I didn’t move from his side until the band finished their set and the crowd began to disperse back to their tables or the bar. Sean pulled away reluctantly when someone called his name. He started to turn toward the voice, then pulled me up against him and said, “We need to do this more often.”
I gulped, biting my tongue before I agreed a little too eagerly. I wasn’t sure how much time had passed, but however long it was, it was the first time since arriving in Manhattan that I had felt completely free. Not resisting when Sean began pulling me across the dance floor, I attempted to gather my thoughts. It was a fairly hopeless effort, so when Sean introduced me to the band as his friend from culinary school, I just went with it.
“Hey. Nice to meet you guys. You sounded amazing.”
We broke out in a round of names and handshaking, which began again when Gwen and Sonya found us. Somewhere in the middle of the introductions, the house DJ started the music back up and everyone was yelling again. I couldn’t remember most of the band member’s names, only Puck and Cordy sticking out. It wasn’t until we found an empty table at the back of the club and Sean disappeared to get drinks, that I learned they were brother and sister.
“Your parents must have liked unique names,” I said. I loved their names, but they weren’t ones you came across often.
Puck laughed, shaking his head. “Not at all. Cordy’s full name is Cordelia, and my first name is Edmond. Our last name is Puckett. It drives my mom nuts that everyone calls me Puck, and Cordy refuses to use her full name. Too old fashioned.”
“I can relate to that,” I said, “but I hated being called Lizzy, or Liza, so I stuck with my full name, even though it’s a little old fashioned, too.”
“Eliza’s a great name,” Puck said, his smile a little more than friendly. He shifted, bringing his body slightly closer to mine. Sonya and Gwen were having a ball with the rest of the band members. No one seemed to notice Puck’s close proximity to me.
I felt my heart jump a little, but I wasn’t scared. I didn’t know what I was.
“So you and Sean go to school together, right?”
“Yep,” I said, my breathing speeding up.
He picked up a strand of my hair that had fallen over my shoulder and stuck there, thanks to the sheen of sweat covering my shoulders. “What do you like to cook?” His gaze came up to meet mine. It wasn’t just a question to distract me. He wanted to know, for some reason, the intensity of his interest making it hard to answer.
“I love baking,” I managed to say. “Pastries, desserts.”
“Ah,” he said as his lips turned up. “Sweet things.”
I swallowed again. “Uh huh.” I tried not to give away how much he was affecting me, but I was failing miserably. I saw Sonya glance over at me, her head tilting in question as she noticed how close we were. I didn’t know whether to allay her concerns or beg for help.
Before I could figure it out, Puck leaned forward to block my view and capture my attention. “Is me being this close bothering you?”
My lips parted, but no sound came out on the first attempt. “I…I don’t know.” My gaze darted away, looking for Sean.
Puck chuckled. “Worried Sean will get jealous?”
“We’re just friends,” I said. The way the corner of my mouth pulled down in a half frown gave me away, though, and Puck smiled again.
“I know what you and Sean are.”
“Um, okay,” I said. What was he expecting me to say to that? I was more than a little confused. I wanted to run away and catch my breath, but I also didn’t want to move from this spot.
My head was still spinning when Sonya dropped onto the bench next to me. Puck pulled back slowly, a knowing smile on his lips. He didn’t say a word, but Sonya did. “I’ve got to use the restroom. Mind coming with me?”
“Sure,” I said, the relief in my voice making Puck’s smile widen.
Sonya grabbed my hand and pulled me up from the bench seat, linking her arm with mine when we were both standing. She kept up her blasé attitude until we were out of sight of the table. “What was that all about?” she demanded. I couldn’t tell if she was disappointed, excited, or confused.
“I have no idea.” I took in a shaky breath and tried desperately to clear my head. I hadn’t even had a drink yet and I felt like I was going to wake up with a splitting headache.
“Puck looked like he was ready to drag you off somewhere Sean couldn’t see the two of you.”
