Erin's Redemption Read online

  She wouldn’t think about the doctor visit or what she would have to say to her friends. Nope, she was going to earn her commission, and before she left on vacation, she’d pick up her last paycheck and quit her job. Erin planned to blow her entire savings in New Orleans, max out her credit cards, and party with her friends.

  She wasn’t sure how much time she had left, but she planned on living life to its fullest until then, and going out with a bang.

  Chapter 2

  The workweek went by fast. Still, Erin managed to accomplish her goals. She always did. She had her last paycheck and the commission money—all in cash, tucked safely inside her purse. Opening the childproof cap on the oxycodone, she popped a pill into her mouth and washed it down with a bottle of water. She hoped the medication would work its magic and give her the strength she needed to get to the airport.

  Erin strode through her house, grabbing various outfits, shoes, and accessories.

  She threw them into her bags without bothering to fold or organize. The airport shuttle would be arriving shortly, and she wanted to scream in frustration. Her hair was still wet, dripping down her back from the shower she had only just jumped out of. She snatched up the outfit that had been lying across the bed and got dressed. Tight jeans hugged her small frame, a long-sleeve T-shirt covered the bruises that marked her arms, and a bulky scarf hid the bones protruding from her neck.

  Her cell phone rang, and she pointedly ignored it to finish packing.

  She knew it was Dani, needing to speak with her before the flight. And although she hated to refuse to answer, she despised lying to her friend even more. Erin was officially running late, and Dani wouldn’t do well hearing the truth. The best thing she could do was wait until she was on her way to the airport to call her back. Erin cringed as the landline began to ring. She ran a hand through her hair and faced the answering machine in dread.

  “You didn’t answer your cell phone. I know you’re there.” Dani actually growled. “Erin, pick up the phone.”

  She hesitated before switching it to speaker. “Hi, Dani. I’m ready, just running behind schedule, a little.”

  “A little? Oh my God. You’re going to be there though, right? You can’t miss your flight. We’re meeting at the airport in New Orleans. You have exactly fifty-two minutes to be at the airport for check-in. We’re riding to the hotel together. You drive and I navigate. I’ve got the maps and everything.”

  “Yes, I promise. I’m going to be there,” Erin reassured her as she zipped her bags closed.

  Erin tried to concentrate on the conversation, but her thoughts were too scattered. She gave a few noncommittal uh-huhs as she went over a mental checklist, hoping that she wasn’t leaving anything important behind. The medication was kicking in, and although it took the pain away, it left her mind fuzzy.

  The more Dani talked, the more overwhelmed Erin felt.

  How was she going to get through a face-to-face with her friends without them sensing something was wrong? Her drastic weight loss would be a red flag to her friends.

  When a horn honked from outside, Erin interrupted. “Hey, sweetie, my shuttle’s here. I’ve got to go. I’ll call you on my cell after I check in.”

  “Okay. Good. Run. You only have forty-nine minutes. I’ll talk to you soon.”

  Erin ended the call and hefted her big bag off the bed by the handle. She wheeled it into the living room and stopped in front of the mirror to apply some lipstick.

  “You look like shit,” she muttered to her reflection. With a deep breath for courage, she pinched her cheeks for added color and left without a backward glance.

  * * * *

  It was a straight shot from San Diego to New Orleans.

  The flight only lasted about four hours, and sitting up in first class was a dream come true. When she had checked in, Erin had decided to splurge. Why not? All her life she’d followed the rules. She’d been a good girl, excelled in school, didn’t do anything illegal, saved money, and paid all her bills on time. What did that get her? Absolutely nothing.

  For the next seven days, she was going to be the woman she’d always dreamed about—wild, fun, spunky. And above all else, she was going to live without regret. She might even proposition a hot guy. With a renewed sense of conviction, Erin stepped off the plane. She put an extra sway in her hips as she strode toward the terminal, her four-inch pumps putting the past behind her, if only for a week.

