by Jaime Rush
“Let’s go to your place.”
“You really are something, aren’t you?” She laughed, feeling better now that she thought he was just a player. “This is a role, an illusion, something you Deuces are good at—”
“To look at your map. I had a chance to check out the one in Ferro’s office. I want to compare.”
Her cheeks burned again. “Oh. Of course.”
He gave her a knowing smile. “Sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference between illusion and reality. The lines blur. Boundaries disappear.” The mist in his eyes swirled as his gaze held hers. Even though the Dragon flames had disappeared, it was still provocative.
She felt that fog swirling inside her, too. “We need to keep those boundaries solid, the lines clear.” Her Dragon shimmered and sensually stretched. Damn beast should’ve been sated, not itching for more.
The door flew open, and Bren and his two brothers shot out.
“Parking lot fights are off-limits—” she started to say, but they ran to their truck, their faces pale and drawn.
“What’s going on?” she asked them.
Bren paused, his fingers gripping the door’s edge. “It’s Butch. Someone killed him.”
Chapter 7
Violet insisted on following the Augusts to find out what she could. She also insisted on going alone; it wasn’t the time or place for Kade to accompany her. Kade jumped into his ’Stang and headed over to the Murphys. Violet was right; they had to keep those boundaries solid. He needed to recognize the illusion for what it was, because his body still vibrated from the chemistry of their kiss. He had been with beautiful, sensual women before, been entirely attracted to them, then said good-bye, it’s been nice, and gone on with little more than a fond memory. Violet had him upside down in a way he’d never experienced, and that was dangerous for many reasons.
He shifted the car into high gear as he tore down the two-lane road and called Mia.
“Hey, do me a favor. Pull up Dan Murphy’s records and see if his family has reported his death yet.”
“Sure, hold on.” A minute passed before she returned. “Nope.”
Damn, that would make it harder if he couldn’t visit under the guise of following up on the report. “All right, thanks.”
He drove past a huge field of flowering shrubs, all in neat rows, ready to be dug up, potted, and sold to nurseries. He had to hand it to the Fringers; at least a handful of people in any given family worked hard to keep their businesses afloat. The troublemakers gave them all a bad rap. Unfortunately, there were plenty of them.
Kade hadn’t had reason to come to the Fringe in years. The Murphys weren’t a family he had any direct history with, though they still wouldn’t welcome him.
As soon as he pulled up to the two-story main house, three people stepped out onto the front porch. Suspicion dripped from their expressions. Kade got out of the car and raised his arm, showing them the V symbol on his dagger. Their suspicion didn’t lessen but their fighting stance did.
“My name’s Kade Kavanaugh. I’ve got a couple of questions, and then I’ll be on my way.”
That softened their expressions a bit…the part about leaving shortly, anyway.
The older man approached after gesturing for what was probably his offspring to remain on the porch. “I’m Bob Murphy, head of this clan. What do you want to know?”
“There’s been a lot of dying going on in the Fringe. I’m not here to accuse you,” Kade added as the man’s face shuttered. “The Guard keeps an eye on irregular activity, and six murders in ten days is damned irregular, even here. I understand you lost one of yours.”
Bob glanced away, stroking his long, trimmed beard. “My son, Danny. Sons of bitches came right onto our property and killed him, sucked away his power. Ain’t right.”
“I’m sorry for your loss,” Kade said, the trite and mostly meaningless phrase they were taught to say in these circumstances. Well, he was already tossing out the rules. “That ain’t right at all,” he said, pulling in the accent. “Trespassing, killing without cause. I’ll bet you didn’t put up with that for one second, did you? I sure as hell wouldn’t have.”
The man furrowed his brow in surprise.
Kade shook his head. “I know, I’m supposed to say how killing another Crescent is wrong, even out of revenge, but things work differently here. Frankly, I don’t care about the revenge part. The Castanega bastard got what he deserved, you ask me. If he was the one who did it. And no, I’m not trying to get you to confess.” He lifted his shirt to show he wasn’t wired. “Someone’s causing trouble down here. That’s the person or family I want. I’d appreciate you sharing what evidence you found so I know who to go after.”
