by Elisa Adams
Maybe it was time to go out and find some normal friends. “Okay. Fine. Whatever. We’ll talk about this later, okay?”
“I tried to warn you.”
Yes, he had, but she’d had to keep pushing until she’d driven another wedge between them. Still, she’d done what she had to do. She could never live her life as a vampire. There had to be some other way.
Instead of continuing the conversation—like she knew he wanted—she cuddled closer and closed her eyes, willing herself to sleep.
Chapter 13
Ellie dozed off and on, waking up a short time later tangled with a hard, male body. Eric. She snuggled closer, absorbing his warmth through her skin. The man had the most amazing energy. He filled her in a way entirely new to her. Despite herself, she loved every minute of it.
After last night, she’d made an important choice. The demon attack had shown her that Amara had been right about the danger, and that Eric’s life could be a hazard to her if she chose to live it with him. But she knew, deep in her heart, that she could never walk away. It didn’t matter what he did, or what he was. The only thing that mattered was how she felt when he held her, and loved her. The fact that he was…well, a demon didn’t bother her like it used to. She’d learned vampires weren’t as evil as the world made them out to be—or at least most of them weren’t—maybe the demon’s reputation was stretched a little, too.
She snuggled closer, trying selfishly to get some more of his warmth. He groaned softly. “Hi, beautiful.”
“Hi, yourself.”
His hand moved up her ribcage until he cupped her breast in his palm. “Why don’t we fool around for a little while? Just for a few more hours.”
She laughed. “Even you couldn’t last that long.”
“Wanna bet on that?” he seemed to take personal offense to her comment.
“Maybe later. We should probably get up and get something to eat first.”
He opened his mouth to protest, but his stomach growled in the silence. “Damn. I guess you’re right.”
She got up and pulled on her clothes, and Eric followed suit. “I’ll go get some coffee ready. You take a shower and I’ll meet you in the kitchen in a little while.”
They walked into the house together and Eric gave her a quick kiss before he went up the stairs toward the bathroom. When Ellie got to the kitchen, Charlotte was sitting at the table. A fresh pot of coffee sat on a trivet on the tabletop.
“I thought you might need it after last night,” Charlotte explained as she gestured to the carafe.
“Thanks.” Ellie poured some into her favorite mug and took a sip, not even caring that any other day the coffee would be utterly undrinkable. Charlotte and pretty much any kitchen appliance didn’t mix. They sat in silence for a few minutes while Ellie let the caffeine take effect on her overstressed body.
“How are you doing?” she asked her sister after a little while.
Charlotte shrugged off the question. “He was just a demon, right? Who cares if there’s one less in the world? How are you? You’re the one he tried to kill.”
“I’m fine. You know better than anyone that I can handle anything.”
“She’s not alone. She’s got me now.” Eric stood in the doorway in just a pair of jeans, his wet hair combed back from his face. Ellie’s heart thumped at the sight, and she could tell from Charlotte’s slack-jawed expression that her sister wasn’t unaffected.
Ellie looked up at him, hope filling her. “You mean that?”
He nodded.
“You’re not going to make me go into hiding or something like that?”
He took the mug of coffee Charlotte offered and sat down at the table. Ellie had to give him credit. He was great at pretending Charlotte wasn’t ogling him openly. “We need to talk about that.”
She tried not to take offense to that, knowing it was his twisted sense of chivalry—protecting the little lady—that got in the way of his good sense sometimes. Still, even after all that had happened, his overwhelming need to protect her was a little hard to take. There were a few things they needed to get straight, the sooner the better. “How about we discuss it right now?”
“Fine.” He got up and followed her into the living room, but he didn’t look thrilled. She knew Charlotte would hear every word, but at least she could pretend they had a little privacy.
“I need you to stop treating me like I’m some kind of helpless victim.”
He shook his head. “I never once said you were helpless.”
“You didn’t have to say it. The way you feel is clear from your actions and the way you speak to me. I can’t stand this anymore.” She knew it was the stress talking, but she couldn’t seem to clamp her mouth shut now that she’d started. “I need you to stop it or leave.”
He gaped, affronted. “You want me to leave?”
“If you can’t stop trying to take care of me, then yes, I want you to leave.”
“Let me get this straight. You want me to go because I care enough to try to make sure nothing happens to you? You don’t want me around because I threaten your precious independence? How is that any different from the way you take care of Charlotte and Becca, or your grandmother, or the way you took care of Marco before he met Amara? It seems to me that you spend so damned much time taking care of everyone else, that you forget that you need to take care of yourself.”
She fell silent. As much as it killed her to admit it, he had a point there.
“Yeah, I thought so.” He ran a hand through his damp hair. “If you want me to go, you’re going to have to call the police and have me arrested. You’re stuck with me until you leave, and you should be happy that I didn’t run away every time you’ve tried to push me.”
She almost smiled until she realized exactly what he’d said. “What do you mean, ‘until I leave’?”
He brushed his finger across her cheek. “You need to go get changed. I’m going to take you out to lunch.”
She dug her heels in, both literally and figuratively. “Not until you tell me what you meant by that comment.”