  She followed the signs to the baggage claim area, searching for Dani. It didn’t take long to spot her. Her confidence faltered when her gaze landed on Dani’s face. It would be so easy to tell Dani the truth, but she couldn’t. She didn’t want this little reunion to turn into a tear fest. She wouldn’t be able to stay strong.

  Straightening her spine, Erin felt excitement bubble up inside. It had been a whole year since she’d seen her college buddies. They got together once a year, and through it all, Erin had always shown up ready to have fun. This trip would be no different.

  Gliding across the cement floor, she maneuvered through the throng of people. When Dani caught sight of her, her face lit up and they both began to run. They hit each other hard and Erin wrapped her arms around Dani’s waist, holding her in a tight embrace. She exhaled, as a feeling of peace filled her heart. It felt so good to have someone hold her close. A lone tear started to trickle down her cheek and Erin wiped the side of her face against Dani’s shoulder.

  “It’s so good to see you again,” Dani said and slowly dropped her arms. She stepped back, and Erin felt as if she were being inspected. “Oh my God, you’re so tiny. How much weight have you lost? Are you on a diet?”

  Erin chuckled. “No, I–I’ve been so busy at work that sometimes I forget to eat.” It was better than saying, I puke everything up because I feel like hell.

  “How was your flight?” Erin asked, changing the subject. She looped her arm through Dani’s and led her toward the baggage carousel so that she could claim her luggage.

  “Ugh…I hate flying. Being stuck in a tin can isn’t my idea of safe travel. The ventilation system is disgusting. I took some vitamin-C, so I should be okay.”

  A loud buzzer sounded, alerting all the passengers that their bags would be arriving. Everyone moved closer, but Erin stayed back, away from the commotion. With her luck, she’d probably trip over her own feet and fall onto the carousel. That would ruin her whole I’m a strong, confident woman persona. She laughed at the image, and Dani raised a brow.

  “I was just thinking about something silly,” Erin explained with a shrug.

  “Are you going to get your bag?” Dani looked at her curiously.

  “I’m waiting for it to clear out some.” She waved her free hand toward all the people pushing against one another.

  Dani glanced over at her and frowned slightly, as if she knew Erin wasn’t telling the complete truth. “That’s a logical idea. With all the weight you’ve lost, someone could breathe on you and you’d blow away.” She grinned, showing Erin that she was only teasing, until she looked down at her watch and Erin noticed the concern cross her friend’s expression. “We need to pick up our rental car. They won’t hold it past our reservation time.”

  “Okay. I’ll be right back.” Erin found a small gap in between a couple of people and squeezed in.

  After spotting her bag, she stepped in closer and gripped the handle. It felt heavier than usual as she attempted to tug it over the lip. The harder she pulled, the further away it got, until she realized her body was following the bag, and they were both going in the wrong direction. Erin let go at the last second before she made a fool of herself by tumbling onto the carousel.

  “Erin!” Dani yelled, dropping her own bag before rushing to her side. “Are you okay?”

  It took a minute to get her breathing under control. No damage had been done, other than to her pride. How weak was she? Damn, she couldn’t even lift her own bag.

  “When it comes around again, we’ll both grab it,” her friend said in a m
atter of fact tone, obviously attempting to downplay the situation.

  “Sounds like a plan. I think I’m just tired, that’s all,” she lamely explained.

  “Funny, my ex used that same excuse when he couldn’t hold an erection.”

  Laughter bubbled up from Erin, along with several other people standing nearby. Dani just grinned and winked like the adorable friend she was. Erin was grateful for Dani’s ability to swoop in and make everything okay. She’d always been that way. With a lingering smile, Erin extended her arm toward the carousal once more. Today, that bag was her bitch.

  Their next stop was the rental car place. They had about a half-hour drive ahead of them. The sooner Erin signed for the vehicle, the sooner she could locate a coffee shop. She needed the caffeine to perk her up.

