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CALEB slid a bottled water across the table to Tristan. He smiled inside because the kid was working his ass off. The determination Tristan fought with...it was awe inspiring. His dedication...Caleb knew no match. His skill was exceptional. But the kid was missing one thing...the same thing Caleb lacked when he was about his age.
That cutthroat ruthlessness that determined a win or a loss.
“So,” Tristan said after he gulped down his water, “Did I earn the rest of your story?”
Caleb shook his head. Yeah, he liked the kid. A lot. “I’m in America...”
Twenty years earlier
March
Weather didn’t impact Caleb’s life much but for the average man it was a chilly day. He hadn’t felt the discomforting chill of a winter or the scorching heat of summer for a very long time. The organism inside him regulated his body temperature automatically. It was something he and the Coesen had in common.
He glanced over at the man standing next to him at the intersection, wearing a thin jacket, smoking a cigarette, and totally oblivious to the cold. Even though it wasn’t obvious, Caleb knew he was being thoroughly examined by the Coesen beside him.
Caleb slid his hand inside his jean pocket to feel the Veilex stone once more, to make sure it was still there. He then pulled his hand out and casually looked at his watch. The Coesen next to him flicked the cigarette to the ground then smashed it with his shoe.
The Veilex stone worked just as Marcel said it would. And it didn’t take long for it to come into play either. So, when Caleb began his journey back to the states he was prepared to kill whoever got in his way.
He wasn’t fully convinced that Marcel wanted to aid him, and he questioned whether the man really knew what he intended to do. There were a few tense moments and questioning looks but no Coesen approached him while he carried the Veilex. So, Caleb started to accept that the old guy spoke the truth about the stone.
Today was the real test. Caleb entered the bookstore in disguise at first but as himself on four occasions without incident. Why go in undisguised? He wasn’t ready to admit it himself but on that first day he entered the bookstore and stood in Kayla’s aisle to purchase some random periodical, he felt something when he peered into her lovely dark eyes. Something he hadn’t felt in a long time. Interest. With one look, his interest was piqued.
...and when she giggled after her coworker bumped into her and whispered in her ear, her sweet carefree voice quickened his pulse.
He watched Kayla for almost two weeks, committing her routine to memory so when he grabbed her it would be at the most opportune time.
Only, he had every opportunity to take her, yet he didn’t. Now, he stood at an intersection waiting for the Coesen who stood next to him to make a move.
Caleb looked at the traffic going by then took a step back from the curb and waited for the traffic light to turn green so he could cross. He wondered if there was a picture of him circulating out there amongst the Guard. Well, maybe not a picture, but a sketch was possible. He didn’t know.
“Excuse me,” the Coesen finally said, “you look really familiar. What’s your name?”
Caleb frowned. “Believe me, I’m not that guy,” he said, forcing a grin. “But I know a guy if you’re into that kind of thing.”
The man grabbed him by the arm and pulled him away from the intersection and over to a run-down brick wall. Caleb raised his hands as if surrendering when the man grabbed him by his jacket and pushed him into the wall. He dug his nails in his palms, trying hard not to resist when the man patted his pockets then pulled his wallet out and looked at his id.
“You’ve been hanging around here a lot, Turner,” the Coesen said.
Caleb pushed off the wall and reached for his wallet but the Coesen shoved it into his chest, causing him to stumble a few steps to maintain his balance. A small group of college students took notice but continued to pass them by. The Coesen watched as Caleb checked his wallet.
“Look man, I just like the coffee,” he said, trying his best to sound scared. The alias he set up must have been convincing enough because the Royal Guards allowed him to be in Kayla’s presence, but his frequent visits to the bookstore seemed to put them on alert. As they should be.
After allowing Caleb to straighten up, the Coesen pulled out another cigarette and lit it, then he locked his eyes with Caleb’s. “Why are you really hanging out here?”
Caleb knew the Coesen was using some sort of ability but he felt nothing. Usually when the Coesen tried to use their mind reading on him, he felt a tingling sensation that was harmless but irritating. If this guy wasn’t trying to read his mind, then the words he spoke were being analyzed.
“There’s this girl.” The words just came out.
The Coesen laughed.
One of the students who passed by a few minutes earlier must have been concerned because she stood across the street with an officer and was pointing at them. Caleb looked at the police, then to the man in front of him.
