“Hopefully soon.” Hunter wrapped his arm around hers and led her toward the front door. “Do you have your keys?”
“They haven’t left my hand since I let you in.” Amorette tossed him a tight, dry smile. “Why are you holding onto me?”
“In case you think you’re going to be running anywhere.” Hunter pouted at her. “I’ve dealt with enough of that over the past couple of days. Seriously, how could you not have called me? I thought we were closer than that.”
“It’s all about perception, Hunny Bun.” Amorette took the moment of stunned silence to slip away from him and dart to the door. It opened easily enough. “Come on. We don’t have all day.”
EADRIC TRACED A FINGER along a crack in the shattered phone screen. It was, indeed, broken beyond repair. He looked into it personally. He also confirmed her statement. She hadn’t had the phone more than a few weeks. In this day and age, it was better to have a phone than be without one. Especially when one was a young woman.
It wasn’t his fault the phone broke, but somehow he felt responsible for the girl. The men he sent to watch her seemed less competent by the day. She slipped away one way or another, at some point during the day. That shouldn’t... No, it couldn’t happen. She bore the mark, so she must be important. To someone.
Eadric blew out a breath. She wasn’t his to protect, and he hadn’t interfered in anyone’s life in years. It went better for everyone if he didn’t.
He glanced to the small black tracking device sitting nearby. He couldn’t bring himself to plant it. Even if she was in danger, didn’t she deserve some sort of privacy? He was infringing on the right he claimed every person deserved.
As quickly as he talked himself into the tracking device, Eadric talked himself out of it. Great. How was he supposed to keep an eye on her if he didn’t know where she was?
“You idiot,” he muttered. “She’s not yours to be responsible for. She can take care of herself. She has that boy.”
“Um, do I need to call the doctor?” Doon peered through the door to ask. “Grandfather did tell me that when you start talking out loud to yourself, it’s time to reevaluate our decision-making paradigm.”
“He would.” Eadric leaned back in his chair and folded his arms over his chest. “I do not need the hospital, but many thanks for your concern.”
Doon nodded and ventured a step into the room so he could close the door. “No problem. You summoned, Oh Great One?”
Eadric huffed a short laugh. His fingers toyed with the fragmented cellular phone. “I need you to deliver something for me. No one can know.”
“Sounds like fun. Where am I going?” Doon grinned like he won the lottery.
Eadric snatched a small box from the end of his desk and rose. “Her bedroom.” He held it out. “Leave this for her. I’ve already explained in the note.”
Doon wrinkled his nose. “I was hoping for the shop,” he mumbled. Unfortunately, Doon had never been especially talented at remaining quiet. Eadric heard every word.
There were a few reasons Doon could wish to enter the little bookshop again. Eadric didn’t like any of them.
He scowled at his friend’s grandson. “Whatever your intentions, forget them now. It isn’t your place.”
“Hey, I’m a man, too. Not just a monkey.” Doon stalked forward and snatched the box from Eadric’s grip. “What I do on my own time is none of your business. Work and personal have a way of overlapping, but I promise I’ll be the perfect gentleman while I’m on your dime.”
Somehow, Eadric didn’t quite believe that. Doon did what Doon wanted. Normally, it didn’t matter. Doon got the job done, everyone was happy. For some reason, Doon’s personality and vague designs grated on Eadric’s nerves about this one. There was only one thing of interest at that bookshop. Doon would be a fool to overlook the young, naive Amorette.
The muscle in Eadric’s jaw ticked. His lip curled up into a sneer. “I mean it, Doon.”
“Alright, alright!” Doon backed away from the angry bear. He raised his hands in surrender. “I get the picture. I’ll try to scale back. But I still think it’s wrong for you to control my personal life. I’d think you would have learned that.”
“Shut. Up.” Eadric lifted a hand to rub the throbbing spot between his eyebrows. The insolence of young people these days. “Just deliver the package. That’s all I need today.”
“Yes, your majesty.” Doon darted out the door before Eadric had time to throw anything.
