The phone still rang against my ear while I watched as Jonathon let himself in. I was sent to his voicemail just as my door clicked shut. His soft, mechanical voice against my ear pounded at my shock. I slowly sat the phone on the night stand, never taking my eyes off my silent guest. He was dressed unlike himself in loose fitting jeans that still seemed to hug all the right places and a white t-shirt that left just enough room to glide my hands up his chest and explore every inch.
"I thought I told you an hour." His anger filled eyes roamed my half naked body. I felt my nipples respond to his angry lust. My dream of him smacked me with its full force. He kept his eyes locked on me even as he gave me a wide berth, edging around the room. He came to a stop at my bag, kindly depositing my key card back into the side pocket. Even though his path was the farthest from direct he had still wound up not two feet from me. If I didn't know any better I would think he was scared. His hair pulled back into a silver clip was the only thing that remained in perfect form. His rich lips pressed together into a thin line as he waited for an answer to a question that I had almost forgotten.
"How did you find me?" Evading worked as I thought of anything but the unwanted lust that Jonathon brought out in me. His dry laugh helped extinguish those flames even faster.
"When your hour was up I went to you." His words were matter-of-fact like he didn't see the major creep factor in them.
"What do you mean you came to me?" Anger and panic latched on to each word as they flew out carrying me along for the ride. I came to a stop directly in front of him. How this man could make me so angry and horny at the same time was beyond me.
I craned my neck to be able to look into his face. The need in that face had grown and with it his anger. I forced myself back coming to rest on the corner of the bed. I had begun to shake from the sudden burst of adrenaline that accompanied the outburst.
"Your cell phone has a tracker and when you didn't call I used it to find you." His fucking nonchalance was grinding on my nerves.
I could only stare at him as all my feelings grew cold. Here I was thinking Sebastian was the stalker I should worry about when in fact my own boss was the one I needed to watch out for. The cell phone that sat on the side table now felt like a bomb that would go off at any point. I reached over and with all the force I could muster threw it across the room. It tumbled across the plush carpet as the back and battery took off in their own directions. Nausea built up inside of me as Richland's words came back in full force, Jonathon cannot help you. He didn't realize I never needed to call him in the first place.
"If it is any consolation the tracker was never active till last night." I knew he meant his words to be soothing and I could hear the truth in them but it was too late to slap a bandage on the damage his actions had already caused. He stepped even closer to me but I put my hand up to stop his advances. I couldn't do this now.
"Just tell me what happened and then go." My voice was filled with sadness and Jonathon winced at the recognized tone. I glared at the cell phone that I would no longer use blinking back tears that had welled behind my eyes. If I wanted another one I would buy my own and damn Jonathon and his dislike of leaving messages.
"I found you and brought you here," he answered without actually answering anything. My memories after Richland's confession consisted only of my dream, nothing of Jonathon, or how I got here. Pieces of my life were being stolen from me and I needed to figure out how to get them back.
"And Richland?" I prompted. Somehow I didn't think that Richland would so easily hand me over to Jonathon; especially if he believed me to be his sister. Anger raged through Jonathon's features but left as quickly as they came. He was trying to control whatever animosity he had towards Sebastian and his employee.
"Don't worry about Richland. He and his car are right back where they should be." The venom that still laced his tone caused a slight pang of guilt at being the reason they had to cross paths in the first place.
"Where would that be?"
He shut his eyes and took in a deep shuttering breath and exhaled with a soft growl. "Far from you." His eyes flashed open causing me to jump from what I saw within them.
"How did you get his car to start?"
He clenched and unclenched his fist and turned towards the mini fridge. I think he was through with the Q&A session.
"Have you eaten?" The answer was yet again no, but my anger wouldn't let me answer.
When he opened the fridge the silverware that Sebastian had sent with the desert fell out onto the floor. I heard him say something under his breath than immediately all the air in the room felt like it was being sucked out far more quickly than it was able to get in. I began to cough and gag from my body’s natural reaction to being deprived of necessary oxygen. Everything around me began to fade in and out. Not again, I chanted in my head.
