by S. L. Gavyn
After a moment, he turned toward the door and we left. I locked the door and started to leave, but Jared stayed. He pulled a pocket knife out and stabbed it into his forefinger until it bled. Then he put his finger to the top of the door frame and made a symbol with his blood. It glowed for a moment then became absorbed into the wood of the frame until you could still see the symbol, but it looked like it was a part of the wood grain instead of something written on it.
“That will keep out anyone you do not want in your apartment.”
“How long will it last?”
“It will always be there. Unless I remove it.”
“Would it keep you out if I didn’t want you in?”
He just smiled and started for the elevator. I’ll take that as a no.
Two hours later we arrived at the club. Jared parked his Porsche in the employee parking lot, and we went in through the back door. The security guard inside the door nodded to Jared as we passed then winked at me. It was the same guard that had let us into VIP last Saturday, and he was guarding the door leading behind the stage the last time I was here. I nodded back to him. He hadn’t pissed me off yet so I had no beef with him.
“Jared. I need to talk with you before the show,” a guy in a business suit said as he approached.
“Not now, Greg. I’ve got to get Avery in VIP,” Jared said then turned to the Guard we just passed. “Ryan, I need you to guard her this evening. She’s not to leave VIP until I specify.”
Ryan looked from Jared to me. I rolled my eyes, and he smiled.
“Sure thing, boss. Would you like me to keep her company too?”
“Not if you like your teeth in your mouth.”
I was standing slightly behind Jared so he didn’t see me roll my eyes again. Ryan smiled again.
“No problem. She’s not really my type anyways,” Ryan said.
I put my hand to my chest and opened my mouth in mock insult. He winked at me again. Jared had turned to the suit.
“Avery, this is Greg, the club’s manager, and Ryan, head of security for the club. Greg, I’ll talk to you as soon as I’m done. Give me fifteen? Ryan, with me.”
“Alright,” Greg said before nodding to me.
I didn’t bother to mention I had already spoken to Greg on the phone yesterday. He probably didn’t care what woman his Jared brought in this week anyway.
We continued to the door leading into the club with Ryan in tow. Only once we got into the main club area, I headed for the bar. Temmy is supposed to work tonight, but she doesn’t start until nine when the club actually starts getting busy. Jared followed me to the bar. I showed the bartender a poster I had printed up of both Amber and the sketch of her killer, and asked if he recognized either of them. He said no so I told him to keep a copy out so that everyone could see it. I walked from there to the front entrance, but before I could reach it, Jared intervened and took the posters from my hand.
“I’ll have an employee put them up throughout the club.”
“I can do it now.”
“No, I’ve got to talk to Greg before the show, and I want to make sure you’re in VIP before I go.”
“What does it matter Jared. Ryan will be with me.”
I winked at Ryan as he smiled.
“Ryan, have someone tape these up then meet us in VIP,” Jared said then held them out.
“’Kay.”
He took the pictures and headed toward a woman standing by the front door. Jared grabbed my hand, and started for the VIP section. I pulled my hand out of his but kept walking. Once I was seated, I looked around.
“What am I supposed to do for the next three hours?”
He smiled. “Fantasize about me?”
“Trust me. Any fantasies about you always end the same way. With me standing over your dead body.”
He put his hand to his heart. “You wound me, Caru.”
“You piss me off, Jared.”
He scooted in the booth next to me. “I’ve heard that hate is just love in disguise.”
“Whoever said that is an imbecile.”
“Really?” He leaned closer. “I think you are angrier with yourself for having feelings for a Fallen than you are with me.”
“I’ve already told you. Being Fallen has nothing to do with why I don’t want you.”
“Then why. What did I do?”
“Where to start?” I pretended to think about it. “You’re an arrogant ass who thinks because he’s a rock star he can do anything he wants or have anyone he wants. I admit I led you on the first night and I apologize for that, but you should just let it go because once this case is over I would be fine with never seeing you again.”
He just stared at me for a moment and I thought he was going to back off. Any normal person would have taken that as a “fuck off” and left, but Jared Damascus is not a normal person. Instead, he leaned in and kissed me lightly on the mouth. When I didn’t push him away, he must have taken that as a sign because he came back for more. I was going to tell him to stop, I swear I was, but when I opened my mouth he delved his tongue inside, and there was no stopping for a minute. Then my brain kicked in again, and I pulled back. He kept his eyes closed for a moment before opening them and smiling.
“Leave me. I don’t want to see your face right now,” I said with venom.
“Whatever you wish, Caru.” He quickly leaned forward and gave me a peck before getting up from the table. “I’ll come back when we take a break. Don’t try to leave while I’m on stage. Ryan is a formidable fighter.”
I looked straight ahead and ignored him. He looked at me for a beat then turned and left. I lowered my forehead to the table. What was I doing? I can’t even stand him yet he kisses me, and I’m ready to find an empty room. I will never call Saundra a slut again. No, I take that back. I’ll still call her a slut, but I’ll consider feeling bad about it now.
“You look like you could use it,” Ryan said as he sat a drink down in front of me.