“He said he knew what Sean and I were.”
Sonya frowned as we stopped at the end of the line for the restroom. “What does that mean?”
I shook my head. “No clue.”
Our conversation shifted to the other band members she and Gwen had been chatting with. I listened until we finally made it to the stalls. The rest of the band sounded great, especially Jake, and when Sonya mentioned their invitation to see them play at their next gig in a few weeks, I was quick to agree. Maybe by then I’d figure out what Puck was up to. Finishing up, I washed my hands and called to Sonya that I would wait for her in the hall. It was too crowded in the bathroom with half a dozen girls reapplying makeup that the heat inside the club had melted away.
I stepped out, still feeling sticky, but less claustrophobic. The line for the bathroom had disappeared, leaving the hallway empty. It was a relief to have a moment to myself. I inhaled slowly, trying to psych myself back up to face Sean and Puck.
A hand clapped over my mouth, cutting off a scream, but not the wave of panic that swept through me. Before I could strike out, a muscled arm clamped down around my body, pinning my arms. I tried kicking, but I was pulled off my feet before I could do any damage. The salty taste of sweat made me gag when I tried to open my mouth and scream around his hand. Cool air swept over me as he pushed out a back door and real fear crashed into me so hard I started hyperventilating.
I couldn’t fight back when I was shoved, face first, against the brick building. Weight slammed into my back. It knocked the breath out of me as my cheek ground against the rough surface. “You know what it is, don’t you?” a man’s voice growled. His hot breath pulsed against my ear as he spoke. “You’ve been in that apartment all week, searching. Maybe you haven’t found it yet, maybe you have and are trying to hide it again, but you know what it is he wants!”
“I’m…I’m just…helping…clean,” I gasped, barely able to catch my breath with the pressure against my body and the impact that stole it only a few seconds earlier.
“Stop lying to me! You know more than you pretend. Nobody’s buying your country girl act,” he spat.
Act? I couldn’t imagine what had given this guy the impression I knew anything. “I just…moved here,” I snapped, my anger matching his.
“So convenient,” he growled.
“I came here…for school. Nothing…else.”
He yanked me toward him then shoved me back against the wall, hard enough that pain blossomed across my chest and I lost my breath again. I groaned as my face scraped against the bricks and my ribs strained under the pressure. He pushed harder. “That apartment goes back up for rent in a week. Give him what he wants before then. I’ll be watching, and waiting.”
Rough hands yanked me away from the wall, and I panicked that he was going to drag me off somewhere. Instead, he threw me back into the wall so hard black spots erupted in front of my eyes and I fell to my knees. The sound of footsteps pounding down the alley rang in my ears. It was the only sound until the door burst open again and a round of gasps and growls of anger erupted. More footsteps sounded, but they died quickly and began again, coming back toward me.
“Are you okay?” Sonya asked as she threw herself at me.
Whimpering under the pressure of her hug, I was relieved when someone pulled her off me. Two sets of hands wrapped around my arms and gently lifted me back to my feet. “Was it the same guy?” Sean demanded as his fingers brushed over my injured cheek.
“Same guy?” Puck asked. “This has happened before?
”
“Got me instead of Eliza last time,” Sean grumbled. He turned back to me, concern in his features as I stared at him through blurry eyes. “Was it him?”
I started to shrug, but my chest hurt from the movement and I stopped. “I don’t know. Never saw his face.”
Sean rubbed a hand across his face. He took a step back and seemed to be considering what to do when Puck scooped me into his arms. I opened my mouth to tell him I was fine, and carrying me around was completely unnecessary, but the second I was off my feet, the pain in my ribs lessened and I kept my mouth shut.
“Where did you guys park?” Puck asked.
Shaking off her shock, Sonya pointed to where she’d left her car. There was no way I could ride back on Sean’s bike, which to be honest, was a little disappointing. As scared as I had been to ride it the first time, I loved how it felt to fly through the city so freely. Puck started forward, but stopped when his sister spoke up.
