"You have until the count of three, one… two…."
He moved his lips over my ear whispering, "You drive a hard bargain, Samantha. We will see you at eight." His lips swept over my neck resting on my pulse. He inhaled while groaning softly.
"Three." I suddenly felt chilly as I opened my eyes and he was gone.
Taking a deep breath, I let out a sigh. "What a cocky son of…" I screamed in anger. If he had still been standing in my office, I would have hurt him. No doubt, my ass would be on the way to jail. He made my blood boil. Even though his eyes were the most amazing green I had ever seen.
Get a grip Samantha! "Jerk!" I mumbled to myself, closing the door behind me.
I walked towards my desk and that was when I noticed the purple pen on my chair. "How the hell did he do that?" I yelled louder as the anger surged through my veins. "JERK!"
Just then, Betty walked into the office, her hands up in the air. I glared at her angrily as she started to explain what happened.
There are three rules I strive to follow throughout my life. I never demand of others what I’m not willing to do myself, I never get involved with clients, and I try not to care too much. My rules had been easy to follow, so far.
Chapter 3
After a long heated exchange with Betty, I left the office taking the gruesome pictures the vamp had left behind with me. The time had come to gather information regarding my potential clients. "Know thy enemy," came to mind. I left work around 4:00 p.m. and got home around 4:30 that evening.
My friend of two years, Trevor Alexander, worked as cop and always offered to help with my cases if needed. I loved him like the brother I never had.
Rubbing my aching temples, I plopped down on my bed holding the phone to my ear with my shoulder. "Trevor, Trevor, pick up the phone. I know you’re there!" I hollered, hoping he would pick up.
Trevor slept all day due to working the streets of New Orleans at night. I had patience normally, but I really needed to know more concerning my special clients.
I normally stay away from people I love because they end up hurt, or worse, dead. Trevor understood my hang-ups and yet he still loved me like the sister he never had, so heck it worked for both of us. A typical All-American man, he stood around 6’3"with long, sandy blonde hair. His honey brown eyes and wonderful personality attracted me immediately. Then I saw him without his shirt. Oh, baby! We hit it off immediately but never ended up getting involved other than just friends. My role in his life was that of protective older sister who chased off more than one tramp in my time. I really did love him except when he didn’t pick up the damn phone.
"Trevor, get your butt out of bed. Pick-up the phone or I’ll drive over and personally yank you out of bed." I hoped he heard the frustration in my voice.
Just as I started to hang the phone up, a sleepy voice said, "Sam, I am going to kill you. It is only 5:15 p.m. and I worked until 11:00 a.m. this morning."
He was angry, good!
"I’ll make it quick, I promise. Do you know a vampire by the name of Siön Baptiste or Nicholi?" Realizing quickly I had forgotten to get Nicholi’s last name. I was really out of it this afternoon.
"You get right to the point, don’t you?"
"Yes, is that a problem?"
Trevor’s voice was just a faint whisper. "Too sarcastic this early in the day Samantha, I am not in the mood." He paused, the silence was deafening. "Did you say Siön Baptiste?"
"Yes, Siön Baptiste and Nicholi. I do know that Nicholi is Siön’s master." I sighed, wrapping the phone cord around my fingers hoping he would know something.
"Sam, they are nothing but trouble. I thought the names sounded familiar. Working with them is like getting involved with the vampire Mafia, if there is such a thing. They are ruthless and they’ll use whoever and whatever to get what they want. What do they want with you?" He half-heartedly laughed until he heard silence on the other end.
"Please don’t tell me you are taking a job from those bastards. They will chew you up and spit you out. I know you’re a tough girl but you don’t want to mess with the Al Capone of vampires." He paused. "I have a very bad feeling about this." His voice sounded as if he’d had the wind knocked out of him.
"Take a chill pill. I will be armed and it’s a public place. We are only meeting to discuss the job. I don’t have to take it." I was trying to convince myself they were harmless, but my own internal alarms screamed, run.
"They want protection." I sighed, giving into the fact I would take the job because we needed the money.
