His words resonated with Gabriel. He wanted to discover Angelique’s wildest fantasies. He admitted to himself that he was in over his head with her. Despite his growing belief that she probably never wanted to speak to him again, he wanted her too badly to be casual.
“She would forgive you.”
Gabriel jerked in surprise, glancing warily at BD as he took another sip of beer. He pushed it away, the flat taste no longer soothing. “Do you read minds, too?”
BD chortled. “Don’t have to. You and I are a lot alike. Two nearly irredeemable bastards who fell for women far too good for us. If Bethany can forgive me for a hundred-plus years of decadence and mischief, Angelique could forgive you for being an asshole.”
He hadn’t fallen for her. He was just obsessed with her. “It’s better this way. For everyone.”
BD stared at him intently for a few moments and then nodded, the smile returning to his expression, though wariness remained in his gaze. “Perhaps. It depends on you and which path you decide to walk. Speaking of you, don’t you think it’s time we did the first experiment? I need to see this for myself. See if it stirs any memories from my . . . previous life.”
Shit. His heart began to pound in his ears. All the memories of what he’d been through this last year, running from shadows, blacking out, losing himself—came rushing back.
But it wasn’t evil. Not in any coherent sense. At least, if Bethany and her unusual theory were correct.
BD gestured toward the gyrating crowd tonight’s popular blues band’s performance had drawn. “How does this usually happen?”
“I get drunk and start seeing bogeymen.”
“Funny.” BD’s smile was sardonic. “Concentrate.
Voodoo
’s root means
spirit
, you know. Something Mambo Toussaint could have told you if you’d talked to her about it. There are beings of nature and ancestors, and infusing it all is spirit. It’s there, and you have the ability to see it. The way I could. Better than I could if the Marassa Twins had a hand in it. Though why they would dole out that kind of power is beyond me.”
Gabriel frowned, thinking about something Emmanuel had said. “Beings of nature? Manny said there were others. Not Loa. He was right?”
“Of course. Though if your next question is if that’s what he is, I don’t think so. I’m not sure what he is, or why the Mysteries decided to send him back.”
BD sounded concerned. For whom? Bethany? Emmanuel?
“You aren’t sure of much for an ex-Loa, are you?” He grimaced and shook his head. “I’m sorry. It’s just—do you doubt they would? What if it’s not from them? What if it’s something else?” A curse.
Strange movement in a corner booth distracted Gabriel. A woman was glaring at a couple on the dance floor in unmistakable jealousy. Around her was a swirling darkness, not fully formed . . . just waiting.
“I see something.”
BD leaned closer. “Remember what Emmanuel said. Focus. Study it. Watch how it moves. When it senses you, don’t turn away.”
Gabriel watched. It didn’t take long for him to get that sick feeling in the pit of his stomach. The spinning form stilled, darkened, looking for something. Him.
He watched a part of it separate from the angry woman and slink under the table, between the legs of the dancing throng until it was close to him. Closing in.
Gabriel tensed. “It’s coming. What if I black out or hurt someone?”
“I won’t let you. You won’t let you. You’re not lost in self-pity now. Not drunk. Just observe it. If you know how it works, you can control it.”
He tried to open his mind. To see energy instead of the priest’s depictions of slithering serpents. It was feelings. Emotion. Not as sharp or focused because it was hurt mixed with jealousy instead of the rage or hatred he’d witnessed the other night.
It hovered just out of reach, not coming closer. He told BD his observations, never taking his eyes from it.
“I wonder. The other energy didn’t hesitate, did it?” BD asked. “It came for you.”
“Yes.”
“Why?” BD lowered his voice. “Because you were being attacked? Because you felt it, too? You were angry with the men trying to harm you. Do you suppose like draws like? That you can see it, but draw it only when you allow yourself to feel the feeling that created it?” BD sounded enthralled.
Great. Gabriel was glad someone was enjoying this twisted trip into loony land.
“Gabriel.” BD’s voice had taken a new, cautious note. “I think we should stop now.”
“Why?”
