The kid shook his head to the offer of a drink and sat on the sofa. Erik could feel the misery resonating from him. It was no wonder Silas was struggling.
“I know it’s hard, James, but can you tell me a bit about Matthew?” Silas asked.
The kid, James, twisted his hands together and stared at them. “Like, what?”
“Are you friends?” Silas prompted. “What made you decide to house together?”
“We’re on the same course. That’s how we met,” James explained, looking up. “Shared a few lectures last year and hit it off. We both joined the free-running society, and then when we had to look for housing, we thought it would be better to bunk with each other than risk some weirdo.”
Silas smiled, a fake controlled thing designed to put the kid at ease.
“And what can you tell me about Matthew? He’s into free-running? What is that?”
James nodded. “Yeah, it’s where you have to get from A to B however you can, so crazy acrobatics get thrown in. Matt’s really good.”
“That sounds fun,” Silas commented. “What can you tell me about his academic success; is Matthew doing okay at university?”
James’s brow furrowed. The line of questioning seemed to confuse him.
“Yeah, he’s getting straight Bs, I think. I’m not sure. We’re not in the same classes this year.”
Silas nodded. “And does he have friends?”
“Yeah, he’s pretty popular.”
“How about a partner? Does Matthew have a boyfriend or girlfriend?”
James glanced away. Bingo.
“James, does Matthew have a partner?” Silas reiterated the question.
“I don’t know,” James said. He wouldn’t look at Silas. Erik marveled at the patience Silas displayed.
“It’s okay, James.” Silas kept his tone smooth and his volume low. “We’re worried about Matthew. We just want to find him.”
James bit his lip before finally looking up.
“He’s bi or gay, I think. He didn’t tell me, but he mentioned this new club he wanted to visit and I’m sure it’s some kind of gay bar.”
There it was. That was their link.
“Do you know what the club was called?” Silas asked.
“Gingerbread?” James didn’t sound sure, but Erik had heard enough. He was about to leave and find Noah when James spoke again.
“Do you… Do you think Matt’s alive?”
“I don’t know,” Silas admitted, “but we’ll do our best to find him.”
Chapter Five
ERIK COULDN’T SHAKE the look on James’s face when he had asked about whether Matthew was likely to still be alive. Somewhere along the way, he had forgotten that the thirteen victims were people with family and friends. He got ready for the evening on autopilot. It felt such a waste of time going to a club that looked to be a dead end, but all roads seemed to lead back to Gingerbread.
Noah seemed to sense his reticence to talk and offered a quiet kind of support. Erik fell for him even more. He focused on his breathing and put his game face on. He needed to be on the ball for the sake of Matthew and all the other missing men.
He pulled into the car park and got out. Noah climbed out and walked around to stand with Erik.
“Thank you.” Erik pulled Noah into a kiss. Noah just smiled and patted his arm.
“Have you got your head in the game?” From anyone else, the words would have sounded accusatory, but Erik felt only concern from Noah.
“I have. We need to find something,” Erik insisted. “For the sake of the missing men.”
Once inside, they headed for the crowd that was hovering around the door. Erik wasn’t sure what would happen since they only had a word-of-mouth invitation, but he figured it must be fairly common as the kid had said the day before. They lined up at the back, Erik tucking Noah into his arm, marking them as an obvious couple.
“You two?”
Erik looked up. The words had been aimed at him and Noah. They didn’t seem aggressive, though.
“Yeah?”
“Boss-man said you both were invited.”
Erik and Noah passed the remaining crowd who shot envious looks at them.
“You don’t think it’s some jealous patron offing anyone that gets through, do you?” Noah whispered in Erik’s ear.
Erik bit back a laugh. “Probably not.”
Just before they reached the door, the bouncer stopped them and reiterated the rules regarding mobile phones. The emphasis on those rules was kind of weird, but Erik supposed it was common in this kind of high-end club. Some celebrities probably didn’t want photos ending up online. One step through the door, however, made the need for those rules very clear indeed.
