Take Back the Night

by Annie Harland Creek

  “We don’t underestimate her at all,” the voice in his head insisted. “Her courage and compassion are constant surprises, considering what she’s been through.”

  “Damn you, Corel. Can’t a man have a moment’s peace from you?”

  David’s laugh made his blood pressure rise. “Yeah, very funny. Now fuck off and give me some space.”

  The laughter ceased and David’s voice deepened. “In all seriousness, Palmer. She’s surprised us all with her offer to help you. We’re not sure if she’s ready.”

  “I understand your concerns, and actually, I was as surprised as you were when she made the offer. I won’t put her in any danger, I promise.”

  “See that you don’t,” David told him through their telepathic connection. “We’re counting on you.”

  “Listen, Corel. I may not know her very well, yet, but I would throw myself under a bus to protect that woman.”

  “It may come to that,” David warned him. “Anna thinks that evil isn’t finished with Susie. Obviously we haven’t discussed it with her, but … look, we’re going to need you to help us during the day when—”

  “Yeah, yeah. Sunlight and vampires don’t mix.”

  “Listen, Palmer. I’m leaving a package for you. This is what I want you to do…”

  ****

  When Susie opened the door, she held a package in her small, shaking hands. Poor kid. She’s terrified to ride with me. A ball formed in the pit of his stomach and he suppressed a sigh. When Meaghan dashed his hopes for a relationship, her rejection hurt. This. This crushed his soul. Susie’s half-smile welcomed him, but the fear in her eyes warned him to keep his distance. He wondered how he could manage that when every cell in his body ignited at the very sight of her.

  “Good morning.” She waited for him at the top of the stairs.

  God, she’s beautiful. He kept his opinion to himself.

  She held out the package with both hands. “David asked me to give this to you.”

  When he reached for the gift, his hand brushed her skin and she dropped the box. Only his fast reflexes prevented it from smashing to the ground.

  “I’m so sorry,” she mumbled her apology. “I—”

  “My fault,” he told her. “I think I bumped your hand.”

  She smiled her appreciation of his excuse and his heart melted. A shiver of electricity tingled over his skin and he returned the smile, wondering how sweet her lips would taste. Opening the box, he took out the watch that David had explained was a lifeline for Susie.

  “Geez,” he exclaimed with a whistle as he examined the stainless steel Rolex. “These Corels have great taste in jewelry.”

  “I know,” she agreed, holding out her own wrist. “I’ve never owned something so beautiful before.”

  Ignoring the temptation to touch her wrist, he leaned in only a fraction to admire the

  white gold band. Diamonds surrounded the watch face and even the numerals had diamond centers. A pink heart-shaped stone reminded him of the significance of the gifts. He was thankful his yellow gold watch had a black, nondescript call button.

  “My last car wasn’t worth as much as this,” he told her with a shake of his head. “Must be nice to have money to burn.”

  “They’re not like that,” she told him in no uncertain terms. Her instant and angry reaction took him by surprise. “They’re the most generous, selfless people I’ve ever met.”

  Terry held his hand up, palm out. “I didn’t mean to offend. I guess it did sound crass.” He brought his hand back and ran his fingers through his hair. “I don’t know if Meaghan has talked much about our childhood.”

  She shook her head.

  “We were raised in an orphanage, she and I. Neither of us ever expected to even see houses like this one”—he motioned to the front of the mansion—“let alone Meaghan living in one. Maybe, I’m a bit jealous.”

  Susie raised her shoulders in a shrug. “My parents worked hard all their lives to give me a happy, safe home. I never went hungry but … things like this”—she gestured to her watch—“beyond my wildest dreams.”

  Terry removed his old Swatch and placed it in his jacket pocket before attaching the clasp on his new watch. “Damn. I didn’t notice the time. We should get moving.”

