Burning Days (The Firsts Book 17)

by C. L. Quinn

  Keeping his head averted, tilted down, he lifted his gaze to watch them. They stopped at a table where three seated men suddenly rose, leaving their drinks behind.

  Jack didn’t even need to see the faces of the new arrivals. Three men would not silently abandon their table at what was probably their regular haunt. Not without being compelled.

  As he killed another sip of the beer, Jack casually smiled at Ben. “I think we’ve got vamps. In the corner, don’t look, they’re scanning the room. I just witnessed a classic compulsion.”

  Ben threw his head back as if laughing at something Jack said. Minutes later, after Jack nodded an okay, using his mug to hide his gaze, he glanced toward the corner Jack indicated.

  “Yup. They meet the descriptions. Plus, that bearded guy is the biggest fucking vampire I’ve ever seen.”

  Still grinning like he didn’t have a care in the world, Jack engaged his coms.

  “Jack.”

  “San. We got two. Male.”

  “Descriptions?”

  “Yeah, they match, but it’s more than that. I’m pretty sure I witnessed them use compulsion to make three men walk away from their table and drinks.”

  “Ha. Well, I trust your judgment. That makes one male and two females likely on the move. Keep an eye on them. Let me know if the others show up. I mean it, Jack, you two, surveillance only. Otherwise, stand down.”

  “Yes, mistress.”

  With an amused chuckle, Sanquinetta rang off.

  “They might just be out of a lovely pint. Like us.”

  Ben’s expression brought a genuine laugh from Jack.

  “Yes, and a little bite to eat.”

  “And therein lies the problem.”

  “Touché.”

  Conversation stopped as Jack watched the waitress approach the table with the suspected vampires. One wore a full beard, unusual for vamps, and appeared to be the more aggressive of the two. When the other vamp grabbed the waitress, a slight middle-aged woman who looked beat and his hands curled around her ass, it surprised him that the bearded vampire forced him to let her go. Still, it took everything Jack had not to surge up and over there, kill the motherfuckers, and haul their carcasses out.

  Just the fact that they were likely the vamps they sought meant they were extremely dangerous.

  That’s the thing, he thought as he watched the asshole’s actions. Vampires were killers. Period. It was how so many small hunting teams had formed over the past century all over the country. It had happened organically when someone discovered the existence of these predators and knew that someone had to do something.

  Everything the hunters knew about the vampires, and the intel had grown to quite a lot, had been learned the hard way following the initial discovery that blood-altered humans became blood-sucking animals who either killed or changed a victim into one of them. Terrifying monsters from ancient lore really existed, and only the very few who knew it stayed hidden, like the vampires themselves, and tried to protect the innocents.

  Over the decades, in different parts of the country, hunters had tried to bring in law enforcement, but it was almost always a failure. The vamps often got to them, killed them, or used compulsion to wipe their memories and force suspicion for murders back on hunters.

  So many hunters had been killed that they dropped back into the shadows to wage their war.

  Now, it was a tradition to keep vampire existence within the ranks of believers, to leave those unaware of these monsters blissfully unaware, to find the bloody beasts whenever they could and send them back to the hell from whence they came.

  Elias had told his sons that what they did was noble.

  “You’re soldiers, boys, on the side of good in the never-ending battle of good versus evil. We’ll win, we have to, because we have right on our side. Because I will never allow blood-drinkers to walk this earth as long as I live to stop them.”

  All these years later, both Remington sons accepted their birthright, a legacy of sacrifice, their lives dedicated to the cause. On his chest over the left bicep, Jack wore a tattoo he’d had inked when he turned twenty. The image of a simple vertical dagger with a silvered hilt showed it puncture a black heart. Three red blood drops dripped beneath it. It was a promise to himself that he would remain faithful to his heritage.

  Watching Ben so perfectly play the part of a clueless drunk, Jack hoped that Ben was okay with the family mission too. If he wasn’t, God, he hoped his brother had the courage to leave the life.

