Kade's Dark Embrace

Chapter Four

Immediately after leaving the station, Sydney agreed to meet Kade over at a local tattoo shop. Sydney drove her old, Mercedes convertible down South Street. She knew that she shouldn’t have a nice car in this city, so she decided to get a used car. Soft beige, leather seats and a convertible top that worked, Sydney loved to feel the wind in her hair on warm nights in the city. Feeling slightly more relaxed than she did in the morgue, she parked her car. The captain had put Tony on another murder case just as they left, so she had to go alone to the tattoo shop. Normally, she always stayed with her partner out on the streets. Instead of Tony, her new partner, Kade, would be with her. She didn’t trust him, but the captain was crystal clear that she was to work with him on the Death Doll case...that’s what the press was calling it.

She hated the political crap she had to put up with about the human-paranormal relations. She was good at her job, but not exactly the most tactful person. She would work with Kade, solve the case, and then he’d go back to New Orleans to bite necks and suck blood, or whatever else vampires did with their time. She told Kade she’d meet him at Pink’s Ink Tattoo shop where the best tats in the city were done. She stood outside waiting in front of Pink’s Ink when a black limo pulled up and beeped at her. It had to be Kade. Detective, my fucking ass. A door opened and a large, good-looking man with long, dark hair got out of the car. She recognized him as the man with Kade at Tristan’s club.

He walked around the car and opened the door. Kade exited the car with grace, as if he was going to a movie premiere. He was almost beautiful, if one could use that word to describe a man, but there was no mistaking the predator he was. Dangerous, no one would mess with this guy...even on the cold streets of Philly. Sydney caught her breath noticing how handsome he was in khaki pants and a blue, linen shirt with rolled up sleeves that hugged against his broad, muscled chest. He smiled at her as he caught up with his vamp friend she’d seen him with at Eden. “Hope you weren’t waiting long, love. Sydney, meet Luca. Luca, this is Sydney.”

As Sydney extended her hand to Luca, he gently took it and kissed the top. She was captivated by his green eyes that seemed to draw you in...she was lost in thought. With an Aussie accent, Luca whispered, “Nice to meet you, Sydney. So, it is you who has Kade out of sorts.” He let her hand go and chuckled to himself.

For the first time since he met her, Kade saw Sydney smile. He felt a stir of jealousy knowing it was Luca who brought the smile to her lips...so soft and full. He couldn’t help but wonder how it would feel to have those lips on his cock. He sucked a breath. His lustful thoughts shook off any feelings of jealousy. He could smell her...like Asiatic lilies, delicious. He wanted a taste. He couldn’t wait much longer. Damn, he almost forgot why the hell he was even here. What was it about her that seemed to distract him from any rational thought?

Sydney laughed as Luca released her hand. “I'm sorry, but I'm just not used to the hand kissing. In my business, I usually have guys either running away from me as I'm trying to cuff ‘em or trying to grab my ass. I know I should appreciate the chivalry, but it took me by surprise. Nice to meet you Luca, you coming in with us?”

Kade shot a look over to Luca and stepped between them. “Luca, you stay out here and keep watch. Let’s go, Sydney.” Kade held the door for Sydney. She walked past him pretending that she did not just notice that he effectively blocked Luca from touching her any further; tingles flashed through her body as her shoulder brushed his chest.

The tattoo shop was filled with teenagers and young adults. They were looking at pictures on the wall of their potential tattoos and discussing where they would put them on their young, canvass bodies. Holding up her badge, Sydney pushed through the patrons as if she was parting the Red Sea. It was crowded, so Kade was forced to stand up behind her, against her. She could feel the hardness of his chest on her back as they stood waiting at the counter. While it drove her insane with lust, she could hardly ask him to move back, since there was no room. Sydney scanned the room looking for her source. Finally, her eyes lit up as she saw her, and she yelled over the buzz, “Pinky! Hey Pinky! Over here.”

Pinky was the owner of Pink’s Ink. She was a petite girl with black, cropped pixie hair with just a wisp of hot pink flowing through her bangs. She was more cute than beautiful, and she ran her shop with an iron fist in a velvet glove. Pinky turned around to yell at a potential customer who was peeling a drawing off the wall. “Get the hell off the art or get the hell out!” She turned around to grab a pen; her bright pink halter-top showed off her back that was adorned with two large butterfly wings in various shades of pink and indigo. When she turned to face Sydney, her large, voluptuous breasts almost spilled out of the tiny top, which complemented her short, black latex skirt.