Since vampires had become a worldwide phenomenon, it was now illegal to go around killing them, unless it was in self-defense. Vamps had their hands in politics, banking, and real estate. You name it, they owned it. Most strong masters were wealthy and very influential. They bought their freedom and victims. Nobody totally understands the vamps hierarchy but many a reporter had died trying to find out. People were fascinated by evil, what could I say? Rumors of a group of powerful demonic beasts ruling over the vampire race had only surfaced in the last ten years. They were still very secretive when it came to vampire politics. Money was what made the temptation of taking vampire jobs so appealing. Vampires were filthy rich, at least the masters were, and in my case, we really needed the cash.
"Why your company? There are bigger fish in the sea, Sam."
"Trevor, they offered six figures," I replied, wondering if he thought I wasn’t capable of doing the job.
"Holy crappie, you’re kidding right?" He asked. "It sounds too good to be true." Trevor was a cop by nature so he always questioned motives.
"Nope, they were dead serious." Chuckling I said, "Get it DEAD serious." I couldn’t stop laughing. Never hurt anyone to laugh aloud once in a while even if it was at his or her own stupidity.
Trevor was silent for a moment before he added, "You have a sick sense of humor Sam."
"Okay I do but it doesn’t change the fact that this is a huge job."
"I still don’t think it’s a good idea, Sam, six figures may not be worth it," he explained.
"Just remember my rule, Trevor, nothing is worth dying for especially a vampire."
"You and your stupid rules, Sam." He mumbled.
"Don’t worry about me, I can take care of myself." Although the words had not been spoken aloud, I knew deep down that, if it came to protecting a client I would willingly sacrifice my life. It was who I was as a person, and why I was so good at my job.
He sighed, as if giving up talking me out of going and then simply added, "I’m going with you."
"Okay, but make sure you don’t get in the way. I’ll pick you up at 6:15!" I hung up before he could answer. I wasn’t going to sit around arguing because once Trevor made up his mind there was no changing it. Plus, I could tell by his voice he wasn’t going to take no for an answer. He was a big boy and very capable of taking care of himself. Sometimes I wore the role of protective older sister too well for my own good.
Standing slowly I stretched my weary body and looked around the room. The only place I could relax anymore was in my bedroom. My safe haven from the violent world I was exposed to daily. My house was located in a quiet area of New Orleans. It was a five-acre plantation that had been in my adoptive parent’s family for over 50 years. I loved being far enough from the city to enjoy a quiet secluded life. My home was just isolated enough to forget my work and charming enough to allow me to remember a simpler time. More importantly there were no local vampires. The vampires stuck to city life. Guess the wide-open fields and werewolf-ridden forests didn’t agree with their kind.
The sun would be setting in about an hour. I’ve been attuned to the sun setting and rising everyday for the last two years. Like an internal clock telling me when to watch my back.
Walking around my bed I headed to the bathroom stopping in front of my balcony. My room had a huge bay window with a door leading to a massive pine deck overlooking a spacious yard and an in-ground pool. Lilacs surrounded the garden along with
elegant weeping willows. The grounds were stunning. Adding a certain historical factor was the cemetery in the back of the plantation. It was one of the only cemeteries in New Orleans still underground. All new cemeteries were required to be above ground because New Orleans was below sea level and the ground tends to get really saturated when it rains.
Watching the lovely willows blowing gently in the wind, I recalled my childhood desire to have my real mother in my life. That would never happen since she died when I was born. Sighing deeply I reluctantly turned away from the window and my dreams. For the most part I was happy, the only thing missing in my life now was a man.
My problem was the lack of time or patience to deal with men. Men were just too needy and I couldn’t keep up with their egos. Trevor just happened to be my only male friend and even then I couldn’t commit to a relationship because he was just that, a friend. If I only knew my real mom and dad, I think my whole life would have ended up differently. God knows I wouldn’t be so independent and so damn hard to be around sometimes.
Strolling to my closet, I snatched my favorite black outfit and heels. I wandered wearily into the bathroom and started a shower. I definitely didn’t have enough time for a bath, but oh well.
