by Maria Xystra
“I know. And I’m telling you he’s-”
“He’s here! Eric!” I follow her gaze to find Eric storming towards Cole, saying something to him and both turning their heads towards us in alarm.
Instantly, a feeling of unease overwhelms me.
Scanning the area, I take in the mood shifting as a veil of panic travels through the few people left inside the club.
The sudden commotion and the uncanny feeling of alert rapidly fill the air.
In less than a second, Cole summons Frederick ‘the Wardrobe’, and the three of them hurry towards us.
Sam and I exchange a worried look and shoot off our stools, instinctively grabbing our stuff.
“Eric? Wh- what is it? What’s going on?” Sam asks him.
“You need to get out of here,” he states and takes her by the elbow.
“Wait!” she protests but I can’t follow their dialogue any longer.
Cole directs people into positions and asks ‘the Wardrobe’ to lead us out the back door.
“Cole!” I try to get his attention.
“You gotta go, Lexy! Right now!”
What the fuck is going on?
Completely confused, I let the tall security guy lead me towards the emergency exit.
I look for Sam and see her reluctantly leaving Eric, as he gently shoves her to my direction.
“Come on,” Frederick urges me to keep following him.
“Wait!” I motion for Sam to hurry up and join us.
With the corner of my eye, I spot Shadow, Temper and Wheels. By the time I register the fact that all members of the gang are here, Sam takes me by the elbow and drags me along.
A few feet from the exit, I catch sight of Cole and as if knowing it, he instinctively turns to me and locks our gaze. As a reply to my silent worry, he nods briefly.
In the speed of lightning, about a dozen new faces burst through the entrance and fan out taking positions.
Positions for a fight.
Them versus Cole’s gang.
The large space turns into a battlefield in merely a flash.
We manage to reach the far end, when a loud bang draws my attention as the emergency exit flies open and three more guys barge in.
Frederick spreads his arms in front of us protectively.
Rooted to the spot, I stare intently at the man ready to make a move on him.
“Christopher.” My surprise is clear in the way I breath out his name.
It catches him off-guard and halts his attack just as a punch lands forcefully across his face.
Cole engages into a fist throw with the second guy and Frederick joins him.
My breath gets stuck at the top of my lungs, unable to come out.
Fear settles in thick layers over my entire body.
I try to recover from the turmoil in my head as to what Christopher is doing here and contemplate on whether it is wise to move or not. I favor against it and apparently so does Sam.
Her grip on my elbow tightens. I sense her dread and her heart beating rapidly in her chest. And just then, the weirdest thing happens. Her beating sounds like two…two hearts…two very scared and upset hearts, beating in a quick tempo. One faster, but significantly weaker than the other. I turn my eyes on Sam and I can feel it. She’s pregnant.
Myriads of emotions travel within me and I wanna tell her, but choose not to. I don’t even know if she knows yet, and now is definitely not a good time. This realization took me less than a second and with much regret, I block it out and return to the situation at hand.
In a state of trance, I watch Cole fighting his opponents. He blocks punches and kicks with incomparable skill. He strikes fast and methodically. Composed, controlled, but yet, fostering a sentiment of fury, anger and resentment. The man is powerful and spine-chillingly fearsome.
I always had the suspicion that Cole and his crew were involved with the underworld that comes hand-in hand-with nightlife, like a package deal. Now I’m sure. 1000% sure.
I dare a glance at the rest of the area.
Bodies collide; fists come into contact with solid mass.
One of the ‘visitors’ has his arm around Toy’s neck, but he quickly elbows his holder and turning around, he lands a blow on his jaw followed by a kick that knocks him out.
Cole runs towards a huge guy and grabbing him by the waist, he tackles him to the floor.
In a moment that seemed to have lasted for days, I follow Cole’s moves as Sam pushes me towards the exit.
Cole slowly lifts himself on his knees, and then on his feet. He places a hand over his shoulder and moves it in a circular motion.
He touches his eyebrow and examines the traces of blood on his fingers.
Our eyes lock for one last time, and in that moment, I see an array of feelings passing over his features; surprise, fear, confusion, worry, anger, displeasure, agony.
It’s overwhelming, and as much as I want to run to him, Sam shoves me out the door and into the dark silence of the night.
CHAPTER 36
Despite my efforts and pleading for Sam to stay with me for apparent safety reasons, she decidedly dropped me off and hurried back home to wait for Eric.
Fumbling with my keys, I finally manage to steady my hands and let myself in.
In a matter of seconds, I find myself sitting on the couch, elbows on my knees, face in my hands.
Just when I thought that things with Cole were getting back on track, that everything was about to change for the better…seeing Christopher was like a powerful slap.
He and Marcus were friends back in Florida. A few years ago, Christopher was his sidekick, his best friend, one of his own. They had a strong bond and I doubt him being here now is random and completely irrelevant. I know he would do anything for Marcus back then; and probably even now.
If he knows that Marcus is offering a reward and sent his hounds after me, then it’s game over. And something tells me he definitely knows.
