Eternal Pleasure (6 page)

Kelly jumped up before the guys could push their chairs back. “No, everyone stay here. I have to visit the restroom. I’ll be a while.” Translation:
I’ll be gone as long as you need
to talk to Celia the Creepy
.

For the first time, Celia’s smile seemed genuine. “Thank you. I’m so glad you understand.” And for just a moment, her eyes glowed red.

Kelly almost ran to the restroom. Nope, she hadn’t seen any glowing red eyes. She pushed into an empty stall, locked the door, and stood shaking.
Enough
. She had to get her imagination under control.

So she’d had an over-the-top reaction when she first met Ty. PMS. Explained.

So she’d seen her first dead body last night. Traumatic, but not unusual. Homicides happened in big cities.

So she’d seen a woman’s eyes glow red. Hadn’t happened. A trick of the lighting and her willingness to believe in the weird and unexplained when Ty was around.

So she’d seen…the woods, the terrified men, the car,
Ty, the huge…Once again, her mind stalled at that point. She’d seen nothing in the woods.
Nothing
.

Pressing her forehead against the metal door, she absorbed its coolness and tried to chill out her emotions. Kelly Feet-on-the-Ground Maloy had better make an emergency landing or else say good-bye to Fin’s cushy job.

Ty frowned as he watched Kelly head for the restroom. She was upset. It was evident in her quick, determined steps and the stiffness of her body. Why now? He’d understand if it had happened last night in the woods or when they’d found the body. At least she hadn’t seen the one thing guaranteed to blow her mind.

Maybe it was just a delayed reaction to everything going on around her. Made sense, but he’d still worry until he found out for sure. The big question? Why did he
care
that his driver was upset?

“How sweet. She’s giving us time to talk.” Celia’s chuckle was all warm and grandmotherly as she took Kelly’s seat. “Quickly. Tell me how I can help you.”

“You’re otherkin.” Q pushed his plate away.

“That won’t get in the way of our little adventure, will it?” She made a moue of disappointment, but her hard gaze skewered Q and came out the other side.

“We like to know who we’re working with.” Ty hoped he sounded relaxed and patient. Tough when all he wanted to do was shake any info she had out of her, find out what was wrong with Kelly, and then be on his way to bigger and more violent things.

Celia hesitated before admitting, “My soul is demon.”

Ty narrowed his gaze. “I’m not sure that qualifies as otherkin. Demons don’t get trapped in human bodies. They
sort of wander in, kick out the owner, and set up shop. I think it’s called possession.”

She made an impatient sound, and her eyes glowed red.

Ty nodded. “Okay, explain.”

“I angered an arch demon. He cast me into this body at the moment of conception. I’ve lived for seventy-three years as Celia Gustavo.” Her eyes were red slits of frustration.

Q leaned forward. “From the info Fin stuffed into our brains about demons, I’d figure you could just find another body.”

Her laugh was light, fluttery, humorless. “I’m a lesser demon. My enemy is too powerful. I have to stay in this body until it dies. And if I try to hurry along the dying process, he punishes me again.”

“You don’t sound or act like a demon. Where’s the cursing and evil deeds?” Ty was working up a little sympathy for Celia. He understood how it felt when you couldn’t express your true nature. He thought of Kelly lying naked beneath him, of him sliding his hands over her breasts, her stomach, and the lightning-bolt thrill when she closed her fingers around his cock…Yeah, suppressing your true nature was a bitch.

“Humans give words too much value.” She sighed. “My parents didn’t allow cursing, and it was easier for me to adapt than fight it. So I never formed the habit. Yes, I suppose I could’ve done away with them, along with their rules, but they loved me, and even a demon is susceptible to that kind of human frailty.”

Ty frowned. Love? What was that? Not something he’d ever experienced. He’d never be like Celia and let human love weaken what he was. Sex was sex. You enjoyed it, then walked away. He thought about Kelly again. Not right away, though. Sometimes you stayed for a while.

Celia leaned forward. “Look around you. By acting the way everyone expects, I’ve built up a nice business that lets me live in comfort. This body is getting old. When it dies, I’ll find one that’s closer to the real me.”

She shot him a sly glance. “And I’ve gotten in a few evil deeds in my day. Ask some of the people who’ve crossed me, sweetie. Oops, you can’t.” Another grandmotherly chuckle. “They’re dead.” She glanced at Ty’s plate. “I torture people in my own way. La Casita de Fuego has the hottest Mexican food in Houston. Jalapeño peppers are a demon’s tool. But the humans keep coming back.” Celia shook her head at the wonder of it all. “Who pays to have their stomach lining burned away?”

