She’d gone old-school using the paper map Ivan had left for her in the motel room’s hidey-hole. She’d understood he’d wanted to keep her off the grid as her phone GPS was all too likely to have been hacked.
Now, the closer she got to the little town, the more relieved she felt.
Dark Moon Falls represented security and safety for her. She hoped it would also provide that security and safety.
She crossed her fingers even as she tightened her grip on the wheel. She could feel the fire simmering inside her and knew she had to keep control, simmer herself down. She forced herself to take long deep breaths, in through the mouth, out through the nose, until the roiling waves in her stomach lessened enough for her to sit back a little and relax.
As the road snaked this way and that, sunlight managed to find its way between the trees and into the car, bathing the skin on her fingers and arms and her face, giving her a comforting warmth, even if temporarily. Leira soaked up both the rays and the picturesque view around her as she drove.
Majestic green trees covered the mountains on either side of her and every so often the road curved giving an enormous ancient boulder a respectful berth. The mountains stretched out for miles in front of her and as she drove, she began to feel like a massive weight was gradually lifting off her shoulders.
She was going to take that as a good sign and not second guess it no matter what. Surrounded by nature in the middle of nowhere with a security specialist to look after her? This couldn’t be a bad idea could it?
The meeting was arranged and confirmed and she would go through with it the moment she arrived in Dark Moon Falls. She was making good time, so she’d be at the meeting location at the scheduled hour.
She shuddered to think of what she may just be setting herself up for considering this was a blind meeting to the power of infinity. She’d contacted the guy on the Dark Web for Spirit’s sake. If she got abducted and sold for body parts, it would only be her own fault.
And maybe also Ivan’s.
The next thing she knew, she was entering the quaint main street of the little town, guiding her vehicle along slowly as she scanned the shopfronts for Delight’s Diner. The meeting place appeared to be innocuous enough—a diner. But one never knew.
Leira rolled her shoulders as she searched out a parking spot, feeling a pulsing of relief when she spied one up ahead. She guided the car into the empty bay and shut off the engine. The sound of the silence around her was enough to make her mind still for a moment.
She glanced at her rucksack again. The oversized hiker’s backpack would label her as a tourist for sure. Which worked for her since she’d have to take it with her wherever she went.
It held precious and infinitely dangerous cargo.
2
Ciaran
Ciaran gritted his teeth as he checked the time on his watch again, annoyed at Frankie for being late. The hacker kid had insisted Ciaran be at the diner waiting for him at a pre-arranged time, giving specific instructions to choose the table by the window—the one with the little red vase in which Delight had recently installed a single stem of a poppy flower.
Did the woman know the poppy was the source of cocaine? Ciaran frowned. Knowing her, she probably did. He couldn’t at all be sure she wouldn’t be farming the stuff in some secret location deep in the mountains. Delight was a woman of many skills, cooking being one of her best, to the point of being near-magical in the satisfaction of eating. Still, if she sprinkled a few secret ingredients into her meals, he’d be the last one to voice a complaint.
Ciaran shifted in his seat and studied the sunlight on his forearms as it warmed his olive skin. He wasn’t a fan of window seats; too open, too vulnerable. Shit, considering his career, he ought to be skulking in the shadows at the back of the diner. Something Frankie was well aware of having worked with him regularly over the years.
But now, the kid had insisted that he meet at a street-facing window seat. Frankie had been acting a little weird lately. Ciaran was beginning to think he ought to have the pack’s Beta check on him to make sure he was ok.
Rolling his shoulders, Ciaran cracked his neck and winced at the sound which trailed Delight who was strolling past, coffee pot in hand. She looked over her shoulder at him, sending him a stern look as if to say he needed to relax a little or else.
He did need to relax. But life was passing him by and he was still waiting. Perhaps it was his destiny to be one of the few of his pack members to live the rest of his life without a mate. Maybe his purpose in life was not to find his soulmate but rather to serve the pack.
A little twinge in his gut told him that he wasn’t all that fond of the idea. But he had to do what he had to do. One cannot fight destiny. And one cannot fight the hand of the Goddess herself. If her choice had been to not provide Ciaran with his soulmate then he had to accept that the Goddess knew best.
He had to make peace with that.
Besides. He’d had his heart near destroyed once already. Once was enough.
Outside the window, he spotted an old beaten up car trundle down the street and aim for an empty spot in front of the diner. The driver paused within the shadowed interior of the vehicle for a while and Ciaran sipped at the coffee Delight had poured him earlier.
The coffee was strong and hot and hit the spot, but he suddenly found himself too distracted to think about beverages. He wasn’t sure what had drawn his attention. He allowed his gaze to travel the street and the shops on the other side, scanning the people walking along the sidewalk, entering and exiting stores or simply milling around in groups.
Nothing appeared out of place, other than the strident voice of Ava as she admonished her crazy dog while the mismatched pair crossed the street in the direction of the police station.
Ciaran sat back and scanned the patrons of the diner, wondering if perhaps someone inside the place had twanged his awareness. Again, he saw mainly familiar faces, tipping his head at a few of those who met his gaze and smiled.
