Maybe he could tell the hunter something about having a twin brother…
No, that was ridiculous.
Charlie swallowed hard and straightened his uniform shirt, tried to smooth his hair, and walked out with what he hoped looked like confidence rather than barely controlled panic.
"Sorry about the wait." He moved behind the register, avoiding eye contact.
"No problem." The hunter's voice was smooth. He almost sounded friendly when he asked, "Long shift?"
"Just started, actually." Charlie found himself responding without thinking, as if this was a regular customer…
But this man had tried tohunthim last night. Charlie needed to keep that in mind.
"You look tired."
Wasn't that the truth? Charlie scanned the energy drink. "Two forty-nine."
The hunter pulled out his wallet, and Charlie noticed his hands. Calloused, scarred across the knuckles. Fighter's hands. One scar ran deep across his palm.
He pulled out a credit card. Charlie read the name on it. Simon Hale.
The payment went through.
"Thank you for your purchase," Charlie made himself say.
The hunter—Simon—pocketed his card, but he didn't move to leave. He just stood there, studying Charlie with those sharp eyes that seemed to catalog every detail. Every weakness. The kind of focused attention that made Charlie feel stripped bare.
A bone-deep shudder went through him.
This man haddefinitelycome here for Charlie.
Why, though?
Charlie wasn't dangerous to anyone but himself.
"You work here long?" Simon asked.
Charlie tried to remember how to speak. It wasn't easy, caught in this man's dark gaze. "Few weeks," he finally got out.
"Night shift must be rough."
"It's fine."
"Lot of weird people come in at night, I bet."
Charlie's jaw clenched. "Some."
Simon smiled. It wasn't friendly—but stupidly handsome in a way Charlie shouldn't notice. "Like vampires?"
Every muscle in Charlie's body locked up. He forced himself to laugh, though it came out like a dying wheeze. "Vampires aren't real."
"No?" Simon tilted his head. "You sure about that?"
Charlie couldn't find the words to say.
He was going to die tonight, wasn't he?
Simon reached into his pocket.
