The Blood Barn (Book #2 in trilogy)

Chapter 21: Echoes In The Night

Marta and I spent the remainder of our Sunday afternoon making love, eating lunch, and watching movies from the comfort of the couch. Her fake grave was ready, her hiding places were decided upon, and so all we had to do was enjoy the rest of our evening with a nice, quiet dinner.

"Cheers, baby." Marta lifted her glass to mine as they clinked.

"Cheers." I smiled before taking a sip of wine, then set my glass down on the table.

Dinner was a combination between Marta's incredible ability to add flavour to anything and my mom's cook book, which I was going to try to use more often. We ate in silence as we made the most of the romantic dinner with candles in the middle of the table as well. It was the first time in what seemed like forever that we had slowed things down and really appreciated just having each other. Throughout the whole meal all we did was chew, drink wine and eyeball one another with cheeky smiles included.

As I finished my sweet potato, I set down my fork and knife and leaned back on my chair. I watched as Marta finished her last few bites of the roast on her plate, then did the same with her cutlery.

I sighed, then commented, "That was delicious."

Marta smiled as she dabbed the corners of her mouth with a paper napkin. "I'm glad you liked it, baby. We have not done something like this in forever."

"I know," I acknowledged, then glancing at the candle flame. "It's kind of sad, but"—I paused then looked back at her—"at least you won't be in prison forever."

"That is true, baby. I just hope that this situation with the driver does not affect my parole."

"I hope so too," I confessed. "Has anyone even mentioned anything about your parole?"

Shaking her head she replied, "No. Not at all, baby."

"Humph." Furling my brow I added, "It must be soon though."

"I think it is, baby," confirmed Marta. "I have been good and passed the assessments, so I do not see why they would not let me leave soon."

"You mean leave for good?" I questioned.

"Yes baby, for good." She reached her hand out and I took it, curling my fingers around hers.

After dinner we cleaned up dishes and then quickly showered together before watching another movie on Netflix. As Marta sat down with her bowl of popcorn, I wondered if I should move the television upstairs so she could avoid being seen during the day.

"Baby, do you want me to move the television upstairs for you this week?" I asked as the movie began to load.

"Not right now, baby," she declined. "I want to see what happens first. Maybe they will call me and I will only be here for one day."

"Okay. I guess we won't really know until tomorrow anyway."

"Probably," she agreed. "We should just enjoy tonight and worry about it later, baby."

"Deal." I smiled before giving her a kiss on the lips, then placed my arm around her as she cuddled into me for the duration of the movie.

When it came time to go to bed, Marta was in and out of the bathroom first. She smacked my ass as she passed me in the hallway as I made my from the bedroom. Giggling as she disappeared around the corner, I could tell she jumped on the bed. I shook my head at how playful she was being, but it was good to know she was in good spirits considering the looming threat.

As I sat down on the toilet, I pulled my phone out from my sweatpants pocket and realized I had missed a few calls from Detective Barnhart.

"Hmm..." I checked my inbox and saw a text urging me to call him back as soon as possible from around nine o'clock. Playing the voicemail he left, I began to worry.