Betrayed: Breaking the Darkness Series Book Two

by Felicia Starr

  Feet are a funny thing, even with men. Everything can be perfect from the head down to the ankles, then there were the "oh no toes." Well this man had nothing "oh no" about him. His feet were large, but they were perfectly proportioned to his body. He did not have any hair on his toes, I was starting to wonder if he had hair anywhere but his head and eyebrows.

  The man was too handsome. I really couldn't see how he thought I might have been his intended mate or bonded whatever. I am sure I was not at his level of beautification. He definitely took more care of his appearance than I ever had.

  "Hey, are you ok?" he asked as he walked behind the kitchen counter.

  "Yeah, I thought about getting lunch started, but all I managed were the plates." I laughed a little pointing at what I had gathered.

  "No worries. Thank you for getting us started. Would you like me to make a salad?" he asked as he opened the refrigerator.

  "Sounds good." Just what I wanted.

  Graven grabbed a large bag of lettuce that he must have chopped sometime last night or this morning and a few other containers that contained chopped up veggies.

  He saw me looking strangely at what he was taking out of the fridge.

  "I had a food delivery earlier when you were sleeping. I am away a lot and don't always have time to shop or prepare everything. Even though I did some shopping yesterday, I normally have someone who preps a lot of my food and fresh groceries. I just send them a text when to drop a delivery.

  "I know it's kind of lazy, but it works for me. And it helps me eat healthier. Most of the food in the grocery store these days, I'm not even sure what it is, not food."

  "You sound like my Gram."

  "Well I think I would have liked your Gram. I wish that we could have met under different circumstances and at a different time."

  "Yeah, this really sucks. I really can't believe where my life has wound up." I pouted and felt sorry for myself.

  "Listen, Kasha, there are a lot of experiences, people, moments in life that just happen. They are what they are and as they were supposed to be. There are also those moments in time that everything changed or could have changed. They are where two roads meet, and that is where life gets decided. It's where your own story is written. You might have broken fate or disappointed destiny, and then there are times when the joke is on you because both roads lead to that same destination." Graven put his knife down and stopped chopping.

  "What I am trying to say really, is that no matter what, you are where you need to be. You will have choices to make and they will impact you and those around you. You have your destiny. There are those that think they can find a way to change things. Those are the people we all need to be afraid of."

  "I am not sure what I am afraid of. I am not really even sure what is real anymore. For all I know this is just a dream." I picked at a piece of lettuce.

  "This is no dream, Kasha, and we have some very serious decisions to make. Together." Graven smiled at me before he put the containers back in the fridge and put everything on a tray. He walked out to the back terrace where we had dinner last night.

  I don't know if I'd ever had this many meals in a row with a guy before. The few dates I went on at college went nowhere fast.

  We kept talking as we ate. Well, I mostly pushed the food around my plate and tried to force as much food in as I could. Hard to believe it was merely hours ago that I was starving.

  After we finished our lunch. Graven got up and brought the tray into the house. He told me we could clean up after we were finished talking. He came back to the table promptly.

  "Ok, here is the deal. I told Ziona that I would keep an eye on you and figure out how to get you to come into your powers. Of course that is only partially true. Here is my plan.

  "I am going to tell her that you told me you got lost hiking and I pretended to believe you. That I offered for you to come and work for me at the club. That way I can have you under my wing. No pun intended." He winked at me and my heart fluttered.

  "She also seems to think I have a way with the ladies, so it won't be hard for her to believe that you have been taken by me and will be interested in having a romantic relationship. That way you can stay here and it won't seem suspicious. How is this sounding to you so far.?"

  "It sounds like you thought a lot about it. So if you have a way with the ladies does that mean that I should be cautious of unexpected company?" I asked, probing him to see if he was maybe dating anyone. I had to sneak it in there.

  He might have made all these claims to our destiny, but it was a destiny he has known about for a long time. Men have needs.

  "No, I told you that for the most part no one comes here. I have the guy that works on the property and my food delivery person, both know I have very strict rules and know that there would be a price to pay if they crossed me. The only other person that ever comes here is my brother and that is rare. He is too busy with his own agendas to visit, unless he needs something of course.

  "And I do not bring women here. You are the first to come to my home."

  "So I am going to work at your club? I have never even been to a real club. Other than that night at your club, but I don't think that counts."

  Graven shook his head. "Listen I know that is a subject you don't want to talk about, but there will come a time that we will discuss that night. I will wait until you are ready, but that situation is not going away that easy. The local authorities are involved."

  "I understand, and thank you. I need a little time. Everything is too fresh."

  "I know." Graven reached over and put his wide hands over the top of mine. "I want you to feel safe with me. Whatever you need, you just ask. Please don't be afraid to talk to me.

  "The details can get worked out along the way. We have to go to the club tonight. I think it would be best for us to go there early for you to get acquainted with some of the employees. We will find you something to do there. I have a few calls to make and some emails that I am sure need addressing. Make yourself at home. Feel free to use either bathroom. My bathroom is fully stocked. If you would rather use the bathroom in the hall take whatever you need from mine. I will be in my office on the other side of the living room."

