Bitter Black Kiss (20 page)

Chapter Eighteen

Brody dropped his keys on the scuffed table and glanced at the man in his living room. Dave Cervantes had a lot of nerve showing his face around here.

He’d spent the morning at the police station answering their asinine questions. A dumpy man who looked more like a desk jockey questioned him first. Vasquez took over when the guy didn’t get the answers she wanted. They’d cut him loose because they couldn’t stick him with anything. At least not yet.

“What do you want? Is it business or personal?” He and Dave had been friends, but that was a long time ago. Dave had been in the narcotics division and at some point in his career, Stone had swayed him. He was part of the problem that enabled Stone to bring BST into the city while he kept the SDPD blind.

That old nagging guilt surfaced again. He should have known something was up. Every bust he and Vasquez sat up flopped. Dave ran intel and fed Stone their every move. This was, of course, just speculation. Nothing ever stuck to Stone, but Dave had been fired nonetheless. That was no consolation to Brody. The former narcotics agent sold home security systems.

While he wasn’t exactly pleased to find Dave on his doorstep, it wasn’t the worst thing that had happened in the last twenty-four hours. He gestured toward the sofa. Dave declined the offer.

Dave and Brody were around the same age. He was Lycan as well, but that was where their common thread came to an end. Dave was San Diego’s current pack leader. There used to be more than one pack, but Dave had petitioned for them to become one. The rules were broken to accommodate him and Brody suspected Stone had played some part in it. Dave got his wish a year ago. Two of the other leaders disappeared and no one had tried very hard to solve the mystery of where they’d gone.

Brody suspected foul play. He knew the pack would turn on him if he nosed around so he left it alone. It was pack mentality to protect one of their members, regardless of right or wrong, guilt or innocence. The group still tried to recruit Brody on occasion, but he continued turned them down.

He was ravenous, hunger pangs twisted his gut. A rollicking hunt, to feast on the flesh of a fresh kill was what he hungered for. He trudged toward the kitchen instead.

The first bite of peanut butter was decadent. He returned only after finishing the sandwich.

Dave pushed away from the door. He brushed shoulder length hair out of his face and his features tightened. Whether it was nerves or annoyance, Brody couldn’t tell.

Brody sank onto the leather couch then stretched his legs beneath the scuffed coffee table. “Are you going to tell me what you want or just stand there?”

“You spent the night in jail?”

Brody placed a sneakered foot on the table and leaned back against the cushions. “Yeah, so? It’s not the first time.”

“Took some balls to break into Stone’s house. What were you looking for? Anything I can help with?”

“Nothing I can’t handle.” The fabric of his shirt reminded him of sandpaper when it scraped his skin.

Dave perched on the rolled arm of the couch and stared at Brody’s bloodstained shirt. He didn’t comment on the bullet hole or the blackened, crusted blood. "What did they get you for this time? Another B and E or assault?”

“Neither.” Mostly, he wanted to take a shower. The need to wash away the memory of last night was a priority. “What do you want, Dave? If you’re gonna ask me to join the pack, I’m not interested.”

“I came to ask a favor.”

He sat up and shook his head. “Not interested in that either.”

“You didn’t even let me ask it.” Dave disappeared into the kitchen. After a moment, the refrigerator whooshed open followed by the rattle of bottles. Dave popped the tops on his way back to the couch. He sat a beer in front of Brody. “Sean Stone challenged me.”

“Still not interested.” Brody leaned forward, swiped the beer from the table and took a deep swig. The revelation didn’t surprise him in the least. It was pretty common for people like Stone to turn on those they’d helped in the past. He might offer condolences, but knew that wasn’t why Dave was here.

The current pack leader studied Brody’s lack of surprise or interest with serious brown eyes. “Did you hear me? He wants to be Alpha.”

Brody sat the beer aside. He rested his elbows on his knees and frowned at his onetime friend. They’d met through Dave’s sister, who Brody had dated for a short while. It hadn’t worked out between them because she’d wanted an average guy, not someone who had tendencies to howl or get hairy. “Why are you so surprised? You had to know he’d turn on you.”

