Scarlet Roses

by Angel Nyx

Emelise

  Eme’s head snapped up when she heard her mate’s voice. Oh. He was pissed, no, beyond pissed, that the guy had grabbed her wrist. She felt his fingers loosen before they fell away and she had to resist the urge to rub her arm where they’d been. “You are no longer welcome at Scarlet Flux. Your photo will be given to the entire staff to ensure you don’t return. And if you try to damage my club’s reputation with lies? Just remember, there is more than enough video proof of your actions and I will see that Sierra presses charges against you for sexual assault.”

  He stood slowly and sneered at her. “Fine, whatever, this place isn’t any good anyway,” he said and lifted his chin in defiance.

  Eme laughed. “You keep telling yourself that to make yourself feel better. Me, I know the truth,” she said and watched him leave.

  Caine watched him go as well before he turned his attention to his mate. “Are you alright, Angel?” he asked with a soft growl.

  Eme shivered. That growl made her damn toes curl it sounded so good. “I’m fine. I had it under control,” she said and saw a flash of something akin to hurt in his eyes. “But thank you. I probably would have had to get physical with him if you hadn’t shown up when you did and that could have gone badly.”

  He pulled her into his arms and buried his nose in her hair for a moment. “Mm, I might have enjoyed watching you put him in his place.”

  Eme laughed softly. “You’re incorrigible.”

  “I am, but you wouldn’t want me any other way.”

  “Too true, too true.”

  Malcolm

  Malcolm reached Scarlet Flux and arched a brow as he took in the brick facade. The club had a distinctly quirky flare to it even from the outside and he couldn’t help but grin. It definitely reflected Emelise’s personality. He stepped inside and closed his eyes to let the music wash over him. God he loved jazz. He made the right choice in moving to the Crescent City; he just knew it.

  After a moment he opened his eyes and moved to the bar. “I’m looking for Emelise, she wanted me to meet her here,” he said to the guy behind the bar.

  “She’s upstairs in the VIP lounge,” came the reply before the guy finished the drink order he was working on.

  “Thanks.” Mal headed upstairs just as some guy came stomping down them. The anger rolled off the man and Malcolm cocked a brow. What was that all about? He watched the guy go a moment before he shrugged and turned back to continue up the stairs.

  At the top of the stairs he stopped again. “Wow,” he said under his breath. The VIP lounge overlooked the rest of the club but while it kept the red, gold, and black theme the downstairs had, this section kicked it up a few dozen notches. It was luxurious, almost obscenely so. He took it all in for a moment before his gaze fell on Emelise being held by someone who had to be her mate. “Now that’s a pretty sight,” he said loudly enough for them to hear him.

  Emelise heard his voice and immediately pulled out of Caine’s arms. “Mal! You’re here. It’s that time already?” she asked and glanced at her watch. “Damn, I thought I had a little more time. Are Lily and Declan here yet? Did you see them downstairs?”

  “I sure didn’t...Eme,” Malcolm replied. He’d started to call her ‘babe’ but changed it because he had a feeling her mate might take issue with it without an explanation that a) he called everyone that b) Emelise was more like the sister he never had, and c) he was batting for the same team. Women made great friends but when it came to lovers, not so much.

  “Well, no worries, I’m sure they’ll be here.” She went to him and grabbed his arm to pull him over to where Caine stood. “Malcolm, this is Caine, Alpha of the Black Water Pard, and my mate,” she said, adding the last at the last moment. “Caine, this is Malcolm. He’s a dear friend from Phoenix, he just relocated to New Orleans and he’ll be working here at the club.” She looked at Malcolm. “You are going to perform, right?” she asked for clarification.

  “Of course I am, darling! I’m looking forward to seeing what kind of a reception I get.” He turned his attention to Caine. “It’s nice to meet you. I’ve heard a bit about you.”

  “Don’t believe a word of it,” Caine said and winked at Emelise. “I’m sure she’s told you I’m an overbearin’ jerk.”

  Eme blushed and Malcolm laughed. “Something like that,” he replied. “Don’t worry, I won’t hold it against you as long as you make our little Eme happy.”

