The Forbidden Chapters Part 1: Afterlife Saga

by Stephanie Hudson

  “That was kind of you but you might want to change that order.” I told Draven trying not to let myself become intimidated by his commanding presence.

  “Why would I do that? Do you not like that wine?” At this a laugh blurted out and I couldn’t help it when I said,

  “Well, unless it’s ever been sold at Tesco on special offer then I very much doubt I have ever tried it but that’s not the point.”

  “I sincerely doubt it at over a $1000 a bottle,” Sophia said laughing.

  “What!” I shouted letting a hand bang on the table and then looked around shamefully as everyone had turned to look at me. Draven shot Sophia a look and then turned to me and said,

  “Keira it’s…” But this time I interrupted him and put my hand out over him to try and get the waiter’s attention but it wasn’t working as well as when he did it.

  “You have to change that order, seriously the water is fine, plus I don’t have that type of money to pay my half and besides I am working tonight and shouldn’t be drinking anyway…seriously, why isn’t he looking, waiter! You don’t think he would have opened it by now do you, maybe I should just go check,” I said in a worried bombardment of words that had Vincent laughing again.

  “Keira, calm yourself,” Draven said also chuckling at my little outburst. He took my hand in his to pull it down from continuously trying to wave it over his head.

  “Firstly, I do not expect you to pay for the wine, let alone a single dollar of the bill and secondly, drinking wine is fine as you are not working tonight and that is the end of it. Now relax,” he told me releasing my hand and I could barely swallow back my shock. I looked to Sophia who just smirked because she knew all along that Draven wouldn’t let me work tonight. Then I turned back to Draven and shook my head a little as if this would help in forming the right words.

  “But…but I wasn’t brought up like that,” I said wanting to ram a breadstick up my nose to see if it would help in unscrambling my brain…well that was if there had been any! I guess fancy places didn’t do breadsticks these days I thought wryly.

  “Excuse me?” he said looking as though he was trying not to let on how endearing he found my little freak out.

  “I was taught to pay my way and not expect others to…”

  “…to what, treat you to a drink that I promised you last night or to allow my sister the pleasure of your company and thanking you by way of a meal? Surely you were also brought up and taught how to accept the kindness of others?” Draven said making me stumped for words, so all I ended up doing was saying,

  “Well yes but I…I…” What I did do was stop there with one look from Draven that told me to do so. After this the waiter came and the seconds became a blur as he opened the bottle in front of us for Draven to try. Sophia had already started drinking hers and caught my eye with a smile, tilting her drink at me.

  “Here you go, if you don’t like it I can order you something else,” Draven told me putting a fancy glass of golden coloured wine in front of me.

  “Thank you,” I told him and left out the part where I wanted to add that I would have drunk it if it had tasted like dishwater for how much money he’d just spent on it. I hadn’t realised but he and his brother were drinking a bottle of red, so it looked like he had only ordered it for me, something that had me blushing once more.

  “Keira, do you know what you would like?” Draven asked me as the waiter was obviously waiting for me to complete the order.

  “Um…the soup please,” I said thinking this would be the obvious cheaper choice and Draven growled low which gave me a flashback to my dream. It had been the exact same sound and I found myself questioning my sanity again as to how I would have known that sound so well. Draven released a deep sigh before speaking.

  “Do you eat pasta, red meat and chocolate?” he asked me bluntly and I nodded.

  “Yes, but not all together,” I replied making Vincent burst out laughing and even Draven cracked a smile at me before turning to the waiter and saying,

  “She will have the same as me.”

  “I told you she was funny.” Sophia said to Draven and I had to wonder how I was going to make it through the meal without my cheeks becoming permanently inflamed.

  “That you did,” he replied coolly, taking a sip of his wine whilst studying me. I decided not to look at him and shifted uncomfortably under his gaze. I decided to take a sip of my own wine, thinking I would be needing that bottle if I were to survive this.

  “Oh wow.”

  “Nice?” Sophia asked grinning.

