Shadows Rising (Darkness Falls Book 2)

Chapter Thirty-Two

I don't know why it came as such a surprise. After all, this was Rachel's trademark – I should even have expected it.

But this was where I worked. This was a bright, happy daytime place where people's biggest concerns were what they wanted to eat today, and where people saw me as nothing more than a teenage girl working a go-nowhere job. Even though Rachel had already been here, and even though I'd had more than one confrontation with Leon in the booths by the window, I still, stupidly, felt this was one aspect of my life that the shadows couldn't touch.

I was wrong, and this gift was Rachel's way of telling me that.

"What the...hell?" Georgia's horrified voice filled my ears and I realised that she was looking over my shoulder. Knowing Georgia, she'd wanted to sneer at what she thought was a gift from an admirer, but had seen more than she bargained for.

I shoved the lid back on the box, but it was too late. Georgia had already seen everything.

"What sick bastard does something like that?" Georgia actually sounded indignant, though I wasn't sure if it was on my behalf or on the behalf of the murdered rats.

More like sick bitch, I thought.

Slow rage burned through me. I'd had enough of Rachel's twisted games. If she wanted me, why didn't she just come and get me? She'd already proved that she was bigger and badder, the hunting predator in the night. Wasn't that enough? Wasn't even her twisted mind bored of this macabre game by now?

I shoved the box in the bin, pounding it down with the heel of my hand. My hands itched with the need to lash out at something, and I pressed them to my thighs so Georgia couldn't see them shaking.

"I might –" I swallowed, tried again. "I might need to go home."

"Home? You should go to the police," Georgia said.

I struggled to marshal my scattered thoughts. "I have to talk to Arthur – I can't just walk out –"

"I'll deal with it," Georgia told me.

A harsh laugh escaped my lips. "You? Yeah, like I'd believe that."

Annoyed, she put a hand on her hip. "Give me some credit, would you? Just because I don't like you, doesn't mean I'm going to get you fired." She pointed at the box, the end of it still sticking out of the bin. "If someone's sending you shit like that, you take it to the police."

I looked past her, to the closed door of the tiny room that acted as Arthur's office. "You'll really cover for me?"

Georgia didn't smile – it wasn't like we'd ever be friends – but the look in her eyes was genuine as she nodded. I was grateful for that at least.

I walked out of the Waffle House and headed for home.

Luke was still awake when I crept into his room. His eyes widened and he gave a low wolf-whistle. "I like your new taste in clothes. Very sexy."

I looked down at myself. I'd been in such a hurry to get home that I hadn't even changed. I was still wearing the awful red trousers and candy-striped shirt that made up the Waffle House uniform.

"I look ridiculous," I groaned.

Luke sat up and beckoned to me. "I think you look gorgeous no matter what you wear." His eyes roved over the hideous uniform. "Even that."

I gave him an arch look. "I bet you'd like me even better out of it though."

A slow smile curled his lips. "True, but that won't be happening now, will it?"