“Carol’s made arrangements for you and your sisters to go with her to see your mother for a while. Royce and I thought it would be best for you to spend some time away until we get things sorted out.”
Ellie stepped back and stared at him, her mouth agape. “How could you do this to me? It’s bad enough that you want to send me away, but I can’t believe you got my family and friends involved.”
“I’m just trying to protect you.” He tried to pull her back into his arms, but she ducked away.
“I am so sick of you saying that to me! If you don’t want me around, all you have to do is say so.”
His eyes flashed as anger heated his gaze. “You know damned well that is not the case. I don’t want you to get killed.”
“I wouldn’t even be in any danger if you hadn’t approached me in the park!” She stood with her hands on her hips, not caring if Charlotte heard the whole conversation.
Eric’s shoulders bunched and he took a step toward her, his agitation visible in every move. “Don’t you dare blame this on me. You put yourself in danger when you slept with Royce Cardoso.”
Her heart stopped and her mouth went dry at the comment. She heard nothing but the blood rushing in her ears. Just a few hours ago, she’d been so sure he cared. But now she knew he was just like all the rest. “That’s it! I never want to see you again.”
She turned and ran out of the house, her heart breaking a little more with every step.
* * * * *
“I screwed up,” Eric said the second Liam answered the phone.
“What happened?”
“She’s not going to go.” He shifted the phone from one ear to the other. “I pushed too hard, and she ran away.”
It had been three hours since their disagreement, and he’d been watching her house for most of that time. He’d had to leave briefly to take care of a few job-related errands, and when he got back, her car was g
one. She hadn’t been back since.
“Is that all? I’ll take care of it.” Liam’s voice held a subtle hint of humor, but Eric failed to see anything funny about the situation.
“This is a big deal, Liam. Huge. Someone tried to kill her last night. She’s in a lot of danger.”
“What exactly did you say to her to make her run away?”
“I…I said a lot of things I shouldn’t have. I was wrong, but now I can’t find her to tell her I’m sorry.” He’d do anything to get her to believe him. He just prayed it wasn’t too late.
“I can fix this for you. Easy. Just trust me on this one. I’ll get back to you in a couple of days.” Without waiting for a reply, Liam disconnected the call, leaving Eric to listen to the blaring of the dial tone in his ear.
He shook his head and slipped his phone back into his pocket, hoping that Liam really did know what he was doing. He couldn’t stand to lose Ellie over a couple of hurtful comments, and he at least wanted time to tell her he was sorry before he ran out of time.
* * * * *
Ellie sat on the old couch in Becca’s living room, watching Liam closely as he spoke on the phone. From the hushed tones and furtive glances, she assumed the caller was Eric. Her mood darkened again just thinking about him. She’d let herself believe he cared, but in the end he was just like the rest of them.
Men sucked.
She’d come to Becca’s house when she’d run out on Eric, needing someone to talk to. Charlotte had heard everything, so Ellie couldn’t trust her to keep an open mind. She’d been surprised when a strange man—a big, tall one with a long black ponytail and tattoos covering a great deal of his arms—opened the door. She might have called the police if Becca hadn’t come to the door behind him and assured Ellie that she’d spoken to Marco on the phone, and the man was safe. Liam, she’d learned, worked with Eric.
He was helping Becca pack while Tony was out.
At first she hadn’t understood what was going on. But Liam had been all too happy to fill her in. It seemed her hunches about Tony hadn’t been wrong. He was a dangerous man, one Eric apparently wanted her entire family away from as soon as possible. Though Liam hadn’t come right out and said it, she knew it had something to do with the murders in town.
“That was Eric,” Liam told her unnecessarily.
“That’s nice,” she replied, looking down at the hideous green shag carpet.
“He really thinks you should go to your mother’s for a while.” Liam spoke in a deep baritone she would have found sexy if she hadn’t just had her heart ripped into tiny pieces. “And he’s really sorry.”
“Good for him.”
“Maybe you should give him a chance.”
Ellie was saved from further reply when Becca walked into the living room with her suitcase. “I’m all set. Now we just have to stop home and get Charlotte and Carol. Ellie can pack while we’re there.”
“I already told you. I’m not going.” She got up from the couch and went over to give her sister a quick hug. “I’ve got a few things to do before I head home, but I’ll get back as soon as I can to see you before you all leave.”
“It’s not safe to stay here,” Becca protested, a worried frown marring her delicate features. “Liam said that there are dangerous demons around here, and that’s what tried to kill you and Charlotte the other night. And Tony…” Her voice trailed off, and Ellie felt a stab of sympathy for the girl. She’d wanted to get her away from the man, but she hadn’t wanted it to happen like this.
“I’ll be careful, Becca, I promise.” She walked to the apartment door, turning back to Liam before she walked out. “Thanks for taking care of my sisters and my grandmother. If you see Eric, kindly tell him to go fuck himself.” She felt much better when she walked out the door.
Chapter 14
Ellie walked through the grocery store, absently tossing items into her cart. It had been three days since Becca and her grandmother had left for Georgia, and all had been quiet. Suspiciously quiet. She hadn’t heard a word from Eric, but she didn’t really expect to. He thought she’d left town.
