crossed over his chest, a sympathetic look on his face. I groaned again and put my head back down. “I can’t deal with this shit anymore,” I mumbled into the table. “Everyone is mad at me and I’m mad at everyone. I shouldn’t be here. I don’t belong. I wish The Faithful would hurry the hell up and catch Amun so I can go back to my normal, quiet life and you all can go back to yours.”
I heard Archer sigh as his footsteps fell on the hardwood, coming closer to me. I felt his hand gently caress my neck as he spoke. “You do belong with us, Skye. I know living and working with vampires is an adjustment, but I hope it’s one you’re ultimately able to make. Everyone is on edge right now, but things will blow over; just give it time.”
“I don’t know if I can,” I said, looking up into Archer’s eyes. “Honestly, Archer…I’m tired of being scared; tired of loving you on one hand and hating you on the other.”
“It’s only been a day and a half, love.”
“It feels like an eternity when your heart is torn in two,” I whispered sadly as I stood up and faced him fully. “Irreparable damage has been done to all of us. Take me out of the equation and your family happily goes on as it once was. Leave me in it and we’re all miserable.”
“That’s not true,” Archer growled lowly.
I shook my head and sighed. “I don’t want to fight with you. I don’t have another round in me, Archer. Let’s just go to work and get it over with.”
Archer ran his fingers through his hair and sighed. “Okay Skye. I don’t want to fight with you either. We have to swing by your house first to let An Dílis in and then we can go to the club. They arrived an hour ago and have been waiting for us.”
I nodded my head, gathered my bag and followed him to the front door. When I looked around the driveway, I noticed that all of the cars were gone except the Escalade. Hagan politely opened the door for me and I climbed into the back seat. Thankfully Archer took the front and I was alone with my thoughts up until we pulled into my driveway.
“Greetings, dheartháir,” Hagan called to the group of men mingling around my front yard as he got out of the car.
Archer got out next and opened the door for me. I quickly exited and made my way over to Hagan and the group of six. I listened and politely waited as everyone greeted each other in Gaelic. Handshakes were given and pats on the back were passed around. It looked like Hagan knew these men well, but I had never seen them before. They were a different group than had visited The Mausoleum a few weeks ago.
Someone elbowed me and smiled as they chittered to me in their language. His brown eyes took in my outfit, head to toe, and he smiled widely at me.
“Eist, Shannon!” Hagan admonished before looking over at me apologetically.
“What?” I asked confused. “What did I miss?”
“Nothing,” Archer growled as he slung his arm around my neck, very obviously staking his claim to me, and pulled my hip up against his thigh.
“Shannon said he’d love for you to take him out and show him a good time while he’s in town,” Hagan said, trying to stifle a smile.
I pursed my lips at the handsome man and tsked when he suggestively wagged his eyebrows at me. “Not going to happen, big boy,” I shook my head as I disengaged myself from Archer’s hold. “You’re a day late and a dollar short with me. I’ve sworn off dating vampires.”
“He doesn’t ‘ave to date ya’ lass,” one of the other men chuckled in his thick Scottish accent. “He jus’ wants a lil’ dig at your diddies.”
Both Archer and Hagan yelled at the man in Gaelic and the rest of them cringed as they quickly wiped the smiles off their faces.
I laughed and rolled my eyes. “Immortal or not, boys will be boys,” I shrugged as I walked over to my front door. Archer immediately flashed to stand beside me and took the keys out of my hand.
“Let me open the door.”
“Have at it,” I shrugged again as I took a step back and watched him insert the key and carefully unlock it. He swung the door open wide, took a deep breath in and stepped inside.
“Invite them in,” he said without turning to me.
“Gentleman, won’t you please come in?” I asked with a flourish of my hand as I stepped further out of the way.
The group flashed inside and I watched them disappear into different areas of my house. I heard someone clear their throat behind me and I turned to see the man that had hit on me.
“Sorry,” he whispered as he shifted his feet uncomfortably. “That was rude of me.”