  "There is an office over there?"

  "I converted the garage into an office. I can show you later. We have to leave here at four pm."

  "Ok. I will be ready." I wasn't sure if that was the best plan, but it was a plan and since I didn't have a better one I decided I would go along with it for now.

  "Excellent. We can talk more about the club on the way over." Graven stood up and went back into the house.

  Chapter Six

  I WAS AS READY AS I could be at three forty-five. I did not want to keep Graven from being on time. I did wish I could have had more of an option for what to wear, but my lack of choices made it pretty easy to get ready.

  I wore the same jeans I had on last night and took a scissor to one of the over sized t shirts that Graven left for me. It was so big I could have slept in it, but I needed something that could pass for a little bit trendy so I didn't look like a total riffraff walking into his club.

  I cut the collar and arms off. I sliced up the sides and made cross cuts into the shirt and tied them together. That way I was able to create more of a flattering fit. I hope he didn't get mad I cut his shirt.

  I did not have any hair products so I put a little extra conditioner in my hair and reverse French braided it over to the side. I put on some mascara and some clear lip gloss. Last and least, my beat up shoes that had seen the worst of times managing my way through those dark tunnels.

  The clock in my room clicked to three fifty-five. I knew I should go out there. I was stalling. I was nervous about going to the club. I didn't know what to expect.

  I did see the club in full effect through Graven's office window, but I had never been to a real club. Jean and I went to a few local bars just off campus, some that might have liked to think of themselves as clubs, but a tiny d
ance floor next to the dart board and cans of light beer did not constitute a club. That much I was sure of.

  I went out to the living room and he was waiting on the couch reading something on a tablet. My guess was that it was work related, but maybe he was reading a book. As soon as I walked out of the hallway he stood up.

  "Hi." I gave a little waist high wave.

  "Hello. Wow. You look...wow," he said.

  "I need to get some more clothes, I would go back home to get them, but I know that they took all of my stuff."

  Graven nodded at me.

  "I astral projected there when I was held captive. I couldn't believe that all of my things were gone. Everything, not even a hair was left in my house."

  "I'm sorry that this has happened to you. It can't be easy for you. I can take you shopping tomorrow if you like."

  "I will pay you back for all of this." I waved my hand in front of me. "Oh, I hope you don't mind that I cut up your shirt?"

  "No, it looks better like that. I love it," he said. "Shall we?" he waved toward the door. It was four o'clock sharp.

  It was fun getting to ride in his Cherokee. I missed mine.

  "Hey do you know where my truck is? Did they take that too?" I admired all his upgrades.

  "I'm sorry, I don't know. We can look into it, maybe it is where you left it. Do you know when or how you were taken? I don't want to stir up bad memories right now. We can talk about it later if you prefer." He looked over at me while he was speaking to me, but I pretended I didn't notice him staring at me. I knew he could look at me with eyes on the road at the same time. I wasn't worried about him seeing where we were on the road.

  "I don't really know. It's all a blur to me. I can think back and remember some things that happened before, but I really don't know how far back the memories go.

  "It was hard to tell how long I was there or how long I slept for. There was no light or sunlight to gauge time. I could have been out for hours, days, or minutes. I assume they drugged me at some point."

  "Well, I am sure they did something to you. Drugs are a possibility, but in that circle not likely."

  "So what time does the club open at? It seems really early to go into a club." I asked him.

  "We probably won't stay until the club opens. I just want to give you a tour and introduce you to the staff for now. There is a lot of setting up to do. I have people working there throughout the day cleaning and stocking. There needs to be someone there to receive orders and answer calls for guest lists and private parties."

  "Wow, I didn't realize how much there is to do. I don't know how to make drinks. What do you think you want me to do there? And it's not cold enough for a coat check, so that would be out too."

  "We can see what you feel comfortable doing. It really doesn't matter. I just want it to appear that you are an employee. We will need to have you do something so that the rest of the staff doesn't question anything; although, they are pretty loyal. I am very careful who I hire."

  "Ok," I said. "Please just don't make me the bathroom attendant. I am very sensitive to cleaning products," I asked of him.

  Graven's laugh made me laugh.

  "You're cute." Graven kept laughing. "I won't make you clean anything."

  When we got to the club, Graven parked in the back alley. We went through a back door. From the inside that read emergency exit only.

  "My office was up those stairs, but it still needs to be repaired. And the police have not released it from their crime scene list yet. We have a temporary office set up in the liquor room.

  "I don't like it, but I can't not open. I have numbers that need to be met. Right now I need to stay on top of my game so not to draw any negative attention from The Taker.

  "Ziona is already a little bit suspicious about Anton's death. They are still looking for answers to what happened. I told them that I asked around and it doesn't look like any of the local story keepers had access to his story or family history."