  “Oh yeah, it’s lovely, here try some.” I offered it out but she declined and said,

  “I will take your word for it.” I took another sip and then said,

  “Oh, how rude of me, do either of you fancy a try?” I asked first looking to Vincent who also shook his head and passed on the offer with a handsome smirk. I then turned to Draven who was giving me a half smile, as if he wanted to say something that was on his mind but he didn’t. Instead he surprisingly took me up on the offer and took the glass from me. Then amazingly I watched as he purposely turned the glass, placing his lips over where mine had just been. He took a large drink and I swear I saw him slightly lick the edge before handing it back to me.

  “Mmm, sweet indeed,” he said and I knew he wasn’t referring to the wine. I also couldn’t help but notice the way he presented it back to me was so that I would purposely have to turn it back around again if I were to choose not to do the same as he had and drink over where his lips had been.

  So, I gave him a look that accepted that silent challenge and I took a sip over his lingering taste. He was right, it was sweet indeed but not thanks to the fermented grapes.

  “So, what are your plans tonight Keira, now that you have the night off?” Vincent asked me kindly and looking at the two men I could barely believe there was a single strand of shared DNA between them. They were like Yin and Yang. One light and one dark. They were both incredibly handsome and the rest of the room knew it as well as I did. But neither of them even acted as such, let alone seemed to acknowledge the type of attention they were receiving. Most of the customers probably just wondered what I was doing sat with them and perhaps thought was it some kind of outreach program.

  Draven coughed suddenly and frowned at Sophia as if they were having some secret exchange. She just shrugged her shoulders at him and looked sadly down at her drink.

  “Keira?” Vincent called my name softly as if trying to gain my attention back away from his siblings’ strange behaviour.

  “Oh, well I don’t know but really, I would be alright to work as it’s not like I have much planned anyway,” I said looking to Draven as it was obvious he was the one calling the shots on such things.

  “No,” he said, taking a drink of his own wine this time and that was that. I slumped in my seat and thought well there goes my night’s plans. Maybe it would be a good thing, putting some space between myself and Draven. Maybe a good opportunity to get some clarity, maybe an evening walk might be a good idea.

  Draven looked at me as though he had heard me thinking aloud and I was starting to wonder if they weren’t a family of psychics or something because just like that, he looked away at exactly the right time.

  “So, what do you usually do with your spare time?” Vincent asked kindly trying to find out about me and it was nice.

  “Well, I like going for walks, although I am not great at hiking as that seems to be a favourite pastime around here…well not here but you know, Evergreen I mean.” Vincent smiled at my clumsy answer and nodded.

  “There are many great trails to follow. Any in particular you like?” he asked just as two waiters presented us with our first course.

  “I don’t know the names of them or anything but there is a good one not far from my sister’s house,” I told him and looked down at the yummy looking posh ravioli in front of me. There were only three pieces but they were bigger than the tins I was used having on toast as a kid.
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br />   “I hope you don’t go alone, it is not safe,” Draven said sternly as though what I said was pissing him off. Sophia even rolled her eyes at him.

  “The track behind my sister’s house is fine and I don’t really go far, as knowing my luck I would probably get lost or something,” I said trying to sound light-hearted before taking a bite of the most amazing pasta I had ever tasted. In fact, I couldn’t help the moan that slipped out.

  “And she enjoys her food clearly,” Sophia said giggling.

  “Oh…sorry.” I said biting my lip when Draven must have taken pity on me.

  “Seeing you enjoy it brings me even greater joy in buying it for you,” he told me and I had to swallow my next bite slowly so that I wouldn’t choke. Then I looked to Sophia and said,

  “But I thought she was paying.” Which made all three of them burst out laughing. I watched the three of them and realised like this our table looked right. I no longer felt like the wandering outsider looking in and I wished it could stay this way forever. I craved it and the more I was allowed a taste of his life, the harder it was to walk away. Especially when he turned to me with a smile and then took the remaining two raviolis off his own dish and placed them on mine.