The man considered Kade’s request, then nodded. “The Castanegas are the ones you want. I found one of their alligator foot key rings they sell at their tourist trap. I know it came from their shop ’cause it has a little metal disk on the bottom with a C on it. Whoever done it left it right there, a few feet from Danny’s body. Like he was showing off. Or taunting us.”
Kade leaned against the car, effecting a casual pose, but he kept an eye on the man’s sons. They appeared to be about to cause some trouble of their own…in his direction.
Bob followed Kade’s gaze, and whatever look he gave them stopped their advance. To Kade he said, “They’ve been downright itchy to fight lately.”
“You think it’s the solar storm?”
“Could be, I suppose. My wife’s been taking two naps a day, and that ain’t like her. Seems to tire some out, and fire some up.”
Kade nodded toward the key ring. “How do you know a Castanega left it? Anyone could have bought one.”
“Fringers don’t buy that kind of crap. And a tourist sure as hell isn’t going to come onto my property. You saw all the signs warning people off.”
Indeed he had. Only a foolhardy Mundane would continue down that road. “What about someone leaving it there as a setup?”
The old man shook his head. “That’s not how it works ’round here. Usually it’s a fight that grows into something bigger. I heard Jessup at Ernie’s, oh, ’bout a month ago, saying how things are boring in the Fringe nowadays. That idjit is always spoiling for a fight.”
Kade nodded. “Jessup’s a pistol.” He’d never had reason to arrest him, but Jessup was always eager to jump in and defend Arlo. “Would he be that arrogant, that desperate for action, to start a feud?”
“Maybe. And I expect he’ll be coming for a visit now that Arlo’s dead.” He cracked his knuckles, and his eyes flared. “And we’ll be ready.”
Yeah, they were all spoiling for action. And now, blood.
“What about Violet?”
“She used to be as feisty as the rest of ’em, but I haven’t seen her much in recent years. She don’t hang out at Ernie’s, doesn’t get into trouble. Hell, the last time I saw her in a skirmish was at the Swamp Festival, what, sixteen years ago. The Garza girl—Pilar—let out one of those ear-piercing whistles right in the middle of Violet’s bout with a ten-foot gator, distracting her enough that the gator turned and nearly tore her arm off. Pilar done it on purpose ’cause she wanted the title and Violet had won four years running. Violet had control, I give her that. She went after Pilar, bloody arm and all, but she didn’t Catalyze in front of the tourists who come for the festival. Pilar was banned from the competition forever.”
That version of Violet was closer to the one who’d attacked him years ago, though he wouldn’t have blamed her for going beastie on the Garza bitch.
“Violet’s a good woman,” Bob said. “Too bad she’s a Castanega.”
Violet was right about the prejudice she faced, even in the Fringe. “Why are they so bad?”
“They’re troublemakers. Raucous.”
“Sounds like everyone in the Fringe.”
He gave an exaggerated shrug. “I think what makes them so reprehensible is they’re the richest clan besides the Stramaglias.”
Ah, no
w he was getting somewhere. Only it wasn’t the place he needed to be. “During the violent times in the history of the Fringe, was it normal for someone to creep onto another family’s land and kill the first person they come upon? And leave a calling card?”
The man scratched his beard. “Not really.”
Kade pushed away from the car and held out his hand. The man eyed it for a moment before taking it. “Thank you,” Kade said. “I meant what I said about being sorry. No one should have to die that way. I’m going to find out what the devil is going on around here and stop it.”
Kade headed back to Ernie’s, but there were people hanging out in the parking lot. He recognized a man he had arrested not too long ago, which meant the guy might recognize Kade, too. So he returned to Castanega land, hid his car, and trekked back to Violet’s house.
She wasn’t back yet. Not wanting to be out in the open, he went into her workshop. She kept everything clean and organized, bins of gems neatly labeled and stacked on shelves. Several pieces sat on the worktable, mid-completion. Amethysts and topazes adorned a necklace that reminded him of a collar, big and bold. It sat next to a sketch she’d drawn up with lots of flourishes. Another piece was delicate, a spray of opal flower petals and emerald leaves. Off to the side, a whole stack of sketches awaited.
