Deadlocked (The Harry Russo Diaries Book 3) (20 page)

“Stop him! He’s got a gun!” I yelled to no one in
particular, jumping to my feet. I lunged towards the table, grabbing a steak knife
off its surface and hurled it at the Undertaker.

The shot rang out, just as the knife lodged itself in the
old man’s carotid. His arm jerked and the shot went wide as he crumpled to the
floor. I continued my momentum, jumping up onto the table and over it, landing
by the Undertaker’s side. He was gasping, his hand clutched at his throat.
Blood gushed out. The knife was sharp and I had sliced right through his
carotid artery. He’d be dead in a minute. I stood and looked down at him,
wondering if I should help him.

His lips moved like he was trying speak but nothing came out
but a rasping breath. “…let…me…die,” he said, closing his eyes.

Well, that answered that. I couldn’t say as I blamed him.
If I was a decrepit, dried up husk like him, I think I’d want to die finally
too. He wheezed a breath or two and then sputtered, blood bubbling at his
lips. I guess I must have hit his airway too.

There was a low keening sound and I looked around, wondering
where it was coming from.

“Harry! Look out!” Isaac’s warning rang out too late. A
dark body hurled through the air and I found myself being lifted off the floor
by my throat. I clawed at the hand, my bare feet dangling off the floor. I
looked down at the Mariposa, her face a hideous mask of rage. She screamed
incoherently.

I saw Isaac and Hilde running to my aid, but Catalina threw
out her hand and there was another blast like the one before and everyone in
the room was thrown backwards yet again. With another scream, she hurled me
away from her, across the room.

I smashed against the wall, landing in a heap. I was dazed
and my entire left side was in pain, but I knew I had to get up. I struggled
to stand, but before I could get my feet under me, a black form flew across the
room at me, and I mean literally flew. Not just moved real fast, the bitch
flew.

The Mariposa landed in front of me and slowly bent to put her
face in mine, her hand wrapping around my throat. “You killed him! You killed
my Rodolfo.” She snarled, her fangs dripping with saliva. “You will pay for
that, necromancer.” She pushed me against the wall using my neck for
leverage. I was barely able to breath, but barely is better than nothing and I
sucked in what air I could. She slowly straightened to standing, sliding me up
the wall to hold me above her head.

“Catalina! Stop!” Salvador’s voice rang out.

“Madre!” Diego’s voice joined in.

“No!” Catalina roared. “No!” She swept her arm out behind
her and the room shuttered, a shock wave travelling out from where we stood,
knocking down everything in its wake. She reached up and placed her other hand
beside the first, slowly wrapping her fingers around my neck. “Now you will
die and I will watch as I slowly strangle the life out of you.”

I struggled in her grip, as her fingers tightened. “No!” I
gasped, trying to push out with my will, compelling her to stop. For a brief
moment she paused, her eyes widening in surprise, but then she snarled and her
hands began to tighten again. My power was no match for hers.

My breath wheezed out and I began to gasp, unable to take a single
breath. For a moment, it felt like time stopped and I looked over her
shoulder. Isaac and Hilde were struggling to stand. Salvador was on his feet
but there seemed to be some sort of invisible barrier preventing him from
getting to me. I could see his mouth moving, but hear no sound except
Catalina’s snarling and my choking attempts to draw breath.

I kicked out with my legs, trying to dislodge her. Finally,
after the first moments of panic, instinct and training kicked in. I clapped
my hands in front of me, holding them together like in prayer and drove them up
between Catalina’s outstretched arms. With my arms on the inside of hers, I
was able to get a small amount of leverage, pushing out enough to loosen her
grip on my throat ever so slightly, enough to draw in a ragged breath. Without
pausing, I reached down and drove my thumbs into her eye sockets.

Catalina screamed a bloodcurdling scream, her hands falling
from my neck and I gulped in air as I fell to my feet. I bent over, my hand
sliding up my calf to grab the dagger I had hidden there. I pulled it from its
holster, rising to stand just as the Mariposa lunged for me again. I thrust
the dagger up, placing it between us, her own momentum helping to impale her on
the blade. It slid into her chest and I gave it twist. There was a pop and
she exploded into pieces, blood and gore raining down around me.

