Surrender

by Cassandre Dayne

  “What if you don’t get the amulet?”

  “I will. The piece is close.”

  Closer than you think. While Logan knew he would be damned if his thoughts read, he masked the words as he was taught so well to do. He needed time to sort out what to do. “Very well. I have it under good authority new and very creative photographs are being produced tonight.” His minion knew only that there were other vampires in town and while his master was aware of his choice, he didn’t know all the pertinent details and Logan was going to make sure and keep some things secret for as long as he was able, risking what he knew of as life but if he calculated everything carefully, Logan could quite possibly win a kingdom.

  “You made the deal. Very good. Then I have my work cut out for me.”

  Logan sighed. “What do you want me to do with Jax?”

  He smiled and licked his lips. “Aleks has requested a meeting as part of the bargain. My guess is that the good detective will be with him. You’re going to make that meeting. Set it up at the gallery.”

  “And how am I going to take him?”

  “By enlisting the help of your little minion you hold so dearly. Give him this.” Handing him the dagger from the first kill, he grinned. “This should take down the good detective. I want this back.”

  Nodding, Logan smirked as he grabbed the jeweled piece. First things first, he would capture Felicity and then he’d have enough power to perhaps overthrow a Kingdom.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Jax had more reservations than anything in going to see Aleksandr and on this night every cell in his body ached to the point he was unsure he could handle pretending. Jax had stared into the mirror for what seemed like hours after his shower shaking even as the steam from the hot water forced thick moisture and heat into the small room. Aspirin hadn’t curtailed the constant ache in his joints and he had been popping tums for hours to calm his stomach. However nothing worked to cease his ragged nerves. The night and the photo shoot was going to take everything out of him. He was too tired to think it through. Then again, Jax was too exhausted to know what he was doing. “All right. It’s time to figure this out.”

  Dressed in tight black linen pants, a cerulean blue silk shirt and cowboy boots, he stood shivering even in the heat of the bathroom. Sighing, Jax gazed at his haunted reflection. What would come of the photo event? Would it be the bait they needed? Strolling into the bedroom, his heart was heavy. As he picked through his jewelry box, selecting the only expensive piece he owned, a Rado watch, his thoughts drifted to years gone by. It had been the last gift that Paula had given him and he almost never wore it. It wasn’t that it reminded him of her as much as it reminded him of what he was missing in his life. Perhaps it was time to begin a new and remember what had made him the man he was in the first place.

  Sitting on the edge of the bed, he held his head in his hands and remembered. Hot tears trickled down his face for the first time in several years. The boy had been barely three and from what he knew of the family a happy child. Investigating a series of gang related murders that had turned into ugly slaughters meant to send a message; he and his team had been close to catching the street thugs who had turned several neighborhoods into a war zone. The rival gang had gunned down six members in two separate gangs killing two innocent bystanders and maiming three others in their five-week rampage. Four of the victims had been mutilated almost beyond recognition. Jax had almost caught one and from that ugly night as he screamed at the suspect, raging in a way he’d never before, the tides had changed.

  During the last week that member had taunted Jax, following him and threatening his family. Jax had been forced to send his wife and daughter to his mother’s house and even then, the asshole had almost killed his mother while trying to kidnap his daughter. For that Paula had never forgiven him. When Paula had fled, refusing to tell Jax where they were going, Jax had turned to the bottle in his rage grow to the point of carelessness. The single lead he had snapped up with a vengeance ignoring his Sergeant and everything that was human inside. He was determined to nail the fucker. Instead, a baby had been stolen away from his mother. Sliding to the floor, Jax broke down sobbing until he dry heaved. “Forgive me!”

  “Go! He’s in there!” Jax screamed as he raced for the door.

  “Wait, we haven’t confirmed that yet. Jax, no stop!”

  “No, he’s here. Let’s go,” Jax hissed at Lee, his partner of five years as he pulled out his gun. Hearing a scuttle and a muted scream, he pitched his body toward to the front door, kicking it in. “Tremain Wilson!”

