Forget About Midnight (17 page)

“I don’t know who did it,” the vamp said, a haughty glare on his face. “And I don’t really care. Even if I did, I probably wouldn’t tell the hybrid queen nobody wants. This isn’t a dictatorship.”

My face grew hot with anger. My fists clenched. “It doesn’t have to be. That’s not what I’m trying to do here. I’ve given you all more than enough chances to play nice. I know that’s not really in our nature as blood hungry killers, but if we don’t all learn to get along a little, I promise I’ll dictator the fuck out of this city.”

The strained silence that followed brought a smile to my face. I really did want to do this the nice way, but if they wouldn’t meet me halfway, then I was left with no choice but to throw down and show them how stupid they were to fuck with me. I’d spent many of my mortal years being kicked around by others. It had taken me years to come to a place of being able to do some serious kicking myself. I was aware that they were forcing me to be the person they assumed me to be. But I was done with asking nicely.

Kale slipped in close to stand just behind me, showing himself as the second in command that he claimed to be. Jez lurked against the far wall, watching our backs from a distance that allowed her a full view of the building.

The blond vamp stared hard at me, taking note of Kale at my back and the two werewolves beside me. Nobody came to his side, but neither did they show me any acceptance. Not a single one of them said a word.

Finally I swung my gaze to Dayne and our wolves shared a conversation without need of words. I offered him the vampire, and with a slight tilt of his head, he indicated that he wanted me to do the dirty work. Fine with me.

It was tempting to use the Dragon Claw in a show of brutality. However, I felt it was best to show them the power that flowed from me always like a continuous breeze. No mortal limitations here. Not anymore.

A slight smile made my lips twitch. “You had your chance to play nice. Now you’ll just have to serve as an example to the rest.”

All it took was a raised hand to direct the force. In my head I felt the heart of every vampire in the room like a throbbing pulse. I was certain I could’ve killed every one of them with little effort. Narrowing my focus, I sought out the heart inside the defiant vampire and crushed it with a mere thought.

My hair moved in an invisible wind that flowed out from me, over the many bystanders, to ruffle their hair and clothing as well. It swelled inside me, leaving me feeling elated.

The vibe blasting forth from me found his heart and boom, he was dead. His heart exploded inside his chest with enough force to blow his body into several pieces. A scream rang out from several of the humans present. His remains dissolved into dust and ash. It had taken such little effort that I found myself grinning. So there was an upside to this whole vampire thing after all.

I turned to Dayne with a shrug. “Are we cool now?”

He sucked away on that stupid cigar, his wolf staring out at me with a fierce intensity. “Yeah. We’re cool. For now. If it happens again, Alexa, I start killing vampires. Shit will escalate. You’ll be forced to pick a side. I’m sure you don’t need me to tell you that you probably want to try to make sure it doesn’t come to that.”

“Understood.” Though I did find Dayne’s Alpha gaze intimidating, I met it head on, unflinching.

Our wolves shared another silent exchange before he nodded and turned to leave with Owen falling into step beside him. I gestured to the band to start playing again, and the tense crowd gradually began to resume their activity. Not a single vampire dared to protest what had just happened. I hoped that was a good thing.

“Maybe I shouldn’t go,” Kale said from behind me. “You need me here.”

I turned to face him, forcing a neutral smile onto my face. “You’re sweet. But I can handle things here. Don’t make choices based on what just happened. It’s handled.”

Though I’d already dismissed the rest of the vampires present as non-threatening, Kale looked them over with open suspicion. If he was seeking reasons to stay, he would find them in abundance. I wanted him to stay, but I knew I could not be the one to encourage that choice. This was all on him.

“What the fuck was that all about?” Jez sidled over, eyes flashing with curiosity. “I mean, it was obvious, but is Dayne serious about starting a war with vampires? Why the hell would he do something so stupid? That’s a war he can’t win.”

“We both know that, but I’m not sure Dayne would agree. I think someone is trying to fuck with me by targeting his wolves. But I hope I’m wrong about that.” Now that the small commotion was over, I was free to wonder where the hell my sister was. Checking my phone again was useless. She hadn’t called. “Juliet was supposed to be here by now. I have a bad feeling about this. I need to go make a call.”