  Ben’s head tipping along with the pitcher as he poured another mug full gave him another unnoticed view of the suspects. Both were drinking unusually healthy amounts of alcohol and eating handfuls off two big trays filled with this establishments less than healthy appetizers.

  “Too much booze, too much food. Vampires for sure.”

  At that moment, one of the suspects, the one with the beard, stood, hands on his hips and closely watched everyone in the bar. His eyes moved from person to person slowly. Jack and Ben knew what they were searching for and kept their faces averted, showing interest in their drinks and their conversation.

  Well aware that a vampire could often hear a specific voice across a room if they focused on it, they played their parts.

  Ben belched. “So I told Lucille that if she didn’t want my dick in her pussy, screw you. What a bitch.”

  “Yah, Bobby, I told you when you picked her up that she thought her shit didn’t stink. You need to look around and find someone who ain’t no skank.”

  “You are so right, Tank.”

  Jack’s eyes smiled as he mouthed, “Tank?”

  “Bobby” shrugged.

  A sideways glance showed Jack that the target’s scan had passed over them and moved on to the next few tables.

  “They’re searching for hunters,” Ben whispered.

  “It’s pretty clear.”

  They would wait them out, see what the vampires did, if they chose a victim. If they took someone, then Jack and Ben would have to act.

  Quietly, while reaching for his still full glass of bourbon with a goofy grin, Jack spoke into his coms. “San, we’re certain they’re ducks. Watching for intentions.”

  Ducks, code word for vampires, as in dead ducks, if someone might be near enough to hear.

  “No show on the other locales. Odd the other three aren’t with them. Hunter trap?”

  “Yep.”

  “We’re coming. Don’t either of you freaking move.”

  “Aw, honey, I thought you liked the way I move.”

  “I like the way you follow my orders.”

  “Brute.”

  “Good. Remember that. We’re on our way.”

  Ben had been watching. “Mama Bear on her way?”

  “Let the games begin.”

  A hand signal to the waitress, and a wink he’d normally never do, Ben caught another look to his left to see one of the now-established vampires stand, his attention on the entrance. He moved his eyes to see two young women who’d just entered, letting their eyes adapt.

  “Oh, no.”

  Jack’s gaze shifted to the corner as both vampires moved toward the women. “Oh, yeah, game on.”

  Waiting to see what happened next, and sadly certain that they knew, the brothers kept their seats until the vampires caught the women’s eyes, briefly spoke to them, then walked out, both women on their heels.

  Rising, Jack barked into his coms.

  “San, they’re leaving with two young female vics. We don’t have a choice. Keep your coms on, I’ll keep a running commentary.”

  “Boys…”

  “You know we have to go. You know how quickly those girls will be gone if we don’t.”

  “Be careful.”

  “Always.”

  As the door closed behind them, both men searched the area, Jack to the right, Ben to the left.

  “There,” Ben said, without pointing. They would still try to maintain cover, but just the fact that they’d followed had probably
blown it. It didn’t matter much now anyway, only those girls did.

  Going into a wooded area next to the bar, Jack groaned. “Fuck, it figures. Great place to ambush two hunters.”

  “They’re murderers, not dumb.”

  “Why can’t they be both? Can’t we get a break?”

  “Look.”

  In the distance, the light now too low to discern them well, they could see four forms moving through the trees.

  “We don’t split up,” Jack spat, as he took the lead, gun drawn, dagger near his right hand, a streaming low-level light at his waist for when they might need it. Ben followed keeping just to his left, gun also presented, ready to fire at any opportunity.

  It became apparent quickly that the stand of trees was narrow as they opened into another parking lot. Standing under a streetlamp, the two young women in front of them, knives at their throats, the vampires were obviously waiting for them.

  “Come closer, hunters,” the enormous vampire with the beard yelled.

  “Release the girls, and sure, we’ll come for the meet and greet.”

