Good Intentions (17 page)

“So tel me,” Rob went on, “what happened to you?” Lorelei wanted to get up and run. She considered it, fighting rising panic, but knew that would only make things worse. If she ran, he’d have every reason to pursue. That would lead to bigger trouble. Blood was in the water. Al she could do was maneuver. “I—wel , think it over, Rob,” Lorelei said. “Your sort is always better-connected than mine. Who else is in this city?” “A few people I could name. It’s not as big as some other cities, but it’s busy. Kind of an important place these days, lots of influential people. I knew you were here. You’ve got a name. One of the best, they always said. Like I mentioned, I’m kind of disappointed that you can’t deal.” “I can bargain,” Lorelei offered calmly. “Sure, but not the way I’d like. New restrictions, you said.” “Y-yes.” “That’s a tragedy. Who’d want to tie your hands like that? Keep you from using your best assets? You are what you are, right? That’s gotta just drive you insane.” Suddenly Lorelei’s eyes went wide. The kiss Alex had dreamt of for three years was on his lips. It hit her like a wave, directly counter to the blazing fury before her. The urge to run diminished. Alex was plainly not having some random fling with a convenient, random partner anymore. She closed her eyes for two seconds, three at the most. This was going further. Youthful longing and passion were being fullfil ed, flooding her as surely as if she lay with Alex herself. Another kiss, this one deeper. Affectionate, groping hands. Teenage fantasy becoming adult reality. Naughty, physical, but compel ingly beautiful. Lorelei’s eyes opened. There was a corruptor in front of her, thinking he could just intimidate her. She was fairly certain she could pitch the little bastard through the window out into the street below. The change in his expression

told her that he knew it, too. Lorelei smiled broadly. “It was a rough transition, but indisputably for the best.” * “The fuck’s keepin’ him?” Mike fumed. “Fuck if I know,” J’Von shrugged. “Maybe he really is in there shoppin’ for panties,” Tony scowled. “That shit’s complicated.” Mike and J’Von slowly turned to look at Tony. “Real y?” J’Von deadpanned. * Taylor didn’t seem to be the least bit bothered by Alex’s state when she arrived. It wasn’t like she didn’t know how he got partly undressed, or aroused, or what he had done about it. Amazingly, she didn’t care. In the back of her mind, she knew this was insane, but it was suddenly very easy to dismiss the details. She devoured his lips and tongue with another kiss. She couldn’t get enough of that, either. Alex’s longtime crush wrapped her legs around his hips, doing everything she could to have as much of him as possible. She moaned as they kissed.

Taylor felt every bit as good as Alex had ever dreamed. But it had always only ever been dreams. This wasn’t just sex. He cared about her. He had always cared about her. “Taylor, this is…I don’t…” “Sshhh,” Taylor said, putting a finger over his mouth as she continued to gyrate against him. “We both know we both want this right now. It’s just right now.” “I don’t want to just use you.” She giggled softly. “You’re not using me. We’re friends. Very close friends. I don’t expect anything more. We’re not being any naughtier than you were just two minutes ago.” “I’m not, no. What about you?” “You’re the one here supposedly shopping for your al eged girlfriend. Won’t she be mad if she finds out?” “She’l know. She engineered that,” Alex said, nodding toward Audrey’s exit. “My ‘girlfriend’ will think this is hot.” “Wow. Kinky. Never would’ve figured you for a relationship like that,” she smiled into his lips. “Go ahead and tel her if it’l be fun for you. Just keep it to yourselves.” “What about you?” “Mmmmh. well . If you see my Facebook blow up tomorrow, it’s been a long time coming and it isn’t about you at al . Don’t jump into it.” “You know I’ve always been crazy about you,” Alex said. “I think everybody knew.” Grinding slowly against him, Taylor nodded. “Are you okay if this isn’t more than it is?”

“It’s something.” “Yeah, but…I have things to sort out after the last year.” “Stil friends?” Alex didn’t feel disappointed. He still cared about her. He could even cal it love, at least of a sort. But he was also over her now. His feelings just weren’t what they were in high school anymore. Taylor nodded. “I might want a booty cal now and again, if that’s okay.” “I can’t promise to always be available, but I’d like that a lot.” His hands gently roamed underneath her shirt. She had always thought of Alex as adorable, but had never realized just what he could deliver. “Definitely a booty cal now and again,” Taylor groaned. * Rob remained in his seat, but he was effectively on the run. The succubus had him cornered on his own turf. It didn’t matter that she looked so beat to shit; that predator’s grin said it al . She could tear him limb from limb and scatter him so far and wide that it would be years before he got himself back together. After that, his masters would punish him for getting into such a predicament in the first place. Whatever had suddenly gotten into her must have been pretty powerful. Maybe she had just been putting on an act? Were the scars al il usory? Could this al have been some sick act to lure him into conversation rather than immediate fight and flight? “Whom do you serve?” Lorelei smiled.

