“My sources tell me the girl was bleeding from the mouth when she left the bathroom. Did you have anything to do with that?”
Mario gaped, confused at Adrian’s interest in this detail. “Me? No. Kim punched her and was roughing her up, that’s all. I didn’t touch her.” Adrian’s eyes bored into his. The silence in the room stretched out and became uncomfortable, but Mario didn’t dare break it. He wasn’t quite sure what was going on, but he had been in Tenebras long enough to realize that his life was at risk.
But he was telling the truth. Adrian sometimes appeared to have an uncanny ability to read people’s faces, extracting their emotions and even their inmost thoughts from the slightest movements of their facial muscles. Mario swallowed again, convulsively, but kept his face impassive. He was innocent of whatever Adrian suspected with the girl. But did Adrian know about Mario’s other plans? A bead of sweat formed on his forehead and rolled down the side of his face. If Adrian suspected what Mario had been doing on the side, he would surely order him killed.
“I see.” Adrian finally broke the silence. “Thanks for your information.” He propped his elbow on the armrest. “I have new orders for you. This girl, Elisa Gallardo, is to be placed on the list of individuals under our protection. Do you understand?” Mario struggled to keep his face neutral. “Make an announcement at the next meeting.”
Mario nodded, still a little mystified. There were a number of people under the gang’s protection for various reasons, due to ransom payments, deals, or other purposes that suited Adrian’s often convoluted plans. He knew Adrian wouldn’t want to hear questions about his orders, so he simply stood up. He kept himself from breathing a sigh of relief. Adrian hadn’t said anything, so surely he didn’t suspect. Mario was still alive, wasn’t he?
As he was about to open the door, Adrian’s quiet voice stopped him. “Oh, and Mario? What about your other task?”
Mario paused, hand on the door, relaxed and grinning now. “That’s all been taken care of. Everything was done as you ordered.”
After Adrian dismissed him and Mario was walking back to his classroom, a sly grin spread over his face. There was a new spring in his step. He would be dead by now if Adrian knew. He must be getting away with it.
But what was going on with Elisa Gallardo? Why would Adrian place her under their protection? Was he fucking her? Adrian never cared what happened to his fuck-toys. He’d never put any of them under the gang’s protection before. And this Elisa—she seemed too clueless to be doing anything of value to them.
He shrugged. He didn’t give a shit. He remembered the girl’s face in the bathroom as she lay on the floor, her hair in Kim’s grasp. Whatever was going on, it was clear Kim was in big trouble. But after what Kim had done to him—fuck her. She was gonna be in a world of hurt soon. Very soon.
7
Elisa
ELISA PLOPPED DOWN beside Sumiko at their usual lunch table in the cafeteria. “I’m glad to see that you’ve healed completely from your accident earlier this week,” Sumiko said.
Elisa flushed. Nobody ever believed her stories. It was a good thing she never had anything major to hide. “I told you it wasn’t a big deal.” She bent her head and rooted around in her bag. Sumiko snorted.
Chloe arrived, scowling and out of breath, and dumped her backpack on the table with a loud thump. “Why do the teachers in this school think they have to set a new world record for homework? We’re seniors. They know we need to be working on our college applications.”
“Wow! You’re both in bad moods today. Cheer up!”
Sumiko grimaced. “Why? Because the weather is so delightful?” She waved at the window where a cold rain was sleeting heavily down.
Chloe rolled her eyes. “No, Elisa is happy because she’s finally seeing someone. And whose fault is that? Sumiko?”
“What can I say? I’m good,” Sumiko said smugly over a bite of hamburger.
“So now we’re stuck with her boyfriend.” Chloe got out her lunch. “And speaking of boyfriends, I hear you have a date tonight. Are you going to tell us about it?”
“Adrian asked me out for dinner. We’re going to a restaurant.”
“Yeah, tell me again why you didn’t say no? After all my advice?” Sumiko scowled.
“I did say no!” Elisa protested. “But somehow… he thought I said yes.” She couldn’t help a tiny smile. Everything always felt a little out of control with Adrian; was there something wrong with her that she found it kind of exciting?