Thirty minutes later, I put on my black stockings attaching them to my garters. I strapped my gun with silencer, to my inner thigh. What more does a woman need between her legs? Slipping my black skirt over my garters, I buttoned the matching silk blouse. Taking one more glance in the mirror, I decided I looked presentable.
Rubbing gel into my hands I gingerly ran my fingers through my hair, scrunch and done. A little black eye liner to emphasize my amethyst eyes and some gloss for my lips. I’d always thought my lips were huge, but the fads these days were fat lips, and I was definitely in style.
My two cats, Beanie and Koko were lying on my bed watching the whole show unfold. The only two males I’d let in my bed lately.
I gave them both a kiss and ran down the stairs and out the door.
The sun descended gradually out of sight as I drove to Trevor’s downtown apartment complex. I always hated the trip into town, but tonight it gave me plenty of mental preparation time.
Watching the fall clouds billowing around the sun gave me a sense of peace. I smiled to myself at the beauty around me. Fall was my favorite time of year.
A feeling of dread suddenly overwhelmed me. Something or someone was following me. It felt as if they were watching me from afar. I looked in my rear view mirror, watching for a car. Pressing my foot to the pedal I accelerated swerving in and out of traffic. Before I knew what happened I was pulling into Trevor’s apartment complex parking lot. I shifted the car into park and turned to see if anything was approaching from the darkened alley.
I jumped when the car door opened and Trevor jumped in. "Hey, you okay, Sam?"
I shook off the feeling of doom and smiled sweetly. "Yeah, I’m fine."
Turning to face him my mouth dropped. "Wow you look nice!" I laughed. His hair was a beautiful sandy blonde color emphasizing his tanned skin and those eyes. Honey brown with sparkling yellow flecks. WOW!
He was tall around 6’3"and his long legs looked great in his leather pants. He was dressed for clubbing and looked unbelievably sexy. The funny thing about Trevor was he never tried to be sexy, he just couldn’t seem to help himself. Every woman within miles was distracted when Trevor was around.
He slid over and gave me a kiss on the cheek. "Hey sis."
I pushed him away. "Are you packing?" I tried to sound stern, but the grin on my face made it hard to take me seriously.
He lifted his shirt. "Of course I’m packing." He flashed a sparkling smile and we both began to laugh. Occasionally he tried to seduce me, but things just hadn’t worked and never would. We would be friends until the end.
Trevor was the only steady friend I’d had over the last few years. He’d stuck by me through thick and thin. Looking at him, I realized he meant more to me than anyone had in my entire life.
"You know you want my body, Sam." He joked.
"Trevor, you wish." I laughed back, hitting his arm.
He added quietly, "You know you love me."
I kept my eyes on the road as I replied, "yep, just like the brother I never wanted."
With that, I pulled out and onto the highway. The car rolled to a stop at a red light and I realized we hadn’t spoken since we’d left.
I glanced over at the gorgeous man beside me. "Trevor, if anything bad happens tonight you make sure to get your bum out of there."
"Bub?" He laughed.
"No, bum!" I scolded.
"Sam, you need to stop watching those foreign flicks. What exactly is a bum?" He teased.
"Trevor, drop it, you know exactly what I meant. Bum, Arse, Butt… need I say more?"
Grabbing my hand, he watched the street venders on the corner as all joking was put aside. He sat still hardly breathing before he answered. "Let’s get one thing straight. I will never leave you Sam. I would die before I let anything happen to you. I would rather die than be without you. You have been the only family I have ever known." He paused taking a deep breath. "Are you sure, you want to do this? I have a bad feeling about this whole job."
I let out a breath not realizing I had been holding it while he spoke. The serious tone in his voice made me nervous. I was flattered he cared, yet I knew Eldon Agency needed this job and the money. We trusted each other enough that if things got out of hand, we could handle ourselves. God knows Trevor could handle anything, but we both knew neither of us could handle losing each other. He turned his gaze towards me. We gave each other a nod as if we understood perfectly.
