by J. N. Colon
A breath exited my lungs. At least if I fell, I’d only get a few bumps and bruises. I pressed another door open and shined the light on a small kitchenette. A table and four chairs had been overturned. Nothing out of the ordinary.
I backed out and pressed my palm on another door. As soon as it cracked open, a foul stench flooded my nostrils. My eyes burned, and I choked back a gag.
Holy frack. That was bad.
I swallowed hard and tried to breathe through my mouth. Something had to be dead in there.
Oh, gawd. Don’t let me find a dead Tyler.
My hand trembled as I held my phone out. A small storage room with a few toppled wire shelves was behind the door. I peered over a pile of boxes.
No dead body.
I wiped sweat from my forehead. A roll of toilet paper was stretched across the carpet. Something reflected within the light. I stooped and plucked a plastic nametag from the floor. Tyler was written across it. Dark splatters stained the white letters.
Ice seeped through my veins. It looked like dried blood.
What did Jayson do?
The room tilted. The air was suddenly too thin. I needed to get the hell out of here before I passed out.
I stood and headed for the door, slipping. Luckily, I grabbed a shelf that was bolted to the ground. As I righted myself, my heart crashing against my ribs, I held my phone over the floor again.
Black, sooty ash covered the left of the room.
My brows puckered. Had something caught fire? Was that the cause of the rancid smell?
Scraping glass echoed from the front of the store, shattering my train of thought. My ribs tightened over my heart. Someone else was in here.
Chapter 9
I spun around and darted back into the hall, my breathing coming in quick pants. My dad was going to kill me and not for the sort-of breaking and entering. He was going to be pissed I was walking around in this deathtrap.
Not the smartest idea—I’d admit it.
Tyler’s nametag was still clutched in my palm as I walked toward the Employees Only door. My head peeked through. I didn’t see anyone. Maybe it was just the wind.
I shut my phone light off and tiptoed into the store, trying to dodge the scattered debris.
“Well, hello, there.”
I squealed and dropped the nametag. My foot hit a patch of broken glass, and I careened forward.
Just craptastic. I was going to be visiting the Mystic Hollow emergency room—assuming they had one.
I flailed but managed to grab ahold of a display stand made out of sturdy wood. A sharp sting sliced across my arm.
Shiitake! That was going to need a bandaid.
“Careful there, young lady.” The old man I passed on my street the other night stood a few feet from me.
Air caught in my throat. Was he the owner? “I-I didn’t break in,” I stuttered.
His dry titter puckered my skin. “No worries. I don’t own the place.” He motioned toward the windows. “I was walking by and heard a little kitten meowing. I thought I’d come in and help it.” The harsh black suit and hat made his unnaturally pale skin more noticeable. He smiled, showing a set of yellowed teeth. His eyes were dark. And ice-cold.
I shivered. There was something very wrong with this guy. My internal alarms were screaming for me to get away. His wrinkled, leathery skin and bony frame didn’t match the danger lurking beyond the frail surface.
His head tilted as he scrutinized me, that gaze chilling me from the inside out. He licked his thin lips and bent, yanking out a fluffy furball from a pile of crushed boxes. “Here he is.”
The small tabby kitten hissed and swatted, but the old man only laughed. I’d be fighting to get out of his hold too.
“You better tend to that cut,” he said, his eyes falling on my arm. “You wouldn’t want it to get infected.” The old man smiled and pivoted, stalking through the wreckage without making a sound. The cat hissed and flailed all the way out the door.
A long breath left me the moment he disappeared, and I slumped against the stand. Fine tremors shook my body. I needed to get the heck out of here. My gaze lingered on the cluttered floor below me, the nametag nowhere in sight.
I gently nudged a pile of boxes. Crapola. Where had it gone?
“What are you doing in here?”
I jumped out of my skin at the familiar, grumbling voice. “Seriously!” Why did everyone feel the need to sneak up on me?
Jayson stood where the old man had been, his arms crossed against his broad chest. “Are you trying to take a trip to the hospital?” He motioned to the danger zone surrounding me.
