by Nina Walker
Hugo points at me. “It’s her fault. She’s bleeding. And she’s––”
“Enough!” Adrian sneers. He grabs me and flies us into the elevator. My vision blurs again. As the elevator is closing, I catch the bitter end of Hugo’s glare.
As we rise, I finally find my breath as I sink into Adrian.
“Are you okay, Angel?” He turns me around and hisses at the mess of my bloody hair. “You shouldn’t have come here like this. What happened?”
“I was jumped outside of the casino. I didn’t have anywhere else to go.”
“Who did this to you?”
“Whoever works for Armondo.” I grimace as I turn back around, catching Adrian’s confused look. “Remember? The whole reason I’m staying here is because my gambling addicted mother got herself mixed up with the mafia.”
He sighs and runs a hand through his hair. A little bit of my blood sticks to the curls, turning them pink. “I shouldn’t have let you stay here. It’s too dangerous.”
I laugh bitterly. “You think!” I press myself to the far side of the elevator; we are in a small space, I am covered in blood and need distance between us.
“You asked to come here. I did you a favor.”
“And what did I get for it? You’re no better than the rest of them. You used me to gain favor with your queen, just like all vampires use all humans. I’m leaving tomorrow. My friends are finding me a safer place to stay.”
And at this point, I can’t be around here anyway. Mafia. Vampires. It’s all too much.
His face is a mask. “Good.”
When the elevator doors open, I walk ahead of him to the penthouse and head straight into the bathroom. The blood is starting to clot now, but it’s worse than I thought. I’m practically covered. I’ll need to shower, but first I’ve got to get this wound sealed. Where’s duct tape when you need it, huh? Adrian knocks on the door.
“Kelli is sending up one of the nurses. You need stitches.”
I don’t have it in me to say thank you to him, so instead, I sit down on the cold floor and wait. The nurse arrives quickly and stitches me right up as if she’s done this a million times before. Adrian watches her like a hawk, asking question after question. If my blood is bothering him, he doesn’t show it. He almost seems normal, and for a minute, I forget what he is, then immediately chastise myself for the slip up.
After the nurse finishes, I send them out so I can take a warm shower. I finish off with a tall glass of water and an extra strength Tylenol. I go right for the bed, too tired to care about pajamas. When I slip into the sheets sans clothing, the cool fabric feels like heaven against my aching body. To be all clean and unencumbered like this is a treat.
A light knock on the door is quickly followed by Adrian letting himself into the room. He has changed into a clean shirt and looks like he’s ready to get back to business as usual. Good thing I’m neatly tucked in already––a minute earlier and he’d have walked in on me naked. Nothing he hasn’t seen, I’m certain, but my heart races anyway. He needs to get out of here and let me have my privacy.
“Do you need anything else before I head out?” he asks curtly.
“Sleep.” I reach toward the lamp, knowing I’m exposing my bare shoulder enough for him to realize I’m naked, but I don’t care anymore. I turn it off the light. My eyes flutter shut and I bury myself into the blankets. My racing heart begins to slow and I release a long, slow breath. I’m so drained, I can hardly think straight. What must it be like to be Adrian and never sleep? It’s all I want in this moment and I can’t imagine an eternity without the peace it offers. “Goodbye, Adrian,” I mumble. I don’t say goodnight. I say goodbye, and I mean it.
He doesn’t reply, but he does leave, closing the door behind him with a soft thud.
The next morning, I pack my things and move out.
If a girl leaving a college party house early on a weekday morning is considered the “walk of shame” then is me showing up here the reverse of that? ’Cause I feel like a total loser, but I’m fresh out of options. I even checked my bank account balance this morning just to be sure I couldn’t swing my own place, and yup, I’m still broke as a joke. It’s barely sunrise and Felix and the guys should be out any minute to head to the gym. I sit down on the lawn next to my duffle bag and shoot them a group text.
Look who’s outside. . .
A minute later, Felix comes through the front door. His expression blossoms into pleasure when he spots me. “Eva, is that you?”
I wave. “Hey, good morning.”
