Chapter 22

My daydreaming almost cost me my stop. I barely caught the doors closing as I jumped up and dashed out into the chunks of street slush. Lucky for me, the bus stop was near the bar. The sidewalk was busy with people rushing from store to store to grab early-bird specials and door-buster price cuts. I pulled my hood tighter and headed for the side entrance of The Stage. Just inside the alley a stranger passed me and caught my attention as we stepped around each other.

“Excuse me. Sorry,” I muttered, reaching for the stair rail.

“No excuse necessary, madam,” he said, tipping his fedora and smiling. I took notice of his dark trench coat, cream-colored scarf, and the fedora. He was quite charming to look at, though I couldn’t place the accent. “Maybe you could help me?” he asked. “Could you direct me to the front entrance of this establishment?”

How odd, considering this is a dead-end alley!

“Go up to the street here,” I said, pointing toward the mouth of the alley. “Then turn right. You can’t miss it.”

“Go out here, then go left, you say?” he said.

“No, no. Go right!” I said, a bit louder.

“My apologies. My hearing is quite poor,” he said with a rueful smile.

“Here, let me show you.” I walked back up the alley beside him, but on the last step I tripped and fell right into him. He caught me easily, keeping his balance.

“Sorry about that,” I said. “It’s a little slick out here.” When we reached the sidewalk, I pointed out the front awning and said my goodbye.

He offered his hand in appreciation. “Thank you, miss—?”

“Megan.” I answered, shaking his hand. As the skin of my hand touched his, I felt a slight pressure in my mind, as if the link was reacting to his touch. I shook my head, distracted, and took back my hand.

“Thank you, Megan, for your help,” he repeated, tipping his hat again.

I turned back down the alley and made my way inside the side door, shedding my jacket. “Hi, guys!” I hollered at Ian and Dawn, who were setting up the bar. Dawn was training a new girl, and they both waved as I walked past them to the break room. After throwing my stuff into a locker, I hustled out onto the floor.

“Whoa!” Ian shouted as I literally ran into him. The bottles he had balanced on top of a case quickly toppled. Instinctively I reached out to grab them. We were both surprised when I caught all three before they fell and shattered. “Nice save. Since when did you get coordinated?” he laughed as we continued toward the bar.

“It must be my one lucky day,” I said. “Trust me, it’s nothing permanent.” I sat the bottles down on the bar and grabbed an apron, knowing damn well why and how I was able to do that. I could get used to this, I thought.

As the night went on, I noticed how easy it was to direct attention away from myself, and that made it even better.

Suddenly, Dawn jumped up into the DJ’s booth and grabbed the microphone. She looked as though she was about to explode. “Hey everyone, having a great night?” she asked the capacity crowd, which responded with an overpowering roar. “Well, I know I am!” she gushed, flashing her left hand high in the air as the spotlight hit her. There on her ring finger sat a huge diamond engagement ring, reflecting the light back out like a disco ball. The crowd went absolutely wild as she pulled Ian up with her and lip-locked him in the spotlight. For the first time ever I saw him blush.

The DJ had started into his next set and I was I headed up to the second tier when I felt him. I couldn’t help but smile as I heard his silent sigh. I turned to the railing, scanning the crowd downstairs to find him.

Don’t look… eyes can deceive you. Do what comes naturally… feel.

His haunting words lingered in my mind as I closed my eyes, reaching out to him. He was on the main floor, in the shadows by the stairs… except he wasn’t on the main floor, but underneath it, downstairs. My eyes popped open wide as I stared into the darkened, crosshatch pattern of the crowded dance floor. Through the strobe lights, I could see him clearly below, as well as others. The darkness was lit up like someone had turned on the house lights. The shadows vanished, and his sinful smile teased me to find him.

Now? I asked across the link, noticing customers headed towards me with empty glasses in hand. I sent the customers to another waitress, slipped away from Ashleigh’s prying eyes, and made my way down the hidden staircase in the storage room. The door opened silently as I pushed on the shelving. The moment I crossed the threshold my senses became heightened. The cool, damp air was mixed with something sweet, reminding me of honey, butter, and an undertone of a spice. Whatever it was, the aroma made me salivate. If it wasn’t for the fact that I’d already eaten, I’d swear I was hungry.

My eyes adjusted quickly to the darkness. The steps were perfectly clear as I took them two at a time, with no fear of tripping. Before I hit the landing I felt the others here, which was expected. I pulled up short on the last step. My nerves were a bit on edge. Still, I trusted him. As I rounded the corner, his hand found my waist and gently pulled me into his arms.