I looked up at the drink. It looked like Ambrosia. I looked at him.
“Do I look so bad that you thought I needed to get drunk?”
He smiled. “Actually, Jared ordered it for you. I just decided to deliver it.”
“Well thanks,” I said before taking a swig.
He just stood there staring at me as I drank all of my drink. I know getting drunk is the last thing I need to do right now, but I really needed that drink. After a minute with Ryan just staring at me, I shot him a nasty look.
“I’m pretty sure Jared didn’t mean that you had to literally watch me nonstop.”
“I’m just trying to figure it out,” he said as he sat across from me.
Figure what out?
“These aren’t the droids you’re looking for,” I said while waving my hand mystically.
He smiled. “Star wars fan. Didn’t expect that.”
“Why not? I was born within the last century, after all.”
He shrugged. “Maybe that’s why Jared’s so obsessed.”
I rolled my eyes. “I doubt my stunning Star Wars repertoires would cause Jared to become obsessed.”
“Well, something sure has.”
I looked around then leaned in toward him.
“You know what I think. I think it’s because I don’t want him that’s caused him to take interest. I mean, here he is this big rock star used to having every woman he wants, then I go and get drunk and start flirting with him just to sober up and realize what a mistake I had made. I tell him I don’t want him, and actually mean it, and that makes me interesting. You always want what you can’t have. For example, if the doc tells me I can never eat chocolate again, or I will die. The next day I’m going to be sweating balls over a Hershey’s bar.”
He laughed. “The only problem with your theory is that he had me gathering information on you last Sunday. That was the day after you were drunkenly making out with him, and before you started claiming to not want him.”
“Maybe he wanted information for the
cops if I became a stalker.”
“Then why would he add you to the VIP list the same day?”
He did? No wonder the bouncer didn’t give me a hard time yesterday.
“Your guess is as good as mine. Did you tell him I was a HR detective? Maybe he thought it would be in his band’s best interest to cooperate with the cops,” I suggested.
“Now you’re just grasping at straws. Here’s a few of the holes in your theories. First, Jared doesn’t give a fuck about the cops. Second, he never adds anyone to VIP, especially not some cop. Third, I have been working security for this club since it opened. Never has he had me looking for a woman who had walked into the club for fifteen minutes then left. Never has he had me dig for information on someone to find out, not who they’re in business with, but what their likes and interests are, and never has he followed a woman around like he does you. On the rare occasion he has been with a woman, and I do mean rare, he leaves the club with them and I never hear from them again.”
“Are you saying he kills them?”
He laughed. “You really are a cop, aren’t you? No, I mean he never continues any kind of relationship with them.”
“Then he’s a liar. He told me he didn’t do one night stands.”
Ryan shrugged again. “Maybe he just talks to them. That is none of my business.”
“Yeah, that’s it. I’m sure he takes his groupies off to talk to them.”
“Like I said, not my business. But, I will say this, that man has more pussy thrown at him than the luckiest tomcat on the streets, and only once has he shown any interest at all. That would be you.”
“Funny, I don’t remember throwing pussy at him.”
“You probably just don’t remember because you were too drunk.”
“Ha, ha. I’m pretty sure I’d remember that.”
“Do you remember sticking your tongue down his throat?”
“Don’t you have something else to do? Like, I don’t know, guard the VIP section from invasion or something.”
“I’ll take that as a yes. If you need anything, let me know,” he said as he got up from the booth.
I sat at the table for a couple of minutes before the band started. The two band members I hadn’t already met were the center of my attention. One played bass while the other was the drummer. I have to admit, the drummer was scary as Hell. Don’t get me wrong. He was just as fine as the others, but there was something about the way he looked at people. Emotionless. Kind of like you would think a sociopath would look. Only, most sociopaths were better at pretending to care in order to fit in. This guy looked like he just didn’t give a fuck. It might be my imagination, but the bassist looks an awful lot like the drummer, but his hair is brown where the drummer’s is obviously dyed a matte black, and he actually looks kind of normal versus the drummer’s psycho. Maybe they’re brothers.
I was still analyzing the members of the band when Temmy sat with me.
“I am seriously considering not being your friend anymore,” she said as greeting.
“I’m actually surprised it’s taken you this long. I would have stopped being my friend years ago.”
“Ha, ha. You start dating the hottest guy in Atlanta and can’t pick up the phone to call your supposed best friend?”
“I’m not dating anyone. I’m working a case, and the hottest guy in Atlanta manipulated his way into being my bodyguard.”
“Oh, he wants to guard your body alright, but why would you need a bodyguard?”
“Apparently, the flowers I got the other day were from a serial killer, and he was the delivery guy. Isn’t that sweet? A psycho killer has a crush on me. The flowers were actually quite pretty.”
She managed to pick her jaw up off the table.
“You mean Jared didn’t send you those flowers? A crazed killer did?”
“Ooh, I can top it. The crazed killer is an Angel. Ta-da. Thank you, thank you, I’ll be here all week.” I mock bowed then showed her one of the posters.
“This is the killer? Huh. Never seen him.” She put the paper down then looked at me. “I can’t believe an Angel has a thing for you.”
