by D. C. Gambel
Chapter 5
“It’s one night off,” Tyler explained to me.
“Uh huh,” I mumbled grabbing clothes from my old closet to move them into Cam’s, or rather our, room now. “Then why is she here,” I gestured to Charlie who was sprawled out on my old bed. She’d been casually flirting with Christian downstairs. The way she rolled around on the mattress had me wondering if she was intentionally marking it with her scent.
“Bitch,” she teased.
“She’s here to make sure you have fun. With all the shit that’s been going on, you need a break.”
“You mean the accusations that I’m killing off the supernatural community?” I spat snidely. “Yeah, I’m sure a night out drinking where I have to worry about not killing anyone by accident is exactly what I need.” Sarcasm dripped from every word.
Another body had been discovered. This time it was an incubus. He’d not only been killed by my gift, but had been gutted. I didn’t know the specifics. It seemed the guys were only giving me the bare minimum of information and most of it came from Cam when we were away from the other horsemen, but they had determined that the latter injury was postmortem and that something specific to incubi and succubi had been taken.
“Why don’t you let me worry about that,” Cam spoke from the doorway. I turned surprised to see him there. He looked like Adonis leaning there with his arms folded over his muscular chest. Someone cleared their throat and I realized that I’d been moving towards him in a trance like state. Cam smirked crookedly knowing the effect his mere presence had on me. Shoving off the frame he closed the distance until he stood just inches in front of me. “I will keep you safe even if it means keeping people away from you. I just want you to relax and have a good time. I won’t leave your side tonight.”
“Promise?” I whispered so only he could hear. He knew my fear better than anyone. Of course I would love a night to relax but the constant worrying a drunken clubber might bump me and die kind of put a strain on me that no alcohol could cure.
“I promise.”
I sighed, but before I could utter a word Charlie was squealing like a little girl. “I told you,” she shouted at Ty. “That girl is so dicked whipped that all he has to do is smile at her and she’s putty.” She turned to me. “Not that I blame you. I mean I’ve heard you two going at it. I can only imagine if he causes those noise to come out of you how steamy the sex really is.”
“Seriously?” I glared at her then turned to Ty. “There is to be no more talking about the noises I make during sex. God! What is wrong with you people?”
“Why are you yelling at me?” Ty asked defensively.
“Because you were poking at me the other day too.”
“I’m sure the only one poking you is Cam,” Charlie mumbled.
I turned my glare on her. “You really want to go there, Char? You forget I’ve shared a tiny apartment with you. I’ve heard more than my fair share of your sex noises.”
“The difference is, Evie. It doesn’t bother me that I’m vocal. But I get it. I’ve been around the block a few times. You’ve been with one man. You still have the shy innocence about you. Maybe after he gets you to do something other than missionary—”
“Hey!”
Before I could rebuttal Cam spoke up. “Trust me, we do a lot more than that, but just because Evie’s reserved about discussing our bedroom activities doesn’t mean she’s chaste when it’s just us. Being modest is a virtue not a fault. You should try it sometime.”
I smiled smugly at Charlie who was beaming at me as Cam led me from the room.
“Trust me,” Ty’s voice followed me out. “I’ve walked in on them too many times. I wish they were modest in their bedroom activities. I’ll never be able to scrub my eyes clean of what I’ve seen.”
Charlie’s laugh caused my cheeks to flame and I was grateful only Cam could see it. But I shook off the embarrassment.
“You know she was doing it just to get a rise out of me?” I explained once we were in our room.
“I know,” he sighed taking the clothes I held and hanging them in the closest. “I shouldn’t have taken the bait, but you were rising to the occasion and I thought I could shut it down.”
“Well you definitely did.” I grinned watching his backside as he headed to the closet. “How about we cut out early tonight and then I can show you how un-chaste I can be?”