Horrified, shocked, relieved, lucky to be alive; whatever it
was I was feeling, I slid to the floor and took what felt to be my first deep
breath in years, the Dagger of Asar – now broken – clutched firmly in my hand. Good thing I
came prepared to the party.

“Hurry up, Nash,” I complained from my perch on the end of
the bed, “you’re going to make me late for my own party.”

“Alright, alright, I’m almost done,” Nash replied, his voice
partially masked by the sound of splashing water.

He stepped out of the bathroom a moment later, drying his
freshly shaved face on a towel. He was only half dressed, his dark button-fly jeans
partially done up around his waist. His shirt lay beside me on the bed.

I looked at him in appreciation, my eyes lingering over the
sharp planes of his abdomen, a feeling of pure lust overwhelming me. I licked my lips.

“You keep looking at me like that and we’re going to be
very
late,” he growled, a smoldering heat in his eyes. He was across the room in
two strides and I laughed in surprise as he pounced on me, pushing me back on
the bed. He pinned my arms above my head, his mouth devouring mine. “Very,
very late,” he said. He yanked my shirt out from where it was tucked into my
pants, sliding his hand up under it, his palm warm against my skin.

“Mmmmm,” I moaned, arching my back as he cupped my breast,
his fingers brushing over my nipple through the lace of my bra. “Late’s not so
bad. It’s fashionable.” I slid my free hand over his abs and followed the
path of downy hair to where it disappeared into his jeans.

“Minx.” He grabbed my hand, pushing it back up above my
head. His lips skimmed down my neck, tentatively, hovering over my bruised
skin.

“It’s okay Nash, they don’t even hurt,” I said. He frowned
at the angry, hand-shaped bruises on my neck. It had been a week, but they had
barely faded. Odd, since I usually healed faster than that. I watched the
emotions flit across his face, warring with each other: Anger at what had
happened to me. Regret that he hadn’t been there to protect me. His alpha possessiveness
that someone dared harm what was his. And finally, concern for my well-being
and safety.

“I wish...” He frowned again, his fingers reaching out to
hover over my neck. “I wish –”

“I know,” I said, putting a finger to his lips. I smiled,
running my hand over his smooth face. He’d been shaving regularly these last
few days. I suspected it was because he didn’t want to add a case of
whisker-burn to my already abraded neck. Truthfully, I kind of missed the
delicious rasp of his whiskers against my sensitive skin, but I knew that it
wouldn’t be long before scruffy Nash returned.

I pulled his face to mine, kissing him deeply. Grabbing him
by the shoulders and wrapping my leg around his thighs, I flipped him off me
and onto his back. The look of surprise on his face made me laugh as I settled
myself on top of him, straddling his hips. I leaned over, pushing my breasts
against his chest and took his mouth with mine. He growled, his hands grabbing
my hips, pulling me hard against him. I ran my hands over his bare skin and
his nipples pebbled under my touch.

Nash pulled at the button on my jeans, popping it open and
yanking the zipper down. He slipped his hand into my pants, his fingers working
their magic. I moaned, grinding myself against him.

Suddenly, I was flying through the air, landing on my back
on the bed with a yelp of surprise. Nash yanked his shirt out from underneath me
and gave me a wicked grin.

“Come on, minx. You don’t want to be late for your own
party.” He laughed again, the evil bastard, and pulling on his shirt, strode
out of the room.

“You’ll pay for that, old wolf!” I couldn’t help but smile
after him. Payback was going to be sweet.

***

“Hi, it’s so good to see you. I’m glad you could come.” I
gave Millie Daniels a hug. She was looking very prim and proper in her floral
dress and hat. I had helped the recently widowed woman out a while ago with
some issues over a missing will.

“Harry, it’s good to see you, girl.” Millie beamed at me.
“I just had to stop by and wish you luck in your new endeavour.” She patted my
arm. “And I wanted to tell you the news myself.”

“News?”

“Yes'm, I’ve sold the house. That nice lawyer helped me
with everything and you wouldn’t believe the price I got for it.” She shook
her head. “Lordy, who would have thought I’d have enough money to retire and go live in Florida?”

