by Donna Grant
“Gator Bait.”
Minka jumped to her feet again and took a step back. “Watch yourself, Addison. You’re in danger, but I don’t know from who.”
Addison’s jaw dropped when Minka turned and began to walk off. “So that’s it? You’re going to dump that foretelling in my lap and then just walk away.”
Minka’s steps halted and she looked back at Addison over her shoulder. “I’ve never told a stranger any of this before. I couldn’t help you anyway.”
“And if you have another vision that tells you more? Don’t you want a way to contact me?” By her hesitation, Addison knew the answer was a resounding no, but whatever drew Minka to proclaim her vision kept her still.
Finally, Minka nodded. “Yes.”
“I live in an apartment off of Rue Parc Fontaine. If I’m not there, you can find me at Gator Bait most nights.”
Minka nodded. “Be safe, Addison.”
CHAPTER FIVE
Myles knew something was wrong with Addison by the way she jumped at every sound. Ever since she’d walked into the bar that afternoon, she had been skittish and hyper-alert. Almost as if she were waiting for someone to attack her.
As if he would allow that to happen. Not in their bar, and most especially not to her.
“Trouble?” Solomon asked.
Myles shrugged from his place at the doorway to the kitchen. “I don’t know. Something has Addison spooked.”
“She’s in New Orleans. She’d be stupid not to be spooked.”
“According to Riley, Addison has lived here her entire life. She’s lived this long without an incident. Need I remind you that she was enrolled at Tulane until this semester? You know what happens there.”
Solomon grunted and let his gaze wander the patrons. “There’s no one here that should cause such a reaction.”
Myles raised a brow and looked at his brother. “The full moon is upon us. The entire city goes ape shit during this time.”
“That could be what’s bothering her.”
Myles hoped to hell it wasn’t. “I’ve made excuses for you and Court. It’d be hell if Addison saw you after the nice lie I told.”
“Point taken. And you and Kane? When will y’all get out?”
“Soon,” Myles said and looked back at Addison.
Solomon let out a sigh. “Just because of the...past...doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take what you so obviously want. Namely, Addison.”
Myles turned and put his back to the wall. “You went through the hell, but we were right there with you, brother. We weren’t the ones in love with her, but we loved her. You’re more of a moron than I thought if you don’t think that affected each of us.”
“I know it did.” Solomon ran a hand down his face lined with fatigue, his blue eyes troubled. “When I was in Lyons Point, I saw Vincent and Linc with their women. I hated them for being able to hold onto that. If they only knew how easy they had it.”
Myles clasped his brother’s shoulder and squeezed. “Take your anger out on the fuckers stupid enough to cross the line tonight.”
Solomon’s eyes flashed with an unholy light from the wolf within. “I’ll see you out there.”
Myles watched Solomon walk out the back door before he checked on the cooks. There was an inordinate amount of humans in the bar, but that’s always how it was on a night with a full moon. Humans were temptation to the supernatural that lived in the darkness.
He walked out of the back and gave a nod to Kane, who slipped out without anyone noticing. Myles walked behind the bar where Riley was busy pouring drinks.
“What are you still doing here?” she asked as she glanced at her watch. “The sun just set. You should be out there.”
“I’m going. Are you sure you have everything?”
She laughed and popped the caps off two beers with an opener before setting the bottles in front of the customers. “Of course.”
Myles leaned close when she turned to run the credit card. “One of us will be close. We never leave the bar completely unattended.”
“It’ll be fine,” she assured him. “Didn’t I prove in the last two nights that I know exactly what I’m doing? I took down that wraith, and just last night, two vampires. All by myself. Remember?”
“I remember.” He shook his head, unable to hold back a grin. “It’s the only reason we aren’t locking you in the walk-in fridge in the back.”
Riley cut him a dry look. “Very funny. Now get going while Addison is busy.”
Myles glanced in Addison’s direction to see her taking down an order. Something nagged at him to stay, but he had a job to do. He walked to the kitchen and out the back door to the alley.
He took a quick look to make sure no one was around before he ran two steps, jumped on a stack of crates, and then launched himself over the wooden fence to the roof of the next building.
The moon beckoned, summoned. And the wolf within answered.
~ ~ ~
Addison delivered the fried alligator, dubbed Gator Bites, along with a pitcher of beer to the table of three college guys who eyed her appreciatively. A week ago, she’d have blushed at their blatant looks, but it hadn’t taken her long to get used to such things. If she were honest with herself, she would admit that the only one who could make her blush now was Myles.
She turned from the table and looked around for him. At least one of the four LaRue brothers was always at the bar. As far as she could tell, none of them was there now.
Addison decided not to read too much into it. Everyone needed a night off. Hers was supposed to be tomorrow night, but she’d picked up a shift from another waitress who wanted the time off.
She couldn’t believe she hadn’t thought to get a job at a bar before. She made more money than in her other two jobs combined. Much more. It had been so freeing to quit her cleaning job. Walking in the office buildings at night when no one was there had been boring, freaky, and just plain disgusting at times.