“What are you doing here?” Concern etches his tone and I hate that I put that there. I hate being vulnerable or seen as needy. I want to be strong, maybe even admired, but maybe that’s not practical. Life is messy.
I sigh. “Let’s just say I had a bad night at the hotel. I needed to get out of that place. Can I get a ride to the bank vault?”
His lip quirks. “The bank vault?”
“Yeah, sorry, I know Tate doesn’t want it to have a name but that’s what I call it in my head. We’re the Bank Vault Vampire Hunters.” I wink and he chuckles.
“Sure. You didn’t want to meet us there?”
I pat the duffle bag. “Too proud to let everyone at the gym know I’m officially homeless.” That and I have Cameron Scout to consider. He doesn’t need to know any more of my business. “Can I keep my stuff in your car while we’re there?”
“You’re not homeless. I found a room for you with some girls who live off campus.”
“Oh, thank you!” I pump my fist and we both laugh.
Felix lifts the bag over his shoulder and helps me up. When our hands touch, warmth spreads through my entire body. I inhale his minty rain scent and long to get lost in it, despite my goal to quit wanting him. He doesn’t let me go but actually tugs me closer. Hope swells in my chest.
“I’ve been really worried, Eva. And I've been thinking about you a lot.” His voice is gravelly, his eyes liquid.
I inch closer until there’s no space left between us, screw my goal. “Have you?”
He nods once, running his warm palms up my arms, over my shoulders, and finally cupping my face and tilting it upward. He doesn’t know about the stitches, and I have to force myself not to wince. Luckily, he must not notice them. They are pretty small. He towers over me and I lift onto my toes while he leans down. Finally.
Chapter 27
“Eva!” Kenton appears, bounding up the front steps. “How’s my girl?”
Felix and I both shoot him a scathing look. He holds up his hands. “What?” His fraternity house is only a few blocks from here so I guess it makes sense that he’d walk over to catch a ride, but his timing sure sucks.
The house door bangs open and Seth comes out with a sour expression on his face. He points at me and Felix. “Don’t even think about it. We’re a team, remember? There’s no room for error, which means there’s no place for romance or friends with benefits or whatever you two are doing.”
Kenton’s eyes go round. “Oh snap! Did I just cockblock you guys? My bad.”
I want to sink into the lawn and die, but then I wouldn’t be able to kiss Felix, which I am going to do at the next possible opportunity.
“Let’s get coffee on the way in,” Seth adds, strolling past us. “My treat.”
Felix snorts. “Doesn’t make up for the interruption.” He gives me a wink and a bright smile; I relax instantly. Okay fine, we can’t hook up right now, but if Felix wants me after all, then I’m in. This is what I’ve been waiting for, and no way is Seth going to get in the way of that. I don’t care if he’s our team leader. He’s not the relationship police. I’ve always known I was meant to be with Felix––he’s been my crush for years. I’ve pushed every other possible love interest away in favor of this man. It’s finally time to make Felix + Eva a reality.
“Luckily there’s no lacrosse practice so I’m skipping class today to help you,” Felix announces after dropping the others off at campus after training. “J
asmine and Olive have furniture already, but you need to bring your own bedding and towels and that kind of stuff. So let’s go pick something out, and then I’ll help you get settled.”
I feign shock and fan my face. “A man going shopping? You’re my hero, Felix Moreno.”
“Hey, not all straight men hate shopping.” He laughs. He’s so macho and broody most of the time that it’s fun to see this side of him.
“So. . .Jasmine and Olive, huh? Are they nice?”
“They’re great. They’re good friends of mine. Don’t worry, you’ll like them.”
I hope he’s right, but at least these girls are human. If only I could room with Ayla, then my life would be made, but that’s impossible. I’m happy for her and hope she’s having fun. Last I checked, she’s still hiding out in her dorm room between classes, but I think she’s starting to chill out again. Thanksgiving break can’t come fast enough. I need my Ayla-time. Hopefully she doesn’t murder me for what’s about to happen between me and her brother.