“Millie, I’m so happy for you.” I gave her another hug.
“I’ll miss you though.”

“Oh, you are a dear. You’re so busy and look at all these
people.” She looked around the shop. The place was packed. It seemed like
the entire neighbourhood plus all my friends had come out for the grand opening
of the Full Fat Coffee Company. “I best get me some of that delicious looking
cake before it’s all gone.” She gave me another little pat and then bustled
off to do just that.

“Harry!” Isaac beckoned me over. He was busy at the Deco,
serving up coffee to go with the incredible cake Hilde had created. It was
almost a shame to have cut into it, but the hungry people eyeing it probably
would have rioted if we hadn’t. It had been a work of art. A chocolate
lover’s dream, it was layers of white cake and rich chocolate ganache, frosted
with a creamy fudge icing. As if that wasn’t enough, Hilde had recreated a
perfect replica of our new logo across the surface of the large slab cake.

I loved our new logo. It had been designed courtesy of
Willow, our newest nightshift employee. She was another one of Isaac’s vampire
friends that, like Hilde, wanted a chance to try something new. She was an
amazing artist and she was one of several vampires that moved out of Dante’s
and into the newly renovated, high security condos across the street.

It turns out I did know the owner of the building after all,
since it was Isaac. I was stunned when I found out. He had bought the
place and started plans to renovate it almost immediately after meeting me. He
planned to use it to house vampires that were tired of the nightclub lifestyle
at Dante’s. On the main floor, there was a large studio space where artists
like Willow could work. He was also planning on opening a gallery to show and
sell the art produced.

I looked again at the logo emblazoned on the sign hanging on
the wall over the coffee machine. It was perfect. It reminded me of Ruben’s
famous
Venus and Adonis
. All you had to do was swap out Adonis with a
large steaming cup of coffee, the voluptuous, and thankfully modestly clad,
Venus lovingly hugging the cup to her bosom. If there was ever a woman that
embraced the concept of full fat, it was the curvy Venus.

“Harry!” Isaac’s slightly perturbed voice jolted me out of
my daze. I hurried over to see what he wanted.

“You bellowed?” I asked with a grin.

He gave me a long suffering look. “It’s time,” he said, raising his eyebrows expectantly.

“Really?” I huffed
out a breath. “Fine.” I stomped off and into the centre of the room near the
bakery counter. “Excuse me! Excuse me!” I raised my voice over the din of
the crowd. I caught Nash’s eye where he sat in one of the booths with his
three sisters. He winked.

“
Go get’em, minx
,” his thoughts whispered
encouragement in mine. I grinned at him.

A sharp whistle shrilled and the crowd hushed in response.
I looked over in surprise to see Hilde standing behind the bakery counter, her
fingers at her lips ready to whistle again if needed. I nodded a thanks and
then turned back to face the crowd.

“Oh boy,” I said with a nervous smile. I took a deep
breath. “Okay, so I’ve been
told
that I should say a few
words.” I threw a pointed look at Isaac and then looked back over the group.
“Wow, there’s a lot of you here today. That’s great. But, just so you know,
our capacity limit is only fifty, so if anyone spots a city inspector, could
those closest to the door just step outside onto the patio until he’s gone?
That would be great. Thanks.” I smiled and the crowd tittered with laughter.
“Okay…first of all, I’d like to thank you all for coming out for our grand
opening. I know a lot of you have been here over the last couple of weeks
already, drinking our coffee and eating our pastries and some of you have even
paid
for them,” I waited for a minute for the crowd to quiet down again, “and for
that, I am…we are, very grateful. Your support has meant a lot to us and I
hope that you will continue to support us in the future.” I smiled out at the
crowd, taking in all the familiar faces: Barbie and her brother Martin, Tank
and several others from my
former
babysitting detail, Tess and her Uncle
Rigo, Morris and the boys, even Mrs. Flannigan was sitting sharing a cup of tea
with Millie at one of the four-tops. “We’re new at this thing, so I hope you
will forgive any blunders we, I…make,” I gave them a little self-deprecating
smile, “and know that we will continue to strive to provide our best for you.”
I raised my coffee mug. “So here’s to the Full Fat Coffee Company, a
neighbourhood fixture for years to come.” There were lots of cheers and
everyone raised the glass or cup in front of them. “Alright! I guess that’s
it then,” I said with relief. “Drink up, eat up, enjoy your free coffee and
cake because the next one’s going to cost you.”