“You’re wasting your time, fella,” the Coesen said, laughing again as he walked away. He was blended in with the crowd by the time the officer reached Caleb.
The police officer wasn’t completely satisfied with Caleb’s explanation of what happened. All he saw was a big black man bullying a white guy, possibly a student. After another firm assurance from Caleb, the officer realized there was nothing more he could do.
As Caleb walked toward the bookstore he thought about how bad that could have gone with the Coesen if he had lost it. Good thing he didn’t.
Pulling the door to the bookstore open, Caleb hesitated as doubt inched its way into his mind. Shit. What was he doing? Take the girl...force a face to face confrontation with the great Sovereign Vivian, and slit her daughter’s neck while the mother watched. The bitch took from him and he was going to take from her. Then after, he planned to kill the Sovereign slowly. Feel her fragile bones break under his hands.
A dark need rose in him at the thought of bringing the head of the Coesen down.
As Caleb made his way to the periodicals his gaze fell on Kayla, who stood behind her regular register. When she saw him...her face lit up in the most beautiful smile. For a moment, Caleb didn’t know how to react, but then his lips spread and the darkness clawing to the surface fell away.
Just like that, the game changed.
He pulled a chair out at a small round table and attempted to read, but his focus was on Kayla Harper. He discovered he liked listening to her alluring voice. From time to time, he looked up to watch her move about the shop. Kayla’s shoulder length coal black hair, brows, and lashes, were a stark contrast to her warm cinnamon-toned skin, and he couldn’t help wondering how it would feel to run his fingers through it. Her high cheek bones angled into an adorable chin. Her straight nose and dark eyes were perfect. At about five foot seven, her long limbs and elegant features could have her working any runway. Her steps were graceful and concise, the way you would expect royalty to walk.
“You can’t sit in here.”
Caleb didn’t know why but he looked up. He spotted a guy wearing a shirt and tie who stood over a young woman sitting a few tables away.
“I’m not bothering anybody,” the woman said to Shirt and Tie. She looked to be in her late teens, and wore a pair of shorts and an oversized windbreaker. Her right cheek had a two or three days old bruise that she shielded with her stringy hair.
Caleb scooted his chair back to intervene but Kayla was moving toward the table carrying a tray. She placed the tray in front of the young woman. “I’m sorry I took so long.”
The woman seemed confused at first, then she saw Kayla’s raised brows. “Uh...thank you.”
Kayla smiled as she turned to the shirt and tie. “She said she was a little tired, so I told her if she sat I’d bring her coffee, sandwich, and change to her table.” Kayla placed a few dollars and coins on the tray without looking away from the man.
The man gave Kayla a disbelieving look but Ray, per the name tag, came walking up to the table with some cream and sugar. Ray handed them to the woman. “Sorry, I couldn’t find the flavor cream you asked for. I hope plain is fine.”
“It’s fine.” The woman smiled big but avoided looking at Shirt and Tie.
A voice rang out. “Jim!” Rochelle, another of Kayla’s coworkers, yelled from a register. “You think you could get your electronic girlfriend we normal people,” she said, throwing quotes in the air, “call a cash register, to work? Aren’t you the captain of this ship?”
Jim, aka Shirt and Tie, huffed with a look of disgusted defeat before letting his eyes fall back to Kayla. He gave her a disapproving glance before walking away. Ray followed their manager but not before holding his hand behind his back and giving Kayla a thumbs-up.
Caleb noticed the woman wasted no time. She dug into the food as if it was her last meal.
“I told you that you can’t come in here when Jim is here Claudia, remember.” Kayla said softly when she moved closer to the woman. “...and slow down, before you choke.” She leaned forward to inspect the bruise.
“I fell,” Claudia blurted out. “Hey, I didn’t mean you trouble.”
Kayla watched her with concern for a few moments before slipping a twenty-dollar bill on the tray. “You’re no trouble. I’ll get you some cookies.” She started to walk away but stopped. “Claudia, you can crash at my room if you want.”
Caleb noticed that Claudia tensed.
“Uh...no, thanks though,” Claudia said quickly.
Caleb watched Kayla shake her head as she walked away. He continued to listen as Kayla walked behind the counter, retrieved a couple of cookies, and returned to Claudia’s table.