  “Oh no, I couldn’t…no really I…” he leant closer and I froze as his lips touched my cheek and he whispered,

  “Ssshh…eat.” Then he kissed me there and went back to his wine and chatting with his brother about their earlier meeting. Meanwhile Sophia was smirking like a Cheshire cat at witnessing the tender moment he showed me. Half of me wanted to just sit here and bask in the sweet gesture and the other half wanted me to slam my cutlery down and demand what the hell was going on with him. Thankfully for the rest of the diners, I decided to go with the first one.

  After this the rest of the evening flowed as well as the wine did and I found myself becoming more and more at ease. And I wasn’t the only one if Draven’s relaxed arm on the back of my seat was anything to go by. Our main dinner plates had been taken away and I found myself thankful that they did smaller portions in fancy places like this. Occasionally I would be talking, answering a question from Sophia or Vincent and would feel Draven touching me. It would be my hair, moving it to the side or a squeeze of my shoulder if I said something they all found funny.

  It seemed to be his siblings who wanted to know everything about me and Draven would simply sit back and listen to my answers as if he himself had been the real one that had wanted to know.

  In fact, it was when I mentioned about my old college that I knew I had to be more careful about taking about my past. Of course, it was Draven who didn’t miss it.

  “You went to college in England?”

  “Umm…didn’t I mention it…oh well, never mind…I am just going to pop to the restroom, if you will just excuse me,” I said nodding for him to move knowing I needed to get out of there quickly, hoping by the time I had returned that the conversation would be forgotten. Draven gave me a look as if trying to read what was really going on behind my excuse to leave. I couldn’t help it but I scratched at my gloved arms and his gaze travelled to them making me stop instantly.

  “Dom,” Vincent said his name and nodded, no doubt bringing him back to what I had asked of him. Draven gave him another stern look.

  “I think she needs to use the bathroom,” he reminded him. Draven exchanged one of those, ‘I have no clue what it meant’ looks and then got up out of the booth. Then he turned back to me and held his hand out for me to take. I bit my lip and placed it in his. He took care with it as it was my injured hand so gently helped me up out of the small space. Then I found myself staring up at him and for a moment I forgot where we were, as I lost myself in his dark eyes. It was only when Vincent cleared his throat that Draven took a step back and I did the same.

  “Thanks,” I mumbled before looking round for where the toilets could be.

  “The far-left corner,” Draven said nodding in the right direction and taking the advantage to get closer to me again for the moment.

  “Oh, okay,” I said nodding and wishing I sounded cooler than the babbling mess I felt. I walked away and looked back once, not missing the nod he gave to Sophia. I didn’t catch what he said but I decided it wasn’t my business anyway and I needed to get out of there to collect my thoughts.

  I walked with a fast pace to the fancy bathroom barely taking in all the marble and shiny chrome. Instead I pushed open one of the cubicles, let the toilet seat bang and sat down. I then got right to scolding myself for my little slip up. I needed to be more careful, especially around Draven. He didn’t seem to miss anything and the last thing I needed him knowing was what happened to me back in England. I had run from all of that for a reason and I didn’t need anyone’s pity because that was all telling that story would get me. And I was sick of being that girl.

  So, before I left this cubical I needed to have my story straight. I thought back to the time frames, coming up with answers in case they had questions. So that when I walked out of there I felt at least semi confident I could do this. I washed my hands, put my wet cold hands to my neck and looked at myself in the mirror. I swallowed hard and told myself…

  “Catherine is dead Keira.”

  Chapter 27

  Finders Keepers

  Book 1

  NEW

  “Catherine is dead, Keira.” Then I closed my eyes for a second longer, trying to rein in my emotions. This was when I heard someone clearing their throat behind me. My eyes snapped open to see Sophia leaning casually back against the wall.

  “Oh, Jesus Christ, you scared me!” I said as my hand flew to my chest.