Smirking, he stepped out of the closest so he could see my expression. “How about you try enjoying a night out with your friends,” he spoke as he approached me. “And then if you’re good—” he leaned forward pressing his mouth to my ear. He whispered all the perverse things he planned on doing to me. His words caused a red flush to blanket my skin, but it wasn’t from embarrassment.
When he pulled back, the cocky smirk on his face told me he knew exactly how I felt. I bit my lip nodding. After what he told me, I’d have agreed to anything.
Stumbling out of the club with three men was a new experience for me. Cam’s arm was securely wrapped around my waist to prevent me from face planting, which I’d almost done, twice. He’d kept to his word and made sure I was safe from others while lavishing with alcohol while he barely had a beer. I laughed laying my head against Cam’s chest.
“I love you,” I slurred.
He chuckled and I could hear Ty laughing too. “I love you too, baby.” He leaned in kissing my forehead. Charlie had ditched us when she found a conquest for the night. It didn’t surprise me when it was Derek’s brother. It did gross me out to watch her grind up against him for two reasons. One he looked a great deal like Derek and two, the guy was a tool. He didn’t deserve even one night with my bestie.
“You guys wanna grab some breakfast before heading home?” Ty asked as we wandered the streets.
I shook my head. “I’m ready to get home.”
“Why?” Derek asked. “Its not late. Are you tired?”
Tyler snorted and I bit my lip looking up at Cam from under my lashes. He chuckled eyeing me wickedly. He knew being tired wasn’t what I was. He made me a promise that I planned on collecting. Ty snickered too which made Derek groan causing everyone to laugh. After a moment Derek joined too. We were all cracking up like idiots. For the first time in a while it felt like old times only better because I had Cam by my side.
“Breakfast might be a good thing,” Cam whispered.
“Why?” I wondered. I was in a hurry to get naked. The alcohol coursing through me made that desire more demanding.
“For energy,” Derek laughed. I smirked at him as he met my eyes. I didn’t see the longing in them that I once had. I saw only my friend looking amused.
“Cam?” an unfamiliar voice called out cutting off our banter.
As one our group turned in the direction from where we heard Cam’s name being called. The smile fell from everyone’s face, but I was unsure why even as I felt Cam’s muscles turn rigid.
“Emily?” His brow knitted together as if unsure whether his eyes were playing tricks.
Taking in the girl’s appearance, I gasped when I finally was able to focus through my alcohol haze. I recognized her. Months ago, I’d watched Cam drive a blade into her chest.
“Long time no see stranger,” she smiled, then took in the sight of me at his side, his arm wrapped around me, and her smile faltered but she recovered quickly. “Hi,” she smirked nervously holding her hand out to me. “I’m Emily.”
“Evie,” I stated matching her smile, but didn’t reach for her hand. I knew it would come off as bitchy, but I wasn’t wearing my gloves. They’d felt too constricting once I started drinking that Cam had removed them deeming them unnecessary. I was trying to process all this. I hadn’t given the succubus he killed a second thought after that night, not even after we started trying to figure things out between us. Now here she was, with doe eyes, staring at Cam, who was tense.
“Sorry,” Ty muttered taking control of the situation. “Evie’s a germaphobe.” He stepped forward taking her extend
ed hand. “Nice to see you again, Emily.”
“You too, Ty,” she eyed Cam’s hand on my hip. His thumb had shoved my shirt up just enough that it could rub circles against my bare skin, but it had stopped when we ran into her. It was her friend that spoke up.
“I thought germaphobes didn’t like being touched, like at all. You know because of germs?” she snidely stated eyeing me in Cam’s embrace.
“Well, I think Cam’s germs are the only ones she tolerates,” Derek stated with a shrug. “It’d be hard to be in a relationship with him otherwise.”
“R-relationship?” Emily sputtered. “Wow, congratulations.” She sounded anything but enthused. “I guess it just took the right one to get you to settle down, huh?”
“Yeah,” Cam muttered his eyes narrowing briefly before he spoke. “What are you doing here, Emily? Last I heard you moved across the country.”
