Page 81 of Wicked Savage Wolves
I nod. “Yeah, just a bit more.”
She eyes my stack of dishes with a frown. It’s not that big and should take ten minutes tops to get through. “I’m supposed to meet some friends at a party and I’m already running late. Are you okay if I head out? The doors are already locked and the till is zeroed out. All you have to do is make sure the door is closed all the way when you leave.”
I shrug, setting a plate down on the drying rack beside me. “Yeah. That’s fine.”
She squeals. “Thank you so much. You’re a doll. I’ll see you next week.”
And then she’s gone.
I finish up the dishes, no longer in a hurry, and then collect my bag, sword, and hoodie. I’ve made it a habit to keep the blade with me at all times, the slight weight on my back a reminder that I’m not unprotected.
I shut off the lights and I’m just about to open the door when I spot a man standing across the street. All the lights are out inside the diner and he’s positioned away from the streetlight making him hard to make out, but the hairs on the back of my neck are standing. I get the feeling he’s staring right at me. I stare back and catch a glimpse of red in his eyes.
Fear freezes me before I stumble back a few steps away from the door. The man never moves. I glance toward the parking lot, spotting my Audi right where I left it. In the furthest spot on the lot because I hadn’t wanted to be parked close to anyone.
The ten yards or so between it and me feels like a mile.
Can I make it to my car before him? I’m fast. But vampires are faster. I curse. What reason does he have for standing out there, lurking?
“Come on, Isa. Pull yourself together,” I mutter to myself. Just because I was attacked by vampires it doesn’t mean every vamp is out to get me. It doesn’t mean it’ll happen again. But my attacker’s words echo in my mind.“Because we can,”he’d said. What if this is him, or another one like him? Someone who hates my kind enough to attack me for no other reason than because they can without repercussions?
Oh God. I’d been so stupid. Thinking I could just go on with my life.
I slump into one of the booths toward the back, away from the windows, and pull my phone out with shaking fingers. I dial Josué’s number before I realize he can’t help me and hang up. Okay. Plan B. I’ll try Zheng.
I call him and wait. The line rings once, twice, six times.
Voicemail.
Dang it.
I try again.
Voicemail again.
I wipe my clammy hands on my knees and stare at the screen of my phone. I don’t know who else to call. Feeling desperate I try Natalia. She doesn’t pick up. Against my better judgment, I try Brian next.
“You’ve reached the voicemail box of…”
I hang up.
My heart skips a beat and the urge to shift sweeps through me, but I fight it. My wolf can’t open doors and she can’t use my phone. I peer out the window again.
He’s still out there. What is he waiting for? A knot of dread expands in my chest. It crawls through me and my entire body begins to shake. I squeeze my eyes shut. I need to get it together. I can’t think if I panic.
My breaths are ragged as if I’ve just run a marathon. My chest heaves up and down. I press my forehead down on the cool surface of the table and force myself to slow down my breathing.
Think, Isa. Just think. Don’t. Panic.
The idea to call Rafael leaves me as quickly as it comes. I swallow hard and chew on my bottom lip until I’m certain I’ve bitten through the tender flesh and the tang of copper fills my mouth.
I try Desmond.
He answers on the second ring. “Isa?”
“Oh, thank God,” I choke out the words on a sob.
“What’s going on?”