Whoever said that professionals were neat freaks who always picked up after themselves obviously never had to clean their offices after they’d eaten two meals without bothering to throw anything away.
Although the food was gross, and finding it half in the garbage and half on the floor was bad, it wasn’t nearly as bad as finding spent condoms. Just thinking about it had her shuddering.
Addison walked into the kitchen to take a breather. One of the three cooks looked up, his smile wide as he spotted her.
“What’s up, Addy-girl?”
Marcus was so fun-loving and cheery that she didn’t mind his nickname for her. His skin was a deep black, his head shaved, and his face in a perpetual smile. As far as she could tell, nothing got Marcus down.
“What is it with tonight?” she asked as she put a hand on her lower back to stretch it. “It’s like the crazies have come out.”
Marcus laughed as the other two cooks joined in. Marcus plated a dish of blackened catfish and winked at her. “It’s a full moon, girl. Didn’t you know?”
“I didn’t.” She knew animals reacted weirdly during full moons. There were more dead animals littering the roads during a full moon than any other time of the month.
Marcus motioned her over, his smile dropping. Once she was near, he leaned in and said, “Let one of us walk you home, Addy-girl. It’s not a night to be out by yourself.”
She looked into his black eyes and saw that he wasn’t teasing her. He was truly worried. And it made her nervous, especially after Minka’s announcement that afternoon. “All right,” she agreed.
With his smile in place once more, Marcus nodded. “Good, good.”
She watched as he turned and effortlessly sliced a grilled chicken breast into pieces before putting them in a bowl of pasta and tossing them. Addison pivoted and walked back into the bar. That’s when she saw Riley by herself looking ragged and dead on her feet. Addison quickly went to help.
“Thank you,” Riley said with a grateful look.
For the next two hours, Addison went from o
ne person to another filling drinks and getting the waitresses their drink orders. It was after one in the morning before she was able to take a breather and survey the place. Many of the patrons were gone, but there were still a few tables occupied.
“Think you can handle them?” Riley asked. “If so, I’ll send two of the waitresses home.”
“I’ve got them covered,” Addison said as she walked from behind the bar to check on the tables.
She was clearing dishes from a table of two couples, when one of the women gasped and dropped her glass. Addison looked up to see the customer had gone pale, her gaze beyond Addison.
Addison spun to the door to see a woman dressed in all white standing just inside the bar. Her dark skin was in direct contrast to her attire and brought all the attention of the bar to her. The woman’s gaze scanned the bar until she spotted Addison.
A shiver went through Addison when the woman smiled and then walked to a table. It was only belatedly that Addison realized the woman wasn’t alone. A tall black man, dressed in white pants and white shirt, followed close behind, only sitting once the woman had chosen a chair.
It was one of those rare times when Addison would have gladly turned the table over to someone else, but she had told Riley she could handle things alone.
Her legs were wooden as she walked to the kitchen. She put the dirty plates in the sink and hurried back out to the front to clean up the broken glass, but Riley was already taking care of it. That left Addison with nothing else to do but go to her new table.
With her best smile, she stopped at the table. “Welcome to Gator Bait. What can I get for y’all this evening?”
The woman watched her with a half smile, the kind that gave the impression that she knew something Addison didn’t. Her black hair was done in dozens of tiny braids that fell to her waist. With her flawless dark skin and high cheekbones, the woman was spectacularly beautiful.
“Things have improved for you since coming to work here, Addison,” the woman said in a rich voice that seemed to fill every inch of the bar.
Addison swallowed as she gripped her pencil tightly. “Do I know you?”
“Not as of yet, but I know you.”
“How?”
The woman’s smile grew a fraction. “Where are the LaRue brothers?”
“I don’t know. It’s not my business to keep up with them,” Addison replied stiffly. Her arms began to shake from keeping them locked in place as she waited to take down the order. “Now. What I can get you to eat or drink?”
“I didn’t come for the food,” the woman said and crossed one leg over the other, her long skirt moving fluidly. “And I can get drinks anywhere.”
Addison lowered her arms to her sides. She knew the woman was goading her into asking the question, and even though she knew it would be better to walk away, she asked, “Then why are you here?”
“For you.”
Addison was so shocked she took a step back. Who was the woman, and why had she come for her? Addison knew enough to recognize the woman’s attire as that of the Voodoo culture. It was a religion she knew nothing about, other than the fact that it could be dangerous in the wrong hands. She didn’t want – or need – to know any more than that.
“Is there a problem?” Riley asked as she walked up beside Addison.
The woman’s smile grew slowly as she took in Riley. “I didn’t expect to see a Chiasson here in New Orleans. I don’t think my day can get any better.”
“Who are you?” Addison asked.
The woman bowed her head as she slid her gaze from Riley to Addison. “I’m Delphine.” She narrowed her eyes on Riley. “Didn’t your brothers mention me?”
Addison glanced over at Riley to see her shaking with anger. Her lips were pinched tight and her hands were fisted at her sides.
