by Unknown
Jacques easily dodged the fist which careened for his face. Grabbing his hand, he grinned when the human realized it was friend, not foe. “It’s only me, mon ami,” he reassured. “You need to relax.”
“Christ, Jacques! You should warn someone before you sneak up behind them. Wear a damn bell!”
Jacques couldn’t help but laugh. The visual was that ridiculous.
“What do you want?”
“I’m here to feed you,” he said. “I do believe we’ve had this conversation a couple of times now, no? You need energy before work.”
How could he forget?
“Yeah, but can I get dressed first? I’m still a bit uncomfortable with you, me, and nudity, especially in the shower together.”
“Oui,” he answered, shaking his head as he turned to leave the room. He’d give the man enough space and wait out by his mate.
Honestly, he didn't get the whole modesty issue, but if Flynn needed that little concession, so be it. From the bed, he was able to watch Brogan head into their shared closet. When he exited, he was dressed in a gray suit with a baby blue shirt. What amused him most was the tie had bats all over it.
There was no doubt that it had been a gift from Jolie. She liked to amuse them both with such trinkets.
“Ready?” Jacques asked, standing up.
“Yeah, I am.” He didn't move, as the vampyre placed the palm of his hand over his heart. When he closed his eyes, there was a warm feeling as energy passed into his body. While with Jolie, it was like the pleasure from really hot sex, with him, it was more calming. Flynn actually felt like he was wrapped in a soft, fuzzy blanket. The energy began dwindling, and he opened his eyes.
“Thanks,” he said, feeling a little better. “Are you going back to death?” he asked, fixing his tie.
“No. I think that I’ll stay awake and watch over her. Besides, I have some family things I need to attend to. There’s money to distribute and bills to handle. I have a conference call with our investment team a little later.”
Flynn had no idea that Jacques actually did something, other than babysit Jolie. It was surprising.
He laughed. “Yes, Flynn, I do have an actual job.”
The man let it go. “Staying awake is probably a good idea. I have a bad feeling, and I don’t know why.” He headed toward his gun holster which was sitting on the dresser. “Jacques?”
“Oui?”
“I know we discussed this, but I need to ask again. Are you sure that you’re really okay with me getting close to Jolie? I don’t want to get a glimpse of heaven, only to have it stolen away,” he admitted, looking over his shoulder. He hoped the man knew what he meant. One bout of sex with Jolie wouldn’t be enough. Once they opened that door, he couldn’t go back.
“Oui, but I do have a question for you.”
“Shoot?” he said.
“Will you ever hurt or betray us?” His green eyes never left Flynn’s. It was as if they stared into his soul, seeking some secret answer that might be hidden.
“Never. I’d die before ever doing that to anyone in this house.”
“Then, I trust you. You’re part of us, and I respect that. But…”
Flynn waited for him to continue.
“If you ever did betray her, or needlessly risk her life, I’ll be the one who takes your life. No hard feelings,” he said, his skin rippling with the power contained in his body.
Detective Brogan should have been scared shitless, but instead, he simply watched the vampyre head into the closet to dress. He wasn’t worried about hurting Jolie.
In fact, he’d offer up his life to keep her safe. For once in his existence, Flynn was going to trust that fate knew what the hell it was doing.
He was here for a reason.
Or at least that was what he kept telling himself.
∞ ∞ ∞
Thursday Mid-Morning
Brogan sat at his desk and sipped the rancid coffee from his ‘vampyres suck’ coffee mug. It was just another memento from Jolie. When she had left the previous day, she had left him a pen tucked inside his lunch bag. It was glass and appeared to be filled with fake blood. When you turned it upside down, the blood magically drained away, and it said ‘fill ‘er up, you’re a few pints low’. It amused him then, and he was still finding it humorous. Maybe it was childish, but he liked the little joke between them. Every time he saw one of his trinkets, it reminded him of her.
When he glanced up, Lily sat staring at him.
“What?” he asked, putting down the pen.
“How’s your mistress doing today?” she asked a little too loud.
Angrily, he hissed, leaning forward to continue the conversation. “What’s your problem?” he whispered to her. “Are you out of your mind?”
“Nothing,” she said innocently.
“Bullshit! You’ve been staring at me all day, and now you’re being condescending,” he stated, again feeling the hostility emanating from his partner. “What did Jolie ever do to you?”
“Nothing.”
“Then why are you oozing bad attitude?”
After last night, she figured she owed her partner the truth. When they’d left the council meeting, the rest of the vampyres were torn. Jolie Harcourte was an enigma. “We’re afraid,” she answered honestly, “of her.”
“What the hell are you talking about? Why does she make you so nervous?”
“Your mistress and her mate are strong. They’re ancients and we’re not used to that. Her power alone is greater than our oldest council member.” Lily looked down at her hands. Her mate had warned her not to trust Flynn. Jolie Harcourte was going to be nothing but trouble, and all their lives hung in the balance.
“Yeah and?”
“She took Delina’s seat, but she’s the eldest vampyre on the council now. No one could challenge her and win. She could do the same thing to us that she did to Delina. How do we know she isn’t ruthless?”
“I’m telling you that she isn’t.”
