Chapter 7
Saint
The next evening, I showed up at Carrefore, to speak with Chloe.
I had to call Nettie to get her schedule. Even though Nettie was mighty suspicious, she’d told me anyway.
So, here I was. Ready to make amends. Usually, I was smoother than this, but I’d already fucked up with Chloe twice.
Sure enough, Chloe was working the dinner shift, although she didn’t so much as glance my way. I must have called her a half dozen times last night and this morning, too, but she didn’t pick up.
Not that I blame her.
When I’d dropped by her place, I’d knocked on her door, but she hadn’t answered either. I might as well have been the Kraken.
“Hi, Chloe. How’s it goin’?” I asked, but she sailed right past me with two platters of food, not even acknowledging my presence.
Well, shit. Apparently, groveling was on the menu tonight.
“You fucked up real good, huh?” I looked over to see Echo seated at a table, with a bowl of shrimp étouffée.
I sat down with a sigh. “What do you know about it?”
“Everything.”
I groaned.
Evidently, Roxy couldn’t keep her fucking mouth shut. Could this get any worse? Don’t even tempt fate. Things could always take a turn for the worse. I’d learned that lesson the hard way.
For example, the months following the hurricane. Katrina had devastated New Orleans— folks died, lost their homes, streets were submerged, and the shipping industry was crippled for months. It had taken a couple of years for the region to get back to normal.
Echo tore off a piece of cornbread and dipped it into his bowl. “Speakin’ of mishaps, you look like you’ve been through three wars and a goat ropin’.”
Wait a minute. “You can’t even see me.”
“No, but I can feel the pain and agitation.” His lips curled. “Besides, I heard the latest gossip. Accordin’ to Roxy, you got a nasty case of ED.”
“ED?” I was only half-listening to the conversation, as I tracked Chloe from across the room.
“Erectile dysfunction.”
Oh, for fuck’s sake. “I don’t have a problem in that department.” My fingers curled into fists.
“Don’t matter to me one way or another,” Echo mumbled around a bite of food. “But I thought you’d wanna know.”
“She seriously told everybody?” I could feel a vein throbbing on my temple.
“Anyone with two good ears. What really happened?”
“She showed up last night while I was puttin’ the moves on Chloe.”
Echo snickered. “Serves you right. Your man-whorin’ ways finally came back to bite you on the ass.”
“It ain’t funny.”
“Oh, yes, it is. Guess Roxy was pissed you told her to take a hike two times in a row.” Echo turned to me. “By the way, what is up with you? I’ve never known you to turn down pussy.”
And now I felt like an even bigger asshole. The way Echo told it, I sounded like some kind of desperate horn dog who slept with everyone.
“It’s not a big deal. I’m just not in the mood for Roxy. I’m focused on Chloe for the time bein’.”
“Well, I think you already blew it.”
“This is a temporary setback.” Tonight, I’d sweet talk her into my bed. And as soon as I had Chloe a couple times, this inconvenient attraction would go away.
“Yeah?” Echo chuckled. “Well, you’d better get it together quick. Count Dracula is puttin’ the moves on your lady friend.”
He pointed to a table across the room. Richelieu was having dinner all by himself and Chloe stood next to the table, chatting with him, laughing. Although, I couldn’t hear a word they were saying.
“She ain’t my lady friend.”
“On that, we can agree.”
“And he’s not Dracula. Dracula is a classic. At best, he’s one of those sparkly ones.”
According to the rumor mill, he was a vampire, but I didn’t buy it. I’d seen some weird-ass shit in this town, but I haven’t drunk the crazy Kool-Aid yet.
But I’ve never liked Richelieu. The club worked with him. After all, he had the biggest shipping business in the port. The dirty bastard smuggled things all over the world. And Chloe could do better.
Woah. Wait a second. Since when am I her daddy? She was a grown woman and could make her own decisions.
As long as they weren’t the wrong ones.
Damnation. What the fuck is wrong with me?
“Hey, how did you know what Richelieu was up to?” It’s not like Echo could see them together.