“We need to get the equipment loaded up. Are you going with them?” There was no judgement or surprise that it was an option. Maybe Puck disappeared carrying random girls all the time. In this city, who knew?
“I’ll wait with them for the police to show up. You guys go ahead.”
Cordy nodded and the rest of the band filed back into the club to collect their instruments and gear. I thought maybe Sean would argue that Puck’s sticking around wasn’t necessary. Ben would have. He hadn’t been the jealous type, but he used to get worked up when he thought someone was trying to take over or say he wasn’t capable of doing something. Sean didn’t seem bothered. He actually looked relieved.
He turned toward Sonya’s car, and I realized he was on the phone, but I didn’t think that was the reason he’d let Puck step in. Sean ended the call and shoved his phone into his pocket. “The police should be here in about ten minutes.”
It wasn’t until then I realized who he’d been talking to. My entire body went rigid, making Puck slow and look down at me. “Who did you call?” I asked Sean.
He gave me a weird look and said, “911. Who else would I call?”
I felt like an idiot then. Officer Williams hadn’t been handing out his cell number like candy on Halloween. He’d only given it to me after Sean was attacked because he thought the intruder might come after me since I saw his face. Of course Sean called 911 and not him.
“Never mind,” I said quickly.
Sean shook his head and turned away to open the back door of Sonya’s sedan. Puck set me down on the seat while Sean paced. His flirty behavior from earlier had disappeared, replaced by concern. “Who did you think Sean called?” he asked in a low voice.
“It’s nothing. Forget it.”
He gave me a skeptical look. “You’re not a very good liar.” When I tried to look away, his arms crossed over his chest. “Who did you not want Sean to call?” He clearly didn’t intend to be put off.
“Officer Williams,” I said, hoping he’d drop it if I just told him.
Puck’s eyes narrowed. “Why?”
“Because that asshole attacked her outside her apartment earlier this week for not telling her about the intruder who hit Sean showing up at the diner on Monday,” Sonya supplied as she dropped into the driver’s seat. She put her hand on the steering wheel, wrapping her fingers around it even though the car wasn’t on, in order to calm her shaking. “We’re almost positive he’s either dirty or involved. He could just be a douche bag, but it’s hard to tell.”
“Involved in what?” Puck asked.
“Our neighbor and her nephew were murdered. The cops don’t know who did it or why, but someone wants something from Ms. Sinclair’s apartment, and for some reason the guy who grabbed me thinks I know what it is.”
“What it is?” Sonya asked. “Don’t you mean where it is?”
I shook my head. “He said what.” I sighed and fell back against the seat, making Puck’s expression turn even more serious. “Whatever they want, they don’t even know what it is they’re looking for. All they seem to know is that she had something they want.”
“They?” Sean asked. He was standing behind Puck, Gwen hugging herself tightly behind him. “There’s more than one?”
I tried to ignore the anger in Sean’s eyes, because I had a sneaking suspicion it had more to do with me causing trouble than me getting hurt. “The guy who grabbed me tonight, he said I better find what he wants before the apartment is emptied and rented out again. He was delivering a message for someone else.”
“When does the apartment get rented out?” Puck asked.
Sonya bit her lip. “Next weekend. I already have a lease signed by the new family.”
“That was quick,” Sean said.
“There’s a long waiting list.” Sonya shrugged.
Shaking his head, Sean said, “Cheap rent is not worth living in that madhouse.”
Puck looked a little confused by that, but didn’t comment. We sat in silence, waiting for the police to show up. How many times had I done that since moving here? Police involvement in my life was starting to get a little ridiculous, honestly. I felt like I ought to have a direct line to them by now. Then I remembered, I did. To Officer Williams. The only cop I didn’t want any help from.