I retreated back outside with Jez at my side, chattering about how bad she needed a cigarette. I doubted that was all she craved. She and I needed to talk about the darkness I’d discovered nestled away inside her. Having a demon for a father had to do something to a person. It worried me that it would do something awful to her.

Phone pressed to my ear, I listened as it rang on the other end. One. Two. Three. It was going to switch over to voice mail.
Fuck
.

“O’Brien.” The voice of Agent Thomas Briggs was gruff in my ear. “Have you decided to come back down to earth and remember that you’re supposed to be one of the good guys? Or so you keep saying.”

“Why do you have Juliet’s phone?” I demanded. “Is she there?”

“Well, you sound coherent enough. Good. I want you to understand the gravity of what you’ve done.” There was a brief pause as the phone became muffled while he spoke to someone in the background.

The sense of dread that settled in my chest stole my voice. Sidestepping a drunk guy smoking a joint, I crossed the parking lot to lean against my car. I needed the support. Jez followed at a slower pace, ambling along, puffing away on her toxic cigarette.

“Briggs. What are you talking about? Tell me what’s going on.”

The muffled sounds cleared, and he said, “Juliet has been arrested. There’s a stack of charges against her because she’s been covering for you.”

If my heart had beat normally, it would have stuttered right then. My brain went blank. All I could think was why. Why the hell had she risked herself to cover for me? She’d been so adamant about doing her job, following the FPA rules and regulations. Why sacrifice herself for me?

“What do you mean she’s been arrested? Where is she?” My voice was hard as steel, hiding my true feelings. “Did you have something to do with this, Briggs? Did you lock up the woman you’re sleeping with?”

That tripped him up, but he recovered fast. There was a vicious tremor in his voice. “I did what I was ordered to do. Nobody here knows about my relationship with Juliet, and we agreed that it must stay that way. I will not be judged by someone like you.”

Son of a bitch. Briggs locked up my little sister. Arys’s bite was going to pale greatly in comparison to what I would do to him. “No, but you might be murdered by someone like me.”

“Listen, O’Brien, I didn’t take this call to argue with you and throw barbs back and forth. I have two fucking holes in my neck, and I’m not looking to add any more. If you want to help Juliet, shut up and listen.” He paused, giving me a chance to bark back at him. When I didn’t, he continued. “We should meet. It’s not safe to discuss this over the phone.”

I snorted a laugh. “Come on now. I’m not that fucking stupid. Do you expect me to walk into a trap you’ve set by using my sister as bait?”

“I can see why you’d think that. But you’re just as dangerous to me, maybe more so. Why not meet in a very public location? Somewhere safe for both of us.”

There were ways he could twist that to his advantage, but if I didn’t give him a chance, I’d never know what happened to Juliet. I chewed my lip, considering his proposal.

“Where?” It didn’t matter what he said. There would be no place safe to both of us. Things could happen anywhere.

“How about the sports bar down the street from you? The Druid. It’s always busy. Very human. I come alone, and you come alone.” Briggs sounded shaken up. It could’ve been an act, but it frightened me. If he was concerned about Juliet, things could be worse than I realized.

“You know, when people say that, they pretty much never really come alone. We can’t trust each other, Briggs.”

There was no background noise. He grew so quiet that for a moment I thought he’d hung up. “We might have to. This isn’t about us. Try to remember that. I’ll be at the Druid in an hour. Hope to see you there.”

He did hang up then. I stared at my phone as if that would clarify the situation. What was going on here? Briggs had sounded worried, like he needed my help. Either he was a damn good actor or Juliet was in deep.

I turned to Jez who lounged on the car beside me. “You’re not going alone,” she said.

“Jez, I think I just ruined my sister’s life.” I waited for the emotions to overwhelm me, but I just felt hollow.

She pulled me in for a hug. Despite the stink of cigarettes, her embrace was comforting, calling to my wolf. I hugged her back, terrified of what my vampire antics had done to my sister.

“Juliet made her choice, Lex,” Jez said, pulling back to search my eyes. “She chose to work for the Feds, and she chose to lie to protect you. This isn’t your fault.”

“Yes, it is.” I shot a glance at The Wicked Kiss. “Stay here with Kale, ok? I can handle Briggs.”

She stomped on the butt of her smoke, ignoring my frown. “Screw that. Nobody ever comes alone to these things. You need back up.”

