Gravity (31 page)

pool table, taking a corner-pocket shot. She had more curves than the ball she was aiming for.

“People are wondering what you’re up to is all I’m saying,” Knox said in slow, pronounced

words. “I know that shit you carry around, and you got that look in your eye. Talk it out with me

here or later, but don’t do something stupid that’s going to make you one of my cases.”

“I thought you were a man who believed in justice.”

Sunny appeared from the bathroom door and headed toward the bar. Knox kept a close eye on

her at all times and when she slid onto the stool, he turned his attention back to Adam. “Someday,

Razor…”

“Adam,” he corrected.

“Don’t be funny with me, brother. You’ll always be Adam Razor in my head. The guy that took a

knife in the gut for me. The guy who told me to quit fucking around and find a good woman. The

guy who told me that someday he was going to have some property and watch his kids play on a

tire swing. The guy with a conscience. I’m not seeing that conscience in your eyes these days.”

Knox waved a heavy finger at Adam’s face and scraped his lip with his teeth. “I don’t want to see

you do something stupid for revenge.”

“My sister’s killer is out there; I have a right to find him.”

“You think that’s going to make your problems go away?” Knox asked.

Someone cranked a rock song on the jukebox and they both leaned in closer to hear each

other. Knox had no right to judge him because he’d never lost anyone that mattered—let alone a

twin.

Knox sighed heavily. “Is that what you’ve been doing at night? You think you’re just going to

find him wandering around on the street outside human bars in a city where the crime didn’t even

happen?” he asked incredulously.

Adam narrowed his eyes and shoved the bottles to the side. “Samil was his maker, and I got a

good feeling that he’ll come back home eventually. I’ve got his face burned in my memory and I’ve

lived here long enough to know our kind eventually comes home. It’s where most of Samil’s

progeny is, and if that sonofabitch is out there, then I’m going to find him. I’d sure as hell know

his mark if he’s changed his appearance.”

Knox’s large arms rested on the table and his face softened to one of resolve. “I get it. Just

promise me something,” he said in a low voice.

“Yeah?”

Knox lowered his dark eyes to the table and nodded to himself as he came to some kind of

conclusion. “When you do find him, do the right thing. Whatever that might be, brother. I’ll always

have your back.”

Chapter 25

“How long will you keep me locked up?” I asked Officer Stone from the back seat of his squad

car.

“It’s not a hotel, you know.”

The hell it wasn’t. Although the idea of a strip search as part of the check-in process was losing

its appeal. The police radio squawked and the car made a wide right turn.

“Remembered your name yet?”

“Jane Doe.”

“Well, Jane, why don’t you tell me why you were stealing a bunch of worthless shit at an

ungodly hour?”

I avoided looking at his piercing eyes in the rearview mirror and winced as I stupidly rested my

forehead against the glass. The monstrous bump began to throb all over again.

“Doesn’t this have trouble written all over it,” he mumbled as the car slowed down.

I leaned over and looked through the front windshield. A black car was parked ahead of us with

a man signaling for the cop to pull over. He wore a long tan coat with black gloves and a fedora,

one that covered his Mohawk.

Tarek grinned when he spied me in the back and I slid down in my seat.

“Sit tight,” Stone said.

“Take me to the station first. You’re not supposed to make stops, are you?”

“Do you know them?” he asked without turning around.

I didn’t answer. Stone got out of the vehicle and slammed the door. He was a fearless man,

always in control of the situation. He approached Tarek with his hand covering the gun at his hip

and I could hear the conversation through the glass.

“What’s the trouble?” Stone demanded more than asked, stopping at a safe distance.

“No trouble. I just happened to be out driving and noticed you had my fiancée in the back seat

of your police car. I’d like to take her home. What has she done?”

“You mind stepping away from the car and removing your hand from your pocket?”

Tarek lifted his hands as if under arrest. I peered through the small space between the

headrest and the seat. A protective panel divided the car, and claustrophobia was rearing its ugly

head.

“How much is her bail? I can pay it here and save everyone the trouble. My wallet is in my

pocket,” Tarek said, reaching around his waist. Stone tightened his grip on his gun when Tarek

slowly opened his wallet and removed several bills. “For your… trouble.”

Stone flashed his light on the money and then back in Tarek’s car. “If you know this woman,

then what’s her name?”

Tarek narrowed his eyes. We all had fake identities we used in the human world so our real

names wouldn’t be documented. Tarek didn’t have a clue what mine was.

“I assure you she is my fiancée. I can bring you witnesses if needed, although I think Ben

Franklin is witness enough, don’t you?” He reached in his wallet, tugging at it several times until he

rolled up a wad and held it out toward Stone.

The cop backed up. “If you know that woman, then you can swing by the station in the

morning. I’m going to ask you to get in your vehicle, or I’ll arrest you for bribing an officer.”

Stone hadn’t a clue he was up against a Chitah Lord, but he was a man undeterred. That

might have provoked Tarek, but he seemed to play by the rules when it came to human law

enforcement. Taking Stone out in the middle of the street wouldn’t bode well if there were a

witness or a street camera.

Tarek straightened his back and drew in a deep breath through his nose. His golden eyes

gleamed in the headlamps and white plumes came out each time he spoke. “Very well, we’ll follow

you.”

“You do that and I got a cot with your name on it. Fond of cavity searches? Because there’s a

guy at the station who is, and he’ll love you. Get back in your car. Now.”

Tarek flashed teeth for a second, but to my surprise, he did just as the officer requested.

Officer Stone returned and sat in the front seat, turning around to look me over. “You sure

have a lot of boyfriends who don’t know your name.” His coat made a rustling sound as he buckled

up. “You stole that shit on purpose, didn’t you?”