He blinked. Perhaps that would ward her off? “Azazel,” he said bravely. “Lot of us here, not that you’d see us al coming.” “Well , it’s always best that you boys and girls stick to the shadows,” the succubus said patronizingly. “Wouldn’t want to get stepped on by the bigger players. On that note—is there anyone else here I would recognize?” “Lydia’s here,” Rob began hesitantly, “and Harrow.” One eyebrow rose up. “Lydia and Harrow? Together?” “I don’t know. I don’t know why they’re here. It’s not like Baal ever showed an interest in this city. She only turned up recently. They’ve both approached me for material aid, which I gave, but that’s about it. And I told them I’d keep it quiet.” “Good job on that,” Lorelei remarked dryly. “Who else?” “Not too many of the others show themselves.” “I am also curious of those who would fall in between. The interesting ones.” Rob fumed. He didn’t like being bul ied. “What do I get for al this? You said you were going to bargain?” She smiled again, and he stared at that smile. That mouth is made to be stuffed full of dick, he thought…but not his dick. That would definitely not be happening. Fucking dammit. Lorelei glanced down at the table. “I’l pick up your whole tab here.” “This is an al -you-can-eat buffet!” Rob protested. “So don’t hold back,” she said, gesturing at the buffet counters. Arrogant fucking cunt, Rob fumed silently. It gal ed him that this only made him want her more, but even demons

sometimes wanted what they couldn’t have. “Others?” she asked. He sighed. “About as many vampires in this town as you would expect.” Lorelei made a disdainful face, as if he’d farted right in front of her. “They count as interesting?” “Well , I guess not,” Rob had to concede. He pondered a moment. “Woods are full of al sorts of critters, but they keep to themselves. There’s, um…there are some Believers and Practitioners around here who do a little more than just pose and dabble…” That caught her interest. “Tel me what you know,” she said flatly. * J’Von checked the time on his cel phone and cursed. “Nobody take that long lookin’ at women’s undies ‘less they tryin’ the shit on.” “Maybe he’s that way?” Tony shrugged. “I mean, who are we to judge?” “Yeah, don’t go al fuckin’ homophobe, J’Von,” Mike nodded. “The fuck…? What’s wrong wit’choo?! Jesus! Look, we done waitin’. We gotta go in there an’ get his ass.” J’Von took off walking, with Tony and Mike quickly fall ing in line behind him. “Could be he getting’ a blowjob in the back room,” Mike suggested. “Girls workin’ in a lingerie store gotta be at least a little bit freaky.”

“Shit, that stuff only happens in porn,” Tony countered. The store was mostly empty when the three entered. Only the closing crew and a few random customers remained. Not everyone noticed the three men, al dressed for thug life, as they arrived. Even then, nobody jumped to conclusions. The way they were dressed wasn’t that alarming, but the al -business expressions on their faces kept people out of the way. It was J’Von who found the dressing rooms. Two were open; one was occupied. He glanced down at the bottom of the door and saw a man’s sneakers and crumpled pants. Frowning, he paused, and heard what sounded like kissing. Shit, really? he wondered. He wasn’t sure what their target was wearing, but this appeared to be the only guy in the store. It was worth checking. Worst case, they lost their guy and would have to leave the mal . J’Von had been thrown out of Pacific Place before. It wasn’t a thing. He pul ed his bank card out of his pocket and slipped it in over the latch. Sure enough, there was a couple on the dressing room chair. One of the sales girls was on the dude’s lap, going at him slow but hard, and neither one heard J’Von enter until the door banged against the wall . Both looked up with a start. J’Von already had his nine partially drawn from his coat. “Don’t say a fuckin’ thing,” he warned quietly but darkly. “I’l be long gone ‘fore cops show up after I shoot both of you.” Neither one panicked. The girl looked more afraid than the guy, but she wasn’t about to scream. For his part, the guy on the seat seemed to be keeping his cool. “What do you want?” he asked. “Put your fuckin’ pants on, both of you,” J’Von said. “Don’t do nothin’ stupid. We goin’ for a drive.” They didn’t argue. Both of them did as he said.

Alex didn’t like it, of course. More than being just unpleasant and dangerous, it seemed like going along was a dumb way to handle the situation. When seeing something like this on television, he would scream inwardly at the characters not to just obey the bad guy, but rather make a break for it or do something productive. In the reality of it, though, he’d only ever been in two real fights, and one was just the other night. Those were three middle-aged guys taken by complete surprise. He’d been armed, more or less. And before that fight was over, he had an angel and a demon on his side, who in turn had been the ones to end it. Neither of them was in sight. He didn’t know where Lorelei was, or how soon she’d be back. Rachel said she’d be watching him, but couldn’t see him when he was with Lorelei, and Alex didn’t know what specifically that meant. How far did they have to be apart? How often did Rachel try to look? With his pants back on, Alex thought for a brief moment about trying to tackle J’Von, but then Mike appeared in the hall way. Two of them now. Twice as unlikely to turn out well . Neither of them looked like strangers to violence, either. As they quietly directed Alex and Taylor out of the dressing rooms and out of the store, joined by a third guy—this one white and skinnier than the other two—Alex cursed at himself for not taking Drew up on those kung fu classes months ago. They might not have helped much at al here, but anything was better than nothing, and that’s what he had. Nothing. Taylor kept it together fairly well . Her only sign of fear came in taking Alex’s hand when they were outside the store and walking to the elevators. “We gotta pay parking before we leave?” Tony asked as they waited. “Don’t know,” J’Von shrugged. He nudged Alex from behind. “We gotta pay parking for that car of yours?” Alex frowned. “The pass is in my pocket,” he mumbled. “Good.” The elevator opened and al five of them went inside. They didn’t share the car with anyone. As soon as the doors shut, J’Von demanded, “Phones, wallets and keys. Now.”

