Chapter 27
Levi opened the door to the heavily secured room, closing it behind him. “The plan is in motion.”
Chad Evans sat up on his small uncomfortable bed. “About f*cking time.”
“Perfection takes time.” Levi stuck his hands in his pockets, a half grin curving his lips. “And this plan is perfection.”
“Yeah, well it better be.” Chad replied not sharing in Levi’s confidence. “When?”
“Tonight.” Levi turned to go.
“I finally get to leave this shithole?” Chad’s whinny voice echoed in the small room.
“Just be ready.” Levi demanded opening the door.
“Remember our deal.” Chad hissed before the door shut. “Damon DeMasters is mine.”
********
By the time Tessa got back to the bar she was a mess. She had made arrangements for her grandfather at another assisted living place, which had been easier than she had thought. Jared had texted her repeatedly and every time it vibrated in her pocket she felt like she was going to throw up. She wasn’t ready to face that situation yet. Her emotions were on a roller coaster ride and until her bitch mode kicked in fully she really didn’t need to see him because she would cave.
The bar was pulsing with activity taking her mind off everything, at least for the moment. Grabbing three beers, she placed them on the bar ringing up the total on the register.
“It’s good to see you back Tessa.” Jason Reynolds handed her the cash for the beers.
“Good to be back, Jason.” Her friendly smile didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Tell Susan I’ll try to talk to her in a few.”
“Will do.” He slipped her a tip in the tip jar before grabbing up his beers.
Having a second she grabbed her phone out of her back pocket. It had been silent the last hour and that worried her. She didn’t know what was worse, the constant vibrations from texts and calls or the stillness. She hadn’t even read any of the missed messages. Clicking the last text she received from Jared she frowned, her whole body trembled…. “Shit.”
“I DON’T KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON, BUT IF YOU’RE OKAY YOU NEED TO ANSWER ME OR I WILL TEAR THIS F*ckING TOWN APART LOOKING FOR YOU!”
Tessa stared at the message for a few more seconds, before snapping it shut with shaking hands. “Shit.” She repeated.
“I see you got my last message.”
Jerking her head up her eyes met Jared’s black narrowed glare and he was pissed. She couldn’t pull her eyes away from his, but she knew standing next to him were Damon, Sid and Nicole. “How did you find me?”
He totally ignored her question. “See you got your job back.”
Tessa shrugged her shoulder. “Listen, I’m busy.” She finally glanced at the rest of them, but Nicole’s eyes snagged hers and she was surprised to see understanding. “Can I get you guys anything?” Her years of bartending kicked in, she couldn’t be rude and if they were in her bar, they were customers.
“Yeah, four beers.” Damon spoke up, pulling a barstool out for Nicole. Sid and Jared both took a seat. The area around the bar quickly emptied when the Warriors walked up.
Turning, Tessa reached into the long cooler and pulled out the beers. Setting them on the counter she glanced in the mirror and again met Jared’s eyes which were turning back to their beautiful golden color. Looking away she quickly finished opening beers. Grabbing all four, she turned and set them down in front of each of them. “It’s on the house.” Tessa nodded at Damon who was handing her a fifty. Instead of putting it back in his pocket he dropped it in her tip jar.
“Thank you.”
Damon nodded. Tessa continued down the bar taking and filling orders. Damon, Sid and Nicole talked amongst themselves, but Jared sat silent watching her every move.
“Hey Tessa!” An older man yelled from the pool tables. “Can you be a doll and round us up a couple of beers.
“Sure thing Doug.” Tessa yelled back already on the move to fill the order. Taking the beers over, she sat them on the table before picking up the money.
“Keep the change doll.” Doug smiled picking up his fresh beer saluting her with it. “Sure is good to have you back. That new bartender don’t take care of us like you do.”
“Flattery won’t stop me from cutting you off Doug.” Tessa teased. Everyone around the pool table laughed.
“Can’t blame an old guy for trying.” He yelled after her.
Tessa smiled, walking back to the bar. Her eyes met Jared’s, who had turned completely around to watch her. He sat in a relaxed pose, both elbows propped on the bar behind him. Stopping in front of him she sighed. “What are you doing here Jared?”
