If I had trusted my instincts, none of this would be happening. And the lion’s den it would be.
Chapter Six
The light’s had been dimmed down so low that all that was left were shadows upon shadows, and all I could hear was my feet hitting the marbled floor. I looked at the rounded booths in the corner wondering how comfortable they would be to sleep on. I just wanted somewhere to curl up and fall apart, but I wouldn’t, at least not until I had a moment alone.
“What’s your name?” I asked.
“Caden.”
“I meant your full name. I figure if you know everything about me I should at least know your full name.”
“It’s Acair. And I don’t know everything, not yet anyway.”
That wasn’t very comforting, and my brain searched again for an alternative solution to staying here. I couldn’t call Amanda, she might be near them, and who knew what they would ask Mark. Maybe Gilly? On the other hand, I could go stay with my brother out of town.
“I wouldn’t involve anyone in this,” he broke through my concentration with his warning. He said it as if he had been reading my mind. “It won’t end well for them. These men don’t value life.”
“Who says I was going to?” I lied. I followed him deeper into the bar, leading me to who knows where.
“Uh huh.”
I’ve always hated the uh huh, especially when they were right. It got under my skin. “Are you going to tell me what is going on? Who you are? Who Carl is?”
He didn’t answer. He just kept walking, and I kept following him, mostly because I was just too scared to do anything else. Scared to leave, scared to stay. When he started walking into the back room, off the kitchen area, and started down a flight of stairs I froze. It felt like I was at a cross roads and the street signs read “Bad,” and “Worse.” Either way, I couldn’t force my legs to move another step. I just stood there rooted to my spot firmer than the old oak at my favorite park.
He quickly sensed me not behind him, and his large frame stopped. He turned, and with a prolonged sigh said, “Look, who we are is a long story that you’re not ready to know. And I’m not going to say it’s going to be okay. It might not be. What I can say is that for now, you’ll be safe here.”
We stood about four feet apart and stared at each other with the tension thick between us. We both waited to see what I would do, and I had about as much idea as he did.
“Why do you want me here?” I wasn’t sure if I meant it as an accusation or a question, but I needed to know before I went down into what looked like a basement with him. Something about basements made everything creepy. Too many horror movies I’m sure, but everyone gets killed in the basement to my knowledge.
“I don’t like them, and they want you. So it’s in my interest to keep you out of their hands.”
It was a simple, matter of fact answer, which explained nothing and everything, and in some crazy way made me feel better about his motives. The enemy of my enemy is my friend and all that. I’ve never had to think tactically before so I wasn’t sure if this situation pertained, but it was the only quasi advice I could think of.
“You keep saying they? Who are they?”
“Carl is not alone. If he is interested, they are all going to be interested.”
That also answered nothing for me, but I followed him into the basement anyway. That old oak tree at the park I loved was taken out by a hurricane last year. Maybe being rooted to one spot is overrated.
I was about to keep questioning him just as I noticed, in between shelves of jarred olives and a hamper of bar towels, there was a set of gleaming stainless steel elevator doors. It looked way too modern for the prewar building and completely out of place. He put his finger to a small green square on the wall next to the doors, and they silently glided open.
“After you,” he stepped to the side and motioned me in.
“I think I’ll just crash on a booth upstairs,” I said as I took a step back.
He looked at me and shook his head no. “It’s not as safe upstairs.”
He seemed to be losing patience with the reassuring role quickly, not that he had been much better in the alleyway. Only the fact that he truly didn’t seem to want me here, made me feel safe going with him. I didn’t really feel like he would put up much of a fight if I tried to leave. He might even be glad.
“I’m going home tomorrow,” I said this in a matter of fact way, with a do not try to keep me here attitude, as I walked past him into the elevator. It was a bit ridiculous, and totally unbelievable considering he’d just saved me less than an hour ago, but it was all I had to hold my tattered pride together.
I watched the doors close, and I felt my stomach flip-flop as we quickly plummeted. The elevator buttons had symbols instead of numbers, so I couldn’t gauge how far under we were going, but we stopped fairly quick.
The doors opened, and I followed him into an apartment that could have been in a Better Homes and Gardens magazine. Well, minus the lack of windows that is. The furniture in the main living area was supple looking deep chocolate brown leather. The floors were a gleaming hardwood with beautiful wool area rugs. It was a huge space with high ceilings that you wouldn’t have expected. The dining set looked like carved mahogany and an open kitchen with matching mahogany cabinets. Everything was warm and inviting, the exact opposite of what he gave off.
He moved gracefully for a man of his size, as he headed to the wet bar set in the wall of the living room. He poured an inch of golden liquid into a beautiful cut crystal glass and held it out to me.
“No, thanks,” I replied and watched him toss it back in one swig.
“I’m guessing you’re pretty tired. I’ll just show you to the spare room.”
In other words, I don’t want to spend any more time with you. I got the hint, not that I cared. I was exhausted, it had to be at least three a.m. by now, and I wasn’t in the mood for fake pleasantries anymore than he was.
The room he showed me to was much better than the booth I had been expecting. Same hardwood floors and a large high bed was made up with a white down comforter and lots of white fluffy pillows that looked more than inviting right now. There was a simple but elegant wood dresser and nightstand.
