Bewitching the Beast

by Tamara Hughes

  “Not yet.” Tess followed her in. Holly looked great, as usual—sophisticated yet trendy, with an intricately tied scarf around her neck.

  Tess ran her fingers through her hair and remembered how Matt had laughed the last time she’d tried the scarf trick. She’d nearly strangled herself. “I was wondering what happened to a painting I saw here a while ago.”

  Glaring at Ethan, Holly picked a Tic Tac box from her desk drawer, shook out a couple, and slipped them into her mouth. “Which one?”

  Tess sat in a chair and closed her eyes. “Deep hues, a surrealistic style, with a dragon as the main focus.”

  “The dragon. Yes, that one sold yesterday.” The desk chair squeaked, and the Tic Tacs rattled in their plastic box.

  “Really.” Tess’s eyes popped open, and she looked at Ethan, who stayed near the door.

  “Is it still here?” Ethan stepped farther into the room.

  Holly’s classic features hardened. “Yes. I’m processing the bill of sale before we ship it out.”

  “Can I see it?” Ethan asked.

  Her eyes said, “Drop dead,” but she glanced at Tess and gave a curt nod. “Sure.” She turned to a stack of paintings leaning against a file cabinet and flipped through them. “Here it is.” Lifting the piece from the floor, she ripped off its brown paper wrapping.

  Tess rose and stared at the painting. “This is it, all right.”

  The scales of the ebony dragon shimmered in the light of the burning city. Flames shot from its mouth and licked the skyscrapers of New York. Great pointed horns, large ears like a bat, flapping wings, and there . . . the ankh symbol on its side.

  A wave of dread washed over her. The dragon, The Beast, larger than life and dangerous. The scales in the painting an exact match to the ones on Ethan’s arm. The claw, Ethan’s left hand, and the green eyes . . .

  “Who’s the artist?” Ethan stepped beside Tess, and his arm brushed hers.

  Tess almost jumped.

  “Romeo De Graff,” Holly supplied in a terse tone.

  “Romeo?” Tess straightened. “Everything I’ve seen of his has been scenic water color.”

  “People change, I guess.” Holly sent Tess a deadpan stare. “Do things out of character for no apparent reason.”

  Tess took a deep breath, doing her best to ignore the comment. “Can I have Romeo’s address?”

  “You can, but you won’t find him there.” Holly leaned the work against the others on the floor.

  “Why not?” Ethan crossed his arms over his chest, staring at the artwork across the room.

  Holly took a seat at her desk and banged out more Tic Tacs from their plastic box. “He died shortly after he submitted this painting. All proceeds go to his estate.”

  “He died?” Tess frowned at Ethan. Another victim he forgot about?

  His eyebrows rose, but he didn’t say a word.

  Memories of Matt flooded Tess, his smiling face, the night he proposed over a plate of macaroni and cheese. Tess sank into a chair. “What did he die of?”

  Holly sighed. “Drug overdose.”

  Apparently bad luck came in all forms. How many around them had died because of people like Ethan? And no one ever suspected foul play. She shuddered. This was too much.

  Ethan dropped into the chair next to hers. “The painting was purchased yesterday?”

  Holly barely acknowledged him. “Mmhmm.”

  “Who bought it?” he pressed.

  Turning her head, she stared at her computer screen, her fingers poised over the keys. “That’s the gallery’s business, not yours.”

  Tess’s head swam, and her shoulders ached. Maybe coming here hadn’t been such a good idea. She’d rather have a meltdown at home than at the gallery. “Holly, please.”

  Holly pushed her chair away from her desk and stood. “No, he needs to leave.”

  “Holly, don’t do this,” Tess pleaded.

  Ethan searched Tess’s face, his expression guilt-ridden, and he rose to his feet. “No problem. I’ll wait outside.” Leaving the office, he closed the door behind him.

  Holly came around her desk and sat next to Tess. “You look like hell.”

  “Thanks a lot.” She couldn’t look any worse than she felt.

  “Why are you still with him?”

  “Ethan?”

  Holly rolled her eyes. “No, the Easter Bunny. Yes, with Ethan.”

  Tess tried to catch her breath and contemplated putting her head between her knees. “He’s not a bad guy.” Or was he? Did she know anything for sure anymore?

  “Not a bad guy.” Holly threw her hands up and stood. She circled her desk and dug inside a drawer. Slamming a dollar bill next to the box of charity chocolates, she snatched up a candy bar. She paced the room, eating as she marched around her cramped office. “The last time I saw Ethan, he’d body slammed your mother and walked away.”

  Tess flinched at the words. “I know.” Swallowing the knot in her throat, she squared her shoulders. Get a grip, Tess. This conversation wasn’t going where it should. Her own little pity party and Holly’s ranting weren’t going to solve anything. “You’re going to have to trust me on this.”

  Holly stopped, the candy halfway to her lips. “Oh, Tess. Tell me you haven’t fallen for him.”

  Tess’s heart ached with the truth. “I haven’t,” she lied.

  “Like hell you haven’t. It’s written all over your face.”

  “Don’t worry about me. Everything is under control. What I need to know is who bought Romeo’s painting.” That and a pint of ice cream, good ice cream, like the kind everyone eats in the movies.

