7. Chapter Seven
Chapter Seven
I’d awakened to the sound of my phone ringing and the sun peering through my window. I groaned, not wanting to wake up or answer it.
The haunted tour last night ran until after midnight. What was supposed to be a one-hour walking tour turned out to be much longer due to two things: one, the slowest walker on the face of the planet, DeArie. We kept having to stop to wait on her, and two, the copious amount of questions Saria had about how the hell a convent of nuns and orphan girls could be connected to vampires.
I was super excited to get the tour started. We met at Pere Antoine Alley, the starting point. From there, we visited Madame Laveau’s gravesite, also known as Queen Voodoo. According to the tour guide, people still visit her shrine to request favors of her magic.
After Madame Laveau’s grave, we visited what was considered the most haunted house in New Orleans and perhaps the world, the LaLaurie Mansion. As soon as I heard the name and story of how she tortured her slaves and then killed them, it instantly reminded me of a fiction story I read based loosely on this story by an author named Candace Adams called Dark Madame . The shit was gruesome. A true horror story.
The tour was fun and added to the allure of New Orleans being one of the most haunted cities in the country. Saria, on the other hand, thought fucking with the spirits was going to have all of us in an early grave or possessed. Especially when we got to the Old Ursuline Convent. God, I loved her and her religious bullshit.
I finally looked at my screen, the phone now quiet in my hand. I had three missed calls, all from Jevry.
“Shit. It’s noon already?”
I blinked the sleep out of my eyes and called her back. She answered on the first ring.
“Hey girl! I was calling to see how it was going. Are you gals having fun?” she asked.
I had to put her on speaker because Jevry was much too chipper for me to have just awakened.
“It’s been a trip, that’s for sure.”
Jevry giggled. “What is that supposed to mean?”
“I’ve run into two cute men since I’ve been here. And had my cards read, which scared me shitless. Spent some of Stanton’s money and went on a haunted tour last night that ended late as hell that scared Saria shitless,” I rambled.
“Let me guess, possession and spirits latching onto you?” Jevry asked as I went to the closet to pull out the dress I was wearing today. She laughed, and I snickered.
“Yup. You know her.”
“That I do but go back to the part where you met the two cute men,” she said. The intrigue was clear in her voice.
“I didn’t say I met them. I said I ran into them.”
“So, explain then,” she demanded.
“The first one was on the sidewalk. He was a fucking Sinner, Jevry. Go figure, huh? I didn’t talk to him because the girls ushered me into an alleyway that was actually a restaurant.”
“Say he was a Sinner? How did he look?”
“Tats and silver rings on every finger. Eyes like the color celadon. He was beautiful, girl. I could pick him out of a crowd anywhere.” I wasn’t lying. I’d been secretly looking for him and listening for the rumble of a motorcycle since I’d bumped into him.
“Did you see his name on his cut?” Jevry asked, excitement tinging every word. She knew I had a great time with some of the guys at her and Stanton’s wedding. I could say I was enamored.
“Damn, I didn’t even think to look,” I said, wishing now that I had.
“Oh damn. I have no idea who that was then or if Ace would even know,” she added. “What about the other guy?” Jevry asked.
The excitement in her voice was evident. A slow smile crept across my features at her enthusiasm for my love life.
“The other guy was in an expensive designer suit. Perfect hair and perfect beard. I’d seen him twice more since the restaurant. Once when we left a boutique and again last night on the street before we went on our haunted tour.”
“And you didn’t talk to him?”
I shook my head as if she could see me as I turned the water on in the sink.
“No. I didn’t get a chance to. It was like he was there one minute, and then I blink, and he's gone the next.”
I put my toothbrush in my mouth while Jevry spouted on about how she enjoyed the pictures we’d been sending to her and how she wished she was there with us. I asked her about the baby, and I could hear the wistfulness in her voice as she spoke about how the baby was kicking. It was all so exciting. Jevry would be a great mother. She already had that protective streak down pact.
I spit, then told her about my plans for the day.
“I haven’t been out exploring alone yet.”
Every time I bring it up, Saria goes on and on about how it was dangerous for me to walk through a city like New Orleans alone. Of course, she was right, but I was careful and vigilant when it came to my safety and surroundings. I always carried mace with me, and I’d taken some self-defense classes to take care of myself.
