“Hey, what are you doing out… here… Oh, man. Dani, I’m so sorry I left you alone. I’m here. Okay? And there’s no rush.”
I finally dragged my eyes away from the strange creatures on the powerline and turned to look at Charlie.
“I’m serious. I can’t imagine how hard this is, Dani. I’ll wait as long as you need me to. We’ll do it when you’re ready. We can take Shadow and stay at my house tonight if you’d rather,” he said gently, running a hand from my shoulder to my hand.
I gripped his hand suddenly and knotted my fingers in Shadow’s fur, then I took the step, and then another, and Charlie closed and locked the door behind us.
It’s funny how such a tiny thing can change absolutely nothing and everything all at the same time. I was home, but it wasn’t really home. It was just a house I used to live in with my mother, a tomb for all my memories of her. Nothing about it was warm anymore, and I wondered if I would ever feel warm again.
“It’ll get better, Dani. I know it doesn’t feel like it right now, but I promise it will.”
Shadow barked once, and I heard a car turn off and two doors open then slam closed. Charlie peeked out the window, then he nodded to me. “The police are here,” he said. A moment later, a knock sounded on the front door, and Charlie unlocked it, swinging it open, but Shadow stayed right by my side rather than running to the door like he normally would have.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Keene,” the taller detective said. He wore a smoky brown suit with a white shirt and a striped tie. His hair was graying at his temples, and his voice betrayed a long-time smoking habit, but his eyes were warm and sharp. His partner was not much taller than me, wearing a gray suit and a stony expression. “Detectives Lusk and Randall. We met at the hospital.”
“Yes, of course. I remember you. We just weren’t expecting you so soon. Sorry, we just got here. Please, come in.” The two detectives walked in, and Charlie closed the door behind them. Then he took my hand and escorted us all into the den, guiding me to the couch to sit. Shadow growled low at the two men as they entered the den, and they eyed him warily.
“He won’t bite. He’s just a little anxious right now.”
“Well, that’s to be expected after what you’ve all been through. Hello, Ms. Shade. I’m Detective Lusk, and this is my partner, Detective Randall. It’s nice to see you awake, safe and sound. How are you feeling?”
“As well as can be expected, I suppose.”
“Yes, of course. I’m very sorry for your loss, and sorry to disturb you so soon upon your arrival, but you’re the only actual witness to the accident. Exactly what happened isn’t clear, and since no one else saw anything, we’re hoping you might be able to recall something that will help us find the person or persons responsible.”
“I honestly don’t know how much I can help. The doctor said my memory might come back slowly, or in pieces, or possibly not at all. It’s fragmented, you know… broken. But from what I do remember, I don’t think it was an accident.”
“You mean you believe the driver struck your mother on purpose?”
“No. I mean, there was no car.”
The two officers exchanged an odd look, communicating something. I caught a very slight roll of Randall’s eyes before he trained his expression, but it was there, and Lusk looked suddenly more interested in my story.
“Go ahead, Ms. Shade. Just tell us what you do remember.”
“Well, we were walking through the alleyway between two shops, Mom and me. We were headed to the garage, and there was this guy that walked into the alley behind us. He was giving off this super creepy vibe, so Mom grabbed my arm, and started booking it toward the end of the alley—”
“Do you remember what this guy looked like?” Randall cut in. “What he was wearing? How tall he was? We could have another witness.”
“No, he wasn’t a witness, Detective. He was one of the guys that attacked us.”
“Attacked you?” asked Randall. “Ms. Shade, your mother’s injuries are consistent with being struck by a fast-moving vehicle. People cannot replicate that kind of power.”
“That’s not entirely true, these days, Randall.”
“So now there are supe stalkers? Attacking random citizens in alleyways just for kicks?”
“Listen, I know what I remember,” I ground out. “And when the rest of it comes back, I’ll be happy to share more, but I do know there was no car in sight at any point in time.”
“Of course, Ms. Shade. We apologize if we’ve upset you,” Lusk jumped in. “Please, continue.”
