by Lori Sjoberg
“Are you going to have to …” Jack’s voice trailed off. He made a vague gesture with his hands. “You know.”
She shook her head. Natural deaths weren’t included in her job description. Those souls crossed to the afterlife without the aid of a reaper, the transition typically so seamless it barely registered on a reaper’s radar. Why things worked that way, she had no idea. Who knows, maybe unnatural deaths weren’t part of the original process, with her kind created as a workaround for an unexpected glitch.
Adele let out a garbled moan. A shudder wracked her petite frame as her eyes lost focus. Then her muscles went lax and her body expelled its final breath. The old woman’s soul broke free from its bodily restraints, causing a momentary dip in air pressure when she slipped out of the mortal plane and into the hereafter.
“Sweetheart?” Louis gave Adele’s hand a light squeeze. “Sweetheart, answer me.”
Ruby reached across Adele’s still form and placed her hand over Louis’s. Her heart squeezed painfully tight when she met the old man’s eyes. “I’m very sorry, Louis.”
The old man bent his head and sobbed as a member of the medical staff pushed through the crowd.
Ruby used the opportunity to make her escape, sneaking out of the bar through the side exit.
This was why she never got involved with mortals, she thought as she stormed down the crowded hall. Something terrible happened every time she got attached. She ignored the sound of Jack calling her name, her vision blurring as the tears began to fall.
She had no idea where she wanted to go. She just wanted to get away. From the death, and the sorrow, and the path of destruction that inevitably trailed in her wake. She raced up the stairs to the top deck, found a quiet corner near the ship’s stern. Sinking onto one of the padded deck chairs, she buried her face in her hands and wept.
She wasn’t sure how long she stayed that way, but eventually she heard the sound of footsteps approaching. Peeking between her fingers, she saw a large pair of sneakers less than a foot away.
“Ruby.” Dmitri crouched down in front of her. “Look at me, Ruby.”
Raising her head, she blinked until her vision cleared.
“I need you to pull it together.” The gentleness in his voice acted as a balm for her frazzled nerves. In general, he wasn’t the type of man who resorted to acts of kindness, which meant he really must have been worried about her cracking up. He placed his hands on her knees, the simple touch a welcome comfort.
“I’ll be fine. Just give me a minute.” She sniffled, suddenly feeling foolish. Here she was, blubbering like a baby less than ten minutes after arguing with Dmitri over her ability to handle their current assignment. It would be a miracle if he didn’t lock her in the cabin for the duration of the cruise. She closed her eyes, took a deep cleansing breath, and blew it out slowly, the fog in her head clearing as she wrangled her emotions back under control. “Okay. I’m okay now.”
“Good. Because we’re meeting at the Windjammer in ten to finalize plans for the rest of the night.”
“We who?”
“You, me”—his nose wrinkled as if he smelled something bad—“and your pet.”
Ruby let out a tired sigh. “I really wish you’d stop calling him that.”
“I will, once he earns it.” Dmitri bent forward, pressed a kiss against her forehead before standing. “See you in ten.”
He strode toward the ship’s interior and disappeared around the corner.
It was only then that she noticed Jack standing beside the automatic doors. He watched her from the distance with wary eyes, the concern plain on his face.
“You can come on over. I won’t break or bite.”
He closed the space between them, claimed the empty chair facing hers. The cool night air ruffled his hair as he bent forward and rested his elbows on his knees. “Are you going to be all right?”
“Yeah. It’s just …” She paused, struggling for the words to explain her emotions. “Witnessing death is difficult under any circumstance. It’s why most reapers maintain a degree of emotional detachment. Makes things easier to handle.”
He nodded in understanding. “And this was different because you knew her.” Overhead, the nightly fireworks display began, the flashes of black powder illuminating Jack’s profile in a wash of yellow and green.
“Yeah.” She dragged a weary hand through her hair. “I knew her. I liked her too. She reminded me of my Aunt Pearl back home. Maybe that’s why it hit me so hard.”
