Soul Catcher (20 page)

Chapter Twenty-Eight

The shopping trip became an exercise in patience and a battle of wills. Isabella flirted. Angel restrained from strangling her. Jacque avoided comments from the ladies. Damon took advantage of every opportunity to outshine Jacque. It was an exasperating experience, plus Angel wasn’t pleased with the dress she settled on buying.

The rest of the day entailed answering phones and arranging accommodations for the arriving guests. The housekeeper remained busy answering the door. By mid-afternoon, Angel collapsed on the sofa from exhaustion. Nat and Jazzy were already lounging in the parlor chatting.

“Man, I never thought I would be happy to not talk on the phone.” Nat licked her lips and rubbed her throat. Nat was all about drama.

“Nope. Not something I expected to come out of your mouth,” Angel responded, kicking off the pumps.

“It’s crazy to know all these creatures live in New Orleans as if we didn’t have enough human freaks,” Jazzy added.

Angel stretched back on the pillows and propped her feet on Nat’s lap. “Yeah, I know, but you get use to it. Most of them look normal. You’d never know they were different.”

Nat’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “Are they all as hot as the ones we’ve met already?”

“I don’t know. I haven’t met an ugly one yet. It’s kinda depressing being surrounded by so many beautiful people,” Angel answered.

“Welcome to the world we lived in being your friend for so many years. What’s the deal with Laurent? He seeing anybody?” Nat was a sucker for blue eyes.

“I don’t think so. I’ll see if we can seat you together at dinner. You can dig for more info. Remember, he’s a demon and they play by different rules than we do.”

“You don’t seem to mind dating one.”

“Jacque and I have more problems than an Amish girl trying to get beads at Mardi Gras. Every other day or hour, we’re arguing.”

“And whose fault is that?” Again with the don’t-give-me-your-bullshit look.

“It depends. Y’all saw him with Isabella. She’s a huge pain in my ass.”

“Because you let her. Jacque’s your man and you need to let her know it. Getting mad and not speaking to him isn’t doing anything except giving Ms. Peroxide a way in.”

“It’s hard for me to think straight when it comes to Jacque and Isabella.”

“And what’s up with you and Wolverine?” Jazzy interjected.

“I don’t know what you mean.” Angel tried to hide her smile. “I met him when y’all met him. Damon’s a nice guy.”

“Oh, no. Dimples has the hots for you. And he’s waiting for his chance. Jacque better watch himself, because Damon is delicious!”

“It’s nice to have a backup plan. Especially one who looks like he belongs in a Calvin Klein underwear ad.” Angel blushed, thinking about Damon with his clothes off. “Hey, dinner is going to be at the La Fleur Plantation tonight. We should go up and get ready.”

“What’s up with the Supes getting dressed up all the time? Don’t they have any casual occasions?” Jazzy was a jeans and T-shirt kind of girl.

Angel arched a brow as she thought about the question. “I guess they all came up in an age where things were more formal. Most of them are at least one hundred years old.”

“Okay. Gross. Talk about robbing the cradle.” Jazzy’s smile lit up her face. Angel was glad to have her friend back.

“Most of them have been frozen in their twenties and thirties. If you think of it in those terms, it’s less weird. You’ll get use to it.”

“I don’t know.”

“Whatever, Jaz. You dated the guy who was, what, forty-five? Now,
talk about gross
, he was old enough to be your father. Go upstairs and get dressed. See y’all at five.” Angel pulled Nat off the sofa and pushed her friends toward the stairs.

***

Everyone met downstairs to leave for dinner. Three limos waited outside. The night air clung like a warm damp cloth against Angel’s skin. The ladies all climbed into the first available car. Jacque slid into the seat next to Angel. The emerald-green stripes in his tie accented his eyes and brought out the dark blue of his suit. She smiled at him despite herself.

The car drove slowly through the gates of the La Fleur Plantation. The statuesque columns and ornate architecture of the 1800’s seemed appropriate for the group gathered tonight. The car slowed to a halt, and the driver came around to open the door.

Angel was surprised to see how many other guests had already arrived. Jacque offered his arm and escorted her into the main hall. Entering the mansion was like entering another era. She loved the opulence of the old plantation. The grand ballroom on the right was set for their dinner.

As they entered the purple and gold wallpapered room, Etienne greeted them.

“Wow, Etienne, this is beautiful.” She brushed a kiss to both his cheeks.

“Not as beautiful as you and these lovely ladies behind you.” He caught Jazzy’s gaze, causing her to blush.

“There must be a lot of people coming tonight.”

“Yes, many people have already arrived.”

“Let me know if you need help with anything.”

“No, no, don’t worry yourself. The staff has everything under control. You’ve helped enough today. Please relax and try to have some fun tonight.”