  Susie nodded and hesitantly stepped outside the foyer, closing the door behind her. He wanted to offer his hand, not just for support. He craved physical contact with her. Don’t do it, he warned himself. She’ll take off running and you’ll never see her again. Instead, he turned his back and hurried down the steps to open the passenger door of his company vehicle. Behind him, the sound of heels hitting the sandstone told him that she’d not fled. Not yet, anyway. He held the door as she climbed into the passenger seat, biting his bottom lip when he noticed the shapely curve of her calf, despite the loose-fitting jeans. As hard as she’d tried to cover her body in a shapeless shirt and baggy slacks, she’d failed miserably to disguise the beauty beneath. If only I could tell her. His hand itched to trace the contours of her leg. He quickly looked away, closing the door behind him, before hurrying to his seat.

  Once on their way, he reminded her of the significance of the watches.

  “First sign of any trouble—”

  “I’ll press the panic button,” she answered with a hint of sarcasm.

  He turned his head in her direction. “I mean it, Susie. Even if you just feel uncomfortable and want to go home, signal me and I’ll be there in a heartbeat.”

  She took a deep breath and let it out. “I won’t lie. I’m terrified to be doing this, but I have to try.” Her voice broke. A sob caught in her throat as she told him, “I can’t live like this anymore.”

  He lifted his hand slightly from the steering wheel before lowering it again. As much as he wanted to give her leg a reassuring pat, it was too soon. Instead, he told her, “You’re the bravest person I’ve ever met, Susie Lister. Meaghan has only told me a little about your ordeal and I can’t even imagine how hard it is for you to do what you’re doing for me. It means the world. Honestly. I can’t thank you enough.”

  She lowered her head and closed her eyes. When she re-opened them, tears glistened on the tips of her long, dark lashes. “I don’t understand why, because I barely know you, but somehow I know I’m safe with you.”

  Her head turned in his direction. She reached out and touched his hand slightly, and for only a few seconds before returning it to her lap. They sat in silence for the rest of the trip. The sensation of her touch lasted the entire journey.

  ****

  “I’ll be waiting here in the car,” he promised as she entered the red brick building, but the moment she lost sight of him, her heart beat double-time. You can do this, she reminded herself as she ascended to the fourth floor. When the elevator doors opened, she gasped. Beau stood outside the room, and judging by the expression on his face, he’d been waiting for her.

  “Susie. I was hoping you would be here today.”

  “Hello, Beau,” she mumbled as she tried to edge around him, a difficult task considering his shoulders blocked most of the door frame. Worse still, he seemed to angle his chest so it was impossible not to brush against her breasts. A wave of nausea churned her stomach and a sob caught in her throat as she rushed to take a seat between two patients. Her right index finger hovered over the heart-shaped button on her watch, even after the doctor arrived.

  “I’m sorry that I’m a little late this morning,” Doctor Dubois apologized. “I had an important phone call.”

  “More important than us?” growled the middle-aged man beside Susie, making her immediately regret her seat choice.

  “Now, Harold,” Charlotte Dubois reasoned in calming tones. “Everyone in this group is very important to me.”

  “What was it about? This call that stole ten minutes from my session,” Harold grumbled, leaning forward in his chair. His hunched shoulders and steely eyes sent a shiver down Susie’s spine but the doctor appeared to be oblivious to the agg
ressive behavior and tone.

  “It has nothing to do with this session,” she told him. “And, we’ll stay ten minutes late to make up for the lost time.”

  “I bet it has something to do with that nutter, Allan.” A young woman with mousy hair and dark glasses piped up. “You know, he killed his wife.”

  “We’re here to discuss our feelings and not gossip about other patients,” the doctor informed her, “but while we’re on the subject of Mr. Whittaker.” She placed her notepad in her lap and glanced around the room, pausing on every face. “If he tries to contact any of you, or if you see him. Please contact me immediately.”

  Susie studied the faces of the other patients, hoping for a glimpse into their emotional states. Some looked excited, as though knowing a murderer gave them some sort of superiority over the average Joe. A couple of people looked frightened. She imagined that her own expression mirrored theirs. One young man with greasy, shoulder-length hair, a sleeve of tattoos, and numerous facial piercings stared blankly ahead. His vacant expression reminded her of the last time she saw Allan Whittaker. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up and her finger came close to depressing the little pink button.