“There’s a private bathroom through that door, and it has whatever you might need in the medicine cabinet. I’ll get you a t-shirt to sleep in. Do you want shorts or sweatpants?”
“Whatever you’ve got is fine. Thanks.”
“I don’t have anything small though, just my stuff.”
I was kicking off my heels as he was talking. It felt like such sweet relief to have them off. My feet felt swollen to twice their natural size, and I wasn’t sure I would even be able to get them back on. What a bad night to break in new heels.
“You’re shorter than I realized. How tall are you? Are you even over five feet?”
“Five foot, one inch.” He didn’t have to have such an odd look on his face. Lots of women are short. He was looking at me like I had a deformity.
“You’re really quite short.” He was picking up and examining one of my discarded shoes as he said this. The pants I had on covered a good portion of the heel. I guess he had not realized how much of me had been artificial height.
The way he was staring at me now might have been slightly insulting, but I just didn’t even care. I just wanted him gone. I was beyond the point of exhaustion and my emotions were raw. I’d stay for the night and decide what to do and where to go in the morning, but right now I just wanted, no needed, to be alone.
“I’m really beat. Would you mind getting me those clothes?” Okay, that might have been bordering on rude, but his manners weren’t exactly up to par either. If he thought a little poorly of me, it didn’t matter. After tomorrow, I had no plan on seeing him ever again.
“Be right back,” he was short and curt, much better.
He returned in less than a minute, handed me a shirt and a huge pair of sweat pants, and left. I put on the s
oft t-shirt and sweats. I was drowning in them, but wow were they soft. I wondered who did his laundry. He didn’t look like the type that did it for himself.
The bathroom was stocked, just like he said it would be. Fluffy white towels sat folded in the corner, and I was standing on what felt like a real sheepskin rug, identical to the ones scattered in the bedroom. Yearning for some normality to the night, I washed my face, and brushed my teeth, and did my nightly routine as if I were home. Thinking on it, the night had been odd and ugly but not earth shattering. Just a case of wrong place, wrong time was all. Tomorrow was Saturday, and I would pick up like nothing had happened. The more I thought about it, the crazier it all seemed. Carl was a pushy pig, and Caden was just a paranoid nut. The police dispatcher was probably just overworked and having an off night. Maybe I was building this up in my head and letting some crazy man make me think some big conspiracy was happening, when he was really just delusional.
I crawled on top of the super soft pillow top bed and laid there with my eyes open, fighting leftover adrenaline for about an hour, before the exhaustion finally overtook me.
Chapter Seven
I got up at six. The exhaustion didn’t seem to have too much pull when it came up against the anxiety of being in a strange place. Besides being tired, I was pissed off that I wasn’t home. Why in the world would I take a total strangers opinion of what I should do? Yes, the stranger was a very hot male, but when had I become that girl?
I dug out my cell phone to call for a cab, and of course, the battery was dead. I was going to have to go find either his phone or a pay phone, if they even existed anymore. I hadn’t used one in years, and I couldn’t remember the last time I’d even seen one.
Putting on my dirty clothes from last night was definitely a new low for the morning. I wasn’t going to take his clothes, so there was nothing else to do but get going and get home. I swear, I must have been a little drunk last night. Thinking back to last evening’s events now, the whole thing seemed surreal in the clear mindedness of the morning.
I heard someone, most likely him, moving around as I walked down the bare hall. I noticed there wasn’t a single picture in his apartment. It could have been a personal preference, but I found it odd, even odder than living underground. Didn’t he have family or friends beyond this place?
When I rounded the corner, I saw him standing at the counter drinking coffee. He was wearing only sweat pants slung low on his hips. He turned and nodded his head toward me in acknowledgement. I felt my breathe quicken at the sight of his tanned muscled body. He had to work out every day, or close to it, to stay in that type of shape. Why did he have to be so attractive? Why couldn’t he have been ugly with bad skin and teeth I thought as I ran a hand through my dark wavy hair trying to calm it’s crazy mass.
“Do you have a phone I could use? My cell died,” I asked holding up my phone as if I needed proof.
“It’s over there, on the side table. Who do you need to call?”
“It’s local.”
“I wasn’t worried about the charge.”
“If you must know, I’m calling a cab.”
“Where do you need to go?”
“Why do you need to know?” My irritation was bubbling over at this point. What was with this guy? “Forget it. I don’t need your phone.” I walked over to the elevator door. It had another one of those scanners. I put my finger to it, and of course, the doors wouldn’t open.
“Can you please let me out?” I asked. Please didn’t match the curtness of my tone. I’d had it with him and this place. I no longer cared how attractive he was. He was crazy, and I wanted out of there five minutes ago. I was going to go home and get back to normal. My spine stiffened, and I glared at him with a look that said silently, “Hurry up and open this elevator before I lose it.”
Disregarding my obvious displeasure, he sauntered over at his own leisurely pace, while I stood fuming. He stopped and stood in front of me, just a hair too close for comfort, in all his masculine glory. I turned, with my back to the wall, to watch him, and he leaned an arm on either side of me, effectively caging me in the spot.