“Because I didn’t know she was here.”
She? Gabriel tore his attention from the weaving shadow and scanned the crowd. He saw her in the middle of the dance floor.
Her body swayed to a sultry rhythm, arms raised above her head as she lifted her golden-brown curls off her neck. The dress she wore was snug against her thighs. Her breasts strained against the stretching fabric.
Two men framed her, watching the way her body moved, moving with her. She smiled seductively at the one on her right, turning her body until her back was pressed against his front, her ass rubbing against his—
“Angelique.”
A burst of energy exploded against his chest. So powerful it knocked the breath out of him. When he looked back at where the shadow had been, it was gone.
But not far.
He could feel the darkness now, fueled by his own jealousy at the sight of Angelique on the dance floor. Muddling his thoughts. Making him think of all the ways he would kill the man who was touching his woman. Who thought he could take her from him.
“Get ahold of yourself.” BD was standing in front of him, forcing him to focus. “You said it was jealousy. So we were right. Like draws like. That makes this easier. Understand it, relate to it, but don’t let it take over.”
It was a difficult command. Nearly impossible. “I have to talk to her.”
Have to get her away from those soon-to-be-dead men trying to dry hump her.
BD hesitated, restraining him with strong hands on his shoulders. “Blue Eyes will probably geld me for going along with you, but I will. Angelique is hurt and probably not thinking straight. You are definitely not. But sometimes that’s when we need each other the most. And I need—we all need answers.”
He stepped back and Gabriel launched to his feet, his hands clenched into tight fists as he sought to restrain himself. He studied the man dancing to the left of Angelique, looking down her dress, and imagined punching him in his leering eye.
The stranger’s head whipped back and he grunted in pain, reaching for his eye. Gabriel blinked in surprise even as brutal satisfaction filled him. If he hadn’t seen it with his own eyes, he wouldn’t have believed it.
No one else had seen the shadow that had done what Gabriel was too far away to do, but BD noticed the result and winced.
“Superpower, indeed. Not exactly restraint, but better than the alternative.” He kept his voice calm as he followed Gabriel through the crowd. “If you’re listening to my advice, I’d say no to violence, and yes to showing the girl how much you want her. Don’t lose control.”
Control. He had to keep control. He wasn’t weak. He would never allow himself to be overtaken by something again. But that didn’t stop him from making a beeline toward Angelique. From being pissed.
He’d been concerned for her all day. Wanting her. Hating himself for causing her pain. Yet here she was, dressed in a come-and-get-me dress and picking his replacement.
That was
not
going to happen. If she was hungry for more, Gabriel would be more than happy to oblige.
“ARE YOU SURE YOU DON’T WANT TO GO BACK TO THE
hotel, hon? We can order room service. Anything you want.”
Angelique ignored Kelly’s offer and stood by her seat, her body swaying to the music. She knew her friends were worried about her, but they were bringing her down.
“I’m going to get another drink.” She turned, taking only a few steps into the crowd when she bumped into someone. “Excuse me.”
“Thought you might like that drink now.”
It was that man. The same creepy drunk from the bar the other night. What was he doing here? “Are you following me?”
He towered over her, his smile still cruel. “I told you, didn’t I? Warned you? But we can still fix it... if you agree to walk away from the Dark Messenger like a good girl.”
A good girl. In all his insane babbling that was what she heard. That was what everyone thought she was.
You’re not. You aren’t good. How can you be? You’re a Rousseau.
She poked the man in the chest, heedless of his size. “Look, buddy, I don’t want a drink from you, I don’t want to dance, and I do not need one more person telling me what to do. I know you’re a little crazy with the rum, but do you get that?”
He stepped back, his smile disappearing. “Your choice.”
She pushed past him and made her way to the end of the bar, gesturing to the bartender. She was still irritated when she arrived back at her table, her hands full of margarita. “You would not believe what just happened to me. Here, take one of these.”
She tried to hand a chilly glass to Kelly, but she refused. “I’m fine with my water, hon.”