  “Yes, but I doubt he had anything to do with it. Who is Catherine?” she asked after her cryptic reply about Jesus but that was still ringing in the background of me screaming ‘SHIT’ in my head. I turned around to face her and said the only thing I could, which amazingly turned out to be the truth.

  “Someone I don’t like talking about.” Then I left the bathroom. She followed of course, without using the toilets telling me she was only in there to check on me.

  “Hey, Keira wait.” I stopped and looked straight ahead for a minute before turning to face her.

  “I’m sorry, that was insensitive of me to ask like that.”

  “It’s fine, I just don’t feel comfortable talking about my past, that’s all.” I told her, taking a chance on trusting her.

  “I get it, I really do and I know what it means to have to keep secrets but I just wanted you to know that if you ever need anyone to talk to, well then…I am here you know.” I gave her a smile and then pulled her in for a hug, taking her off guard.

  “Thank you, my friend,” I told her sincerely. Then I stepped back to see she almost had tears in her eyes.

  “I have never had a friend like you before, Keira,” she told me as a way of explaining her emotions and I grabbed her hand, squeezing it once before telling her the same thing,

  “Me either…now let’s go back, unless you actually needed to use the bathroom?”

  “No, I was just checking on you.” I laughed at her honesty and said,

  “I thought so.” Then we walked back to the table, but just before we got within earshot she pulled me back and whispered in my ear,

  “And who do you think was concerned enough to tell me to check on you?” I sucked in a startled breath before she let me go and I looked to Draven to see that he had obviously been waiting for us to get back. In fact, he scanned my face as if checking to see evidence of some girly breakdown and only seemed to relax again when he didn’t see one. He then stood up and allowed me to get back in my seat but that wasn’t until he stopped me with a hand at my arm and asked,

  “Are you alright?” I gave him a smile, looked back at Sophia and answered,

  “I have good friends.” Then I looked back up at him and he took this as my answer that yes, everything was fine. He gave me a warm smile knowing I was talking about his sister and I could tell that he loved her very much�
�probably too much if he was only being nice to me for her benefit. But if that was the case, then wasn’t he going a little over the top? Would he really go to all this effort just to make her happy? Well these were even more questions to ask myself when I was out walking later to clear my head…and it needed some major clearing with Draven around confusing the hell out of me.

  I shifted over in the booth and nearly shouted with excitement to see what greeted me.

  “So, when you said you liked chocolate, what you meant to say is it takes you to a happy place?” Vincent said smirking as he teased me. I just looked up at him and shook my head with a big daft grin on my face, making him laugh. Then I picked up my weapon of choice and dug my spoon in the gooey slice. Slowly, as if trying to savour the moment, I lifted it to my lips and let the first rich taste burst across my tongue in sheer ecstasy.

  “Nice?” Sophia asked and I made a sound that could have been interpreted by any culture in the world.

  “Oh my…this is soooo good,” I said after swallowing my first bite. Meanwhile Draven had been quiet and when I finally looked at him, he was grinning down at me.

  “So, are you not going to offer us a taste?” he asked and my eyes went wide. I then pulled my plate closer to my side and shook my head telling him no. He raised a surprised eyebrow at me and I bit my lip trying not to laugh.

  “I don’t share chocolate,” I told him trying to keep my face straight. Sophia laughed and said,

  “Oh no, now you have gone and done it. He now has a new challenge.” I turned back to Draven to find him shaking his head, telling me his sister was right.

  “You’re just teasing me,” I guessed but then as quick as a flash he had my plate over to his side of the table before I could blink. Jesus, he was fast!

  “Oi! Give it back!” I said giggling and trying to reach for it but he put himself in my way.

  “I will make you a deal, if you can get it from me, then you can have it at a simple cost,” he said and I looked at him as though he was no longer my boss. Like he was no longer the stern broody man that I never believed I could have. No, right now he was simply a man I was attracted to and was having fun flirting with. He was easy going and playful. He was…well he was happy and that was when I realised that in all the times I had seen him, this was the first time I had seen it. And from the looks he was now getting off his siblings it looked like they were as surprised as I was.