  “Uh, uh. You want these fine pieces of ass, you have to come and get them. After all, you have three of ours.”

  Like hell we do, Jack thought, the memory of watching those vamps cook still clear.

  “If you let them free, let them come over here, we’ll talk about your friends.”

  Bearded guy snorted as he laughed. “You’re as bad a liar as you are a hunter. We could smell your stench from a mile away. Come near, or I slit this one’s throat right now and take a nice warm drink as she dies. Her name is Amanda, and she thinks she’s going to college in the fall.”

  Fuck, fuck, fuck! Jack turned to Ben. “Stay here, I’m going to…”

  “No. Both of you or no deal.”

  Low, barely loud enough to hear himself, Jack gave Ben his orders.

  “Ben, stay here. I’m going closer and try to take him out before he can cut her.”

  “Oh, come on!” the vampire yelled. “I can hear you.”

  Jack knew he could. He fired from right where he was, his skill excellent, his aim true, and he would have gotten the vamp except that he used his ability to move faster than humanly possible to be somewhere else when the bullet arrived. But he’d thrown the girl to the ground.

  The second vampire, less sure of himself, threw his victim to the pavement and followed the first one.

  “New hire?” Jack taunted.

  “Yeah, still learning. You’re lucky he’s not older or I’d have you both. Doesn’t matter, I have what I wanted anyway. I know who you are. My companion has recorded your faces on vids, so here’s my gift to you. Don’t even try to pretend the other members of my family are alive, I know better. Now, though, we’re coming for you. We know what you look like, so we’ll be hunting you. You won’t know when or where we’re coming, so enjoy the small moments of life you have left.”

  They were gone instantly, the newby on the heels of the other, probably aided by him.

  This could have gone worse, a whole lot worse, but Jack had a strong sense of dread. Vampires knew their faces, and if they could find them, they could get the others as well. He and Ben would have to be extraordinarily careful not to lead them back to their headquarters or friends.

  “Let’s check on the vics,” he commanded, his voice quiet.

  Ben nodded, well aware that things had gotten much more dangerous tonight.

  An hour later at HQ

  “Jack, you’re bleeding.”

  “The girl freaked out when I tried to pick her up off the ground. Her fingernails were like tiny daggers.”

  “Yeah, I guess they would be. Let me dab those.”

  “San, forget the stabs, they’re nothing. I’m just worried about the setup tonight. Ben and I have been made. If we don’t get those pricks before they get out faces out there, we won’t be able to safely hunt again. Hell, we won’t have to worry about that, we’ll be dead.”

  “We’ll fix it. You dad is already on camera feeds, looking for where they might have gone.”

  “They’re too clever, he won’t find them. At least, that big one. What the fuck is a vamp doing with a beard anyway?”

  “He’s got a style, I guess. It makes it easier to track him on vids.”

  “I guess.” Sighing, Jack pulled his shirt back over his head. He’d been assessing the stinging scratches and punctures his victim had given her rescuer. “I’m heading home. Will you make sure Ben gets home safely? He’ll have a fit, but have someone escort him.”

  “Sure. How about you?”

  “Don’t worry about me. I’m invincible. No, I’m taking a ride and then heading home to catch up on that lost sleep.”

  Sanquinetta folded her arms. “A ride, eh? Along the shore? Stopping somewhere?”

  “No. Going right home after some fresh air.”

  “Oh, that’s what the kids are calling it these days?”

  “I just need to deal with this and the repercussion of what happened tonight.”

  “Alright, my friend, go deal. Sometime, if you keep seeing this woman, I’d like to meet her.”

  His keys rattling in his hands, Jack shook his head.

  “I won’t. She really is too delicate for this old dog. I’m lucky she let me touch her.”

  “Gods, Jack. You really don’t get what a good man you are. Get out of here and get some sleep. Set your alarms.”

  “The house is too old. It doesn’t have alarms.”

