Sassy Ever After: Dragon Sass (Kindle Worlds Novella) Read online

  Jules couldn’t quite believe it.

  Stuart was gone.

  CHAPTER SIX—Jules

  Blue Creek’s one and only funeral home had changed since the last time Jules had seen it, but just walking in brought back memories like it was yesterday. She expected to see Hector Reed, the funeral director who had helped her make all the arrangements for her parents, but the secretary told her he’d retired.

  Hector had been kind to her, she remembered, and she was a little disappointed he wasn’t there. But she also hadn’t been looking forward to reliving those memories with him, having flashbacks of sitting across from him talking about what kind of caskets to purchase and what kind of flowers to put on them. She already had enough of a sense of deja-vu sitting in the waiting room.

  She still couldn’t quite believe Stuart was gone.

  Her phone buzzed and she checked it, smiling to see a text from Kai.

  Sure you’re okay? I can be there in five minutes if you need me.

  She texted back: You’re sweet. But you handle the site. I got this. It’s the least I can do for him. The last thing, I guess…

  That thought brought tears to her eyes and she blinked them back, glancing around the empty waiting room. There was no one but the receptionist, and she imagined she was used to seeing a lot of tears. There were several strategically placed boxes of Kleenex around the room.

  I’m so sorry, baby. Promise me you’re okay? I can leave the guys to deal with this if I have to.

  One set of the bleachers they’d installed for the tournament had collapsed on one end during weight testing and they had to go back to the manufacturer. This had left Kai scrambling to get another set delivered and set up in time. She did kind of want him there, just for moral support, but she knew this whole tournament thing was for her ranch—in spite of everything he kept saying about mutually beneficial arrangements—and what he was doing right then was all for her.

  Jules squared her shoulders, texting Kai back. I promise. I’ll be home soon.

  Barb had offered to come, too, but she had so many people coming in from all over, she was having a hard time finding room for them all. Blue Creek’s two motels and one hotel were completely booked, and several of the surrounding towns’ hotels had sold out as well that weekend. Barb also had all her family in town, including distant relatives they hadn’t seen in years. The Wolfe clan even had shifters coming in from other continents—Barb had managed to use the tournament as an excuse to have a sort of shifter family reunion.

  That meant she had a house full of people, though, and Jules didn’t feel right dragging her away from it. Besides, Barb had never liked Stuart. Or, really, she’d never thought he was good for Jules. And she couldn’t really argue with that, could she? If Barb knew what Jules now knew—that Stuart had been behind her parents’ deaths—she’d be even more angry at him.

  But to her credit, Barb hadn’t said, “I told you so.” Not about Stuart, and not about Kai, either. She’d been genuinely broken up about Stuart, and seemed only happy and not the least bit smug that Jules and Kai were clearly together.

  So Jules had come by herself, because there was no one else to do it. Stuart’s mother had died during their senior year of high school. Her drug of choice had been heroin, and the few times Jules had been in Stuart’s house, the woman had been passed out on a couch in a robe, the television blaring General Hospital. Stuart’s father hadn’t been in his life since he was a baby and she had no idea where he might be now. He had an aunt somewhere in Texas—his mother’s sister—but that was it.

  She realized she’d have to go through Stuart’s things. And probably everything his mother had left behind, too—he still lived in the same little bungalow he had his whole life. The house had been purchased by Stuart’s grandfather and had been passed to his mother. It was paid off and would have to be sold. She wondered if Stuart had left any sort of will, but she doubted it. The house would probably go to pay creditors, she thought, glancing at her phone again, seeing Kai had sent her one last text message. Just a heart.

  “Miss Monroe?”

  She looked up as the funeral director came into the waiting room. He was as opposite from Hector as she could have imagined. Hector had been a small, rotund man, his skin the color of coffee and cream, with a big, black mustache and broad smile. He was always warm, his voice kind. Hector had exuded sympathy, which made his job perfect for him.

  “Yes.” Jules slipped her phone into her purse and stood.

