by Powell, C. G. ; Lavender, Cait; Rayns, Lisa; Hardin, Olivia; Nelson, Stephanie; Schulte, Liz
“Hands off,” Sy snapped. “She’s still here with me and under my protection.”
Paolo’s hand dropped away, and I stepped to the side.
“What may I assist you with, old friend?”
Sy looked at me and nodded.
I cleared my throat and gave Paolo the papers in my jacket. “All of these missing people have been attributed to vampires. I want to know if the people blamed for the disappearances were responsible.”
Paolo stared at the papers in my hand, but didn’t take them. “If not them, who do you think is responsible?” he asked as if weighing each word.
“That’s what I intend to find out. All of these bounties have been posted by the Neru organization. I want to know who and what they are, and what they’re covering up.”
His eyes met mine in a cold stare. “This is a vampire matter.”
“I’ve been hired to look into it.”
“By whom?”
“I’ll not reveal my client.”
“Is he the one I smell on your skin?”
“Who’s Neru?”
“Walk away from this, Sekhmet, before you lose the rest of your lives.”
Anger flickered awake inside of me. In a flash, I pulled a knife and had it to Paolo’s throat. “Is that a threat?”
“You dare pull a weapon on me in my own home? Do you believe I’m scared of you?” he ranted as Sy lifted me away.
“Tell me what you know,” I demanded, though Sy’s arm was firmly locked around my waist pinning me in place.
“Tell me who hired you.”
“She can’t tell you, Paolo. No bounty hunter would.” I relaxed a little as Sy spoke up for me, and I stopped struggling against him.
“All I can tell you is this is a vampire matter, and the vampires blamed are most likely not the culprits. Now leave my house.”
Sy carried me towards the door only sitting me down when we reached the stairs. He looked back at Paolo. “She can’t tell you, but I will. His name is Thomas.”
Paolo’s eyes darkened to black, and Sy hauled me up the stairs with a firm grip on my arm. When we were outside, and I was free of his constraints, I clocked him with a strong right hook. He stumbled back a couple of steps with his hand on his jaw.
“What in the hell is wrong with you? You threaten people for no reason, and you’re sleeping with the vampire?” he snarled at me. “I thought you were smarter than that.”
“I’m doing my job, and we aren’t dating,” I shouted at him gesturing back and forth between the two of us. “I’m sorry if you don’t like my methods, but I have to find another lead.”
“Why?”
“Because I was responsible for Ambrose.” I shook my head, and Sy paced away with his hands on his hips. “Paolo is going to have Thomas killed, isn’t he?”
Sy shrugged. His face was hard and unreadable. “Only if he’s guilty.”
“Damn it. I thought I could trust you.”
“I’m protecting you.”
“You don’t even know him.”
“I know he got you involved, and I know he’s lying to you.”
“How is he lying? He told me as much as Paolo did. He said vampires could be behind it, but not the ones who are being blamed.”
“Why did he get you involved?”
“The girl, Abby Scott, was his last living relative.”
“But why did he come to you? Why did he not go to Paolo or another vampire? Why did he involve an outsider?”
“I don’t know. You’re the one who directed him to me. Why don’t you tell me?”
“He asked for you by name, Femi. I didn’t point him your way. I don’t even know him. Did you look at who has been taken?”
“Of course, I looked at all of them.”
He shook his head. “No one race has been taken twice. Whoever is doing this is starting a collection. You’re the only Sekhmet I’ve ever met. What if Thomas is luring you into a trap? It’s all a little too convenient, don’t you think?”
“He wouldn’t do that—”
“Why? Because he loves you? Are you that naïve?”
I turned on my heel and raced for my car. I started it and threw it in gear not bothering to wait for Sy. I didn’t know what to think. I wanted to believe in Thomas, but Sy made some excellent points. Why did he come for me? Why did he ask for me by name? How did he even know about me?
Thomas was gone by the time I made it to the motel. I grabbed my phone off the nightstand and ignored all the missed called from Sy. I dialed the Neru number, and the same deep voice answered the phone.
“You owe me money,” I told him.
“You did not deliver the bounty.”
“I brought him there, and you killed him. I still get paid. The bounty was dead or alive.”
He gave me a time and place to meet him tonight. I didn’t like that I couldn’t arrange the details of the transfer, but a fat lot of good that did me last time. Now I had to find Thomas. As I stood to leave, he walked through the door.
“There you are,” he said with that adorable shy smile as he slipped an arm around my waist and kissed my cheek.
I ignored the longing sensation washing through my body, and I pushed him away from me. “I thought we agreed you weren’t going to feed from me.”
He tilted his head to one side. “I didn’t feed from you.”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “That’s your first lie. When you reach three, I’ll start treating you like a suspect.”
The smile and innocent act disappeared. “I didn’t mean to feed from you. Having you so near me is too tempting. But I didn’t hear you complaining about it last night, and it isn’t like you didn’t enjoy it. The gouges on my back still haven’t healed.”
“And just now?”
“A little nibble.”
“How did you find me?”
“The bartender—”
“That’s your second lie.”