“What
is
the real you?” Ty figured he already knew.

“Male. Big, mean, smart, and powerful.” Anticipation gleamed in the demon’s eyes. “I’ll make up for all these years.”

“Where do
we
come in?” Q’s expression said he wasn’t sure he trusted her.

“Fin told me what’s happening in Houston. As long as I have to stay in this body, I need to protect my restaurant. If nonhumans take over and bring chaos with them, my business is finished. Vampires don’t appreciate good salsa, and werewolves prefer steak houses.” Her expression turned thoughtful. “Besides, if there’s a battle, someone might kill me. Then I’d be free.”

“Always self-serving.” Q looked satisfied. He understood Celia’s reasoning.

“Always, dearie.” Her kind old lady cover slipped a little. “Here’s what I know. Nonhumans are killing more humans lately and not bothering to hide it. Word is there’s a new gambling ring in the city that caters just to nonhumans. No one knows who’s in charge, but it’s getting lots
of action. I hear the surge in killings and the ring are connected.” She took a breath and slid back into character. “Oh, my, it’s all so upsetting.” Celia reached into the pocket of her dress and pulled out a card. “Try these clubs, sweetie. Maybe you’ll pick up something.”

Ty took the card and put it in his pocket along with his money and keys. No wallet, no ID, no way to trace him back to Fin. “Thanks. Let Fin know if you hear anything else.”

Without answering, Celia rose and left the table just as Kelly returned.

“Hey, great timing.” Kelly was taking forced cheerfulness to a whole new level. “Did Celia clue you in to lots of places where people need saving?”

Ty figured someone should tell her that wide eyes didn’t translate into
I don’t suspect a thing
.

“Yeah, she did.” While Q called for the check, Ty studied Kelly. “Are you okay?”

“Yes.” She glanced away. “No. But it’s nothing I can’t handle.” Her words sounded final.

Ty wouldn’t get any more out of her. He didn’t waste his time pushing. When the waitress came with the bill, he paid it, and they headed for the first club.

Hours later, Ty was ready to write the night off. He’d watched humans drink themselves into stupidity and breathed in the powerful scents of arousal and sex. All he could think about was getting Kelly into one of the many darkened corners where anything could happen and probably did. The only good part was that he and Q had stayed apart most of the night. The need to kill his partner had faded.

This would be the last club. Q had already gotten out of the car and was waiting for him as Ty turned to Kelly.
“You know the routine. Windows up, doors locked, anyone bothers you, lay on the horn and get me on my cell.” He’d sense if anything were wrong, so she’d be pretty safe in the parking lot.

“Got it.” She’d set her cell phone, pepper spray, and flashlight out on the dashboard. Pulling a book from her purse, she prepared to spend her waiting time reading.

No novel for her.
The Hidden Life of Wolves
said a lot about her interests. She’d be surprised at exactly what some wolves
were
hiding.

Ty frowned. Each time they’d stopped, he’d expected her to ask if she could go into the club with them. He’d had all his reasons lined up why she couldn’t. Wasted effort, because she seemed happy sitting in the car.

He trailed Q into the club. Music and voices washed over them in the semidarkness. Meeting Q’s gaze, he nodded. They separated and began to hunt. Ty tried not to let the scents overwhelm him as he searched for any that weren’t human.

A path opened up wherever he went. He accepted it. In his world, the biggest and baddest survived. He was bigger than most of the men, and even in this time of diminished instincts, they sensed he was dangerous. Smart. Ty wasn’t in the mood to put up with crap from anyone.

The women were a different matter. He felt their gazes trailing him, touching him with hot and greedy looks. His hunger fed on their desire. But when he thought of pulling one of them beneath him and driving into her, she always had Kelly’s face. Not good.

Just when he was about to find Q and call it a night, he caught the scent. Not human. He growled low in his throat as he sought the source. There. Pushing through the packed masses on the dance floor, he headed for a door
at the back of the club. Closed. He turned the knob. Locked. He shoved it hard, and it popped open. Unlocked. Looked like an invite to him. Pushing it open, he stepped into a small dark room.

Death lived in this place. It was there in the coppery scent of blood that only a predator would recognize. He scanned the area.

The nonhuman crouched in the blackness, thinking Ty wouldn’t be able to see him. Ty smiled. Nothing hid from him in the dark. Beside the creature lay a woman. She had the loose sprawl peculiar to death.

“You’re a hunter, so right now you’re weighing your chances and feeling pretty good about them. You figure you can take me out before I make any noise. And even if I do scream, the music’s too loud for anyone to hear me.” Ty’s personal dance of death began in his mind, a dance the humans in the other room wouldn’t recognize. He didn’t need music to keep the beat, just the memory of a thousand other hunts that ended with him alive and something else dead. “But sometimes the hunter becomes the hunted. Welcome to my jungle.”