“Don’t sweat it,” I smiled and shook my head. “I thought it was kind of funny actually.”
He smiled at me, winked, and flashed inside to join the others. A minute later, Archer came out with a sigh. “Come on. Let’s get you back in the car. Hagan will be out in a minute. An Dílis will need to stay for a bit, but they’ll lock up and get your keys back to you tonight.”
I bit my lip as I listened to him, suddenly worried. “They aren’t going to like…go through my things are they? I mean, I’d positively die of embarrassment if they found my collection of vibrators.”
Archer seemed to choke for a second and I looked up at him anxiously. “Are you okay?”
“Dhuine!” Archer chuckled as he patted his chest. He composed himself and looked down at me in amusement. “I did not expect that, Skye. You’re just full of surprises, aren’t you? You lively, wicked girl,” he winked playfully.
I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms over my chest. “I’m serious here!”
Archer slung his arm around my neck with a wide smile and led me to the car. “They are professionals, Skye. They’ve been doing their jobs for hundreds of years. I’m sure the boys have seen a naughty knob or two in their day. You needn’t worry.”
I put my head in my hands as I sat down in the back seat of the Escalade. “This is so embarrassing,” I whined.
“It’s kind of hot, actually,” Archer said as he climbed into the front. “I like a woman who knows what she likes in bed.”
I blushed furiously and groaned with renewed embarrassment.
Hagan joined us a few minutes later and spoke quietly to Archer in Irish Gaelic as he backed us out of the driveway and headed downtown to the club. I had no idea what they were saying, but it looked very involved as I watched the two of them converse. Archer was asking questions and Hagan was rapidly answering them. Suddenly, Archer swore loudly then nervously looked back at me, almost like he had forgotten I was sitting in the back seat.
“What? What’s wrong now?” I asked worriedly.
“Nothing,” Archer said as he resumed his conversation with Hagan.
“Don’t lie to me,” I huffed. “Something is wrong, I can tell.”
Archer ignored me as he retrieved his cell phone from his pants pocket. He dialed a number and spoke to whoever answered in hushed Gaelic tones.
“Hagan?” What am I missing here?”
Hagan shook his head as he pulled into The Mausoleum’s employee parking lot. “Nothing you should concern yourself with, Morrison. Let it go.”
I frowned as I looked between the two of them. I was willing to bet that they had found something else in my house and were not planning to tell me what it was.
“This is bullshit,” I growled unhappily as I got out of the car and started to walk inside.
Archer flashed next to me and grabbed my hand as he walked with me. “Don’t be angry with me, Skye. I need to work some things out, but I’ll tell you everything as soon as I can. Stop worrying so much. I promise you, everything is okay.”
“Said the man who thought I was a Trojan Horse,” I s
ighed as I leaned into him, resting my head against his arm. “You swear I’m okay?”
“Yes, baby,” he said as he opened the door for me and quickly kissed the back of my head as I walked inside.
A few of the dancers were mingling in the hallway and saw Archer’s brief kiss. Their eyes followed us as we swiftly went our separate ways and I turned into the employee lounge to put my bag in my locker.
“So, are you dating the big boss now?” Peyton teased as he walked in behind me.
I turned around and smirked playfully at him. “Archer and I are just good friends, Pey. There’s nothing naughty going on, so cool your jets. We don’t want to start the rumor mill, now do we?”
“Hey,” he laughed, putting his hands up defensively, “what you do on your own time is your business, boss lady. Though, I don’t think it’s a half bad idea, if I do say so myself. I think you’d make a sexy little couple.”
“Peyton,” I groaned when I noticed a few of the other dancer’s listening into our conversation.
“Back to work, alley cats,” Peyton cooed lightheartedly to the crowd, “nothing to see here.”
