Her Perilous Wolf by Julie Steimle (best e book reader TXT) 📕

Chapter Fourteen

Selena and Vicky arrived slightly ahead of Vincent’s car on the street full of brownstone buildings. Vincent and Selena both knew the apartment front equally well, which really was not that well at all. Vincent had only been there twice more than Selena, but he had only been there three times. However, Vincent led the way into the building and up the elevator. And when they knocked on the door, Troy opened it looking surprised.

“Well now…” Troy stepped back, blinking at the crowd, recognizing everyone except Michael. But he was a good guesser as to who he was. “…to what pleasure do I owe this visit? Am I under house arrest?”

“No,” Selena said, striding in.

Yet Troy watched Vincent then Vicky as they went in—looking like he would go paler if he could. He was already a vampiric white. “Ah… I still feel like I’m in trouble for something.”

“We actually just need information from you,” Tommy said, glancing at the New Orleans décor before grinning at Troy.

Troy took that barely, eying Tommy most particularly out of all of them. Vincent could tell Troy was fully aware that Tommy was part of the SRA, yet not entirely hostile to him.

“And we need to speak to Bobo,” Selena interjected.

Nodding, Troy looked once more at Vincent who peeked to Vicky, Vincent’s eyes trying to tell Troy she did not know everything. Troy nodded pointedly at him and said, “Bobo is out with his girlfriend right now.”

“We’re looking for my cousin, Audry,” Vincent said, skipping all the small talk.

“And why would she be here?” Troy also glanced to him like he wanted a quiet conversation away from everyone else.

“Actually,” Tommy said with a nod, to Michael who had been silently standing back near the stairs to the loft, “We need Randon’s phone number and address. You’re his best friend, and we think Audry might go to visit her old roommate Silvia, who you know is Randon’s wife.”

Troy relaxed only a little bit. He shook his head with a peek to Vincent as he said, “I heard from her bother Doug that Audry was in Africa.”

“She came back,” Vincent explained, earnestly gazing on him, hoping this would be handled discretely and quickly. “And it’s a long story. Can you help us?”

Nodding appreciatively to him, Troy smiled. He went to fetch a pen from a desk-like table that stood along the wall where they also had an in house phone and an open computer.

Vicky drew in a loud gasp, staring at his teeth. She retreated next to her brother.

“It’s just a condition,” Selena said, hardly bothered by Troy’s glistening canines. She looked to Troy. “How well does Bobo know Audry?”

Troy shrugged, digging through the pen cup for a favored pen. “Well enough. He joined NYU’s green club because of her.”

Vincent and Vicky exchanged amused glances. Audry was always recruiting for one thing or another. Green club was one of her favorite clubs.

“But honestly, it was actually some scheme Rick thought up, trying to get Audry a bodyguard.” Troy peeked to Vincent again, pen in hand. “Bobo is perfect for that kind of job.”

 “Howie was trying to get Audry a bodyguard?” Michael murmured. He glanced to Vincent who had stiffened, thinking about this.

Vicky mouthed ‘Howie?’

Lifting his eyes to Michael carefully, Troy extended a hand and said, “I don’t think we’ve met. But you’re one of the Seven, aren’t you?”

Michael nodded, saluting him. His smile was more businesslike here. Considering Troy was a vampire, Vincent wondered how much Michael trusted or distrusted Troy. Michael didn’t really know him, after all. And Michael was a ‘monster hunter’.

Troy nodded more to himself, pulling his hand back. But he turned toward Vincent. “Why are you searching for Audry again? From what I know about her, she’s pretty independent.”

Smirking with a chuckle, Vincent nodded. It was rather silly they were doing this, knowing she could handle herself against wild animals. “She is. But my aunt and uncle are worried about her. When she came home from Africa, she insisted to go to the doctor’s. And long story short, she was supposed to stay home for a few days for recovery, but she snuck off, saying she was going to meet with a friend somewhere near New York.”

“Well… we’re in New York,” Troy shook his head. “And Silvia and Randon also live in New York. So I can give you their address, but I have a feeling your cousin the kind of girl who uses concise language. She means what she says.”

Vincent glanced to Michael. It was likely this was a longshot. Nonetheless Michael looked to him, whispering they still ought to check in on them.

“All the same,” Selena interjected with a charming lilt which magnetically drew Vincent’s eyes to her with almost hormonal adoration, though she really wasn’t his type, “We’d like to talk to Bobo ASAP so we can find Audry—if anything to ease her parents’ minds.”

Troy laughed, his voice also hypnotic to listen to, eying her up. “Ok. You win. Don’t use your voice on me.”

Her voice? Vincent shuddered, peeking to Vicky who looked more amused than entranced. Michael and Tommy, however, were also shaking off that mesmerized gaze, almost gazing appreciatively at Troy for calling her out.

“I can’t,” Selena bit back, irritated, though she peeked at the other men with a slight blush of smug enjoyment that she could affect them. “I don’t have that kind of influence on people like you.”

Her words caused Troy to perk up. That concept thrilled him for some reason, as apparently she used to. “Are you sure?”

She nodded peevishly back. “Believe me. I’ve tested it.”

His grin went wider, looking like he had won the lottery. Utterly pleased by, Troy grinned wider—and it made Vincent wonder why. There had to have been some kind of story behind it.