The man hissed at Ty, baring long fangs stained with the woman’s blood. Vampire. Good thing Kelly had supplied info on them because Fin hadn’t. Ty smiled. Knowing Mr. Infallible could make a mistake now and then kept things interesting.

Finally, something to fight. Excitement made his heart hammer and his breathing speed up. He couldn’t kill the vampire right away, though. First Ty had to find out what he knew about the gambling ring. But afterward he’d pay for killing the woman…

Wait, there was a familiar scent here. Ty tested the air again.
Yes
. He’d also pay for killing the man last night.

Just as Ty was about to take that last step before leaping at the vampire, Fin spoke to him. Ty didn’t let the voice in his mind distract him. He’d gotten used to Fin interrupting him at bad times. His gaze never left the vampire.

“
Good. You’ve found someone. Al is in your territory. I’m
sending him to help you and Q
.”

“No.” His rejection of Fin’s offer was an angry snarl. This one was his.

Fin didn’t bother answering.

Ty would have to get the job done before help arrived. And then he’d find out why Al was in his territory. He took a calming breath. He thought about Q. Okay,
their
territory. Ty hated sharing.

For a moment, the vampire looked puzzled. Probably used to everyone being scared shitless of him. Then he got a good look at Ty’s eyes. With a curse, he made for a door Ty hadn’t seen because he was so focused on his prey. With a speed that surprised Ty, the vampire disappeared through the door. He slammed it shut, and Ty heard the sound of a bar dropping. Who the hell tried to lock people
in
?

Ty reached the door and hit it with his shoulder. It held. This one was stronger than the first. Metal. He backed up, then leaped into the air and kicked the door full force with both feet. It crashed open. He was in the parking lot. Scanning the darkness, he hunted for the vampire. Nothing.

Kelly
. For a moment he forgot about his prey as he searched the lot for their car. Ty had to make sure she was safe from the bloodsucking predator hiding among the shadows.

He felt the wrongness at the same time the sound of breaking glass jerked his attention to the back of the lot. He found the vampire just as he saw Kelly.

No!
The thin veneer of civilization Fin had tried to paint
over Ty’s primitive soul didn’t do the job this time. With a roar of fury, Ty’s soul bled through.

The last thing he heard was Q’s shout behind him.

Kelly was deep into her book when she sensed movement outside her window. She glanced up, expecting to see someone getting into the car next to her…and saw death staring back at her.

Terror was a boulder clogging her throat. She opened her mouth to scream, but all she got out was a strangled squeak.

Her brain barked orders at her. Grab the pepper spray. Call Ty. Start the car and get your butt out of here. Or none of the above, because her butt along with every other body part was frozen in place. She couldn’t even look away from him.

Eyes. All black. Where was the white? Everyone’s eyes had white. She’d bet lots of white was showing in
her
eyes. His lips were drawn back to expose bloody fangs.
Fangs!

“Get outta the car, bitch.” Even with the closed window between them, he got his message of hate and violence through. He grabbed the handle and yanked. It came off in his hand.

Never. Her power to move returned with a rush. She leaned on the horn with one hand while she fumbled around for her car keys with the other. From the corner of her eye, she saw his fist coming.
Omigod! This can’t be happening
. She flung herself to the other side of the car.

Kelly stared in disbelief as he punched in the driver’s-side window, shattering the tempered glass. Then he reached in and unlocked the doors.

Not daring to take her eyes off him, she felt around for the door handle. Suddenly, someone jerked the door open, grabbed her arm, and yanked her out.

Kelly turned on this new source of danger.

“Name’s Al. Work for Fin. Don’t fight me. I’m trying to help you.” He fed her the info between hard gasps, as if he’d run long and hard.

The man holding her was as tall as Ty, with a face just as hard. He wore a leather duster and his hair was pulled back in a long braid.

“Tell me that’s not a vampire. Fake fangs, right?” She’d found her voice. Good. Now for a scream that would wake the dead. She glanced at fang-guy, who looked ticked off that he hadn’t gotten the girl and the car. And if the dead were already awake? All the noise would bring help. Kelly had just sucked in her breath for the mother of all screams when she felt Al freeze.

“Shit. I don’t believe him.”

She turned to follow Al’s gaze.

Kelly slapped her hand over her mouth. Cancel the scream. It was way past the time when a scream would do any good. In fact, it might call the wrong sort of attention to her.

Al backed away, dragging her with him. Backing away was fine with her. In fact, running like hell made even more sense.