Decades had passed since she last thought about her family. She’d never looked back after becoming a reaper, never checked to see how any of them had handled her disappearance. God only knows what the sheriff had told them. Knowing him, he probably claimed she’d ridden out of town on the back of a Harley. Not that it really mattered. Too much time had passed. At this point, she’d rather not know than risk finding out something terrible.
A woman’s voice rang out over the public address system, paging a passenger to come to the guest services counter on deck two. She’d heard a similar message about ten minutes before, but hadn’t bothered to listen to the particulars.
“You want to talk about it, you know where to find me.”
She appreciated the offer, and the fact that he didn’t push her for details. But given the choice, she’d rather focus her thoughts elsewhere. Anywhere.
“Thanks. I’ll keep it in mind.” Reaching over, she gripped his hand and gave it a quick squeeze. “We best get going. If we’re late, I’ll never hear the end of it.”
The restaurant was busy, given the late hour. A dozen or so tables were occupied, the air alive with the sounds of conversation. They found Dmitri sitting in a booth by the drink station with his back facing the wall. His preferred seating arrangement in any establishment. Judging by the mug of coffee in his hand, he anticipated being up for a while. A pizza pie sat on the center of the table, a large slice already gone.
“Were you planning on saving any for us?” Ruby slid onto the bench seat on the opposite side. Jack slid in beside her, and Dmitri scowled.
“There’s plenty more over there.” He motioned toward the “pizza bar” where passengers could order a freshly made pizza, twenty-four hours a day. “Grab a slice before it gets cold.”
“Like there’s any chance of food turning cold around you. You’re a bottomless pit.”
“You’re a fine one to talk.”
“Hey, I can’t help it if I have a healthy appetite.” She tore off a slice and took a bite, savoring the spicy taste of marinara and pepperoni. Almost five hours had passed since her last meal, and her stomach appreciated the late-night snack.
Jack watched as she wolfed down her first slice and went back for seconds. “How do you manage to eat like that and still look like that?”
“I’ve been blessed with a fast metabolism.” Plus, she’d expended extra calories healing her afternoon sunburn, and her body craved the additional nourishment. She licked a glob of sauce off her thumb before nudging the pie pan in his direction. “Dig in.”
Ten minutes later the pizza was history, and Jack looked more anxious than a preacher at the Pearly Gates.
“So what’s our next plan of action?” he asked as he tossed his crumpled napkin on the empty pie pan.
Dmitri leaned back against the bench seat, took a long drink from his mug. “For starters, we take a more active role in the hunt.”
“And what exactly does that mean?”
“It means we start chumming the waters.”
Jack’s forehead wrinkled. “And how are we supposed to accomplish that?”
“I think I know the answer to that one.” Ruby flashed a devilish grin. “You want me to tramp it up?”
A ghost of a smile creased Dmitri’s lips.
“Hold on. You’re planning to use one of your own as bait for a killer?” Jack straightened in his chair, his face set in a look of pure outrage. “Are you insane?”
“No, I’m employing a proven hunti
ng technique. If you cannot locate your prey, lure the prey to you.” Dmitri placed his cup on the table. “Experience points toward a feminine preference. It only makes sense to exploit the knowledge to our benefit.”
“But this thing has already killed two women.”
“I’m a big girl, Jack. I can handle myself just fine.”
Reaching over, he covered her hand with his own. “I’m sure you can. But what if this thing—”
“Attention passengers and crew.” A man’s voice on the public address system cut through the noise in the restaurant. “This is your captain speaking. Due to the report of a missing passenger, the ship’s crew will be initiating emergency protocols. At this time we are suspending all activities and requiring all passengers to immediately return to their cabins. Your steward will be by shortly to conduct a passenger count. Please remain inside your cabin until you receive further instructions.”
