Waiting Read online

  "Sure. I don't own the bar." I gave her a questioning look. Why would I care if he brought friends? "I just want you there for sure. I'll need help keeping everyone happy."

  "Of course you'll need me." She smiled widely. "Let's leave now. You deserve the extra half hour and then we can save some tables for the rest of the crew."

  I looked at the clock and it was now four fifteen. I'd be leaving more than thirty minutes early but I really didn't have the heart to care that much. What the hell, might as well.

  "Let's do it." I smiled at her surprise, knowing she thought I'd say no. "I'll forward the phones and you tell everyone where to meet us."

  She practically flew out of her seat in excitement before disappearing around the corner with a smile. I laughed at her childishness while forwarding my phone to my cell, then grabbed my purse and met her by the elevators.

  We took a cab to a bar closer to both our homes then quickly snagged three tables for everybody. She told Bruce to meet us here in twenty minutes and the rest of the office would be here within thirty.

  The tables were dirty and the chair I'd chosen was lopsided, but it still didn't dampen my mood. Loud music blared from a jukebox and the bartenders were anything but friendly, but Julie didn't seem to notice in her excitement at getting me out of the office early.

  "Tell me everything!" She sipped on her water and rubbed her belly while leaning over the table in excitement.

  "About what?"

  I'd already told her Brian kissed me.

  "What really happened the night of the reunion? I want to hear a play by play."

  A tray of onion rings were tossed onto our table with ranch, but not the marinara that we'd asked for.

  "Ok. We went up onto the roof and I was admiring the view. When I turned around he surprised me and kissed me, then apologized, then kissed me again. He's a good kisser and really cute but I already told you that I don't have feelings for him like that."

  I gave her my duh look but she still seemed to think I was hiding something.

  "Then who did you meet? You have the morning after glow and it's been five days. Who are you seeing?"

  Morning after glow? For the first time since last weekend I felt my face pull into a frown.

  "I'm not seeing anybody."

  Why had I been so happy lately? It really didn't make any sense so I could understand that she'd be skeptical.

  "Are you..." She leaned forward and I did the same, kind of afraid of what she was about to say. "... a lesbian?" she whispered across the table then waited cautiously for my answer before I burst out laughing.

  "No! Not that there's anything wrong with that, but no." She blushed, giggled, then took another drink of her water. "To be honest, I'm not sure why I've been so happy. But it feels good. I feel like I'm whole for once."

  Julie glanced over my shoulder and smiled before looking at me apologetically. I looked to where her gaze had been and smiled, then looked back at her while rolling my eyes.

  "Sorry. Bruce already had plans to hang out with him and I thought you were secretly seeing each other, so I thought you'd be happy. Bruce says Brian won't stop talking about you."

  Great.

  "I don't care if he's here. I liked hanging out with him."

  Her worry disappeared and we stopped talking as soon as they reached our tables.

  Brian took a seat next to me after giving me a little side hug while Bruce kissed his wife, rubbed her belly, then started talking to it before finally taking a seat next to her.

  Their happiness always made me jealous but tonight I only felt happy for them.

  The rest of the crew showed up twenty minutes later. I ordered a few pitchers and a few more appetizers, then did a cheers after congratulating Ted on officially becoming a team member. A few others bought rounds of shots but I opted out, thinking I'd be safer if I didn't.

  Safer? Where did that come from? I guess I would have to walk five blocks to get home but they were all main streets with lots of people. But I did have to work tomorrow, so getting drunk wasn't an option since I didn't want to be hung over.

  "Thanks for everything, Piper." Ted came around the table to hug me good bye, along with a few other co-workers. "See you tomorrow."

  He eyed Cheryl then glanced back at me with a smile. I'd have to ban office romances now that Ted was working with us. I could already tell he was going to be a problem, but tonight, I just didn't care.

  "If I wasn't so happily married I'd worry about having Ted work with you," Bruce announced to Julie after it was the four of us left at the table again. "He is one giant horn dog."