“I didn’t realize it was this kind of club,” Noah squeaked.
Erik hadn’t realized it was that kind of club either. There were couples fucking on various surfaces. In fact, there was what looked to be a foursome happening on a large sofa. How exactly their info-gathering had missed this, he wasn’t sure. He turned to make sure that Noah wasn’t about to completely lose it, but he was just was an adorable shade of fluorescent pink, staring at his shoes as if they were the most fascinating thing he had ever seen.
“I think I need a drink,” Noah muttered, turning so that he was facing away from the fornicating couples. The merits of some liquid courage seemed like a more and more sensible option when Erik looked around once more. He wouldn’t usually drink on duty, but he wasn’t sure he would make it through the evening otherwise. When they reached the bar, the bartender handed them both drinks without being asked.
“Must be part of the VIP-ness.” Erik shrugged as he downed the sweet concoction in one long gulp.
Noah took a more sedate sip and grimaced. “Is there even any alcohol in this?” He eyed the empty glass warily.
“More than you’d expect,” the bartender replied with a wink. The action struck a nerve that Erik didn’t know he had. In case the glare he sent wasn’t enough, he wrapped a proprietary arm around Noah. The bartender smirked slightly at the action, which only served to annoy Erik more.
“Do you want another?” the bartender said. “It’s the club’s special.” Though objectively the offer was aimed at both of them, he had turned to face Noah more. Erik was sure he was doing it on purpose. The only positive was that Noah showed no interest in the little upstart. Noah turned to face Erik as if asking permission. As senior officer on the investigation, maybe he was asking Erik’s permission. He nodded, and Noah practically snatched the drink out of the man’s hand.
“First timer?” the bartender asked. That was the final straw, and Erik grabbed Noah’s hand and practically dragged him away.
“What’s going on?” Noah asked when Erik released his arm. His eyes were wide, but Erik couldn’t scent fear. Guilt flooded Erik. It wasn’t Noah’s fault that some guy was flirting with him. The amount of aggression he felt was surprising, but then Noah had been everything to him for so long that maybe it wasn’t surprising. He couldn’t lose Noah when he had only just got him.
“Sorry, I just couldn’t stand him flirting with you.”
Noah raised an eyebrow.
“We’re together, aren’t we?” Noah asked. “At least I thought we were.”
Erik nodded.
“So you’ve gotta trust me.”
That made Erik feel worse, but he pushed aside his guilt and nodded. “Will you dance with me?”
If Noah was thrown by the subject change, he didn’t show it. He just placed his half-finished drink on one side and moved toward Erik.
“Don’t think you’ve got away without discussing this,” he whispered in Erik’s ear as they began dancing. “I’m just saving it for a more appropriate time.”
Erik winced. That was fair. They danced a couple of songs before it dawned on Erik that they were probably expected to take part at least a bit with some of the sexual side of things.
“They might be expecting us to join in.”
“I’m not doing that in public.” Noah gestured in the direction of one of the couples fucking.
“No, no,” Erik agreed. “We could probably get away with a decent make-out session.” Noah looked ready to balk, and Erik understood—he really did—but they were at the club to get a job done so he played his trump card.
“We have to fit in; we’re here to work.”
Noah glared before relenting and allowing himself to be led over to one of the couches. Erik settled and pulled Noah onto his lap.
“It’s not that I don’t want to make out with you,” Noah murmured. “I’m just not keen on this whole in-public thing.”
“Try not to think about it.”
Erik pulled Noah closer and turned him so that he couldn’t see anyone else, and then he pressed his lips against Noah’s. After a moment, Noah relaxed and Erik deepened the kiss. He slipped his tongue into Noah’s mouth and explored until Noah joined in with more enthusiasm.
“Drink, fellas?”
