Obsession(36)

“Will do.”

I threw a few more bills on the table. “This should cover the drinks and rings.”

“Obliged.” Bob gave me a salute, downing the rest of his Guinness.

I turned and walked out of the bar.

My whole body trembled, itching, wanting to convulse. I sat down on the bench outside an ice-cream shop a couple of doors down.

And a movie began playing in my mind.



Sometimes the bird emerged on the walls of the cellar, most often at night, when they were closing in on the boy. The bird had become both a menace and a sanctuary. It gave the boy solace, something to focus on when the unthinkable was happening, but because it was representative of one who inflicted the horrors on him, it was also a plague that haunted him at night, jeering at him.

You’re worthless, boy. Insignificant. Meaningless. Trash to be used, abused, left to die…

Its flaming wings now gray and white in the darkness, the bird flapped to him, edging toward him along with the pulsating wall.

Worthless… Insignificant… Left to die…

But as much as the boy wanted to die, he never did.





Chapter Sixteen





Jade




Please don’t dredge up the past, Jade. So many people will get hurt.

Wendy’s words haunted me as George dropped me off at the Steel ranch house. It was Saturday, so I didn’t have to go into work. I would tell Marj what I had found out about her birth certificate. I didn’t want to tell her, yet, about Wendy Madigan and the affair with her father, but she deserved to know about her name.

I paid George. Seemed like all my extra cash was being used to shuttle me back and forth from the ranch. I had to get a car.

I trudged up the long walkway and knocked on the door. Roger, Talon’s mutt, appeared behind the glass. He looked at me, cocking his head through the oblong window next to the door. He was such a cute little fellow.

A few seconds later, the door opened, and Talon’s muscular frame greeted me.

My body throbbed. Just being in close proximity to him affected me. As much as I wanted to interrogate him about the tattoo ordeal the other night, I knew it would be futile. I said simply, “Hi. I came to see Marj.”

“She’s not here. Cooking class, remember?”

Crap. I’d forgotten. Marj had signed up for a weekend cooking class in Grand Junction that met Friday night and all day Saturday.

“I’m really sorry. I forgot about that.”

“You want me to give her a message for you?”

I looked at him, shaking my head. Was he really going to stand there and pretend we didn’t know each other intimately?

Roger panted at my heels. I bent down to give him a scratch on the head.

“No, no message. But I will take a cup of tea if you have one.”

“Here’s a deal for you. I’ll make the tea if you make up a couple of your patented cheddar and tomato grilled cheese sandwiches.”

I couldn’t help a smile. “I’ll take that deal.”

I walked into the foyer as he shut the door behind me. I knelt down and let Roger jump up on me. He covered my face with doggie kisses.

“Funny. Other than me, you’re the one he’s taken to the most.”

“I love dogs. I’ve never met a dog that didn’t love me back. I think dogs just sense dog people.”

The late summer day was cooler, and I’d put on a pair of skinny jeans and a sleeveless pink sweater. Talon looked luscious in his boots, dark denim jeans, and a green T-shirt.

“I’ll get started.” I made my way to the kitchen and looked through the fridge. “I don’t see any cheddar in here, but there’s some Colby Jack. That’ll be good.”

I pulled out the cheese, grabbed a tomato from the basket on the counter, took a knife and cutting board, and started preparing. Once the sandwiches were in the pan frying, I turned around. Talon was sitting at the table, watching me.

“I thought you were going to make the tea.”

“Sorry, I was just enjoying the view.”

My skin heated. The view of him was mighty fine as well. He stood and came toward me, like a wolf stalking his prey. I knew he was going to kiss me before he was even close to me. And when his lips crushed onto mine, I nearly shattered then and there. I swirled my tongue out to meet his. Electricity sparked through my body. The kiss was unyielding, drugging, a kiss of souls meeting and joining.

We ate at each other’s mouth for a couple of minutes until I broke away quickly.

“Sorry, the sandwiches…” I walked quickly to the stove to turn them. “Oh, good. They’re brown but not burnt.”

Talon grabbed me from behind and pulled me back to him. “Fuck the sandwiches.”

“Talon,” I said against his lips.