  “Shit. Just be careful. I’ll see you tomorrow night.”

  Out in the cool air, which he really did need right now, Jack started his bike and took off at breakneck speed down the lane from the HQ, turned onto the lonely two-lane highway, and yes, he was going to pass the house where Ife stayed.

  He had no intention of stopping to see her. Maybe the lookout to see if she was down there, but that was it. If she was there, maybe, maybe, he’d go down and say hi. Then he’d head home and get the sleep that might give him a better view of how to manage this situation.

  This might be the last night he could move around freely without worrying that he might lead death to the doorways of his family or friends. Once the vampires got his and Ben’s images out, things were going to heat up fast. There would be hunting, only he and his brother were going to be the prey now.

  Pulling into the lookout, he walked to the wall and looked at the beach. No one was there. Good. Fine. He’d just get back on the bike and go.

  Somehow, his legs refused to take him away from the path that led to the wet sand below.

  “She isn’t there tonight, asshole,” he said, and started down the steps.

  On the beach, the roar loud tonight, he looked up the coastline toward the house she borrowed from someone she called Donovan. It was much darker tonight, the moon and stars lost behind a solid deck of clouds.

  He could barely see a light on, casting onto what he knew was the deck off the back of the house.

  Time to go home. Leave her be. It was rude to show up unannounced anyway.

  Jack started down the beach toward the lone house.

  He shouldn’t go to her. Tonight his life had become too complicated and his presence would be dangerous. Leave the lovely woman to enjoy a safe, relaxing vacation before she returned to her life. It wasn’t as if they had a chance at anything beyond a few moments of sex.

  Still, his footsteps brought him closer and closer until, shadowed completely by the rock cliff where he stood, Jack watched her set a food tray on the table near the balcony. She stopped afterward and walked to the railing to look out toward where he stood, uncertain what he would do.

  Did she have a guest?

  He lowered himself to squat on the sand, fully aware that watching her like this officially made him a stalker, but he had to know. Was she entertaining another man? She had every right to do so. He didn’t have any claim; he’d just been a one-night stand. And yet…

  She disappeared back into the house and he saw n
o further movement until the back door opened and she came down the steps toward where he sat.

  Standing, he considered leaving fast, but her laugh travelled to him across the distance.

  “Don’t.”

  He was surprised he could hear her so clearly, she was still quite far from him, but he had and wondered if she could possibly have been speaking to him.

  Jack waited, her image sharper as she closed in on him and held out a V-shaped glass.

  “Here.”

  His hand closed around the glass, he hesitated, then took a sip of what she’d called MoonShine, a wine her own people had apparently produced.

  In the limited light of a cloud covered night sky, he could see her bright hair as she shook her head.

  “You weren’t going to leave without coming up, were you?”

  God, he loved her voice!

  “I thought you might have a visitor.”

  “I was expecting you.”

  Why she was didn’t make sense, but he’d learned not to question anything when it came to her. He’d already surmised that this woman had some sort of preternatural talents.

  “I shouldn’t have come tonight.”

  “Why?”

  “I wanted to. Obviously. Ife, I’m not free to even have a casual relationship with you. You deserve a lot better than me anyway.”

  “Not free? Are you with someone else?”

  “No, that isn’t what I mean. Some things are happening that make it dangerous to be near me right now. I can’t risk you getting caught up in the crossfire of my life.”

  “What if I absolve you of all concern or guilt and you come in and tell me about it?”

  He wanted to. He wanted to crawl inside her for solace and bury himself until he caught fire.

  “Come with me. I have food and drink. You can tell me anything. Perhaps I can help.”

  Handing the glass to Ife, Jack slid a hand up each of her cheeks and kissed her gently on the lips, his fingers moving into that satin hair one last time. The kiss deepened, became hungry, needy, loving, and Ife returned his passion.

  With a startling abruptness, he pulled away and he heard Ife sigh.