During the next hour of shopping, I can’t keep the grin off my face. With Felix, my troubles fade into the background, and even the stinging reminder on the back of my head doesn’t bother me too much. I worked out this morning but didn’t spar, and my high ponytail has kept everything safely hidden under a mound of messy black hair. The nurse had to put seven little stitches in and said they can come out next week.
Lucky number seven, yeah right.
But considering I had no signs of a concussion, maybe I am lucky. I could have died last night. Being alive and with Felix only solidifies what’s most important to me. I’m not going to let this chance pass me by.
It takes a while to find parking close to the apartment, but since I don’t have a car that’s not a deal breaker. Felix and I carry everything a few blocks over to the building. It’s not super close to the college campus but that’s no problem for me. As we walk up to the historic row house central to almost everything in downtown New Orleans, a smile stretches across my cheeks. This building has been engineered from old gray stone blocks with black metal ironwork along the windows and an iron staircase leading to the front door. Ivy climbs up one side of the entire building, giving the place a total gothic vibe.
It’s love at first sight.
“Pretty cool, huh?”
“This is what I love about this city,” I sigh. “This building is amazing. How did your friends land an apartment here?”
“The building is actually super old and needs some work, plus they’re on the ground level so when hurricanes come they always have to evacuate. A lot of renters don’t like ground levels.”
“Hey, I’m no stranger to hurricane season.” In fact, we’re in it now, but luckily we haven’t had any come our way this year. “Whatever this place lacks in renovation, it makes up for in charm. I’m already obsessed.”
We go inside to find a little mailroom, laundry room, and a staircase that leads to the other three floors of apartments. Under the staircase is a shiny black door and a welcome mat. Felix knocks.
The tiny girl who opens it has candy apple red hair and the palest skin I’ve seen on a human. At least she’s human. If I never see another vampire again I will die a happy woman. Not likely.
“You must be Eva. I’m Olive.” She hugs me right away, bouncing up and down on the balls of her feet. I can already tell this girl is the definition of extrovert. She instantly reminds me of Ayla.
“Hi, Olive.” I beam. “Thanks so much for taking me on short notice.”
“No prob, you’re doing us a favor too. Our third roommate ditched us after only a month for a spot in some stupid sorority house. Ew, sororities, am I right? I wouldn’t be caught dead in one.” I chuckle because I’m not sure how else to respond. I don’t care either way. I’m not the type to go for something like that but I don’t begrudge those who are, though ditching your roommates with a lease hanging over their heads is pretty messed up. “She didn’t even give notice. Anyway, let me show you to your room.”
We follow her into the apartment. The kitchen, living, and dining spaces are all squished in together and about the size of my old bedroom. The walls are painted deep purple, and the furniture is a hodgepodge of styles that somehow works to create an eclectic design.
“What you see is what you get,” she says, “we’re pretty busy, so we’re not here as much as we’d like, but we’re proud of our little home.”
“It looks great. Very thrift store chic. I love how all of these pieces don’t match but still somehow look perfect together.” And it’s true. I’m going to have to send some pictures to Ayla.
Olive smiles knowingly at Felix. “Okay, you’re right, I like her.”
“I told you.” When he smiles, my day gets even better.
“The bathroom’s back here and so are the bedrooms. Rent is six hundred dollars a month and includes utilities and wifi. You’ll pay me by the end of the month so I can pay the landlord on the first. Does that work?”
It’s a tad more expensive than I was hoping, but definitely less than anything I could swing on my own, so I say yes. I haven’t even seen my new bedroom, but I already know I’m going to love it because at least it’s my own. Finally, I feel like I haven’t been left behind by all my peers anymore. I’m a grown-ass woman who can take care of herself.
“Jasmine’s a pre-med student and studies at the library all the time so you’ll probably barely see her. I’m an art major so I come and go depending on what’s going on at the studio. You work nights, right?”
She leads me into one of the bedrooms. I take it all in with a smile. It’s got a four-poster queen-sized bed tucked into the corner with a matching black dresser. The walls are painted the same deep purple as the rest of the apartment, which I can definitely work with. Sure it’s tiny, and the window is barred and faces a brick wall, but it’s got a great energy about it. It feels safe. Welcoming. Mine.
