“There’s two guys in there,” Jenks said. “How do you want to play it?”
I hesitated at the doorway when I saw two raggedly dressed vamps at the window, enthusiastically throwing Stef’s heavy-duty mixer out onto the lawn. The place already smelled like a bordello, and a tingle went all the way to my groin before rising back to where my vamp scar lingered under pristine, unmarked skin. Damn vamp pheromones.
“Ah, let’s go with plan B,” I said, and one of the vamps turned at my voice.
“Grab the cat and run like hell,” Jenks said, head bobbing. “Keep them busy. I’ll see if I can get Boots to come out so you aren’t on the floor with your ass in the air, dragging him out.”
“Thank you so much for that,” I muttered sarcastically as he darted away, and the second vamp turned, beaming to show his small but sharp canines. “Good afternoon, gentlemen,” I said, making sure they saw my splat gun and attitude. “I’m here for the cat.”
“Who the hell are you, beautiful?” the first one said, and I inched deeper inside as I heard Doyle in the hall. “Not that it matters,” he added, eyes flicking behind me as Doyle filled the doorway. He wasn’t coming in, though, and I took the center of the room, ready to move.
“Right here, baby,” the other said, gesturing. “Let me show you what teeth are good for.”
I stifled another shudder, shoving the compulsion he’d put in his voice down deep. “Just don’t,” I said, and Doyle grunted in surprise. I had practice saying no to vampires. I had practice saying yes, too, and my entire side was tingling because of it. Crap on toast, it had been a long time since I’d put myself in such a chancy position, noon or not, and my stance grew provocative, daring them to try.
They hesitated, glancing back at Doyle as if for instruction, but he was content to watch, and somehow, that made me more nervous.
“Come on, you stupid cat,” I heard Jenks say, and then the tinkle of wind chimes as he rubbed his wings together. “O-okay . . .” he added, and then a startled “Hey!” before he shot out the door, a gray tabby in fast pursuit.
Jenks darted for the ceiling, inches ahead of the jumping feline. I sprang forward, snagging the cat and thanking all that was holy that the killing machine was partially declawed as he struggled. I gripped him tighter, clamping him to my body and refusing to let go. I’d never had much luck with cats though I liked them well enough. Al said they sensed the demon in me.
“Hey, Boots,” I said as I fought for control, my gaze going from vampire to vampire as I held the struggling cat. “Let’s go see your mom.”
But Doyle wasn’t moving from the threshold.
“You’re Rachel Morgan, right?” he said, still hunched and hurting.
I turned my back on the other two, confident that Jenks would tell me if they moved. I didn’t think they would. Doyle was interested in me, which meant hands-off to subordinate vamps. Clearly I’d misread who was in charge downstairs. “Yep,” I said, forcibly petting the big-eyed, frantic cat. “Sorry about the throat. It was either that or your nose, and I figured you didn’t want to bleed in front of everyone.”
He nodded a slow thanks, but he didn’t move, either toward me or away, and Jenks hovered closer, the snick of him easing his sword from his scabbard dropping a chill through me. “I’m trying to leave,” I said, using my court-useful words. “Are you preventing me from leaving? Hey, you all see that he’s barring my egress, right?”
Doyle glanced at Jenks, and then, with a smile that wasn’t nice at all, he shifted into the room so I could pass. “You may leave,” he said, and my gut tightened.
“Thank you.” Back stiff, I walked past, breathing in both his anger and his interest. Vampires were weird like that, attracted to anyone who said no, especially when they had the strength to back it up.
Jenks hummed a warning, and I jerked when Doyle grabbed my biceps. I was in the hall, and I tensed, eyes darting to his, hating that he saw my flash of fear. His smile grew even more nasty, and he almost whispered, “You should leave the city.”
“Because I hit you?” I said, holding the cat between us like a shield, almost.
“No.” He looked me up and down, smile widening. “Because Constance likes to play with her food.”
I stumbled back, almost falling, when he let go.
“That’s your real warning,” Doyle said, chin flicking to tell me to leave.
“Great. Thanks.” I backed to the stairway. Wary gazes tracked me silently from around doorjambs. I shifted my grip on the cat, hardly breathing as I found the stairs. “Is he following?” I asked, and the pixy landed on my shoulder despite the cat’s face being five inches away.
“No. He’s throwing Stef’s couch out the window.”
I glanced over my shoulder at the sound of a hefty groan. “It fits?” I asked, then jumped at the sound of splintering wood and grunt of anger.
“It does now,” Jenks said sourly.
My eyes went to the bright spot of light at the end of the stair, drawn by the crack of the couch hitting the lawn and the rising awe of appreciation from the rubberneckers. Edden was still on the stoop. His mood was casual as he talked to his I.S. counterparts, but his relief was obvious as he saw me heading down.
“Nice talking to you,” he said to them as he took control of the threshold, halfway in as he held a hand out to me. “Hey, if you want tickets to the FIB fundraiser for Bikes for Kids, let me know. I’ve got a pair for both of you. Lots of food, fun, novelty bike races.”
“Uh, hey!” I exclaimed when Edden grabbed my elbow and yanked me out the door and down the three steps and back into the mid-March sun.
“Sweet Jesus,” Edden muttered, grip hard on my elbow as Jenks grinned and flew circles around us. “I don’t think I’ve ever been more scared for a person. I can’t believe you went in.”
“Someone had to get her cat,” I said. “And if you didn’t want me going in, why did you introduce me to her, knowing I’d do it?”
“I didn’t know about the cat,” he said, finally slowing as Stef rushed forward. Behind me, her dresser came crashing down. They were emptying out her apartment in an ugly show of privilege and bad manners, but she didn’t seem to care as she reached for Boots and cuddled him close.
“Boots, oh, baby! Did they scare you?” she crooned, and the cat settled into the woman’s arms, his eyes wide and black.
Crap on toast, I thought as I brushed the cat hair from me. I’m rescuing familiars.
“Thank you so much,” Stef gushed as she caressed the unhappy cat. “Thank you, Edden,” she added, eyes bright, though he’d done nothing but keep open my way out. Which actually was a tremendous help. “I’m not much of a witch, but he means the world to me.”