  “I didn’t catch two buses and drag my ass all the way here to discuss that psycho,” Harold suddenly barked, causing her to jump in her seat. “Can we get on with this crap so I can get the missus of my back?”

  For the entire session, Harold complained how the mental exercises the doctor had given him for his anger management issues were not working. In his words, “as useless as tits on a bull.” Susie couldn’t take her eyes off the man with the vacant expression. She half-expected him to jump from his seat and massacre the group who were focused on the roaring man with anger problems. The only people, besides herself, who weren’t focused on Harold were Doctor Dubois and Beau. The doctor’s gaze flittered between Susie and Harold, as if she were waiting for Susie to react. Beau’s attention remained focused on her face with intermittent glances down the length of her body. Bile rose from her stomach, burning her throat as she fought to keep the acid reflux down. She wrapped her arms over her chest as his gaze wandered over her breasts and she wished the session would end.

  When the discussion finished and the doctor called time, Harold abruptly left. A few people lingered to chat and Beau made a beeline for Susie. Every cell in her body screamed for her to run, but her legs remained rooted to the spot. She closed her eyes and reminded herself of the conversation with Anna. He’s just a handsome man who happens to be attracted to you. Not a monster. Sadly, the words were little comfort to her erratically beating heart. She turned toward the doctor, hoping to discuss the matter of Beau, but Dr. Dubois appeared deep in conversation with another patient. Greasy hair guy. He stared intently into the doctor’s eyes as she spoke, occasionally nodding. The doctor glanced around the room, reached into her jacket pocket, and handed the man what looked like a small vial. He took the vial without saying a word and left the room. I must tell Terry. Susie spun on her heels and slammed straight into a muscular, male chest.

  “Whoa, little lady. Where are you off to in such a hurry? I was hoping we could go for a drink. I’d enjoy getting to know you a bit better.”

  Beau’s perfectly straight, super-white teeth mesmerized her and his deep, almost black eyes should have been comforting, but her insides turned to liquid. Just a man, just a man.

  “No, thank you,” she answered softly, “I have a friend waiting to give me a lift home.”

  “Perhaps another time.” He snatched her hand before she had time to react, raised it to his mouth, and kissed her knuckles. “I would so like to know what goes on in that pretty head of yours.”

  She pulled her hand back and placed it inside her cardigan pocket. “See you next week,” she called as she rushed for the elevator, depressing the “close door” button before anyone else could enter behind her. By the time she reached the car, she could barely speak.

  ****

  “What happened?”

  Susie had almost run to the passenger side of the car and jumped in before Terry had a chance to open her door. The poor kid looks terrified.

  “Please take me home,” she almost sobbed as she snapped on her seat belt.

  He considered repeating the question, but Susie’s body language warned him to give up. She sat staring straight ahead. An occasional whimper slipped from her lips. A single, glistening tear trickled down the curve of her cheek and leaped from her chin. She needed time.

  Halfway home, she opened up to him.

  “I’m sorry, Terry. You must think I’m a real wuss.”

  He resisted the urge to touch her leg. “I think you’re very brave and you’re handling a tough situation with dignity and grace.”

  She rewarded him with another half-smile and his stomach did a back-flip. What I’d do to see her really smile at me.

  “Something happened in the session today, something that might relate to your case.”

  “Go on.”

  “There was another strange man there today. He acted like Allan did last session, you know, staring ahead, vacant expression.”

  “Did he say anything?”

  She shook her head. “Nothing, nada, not a word. I don’t mind telling you, he creeped me out.” She shuddered in her seat.

  “That’s a start, anyway.” Terry let out a deep breath. Not much of a lead but something to work with.

  “There’s more,” she told him, her voice sounded higher pitched, almost excited. “After the session, I saw the doctor hand the guy a vial from her pocket. It all looked a bit suss, like it was meant to be secretive.”

