Found (Books of Stone Book 1)
Page 11
I didn’t want to go in there. Yeah, Falk was hungry, but he could order his own damn lunch. But when Falk said Evelyn forgot to even take a lunch break, I had no choice. I needed to make sure she was taken care of. I fought myself for over an hour before I gave in and went to the damn deli. Now I was stalling before going into the store. I had kissed her. What the fuck had I been thinking?
That was the problem, I hadn’t been thinking. Seeing her on the floor of that warehouse hit some switch inside me. One I didn’t even know I had.
When my anger finally cooled, there wasn't much left of the demon. Decimated flesh had been scattered over the warehouse floor, the blood everywhere. Clean up after that was simple.
She tucked a flyaway hair behind her ear absently. Her fingers moved down and ran over the claw marks on her throat. Even from here I could tell when her eyes unfocused. Was she thinking about the near miss? Or me kissing her? Her face softened a little as she stared at the screen. Shit, it wasn’t the demon. What did I start back there in the warehouse? She blinked several times, dropped her hand to the keyboard and went back to work. Which is exactly what I was going to do.
Our investigation after this morning had found nothing. It looked like the Hunger demon had simply found a crack in the barrier to slip through. And the Deava? Nothing. We searched the buildings around the kill site and didn’t find a hint of a summoning circle. The demon had just been messing with Evelyn. It must have come through the same crack as the Hunger demon. And Zahur was on it.
Which meant we had no reason to stay here. We could leave tonight. Except… she wasn’t going to want to leave. But I had to bring her back. And Zahur was right. I couldn’t force her to leave, no matter what Cyrus said. It wasn’t in me. That look of hurt in her eyes this morning had been enough to show me that.
I cursed as I realized the truth. We were going to have to stay until we could convince her to leave with us. And I was going to have to stay on that damn pullout until we did.
Ranulf spotted me as he came down the street. I crossed the street and met him outside the apartments.
I handed him the boxes. “Take these in to the bookstore. I’m not their damn caterer.”
Ranulf took them with a smirk. “No problem, I wanted to see what they were up to anyway.” I went to the doorway to the apartments and left him on the sidewalk. I needed to stay away from that female as much as possible. Maybe I could convince her to come home with us tonight?
Evelyn
Falk and I spoke on and off for hours. I returned my calls for books and made arrangements for the buyers to come in. I even made an appointment with Mr. Gumner for tomorrow afternoon.
By the end of the day I was frustrated. I had lined up three books sales, which would give me a total of twenty-two thousand dollars. But I had spent eighteen thousand on those books. Yeah, four grand was great, but not with a debt of six digits. I could have made better deals if I had the time.
“Evie? What’s wrong?”
I looked up to find Falk in the doorway. “Nothing, I’m just tired,” I lied. He raised an eyebrow.
I sighed. “I’m worrying.” There was only one way I could see to get out of this debt with enough to start over again. I was hoping I was wrong. I got to my feet and started shutting everything down for the night. I made sure to grab the file I put together before locking up. Falk pulled down the gate and locked it for me. When we reached the landing my front door was slightly open. I was getting so used to everyone being in my apartment it didn't even surprise me.
When I stepped inside I hesitated in the doorway. Atticus was examining the books in the bookcases, alone. Wondering where the others were, I took off my cardigan and left it on the breakfast bar as I went to fill the kettle with water. Falk, however, stopped in the doorway when he saw Atticus. His eyes met mine before he stepped out into the hall and closed the door behind him, leaving me alone with Atticus. Silence filled the apartment as I set up my mug for tea. I hesitated then sighed.
“Would you like some tea?” I asked, not turning around.
“Yes, please,” he said. I pulled out another mug as footsteps came closer. Taking a deep breath, I turned around. He was at the breakfast counter sitting on a stool, his eyes unfocused as he looked out the window over the sink. I had set out sugar and milk on the counter by the time he said something.
“Evelyn, there are a few things I’d like to discuss with you,” he said. I took a breath and let it out. Our kiss from this morning. We should probably talk about it.
“Alright.” I started playing with my locket.
“We’ve spent the day investigating how the demons came through. Zahur has found the large crack in the barrier that they utilized,” Atticus announced. I was stunned for a few heartbeats. That’s what he wanted to talk about? Not me hunting alone, not kissing me, but demons? I let out a breath.
“That’s good news,” I said, my voice uncertain. The kettle whistled. I went back to the stove and filled the mugs, brought both to the breakfast bar then set his in front of him.
“It is. And since this seems to have been a rare double incident,” Atticus took a breath. “It’s time to head back.”
My eyes jumped to meet his. “You’re leaving?” I asked carefully.
“There is no reason for us to stay except for you,” he explained. “We all have responsibilities back home and I can’t keep the others away from theirs because of you.”
He was right. I looked down at my tea, my throat tightening. “That wouldn’t be fair,” I agreed.
“Evelyn, you have a place with us in our community,” he said carefully. I looked up from my tea to meet those golden eyes. “Come with us. You can have a home there. Friends. We might even be able to find out if you have distant relatives.”