Even after all these years, even if he’s stopped looking for me, I’m quite certain such ‘intel’ won’t be overlooked.
Could he already have known and came to the club tonight…for me? Speaking his name seemed to have surprised him but… I’m not sure if that’s because he saw me or because I recognized him. After all, I couldn’t get a clear view of his expression, as the moment he turned to me, he immediately got punched.
I’ve gotta talk to Al. I dare not even consider that all my efforts to hide my true identity were in vain. Changing my name, changing my background, my life…will it all go up in smoke?
An intense knocking on my door startles me and, compelled, I hurry to answer it.
“Cole!”
“Are you OK?” he barges into my apartment.
“What was that all about? Jeez, you’re bleeding!” I take notice of a deep cut over his eyebrow.
“I’m fine!” he wanders restlessly in the living room. “Why were you-”
“Can you just have a seat, please?” I try to calm him down.
He reaches the back of the couch and gripping it tightly ‘till his knuckles turn white, he draws in a deep breath and lets it go. I swear, I thought fire would come out of his nostrils.
“You should have left the moment I told you to,” he accuses me.
“We were leaving but some guys came through the back door and attacked Frederick!” I reply in defense. “Who were those guys anyway?”
“They’re-” he starts but a light bulb flashes in his eyes, “I don’t know their names, but apparently you do!”
My knees grow weak and I feel like my legs can’t hold me up anymore. My jaw hits the floor and my eyes are about to pop out of their sockets any minute now.
Cole keeps staring at me and I need to sit down. Feeling lightheaded, I support myself against the armchair. My blood seems to have left my limbs and gathered around my heart, forcing it to pump vigorously.
“If you’re thinking about lying to me, don’t,” he warns me. “You called him by name. C
hristopher, was it?”
I knew the moment of truth wasn’t far away but I’m not sure I want to do it tonight. I don’t want to lie to him either, though. And I’m certain that Cole is not leaving here without getting an answer. So, here goes nothing.
“Christopher is…was… I know him from high school. That’s why I was surprised to see him tonight.”
“…From high school?”
“Yeah, but I haven’t seen him since then. I haven’t talked to him and I know nothing about what he’s been up to ever since…”
“And-”
“And I sure as hell, have no clue who the other men were!” I answer his question before he utters it. “And you’re telling me that you don’t know who they were either? A dozen men come into your club and get into a fight with you and you don’t know why?”
“I never said that…” he shakes his head.
“You- fine! Care to share some details with me? About what went down tonight?”
I watch as he retrieves his phone from his back pocket. I know that internally, he is struggling to decide whether to let me in. When his eyes meet mine for a long moment, I see reluctance in them.
I walk up to him and gently take his forearms in my hands.
“Cole, if we’re to make this work, we’ve gotta open up and confide in each other. I know you’re keeping secrets…’cause it takes one to know one. And there’s so much I want to tell you…about me… about everything weighing me down. Maybe right now is not the perfect moment but I want you to know that I’m willing to let you in. And I just hope that maybe you are, too.”
I honestly can’t believe I just said that. I just promised him I will tell him everything. And I will. No more secrets. No more running away. If there’s one person I’d ever choose to share my secret with, I’m completely positive that is Cole.
He must have read the sincerity in my words as his features softened and he closed his eyes briefly, as if ready to surrender.
“I wanna tell you everything, Lex. No secrets, no lies. Not now, but soon. Real soon.”
Brief pause – we share a moment of mutual understanding and it’s exhilarating.
“Look, what I can tell you right now, is that those men came for Digit. But I need you to know this,” he adds before I say a word, “this kind of thing, such kind of ‘attacks’ are not that…uncommon in my line of work. Nightlife comes with enemies. But it’s nothing we can’t handle.”
I nod in understanding.
“Digit,” he continues, “as you’re well aware, has been taking some money while handling my accounts.” He leans against the couch and settles me between his legs.
“He had borrowed a few grand some time ago. And he asked the wrong people for it. So, he had to find a way to pay them back, quickly. He came clean with me when I confronted him the other day. He said they’d be coming for him and his family, so we got them out of town. Digit stayed here, and we were kinda waiting for them to make a move. So, I guess everything went according to plan; except the fact that it all went down tonight and that you were there.”
“So, wait. Let me get this straight,” I put the pieces together. “You knew they were coming, looking for a fight, and you…were expecting them?”
“Yeah, pretty much. We just didn’t know when it would happen. Otherwise, I would have never asked you to stay after closing.”
“Don’t worry about that. Now it’s all taken care of, right?” I slowly trace his biceps and play with the hem of his sleeves.
“Ah-hum,” he smiles and brings his hands around my waist.
“Besides, chaos is like second nature to us. Everything between us has been…far from normal…” I lift the spirits and he tunes in to my mood swing.
“I know, and I wouldn’t change a thing…” he reaches beneath my shirt and draws his fingers over my lower back.
“Not even all the fuss and fighting?”
“No way! You’re the best thing…that ever walked into my bar!”
I chuckle and land a small kiss on the hollow of his throat.
