IMMORTAL MATCHMAKERS, INC. (11 page)

“Sorry.” Cimil shook her head. “I already tried. They think it’s just another one of my secret evil plots.”

Perhaps it was. No one ever knew for certain. On the other hand, if she was telling the truth, which happened about fifty percent of the time, then they really needed to fucking hurry the hell up.
I refuse to become the God of Mass Murder.
That did not have a cool ring to it at all.

“I’ll call Andrus and get him on board,” he grumbled miserably.

“Great! If he refuses to listen, call Helena. If anyone can get him to see reason, it’s her.”

“Fine. Got it,” he replied. “And Cimil? When this is all over, I’m going to make you pay.”

“Oh, goody!” She clapped. “Do you take fives and singles? I’ve foreseen I will take up stripping.”

CHAPTER NINE

After the beach incident with Sadie, Andrus decided the best course of action was to leave town. For some reason, her final comments had gotten under his skin, even though he knew she had been referring to him pissing away a chance at some nonexistent acting job.

Still, her comments hit a nerve, and he wasn’t sure why. Perhaps because he wanted the opportunity she hadn’t spoken of—a true chance of finding someone to share eternity with. But in his heart, he simply couldn’t believe it would be given to him. After enduring centuries of heartache with his last mate and then losing Matty and Helena from his life, he didn’t have the courage to venture down yet another path that would lead to disappointment. It simply felt easier to be alone.

Hope is for suckers
.

So he’d packed up his shit, checked out of the hotel, and got into his rental Hummer. Sadie’s car was gone from the parking lot, so he knew she’d already come to retrieve it.

That woman was quite the little actress, pretending innocently to be helping him while they both knew she worked for Cimil.

Oddly, it kind of bothered him, which irritated him more because he didn’t know the woman.

However, now more than ever, he felt convinced this was all some plan to simply amuse the Goddess of the Underworld. He now saw how Cimil had used his emotions against him, leveraging little Matty to get him to do whatever she wanted. But logic said there were no second mates. There was one and only one. That didn’t mean he wouldn’t someday meet a woman whose company he enjoyed; it simply meant that the fire might not be everlasting and that their connection would be less consuming. Hell, what was wrong with that?

He’d been mated before, and it fucking sucked. The woman had complete control over him, could get him to do anything just to be near her.

He much preferred a normal relationship. Possibly none at all.
Yes, one-nighters are perfect.
And a man like him could have an endless supply.

Miami, here I come,
he thought, pulling onto the freeway and immediately hitting the brakes.
Fucking L.A.
How did people actually travel anywhere when rush hour started at 6:00 a.m. and ended at 10:00 p.m. seven days a week?

His cell phone rang, and he hit the Bluetooth on the steering wheel. “Yeah?”

“Hello, Andrus, it’s I, Zac, God of Temptation.”

Oh, marvelous. Cimil’s sidekick
. “Aren’t you the ex-God of Temptation since you’re now powerless?”

“I’ll get my powers back. Someday. It might happen a little fucking faster if you’d play ball.”

“Forget it. I’m not getting sucked into whatever scheme Cimil’s got going.”

“Andrus, I’m going to lay it on you, one badass immortal to another: Cimil isn’t fucking around. At least, I don’t think she is.”

This coming from a god who believed Cimil when she told him he could steal away his brother’s mate by using his powers. Two huge no-nos according to their sacred laws. “Sorry. I’m heading to the airport.”

“Fine,” Zac sighed on the phone, “I didn’t want to do this, but you give me no choice.”

Oh, this ought to be good.
Andrus chuckled and looked at himself in the rearview mirror, inspecting his pearly whites. Traffic hadn’t moved one inch, so he could do with a little amusement.

“Andrus?” said a soft female voice. “It’s Helena.”

Andrus felt his blood chill. Hearing the sound of her voice felt like a stab to the heart.

He swallowed back his emotions. “Helena, so they’ve dragged you into this, have they? What did Cimil promise you? A ride on her unicorn?”

“Andrus,” Helena said, “I know that you’re probably furious with me given the way I kicked you out. And I know you don’t owe me any favors, but I’m begging. Please do what Cimil is asking.”