  “I’ll make her happy as long as she’ll let me.”

  “Oh, I like you. You really do know Eme well, don’t you?”

  Emelise gave him a mock glare. “Why did I think introducing you two would be a good idea?” she groused.

  It was Caine who chuckled this time. “Because it is, Angel. Someone has to keep you on your toes and lord knows dat ain’t me,” he admitted and kissed her temple.

  Before Emelise could reply Lily and Delcan showed up.

  Emelise

  Emelise had felt a little torn over Caine’s coming to her defense with the jerk who thought having money meant he could treat others any way he wanted to. On the one hand it was sweet of him but on the other hand it had made her feel like he didn’t think she could handle it herself. Still, at the hurt in his eyes, she’d found she couldn’t be annoyed with him. He really was a good man even if he did frustrate the fuck out of her sometimes. And annoyed the ever loving hell out of her sometimes, too.

  “Speaking of the devils,” Emelise said when Declan and Lily entered the VIP Lounge. “I was just taking about y’all,” she added at the looks she got.

  “Y’all? You’re really getting into this whole ‘Southern’ thing,” Lily teased her. “Why were you talking about us?”

  “Just wondering if you were here yet,” Eme replied after sticking her tongue out at her best friend’s teasing tone.

  Lily laughed. “Love you, too, Eme,” she said then arched a brow at Caine. “Okay, what happened up here? You’re all tense and even Mal looks a little on edge. You boys aren’t fighting, are you?”

  Caine gave her a look. “No, we’re not fightin'. Dere was an issue when I first arrived but I took care of it.”

  “Oh, is that why that guy brushed past me in such a foul mood?” Malcolm asked. “I was wondering what that was about. Sorry, babe, didn’t know I looked tense. I must have been picking up on Caine’s tension,” he added to Lily.

  Beside her Lily felt Declan tense and rolled her eyes. “Let me make the introductions. Declan, this is Malcolm, Eme’s friend from Phoenix. Malcolm, this is Declan. Don’t let his glare bother you, he’s like that with any man who even looks at me. Kind of the way Caine is when guys look at Eme,” she added.

  Lily and Emelise both laughed at the comment. “True, they do both do that whole glaring thing, don’t they?” Emelise said.

  “They totally do,” Lily replied.

  Malcolm snickered then decided to put both the males at ease. “Don’t worry, darlings, I have no interest in your mates beyond maybe some makeup advice,” he said. “Women make excellent friends but they don’t have the right equipment to get my blood pumping.”

  Both Caine and Declan just stared at him a moment before Declan burst out laughing. “Damn, you’ll fit right in with our Pack. Echo and Sasha will definitely love you.”

  “Oh? Why is that?” Malcolm asked curiously.

  “Because you can talk shop, so to speak.”

  “Have those two finally admitted they’re hooked on each other yet or are they still pretending otherwise?” Emelise asked. The one time she’d met the two women together she’d known right away how they felt about each other.

  “They’re still stubborn as fuck,” Declan replied.

  “I don’t get that,” Emelise replied. “They’re good together, you’d think they’d just get it over with.”

  “I think they’re just worried it will ruin the friendship and they’re unwilling to let that happen,” Lily countered. She shared a look with Eme. “Maybe we need to play a little matchmaking.”

/>   Emelise grinned. “I was just thinking the same thing!”

  “So you don’t have an issue with me not being straight?” Malcolm asked Declan while Eme and Lily bantered back and forth playfully.

  “Fuck no. Why would I? Look, I know lions have this ego thing going on, especially the Alphas, and their only focus seems to be on making babies, but that attitude makes it hard for anyone who thinks differently to feel like they’re accepted and part of the group. I don’t give a shit what gets you hard as long as it’s nothing illegal,” Declan replied. “You should come meet the rest of the Pack once you’re settled in. Lily told me you just moved here, so take all the time you need.”

  “Thanks,” Malcolm replied. He looked a little stunned by the open acceptance considering his status as an outcast among lion shifters.“Not everyone is a bigot,” Lily said before she grinned. “When are you doing your first performance?”