“I did,” she replied with a hesitant smile. “It’s my cousin’s bachelorette party. Now our car won’t start. Hey you had that old car that you rebuilt, right?” Old car? Surely she wasn’t talking about his Mustang. The old girl was a classic muscle car. “You think you could take a peek? Unless I’m keeping you from something?” she wondered eyeing me. It wasn’t the look I expected. She appeared envious.
“We were just heading back to the house.”
“Oh, so you won’t mind?”
He sighed turning to speak to me. “I’ll see you at home. I’m sure it won’t take long.” I opened my mouth to protest that I could wait but he kissed my forehead briefly and released me before I could even form a thought.
“Come on, Evie,” Ty stepped forward taking Cam’s spot beside me, to ensure I remained upright but I was feeling strangely sober now.
When we arrived home, I couldn’t help the green eyed monster that rose up as I entered the room I shared with Cam. I saw our stuff mingled together, but the thoughts came rushing forward. She’d been the girl that the succubus had taken the form of. It meant she was the one Cam most desired. I felt sick. I gathered clothes to go take a shower hoping to clear my head.
As I entered the tiny room I thought about Cam with her. About how he was suppose to be here doing all the dirty things he promised, but one bat of her lashes and he left to go off with her.
Never having felt like this, I didn’t know what to do. Jealousy was a familiar emotion, but not in this way. Dropping my clothes, I was rushing down the hall when I ran straight into Ty who clutched both my upper arms trying to steady me.
“I need some air,” I announced before shoving past him. Ty calling my name followed me out the backdoor. It wasn’t until I stood outside where the cars were parked that I realized this wasn’t just a casual stroll.
I didn’t know what happened. My feet moved without my awareness. One moment I was standing there staring at the cars, the next I stood in the doorway of a bar a few blocks up the road from where we lived, somewhere I had never even been before or ever thought of going. It was a seedy thing. It was strange how a few roads made such a difference. No longer was I in the upper class area.
The soles of my shoes shuffled across the sticky floor as I headed to a booth in the corner. It was prime time by bar standards, but this place seemed fairly vacant. When the only waitress in the joint approached, I realized in my haste I’d forgotten my gloves and jacket. With so much of my skin exposed I worried about even the exchange of the drink.
“She’ll have a whiskey,” a man called out. I turned to see a handsome guy about my age approach. His hair was as dark as midnight with eyes to match. They were so dark I couldn’t tell if his pupils were dilated or not. “Crown?” he asked with his obsidian gaze on me. I began to nod then shook my head.
“I can order my own drink. Thank you though.” I wasn’t about to have this guy think I owed him anything for a ten-dollar drink. And if he got handsey with me, over my preserved obligation, it’d be another death with my gift, but this one would be at my hands, unlike all the ones that kept mounting. Of course the guilt of an accidental death was enough, but the fear of what the supernatural community would think of another mysterious death with my gift gave me more reason to deter him.
His eyes twinkled with amusement. Ignoring my dismissal, he handed the waitress a twenty. “Thank you, Janet.” The waitress rolled her eyes at my protest, but with the money in hand she departed back to the bar.
My gaze narrowed at the man as he took the seat across from me without waiting for an invitation. “Don’t worry, darlin’.” He held his hands up in surrender. “I’m not looking for anything other than a conversation. Consider the drink an incentive to hear me out.”
“I’m not really in a talking mood,” I stated wrapping my arms around myself in order to keep myself out of his reach.
He nodded, but made no move to leave. “I imagine you’re in more of a drinking mood. Must be hard to watch your boyfriend go off with an ex like that.”
My head shot up. “What was that?”
He smirked having caught my attention.
“Who are you?” I hissed keeping my guard up. There wasn’t much I could do inside the bar. I wouldn’t expose myself unless there was immediate danger and even then I’d still attempt to be subtle about it.
“I think the right question is how do I know about you, Evie?”
