“Okay, as soon as I say clear!!!” Janetta leaped to the outlet, grabbed the plug from the floor, and jammed it in. She ran back and looked at the machine. “CLEAR!” She whispered hoarsely, “Goddammit, ya old bitch, wake up!” The paddles ignited Doria a final time. The thin flat line on the monitor bounced. Raine started laughing with relief. “She heard you!” The two nurses grinned through maniacal chuckles as Doria Bill opened her eyes and blinked at the ceiling. “I saw a light.” Raine’s laughter stopped. “What? Really? You saw one?” Doria nodded and tears fell. “Why did you bring me back?” Her hands climbed up to cover her sobs. Doctors rushed into the room. Raine backed into the wall while they asked questions, questions she couldn’t answer as she stared at the old woman whose heart was broken. It was Janetta who told the doctors what happened, glancing only once at Raine as the younger nurse left the room, staring at nothing, her steps slow. She w
The restaurant they’d celebrated at was in Chapter, so Darrell walked down 5th Avenue. passing 37th, 38th, and 39th until after a while he found himself standing before Brownie Cinemas despite what he’d told Danny. Staring at the sign that stretched down the austere, Art Deco building, he tapped his foot, then walked inside to look at the movie times. He was right. The next showing was at 10:50 P.M. That was in two minutes. Spy, starring Melissa McCarthy. He glanced over to the poster and seriously considered what to do. She was hilarious, no doubt, and he could use a laugh. He walked up to pay for a ticket but as he reached for his wallet, a very loud, drunk couple announced, “Two for Spy! God, I can’t wait to see this.” “I know! She is so funny!” They were so loud and obnoxious. His jaw clenched and he stepped away, changing his mind at the last second. Walking outside onto West 33rd, he continued South without a goal in mind. In any other town, Monday night at this hour would hav
Raine bent at the knees and joined the others on the ground. She laid the ice cream down and clasped her hands over her head, hair falling in front of her face. The man could barely manage through shaking fingers to get his night’s earnings into the bag, change rattling onto the counter and floor. “Pick that shit up!” “Dude, forget the change, man! We gotta get outta here!” “We should take the girl!” She looked up, horrified. A mistake. They both turned their guns on her. Two silver barrels pointed at her head. Frozen, she stared at them, the world becoming hyper-focused. Her heart stopped. Her blood slowed. The white guy’s finger twitched on the trigger. She squeezed her eyes shut. She heard a grunt like the wind knocked out of an unsuspecting stomach. She opened her eyes. The white guy flew backward into shelves, crashing onto them as they fell to the ground with an explosive clatter. From out of nowhere a man in a suit appeared standing between her and
After a few seconds, Raine held the phone suspended in front of her. “He hung up.” “I know,” Darrell said. “Oh, um…okay. Are you a criminal? I have to ask, because this is more than a little strange! What is going on?” “I’m the opposite of a criminal. Thank you for trusting me.” “Who says I’m trusting you?” He panted for a few moments, closing his eyes before he rasped under his breath, “Your actions.” She colored and looked down at the phone. “You want me to call someone who’s not an asshole?” He chuckled through the pain and looked at her. “Wait here with me?” He leaned partly on her, partly on the brick wall, closing his eyes again. “Of course,” she whispered. “I have to make sure you stay alive. I’d just rather do it the old fashioned way.” She sighed and put her hand over his, both applying pressure. With uncanny timing, a cab raced by, its horn forcing her to notice. She glanced to the heavens and back to Darrell. “I can hail a c
“Having a party, Mr. Shane?” the security guard asked. “Good evening, Rich,” smiled Danny. “Just a few friends who want to enjoy some of the best Scotch the world has to offer.” “Send me down a glass?” Rich laughed. “I’ll do better than that. I’ll send you down a bottle.” The hard-working man reacted with humbled surprise. “Well, well! My lucky night!” Darrell kept his eyes on the ground, the pain unbearable. It helped him that he wanted to ‘stand tall’ in front of Raine and he used his ego for support for the never-ending walk to the elevator. Elliot pushed the button and miraculously a car was waiting. The doors slid open as quickly as a whore’s legs on a Saturday night. When they got inside and were finally alone, Darrell slumped against the wall and groaned. He could feel the bullets. Nate and Elliot turned to inspect him, but Darrell shot them a look. He didn’t want to be babied. They backed off. He could feel Raine staring at him, and he offered her a smile. “I’m okay.” His
Darrell opened his eyes to find the second bullet more gnarled than the first, held up for his inspection. He met her eyes and held them. She paused and her heartbeat sped up. With fluttering eyelashes, she looked away and set the bullet down. “Good job,” Danny said, suddenly breaking the moment while somehow managing to make it sound like an insult. He retrieved the piece of wood from Darrell’s teeth and rolled his eyes. “What? I complimented her.” “Thank you, Raine.” Darrell reached over to hold her forearm, his strength a fraction of its normal power. The room still looked fuzzy and he knew he could sleep for a year if someone would just let him. “You did a great job.” Raine laid her hand on his stomach and circled it there. “We need to replace the blood you’ve lost.” She glanced at Danny. “I don’t suppose you have some stashed in your refrigerator?” Danny snarled at her cocked eyebrow. Darrell chuckled and Danny pursed his lips, aware he was beginning to look ridiculous. A kn
