Page 1 of Blood Moon

Prologue

Leo

“I’ll wait for you guys outside,” I told my friends. They were in line at Walgreens with snacks and shit for tonight, but I was starting to feel restless. I needed to get out in the fresh air.

Nose stuck in my phone as I texted Francesco, my twin, I exited the building and promptly turned right. As I neared the end of the building, I slammed into a body, and my phone went flying. All I saw was blonde hair and hot pink, then my phone flipping end to end as I tried desperately to grab it.

“Oh my god! I’m so sorry!” she apologized just as my phone took a fateful and deadly dive into the street and down the grates of the gutter.

On my knees, I stared into the dark abyss of nastiness that I knew I’d never breach—not even for my phone. It didn’t stop me from willing it back, though.

With a sigh, I glanced up and almost swallowed my tongue. The bright pink encased a bombshell body and full lips parted. She dropped her attention to her watch, and her golden blonde hair tumbled free of the loose bun to fall in waves around her shoulders. “I don’t have time to fix this,” she muttered to herself. “I’ll have to do it later.”

At first, all I could do was ogle because she was gorgeous. Too old for me, but damn, was she stunning.

“I’m not that worried about it. I’ll swing by the store and get another one,” I finally spit out.

“Are you sure?” She reached into her small black purse and pulled out several bills. “Here, at least let me help with it.”

“No way. My dad has insurance on it. It’s no biggie,” I assured her as I waved her offer away and tried not to drool.

“Please,” she insisted as she pushed the money into my palm. Her big blue eyes flared.

The contact of her skin was like a jolt of electricity, and I pulled my hand back in shock. Still on my knees by the grate, I watched as she quickly raised up from the crouch she’d been in. Her legs seemed to go on forever before her thighs disappeared under the skirt of her Barbie-like suit. Actually, it looked like a cross between that and something Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis would’ve worn. Classy yet hot. I’d had a crush on JFK’s wife since I was a little kid and saw a picture of her. At thirteen, it hadn’t changed.

“Take care, kid,” she said with a parting wave before she hurried off, her black heels clicking on the sidewalk.

I watched her quickly walk down the street until she turned the corner.

“Who was that?” my friend Joel asked, and I jumped because I hadn’t heard them join me.

“No clue,” I replied with a shrug, trying not to give away how shaken I was by the interaction. Slowly, I got to my feet and shoved the blonde’s money into my pocket. “I gotta run by the cell phone store,” I told my friends.

“Huh?” Will asked as he tilted his head and wrinkled his nose.

“Dropped my phone down into the sewer.” I sighed.

“Oh shit,” Joel drawled out as he glanced down between the grates, as if he’d be able to see it down there.

“Literally,” Will added as he snickered.

“Gross,” Joel said as he curled his lip in disgust.

“Yeah,” I muttered.

As a group, we made our way to the nearest cell phone store, where I replaced my phone.

I thought about that woman in pink for years, but I never saw her again.

Chapter1

Leo

“Showbiz” — Palaye Royale

No one in my family understood what it’s like to lose half of yourself. They didn’t know what it’s like to wake up one day and feel like something is missing. The hollowness in your chest. The constant pressure that builds from within, and every time that it feels like I’ll finally combust and get relief… nothing. Instead, it’s the same emptiness.

As I rolled over, I pushed the slender arm off my body. I crawled over the other curved form under the sheet and then out of the bed. Honestly, I had no idea who they were. Not that I cared either.

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