“You know me. Congratulations.” I tired to sound nonchalant about it, but the truth was his knowledge of just my name got under my skin. The fact he knew Cam had walked off with Emily made me realize there was more to this man then what met the eye. Was he a stalker? If so, how did all the guys and I not realize we were being watched.
“As for who I am, that’s not important. What is, is what I can do for you, in exchange for what you can do for me.”
The waitress returned setting our drinks down in front of us. I didn’t speak as he casually chatted with her until she left.
“You think you know me?” I demanded.
“Oh,” he smirked wickedly. “I know I do. Genevieve Claire. Or would you prefer I call you Death?”
My entire body tensed to the point that my muscles felt like stone. We sat there frozen; me speechless, him knowingly.
When my muscles went lax, I tossed back the drink before me then shoved up from the table. A fleeting thought briefly appeared as I noticed the whiskey didn’t taste quite right which had me wondering if the bar was one of those that had whiskey on tap—disgusting stuff. He gripped my arm stopping me. I bristled for a whole new reason. His bare palm was against my exposed forearm. I turned gaping at him when after five seconds he seemed no worse for wear.
“Who are you?” I demanded once more. My anger at being grabbed walked hand-in-hand with my curiosity at how he survived my touch.
He shook his head. “All in good time.” He released me and gestured for me to take my seat. “Please.”
I eyed the man before me. He didn’t seem like a vampire. His hand had been warm. Knowing he wasn’t affected by my gift gave me major pause so, for the moment, I did as he asked.
Once seated, I reached for my phone, then groaned when I remembered that I left in such a hurry that it remained on my nightstand. There was no way for me to contact the guys and no way for them to track me, which subconsciously might have been the point at the time, but now I was defenseless against this guy if he tried anything. I didn’t even have a knife. I’d been overwhelmed when I departed that arming myself hadn’t occurred to me. I just hoped my thoughtlessness didn’t cost me.
“What do you want?” I asked figuring if I heard him out I’d be able to leave with less difficulty.
“To help,” he sounded genuine.
I shrugged pressing my lips. “I don’t need help.”
“No?” he cocked his head to the side. “So the supernatural community isn’t in an uproar thinking that one of the horsemen has gone rogue. That is your nickname, isn’t it? Seems fitting.”
I gritted my teeth but said nothing. I didn’t know how he knew these things. As if re
ading my mind, he replied. “There isn’t much that I don’t know about you, Evie, from your family down in Florida, to your dalliance with War. So with how loud the wolves have been unjustly demanding your head, my knowledge on a nickname should be the least of your concerns.” My mouth fell open in shock from his reveal. Before I could mask my response, his brow knitted briefly. “They didn’t tell you,” he eyed me realizing he just dropped a bomb.
I shook my head letting him see the genuine emotion that I was too late to cover.
“I didn’t know,” he sighed reaching over to grasp my hand. He meant it to be comforting, but something about his touch sent an eerie chill up my spine. I let him offer me comfort for a few seconds before carefully withdrawing my hand, not wishing to upset him. I’d come to rely on my gift a lot for defense. Since he wasn’t affected, and I didn’t know what he was, I thought keeping him placated was best for the moment. “I’m sorry, Evie. If I’d known they hadn’t said anything I would have been more delicate.”
“Is that what you think I need your help with? The werewolves?” Hurt over the fact that the guys had withheld this information from me, I could understand their motives; Cam’s especially. If I’d known, I’d have felt the sword that hung over my head constantly. Cam knew how I wore my guilt. The fact that after all these months my fellow horsemen still treated me like an outsider made me furious. I tired shaking off my mounting hostility, but it wouldn’t regress.
He shook his head gently. “I’m offering more than just placating the wolves. I’m offering a guarantee that the deaths will cease in exchange for you help.”
I narrowed my gaze at him. If I couldn’t trust my own horsemen to be honest how could I believe a word this man said. He couldn’t offer such a thing unless…
“I know who’s doing it.” He confirmed my thought.