Erik started, and Noah practically glowed bright red with embarrassment. The look that Erik gave the staff member would have frozen hell and made a lesser man cry, but the man merely held out two glasses. Erik took the drinks and dumped them on the side before turning his back to the interruption. Noah buried his head into Erik’s shoulder until the man went away. The mood was lost, and it was an unpleasant jerk back to reality. They were at the club to get some work done. Erik passed one of the drinks to Noah, and they finished them quickly. Erik glanced at his watch; the hours seemed to be flying by.
“It’s no good,” Erik growled, looking around the club room. “How are we supposed to learn anything when everyone has their damn tongues down someone else’s throat?”
“We need to get closer.” Noah’s words came out choked. “Maybe we should have a fight and then you could—”
“No.”
“But—”
“I said no, Noah.” The words came out sharper than Erik had intended so he softened his next ones. “Neither of us is going to whore ourselves out. There’s better ways of getting information.”
Noah’s mouth snapped shut, but he didn’t lose the unhappy expression. Erik pulled Noah into his arms and danced them across the room, closer to the other couples in a hopefully unobtrusive way. When they were close enough for him to hear, he pushed Noah up against the wall and kissed him. Erik had every intention of eavesdropping on whatever conversations were going on between rounds of sex, but he was enchanted by Noah.
Some of the couples wandered off and returned with more drinks. The movement caught Erik’s eye, and he dragged his attention away from Noah. There was something about that guy… Noah leaned toward Erik and wrapped his arms around him.
“You’re staring,” he whispered with a pout. Erik blinked, his attention drawn back to Noah.
“Sorry, what?” he asked. Noah frowned and tilted his head toward a guy that was walking away.
“You were staring at that guy.”
Erik shook his head. “I thought I knew him from somewhere.”
Noah pouted and initiated another kiss, his hands trailing down Erik’s body until he reached his ass where he had a good grope. It was like he was trying to make Erik forget about any other man. Noah gave Erik a little shove toward one of the couches until he took the hint and sprawled across the cushions. Erik felt wandering hands and forgot where he was, rocking his hips into Noah. The younger man made him lose his mind.
“I love you,” Erik said between moans.
Noah flashed a wicked grin at him. “Good.”
A thud interrupted them. Erik was seriously going to snap and bite the next staff member that interrupted. The man gave a faux apologetic smile and gestured to the drinks he had placed on the side. The mood was ruined.
Erik groaned. “I’m going to the bathroom.”
Noah let out a piteous whine and grabbed at his hand. “You’re leaving me?”
Erik leaned over and pulled him into a kiss. “Only temporarily.”
Chapter Six
AFTER TEN MINUTES, Erik hadn’t returned. He’d probably run off with someone better, Noah decided. Why would the handsome wolf stay with him when there were so many better options? Noah had abandoned the sofa so that another couple could use it and headed for the bar in hopes of another drink. He slumped forward to lean against the surface of the bar top. Life just wasn’t fair.
“Would you like one of our specials, sir?” The flirty tone drew Noah’s attention, and he forced himself to sit up. The speaker was a cute brunet in the same uniform as the other staff members.
“What’s that again?” Noah asked when he realized the man was waiting for an answer.
“The Lotus Flower,” the man explained. “It’s got peaches, schnapps…”
The Lotus Flower. Flowers said to trap those that eat them forever. Like the missing men perhaps. Noah’s blood ran cold and the fog cleared. He had to find Erik.
“Sure.” He managed to choke the word out. The server must have already been mixing the special as he handed the drink over without pause. Noah stared at the amber concoction, which had a carved fruit flower balanced on top. How many had he already consumed? He was acutely aware that the staff member was still watching him, so he removed the fruit and stirred the drink with the straw before pretending to take a sip. Noah flashed an insincere grin at the bartender before picking up the drink and moving away from the bar. He didn’t dare consume any more of the liquid. He turned up the charm and added a swagger to his step as he crossed the room, hoping he looked like any other partygoer.