  "Thank you, Graven." I was following behind him. He stopped and turned to look down at me.

  "Don't thank me because they will do their own investigating... I will do my best to keep them off your friend's tail. As long as they are not looking to set an example, if there is nothing to find, they will move on to get the answers they seek. I still can't believe that Anton is dead. Serves him right, but I just didn't think it would ever happen."

  We took a short flight of stairs down and proceeded through another set of fire doors. It opened up to the middle of the dance floor. The lights were on full blast. The club looked much different without all the club goers dancing around with the fog and lights.

  The water feature against the back wall behind the stage was still running and it gave off a soothing sound, a large contrast to the loud music that would be blaring in a few hours. The floors were all painted black with some kind of speckle or glitter in the paint. The boxes that the dancers performed on were painted the same. The cages that hung in between the boxes were painted white.

  The drapes of fabric looked like someone hung up strips of white bed sheets. It amazed me how the club looked so different with the lights on. The ceilings were two stories high with exposed pipes and lights hanging down from the ceiling. It was reassuring that there were sprinkler heads attached to many of the pipes. At least the safety of the customers was a concern for those people.

  "Did these sprinklers go off the night of the fire?" I asked him in a whisper. I was afraid that my voice was going to travel.

  "Oh certainly. I had to hire a special cleaning crew to come and clean the place to make sure that everything was dry. I was concerned about the moisture causing a mold problem. The last thing I need is the health department coming in here to shut the place down for air quality issues.

  "My office, is going to take some time to get back in order. I have my security company coming out next week to rewire everything. I like to keep my eyes on everything, and everyone here knows I am always watching. I am a fair employer and my employees are well compensated, but I don't give second chances, not here at my business. Let me introduce you to some of the staff that is here."

  I followed him over to the main bar.

  "These are my two head bartenders. If I had managers that is basically what they would be. Deen!" Graven waved them over. "Tracey," he put his arm on my shoulder, "I want you to meet Kasha. She will be joining our Reign Enterprises' family."

  "Cool, man. Nice to meet you, Kasha. " Deen wiped his hands off on a bar rag and leaned over the bar and shook my hand.

  He was handsome, but not in a pretty boy kind of way. His head was shaved bald and his skin was rough. He looked like he had a rough time with acne as a teenager. It didn't matter, because when his lips widened into a smile, his perfect white teeth made up for it.

  The girl behind the bar with him was almost as tall as he was and very fit. She was slender, but her muscles were well toned. She could have been a fitness model. Her long bleach blonde hair was pulled back in a tight ponytail. It was pin straight, thick and long.

  "Hi. Welcome. Are you going to be training to work here or in the new club?" She was already high energy. I could feel her intensity before she even started talking.

  "I think for now I will be working here, but not behind the bar," I answered her. "It is nice to meet you both."

  "Catch you guys in a bit. Maybe we can squeeze in a quick meeting before I head out. I don't think I will be here tonight."

  "K," Tracey bounced back to moving bottles around and Deen gave him a little salute.

  "I have to see who else is here and see how my makeshift office is doing." Graven rubbed at the corner of his eye. I could tell the office situation was stressing him out a little.

  I could hear the clacking of high heels approaching us from behind. When I turned around I saw Maritza. She was stunning. I wasn't sure how old or young she was, but the skin on her round face was plump and youthful. There was no way she was over twenty-eight, but she looked closer to
twenty-three.

  Maritza might have looked youthful, but she carried herself with great maturity. She walked tall and always seemed to be carrying around a clipboard or something.

  "This is -"

  "Maritza, nice to meet you." Kasha cut Graven off before thinking about what she said.

  Maritza eyeballed Graven.

  "Have we met before?" Maritza looked back at me and then back at Graven.

  "No, this is Maritza. Maritza this is Kasha. I was just telling her about you." He looked sideways at me.

  "Maritza is my commanding officer here. If I am not here, she is in charge of everything. I trust her with my business and my life. You will find her to be a worthy and loyal companion."

  "I am confused, Graven, what's going on?" Maritza asked politely.

  "We should head down to my office. I hope you have at least managed to get a table and a few chairs in there?"

  "Yes, I have Deen and Tracey trying to rearrange some things to get more stock behind the bars to make room in the liquor storage room for your office. I'm not going to lie, it is very inconvenient. I got a call from the detective and he is actually on his way here again."

  Maritza fixed her hair a little bit. She looked a little bit nervous or excited about his pending arrival. It was hard to discern. She wore a black silk blouse with tiny lavender flowers on it and black slacks that belled out at the bottom enough to cover the heels she had on. The outfit was very flattering, sexy, but sophisticated.

  We all walked around past the stage through another door that said employees only. It led down another small flight of stairs. The liquor room was a decent size and there were shelves lined with liquor and warm beer. There were several kegs that must have been empty and awaiting pickup.

  In the back corner Maritza had a small table in the corner with a laptop on it and a fold out table next to it with a few chairs.