There was too much…Violet in here. Her dreams and passions, and even her dog, who got to his feet and ambled over with wagging tail. Kade scratched the mutt’s head, remembering how Violet had buried her face in the folds of fur. Cats detested Dragons, something about their energy being feline and yet not. It seemed to throw them off. Other animals didn’t mind, obviously.
“You’re a good friend,” he whispered, then checked the window before stepping out into the muggy air. The presence of another being prickled through him. He froze, searching. A Fire Elemental sat high in one of the cypress trees like a dark red monkey. It watched with its big eyes, making no move to alert anyone. The Fires often hung around Dragons, and though they weren’t pets, they sometimes had a loyalty to their Crescents.
Something hit him, sending him crashing to the ground. He spun quickly, dislodging his assailant and leaping in the opposite direction. His dagger filled his hand as he rolled into the motion and landed on his feet, facing a Sapphire Dragon. It unleashed a blue ice-cold plume. Kade deflected the cloud with his magick and felt only the frigid outer edge. The blue Dragon’s black facial markings stretched along his temples and to the back of his smooth, sleek head. Male, by its energy, the only way to tell a Dragon’s gender in most cases.
Kade held out his dagger in a way that showed his Guard designation. “Stand down.”
“Yeah, it’s that Vega son of a bitch, all right,” the blue Dragon said. Ryan, Kade guessed.
But who was he talking to? Kade felt a bristling presence seconds before he jumped to the side and faced down a Carnelian Dragon.
“You got no right to be here. We have nothing illegal going on,” the red Dragon snarled.
The Sapphire’s vertical irises widened, and he seemed to smile. “He doesn’t have his official un-ee-form on.”
Red smiled. “Which makes you fair game. Especially since you’re sneaking around our sister’s place.”
Jessup, then.
Just as Kade started to explain why he was there, a third Dragon burst from around the corner of the house. “Let’s get ’em,” the Citrine said, looking way too happy to do so as he whipped his deadly tail. “You did see the sign, didn’t you? Trespassers will be fed to the gators. Or to the Dragons.” He let out a long laugh.
Three on one. Bring it on. Two things hit Kade at once. He couldn’t hurt them; they were Violet’s kin, after all. And he couldn’t tell these bozos that the reason he was investigating was because she’d gone to the Guard.
Hell.
They, on the other hand, would kill him in a flash. Two other things hit him—Dragons. His dagger flew from his hand as he dropped to the ground. He heard it hit the dirt a few yards away. All he could see were vividly colored scales and claws and fangs.
He threw his hands up, sending a flash of magick that kicked them back a few feet. Damn, but he wanted to pull out the fatal Lightning so bad his fingers tingled. Adrenaline throbbed through his body, narrowing his vision. Being attacked sent him into kill mode, and he had to fight to stop it. Wiping these morons wouldn’t solve the case. More deaths sure wouldn’t keep Violet safe.
He thrust out his hand, and the dagger flew into it. He readied the taser, rubbing his other fingers together. Was there enough juice to take out all of them? He had to touch their forehead, and that wasn’t going to be easy with them out for his blood. They moved in on him, again forming a deadly circle.
“Violet knows I’m here,” Kade said, slicing the blade through the air between them as he kept turning. Blue sparks arced off the tip, leaving a trail that acted like a barrier. Sparks crackled over his skin as he pulled the power from within.
Jessup snorted. “Yeah, right. ’Cause she’s into Vegas. Especially Deuce Vegas.”
“I am here on official business. You think six murders in ten days isn’t going to snag the Guard’s attention?”
Kade kept turning in a slow circle, but at any given moment, one of the three was in his blind spot. The Citrine, probably a cousin, jabbed his sinuous tail at Kade, who barely evaded the sharp point. The thing was like a yellow jacket stinger, painful when it touched, deadly when it sank in and injected poison.