  “I’m Nigel Abaddon, the funeral director.” The man was ancient—okay, maybe not that old, but still. His hand was cold as she shook it. His lips were almost lipstick-red in his long, pale face and she noticed his top two teeth were crooked and yellowed as he smiled at her. She actually had to fight the urge to wipe her hand on her jeans when he let go. “I’m so sorry for your loss.”

  “Thank you,” she murmured as he led the way down the hall.

  It was Hector’s old office, but instead of smiling pictures of his children on his desk, this man had almost nothing. Just a blotter, a MacBook, and a small, weeping Madonna statue. But her tears were red, like she was crying blood.

  “Please, sit.” Nigel nodded to the chair across from his desk as he took the one behind it, tenting his fingers. They were incredibly long, and she wondered if he played piano. His nails were square and meticulously clean. “I understand you already have a plot purchased?”

  “Uh, yes.” She’d told the receptionist when she called to make this appointment that she wanted to use the plot next to her parents. They’d intended it for her. “It was pre-paid.”

  “That’s fine.” He picked a piece of paper up off the blotter, studying it. “Did you take a look at the sample caskets in the lobby?”

  “Yes. Actually, I looked at it all on your web site.” Just five years ago, she’d had to sit in this office and go through catalogs of flowers and caskets, but even the Blue Creek funeral home had finally come into the twenty-first century. “I think I pretty much have everything all picked out.”

  The thought of Stuart’s body in one of those caskets made her feel nauseous. She hadn’t been to see his body. She just couldn’t. But Sheriff Kline said he’d been shocked by how little damage Stuart had sustained. He’d been thrown from the Firebird like a rag doll when it went over the guard rail—just like he had been the day her parents died, Jules thought—but drunk’s luck had failed him this time. He’d broken his neck, literally, in the fall.

  Jules dug out the piece of paper she’d written the details on, handing it over. “Here you go, Mr. Abaddon. I made a list.”

  “You can call me Nigel.” He gave her a smile, looking over her list. “Very good. Everything seems in order. Did you want a graveside service?”

  “Oh.” She blinked, trying to imagine herself standing beside her parents’ graves while they lowered Stuart’s casket into the ground. “Is that necessary?”

  “No, of course not, it’s just…” He sighed and shook his nearly bald head. What little hair he did have was just wisps of white he hadn’t bothered to comb. The top of his shiny scalp was mottled with age spots. “We have an unfortunate situation in the cemetery.”

  “What kind of situation?”

  “I’m afraid we’ve been the target of vandals.” The old man sighed, looking up at her with rheumy blue eyes. “Most likely teenagers. Sheriff Kline said they ‘tagged’ many of the headstones with spray paint. Different symbols that might indicate gang activity? I’m not really up on teen lingo. I just know our cemetery needs to be cleaned up and we have very limited resources.”

  “Oh no.” Jules sat back in her seat, stunned.

  “It’s very recent and we haven’t had time to notify the next of kin about…” He cleared his throat, looking down at the piece of paper that had been sitting on his blotter. “Oh dear. Oh my dear, I’m so sorry…”

  “What?” she asked, confused. “Sorry for… what?”

  “These plots…” He pointed to the
paper, but she couldn’t see it. “These are two of the graves they desecrated.”

  “Desecrated…” She repeated the word, trying to make it sink in. What did that mean, exactly?

  “It’s truly awful. I’m so sorry to be the one to tell you this.”

  “Tell me what?”

  “Your parents… their bodies…” The old man cleared his throat. “They’re missing.”

  “Missing.” She blinked at him, unable to really comprehend what he was saying. “Someone… what? Dug up my parents? Is that what you’re telling me?”

  He nodded sadly. “I’m afraid so.”

  “But… what in the world… why? Why would someone do that?”

  “I don’t know.” He shook his head again. “The older I get, the more I realize there are some sick people in this world. And we may never know their real motivations.”

