“The information you need on Marigold Vesta. It took a lot of time to gather it, but with Sonja’s help, I managed.”
I reached for the folder, but he pulled it away. “If you want it, come to Ruby’s Diner after close,” he said. “It’s right around the corner.”
Narrowing my eyes, I grumbled, “I know where it’s at.”
“Then you’ll know where you can find it.” He rose and nodded at me. “Good night, Rhiannon.”
“Wait a minute.” I reached over the counter and snagged his shirt. “How do I know you’re telling me the truth?”
He moved closer, until we were inches apart. “Did you know that the vampire Kibwe stole this amulet from his very own grandmother after he killed her? It’s considered a blood rite, which is the only way you can truly own the pendant. It has to be taken by force and cemented by the blood of the previous owner. That’s how Kibwe amassed his powers. Before that, he was only able to see spirits. That enough for you?”
I let him go and he shouldered his way through the crowd, quickly vanishing between the bodies. I glanced at the clock. It was only 12:30, which meant I had another hour and a half before I could go. Hector would have a bitch fit if I asked to leave, and Deena couldn’t tend the bar alone.
As I tried to forget about what Goose dangled in front of me and work the bar, Deena appeared, flushed and excited. “Hey, got a minute?” She nodded toward the back, and I followed her to the door.
“What’s up?”
“See that guy right there?” She pointed at the same man who had come on to me while I was working on the Samuel Adams.
“Yeah, I see him.”
“He wants to take me out after close. I don’t normally do that sort of thing, but look at him! I don’t want to say no, and since…”
My luck just kept getting better and better. “Since I’m sleeping on the couch, it’ll put a kink in your plans?”
“Do you mind crashing at your place for one night? I promise not to ask again, but he’s so…so…”
“Yeah, yeah, I get it. It’s time for me to go home anyway. No problem.”
When I started to walk away, she grasped my arm. “Are you sure? I can tell him no.”
I shook my head. The truth was, returning to my apartment was a long time in the coming. I’d only avoided it so long because I was wimping out, and the time for acting like a pussy was over.
“I’m sure. You two have fun. It’s time to get back into a routine. I’m ready to get back to normal.”
She didn’t let go. “Only if you’re sure.”
I laughed, removing her fingers from my arm. “I’m positive. Now get back out there before Hector starts bitching.”
We returned to work, and it was a good thing we didn’t dally in the doorway. The crowd grew, more men and a few women eager for some T and A action. I couldn’t help my gaze as it drifted to the clock over and over again. I wanted the information Goose had, but I wasn’t sure I was up for his questions or a heart to heart.
The phone vibrated against my ass, but I didn’t bother checking the number. It was either Paine or Disco calling again, I was certain of it. The only thing I could say in my defense was I did feel bad when it came to Paine, as I’d promised things would be different between us when I returned and they weren’t. As soon as I could get a better handle on things, I knew it was a promise I would have to keep. Unfortunately, I had no idea how to do that. Besides, I wasn’t even sure if Disco had told him all the intimate details of what transpired in the future.
More music blasted from the speakers, a mash up of the Eurythmics’ “Sweet Dreams” and The White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army” resounding through the club. I knew the dancer was Destiny without glancing up. She had a love of all things eighties, especially the music.
I watched her work the pole as men tossed bills at her, grinning when she did the weird thing with her double-jointed thighs that allowed her to place her feet directly over her head. As expected, more bills were tossed. It was her signature move, one no girl could replicate, and I felt it was worth every single penny.
“Excuse me again.”
I turned toward the voice of the man who had attempted to charm his way into my panties and, when turned away, found a way into Deena’s.
“What can I get you?”
“Well.” His voice dipped an octave, becoming husky. “Your friend said you were part-time roomies. I was wondering if you might be interested in a little three-way action.”
That wonderful control I’d so far maintained obliterated like the most precious crystal. Fucking with me was one thing. Fucking with my friend was something else entirely.
I grinned at him, glanced at Deena from the corner of my eye, and whispered, “I don’t know. Let’s see.”
“Deena!” I screamed and he jerked back, obviously seeing where he’d screwed himself. “Can you come here a sec?”
“Wait, never mind,” he started whispering frantically, but it was too late. His chance of getting a piece of ass was long gone. Taken when he became a greedy and pus- infested toad.
“What’s going on?” Deena looked from me to her dream lay, and I felt a bit guilty. Not that I wouldn’t call him out just the same.
“Loverboy here says he’s interested in a little three-way action.” I kept staring at the toad in question, watching as he ducked his head. “I wanted to get your opinion first.”
I knew Deena well enough to move back when she grasped the coke dispenser. It was a no-no to waste the coke, so she blasted him full on with water. I watched, awestruck and gleeful, as she coated him from head to toe in front of everyone. When she finished, she placed the dispenser back into its slot, grabbed some napkins, and threw them at his chest.
“Don’t bother wasting your time, asshole. Get the fuck out!”
When he didn’t move fast enough to appease her, she shrilled, “Cletus!”