  Holly tossed the half-eaten candy bar to her desk. “Tell me what’s going on. I’ll help you if you’ll let me. I promise.”

  “I’m sorry. I can’t.” Not even a best friend would believe this story without some damn good proof, and proving this one would be dangerous.

  Betrayal flashed over Holly’s face, and she opened her mouth to speak.

  “I can’t,” Tess stressed again. “Will you tell me who purchased the painting?”

  Holly nodded, her mouth a thin line of disapproval. She rifled through the papers on her desk. “Here it is. Mr. Kade Rennick.”

  Tess dropped her chin to her chest. “Of course it is.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Nothing.” Tess met Holly’s curious gaze. “I’ve heard the name, that’s all. When did he come in?”

  “I don’t know. The purchase was made over the phone.” Holly’s eyes narrowed. “I suppose you can’t talk to me about this guy either.”

  Tess clenched her hands together and squelched the urge to confide more than she should. “Will you give me Rennick’s address?” Her nerves jumped. Once she had the address, they’d have a solid lead on where to find the necklace.

  Holly paused, and indecision played over her face.

  “You don’t have to give it to me.” Tess started to rise. “I can look it up myself.”

  “Wait.” Shaking her head, Holly copied down the information. The scratching of her pen grated in the quiet room. “I never thought our friendship would end this way.”

  “Oh, Holly, no.” Tess stood, her nerves stretched to their limits.

  “I can’t watch you destroy yourself.” Holly handed her the paper and waved toward the door. “Let me know when you’re ready to come back to work.”

  Tess stared at Holly for a long moment, and understood. When they’d first met, Holly had just lost her best friend—killed by an abusive ex-boyfriend. Tess struggled for words. Right now she needed Holly more than ever. But what could she say that wouldn’t sound crazy, that wouldn’t end in Holly getting hurt? She let out a broken breath and opened the office door before more tears fell. Leaning
against the far wall, his arms crossed, Ethan waited for her, the man who had robbed her of the life she’d dreamed of, with Matt.

  ~ ~ ~

  Guilt pressed in as Ethan’s gaze roamed over Tess’s face. Her eyes glittered with tears, and shadows smudged her skin. Holly’s office door closed behind her with a hard click, and Tess flinched. As far as he was concerned, she’d experienced too much in one day. Time for a break. “Lunch?” he asked.

  “What? No. I have Kade’s address.” Holding up the paper clutched in her hand, she headed out into the main gallery. “He has an apartment across town.”

  His pulse skipped. She knew where Kade lived? Ethan followed her out. “What? How?”

  “He’s the one who purchased the painting.”

  That didn’t make sense. “I figured he might be the cause of Romeo’s death, but why would he buy the painting?” He held open the front door, taking in her sluggish steps. “Never mind. We’ll think about that later. In the meantime, I know a good pizza place a half-block from here.”

  “What are you talking about? We need to get the gem.”

  “After lunch.” He took a left outside the door, leading the way.

  “Wait.” Tess came up alongside him. “Kade could be on our trail right now.”

  “All the more reason to stay in a public place.”

  “He can control minds. I’m not sure a public place is so safe when anyone in the crowd can become his minion.” She frowned as her stomach grumbled.

  “Then how about I’m hungry, and I don’t feel like cooking.” He pointed out a red neon sign across the street. “There. Pete’s Pizza.”

  Her stomach growled again. She slumped her shoulders and trailed him to the restaurant’s door. Inside, the pizza parlor buzzed with activity, and the scent of garlic and tomato sauce flavored the air. They stood in line a short distance beyond the cafeteria-style counter.

  “Tess, I’m sorry about Matt. I don’t remember him.” Ethan grimaced. Where the hell had that come from? Didn’t he decide less than ten minutes ago Tess needed a break?

  “Don’t.” Tess stepped up to the counter and stared at the pizzas on display, tears glistening in her eyes once more.

  Shit. He could kick himself.

  “Know what you want?” the guy behind the counter asked her.

  She shook her head and sniffled.

  “We’ll both have a slice of pepperoni and a large Coke.” He took her hand and led her down to the register.

  She pulled a tissue from her pocket and blew her nose as he paid for their meal and carried the tray to a table in the corner.

  “Tess, I’m sorry. I’m a total jackass.”

  “I can’t argue with that.” She sat down and took her plate of pizza.

  Ethan kept his mouth shut and sat across from her. He’d hurt her enough already. He didn’t need to twist the knife to ease his own guilt.

  Tess picked at her slice. Several minutes ticked by before she broke the silence between them. “Matt was a real person, not an obituary in a folder. He was a good person, the best.”

  “I know.”

  “Matt loved me.” She looked up, and her pain ate at him. “And you can’t even remember him.”

  He winced. “I wish I did. If I had remembered, I would have left you alone after the first night in the club.” That night should have never happened. And the following days had been filled with one accident after another. Bad luck . . . Tess would have never survived. “I take it back, if I’d left you alone, you’d be dead.”

  “I should have never gone to the damn club.”

