“Stay here. I need a favor.” Aunt Norma walked away and returned with Uncle Henry’s truck keys. “I forgot my shawl in the truck. Can you go get it?”
I nodded and rushed outside, through the banquet hall’s main doors. Hundreds of stars in the sky welcomed me, along with a full moon. I stopped at the first row of parked cars and realized I didn’t know where Uncle Henry’s truck was. The entire wedding party had arrived in black limos, and the banquet hall didn’t have a parking attendant.
I clicked the truck’s alarm button, followed the faint alarm sound, and found the truck in the back of the parking lot. After grabbing Aunt Norma’s shawl, I locked the truck, and slowly headed back to the banquet hall.
In the distance, several men huddled in a circle near the banquet’s main doors. They smoked cigarettes, passed a flask around, and danced to the blaring music coming from the reception. Ethan was with them, with no girls in sight—not even Nadya and her watchful eyes.
“Why don’t you give me a kiss?” a raspy voice whispered from behind me.
I turned, expecting to fight off one of the groomsmen who wanted to be my first kiss in Woodlake—something Drina warned me about this morning. Apparently, the guys placed bets on a girl’s first kiss, and even though I’d been kissed before, the groomsmen said that didn’t count.
Two men, who didn’t look like wedding guests, confronted me. They wore dirty, white long-sleeved t-shirts, jeans, and tan work boots. One wore a baseball cap, and the other had a crewcut and smoked a cigarette.
“You shouldn’t be here.” I glanced at Ethan and his friends, hoping they’d see me, but they were too far away.
“Come on, one little kiss.” The man with a crewcut tossed his cigarette onto the ground and grabbed my arms, pulling me toward him.
I screamed and kneed him in the groin. As he grunted and released his hold on me, I stumbled backward into the other man.
He immediately put me in a choke hold. “Scream again and we’ll hurt you.”
I gasped for air as he tightened his hold around my neck.
The man with a crewcut chuckled, revealing missing teeth. “I like wild girls.”
I struggled to free myself, pulling on the arm pressed against my throat.
“I think she likes us,” the man behind me said. His lips brushed my hair and when I stopped struggling, he lightened the pressure against my throat.
It was now or never.
I lifted my right leg up and stomped down hard on his shoe with my boot heel.
He cursed and released his hold as a low growl echoed in the woods behind us. Someone pulled me and sent me sprawling onto the gravel.
I crawled a few feet away, grabbing the truck keys and Aunt Norma’s shawl as the two men scuffled with my rescuer. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Ethan and his friends running toward me but stop twenty feet away. They looked shocked and scared.
I squeezed my eyes shut and held back angry tears, wishing Mom had never brought me to Woodlake. Was the gajo blood running through my veins a curse? If Ethan and his friends hadn’t rescued me, then who had?
Chapter 7
My rescuer held his hand out as the two men ran off. “I’m sorry for pushing you.”
My body stilled when I recognized his voice. What was Kaleb doing here? All week I’d waited for him to stop by the café and ask me about that private tour, but he never showed.
I slowly got to my feet, refusing to touch his hand or look at him. I couldn’t run away, and I didn’t have magical powers to become invisible.
I took a deep breath and folded my arms to keep from shaking. If Kaleb hadn’t shown up, who knows what those men might have done. They’d wanted more than a kiss.
“Are you okay?” His hand dropped to his side as I finally looked up to his friendly smile.
“I’ll be fine. I’m just a little shaken. They came out of nowhere. I didn’t—”
“Sienna?” He glanced toward the road and shook his head. “I should run after those guys. Make them pay for scaring you like this. Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Yes.” My chest tightened. I couldn’t believe Kaleb was here, standing right in front of me. He looked different, with his hair pulled back in a ponytail and wearing black shorts with a black t-shirt.
“What are you doing here?”
“Me? You’re the one with. . .” He glanced at the bridesmaid dress, the banquet hall, and at Ethan and his friends, who watched us from a distance.
