Moon Kissed (5 page)

“Right,” Addison said with a laugh, thinking Minka was teasing her. Then Addison saw her face and the seriousness in which Minka’s dark eyes stared. “You want me to believe I’m surrounded by those things? Besides, everyone knows vampires can’t come out during the day.”

“Yes, they can. They prefer night, but they can move in the daylight. And yes, I want you to believe the supernatural surrounds you, because it does. It always has. New Orleans is a mecca for such creatures.”

“Just New Orleans?”

“No,” Minka said sadly. “There are other places the supernatural are drawn to, and there are people who hunt them.”

Hunters. Addison remembered what she had overheard between Myles and Riley a few days earlier. “If these...beings...know they’re being hunted, why do they remain?”

“Because in New Orleans, they have a sort of truce so that all five factions can remain. And they’re being watched. If they step out of line, they are eliminated instantly. It keeps the factions in line for the most part. Besides, there are too many of the supernatural gathered here for the local hunters to wipe out by themselves.”

“You know these hunters?”

Minka hesitated for a second before she nodded. “I do. I’m part of the supernatural world because I have gifts, but I’m not a threat like vampires, demons, or other things.”

“You left out werewolves. Aren’t they dangerous?” Addison asked curiously.

Minka bit her bottom lip a moment. “They can be, but they are also loyal to a fault.”

“You said one was chasing me. I’m gathering it isn’t loyal to me.”

“That’s just it,” Minka said, her forehead furrowing. “He shouldn’t have been chasing you.”

That got Addison’s attention. “He? You know who it is? Tell me so I can keep my distance.”

“That might be difficult.”

There was something in Minka’s tone that set off warning bells in Addison’s head. “Who is he?”

“He’s not your enemy. If anything, you’re safer near him.”

“Safer?” she cried, standing up. “You said he was chasing me.”

Minka rose to her feet and very calmly said, “That’s what I saw, but that doesn’t mean that’s what happens.”

Addison had about had enough. She crossed her arms over her chest. “Did you, or did you not just come over here and tell me I’m in danger?”

“Yes,” Minka answered.

“Did you or did you not tell me a werewolf was chasing me in this vision you saw?”

Minka’s lips flattened for a moment. “Yes.”

“Then why are you backtracking all of a sudden?”

“Did you not hear what else I said?” Minka asked testily. “I said he shouldn’t have been chasing you.”

Addison dropped her hands and adjusted the strap of her crossbody purse. “Why?”

“I recognized the wolf.”

“And?” Addison urged tightly, her patience at an end.

Minka plopped back down on the bench. “He’s one of the good guys.”

“A werewolf that’s good? Isn’t that a contradiction of terms?”

“If you knew him, you’d understand,” Minka said. “They’re known throughout the Quarter, throughout all of New Orleans. They help keep the factions in line. They would never hurt a human.”

“But other werewolves would?”

Minka looked up and nodded. “Some.”

“You keep saying ‘they’.”

Minka shook her head and shoved a stray strand of dark hair out of her face. “Have you met any new people recently?”

“I work at a bar. I meet new people every day.”

That got Minka’s attention. “What bar?”

“Gator Bait.”

Minka jumped to her feet again and took a step back. “Watch yourself, Addison. You’re in danger, but I don’t know from who.”

Addison’s jaw dropped when Minka turned and began to walk off. “So that’s it? You’re going to dump that foretelling in my lap and then just walk away.”

Minka’s steps halted and she looked back at Addison over her shoulder. “I’ve never told a stranger any of this before. I couldn’t help you anyway.”

“And if you have another vision that tells you more? Don’t you want a way to contact me?” By her hesitation, Addison knew the answer was a resounding no, but whatever drew Minka to proclaim her vision kept her still.

Finally, Minka nodded. “Yes.”

“I live in an apartment off of Rue Parc Fontaine. If I’m not there, you can find me at Gator Bait most nights.”

Minka nodded. “Be safe, Addison.”

CHAPTER FIVE

Myles knew something was wrong with Addison by the way she jumped at every sound. Ever since she’d walked into the bar that afternoon, she had been skittish and hyper-alert. Almost as if she were waiting for someone to attack her.

As if he would allow that to happen. Not in their bar, and most especially not to her.

“Trouble?” Solomon asked.

Myles shrugged from his place at the doorway to the kitchen. “I don’t know. Something has Addison spooked.”

“She’s in New Orleans. She’d be stupid not to be spooked.”

“According to Riley, Addison has lived here her entire life. She’s lived this long without an incident. Need I remind you that she was enrolled at Tulane until this semester? You know what happens there.”

Solomon grunted and let his gaze wander the patrons. “There’s no one here that should cause such a reaction.”

Myles raised a brow and looked at his brother. “The full moon is upon us. The entire city goes ape shit during this time.”

“That could be what’s bothering her.”

Myles hoped to hell it wasn’t. “I’ve made excuses for you and Court. It’d be hell if Addison saw you after the nice lie I told.”

“Point taken. And you and Kane? When will y’all get out?”

“Soon,” Myles said and looked back at Addison.

Solomon let out a sigh. “Just because of the...past...doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take what you so obviously want. Namely, Addison.”

Myles turned and put his back to the wall. “You went through the hell, but we were right there with you, brother. We weren’t the ones in love with her, but we loved her. You’re more of a moron than I thought if you don’t think that affected each of us.”

“I know it did.” Solomon ran a hand down his face lined with fatigue, his blue eyes troubled. “When I was in Lyons Point, I saw Vincent and Linc with their women. I hated them for being able to hold onto that. If they only knew how easy they had it.”