  We laughed at the obvious statement.

  "You have nothing to worry about," I assured him. "Julie only has eyes for you, and Ted is pathetic for anyone our age."

  Since Ted was only twenty three, I'd feel like a Cougar if I thought twice about him. Once even.

  "That's good to know," Brian spoke up, more talking to me than anybody else.

  I wasn't quite sure how to respond so I settled for smiling, then awkwardly excusing myself to the Ladies room.

  I gathered my purse and told everyone I'd be back then walked to the back of the bar where there was, conveniently for once, not a line. Julie followed me in talking about Bruce through the stall door until I came out.

  "So, is Brian making you uncomfortable? I could tell by your face when he kind of openly claimed you a few minutes ago."

  Yes! That's what he was doing. I knew I was uncomfortable for a reason.

  "I know. What was up with that?" I was irritated with him but my smile remained in place. "He kissed me and now he thinks we're dating? I guess I'll have to let him know I'm not interested, again."

  Julie was watching me, cocking her head to the side in confusion before I turned to face her questioningly.

  "Do you? Maybe you could give him a chance. He's a good guy and smart and has a job."

  Those were all good qualities in a man, though I still didn't feel attracted to him.

  "He just doesn't feel right. I'd feel bad leading him on when I know I'm not interested. Besides, why would I settle for something less than what you and Bruce have?"

  She nodded in understanding, smiling widely at my compliment, then stilled at the door with her hand over her stomach.

  "Oh!"

  "What is it? What's wrong?"

  I was there, wrapping my arm around her for support if she was about to collapse.

  "My baby just kicked. It was a strong one." She was smiling, clearly excited about her baby's accomplishment, and I immediately relaxed. "Oh, let's get back to the table so Bruce can feel."

  We made a quick exit swerving through tables and people to get to Bruce as fast as we could.

  His eyes lit up while feeling her belly before the two started cooing to each other, completely ignoring Brian and me. After taking my seat next to Brian, he tried to ignore them as much as I did.

  "How do they not realize we're in a bar full of people? A bomb could go off outside and they wouldn't even notice." I laughed and almost choked on my drink, effectively making myself look like a spaz. "Sorry, should've waited til you were done drinking," he added, picking up a napkin and dabbing gently at my lips, though there was nothing there.

  "Excuse me."

  A sternly, polite new voice pulled my attention, stopping me from having a very unwanted conversation with Brian.

  What I wasn't expecting was to go into shock.

  When I turned around there was a tall, bulky man with a clear white complexion, skin as smooth as marble, brown hair and muddy brown/black eyes looking at me. A long black coat hung past his knees, a black turtleneck laying tightly over dark jeans. His expression was one of a man on a mission before he smiled pleasantly at the rest of the table, effectively holding all our attentions.

  "Piper, may I have a word with you?"

  That voice. That face. My vision blurred and I grasped the table for stability. Memories I didn't know I had came rushing forward. Brian crump
led on the roof, me crying and being more scared than ever before in my life.

  Francis! That was this man's name. He was fighting with someone. Parker! Parker smith. We flew. Parker could fly and they were both strong. Very strong. We were inside of a clock tower, then inside my apartment. Parker told me he was a –

  "Son of a bitch!" I gasped out loud while jumping out of my chair.

  My friends were looking at me with concern before Bruce and Brian both misinterpreted, quickly putting themselves between me and Francis.

  Not wanting them to get hurt, I immediately pushed myself in front of them.

  "No, it's ok guys. He's a friend."

  Francis' lips twitched before trying to make the situation worse.

  "Yeah. I'm a friend. So sod off."

  His gaze only met Brian's, not caring about Bruce's presence. I walked us a few feet from the table before my mind started to wander. Where was Parker? The last thing I remember was talking on the couch, then he carried me to my bedroom where he—

  "That bastard!" I glared at Francis. "He promised me he wouldn't and then he did."