A handful were tourists, a family with two grumpy kids and baby near falling out of the mother’s arm. An old man hunched over a map trying to make out the tiny road markers and running a felt tip pen along a route he was planning.
Again, nothing out of the ordinary.
Ciaran shook his head.
Not only was Ciaran getting old, he was also getting paranoid. He bit back a chuckle as he lifted his head in search of Delight in order to make his order while he waited for Frankie. When had he gotten this cranky?
His career was all he had, seeing as how he was pretty much alone in the world. He’d gained entry to the Dark Moon Falls pack, thanks to a petition by (XXX). He’d owed the man so much already for simply giving him pack status and then he’d gone and also found Ciaran a home.
Ciaran’s special skills in securities and protective services had had him on some pretty exclusive payrolls internationally. He’d even done a stint or two with the US Secret Service. He’d often considered retiring but each time he’d prepared to shut down shop, something else had come up.
He’d just come back from a recent mission for Hunters and he’d been pretty satisfied with a job well done. So he wasn’t sure what was bugging him enough that he’d return to his old automatic response of quitting his career.
Delight sauntered over to him with a big smile brightening her face. “Hey, handsome. What you doing gracing my diner after all this time? You been a stranger, you know that? I’m going to have to start worrying if it’s my food that’s keeping you away.”
Ciaran grinned. “Hell, no. Your cooking isn’t capable of driving anyone away. Not if that person has taste-buds and the ability to smell the divine aromas in here.” He inhaled deeply, then let out a groan. “Okay, I’m officially hungry. Frankie is just going to have to order when he comes. Not sure what kind of torture he wants to treat me to, but it’s not decent to play with a man’s hunger.”
As he spoke, a new patron walked in—a scent he didn’t recognize so probabl
y another tourist passing through and looking for something to eat. But something about the woman drew his gaze. Maybe it was that blazing red hair that shone like a flame from across the diner as she stared around in search of something or someone.
Delight chuckled, drawing his attention back to her as she asked, “Ok, so what’ll it be?”
The redhead drew close, still scanning the diner until her gaze flitted over him. Even the briefest second of meeting her eyes sent a sizzling fire right through Ciaran, as though the flaming hair was some kind of spark that lit a flame inside him that he’d thought dead until this moment.
And then she looked back again and met his eyes then studied the poppy for a moment. When she looked at him again he saw something in her eyes, something like recognition which then settled into relief.
Oh. boy.
What exactly had Frankie gotten him into?
3
Leira
Leira entered the diner, inhaling the aromas of food and coffee, and oddly enough being consumed by something akin to relief. She made her way past a gaggle of waiting patrons all lined up to make their order and searched for the particular table her contact was meant to be occupying.
At first, she’d believed she must have been mistaken when her gaze locked with his and she’d kept going, convinced it was unlikely for him to have been her contact. He just couldn’t be the one.
Why? she asked herself. But she knew why. That strange jump of her heart-rate when she’d set eyes on him, that weird tumble her stomach had taken, the simmering of heat on the surface of her skin, all had combined to force her to deny the possibility that she was meant to be meeting this particular man.
She wasn’t sure how long she’d survive even a meeting with him let alone having him trail after her wherever she went. Men who looked like him shouldn’t be allowed to be alone with unsuspecting women. He was way too hot and she didn’t want him to be the one. How the hell would she be able to concentrate in the constant company of guy who looked hot enough to melt off the panties of every girl in the diner?
She ignored him and kept looking.
Almost all the tables in the diner were decorated with their own little vase and a poppy on a long stem, but there was only one with a red one. And the message had been clear. Table by the window with a poppy in a red vase.
Well then.
Leira took a deep breath and walked toward the table where a waitress appeared to be teasing the man who was smiling up at her, his face alight with amusement. Leira was struck by his smile. His full lips curved, eyes alight with laughter as he spoke to the woman.
She slowed to a stop beside the table and waited politely as the woman laughed softly and asked, “You gonna make your mind up anytime soon?”
The man at the table wasn’t paying the waitress any attention because his eyes were focused on Leira as she stood a foot behind the woman, struggling to balance her knapsack on her shoulder without tipping herself over and falling on her ass.
The waitress looked over her shoulder and grinned. “Oh, now I see what caught his eye. I’ll be with you in a sec, honey.”
Leira shook her head, then cleared her throat. “Actually, I think he’s who I’m here to meet.”
The woman’s mouth closed and she nodded slowly, gave the man a look filled with meaning though Leira was entirely unable to define it. Then she said to Leira, “Alrighty then. I’ll be back with a mug and some fresh coffee for you. Give you two time to chat.” With a firm nod she walked off and Leira watched her go.
The waitress strode with a confidence that Leira wish she herself had. As the woman left, Leira realized she was alone with the hunk of maleness that she was trying her hardest not to look at. Which was ridiculous since one had to look at the person whom one was meeting didn’t one?
Leira wanted to shake away the ridiculous thoughts running through her head.
Then she swallowed and shifted her attention to the man who had been sitting there motionless, waiting for her to speak.