The biggest and baddest bouncer in town didn’t ask questions, and he didn’t waste any time. He parted the crowd like water, advanced on the soggy and drenched horny toad, and snagged him by the back of his collar.
“Out you go,” he said as he shoved him through the crowd.
“I’m so sorry.” Deena didn’t stay heartbroken long, which was one of the things I admired most about her. Like most men, she had no problems with one-night stands or waking up alone. In fact, I think she preferred it. Thinking about her history with men made me feel slightly uncomfortable since now, really, I was no better.
“I just thought you should know.”
“Hell yes, I should know! What a fucking asshole! Can you believe that shit?”
She returned to work without another word, which was classic Deena. Nothing fazed her, which, again, was another thing I loved about the woman.
Before long, it was last call, and I was up to my neck in dirty glasses, a dirty counter and wet napkins. Butch and Cletus were already at work sweeping the floors, proving they were more than mere muscle and brawn. Everything felt perfect. This was something I could relate to, something I was familiar with. As I started swiping down the bar, Hector strolled over and pulled out a cigar.
“So,” he said, studying his spliff. “It’s nice to have you back.”
“That’s good to hear.” I lifted my head and grinned. “It’s good to be back.”
“Glad to hear it.”
Then he was gone, walking away as he loosened his tie and prepared to count the take for the night. Hector was still the same too, a man of few words.
Just the way I liked him.
Epilogue
My stomach felt like it had been soaked in acid by the time I decided to leave the club and head to Ruby’s, but I was determined to collect the information Goose offered. I was going to need it, since my own research skills were paltry and embarrassing. If this was stuff he’d discovered along with
Sonja, it was sure to be good, and I couldn’t pass that up.
As I rounded the corner of the building and started in the direction of Ruby’s, I pulled my jacket closer to my chest. It was officially as cold as hell. No more skirts or ass-kicking dresses. Nope, it was just me, in my jeans and shit-kickers, which suited me just fine.
I saw the light from Ruby’s just as I rounded the corner. As I started to cross the street, something snagged me from behind. It was stupid on my part, since I should have put myself on alert the minute I left the bar, but I was so worried about what was inside the envelope that I hadn’t attuned to my senses, which left me in the clutches of a vampire.
“Remember me?”
As I was spun around, I came face to face with Evan. A vampire from my past who tried to mark me before Disco had the chance. He was still dressed in emo clothing, and he’d brought a few of his companions with him.
“You don’t want to do this,” I warned as they came closer. “You’ll be fucking with the biggest vampire in the city.”
“We won’t be around to worry about that. Consider this unfinished business.”
The pendant burned white hot against my skin, and I prepared to give Evan an ass kicking he would never forget, when a familiar voice asked, “Remember me?”
Paine clutched Evan by the throat, lifting him into the air, and broke his neck with a deft flick of his wrist. I watched, unable to speak, as Paine brought Evan back down and proceeded to turn his head, round and round, until it looked like a fucking cork bottle opener.
The moment Paine dropped Evan, the remaining vampires scattered, running for their very lives. I gawked at Evan’s body, disgusted yet unable to turn away.
“Will that kill him?”
“If you sever the head, it will. I’m assuming that’s as close to severing a head as you can get. Besides”—he looked at me and tapped his temple—“I’ve seen the way he goes.”
“So that’s it?”
“For him? Yes, it is.”
Shaking my head, I forced my eyes away from the sight. “What are you doing here?”
“Ethan said he had something you needed. He asked me to deliver it.”
Damn Goose! Fucking ambush.
Extending my hand, I sighed. “Then hand it over. It’s been a long night, and I’m ready to go home.”
“Go home where?” he asked softly. “You’ve not been home in over a week.”
“How would you know that?” I asked, curious despite myself. Maybe Disco had ordered him to stake my place out night after night.
“Why don’t we go into Ruby’s and talk?”
Taking a deep breath, I got up the nerve to ask, “How much has Disco told you?”
He seemed puzzled by the question, and his reaction was so immediate, I knew it was legitimate. “Only what he’s told the rest of the family. He’s refused to speak to anyone since you left, aside from inquiring on a status update on your whereabouts. He won’t speak to me, which is something I’ve never encountered before.”
“So you don’t know anything?”
“Anything about what, Rhiannon?”
I didn’t think it was possible for your heart to cramp, but the sensation I felt was just like one. Paine didn’t know. He had no idea of what had transpired between us in the future. Somehow, I thought Disco would tell him. If anything, it would serve him right after what he’d done. Then again, maybe he’d been too afraid to tell Paine, too chicken shit to tell ripple-effect master that I’d altered more than time; I’d also altered our relationship.
We stood under the glare of the streetlight for several minutes before Paine’s soft timbre broke through my thoughts. “How’s about a cup of coffee and the envelope you came to meet me for? Asshole here”—Paine nudged Evan’s body with his boot—“can wait until his friends return to retrieve his remains and clean up the mess.”
It felt like a stupid mistake, one I couldn’t take back, but if anything it was a start. Paine had to know the truth. I’d sworn things would be different between us, and now was the time to see that promise to fruition. I wasn’t sure if it meant we would become closer friends, or if we would drift further apart. All I was certain of was that my name had been called and it was time to do my speech, front and center, in the middle of class.