Echo tapped his ear. “It’s like I have super powers when it comes to my other senses. The point is, what are you gonna do about?”
“Fuck me, if I know.” I have zero experience placating women. When one is mad at me, I move onto the next.
When I glanced up again, I saw Nettie headed straight for me. I was relieved. Maybe she would give me some sage advice.
Instead, she smacked me upside the back of the head. Well, that was predictable. And bracing.
“You’re a damn fool.”
“Ow.” I rubbed the base of my skull. “That hurt.”
“Meant it to.” She practically threw a plate of beef bourguignon at me. “You don’t deserve this, but I made it anyway.”
I hadn’t ordered the entrée, but it was one of my favorites. The food smelled delicious, but, unfortunately, I didn’t have much of an appetite.
“So, Chloe told you what happened?”
“Non, but I pieced it together from Roxy’s details.” She raised a brow. “Well? What do you have to say for yourself?”
I cursed under my breath. “I didn’t mean to hurt her.”
“Yes, but you did.”
“What can I do to fix this?”
“Learn how to time travel?” Nettie suggested dryly. “Go back and stop yourself from makin’ a foolish mistake.”
“Seriously, I need your help.”
“You’re not gettin’ it. I advised her to steer clear of you and it looks like Chloe is finally going to heed my warnings.” Nettie looked down her nose at me and I felt about two inches tall. “I suggest you stick to girls like Roxy. Chloe’s out of your league.”
With a sniff, she stalked off.
“Is there a woman here you haven’t pissed off?” Echo couldn’t contain himself anymore. He laughed so hard, his shoulders shook.
“Shut up. “
Finally, after what felt like hours, Chloe left Richelieu’s side and I headed over to the bar, while she waited for a drink order.
Before she could head me off at the pass, I blurted out, “Look, I’m sorry about—”
She didn’t even glance at me. “There’s nothing to apologize for.”
I didn’t believe her for a second. She was mad. I could almost feel her anger, it was so icy. It felt like a cold wind.
“Can I take you out to dinner tonight?”
“No, thanks.”
“Chloe, let me make it up to you.” I reached for her arm, and she backed off.
“It isn’t necessary.”
“Please, talk to me.”
“Look, Nettie told me you don’t really date girls. You fool around. It sounded fun to me, but after last night…” Chloe sighed. “I don’t know, it seems empty.”
“Oh, I would’ve filled you up alright.” I’m cocky and I have every reason to be. Nine inches to be exact.
She tossed her hair back. “Who wants to be another girl you…er, boned?”
“So, you’re no longer interested.”
“No, I wouldn’t say that.” Chloe glanced away. “I just don’t think I’m a person who does the one-night stand thing.”
Fuck. “I can’t offer you anythin’ else.”
“I know and it’s fine.” She shrugged as though it was no big deal.
This whole thing is falling apart. Somehow, I’ve got to change her mind.
“But, Chloe, can’t we—”
“No, I’m sorry. We want different things.” She stuck her hand out. “Friends?”
Friends? She’s friend-zoning me? I can’t seem to fix this, no matter what I do. What a fucking disaster. If I could get just get her alone once more, kiss her, I know she’d fall into my arms again.
But I’m going to have to be strategic about this. A temporary retreat is in order.
“Sure. Friends.” I shook her hand, and my touch lingered, enticed.
She wriggled her fingers out of my grasp and smiled weakly.
“Can we hang out tonight?”
Her brow wrinkled. So much for my smooth reputation. I sounded like an anxious, horny, teenage boy.
“No, I have plans.”
“With who?”
“None of your business,” she said crisply, narrowing her eyes. “Do you really want to be my friend? Or is this a get in my pants kind of thing?”
Both actually. I liked Chloe and Lord knows I lusted after her.
“I’m your friend, Chloe. Don’t doubt it.” It wasn’t a lie. Exactly.
She looked uncertain but nodded.
“I wish you’d let me make this up to you though.”
“You can. Will you answer a couple of questions for me?”
