Allure of the Wolf (Seraphine Thomas Book 2) (12 page)

“Brian,” I hissed, smacking him in the chest.

Davis cleared her throat and nodded to the targets. “I’m going to go back to practicing.” She jogged over there, shaking her head.

“You’re a
dick
.”

“Sorry. Forgot she was there,” he muttered, looking embarrassed. “I’m just shocked. I mean, could you read my mind?”

“Sometimes I got flashes or images.” I shrugged and stepped away, deciding it was time to get back to my own practicing. “It was the only reason I took the chance of making a move on my boss. I saw you wanted uncomplicated sex.”

“I did at first but that changed.”

“Don’t, Brian,” I sighed, sitting down and loading my clips. “Our time passed. Just move on.”

He crouched down next to me and yanked back on his ball cap. I used to find that so endearing, the way he showed his emotions with his damn hat. “Why? Why has it passed, Sera? Because I fucked up when you got hurt? I suck and I’m sorry for that. I can make it up to you.”

“It’s not even about that anymore, Brian.”

“Then
why
?”

“Because I’m not just a wolf,” I snarled, letting my eyes flash my power and paranormalness.

And for the first time he didn’t flinch, didn’t move away, he just watched me change as if it was nothing out of the ordinary. “What are you, Sera?”

“You’ve haven’t earned that much trust back yet.” I looked back to loading my bullets and cooled down.

“But you’ll tell me you’re a clairvoyant?”

“Yes.”

“Why? What’s the difference?”

I slammed the full clip into the gun and hit the lever for the slide to lock into place before looking at him. “Because no one really cares about that anymore besides the FBI. Because you run your mouth about
this
and you could get me killed.”

Brian swallowed loudly, nodding before he stood and left without another word. Yup, that was the Havers I knew. Everything had to be on his terms, to his rules, by his definition of
normal
. I couldn’t have that in my life anymore.

Which was why my heart ached remembering that someone who had been there for me was hurting right then.

“Hey, Davis, is that invite for a girls night out still good?” I called over when she finished a clip.

She poked her head out from around the screen. “Yeah, why?”

“I blew off a date last night and I think there’s a redheaded bartender I should see about that tonight.”

“Yeah, you should,” she chuckled. “But if we’re going out, we’re dancing.”

“Fine by me.” I had
no
problem with that. Hell, it was about the only reason I
liked
to go out.

I loved to dance.

7

“So explain to me all the cat stuff with the paranormal clubs?” I asked Davis hours later as we drove down to
The Cat’s Cradle
where Tristan worked. I was in this short, tight black skirt and sleeveless silver shirt that had dangly sparkly crap fluttering off of it. It showed way too much cleavage and was completely backless, but it made my blonde hair look even shiner than normal and it matched the silver clubbing pumps I had with the wide heels so there was less chance of sliding and falling. “I mean, Harris told me about
The Kitty Club
and there’s
The Cat’s Cradle
—”

“No, two
totally
different things,” she chuckled as she put on some lip gloss in the passenger’s vanity mirror. “
The Kitty Club
is like an indoor habitat for cat shifters needing to change and play in their animal form. You’re a wolf so you can just go run in the woods. Harris is a fucking jungle cat. Not the same for him. So there’s like trees, humidity, think big bio dome. I hear it’s an arm and a leg to be a member.”

“Okay, so Vlad owns both and one’s just a nightclub?”

“I’m pretty sure different owners.
The Kitty Club
is actually like a joint Chicagoland cat leader run thing instead of tithing their people like the wolves do.
The Cat’s Cradle
is a Vonnegut reference.”

“Like the
author
?” I blanched, glancing at her as I took the Ohio exit which would basically be a straight shot to the club. She nodded and I thought back to when I’d read the book. “That’s the one with Ice-nine or something, right? End of the world stuff?”

“Yup,” she snickered.

I fiddled with my shirt, not as sure I was looking forward to tonight. I was already going to grovel, but at least Tristan and I would be okay then and there would be dancing. But if it was end-of-the-world space suits or some shit—I was so out of there. “Right, screams nightclub.”

“It’s
Vlad
. You know him better than I do. I’ve only been near the man at your fight, but his clubs live up to the legend. You’ll see.”

I focused on where I was going curious now as to what I had gotten myself into. I pulled my blackberry pearl blue Dodge Charger up to the valet and slid out, showing the guy my badge. “Keep it close in case we get a call, please.”

“We can leave it right over there,” the kid offered, pointing to some double-parked, blocking-everyone spot.

“No, nothing like that,” I chuckled, gazing around. I hated to cause a scene and cars were already lining up behind us. “We’re not on duty, but we can get called in. Just don’t park us all the way down on Randolph if you can help it. We may need it fast.”

“Jay, park Chief Thomas’s car in our private lot,” Vlad instructed, appearing out of nowhere and suddenly at my right. Now I had
just
looked around. How did he do that?

I licked my lips and shot a glance at the line. “You don’t have to—”

“I insist.” Jay nodded and hopped in the driver’s seat as Vlad took my hand and raised it to his lips as we stepped out of the way for the next car. “You look radiant, Seraphine.”

I cleared my throat, realizing Tristan wasn’t the only person I needed to make amends with. “Thanks. Hey, I’m sorry for blowing off your party last night, I didn’t—”

Worry filled his caramel eyes. “I heard. I’m glad you were able to catch up on some sleep.” I frowned and he shook his head. “You know better than to think Tristan was gossiping. Apparently he decided arguing with my alcohol racks was a healthier outlet than adding more stress onto your plate while taking inventory a month earlier than scheduled. He didn’t know I had arrived to finish some paperwork.”