I shot him a narrowed glare. “No, jerkface. I came because I wanted answers.” Great. Tyler’s nametag was lost in the rubble.
“Answers to what?” His gaze was heavy on me, trying to burn twin holes in my skull.
“What happened to Tyler?” I wasn’t going to let Jayson intimidate me. “I never saw him come out of the store after the earthquake.”
He gave a noncommittal shrug. “How am I supposed to know?”
“You went after him,” I hissed. “I know you did.” When his only response was a deadpan expression, I tossed my hands in the air. Fire spilled through the small cut on my lower arm, and I hissed.
Jayson was suddenly in front of me. “You did hurt yourself.”
My lips thinned. “I’m fine.” This guy needed a bell strapped around his neck. I didn’t see or hear him move.
Without warning, the Neanderthal picked me up, cradling me against his chest.
I squeaked and held onto his leather-clad shoulders. “What in the hell are you doing?” I was breathless from the swift move—and from being in his arms. I fought my own body not to snuggle against his.
“I’m getting you out of here,” he grumbled, his hulking frame moving toward the back of the store much too gracefully. “I’d rather carry you than keep you upright through all this junk. I don’t even know how you made it this far with only a little cut.”
“Put me down,” I grumbled.
“Not a chance.”
All I could do was pout in his ridiculously strong arms until we were outside where he roughly set me on my feet. When I tried to go to the right, he tugged me left.
“What are you doing?” I asked as Jayson nudged me down the road.
“I’m taking you to your dad’s shop.” He didn’t look too thrilled to be my escort.
Why was he doing it then? Did it have something to do with what he told Kale in my room? I mean, if that actually happened and wasn’t a dream.
Whatever the reason, maybe this would give me time to question him. My eyes slid over, surveying his hard features. He was in one hella prickly mood.
The bell over the door rang as we walked in. My dad glanced up from the counter, his brown eyes darting between a sour me and an annoyed Jayson. His brow arched. “What brings you guys here?”
“I think you lost something,” Jayson muttered.
I stuck my tongue out at the Neanderthal. “You’re not even funny.”
My dad chuckled. “Sure, he is.”
Max strolled out of an aisle, a tool belt hanging from his waist. “I was wondering what was keeping you, Jayson.” He flashed me a smile. “Now I know.”
My cheeks heated. I didn’t like what he was implying.
“The store’s closed today. We were just about to go help with some window repairs down the street,” my dad said. “I’m not inviting you along, Lena. That’s a disaster waiting to happen. Jayson is more than welcome to come.”
Jayson held up my arm before I could stop him. “Do you have a first aid kit?”
My dad reached under the counter and pulled out a white plastic box, a scarlet cross printed on the top. “I’ve got plenty of these.” He tapped the lid. “But I can handle it.”
Max waved his hand through the air. “Jayson can handle it, James. Besides, you’re the construction expert here.”
“I’m quite capable of slapping on a
bandage myself.” They were acting like I was helpless.
“You’re also capable of getting yourself into more trouble,” he mumbled under his breath, low enough so my dad couldn’t hear.
“Whatever.” I shook my head and sat on a stack of empty crates near the corner of the counter.
Max and my dad headed out the door, chuckling over a football joke. How cute. My dad had a new bestie. Too bad his BFF came with a grumpy nephew.
Jayson dragged over a heavy wooden box, folding down on it.
“Are you sure that thing can hold you? Your head must weigh a hundred pounds alone.” A smirk curled my lips.
He rolled his eyes and sat, putting the first aid kit in his lap. “Now who’s not funny?”
He was going to see how funny I wasn’t when I started questioning him.
Jayson grabbed my arm and pushed up my sleeve, his fingers hot on my skin. I bit back a shiver. Ugh. Why did this Neanderthal have such an effect on me?
I shook the thoughts off and cleared my throat. “Do you want to tell me what’s going on?”
“I’m about to clean your cut. That’s what’s going on.” He tore open a towelette soaked with alcohol, the astringent odor crinkling my nose.