“Good evening, gorgeous,” he whispered. As his lips brushed my ear, his body went rigid. I turned to face him, but his eyes were closed, and he was inhaling deeply.

“What are you doing?” I asked, backing up. His eyes flashed open as suspicion, then anger, crossed his features. This couldn’t be good.

Geoffrey, what is it?

I stood at arm’s length as he circled me.

“The scent! It’s on you!” His voice tightened as he moved in closer, nuzzling my neck in a not-so-good way.

“Scent? Excuse me, what are you talking about?” I said as Pepper headed toward us.

“The same scent as the night of the break-in,” he said through clenched teeth.

Fear ran the length of my spine; sweat broke out on my neck. “How?”I said, scanning the room for anything out of the ordinary.

“How what?” Pepper said, joining us.

His eyes swept the entire room, and then they turned to the overhead dance floor. “The intruder from her apartment. Pepper, whoever it was is here—now.” His words were full of caution.

“But Geoffrey, I’ve served so many people tonight. How can we figure out who it was? My head swam with images of people I’d seen at the bar.

“You can’t—that’s the problem. Mitch?” he said, and Mitch flew up the stairs, three at a time.

“He’s going to search upstairs. Pepper, could you shadow her up there… just until our set. Whoever it is will be looking for me, not you.” His anxiety for my safety was quickly building pressure across the link. Somehow I had to defuse this situation and put him at ease.

“Geoffrey,” I said, pulling him aside. “I’ll be fine. Whoever it is won’t risk doing anything in front of this crowd. But if they see Pepper, they might bolt.”

He struggled with that thought for a moment. “I don’t like this. You’re not bait.” He spat the words out, but the link growled with reluctant approval.

You’ll know the moment anything starts, I added silently. I can handle myself until then. You have to trust me. I pulled him over to a seat, trying to put him at ease.

Mitch returned, and Geoffrey turned to speak with him. “I didn’t find anything, boss. No one new upstairs, not tonight. I didn’t go far outside, the street was packed with folks.” He took a seat and Pepper sat on his lap, sharing her cocktail with him. Robert and Tracy were enjoying a dance.

I knew my break would have to be short, and I stood, taking his hand. “Come dance with me, please?”

He hesitated, still prowling the shadows with his eyes. I got his attention by planting a not-so-subtle kiss on his unsuspecting lips. The link hummed as he relaxed, wrapping his arms around my waist. I did my best to distract him, moving my hips into his pelvis. It was so easy to be with him, how had I ever doubted it? His hands wandered over my body as I kissed his neck, but I behaved myself and steered clear of the intoxicating venom behind his lips.

What would I do without you? He asked across the link. We parted slightly as he held me close, our bodies swaying as one.

Let’s not find out, shall we? I reached up, brushing his hair out of his eyes. He was much calmer.

“You amaze me. You know what I am, and all that comes with it—and yet you chose me. What did I ever do to deserve you?” He kissed my forehead and I couldn’t help myself. I reached up, kissing his tender lips, feeling the attraction growing between us.

“I’ve got to get back. Sorry,” I said, as my responsible side nagged me.

“Nothing to be sorry for, my love.” He took my hand in his, kissing each of the fingertips one by one. Love you, he silently said.

Love you more, I whispered back.

“Geoffrey!” A booming voice came from behind us. I instantly turned to see what only could be described as a large Russian man, huge, hulking, with a broad nose and rough looking beard; his upper body reminded me of a linebacker, and he was very tall. Both Geoffrey and I had to look up at his shadowed face.

Geoffrey’s arm, which had been softly wrapped around my waist, went stone cold and hard at the sound. His jaw clenched tight and he stared at Pepper, who stood in front of us.

“Megan, go up with Pepper. I’ll be up shortly.” His words were tight, filled with a sense of urgency. Please, do what I ask, he added.

Quickly, Pepper and I made our way up the stairs. The link was buzzing with his irritation; the man had him instantly on edge. Mitch was following us closely, looking larger-than-life as our bodyguard.

“Geoffrey, it’s been too long,” the stranger’s voice carried upward. The urge to turn and look was tempting, but I did as he asked. The man must be someone from his past.

Through the link I could feel Geoffrey’s restrained fury at the stranger’s presence. Images flashed across my mind faster than I could process, but his underlying concern was for my very human life. I could hear the words “Inner Circle” and
“covenant” in his memories, along with images of Marco and the stranger.

Whoever it was, one thing was certain: the Inner Circle was here. What that meant for me remained to be discovered.