Eadric growled at the closed door. There were other ways to relieve stress. He didn’t need to throw anything at Doon’s head, but it would have been the quickest way to make himself feel better.
Eadric grabbed his jacket off the back of his chair. He wouldn’t get any more work done if he didn’t do something physical. Which meant a quick trip to the basement was in order.
Everyone in the company called it The Dungeons when, in fact, it was the brightest area in the building.
For his employees’ benefit, but also for his own, Eadric ensured the gym, studio, and pool areas stayed up to date and fully furnished. It was the studio he aimed for now. He shoved the door open and inhaled deeply.
A long, hand-whittled staff awaited Eadric against the nearest wall. He tossed his jacket to the ground and wrapped a hand around the blunt weapon. His fingers flexed against the smooth wood, remembering a time when it hadn’t been as polished. When the wood bit into his fingers and reminded him how much he had to learn.
A simple twist of his wrist sent the staff whizzing in a circle through the air. The weight of it hadn’t changed, nor had the minuscule force needed to wield it.
Eadric lifted his chin, meeting his own haunted eyes in the mirror. He didn’t remember when he became this man. Cold-hearted and incompassionate. He never meant to shut everyone else out, but they didn’t understand the things he’d been through.
Dozens of wars.
Hundreds of lost loved ones.
Centuries alone.
Eadric poised the staff in his palms and lunged. Imaginary attackers on every side, Eadric fought his demons with the strength and determination of a seasoned warrior. Each memory, each thought, each foe. Eadric whirled and lunged and slashed the air until his hair dripped with sweat and his lungs and limbs burned.
Only then did he allow the staff to clatter to the floor. For a brief moment, his mind was at ease. Blank.
And then a young face clamored to the surface, her eyes spitting fire and her tears wetting her cheeks.
Eadric growled at his own wayward imagination. Now wasn’t the time to think about the young woman who turned his world upside-down. He thought he had himself under control. It appeared he needed to finish the job.
He bent and took up the staff once more.
“THIS IS STUPID.” AMORETTE folded her arms under her chest and glared at Hunter. “I don’t want to go back there.”
Why would Hunter suggest she return to the ridiculous place she used to call a home? Sure, her things were there, but it was evening. Which meant her step-mother would be there. Which definitely didn’t sound like a good idea after three and a half full days away. She would be in so much trouble.
Hunter rolled his eyes. “Mi Amor, you can’t stay away forever. I lent you a sweatshirt but seriously, you need your own clothes. It’ll make you feel better. I’m not saying stay there, I’m just saying enter and retrieve.”
“What if she’s home?” Amorette shivered, a bit dramatically, but Hunter would get the point. There was nothing worse than Amorette’s step-mother, angry.
“I’ll be on the lookout. She wouldn’t hit you with me there, right?” Hunter’s eyes went dark, a look Amorette knew well. His brain had gone into overdrive, or he was concerned.
She would like to think it was the latter, but she would wager on the former.
Amorette shook her head. “I’ll run in and run out. It shouldn’t be too hard, right? You don’t have to come.”
“You need a lookout,” Hunter arg
ued. “Besides, I know you and if I don’t come you might chicken out.”
“Hey! I am not a chicken, you jerk!” Amorette threw a couch pillow at his head.
How dare he insinuate that she had any scaredy-cat behind her tough, go-get-em demeanor. Amorette lifted her chin, offended by his allegation. She wasn’t scared of anything. Except for dark rooms. Giant thugs. Spiders.
Whatever, she wasn’t going to chicken out just because her step-family may be home. No way. No how. He could just... shove it.
Hunter caught the pillow before it hit his face. Pleasant wrinkles formed beside his eyes as he laughed.
Laughed?
Laughed!
Amorette stood to her feet and stomped toward the bedroom at the back of Hunter’s small apartment. If he wanted to laugh, let him laugh alone. Like a hyena, his laugh could only mean he wanted to eat her. Or, in Hunter’s case, spew insults and complements, intertwined.
