She was shaken out of her reverie when Daniel spoke. “Any news yet?” he asked when the last of the crowds left.
“None so far. Apparently there’s a phone call set tonight to figure out what, if anything, they can do. Sorry if I seem anxious. I’m just waiting.”
“Totally understandable. Did I mention that Roger came into the shop and let my sister read his tarot cards?”
Lilly laughed and remarked, “You really swayed him with palm reading stuff, I think. Next thing you know he’ll be inviting you to a drum circle in his backyard.”
He shot her a dry look and said, “Now, don’t you mock the power of a drum circle. All of those people in one place. That’s a lot of energy focused on one thing. It can be really powerful.”
“Ehh,” she said. “Not my thing.”
“How do you know if it’s your thing if you’ve never tried it?”
“No rhythm. I’m positive. I didn’t mean to hit a nerve there with the drum circle,” she said apologetically.
Daniel leaned in and said, “I’m aware that everyone thinks I’m a little strange. It doesn’t bother me in the least. I’ve been that way my whole life. At a certain point, it was more painful trying to fit in than just embracing the weird.”
“That’s a pretty smart way of looking at it. It’s probably healthier to embrace the weird in the end anyway. You’re the only person that has to live with you. May as well enjoy it, right?”
He nodded in agreement and then said, “Much as I enjoy our talks, I’m going to head out. I’ve got an early reading tomorrow and I’ve seen your eyes drift to that textbook behind the bar three or four times now as…”
“Midterms,” she said. “I’m sorry. If you want to stay, then please do. I don’t get many customers in the bar anyway. I think I’d probably get in trouble for chasing one off.”
As usual, he gave her that stoic nod and then asked, “What’s the damage tonight?”
“Twenty-three dollars,” she said, feeling a tiny bit guilty for making him feel he had to leave.
When he handed her cash, she counted out the change. As she turned around, the door to the bar opened. She opened her mouth to give a greeting and froze when she saw Colette. Shit. She looked angry, too. She needed Talan. There was no way she would be able to handle herself alone with Colette. If she was intent on hurting her, then Colette was too strong and too vicious. She needed to get word to Talan and had no idea what to do. Lilly needed to communicate that to Daniel somehow. Maybe he could get security? But how?
Hands shaking, she went with impulse and handed Daniel his change. Giving him a polite smile, she said, “There you go, Matthew. It was good to see you again. Tell Cathy I said hello.”
He narrowed his eyes and then gave her a nod. “You too,” he said. Sliding a couple of bills back on the bar for her, he frowned at her and then left.
God, she really hoped he had gotten the message. Now Lilly needed to figure out how to get out of the front door.
“Colette,” she said. “Did you come for a drink?”
“No, you little bitch. You know why I’m here.”
No,” she responded. “You’ll need to enlighten me.”
Lilly palmed the small paring knife that she’d been using to slice limes earlier and slid it into her apron. She walked around the bar, grabbed the rag, and moved toward a table, desperately trying to keep her calm.
“Over the past couple of days, I’ve learned a few things,” she said, glancing around the bar in disgust.
“Oh?”
“Stefano broke up with me, you know,” Colette remarked.
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Lilly lied smoothly.
“One of the things I learned,” Colette continued, ignoring Lilly’s fake sympathy entirely, “is that Stefano has an odd sense of compassion where humans are concerned. He got very angry at me about dinner the other night.”
“I’m not sure what you expect me to say,” Lilly admitted, eyeing the door.
“Another odd thing about Stefano is that he’s exceedingly trusting. The other night he used my computer to sign in to his e-mails. Didn’t log himself off. When he broke it off, I admit I thought maybe he was seeing someone else.”
“And?” Lilly asked, her heart pounding in her chest so loud that it could no doubt be heard.
“I checked his e-mail. That’s when I realized that you and I have a history. Don’t we, Lilly Ferguson?”
Bluffing desperately, she asked, “We do?”