“Yeah, well, that’s not really reassuring coming from a besotted lover.” She rubbed the bridge of her nose. “Why is she really here? There has to be more than what you told council.”
“There isn’t. We killed a vampyre without council’s permission in Philly, and we were kicked out of the city.”
She stared at him.
Flynn couldn’t believe they were having this conversation. “Really. I wish there was more I could tell you, but there isn’t. We went to council because we were summoned there. If no one had called us out, we would have laid low. Now, we’re going to use the council as protection against the vampyre who’s after us. That’s it.”
She looked skeptical.
“How old is your oldest?” He picked up his pen again and rubbed it through his fingers.
“Our oldest is five hundred and twenty three.”
“You realize how crazy this entire conversation is right? Jolie has to be the kindest woman on the face of the earth. You’re all getting worked up for nothing.”
“Oh yeah, Flynn, she looked real gentle last night as she was boiling Delina’s skin off her bones and incinerating her.”
That pissed him off. “Hold on! Did we watch the same fight? Did you hear Delina tell Jolie she was going to torture Jacques and myself? Or how about those knives she was whipping around?”
“They were only silver, she would have healed.” Lily tried to shrug it off.
“Unfortunately, sweet Delina had them sheathed in mercury.” He watched Lily’s face. “They were, and Jolie knew that those knives were going to kill her mates. She took the hit to save us.”
Lily was still wary.
Leaning back in his chair, he continued, “She went to the council to find a place for her people, even though she was aware that someone would try and kill her.”
His partner sighed.
“We’re going to take in Delina’s family even though Jolie could leave them to fight for themselves. We all know that they’ll be picked off, on
e by one, without her. You know what it’s like for a vampyre without a society to offer protection.”
“I see your point. It’s just that we remember the last ruthless vampyre who controlled the city.”
“When was that?”
“Almost two hundred years ago.”
“Let me guess, the Dubois society?” From the look on her face, Flynn could tell that he hit the nail on the head. The fear flittered across her features at the mere mention of their name. That family must have been holy hell, if there were vamps who were still scared by the mere mention of the name.
“Yeah, they did bad shit,” she said, shivering.
“How long have you been with Malachi?”
He watched her look around to make sure no one was listening. “Over two hundred years.”
“You look good for an old chic,” he teased.
“Yeah, it’s a perk,” Lily replied, grinning wickedly. Then, she went serious again. “Jolie really isn’t here to cause problems?”
“Nope.” He lifted his tie as if to prove a point. “Would a callous hearted killer leave me these trinkets to make me smile? She does it so I can ease into the whole ‘live forever’ thing a little easier.”
“No, I guess not.”
“Trust your partner. You’re still that, regardless of the whole other ‘mated to the living dead thing’.” Once she grinned, Flynn knew the crisis was over. Before he could ask more questions about Malachi, her phone began ringing.
Lily took the call. When she looked up at Flynn, he was curious as hell. Who would be calling on Lily’s line for him?
“Yeah, sure, hold on.” Detective Winters put it on hold. “It’s for you, Flynn.”
“Detective Brogan,” he said into the receiver.
“Hello, Detective. It’s Genevieve. Have you missed me?”
Everything in Flynn went ice cold. For a while, he’d let his guard down, but now the bitch was back. “What do you want?” he hissed into the phone, earning a look from his partner.
“I want Jolie dead. I see they found a way to block me from getting into your dreams. It’s only a matter of time before I circumvent them. When I do, you’re a dead man.”
“Well, you and your family always were incompetent, so I wouldn’t put money on that. I’d bet on my family over yours any day.”
He listened to her scream into the phone like some deranged lunatic. She was definitely bat shit insane. Now, he had a huge problem. She called him, so she was well aware of what city they were in.
The shit was about to hit the fan.
“I’ll kill her in her sleep. She is so lovely while she’s with death, isn’t she? I bet you lie beside her and admire her beauty. When you get home, tell my old friend that I love her solarium. I’ve always wanted one. Her choice in décor is just like it was in Paris.”
A chill went through Brogan’s body.
How the bloody hell did Genevieve know what the inside of their home looked like?
“What do you know? You’re so twisted with hate. Your kid was a killer, so deal with it,” he whispered into the phone, avoiding his partner’s eyes. Well, if Lily wanted proof they were being stalked, here it was. With his hearing being excellent, he was sure she could hear every word that Genevieve was spewing.
“Here’s my plan, Detective, since you foiled me from killing her last time. I will have my revenge. While you and I have this conversation, please know that she’s turning to ash. I’ve already gotten to her, so this is worse than any nightmare you’ll ever have. Welcome to your hell, Flynn.”
As her sick laughter filled the phone, he couldn’t breathe. It may have been a trap, but he couldn’t sit there and wait. Brogan slammed the phone down before jumping to his feet. “I have to get home.”
He ran from his desk to get to his vehicle, leaving everyone staring in his wake. If Genevieve wasn’t bluffing, he was going to find her. Then, he’d destroy her, one way or another.
The entire car ride home was hell. He kept reaching for Jolie and Jacques. Unfortunately, due to the sun being at its highest, he couldn’t feel either of them. He only prayed that it was the daylight and not something far more sinister.