Sumiko shook her head. “Either you ignored my advice again or Adrian’s a controlling bastard.” she said darkly. Then she straightened. “I suppose it doesn’t matter, since he still seems to be interested. So, which restaurant is he taking you to?”
“He said it was called something like La Seagull or something like that.” Elisa pulled out a plastic container of peanut butter and some crackers.
Chloe’s jaw dropped. “La Cigale?” she asked. “He’s taking you to the fanciest French restaurant in town?”
“I don’t know about fancy. I guess it’s French.”
“Where does he get his money? Is he from a rich family?” Chloe grabbed her arm. “That place costs more than a couple hundred dollars a person!”
Elisa gulped. That couldn’t be true, could it? “He has a part-time job.” At least, that’s what he’d told her when she expressed concern about the cost.
“Some part-time job,” Sumiko commented dryly. “I know mine doesn’t pay well enough to treat people to dinner at fancy restaurants.” She lowered her brows. “How could he possibly—”
Elisa stopped spreading the peanut butter, knife poised over the last cracker. They were right. How could he afford it? She’d never been to a fancy restaurant before and it hadn’t occurred to her how insanely expensive it might be. “Maybe I should ask him to take me to McDonalds instead. I don’t want him to waste money on me.”
Chloe groaned. “Elisa, you’re being clueless again. Nobody takes anyone out for a romantic date to McDonalds.”
“No,” Sumiko said. “You don’t want to insult him. He obviously wants to do something special for you. You have to go along with it.”
The first bell rang, and Sumiko stuffed the last of her burger in her mouth. “I doubt he’ll be able to afford to take you to places that nice very often. Enjoy it while it lasts!” She balled her trash into a pile and dumped it on her lunch tray. “Gotta go—test in math. See you later!”
Chloe hoisted her backpack with a grunt. “The forecast says it’ll clear up later tonight. You should have a nice night. And the moon is full.” She called over her shoulder: “Make sure he takes you to some romantic spot.”
When Adrian knocked on Elisa’s door that evening, he was wearing a charcoal gray wool suit over a white linen shirt and dark maroon tie, and it transformed him. He was no longer merely an attractive teenager; he was a man, exuding power and elegance. The stylishly tailored suit outlined his long limbs and subtly emphasized the grace and beauty of his body, setting off his narrow face with its high cheekbones, full lips, and shock of thick brown hair. Elisa’s cheeks heated and she almost stumbled as she stepped aside to let him enter.
He chuckled deep in his throat as he steadied her with one strong hand. His body was hard and solid, and she found herself clinging to him.
“Careful,” he murmured, his voice like dark chocolate. “You don’t want to fall.”
Too late. She had already fallen. She gazed up at his dark, dark eyes. Thrills chased through her body at his touch, alternating hot and cold, as though she was burning up with fever. She’d gone on dates with classmates before, but this was something completely different.
There was an energy about him, a deep vibrating power like she had once felt when she placed her bare foot on the train tracks at the far south of town. Dangerous. Risky. She should run away.
He was definitely not the quiet, intellectual classmate she had once thought he was. Like his wild and unrestrained driving, she co
uld sense something equally hazardous lurking beneath his calm smile.
He was everything her mother had warned her about, the day she first bled. “Now you’re a woman. That means you’re vulnerable.” His hair tumbled over his eyes, eyes traveling up and down her body as though he were starving and she was the only food he wanted to eat.
No one had ever looked at Elisa like that before. She smoothed her hands down her dress self-consciously. It was of a simple cut, but the soft jersey clung to her body in a way that enhanced its contours, subtly flattering her figure. With its demure neckline, long sleeves and full mid-calf-length skirt, it was suitable for formal events, but someone had once told her it was sexy.
“Elisa, you look spectacular in that dress.” The resonance in his voice made her shiver. Her head swam, and she swayed. Did she want to fall so he would catch her?
She heard Carlos’ voice. “You need to go outside, now, or you’re going to do something you’ll regret for the rest of your life.”