Colette rolled her eyes and said, “I know who you are, and I know you know who I am. Don’t play dumb. It’s actually a little impressive that my voice has haunted your dreams, don’t you think?”
Lilly ran. She tried to make it to the door, but Colette moved too quickly. She just slapped a hand against the door and asked, “Where do you think you’re going?”
Her voice shaky, Lilly said, “I need you to leave. Now. You’re not welcome here.”
“Why?” Colette asked with a smug little grin. “Because I drained your family dry?”
Revolted, Lilly said, “For starters.”
Colette leaned against the door, blocking Lilly’s only chance for escape. The manager’s office didn’t even have a door. Christ. Talan and his open-door policy. She prayed Daniel had gotten the message.
“You know,” Colette said almost conversationally. “Of your entire family, the one I enjoyed killing the most was the child. He wiggled and cried the whole time. He screamed for your mother. Though I imagine she was already incapacitated by that time.”
The look in her eye turned predatory as she stepped away from the front door. She looked Lilly dead in the eyes when she uttered her next words. “I really enjoyed the little squeal he made. He kept crying until I drank almost every drop of his blood. The young ones are the best. You can taste the fear.”
“You bitch,” Lilly screamed as she grabbed the closest chair and threw it at her. “That was my fucking brother. You killed my entire family. Isn’t that enough for you?”
A sadistic smile slid onto Colette’s face as she knocked it away with a swat of her hand. She said, “I missed one. Don’t worry. I’ll fix my mistake.”
Adrenaline pumped through her veins now. She knew she was no match for her strength or speed, but Lilly refused to let her win. She would fight with everything she had.
Lilly picked up another chair and tossed it at her. When Colette shoved it away and laughed, Lilly cursed herself. Why had she cleaned off the tables? There were no beer bottles or buckets. Nothing she could throw. She needed to either make it to the door or she had to use the knife.
Before Lilly could make a full step, Colette grabbed her by the throat.
“I don’t normally play with my food,” Colette said through clenched teeth, dangling her in the air. “For you I’ll make an exception.”
Lilly gasped for breath as Colette tightened her hand around her neck. Before it even fully registered, she sent her sailing through the air with considerable force. Lilly braced herself for the impact she knew was coming. With a sickening crunch she hit the back wall of the bar and then slid down to the floor.
Sharp, intense pain radiated throughout her entire body as she gasped, trying to catch her breath. She slumped over, groaning in pain, desperately trying to dig the knife out of her apron pocket.
Colette walked slowly toward her, laughing as Lilly tried to shield her face with one arm. The other hand closed around the handle of the knife. Lilly decided that if she was going to die here, then at the very least this evil bitch would bleed.
“Aww,” Colette pouted. “No more fight left in you? I thought this would be more fun.”
Lilly’s whole body cried out in protest when Colette reached down to pick her up again. “You fucking bitch!” she screamed as she ripped the knife from her apron and jammed it into her neck.
Colette stumbled back, releasing her, and let out a shriek unlike anything Lilly had ever heard. She must have hit an artery because blood from
the wound sprayed Lilly. Officially out of weapons, Lilly prayed it would be enough to slow her down.
The knife sticking out from her neck, Colette gave an evil hiss. She ripped it out, tossed it aside, and said, “You dumb bitch. You were better off playing dead. Now I’m going to make this hurt.”
Lilly cowered, no longer equipped to fight back. The suspicion that she was going to die tonight crept over her. All she could think about was Talan.
Colette leaned down, grabbing her by the hair. Lilly screamed at the intense, searing pain in her scalp. It felt as though her hair was being ripped out at the root. Colette slammed her mouth down on the side of Lilly’s neck.
Lilly gave another screech, scratching and pulling at Colette’s face and hair. This was nothing at all like the time Talan had bitten her. Where Colette had latched on, the skin burned as if an open wound had been doused in rubbing alcohol. She continued struggling against her, pushing, until finally she didn’t have any fight left in her.