Andrus laughed. “This? Coming from you?” Cimil had put Niccolo, her mate, to sleep for three hundred years to await Helena’s birth. Then she told him he couldn’t touch her—a complete lie—for three months. It nearly drove them both mad. There was a lot more to the story, but the moral was, never trust Cimil. Not ever.

“I know what you’re thinking,” Helena said, “but despite her unethical, sadistic, and crazy ways, everything always works out in the end. She just enjoys making it painful.”

“No. Sometimes things don’t work out. Need I remind you of the clowns?” he asked.

“Okay. Except for the clowns. Although, no one knows what Cimil did with them, so there’s still a chance it could work out.”

Not likely. Cimil had it in for the clowns and had rounded up hundreds, perhaps thousands, of them. No one had seen or heard from them since.

She continued, “The point is, most of the time, Cimil isn’t lying. If she says you’re supposed to meet this woman and be the father of Matty’s mate, then why risk it? The party is only a few days away.”

“Five days. And no. I’m not going. I care deeply for Matty, but I do not wish to meet this woman, even if she is my mate.”

“But, Andrus—”

“I have no interest, Helena, in being tethered to another woman. May I remind you how well that worked out for me the last time?”

Helena knew every detail. She’d been there during those final moments when his mate tried to kill him. Ironically, Niccolo showed up and stabbed her.

Helena started to cry. “But what will Matty do for the rest of her life, Andrus? Be alone and bitter like…” her voice trailed off.

“Like me. You were about to say ‘like me,’ weren’t you?”

“She deserves a chance at happiness.”

“But I don’t. I don’t deserve that, now do I?” Helena knew he loved her. It was the reason he’d stayed to protect her even after she’d married Niccolo.

“I’m sorry, Andrus. I’m sorry you’re not the one. But you are family and I do love you, just not the way you need me to.”

“Like a brother,” he said bitterly.

“No. Like my daughter’s father-in-law.”

Ouch.
That was far worse. “So that is all I am to you? Merely the sperm donor to create your daughter’s future husband?”

“Yes. Okay, you’re my friend, too, but mostly I just love you for your sperm.”

Andrus heard Niccolo belting out Italian cuss words in the background.

“Oh, be quiet!” she yelled back. “Can’t I talk about another man’s sperm without you getting your leather pants in a tizzy? You’re such an ogre!” She returned to the conversation. “Please, Andrus. Five more days. Meet the woman. Give her your sperm. And then you can go wherever you like. Except New York City. Don’t come here. I think Niccolo might castrate you, and I’m sure you love your testicles.”

Andrus heard more yelling in the background.

“No!” she yelled. “I did not say I love his testicles—would you stop listening in? Go do some laundry or warm up some blood for my lunch.” She returned to the conversation. “Sorry. I swear, that man is over a thousand years old, but still acts like he’s five.”

If only I had a mate, that could be my life. I dare to dream
.

“I have to go, Andrus, but Matty and I will come see you soon. She misses you.”

“I must go now.”

“Please promise you’ll at least think about it?” she asked.

“I will reconsider.”

“Good. Because the Andrus I know never ran away from anything. Not even Cimil.”

Grrrrr.
She knew that would push his damned buttons.

“Hey, man.” Zac’s voice came through the speaker. He’d been on the line listening in the entire time. “I’ll text you Sadie’s address. Cimil recommends you keep it in your pants from now on.”

“I didn’t agree to—”

“Hey, you’re preaching to the choir, Andrus. I think staying single for eternity is the way to go. I mean, there are only so many immortals out there and millions of humans to play with. I bet that little Matty won’t mind spreading the love around once she’s all grown up and mateless.”

Andrus instantly felt enraged. The thought of men, lots of them, laying their hands on her made him furious. “You’re an asshole, Zac.”

“Did it work?”

“Yes. Text the address, please.” The moment he said those words, he experienced an odd little glow in his heart. And perhaps a bit lower, too. He actually felt excited to see Sadie again?

Crap. I must be losing my mind.
But that kiss, he now realized, had been replaying in the back of his mind. It had felt oddly arousing.
No, it’s simply been too long since you’ve bedded a woman. This is all.

Yes, that had to be it. However, just to be sure, perhaps he should kiss her again?