“Okay, so it wasn’t exactly like the dream.” Darrell closed his eyes, wincing at the ache. “Anyway, I heard them and ran as fast as I could. I almost didn’t make it.” “What do you think it means,” Elliott picked up the bloody bullets and inspected them with fascination. They were quiet. Then Nate asked, “Have you had psychic visions before?” “No.” Danny grabbed the bullets from Elliott. “Well, that’s just great. Put those things down. Let’s focus. There’s a woman in there who’s bound to be asking a whole lot of questions right about now.”*** “I just really needed some ice cream, and look what I got for it.” That was a joke all women could understand. Bonnie and Joan seemed nice. Too nice. Women can switch to enemies in a flash, Lord knows why. She needed them on her side. A pretty grin spread on Bonnie. “Do you have it with you?” Joan rolled her eyes. “Right? Give it to me.” Raine’s smile grew, this time effortlessly. “I left it on the
Fuck it. Letting herself go, Raine leaned in and softly kissed Darrell. His lips parted in surprise as she pulled away. She whispered in his ear, just for him, “Thank you for saving my life.” “Thank you for trusting me.” She arose and headed for Elliott who was by the door. She didn’t need him to tell her, “I’ll take you home.” She nodded and it struck her that he seemed like a statue. She glanced back to Nate, then grazed a glance over Danny’s solemn countenance. They suddenly seemed… inhuman. “It was nice to meet you.” They nodded and murmured the same. Bonnie and Joan looked the most uncomfortable. Don’t make me go home. Let me stay here and take care of him. Let me tell him I’m here for him. I’m here. I’m here… New Crossia City sparkled outside the limo’s window as they drove west to her small, Chelton apartment, flashes of blurred color zipping by. She couldn’t see any of it. Her mind was on him. “You’re quiet,” Elliot said after they’d been silent for a long time. She g
But then he heard someone behind him in the doorway and he spun around to see Linda standing there with her suitcase in one hand, her light blue coat in the other, keys jingling as she nervously fiddled. She asked, quietly “Are you okay?” the rain pattering loudly behind her. With all the self-discipline he could barely muster, he struggled against his wolf and cracked his neck as he gave a very curt nod and grated through gritted teeth, “My…friend…seems to have left.” “You need a ride somewhere?” Danny blinked to the ground and then back to her. He grimaced and commanded his wolf to calm the fuck down. Gasping for air, he said, “Excuse me a moment. Please, don’t leave.” He walked to the bathroom and shut the door, splashing water on his face. The cold baptism he coupled with direct and soothing, silent mantras. I’ve got this. I can do this. Control. Control yourself. Let her go. She had to leave. Let her go. You are stronger than this. Afraid he’d lose his ride out of here, he q
He listened at the door to make sure what he heard wasn’t some kinky, consensual sex play. It wasn’t. He stepped back, looked left and right for anyone watching. No one was around. He closed his eyes and listened for heartbeats in nearby cars. The lot was empty of human beings. He focused on the door and took a single step back. Cracking his neck, his eyes began to glow and with all his supernatural strength he shot out a powerful kick. The door split in two, splintering at the hinges. A disgusting sight waited for him inside. The dead-eyed employee of the motel had a woman of at least sixty against the wall. At the explosion, they both looked toward the door. Her eyes were wide with terror and shock, his narrowed in irritation at the interruption. Her suitcase lay on its side on the ground like she’d tried to throw it at him, the contents splayed on shag carpet. The attacker had a bite mark in his arm, but now was pinning hers. Her polyester pants were down around only one ankle and
Danny collapsed on top of her trembling body, panting as Kat held him close. She kissed his neck, lacing her fingers into his damp hair. But without a word he got up and pulled out, leaping off the bed like she was contagious. He strode swiftly to the bathroom, slammed the door and then had the audacity on top of everything, to fucking lock it. On shaking elbows, she rose up and stared at the door. The shower came on, muffled through the walls. She blinked at the sound, unable to believe what she was hearing. “Oh my God,” she whispered, stunned and terribly hurt. Getting up, she slowly paced the room. Her shirt was broken, as were her bra and panties. Only her jeans were intact so she put them on, went to his suitcase and pulled out one of his t-shirts, a black one she would no doubt swim in. Slipping it over her bedhead, she grabbed a pair of his dress socks and put them on, too. As she tugged on her sneakers, the shower turned off. She froze then ran for the door, swooping down to