Etienne took his leave to welcome more guests. Jacque led them to their table and seated all the ladies. Isabella sat four tables away. Angel smiled and waved as she glanced back longingly. Isabella recovered quickly. She drew closer to the dark-haired vamp sitting next to her, faking her interest when he whispered in her ear. A hint of jealousy seized Angel as she watched Isabella work the crowd with her beautiful face and dazzling smile.

Jacque startled Angel out of her daydream. “Babe, do you want a drink?”

“Oh, sure. A Grey Goose Cosmo is fine.”

“Ladies?” Jacque questioned the others and took their orders.

He was only a few steps away when Isabella stood, making her way toward Jacque. Nat kicked her under the table, reminding her of their earlier conversation. Angel hurried to catch up with Jacque before Isabella could dig her claws into him.

Isabella slid next to Jacque and gave Angel a smug grin. “Aren’t you just fetching tonight?”

Jacque scooted to the right, not daring to stand too close, understanding the fire in Angel’s eyes.

“I see you’re already working the room,” Angel returned, wedging her body between them and placing her hand in the crook of Jacque’s arm.

“Just seeing what’s new.”

“Try to stick with the single guys. We don’t want any trouble tonight.” Isabella shrugged. “If a woman can’t keep a hold of her man, he’s free game.”

“You have no class,” Angel scolded.

“I had enough to keep your man for almost fifty years.”

“Not enough to get him back.”

“Oh, it’s still early in the match, honey. I’m not down for the count yet.” The hussy winked at Jacque.

Angel raised her hand to strike a blow, but Jacque caught it in mid-air, swiftly positioning himself in the middle of her and Isabella. “Look, enough from both of you. Bell, is there something you need?”

“I thought you’d like to know Luc contracted Xavier. It’s getting ugly.” Isabella frowned and pouted her lips as if he hurt her feelings.

“Shit, how’d you find out?”

“My mom called me this afternoon. She accidentally found the contract.”

“Who the hell is Xavier?” Angel stared at the two, demanding an answer.

“Xavier is a hit man and my older brother.” Jacque’s voice was a combination of fear and reverence.

“I didn’t know you had a brother.” Angel reached over and laced her finger through his. The pain in his eyes raised a knot in her throat.

“I haven’t seen him in a couple centuries. We’re not close. We have different mothers.”

“We’ve got to be careful. You know Xavier’s crazy.” Isabella’s hand played with Jacque’s sleeve. The intimacy of the gesture disturbed Angel as she examined their interaction. Their bond was strong. She understood why the relationship had been ongoing for fifty years. It was going to be hard to compete.

“We’ll get everyone together after dinner and let them know.” Jacque’s grip tightened on Angel’s hand. “I really need a drink now. Let’s hit the bar.”

***

Jacque’s stomach churned all through dinner. The air in the car was suffocating. Angel’s emotions gnawed at him, her worry and fear throbbed in his head. The ride to Etienne’s felt like an eternity.

As soon as they reached the house, Jacque raided the bar. The vodka burned its way down his chest, hiding the pain brought to the surface from hearing about his brother. Last time Jacque saw Xavier, he ended up with a broken leg, three broken ribs, and several stab wounds.

Xavier’s powers were much stronger than Jacque’s. He’d honed his shifting abilities to surface at will. Jacque could only shift under extreme emotions or if he maintained complete focus. Even then, he barely controlled what he shifted into. Jacque spent a lot of time and energy learning to control his emotions because of his inconsistencies. Most demons didn’t have those problems; emotions were like second thoughts they pushed away easily.

Angel arranged herself between his legs as he straddled the barstool. Her lips brought warmth and ease as she brushed them along his chin, coaxing his nerves to settle. Her emotions calmed which helped to bring his under control.

Her dark eyes met his. “Hey, what’s going on?”

“Nothing. My brother’s just bad news.”

“How bad can he be?”

“The last time I saw him we fought because he hit my mother.” Jacque clenched his fist, remembering the outline of Xavier’s hand imprinted on his mother’s cheek.

Angel’s arms encircled his waist, providing him a safety net to discuss a topic he avoided for centuries. “I’m so sorry.”

“Xavier has a lot of power. He’s good. Shit, better than good at what he does. He’s most people’s last resort. The person you call when nothing else worked.”

“There’s only one of him. There’s no way he can get through all of us.”

“He’s strong. I couldn’t take him. It took me two weeks to heal from our fight.”

“You’re more experienced. You were the commander of the legions. And we got everyone else to help.”

Jacque appreciated her support. He was the man, the one who was supposed to be doing the saving. “He’s like a supernatural special ops soldier. You never know when he’ll strike. You and the others can’t
ever
be alone. Okay?”

She played with the curls at his nape. “Of course. When are we ever alone now?”

“No, I’m serious. Don’t leave the house without me. Promise.”

