“Fair enough.” Once he collected Hope’s bag, Mr. Church bowed his head politely and ushered her out.
“Sorry, Joy!” she called back. “I’ll send you a text.”
Though I was relieved she had a safe place to go, Hope’s absence left me feeling even more alone in an uncertain time.
I studied the door closely. “You said your doors are Vampire proof, but that’s made of wood.”
He crooked his fingers for me to follow.
When we reached the center of the hallway, he pressed a sconce on the wall. A heavy steel door slid down from the ceiling, sealing us off from the rest of the hallway.
“I installed these in a few key locations for safety,” he explained. “One can never be too careful when it comes to Vampires. My club generates a lot of cash, so I have to protect it.”
He must keep his money somewhere in the office, perhaps hidden inside a statue or inside the freezer along with the ice cream.
“You couldn’t be safer,” he assured me.
“If that’s true, maybe I should remain here instead of going to your house.”
“My home is far more lavish than these meager offerings. You’ll tire of this quickly.” Atticus opened the security wall back up. “You need to be away from this town until we’ve eliminated the threat.” He drew nearer while studiously avoiding eye contact. “It’s for your protection… and the baby’s.”
I hugged my arms, the gunshots from earlier today still ringing in my ears. “But the roads aren’t safe to travel.”
He lightly gripped my shoulders. “Your heart is racing.”
I drew in a sharp breath. “You make me nervous.”
Atticus lowered his hands, amusement glittering in his ancient eyes. “I haven’t even shown you my fangs.”
Maybe he’s helping Tak so he can get a favor trade in return, but I hope he knows it won’t include me.
“Nothing about this scenario is normal, and the longer I sit in that empty room with my thoughts, the more anxious I’ll become. You said there weren’t any Vampires in your club?”
“Correct. They’re banned until I say otherwise.”
“This day started off so wonderful, and I’d like it to end that way. Distract me.”
“As you wish. Come with me.”
Atticus escorted me through the gold room. Heads turned, admiration etched on the faces of customers who viewed him as a wealthy, powerful man with charisma. They smiled desperately, hoping to capture his attention. Rather than seating me at a table or booth, Atticus led me to one of the private carriages on the right-hand wall. Our fingers briefly touched when he helped me into the seat.
“Would you like these closed for privacy?” he asked, touching the black curtains on the end.
“No, leave them open for now. This is lovely.”
“Mind if I join you?”
Dining with a Vampire wasn’t at the top of my list of things to do, but I needed the company. “Please do. I’m famished and hate eating alone.”
Atticus slid into the seat across from me and rested his arms on the table, fingers laced. The votive candles flickered in the gold-etched holders, adding a flair of romance. “I thought we could get better acquainted so you wouldn’t be so worried. Would you like a raspberry sorbetto? It’s refreshing.”
“Actually, this pregnant lady is a little hungrier than that. Do you mind if I order dinner?”
He signaled to one of the servers.
I moved one of the pretty amber candleholders to the left. “Who decorated this place?”
“I did. Down to the last detail.”