She turned up a corner of her mouth slightly smiling, not sure of what was going on with the large, hunk of man behind Sydney. “Hey, girl, what ya doin’ down here? Finally come to let me put on that tat we talked about? And who is mister tall, dark and lick-able behind you? Yummy.” She ran her tongue across her lips.

While Sydney was used to Pinky and her flair for the English language, she could not help but feel slightly embarrassed. She could feel the hard heat of Kade up against her back. Damn it all to hell with this crowd. For a second, she found herself wishing they were alone, naked, Kade thrusting up into her and...Get back in the game girl! Focus!

Sydney coughed trying to act nonchalantly. “Hey Pink, this is Kade. Listen, I need a favor.” She held out the photo of the girl’s sun tattoo. “Before you ask, don’t. It's a case I’m working.” She looked over her shoulder at Kade. “Ugh, a case we are working. All you need to do is ID this tat, okay? Is there anything about it that looks familiar? Do you recognize the artist’s work? Maybe a customer who got a tat like this recently?”

Pinky stared at the photo and turned white. She peered over her shoulder to make sure no one was listening. “Syd, this ink...the lines, points and turns...it looks like the work of a guy who used to work in here. Fired him six months ago. I caught him wanking off in the alley. I was so incredibly grossed out, what a loser. Seriously, who can’t keep it in their pants at work?”

Sydney glanced at Kade and back to Pinky. “So, what did he say when you eighty-sixed him?”

“Well, that’s the thing. He just looked up at me and kind of just...well, he just kept going, ya know? He finished.” Pinky was visibly disgusted. “I told him that if I ever saw him near the shop again, I was calling the cops.”

“And you never thought to mention this to me over drinks?”

“Listen, this city is filled with sickos. No offense, Syd, but I can’t call the cops every time some asshole is out there waxing the bishop. I know it isn’t pretty but look around here. Cops got murders to solve. They don’t have time to arrest assholes who worship their dicks.”

“Okay, Pink. What’s his name? Address? You’ve got to have something on him.”

Pinky started going through a candy-red, glittered address box on the counter and pulled out a dingy index card. “His name was Jennings, Drew Jennings. This address might be old, but here you are...it’s on the card. Looks like he was staying in North Philly...a few blocks off Broad Street. Syd, I know you're a cop, but watch your ass. You and I both know it isn’t the greatest area.”

Sydney felt a glimmer of hope getting a lead on this case. It looked like they’d be taking a trip uptown. “Thanks, Pinky. Kade, let’s get out of here. We can take my car. Your limo is going to look a tad out of place up there, and I would like to try not to get shot at before we even get out of the car.”

Kade didn’t know much about Philadelphia, but he didn’t like the idea of Sydney going into some shithole trying to battle an unknown supernatural. He knew this case was not just about some sick human who jerked off in an alley. “Listen, Sydney, if we do this, we do it my way. I get this is your city, but I will not allow you to put yourself in danger. I see that you are strong, but you are not strong enough to go against a vampire, my love.”

All thoughts of how sexy he was rushed out of her mind and were quickly replaced by anger. Did he see her as some kind of damsel in distress? She was a fucking cop; what didn’t he get about that? “Kade dear, you may be a bad-ass vamp and all, but this is my city, this is my job. I am going. There will be no more discussion. If you need to enlighten me about the various ways you folks suck the lifeblood out of others, I’ll be happy to listen on the way up Broad Street. But let’s get this straight, it’s not my first time at the rodeo. I have studied supernaturals and even sparred a few times with a werewolf. I know how to kill a vampire as well as I know how to kill a human, so let’s go. We're taking my car. If Luca wants to follow in the limo, that’s his funeral, but I'm outta here.” She stood with her hands on her hips, tilting her head in defiance.

Kade shot her a look of irritation. “You do not seem to understand what I told you down in the morgue. I lead this case, and you bloody well do not. You will go with me, because I allow it to be so. Do not make the mistake of thinking otherwise, Miss Willows.”

Kade was starting to think it was a mistake to have even allowed this human detective on his case. She obviously did not understand what she was getting into, and he was getting damn tired of arguing with her.

Sydney was having none of his macho bullshit. “Yeah, yeah, vampire. Keep talking but I’m the one who got us this address, and I’m the one driving. So sit your butt down in the car and let’s go.” She jumped in the car and started it, watching as he silently sat down next to her, looking as if he was about to explode. Working this case with him was going to be a lot of fun, just a laugh riot. She rolled her eyes and started off toward north Philly.