  “Haven’t gotten that far yet,” Malcolm and Emelise said at almost the same time.

  “How about we plan it for this Saturday? That’ll give you four days to get things in order and meet with the band,” Eme put in.

  “This Saturday sounds perfect,” Malcolm replied. “Well, darlings, I hate to cut and run but it’s been a long day and I still have some unpacking to do so I will catch all of you later,” he added and left.

  Eme watched him go before she turned her attention to what had happened earlier. “I really hope that jerk lets it go. I don’t want to drag anyone through the mud but if he pushes it, I have proof he sexually assaulted one of the servers.” She had a bad feeling about it though. Woman’s intuition? Maybe, or maybe just go old fashion understanding the way the human mind worked.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Emelise

  “Gods damned, motherfucking son of a bitch!” Emelise was seething. She was in the middle of doing inventory when she’d gotten a text from Sierra telling her to check a website that highlighted local businesses. There, bold as can be, was a post about Scarlet Flux. A very nasty post about it.

  “What’s wrong boss lady?” Joe asked.

  “Sierra sent me a text about this website that showcases local businesses, that fucker who was messing with her, he put up a really nasty post about the club.”

  “What the fuck? Is there anything that can be done about it?”

  “I have no idea,” Eme replied. “I’ll contact the website owner and ask. What he did is akin to slander and outside of getting Sierra to press charges against him, I don’t know how to stop him from dragging the club down.”

  Malcolm was stopping in to set up with the band so they could rehearse and overheard her. “What happened, babe?” he asked. Eme repeated the situation and he cocked a brow. “Oh, that’s easy darling. Why don’t you let me take care of this little problem for you, hm?”

  She gave him a puzzled look. “Are you sure?”

  “Positive. Soon enough you’ll see that his comment has been obliterated.” Malcolm knew how to deal with people like this Aaron Sutton.

  “Okay,” she finally agreed.

  Malcolm flashed a grin and got to work immediately. Networking was a beautiful thing and half an hour later he’d reached out to literally hundreds of people who’d been to Scarlet Flux since it opened. Not only were people commenting on the ugly things he’d said, but others were posting positive experiences. One particular one stuck out and Mal sent a link to it to Eme. Go to this link and read what this person had to say about your club

  Eme had just finished with the inventory and shrugged. Might as well, right? She grabbed herself a bottle of water, sat at the bar, and opened the link to read it.

  ‘After a recent bout with cancer that left me feeling less than attractive (because, really, what woman feels attractive when she has to shave her head because her hair was coming out in clumps and she has perpetual bags under her eyes?) I finally let some girlfriends of mine talk me into going out. My usual haunts tend to be rocker clubs and biker bars, at least they were before I got sick, so when I was informed that the club we were going to, Scarlet Flux, was a newly opened jazz club I blanched. Jazz? Ugh.

  That was what went through my mind. I was expecting it to be boring; bland colors with second-rate musicians who could barely carry a tune. I couldn’t have been more surprised if the Pope had shown up at my door in a mumu dancing the polka!

  The first thing you notice when you walk in the doors are the colors. The combination of crimson and black with hints of gold lend the entire space a sexy, seductive feel. It’s classy, sophisticated, and yet comfortable at the same time. The entire downstairs is set up in an inviting way that draws the listener into the live music that is continuously playing. The seat cushions are thick and comfortable, the chairs are wide to accommodate nearly any size patron, the tables are solid and sturdy, and every piece of wood gleams.

  There are no doubt handmade pieces scattered throughout the club. The intricate carvings along the stairs leading to the upstairs VIP Lounge are gorgeous and I have it on good authority they were done by Gage Delacroix of Delacroix Carpentry and Architectural Design. The man is truly a master at his craft!

  The VIP Lounge is the epitome of luxurious. Smooth floors reflect the lights that twinkle from gold encrusted wall sconces and globed chandeliers. Each table is nestled against a thick, padded booth that is covered in crimson velvet. Comfortable chairs line the other side of the tables and each piece has gold embellishments that catch the glow of the lights. The entire space makes you feel special, regardless of who you are.