While he was distracted, Jessup lunged at him fangs-first. Kade used his magick to Change one hand, extending his fingers and clamping them around Jessup’s mouth. With the other, he managed to press the tips of his fingers to Jessup’s temple. After a scream and a jerk, Jessup landed on the ground, naked and human. Kade was already facing the Citrine, who tried to grab him from behind. He sent a shard of Lightning at the Dragon’s shoulder, singeing the scales.
Ryan grabbed at Kade, fangs scratching through his shirt and across his back. Though Kade managed to slip out of his grasp, the Citrine sandwiched him from the other side before he could fully extricate himself. The force crushed Kade between them, sending the air gushing from his lungs. As fangs came at him, he ducked, rolling out from between them. A foot stomped down on him, grinding his chest into the dirt.
“You all right, Jessup?” Ryan asked.
Jessup shook his head as he pushed up to his elbows. “Holy dragonfire, what the hell?” He aimed a murderous look at Kade. “Squash him like a cockroach.”
“It’s against Crescent law to assault an officer,” Kade ground out, trying to get his hands free from where they were pinned beneath him. His dagger lay a few feet away, but without a hand to call it, it did him no good.
“The Guard don’t care about what goes on in the Fringe,” Ryan said from above him. “Lots of people die here, and the Guard is happy to file the paperwork and have fewer of us to deal with.”
That was truer than Kade cared to admit. “They care when it threatens to expose the Hidden.” He managed to free one hand and clamp it around the foot holding him down, sending a jolt of magick through his fingers.
The foot lifted, and a growl filled the air. Kade jumped to his feet, his back stiff and sore. He swiped up his dagger and held them at bay.
“What are you doing at Vee’s house?” Jessup was on his feet, looking no less dangerous in human form. “Sneaking around? Looking for evidence? Violet has never done anything illegal in her life.” His upper lip lifted in a sneer. “Except for attacking you once.”
“And giving him a black eye.” The Citrine’s tail flicked at Kade again, and he slashed at it with his dagger. Just close enough to shock it with the dagger’s magick. The Citrine hissed and pulled it back.
“I’m here in an unofficial capacity.” Kade’s adrenaline-fired brain searched for an explanation. “The Guard is aware of the murder spree, but I’m here for…Vee. I need to look at her map.” He’d have to call her Vee now.
That narrowed Jessup’s eye
s. “How’d you know about her map?”
“She asked me to look into the murders. Because we’re…involved.”
Jessup’s upper lip lifted. “Involved how?”
“We met in Naples. She was there on business, and I was on vacation. We stayed at the same hotel.”
He hated to commit her to that, but these guys were going to tear him apart otherwise. Or try. Then he’d have to do some damage, and things would get ugly all around.
“Hell, no.” Jessup fairly vibrated with the need to Catalyze. He stared at his clenched hands. “What’d you do to me?”
“Taser. You’ll be fine in about thirty minutes. Plenty of time for you to hear me out and see that killing me isn’t in your best interests.” He shot the other two a look, rubbing his fingers together. “I can give you guys some downtime, too, if necessary.” They backed up a step. “Vee didn’t want you to know about us yet, given the obvious. Believe me, we were surprised at the sparks between us, too.” Very true. “But love knows no bounds, as they say.” Something of which he knew little, but he’d heard the expression.
“Love?” Ryan ground out.
“No fucking way,” Jessup said, backing away. That was a good sign, wasn’t it, despite his obvious disgust? “I’m going to beat her butt something fierce.”
“She’s going on the wall of shame,” the cousin added.
“Don’t touch her.” The words were out before Kade could even consider them.
“So now you’re her great protector?” Ryan shot back, wrapping sarcasm around his last words.
“Yes.” Kade held his dagger tight but lowered it to show that he wasn’t a threat. He really didn’t want to deal with these boneheads, but he was in it now. A lot of it, because Violet—Vee—wasn’t going to be happy about his story. Then again, she’d passed him off as her lover at Ernie’s. She’d kissed him. “Vee wanted to tell you in her own time and way, but now that the cat’s out of the bag, let’s work it out. For her sake. She wouldn’t want you killing me, and she wouldn’t be happy if I, say, cut your tail off.” He aimed those words at the Citrine cousin. “Or your heads.”