  Terry sat upright in his seat, nodding as he processed the new information. “Great work, Susie. See, this is why we make a good team.”

  She raised one eyebrow, her eyes narrowed, and a nervous giggle escaped before she covered her mouth with her hand. “We’re a team?”

  “Aren’t we?”

  Susie rubbed the back of her neck. “I guess I hadn’t thought of it that way before.”

  Idiot. You’ve frightened her off. “I thought … when you offered to help me, I … I thought you meant for the duration of the case.”

  She sat quietly for a few minutes, staring out the passenger side window. The wait seemed like eternity before she spoke again.

  “If I’m ever going to learn to function normally again…” She turned her head to face him.

  A beautiful stillness had come over her features. No artist could ever do this face justice. No angel could ever look as pure and good. No wonder his heart skipped a beat.

  “I must learn to be brave.”

  He opened his mouth to speak, but she held out her hand, palm out. “Do you think we could go somewhere? Somewhere quiet where we can talk?”

  His immediate thoughts were to take her to his apartment. Soft music, a glass of red, slipping into something more comfortable…

  Ass. He bit his bottom lip and forced the arousing image from his mind. Time, Palmer. You must give her time to heal. “Do you have anywhere in mind?”

  ****

  “Thanks for the lunch,” she mumbled with her mouth half-full of fries.

  He marveled at how her persona could switch from fragile to seductive, and yet still remain adorable. Her ketchup-smeared lips were so tempting. As much as he detested tomato, the condiment called to him, Taste me.

  “Anna and I always stopped here for a breather after our run.” She motioned to the almost empty bag of fries and the half-full chocolate shake. “I’ll probably need to run home to burn off these calories.”

  Terry patted his distended belly. “It’s been a while since I ate fish and chips at the beach. I don’t remember the last time I was here.”

  “There’s something comforting about the sea.”

  Her expression softened as she looked out to the horizon. Her shoulders relaxed, and as she leaned back on her elbows, he watched her dig her toes into the sand. Reluctant as he was to spoil her mood, his inqui
sitive nature reared its ugly head.

  “What did you want to talk to me about, Susie?”

  She sat up, drawing her knees under her chin to hug her legs. Her eyes narrowed before she turned her face slightly away from him.

  “You seem like a nice guy…” she began, and the food in his stomach curdled. Great! Here we go again. You seem like a nice guy, but I’m not interested in a relationship with you.

  “…so I’m hoping you’re also a good listener.”

  Damn. That’s a surprise. He sat forward and hesitantly raised her chin with his index finger. “You can trust me, Susie. I’m like a steel trap when it comes to secrets.”

  Despite the slight tremble at his touch, she didn’t pull away. Tempting as it was to leave his hand on her delicate face, he slowly dropped it to her knee, gave her a soft pat, and rested it back on his own thigh.

  “It’s not so much a secret,” she informed him, the corner of her mouth curling slightly into a grimace. “It’s more…”

  He watched her shoulders rise again, her body raise an invisible barrier around itself. Her eyes glazed a little, then brimmed with tears.

  “You don’t owe me any explanations,” he told her. “If you’re not ready to talk, that’s okay.”

  She shook her head. “No. You don’t understand. I need to talk about it.” Her sorrowful expression broke his heart as she told him, “Anna and the others feel responsible for what happened to me. I see the pain in their eyes whenever they look at me so I can’t talk to them about it. I’d only make them feel worse.”

  “It? You mean your abduction?”

  She answered with a nod. “I only agreed to the visits with Doctor Dubois to appease them. Our sessions are pretty useless. How can I tell her what really happened? They’d lock me up and throw away the key.”

  “What? You don’t think she’d believe in vampires?” He tried, unsuccessfully to stifle a chuckle. She reacted with a giggle of her own.

  “You do understand.”

  “More than you know.” Vampires, demon dogs, devil worshippers. All real. All beyond belief. Walking nightmares.