  "Calm down, Piper." He was still glaring at Brian behind me. "Let's go for a walk so we can fill each other in on what we both think happened."

  That didn't exactly make any sense to me but I wanted him to bring me to Parker so I could berate him for what he'd done. He'd lied to me. Was there a reason? Francis was supposedly in trouble, so was it to keep me safe? A part of me thought I remembered him telling me something to that effect.

  I grabbed my purse and started to turn back to him when Julie stopped me.

  "Are you sure you want to go with him? Blink twice if you don't."

  I rolled my eyes at her then smiled. I didn't want to leave with them thinking I was pissed in case they didn't hear from me in a while.

  "I'll be fine. He's a friend. We have a mutual friend and that's how we met. I'll see you tomorrow at work."

  I threw a fifty on the table and pushed my way past my body guards, telling them good night, then followed Francis out the front door.

  A hand caught me just as I took a step outside. When I turned around and saw it was Brian, I mentally cringed. Why was he being so stubborn? So we kissed once, that didn't make me his property. Before I could say anything Francis was by my side with an arm around my shoulder.

  "What part of sod off did you not understand?"

  They continued to stare each other down, Brian not backing off as he turned his gaze to me.

  "I just want to make sure that you're alright. He doesn't seem like a friend to me."

  Before Francis could make this worse, or brainwash him, I grabbed Brian's shoulder to get his attention.

  "I'm fine. I promise. He's a friend and he would never hurt me."

  He'd actually promised never to and Parker also told me I'd be safe from now on, so I believed what I said one hundred percent and Brian finally seemed to too.

  He nodded then let go of my hand, glared back at Francis then disappeared through the bar door.

  "What's that chap’s problem? Can't take a hint, can he?"

  Francis smiled before turning me in the right direction then down into an alley.

  Before there was time to object he grabbed onto my side and flew us to the top of the building we’d just been in. I clutched to him, closing my eyes until I felt the ground again. I loved heights but that was just plain scary.

  There had been two bums in the alley way and even though they might've been on drugs, they still would've noticed us flying.

  "Are you supposed to fly in front of other people?"

  I had no idea vampires existed until now so I'm guessing it was kind of a rule to remain unnoticed.

  "They didn't see us. I cloaked us in darkness."

  Was that supposed to answer my question? Never mind, there was more important things to discuss.

  "Where's Parker? He mind fucked me after promising he wouldn't. I didn't freak out, although I kind of recall thinking maybe I was dead and he was my prize in heaven, but you can't be surprised I'd think that, right? I mean, vampires? Those are mythical creatures along with fairies, Big Foot and werewolves. I think I handled it pretty well given the circumstances."

  Francis waited patiently for me to get it out of my system before he took a seat on the concrete ledge.

  "He had to 'mind fuck' you. It was the only way to keep you safe and him not constantly worrying about you until we finished with my little problem." His normal sarcastic, smiling face was gone and was replaced with one as serious as Parker's when we'd met in the clock tower. "But now he's missing," he added as if it were an afterthought.

  "He's what? How do you know he's missing instead of just hiding from you? You said before that you hadn't seen him in fifty years." My hands were shaking and I had to clench them in hopes that he wouldn't notice. "But you're strong, there's nothing that could hurt him, right?"

  Panic took over my previous feeling of anger. If he was missing then I couldn't yell at him. If he was missing then I couldn't kiss him, hold him. Why did he have to be gone now?

  "We are very strong compared to humans, but if he was taken by our enemy's then our strength is equal, sometimes less depending on how old the other is."

  By age? Did they gain strength with every passing year instead of getting weaker with age?

  "How old are you?"

  His lips twitched.

  "I'll be two hundred and seven next month, thanks for asking. How old are you? Wait, let me guess. Twenty eight?"

  The question was more of a statement since he seemed to know everything about me.