Angelique sighed. “Wasn’t it just a few days ago that you two got me drunk, paid for a lap dance, and had me nearly breaking and entering the house of a family friend with no thought to the consequences? Were you changed into sticks-in-the-mud overnight?”
She set down the drinks and took a breath. That was rude. She probably shouldn’t have worded it like that.
They’re jealous of you. They want all the attention for themselves.
They were a little high maintenance on occasion, true. But she’d never seen better friends, and they always put her first. God, she had a headache. “Come on, I thought we came here to have fun. Look—margaritas!”
She and Kelly and Ive had gotten to the hotel, made one another up, and headed out in search of a good time. The music had called to her. So much so, she hadn’t been able to sit down once since she got here. But, other than her run-in with Mr. Weirdo, she had been enjoying herself. Enjoying her drinks. More than usual.
Ive and Kelly, for once, were not.
Who cares about them? You can make any man want you. Make any man kill for you.
Where were these thoughts coming from? Her hand came up to fiddle with her necklace, and her fingers slid over a warm, oval locket instead. She held her breath until she felt the tiny cross that sat at the base of her throat. Her touchstone.
Why had she put the locket on? It was beautiful, but not exactly something she’d thought to wear. Still, she hadn’t wanted to leave it behind. It might have been stolen or lost.
She had to keep it close. At least until she could get it back to Gabriel’s mother.
“Angelique, you are freaking me out. Will you sit down, please?”
Ive put a warning hand on Kelly’s arm, but Kelly pulled away. “No, Ive, you know I’m right. She’s acting strange. She’s barely looked our way, and when she has it’s been... off. I have a bad feeling.”
Angelique rolled her eyes, a dark emotion welling up inside her. “So much for solidarity.
I’m
acting strange? This from the person who lets her
feelings
make all her life decisions... when she makes any at all. It’s a good thing Ive is a pushover for lost causes.”
She saw Kelly’s shattered expression, the anger in Ive’s usually serene expression, and sat down, her arms reaching across the table toward them. “Shit, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it. Not a word. I love you both more than family—you know I do.” Their hesitation almost broke her heart. “Kelly, I love how special you are. And you’re always right, always full of life and looking for the next adventure. And Ive
is
a sucker for lost causes. All the greatest doctors are. Which hopefully means she’ll forgive me if I beg and swear to never drink another margarita again?”
Ive held out her arms and Angelique flew out of her chair, sliding into the long, booth-like seat between them. “I don’t know what I’d do without you two.”
Kelly leaned her head on Angelique’s shoulder. “We still have a room for you if you want to come back to Baton Rouge, you know. Maybe being near family and ... other people isn’t good for you.”
She came close to crying in relief. “Maybe you’re right.”
She’d come back to see which path she’d take, but since she’d been here, all she’d done was confuse the issue. Gabriel was a giant knot she didn’t think she could untangle. And if he was staying here, maybe she should get away. Back to where she knew who she was and what she really wanted.
Hopefully it wasn’t too late.
She leaned her head back. “I feel edgy. I need to work off some of this tension.” She rolled her head on the leather back of the seat and looked into Kelly’s forgiving gaze. “Will you dance with me?”
Kelly’s smile wavered, but it was there. “I don’t know. This might be too much sexy for you to handle.”
“Oh, I can handle your sexy.” Angelique waggled her eyebrows.
Ive chuckled. “Sassy. The both of you.”
The three women rose together and, holding hands, headed out to the crowded dance floor. As the thundering beat pounded out an addictive cadence that Angelique could feel to her toes, she started to move. Through loving eyes she watched her friends move to face her, swaying in time to the rhythm she’d set.
This was what she needed. No men. No distraction. Just this. Ive did one of the moves she’d learned in her belly-dancing class, and Angelique and Kelly roared in approval, trying desperately to follow her.
Tears of laughter fell from Kelly’s eyes as Ive and Angelique moved to sandwich her between them, none of them noticing that the crowd had made a small space for them on the dance floor, watching the women dance.
Kelly spoke in Angelique’s ear. “Now, this is a party.”