  And the music is phenomenal. I dare say Miss Rousseau has found the cream of the crop with the musical talent that graces the small stage every night. I won’t be surprised if some of the musicians she has find themselves with record deals thanks to her bringing their talent to the world.

  If you are looking for a night out on the town and want to go to a club that combines class, style, amazing talent, and delicious drinks, Scarlet Flux is the ONLY place to go!

  ~Izzy Catalini

  Emelise read over the blog post several times. “Oh. Wow.” She had no clue who this ‘Izzy Catalini’ was but she really wanted to thank the woman for what she’d said.

  “What?” Joe asked and when Eme showed him the post he whistled. “Dayum, that’s one sweet blog post. Your buddy Malcolm definitely knows what he’s doing.”

  “He’s multi-talented, that’s for sure,” Emelise replied. “I wonder if ‘Izzy’ is short for Isabella. I may have to try and track this young woman down to thank her for her kind words. Anyway, thanks for the help with the inventory, Joe.”

  “Welcome. I’m going to head home, got plans for tonight with it being my night off.”

  Eme waved him off and went to her office. After a little digging she located an Isabella Catalini there in New Orleans. After a little more digging she had an address and directions to get there. She wanted to thank the woman in person.

  An hour after finding Isabella’ Catalini’s address Emelise found herself sitting in her car in front of a small house in the Lower Ninth Ward. It was a bit rough but then a lot of places were once you got away from the more tourist prone parts of the city, such as the French Quarter and Garden District. Next to her on the seat was a basket that held a variety of fruits and cheeses. It was just a small token of her gratitude, really. “It’s not going to deliver itself,” she said under her breath before she climbed out of her car. Just as she reached for the basket her phone vibrated, alerting her to a text.

  Come to the compound for dinner, cher, I miss you.

  Eme smiled a little at the message. It was nice getting little messages like that from him even if he still hadn’t given her a reason to believe he was looking for commitment between them. What if I had a hot date? She couldn’t help teasing him.

  If it was with another man he’d be dead, Angel, and you wouldn’t do that to some poor, unsuspecting fool. Quit teasing me, woman.

  Emelise laughed and sent her reply to him. But you make it so e
asy to tease you.

  Careful, cher, you don’t want to rile the beast. Will you come to dinner?

  She could practically hear the growl through the text and decided to cut him some slack. I’ll be there at six. See you then. That done she put her phone away, grabbed the basket, and went to the door.

  The door opened a couple minutes after Emelise knocked and a small, dark haired little girl looked up at her. “Can I help you?”

  Eme blinked. She hadn’t expected a child to answer the door. “Hi there,” she said warmly. “Is Isabella home?”

  The little girl wrinkled her nose at her. “Uh huh. But Mama goes by Izzy, not Isabella,” she said. She turned away from the door and raised her voice. “Mama, there’s a lady at the door for you.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind,” Emelise replied and waited for Izzy Catalini to come to the door.

  When Izzy got to the door her eyes widened a little. “You’re Emelise Rousseau, aren’t you? You own Scarlet Flux.”

  “I am, and I do,” Eme replied. “A dear friend of mine showed me the blog post you made about the club and I was really touched by it. I just wanted to come by, thank you in person, and give you a token of my gratitude,” she added and offered up the basket.

  “That’s very nice of you but you didn’t have to do that,” Izzy said. Still, she took the basket from her. “Would you like to come in for a moment?”

  “I don’t want to interrupt anything.”

  “You’re not. I was just fixing Lexi something for lunch. Would you like a glass of tea? Or we have raspberry lemonade.”

  “That lemonade sounds good, thank you.” Eme took in the rundown appearance of the apartment and it hurt her heart to see. It was clean but it was obvious there were little funds to keep the furniture in good condition. “How long have you lived in New Orleans?” she asked because Izzy definitely did not have a Southern accent. No, she sounded more New York than New Orleans.