Page 20 of The Mermaid’s Bubble Lounge (Sam Quinn #8)

TWENTY

Scuttlebutt

Meri’s gaze went to the window. She waved and then pointed to the bar. “That’s my dad. Let me ask if he knows how to fight them.” She ran off and I was left wondering how we could possibly corner and kill a powerful shape-shifter.

Owen brought me a cup of tea. “Hey, boss. Looks like you’re almost done with this order.”

I nodded and took a sip.

“The scuttlebutt around town is that we have vampires visiting soon.” He looked apprehensive. “It won’t be like last time, right? No battles in the streets?”

I moved a finished stack of books to the shelving cart. “No. It shouldn’t be.” I glanced up. “Whose scuttlebutt? I thought it was super hush-hush?”

He grinned and waggled his eyebrows. “I have my sources.”

“But how would George know?” I asked.

Owen gave me a disgruntled look. “Listen, sister, I’ve lived in this town a lot longer than you. I know people.” At my blank stare, he rolled his eyes and said, “Fine. Dave told me.”

I pulled the last stack of books out of the shipping box and Owen began to break it down.

“How did he—” I remembered that someone at the nocturne had asked Dave to check out the crime scene at The Bubble Lounge.

If that someone was Godfrey, he probably would have blabbed.

“Never mind. Dave knows lots of people too.”

Meri returned from the bar, looking dejected. “He says he doesn’t know of any way to stop them. He thinks there were originally three pookas free in this realm. He heard that the queen’s guard captured two of them.”

She bit her lip. “The thing is, though, they really are seen as a kind of fae boogeyman, so he doesn’t know what’s real and what’s made up. He said, though, that he might know someone who does.”

Her expression brightened. “I told him everything you’ve done for me—getting rid of that man and helping me buy a car. I think he’s decided he owes you. If he can, he’ll find the answer.”

I put down the book I was inventorying. “You know you don’t owe me anything, right? No one’s keeping score.”

She gave a quick shake of her head. “You don’t know my dad. He won’t stand for being indebted. Chances are he won’t learn anything you don’t already know, but it’s worth him trying, right?”

“Absolutely.” I reached out and squeezed her hand. “Please thank him for me. We need all the help we can get.”

“Good,” she said on a decisive nod before picking up a stack of books and continuing to shelve.

Owen and Meri ended their shifts at the same time, so he was able to walk her to her car. So far, the creepy stalker hadn’t returned. I didn’t want to dim her joy, but I did remind her before she left to keep an eye out. Obsession was pretty powerful, even in the face of fear.

Fyr, Dave, and I worked the evening shift. I’d go home soon, but not yet. The sun wasn’t down, so Clive was still sleeping. Working helped to distract me from our current problem.

At a little after nine, Fyr left to start his shift at the Viper’s Nest, and I went behind the bar.

It was a quiet night. There were only two occupied tables, with five people in total.

Two were drinking beers and the other three had a fresh pot of tea.

Dave would take over for me when I left, but for now, he was baking in the kitchen.

I was sitting on my stool behind the bar, a book in my lap, but I couldn’t focus enough to read. I watched the dark water smash against the window, the sky purpling, and I worried that he was out there now, wearing a stolen face and plotting his next kill.

I was so distracted, I didn’t realize we had two more people in the bar until a pair of strong arms wrapped around me and I felt a kiss by my ear.

Glancing past Clive’s shoulder, I saw Vlad sitting on a stool.

Unfortunately, the other patrons noticed him too.

They had a good healthy fear of Clive, but they also seemed to recognize that he’d never attack them. They did not give Vlad that same trust.

“Good evening, darling. How has your day been?”

I stood so I could hug him properly. “I’m okay. Just worried,” I said into his shirt. “It’s better now, though.”

He kissed the top of my head.

I looked up at the sound of Dave’s heavy boots. He shoved a meatball sandwich on a plate at me.

“I already ate.”

“So eat again,” he grumbled, heading back to the kitchen.

I glared at Vlad, who seemed unusually interested in the state of his pristine shirt sleeve.

“Don’t play innocent. I know this was you.”

Clive rubbed my back. “You’ve been putting in a lot of late nights. No point in wasting food.”

The concern in Clive’s gaze made me pick up the sandwich and take a big bite.

“Darling, we need to go to the nocturne. Visitors have arrived.”

I waved to the last of my customers heading up the stairs.

“The thing is,” Clive continued, “the pooka knows where we live. I don’t feel comfortable leaving you home all alone.”

I swallowed a second big bite. “We’re warded up. I’ll be fine.”

“Yes,” he said, his hand on my back, “but wouldn’t you like to visit Russell, Godfrey, and Audrey? I know they’ve missed you.”

“You should probably bring the dog too,” Vlad put in. “Just to be safe.”

I took another bite while I glared at the interfering busybody. To Clive, I asked, “Would it make you feel more comfortable if I was in a nocturne filled with bloodthirsty vampires?”

Grinning, he gave me a kiss. “It really would.”

“Fine. It’s not like I have any customers left anyway.” They followed me back to the kitchen. I rinsed off the plate and put it in the washer. “Dave, the mustachioed one cleared us out again, so you can head home whenever you want.”

He nodded, crouched in front of the oven, staring through the glass front. “I have some baking to finish. I’ll leave when I’m done.” He paused. “Are the wards closed?”