Surprise flashed across his face before he hid it behind a cool mask. “Guess I could ask you the same question.”
“I have bills to pay and was able to get my job back.” Tessa replied, refusing to look away.
“At what cost?” His question came out in a growl.
Tessa’s face turned bright red, but she managed a bitter laugh. “What does that matter to you?” She so
wasn’t going to go there, but for him to say something like that totally pissed her off.
“What in the hell does that mean?” He grabbed her arm as she tried to pass.
“Nothing Jared. It means nothing.” From past experience she knew how this conversation was going to go and she honestly didn’t want a repeat of what she went through with Otis. She tried to jerk her arm away, but he wasn’t having it.
“If you need money I have plenty.” Jared glared down at her. “I am the reason you lost your job.”
Tessa shook her head. “I don’t want your money.”
“How much do you need?” His glare didn’t lessen as he dug into his back pocket.
“I said I don’t want your money.” She hissed, hating that he was not hearing her. “I’m not your whore.”
That stopped him cold, his eyes narrowed. “I never said you were.” His voice lowered dangerously. “You wanting to pick a fight?”
“Yeah, maybe I am.” She replied in her best bitchy tone. “I mean how much am I worth Jared…hum? Is two hundred too much? Let’s see, we slept together for what, a week, so yeah I think that would be fair.”
Jared turned to look at Sid. “Cover the bar.” He pulled her toward the front door, his face a mask of pissed off vampire. Once outside, he walked her around the side of the bar. “You are not a whore and I don’t ever want to hear that come out of your mouth ever again. Understand?”
“I’m not supposed to leave the bar.” Tessa replied, shivering from the cool air and his intense stare.
“F*ck the bar!” Jared yelled, then closed his eyes as if counting to ten. “This morning when I left our bed everything was fine, so fine in fact I expected to find you still in my bed.”
Tessa cocked her eyebrow. “So you expected me to lay in bed until you decided to come back from whatever you had to do.” She snorted. “You don’t know me very well.”
“Obviously I don’t, but I didn’t mean it that way.” Jared frowned. “Stop playing games and tell me what is wrong.”
Anger gripped Tessa making her grind her teeth. “Playing games?” Her voice rose while her face heated with anger. “Playing games? I see you with a woman, bent over a pool table clawing at your back not even a half an hour after you left me and you say I’m playing games. Screw you!”
Jared stopped her from leaving, understanding flashing in his eyes. “I was feeding Tessa.”
“I don’t give a rat’s ass what you were doing…Jared.” Tessa spat out. “Let me go.”
“No I won’t let you go until we get this settled.” His sudden calmness was eerie. “I’m a vampire and have to feed. I’m sorry if that disgusts you, but….”
“I’m not stupid Jared and stop reminding me you’re a vampire. I know you’re a damn vampire so shut up about it.” Tessa gave him a little shove, but he didn’t budge. “What disgusts me is not that you have to feed on blood. I hate liver, but I don’t look at people who eat the stuff in disgust. What does bother me is who you were feeding from.”
“Vicky?” Jared looked surprised.
“Ah, yeah…Vicky.” Tessa spat out, wanting to punch him so bad her hand fisted. Were men, vampire or human, that damn stupid when it came to a woman’s feelings? “You know what, just forget it. I have to get back to work.”
“No, I won’t forget it.” Jared hissed. “I have to feed Tessa. Why does it matter who it’s from?”
“Why do you have to feed from someone you’ve been with?” When he still looked lost she threw her hands up in the air. “Why does it have to be with someone you screwed…f*cked…made love with, Jared? Geez, is that so hard to understand.”
“But…”
“No.” Tessa tossed her hand up to stop him, shaking her head. “I can’t do this again. I really can’t. You made no promises to me so I probably have no right to be upset, but I am upset. That tells me this has to end now.”
“You don’t understand.” Jared sighed.
Tessa’s laugh was bitter to her own ears. “Oh, but I do understand.” Tessa replied. It was him that didn’t understand. If he really did care about her maybe this little lie would help him feel what she had felt. “I have to close up the bar. Otis is following me home to make sure I get there safe.”
