Into the Darkness

by Nora Ash

  My smile turned tight and I felt a blush threaten to creep up my neck. Great. It wasn’t that I was unaccustomed to getting hit on by elder gentlemen—something about being a curvy girl seemed to draw them in, where their younger peers tended to completely overlook me. Maybe it was a leftover from times where food had to stretch for longer, and a chubby woman was easier to keep fed.

  “Thanks, but I’m headed straight home after. Can’t keep the boyfriend waiting.” Yes, the “fake boyfriend” story. I was the only girl I knew of who frequently had to use that trick on pensioners. I shuffled closer to the wall and shot a desperate look at the display letting us know what floor we’d reached.

  “What a pity,” he said, offering me another smile. “Do come by if you change your mind.” Then the elevator pinged, announcing that we’d reached the third floor, and I heaved an inaudible sigh of relief. It’s not that I feared the old guy would force himself on me or anything—and if he did, I’d probably be able to outrun him even with my poor shape—but at age 26 I was still terrible at dealing with any sort of male interest. Probably because it was so scarce.

  Perhaps I should just be thankful that this guy at least wasn’t evil incarnate.

  When the elevator door closed behind him I pulled my wandering thoughts together before they could once again stray to last night and all the things I really didn’t need to think about right before an interview. I was somewhat successful, and when I finally knocked on Aaron’s door, my focus was once again on the task at hand.

  I could hear movement on the other side, and then the rattling of the chain before someone finally opened the door a few inches.

  “What do you want?”

  I frowned at his hostile tone. “Aaron? I just wanna talk. About Peter.”

  “I don’t know anything about him. You need to leave.” He started to close the door again, but I jammed my hand against it and stopped him.

  * * *

  CONTINUE READING

  Also by Nora Ash

  ANCIENT BLOOD SERIES

  Origin

  Wicked Soul

  Debt of Bones*

  * * *

  DARKNESS SERIES

  Into the Darkness

  Hidden in Darkness

  Shades of Darkness

  Fires in the Darkness

  * * *

  DEMON’S MARK SERIES

  Branded

  Demon’s Mark

  * * *

  FERAL SERIES

  Obsession

  Despair

  Torment

  * * *

  ALPHA SERIES

  Taken

  Masquerade

  Mated

  * * *

  MADE & BROKEN SERIES

  Dangerous

  Monster

  Trouble