My body relaxed, as the worry and tension from hiding the truth from Kaleb faded. I could finally explain why we moved to Woodlake. “You’re the last person I expected to see tonight. Are you—”
“You’re a gypsy?” He grabbed my arm. “You’re not supposed to work at the café.”
“Get your hands off me.” I tried to pull away, pissed another guy thought he could put his hands on me. “Let go.”
He released my arm, staring at me with cold, dark, unfeeling eyes—not the same warm green eyes I’d become used to. “You should’ve told me you’re a gypsy.”
“I’m half-Romani.”
“That’s the same thing.”
“Guess this means no private tour,” I teased. I tried to lighten his mood, but he seemed to become even angrier when I mentioned the tour. He needed to know I wasn’t like the other Romanies in Woodlake. “I’m different. You said it yourself.”
“I was wrong.” Kaleb folded his arms. “Don’t come back to the café. I’ll tell Bill to hire someone else.”
“You can’t tell me what to do.” I couldn’t believe what he’d said. How dare he say I couldn’t work at the café? “You can’t order me around like the Norwood staff. I don’t care who you are.”
His head jerked back. He seemed speechless, as though he hadn’t expected me to object.
Ethan walked up to us and slid an arm around my shoulder. “Are you okay?”
“Yes. Those men tried to. . .” I touched my throat, trying not to think about what happened. I looked at Kaleb. “He saved me.”
“You’re not supposed to be here,” Ethan said to Kaleb.
I glanced at Ethan, surprised he hadn’t thanked Kaleb for coming to my rescue. Instead of being grateful, Ethan was upset.
“You know why I’m here.” Kaleb glared at Ethan. “When they’re done talking, we’ll leave.”
“We?” Ethan’s voice cracked as he glanced over Kaleb’s shoulder. “You’re not alone?”
“No.” Kaleb smiled. “Why don’t you and your gypsy friends make us leave?”
I shook my head. Was Kaleb starting a fight with Ethan? “That’s not necessary. If you and your friends want to stay, you can. Right, Ethan?”
“Sure.” Ethan looked at me. “We should get back to the reception.”
Ethan and I walked to the banquet hall, passing by his friends who watched Kaleb. As I grabbed the door handle, Ethan pushed the glass door shut with one hand and leaned toward me.
“Do you know him?” His breath smelled like booze and spearmint gum.
I wondered if I should tell the truth about how Kaleb and I met at the café. How he’d invited me on a private tour of Norwood Isle. But what if the truth led to more questions and the Elders agreed with what Kaleb had said? That I shouldn’t be working at the café. “No. He must’ve heard me screaming. Why didn’t you help me?”
“I swear we were coming. You have to believe that.”
“It was one against two. You still could’ve helped.” I shifted my gaze to Kaleb, who was no longer alone. Markus and several other familiar faces stood by him. “Should we invite them inside? He did help—”
“No. You stay away from him and his friends. We don’t mix with their kind.” Ethan opened the door and pulled me inside.
Nothing Ethan said made sense. If Uncle Henry wanted me to stay away from the gaje, then why was I working at the café?
* * *
The next morning, I woke with a knot in my stomach. I couldn’t stop thinking, what if Kaleb meant what
he’d said last night?
I got my answer when I arrived at the café. Kaleb stood in front of the café while Bill moved around inside, placing pies in the dessert display case. Bill glanced my way when I slammed the Jeep door shut. His face said everything I needed to know—Kaleb had already convinced him to hire someone else.
“What are you doing here?” demanded Kaleb, his voice full of anger.
“I’m working today.”
“Go home.” He stepped in front of me, his body inches from mine. “You don’t work here anymore.”
I swallowed hard, trying not to cower, or let his muscles intimidate me. No matter how rough around the edges he looked, he didn’t seem like a guy who hit girls. “No.”
“No?” His head jerked back, stunned. “Do you know who I am?”
“I know exactly who you are. You’re a . . .” I held my tongue, preventing myself from calling him any names. Mom always said you fight people with kindness, instead of mean words. “You can’t do this to me. I need this job. We have bills, and—”
“You’re a gypsy. I don’t care about your problems.”