  After walking from one side of the airport to the other, she silently wished that she would’ve chosen sensible shoes. Her feet were already screaming in protest, and they still had quite a bit of walking ahead of them.

  By the time they reached the rental car place, Erin felt like her head was about to explode. She closed her eyes briefly and rubbed at her temples to relieve the pressure, but time was running out. She would need another pain pill very soon.

  “Hi. Welcome to New Orleans. How can I help you?” An attractive woman stood behind the counter with long, thick, black hair and dark eyes. She had an exotic accent that Erin couldn’t quite place.

  “Thank you. It’s good to be here. We have a reservation under O’Brien.” Dani nodded as Erin glanced at her for confirmation.

  Erin took the opportunity to lean against the counter. Fatigue weighed heavily on her to war with the pain in her skull.

  The woman typed out a few commands. “Okay, it looks like we have a full-size listed under your reservation today. We can give you a complimentary upgrade to an SUV, if you’d prefer. No extra charge.”

  “Uh…sure, that would be perfect. Thank you.” The woman smiled and placed a set of keys on the counter.

  Erin immediately grabbed them and signed a few documents. It was time to get on the road. She was looking forward to getting to the hotel. She wanted to relax a little while before meeting up with the rest of their friends. It wouldn’t be long before Heidi, Shayla, and Faina arrived.

  * * * *

  With a large iced coffee in hand, Erin followed the signs and Dani’s directions—with a couple of different maps and the GPS on her phone—leading toward I-10 East. She stared out the windshield, studying her surroundings.

  She couldn’t explain what she was feeling, but there seemed to be magic in the air. Chills raced up and down her arms, making her feel hopeful and excited. Was New Orleans really a magical place, or was it her imagination? She would swear to anyone that she felt something strong just being in the city. Energy consumed her, sending an electrical pulse through her system, making her feel almost euphoric.

  It felt as if her blood was singing as it rushed through her veins.

  Chapter 3

  She’s here. She’s in New Orleans.

  Mikael Moreau slowly stood up from his seated position and strolled over to the floor-to-ceiling windows of his bedroom suite. The coven’s home was located in the Garden District of New Orleans, a beautiful and historic part of the city. He gazed outside, barely noticing the waves of people strolling down the street. They were as insignificant to him as bugs, and just as annoying.

  The corner of his mouth lifted in anticipation. He’d felt his Eternal Love the moment she stepped foot inside his city. Her blood sang to him, like a Siren’s call, tantalizing his senses. He’d been waiting centuries to meet the one person made for him, and it seemed his long-awaited Love was finally home. Mikael wanted nothing more than to flee the coven in search of her. It took enormous effort to refrain. He had business to attend to first.

  Tonight, he was confronting the leaders of the other paranormal factions that were trying to move into his territory. He was going to make an example out of them all, leaving a bloody trail in his wake. The message would be clear—get the hell out of my city.

  He’d claimed New Orleans long ago, and sharing wasn’t his strong suit. Not that he couldn’t be generous at times, he mused. He gave to charity, donated to political causes when he took a liking to a certain politician, and even funded the local hospital. But this was his city, and the line had been drawn in the sand years ago when it came to the supernatural. He abandoned his post at the window and went in search of his fighters.

  He’d sent his brother, Elijah, off on an errand to keep him occupied. Elijah was always trying to keep the peace between everyone, and up until now, he’d succeeded. Mikael had always played along.

  Tonight was Halloween, his favorite holiday and one of the only nights of the year that they all could go out without drawing unwanted attention. The humans traveled to New Orleans from far and wide to celebrate the Vampire Festival each year. He wouldn’t have to hide, and neither would the other paranormals. Shifters, demons, and witches could all come out and meet without having to worry about humans taking notice.

  Not that he was really concerned about that anyway.

  Mikael chuckled as he strode down the long hallway and descended the stairs. After he took care of business, he would find his Eternal Love. He would finally be able to lay his mark and claim on her.