“I remember the creepy guy coming into the alley behind us and then two more guys coming toward us from the other end of the alley. They were all in black clothing. They came right at us, surrounded us. Mom put herself between me and the guys, and then I don’t remember anything else after that. Except flashes of screaming and blood. And wings.”
“Wings?”
“Yeah, I think there were birds in the alley.”
Detective Lusk nodded and noted something on his notepad. “Anything else, Ms. Shade? Anything at all?”
I shook my head at Lusk, but Charlie corrected me. “What about the people watching the house, Dani? It could be related to whatever happened. They need to know.”
“I’m sorry, people watching this house?” Lusk questioned, and Charlie and I both nodded.
“Yeah, sorry. With everything else, I kind of forgot... The morning before our trip, I was about to go running in the park behind the house, and Shadow went nuts when I tried to open the door, and when I looked outside, a guy in all black and a hoodie jumped out of the bushes and took off through the woods. Charlie drove me home that evening, and when we got here, Shadow was going crazy again. Charlie and Shadow checked out the house, and we locked ourselves in. Charlie went to the kitchen window to look out back, then took off outside like a dumbass. He chased one guy down and tackled him, but a second person hit him from behind, and the two took off together through the woods. There’s a police report with the local department.”
“What about what Kim said?” Charlie reminded me.
“Oh, yeah. Our mail carrier told me that Shadow’s been barking like crazy lately, and he’s not a barker, so I wondered if it might be related.”
“So, there’s evidence someone has been stalking you, then? They haven’t shown any violence, or tried to make contact that you know of, but it definitely needs to be included in the file. It’s possible it could be related, so we need to be kept in the loop if anything else happens. I’ll leave my cell number. If anything happens and the locals can’t or won’t help, you call me, and I’ll get people here.” Detective Randall reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet, extracting one card and handing it to me as Lusk watched me, dubious at best.
“So,” Randall began, “you believe you were being stalked by men who then followed you to the city, surrounded you, attacked your mother, and left you unharmed? Is there anything else you can tell us about these men? The incident? Did you see them get out of a car, or a car pulling away after perhaps? The mind has a way of distorting things when you’ve been through a trauma. Perhaps the events are just out of order, missing some pieces.”
Lusk dropped his head in barely contained frustration. I could tell there was discord between the two, and even though they were trying to hide it, it was clear that Lusk didn’t approve of his partner’s biases, whatever those might be. It was also clear Randall didn’t believe a word I said. He’d dismissed me before they even walked in the door. I just didn’t get why, but I wasn’t in the mood.
“I don’t think so, Detective Randall. Now, if there’s nothing else I can do for you gentlemen”—I glared pointedly at Randall—“I think it’s time for you to go.”
The front door blew open, slamming into the wall behind it, and everyone turned to stare. The officers both had their hands under their jackets, so whatever disinterest Randall showed outwardly, he was less of a disbeliever than he seemed. They both turned back t
o look at me, and I shrugged.
“It’s been a bit windy today. I guess it wasn’t latched all the way.”
They exchanged an odd look between them, and I could feel Charlie’s eyes boring into my back as I stood. I turned to look over my shoulder, and Charlie met my eyes, quickly pasting his normal ‘nothing to see here’ mask on his face. It was the first time since we’d gotten together that I’d seen him hide something.
“Of course, Ms. Shade,” Lusk began. “You must be tired and ready to settle in. If you remember anything else.”
I shoved the card he’d given me into the pocket of my jeans. “I’ll call if I remember anything else, Detective. Thank you.”
Lusk nodded once to me, then he nodded to Randall and they turned and walked to the door. Charlie followed them, closing and locking the door behind them. He went to the hallway again, and I heard beeping as, I assumed, he set the alarm. I heard a phone ring from the bags near the door and stood to go fish my phone out of my purse, but it wasn’t mine.
It was Mom’s.
Whoever it was obviously didn’t know, which meant I was going to have to inform them. I stared at the tiny rectangle in my hand through three rings before I felt Charlie take it from me. It happened right in front of my face, but I didn’t really see it.