***
KAYLA sighed as she placed the cookies on Claudia’s tray. She made her way back to the counter where she was sorting items. She wasn’t one to meddle but if she saw one more bruise on Claudia’s body, she was going to sic the Guard on that asshole boyfriend of hers.
“Tell me you noticed this time,” Rochelle squealed. “Girl, he was checking you out.” She got close enough that, for Kayla, the baby powder scented oil she wore overrode every other scent in the café/bookstore.
Kayla gave Rochelle a little push. With her friend, personal space was an issue. It irked Kayla when space invaders breached hers but Rochelle seemed oblivious or ignored the subtle hints so now they’ve graduated to the physical.
Rochelle rolled her eyes as she nudged Kayla back.
“Stop reading into things,” Ray said, coming toward them. “He ain’t said nothing to neither of ya’ll. It’s a book store, maybe he’s just here to read.”
“Not.” Rochelle dismissed Ray with a raised hand, displaying all four fingers and a thumb. “His fine ass has been checking my girl out every day this week. Believe me, he’s not here to read.”
Kayla placed two more bookmarks onto the spinning caddy then looked over at the guy in question. She did notice him the first time he came into the store a week ago and every day after. He was the kind of guy everyone noticed. He was tall, about six feet three inches, with short dirty blond hair and fair skin. But it was his cyan eyes that struck her silly. He was gorgeous.
It was clear he had no clue how gorgeous. He didn’t seem to notice all the females who watched him. A few of whom decided to start hanging out “reading” in the store like he did.
Kayla realized she was staring. For goodness sakes, she was no better than them. Turning away, she rotated the caddy and placed several more bookmarks in the allotted hooks. Absently, she looked at the clear Veilex stone clasped in her bracelet. A necessary gift from her mother when she decided to come to Claremont, if she wanted to leave the safety and protection of her people. There was no reaction from the stone to the stranger’s presence.
Why do I keep checking?
“He’s here to read,” she said as she let her eyes fall on him again. She and her friends watched the guy pick up a book and read the back.
***
CALEB felt her eyes on him again but this time, unlike the other times, he looked up. Rochelle and Ray looked away but Kayla didn’t. They held each other’s gaze until she turned her attention to a customer who stepped up to her register.
He smiled. She was beautiful, confident, and somehow, she demanded his interest.
With the book in hand, Caleb made his way to Kayla’s register even though the other lines were empty. He didn’t even decide what he planned on doing about her until the woman in front of him took her bag and strolled away.
“Thank you and have a nice day,” Kayla told the woman.
Then her eyes fell on him, again. He felt her gaze studying him, sizing him up, then she cleared her throat.
“Is that all?” she asked, as she reached for the book.
Caleb didn’t want to risk touching her just yet so he slid the book across the counter toward her. She turned the book to see the title then looked up at him again with a raised brow.
“So, it’s going to be a book today?” Kayla asked.
“You’ve been paying attention to what I purchase?” He grinned but Kayla didn’t reply, she just smiled as she rang up the book. As Caleb handed her the money he didn’t let go when she tried to take it. “Kayla,” he said, “would you like to go out with me sometime?”
“Uh hmm.” Rochelle smiled as she and Ray watched them with no shame.
As he held onto one end of the twenty-dollar bill, Caleb saw Kayla’s eyes brighten then dim.
“I can’t,” she said softly.
He let go of the money and she quickly gave him his change. Confused, Caleb nodded then collected his change and left the store. He was a block away before he slowed enough for Rochelle to catch up with him.
The baby-faced girl stopped in front of him, breathing heavy and waving her hand at him with nails the exact same color as her hair. Several of her many long thick black and red braids hung over her shoulder and past her waist.
They looked heavy.
“Hey,” she called, panting, “me and a few friends are gonna be kicking it at my crib in a couple weeks. I thought you might want to come.”
“I don’t think I’ll be in town then.”
His plans for Kayla changed drastically. There was no way he could kill her now. But what the hell came over him in that damn store?
Why did I ask her out? What the hell?
He needed to leave tonight.
As he turned away, Rochelle cried out, “Kayla will be there.” As he started walking she added, “She doesn’t have a boyfriend. It’s just that her mother is always tripping. She likes you, I can tell.” Rochelle handed him a folded piece of paper. “Come, it’ll be chill.”