“Yeah, I’m a server at Pops at night and am in an internship with Felix in the mornings, so I’m pretty busy too. But I’m not a student. You Tulane kids are way too smart for me. I hope that’s okay with you guys.”
“We don’t care,” she hands me a key, “so long as you’re reliable and supply us with free Pops sometimes.” She winks her huge fake eyelashes playfully, and I can’t help but admire her makeup skills. Maybe she’ll teach me her ways. “That place is the best. But Jasmine’s a vegetarian so maybe bring her pie or something.”
“That I can do.”
“See, I like her.” She raises her eyebrows at Felix and leaves us to it.
We make up the bed with my new white coverlet and hang the matching curtains. Tomorrow I’m going to find some cute throw pillows and a tie dye linen wall hanging to bring it all together. Ayla can give me advice on where to find the perfect things. I probably shouldn’t spend any more money, but I want to, I need to. It’s helping me take my mind off of everything, especially Mom. I’ve been trying to get ahold of her all day, but she’s still missing. I’m starting to wonder if I should file a missing persons report, not that it would do me any good. And at the back of my mind is that mafia man’s face from last night. I never want to see him again.
I unpack my clothes into the pocket closet while Felix sits on the bed, watching me lazily. Electricity fills the little room with him in it, and all I can think about is our almost-kiss this morning. I finish up and turn to look at him, instantly knowing he’s thinking about the same thing.
“Hi.”
“Hi.” He grins.
This is the part where I hope he stands up and pulls me to him and kisses me, but he doesn’t. He continues to sit there as the tension grows thicker. He knows what to do, I know he’s capable of making a move. He’s always had girls orbiting him and never shied away from them as far as I could tell. If we stay in the friend zone, before long it’s going to get too awkward, and I can’t let that happen.
“You know what, Felix?” It only takes three steps to go from standing by the closet to
standing between his legs. He’s so tall that I’m only a head taller even though he’s sitting down on the edge of the bed.
“What?” He peers up at me. The dark lashes frame his yummy brown eyes, and from this close I can see the gold specks around his pupil. I get the answer I need in those eyes. He wants this too.
“I’m just gonna go for it.” And I do––I lean down and press my lips to his. His response is instant, opening his mouth to mine. I can’t help but moan. He wraps his hands around my waist and tugs me closer. It’s not close enough for me, so I end up sitting in his lap. Much better.
I’m careful to keep his hands away from my scalp, not that he minds. They tend to travel lower anyway. Our kiss becomes an epic makeout session that lasts at least twenty minutes before my phone buzzes and ruins the fun. I groan and peel myself off him. “Ugh, no. . .”
“What’s wrong?”
“I have to get ready for work.”
“It’s fine. I’ve got to go study anyway.” He presses one final kiss to my lips and I walk him to the door.
I don’t know what any of this means, but I’m not going to ruin it with questions or labels. I finally know what it feels like to have butterflies in my chest. It’s as cliché as anything, but it’s the perfect descriptor for how he makes me feel. For the first time in ages, I’m happy. I can’t stop smiling.
He leaves, and not even a minute later someone knocks on the door. Assuming Felix forgot something, I open it. I want another kiss, too!
But there’s nobody there.
At my feet rests a black box tied with a velvet red ribbon. Only thirty seconds ago this hallway was completely empty and now this? An inner warning bell wipes the smile off my face. I pick up the box to find a little white envelope tucked under the ribbon Evangeline scrawled in elegant handwriting across the front.
Chapter 28
Everything about this box screams vampire. Who else would be dropping off presents in black boxes all tied up with red ribbon? It might be daytime, but they have plenty of humans to do their bidding, like delivering mysterious packages to unsuspecting women. I haven’t even lived here for a day and they already know where I landed. I groan and bring the box inside. I don’t have time to deal with this. I need to get ready for my shift, but I know myself––if I don’t open it now, I’ll go crazy thinking about it.