What did he mean? Her face was flushed, and her clothing felt far too constricting.
“Get a grip on yourself, girl. You look like a bitch in heat.” Her mother’s voice was harsh.
She stuffed her feelings down, hard, and tried a polite smile. “Thank you. Should we go now?”
Adrian was still holding her arm, power vibrating in his muscles. With his other hand, he traced a fiery line across her eyebrows and down her cheek. She caught a whiff of his scent, something spicy and wild that made the fine hairs on the back of her neck stand up. “Yes,” he whispered. “Let’s go.”
He drove fast but smoothly to the restaurant. As they traveled north, apartments faded to single-family houses. The houses gradually got bigger and nicer, and the yards more manicured until they arrived at a fancy shopping district Elisa had never visited. A parking spot opened up just in front of the entrance as they arrived, and Adrian pulled in smoothly.
The woman who checked their reservation was dressed more elegantly than a supermodel on TV. Exquisitely made-up, her dark hair wound into an elaborate knot on her head, she led them to a table for two in a private nook, where a waiter in a tuxedo pulled out a chair for Elisa. Awkward and unsure, she sat down too soon, but the waiter handled it gracefully. The long fall of the tablecloth brushed against her knees, and she lifted it nervously, afraid she might pull it off the table and make a scene.
Everything was too classy for a poor kid from Rockton. She was sure in a moment one of those elegant waiters would find her out, and they would be evicted from the restaurant. She touched one of the three differently-shaped forks in the place setting. What if she used the wrong one?
Adrian was from her own neighborhood, and he was as poor as she was; why did he appear so at ease in this high-class environment? He whispered in her ear. “What is it, Elisa?”
“I don’t know how to use all this.”
“Just relax. This isn’t a test. The restaurant exists to serve its customers.”
She didn’t even recognize most of the items on the menu, so Adrian ordered. He chose a caviar appetizer and a main course of roast lobster with chanterelle mushrooms. When he spoke to the waiter, he sounded as though he did it every day, even ordering from the wine list.
She turned down the wine, not wanting to mention they were underage in front of the waiter. It was time for another nervous whisper. “Aren’t you going to get in trouble asking for wine?”
He laid a warm hand over hers and her fingers fluttered involuntarily like the wings of a butterfly. “You are such an innocent.” Why did everyone say that to her? “They won’t object at a restaurant of this caliber.”
After the perfectly prepared lobster served with mushrooms so tender and flavorful they burst in her mouth, they had passion fruit and mango napoleon for dessert. She couldn’t help moaning with pleasure as she forked up the creamy mango custard layered with delicate puff pastry.
Adrian smiled at her obvious delight. “I’d like to take you to another favorite spot of mine.”
About to eagerly agree, Elisa remembered her friends’ advice and mumbled, “Maybe I should get home.”
“Mmm, just for a little while? It would mean a lot to me.”
Why was it so hard to say no to him? Her heart was beating so fast. The thought of going somewhere with him, alone, made a current buzz through her veins. She should say no. But he was gazing at her with such a sweet face, so vulnerable and hopeful, that for once even Carlos seemed satisfied.
“I think he’s a gentleman, Elisa. You can go. But be careful.”
True to the forecast, the clouds had disappeared. The sky blazed with a luminous full moon and a heavy dusting of brilliant stars. Adrian drove carefully, holding Elisa’s hand when he wasn’t shifting.
They parked on a quiet hillside overlooking the reservoir. The dark, still water reflected the stars and blended with the city lights far below. Tall trees ringed the meadow. When Elisa rolled down her window, the spicy scent of fall leaves mingled with the richer aroma of wildflowers and grasses. The air was cool and moist after the day’s rain. “Thank you, Adrian, for that amazing dinner.”
“It was my pleasure. I don’t think I’ve enjoyed a meal more in a very long time.” He picked up her hand, brushed it across his lips. “You are fascinating.”
She was glad the light was low in the car. Someone hadn’t gotten her mother’s memo. “I’m nothing special.”
“You’re completely wrong. You are beyond special. Please don’t tell me again that you still don’t realize your own beauty.” He caressed her cheek with the back of his knuckles, and unconsciously, she lifted her face to his touch.