“There’s this bar I wanna check out. I heard there was live music.”
“Are you sure that’s wise? Going out by yourself, I mean,” Jevry asked. I heard the trepidation in her voice, but it wasn’t warranted.
“I’ll be fine. The bar isn’t that far from here,” I said, trying to reassure her.
“Okay,” Jevry acquiesced, text me when you get there so I’ll know you’re good.”
“Yes, Mother.”
Jevry had always been a worrywart, and it was even more so now after what happened to her. I was beginning to think it wasn’t just Stanton who was opposed to this trip.
“You know I love you, right?” Jevry’s somber question halted my steps to the bathroom.
“Of course. I love you too,” I said back. “Jevry, what’s wrong?”
Jevry sniffed, and my heart went into overdrive. She wasn’t one to break down for no reason.
“Fucking hormones is all. Just be careful, okay?”
“I told you I would.”
“Okay, I’ll talk to you later. And send me more pictures, m’kay.”
“You got it,” I said, being officially dismissed. Jevry hung up.
After a quick shower, I dressed, slipped into my flip-flops, grabbed my bag and keycard, and headed to the elevator. There was no sign of DeArie or Saria. We had a long night, so I suspected they were going to sleep in today. I didn’t blame them, but I was eager to get out and see the sights. So far, we’d done everything together, but I wanted to get out on my own. I loved my girls, but with DeArie being the daredevil and Saria being reserved, I felt kind of stifled.
I tottered onto the sidewalk and took a deep breath. New Orleans had a distinctive smell, and I was glad that this time, I smelled food. I smiled because I was free to do what I wanted this afternoon, namely, head to that bar. It was certainly a unique place, with its white cinderblock exterior. It was nestled in a corner and, from what I could see, catered to the locals.
It was just what I was looking for.
The red doors were just ahead of me, and I noticed a few bikes outside the building. They instantly reminded me of the number Stanton had given me for one of the Sinners from the New Orleans Chapter.
“Well, at least I know I can call him if I get into trouble,” I muttered as I pushed open the two red doors of the Voodoo Bar. “Cool name.”
And it was even cooler inside and packed for the afternoon. I stood on my tiptoes to look toward the back. The bar was nestled just beyond an archway, and I walked toward it. There was exactly one seat, which I hurried over to claim for myself. The guy behind the bar was tall with black hair that was short on the sides and long in the front. He wore a black T-shirt under a black leather vest. I could just make out the name ‘Riot’ on a patch over his heart with the word member underneath it. Riot was full of tattoos that went down to his fingers.
I hadn’t realized I was staring until he cleared his throat. “I said, what can I get you?”
“Oh, sorry for staring. I just,” I paused. “I just know a guy who dresses just like you,” I said, smiling.
“Oh really?” Riot’s eyebrow arched. I guess he wanted me to say more.
I nodded. “Yeah. His name is Stanton. Ace to his brothers. He’s married to my cousin. He’s a Sinner. Oakland Chapter,” I blabbed, sure I was breaking some type of rule just uttering those words. It was at that moment I saw two other men dressed just like Riot. One turned his back to me as if he could hear what I was saying. I read the back of his vest. ‘Sin City MC’ embordered the top of the skull, and New Orleans curved underneath.
“Ahhh,” I realized. “You’re a Sinner too?”
Riot didn’t answer me, but he didn’t have to. I could tell by the twinkle in his bright blue eyes that he was.
“Now, what can I get you?” he asked again, and this time I did answer him.
“I don’t know. What kind of cocktails do you have?”
He shook his head and then pulled out a plastic menu that had a list of drinks with some pictures. I smiled when I saw the picture of some green drink that had to be a Midori Sour with a toy alligator draped across the rim of the tumbler. They were named ‘Croc-Tails’.
I giggled. “I’ll take a Croc-Tail and some fries if you got them.”
“Coming up,” Riot said and moved down a little way to fix my drink.
I saw a small dais to my right when I walked inside. There wasn’t a band setting up when I came in, but I heard commotion in the other room. It sounded like someone was on the stage.