“Apparently more than one. You didn’t know Darkened was a band of Fallen? That includes ‘the hottest guy in Atlanta’.”
She looked at the band then back to me.
“That’s what they are? I was wondering. I knew they were some kind of Other, but...wait. Jared has the hots for you and he’s an Angel?” She started laughing. “He really is a bad boy, isn’t he? An Angel with a thing for a Demon.”
“I am not a Demon, and he is a Fallen. Get it right. Uh, and he might not know about me being half Demon.”
“How would he not know? I thought Angels could track Demon and other evil creatures.”
I shot her a nasty look. “Perhaps it’s because I’m not an evil creature.”
“Sure honey, whatever helps you sleep at night. Demon aside, he has got it bad for you. He actually asked me to come over here and keep you company for a while so that you’re not bored. He’s such a nice guy.”
I rolled my eyes again. I’ve got to stop doing that before they get stuck in the back of my head.
“Temmy, he’s a Fallen Angel. Need I remind you why almost all Fallen become Fallen? That’s probably why he can’t tell that I’m part Demon because he, himself, is an evil creature.”
“Avy, I can’t believe you. You, of all people, should know better than to judge someone by their history instead of their actions.”
“The difference is that I didn’t make the decisions that affected my history, and he did. You know as well as I do that Angels are not wrongly banished from the Kingdom.”
“But, you don’t know that he killed a Human to be banished. He could have done something else to piss the big guy off.”
“Whatever. I don’t care the reason because as soon as this case is over I have plans to never see Jared Damascus again.”
She laughed again. “Well, good luck with that. I have a feeling he’s not going to give up that easily.”
“He’ll get it eventually.”
“Oh, I’m sure he will,” she said with a lascivious smirk.
“I wouldn’t hold my breath.”
She just smiled. “I guess I better get back to work. If I get a chance, I’ll come back to visit you.”
“Thanks, I don’t think the warden’s going to let me out any time soon.”
“Like I said, you are the luckiest woman I know.”
“Yes, I feel sooo lucky.”
She hugged me then left.
Fourteen
I watched Darkened for the next hour. There were a few other people in the section with me, but I didn’t recognize any of them, and they seemed to be more concerned with themselves and watching the band than me.
Before the band took a break, Jared addressed the crowd.
“The name of this song is ‘Avery’.”
They played the song from the other night. Oh my Gods! He really did name a song after me. Once the song finished, Jared disappeared behind the stage only to be walking up to my table two seconds later.
“You sure are fast. Tell me, do you actually fly?”
He smiled as he sat next to me. “Would you like to find out, Caru?”
“Not if it means I have to fly with you.”
“Are you afraid?”
I just raised a brow. Then I remembered how he had asked me the last time if I liked the song, and I had never answered. Instead, I had poked fun at the name.
“I do like the song, by the way. I like how it changes between slow and fast. Probably pretty hard to dance to, but I like it.”
“Be still my heart. You actually gave me a compliment without me having to pull it out of you. This makes the second time today. I guess my charm is starting to wear on you.”
“Don’t push it. I just think it is a good song. I’m sure plenty of others think the same thing.”
He leaned closer to me. “But, I didn’t write the song f
or them.”
“I find it hard to believe you wrote it for me either. You didn’t even meet me until after you had already played the song.”
“Ah, but I saw you the weekend before. You came into the club and killed a Demon in the bathroom. I tried to get Temmy to bring you to my house the next night, but you refused to come.”
“What would I have done at that party? I’m not really the groupie type if you haven’t noticed.”
“You could have spent time with me in my room. Then you wouldn’t have had to deal with any of the others.”
“How good of you to offer. But, I think I made the right choice.”
“How could it be the right choice when you didn’t end up with me?”
I laughed. The sad thing is that he was actually serious.
“I think you have me confused with someone else,” I said.
He scooted right up next to me. “No, Caru. That could never happen. I could pick you out of the middle of this entire crowd of people in less than a minute.”
I rolled my eyes once more. “Right.”
“You don’t believe me?”
I just raised a brow.
“Alright. Then I will prove myself to you.” He slid out of the booth then held his hand out for me.
Once I was out of the booth, he walked me over to where Ryan was standing at the entrance. He nodded and Ryan pulled the rope back then Jared led me to the bottom of the steps. He pulled me close and spoke into my ear so that I could hear over the song the DJ played.
“Are you ready, Caru? I’ll give you a thirty second head start.”
I smiled and looked at the time on my cell. “I’m not as fast as you. Make it a minute, and I’ll give you five to find me.”
Now he rolled his eyes. “Fine, sixty seconds starting...now.”
I took off. Where to go, where to go? The dance floor would be too easy since that’s the most obvious place. So is the bar because Temmy’s there, and she would rat me out in a second. Front entrance? No, then I’ll have to listen to him bitch about me trying to escape. The women’s bathroom is a no-go because there’s always a line to get in, and I’m not going in the men’s bathroom again. I headed to the hallway leading behind the stage. The guard on duty nodded to me, and opened the door.