  His troops were assembled and waiting for him in the entryway. Dressed in black, each man wore a long trench coat to hide their weapons. Even though they could fight with fangs and fists, going into battle unprepared was never a good idea, especially when confronting shifters, demons, and magic-users. With the growing technology, his coven had graduated from using swords and claymores to silver bullets. One shot into a shifter and the bullet would explode, spreading the silver through their veins. It was a painful way to go, if the shifter didn’t get the bullet and silver removed in a timely manner.

  Mikael hated going this route, but after all his warnings went ignored, he knew he had to do something or risk being challenged for his place as leader. Any weakness on his part could potentially get him killed.

  “We’re meeting in the cemetery at midnight. Be ready and make sure you’ve all fed,” he ordered.

  “Yes, Sir.” A loud chorus rang out as each man acknowledged the order.

  Striding toward the armory, Mikael grabbed a double shoulder holster and secured it around his back before picking up two loaded 9mm handguns. He tested the weight of the weapons before returning one to the table and ejecting the magazine on the other. Holding the empty magazine, Mikael picked up a silver bullet and rolled it between his fingers, inspecting it. The liquid silver was evident behind the glass enclosure. From practice, he knew that the bullet alone could do a lot of damage on a paranormal, but the silver was an added component the shifters wouldn’t see coming.

  Mikael inserted the ammo, one bullet at a time until both magazines were filled to capacity. When he was finished, he put the guns inside his holster and glanced at the clock. He wasn’t a patient man by nature, and waiting set his teeth on edge. He strolled back into the entryway, and made himself comfortable on the round plush red couch.

  His mind wandered to his Eternal Love, and he allowed himself the pleasure of envisioning what she might look like. He’d done the same thing many times throughout the years. For some reason, he could see a petite blonde woman with bright blue eyes and luminous skin.

  Being alone without a life partner for centuries had been incredibly difficult. He’d had relationships throughout his long life, but the knowledge of his Eternal Love always kept him from creating a bond. And with the size and population of people around the world, he’d stayed in New Orleans, waiting for his Love to find him.

  The grandfather clock dinged, signaling that it was time.

  Mikael stood and adjusted his shoulder holster before grabbing his long trench coat from the stand next to the front door. He slipped the material over his arms and folded the collar back as the other men strode into the entryway.


  “Pull the Escalades around,” he barked as five men preceded him out of the house. The cool evening air assaulted his senses, and Mikael took it deep into his lungs, smiling in anticipation of what was to come.

  He stepped off the last of the stairs leading from the beautiful wraparound porch as five black SUVs rolled up in front of him. Each one had blacked-out windows with special bulletproof glass and steel-enforced panels, just in case someone decided to try to take them out. Some called him paranoid, but Mikael liked to think he was prepared for any situation.

  One of the men opened the passenger-side door for him, and Mikael climbed into the vehicle. He waited a minute before signaling to the driver, and the man took off, stepping on the gas pedal and leaving their coven in the rearview mirror.

  Mikael didn’t speak as they moved through the streets of New Orleans toward the St. Louis cemetery on Claiborne Avenue. He was meeting with the leaders of the other factions, but he knew without a doubt that they wouldn’t be coming up with any answers he’d be content with. The SUV came to a stop, and Mikael scanned the shadows for movement. He gave the all’s clear signal and stepped out of the Escalade. The rest of his men followed him into the cemetery.

  Magic was a living, breathing entity.

  It moved around them the further Mikael and his group strode into the graveyard, alerting him of Gavin and Maddoc MacDryw’s presence.

  “Fucking magic-users,” he growled.

  There was no such thing as a good witch or mage in Mikael’s opinion. Over the years, he’d met hundreds, and they were all the same—dependent on their magic. The men and women may claim to be “good”, but they were all self-serving pricks. Using his senses, Mikael easily picked up on the rest of the paranormal faction leaders. They were there under the pretense of talking, but Mikael was all too aware of how it would end up.