I stepped into the crowd of people, all patting my back and
shaking my hand, wishing me well. It felt good. It felt
normal
. I
breathed a sigh of relief. I needed a good dose of normal after the events of
last week. What am I talking about? After the events of the last few
months
.

“Well done, minx.” Nash wrapped his arm around my
shoulders, pulling me in to give me a peck on my forehead.

“Whew!” I smiled. “I’m glad that’s over. I hate public
speaking.”

“Harry!” Tess threw herself at me, giving me a big hug. “You
were great. See? I told you it wouldn’t be so bad.”

“Thanks Tess.” I gave her a hug back. Nash stepped over to
speak with Rigo. “I couldn’t have done it without you.” She had been my test
audience, helping me to fine tune my little speech. “Oh, hey,” I said,
spotting Max just walking into the shop. “There’s someone I want you to meet.
Come on.” I dragged her by her arm across the room.

“Max!”

“Harry! How are you? You’re looking great.” Max smiled.
I hadn’t seen him since the night of the banquet and to say the events after
the Mariposa exploded all over me were a blur, would be the understatement of
the century.

“I’m good. Doing great actually.” I smiled at him and
then put my hand out to Tess. “Max, this is my best friend Tess Alvarez.
Tess, this is Maxwell Hart.” I smiled at his name and looked at Tess waiting
for her reaction. We had giggled over the name days before when I had told her
about him. I mean, how could you say Maxwell Hart and not think about Agent
86? We had ended up binging on old episodes of
Get Smart
afterwards.

Tess looked at Max, a sort of stunned expression on her
face. “Uh, hi,” she finally said, keeping her hands at her sides. She knew
better than to hold out her hand to shake. “Nice to meet you.” She turned to
me, a strange look on her face. “Sorry Harry, I just remembered something I
forgot to do.” She started to back away. “Will you excuse me?”

“Certainly,” replied Max, his face puzzled.

Tess beat a hasty retreat, cutting through the crowd. I
shrugged. “Well, that was strange.”

“I hope it wasn’t me.” Max laughed half-heartedly, his eyes
still on Tess’s retreating figure.

“She probably left her flat iron on or something.” I
shrugged, trying to keep my concern over Tess’s reaction from showing on my
face. Looping my arm through Max’s, I said, “Let’s get you some coffee and you
have to try the cake before it’s all gone.”

***

“There you are, minx. I’ve been looking all over for you.”
Nash slipped up behind me, wrapping his arms around me.

“I’ve been busy playing hostess,” I replied, turning around
in his arms and wrapping mine around his neck. I pulled him down for a quick
kiss.

“Mmmm, I want more.” He grabbed my hand and spinning me
around, pulled me down the hall towards the storage room.

“Nash!” I scolded him. “We can’t just – ”

“Oh yes we can,” Nash replied, pushing me in the door, “I
know the owner.” He pulled the door closed behind him and I found myself
pressed up against it, his body hard against me. He crushed his lips to mine.

After a minute or two, I pulled my mouth from his, panting.
“It’s kind of dark in here, don’t you think?” It was almost pitch black. We
hadn’t turned the light on and the high piano windows along the length of the
room did little to help since it was night outside.

“I guess I’ll just have to feel my way around,” Nash
replied, sliding his hands up my body to cup my breasts. He nipped several
playful kisses down my neck to my collarbone. “I’m sure I can manage.” He
popped the button on my jeans. “I’m a quick study after all.” He yanked on my
pants, pulling them down to my knees. “Besides, you know what they say...” He
slipped his hand inside my panties and I sucked in a breath. “Practice makes
perfect.” He began to tease me with his fingers. “Or maybe it’s ‘seize the
moment’.”