  “No! Don’t, please!” A woman’s high-pitched scream fluttered from the back of the house.

  Clicking off the safety, Jax motioned to his team who flanked his side. Lowering his voice, it could barely be heard over the din of the television coming from deep in the interior. “Sounds like a hostage situation.”

  “We gotta wait for back up. You know the procedure,” Lee hissed as he scanned the living room.

  “Bullshit! You heard the woman scream,” Jax snarled. “We wait and she dies.”

  “Not your call to make.”

  Jax leaned into Lee’s face. “I outrank you period. We’re going in.” Refusing to wait for an answer, he turned and glided toward the back of the house.

  “Wait! Don’t!” Lee barked.

  “Tremain, I’m coming in,” Jax shouted.

  “You come in and the bitch dies!” Tremain’s gruff voice erupted from the back corner.

  Jax motioned for the other officers to go outside.

  “I’m not leaving you in here alone,” Lee breathed.

  “Then do as I say. Tremain. I just wanna talk.” Jax moved forward silently, holding the gun in both hands. As sweat dripped from his brow, he shook his head.

  “I told ya, cop. You come in here and she dies and you know what I’m gonna do then for dessert? I’m gonna plug that pretty little daughter of yours.” Tremain laughed.

  The woman screeched.

  Jax froze. “What…the…fuck did you say?”

  “Jax, don’t.” Lee wrapped his hand around Jax’s arm.

  Jax jerked it away.

  Tremain chuckled. “Yeah, I can just imagine licking that sweet little pussy of hers. My bet is that the slut’s a virgin. Wait til I get done with the whore.”

  Jax froze and licked his lips as rage filled him. Barely able to breathe, he crossed over the threshold into the bright lights of the kitchen. “You…mother…fucker. Drop the gun!”

  “Fuck you cop! You’ll have to kill me but first, they die!” Tremain roared and raised a gun.

  “No!” Jax screamed out as the vision began a tangled flash of images and blood. From what he’d remembered and what his partner had stated in the report, Tremain pushed the woman away and grabbed the boy, jerking the tot in front of his body as Jax took a calculated shot.

  “May God forgive me!” Weeping hysterically, Jax continued to hear the woman’s screams as she fought to reach her dying boy.

  The banging on the front door caught him off guard. “What?” Jerked out of the vision, Jax fought to regain control. He rubbed his arms and wiped his tears away furiously. Shaking away the visions, he struggled to his feet as several rings of the doorbell followed another series of pounding on the door.

  Sniffing, he brushed his hands through his hair. As he walked downstairs he could just make out the hulking figure behind the door. Opening it slowly, he grimaced and darted his eyes down. Hopefully in the shadows Mike couldn’t detect his current state. “Mike.”

  “Whewy boy. I thought you were working tonight. Sure looks to me like you’re going on a date.”

  “Working.” He opened the door all the way and noticed the file in Mike’s hand. “What ya got?”

  “You okay, buddy? You been crying or something?”

  Jax shook his head. “Nope. Just fine. What’s up?”

  Mike shook his head. “Okay. Remember the kid we’re looking for? You’ll love this, worked at Dark Tower
s and it took some digging but he worked with Aleks all right and there was a lot of rumor that Logan was heavily into the whole dark creature bit. You know the whole undead thing. And he was rumored to be Aleks’ lover.”

  Jax clucked his jaw. That’s where he’d seen the picture. Of course. “Interesting. Do the parents have any idea about their son?”

  “Nope and the mom was adamant that she saw him one day and while he looked like himself, he was acting odd. She honestly thought he reminded her of the walking dead.”

  Jax shook his head. “Was John working at either location by any chance?” He thought about his morning meeting with the station owner. Brent was fired for nearly beating one of the guests to death. The melee had barely been kept under wraps from the media and while the individual hadn’t pressed charges, the incident had tainted the morning show.

  “Yeah he was. Hadn’t been working at Dark Towers long but the station, he’d been there almost a year. Are you sure you haven’t got a hot date with Amanda after this?”