“Wait!” Hunter’s laughter stopped. “Mi Amor, I’m sorry! Come back.”
“Absolutely not!”
Amorette slammed the bedroom door and huffed a breath. He wanted her to go pick up her things? He thought she was chicken? Fine. She would show him how wrong he was to think that. There was one option left to her, in order to prove her tenacity. She had to go alone.
The front door was no longer an option, considering she would have to walk right past Hunter to get to it. He would undoubtedly follow her, and that defeated her purpose.
Amorette regarded the window with suspicion before she ventured over. It could work. She was small enough to slip out, but she would need something to help her down to the ground. This was the second floor, after all, she couldn’t jump that far down.
Or she could try the fire escape outside the kitchen window. That might be tricky, but Amorette thought she could make it.
Awesome. One plan down.
Thankfully, the door didn’t squeak or creak when Amorette cracked it open. Hunter was nowhere in sight. Knowing him, he was pouting in the living room. She would have to be careful.
Amorette tiptoed into the hall. It wasn’t too far to the kitchen, but she had to pass the living room to make it that far. Drastic times called for drastic measures.
She wrinkled her nose and dropped to her hands and knees. The smaller she made herself, the less chance that Hunter would see or hear her. At least, that’s what Amorette told herself.
On all fours, Amorette slowly made her way down the hall. It was harder to keep quiet this way, but Hunter would see her if she walked upright. Once she made it over the threshold, the high counter between the living room and kitchen hid her from his sight.
She let out a soft breath and scooted her way to the window.
“Hey, Mi Amor, if you come out we can watch a movie or something!” Hunter called toward the hall.
Amorette winced and curled into a ball between the microwave cart and the wall. She couldn’t answer him. It would give away her position, something she would never do. Hiding seemed like the better idea.
“Mi Amor?” Hunter sounded concerned.
Amorette tried not to let that get to her.
A shuffle of clothes and footsteps told her Hunter got up from the couch. She counted the seconds it took him to walk down the hall. She wouldn’t have much time to get out.
Hunter knocked on the bedroom door.
Amorette flew into action.
No longer worried about making noise, she dove out from beside the microwave and shoved open the window. From there, it was easy to crawl out onto the fire escape and hasten down. She rode the final ladder to the ground and jumped off. A quick jog took her around the corner and down the street.
If Hunter figured her out and followed, she doubted he would find her so quickly. Amorette tossed a look over her shoulder and grinned. No. Hunter would take a few minutes to start looking. Perfect.
Amorette headed down the sidewalk in the general direction of her neighborhood.
The streets were empty this evening, the wind too chilled for anyone in their right mind to want to be out in it. Amorette never claimed to be sane.
She was the type to daydream about the impossible. The one who watched for a love that would come snatch her from the nightmare of her own life. She had a weakness for White Knights and an affinity for finding herself in trouble. Two reasons why she came this far and endured so much. She didn’t have a choice if she wanted to find the love she so desperately sought.
She should have thought to grab a coat, Amorette realized as the cold seeped through her sweatshirt, then her shirt beneath. A shiver wracked her spine. Amorette cupped her hands over her nose and mouth. It alleviated the cold somewhat, but not enough to satisfy her.
Only three blocks more to her house.
“Excuse me! Young lady!”
Amorette hesitated in her stride. That voice sounded familiar. Too familiar, really. She turned, only to see the old woman who usually set up camp close to Amorette’s house. Amorette’s fingers slowly slipped down from her face.
The old woman smiled. “Hello again.”
“Why are you out here? It’s so cold.” Amorette tipped her head each direction, looking for anyone to help the woman for the night.
The lady waved a hand. “I have my coats and my scarves. But what do you have? You look positively frozen.”
“I didn’t really think before I headed out, but I’m almost home.” Amorette smiled.
Somehow, this woman evoked a sense of camaraderie. Like she wanted all the best for Amorette and nothing more. Like there was more to her story than just an old woman who sat by the side of the road and sold sandwiches and pretty hand-made baubles.
