“You’re playing with fire, little brother,” I said out loud. “Not your typical style, but I kind of like it.” I grabbed his shirtsleeve. “Come on, let’s go get this over with.”
The smell of fear and something unknown permeated my hallway as we rounded the top of the landing. My wolf was alert, searching for any potential danger. There would be no repeat of the rogue attack.
My brother and I edged cautiously down the corridor, my nose working to categorize the strange scents. Do you know what that smell is? It’s almost like rotting peaches.
Tyler answered. Nope. I don’t recognize it other than it’s definitely a supe of some kind.
That did not bode well for us—or for Danny—or Ray, for that matter, if he was indeed tangled in this. And how could he not be?
Strangely, Juanita’s voice broke the silence, her hearty laugh ringing out in the hallway, followed by a low male murmur. My stress level relaxed somewhat. I glanced at my brother. That just came from my apartment, right? Juanita’s jubilant tone mixed with Danny’s smooth alto became more clear as we continued down the hallway, but since our apartments were directly across from each other, there was a slight possibility my ears were picking up on some kind of echo.
Yep, seems Danny has company. Whatever’s happened can’t be that bad, then, and that means I was right.
He better not have tried anything on my neighbor. Other than those two voices, the hallway was quiet. Our flight out of New Orleans had left at six a.m. It was now ten-thirty in the morning on a workday. Most of my neighbors were at work.
Please. Tyler snorted. Danny can have anyone he wants, he’s not making a move on your elderly neighbor.
She’s not elderly! And she happens to be voluptuous and sexy for her age. He’d be lucky to have her. But he better not have. I’m just saying.
Tyler snorted again.
As we approached my door, I motioned for Tyler to stand behind me. The rotten peach smell was all over, clogging both of our senses. I put my ear to the door to make sure there were only two voices inside and grabbed on to the handle. I gave it a slow turn. There was movement, no catches. I eased it open. “Hello,” I called. “I’m home.”
“Hello there.” Danny gave a little salute from his place on the floor, on what appeared to be a plaid picnic blanket full of empty plates and a couple of red-stained wineglasses. “Glad to see you back in town so soon.”
“Um, it’s good to be back.” I tentatively made my way into the strange scene of my apartment, followed closely by Tyler.
Danny ran his gaze over me from head to toe and smiled, not bothering to get up from his spot on the floor. “Too bad about the outfit, then. But I’m certain flip-flops are going to make quite a comeback this season.”
Juanita sprang to her feet. “Oh, Chica, es so good to see you!” She ran over and embraced me, and I let her because everything was a bit surreal.
“It’s good to see you too, Juanita, but what are you doing here?” I had to ask.
“After all the loud noises,” she said, “I rush over here to check on what es going on, jus like you told me to do, and I find him here alone”—she pointed at Danny—”and he es so nice and tell me he es protecting jour home for you. I believe him after all the bad break-ins and troubles, so I bring him food because he has none. We are keeping watch together, you see, so now jour apartment weel be safe.” I followed her logic fine, even though it wasn’t even close to what I had told her to do. She could’ve gotten herself killed coming over here alone; she’d been very lucky. I was glad she was safe, but the cloying stench of rotten peaches was so intense now that we were inside I had a hard time concentrating on anything she said.
“That’s great, Juanita, and thank you for bringing food and helping keep watch.” I met Danny’s eye over her shoulder. I arched a single brow. Ignoring the horrid smell was not an option and I wanted to know what was going on.
Tyler cleared his voice behind me. “So everything’s okay in here? Right? No problems that you know of?”
Before Danny could answer, Juanita walked over and started stacking empty dinner plates together. “Oh, sí, everytheen es fine. Nobody or nothing bothered us here.”
Danny grinned as he finally stood, his brown hair falling in his eye. “You two must be tired after such a last-minute trip,” he said, placing a plate onto Juanita’s stack. “I was explaining to your neighbor about your sick grandmother, but she’s as good as new, right? Recovered from that frightful injury?”
“Um, yes,” I said, picking up the thread. “She’s a sturdy old goat, so she’s already back on her feet. Turns out she didn’t need our help after all, so we came home.”
“That’s such a relief, Chica.” Juanita solemnly nodded. “Grandparents are so fragile.”
Danny put a few more dishes onto Juanita’s stack, then bent down and folded the plaid blanket, turning to us. “You two look like you could use a bit of a freshen-up. You know, to get rid of jet lag? Perhaps a shower? Or maybe your teeth need a good solid brushing? And while you’re tending to that, I’ll just help the lovely Juanita back to her apartment.”
I glanced at my brother. His face was stony. Neither of us was going to like what we found, I guaranteed it. “Um, okay, I’ll go first,” I said. “I’m dying to … brush my teeth.” I started toward my tiny bathroom. “And, Juanita, thanks for taking care of Danny. But you have to promise me one thing: the next time you hear any noises, please call first. Or better yet, lock your door and don’t come out. I would never forgive myself if you got hurt on my account.”
“Okay, Chica. I call first next time.” She winked and headed for the front door.
The bathroom door was shut and I eased it open, listening before I slipped inside. The smell was so thick I coughed, covering my mouth with the palm of my hand as my eyes landed on the only place they could possibly go in the small space—the bathtub. There, lying naked and dead, was my super, Jeff Arnold. He looked awful, his pasty skin and thinning hair only accentuating his crumpled pale visage. “Oh my gods.” I pushed my hand tighter to my face. I knelt down by him, and the stinky peach mixed with death made me produce bile. I had no idea what kind of supe he was, but it was obvious he’d been one.
The front door of my apartment clicked shut, then Tyler was crowded behind me, followed by Danny in the now open doorway.