  “It’s just the case and nothing else but I’m doing something that is more than a bit a risky but necessary. I can’t tell you any more than I’m working with Aleksandr Vasiliev and if my intuitions are correct this will help facilitate the killer’s hunger.”

  “Hunger? Well, that’s a word to use for the freak. Look, I don’t know what you’re involved in and my guess is you aren’t gonna tell me. I”ll go sniff at the club again and try to talk to the luscious little owner about all these little coincidences and see if anyone has knowledge of John’s last whereabouts. Oh, by the way, the club has more than one owner.”

  “Aleksandr.” It wasn’t a question but an understanding.

  “Like I said, more than one. Another foreign guy owns it and from the little I could tell has almost nothing to do with it. I forgot the name but it’s something like Durich or something,” Mike breathed. “Think that means anything?”

  “Maybe and maybe not. See if you can find anything out about this guy.”

  “Sure, buddy.”

  “After tonight I think the trap will be set. Keep your eyes on Felicity as well. She holds a key to this. Maybe she’s not aware of it Mike but I have no doubt.”

  “I just hope you know what you are doing, buddy. You still have that tinge of green over you and you’re keeping too many secrets. Your behavior concerns even me and I know what you have been through before. Be careful. Don’t lose yourself in this case because of what happened. We’ll find the killer one way or the other. Okay buddy?”

  Jax nodded. “I hear you. I really do and appreciate it. I have no doubt what I’m doing tonight is going to bring the killer out in the open.”

  “Well, you damn well better call for back up then. Something funny about that artist’s car bit though.”

  “What do you mean, weird? Did you find anything on the paint on Aleks’ car?”

  “Standard issue paint purchased from any Lowes, buddy. Unfortunately, there were no fingerprints, period.”

  “What do you mean period? Didn’t you find Aleksandr’s fingerprints?”

  “Nope. Not a single one. It’s like he doesn’t exist or he wiped the car clean. Sound a little fishy to you?” Mike grinned. “I’m having the guys run a more serious background check on him.”

  Jax sighed. Perhaps he was a fool after all. “What, you’re thinking he did that to his car himself?” What if he was working with the killer? Hide in plain sight.

  Mike sniffed. “I think it’s just kinda odd that the man has a sketchy background to start with and every single murder is connected directly back to him.”

  “I have to agree. Let me know what you find out.”

  “Will do. Careful guy. The press is all over this one and…”

  “And?” he asked, hearing the catch in Mike’s voice.

  “The press is all over this with accusations. Lots of crap coming into the station”

  “What else, Mike? I know your tone.”

  Mike glanced in his eyes. “They’re questioning why you’re the lead on this case after…”

  “After I murdered an innocent boy?” Flashes of the press hounding him for months after he was cleared of all charges reminded him that he was lucky to have a new partner and an opportunity to do something good.

  Mike laid his hand on Jax’s shoulder. “You didn’t murder him, Jax. He was a casualty like the other victims. The asshole gang fuck is to blame.”

  “Tell that to his mother and to the press who needs a conclusion on this case. You know that the mayor wants my job.”

  “Ah Jax. Why don’t you trust in me more? Let me help you, okay? I sniffed around a little about the murders from all those years ago and it’s locked down tight. If someone is coming after you then I can’t find anything. The remaining gang members are all on death row.”

  Jax nodded. “I guess that’s a positive thing, Mike. After tonight I’ll come clean but I honestly think that tonight is the key. The bastard is toying with all of us and I have no idea why. Find out everything you can on this other missing kid and check on Felicity. I don’t want her hurt.”

  “That I can do. You’re setting yourself up as bait, aren’t you?”

  “I know what you’re thinking…”

  “You have no idea. Think with your head here, man. Do you understand that this freak could place your life in danger?” Mike asked quietly

  “I’m not sure I care, Mike. I have to do this.”

  “What about Amanda?”

  “We’re not seeing each other right now.”