“Do you want to tell me about last night?” I prodded.
He did that single eyebrow arch thing. “Do you want to elaborate?”
“How about we start with the earthquake?” I leaned forward. “First of all, you were outside when it started, when that creep Tyler wouldn’t let me go. And then you were inside, throwing me to the ground and shielding me from a hundred pounds of rubble. You got up like it was nothing and disappeared. I saw you coming out of the Employees Only door with suspicious splatters on your shirt. Oh, and, let’s not forget the gold glowing eyes and freaky halos around you and your bestie Kale!” I took a deep breath, my cheeks hot from the sudden outburst.
Did I really just blurt all that?
Jayson’s face remained unreadable. “Halos? Like angels?”
I rolled my eyes. “Of course not. I didn’t see gold rings floating over your heads.” I circled my finger around his body. “Something was outlining you two.” My mouth clamped shut. I sounded certifiable.
His hazel eyes bored into mine, and they shone a little too brightly. A hint of that salty scent lingered.
I swallowed hard. We were barely more than two inches apart. When had he moved?
“I think you hit your head a little too hard the other day,” Jayson said, his voice gruff and rumbling. “Do you really believe what just came out of your mouth?” His gaze lowered, zeroing in on the mouth he was referring to.
I couldn’t breathe. We were too close. His stare was too heavy, too palpable. I could almost feel something brushing against my lips as if his gaze had the power to invoke a physical touch. “I-uh…” My brain was hazy. I wanted to ask him about his late-night visit to my room, but I couldn’t get my thoughts together. Also, just thinking about it had me cringing. If I’d dreamed it all, I would be totally embarrassed.
The snap of the first aid kit closing knocked the fog from my brain. A gauzy bandage was neatly taped over my cut. What the frack? I hadn’t even seen him put it on.
Was I losing time? Or did he move that freakishly fast?
I was betting on the latter.
What was it about this guy that had me so undone? Was it his sexy bod? His mysterious and possibly supernatural eyes? Or was it the secrets lingering behind that sinfully hot façade?
Hell, it was all those things.
Jayson tilted forward again, that briny ocean scent washing over me. “You’re welcome for saving your life, Angel Eyes.” His hot breath blew down my face and neck, making me shiver.
Angel Eyes?
Holy snickerdoodles. It felt like my heart was going to beat right out of my chest. I could almost taste him.
He chuckled at my obvious reaction, snapping me out of my lusty thoughts.
My lips thinned. I wanted to reach over and smack him. Or kiss him. Honestly, I could do both.
I poked at something that was supposed to be meatloaf while loud chatter clogged the Mystic Hollow High cafeteria. The brown lump jiggled every time my fork touched it. I shivered at what it actually could be.
“Lena, are you listening?” Jessica asked, pushing her glasses up her nose.
“EMF reader and voice recorder,” I mumbled. I couldn’t get a certain hulking Neanderthal off my mind. Those hazel and gold eyes continued to bombard my thoughts along with all the other inexplicable details.
“Jessica already knows how to use them, but I’ll show you before we go out,” Sebastian said.
School had only been closed for two days. A few broken lights and some cracked windows were the extent of damage from the earthquake. And of course, some of the classrooms were messy with fallen objects. Nothing major though.
I gave up on my food and set my fork down, grimacing. “Are you sure you want me holding these expensive electronics? If I slip or trip—which I will—I might break something besides my own bones.”
Sebastian waved a dismissive hand in the air. “Like I’ve said a hundred times, it’s fine. These are all hand-me-downs. And I have multiples.”
A big, fat I told you so was going to occur by the end of the night.
After the quake and freaky red lightning, Sebastian’s excitement level went from moderate to off the charts. He thought paranormal activity could have been stirred up and wanted to investigate ASAP.
“Are you sure poking around the cemetery is a good idea?” Jessica asked before biting off the end of a carrot. “What if some of the graves were disturbed by the earthquake?”