Delphine threw back her head and laughed. “Ah. I see that they have. I wonder, do your brothers know you’re here? I imagine they would do everything in their power to keep you out of New Orleans after my last encounter with them. . Hmm. Is there discord in the tight Chiasson clan?”
“Get out,” Riley said between clenched teeth. “Now.”
Delphine rose to her feet. Her smile was gone, but a look of utter delight shone in her black eyes. “You should know more about your employers, Addison. Just being associated with such...people...could get you in all sorts of trouble.”
With that, Delphine turned on her heel and walked out of the bar.
Everyone breathed easier once Delphine was gone. Everyone but Addison, that is.
“Don’t listen to her,” Riley said as she stared at the closed door. “She has a grudge against my family that started with the LaRues, and has since expanded to encompass the Chiassons.”
Addison swallowed and rubbed her hands over her arms. “Why did she seek me out?”
“To frighten you.” Riley faced her and flashed a quick grin. “Delphine is a Voodoo priestess. Watch yourself around her.”
They turned to find Marcus behind them, his face a thunderous expression of fury and hate. “Riley is right, Addy-girl. Delphine is bad business.”
Addison didn’t need either of them to tell her that. She sensed it the moment she saw Delphine, but that still didn’t stop the priestess’s words from running through her head over and over again.
CHAPTER SIX
Addison couldn’t wait to call it a night. She was exhausted both physically and mentally. Delphine’s visit had only agitated things, and she was more than curious where Myles and his brothers were. When she’d asked Riley about it, Riley had shrugged it off and said the boys needed a night off.
Addison walked out the back with a bag of trash. She opened the dumpster and threw it in. After she dusted off her hands, she looked up at the sky, but she couldn’t see the moon from where she was.
She turned to go back inside when a man stepped out of the shadows. Addison took a look at the door, but the narrow alley prevented her from having enough room to go around him and reach the door. If anything happened, no one inside would hear her scream with the music blaring.
Addison glanced over her shoulder to the wooden fence that locked her in. She didn’t think she could climb it fast enough or open the locked gate quick enough to get away.
She took in the man. He was on the short side and thin-framed, but there was something about him that made her wary, something that made her think he was much stronger than he looked.
“Here’s the morsel I’ve been looking for,” he said with a smile.
His skin looked pale in the light flooding the alley. His eyes were in shadow, but she knew they were trained on her as he began to move toward her. Addison backed up, her heart pounding in fear.
The man smoothed his hand over his slicked back, dark brown hair. “You’re all that’s being talked about.” He licked his lips. “I’m famished.”
“I can get you some food,” she hurried to say.
Apparently he thought that was funny because he laughed. “Take a look at my clothes, sweetheart. Do I look as if I can’t afford whatever it is I want?”
“You said you were hungry.”
“Oh, I am.” He peeled back his lips and his eyeteeth lengthened.
Addison had her second shock of the night, and it brought her up short, halting her retreat. Surely it was some trick of the light.
Minka had said there were vampires.
Oh, God. She was going to die from a vampire bite. The terror that consumed her locked her limbs so she couldn’t move for a moment. Addison stumbled backwards against the fence, a scream welling in her throat.
Then a flash of dark fur sped from over her head. She yelped as something large and furry landed in front of her, a low, menacing growl emanating from it. The vampire took a step back and hissed. Addison wanted to think it was a dog, but there was no denying that she was looking at a wolf – a very large, very scary wolf.
Its body was low to the ground as it snapped its jaws at the vampire and issued another growl.
For a second, Addison thought the vampire would leave, and then she realized the wolf had no intention of letting it go anywhere.
She plastered herself against the fence, praying the wolf didn’t see her. Addison’s hand shook as she tried to open the gate to her right. The jiggle of the metal caused the vampire’s gaze to shift to her.
Her breath locked in her chest. Then the wolf turned its head to her and she saw into yellow eyes that seemed to glow from within. She was taken aback by the fierce beauty of the wolf. The next second, the wolf surprised both her and the vampire when it launched itself at the man and locked its powerful jaws around the vamp’s neck. The yells from the vampire were drowned out by the growling of the wolf.
Addison screamed and focused on getting the gate open because she knew she was getting a first hand look at a werewolf. It took her a moment to realize it was suddenly as quiet as death around her except for the thump of the music from within the bar.
She closed her eyes, both of her hands still on the gate latch that refused to open. Addison slowly turned her head and looked over her shoulder.
The wolf was off to the side, standing over the dead body of the vampire that was turning gray and crumbling before her eyes. She lifted her gaze to the wolf and took a good look at its chocolate brown fur. It wasn’t just more muscular than a normal wolf, but taller, as well.
It was no longer growling. It simply stared at her as if it were waiting on something.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
From its position, it leapt over the fence with nary a sound. Addison gulped back a yelp of surprise and then hurried around the dust of the vampire as fast as she could before rushing into the kitchen.
All Addison wanted to do was get the night over with so she could try and sleep. Perhaps then she could forget all that she’d witnessed.
When she walked back into the front of the bar to finish cleaning off the tables, Riley stopped her by grabbing both of her hands. “You’re shaking,” Riley said. “What happened?”