“Come here, child.” The woman crooked a finger to motion Amorette closer.
Amorette figured it couldn’t hurt anything, so she squatted down near the old woman.
The woman smiled as she pulled a scarf from her pile and wrapped it around Amorette’s neck. “Don’t be so foolish as to be out in the cold without protection. Give me your hands.” A pair of soft mittens were next on the list of things given to Amorette from the mountain of warmth.
“Thank you, ma’am.” Amorette couldn’t help but smile as she hunkered into the scarf. It helped, to have something that warmed her face. The evening chill didn’t have quite the bite it once had.
“Ma’am seems so formal.” The woman laughed, a soft, tinkling bell sound that lifted Amorette’s spirits. “Instead, why don’t you call me Nannie. It’s been years since anyone called me Nannie.”
“Nannie.” Amorette smiled and nodded her head. “I hope we continue to run into each other.”
“I’m sure we will. This is your neighborhood after all, isn’t it?” A bright smile lit her face and made her look a hundred years younger. “If you ever need anything, don’t hesitate to ask me. I’m rather resourceful.”
“I can tell.” Amorette laughed with her. “I think I want to be as resourceful as you when I grow up.”
“No, child. You don’t want to grow up at all.” Nannie shrugged her shoulders. Her breath puffed a hazy gray in the air. “Don’t. Refuse to grow up and live as if it’s your first and last day on earth.”
“I’ll be sure to take your advice to heart.” Amorette smiled once more before she stood. “I have to go now. I’ll look for you on my way back.”
“Then you aren’t staying?”
“No. There’s been some... family drama. I don’t think I’ll be staying there for the foreseeable future.”
“A pity. I may have to move my shop.”
Amorette laughed again. “If you do, I hope you find my new area of town.”
“I’ll do my best.” Nannie made a shooing motion. “Go on. Go on home and find your coat. Don’t leave without it.”
“Thank you, Nannie.” Amorette waved again as she started down the road.
Somehow, seeing the older woman had cheered her. Who knew that the woman who once offered a sandwich would become such a light in her dark life? F
or the first time in a long time, Amorette was glad she met someone like Nannie. Someone who spoke freely and gave unconditionally. She needed those kinds of people in her life.
Amorette ventured the last few blocks with great trepidation.
Her house sat dark and looming at the end of the walkway. The good news was, the chances of her step-mother being awake and roaming around the house were pretty low. The bad news? There was a fifty-fifty chance of her step-mother being asleep inside. She would need to be quiet and stealthy.
Amorette pulled her key from her pocket and unlocked the door. The one perk of living here most of her life, she knew where all the squeaks and creaks were loudest.
One delicate step at a time, Amorette ventured down the hall and into her room. Surprisingly, it was as she’d left it. With a sigh, Amorette opened her closet and pulled out the one suitcase she owned. It would hold enough to get her through, at least.
Her dresser wasn’t hard to empty out. She didn’t exactly have the massive wardrobe her step-sister and step-mother favored. Amorette would rather spend her money on things that mattered. Like food.
She stood up from where she had bent to stuff clothes into the suitcase. Her eyes landed on her bed.
Amorette froze.
Blinked.
On the middle of her bed sat what appeared to be a present. Amorette ran through a mental checklist. Wrapping paper. Bow. Tape. No card, though. She ventured a step closer, then another, until she found the box in her hands. It had been wrapped so neatly, the tape clean and the ribbon perfectly centered. She almost felt bad about opening it. Almost.
Amorette untied the ribbon and let it fall to the bed. For the first time in her life, she took her time opening a gift.
It had been years since anyone offered her a present, and Amorette wanted to enjoy the thrill while she could. She took her time to open each fold, careful not to disrupt the paper as she made her way to the surprise inside.
When all was said and done, Amorette held a plain black box in her hands. At that point, she lost her self-control. She couldn’t open the lid fast enough.
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