What he was describing sounded wonderful, but there were things he didn’t know. “I have obligations here.”
He looked out the window, his jaw clenching and unclenching again. “What obligations?”
“The city will fall apart if I’m not here,” I explained. “Those Treaties are with me, not with the other species. If I left, a war between the vamps and wolves could start. The city could turn into a war zone.”
“You have a responsibility to your species,” he reminded me. “If you go, depending on your bloodline... you might find that you have more than one Match.”
His words hit me like a blade to the heart. He must really not want me. Then why did he kiss me? His concern, the kiss… was it all just the Matching?
I swallowed hard before I met his eyes. “No, thank you. One is more than enough.” I needed to get away from him. I picked up my file and headed for the door.
“Evelyn,” he tried again.
“I have some business to take care of with Astrid. Have a safe trip home,” I told him before I closed the door behind me and started down the stairs.
Atticus
The door shut quietly, leaving the apartment in silence. I closed my eyes and sighed. Nice job, Atticus. Why don’t you slaughter her cat while you’re at it? Probably because she didn’t have one. I hurt her again, only this time I don't know how. I ran over our conversation again, then cursed.
I tried every argument I could think of. Except the Matching. There was no way to use that without lying about what was going to happen. That would just hurt her even more and I couldn't do that. I was already taking away any chance she would get to have children, that didn't mean I had to add to it. But I was getting desperate.
Whenever she was around my emotions were everywhere. They were sharp, painful and overwhelming. And as I had learned this morning, just being in the same room tested my control. Every time those eyes met mine she made me feel ... everything. And I didn’t want to feel. It was dangerous. Cyrus made it clear. Keep emotion out of your life and you’ll stay in control. You won’t become a monster like the rest of your family.
Cherry blossoms filled my lungs. I opened my eyes and found her sweater. Sighing, I picked it up and he
aded for her bedroom.
I opened her small closet and began putting her sweater on a hanger as I thought about her. She was beautiful. Completely different than I’d ever imagined my Match would be. I expected a female who would be happy with being mine, who would do as I asked without question and let me keep her at arm’s length. Instead, I got a female who was stubborn, argued with me and was… different. Who tasted like my favorite summer berries. I hung up her sweater and closed the small closet.
I went back into the kitchen, poured out the mugs and started running the water in the sink. I kept pushing her away like Cyrus told me to. But the longer I was around her, the more my control slipped. My lungs became tight. I washed the few dishes with shaking hands. I despised myself for it. I kept hurting her on purpose to push her away and it was probably working. I should be glad, not hurting this way. I put the mugs in the drainer and shut off the water, then leaned my hands on the counter and looked down at the floor.
Instead, I’m fighting the urge to go after her and make sure she's safe. Only her staying away from me would make it stop. But I didn’t want her gone. I cursed at the thought. I had to stay the course. I had to keep her away and get her to go back. It was safer for everyone. I just needed to get her back home, where things made sense.
I turned and looked around her apartment. How the hell was I going to sleep on her couch and keep my distance? I cursed myself. I shouldn’t have kissed her. I shouldn’t stay here at night. But the idea of her being alone in this apartment at night haunted me. I found myself going over her books more often than I'd like to admit. It was an impressive collection. I know I should stay out of her apartment when she wasn't home. It’s just… I sighed. This was the closest I would ever come to being with her. And I didn’t know how I felt about that. I cursed.
I straightened and headed out of her place, berating myself the whole way back to our apartment. The others were in the living room watching TV. They turned to me when I came in.
"Someone tail Evelyn to Astrid's and make sure there aren't any more bar fights,” I ordered. The others shared a look before answering.
"It looks like we aren't leaving,” Ranulf said under his breath. Falk smirked.
"I'm not feeling up to it,” Zahur announced. "My arthritis is acting up. You know how us old males are."
I shot him a look. Gargoyles didn't get arthritis. Before I could call him on it, Ranulf spoke up.
"I've gotta wash my hair, boss,” Ranulf said, getting to his feet and heading into the kitchen. "These luscious locks don't take care of themselves you know."
I wanted to kill him.
"Can't, think I'm getting the flu,” Falk rasped. I was going to kill all of them.
"Knock it off,” I snapped. "One of you get out there." I started heading for my room, fuming.
"Sorry, we're all busy. Why don't you watch your Match?" Zahur asked.
I stopped walking. Fucking Zahur. The meddling ass. I turned back to the room to yell at them.
Zahur checked the time on his phone. "She should be getting close to the bar, it's not too far away."
Fuck! They weren't going to do it. "I'm reporting your asses,” I growled on my way to the door.
They started laughing before I even slammed the door behind me.
8
Evelyn
My throat was tight as I drove over to Astrid’s bar. It was almost empty, her regulars wouldn't be here for a few more hours. She was behind the bar when I walked in.
“Hey,” I said as I reached the bar.
Astrid’s smile faded as she saw my face. “What’s wrong?”
“I need your advice,” I admitted.
She dropped the towel on the bar and headed back to her office without a word. I followed. The space was cluttered. I had no idea how she could find anything in here, but if I asked her for something she would know exactly where it was. She leaned on her desk. I took the chair across from her.
