“Don’t do that!” he said. “That tickles like crazy.”
“Sorry,” she said.
At last he was comfortable and they laid there, listening to the muffled sounds of the street below.
“Tadin?” she whispered after a while.
“What?”
“I’m really glad you asked me out,” she said, then settled her head against the pillow to sleep.
But before she closed her eyes, Tadin leaned forward, and planted a surprisingly soft, warm kiss on her lips that sent goosebumps down her arms. Time seemed to stop until they parted and Tadin settled back on the bed.
“Goodnight,” he said and clicked off the bedside lamp. She nestled in his arms until a deep and peaceful sleep overcame her.
Chapter Seventeen:
Saturday - 10:05pm
Candice hurried down the hallway of Haures’s apartment, making a beeline for the library. She had to act fast or risk being caught by Pyro again — or worse, someone more malevolent. Pyro was supposedly off for the night, so it was now or never.
She hurried into the room, filled with books, and immediately started tugging on bookcases. One of these had to be a secret passage. She was sure of it.
After trying fruitlessly to get the first two towering walls of books to move, she finally found success as the unit facing the large fireplace creaked forward on a hinge. It moved a few inches at a time, and Candice put her full weight on the bookcase, causing it to creak forward until the opening was large enough to fit through.
She caught her breath, braced herself, and tried to process what she saw within the secret doorway.
The hidden room was illuminated by a single hanging lightbulb. The walls were covered floor to ceiling with shelves. Crowded on these shelves were hundreds of tiny glass figurines.
She took a fleeting glance behind her to make sure that she wasn’t followed, and then dove full-force into searching for her brother.
Each of the figurines had a label, sorted alphabetically by last name. She found Reagan within minutes.
He was tucked behind a few other statuettes.
Candice reached for the glass visage, her fingers trembling. The tiny figurine was cold, covered in a thin layer of frost. It reminded her of the kind that formed on ice cream containers. Her warm hands melted some of the accumulation and almost became fused to the tiny figurine. She moved it around in her hands, swapping it back and forth from right to left, until at last it felt room temperature.
The room was dim with no windows. She could barely make out a faintly glowing shape within the sculpture. It was an image she thought she’d never see again.
Reagan’s spirit was suspended lazily in the center of the figurine.
“Reagan?” she squinted at the glass, bringing it closer to her face. “Can you hear me, Reagan?”
She didn’t expect anything, but was shocked when her brother’s muffled voice floated from the sculpture.
“C....Candice?” He sounded like he was pressed on all sides, struggling to breathe.
“Yes!” tears welled in her eyes and spilled onto her cheeks. She caressed the tiny face of the figurine, hoping to comfort her brother. “I’m here, baby. It’s me.”
“It’s not a trick?” his voice changed pitch as if he’d forgotten how to speak.
“No, it’s not a trick. I found you. At last, I found you!”
She set him down on the floor and rummaged around in her bag.
“What are you going to do?” Reagan asked.
“I’m getting you out of here,” she said. She closed her hands on a tiny beauty kit buried at the very bottom of her bag. Inside was a metal nail file. The glass figurine had a groove on the bottom that she saw was sealed by a silver stopper. It reminded her of her childhood piggy bank. Reagan’s name was etched on the stopper. If she could get the figurine open and free her brother…
She ran the point of the file along the stopper’s edge.
“What are you doing?” Reagan asked. “Don’t smash me, or he’ll hear you!”
“I’m not going to smash you, baby,” she said, struggling to get the file under the silver lip. “I’ll have you free in no time. Nobody’s going to hear me.”
“Or so you think,” said a familiar voice.
Candice felt goose bumps race along her arms, up to her neck. She didn’t need to turn to see that Pyro had caught her, but she turned to face him anyway. He stood casually in the doorway, blocking her escape. His shadow stretched along the floor, reaching out to strangle her right then and there.
“It’s not what you think,” she said, getting to her feet.
“Oh?” he folded his arms across his chest. “So, on top of being an undercover demon hunter, you mean to tell me that you’re also a mind reader? Bravo. You had us all fooled.”
Her mind raced to find a way out. There was pepper spray in her bag, but would that do anything to Pyro if he was a demon? There was also a switchblade that she kept in the side pocket. If she could get it in time to make the first move...
She had to stall for time.
“Please,” she slowly reached for the bag. “I’m nobody special —”
“Don’t play that game with me,” Pyro interrupted. “There’s nothing you can pull over me. I’ve been watching you from the start, since before Haures interviewed you. You think I wouldn't keep tabs on the woman responsible for burning down Newfield Manor?”
She almost had the blade in hand. If she could keep him talking just a little longer…
“Congratulations,” Pyro continued. “You found us out. We’re all demons. Do you feel accomplished?”
Her fingers finally wrapped around the knife and she yanked it from her bag. She jabbed the pointy end at Pyro.
“As a matter of fact, yes,” she said. She jabbed the knife a second time, but instead of stepping back in fear, Pyro clapped his hands.
“Oh boy, a knife! Please!” he said, a grin plastered his face. “Not the knife, I don’t want to be stabbed!”