No, you idiot. You should not. You are to meet this…mate woman.

Two hours later—
Damned L.A. traffic!—
Andrus pulled up to a dingy, pea-green apartment complex in Hollywood. For clarification purposes, it was not a nice neighborhood. One could practically smell the malevolence and human decay in the air.

Parked on the street out front, he grabbed his sword, strapped it to his back, and threw on his leather duster. Unfortunately, it was hotter than hell today, but cooking was far better than being unprepared.

He exited the vehicle and made the usual sweep of the surrounding area with his eyes. Late model cars lined the street, and the neighborhood was densely packed with run-down apartment buildings and an Indian restaurant. Garbage littered the sidewalks, and some unruly sorts hung out on the corner in front of a liquor store. They were trying to be casual about it, but the men seemed very interested in his vehicle.

Andrus shot them all a look, using his eyes to send a clear message.
Touch the car, you die.
The men scattered with the stench-filled wind.

This is where she lives?
It was no place for a single woman, let alone anyone unarmed.
Or not of the rat species.

He made his way to the side of the building, stepping over a man who’d decided to take a nap with his empty gin bottle in the middle of the stairs. Suddenly, he scented something unusual in the air, and it wasn’t the drunk’s urine-stained pants or the burning curry coming from the restaurant next door.

When he found apartment 2E toward the end of the hall, the strange scent became stronger.

“Sadie?” He knocked on the pea-green, graffiti-covered door. Several long moments passed, but she didn’t answer. “Sadie, it’s Andrus.”
Obviously, you idiot. Not like the woman forgot your manly voice in the space of a few hours.

He gave the door one more knock, debating if he should come again later; however, something—that strange scent perhaps—made him feel uneasy. He tried the door and found it unlocked.

He pushed it open, gripping the handle of his sword behind his neck. Sadie sat in the middle of the cramped, dingy room on her small bed, staring at the wall.

“Sadie?”

She did not respond, but that strange smell permeated the room.

His eyes made a quick sweep of the tiny space. A small bathroom in the corner. A closet. Aside from that, there wasn’t much else apart from a kitchenette and bed.
No room for anything more.

Cautiously, he walked to the closet, listening for signs of an intruder. He slowly drew his sword, not making a sound, not breathing. He pushed open the closet door—one of those accordion types—ready to strike, but found it empty of any persons.

He then checked the bathroom and underneath the bed. All the while, Sadie remained in a daze, staring at the wall.

He put away his sword and then turned his attention to her. She wore black shorts and a white tank top and had scratches up and down her legs as well as welts on her pale arms. Her hair was messed up, as if she’d had a ponytail but had been in a struggle, some of the locks falling loose around her shoulders.

“Sadie?” he said quietly, careful not to startle her. He’d seen the same look in his men’s eyes after a bloody battle. Standing over her, he reached out and gently touched her shoulder. “Can you hear me?”

The moment he made contact with her skin, she jumped from the bed and screamed. “What the fuck?” She pressed her back to the wall, holding out her hands defensively. It took a moment for her to register who he was. “What the hell are you doing here?”

“I came to talk to you.”

“Did ya think to knock? I mean, who just comes in and wakes a person when they’re taking a nap?”

He studied her for a moment. “Do you normally nap sitting upright while staring at the wall?”

She gave him a look. “What the hell are you talking about?”

“What happened to your legs, Sadie?” Her eyes followed his gaze down to her thighs.

“Oh my God,” she gasped her words. “What did you do to me?”

“Me? I found you like this.” Something strange was definitely happening. “Do you recall anyone here with you?”

She shook her head. “No. I mean, Tim came by earlier, but he left and then I lay down for a nap.”

“Who is Tim?”

“My boyfriend—well, he was, but I broke up with him. At least, I think I did. I don’t remember.”

That didn’t sound right. “Where does this Tim live?”

She scratched the back of her head. “I don’t know, actually. I remember going to his place, but can’t remember where it is. Why? What do you want with him?”

Someone had done something bad to her and then made her forget. His first thought was this reeked of Obscuro—an evil vampire—but they’d all been wiped out. Not that more couldn’t be created, but the smell in the air was unlike anything he’d ever come across.