“It’s okay. I’ll do it.” I heard a beep as he answered the phone. “Hello? … No, I’m sorry. Who is this? … Ah, well, I’m very sorry to inform you that Belladonna Shade passed away four days ago.”
It was like a knife in my gut, hearing it aloud like that, just an announcement, sharing information.
“Yes, ma’am. Danielle is fine. She was kept for observation at the hospital and released today with no injuries. The current theory is that Bella was hit by a car, but there’s evidence they may have been attacked. The police are looking into it.” Charlie listened quietly for a moment, then continued, “Thank you, ma’am. I’ll let her know, and she’ll be in contact as soon she can.”
There was another beep as Charlie hung up the phone and slipped it back inside my mom’s purse. He took my elbows and helped me stand, and then he guided me back to the couch, sitting down next to me.
“So, that was a Ms. Powers, your mom’s attorney. They had an arrangement where she checked in every week and if she didn’t, Ms. Powers was supposed to call and verify, then get ahold of you. She’s texting her info to your phone and has asked that we call her as soon as you’re ready. Your mom apparently had a life insurance policy, and it covers a lot, according to her attorney. She said to contact her before we make any arrangements. Your mom made provisions for that as well, so the attorney’s going to start making arrangements for you based on her requests in the meantime.”
I nodded again, and Charlie watched me silently for a moment before asking, “What can I do, Dani?”
I stared at him, trying to come up with an answer, but based on the look on his face, I’d say he didn’t really expect an answer. Finally, I shook my head, and Charlie nodded.
“Yeah, I figured. But you should eat. You refused food at the hospital, but I’m not taking no for an answer. You haven’t had anything but an IV since the accident. You need food. What do you want to do? Do you want to go upstairs and take a nap while I make us something to eat?”
I looked at the stairs and memories of my mom traipsing up there and invading my room assaulted me. I saw my mom bursting into the bathroom and rescuing me with a syringe just before we’d left, heard her stomp up the stairs to talk to me when she got home from work after every night she worked. Then I clung to the memory of our conversation in the bathroom, when she’d finally talked to me about my dad and about Charlie. There were too many fresh and painful memories up there. It wasn’t better down here, really, but I was already here. It took less effort to stay than to overcome my flashbacks and make it upstairs.
Charlie must have seen it on my face, something at least, because he chimed in suddenly, “Or maybe you could just rest down here? Shadow can sleep by the sofa with you, and I’ll make lunch as quietly as humanly possible, okay?”
I nodded again. “Thanks, Charlie.” My voice was weak and quiet. I was still a bit hoarse from disuse and all the crying. Charlie smiled in return, then cupped my face and kissed my temple gently. As he pulled away and began to stand, I grabbed him and pulled him to me, kissing him deeply and holding him tightly. I felt this sudden need to make sure he knew how I felt about him. How important he was to me, and how happy my mom had been that I had him.
Charlie kissed me back, but didn’t push, delicately brushing my hair back from my face before pulling away. he leaned back in, punctuating my abrupt declaration with a sweet single pec on the lips, then he smiled and stood. Placing a pillow at the arm of the chair for my head, he grabbed the blanket off the back of the couch. I laid down, and Charlie covered me up, then he headed to the kitchen. I heard the faint sounds of food preparation for a few moments before I drifted off.
16
Dani
I slept for the next twelve hours, waking in the middle of the night to find Charlie asleep under a spare throw in the chair across from me and Shadow asleep on the floor beside me. I went to the bathroom, then wandered into the kitchen, finding the paninis Charlie had made for the lunch we hadn’t eaten. I popped the plate in the microwave and heated them up a bit, and once I’d taken the first bite, I couldn’t stop. I was a lot hungrier than I’d realized.
Charlie stepped into the doorway in sweats and a t-shirt, catching me with my mouth too full to close properly, and smiled. I held his sandwich out to him as a peace offering, and he walked over and took it, leaning against the counter next to me silently and biting into his own sandwich. He made a dramatic face as he tasted his own handiwork, and I smiled. Then we ate in companionable silence.