“What’s going on?” she asked, worried. I handed her the file I brought with me.
“I’m going to lose the store.” I finally admitted it out loud. My eyes burned as I continued. “It’s not detrimental, I already do a large portion of my business online-”
“Why do you think you’re going to lose the store?” she asked, opening the file.
“Remember how Mr. Gumner passed away?”
“Yeah. He was a sweet old bag,” she said absently as she scanned my finances and inventory.
“Well, his son isn’t. He tripled the rent and I’m three months behind,” I admitted.
“How much?” she asked, still looking over the papers.
“One hundred and eighty thousand.”
Astrid’s head shot up, her face horrified. “What? For three months' rent? That’s fucking ridiculous.”
“Sadly, it’s a prime commercial spot. Lots of foot traffic.” I shrugged. “I can only see one way out of this, and I’m hoping you’ll see another way.”
She eyed me suspiciously before she went back to the folder. She found it a minute later. “Evie, this list includes your private collection.”
I looked down at my lap and started cleaning my nails. “Yes, it does. I could get more for them if I had the time, but he wants to meet this week and I can’t dodge him again.”
“How long do you think you have before he evicts you?” she asked seriously.
“Maybe two weeks,” I said. “And if I pay it off, I’ll still have nothing to start up again.”
“What about your apartment? You could sell,” she offered.
I looked up and shook my head. “Not in time, and not without a huge loss and no way to get another place.”
“You could stay with me,” she reminded me.
I gave her a smile. “I can’t, you know that. Your pack would get on your back for it.”
“Fuck my pack, you’re my best friend.” She snapped the folder shut. “If you do what you’re thinking, you’ll have nothing to start over with. You won’t have inventory.”
I nodded.
“Fuck, Evelyn.” Her face was pained. “What about a loan? Pay it all off at once. Just to give you the time you need to get a good price for the books.”
“I tried last month,” I admitted. “No bank will touch me with my limited credit score.”
“You still dealing with that shit?” she asked.
“They think I’m a twenty-two-year-old who inherited her mother’s business,” I reminded her.
“Fuck.” She got up and went to her filing cabinet. She pulled out a bottle of scotch and two tumblers. She poured me a drink and handed it to me. I smiled my thanks before taking a sip. “Hell, maybe you can fake your own death again,” Astrid offered, sitting on the desk and taking a drink.
I raised my eyebrows at her. “Take the books and run?”
She nodded with that mischievous smile on her face. “Yeah, you can empty the store then ‘have an accident’ and start over in another part of town.”
I smiled. “You know that won’t work. I don’t have an identity set up and I can’t get one that fast.”
“I can hope,” she grumbled before taking another sip. “I say clear out of the store and make payments to the fucker.”
“I’ll try when I see him. But if he doesn’t agree…” I met her eyes.
She gave me a sad half grin. “You’ll have to sell everything.” I took a big drink. “Or fake your death and move across the world,” she added dryly. I stared into my drink.
“Well, I can’t go anywhere,” I said, a knot forming in my throat. Even if I wanted to. I started turning the glass in my hands.
“What else brought you over?” Astrid asked insightfully. She knew me too well.
I lifted my head. “Atticus.” I swallowed hard. “We kissed this morning.”
“Oh my God!” Astrid giggled. “How was it?”
“Mind blowing,” I admitted. If the others hadn’t shown up I might have had him right there on the warehouse floor. Then he…
“He tried to get me to leave with them tonight.” I turned the tumbler in my hand. “He pointed out all the benefits of going. Even said I might have another Match if I go back.”
“He said what?” she spat out. “What did he say exactly?”
I repeated Atticus verbatim.
She clenched her teeth. “Oh, that shit better not come near me or I’ll rip his balls off." My heart was beginning to lighten. She wasn’t done. “He’s trying to pressure you to leave.”
“I know, and I’m not going.” I met her furious gaze. “That doesn’t mean they won’t leave tonight.”
Her face softened. “Oh honey.” She was off the desk and hugging me by the time the first tear ran down my cheek. I held tight to her, my throat one large lump, my heart aching. “I know you feel alone, but you’re not.” She pulled back and wiped my face.
“It’s stupid, I know. I just met them but….” I took a deep breath.
“But they are your own kind,” Astrid finished for me. “Believe me, I get it.” She pulled back, reached for the tissues on her desk and handed them to me. “It’s the only reason I stayed with the pack after David and I imploded.” David had been her long-time boyfriend; they were going to get married, only three days before the wedding David met his Mate. Things were tense in the pack after that.
“I can’t go, and they can’t stay.” I shrugged and cleaned up my face. “It was nice to at least get to know a couple of them.”
“Even that tall blonde is leaving?” Astrid asked with a grin. I shot her a look. She smiled mischievously. “What? That male is tasty looking.” I chuckled at the wistful look on her face.
She grew serious. “Do you think they’ll be there when you go home?”
I shrugged. “No clue. But if they aren’t I can give you Ranulf’s number.” I chuckled as her face lit up in glee.