A wide grin curled over Sebastian’s mouth. “Already checked. We are good to go.”
Her brown eyes twinkled behind the clear frames. “How proactive of you.”
He clinked his soda against hers and winked. “I’m finally starting to pick up a few of your habits.”
Color flooded Jessica’s cheeks, and she quickly looked away before he noticed.
Holy frijoles. These two were so cute. Too bad Sebastian had no idea Jessica was crushing on him. If he did, he’d totally ask her out. Someone needed to open those pretty light-green eyes of his.
Sebastian pulled up a map of the Mystic Hollow Cemetery on his tablet, zooming in on the front entrance. We leaned in to get a better look. “We’ll go west first.” He began discussing his plan for our supernatural adventure.
I nodded along with Jessica. My eyes followed Sebastian’s finger as he pointed out the locations of the cemetery he wanted to explore.
A growl rumbled through my stomach. Nothing in the lunch line was appealing except for cake, and I’d already had a piece.
So what? I wanted another.
I stood. “I’ll be right back.”
Jessica’s brow arched. “You can have some of my carrots.”
I tried not to frown, but I must have failed because Sebastian laughed. “Cake is more my style, Jess. Thanks anyway.”
She shook her head, flicking her long ponytail. Part of it landed on Sebastian’s shoulder. He didn’t seem to mind.
He totally likes her.
Lunch was nearing the end so the line was clear. One piece of lonely chocolate cake remained. I chanced a quick glance over my shoulder. My Neanderthal neighbor was mysteriously missing from his table of friends. Was he avoiding me?
I turned back around to get my cake, but it was gone. What the fudgesicles! “Where’d my cake go?” I muttered.
“Your cake?” The quarterback stood in front of me, holding the last piece of cake in his big hand. A playful smile curled his soft lips.
My jaw dropped. “It was mine before you snuck up behind me and stole it.” What? Being the quarterback did not give him special treatment, not in my book.
His laugh was rich and smooth, nothing like Jayson’s gruff rumble. “I didn’t sneak up. I’m kind of tall and hard to miss.” He shrugged. “I had no idea you were going for the cake.�
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I crossed my arms against my chest and tapped my foot. “What else would I be coming here for?” I gestured toward the mystery meat melting under the heat lamp. “That?”
Austin scoffed. “That’s the best part of today’s lunch.” He winked at the bored lunch lady sitting behind the register at the end of the line.
She shook her head, but she couldn’t hide the smile trying to break through.
Of course Mr. Football was a flirt.
“I’m Austin Warren by the way,” he said. “And you’re Lena Raven.”
“Yep.” My gaze shifted to the cake again.
“How do you like our little slice of pie so far?” he asked, shaking his brown hair from his face.
“It’s a pretty small piece of pie.” Ugh. All this pie talk made me hungry for that cake.
Austin laughed. “So it is. I’ve lived here all my life, and everyone knows everything about me from the first word I said to the first girl I kissed—even when and where.”
I dramatically gasped. “That sounds painful. I hope everyone doesn’t start investigating me. That Kenny Jones was one bad kisser.” I shivered at the memory of his slobbery tongue.
The edges of Austin’s eyes crinkled as he bit back a grin. “I’m going to have to go report that now. It might even end up in the local paper. Maybe even the front cover.”
“Don’t tease me. It’s always been my dream to star on the cover of a local newspaper.” Why the hell was I flirting with him? He wasn’t exactly my type, and his ex-girlfriend already hated me. I was probably going to find obscenities written on my locker in her glittery pink lipstick by the end of the day.
Austin handed the lunch lady two dollars for the cake. Oh no. He really wasn’t going to let me have it.
“Don’t look so sad, Lena.” He grabbed a plastic fork and handed me the cake. “Just one more thing before I let you leave with my dessert.”
I smiled and happily took my second helping of sweets. “What?”
“What are you up to tonight?” he asked, shoving his hands in his pockets.
I flicked my free hand toward Sebastian and Jessica. “I’m doing this ghost hunting thing with them.”