Happiness flows within me and I’m on the verge of spilling the beans and letting him know about my secret. But I choose not to ruin this moment. I know I’m being selfish, but so is he. Keeping his own secrets. I’ll just cling onto this joyful moment a little while longer.
“Let me make it up to you” he says. “Tomorrow. I’ll take you out on a real date and we’ll meet all over again. Not holding anything back. Tomorrow, you’ll get to know the real me, and I’ll get to know the real you.”
I nod in content as we bring our lips together.
Cole reaches for my buttocks and squeezing them hard, he lifts me up. My legs find their way around his waist as he leads me into the bedroom.
“Cole Theron can actually do a ‘real date’?” I tease him when he drops me on the bed.
“Cole Theron can do a lot of things for Lexy Davis,” he answers seductively as he slowly climbs over me.
“Oh, what have I done to deserve this?” I whisper as he gently settles on top of me and plants a trail of kisses across my shoulder.
“I don’t really know,” he pauses to look into my eyes, “but whatever you did, it made me fall in l-”
“No, no! Don’t say it! Not yet!” I interrupt him with a finger over his lips.
“Lust with you?” he finishes.
I giggle at his choice of word.
“Well, I’ve fallen in lust with you, too,” I admit to him. Keeping his face close to mine, I caress his cheek. “I just don’t wanna use the l-word yet. I want nothing between us when we say that.” I try to make him see my reasoning. There should be no secrets between us so that ‘loving you’ will be truthful and…pure.
“There’s nothing between us now!” he jokes looking down our bodies. “Except maybe some clothing…”
“You know what I mean!” I punch his chest playfully.
“I do,” he grins at me, “and I can’t wait for tomorrow.”
And neither can I. Tomorrow, everything will fall into place. All that’s been keeping me back will be revealed.
I can already feel the connection between us rooting.
He lowers his head and kisses the side of my neck.
A turmoil of feelings swirls around my heart.
Contentment, excitement, passion, desire, love…
They travel within me and it’s as if my aura bursts into the room. My soul pours out of me; the space seems too small to contain my emotions. They’re all over the place.
Cole seems to be feeling this too, and as a reaction, he joins our foreheads and breathes deep savoring every little thing.
I do the same.
I draw in a deep breath, devouring every bit of him. His scent overwhelms me. Woods, and spices and amber and leather. And… Before I realize what I’m doing, I already feel Cole’s soft skin being pierced beneath my teeth. Unable to control myself, unable to pull away, I let a small drop of his blood spill into my mouth.
I shoot my eyes open right when he abruptly pulls himself away from me. His flesh tears against my fangs while doing so.
He stands still at the edge of the bed. His eyes lock with mine.
I swallow hard to get his blood past me and explain myself. Instantly, I revel in the sweetness of his essence and, as it flows through my system, a strong wave of euphoria engulfs me. I maintain eye contact, waiting for him to react. His stare pierces through me. Judging me. Accusing me.
I try to talk but something is wrong. His blood courses through my veins and when it reaches my limbs, it rushes back stealing away every ounce of pleasure it has given me, replacing it with unparalleled hotness and excruciating pain.
Cole tears his gaze from me and leaves the room.
I try to call after him, to reach for him but I feel so weak. In my attempt to get off the bed, I fall to my knees as tears sting my eyes. My vision becomes blurred and fainting seems like salvation.
I fight past it with great difficulty and barely manage to crawl ou
t of the room. The slamming of the door echoes hard through my body.
Before I collapse, before I register what just happened, before the pain in my heart grows stronger than the pain in my body, I hear glass shuttering.
A cold breeze reaches me first, and blinking away the ache, I make out three silhouettes in front of the living room windows.
I struggle to get on my feet and backtrack into the bedroom. I try to keep the door shut, willing myself not to pass out.
What the fuck?
I don’t get the chance to think about it. The door breaks with a forceful kick and I catch myself just in time before my face hits the floor.
Knowing the space around me is a benefit. Quick reflexes and boxing skills add to that. But Cole’s blood… whatever poison I drew from him feeds on my energy leaving me motionless.
I fight with the intruders, only to find out I’m getting weaker and weaker by the moment.
“You should have never come back from Greece,” a deep voice fills the room.
One hard punch leads me to the floor and trying to keep my eyes open, I feel two of the men lifting me up and dragging me out.
Last thing I remember is Cole’s eyes shooting daggers at me right before he leaves.
If I am what I am… What the fuck is he?
I give in to my anguish and black out.
EPILOGUE
Damn it, Lex!
How the hell did I not see that coming?
How did I let myself get into this mess?
Blinded by rage and…pretty much every emotion on earth –times ten –, I descend the stairs in a few jumps on my way out.
Out of her apartment, out of the building, just out.
Need air, definitely need some air.
Without realizing it, I punch my way to my bike, crushing my knuckles against the brick wall.
I gotta know – how could I be so blind? How could she fool me like this? Fool everyone? Her- I can’t even say it! …Her kind, we can trace them, sense them. We’re instantly aware of the scent of death they carry around. But she…she found a way to cloak it! How? How is this even possible?