Page 8 of Marked By Night

I’m surprised to find Red waiting for me. Fury rolls off him in palpable waves as he falls into step with me. I’m not exactly sure where we’re walking, but I follow his lead. Something about him feels safe and he doesn’t set off any of my alarms.

“Hey, thanks for standing up for me back there,” I murmur when we’re finally far enough away from all the vultures’ prying eyes inside. “I didn’t mean for you to get kicked out with me.”

He shrugs. “Don’t worry about it. I wouldn’t want to give my business to a prick like that anyway.” His lips turn up slightly at the corners and he blushes as he runs his hand through his soft red hair.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you before. Are you from around here?” I inquire, changing the subject to a less depressing one. Despite everything that happened, a part of me wants to get to know this man.

“Nah, I’m only passing through,” he responds. “I should be heading home soon. At least, I hope so.”

My curiosity peaks and I blurt, “Will you be going to the music festival tomorrow too?” before the thought even fully processes, thinking about the sexy strangers from this morning.Subtle, Sadie. Nice.

Red’s lips turn up slightly. “Sadly, I have other business to attend to, but I’m disappointed I’m missing out. Wicked Unrest is one of my all-time favorite bands.”

“Yeah, me too. Their setlist is supposed to be amazing.”

He sighs when we round the corner to the parking lot. I didn’t even realize we were still walking. He fishes something out of his back pocket—an envelope, if I’m not mistaken—then extends it to me.

“This is for all the trouble they put you through tonight.”

It doesn’t take a genius to know what’s in the envelope. I can see the bank symbol clear as day from here. “Nuh-uh. No way. You helped me tonight, and that’s all that I could ask for.”

He steps toward me, trying to hand me the cash. “Seriously, you deserve this. Besides, I would’ve tipped it to you, anyway.” I give him a disbelieving look. “I actually had to retrieve it from your table, I was on my way out when that man attacked you.”

Oh, so that’s what he grabbed.

“Why on earth would you do that? You don’t know me.” He shrugs, trying to avoid my question, but he’s not getting off that easy. “Tell me why, Red.” I cringe. I didn’t mean to call him that out loud.

He sighs. “Fine. Because I enjoy helping others.” He shoots me a sexy smile that makes his dimples pop out and he sneakily slides the envelope into my pocket while I’m standing there awestruck.

Am I really one to look a gift horse in the mouth?

Pfft, no. I can only hope it will last me long enough to find another job. Preferably a town or two over.

He clears his throat. “Why do you call me Red?”

I cough, reaching up to finger my necklace. “Oh, uh… That may or may not be what I’ve been calling you in my head because of your hair,” I admit.

His grin turns into a full-blown smile accompanied by a laugh. “Is that so?” He flexes his muscles like Superman and the sight makes my lady bits tighten in response. “It’s Reed, actually.”

Huh. I was close.

His phone vibrates from his hoodie pocket. He shoots me a frown before pulling it out and staring down at it with wide eyes. “I hate to cut this short, but I’ve got to head out. Have a good night, Love,” he says, with a glimmer in his eye before racing off toward his car. Something about those molten silver eyes draws me in completely, wrapping me in their liquid embrace.

“You too,” I whisper, but he’s already gone.

3

Sadie

An annoying tinkling sound reaches my ears, yanking me out of my thoughts. I curse myself and jerk my phone out of my bag to turn off the alarm. My heart drops when I see the time. I’m going to be so late for training! Ben is going to kill me. I take off running and I don’t stop until I reach the studio.

When I open the door, the familiar sight of the gym greets me, giving a sense of comfort I’m desperately needing. I’ll be able to take all my frustrations out on my trainer and maybe even be able to get rid of the three irresistible faces plaguing my thoughts.

“Sorry, I’m late!” I call out, rushing to the back to change without waiting for a response. When I emerge, Ben is standing in the center of the mat, waiting for me to get started. He’s a man of few words and doesn’t say anything while I get in position.

“Go,” he says and then the action begins.

Suddenly, lightning cracks across the sky, basking the training room in an eerie glow. The shadows come alive in the sudden darkness, dancing as the lights flicker, then wink out altogether. The night is where the monsters thrive, of that I am certain. I guess it’s a good thing I know how to blend in with them.

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