Candice was at a loss. What should she do now? Her knife hand trembled like a dead leaf in a breeze.
“I could kill you with this...” she started, but her voice trailed off as Pyro rolled his eyes.
“Do you know how many hacks it would take to kill me?” he asked. “Come on. I’m a demon. We both know that. You’d have to dismember me completely to immobilize me. So, please, give it a try. It’ll be the most excitement I’ve seen in a long time.”
The knife clattered to the floor. Her legs felt as heavy as concrete.
“What are you going to do?” she asked. All her worse-case-scenarios pummeled her brain. Why did she have to get caught when she was so close? “You can’t stop me from leaving. People will come looking for me.”
“Don’t make me laugh,” Pryo sneered. “Nobody’s going to come looking for you. You’re not even from this city. Trust me, I’ve read your file. It would be at least a year before anyone notices you’re missing. You did such a great job burning bridges along the way.” He straightened up, brought a hand to his lips, then turned to the door. “No, I think you’ll do best to just wait in here. Haures will determine your fate.”
Her scream for help was cut short by the heavy, book-laden door. Pyro sealed it tight and locked it behind him.
Chapter Eighteen:
Sunday - 10:58am
Tadin awoke from the best sleep he’d had in years. He didn’t want to open his eyes. Shelley nestled beneath his arm and he decided that it was better to be awake if it meant savoring more time with her in his arms. He wanted to etch this moment in his memory.
Shelley’s eyes fluttered open, still heavy with sleep. Tadin smiled at her as she stretched her neck back with a soft groan.
“Good morning,” he said.
“Hi,” Shelley settled back on the pillow and watched as he kissed her forehead. “What time is it?”
“Almost eleven,” he replied. “Did you sleep well?”
“I did,” she tugged at his
arm until he held her closer. “That was the best night I’ve had in months.”
“That’s the best night I’ve had in decades,” Tadin chuckled.
“I didn’t know you could do any of that,” she said.
“What do you mean?”
“You know,” she blushed. “Cuddling without a body.”
“I didn’t know either,” he said. “I wasn’t really sure if it was going to work. I’ve never actually tried any of that without a body.”
But, I’m damn glad I did, he thought. He was nervous still, with Shelley so close to him.
“You’d be surprised how much your mind is involved with intimacy,” Shelley said. “It’s more about your mental connection than anything.”
“And my good looks, right?” he grinned.
Shelley wrapped a hand around the back of his neck.
“Definitely your good looks.” She pulled him into a kiss. “Why didn’t you ask me out sooner?”
“Well, I guess I was just too nervous to ask,” he said. “It took long enough for you to actually have a conversation with me without being scared shitless. I didn’t know if you would run away after I asked you.”
“I would never run away,” she said. “I knew as soon as I noticed those feelings that it wasn’t going to be easy, or normal.”
He nodded.
“I wish the people upstairs would have given me some instructions like they did in Beetlejuice,” he said. “It would have made things a whole lot easier. I forgot what it was like to go out to eat. But, I’m really glad you said yes.”
“Good timing,” Shelley said. “You must have planned it ahead of time because you caught me when I was stressed at the end of the week. I was really surprised. It was also convenient that we have the day off together. Was that all part of the plan the whole time, too?”
“If I say yes, does that get me another kiss?” he asked with a mischievous grin.
“I don’t know,” Shelley went to roll over, but he stopped her. “Fine. If you really want.”
He was just moving in when a knock sounded at the front door.
Shelley seized up as they listened to the knocking. Tadin thought for a split second that it could be a demon — but then he laughed it off at the idea of a demon knocking.
“What’s the matter?” he asked.
“Someone’s at the door,” Shelley replied.
“So?” He watched her turn her ear towards the bedroom door. “Let them knock. It’s probably a delivery guy. Either that, or a Jehova’s Witness.”
“No, it can’t be,” she covered herself with the blankets. “I didn’t order anything. Are you sure it’s not someone for you?”
“I’m a ghost. I highly doubt it’s someone for me. Maris never shows up randomly.”
The knocking sounded again, this time followed by a muffled female voice.
“Shelly?”
Silence followed as the woman outside listened for a response.
Shelley’s eyes widened.
“Shel? Are you home?” the voice called again.
“Oh no.” Shelley leaped from the bed. Kismit just barely scurried out of her way. She threw on the nearest clothes from the floor.
“What are you doing?” Tadin got up and materialized some clothes on himself.
“I am so sorry,” she said. She snatched her purse and truck keys from the dresser. “I have to go.”
“What? Wait!” Tadin followed her into the living room. “Who is that?”
“I’ll see you in a little bit,” she pecked him on the lips and hurried down the back stairs. He was left standing in the middle of the room, dumbfounded.
What the hell is going on?
Now it sounded like a foot was kicking the door.
“Come on — let me in! I can hear you moving around in there.”
Tadin crept to the front door and cursed that there wasn’t a peephole. Whoever was behind the door needed to be sent away. If they were bad enough for Shelley to run, they must be trouble.
He wrapped his hand cautiously around the doorknob and turned the lock. With one yank he threw open the door.