“I’m assuming that means one of our victims was reported missing.” She could only imagine the anguish the poor woman’s roommate must have been experiencing. The heartbreaking agony of not knowing whether a friend or loved one was dead or alive. The notion struck too close to home, and she ruthlessly shoved it aside so she could maintain her focus on the job.
“Shit.” Dmitri scrubbed a hand across his face. “There goes the rest of the night’s productivity.”
“Maybe they’ll open things back up once they finish their search,” Jack said.
Dmitri shook his head. “It’s going to take at least two hours, maybe three, to search a vessel of this size. By then, most passengers will have given up and called it a night.” He checked his watch and cursed.
“So what do we do now?” Ruby asked.
“Follow the captain’s orders.” He rose from his seat. “Go back to the cabin. I’ll meet you there after I take care of a few things.”
“Like what?”
He shook his head. “The less you know, the more soundly you’ll sleep.” Darkness flashed in Dmitri’s eyes, but then he blinked and all traces were gone. “Get some rest. Tomorrow’s going to be a busy day.”
Chapter 15
Ruby paced the length of her cabin, which didn’t take long given its size.
An hour and a half had passed since she’d returned to her room. The steward had already stopped by for the head count, swiping her key card to record her presence on board. She’d tried to pump him for information about the missing passenger, but he possessed no knowledge aside from the fact a woman hadn’t been seen or heard from in more than a day.
Still no sign of Dmitri. She didn’t know if that was good or bad. She’d never gotten around to asking if he was officially booked for the cruise or if he’d snuck on board instead, which meant she didn’t know if they needed him present for the count. Either way, she couldn’t help but wonder where he’d gone and what he was up to.
With a huff, she plopped down on one of the twin beds and grabbed the television remote. Sports. News. Infomercial. Friends rerun. She surfed channels until the selection flipped back to the beginning, then turned the television off.
Solitude made her twitchy. When left to its own devices, her mind dwelled on things she’d rather not think about. Like her past. And her job. And the little old lady who’d just passed away, and the heartbroken husband left behind.
A brush with death had a way of motivating people to live life to the fullest. Some folks channeled those energies into charity work or community activism, while others racked up the frequent flyer miles. A few of her fellow reapers partied harder than a D-list celebrity. For Ruby, it meant indulging in a few rounds of carnal acrobatics with a willing partner of her choosing.
If she waited long enough, Dmitri would eventually return to the cabin. He’d be more than willing to satisfy her cravings. She knew all too well what his body could do to hers, of the pleasures he could incite through taste and touch. He read her moods better than a blind person reads Braille, always understanding when she wanted things gentle, or rough, or someplace in between, his actions never failing to drive her mindless in the wake of pure ecstasy.
And yet the thought of sleeping with Dmitri left her feeling flat.
Then she thought of Jack. Of his voice. And his touch. And the way her body flushed with awareness whenever he entered her orbit. Her attraction to him grew stronger with each encounter, burning hotter than a fever in her bloodstream.
But along with physical attraction came the snare of emotional entanglement. With Jack, she’d broken a lot of her own rules. She’d gotten to know him. Had come to enjoy his company. Adding sex to the mix would only increase the attachment, making it harder to go their separate ways once the ship returned to Port Canaveral.
The public address system chimed twice before the captain’s voice filled the room.
“Good evening, passengers. This is your captain speaking. I’d like to thank you all very much for your cooperation. We have completed our passenger count, so at this time you are free to move about the vessel. All nighttime activities will resume in accordance with their regular schedules. On behalf of my crew, I would like to thank you for your patience and cooperation. Good night.”
Ruby eyed the door. The choice came down to what she truly wanted. One man promised pleasure with no strings attached, while the other offered something deeper and far more explosive. Fire brought heat and excitement, but it also carried the potential for burns and scars. And hadn’t she already endured enough pain to last a lifetime?
Apparently not, because she found herself grabbing her key card and heading toward the door.
