Shadows Rising (Darkness Falls Book 2)

Chapter Twenty-One

The morning drifted past with no sign of Leon. Every time the door opened, tension coiled through my body, sure that the next customer would be him but it never was. Clara maintained a diligent position in her booth, sipping from her Coke. On several occasions, groups of people hovered near the booth, obviously hoping that she'd vacate and give them a space, but each time Clara simply turned an icy stare on them and they hurried on without saying anything.

"How long's she going to sit there?" Georgia griped, shooting Clara filthy looks when she thought the older woman wasn't looking.

"As long as she wants," I replied.

Georgia looked at me as if she guessed there was some hidden meaning to my words, but she was wise enough not to ask.

I focused as best I could on work but it wasn't easy. Twice I spilled hot coffee over myself, and Georgia had to step in to deal with an irate customer after I served her a strawberry shake instead of the vanilla she ordered. I thought she was overreacting, and I really wasn't in any state of mind to be dealing with some idiot whose biggest problem in life was that she'd got the wrong flavour milkshake. Luckily Georgia's bad attitude towards people she didn't like, didn't extend to the customers. Reluctant though I was to admit it, she was very good at her job.

It was close to midday when Leon finally walked in.

I was mopping up ring-marks from the countertop when the back of my neck prickled with awareness, my trained hunting instincts kicking. An influx of customers during the last hour had meant I couldn't watch the door for him, so when he finally appeared, I was unprepared.

Slowly I raised my head. Leon hovered just in front of the door, looking as awkward as I'd ever seen anyone. Anger flamed inside me and it was all I could do to keep it from showing on my face. He had to think I was approachable otherwise he'd walk out of that door and I might never see him again.

In my periphery, I saw Clara watching us. I shot her a look from under my lashes and she gave an almost imperceptible nod in return.

Leon shuffled up to the counter. A series of painful-looking scratches marred his left cheek, and I hoped Riley was responsible. If I knew my girl, she'd have gone down fighting.

Leon met my gaze and though I was trying so hard to remain calm, what I was really feeling must have been reflected in my eyes, for he flinched and looked away.

"We need to talk," he said glancing around to make sure no one was listening.

"You're right. We do." My voice was cold and ugly. I jerked my head towards the high stools that were lined up in front of the counter. "Take a seat. I'll be with you as soon as I finish work."

It would mean skipping college, but I really didn't care.

Leon picked a stool at the far end of the counter. It was further away from Clara than I liked, but nothing could be done about that. If I needed backup I trusted that Clara would be there, no matter how far away she was.

The rest of my shift seemed to last forever. It was almost impossible to pretend to be a normal teenage girl when flames of anger were eating me up inside. Every time I looked at Leon, I was nearly overcome by the urge to leap over the counter and smash his face into the floor, beat him over and over again until he told me what he'd done with my best friend.

Finally I was free to go. I spared just a minute to rush into the locker room and get changed – there was a good chance I'd end up breaking Leon's nose, and blood on my uniform would be hard to explain – and then I emerged to meet him. He got up from his stool as I approached him, flinching as if he thought I was going to go for him, right now in front of all these people. The temptation was so sweet I could taste it.