“Thank you for telling me that,” I whispered quietly as I leaned in and kissed his cheek. “That’s why I’m here tonight. I heard the going payment for ditching your man at a party is stalking him at work.”

“You cannot stalk the willing,” he chuckled, tucking my arm in his. We crossed between cars so we joined Terry by the doors of the club and away from the valet chaos. “And who is your lovely friend?”

“Right, sorry. Vlad, this is Special Agent in Charge Terry Davis. Terry, Vlad.”

“A pleasure,” she greeted as he kissed her hand as well.

“No, it is mine,” he countered before slipping her arm in his other one. “I rarely get the treat of escorting two beautiful women into my club like this. Have you been here before, Agent Davis?”

“Terry, please. We’re off the clock. And yes, I was telling Sera your reputation for going all out is the reason people come here. I love this place.” She smiled brightly at him as we walked in.

And my jaw fell open as we crossed over the threshold. There was dry ice
everywhere
but not just in buckets, the tables were made of it somehow, the bars were stacked cubes of it, the whole
club
was an ice motif.

“Wow.”

“Yup, that’s what I said my first time here,” Terry chuckled.

I nodded, getting the reference now. Then I glanced around and caught sight of Tristan at the main bar. “Would you excuse me a moment? I want to start stalking right away.” Vlad nodded and let go of my arm.

“I want one of the Cherry Ices,” Terry called after me. I gave her a wave and slid through the packed crowd. It took me a bit but finally I made it up to the bar.

Only to have Tristan take an order at the other end and dart away from me.
Fuck
. It hadn’t been on purpose, there was too many people and confusion for him to have smelled me. Hell, I wasn’t sure I could smell anything over the ice. The only thing I was picking up was
frozen
. It muted everything in the club.

Or whatever it was.

I decided to wait there since I had a good spot at the bar, and by the time I made my way through all the people to get back to him, the same thing could happen. I studied the bar itself as I waited. It was cool… No, like
cool
to the touch. Though it was awesome as well. There was steam coming off it too and as I gazed at it some more, I realized it wasn’t dry ice but humidifiers. Everything in the club had
humidifiers
rigged to them. It wasn’t unhealthy or chemicals like with dry ice.

Hell, this was the best moisturized place in Chicago. Any allergy sufferer should come here and chill out—better than a spa I guessed. The bar was clouded glass so the average person couldn’t tell, tinted blue so it gave off that
icy
affect. Ingenious.

It was about five minutes before some guy slid up next to me,
way
too close.

“Can I buy you a drink?”

I shot him a smile but shook my head. “No thanks.”

“Come on, what’s the harm in one drink?” he tried again, slapping on what I was sure he thought was his best seductive smile but I could smell the alcohol on his breath, and really, he was probably just buzzed.

“I’m spoken for,” I answered, moving away when he leaned in.

“I don’t see you with anyone,” he pushed as he glanced around, trying to call my bluff.

“He’s behind the bar and he’s the
only
one I’m interested in tonight.”

The guy pursed his lips as if not buying it. “Which one?”

We both turned to look at the bartenders so I could point Tristan out as if I really
needed
to explain myself to this guy—but he was standing right in front of us.

My heart skipped a beat as I met his eyes. “Hi,” I greeted, giving a dorky little wave.

“Hi.” His expression was curiously blank, waiting to see what I’d do maybe.

I cleared my throat. “Hi, you were down over there. I didn’t think you saw me.”

“I didn’t. I heard you.” He smiled widely and leaned over the bar. “So which bartender is this that’s the only one you’re interested in tonight?” Thank god he was tossing me a life preserver.

“A hot redhead I blew off last night like an idiot. I told Vlad I was going to stalk him tonight. He said it was cool with him.” I leaned over and gave him a peck on the lips. “You might need a new boss if he lets people stalk his employees.”

“It’s normally how we get blood,” he chuckled, mischief in his eyes. It took me a second to realize he was trying to make me jealous. I didn’t think feeding should make me jealous, but then again, I’d never seen it done live club-style.

Maybe it would. And maybe it wasn’t a life preserver after all but cement boots.

“Well, you need to eat.” I gave a shrug and covered his hands with mine. “I’m sorry about last night. Thanks for getting me to bed.”

He started to pull his hands away, but I pushed down and kept them there. He slapped on that fake smile. “No problem. It was a trip playing
go fish
with you in the tub.”

“You act like I was trying to drown myself—I wasn’t,” I muttered as my heart fell into my stomach. “I’m sorry I hurt you, and I’m sorry I fell asleep, but please don’t pretend things are okay when they’re not.” I leaned in and brushed my cheek with his so my lips were by his ear and no one else would hear us. “Please, Tristan. Don’t do that with
me
. I can’t take that from you. Anyone else can be fake, or passive-aggressive, or not be truthful with me, but not
you
. I need you to be honest with me, us on the same side, okay? I can’t handle all of this otherwise.”

I got flashes from his mind wondering how long it would be before he came home and found me in bed with Noah, the vampire who was going to take his place in my life. He knew how women loved Noah, and someone as beautiful as me would want the best, and from what he’d heard, Noah was.

“Stop, just stop,” I rasped, leaning my head against his. “None of that is true. I agreed for Noah to be my moon mate because of the deal I made with my siren, that is
all
. He caught my eye because of
work
, Tristan, and I needed a moon mate to satisfy
her
. Yes, he’s good-looking, and I kissed him when I was pissed at you because she wanted revenge in that way, but he’s not you. Don’t—it’s not—you can’t be
replaced
.”