I playfully smacked him on the arm as I turned to greet the other dancers. After a few hugs and a quick dance battle with Eden and Alex to Lady Gaga’s ‘Hair’, I saw Brian and Rachel arrive arm-in-arm. I smiled brightly when I saw how happy she seemed to be. She winked at me as the crowd of dancers descended on them and chattered excitedly about their new relationship development. I gave myself a proverbial pat on the back for a job well done and silently made my exit.
As I walked out onto the main floor, I glanced over at the bar to see Courtney leaning over the counter, flirtatiously talking to Jameson. He looked up to see me strolling over and smirked as he leaned across the counter to seductively tuck a stray strand of her long blond hair behind one ear. My heart instantly thundered in my chest as jealousy ripped through me. I knew what he was doing; I had hurt him so he was trying his hardest to hurt me by flirting with another girl. I didn’t want to see him in pain but I definitely didn’t appreciate the needless, flirty floor show. It really hurt me and if that was what Jameson was aiming for, well mission accomplished.
When I got up to them, I stood off to the side and put on my best and brightest fake smile. “Hey, guys! How’s it going?”
Courtney turned around and immediately blanched when she saw me standing there. “Uh, hi Skye. I was just asking Jameson if he would mind making me a drink before I went on. I wasn’t flirting with him, I swear,” she stuttered nervously as she sat back fully in the barstool.
I chuckled and put a hand on her back to calm her down. Courtney wasn’t the brightest bulb on the Christmas tree and I was afraid she would jump up and bolt back to the break room any second. “Honey, it’s fine,” I smiled on the outside while dying a little on the inside. “Jameson and I are no longer dating. We’re just friends now, so there is no need to worry about upsetting me. You two are consenting adults, so have at it.”
Jameson frowned at me and I swallowed thickly. This ‘pretending I was fine’ game totally sucked and I didn’t know how much longer I could keep it up. Inside I was screaming at Courtney to keep her gigantic tits out of my man’s face and for Jameson to keep his scheming hands off my dancers.
“Jameson, would you mind calling up to Archer’s office and asking him to bring down tonight’s VIP wristbands for the dancers?” I asked as I tried not to fidget nervously.
“You know how to use the phone,” he said, plainly dismissing me, and turning his attention back to Courtney.
Courtney timidly glanced back and forth between us and I winked at her, letting her know that everything was okay, as I went around the bar and picked up the phone. I took a silent deep breath as I dialed Archer’s extension and tried to calm my rampant emotions.
This was a nightmare scenario for me. Courtney was my co-worker and one of our star dancers. I couldn’t fling myself across the bar and rip her hair out like I had wanted to. I needed to stay professional and act completely unaffected. Then there was Jameson. Half of me was angry at Jameson, half of me loved him. I knew it was a bad idea to date my co-workers from the get-go and I was uber pissed that I hadn’t listen to my smarter inner self. You knew it was going to get messy! I warned you! I bit my bottom lip, deep in thought, as I realized that Jameson definitely knew what he was doing; I was certainly jealous and boy was I hurt. As I listened to the phone ring, I felt the full weight of my agony settle heavily into my soul.
“Yes?” Archer said quickly, picking up the phone.
I shook myself out of my inner turmoil and cleared my throat. “Uh, I need to get the dancer’s wristbands from you. Would you mind terribly if I asked you to bring them down?”
“You got it, babe,” he answered before ending the call.
I swallowed hard as I gently set the phone back down and steadied myself. Get ahold of your emotions. Smile. You’re fine. It’s just another normal day at work. BREATHE! I reached over and grabbed an empty glass from the shelf, quickly filling it with the closest bottle of hard liquor I touched. I took a big gulp and cringed when I felt vodka, my most hated liquor, slide harshly down my throat. Yuck! I shook my head and immediately poured it down the bar drain, rinsing the glass before fixing myself a 5 Star General.
“Crap,” Courtney said with a sigh. “Here comes the boss…I better run. Catch you after work, James?”
I sneered at her new nickname for him and took another slug from my glass as I peeked up to see Archer slowly descending the wide metal stairs.