  "Yes. How old is Parker? And you call each other brothers, are you real brothers? Were you born or created?"

  I still had so many questions and Parker wasn't around to answer them.

  "How about we focus more on finding Parker? Tell me what happened when you let him into your apartment."

  Let him? 'Are you going to invite me in?' Vampires couldn't be let into my home without an invitation. He warned me not to invite anyone in before he wiped my memory. That might come in handy. But couldn't someone just make me invite them in?

  "We talked on the couch before he carried me to bed where he wiped my memory. I woke up not remembering anything but having fun the night before. When I saw you tonight I think it somehow regenerated my brain." I cocked my head to the side since I wasn't sure. "But Brian didn't remember you."

  "He wouldn't since Parker didn't want him to when he did the tampering. He probably wanted you to remember once you saw one of us, hoping it would be him, which means that he wasn't planning on disappearing." Ok. So we at least got that part figured out. "He never showed up to meet me again last week so I think he was taken after he left your apartment. I've been watching you, thinking he decided to back out of our deal, but he hasn't shown back up and I can't feel him."

  He looked even antsier now.

  "Can't feel him? Is that a bad thing?"

  "It means he's being held somewhere deep in the ground, or he's gained more power than I'm aware of." Let's hope it's the latter. "But you seem to know even less than me so this has been a complete waste of time."

  "Of course I know less than you! This all happened so fast and he disappeared just as quickly. Now you show up tonight and say Parker's missing...wait, what are you doing?”

  He'd taken a few steps towards me and was trying to hold my gaze the way Parker did to Brian. He was going to brain wash me! The nerve.

  "Don't you dare!" I squeezed my eyes shut and squatted down to cover my face completely.

  "You won't remember this happened. Ever. What's the big deal? Would you rather me bring you home first so you feel more comfortable?"

  No that wouldn't make me feel more comfortable! Why did every situation have to lead to brain washing lately?

  "It would make me feel better if Parker was here, or if you could take me to him, or if you promised to never mess with my mind unless I asked you to."

  I didn't t
hink I was asking for much. Normally I might have to ask someone if they could pass the ketchup, not if they wouldn't extract memories from me.

  "Alright, I promise."

  Before I glanced up I remembered another thing that happened. If he did a blood oath then he'd be sworn to it. A mere promise he could break at any time.

  "Do a blood oath thingy."

  His chuckle surprised me but I remained with my head covered in case it was a trick. I'm sure he could've forced me out of this situation already but he patiently played along.

  "A little extreme but if it means you'll stop acting like a child, then fine."

  Peeking out from under my arm I saw some movement, and then blood dripping to the ground.

  "I swear to not 'mind fuck' Piper Smith unless she specifically asks me to."

  The blood stopped dripping and I finally unfolded myself to look at him again. He rolled his eyes while whipping the knife against the back of his pants.

  "Happy now? That might come back to bite you."

  His lips pulled back to reveal a scary crystal white smile, more beautiful than I thought he could be.

  "Yes. And no. I want to find Parker but at least you won't make me forget him again."

  That just wouldn't do.

  A man I've longed for most of my life finally shows back up just to be ripped out just as quickly as last time. I wasn't letting him go without a fight.

  "Who do you think has him? The same people you were trying to get away from?"

  Francis stood still as if contemplating what he should and shouldn't tell me. I should've made him promise more in his blood oath. Maybe I'd get another chance to modify it.

  "Yes, they're the same ones. The bloody Pulpas!" His face contorted to anger. "It's my fault. I should've gotten out a long time ago but they aren't the type to let you in, then out while still breathing. Not that we breathe but you get the concept."

  Back to the smiling, joking Francis.

  "Pulpas? That's the name of the species or like a cult of vampires?"

  "They're more like a cult. We're the same species. It's like humans with serial killers, but they're more organized and open. They roam together instead of secluding themselves. Way more dangerous. And more powerful because of their strength and numbers."