"It’s gorgeous out. I love the fall." I whispered studying the splendid city I cherished so much. New Orleans was far from perfect. It had its share of problems including a high murder rate. It appealed to vampires and the supernatural alike, but they were only half the city’s problems. There was an increase in werewolf sightings and those monsters were the real danger. No one messed with the wolf clans.
The light turned green and we were on our way.
"Do we have time to stop for dinner?" Trevor asked. "My treat."
"Well gee, if you’re paying then yeah, we have time," I laughed. I had wanted to get to The Silver Fang early so I could scout the place, but I was hungry.
The French Quarter was the heart of the city, filled with tourist attractions, sounds and the appetizing smells of New Orleans. The cuisine here runs the gamut--from po' boys to classic pizza, but it would take a lifetime to hit every restaurant. We decided to stop at Galatoire’s Restaurant on Bourbon Street. I loved their food and since Trevor was buying, we went all out.
Trevor’s expression had gone from fun loving to sober and intense in just moments. If I hadn’t known any better, I would guess he was nervous. We parked a few blocks from the restaurant. Nothing like walking the city streets on a cool fall evening. New Orleans was getting ready for the many autumn festivals and the excitement was like nothing else on earth.
Trevor offered me his arm and I gladly accepted. We walked briskly down the sidewalk enjoying the scenery. Upon entering the elegant, century-old restaurant, I stopped dead in my tracks. Galatoire’s was beautiful. The dining area was tiled with mirrors everywhere. All the staff was dressed in tuxedos. The beauty of the decor and busy staff wasn’t what prompted me to stop. Sitting at the first table, I saw the devil himself, Siön Baptiste. He dipped his head and saluted us casually as we shuffled past his table. The host sat us a few tables behind him. My face flushed from anger, embarrassment, or both.
I jumped when Trevor interrupted my brooding. "Hey, Sam, isn’t that…."
I waved my hands frantically. Vampires had great hearing and whatever Trevor was about to say I knew Siön Baptiste would hear it. "I know, just drop it," I growled.
"Fine." Trevor grabbed the menu and busied himself searching for a meal.
I found myself watching Siön Baptiste casually sip his glass of red
wine. His lips looked so soft folded against the glass as his tongue lapped luxuriously against his bottom lip. My face flushed at the thought of that same mouth over mine. He appeared to be enjoying himself. A young woman strolled over to his table and sat down. She was gorgeous. I could tell she wasn’t a vampire because her aura was weak. She had two fresh puncture wounds on her neck. Manwhore, I thought to myself as he leaned over and kissed her cheek.
"Vampires need to eat too, you know, Sam," Trevor reprimanded, aware of how disgusted I was with my potential client.
I wasn’t sure why it bothered me so much since I had only just met the man. I should clarify that, only just met the vampire. I had to give him some credit, he sure did attract attention. All eyes in the restaurant were on him and his little tramp. He had a certain air about him, arrogant.
A handsome young waiter came to our table. "Can I get you some wine? We have a fine Barlow…," He asked, his voice trailing off in my mind.
I ignored Trevor while he ordered our drinks. I was too busy watching Siön Baptiste play footsie with his blood bank. The girl leaned back laughing while he spoke quietly in her ear. She was absolutely besotted with the freak.
"Sam? Hello? Are you going to order tonight?" Trevor interrupted my irritated thoughts.
"Oh, I’m sorry."
The waiter stood anxiously waiting for my order. Even though he was busy, he very politely gave me plenty of time to decide.
"I want a big juicy steak. This one please." I pointed to the item on the menu. As I said before, I wasn’t good with French.
"Very good choice." The waiter nodded. "How would you like that cooked?" He asked, pen moving rapidly writing down my every desire.
"I’d like it to moo." I smirked.
"Umm moo?" He chuckled nervously.
"Yep, I want to hear it mooing." Trevor laughed outright as the waiter appeared very uneasy at my request.
He nodded and asked if we wanted anything else and then quickly departed.
"Sam, you’re so savvy." Trevor chuckled hitting my arm. "Hey, don’t you have to meet him in two hours?" Trevor asked.
The Silver Fang Page 3