“You don’t get it. You can’t go home and be safe now.”
His eyes were intense, and I self-consciously licked my bottom lip. Panicking, I slid downward and slipped out from between the wall and him. He didn’t try to stop me, but he didn’t move out of the way either.
“I can…”
He interrupted me before I could finish my tirade of what I could do.
“I’m not going to force you to stay here, but you need to know this isn’t over. They are going to come for you.” He pressed his finger against the green scanner and activated the elevator. I got in before he could change his mind. He followed close behind and pressed one of the many buttons with the funny symbols.
“What would make them come after me? I didn’t even go to the police. Well, technically, they didn’t come to me, but it was the same outcome.” He was really just crazy I kept telling myself. Really hot, but really crazy.
“You have something they want. I can find a safe place for you to stay with associates of mine that owe me some favors, if you would prefer.”
“Why would they continue this? I have nothing. I don’t even own my apartment!”
He looked like he wanted to keep going but didn’t bother. He turned away from me and just shook his head, as if I was the one being difficult, and he was right. Let him think whatever he wanted. I was just happy I was almost out of there. I saw his guy once we got to the main level and gave him a passing wave goodbye as I headed toward the front door. No need to be rude to everyone, I figured. Rude really didn’t sit well with me anyway. It was the situation getting the best of me. Later on tomorrow, I’d be mortified at how I was acting.
I couldn’t wait to call my family. My brother Ted and his wife would be totally freaked out. I’d have to tone down what actually happened, or I knew they would be driving out to get me. My parents were best off not even hearing anything about it. They hated me alone in the city. They just couldn’t understand that I had to be here for work, and that a small town in Pennsylvania just didn’t have the same opportunities. I needed to be here to get a good paying position and better opportunities.
Caden and I parted at the door. I couldn’t read his face at all. I had no idea if he was glad to be rid of me, or agitated. If he was agitated, I didn’t care. Join the club buddy, I was agitated too. Luckily, there was a cab passing as I walked out that I was able to wave down. I felt his eyes on my back as I got in to the less than clean sedan. I was parked about eight blocks away, but my feet were sore, and why tempt fate? I wanted to get away from this place as quickly as possible.
The cabby drove me fifteen blocks to get me eight blocks away, but it was well worth it. He could happily have the extra ill-gotten fare. I had never been so relieved to see my bright yellow Mini Cooper as I was today. Back to normal life for me. I was going to take a nice long shower and then work on my resume. I had my eye on a full time botanist position, and I wanted my resume to sparkle. I’d pop a classic in the DVD player for some background and make myself a latte with my mini espresso machine. I even had a shot of vanilla syrup left. My day was looking pretty good by my standards. It was going to be nice, calm, and productive.
I even got a great spot outside my building which never happens. I lived on the third floor of a renovated warehouse with no elevator, but stairs never bothered me. Everything was still peacefully quiet. Even the early risers must have been sleeping an hour or two extra on this cold winter day.
I shut my door, locked the dead bolt and did the chain. I figured it couldn’t hurt. It was an old steel door about three inches thick. My place could be a bit cold and drafty, but I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. The huge paned windows lining the southern wall and the high ceilings gave it a great open feeling. I had plush area rugs and oversized furniture that ate you up when you sat, making it cozy and comfortable.
I could
grow almost anything imaginable with those windows. It didn’t hurt that a green thumb ran in my family. My beautiful assortment of plants just loved them.
It had been hard for me when I had first moved to the city. Coming from my rural hometown, I was used to having green all around me. My window jungle made this place home as much as anything else in here. It was my oasis. I liked to sit at my desk and look at the blue sky surrounded by my African Violets and Orchids.
I hopped in the shower with the water temperature almost too hot. It gave me that weird almost shivering feeling, but it felt so good after the day I just had. I lathered up my long dark hair and just enjoyed the feeling of being clean and home in my own shower.
“Hello sweetie. Aren’t you a nice piece of ass. We are going to have a real good time with you.”
My heart jumped into my throat and then started beating like it was going to explode from my chest. I looked at the man standing next to my shower and pulling back the curtain. It wasn’t Carl. Carl looked like a dream compared to this man. This guy’s face was heavy set with jowls, drooping eyelids, and a boxer’s nose that had seen too many fights. I grabbed the only weapon I had, the showerhead, and I swung at him, trying to throw all my weight behind it. It didn’t work, and he grabbed me by my upper arms. Just what I needed, more bruises on my arms. I was going to be a real mess if I ever got out of this. He dragged me out of the shower and was going to do god knows what, when he fell backward taking me with him. He was out cold, and I didn’t even know what happened.
I fell naked, having landed on top of the oaf, soaking wet with soap still in my hair. I lifted my head and saw a pair of black boots in front of me and a towel dangling in front of them.
I arched my neck back and continued my gaze all the way up tall thickly muscled legs, over a knit wool sweater with a well-formed chest, to see Caden’s intense eyes staring down at me. Or to be more accurate, certain parts of me. I quickly reached and grabbed the towel from his fingertips and wrapped myself in it.
Obsidian Souls (Soul Series) Page 3