"What’s happening?” I managed to choke out.
As if a switch flipped, all the oxygen began to flood back into the room filling my lungs soothing my coughing fits. I put my head between my knees sucking in great gulps of oxygen. When the world around me had finally ceased its spinning I opened my eyes. I was staring down at men’s leather shoes that were attached to the feet that brought them here. I knew if I lifted my head Jonathon would be there. I took in another soothing breath and without conscious thought I lifted myself completely off the bed into the line of his body. We stood achingly close; so close I could feel the ridged tension encircling his frame. The only thing stopping my hands from roaming just inside his shirt was the constant reminder that this was my boss; the stalker.
Thankfully he stepped out of my personal space before I could give into that devilish voice that wanted me to take him here and now. He clutched the silverware in his hands. A low angry growl radiated through the room when he saw what I was focused on.
"Where did you get these?" His demand was full of heat but nothing like the heat that was coursing through me. I didn't know what my answer should be; the truth or a lie. I knew that something had spawned a deep hatred between Sebastian and him and without its knowledge I wasn't sure where I should go from here.
"Sebastian left them for me." The truth it would be. I had nothing to hide. I had done nothing wrong. Whatever this was had nothing to do with me I was just stuck in the crosshairs. His silence was deceiving. I knew he was raging inside. You could almost see the fury come to life within the depths of his black eyes. If I didn't know better flames lapped at his irises.
"Do you know what these are?" His calm demeanor was unnerving. I knew at any moment he would unleash something far worse than anything thus far.
"Silverware." I knew my answer was lame, but that was all I knew. I couldn't answer a question that I had no answers for. His black eyes flashed red and fear had me divert my gaze, fixating on the battery that lay against the wall.
"They are mine! They are ours!" His bellow was sure to be heard throughout the entire Inn. If he kept this up security would be at my door in no time. But I didn't care.
"I don't know what the fuck you or any of the other whack jobs in this town are talking about!" His anger had awakened my own. I was tired and hungry and sick of being left in the dark. Now on top of needing a new job I was probably going to need a new place to stay. I shook even harder now; my teeth slamming together painfully.
Maybe I would just head home to mom and dad; at least I knew they weren't bat shit crazy. During my own inner monologue Jonathon's anger had slid just as quickly into sadness and soon he stood before me deflated. He looked just as tired as I felt.
"He took you from me," he muttered more to himself than me. He covered his face with his hands and when he came back into view he was Jonathon again. The one I had met only a few days ago. He was hesitant but finally he lifted up my own hand and gently placed the silverware against my palm. I hadn't realized he'd been crying until his tear soaked hand began slowly wrapping each of my fingers, one by one, around the handles. Nothing else mattered at this point but this very
action.
All my senses narrowed down to the etchings on the handles. I knew all of Jonathon's attention was on me but I could no longer see him or the room. I wasn't anywhere but everywhere. A sea of emotions crashed into me still jumbled and still searching. My heart felt like it would burst at any moment from the assault. My eyes were momentarily blinded from everything else as my mind whirled around things beyond my reach. Chills broke out along my body as flames licked up the surface of my skin. Never in my life had I ever felt so broken but so whole. Shattered but constructed. Silent screams raged their own fight to be heard; men, women and children begged for their turn. Wet warmth began to work its way down my neck as pictures danced just under my eyelids in such rapid concession that at many points they overlapped into a blur of nothingness. Nothing made sense, but it all felt right. I didn't know what it all was—but it was truth. I felt myself sway. I was sure I was coming closer and closer to falling into an invisible abyss.