She cleared her throat. “Are you DarkSecure2k?” Her throat seemed to threaten to close in on her words but thankfully she managed to get them out, distantly aware of how cool and almost arrogant she’d ended up sounding.
The guy blinked slowly, long lashes, sinfully long lashes which so did not belong on a man’s face but somehow seemed to make him look so much sexier. Then he smiled, the expression containing near zero emotion though he was perfectly polite.
He waved a hand at the chair opposite him but his stunning gray eyes were closed off. Still, Leira had caught that one flicker of emotion before his wall had come down. He’d been confused.
Which made no sense whatsoever.
Why would he be confused when she’d arrived? He didn’t look suspicious, didn’t appear to be a serial-killer type. Not that she should make such snap judgments. Who knew what serial killers looked like anyway?
Still, she took a seat slowly, warily, watching his face as she settled her rucksack onto the floor beside her, taking care to ensure it sat safely away from the aisle.
When she looked up it appeared he’d noticed. Had she been that obvious? Leira blinked and straightened. “I’m PhoenixFireX. Could you tell me more about what you can do for me?”
The man’s brows furrowed, eyes filling with an almost inexplicable expression. Then he sat back and his expression was serene, as if he’d flicked a switch and all his emotions had been shut off in a blink of an eye.
He nodded slowly. “What exactly is this all about?”
She shook her head, frowning as she leaned forward. “The ad? I’m looking for a security service. I need protection.”
Leira knew her face had reddened—she felt the heat swarming across her cheeks and filling her head. Fear sank into her gut. Had she made a mistake? This man’s reaction was off. And her confusion was at odds with the pull she seemed to feel toward him.
She inhaled slowly as he took his time to think her words over. Then he moved his coffee cup aside, his action deliberate and slow, as though preparing for an onslaught. “You’re looking for a bodyguard?” It was his turn to sound cool and derisive.
Leira blinked. “I guess you could call it that. I require the protective services of a skilled security agent.”
“A bodyguard then?” he said again, his expression stony.
Flustered, Leira looked around the diner, the movement drawing the attention of the smiling waitress who hurried over with a pot of coffee and a mug.
“Sorry, honey. I just wanted to wait on the pot to make sure you get a fresh brew.” She set the mug down and filled it, then straightened to look from the man to Leira. “You two need some more time to decide on food?” Then she narrowed her eyes at him. “What’s the matter with you now? Look like you swallowed a frog?”
He rolled his eyes. “I’m fine, Delight. And yes. We shall need a minute to decide. Just before you go, did Frankie come by at all?”
Delight gasped. “Oh shit. Sorry, I totally forgot. I’ll be right back.”
Leira sipped the coffee and waited. The drink was hot and strong but she barely tasted anything as the man across from her watched Delight, clearly the Delight of Delight’s Diner, as she returned holding a black envelope.
Something about the envelope seemed to deepen the scowl on the man’s face and Leira was beginning to wonder if she’d met the wrong contact, or if she’d been tricked.
Fear filled her and she stiffened. She scanned the diner and then shifted to study the street outside the window. A window seat hadn’t been the smartest move either considering she’d needed to remain out of sight as much as possible.
Had she been hoodwinked?
Was Aldrich sitting outside in one of the cars on the street watching her and laughing, just waiting for the right moment to pounce? Her fingers shook and she grabbed tighter to the mug, ignoring the heat. Heat was nothing to her. If she wanted to, she could generate enough heat to incinerate the entire diner in a blink of an eye.
&nbs
p; Best be careful then.
The man was watching her when she shifted her attention back over at him. Then, after a few long seconds in which he appeared to sniff the air between them, he focused on the envelope. He slid the contents on the table and unfolded a letter.
The longer he remained focused on the note the more antsy Leira became. Then she took a breath, annoyed and impatient. This guy was wasting her time. She reached into her rucksack and withdrew the print of her ad then smacked than onto the table over the documents the guy was reading.
“Look. I don’t have the time to sit around trying to puzzle through things. I’m not sure what’s happening but this is the job. Do you want it or not?”
The man raised his eyes to meet hers, his expression unfathomable. The look he gave her sent shivers down her spine. Only, they were the nice kind of shivers. What was wrong with her? She’d never have guessed she’d be the type to allow herself to go weak at the knees from one look from a sexy stranger.
Leira pushed the thoughts aside and sipped more of her coffee as the silence between them stretched. His dark head was bent now as he read the ad. Then he looked up and said, “Did Frankie put you up to this?”
Leira frowned. “What?” Her heart-rate spiked and her hands shook again. The look in his eyes made her even more nervous. “I don’t know any Frankie.”
He blinked and shook his head. “This is a joke, right? I’m going to kill that kid.” He growled the threat out, like a feral animal would.
“What kid? I’m not sure what you mean.” Then anger flickered in her belly and she leaned forward over the coffee, her chin closing in on the red poppy. “Look. I’m not sure what’s going on here, but I need a security specialist. I would appreciate it if you would stop wasting my time and tell me whether or not you are prepared to take the job and how much you will charge?”
Dark Moon Falls: Volume 2 Page 34