I turned around when my drink was placed in front of me.
“Thanks,” I said, smiling at the small toy draped on the rim of my glass. I took it off, placed it onto a cocktail napkin, and took a sip.
It was just what I needed. The haunted tour was a blast, but this right here was more my speed. I turned again with my drink in hand, watching a few fellas play a round of pool. To the left of them was another group playing darts. This felt like the bars back home. Neighborhood friendly…well, maybe not friendly, considering the guys I just watched play a nice game of pool were now arguing. At least it hadn’t turned to blows. Not yet anyway.
Then I heard it. The thrum of an acoustic guitar. I took my drink and fries, slid off the stool, and strode into the other room. I could feel the eyes of the Sinners on me, but I didn’t turn around. I knew I’d put myself on the radar, and as long as I was there, they’d take care of me.
I found an empty table—which was really saying something because there were so many people in the place—and waited for the band to start. They played an opening song that I’d never heard of before. I assumed that it was an original. The lead singer had shaved sides, and the rest of his brown hair in a low ponytail. And wore an ordinary button-down shirt, jeans, and sneakers.
The waiter set another drink in front of me.
“Ummm, I didn’t order this,” I said to him, picking the drink up to hand it back.
“Came from the guy over in the corner.” He tilted his head to a guy that I’d seen on two other occasions.
This time, he wasn’t in a designer suit, just jeans and a T-shirt that showed off toned, muscular arms, broad shoulders, and a wide chest. He looked even more handsome in regular clothes than he did in the tailored suits. He was alone. The other two men I’d seen with him before were not with him.
I gave him a smile and lifted my glass, which apparently was an invitation to join me because he smiled, stood, then sauntered over to me. His walk was sexy, full of confidence, and a tinge of arrogance. This man knew he was fine, and by the looks he garnered from the women around us, they thought so, too.
“May I join you?” he asked. There was a slight accent that I couldn’t place, but not enough there to impede my understanding.
“Of course,” I said, dipping my head in acknowledgment, then sipping the drink I’d already ordered. I knew better than to drink something I didn’t order myself. “Thanks, by the way.”
“You are very welcome,” he said, giving me a devastating smile that had small quivers running through me.
Yeah, he knew the effect he had on women.
“Three times I’ve run into you now. I’m starting to think you’re following me,” I said jokingly.
He laughed at that. “The Quarter is a small place, believe it or not, but how can I not follow you? You’re gorgeous,” he claimed, and I beamed like a goddamn Cheshire Cat.
“Thank you. I appreciate it.”
“Would you care to dance?” He put out his hand.
I stared at it for a moment, then looked around. There wasn’t anyone else dancing, although plenty of people were swaying in their seats to the music. I smiled at him and placed my hand in his.
“Sure.”
I let this guy whose name I didn’t even know pull me out of my seat and into his arms right next to my table. His palm was hot against the small of my back. I could feel his touch straight through my dress. It was nice. I could feel that warmth run through my body, although it was more than likely the alcohol.
He was a fair dancer. He led, and I followed. Soon, I closed my eyes and let my cheek fall against his chest. His scent was intoxicating, like some sort of sweet spice and musk.
“Tell me. What is your name?”
I almost slipped up and gave him my real name but recovered quickly.
“Jevry,” I answered.
Jevry and I had always done this since we started dating in high school. We would give fake names if we met a stranger but weren’t too interested. She’d use mine, and I’d use hers. It worked. Plus, we looked so much alike that the guys couldn’t tell us apart anyway. We always played that to our advantage.
“Jevry. That’s pretty. Different,” he crooned into my ear, and once again, I seemed to be hypnotized by him.
“Thanks,” I whispered as the song ended, but he didn’t let me go.
We stood next to my table, swaying to no music, caught up in the feel of one another until my cell phone rang and shook me out of whatever trance I was in.
I peeled myself out of his arms. “I’m sorry, I have to get that. It’s probably my friends wondering where I am.”
“It’s fine. You go ahead. I hope to run into you again, Jevry,” he said. He leaned down and kissed me on the cheek, then I watched as he left the Voodoo Bar.
I answered my phone, albeit a bit distracted.
“Hello?”