Just as her arms went limp, she heard the glass door of the bar fly open so hard and fast that it shattered in its frame. Talan roared, “How dare you hurt what’s mine,” as he charged toward Colette.
As if she realized that she was out-manned, Colette tore her mouth away from Lilly’s neck and dropped her to the ground. Equal parts pain, relief, and fear pumped through her system. She tried to speak but found herself unable to get the words out. She could only watch as Talan grappled with Colette, trying desperately to subdue her.
Eventually he managed to get her into a choke hold. Colette batted and swung at him, trying to strike out at anything. He held her, for the most part, immobile. Growling, she screamed at Lilly, “You’re dead, bitch.”
Talan must have tightened his hold because she suddenly went very silent and still. Lilly was uncertain whether he had killed Colette or not. In that moment, his face contorted with rage, his arm wrapped around Colette’s neck and he was every bit a predator.
Seconds later, Security burst through the door, quickly assessing the situation. Talan managed to pass Colette off to one of the Transfigured guards who quickly handcuffed her. She began to fight and struggle again. Not dead. Lilly didn’t know whether to be disappointed or not.
When he was free, Talan shouted, “Call an ambulance. Call an ambulance now! She’s hurt.”
He stooped down, the predator completely gone. In his place, the man she knew and loved. Gentle, kind, beautiful. Concern written on his face, he asked, “Love. Talk to me. Where are you hurt? Where are you bleeding?”
“Just my neck. Most of the blood on me is hers. I stabbed the bitch with a paring knife.”
Pride shone in his features as he shook his head and remarked, “You’re amazing.”
Lilly slumped, her chin resting on her chest. It hurt to breathe. It hurt to talk but she had to. She said, “You came.”
Gently, he picked up her hand and said, “Daniel found me on the casino floor. I’m so sorry, love. I should have banned her from the casino. I shouldn’t have let this happen.”
“Stop. Don’t do that,” she said, her ribs aching. “You saved me.”
His heart in his eyes, he said, “You saved me too, Lilly. More than you can even know.”
“I love you,” she whispered, tears pricking at her eyes.
“I love you too. Just rest until the ambulance gets here,” he murmured as he moved to sit next to her on the floor. “Just rest.”
Mentally she tried to assess how hurt she was. She could move her arms and feet. Good sign. When she tried to sit up, her ribs ached in protest. Fuck it, she decided. She’d let the doctors sort it out. Lilly closed her eyes. She’d rest until they arrived.
Chapter Eighteen
Talan walked through the bedroom door with a tray in his hand and said, “Your dinner, my love.”
“Oh, good. Will you stay and eat with me or are you still working?”
“I’ll stay. Just let me go get my dinner. I left it at my desk,” he said. Seeing her pleased grin, he added, “Be right back.”
Since Lilly’s attack, she’d been staying with him. She’d had torn ligaments in her shoulder, broken ribs, a fractured collar bone, a broken ankle, and bruises all over her body. She’d blanched at the thought of handling stairs on crutches and he frankly didn’t blame her.
All in all, considering Colette’s strength, she’d been incredibly lucky. Lilly had managed to sever an artery in her neck during the fight. It had taken several minutes for Colette to fully heal. That, alone, had probably saved her life.
He’d been confused at first when Daniel had found him on the casino floor. The poor man had been out of breath. As soon as he’d been able to explain, Talan left him standing there. He was glad that Colette hadn’t locked the door. He would have torn the door from its hinges if necessary, but it might have been too late.
He picked up the can of synthetic blood from his desk and walked back into the bedroom.
Lilly had managed to sit up on her own and now rested against a large bank of pillows. He smiled and asked, “Did you want a pain pill?”
He could tell by the lines on her forehead that she was hurting. She was the most stubborn person he’d ever met. He’d caught her trying to walk to the bathroom yesterday. It had only been a week and she was trying to walk on a broken ankle!
She took a bite of the cream of mushroom soup in front of her and said, “Maybe.”