“Sure. Ask me anything.” I braced myself for a round of inquiries about Roxy.
“I’m trying to figure out what happened to Mamie, who killed her.”
Woah, things just got heavy. I wasn’t prepared for the change of topic. I could see the tears shimmering in her eyes.
“Do you know anything about her death?”
“I don’t. Sorry.” More than anything, I wished I could play the hero in this situation and give her the answers she longed for.
“What about possible suspects? I haven't been around my grandmother in a long time and I need help piecing together parts of her life.”
“I think you should drop this.”
Camille’s killer was still at large and if Chloe continued poking into the case, he might just finish her off, too. The police would figure it out sooner or later. After Camille’s death, I’d asked the club to look into it, but Scorch wouldn’t hear of it. He wanted the legion to keep a low-profile. None of the members had agreed with his decision, but they’d went along with it anyway, if only to keep the peace.
“Well, I'm not going to.”
Fair enough. I wouldn’t look the other way if a family member had been murdered.
“Why don't you ask Nettie? She knew Camille better than me.”
“She told me to drop it, too, which is why I’m coming to you. Did she hang out with anyone in particular?”
I wracked my brain but couldn’t think of anything helpful. “I don’t know. We weren’t close.”
“Did she have enemies?”
“God no. She was a nice lady.” And as far as I knew, she wasn’t involved in anything criminal. In my experience, if you broke the law, trouble had a way of finding you.
“What about Xav?” Chloe spared a backward glance at Richelieu, who watched the two of us like a hungry dog eyeing a steak.
Xav? She was using the fucker’s nickname?
“What about him?” I asked stiffly.
“I think he might’ve had something to do with her death.”
I’d heard a rumor, he was trying to buy Camille’s land, but I wouldn’t put Chloe in harm’s way, so I kept my mouth shut about it.
“You should leave him alone.”
“Why?”
“He works with the club. No matter what Richelieu told you, he ain’t some squeaky-clean local merchant.”
“What on earth does he do for the Demons?”
I had to be careful about betraying confidences. “New Orleans is a port city.”
“Yeah. And…?”
“And Richelieu’s a shipping magnate. Sometimes, we help him out. I can’t tell you any more than that.”
She bit her lip. “Does that mean the club is into smuggling?”
“Shh. Lower your voice.” I shouldn’t have even said that much.
“But—”
“No, we’re done with this topic.”
“Saint, please. We’re talking about my grandmother.”
“I know, and she’d want me to watch out for you.” I didn’t know Camille well, but she’d always been bragging about Chloe’s good grades, and her dedication to her studies. Her love for Chloe had been evident.
She crossed her arms over her chest. “Why does everyone think they have to protect me? I can handle myself. And, if you won’t help me, I’ll go to the source.”
“What do you mean?”
“Xav asked me out the other day and I’m going to go.”
What the fuck? “Absolutely not.” Without thinking, I clutched her arm. “I forbid it.”
“Excuse me? Who do you think you are?” She pulled free of my grip.
“I’m sorry.” I took a minute, deliberately trying to calm down.
“You should be.”
“It’s just…” I floundered for the right words. “He ain’t your type.”
“Let’s see,” she said, ticking reasons off on her fingers. “Handsome, wealthy, smart. Oh, and he has a very nice motorcycle.”
“Ducatis are for posers—rich assholes who think a bike makes them look tough.”
Her tone was cold. “You don’t have a hold on me, Saint. I’m free to do what I want, with whomever I want.”
Did that mean she wanted to screw Richelieu? “Yes, you’re free to do as you like. But as your friend,” I said, gritting my teeth at the hated term,“I think it’s a terrible idea.”
She squinted at me but said nothing.
“What?”
“You sound jealous.”
“I don’t get jealous. Ever.” Except when it comes to her for some reason.
Chloe smirked. “Could’ve fooled me.”
“What else can I do, to prove myself?” I was desperate to get back in her good graces.
Chloe looked down her nose at me. “Not a damn thing.”