Maybe Bernadette’s unspoken accusations were right. Maybe I was a beacon for disaster. Why else would anyone think I was involved in this?
14: Accident Reports
Sonya unlocked the building door with her key. It was now after two o’clock in the morning after filing a report with the police and dropping Gwen back off at the diner so she could get her car. Most of the band members had gone home after giving statements to the police, which largely consisted of the fact that they hadn’t seen who grabbed me or noticed anyone suspicious hanging around the club. Cordy waited in the van with their equipment while Sean and Puck walked to the door with us.
When Sonya opened the door, they stepped inside, but stopped there. Sean still looked pissed off, and the reason why finally came out when he said, “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me about all this other stuff.”
“It wasn’t your problem,” I argued. “We’re good as friends. I don’t expect you to get involved or try to protect me.”
Sean’s shoulders bunched. “You didn’t think I might like to know the guy who nearly took my head off is still hanging around, and the cop who took the report might be in on it?”
When he put it like that…. I cringed. “I’m sorry, Sean. I didn’t think about how that might put you in danger, too.”
He waved his hand angrily. “Clearly.” He took a deep breath, forcing calm into his stance. “Would you please keep me updated on anything that might get either one of us killed?”
Nodding, I looked away before he could see the tears burning at the backs of my eyes.
“I need to get home,” Sean said, less angry, but still not exactly pleasant. “Are you sure you’re all right here?”
“Go. I’ll be fine.”
He nodded, pulled me into a rough hug, and left. Sonya watched him go, looking startled. She opened her mouth to comment on his hasty exit, but her phone rang and she groaned. “Hello, Grandma. What are you still doing awake?”
She stepped away to speak with her grandmother and Puck took her place. “Look, Sean can be a real asshat sometimes, but don’t let it get to you. This culinary program has him under a lot of pressure and he’s been something of a dick since he got accepted. He really is a good guy.”
“Yeah, I know,” I said. He’d told me he didn’t want something complicated, and that was exactly what I’d turned out to be.
“Having said that,” Puck said, “I don’t think you should be dating him.”
“We’re not dating…but why not? You just said he was a good guy.”
Puck nodded. “He is, but he’s not the kind of guy you want to get involved with right now.” I shook my head, not understanding. Puck moved in closer. “Sean wants simple, fun, and easy, the kind of relationship that can be entere
d or left on a whim.”
“But him and Danielle…”
“Were exactly that. They hooked up and hung out when they felt like it. Sure, Sean doesn’t sleep around with multiple girls at the same time, but he wants zero responsibility and commitment. When a girl does something he doesn’t like, he cuts them off and walks away. Danielle sending topless photos to some guy pissed him off, but the truth was, he just didn’t want to deal with her anymore. She kept pushing for more, and he got tired of it.” Puck shrugged.
“Why are you telling me this? Maybe that’s what I want right now. I have enough complications without adding a relationship.”
Puck chuckled, making me tense up. I was clearly mad, but he pulled me closer to him and didn’t seem to notice me wince in pain at the movement. “You,” he said, “are not the kind of girl that does casual flings, despite what I saw of you and Sean making out on the dance floor.” He tipped my chin up so I was forced to look at him. “You, Eliza, are someone who’s been hurt, who thinks they want fun and casual because it’s easier than opening up to someone. You’re too much heart to ever make it work, though.”
Shaking, I pushed away from him. “You’ve got some nerve telling me that after only knowing me for a few hours.”
Unaffected by my acidic words, Puck held up his hands. He backed toward the door, pulling it open, but looking back before he stepped through. “Don’t be a stranger, Eliza. Come to our next show. I’d like to see you again.”
Crossing my arms, gently, over my bruised ribs, I glared at him. “What makes you think I’d be interested in someone who was hitting on his friend’s date when he wasn’t around?”
A grin spread across Puck’s lips. “You and Sean aren’t dating, remember? That makes you fair game in my eyes.”
Trouble Magnet Page 14