“Sure.”

“And none of the others either. He doesn’t care who he hurts.”

She pushed the hair back out his face and kissed him again, this time on the lips. The sweet taste of Moscato and chocolate lingered in her mouth. He drew her near, ravaging the plush softness of her lips.

“Hate to interrupt.” Isabella’s voice jarred him out of his rapture. He forgot about the others in the room. After filling everyone in on as much information he had about Xavier, they retired to their rooms.

The group would be on high alert until Xavier was caught.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Preparations for the meeting were in full swing. It was two hours away and five women getting ready was a challenge. They took over the left wing of the second floor as their dressing space. As Angel finished her hair, the maid entered the room carrying a large box.

“
Pour vous, Mademoiselle
.” Angel’s French was limited, but sufficient enough to understand the package was for her.

“Oh, thank you. Do you know who sent it?” Angel questioned, taking the box from her.

The woman shook her head, never making eye contact with Angel. “
Non
, just delivered to the door. No card.”

Angel set the box on the bed and the others gathered around. Nat pushed Angel towards the box. “Open it!”

“Okay. Geesh. Gimme a minute.” She lifted the lid and removed the delicate paper lining the box. Inside laid the most exquisite dress Angel had seen in a long time. She spun around like a little girl, holding the lavender and silver creation against her.

Cecelia fingered the tissue paper thin overlay of silver netting on the dress. “Oh
cher
, it’s beautiful. You’re such a lucky girl. Jacque’s a very thoughtful boy.”

“I can’t believe he got this for me. It must’ve cost a fortune.”

“Shit, I’m gonna have to find me a hook-up at this meeting if this is the kind of gifts monster’s give,” Jazzy commented as she twisted her long black hair.

Angel wiggled into the dress with the help of Marie. She dug out the silver Valentino pumps from her suitcase. It was the perfect combination.

The ladies checked themselves in the mirror one last time and went downstairs. Isabella lounged against the bar in her blood-red gown, resembling the devil Angel knew she was. As much as Angel hated to admit, Isabella was gorgeous.

“I feel honored to be surrounded by such beauty,” Etienne announced proudly, extending his arm out to Jazzy. She hesitated a moment before taking it.

“Where’s the rest of the guys?” Angel asked, disappointment written on her face.

“They went ahead to check security and make sure everything is okay.”

“Oh, okay,” she answered, her dissatisfaction more pronounced. She wanted to thank Jacque for the dress.

“We have the guards who’ll follow us.” Etienne and Jazzy led the way to the car.

***

The bellman for Le Pavillon hotel opened the car door. Etienne exited, and helped the women out the car. The four guards flanked them as they moved toward the lobby doors. The main entrance was a flurry of activity. Cars arrived with elegantly dressed people. The women looked ready for New York Fashion Week, the men, a photo shoot for a tuxedo ad. Angel absorbed her surroundings, enjoying the atmosphere of posh luxury.

Angel and the other women poised under the portico and chatted as they waited for Etienne to speak with some guests.

“Hey, who’s the fine brother over there?” Nat asked, pointing to a stunning brunette who stepped out of a stretch SUV.

Angel met his gaze and hauntingly familiar green eyes stared back at her. “I don’t know.” She spun around to ask Isabella, only to find her up to her usual games, pushing up on some hottie beside the gilded doorway.

“Aw, shit, he brought a whole frigging harem with him. I guess he’s a lost cause.” Jazzy scouted the crowd for a new target.

“I’m sure you’ll find somebody if you really want. If you open your eyes, you’ll realize you already have someone.”

Jazzy put her hand on her hip and tilted her head to look at Angel. “What do ya mean?”

“I mean Etienne. He’s had the hots for you since I introduced you at the club.”

She contemplated the idea, dimples forming as her lips turn up into a smile. “Ya think?”

Angel scanned the crowd, trying to find someone she knew. “I know.”

“He’s not bad looking. Shit, he’s fine. I’m still not sure about the non-human thing, plus he’s a vampire. Kinda creeps me out. Maybe someone who won’t want to drink my blood will be easier.” She giggled.

“I doubt he’ll try to drink your blood.”

“Hey, the cutie from the car is coming our way,” Nat whispered.

A gnawing sensation ached in the bottom of Angel’s stomach. Something was off, but she couldn’t pinpoint the problem.

“Evening, ladies.” The gorgeous specimen of man bowed, greeting them with a dazzling smile.

“Hi.” Angel returned his greeting as the entourage of beauties closed in on him.

“You must be the Angel I’ve heard a lot about.”

“Oh.” Heat brushed her cheeks. “Why, yes. And you are?” The heat transferred to her belly, creating an uncomfortable burning sensation.

“It saddens me you don’t know who I am. I would’ve thought someone might have told you about me.” His face was expressionless, devoid of emotions.