When we were finished, we cleaned the dishes, Charlie taking them from me to dry as I finished washing, and as I turned to him, he reached up and wiped something from my lip with his thumb. He smiled and finished drying the plate, placing it on the mat on the counter as he took my hand and led me back to the den. I stopped short as he headed for the couch and Charlie looked at me quizzically, then I nodded in the direction of the stairs. His Adam’s apple bobbed, but he said nothing as I turned and headed up the stairs. I patted my leg, and Shadow stood and shook, then he followed Charlie and me upstairs.
I led him to my room and to the bed, slipped off my jeans and pulled my bra off under my shirt, and then we climbed into bed. Charlie covered us up, and I snuggled in close, laying my head on his chest. We’d managed to get through an entire meal without either talking about it or Charlie looking at me like I was broken. I knew he didn’t mean it, but that didn’t make it any easier to take. I rolled away from him, and he curled around me, spooning me without a word while I wept silently for several hours before eventually drifting off to sleep. As unconsciousness finally claimed me, I wondered if I would ever feel anything but pain and sadness and darkness again.
When I woke in the morning, Charlie was still curled around me, and for a blissful minute, all I could think about was the feel of him behind me. It was morning, and while he was still sleeping, part of him was wide awake. I pushed my hips back into him, and he pressed forward, rubbing against me as Shadow politely took his leave, slipping off the bed and out of the room. Warm lips brushed across my shoulder, and I felt the chill of the early morning air in their wake. Smooth hands slid up my abdomen to my breasts and with nothing in their way this time, he cupped one breast, grazing my nipple and sending a jolt of pleasure through me. This wasn’t sad. This wasn’t painful. It was warmth and pleasure and fire, and I wanted him.
I gripped the hand now cupping my breast and held it there, turning my head over my shoulder to meet his lips, and he answered enthusiastically. Charlie pulled me toward him, turning me to face him, and I looped one leg over his hip, reaching between us to stroke his growing length. I slipped my hand in the waistband of his pants and slid it down, grasping his full, throbb
ing length as Charlie groaned against my mouth. His eyes shot open, and I knew he was truly awake now. They slid from my face down my body to what he could see of my arm disappearing into his sweats and back up to meet my eyes. Then he lunged at me, devouring my lips like nothing in this world meant more to him than this moment, like nothing else existed.
I released him long enough to grab the hem of his shirt and pull it over his head. As I tried to slip my hand back into his shorts, he stopped me. I panicked for a moment, fearful he would stop, but he rolled over on top of me so that he was poised between my legs. Charlie grabbed the hem of my shirt instead, and we locked eyes. No longer than a breath, it felt like we held there forever, but finally satisfied he had my permission, he pushed the fabric slowly up my abdomen then up over my chest, and I relished the way his throat flexed as he swallowed. He gathered the fabric and pushed it up along my arms and over my head, discarding it on the floor beside the bed, but he never took his eyes from mine.
And then the doorbell rang.
Damnit. First thing tomorrow, I was having that damn thing disconnected. Maybe later today. Maybe I’d just go rip it out of the wall now. It sounded again and Shadow barked once.
Charlie smiled against my lips, then pulled back to look at me.
“Guess we have to re-enter the real world early this morning.”
“Not that early. We slept in. It’s almost noon. But we could still ignore whoever it is. They’ll come back if it’s important.” I gave him a squeeze for good measure and ran my hand down the length of him.
“Jesus, you have to stop that, or I swear I’m never getting out of this bed again.”
“We could be quick,” I teased, still volleying for ignoring whoever was trying to make me face the world today.
Charlie just groaned and kissed me deeply, then pulled back to look into my eyes. “Dani, when I finally have you, I can promise you that there will be nothing quick about it.” Then he leaned in and whispered in my ear, “I will torture you for days.” I felt him throb in my hand as he made his threat, and it drew a guttural sound from my throat that I didn’t even recognize as my own.
Dark Prelude Page 10