Myles clasped his brother’s shoulder and squeezed. “Take your anger out on the fuckers stupid enough to cross the line tonight.”

Solomon’s eyes flashed with an unholy light from the wolf within. “I’ll see you out there.”

Myles watched Solomon walk out the back door before he checked on the cooks. There was an inordinate amount of humans in the bar, but that’s always how it was on a night with a full moon. Humans were temptation to the supernatural that lived in the darkness.
 

He walked out of the back and gave a nod to Kane, who slipped out without anyone noticing. Myles walked behind the bar where Riley was busy pouring drinks.

“What are you still doing here?” she asked as she glanced at her watch. “The sun just set. You should be out there.”

“I’m going. Are you sure you have everything?”

She laughed and popped the caps off two beers with an opener before setting the bottles in front of the customers. “Of course.”

Myles leaned close when she turned to run the credit card. “One of us will be close. We never leave the bar completely unattended.”

“It’ll be fine,” she assured him. “Didn’t I prove in the last two nights that I know exactly what I’m doing? I took down that wraith, and just last night, two vampires. All by myself. Remember?”

“I remember.” He shook his head, unable to hold back a grin. “It’s the only reason we aren’t locking you in the walk-in fridge in the back.”

Riley cut him a dry look. “Very funny. Now get going while Addison is busy.”

Myles glanced in Addison’s direction to see her taking down an order. Something nagged at him to stay, but he had a job to do. He walked to the kitchen and out the back door to the alley.
 

He took a quick look to make sure no one was around before he ran two steps, jumped on a stack of crates, and then launched himself over the wooden fence to the roof of the next building.

The moon beckoned, summoned. And the wolf within answered.

~ ~ ~

Addison delivered the fried alligator, dubbed Gator Bites, along with a pitcher of beer to the table of three college guys who eyed her appreciatively. A week ago, she’d have blushed at their blatant looks, but it hadn’t taken her long to get used to such things. If she were honest with herself, she would admit that the only one who could make her blush now was Myles.

She turned from the table and looked around for him. At least one of the four LaRue brothers was always at the bar. As far as she could tell, none of them was there now.
 

Addison decided not to read too much into it. Everyone needed a night off. Hers was supposed to be tomorrow night, but she’d picked up a shift from another waitress who wanted the time off.

She couldn’t believe she hadn’t thought to get a job at a bar before. She made more money than in her other two jobs combined. Much more. It had been so freeing to quit her cleaning job. Walking in the office buildings at night when no one was there had been boring, freaky, and just plain disgusting at times.

Whoever said that professionals were neat freaks who always picked up after themselves obviously never had to clean their offices after they’d eaten two meals without bothering to throw anything away.

Although the food was gross, and finding it half in the garbage and half on the floor was bad, it wasn’t nearly as bad as finding spent condoms. Just thinking about it had her shuddering.

Addison walked into the kitchen to take a breather. One of the three cooks looked up, his smile wide as he spotted her.

“What’s up, Addy-girl?”

Marcus was so fun-loving and cheery that she didn’t mind his nickname for her. His skin was a deep black, his head shaved, and his face in a perpetual smile. As far as she could tell, nothing got Marcus down.

“What is it with tonight?” she asked as she put a hand on her lower back to stretch it. “It’s like the crazies have come out.”

Marcus laughed as the other two cooks joined in. Marcus plated a dish of blackened catfish and winked at her. “It’s a full moon, girl. Didn’t you know?”

“I didn’t.” She knew animals reacted weirdly during full moons. There were more dead animals littering the roads during a full moon than any other time of the month.
 

Marcus motioned her over, his smile dropping. Once she was near, he leaned in and said, “Let one of us walk you home, Addy-girl. It’s not a night to be out by yourself.”

She looked into his black eyes and saw that he wasn’t teasing her. He was truly worried. And it made her nervous, especially after Minka’s announcement that afternoon. “All right,” she agreed.

With his smile in place once more, Marcus nodded. “Good, good.”

She watched as he turned and effortlessly sliced a grilled chicken breast into pieces before putting them in a bowl of pasta and tossing them. Addison pivoted and walked back into the bar. That’s when she saw Riley by herself looking ragged and dead on her feet. Addison quickly went to help.

“Thank you,” Riley said with a grateful look.

For the next two hours, Addison went from one person to another filling drinks and getting the waitresses their drink orders. It was after one in the morning before she was able to take a breather and survey the place. Many of the patrons were gone, but there were still a few tables occupied.
 

“Think you can handle them?” Riley asked. “If so, I’ll send two of the waitresses home.”

“I’ve got them covered,” Addison said as she walked from behind the bar to check on the tables.

She was clearing dishes from a table of two couples, when one of the women gasped and dropped her glass. Addison looked up to see the customer had gone pale, her gaze beyond Addison.
 

Addison spun to the door to see a woman dressed in all white standing just inside the bar. Her dark skin was in direct contrast to her attire and brought all the attention of the bar to her. The woman’s gaze scanned the bar until she spotted Addison.

A shiver went through Addison when the woman smiled and then walked to a table. It was only belatedly that Addison realized the woman wasn’t alone. A tall black man, dressed in white pants and white shirt, followed close behind, only sitting once the woman had chosen a chair.

It was one of those rare times when Addison would have gladly turned the table over to someone else, but she had told Riley she could handle things alone.
 

Her legs were wooden as she walked to the kitchen. She put the dirty plates in the sink and hurried back out to the front to clean up the broken glass, but Riley was already taking care of it. That left Addison with nothing else to do but go to her new table.