Dave gave him a go-to-hell look. He brought the bottle to his lips and the glass creaked beneath his fingers.

“Did anyone witness his challenge? You could off him, and no one would be the wiser.” Brody allowed his foot to fall from the table. The fact that he even entertained the idea floating around his brain worried him. It was Stone’s fault. Brody had been backed into a corner. Stone’s men set him up for something he hadn’t done and now he was pissed off and needed to retaliate.

“We met this afternoon.” Dave cast a quick glance in Brody’s direction. “He told me in front of the pack. There’s no way I can ignore it.”

“So don’t accept,” Brody hoped Dave didn’t listen to him. To allow Stone to win such a title would be a mistake. “Is it a valid challenge? He isn’t a member of your pack. And even though you’re his puppet, he can’t force you to fight him.”

“I’m going to ignore that remark.” Dave’s russet colored skin flushed scarlet.

“You know it’s true.” He sat the finished bottle aside.

“A challenge doesn’t have to come from within the pack. Anyone who wants the title can compete for it. If you attended pack gatherings, you’d know that. What do you have against it, anyway?”

“Some people need to belong.” He lifted a shoulder. “I don’t. I’m happy alone.”

“You don’t have to be.” Dave looked away. “You’re too independent sometimes.”

Brody laughed. “To anyone else, that might have sounded like a come-on.”

“That’s such a Brody thing to say. Sometimes I miss hanging out with you.” Dave grinned. “But then I remember what an ass you are.”

“What are you going to do about Stone?”

Dave picked at a frayed area on the knee of his jeans. “If it were anyone but him I’d accept. However, if I don’t, I’ll appear weak and lose the pack’s respect. I really need your help, Brody.”

Dave stared at the toes of his boots. Brody laid his head back and fixed a pensive gaze on the ceiling. He might not be part of a pack, but he knew there were certain protocols to follow. A rival could not act upon his desire to take the title until the annual Wild Hunt. They had until Thursday night to figure something out.

“What about your brother?”

Dave looked miserable. “No. There’s no way. I’d forfeit first. He’s not strong enough to beat Stone.” He sat his beer aside and stared at Brody. “I challenge you. It would be an honor if you’d fight me for the title. All you’ve got to do is show up and accept.”

Brody stood and paced the area between the couch and coffee table.

Dave had to draw his booted feet up to keep from being stepped on. “Will you at least think it over? You’ve got a couple days to sleep on it.”

“You’re going to fight both of us?”

Dave stared at the floor, unable to meet his gaze. He ran a hand across the back of the couch. “Just you. As the leader, I can choose who I fight.”

Brody cocked his head and frowned. “I don’t want anything to do with a pack, let alone lead one. Don’t you have to accept all bids for leader?”

“I do.” Dave clasped Brody’s hand and gave it a vigorous shake. “And after you win, Stone will be your problem.”

“That’s if I win. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I’m not functioning at a hundred percent.”

Dave moved toward the door. “Yeah, I did notice. Try not to get your ass kicked between now and Thursday. You need to be in top shape.”

“Whoa, slow down, Dave. I didn’t accept your offer. I don’t want to fight you or Stone. I’m done with him.”

Brody hung his head for a moment. Nothing he did mattered. He’d wasted too much time on his dogged pursuit of Stone. And for what? He’d gotten nothing in return, but a broken ego and more than enough beatings to last a lifetime. To reiterate, he said, “Thanks, Dave, but no.”

“Come on, Brody. You can’t tell me you wouldn’t like to be a part of this—to get a chance at Stone. If you were Alpha, you would gain the respect of the pack. You’d have their protection.”

Where was that protection and loyalty now that their leader needed it? He started to ask, but Dave cut him off.

“Forget just one woman, Brody. You could have as many as you want. The pack and everyone in it would be yours.”