It was DeArie rambling on about how I was shitty for not telling anyone where I was going. And that it was dangerous to go out alone. Saria was in the background, parroting everything DeArie was saying. I couldn’t get a word in edgewise.
“I’m fine. The bar is within walking distance of the hotel. And there are Sinners here,” I informed them, but I heard Saria scoff in the background.
She didn’t have faith in the one percenter club like I did.
“We’ll be there in a little bit,” DeArie informed me.
“No, no. I promise I’ll be there soon. I wanna go back to that boutique we went to the other day, and then I’ll be back in time to get ready for the game.”
We scored courtside tickets to the Pelicans game, which had Saria screaming at the top of her lungs because of it. She was a huge fan of Brandon Ingram.
“Just hurry up and get back here. We’ll be in the restaurant.
“See you soon,” I said cheerily and hung up with a smile. My thoughts went straight to the man from earlier. “Fuck, I didn’t even get his name,” I mumbled. But I hoped that I’d run into him again real soon.
I stopped right at the threshold of the boutique that the girls and I ducked into when we fled Mystic Whispers and looked behind me. I had a feeling I was being watched. It was so strong that I’d paused twice before to glance over my shoulder. Even though I didn’t see anyone, I knew they were there. I could feel the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.
“Hi, is everything alright?” a sweet voice asked, pulling my attention away from the pedestrians on the sidewalk.
“Oh, yes. Everything’s fine. I thought I saw someone I knew,” I lied, then pasted on a smile.
“You never can tell here in New Orleans,” she offered with a giggle. “What can I help you with?”
“I’m going to a Pelicans game tonight.”
“Oh! Say no more. We’ve got the perfect thing for you,” she said, clapping her hands.
Monica, her name tag read, was more excited than I was about me going to the game. But her enthusiasm was infectious, and soon, I’d forgotten all about the feeling of being watched. I laughed and giggled right along with her as she draped across the fitting room door outfit after outfit until I’d chosen four of them.
“Can I get you anything else?” Monica asked, completely out of breath from running around the store for me and laughing.
“No, thank you. This was good. It was fun. I appreciate your help,” I said as I took the two bags from her hand.
“Make sure you and your friends come back and see us before the end of your trip,” she called after me as I stepped over the threshold and onto the sidewalk.
“We’ll be back,” I called out over my shoulder and gave her a wave.
I was about two blocks away from the hotel, which was not a far walk at all. I was a little tired, but the sun was shining, and the music was everywhere in the air. All of it made me smile and lightened my heart.
This was really the best trip I’d ever had until I had that same creepy feeling that I was being watched. I didn’t stop my trek back to the hotel, but I did scan my surroundings.
At one point, I thought I saw a wisp of black fabric duck into an alley ahead of me, but when I got to the entrance, no one was in sight. I peered down the alley for a long time before I was satisfied that no one was there and moved on toward my hotel.
The crowd was heavier up ahead. I stood on my tiptoes, trying to spot a way around, but there was none other than crossing over to the other side of the street. I waited until I got to the crosswalk. I didn’t know how serious they were here about jaywalking, and I definitely didn’t want to find out.
I waited until the light was a green hand before I stepped onto the street and was bumped by the biggest man ever. He was tall and wide, built like a linebacker or someone’s bodyguard.
“Excuse you,” I growled because he didn’t even say sorry as he sped in front of me.
I was corralled behind him. Enclosed to my left and right by the throng of people crossing the street. I tried to slow my pace just a little so I wouldn’t step on the guy’s heels in front of me since I couldn’t get around him, but I was bumped by the hard body in the back of me.
I turned to see who knocked into me, but my upper arm was suddenly grabbed. The man behind me squeezed. Hard. I was going to have a bruise in the shape of his fingers.
“You scream, and you are dead,” he rumbled in my ear as he continued to usher me across the street and onto the sidewalk.
This was going down two ways. I could either do what he said, and I’d never see my family or friends again. Or I could fight like hell and get to my hotel, which I could see just up the street.
I wasn’t one to step down from a fight. I’d been a fighter most of my life. There was only one way I was doing this.
I nodded. “Okay. Okay. I won’t scream,” I promised, “but I will fight like hell.”