  “I don’t even know what to say.” Jules found herself shaking, she was so angry. Even her voice trembled.

  “We’ve made a police report, and we have every hope the Blue Creek police department will catch the culprits.”

  “Is there any chance that… they might recover… the…” She swallowed, shivering. “Bodies?”

  “I don’t know. But we’re truly sorry,” he told her. “And I’d be happy to give you fifty-percent off everything on this list.”

  He lifted the piece of paper Jules had handed him, outlining everything she’d planned for Stuart’s funeral.

  A half-off funeral. It didn’t seem like something that should come at a discount. But Jules wasn’t going to turn him down, given her financial situation. And in spite of Kai’s offer to pay for whatever she needed, she wanted to do this herself. For Stuart.

  “Well, thank you.” Jules opened her purse, digging into her wallet and pulling out her credit card. “Can you put it on this?”

  “Certainly.” He stood, taking her card and picking up her list. “I’ll have my receptionist total things up and give you a receipt.”

  * * * *

  And just like that, it was over.

  She hadn’t wanted a graveside service, but Stuart’s Aunt Ginny had flown in from Texas. She said she hadn’t seen him since her sister’s funeral, but she’d gotten married since and had two kids. Aunt Ginny and her husband had insisted on going to the cemetery. The funeral director hadn’t been happy about that, and when Jules saw the graveyard, she realized why.

  The cemetery was located behind the funeral home, at the end of a long, winding drive. Everywhere she looked, headstones had been tagged with spray paint. She’d expected profanity and obscene pictures, but what she saw were strange symbols in just three primary colors—red, blue and yellow.

  Most of the newest headstones at the front of the graveyard had been tagged with red and blue. Her parents’ graves each had the same mark on them in red. The back of the cemetery, containing the oldest graves, had mostly yellow markings on the headstones.

  At least they’d covered up the graves where the vandals had dug up bodies. Jules could tell which ones had been disturbed—her parents’ graves were both laid with fresh sod. It was a lush, bright green, different from the grass around it. She had counted six of them, standing there with Kai’s arm around her shoulder as the minister prayed over a hole in the ground.

  Stuart’s Aunt Ginny cried but Jules didn’t. She watched Aunt Ginny’s kids chase each other around the casket. No one stopped them. So many people—and shifters—had come, Jules was shocked. There had been no viewing, no reception at the funeral home itself. But there were dozens of cars parked in the cemetery and funeral home parking lot when they arrived for the graveside service.

  “They’re here for you,” Kai had told her softly when she expressed her surprise, squeezing her hand.

  And she knew he was probably right. Barb had hugged her tight and kissed both of her cheeks. And she’d told Kai to take good care of Jules. Of course, he’d promised, without any hesitation.

  She rested her head on Kai’s shoulder as the limousine took them back to his place. They were quiet on the ride, Kai stroking her hair. She didn’t want to make small talk and he knew it. He knew everything. She never even had to say what she was thinking, it seemed.

  “No Sebastian?” she asked as they entered the foyer. Usually the old man was there when they arrived.

  “I gave him some time off.” Kai took her hand as he shut the door behind them. “I wanted to be alone with you.”

  “So we can walk around the house naked?” she joked.

  “Anything you want to do.” He pulled her into the circle of his arms, kissing the top of her head. “I’d be happy to just hold you like this forever.”

  “Thank you.” She looked up at him. He looked so somber in his black suit and tie. She was in a little black dress that was more cocktail party than funeral, but she’d added a black shawl to offset it. “For everything. For being here.”

  “Thank you for letting me.” He kissed her, just the brush of his lips, and smiled. “I need a drink. How about you?”

  “Hell, yes.”

  In the sitting room, Kai poured himself a shot of whiskey and drank it at the bar before pouring them both one. Jules settled into the chair she’d sat in the first night she’d been in his house.

  “I talked to Sheriff Kline after the service,” Kai told her, handing her the shot and sitting in the chair beside her. “Still no suspects.”