His jaw clenched and his eyes darkened. “What were you doing while I slept?”
“Answer the question.”
“What makes you think it wasn’t the bartender?”
“I’ve spoken with him. Sy said you asked for me by name. Why did you come looking for me?”
“I heard about you.”
“From whom?”
“What does it matter? You were the right person for the job.”
I glared at him. The person who stood in front of me might as well have been a stranger. Nothing he told me since the moment we met had been true. “Who’s Neru?”
“I know as much as you do. Why the third degree? I thought we were a team.”
“I did some investigating this afternoon and things aren’t adding up.”
“So now I’m suspect? Why would I hire you if I were part of this? I’ve never seen a person so singularly devoted to her job. You’d be the last person I’d hire if I didn’t want the people saved.”
“Perhaps that’s why you keep trying to beguile me.”
“I’m doing nothing of the sort. I’m attracted to you, and you’re obviously attracted to me.” He nudged closer to me, but I held my ground. “So what’s our next move?”
“I’ve arranged another meeting with Neru?”
“What?” His eyes darkened completely.
“I had to be sure you could be trusted.”
“And are you sure?”
I shook my head. “But I need backup.”
He stepped closer again. “Don’t go to the meeting. We’ll find another way.”
I shook my head. “I’m bringing these people home if they’re still alive. If they’re dead, then they’ll have justice.”
His hand brushed my cheek, but I didn’t feel the normal wave of desire at his touch. He’d been feeding from me the whole time just in little doses, and I was too blind to see it. I was such a fool. This time I only had a small fluttering in my stomach as I looked into his eyes. Slowly they returned to their bright blue color. “You aren’t afraid of me at all
, are you?”
“No.”
His lips met mine. Warmth spread throughout me, but I didn’t melt beneath him, and my thoughts weren’t hijacked by my libido. That asshole. I leaned back with a hand on his chest. “You’ve been feeding from me the whole time.”
His boyish smile spread across his face. “We don’t have to bite people to keep them coming back for more.”
I hooked a fingernail under his chin and kissed him hard. “You’re lucky I don’t kick your ass.” I moved away from him. “Touch me again, and I’ll change my mind.”
“Femi—”
“Back off, Thomas.”
“Fine,” he snapped.
“Is it always like that when you feed?” As much as I was angry and didn’t want to talk about it, I was also curious. I didn’t know any other vampires. I had collected a few, but never had the same sensation with them as I had with Thomas.
“Feeding is very intimate, so sexual desire can spike, but it’s different if the attraction is there to begin with.”
“What’s it like?”
“When I just brush against someone and feed, it’s a drink of cool water on a hot day. Last night with you was like jumping out of a plane.”
“What do you mean?”
“It was a rush. Adrenaline, freedom, and life crashing over me like a tidal wave. Sensations that could easily become addictive.”
“And it isn’t always like that?” In the back of my mind I wondered how much life he drained from me.
“It was like nothing I’ve ever experienced.”
I stared trying to decide if he told me what I wanted to hear, but it didn’t really matter. “We don’t have time for this, whatever this is. I have to go.” I stepped towards the door, but he took my arm and kissed me full on the mouth without holding anything back. A too familiar rush of desire doused me, and his tongue caressed the inside of my lips. Stepping away from him was hard, but I managed.
“Just one last time,” he said softly with his eyes still shut.
I shook my head and walked out the door. Thomas would follow me, I had no doubt. I texted Sy and hoped he wasn’t so mad he wouldn’t come too. I could use all the help I could get.
*
I weaved through the one-way streets of downtown Chicago searching for parking near the Wacker Tower. I lived here for ten years and somehow never managed to see this particular building. It was smaller and completely dark among all the lit windows of its neighbors. Though it was absolutely insane, the skyscraper was abandoned. I searched along the outside until I found a way in. My footsteps echoed through the empty, formerly grand foyer. Plastic sheets hung over the windows and fluttered in the drafts that occasionally rushed by. My eyes scanned the lobby for places snipers could hide. The wonderful art deco mural on the wall didn’t escape my attention as my eyes grazed passed it. I didn’t see anything, but I wasn’t taking chances either. I positioned myself in a crouch under an overhang with my back against the wall. I wanted to see whoever approached first.
Slow footsteps echoed across the floor and bounced off the walls making it impossible to determine which way they approached from. I waited gun in hand for the person to come into view. A woman rounded the corner and stood with her hands on her hips.
“Where is she?” she said to someone I couldn’t see. “You said she was here.”
“I’ve changed my mind. You can’t have her.” A too familiar voice came from the shadows to the woman’s left.
I held my breath as Thomas walked into view, shaking his head.
“Then I’m keeping Abby. I was willing to make the trade, Thomas. Did you think you could just quit and there’d be no ramifications?”
“I never signed on to take children.”
“Easier targets, and they have more life in them.”
“Leave. I’ll tell her you didn’t show.”
“She won’t stop coming after us. You knew that when you approached her. It’s too late to save her life.”
“I’ll talk her out of it or lead her in the wrong direction.”