He released her, glanced to the guy behind the gun-proof glass watching the scene with interest. “Come on,” Danny grumbled, reaching for his suitcase. The fact that he held the door again was a miracle but that’s just what he did. She hesitated. He cocked his chin as if to say, Well, what are you waiting for? “You never cease to amaze me,” she snarled at him, walking cautiously past like he might slam it on her if she wasn’t careful. As soon as they were outside, he led the way with the self-confidence of someone who knew she would follow. “Why am I staying here with you? Am I a glutton for punishment or what?” Under the minimal shelter of an insufficient awning they made their way to Room 7, millions of drops hitting them from the left. Without finesse he jammed the key in the lock and again held open the door for her. “Since when are you a gentleman?” “I’ve always been a gentleman. Have you really forgotten that?” She shrugged and walked inside, looking around the original décor
“Wish I had a towel,” she smiled. He stared at her until it faded away. “What are you doing up here? Is this your car?” “It’s my parent’s car, which you would know if you’d ever come over to their home. And I’m going to MarhVelly.” She paused at his expression. “What? Why the face?” Danny stared at her. There’s no fucking way. He pushed wet hair away from his forehead and asked in a very low voice, “Why are you going to MarhVelly, Kat?” Flustered she blinked back to the road. “Lobster. I’ve never had it there, and I’ve always wanted to.” Pointing ahead, she glanced over to him, “Oh no, looks like an accident.” He turned and saw ominous lights of both fire engines and police cars spinning through the storm. He and Kat were quiet as they waited to see how bad the damage was. A car was turned over, the driver nowhere to be seen. Probably already taken away by a speeding ambulance. Two more driverless cars lay on one another in the fast lane. A tow truck was busy pulling the upturned
“Okay, I can handle this,” he said, under his breath, not believing it. As though on dramatic cue, lightning illuminated the heavens followed instantly by powerful claps of thunder. In heavy undulating sheets, the rain exploded from the darkness, assaulting his Audi A4 Sedan. With every curse word he could think of he searched for the windshield wipers. He hit the turn signal, accidentally turned off the lights and put them back on, and hit the cruise control. “For what I paid for this piece of shit, the wipers should be zipping on their own at the first drop of rain.” Finally, the wipers moved and he cranked them up full gear. Exhaling, he sat back, gripping the wheel. “If Eli could see me now. He’d never let me live this ineptitude down.” For two miles he drove fairly quickly despite the storm until suddenly red taillights illuminated the darkness. Stopped traffic. “SHIT!” He slammed the brakes and hydroplaned to a diagonal stop, narrowly missing the rear end of a Subaru. Panting,
“It’s called conversation. Someday you’ll learn how to participate in one. The car is there. Gas it up before you bring it back. And remember to let Jonathan put the gas in. A man wants to be the man,” Marcy replied. “You think so, eh?" Kat paused near their coat rack filled with scarves and coats. Quite a few hats were hung on the rungs as well, each assigned to at least one memory, not all of them good. “I’m going over to get the car now. Is Dad there?” “Your father is sitting across from me. So no.” “Since when do you and Dad have lunch together?” She frowned at all of it. It seemed like every inch was seeped in memories. Breaking up sucks so badly. “What’s going on?” “Your mother and I are getting to know one another again!” Henry Zane called out, loud enough to be heard, but not loud enough to make an undignified scene. Kat stared into her parent’s past, at the infidelities on both their parts, the fights, the estrangements. “Is this true, Mom?” “Oh, it’s Mom now, is it?” h
As soon as he hit send, Danny jumped up and headed for the bathroom easily the size of a small Crossia studio. He hadn’t held back when he’d renovated this unit. After the Co-op approved him, he’d gutted the place to match his taste. Everything elegant. Shining. Black or charcoal grey, with the ceilings white for an added feeling of space. His bathroom had two showerheads with room for four people, not two. There was a separate, Jacuzzi bathtub. If he and his wolf friends were going to live like humans, they should live like the best of them, since by default werewolves were superior already. Not that human beings would see it that way. He ran the water extra hot and stripped off his clothes, kicking the annoyingly tight shoes aside with extra gusto. As soon as the scalding water hit his sore back, he sighed long and loud. Then he turned and got a surprise. It felt a little better than he thought it would. He glanced down. “What the fuck?” He was hard as a rock. Now that he was payi
This was her chance to make a run for it…or to commit to him for good. He was a good man. Such a good man. Her family loved him, probably more than she did. He’d make an okay father except for the probability that he’d not teach them anything new. He’d probably just make carbon copies of him, a man designed by the term “normal.” For God’s sake, Don’t Rock the Boat was one of his favorite things to say whenever Kat had a contrary opinion she meant to voice among their judgmental social circles. “Well, Kat. What is it?” Her body was as tense as though she were about to cage-dive with Great Whites. She closed her eyes begging for the answer from her angels, or anyone who could tell her that she should follow her heart. The room was so quiet. She held her breath, waiting. A small voice inside of her whispered, You know what you have to do, and suddenly she inhaled. “Kat, you’re scaring me.” Meeting his frightened brown eyes, she shook her head with sadness. “I’m sorry, Joe. I can’t ma