  Mike’s eyes opened wide. “I’m sorry, buddy but right now, I think it’s better she stays away from you. Look, I’ll work through the night. As soon as you’re done, call me and we’re going to put all the damn pieces together. I don’t like this Aleksandr character. I know you want to believe but he’s hiding something.”

  There was no doubt that Mike was right. Jax was going to get to the bottom of it if he had to…to go to bed with the man. A cold shiver ran down his spine. The thought both scintillating and revolting, he swallowed hard. He had nothing to lose but his dignity and if it caught him a killer, he’d succumb.

  “I can see your wheels turning. I have your back. I’ll see you in the morning. Okay?”

  “Thanks Mike.” He closed the door and leaned against it, glancing down at the file. Brent Taylor had a guest on his morning show that suddenly went into a tirade about homosexuality and artists. Interestingly enough, the guy was pro-gay. That was all anyone could get out of Brent before he beat the man almost unconscious. “It’s just too damn convenient.” There was clearly no doubt the killer wanted everyone to believe that he wasn’t having a relationship with Aleksandr. Of course he would be embarrassed. But why did he freak? He suspected that the guest found out about Brent’s sidelines and now he had the reason why and how. Unfortunately all his boss would tell him was that Brent received an envelope before the broadcast and he went nuts. After some coercing he finally told Jax who the guest was. The information was no coincidence and yet one he wanted to mull over since it had to do with the festival as planned. The evening with Aleks would prove to be more cathartic than he wanted to admit and in more ways than one. What if the killer is simply trying to send Aleks a message? What if Aleks is working with the little man?

  Grabbing his keys, Jax stared down at his shaking hands. The pieces were coming together. He had the distinct impression that the murderer was using minions to do his or her business and his gut told him that the killer would be watching tonight and waiting. Someone wanted to take Aleksandr Vasiliev taken down. The question was, dead, framed or ruined? One thing was for certain he would get to the bottom of whether Aleks was snowing him. Stealing his nerves, Jax made a promise to himself that if it came down to being seduced, then he’d lock it away like the rest of his damning life and find the killer. After that, he’d resign.

  The drive helped Jax slam down the lid on his ugly black box. He was never going to bring the beautiful little boy
back but perhaps he could save others from dying. He put all the pieces together and still came back to Aleks being smack in the middle. The case was beginning to look more and more like a revenge situation against Aleks but why? For his art or for something darker? Why no fingerprints? Determined to get through the evening and lure the killer out in the open, he calmed his nerves as he drove onto Aleks’ dark street. The moon barely a sliver in the sky, ominous shadows banked the surrounding creating an eerie feeling of doom.

  Climbing out of the car, Jax swallowed and stood quietly listening to the night sounds and trying to determine if he’d been followed. He glanced at the lone building that was possibly close enough for the killer to be lying in wait. While gut told him Aleks’ brownstone was being watched, the one thing the earlier vision had reminded him of clearly that he needed to keep a clear head. The request for the photos was put together for a reason and whether it was blackmail or part of a sick game, his cop instinct reminded him that the killer had many opportunities to make himself known. Tonight was nothing more than another path in the maze that had been created.

  He sauntered toward the stairs and steeled his nerves. Something caught his attention. He tipped his head and could swear to God he could see a tall figure with long hair standing in the shadows, waiting and watching. Jax resisted investigating. If the killer was watching he would get the show he craved. Whatever happened on this night, Jax knew he had to endure and push past his disturbed feelings. As he neared the top step, fear of the unknown should have gripped his heart. Instead, his cock twitched pressing hard against his pants. Gasping, Jax grasped the railing and panted. Dear God, he really wanted to fuck…to… “Shit!” What the fuck are you thinking? What’s wrong with you? Leaning over the railing, nausea gripped him hard. Breathe in. Breath out. Screaming echoes bounced in his ears. This couldn’t be happening, not now. No…it…

  “Detective Steele. Are you okay?” Aleksandr flanked his side. Wrapping his arm around Jax’s waist, Aleks pulled his shaking body against his. “What happened? You’re trembling.”