A hand settled on her shoulder, and she whipped around, startled. Royce stood behind her, an angry look on his face. “You didn’t answer your phone last night, or this morning,” he said, his tone accusatory.
She shrugged. “I’ve been busy.”
“Doing what?” he asked. “Or should I say, who?”
What was his problem? “It’s a little late for jealousy. My private life is none of your business.”
“It is when you put yourself in danger.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “You’re my friend, and I care about you. I’d hate to see something happen to you because of a lapse in good judgment.”
She fumed, ignoring the elderly woman who walked by them slowly, her eyes trained on them with keen interest. “My judgment is fine, thank you very much. It’s you I wonder about. You’re supposed to be my friend. A little support from someone would be nice. I think you need to leave now. If you continue to bellow like a moron, someone is going to call the police.”
She pushed her cart further down the aisle to the cash register, not caring if he followed or not. Lately the men in her life all drove her crazy. She was about ready to give up on the lot of them.
“Good. Maybe that’s what it will take to knock some sense into you.” Royce took some of her groceries from the shopping cart and loaded them on the belt. Just watching him do it made her hands clench into fists and her jaw tighten. She rubbed her temples, trying to ward off the impending tension headache.
“Knock it off. I can handle this myself.” She took a box of cereal out of his hands and smacked it down on the belt, earning a curious look from the cashier. “Go home and pack for your trip. Aren’t you leaving soon? Like, tomorrow maybe?”
“I postponed the trip for a little while when you decided to be pigheaded and not leave town. Somebody’s got to watch out for you and your daredevil sister.” He dropped a loaf of bread onto the belt, squishing one side.
She shook her head. “You know what? I’m just realizing now what a domineering jerk you are. You’re just like Eric. Why don’t you just stay out of my life?” She paid for her groceries and pushed the cart out of the store, her emotions well past the boiling point. Being a thick-skulled male and therefore unable to take a hint, Royce followed her out the door and grabbed her arm.
“If I didn’t know you better, I’d think you had a death wish. Did you know that you’ve been sleeping with an assassin?”
Why is it that men would say anything to get their way? She narrowed her eyes and didn’t even try to keep the sarcasm from her voice. “I’m sorry, you must have me confused with one of your simpering, agreeable women. Get this through your head, tough guy. I’m not!”
She stopped in back of her car and popped the trunk to load her bags. Royce moved her out of the way and did the job for her. She would have protested but by that point she was too furious to form the words. When he finished, he slammed the trunk so hard it bounced back open, and he had to shut it again. Ellie let out a frustrated groan as she shoved the grocery cart into the nearest carriage return.
“Go away. You’re causing a scene.”
“No, you are by making this difficult. Come back to Marco’s with me so I can make sure you don’t get hurt.”
“I’m not going with you, Royce.”
“Somebody’s got to talk some sense into you. Come home with me.”
“She said no.”
They both turned as Eric walked up to them. “Go home, Cardoso, and leave the lady alone.”
Royce started to walk toward Eric, his hands clenched into fists, but Eric spoke. “I wouldn’t do anything stupid, Royce. You wouldn’t want the lady to see you lose your temper.”
Royce backed off, grumbling incoherently.
“Smart choice. I think you should walk away now, before Ellie decides to scream and call even more attention to you.”
Royce walked away, but
not without a parting shot. “He’s using you, Ellie. You’re just going to end up hurt in the end. Go ahead and ask him.”
As soon as Royce walked away, Eric took her arm and walked her to her car. “Go ahead and ask,” he told her as she unlocked the door.
“I don’t need to.”
“I find your trust a little baffling with the way you ran out on me.”
“Trust isn’t the reason I don’t need to ask.” She sighed and turned to him, hoping he’d understand what she had to say and just leave her alone. “I don’t need to ask because I no longer care. Whatever I felt for you is gone.”
He said nothing, but the look in his eyes spoke volumes.
“What, no domineering comments? No orders?”
Eric shook his head, his lips pursed. “I never meant to hurt you.”
“You know, I actually believe that. Unfortunately, it doesn’t change anything. I can’t be with a man who wants to run my life. You lied to me. I don’t know if I can forgive that.”
“I didn’t lie to you. Technically, I—”
“A lie by omission is still a lie.”
“I’m sorry—”
She held up her hand to stop him. “Let me finish, Eric. I’m not a pawn in some childish game. I’m not to be used. I thought I made that quite clear before, but I guess I was wrong.”
“I’m not using you.” The hurt still filled his eyes, but anger was slowly taking root as well. “Why don’t you understand that?”
She shook her head, ready to climb into the car, when Royce’s words haunted her. She’d been too angry at the time to think clearly, but something he’d said struck her as odd. “Royce told me you’re an assassin.”
She’d thought it was a lie, but the look in Eric’s eyes told her different. Rage ran across his features, contorting them into something that scared her. She backed up until she hit the side of the car. He took a step toward her, and she gulped. “Eric, don’t.”