He stroked her hair back from her face. “Your hair—that color is like nothing else in the world, glowing like a flame. Your eyes are the color of the sky after a thunderstorm. And your lips…” He shook his head. “Your lips are softer and more delicate than the petals of a rose. You have such power to overwhelm me with your gentleness.” He touched the base of his neck. “When I look at you, I’m reminded of what it’s like to feel… deeply, what it’s like to care for another human being, more than anything else in the world.”
She fiddled with her sleeve. “Adrian, you are a poet.”
He took her face in his hands and brought it to his. When his face was inches away, she closed her eyes.
His lips were warm as he caressed her with his mouth. He slipped one hand behind her head, running his fingers through her hair. His other hand moved around her back, pulling her closer, his body warm against hers. The expensive fabric of his suit brushed against her skin like warm silk, and she inhaled his clean, sweet scent. His lips opened, and he softly kissed each side of her mouth; his tongue licked her lips and glided inside. Heat rose through her body like warm water and she pressed herself against him. His arms tightened around her. She could feel the blood pulsing through her veins, alive in her fingertips, her face, her lips, every place where her skin was touching his; she felt lighter than air and anchored only by his arms.
Ben
Ben checked the far corner of the cafeteria where Sumiko, Chloe, and Elisa normally sat. To his surprise, there was a fourth person sitting at their table. His eyes widened as he recognized Adrian Salas, class nerd and senior class president. What was he doing at Elisa’s table? Adrian laughed at something one of the other girls said and slipped his arm around Elisa. Rather than pulling away, Elisa smiled up at him and sank into his embrace.
Red hazed Ben’s vision, and before he knew it, he was standing in front of their table.
“Hey, Ben,” Sumiko asked, “what’s up?”
“Hello, Ben,” Elisa sang out, far too happy for his liking.
Adrian’s expression was mild, but Ben detected a glint of triumph and possessiveness in his eyes, half-hidden behind his lenses. Ben wanted nothing more than to punch those glasses off his face, to wipe the faint smirk off his mouth, but he took a deep breath. He had to get it under control.
Ben ran a hand through his hai
r, making it stick out in all directions. “Elisa, could I speak to you for a moment?”
“Sure,” she said cheerfully, standing up. Adrian let his arm slip away from her, capturing one of her hands in his and giving it a small squeeze.
Ben’s temper flared again, but he tamped it down as he and Elisa stepped away from the table. “What is it, Ben? Has something happened?”
“Huh? No, it’s nothing.”
“You look so upset.”
“No, I just had a problem last period and got to the cafeteria late.” He put a hand to the back of his neck and hesitated.
“Then what’s wrong?”
“Elisa,” he blurted out, “would you like to go to the Halloween Ball with me?” He stopped short, surprised at himself. Hadn’t he been certain he didn’t want to get involved with anyone senior year? He couldn’t read the expression on Elisa’s face. He didn’t want to give her false hopes. “I mean, just as friends,” he stuttered.
Elisa’s shoulders drooped a little. “I’m sorry, Ben. I would have very much enjoyed going to the dance with you—as friends.” She reached out her hand and then drew it back. “But Adrian has already asked me—and I said yes. Maybe some other time?”
He couldn’t speak for a minute. Then he saw she was getting uncomfortable and roused himself. “Sure, Elisa. That’s okay.” He stood frozen, a cold wave washing over him as she returned to the table.
He didn’t move, oblivious to the crowds of students passing by. He was still staring at the back of Elisa’s head when he felt a sudden, hard shove.
“Hey!” he snarled at Sumiko, who had stood up when he wasn’t looking. “What was that for?”
“Stop staring at her, idiot!” She put her hands on her hips. “Who said he wasn’t interested in anyone, hmm?”
“I—” Ben stopped himself. “I’m not interested in anyone,” he insisted. “And of course Elisa can date anyone she likes.” He caught his breath. “Just not—him.”
“Why not? Adrian’s a good person, and he treats her right, Ben.”
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