“And Abby?”
He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair.
“I’ll take her,” I said, walking out of the shadows with my gun aimed between the two of them. “In fact, I’ll take all of them.”
“Femi—” Thomas started, but I cut him off.
“Don’t bother. You set me up.”
“I had to.”
“Aww, I think you hurt her feelings, Thomas.” The red-headed bitch ran her hand down Thomas’ chest with a pout.
“It was all part of the set up. Ambrose, the case, the motel?”
He brushed her hand away and nodded. “But you don’t understand.”
“Explain it.”
“I was part of this organization. I helped them select and retrieve targets, but when they started taking young ones I left. However, they don’t let you quit something like this. They took Abby as leverage. She isn’t a witch. She’s a human. But there was only one thing they were willing to trade her for.”
“Me.”
“And she gets it in one,” the woman sang out. “Tommy here was a very valuable asset. He always found the rarest of races for us. A sekhemt, who would ever believe that?”
“Lady, if you don’t shut the hell up, I’ll shoot you in the face. This is your only warning.” I looked back to Thomas. “What did they want with them?”
“Consider it an exotic grocery store for the most rich and powerful vampires. They can feed in any flavor they want so long as they can afford it.”
“And why Ambrose?”
Thomas looked down. “He was obviously innocent, so I knew if I could get you to look at the case, you’d take it.”
“Why’d you kill him?
“I didn’t.” He looked at the woman with undisguised fury.
“Thomas was wavering. He needed to be reminded of his loyalties.”
“You people disgust me.” I couldn’t stand to look at either of them. Everything he said was a lie, and she was a freaking psycho.
“Femi—”
“No, just no.” I considered everything. He lied from the start. He misled me and used me. But in the end he tried to do the right thing and that should count for something. Paolo was going to kill him. I was mad, but I didn’t want him dead. “Leave, Thomas. You were going to save me, so I’ll return the favor. We can call it even. Sy and Paolo are on their way. Leave now , quick.” I didn’t know that the cavalry was coming, but I hoped. Once Thomas was out of the way, Little Orphan Annie was going to have a chat with my fist until she told me where she was keeping her prisoners.
“I’m sorry, Femi.” He turned to walk back into the shadows. “You know, what I told you before we came here was true.”
What are the odds? I focused all my attention on the girl as his footsteps carried him away.
She looked at me unimpressed. “So, kitty cat, you going to let your claws out?”
I glanced around the room. I had no doubt she came with other people and was trying to lure me into the open area. “How ‘bout I just shoot you and be done with it?”
“Shoot me, don’t shoot me, it doesn’t matter. You cut off one head and three more will grow back. You’ll never defeat us all.”
I squeezed the trigger, and my silver bullet tore through her shoulder. “For now, I’ll just settle for you.”
She screamed in rage and lunged at me. I dropped the gun and took her on hand to hand. She hit like a Mack truck, but she was slowed by her wound. I slashed her with my claws and planted my foot hard against her chest, knocking her backward. Before she could get her footing, I charged. Immediately bullets zipped passed me. I tackled her and tried to restrain the wiry vampire. But she squirmed her way out and grabbed me by the hair, ripping my head back.
“I’m going to enjoy having you for a slave.”
I slipped a silver knife out of my jacket and jammed it in her side as her teeth brushed against my throat. The same instant she flew away f
rom me and took some of my hair with her. I looked back rubbing my head, and Paolo had her pinned to the opposite wall, talking to her quietly. The fear in her eyes was enough to make me smile. Sy offered me a hand up and pulled me into a hug.
“Sorry I was late. Paolo wasn’t keen on helping you after you threatened his life.”
I returned his hug, leaning into him.
“Where’s Thomas?” he asked.
“Gone,” I whispered into his shirt.
“He set you up?”
I nodded. Sy squeezed me tighter and didn’t ask any more questions.
*
Paolo got the woman to talk and most of the people were returned to their families, including Abby. A bounty was placed on Thomas, but that was one mark I would never take. Sy and I fell back into our normal patterns, while I waited for any more signs of the organization. Even if it took every last one of my lives, I’d destroy every last one of them, including Thomas if he was still involved.
I was a hunter, a protector of innocents, and a creature of the night.
About the Author
Many authors claim to have known their calling from a young age. Liz Schulte, however, didn’t always want to be an author. In fact, she had no clue. Liz wanted to be a veterinarian, then she wanted to be a lawyer, then she wanted to be a criminal profiler. In a valiant effort to keep from becoming Walter Mitty, Liz put pen to paper and began writing her first novel. It was at that moment she realized this is what she was meant to do. As a scribe she could be all of those things and so much more.
When Liz isn’t writing or on social networks she is inflicting movie quotes and trivia on people, reading, traveling, and hanging out with friends and family. Liz is a Midwest girl through and through, though she would be perfectly happy never having to shovel her driveway again. She has a love for all things spooky, supernatural, and snarky. Her favorite authors range from Edgar Allen Poe to Joseph Heller to Jane Austen to Jim Butcher and everything in between.
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