Standing on the doorstep was a girl, about Shelley’s height. She jumped at the door flinging open. It was the first time in months that anyone besides Kismit was startled by him. She was dressed in a very tight pair of jeans and a graphic tank top. Both were very flattering.
The girl brushed her hair out of her face and crossed her arms.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “I’m looking for Shelley Macyntire?”
“She’s not here,” Tadin said, barring the doorway. “She’s...uh...out.”
A truck engine sputtering to life sounded outside the open stairway window and the girl looked out to see Shelley’s truck pulling away from the curb.
“That’s her truck, isn’t it?”
Tadin felt his neck go red.
“No,” he said. “She left a while ago.”
“You’re lying,” the girl smirked. “And you’re really bad at it.” She took another look at him. He felt extremely self-conscious, wearing a pair of thin pajama pants and a wife-beater. Why didn’t he put on something more appropriate?
Because you didn’t expect Shelley to bolt out of the apartment, that’s why.
“Have we met?” the girl asked.
“No, I don’t think so.”
“Are you sure? I swear I’ve seen you before.” She stepped closer. “Didn’t you come to the Christmas party a few years back?”
“I’m sure I didn’t. You must be mistaking me for someone else.” He rubbed the back of his neck.
“Oh — right, I must be thinking of that other guy Shelley was dating. Yeah, sorry.”
“I don’t mean to be rude,” he interrupted, “but I have no idea who you are. How do you know Shelley?”
“What? She hasn’t told you?” the girl looked surprised. “I’m Madison, her sister.”
Tadin stepped back, his jaw dropping.
“Sister?” he said, noting the resemblance. “Did I hear you right? Sister?”
“Yeah. A couple years younger? Going to the same school? She must have mentioned me at least once?”
Tadin tried to shake the stupid expression from his face. No wonder Shelley took off. Any time she mentioned her sister it was to complain about how obnoxious she was, or what stupid decision she’d made this time.
“Sorry,” he said. “She never mentioned that you’d be stopping by.”
“I didn’t tell her,” Madison replied.
She strode forward and Tadin was afraid that she would walk through him on accident. He stepped aside and Madison made a beeline for the kitchen table where she took a seat.
“I know Shelley’s been on this whole cutting-the-cord kick the past year or so. That’s why she’s never invited me here,” she said. “Because she likes to pretend that I don’t exist. But, I couldn’t take it any more. You know, living at home for the semester really isn’t working out so well. Our mother — I’m sure she’s told you all about how outrageous that woman can be? She tricks you, you know? I honestly would be out of there in a heartbeat if she wasn’t paying for my college. I just had to get away for a bit. Plus, I wanted to see the apartment and how the gallery turned out.”
Tadin stood at the counter as the avalanche of speech poured from the girl’s mouth. Would the purge ever end? At last she stopped for a second. He still had no idea what was going on.
“Can I get you some water or anything?” he asked.
Kismit wandered into the kitchen, attracted by the commotion. He spotted Madison, and rubbed against her leg. She picked him up and cradled him in her arms.
“Thanks, but I’m not thirsty. Why don’t we talk about you, since I’m here?”
“What do you mean?”
“You know,” she stroked the spot between Kismit’s ears. “Are you living with my sister?”
“Well, yeah,” Tadin leaned against the counter. “This was actually my apartment before we shared it. I
’m her partner on the gallery.”
“That’s exciting,” Madison let Kismit scamper to the floor and he scurried into the living room. “So, you’re Hough? From the sign? Is that your first name?”
“No. My first name’s Tadin.”
“That’s right. Tadin. Daddy mentioned you. He said you sounded pretty lazy.”
“Really?” Tadin straightened up.
“Yeah. He said that you were letting Shelley do all the heavy lifting.” She smirked again.
“Well,” Tadin said, “I haven’t met your father, but I’m sure that when I do, I’ll prove that I’m just as hard a worker as Shelley. The gallery is half mine, after all. The book area, at least.”
“So you’re a reader?” Madison folded her arms. “Typical.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” This girl was really starting to get annoying. He felt like throwing her out the window.
“Have you looked at yourself in the mirror?” she leaned back in her chair and fixed her hair behind her ear. “All you need is a pair of thick glasses and your hair slicked back and you’d be right at home on a ‘reading matters’ commercial on public television.”
“Alright,” Tadin said, waving his hand towards the door. “I’ve had enough. You can go now —”
Madison sat up, her expression morphing from comfort to anxiety in a split second.
“No, wait!” She looked frantic. Her posture became rigid as she gave him a pleading expression. “Could you please do me a huge favor before I go?”
“I really don’t give favors to people who make fun of me,” Tadin said.
“I’m sorry, alright? I’m sorry. I’m used to defending myself. It’s second nature.”
Tadin hated his constant sympathy for women when they looked vulnerable, but he still let his guard down with a sigh.
“It’s fine,” he said, “but, really, I don’t have time to entertain you. I have to work on some things for the gallery, so you can't hang out here.”
Macyntire & Hough (A Paranormal Romance) (The Macyntire & Hough Saga) Page 11