There was just one woman he wanted, but he didn’t expect Dave to understand.

“You could stop Stone from distributing Beast. I know how important that is to you. All you have to do is win.”

Brody realized he couldn’t make Dave understand. “Find someone else. I’m not doing it.”

“Do the right thing.” Dave moved across the room in just a few steps then opened the door. He paused then looked regretful as he glanced over his shoulder. “See you Thursday.”

“No, you won’t.” Brody shut the door and effectively cut off any rebuttals. His stomach burned and his head pounded. Dave’s fight wasn’t his. He didn’t want to be pack leader, nor did he want anything more to do with Sean Stone.

Was his refusal to help Dave an act of cowardice? To fight one adversary was a deadly contest, to take on two in one night was suicide. Especially since the prize was something he had no desire to obtain.

Chapter Nineteen

Raised voices woke her. Nicole opened eyes to find herself in a darkened bedroom that smelled of Sean. She flung the blanket from her body and was relieved to find the only article of clothing missing was her shoes. Despite the almost transformation in Sean's kitchen, her clothes were intact.

She slipped down the hall, toward the stairs and the source of voices.

“We’ve got another problem.” Tony’s caustic voice carried up the stairs.

Nicole stumbled to a stop, imagining the difficulty Sean might experience when he dealt with his friend. But those words never came.

“Now’s not a good time, Tony. I have company. Plus, you’re supposed to lay low until this thing with Nicole blows over.”

Nicole gritted her teeth. Sean’s idea of taking care of things came nowhere near her own. Especially since it appeared he didn’t plan on doing a damn thing about it.

“Since when do you listen to her?” Tony sounded incredulous. “The bitch is getting in the way. Cut her loose.”

"Not yet, I need her."

“For what? You can fuck any girl you want. What’s so special about her?”

Nicole pressed the heel of her hand against her mouth to keep her breathing in check. Should she ruin the moment by making her presence known or return to the bedroom and wait until Tony left? She took a step in the bedroom’s direction.

The bodyguard said, “For all we know she could be working with him. Have you considered that?”

Nicole’s pulse pounded. She had trouble following the conversation but didn’t dare go downstairs for clarification. The tone of Tony’s voice had grown forceful.

Sean’s answer surprised her. “I’m not finished with her yet.”

“While you were screwing around with your bitch, our shipment was delayed again.” His voice was gruff and angry.

She leaned forward to peer around the banister into the room below. Sean was seated in a plush chair, his profile to her. Tony stood near the couch. Nicole inched forward for a better view of the two men.

“What time is it expected to arrive now?” Sean demanded in an unsympathetic voice. His fingers gripped the upholstery on either side of the chair.

“Thursday.”

Sean stood then paced across the room to the bar. He didn’t fix a drink, but gripped the cold marble countertop instead. “Damn it! That’s the night of the Wild Hunt. Move it to Friday half past midnight.”

“That might be difficult, Sean.” Tony smoothed a wrinkle from the upholstery.

“Make it work,” Sean’s voice lowered to a dangerous timbre. “I want it at pier thirteen on Friday. If it’s not, it’ll be your ass. Do you understand?”

Apprehension skittered down Nicole's spine. Brody's accusations looked all too real now.

The slam of a car door forced them into abrupt silence. Sean’s angry mask melted into a neutral expression while Tony looked cagey. The doorbell rang and the bodyguard tensed. His focus shot to the window.

“It’s Vasquez.” He shuffled toward the door.

The detective brushed past, careful not to get too close to the bodyguard. Her dark features split into a grin as she sank onto the couch. She sat on the cushion closest to Sean’s chair. “Did I come at a bad time?”

Sean sank into the overstuffed chair again. “Not at all. It’s always good to see you, Eva.”

“I have some information that might interest you.” The detective fluffed her loose, curly hair and smiled. “Brody Dunn found himself on the wrong end of a gun last night.”