Jared’s eyes narrowed, his calm composure shaken. “The sheriff.” He growled. “Why in the hell did you ask him to follow you home?”
“You’re the one that said I may be in danger. What does it matter who follows me home to make sure I’m safe?” Tessa pretty much threw his words back in his face.
“Oh, it matters honey.” His tone wasn’t pleasant. “I suggest you call the sheriff and let him know you’re taken care of.”
“So, it bothers you that I would have someone I’ve had a relationship with follow me home to make sure I arrived safely?” Tessa cocked her eyebrow.
“F*ck yeah it bothers me and it won’t be happening.” His eyes and voice held no compromise.
“Then how can you stand there and think what I saw today shouldn’t have bothered me?” She rubbed her arms waiting for his answer.
“I see your point Tessa.” Jared replied.
“But?” She supplied when he didn’t continue.
“I would never do anything to hurt you.” Finally his eyes glowed with understanding.
“Yeah, heard that before.” Tessa cringed listening to herself. She hated the bitter person she had become and really needed to get a grip on it. “To be honest with you Jared I have some issues with relationships and it’s something that is going to take a while for me to get over. I’m not saying that I would freak out every time you talked to a woman or even looked at one, but what happened today is a problem for me. Obviously feeding from someone is a very personal and intimate moment for the two people involved.”
He took her face into his hands gently. “I have never been in this position before.” His lips curved into a sad smile, his eyes searching hers.
“What position?” Tessa loved the feel of his rough hands, man hands, on her skin. She pulled away suddenly, not wanting to like it….dammit.
“Of apologizing. This is new to me.” When her eyes popped open he chuckled. “Tessa I have never had anyone in my life until now. I’m going to make mistakes, probably more than I should so you’re going to have to be patient.”
“What…” Tessa was confused and it showed.
“I’m sorry.” He interrupted her and not only his voice, but his eyes told her that he really meant it. “I will not feed from Vicky. I will find someone else.”
Well, what in the hell was she to say about that? Tessa was actually at a loss of words. Otis would have done a lot of eye rolling, denying everything with his last breath, moaning about how she was taking his manhood and no way in hell would he have apologized.
“Would you say something?” Jared tilted her chin up so her eyes met his.
Tessa glanced away for a second before meeting his gaze again. “Don’t they have old, ugly hoe’s you’ve never slept with for you to feed from?”
“For you I will demand an old ugly hoe.” His laughter filled the night air.
“I’m sorry, it’s just…” Tessa started to speak, but his thumb rubbed across her lips to stop her words.
“Never apologize for something I’ve done wrong Tessa.” Jared’s eyes narrowed. “I was wrong to think it shouldn’t matter to you. I should have realized it because if I would have caught you in that position I would have killed the man.”
“Can’t you feed from me?” Tessa’s face reddened, her pulse kicking up a fast pace at the thought of those fangs sinking deep into her skin.
Jared groaned. “I would absolutely love to taste your sweet blood.” His voice deepened, his eyes darkened. “But it would only be for pleasure. I couldn’t survive on your blood alone.”
“Oh.” Surprised at the amount of disappointment she felt at that, Tessa thought she really did need her head examined. It couldn’t be normal to offer your blood to someone.
“You don’t even know how much your disappointment in that affects me.” He pulled her to him, holding her tight. “Am I forgiven?”
Tessa wrapped her arms around him, savoring his warmth and the feeling of belonging that surrounded her. Pulling her head away from his chest, she tiptoed as far as she could go then reached up to pull his head down to hers. The kiss started slow, but soon turned into him picking her up, her legs wrapping around his waist.
“We always seem to end up in this position.” He teased against her mouth. “So does this mean I’m forgiven or do I need to grovel a bit more.” He kissed his way down her neck, nipping as he went.
“I think more groveling is in order.” She tilted her head as her eyes rolled. His lips were wicked. She may be the most gullible woman alive, but this vampire Warrior was hard to resist. His mixture of a chuckle and growl vibrated along her skin sending her over the edge. Oh yeah, groveling was good.