“What are you talking about?” Lauren was getting really irritated. How was any of this crap going to help her with Alex?
“It’s taken me so long to find out, but now that I got real proof, I dunno what I can do with it.”
“Real proof of what, for crying out loud?” she said, hearing footsteps outside, coming towards the door. Ryan was home.
“That they are real!”
“Who is real?”
“The undead! The dude that wants your friend is a filthy fanger.”
About to hang up in exasperation, Lauren heard a small pop and electric crackle, and then some swearing on the Information Man’s end of the phone. Something had exploded. The line went dead.
Ryan walked in carrying a pizza box. “Who’s that, babe?”
Lauren stared at the phone briefly. “No one, really. Just an old friend.” She’d have to call him back later. And she had to talk to Matt. She turned to Ryan, who gave her a wink.
“Old friend, huh? How’s about giving this new friend some love?”
Lauren grinned up at him and gave him a kiss. Matt could wait.
*
“Denied, motherfucker!” Clive cackled with his hands in the air. He turned towards Vincent, but the clan leader did not look impressed yet.
“I want the number of the person he was talking to.”
*
Alex stepped over the threshold and couldn’t get over how quiet and empty the place looked with no one in it. Not to mention spacious. She saw the stairs Tyson had mentioned and ascended, wondering why she hadn’t noticed them before.
At the top, the door to the office was open. She approached and knocked.
“Come in,” came Dante’s voice.
He was sitting on his desk with a wry smile and her bag dangling from his finger. “Is this what you’re looking for?”
Alex walked forward and her dream from that morning flashed through her head. Suddenly, she found she had trouble looking at him.
It was the shortest hug and kiss she had ever given anyone.
“Everything all right?” he asked casually.
“Yes, thank you so much for keeping it here. I went out of my mind this morning.”
“Did you realise where you left it?”
“Well there was only one place,” Alex laughed.
“You must’ve left in a hurry. Are you sure everything’s alright?”
“Oh, right. Yeah, I might have stormed out, actually.” Alex laughed. “It was just stupid, you know?”
“I see,” Dante said, rising from the desk. He walked over to the mini fridge and pulled out a bottle of Crown Lager, popped the top off and handed it to her. Alex took it and frowned at him. Dante nodded towards the bottle and then looked at her. “Now why don’t you tell me what’s really wrong?”
The sudden softness of his voice touched Alex. She didn’t even know where to start, so took a drink. “Nice. Did you know I drink this, or is this just a coincidence?”
Dante laughed. “I spotted you the first night you came in here. It was the drink you ordered for yourself.”
“Wow, that’s an impressive memory…and kinda weird. Do you keep watch of all of your customers like that?”
Dante smiled, “No, I don’t. All right, you caught me.”
You caught me, but what did that mean? Alex took a long gulp, eyeing everything about Dante bar his face. Did he like her? Had he been watching her ever since she walked in to T for the first time all those weeks ago? Or did he want something else from her, something much less emotional, much more primal? She shook her head. I’m probably just reading too much into it.
Dante continued the casual conversation, asking how her day was, what she’d taught the kids at school that day. Alex knew it was filler. Dante wanted an answer to his question about what was wrong with her, but did she really want to tell him? She finished her beer and looked around for a bin.
“Here,” Dante said holding out his hand. Alex put the empty bottle in his hand and was immediately presented with a full one.
“No, I can’t. I’m driving.”
Dante raised the bottle a little higher. “You really look like you could use some down time. Plus, I did want to see you about one or two things. I’ll make sure you and your car get home.”
“Are you trying to get me drunk, Mr. Delavega?” Alex said, in mock astonishment.
Dante placed the bottle in her hand. “You can if you wish. But either way you’re safe with me.”
Alex’s first instinct was to laugh, but she didn’t. Dante sounded completely sincere. She looked around and saw the plush red leather couch and sat down. What the hell? As her body sunk in to the absurdly soft material, she couldn’t help but sigh.
Dante indicated the spot next to her. “Would you mind?”
Alex shook her head. “Not at all.”
Once Dante sat, he grabbed a cushion from behind him and put it on his lap. He leaned down and lifted Alex’s legs, placing her feet on the cushion.
“What is this? Full service?” Alex said.
“Something like that. You look exhausted.”
Without another word, Alex’s pumps were dropped on the floor and Dante had started kneading and pressing the soles of her feet with his thumbs and fingers.
Alex leant her head back slowly. “Oh my god.”
“Oh, believe me, God has nothing to do with it,” Dante said softly. “Now, where did you want to start?”
Dante’s fingers seemed to be expertly easing away all her stress and tension. She couldn’t believe she could be so