The breath stilled in Nicole’s lungs and she thought her heart might shatter into a million pieces. The sharp sting of tears formed in her eyes and her legs trembled.
No. He couldn’t be dead, not Brody. Please, not Brody.
She clapped a hand over her mouth and squeezed her eyes shut.

Tony cleared his throat, but didn’t comment. The bastard did look smug though.

Sean clapped his hands and a smile lit his features. “It’s about time the bastard got what he deserves.”

Vasquez’s laugh was pitchy and sounded a bit nervous. “It was only a flesh wound.”

Nicole breathed a sigh of relief. For a moment, she believed she’d lost him. Not that she’d forgiven him, but the idea of him dead had affected her more than she thought possible.

Tony came into full view. He rested a hand on the back of the couch, just behind Vasquez. His clouded eye struggled to focus and he looked interested all of the sudden. “He’s still alive?”

“Yes, we found him this morning.” The detective scooted to the edge of the cushion. “We took him downtown, but didn’t have enough to keep him.”

Nicole’s knees were weak and shivery. He’d been shot, but they’d arrested him anyway? She peered around the banister to get a better look at the cop.

Sean’s fingers dimpled the arms of the chair. “Why not?”

The detective shifted on the cushion. “Something unexpected came up.”

“What?” The tone of Sean’s voice cooled Nicole’s blood.

Vasquez wasn’t ruffled at all. She turned to throw a glare at Tony. “For starters, he’s alive.”

Tony opened his mouth to protest, but Vasquez cut him off. “I didn’t get to him first. He told the officer that Tony shot him. He also had a lot to say about what happened at the pawn shop.”

Sean groaned. “What else?”

Tony moved from foot to foot, but kept quiet. He shot nervous glances at Sean. 

“He thinks Nicole Riley’s life is in danger. He said she was attacked by Tony and Aaron James a few nights ago on the beach.”

“Is that why you’re here?” Sean asked with a sly smile. “You wanted to check on Nicole’s wellbeing? She’s asleep upstairs. Should I wake her?”

The detective’s expression darkened for just a moment. Her eyes turned toward the stairs and Nicole shrank back.

“Not exactly. Brody claims Tony carried out your order to kill Jim Evans last night. He said Tony had help from Aaron James. Too bad for Brody, there aren’t any witnesses. Jimbo didn’t have video in the place.”

“Too bad for him.” Sean’s voice was full of contempt. “The little shit’s lucky I don’t kill him myself.”

A chill spread across Nicole’s skin and left her with goosebumps.

Tony’s cloudy eye rolled in its socket. His worried gaze fell on Sean. “Boss, I swear…”

“Shut up! This is strike two, Anthony.” Sean’s voice was so low, it almost sounded like a growl.

Tony fell silent. His complexion was pasty and he swiped at the sweat on his brow. Not for the first time during this conversation did Nicole wish she had a clearer view of Sean’s face.

Vasquez said, “You left DNA at a crime scene, you fat idiot. Ira Johansen had your skin beneath his nails.”

Sean appeared livid. “I trust you took care of it?”

She continued with a cheeky smile, “Don’t worry, the lab misplaced their results. All they have now is the stuff you planted.”

Sean relaxed a bit. "Well done, Eva."

“There’s still a matter of alibis,” Vasquez reminded as she caressed his hand. “I need one for both men in case Brody manages to weasel his way out of Jim's death.”

There went all hopes of Vasquez hauling Tony downtown. He’d killed a man and shot Brody for god’s sake, but apparently justice wasn’t a priority for this detective.

Sean rolled his shoulders. “Let’s say that I have no idea what Aaron James was doing. Tony was at the club taking an inventory of the liquor until about five a.m. And should anyone ask, I was at home, with Nicole.”

“That’s your official statement?” Vasquez asked with a skeptical raise of the brow.

“Yes. Tweak it as you see fit. I’ll deal with Aaron’s incompetence myself.”