Both hostages—that’s what they were now, Alex understood—did as was demanded. Alex wished he had replaced that pepper spray. Al he’d have to do was set it off in here and everyone would be blinded and incapacitated. These guys seemed serious, but he didn’t think they’d be dumb enough to shoot blindly in an elevator. The worst he or Taylor would suffer is some bruises, maybe a broken bone or two. No pepper spray. No black belt in kung fu. No guardian angel or fire-breathing demon. Too bad for that. * Her business with Rob completed, Lorelei headed out of the restaurant feeling confident and reassured. Alex’s second tryst seemed to have been completed a moment or two ago, too. It seemed to have ended a bit abruptly, but then, she did leave him in a popular store. No tel ing what sort of interruptions might take place there. She contemplated hitting a couple of other stores to get things out of the way before she came back to him. But Lorelei felt an urge to reunite with Alex and thank him, quite pornographical y, for the joy that he had just shared with her. She strode to the escalators and then headed for the lingerie store. Inside, she didn’t find him. There were, however, several worried-looking sales associates. Among them was Audrey, who seemed very stressed. “Where is my companion?” Lorelei asked her. “Has he left?” “He did.” “Did he say where he was going?”

“He just left al of a sudden with Taylor and three other guys. It didn’t look right, but we didn’t know if—” Lorelei was already out the door. * It dawned on Alex that if he and Taylor got into a car with these guys, one or both of them were probably going to die. This was kidnapping. None of these guys had concealed their faces. One of them had even referred to the other two by name, so now Alex knew that they were J’Von, Mike and the White Guy. They walked quietly as a group through the parking garage. Shoppers on their way out zoomed through the garage one by one, none of them looking like they had a care in the world. Some, in fact, were going a bit too fast. “Gonna fuckin’ hit somebody, asshole,” Mike grumbled as he jumped out of the way of a Mustang. “Don’t try nothin’ stupid,” J’Von warned the two hostages. “It’s not you we want, anyway.” “What do you want?” Taylor asked. “Shut up,” J’Von shot back. “Boy, where’s your car at?” “It’s over there,” Tony said before Alex could speak. He apparently had a good eye for cars. Alex tried to think, fighting a rising panic. If they got into that car, they were dead. He couldn’t accept that. Not for himself. Definitely not for Taylor. Alex had been in a mild scuffle or two in his life. He’d gotten some tips on fighting from friends who really knew what they were doing, but not much. He was generally smart enough to stay out of trouble—at least until this week. He

thought and thought about what he was supposed to do in these situations. Al he could think of was something Drew had said to him, that day they both got suspended for the only real fight he’d been in before this week. It had erupted in P.E. years ago when a couple of boys had made Oreo jokes about Drew. Alex had been almost as offended as Drew, and wasn’t going to let his friend face them alone, but he wasn’t much good in the ensuing brawl. Outside the principal’s office, Drew had simply said, “You wanna fight right, you gotta be meaner than the other guy. Don’t matter if it’s ugly. Losing is uglier. You don’t know what’s gonna happen if you lose.” Alex heard another car coming up the winding parking garage. “Taylor,” he said softly, “I need my hand back.” She let go. He had no interest in seeing what they might do to Taylor. He’d just have to be meaner than they were. One second, everything was going fine for J’Von and his crew. In the next, Mike had suddenly been shoved right in front of an SUV that was going way too fast for a parking garage. He bounced off the hood, tumbled to the SUV’s side and down to the pavement as it passed by with its brakes squealing. Alex, inexperienced at these things, hesitated in the second after he shoved to see if it worked. J’Von didn’t, and planted a right cross squarely into the side of Alex’s jaw. He staggered, bounced off the car next to him, and realized that he might’ve done something smarter than this. Taylor yelped and jumped out of the way. “Oh, shit!” Tony blurted. He didn’t know whether to check on Mike or back up J’Von. He decided on the latter, only to have Taylor trip him from behind. In true Seattle form, the driver of the SUV took off rather than check on his victim. Alex recovered and launched himself at J’Von but came up empty. He recovered quickly from that, too, and even blocked the first retaliatory punches J’Von threw. He didn’t block the elbow, though, or the knee in the stomach. Alex clutched at him, grabbed at his face, and pushed his thumb in the bigger man’s eye.