Chapter 6

What do they say? For every silver lining, there’s a cloud. When Charles called, inviting me to dinner, I acted surprised and agreed to meet at a quaint local Italian restaurant that evening.

Ah, but the gods demand balance, and no gift goes unpunished. No sooner had I hung up than a jarring buzz brought me to the secure phone on my desk. With a heavy sigh, I stared at the handset. Thoughts of Mandy refused to leave, and my fist hesitated.

But duty, right?

“Fuck,” I muttered, reaching for the phone.

“Hey, uh, sir ... Um, Jim. Sorry to disturb you, but—”

It was Gary. A chill developed in the pit of my stomach. He had no reason to call that phone unless ... My jaw clenched.

“No problem. What’s going on?”

“We just exploited a crime scene. Called in by the local PD. Found their missing person, but ... Well, three other corpses on site. Drained. As in completely.”

As he spoke, my computer screen lit up with both the location data and the photos he was sending. All four bodies were neatly stacked in the bathtub of a small, upscale apartment.

“Thrallsign?” I asked.

“Nothing major, but yes, food has been consumed.” He sounded tired.

Hell, I covered a yawn. Not because the scene wasn’t a tragedy, but because it was exhausting to track the outliers we weren’t supposed to be chasing. That iciness in my belly deepened.

“Yeah, this isn’t a lone poacher,” I said.

“I agree ... Jim.”

A video feed arrived, adding more details to the picture building in my skull. That kind of picture ... Trouble. My mind sank into the imagery, and a hand rose to rub my chin.

“Keep me posted,” I muttered. “If they’re moving, they’ll need a larger place.”

Gary’s face popped into view. Beneath drooping eyelids, red-rimmed eyes hosted the haunted look I knew so well. Behind him, the rest of the team looked as if their endorphins were also fizzling away.

“You gonna talk with him?” he asked.

After a quick nod, I flashed him a tight grin. This was my actual job. Liaison. The endless consulting was more of a placeholder.

In this case, more like bloodsucker intervention. We had something freaky going on in their faction. Fuck! The other freaks were annoying and dangerous enough. I laughed—it was a bitter sound—while massaging the steady throb in my temple. Hell, wasn’t I also a freak?

No matter; I’d plaster the nicest smile across my face, leave any useless weapons behind, and go talk to the local leader. Because retired or not, I was the only one who could.

“Can I come along?”

Eyebrows arched, Gary looked at me as if this would be a field trip. Which I suppose it might be for a normal human.

“No,” I replied; his face fell. “No, you can’t.”

“But—”

“No way, no how, Gary.” After leaning in, I tossed him a grin and wagged my finger. “If anything were to happen to you, Lucy would hate me forever.” My smile widened. “And having your wife pissed at me for only a short time is bad enough.” As he turned away to watch the forensics—our forensics—team arrive, I added in a quieter tone, “No, thanks, buddy, but I got this. That’s what I’m here for.”

After some last planning, I clicked off and placed a call. That call. The one this beyond-old man always hated to make. Now, whether the Baron thought this was as important as we did ... Well, he should, but freaks are freaks with their own priorities.

A long exhale led to a large glass of scotch and a quick nap before my attention was once again sucked into the mire of mundane reports. At last, I looked up to find orange sunbeams slanting through the windows.

“Shit, that late already?” I mumbled.

In a blur, I dashed upstairs to change for dinner before racing across town. Traffic was light, and soon the car was parked in a small asphalt lot before a stone-fronted, well-lit structure among the sweeping branches of willow trees.

A step into the little restaurant’s foyer brought the most wonderful aromas of Italian cooking. Subdued lighting and soft music enhanced the quaintness. Not spotting Charles or Mandy, I found a bench of dark wood and checked for phone messages. Nope, nothing from the Baron. He’d take his time, mulling over my request. Such was the game we played.

The creak of the entrance drew me to Charles. In a polo shirt and slacks, he was holding the door open.

When his wife appeared, a lump formed in my throat. Styled atop her head, shiny ebon tresses dangled just so, letting curled wisps frame her face. Smokey make-up accentuated high-cheekbones and twinkling blue eyes.

The rhythmic sharp clack of red stilettos tugged my gaze lower. Pasted to every wonderful, lean curve, a dress of the deepest crimson. Its slender halters let braless boobs jiggle in the most magical way. A layered hemline left most of both thighs, clad in dark stockings, on display.

Yep, I was gulping while leaping to my feet. A good deal of heat was flooding my face. While Charles may not have noticed my reaction, Mandy’s cheeks gained the most beautiful shade of dark pink.

“Glad you could come, Jim.”

Her husband’s voice and an arm thrust toward me tore my attention from her. While shaking his hand, it took everything not to lick my lips as the gorgeous imp’s eyes gained sparkles in the flickering light of nearby wall sconces.

“Mandy feels bad about your couch.” He glanced at her. She pulled her gaze from me to smile at him. “I ... We can get it cleaned if you want?”

“Nah, not a problem.” With a chuckle, I waved him off.

Just as he nodded, a hostess appeared. Mandy, with flirty hem swishing and bare back gleaming, was followed by Charles, then me as we were led to a small corner booth. It was the darkest one in the place. When my eyebrow arched as I glanced at Mandy, she winked behind her husband’s back. Yep, imp.

More proof? Once she took a seat, her hand clasped mine, tugging me down beside her. With that all-too-familiar look of puzzlement, Charles remained standing. An awkward moment stretched until he shrugged and settled opposite us. Although I was braced for some kind of comment, a server arrived and we ordered drinks.

While my original plan had been to taunt his wife, she was clearly playing for keeps. Whatever we had was more than just fun for her—and now for me. My hands shook as I lifted the menu. She’d pressed a warm, silk-covered thigh into my leg.

Once the server returned and meal orders were placed, Charles began. Words tumbled from him, describing how his day had gone, providing copious details of morning meetings.

After placing a napkin on my lap, my hands were about to rise when delicate fingers landed on a wrist. She tugged, and my digits settled on her leg. As her grip pressed on me, the sleekness of warm silk slid under my spreading fingertips, then my palm. While my fingers were shaky, her leg was not trembling—at all.

Oblivious, her husband went on to explain his firm’s plans for something. To be honest, the incessant droning bounced off my skull. But wine in hand, I leaned closer, pretending to listen even as my hand caressed that magnificent thigh.

For her part, though focused on Charles, Mandy’s glossy lips kept parting with each gentle squeeze. Satisfied my hand would stay put, hers rose to clasp a glass of deep red wine.

My fingers skimmed higher, slipping under the hem. The strap of a garter belt appeared, and—call me playful—but I gave it a gentle tug. The quiet snap as it flicked back into place made her gasp under her breath.

When Charles’ phone chirped, he tugged it out. With him distracted, I risked a quick glance at his wife.

Teeth clenched. Jaw trembling. Wide blue pools drifted towards me. A lot more color in those sharp cheeks.

When I released the strap once more, she winced. Yet, her tongue flickered into view, skimming shiny lips, and a slender grin appeared.