“Hello…” Tommy said, waving a hand in front of Troy. “Earth to Meecham. Randon’s phone number and address?”

Sighing, Troy shot Tommy a look. “Fine. It would be best you just call him anyway. It’s late. And knowing them, they are hunkering down for the night.”

“Hunkering down?” Vicky started at him. “You make them sound like an old couple in a bunker.”

Laughing, Troy eyed her again. He seemed to like what he was seeing, which annoyed Vincent. “Well… they’re kind of like that. They don’t go out partying like some people do. For them it is usually Netflix and chill—though considering Silvia, they are probably moon gazing or something.”

Vicky’s eyes widened on him.

“She’s the witch—” Vincent whispered in his sister’s ear, “—Audry told that story about, the one who was leaving her coven.”

Whipping around in a stare at her brother, Vicky shifted away a step.

“Ok, phone number,” Tommy said, reaching out his hand.

Troy handed him the pen, but then laughed at himself and dug out his phone from his pocket where he just went to his contact list, pressing Randon’s number. “Here. Talk to him now.” He handed over his cell phone.

Michael took it.

It rang a couple of times before Randon picked up. He sounded a little breathless. << Troy, this is a bad time. >>

“Sorry man,” Troy called over. “But, uh, some people are looking for Audry Bruchenhaus, and they didn’t have your number.”

<< Friend or foe? >>

“Uh…” Troy scratched the back of his head, peeking to Michael.

“This is Vincent Williams,” Vincent called out, taking the phone from Michael. “Sorry to interrupt your evening. But my sister Audry just came back from Africa, and we don’t know where she ran off to.”

<< Is that Vincent? >> Silvia’s voice called out.

<< Sounds like him, >> Randon said to her. He then replied, << And you think we would know where she is? >>

“Did she come to visit you?” Vincent asked, hoping to get something.

Everyone leaned in, waiting for the answer.

<< Nah. She does know where we live, though. So if she shows up, do you want us to call you? >>

Vincent sighed with relief. “Yes. Let me give you my number.”

As he passed along the string of integers, they heard someone come in through the front door of their apartment. All of them looked to the door. In walked that tall New Orleans’ blues aficionado, Bobo, with a lovely chocolate skinned woman who had to be his girlfriend, Jandra. Vincent recognized her, though her hair was in a different style than the last time he had seen her.

“Is this a party?” Bobo asked, surprised to see so many faces. He recognized Vincent, Vicky, and Selena, but not Tommy or Michael. He then eyed Troy, his gaze chastening him. “Why wasn’t I invited?”

Selena strode up to him, greeting Jandra quietly while hissing to them with a beckoning wave for Vicky to join her. Michael watched them carefully, especially Vicky.

As Jandra answered Selena about Audry, having not seen her at all, Randon called out, << How many people are over there with you? >>

Vincent sighed. “It’s kind of a hunting party, actually. My aunt and uncle are extremely worried about Audry.”

“There are five of them,” Troy called to Randon with a chuckle. “Selena is here with our new friend Vicky Williams, as well as Tommy Whitefeather and one of the Seven—the one I don’t think you’ve met either.”

<< Michael Toms? >>

“The very one,” Michael said, smiling at being spoken of.

<< Wow… >> Randon shifted on something over where he was, getting more comfortable to talk. << Vincent, why are Audry’s parents this worried? What happened to Audry in Africa? She always goes there. >>

“Is Audry hurt?” Jandra asked, her eyes wide, looking to all of them, though especially Vincent whom she had met.

Vincent shrugged. But he said to Randon, “She caught a disease.”

Silvia, Bobo, Jandra, and Randon gasped. It was funny—practically in stereo.

“What disease?” << What disease? >> Jandra and Silvia exclaimed.

“I don’t know,” Vincent said. “Yellow fever I think. But she got—”

Both gals gasped again.

“But she’s recovered,” Vincent protested. “She’s fine now. The thing is, the doctor prescribed some medication and bed rest, and she may have talked in her sleep about things that were on her mind, if you get my meaning.”

<< Oh… >>

Jandra frowned, glancing to Bobo who had stepped on her foot, indicating with looks that Vicky hardly knew anything about the supernatural.

“It kind of freaked them out.”

<< And she might come here, >> Silvia said, << to talk? >>

“Most likely.” Vincent shook his head, heaving a sigh. “Just call us if she does stop by. I just need something to tell my aunt.”

<< Are you sure she did not just go back to Idaho? >> Randon asked.

“Positive,” Vincent said, looking to the others. “She left too much stuff. I think she only took enough for an overnight bag.”

<< Ok, >> Silvia said. << We’ll call you if we see her. But I would also call the Cartwrights. If Audry really was troubled, she’d go see Jessica. Jessica is a cop and one of the Seven. >>

“What is the Seven?” Vicky hissed to Selena.

Selena glanced to Michael, then pointed at him. “He’s one. He could probably tell you. What I know is only rumor, though I have now met all of them.”

“All seven? Like a set?” Vicky whispered back.

“All eight,” Selena retorted with a chuckle. “Like a team.”

Michael nodded back to her.

Vicky stared, trying to figure out the illogical math.

Jandra frowned.