“You betcha’, fine thing,” Jameson purred sexily and I turned around to face him, feeling like he had just stuck a knife in my heart.
His words to her brought me back to the very first time I had ever talked to Jameson. I was waitressing at Drop Kick Dan’s and he was playing a show there that night with his band. Dan asked me to take Jameson an Irish Car Bomb on the house and when he approached me, he spoke to me in the same tone using almost those exact words. Our first meeting had been immensely special to me and now he just crapped all over the memory with his words to her. He had frequently referred to me his ‘fine thing’ over the course of our relationship and now he was calling her that?
I angrily watched Courtney saunter off to the employee lounge and as soon as she was out of sight, I put my hand on Jameson’s shoulder and made him turn to face me. “How could you call her that?” I asked, outraged and feeling as if our whole relationship had meant nothing to him. I know we had only been dating a month or so, but that whole period I spent with him was akin to heaven; that is, up until his vampire family almost killed me.
“Call her what?” he asked snarkily as he folded his arms across his chest.
“Is this a game to you?” I seethed, roughly setting my drink down on the bar beside him and sloshing half its contents out in the process. “You think this is a game, ‘James’?” I spat Courtney’s nickname for him back in his face. I was suddenly furious and could feel the anger and hurt rapidly building within me. I wanted to lash out and rip his gorgeous brown hair from its roots. Do it. You’ll feel better, a little voice inside my head said and I lifted my hands with a frustrated growl to do just that.
Chapter Eleven
Jameson’s eyes grew wide with shock as I launched myself at him. Someone suddenly seized my arms and pulled me back right as the tips of my fingers touched his silky hair.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa!” Archer shouted as I bucked and writhed to free my arms. Jameson took a step back as Quinn and Hunter flashed from their drinks upstairs to assist Archer.
“It’s all just a fucking game to you, isn’t it?!” I exploded at Jameson as Archer, Hunter, and Quinn pulled me out from behind the bar, still kicking and screaming. “Let’s see if we can completely decimate this pathetic human’s little heart, huh?! You cold-blooded, vampi…”
A hand firmly clamped itself over my mouth as I was dragged up the stairs, but that didn’t keep me from trying to shout at Jameson.
“Stop fighting us!” Archer growled roughly as they maneuvered me over to his private stairwell.
His harsh words seemed to cool some of my anger and for the first time, I briefly caught a look at the faces of my shocked vampire co-workers before the stairwell door was shut behind us.
I stopped struggling and allowed the men to carry me the rest of the way to Archer’s office. My body suddenly felt tired and I was struggling for a deep breath under Archer’s hand. My lungs heaved rapidly as my heart thundered ninety to nothing. I was roughly set down on one of the chairs in front of Archer’s desk as the hand was removed from my mouth and my arms and feet secured.
“What the hell is wrong with you?!” Archer yelled down at me as he stood off to the side, his ice blue eyes starting to fade to white as a side effect to his anger. “Are you on DRUGS?!”
I struggled to catch my breath and looked down to notice my crop top was lifted above my bra, fully exposing it and my generous cleavage. “Be a lamb and fix my shirt, will you Archer?” I asked nonchalantly as I silently tried to come to grips with what just happened.
“Fix your shirt?” he asked incredulously as he ran both hands through his hair in frustration. “Fix your shirt?! You just tried to attack my brother and you are worried about your fucking shirt?”
“Okay fine,” I exhaled heavily, rolling my eyes. “Leave it where it is. Would you mind letting go of my arms, please? You’re hurting me.”
“Yes,” Hunter scoffed, “I would mind. I don’t trust you not to jump up and act like a damn ass again!”
I sighed as I looked down at Quinn. “Sorry I kicked you,” I mumbled begrudgingly.
“What do you want us to do with her, athair?” Quinn asked Archer, ignoring my apology.
Archer shook his head, completely at a loss, and addressed me again. “Answer me, Skye. Are you on drugs? Is that what’s wrong with you? Are you high on something right now?”