Nicole’s anger surged, but was matched by betrayal. She was almost sick listening to Sean make excuses for Tony and he had pretty much admitted he knew Aaron was on the beach. In her mind, that pretty much confirmed that he’d been the lone wolf that she and Molly had seen up on the dune. And she’d been nothing more than an alibi.

Tony shifted from foot to foot. “I’ll take care of Brody.”

Sean glared up at him. “No, you won’t.”

Tony opened his mouth to speak, but Sean cut him off with a snarl. “You’ve proved you’re not up for the challenge.”

Vasquez had the solution. “I’ll take care of Brody.”

Sean clasped her hand in his. “I knew I could count on you, Eva. There’s a syringe on the bar. It’s a unique mixture I had the boys at the lab whip up.”

“What is it?”

Sean stood and retrieved it. He studied the liquid inside. “A very strong batch of BST. I tried a tiny bit out on Nicole. It works fast, so give it to him then get the hell away from him.”

“You gave it to the girl?” She went to the bar and held it up to the light.

Nicole strained to hear their conversation. With their constant moving and the rustle of clothing, some of the words were drowned out.

“Just a very small dose. I told her it was wolfsbane, and she passed out before it could take full effect.” Sean laughed. “I thought I’d killed her.”

Vasquez tucked the syringe into her jacket pocket. “You need to get rid of the bitch. I can’t imagine screwing her is worth putting your entire operation at risk.”

Tony made a rude noise and the first hint of a smile touched his features.

“Be sure to give Brody the entire dose. I don’t want any fuck ups.” Sean’s scowl melted into an eerie smile. “I want him dead.”

“One other thing,” Vasquez said in an offhand manner.

Nicole paused on the top stair. Her bare toes digging into the carpet.

“Someone else witnessed the attack on the beach.”

Tony cleared his throat. “I’ll shut them up, give me a name.”

Sean didn’t sound so aloof now. “Who?”

“Molly McNeely told me everything. She also said you gave Nicole drugs. I took her statement, but I never turned it in. Unless she tries to follow-up, no one will ever know.”

Nicole squeezed her eyes shut. Molly hadn’t listened when she told her she’d take care of everything. But she hadn’t taken care of it, had she? If anything, things were worse than ever.

Nicole grew fearful they’d spot her or hear the heartbeat thundering in her chest. She pressed her back against the shadowy wall.

Vasquez leaned forward and brushed her fingers against Sean’s arm. Nicole recognized intimacy in that quick touch. Had they been lovers at one time? Were they still?

“Why don’t you leave town for a while? At least until this has run its course?” Vasquez’s voice rose and fell with emotion. “I’m afraid we’ve backed Brody into a corner, Sean. I don’t know what he’s going to do next.”

“Just get him out of the way. I’ll handle everything else.”

Vasquez rested a hand against his chest. Her fingers stroked across the material of his shirt. “I can’t tamper with evidence anymore. This is my career we’re talking about.”

“I’ll take care of you. No matter what.” Sean stroked her cheek with his thumb. “Can I count on you to follow through on Thursday night?”

Vasquez rubbed hands over her arms. “Yes, of course.” Her words didn’t sound too convincing.

“That’s the last I’ll ask of you, I promise.”

The trio stared at each other in silence for a few seconds. Vasquez sidled closer to Sean and gripped the hand closest to her. “I miss you, Sean. When can we be together again?”

Tony grunted with what sounded like disgust.

“Soon, Angel.”

“You said we’d be together by now. But you’ve been spending all your time with that slut.”

Humor lit Sean’s eyes. “Are you jealous?”

“Of course not!” The detective’s words lacked conviction.

Sean walked Vasquez toward the door. Her arm was hooked in his and she smiled up at him. It was hard to tell from Nicole’s vantage point, but it looked like he caressed her hand. He opened the door and they stepped onto the patio. Their legs moved close, almost to the point of twining together. Nicole bent forward and peered around the banister.

Vasquez stood on tiptoe and Sean’s hand cupped her oval face. Their lips joined in a quick kiss.

Nicole’s stomach burned with anger at her own stupidity.