I took the bags still in my hands and swung them into his face. That momentary distraction caused him to loosen his grip enough to where I could pull my arm away from him. It also caused enough angst in the crowd to where the cocoon they had me trapped in dispersed, and I ran like hell—right out of the damn flip-flops I wore. There was no way I was getting caught because I’d tripped over my damn shoes.
As I ran, people moved out of my way. Screamed as I bumped and pushed them, and I could even hear some asking if I was alright as I ran past them.
“Don’t let him take me!” I yelled. “His trying to kidnap me!”
I didn’t dare look behind me to see how close he was or if I was getting help from people. I was almost out of breath. My calves screamed at me from exertion. It had been a long time since I had to all out sprint. The sidewalk cut into the bottom of the delicate skin on my feet, but I didn’t care. I’d risk a fucked-up pedicure if I could just get away.
Just as I reached the hotel, I slammed into a hard chest. One that I was familiar with because I’d danced with him not even an hour ago.
“Whoa! Jevry, are you okay?” the man from Voodoo asked.
For a moment, I was confused because he called me Jevry, but I remembered that was the name I’d given him when he asked.
“Oh my God. I’m so glad it’s you,” I said, out of breath, pulling him into the lobby of my hotel.
“Someone just tried to snatch me off the street. They were right behind me. I have to call the police,” I said. My mind was whirling with all types of scenarios and possibilities.
“Calm down, Jevry. You stay here. Tell me, which way did they go?” he ordered.
“I really don’t know. I was just trying to get away,” I said, pointing out of the door.
He turned and pushed through the doors and onto the sidewalk, but I didn’t stay put like he asked me to.
I hurried over to the restaurant where DeArie and Saria were supposed to be. When they saw me, they crowded around me, and by the time the man came back, my friends had shooed him away and ushered me to the elevators with me sobbing profusely.
When we entered our penthouse, the girls helped me to the couch. Saria went straight to the kitchen while DeArie rubbed my back. I just couldn’t stop crying. I hated crying, especially in front of people.
“What happened, sweetie?” Saria asked, handing me a glass of water.
“Thanks,” I mumbled, taking a swallow before I tried to speak.
“I left Voodoo, that’s the name of the bar, and went to that boutique we ducked into yesterday.” I wiped the tears from my cheeks. “I felt like I was being watched. But when I looked around, I didn’t see anything or anyone out of the ordinary.”
I took a deep breath because images of what could’ve been bombarded me. I closed my eyes to clear my head, then opened them slowly.
“It’s okay,” Saria said from behind me. “Take your time.” DeArie handed me a tissue from the dispenser on the end table next to the couch we sat on.
Fucking tears.
“When I left, I kept thinking that I saw someone watching me from an alley, but they disappeared down it. By the time I got to the entrance, I didn’t see anyone, so I shrugged it off and kept moving toward the hotel. The crowd was really thick up ahead. And I couldn’t see what was happening, so I crossed the street, and when I did, I was boxed in. The guy who was behind me grabbed me and told me if I screamed, I was dead.” I paused as a fresh batch of tears accosted me.
“Oh, no, sweetie,” DeArie tried to comfort me. “You’re okay now. It’s a good thing you got away.”
“You’ve got to call that guy that Stanton said call, Lyra,” Saria insisted, which caught me by surprised. She didn’t like the Sinners. She believed they were a bunch of troublemakers, so coming from her, it meant she thought I was in real trouble.
“I don’t think that’s necessary, Saria. They caught me off guard because I was by myself. I have no plans of going out on the streets without the two of you ever again,” I said emphatically.
And I meant it. It was stupid of me to begin with.
“I think Saria is right, Lyra. You were almost kidnapped in broad daylight. Who’s to say they won’t try it again,” DeArie said, agreeing with Saria. I looked between them. Their concern for me had their faces drawn in and touched my heart.
I felt restless and irritable. “Okay,” I reluctantly agreed. “I’ll call Jevry when I get out of the shower,” I huffed, then pushed off the couch and headed to my room without looking back.
I was just ready for this day to end. What started out as fantastic quickly turned into a nightmare I didn’t want to dwell on.