Please be okay.
Please be okay.
He repeated the words over and over again.
At the house, he slammed the H2 into park. Racing toward their room, he pulled his gun, ready to kill anyone hurting his family. If he was too late, Flynn knew his heart would never be the same.
As soon as the door flew open, hitting the wall, Jacques was on his feet.
Fangs were out and claws were ready.
In that instant, both men came face to face.
Before Jacques moved on the intruder in their room, recognition dawned. “Mon Dieu! What’s wrong, Flynn?” He didn't get an answer, but instead he watched as their human raced toward the bed. Once Flynn pulled Jolie into his arms, he approached to ask him again.
“Flynn! Talk to me! What happened? You look freaked out,” he demanded, retracting his fangs and claws.
Brogan left a scattering of kisses across her face, before he was able to finally breathe again.
“Jesus,” he muttered, holding onto Jolie’s cold body.
Jacques had never seen their human this distraught before. Something had him rattled. “Flynn, what’s going on?” Jacques asked, putting his hand on Brogan’s shoulder as he sat beside him.
He fought to string the words together as the fear loosened its grip. “I was at work and Genevieve called me.”
Well, that would explain it. “So, she’s found us?”
He nodded. “Yeah, and to make it a million times worse, she’s screwing with us.” Flynn told him all about the conversation. “Is this house anything like your one in Paris?” he demanded, needing to know.
Jacques didn't like this at all. “Oui, it has the same color scheme and furniture. Jolie is a creature of habit. We tend to like to keep our lives simple.”
Then, he told him the worst part. “She told me you were both gone. I had to get home and make sure it was a lie. It had to be a lie,” he whispered. “I nearly died inside.”
He understood the man’s distress. Had it been him, he would have lost it too. “It’s fine, Flynn. We’re not hurt, and she can’t get into the house. No one would invite her in here. Genevieve was screwing with you, or she wanted to lure you out into the open.”
“I tried to reach for you, but I couldn’t get you.”
“I’ve had a very draining night. I am not strong enough today to talk to you during the light hours. I didn't stay with death nearly long enough last night.”
He was ready to storm around the room like a lunatic. “My God! I was terrified that I would come in here, and she would be gone. There was such pain knowing I never told her how much I truly love her. I know I said it before we went to council, but I never told her from my heart.”
Jacques watched the man. Obviously, their human was stirred up like a hornets’ nest.
Placing Jolie back onto her pillow, he stripped out of his suit jacket. Without saying anything else, he laid on the bed beside her, protectively holding Jolie against his body.
“You don’t have to worry, Flynn. Jolie knows what lives in you,” he reassured, patting him on the leg.
“Well, I’m telling her when she wakes up. I’m not going to be afraid and hold back anymore. What if I did lose her? Then, she wouldn’t know the truth. I know you’re immortal, but what if that isn't going to be the case?”
Jacques understood. Standing from his spot on the bed, he grinned down at him. “I think you should tell her,” he offered. “I’m going to finish reading, and you should guard her,” he offered. It was touching that the detective was so worried about Jolie. “I’ll be right over here if you need me.”
Brogan pulled her closer. “I’m going to lay here and wait.”
Well, it looked like everything was moving rather fast, now that the Detective was making his move.
Jolie was going to
get her wish.
The detective wasn’t holding back.
“I’ll wait for you forever, Jolie,” Flynn murmured, resting against her.
Jacques grinned as their detective fell asleep, clinging to Jolie for dear life.
What was coming was bound to be very interesting.
∞ ∞ ∞
Thursday Early Evening
Brogan heard the gentle sound of her voice and followed it to the surface. It was definitely Jolie’s laughter, and it appeared to be coming from above him. When he opened his eyes, he saw her staring down at him. Her hair fell around them in a wave of black silk.
“Hello, Flynn,” she greeted him, touching his rough jaw with her hand. “I hear that there is something you need desperately to tell me.”
“I’m in love with you!” There, he said it and it was out there. “Crazy, stupid in love, and I need you to know that’s my feelings. Not Jacques’s.”
Her laughter bubbled up, washing over everyone in the room. “I’m aware your feelings are your own. I've seen them when I’ve been inside you.” She leaned down to kiss him, and as her lips were millimeters from his, she spoke, “I want you to know that I feel the same about you.”
His heart skipped, and he let the fear go.
Jolie didn’t expect him to move so fast. Sometimes, she forgot that he had some of their gifts. When he pulled her to him and rolled with her, she couldn’t help but feel loved.
“I was terrified that I wouldn’t get here in time. I really believed that Genevieve had found and hurt you.”
“My love, Jacques told me. Don’t worry. I’m well-guarded.” The fear across his features was painfully evident.
Jolie cradled him against her chest, allowing him to release some of the tension from his body. When she wrapped her arms around his shoulders, the fear ebbed away.
Finally, Flynn was at peace.
Jacques spoke from alongside the bed, “Mon ami, she doesn’t kill easy, and Genevieve will have to go through us first.”
“Tomorrow, I’m asking for my personal time. I think I have two weeks coming.” Flynn remained there, unwilling to move from her embrace.