Page 49 of Destined for Shadows
Chapter 14
Cori
“Thanks for this,” Cori said, gathering up the sandwich wrappers from their lunch.
Melena shrugged. “It’s no big deal. This was the first chance I’ve had all day to take a break, so I figured it would be nice to stop by and eat with you.”
“Uh huh.” She dumped the wrappers into the garbage can and turned back to face Melena. “And it had nothing to do with the fact you were checking on me.”
First, Bartol had lingered after he brought Cori to the shop. She hadn’t known it at first, but when she accidentally knocked over a cup of water, he was right there to catch it inches before it hit the floor. As it appeared to float there for a second, she poked where she thought his head might be and ended up jabbing him in the nose. He became visible, gave her a guilty look, and flashed away. She was reasonably certain he’d left for good after that incident because she’d moved around the store yelling obscenities and throwing things around the room. He’d never showed. Thankfully, no customers were around to see that little tantrum.
Then Bambi stopped by shortly afterward. The troll examined every picture on the wall while making snide comments and lewd remarks that scared two potential customers away. If that wasn’t bad enough, she also stunk up the shop with her pungent body odor, so Cori had to spray the place with air freshener once she was gone. It was only twenty minutes later when Melena showed up “unexpectedly” for a late lunch. She and the others had been checking in on Cori daily since Griff vandalized her truck a week ago, and Cori was nearly at her wit's end.
“It’s been a while since your ex made his last move,” Melena said, unapologetic. “He’s going to act again soon, and we need to be ready when he does.”
Cori truly appreciated her friends watching out for her. She knew it was for the best that she accept their help, but she hated that it disrupted all of their lives in the process. This was a mess she’d gotten herself into because of how she’d handled her rage against Griff years ago. It was her responsibility to deal with him and no one else’s. Having said that, she’d have to be stupid to try taking on a vampire by herself. Even she knew the odds were against her on that.
Cori took a deep breath. “You’re right. With each day that goes by I feel like it’s building to the next attack, and something tells me it won’t be my truck next time.”
“Exactly,” Melena agreed.
The shop door chimed, and a man in his late-twenties walked inside wearing a blue t-shirt and khaki shorts. He clutched a piece of paper in his hand as he ran his gaze around the room. Cori hadn’t seen him before, but he had a clean-cut appearance with short brown hair and bright green eyes. This guy had to be Hayden—a customer who’d called yesterday about getting a tattoo of a reaper. It wasn’t the most common piece people asked for, but she’d done a couple of others during her career. They’d agreed he could come by at three o’clock.
He walked confidently toward them. “Are you Cori?”
“Yes. Are you Hayden?” After he nodded, she leaned toward Melena and whispered, “This is my next appointment, so time for you to go.”
The sensor crossed her arms and glared at the man. “Why’d you choose this place to get a tattoo?”
Hayden frowned. “A friend recommended it.”
“What friend?” she asked, narrowing her blue eyes.
“Tim Markham,” he said, tensing his shoulders. “Why?”
“And you’re only here to get a tattoo? Nothing else?” Melena pressed. She’d once been an interrogator in the U.S. Army, and at times like these, it showed.
“Yeah, just the tattoo. What else would I be here for?” Hayden took a tenuous step back, looking at the sensor like she was a crazy person.
Cori cleared her throat. “I’m sorry about her. She stole some money from the mob a few months back, and as you can imagine, she’s been paranoid ever since thinking they’re going to find her.” She lowered her voice to a whisper. “Personally, I don’t think it would occur to them to look for her in Alaska but try telling her that.”
Hayden’s eyes widened. “Seriously?”
Melena turned her attention toward the storefront window, scanning the parking lot. “You can never be too careful,” she said in a spooky voice. “They’ve got people everywhere.”
What did it say about them that one woman could make up a ridiculous lie and the other would go along with it right away, no questions asked? This was why Cori liked having the sensor as a friend.
“Should I be worried?” Hayden asked, following Melena’s gaze.
“Not at all,” Cori reassured him. “Mel is on her way out, so if the mafia attacks, we won’t be anywhere near the crossfire and it will just be her that gets shot…or blown up. What is it they do nowadays?”
The guy laughed. Something told Cori he wasn’t buying their story anymore.
“Next time, bring a bulletproof vest with you,” Melena advised, giving him a wink. “These are dangerous times.”
After the sensor left the store, Cori examined the paper Hayden had brought with him of the reaper design he wanted. It was a simple drawing of a figure wearing a long, dark cape with a hood covering most of his face. Of course, he had a scythe propped in his hand.
“Where do you want this?” she asked.