  Her words stung. “Yeah, me too.” What a lie. Despite it all, he’d never regret meeting Tess. She kept him fighting when he wanted to give up. “Tess, if I could change the past, Matt would still be here with you. Hell, all of the people I’ve touched would be alive.” He pushed his plate away. The smell of pizza made him sick. “Their faces used to haunt me night and day. At some point, there were so many to remember, their faces all blurred together.” His throat constricted, but he forced the words out anyway. “I tried to remember each one, printed their obituaries, visited their graves. I tortured myself to keep their memories alive.”

  “Why did you stop?” Her voice cracked.

  “I reached a point when I couldn’t take the regret and guilt anymore. I gave up.”

  She closed her eyes. “Ethan, I know you didn’t kill Matt.”

  “Maybe not outright, but I caused his death.”

  “No.” She scanned the room, never meeting his eyes. “The Beast caused his death, not you. I know. It’s just hard, emotionally, to come to terms with that fact.”

  “You don’t need to come to terms with anything. I understand.” He wouldn’t blame her if she never saw him the same way again. “I don’t want to cause you any more pain. We never should have met. Which is why I’m going to get the gem alone.”

  “What?” Tess sat up. “No. Like it or not, we’re a team.” She wiped her nose on a napkin and stared him down. “Don’t be messing with the team.”

  “I don’t want you anywhere near Kade’s apartment.”

  “But—”

  “Tess, why would Kade buy the painting?”

  “I don’t know. To get the dragon image out of view?”

  “Who cares about a dragon painting? No one would guess anything from it.”

  She shrugged. “Maybe Kade is like you, stuck inside a body he can’t always control. Maybe he wants to help us.”

  “Or maybe the human part of him is gone, and the dragon inside wants you to come to him. Tess, this is a trap. Why else would he buy a painting from your gallery? He wanted to be certain you’d find his address.”

  Her mouth sagged open for a split second. “Then why did he follow me to the museum?”

  “Hedging his bets. Or maybe he thinks we’re smart enough to see through his scheme.”

  “But we need to go there.”

  “Not we. I’ll go by myself.” She didn’t belong in this fight. “Give me the address.”

  She hugged her purse. “You can’t do this alone.”

  “Yes, I can.”

  “Okay, let me rephrase. You’d be stupid to do this without me.”

  “Why is that?”

  “I know how to keep Kade out of your mind.” The sadness faded from her features, replaced by stubborn determination. “Mom left me the recipe of the brew she made for the banishing.”

  “I don’t need it. Kade’s mind control doesn’t work on me, probably because of The Beast.” Ethan stood. Neither of them were going to eat. “Are you done?”

  She tossed her napkin onto the tray as he collected their plates.

  Tess followed him to the trash can. “What makes you think this isn’t exactly what Kade wants?”

  “Meaning?” He dumped their trash and turned toward her.

  “This whole thing could be a way to lure you from me. You’re not seriously going to leave me alone after today.”

  Ethan tensed. He’d almost lost her once. He wouldn’t let it happen again. “If he’s hoping to get you alone, we could use it to our advantage.”

  “How so?”

  “You could lead him on a wild-goose chase—wait for him to come out of his apartment, then get into a taxi. Lead him around town until I’m done searching his place. I’ll give you a call, and you can come pick me up.”

  “Good plan. Until he controls my cabbie’s mind and makes him pull over.”

  “Then we’re back to square one.” Tess at his side, he left the restaurant and headed down the sidewalk. His mind churned with useless ideas to keep her safe.

  Tess leaned toward him. “You know what? I think you’re the liability.”

  “Really.”

 
“Yes, you say you can sense Kade’s presence.”

  “Yeah.”

  “Can he sense yours?

  “Probably.”

  “Then maybe I’m the one who needs to go alone.”

  Ethan chuffed a harsh laugh. “Not a chance.” Shit. They only had one choice. “We’ll have to wait from a distance for Kade to leave his apartment, and then go in together.”

  “If you insist.” Her eyes glowed with victory.

  Damn woman.

  Chapter 19

  Come out, dammit. Through the haze of city lights, Ethan peered at Kade’s high-rise apartment, willing him to walk out the front door. In his gut, he knew this was a trap. If only there was another way.

  He surveyed the area around him. The small bookstore was almost empty. The clerk at the checkout counter continued to study him.

  Made sense. What moron would come into a bookstore and stare out the window for an hour? Under her careful watch, he snatched a book from the shelf and checked outside again.

  Muffled footsteps came up behind him. “Can I help you with something?”

  Keeping one eye on the building across the street, Ethan turned to the dark-haired clerk. “Sure. Could you recommend a good”—he eyed the book in his hand—“pocket dictionary?” Ah, hell. Guess he should have paid better attention.

  Her blue dress hugged her thin frame as she flipped her straight, waist-length hair over her shoulder. “You don’t seem the type to be searching for dictionaries.”

  He tossed the book onto a nearby table. “No, I guess not.”

  “I should ask you to leave.” Her eyes danced as they swept over him. “There’s no loitering in this shop.”

  “The truth is”—he glanced at her name badge—“Stacy, I’m an architecture buff. And the building across the street has caught my interest.”