My skin prickled, and I became keenly aware of a familiar vampire energy. I already knew who it was.

“I’ll go with you.” Jenner’s voice came out of the darkness. “She’s right. Nobody goes alone to these things. I’m the only one here who can help you stay in control. So I’ll be your back up.”

“I thought I told you to leave,” I said.

Jenner ambled over with his hands shoved in his pockets and a half-assed shrug. “Yeah, well I’m not really the taking orders kind of guy. Besides, with Arys and Shaz having quality boys’ time, I’m in need of some entertainment.”

“So go entertain yourself,” I said, annoyed that he hadn’t obeyed my command to leave but also intrigued by it.

“Boys’ time?” Jez repeated.

“Just let me back you. It’s not like I have anything else to do in this city. It’s either that or stay here and indulge on blood and sex until I can’t see straight.” Jenner edged toward the door, having piqued his own interest. “Actually, maybe I’ll do just that.”

With a shake of my head, I blew a strand of hair out of my face. “Fine, Jenner. Come with me. But you better stay out of sight unless I need you. After what you and Arys did last night, any sight of you, and Briggs will lose his mind.”

Jez studied me for a moment before nodding. “Be careful, ok? I feel like I just got you back. If the FPA does anything to you, I’ll gut Briggs with my bare hands.”

We shared a laugh that excluded Jenner, leaving him puzzled. Only a shifter knew how it felt to plunge claws deep within the belly of deserving prey. Nothing else felt quite so satisfying.

“Don’t let Kale come after me,” I said as she walked away. “Tell him I’ll meet him at his place by sunrise.”

I turned to Jenner, ready to give him a pre-trip scolding. He was already grinning as if expecting it. So I held my tongue instead. I hoped like hell that Briggs wasn’t setting a trap for me in retaliation for the one Arys had set for him. But with my sister’s freedom on the line, I had no choice but to find out.

I sat in the Charger staring at The Druid. Nothing appeared to be amiss.

“So that’s it?” Jenner asked. “You just want me to stay here and watch the place?”

“Yep, that’s it. I know you thrive on action and drama, but let’s try to keep things quiet here tonight.” I watched a group of guys come pouring out of the bar, laughing and shouting over one another.

“Boring.”

Jenner’s remark reminded me of Kale. He used to thrive on excitement, seeking it out in every hunt. Before I made him crazy. Maybe the two of them would get along ok in Vegas with Arys and me out of the picture. Ouch. That hurt. I was so not ready for this.

“Jenner, when is your flight home?” I didn’t want to know how much time I had left with Kale, didn’t want the torment of a countdown to goodbye. But I couldn’t not ask.

“The night after tomorrow. I suppose I should call and book another ticket.” He looked at me, but I avoided his gaze. “You’re not ok with this, are you?”

“No,” I said. “I’m very much not ok with Arys making these kinds of decisions for Kale and me.”

Jenner nodded and fiddled with the radio dials. “I get that. He’s a stubborn motherfucker. But he wants what’s best for you. You know that, right?”

I killed the engine and swung a vicious glare his way. “Well, here’s the problem with that. Arys doesn’t get to decide what’s best for me. I’m done with having that fight with him. Either he gets it, or we have a problem.”

The moment grew tense as I found myself confessing a deep, inner need to someone I had little to no emotional connection with. As weird as it was to talk this way to Jenner, it felt good to say it to someone outside my personal circle.

“You two already have a problem,” Jenner finally said. “I’d start by working on the maniacal impulses you both seem to have while apart. Although I doubt that being together would curb that at this point. Anyway, I can’t watch your back from here. I need to get closer.”

His flippant remarks coaxed a rueful grin from me. “Don’t you dare let Briggs or anyone he brings catch a glimpse of you. I mean it.”

“Not even you will see me. I’ll be stealthy. Like a fox.” He chuckled, somehow entertained by himself.

With an eye roll, I got out of the car without another word. I slipped into my long leather jacket, pausing to ensure the dagger sheath was hidden beneath it. Then I strolled inside, producing my driver’s license when asked by the doorman. I wondered how long I could get away with using my real I.D. before it just became ridiculous. Briggs wasn’t there yet, so I took one of the few seats available at a small, round table near the bar.