“I’m half-Romani.” I folded my arms, standing tall but feeling small next to Kaleb. I wanted to back away, put some space between us, but that meant letting him win. He needed to see I wasn’t backing down. “Tell Bill you’re okay with me working here. The other waitresses will take your orders and I’ll stay away from you.”
“What?” His green eyes darkened, and what sounded like a low growl escaped his lips.
“You heard me. You can’t make me leave.” I kept my gaze locked on Kaleb’s, waiting for him to refuse.
He said nothing, only gave me the most intense and frightening stare.
“I’m glad we’ve reached an understanding.” I walked around him and rested my hand on the café’s door handle.
He turned, watching me with a hardened face that caused my heart to race. No wonder Bill thought firing me was easier. Kaleb looked scary when he didn’t get his way.
“Thanks for chasing those guys away last night,” I said.
“No problem,” he mumbled, and walked away.
As I entered the café I glanced over my shoulder, watching him cross the street and walk toward the hotel. Luckily, he didn’t hang around to talk to Bill, and since Kaleb hadn’t disagreed with what I said, I reassured Bill everything was fine.
“We’re talking about Kaleb from Norwood Isle?” Bill scratched his head.
I nodded and grabbed several menus as customers entered the café. “I promised to stay away and let the other waitresses take his order.”
“I don’t like this.” He folded his arms. “What exactly did he say?”
“I’m sure if Kaleb has a problem, he’ll call you.” I crossed my fingers, hoping Bill didn’t have Kaleb on speed dial. But Wendy had said the Norwood staff didn’t have cell phones.
“Sorry, I’m late.” Jenny rushed behind the counter. “There’s a van full of tourists coming.”
I greeted the tourists and started taking their orders before Bill changed his mind. After Jenny and I served their food and refilled their drinks, Bill left, saying he wouldn’t be back until dinnertime.
Today’s lunch turned out to be my busiest shift ever. I was grateful. It gave me less time to think about the situation with Kaleb.
At five o’clock, three girls wearing Norwood Isle shirts showed up. They sat at the Norwood staff’s usual table in the outdoor seating area.
Jenny rushed outside to take their order and returned five minutes later. She confronted me at the front counter. “You’re a Romani?”
I finished wiping the counter and tossed the rag into the bucket. One of the girls from Norwood Isle had told her the great news. “My mom’s a Romani. Is that a problem?”
“I guess not.” Jenny placed several cups of water on a tray. “But the Norwood staff is upset. Said you’re too scared to come out and play.”
“Did Kaleb say that?” I stomped over to the bay window and searched for him. Didn’t we straighten this out earlier?
“He’s not here. It’s Lexi, his ex-girlfriend. She’s the one with the short red hair.”
Just what I needed, Kaleb’s ex-girlfriend thinking she can harass me. Did he put her up to this? Thinking I’d cave in and quit my job? “What did she say?”
“She dared you to come outside.” Jenny touched my arm. “Let it go. Who cares what she says.”
Let it go? Lexi sounded like a bully who needed to be put in her place. If I didn’t stand up for myself now, then the Norwood staff would continue to taunt me and make my life miserable. I took the tray of cups out of Jenny’s hands. “I’ll be back.”
It took every ounce of willpower to leave the café and push my legs forward. Deep down, I wanted to run, but I needed this job, and I needed the Norwood staff to know they couldn’t chase me away. Not today. Not tomorrow. Not ever.
A beautiful girl with long straight black hair and dark-green eyes saw me first. Her mouth curved up into a smirk as she leaned back in her chair and crossed her legs. “Is this the gypsy girl?”
Lexi’s eyes widened as she glanced up from the menu. “Yes.”
“She doesn’t look scared,” the beautiful girl said.
I cleared my throat and set the cups of water on the table. “I heard you wanted to see me.”
“You came outside to see us?” The beautiful girl eyed me curiously. “Kaleb’s right. You’re not like the others.”
“He said she’s only half-gypsy,” the third girl mumbled without looking at me.