Angel strained her eyes past the stranger. He stood as tall as Jacque, which not many men could say. She scanned the crowd for Etienne or someone she knew. The guards watched from a short distance. They didn’t seem alarmed.

“I’m sorry. I don’t think they have. I would’ve remembered if someone told me to look out for someone tall and good looking.” The familiarity kept bothering her. She knew his face, those eyes.
Shit!

“My brother still has to work on his strategy. I know he expected me. I’ve no idea why he would leave you unprotected.”

A crash sounded close to the lobby doors. Etienne staggered to the wall to steady himself. Movement flashed too quickly for Angel to recognize what happened. The tall brown-skinned guard shoved her to the ground as the blade of Xavier’s dagger sliced into his torso.

As the injured guard hit the floor beside her, she grappled for the gun strapped to his side. Freeing the .9mm pistol, Angel squeezed off two rounds where Xavier last stood. She dug her heels into the ground and used her free hand to push off the ground. She scanned the crowd for Xavier. She lost him. Angel hoped she didn’t miss her target. The wound might not kill him depending on the location, but the silver bullets would slow him down for a while.

Angel screamed for everyone to run. The females Xavier brought with him were fierce fighters. The guards struggled to restrain them. Mayhem broke loose as Angel attempted to decipher friend from foe. Everyone under the portico joined in the battle.

The women scrambled for the limo. A brown-haired woman, wearing the blue dress, caught Faith by the arm.

“Faith!” Angel’s heart pounded in rhythm with her footsteps. Angel thought about firing off a shot only stopping when the risk of hitting Faith caused her hand to tremble.

The bitch in blue held Faith around the throat, flashing her sharp fangs in a cocky smile. “I suggest you get in the SUV if you want your sister unharmed.”

Angel’s hand shook with fear and anger. She gripped the .9mm with both hands, trying to keep it steady. “You let her go or you’ll never leave here alive.”

“You have no leverage to argue, bitch. Get in the SUV.”

Angel and the vampire circled one another.

The others sat in the car, witnessing the showdown unfold.

“Get the hell outta here,” Angel screamed at the car. “Shut the door and go.”

Marie jumped out the car and shut the door. The driver sped off, screeching the tires as he cornered the turn.

Kicking a decapitated guard out of her way, Marie picked up the sword lying on the ground. Angel focused back on the dark-haired vampire, holding her sister hostage. With one swift, blurry movement, the vampire and Faith faced Angel and Marie.

“I see you’re well, Marie. The last time I saw you, they were sealing you in a crypt.” The vampire tightened her grip on Faith.

Marie welded the sword in both hands ready to attack. “You always picked the wrong crowd to hang with, Susanna. Let my granddaughter go, and we can all walk away from here.”

“Oh, you won’t be beheading anyone today. Tell the ugly one to get in the SUV. We’re going on a little trip.”

Angel trembled and tears threatened to fall. “Bitch, you
will
let my sister go.”

“As you wish.” The light reflected off the blade as she unsheathed it from her hip. Before Angel could move, the vampire rammed the knife into Faith’s back.

Faith’s body slid to the ground with a pool of blood spreading around her. Angel stood frozen, concreted in place, too devastated to move.

The vampire howled as Marie ran the length of the sword through her abdomen. Angel steadied her aim, as the feeling returned to her limbs, and unloaded the clip into the vampire’s pretty face. There was no need for decapitation.

Angel and Marie both fell to their knees. Angel gathered her sister into her arms. “We’re going to get you help.” The words choked her.

Her breathing fluctuating as she clutched on to Angel. “No, Ang. It’s too late,” Faith whispered.

“No. We can get some help. One of the vamps can give you blood.” Angel rocked her sister in her arms. “Please,
Grand-mère
. Help her!”

“I was born a human, and I’ll die a human, even if it’s today.” Faith closed her eyes, relaxing in Angel’s arms.

Angel’s tears dropped on Faith’s face. “I can’t lose you.”

“I’ll always be with you, like I’ve been since you were born.”

Angel stared down at her sister, empty and scared. “Who’ll take care of me? Who’s going to love me now?”

“Oh, sissy. You have a lot of people who love you. You have to remember to love yourself. You’ve always had the answer to your own problems. Be brave enough to look for them.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Angel sought Marie for clarity. She only shrugged in reply.

Faith laid her hand over Angel’s heart. Angel covered it with her own, wishing she could turn back time. “You went out to retrieve your beauty, never realizing it was always within you.”

Marie leaned over and hugged them both. Angel shuddered as she rocked, clutching Faith to her. Faith’s body went limp. Her eyes stared blankly at the dark sky. The one constant in Angel’s life was gone.

The sounds of Angel’s screams ripped through the night and pierced her heart.