Giving in to temptation, Jack picked up the room phone and dialed Ruby’s cabin. One ring. Two. He slammed the receiver down when the call kicked over to voice mail. Where the hell could she be at this hour?
Maybe she was busy with her boss. The notion soured his mood. While he doubted there was anything romantic going on between Ruby and Dmitri, the idea of them together poured ice in his veins.
The demon stirred, a restless burst of energy that took Jack by surprise. Normally, the curse never made its presence known unless it was hungry or sensed a potential food source. Yet there it was, straining against the confines of flesh and blood in a futile attempt to break free.
It shouldn’t be hungry, not this soon after its last feeding. On average, he fed the beast every week to ten days. Of course, if the demon had its way, it would feast three times daily with snacks in between. It was a constant push and pull, a battle he stood no chance of escaping. And wasn’t that just a major kick in the ass?
With any hope for a cure forever beyond his reach, he needed to learn how to tame his darker nature. There had to be a way. Jolie assured him of the possibility. The sliver of hope was the only thing keeping him from ending his existence once and for all.
A knock at the door distracted him from his thoughts.
“Who is it?”
A sexy Southern drawl answered, “Room service.”
Grinning like an idiot, he sprang from the bed and bolted for the door. Heart racing, he yanked the door open, and the sight of Ruby stole his breath.
She hadn’t changed her clothes since the last time he’d seen her, hadn’t freshened her makeup or touched up her hair. It was just Ruby, without any hint of flash or pretense, and it was all he ever wanted.
“What took you so long?” A sly smile curved those luscious lips, so hot and brazen he felt it all the way to his groin.
Jack coughed to clear his throat. “I … I tried to call you a couple minutes ago.” He stepped back from the doorway and she sauntered inside, her hips swaying with sensual confidence. “Now I know why you didn’t answer.”
Ruby stopped at the foot of the bed. She skimmed a hand over the king-size mattress while her eyes cast a glance about the room. When her gaze swept over the length of his body, her lips tipped up in appreciation. Then her face grew serious, her pulse thumping at the base of her throat.
“Let’s not pretend you don’t know wh
y I’m here.” She closed the distance, and her sultry, feminine scent intoxicated him. Reaching up, her fingers curled around the nape of his neck, and his heart leaped in his chest.
She kissed him then, a bold sweep of the lips, and desire warmed his blood. Desire, and something much stronger, richer. He refused to acknowledge the flood of emotions, forcing back sentiments he both coveted and feared. For his sake, and more important, for hers.
How long had it been since he truly experienced the rush of raw emotions, the glory of something more meaningful than sexual release? He couldn’t remember any other since Victoria. For so many years, he’d lived a solitary existence, rarely alone but often so lonely it gnawed at the edges of his psyche.
He slipped an arm around her waist and pulled her closer, his heartbeat racing beneath heated skin. But the curse also lurked just below the surface, reveling in the force of Ruby’s arousal while demanding far, far more.
If he had a lick of common sense, he’d come up with an excuse to call it a night and walk her back to her cabin. He was an accident waiting to happen. One slip, and he’d be powerless to stop the demon from feasting on her sexual energy, consuming her life force until she was no more than a husk.
Ruby melted against him as her mouth slanted over his, all warm and lush and so very willing. The taste of her, rich and feminine, deepened his hunger to a craving. Her hand slid down, stroked the hard length of him through the fabric of his pants, and he damn near lost all sense of control.
He could do this, he assured himself. Almost a century had passed since his time with Victoria. Since then, he’d gotten much better at controlling the curse. The recent feeding would make it more complacent and easier to contain, so long as he managed a certain level of detachment. All he had to do was hold the leash tight, giving the demon only short, controlled opportunities to feed. It was his only chance of maintaining the composure he needed—
“Hello, remember me?” Ruby interrupted his train of thought. A flash of impatience crossed her face as she drew back from his embrace. “I’m Ruby Dawson, and at the moment my hand’s wrapped around your dick.”