Page 16 of Forever Midnight

“Why? So you can follow me around and make sure I don’t get myself killed?” He scoffs at his own words. “Sorry. I’m pissed off. I was in over my head, and without you, I would’ve done the opposite of what I intended. The whole point is saving my mom from heartbreak.”

“I’m listening.”

Tru wrings his hands together. “Any chance I could get some coffee first? Then I’ll tell you whatever you want to know.”

“Of course. If you’d like to shower, I can have your clothes washed.”

He pulls the blanket down, looking at his dirty and bloodied shirt. “Uh, yeah, that would be cool.”

“I’ll be right back.”

I exit the room to go to the linen closet and retrieve a towel, toothbrush, and guest robe, then return to my bedroom. I should have put Tru in the guest room, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. Something about the feisty man compels me to stay close to him.

“The bathroom is right in there.” I motion to the closed door. “When you’re ready, I’ll be in the kitchen.”

“Thanks, man.”

“Midnight.”

“Right.”

I leave the room again, closing the door behind me, but lingering with my back pressed to it. All the gods know I should not get myself tangled up in the messy affairs of mortals, not without being paid for it, but I already know I’m strangely attached to the man on the other side of this door. At least I can find out if there’s a way to help him and stop him from getting himself killed.

The thought of a lifeless Tru is more than I can bear.

Thirty minutes later, Tru joins me, wrapped in a fluffy white robe and carrying his soiled clothes. I rise from my seat at the kitchen table and take them to the hallway, where I drop them down a concealed chute that goes to our laundering service, then I lift the residence phone and call down.

“The clothes I just dropped take priority. I have a guest waiting.”

“Yes, sir,” the man answers.

After the call, I turn to find Tru standing behind me, fidgeting and looking nothing like the fierce man I first met.

“Please sit. I’ll bring you coffee. How do you like it?”

“Black, please.”

“Coming right up.”

Tru sits at the small marble table I imported from Italy, his fingers tapping on the cool stone as his gaze flits around the room. “Nice place,” he says.

“Thank you.” I carry his mug over and sit across from him. “I live here with my brothers.”

“Those men you’re with sometimes are brothers?”

“Of a sort. Not blood, but sometimes the bond is stronger than any birth connection.”

Tru nods, lifting his mug to his lips and closing his eyes as he takes a sip. “Wow. This is delicious.”

“It’s a special blend. Raphael, one of my brothers, is something of a coffee connoisseur. He found this place in the city that does custom blends and addicted us all to it.”

Tru finally smiles and the sight causes my heart to stutter. An odd sense of familiarity washes over me, as if I’ve lived this exact moment before, but that’s impossible.

“I’m ready to spill my secrets,” Tru says, his smile fading. “I owe you that.”

“Youoweme nothing, Tru, but I’d like to know what’s going on with you.”

“You rescued my ass twice.” He gazes into his mug. “I would’ve been killed both times if you hadn’t shown up.” Then his unusual blue-gray eyes shift up to mine. “Can’t lie and say I’m not curious about what someone like you is doing in that neighborhood all the time.”

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