I was right. He sent them to harass me. Get me to quit my job.
“We should teach her a lesson.” Lexi stood, tossing her menu onto the table. “She needs to know who’s in charge.”
I gripped the tray tightly in my hands, regretting thinking I could take on three Norwood girls at once. Heck, Lexi looked strong enough to take me herself. “Three against one? That’s hardly a fair fight.”
“How about you fight Lexi?” the beautiful girl said. “I’d love to see you try.”
Ignoring my clammy hands and shaky legs, I set the tray down, removed my apron, and held up my hands in a fighting stance the way Dad taught me. Maybe I’d get a few jabs in before Lexi took me down. At least Uncle Henry couldn’t fault me for coming home with bruises. The Romanies admired fighting with the gaje, but only if the gaje started the fight.
“Why don’t we play hide and seek?” Lexi smirked.
Suddenly, she lowered her head as Kaleb appeared out of nowhere.
I sighed, not sure if I should be relieved or upset.
“Didn’t we come to an understanding?” Kaleb’s tone sounded amused, not angry as I’d expected. “You agreed to stay away from us.”
I folded my arms. “Then don’t send your ex-girlfriend to pick a fight with me.”
“I didn’t send anyone.” Kaleb glanced at the three girls from Norwood Isle. “Orders were to leave Sienna alone. What are you doing here?”
“She’s a gypsy,” Lexi said. “You can’t—”
“We were having fun. No harm’s done.” The beautiful girl stood and grabbed Lexi’s arm, pulling her toward Main Street. The third girl followed closely behind.
“Thanks.” I sighed and let my arms fall to my side. This was the second time Kaleb had defended me. If he didn’t like me, then why bother?
“Did I do that?” He gently ran his fingers along my forearm.
I caught a whiff of his unusual cologne and pulled away, not liking the effect his touch had on me. “Do what?”
“Those bruises on your arm. Was that me?”
I glanced at my arm and saw the same bruises I’d noticed in the shower this morning. Injuries caused by either the two men or Kaleb. “I don't know.”
“I’m sorry.” He ran a hand through his hair. “I didn't mean to hurt you last night.”
“It's just bruised. I’m okay.” I lowered my gaze to the Norwood Isle logo on his shirt—a wolf howling against the b
ackdrop of a bare tree and the full moon.
Kaleb stepped away as a low whistle came from the woods behind us. It was the same whistle I’d heard when we first met. “Make sure you stay away from the wolves.”
I watched him enter the woods. Almost immediately, several frightened deer ran out and hurried toward Main Street. They didn’t look for cars or seem bothered by my presence. They only seemed to care about getting away.
Chapter 8
“What’s this?” Uncle Henry placed my cell phone on the kitchen table as I ate breakfast on Wednesday morning.
I was surprised to see him. He always left the house before I got out of bed, except on the weekends. With Mom still in Dover, Aunt Norma’s private fortune-telling sessions, and Drina living in her new house, I typically lounged around in my pajamas when I didn’t work at the café. Today was supposed to be one of those days.
“It’s a text message from Wendy. She works at the café.” I took another bite of cereal. “She asked me to hang out today, but I told her no.”
“I didn’t know you were friends with the sheriff’s stepdaughter.” He sat across from me, looking far too pleased.
“I wouldn’t say we’re friends. We work together.” I tried to downplay my friendship with Wendy, shrugging it off as if it was no big deal. I didn’t like the way Uncle Henry’s face lit up at the idea of Wendy and me being friends.
“Does she know you’re a Romani?”
Should I lie? It’d been almost two weeks since I started working at the café, and everyone knew Mom was a Romani. Lying could get me in trouble. “Yes.”
“Text her you’ll go.”
“You said I couldn’t hang out with anyone from town.” I grabbed my cell phone and tried to hide my excitement. Hanging with Wendy and her friends was exactly what I needed. It was better than spending another day stuck in the house, studying palm reading books.
Romani Blood (Shifter Blood: Romani Curse Book 1) Page 5