Page 20 of In the Grey of Dawn

“Porter,” she sighs, “It’s not like that, nothing like that has happened to me. I’m just saying that it does happen and I try to be as smart about it as I can when meeting someone new.”

“What do you mean,meeting someone new?” I spit the words out knowing that I haven’t pursued her romantically since she arrived six weeks ago. Even though she consumes almost all of my thoughts and I have told her over and over we can only be friends. I’m still taken aback at this raging pit of destruction that’s opened up inside me.

She's not mine.

I told her to see other people.

She’s not mine, so I don't get to have a say in anything she does, but I can feel my chest tighten at the thought of her meeting someone that's not me.

“I have a date. Well, I don't even know if I'd call it a date but I'm meeting someone,” she whispers hurriedly.

She’s not quite able to bring her eyes to meet mine, but she does bring both her palms up to my chest. Gently resting them on top of where my heart is beating erratically.

Can she feel it beneath her fingers?

“I went on one of those apps and started talking to a guy, he suggested going out for a drink so I said we should come here. I feel safe here Porter. If anything was to go south. I know that you … I know that I'm safe here. I’ve had friends who have had bad things happen with online dating and I'm just trying to do what I can to stay safe.”

She looks so vulnerable at this moment and I think what I find surprising is that she’s not asking for anything outlandish. Simply a safe environment to meet a stranger. One where she’s not looking over her shoulder or worried if her drink has been spiked.

Trying to put aside my feelings for her and the situationI'vecreated, she meets my gaze. I know I’m about to blur the line between us but I’m just a simple man standing before a goddess and my defences are falling.

My lips graze hers slightly as I lean in, dragging them along her cheek, I whisper in her ear, “You're always safe with me, Charlie. If anyoneeverdoesanythingto hurt you, their soul will meet the dawn, lost and frightened. Unable to cross over into their next life as they wrestle to see the path toward the Ferryman. They will never cross the river to the underworld because they won't be able to find all of the pieces I tear from their body. They willneverbe whole again once I seek my vengeance.”

Dragging my hand across her shoulder, I hold her jaw firmly, her breath deepening, forcing her to look at me. “They will beg me to kill them as I take slice after slice of their skin. Letting the wound clot just eno—”

“Charlotte? Is everything okay? I’ve been waiting.”

A snippy voice says beside me. I lift my gaze to look at the man who interrupted me, who interruptedus.

My blood thumps so loudly that I struggle to focus. A short slim man stands before me. His brow furrowed somewhere between fear and worry.

Standing to my full height, I step slightly in front of Charlie, noticing a pretty red blush creeping up her neck as she takes a moment to collect herself. I can't help but feel some satisfaction at the suggestive position he found us in.

“Who the fuck are you?” I snap.

Towering over the small man, he whimpers, “Cliff.” I move to grab his shirt but a hand slides around my waist from behind. Her soft body presses against me in a quick hug before she steps around me, directing her attention toCliff.

Holding her hand out to shake his, I can't help the growl that rumbles through my chest. Looking over her shoulder at me, she gives a small smile before walking away and gesturing for Cliff to sit at one of the centre tables and not a booth. My girl has smarts and I don’t know if it's for her or Cliff’s safety that she sits on the opposite side of the table to him. A chair’s distance separating them as I head over, ready to take their order.

Chapter 13 - Charlie

“So, Cliff. I don’t mean to be rude but you look a little different than your profile picture.” I can’t help but blurt out. His profile said tall, dark and handsome but the man before me bears a closer resemblance to a hobbit than his supposed profile picture.

I really shouldn’t be surprised with how the internet works and the amount of false truths people put out there but still, I can’t help but be a little disappointed as there were a few things in his profile that genuinely seemed interesting.

“Oh, that picture was from a few years ago but it’s still me.” He says, clearly agitated from my accusation as he dabs his brow with a napkin, directing his gaze behind me.

The chair I’m in groans with the weight of two large hands bearing down on it. I don’t need to look to know it’s Porter standing and leaning on my chair, as his butterscotch and clove scent washes over me.

Moving to my side, he looks at me as he asks what I'll have to drink, telling him myusualand giving him a quick wink.

Before I can even think of a question to ask Cliff, Porter turns and leaves toward the bar, presumably to prepare my drink. Shrugging my shoulders at his peculiar behaviour. I try toease the sudden awkwardness by saying, “Maybe he … Maybe he can’t remember more than one drink order at a time?”

Scoffing at me, Cliff's neck shows a slight tinge of pink as he says, “Yes, well he looks about as competent as a buffoon.”

“A buffoon? Really?” I grimace, my eyebrows raised, looking toward Porter as he returns to our table with my drink and an even deeper scowl than before.

“Charlie,” he grunts looking at Cliff, closely followed with a softer, “It’s just how you like it.”

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