As quickly as it all had come, the voices were soothed. The fire was held at bay and silence descended blanketing my soul with bone chilling quiet. My eyes snapped open although I didn't remember closing them. I was on my knees staring into the black abyss that had threatened to consume me; no longer strong enough to suck me in. Jonathon's rough, calloused hands engulfed my face. He too was on his knees. Slowly, reluctantly his hands pulled away. Those hands that had pulled me back now left me cold on the floor. With the same intent he began prying the forgotten silverware from my grasp.
"That was never my intention," he cooed. His apology was thrust to the wayside when pain radiated from my now empty hand making its way up my arm. The silverware had left behind a bloody double impression of the design etched into the handles. It had already begun to blister and sting making the pattern unrecognizable. We both sat quietly, neither of us knowing where to go from here.
"Alexis, is everything okay in there?" The familiar voice followed a light rap on the door. Neither of us made a move to answer her call. I knew what the symbols meant but the thought wouldn't form. We both watched my hand like it would yell out the answers; me with silent wonder and Jonathon patiently waiting. He already knew but was kind enough to let me come to the answer all on my own. Linda's knock became more persistent and I knew at any moment she would let herself in; worry overriding privacy.
"Just a minute." My voice came out hoarse as I tried to delay her entry. Jonathon helped me off the floor with my clothes in hand. If it wasn't for his thoughtfulness I probably would have answered the door half clothed with a blood soaked hand. I grabbed a hand towel and wrapped it around the fresh wound. The sting of the rough cloth helped clear my head. Jonathon had rebounded much quicker than me, making himself comfortable in the desk chair. The mock pout that he wore while I redressed would have been amusing if under different circumstances. I didn't bother with shoes but answered the door instead.
"Hey Alexis, is everything okay? We've had some guests call complaining of screams coming from your room." She tried to crane her neck around my body, probably trying to catch a glimpse of the goings on within. So to ease her worries, I opened the door further and waved her in.
"Jonathon and I were just having a bit of a disagreement that’s all." I explained as I shut the door.
"Jonathon?" The confusion in her voice set me on edge even before I was able to turn back around.
"That son of a bitch!" I hissed, trying not to scream in front of Linda.
"Excuse me?" she squeaked out in horror.
"No, no not you." The room was empty, all signs of Jonathon erased. The phone sat whole and perfect on the bedside table, the mini-fridge was closed and the silverware gone. Linda was unabashedly staring at me. A range of emotions played along her lined face. I kept her in my peripheral vision as I checked to make sure he hadn't gone to the restroom. Sure enough he was gone, causing me to question my sanity even more than I had already. A warm pulse beat against my chest in time with the wound on my palm.
"You just missed him." I knew she wouldn't buy it for a second. She would have at least seen him in the hall, but what else was I supposed to do?
"Everything is fine now, I'm sorry that I worried anyone." I prayed that my words sounded truer than they felt. I doubled back to let her out, now making sure I kept my wrapped hand out of sight. Her soft wrinkled hand stopped me mid-motion.
"Are you sure?" I tensed, watching her hand come away from my cheek with a dab of red against her sun kissed skin. My blood. I knew she could read the shock written all over my face but I had no way of hiding it. I could only gawk at her hand still held out in front of me. There was nothing I could do. I couldn't explain it away. The room tilted as a sudden jolt of nausea took over my hunger pains. I rubbed my fingertips along the towel wrapped around my hand as a reminder of the insanity that was my life. I felt my head bob up and down before words would even form.
"Yes, I'm sure, Linda. Thank you for checking." I finished my motion and opened the door plastering a fake smile on my face. Each step felt mechanical as I began to mentally check out. She hesitated for a moment before letting her hand drop to her side.
Feeling increasingly disconnected, I watched her wipe my blood against the apron she always wore. With a weak smile she saw her way out and a weighted emptiness took over.