  “I can’t believe someone would do something like that.” Seeing all those marks on the headstones had infuriated her. “The funeral director said they thought it was probably just teens. Vandals. But why would they dig up bodies?”

  “Maybe some sick kids who think it’s cool to play with death.” Kai drank his second shot with a grimace, putting the glass on the table between them. Then he stood, walking over to one of his walls of books.

  “What are you doing?” Jules asked, glowering at the liquid in her glass.

  “I swear I’ve seen those symbols before.” Kai ran his finger along the spines, turning his head to the side to read them. “Damnit, I think I loaned it out…”

  “Stuart’s Aunt Ginny said she’d take care of the house.” Jules tipped the glass up and drank, letting the alcohol burn her throat and chest. It made her eyes water. “So I guess… that’s it.”

  “Are you okay with that?” Kai turned to look at her.

  “I’m not okay with anything right now.” She sighed, putting her glass down. Then she smiled at him. “Except you.”

  “Just okay, huh?”

  “More than okay.” Jules got up and slipped out of her heels—she didn’t wear them often and, after standing for just half an hour, her feet were killing her—going over to put her arms around his neck.

  “I just want to make you happy.” He slipped his arms around her waist.

  “You do.” She traced the line of his goatee. “You make me happier than anyone I’ve ever known.”

  He pressed his lips to hers, breathing her in, his hands moving to her lower back. Just his touch made her come alive. And it felt so good, to be alive. It seemed wrong somehow, to want him now, after coming back from the funeral of her best friend. But even if the rest of the world might think it was wrong, she didn’t care. They weren’t here. In that moment, it was only Kai, and there was no judgment.

  “I want to see your bedroom,” she whispered when they parted.

  “Are you asking me to take you to bed?”

  “Yes. Please.” She pressed her softness against him. “I want you. I need you.”

  Kai picked her up, making her gasp. She wrapped her arms around his neck, nuzzling and kissing it as he carried her down the hallway. She’d been on this level of the house—the sitting room, dining room, kitchen, bathroom, and several other rooms she wasn’t even sure of at the other end. But she’d never been downstairs.

  “You really do have a cave,” she remarked as Kai carried her into an elevator that took them swiftly down to the lower level.

  “I to
ld you.”

  The elevator opened and Kai turned left. She strained to see in the dimness but they had entered a hallway. It was cooler down here and she shivered, clinging to him as he nudged open a door and carried her inside.

  “Lights.” Kai’s voice activated the lights and Jules gasped out loud. “Dim.”

  The lights dimmed, but that didn’t do anything to diminish the beauty of the room. It was utterly masculine, all dark wood, the linens forest green and black with a hint of red. The bed was the most magnificent thing, a giant canopy, hand carved. There were designs in the wood but she couldn’t make them out, and she was distracted by Kai as he put her down on the mattress.

  It was like sinking into a cloud.

  His gaze swept over her as she leaned back on her elbows.

  “You look stunning.”

  “You like my little black dress?”

  “More than I should.” He sighed, loosening his tie and unbuttoning the top button of his shirt. “Made me think things no one should be thinking at a funeral.”

  “Well I might be funeral on the outside, but I’m all Victoria’s Secret underneath.”

  His eyes lit up as he shrugged off his suit coat, tossing it over the back of a black, overstuffed chair.

  “Show me.”

  “Unzip me.” Jules stood, turning around and holding her hair up out of the way.

  Kai did, slowly dragging the zipper down tick by tick. She shivered at the cool air on her bare skin, at the way his fingers brushed her lower back. He took a step back as she shrugged the dress down her shoulders, one at a time, looking back at him. Then she let it slip over her hips until it pooled on the floor at her feet. He let out a low whistle and she was glad the dim light hid her blush. Her underwear was sheer black, trimmed with lace that matched her thigh-highs.

  “Turn around.” His voice was hoarse.

  She did, slowly, and she saw his gaze lingering over the black push-up bra that gave her quite a bit of cleavage before skipping down to her panties and stockings.