“How long will I stay in jail for?”

Stone forced out a tight breath. “I don’t really like locking people up for stealing worthless crap.

Do you want me to call the women’s shelter?”

“No. How long?”

“Would getting locked up make you feel safer, is that what it is?” His eyes read me like a book.

“Why don’t you tell me who these men are? You’re wearing Bachelor Number One’s coat, but I

suspect he’s not your main problem. Dickhead Number Two just tried to pay me off. He’s lucky I

didn’t shove him in the trunk, because if I’d had another cruiser with me, he’d be under arrest.”

“Look, my head really hurts, so if you don’t mind, I’m going to stop talking now.”

“Where do you live?” he asked.

I shook my head and he grew increasingly impatient.

“Tell me where you live and I’ll take you home. I haven’t called this in or filled out the

paperwork yet. I got more hardcore criminals out at this hour to worry about. No harm done,

outside of offending me with your poor taste in movies.”

“I don’t have a home,” I lied.

He removed his hat and tossed it in the seat beside him. His buzz cut had a flat top. Stone’s

brows slanted, giving him an apologetic expression. “You sprang forth this very night? Hallelujah,

it’s a fucking miracle!”

“I could spit in your face and call you a pig if that’ll make our trip shorter.”

He carved me up with his eyes. “Fair enough,” he replied, turning around in his seat as the car

sped down the road.

“This isn’t the way to the station,” I said as I watched the buildings become more unfamiliar

and thin out.

“I’m taking you to a shelter; that boyfriend of yours will be coming to the station, and I don’t

think you want to see him, do you?” His eyes darted to mine in the mirror.

“Just take me to jail. I don’t want to go to a shelter.”

“And why not?”

“Because he’ll find it—now take me to the fucking station!” I yelled, kicking the doors.

“Cut that out and settle down! You’ll be safe there.”

“I don’t have time to argue, just take me to the station. You don’t know that man; he can find

a speck of lint in the Sahara Desert. He’ll be at that shelter within ten minutes of my arrival.”

“Fair enough.”

I slid across the seat as the car made a sudden U-turn in the middle of the street.

When we arrived at the station, Stone hauled me in and sat me down on a bench, uncuffed. A

few minutes later he reappeared and took me by the arm, dragging me back outside.

“Where are we going?” I looked around and noticed dawn was on the horizon as the colors

began to change. I shivered as Stone pushed me into the passenger seat of a blue sedan.

Did this qualify as abduction? Somehow, I didn’t think it was part of the booking process.

“You’re coming with me,” he said matter-of-factly, starting up the engine.

“Um, look… I don’t know what you’re up to, but you can’t—”

He reached over and grabbed my hand before I could open the door. His face was just a mere

inch from mine and I leaned back to create space.

“Let me help you for one night so I can sleep knowing I didn’t send you to an early grave. If

you want to come to the station later, I’ll drive you myself and make up charges. I’ve been around

the block and then some; I know that look and maybe I got a soft spot for helping out a woman in

trouble. Maybe if someone had done it for my mother, she wouldn’t be sitting in a mental

institution. So come get a good morning’s sleep, and maybe by then you’ll remember your name

and where you need to go. Deal?”

“It’s not safe. I can’t go to your house.”

“I’m a cop who’s pissed off a whole lot of people. I keep my house locked up tighter than a

prison.” Something softened in his expression. “I see those marks on your neck,” he said,

motioning toward the Chitah scars. “That’s a world I know a little about, one I’m ass-deep in on a

daily basis. Boyfriend Number Two was a tall sonofabitch with a unique eye color, wouldn’t you

say? And your Vampire friend is a real jackass.”

Before I could formulate a smart comeback, Stone turned the wheel and backed out the car.

He knew about Breed. He knew I was in trouble. And for Good Samaritan reasons I’d never

understand, he wanted to help.

I used to doubt the existence of angels, not realizing they were men and women walking

among us.

***

Stone lived in a modest house with tall iron gates along the sidewalk. A small key unlocked the

gate that secured his front porch. He had all but built a cement wall around his property. Once

inside, he flipped on the lights.

My eyes widened at the guns all over the room.

“These are my babies,” he said unapologetically. Stone went into the kitchen and put on a pot

of coffee. “Take a load off on the sofa if you want to sleep. My room is off-limits, and if you want to

use the bathroom, hold the toilet handle down.”

“I think I’m past sleep at this point. I’ll take the coffee.”

“Fair enough, have a seat. Let’s start with your name.”

Ah, to tell or not to tell: that was the question. My false name would come up in one of the

Mage databases if he reported it.

“Let’s not.”

“You got any family?”

I shrugged.

“Is there anyone who can help you out? You might start by telling me what you are. I’m

trusted among Breed and I could get you the right kind of help. I don’t know why you’re mixed up

with a Chitah, but that’s the wrong kind to tangle with.”

I sat on his musty plaid sofa from the 1970s and dropped my feet on the coffee table. Dirty

feet with holes snagged in the socks. Embarrassed at my lack of manners, I crossed my legs,

peeled off the wet socks, and stuffed them inside Christian’s coat pockets. I couldn’t help but

imagine what delightful things he’d have to say when he discovered them. It was getting warm, so

I unfastened the coat and slipped out of it.

“Put your feet up. I don’t care,” he said from the connecting kitchen on my right. He tossed a

frozen bag of tater tots at me. “Sorry, I’m all out of peas.”

I stared at the bag and my stomach growled.

“For your head,” he said, tapping his skull.

“Thanks.”

I pressed the frozen bag to my aching head. Stone returned with two white mugs, setting mine

on the end table to the right and switching on the lamp. It was the most hideous thing I’d ever