CHAPTER TWELVE
The hot water fired against the cold numbness that was slowly consuming what was left of myself before I had arrived here. But even at skin boiling hot it barely chipped at the surface. I watched the pink tinged water swirl around the drain and disappear into nothingness; the recent events fading into just another memory. The shower provided the tears that wouldn't come. Each droplet raced down my face, disappearing as quickly as they came. I made no move to block the impact. Apparently even my ability to cry needed as much help as I did. I have never been one of those people that can just roll with the punches. I wasn’t wired that way. But then again, who was I really? Every time I thought I was closer to an answer it was ripped away. I had my trusty little box that I crammed all the things that I couldn't roll with inside. Standing here in this shower thousands of miles away from the place I thought was home I could feel the box puking out every last thing that I had tried to stuff inside. The box was growing just as tired as I was.
I went through the motions of washing my hair and lathering my body with soap but none of it was really registering. I knew I had been in here awhile when the water no longer held up its assault but rather waived its icy cold flag of defeat. Reluctantly, I shut the water off and stepped into the steam filled bathroom. When my feet hit the tiled floor the world tilted once more. I could only grab the counters edge to brace myself before I met the floor head on. A flash of green and purple filled the room, taking the dizziness brought on by hunger and blood loss away. One more question to add to the pile I already had.
Why couldn't I have any cool powers like Cat Women or Wonder Women? It is a sad day when the mounting craziness didn't come as much of a surprise anymore or maybe I was just in shock and eventually this would all hit me like a ton of bricks and I would have a complete mental breakdown. I would then spend the rest of my days in the care of psychologists.
I dressed in a red sleeveless turtleneck and black pencil skirt and wrapped my hair in a tight bun. I fished the crimson lipstick out of my makeup bag. On my way out the door I slipped on a pair of ballet flats. Linda was waiting for me at the front desk. I stifled a groan as I took in her concerned face. Before I could make it passed she stopped me with a card in her hand.
"Here is a place that can help." I read the card still clutched in her hand. Reedsport Shelter for Abused Women. Great, she thought I was being abused. I made no move to accept the offered card.
"Thanks Linda, but I think you have the wrong idea." I flashed a wholehearted smile to reiterate how very true that was.
"Okay dear, but if you need anything don't hesitate, okay?" She didn't believe a word of what I had said. If I was in her shoes I probably wouldn't either bu
t she didn't pry and for that I was grateful. If she only knew how far from the truth she really was. Hell, I wish I knew how far from the truth I really was.
The evening breeze hit me full force. The sea salted air held a crisper note than the days before. Winter was moving in fast and the water's edge wasn't giving fall a fighting chance. None the less, I decided to walk with my destination already in mind. The crowds that normally filled the sidewalks showed signs of cooler temperatures as well. The fishermen were still in full force trying to make their quotas for the season. While I walked I accepted that since coming here my only form of normalcy would be observed through others.
I made it to the cafe. The smells wafting from the cafe didn't do much to stifle the hunger pains beginning to wrack my body. I headed straight to my office undeterred. Before I could make it down the hall LeAnn stepped into my path, tray of hot food in hand. Her blue eyes slid up my body holding nothing but confusion.
“I don’t know what makes you so special,” she spit out as her eyes slid up my body. The feelings behind her look gave me the creeps. I glanced up at the tray full of food debating if shoving her out of the way would be a good idea. After the night I had I really didn’t need more problems.
“I don’t either,” I replied. I had no clue what she was talking about and frankly I didn’t care. I tried to side step and scoot around her but she stepped into my path once more. Apparently she wasn’t done voicing her concerns to the management.
“Yes?” I questioned making my tone as flat as possible.
“You do realize that you didn’t make manager because of your stellar background or your work ethic, but simply due to this.” She waved her hand up and down my body like that was the reason for it all.
“I see the way Jonathon looks at you. If I had what you have I am sure he wouldn’t have turned down my request for the position,” she continued as I tried and failed to process her sudden jealousy. So far she hadn’t even seemed to care about her new boss but here she was acting as though I was shit she had stepped in along the way.
Aconite (The Elektita Series Book 1) Page 8