“Please,” he all but begged. “I can see the pain in your face. You can ease it, sleep, and let your body heal.”
“Fine,” she huffed. “I’ll take the damned pill. I hate feeling so groggy though.”
He frowned and said, “I’m sorry, love. It’s necessary though. You don’t have to worry about work or school. Just take a nap if you’re groggy.”
Lilly made a face, but said no more on the subject. Instead, she said, “I was relieved to hear about school. I don’t know how I could have gone to class. It’s a shame I’m going to miss the semester, but racing across campus would have been nearly impossible.”
“Agreed. It was nice of them to let you take the leave from school without it impacting your grades. You’re getting pretty close to being done anyway. Right?”
“Three semesters,” Lilly said. “So close.”
He’d been toying with an idea over the last few days. He knew he’d need to be careful when he broached the subject. His voice stoic, he said, “I’m pretty sure I’m going to close the Sports Bar.”
As he imagined she would, she frowned and said, “Bummer.”
“Obviously, all of you would be placed in different roles until the remodelled place reopens.”
“What are you going to put in its place?” she asked, after she’d finished chewing.
He took a long sip from his drink and said, “Well. That all depends on you.”
Confusion swept across her features. “How do you mean?”
“I’ll be frank with you. I really liked your idea about the whisky bar. I’d love to do something like that if you wouldn’t mind.”
She shrugged, looking a little baffled. “I guess not.”
“Would you be willing to consult on it?”
“Why would you need me to consult?” she questioned. “It’s your bar.”
This is where it would get tricky, he realized. “Not exactly. It would be yours.”
Her mouth dropped open, then quickly snapped closed. “Mine? What do you mean it would be mine?”
“I’d like very much to help you build your dream. Inside my casino. I’d like you to own and operate the whisky bar,” he explained.
She let out a little huff of confusion and asked, “Why would you do this?”
“I believe in you. I believe in your dream. I know it would be an exceedingly good investment. You’re a smart woman with so much fire and determination that I know it will be a success. That means we both benefit.”
“But...” she said, trailing off.
“I love you, Lilly. I want you with m
e always. For however long that may be. I want to do everything within my power to make you happy. Personally and professionally.”
“I...I don’t know what to say. Would I really have full autonomy or would I be running your bar?”
“Full autonomy. Your bar, love.”
“You make it really difficult to say no,” she admitted.
“Then say yes.”
She studied him for a moment and then nodded. “Yes.”
He blinked at her incredulously. “Really?” He was so sure she was going to fight him on it.
“Really,” she said, grinning at him. “You’re making all of my dreams come true. It would be stupid to turn that down.”
“You do make a fair point there,” he agreed. “There’s a little bit more.”
“What more could their possibly be?” she asked.
“This, I’m sure, will come as less of a shock. I’d very much like you to continue living here with me even after you’re well.”
Lilly was silent for a moment. He could tell her mind was at work. Eventually she asked, “Are you sure? You’re buying me a bar and wanting me to move in. Isn’t this moving a bit quickly?”
Talan moved from the chair to perch on the side of the bed. Cupping her cheek, he asked her, “Do you know the thing that I miss most about being human?”
A completely mystified look on her face, she shook her head no.
“The sunlight. Before the change, I used to love being outdoors. I loved the warm sun on my face, a cool breeze. That was my idea of perfect. Since the change, I’ve not had that same feeling of warm pleasure and peace. Until you. You worry that things are moving too fast, but what you don’t seem to understand is that I want nothing more than to keep you with me for as long as the fates allow. I am irrevocably in love with you, Lilly.”
He watched as tears spilled over onto her cheeks. Gently, he wiped them off her cheekbone and said, “Please don’t cry.”
Lilly sniffled and then said, “I’ll stay.”
“You will?” he asked, hopeful.
“I will.”
Talan leaned in and brushed his lips gently against hers. When she sighed against his lips, he deepened the kiss.
The Darkness Calls Page 13