Red Hood (Book One)

Chapter Eighteen

 I stared down at Brandon as I sipped my lemonade. He smiled at me proudly and picked up the vial of blood off the table. A smile grew on my face. I would've done a cartwheel in the restaurant if I could. We were making progress!

 While Brandon was eating his omlet, I sent the recording to his phone. He took it out and looked down at the screen. I was still in the shock because of what Ms. Cherry told me. 

 "Don't listen to it until you're alone," I suggested.

 Brandon locked eyes with me. "Why not?" 

 "It's related to the Woods family business." 

 "When did you make this?" 

 "Last night. The woman I recorded was one of their customers." 

 "Mhm. Right."

He stared at me with his hand on his chin. I ate a fork ful of my hash browns. He didn't break eye contact for three minutes. Something was on his mind, and it wasn't the investigation.

"What?" I asked, laughing nervously.

Brandon licks his lips. "Nothing. I just love looking at you."

"I thought you were still mad at me."

"I could never stay mad at you. I need you."

What he said gave me butterflies. I didn't want to believe this was the same man who growled at me last night. He broke his gaze when his phone rang. I watched him walk away from the table.

My own phone vibrated in my purse. I took it out of my purse. I rolled my eyes when a message from Beverly popped up on the screen. But then, I read it.

Hey, girl. I'm sorry for making my brother yell at you.

Just like that, I wasn't mad at Beverly anymore. Last night, she was radio silent after we left Ms. Cherry's house. I looked up from my phone and Brandon was already back at the table. I sent a response.

I forgive you, Bev. I'm sorry for calling you a random bitch.

Brandon sipped his iced tea and stared at me with a stoic expression. I quietly finished eating the rest of my hash browns. Making up with Beverly was easy, but I couldn't think of a way to do the same with Brandon. What if I say the wrong thing?

It was bad enough I did that last night. I couldn't let him go off on me again. He sighed.

"What's wrong?"

"I'm going to to tell you. But you have to promise not to get mad," I said, tapping my nails on the table.

"I promise."

"About last night, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have hung up on you before you had a chance to explain yourself."

"You don't have to apologize. You were right. I was jealous, and I'm sorry for going off on you like that."  

  I let out a sigh of relief. As if a burden was lifted from my shoulders. Brandon reached across the table to hold my hand. The butterflies came back as he looked into my eyes.

 "I just really like you, and the thought of another man touching you drives me crazy. I thought this date would be a great way to start over."

My heart raced. This was a date? I smiled at him. I had no idea he was serious when he said it was a date last night.

To be honest, I really liked him. I just wanted to forget about the disaster from last night. We could reset things between us right here. I squeezed his hand.

"I really like you too. Let's start over," I said.

 "Deal. I'm going to eat the rest of my food. I'm starving."

He let go of my hand and devoured his toast. I ate my bacon and grits. Just then, Beverly walked by our table. She winked at me, before walking to a booth across the room.

Five minutes later, we were done. The light skinned waitress picked up our plates and put the check on our table. Brandon paid it. Then, we got up and left the restaurant, holding hands.

We walked to the parking lot and got in my car. Brandon leaned in, staring into my eyes. His lips were a few inches away from mine. He closed the distance between us, and our lips touched. It made warmth spread down my body.

As I moved my lips against his, both of our phones rang. Whoever called us would have to wait. I didn't want the kiss to end yet. Brandon pulled away when someone knocked on the window. Beverly smiled and waved at us. I faked a smile and waved back.

"Open the backdoor," she said, pointing at the back window.

I unlocked the backdoors and she came in. She gave me a hug from behind. Brandon checked his phone with one hand, and touched my thigh with the other. Beverly squealed and clapped when she let go of me. Brandon and I looked at her in confusion.

"Guess what I did, y'all!" Beverly yelled.

 Brandon sighed. "What did you do, Bev?"

"I emptied the vials of wolf blood on Maula's bed and all over Hatchet's truck."

"You can't be serious."

"I'm dead serious. Let me show you the pictures."

Beverly leaned over and showed us a photo of Maula's bed covered in wolf blood. Then, she swiped to a photo of Hatchet's green truck covered in wolf blood. Brandon smirked. I stared down at with raised eyebrows. Damn.

Beverly put her phone back in her blue jeans pocket. I started the car and drove out of the parking lot. 'Happy' by Pharrell played on the radio. She handed me and Brandon thick wads of cash. I stopped at a red light and stuffed it in my wallet.

"Where'd you get this money from?" I asked

Beverly chuckled. "Maula's bedroom. A little retribution can't hurt."

"I have a better idea for retribution. Let's confront Hatchet and Tom."

I smiled as I started driving again. After what Beverly and I heard last night, Tom had some explaining to do. He couldn't keep getting away with manipulating people into thinking they're cursed. I needed to know why wolves were attacking so many people.

It couldn't be a coincidence that Tom happened to have his business card and gun on him the day Ms. Cherry got attacked. Brandon danced to 'Bitch Better Have My Money' by Rihanna. Beverly laughed, counting the cash in her hands.

"I'm down with this plan. Who's going to deal with Tom, while you deal with Hatchet?"

"You will. Candy will go with Hatchet back to the Woods family house, and bring him to me. Then, you'll get answers from Tom's scamming ass," Brandon explained.

"Alright, then. When do we do this."

"Tonight, when the full moon comes out."