“Coffee and an envelope of knowledge sound good.”
We walked together, keeping a sliver of distance between us. We stepped inside, and I chose the booth at the far end of the establishment, wanting us to have as much privacy as possible. Since it was late, that wasn’t too hard. Most of the people had taken a seat at the bar, eating hours-old apple pie with their freshly brewed coffee.
When the waitress arrived at our table, I ordered two coffees, just to keep up pretenses. Paine wouldn’t touch the stuff, but since I had to stay awake for a while, I could take care of his mug as soon as I finished mine.
“You shouldn’t have stayed away so long.” Paine kept his voice hushed, elbows on the table, his head hovering near the center. “We’ve been worried about you.”
“I had things to take care of.” Not the total truth, but not a lie.
“So, this thing between you and Gabriel…”
He didn’t finish but sat up as the waitress brought our coffees, as well as handfuls of creamer. She didn’t ask if we needed anything else, which suited me just fine. I didn’t want her returning to our table any sooner than necessary.
Paine moved close again as I poured two creamers into my mug and doused it with the sugar container. When finished, I used the silverware to swirl it all together.
I debated taking a sip when I realized there wasn’t enough caffeine in the world to stop what I was about to do or change what I was about to say. As I gazed up, meeting his dark, onyx eyes, I knew that no matter what happened from here on in, no matter what obstacles I was faced with, the future was one of my own choosing.
From here on in, I was calling all the shots.
Rhiannon’s Law #14: There is a reason the truth hurts. When you cease to feel the sting, it means you’ve stopped caring. And damn, wouldn’t that be a total fucking waste?
Taking a deep breath, I reached across the table and grasped Paine’s hands.
Then I told him the truth, starting from the beginning.
About the Author
J.A. Saare is a multi-published author in varying genres and has written stories featured in horror magazines, zombie romance anthologies and flash fiction contests. Her work has a notable dark undertone, which she credits to her love of old eighties horror films, tastes in music, and choices in reading, and has been described as “full of sensual promise”, “gritty and sexy”, and “a breath of fresh air”.
Currently she is penning numerous projects within the urban fantasy, erotic and contemporary, and of course, paranormal romance categories. Her website is www.jasaare.com. Those interested in her “naughtier” side can visit her alias, Aline Hunter, at www.alinehunter.com.
Look for these titles by J.A. Saare
Now Available:
Rhiannon’s Law
Dead, Undead, or Somewhere in Between
Coming Soon:
The Ripple Effect
One bad corpse can ruin your whole day.
Dead, Undead, or Somewhere in Between
© 2014 J.A. Saare
Rhiannon’s Law, Book 1
After leaving the flash and sass of Miami for the no-nonsense groove of New York, Rhiannon Murphy is eager for a clean slate and fresh start. A bartender by trade, a loud mouth by choice, and a necromancer by chance, she’s managed to keep her nasty habit of seeing dead people hidden from those around her—until now.
The dangerous and deliciously sexy vampire, Disco, knows her secret. When he strolls into her club to ask for help investigating the mysterious disappearances of his kind, she quickly gets the vibe
that he’s not exactly the kind of guy you tell no.
Yet in a world where vampires peddle their blood as the latest and greatest drug of choice, it’s only a matter of time before the next big thing hits the market. Someone is killing vampires to steal their hearts and, unlike Rhiannon, this isn’t their first stroll around the undead block.
Warning: Includes violence, strong language, and references to sexual abuse that may disturb some readers. Oblique references to ’80s films are hidden here and there, which could result in tickling your geek-like fancy.
Enjoy the following excerpt for Dead, Undead, or Somewhere in Between:
My gaze darted around the dark, cloudy room. The tables were full, but that was to be expected. The BP wasn’t the most exclusive club in town, but we had decent girls, a hospitable crowd, and we kept it clean. Those inclined to visit a topless bar could get their Johnson on in relative safety and enjoyment as long as they kept their hands to themselves.
Old-school David Bowie blasted from the speakers and Destiny launched into another dance. She sashayed past the pole, the white glow of the stage lights bringing the crowd’s attention front and center. One of the few dancers who chose not to tan, her skin was soft and luminescent in the stage lights, her pink bikini appearing to glow and sparkle. Despite being new, Destiny was one of my favorite dancers. She told it like it was and always kept it real. Like when she used her double-jointed limbs to work the pole.
You can’t get more real than that.
Disco appeared in front of me and I attempted to act as if I’d seen him coming. The way they moved always creeped me out—so fast it appeared instant. It was unnerving and jolting.
Fucking vampires.
“Can we talk later?”
“Uh…” I wasn’t sure what to say, my thoughts obliterated in a tailspin.
A lush requesting a refill on his Wild Turkey saved me. I hurried over and reached under the counter for the bottle. I poured him a little something extra for the assistance. When finished, I stayed put, feet firmly planted, but I knew I was delaying the inevitable. I would have to speak to Disco at some point. I couldn’t have him showing up like this every night.