Someone stumbled as they passed him, catching his eye and making him halt. When he really looked, the man had the edgy appearance of someone awake for too many hours on too many drugs; his eyes were red-rimmed and manic, and he had the beginnings of a beard that didn’t appear to be a fashion statement. Noah blinked and the man was fine once more, until he concentrated on seeing past the illusion. He turned on the spot, it was the same for all the people he could see. Noah headed for the bathroom. He needed water, or he was going to expel the contents of his stomach.
The more Noah looked as he walked, the more he saw the cracks in the illusion, spread like broken glass.
The bathroom door locked from the inside. Noah didn’t trust the wood and metal combination, so he took a piece of chalk from his pocket and sketched runes across the door. Short of a tank or another witch, no one was getting into the room with him. He headed for the sink and gulped the tap water, hoping it would clear his head. He stood back up and his reflection caught his eye. Shit. Noah hadn’t looked that terrible since he’d caught the flu and been bedridden for days. The stubble growth indicated that he had been in the club for days rather than the hours it had felt like.
How long had they been there? Where was their backup?
The memories of the night slipped through his thoughts like grains of sand. All he could recall was overwhelming happiness.
Noah flinched at the sound of a sharp knock on the outside door.
“Are you okay in there?” The voice was muffled through the wood, but Noah was sure it was the staff member that had given him the drink. Maybe they were on to him. If Erik had been caught, then— Noah stopped that thought where it was. He didn’t need Erik. He was no damsel in distress.
A sweep of his hand broke the runes, and Noah opened the door. He deliberately staggered and half fell out of the room onto the man.
“Oops, sorry.” He giggled as he straightened up, wavering on the spot. “I think that last drink went to my head,” he pantomime whispered. He didn’t think the staff member had bought it, so he kept his expression guileless and wide-eyed.
“Come on then, lightweight,” the man teased, putting one arm around Noah’s shoulders. Noah resisted the urge to shrug the arm off and instead leaned more heavily on the other man, shooting him a grateful smile. The man led him down a corridor that did not lead back to the main room.
“Do you know what happened to Erik?” Noa
h slurred the words slightly.
“The man you were with?” The guy sounded amused, and Noah wondered if he was laying it on a bit thick so he just nodded.
“He had a nosebleed, doll.”
Noah did not like the way the man’s gaze had turned predatory. He was more than aware that there would be no help forthcoming from the people still trapped in the illusion. His fears were confirmed when he found himself being manhandled so that he was pressed up against the guy’s chest. It was a toss-up between kneeing him in the balls and hoping for the best or playing along in the hopes of finding Erik. It sickened him to his stomach, but he stayed where he was, trapped in the man’s arms.
“What’s your name?” Noah asked, hoping to delay the guy from going any further.
“I’m glad you asked, doll. It’s Rick.” He winked lewdly, and Noah wondered if there was anyone on the planet who found that kind of overconfidence attractive.
Noah looked up in the hopes of a distraction, an act of God, anything. One of the doors in the corridor swung open, and Leo stalked toward them with all the grace of a predator with prey in its sight, and he knew the game was up. He pushed Rick away and straightened up, losing the pretense of being drunk. Rick’s eyes widened with confusion, but Noah was more worried about the oncoming storm. Leo exuded a power that Noah could feel even without his runes. Rick was unimportant now. Leo stopped in front of Noah, and his lips twisted into a semblance of a smile that didn’t hold true when his eyes remained cold as ice.
“The wolf’s mate.”
The declaration twisted Noah’s heart tighter. Was Erik okay?
“The villain,” he replied, bluffing a confidence that he did not feel. Leo’s eyes lit up with amusement.
“Would you like to join your mate, little boy?”
There was no opportunity for Noah to reply as Leo swished his hands in a circular motion and the very air in the room spun. Apparently Leo had finished chatting. Noah charged forward into the invisible breeze. The air buffeted him from all sides, hurling his hair into his face and making it impossible to intake air. Noah barely managed two steps before the floor rose up to meet his face.
Once Upon a Rainbow, Volume One Page 20