I set the wards with a thought. They were tied to me. “They are now.” I led the way into my apartment, where Fergus was lying on the couch, his feet up in the air. “Come on, buddy. We’re going to go visit Daddy’s vampy friends.”

“That word.” Clive took my hand and we ran back through the folly to our home, Fergus at our heels.

Once there, I got cleaned up, made up, and stood in the closet, considering. I wanted to make a good impression for Clive but also wanted to fade into the background for me.

“Clive?” I knew he was in the sitting area of our bedroom, waiting for me.

“Yes?”

I ducked my head out and saw him scratching behind Fergus’ ears with one hand while he texted with the other. He put the phone down and looked up at me, waiting.

“What’s the protocol? You’re not the Master anymore, but now you are a Counselor.

Which is higher up the chain, right?” I glanced over my shoulder into the closet and then back at him.

“I mean, am I even meeting the bigwigs? Do I need to dress like I used to for formal gatherings, or will I just head straight to Russell’s office? ”

He lifted an eyebrow. “Do you honestly believe I would shuffle you away somewhere hidden and not show you off?” He stood, tutting as he moved to me. “Wear whatever you want. You don’t need to follow our protocols. You know that.” He gave me a kiss.

His eyes went vampy black. “You know what I’ve missed?” His hands settled on my hips. “How about your leathers?”

Grinning, I pushed him away. “Nuh-uh. We’d never make it out of the house.” I went back into the closet. “Besides, those were destroyed in New Orleans.”

Proving he is an excellent hunter, he walked past me and went straight to the drawer holding a pair of battered leather pants. He gave me a look that had me unbelting my robe.

“We don’t have time for this,” Vlad shouted from downstairs.

I slammed my eyes shut, hoping to hide from the embarrassment.

“Bugger off and wait in the garage,” Clive snarled, wrapping his arms around me and nuzzling my neck.

“No way,” I whispered. “They can hear everything. Go go go. I’ll figure it out.” I pushed until he finally relented.

“I’ll go kill Vlad and then I’ll be back,” he grumbled.

“If you kill him, you’ll just have to find yet another replacement.” I surveyed all the dresses I had—and there were a lot—looking for the right mix of understated and chic. Ugh. I just wanted to be comfortable and look decent. Was that too much to ask?

I was leaning toward a summer-weight little black dress but then remembered how cold the nocturne was.

Clive put up the heat for me, but I wasn’t there anymore.

Vampires didn’t feel the cold, so they didn’t bother.

Poor Norma, the human liaison who worked during the day, had a space heater in her office.

I found a garment bag hanging in the corner that I hadn’t noticed before.

It looked as though Godfrey was still shopping for me.

For the longest time, I’d thought Clive had been picking out my new clothes.

Apparently, it was Godfrey—and occasionally Audrey— who enjoyed shopping for me. At least they had good taste.

It was a long, knit column, with thick, uneven bands of horizontal color in sea green, teal, silver, violet, midnight. It would definitely make more of a statement than I’d intended, but it was so pretty and soft.

I tried it on and then chose a pair of midnight blue stilettos to go with it.

I looked in the mirror, trying to decide.

It was very body conscious, form-fitting from my neck to my calves, but I was also completely covered.

I put on the blue diamond earrings that matched my wedding ring and found a small handbag that matched.

When I went into the bedroom, Clive was back in the chair waiting for me. He moved toward me, his gaze seeming to eat me alive. And then I was crushed against him, and he was kissing me like our lives depended on it.

Eventually, he drew back. “You look gorgeous, love.” His hand brushed up and down my back. “I haven’t seen this one. It’s perfect on you.” His eyes lit with mischief. “My only complaint is this high neck.”

It hit the underside of my jaw. One of his fingers pushed it down to trace my throat before he leaned forward to kiss it. When he pulled back, his eyes were dark.

“Come, love,” he said, taking my hand. “We should go now.”

Fergus popped up from his bed and followed us to the elevator.

We went down to the garage, where we found Vlad and Cadmael standing beside the Mercedes-Maybach.

The body of the sedan was dark green with a silver hood, roof, and trunk.

It was a sleek work of art that cost six figures and I was scared to death of wrecking it.

“Your lovely wife sung the praises of this one and now I’d like a ride.” Vlad said, smirking at my discomfort.

Clive lifted the hand holding mine, kissed my wrist, and walked me to the back door, opened it, and helped me in. The leather was buttery soft. Instead of one back bench, there were two seats that felt like a sumptuous cloud and a leather recliner had a love child.

I sat and swiveled in, reclining back into a cozy leather cuddle.

Granted, the axe on my back kind of wrecked the whole soft-as-a-cloud thing.

When Vlad opened the opposite door, Fergus jumped in, trying to find a comfortable place to sit between Vlad and me.

He settled his butt on the floor, with the majority of him across my lap.

Clive and Cadmael slid into the front seats. Clive started the engine, and it purred to life. “I’d planned to take one of the SUVs, but this is a much better idea.” He adjusted the rearview mirror and smiled back at me. “Sorry we don’t have Champagne this time.”

Clive and I had ridden in a car just like this on our honeymoon. The driver had left us two glasses of Champagne in the back. I smiled, remembering those magical days in Paris.

“Are they all here?” Cadmael asked, distracting me from memories of strolls along the Seine.

“Yes.” Clive drove us out of the garage and onto the road. “Godfrey texted that the last has just arrived.”

I turned in my seat, looking for a cat—or anyone, really—too fixated on the house or this car. Nothing. Where was the pooka, and what was he up to?